FREE JERSEY CITY SUMMERFEST

Written By Mike Greenblatt
Mariel Hidalgo

Jersey City Mayor James Soloman, in conjunction with the Jersey City Public Library and Liberty State Park have announced the 51st Annual Summer Fest at North Cove Field Sundays at 6:00 p.m. For further information, visit https://jerseycityculture.org/event/jersey-city-summerfest-2026-winard-harper-jazz-2/.

  • Winard Harper, August 2:  this Baltimore jazz drummer learned from a master as he once played in Dexter Gordon’s band.

  • Strangers Stopping Strangers, August 9:  Deadheads get ready! This Grateful tribute band should rock the Cove. 

  • Marel Hidalgo, August 16:  this guitarist can burn through the 1938 jazz standard “Cherokee” as well as the 1940 Broadway show tune “How High The Moon” and Monk’s 1943 “’Round Midnight” before switching gears to swing mightily, get lowdown with the blues and do a deep dive into the Jamaican Songbook. Bonus:  he’ll have Blues People’s Mike Griot on bass.

  • 3D Rhythm of Life, August 23:  a fusion of Latin and Afro-Caribbean that incorporates Salsa, Cuban, Jazz, Reggae and Funk, their shows are said to be “exhilarating.”   

Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

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