The Central New Jersey Home News from New Brunswick, New Jersey • E12

12 FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2018 HOME NEWS TRIBUNE PULSE Free and low cost blues and roots rock options abound this Memorial Day Weekend. And fans of mother of all the New Orleans Jazz and Heri- tage Festival, will want to make plans now to attend next Festival at the Sussex Coun- ty Fairgrounds. The lineup is chock-full of New Orleans and south- west Louisiana musicians and bands, and includes some great headliners as well. Michael annual Festival began as a small backyard keg party in Kenilworth started by Arnone, an electrician, who missed the food and music of his home state of Louisiana. Now, 29 years later, the annual Festival will showcase 23 musicians and bands on three stages next weekend, June 1, 2 and 3.

The festival takes place at the spacious Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta. Music kicks June 1 with sets by the great New York City blues pianist and singer-songwriter Katie Henry, followed by two Louisiana-based acts, the Pine Leaf Boys and Crescent City-based piano player-sing- er-songwriter Jon Cleary. All of the acts per- form indoors on the Pavilion Stage. June Main Stage lineup includes sets by Marcia Ball at 11:30 a.m., Brandon Niede- rauer at 1 p.m., Mark Mullins and Bonerama at 2:45 p.m., and south Louisiana-based guitar slinger and singer-songwriter Tab Benoit at 5 p.m. Performers on other stages June 2 include the Matt Angus Thing, Ryan Montbleau, Brother Joscephus and the Love Revolution, Jenny and the Felines, Broussard and the Creole Cowboys, Pine Leaf Boys, Stanton Moore, Big Funky Nation and the Hon- ey Island Swamp Band.

The June 3 lineup includes headliners Taj Mahal, Samantha Fish and George Porter Jr. Other musicians on the Main, Pavilion and Dance Hall stages include Anthony Morgan and the Harlem Spirit of Gospel, Johnny Sansone, the Zydeco Revelators, Mike Farris, Terry and the Zydeco Bad Boys, and Amanda Shaw and the Cute Guys. Having been to some of the earliest Festi- vals in smaller outdoor venues in other parts of north- western New Jersey, I can tell you that between the music and wide variety of Louisiana-style food ven- dors, something for everyone at this gathering. For more details, visit The festival takes place rain or shine. Stringbean back on the Boardwalk Bluesman Kenny Sorensen and his Boardwalk Social Club return to their Monday night residency this Memorial Day, May 28, from 6 to 10 p.m.

just behind the Asbury Park Yacht Club. The shows are free but the band does set out a visible tip jar where they set up, not far from Langosta Lounge. Boardwalk Social Club includes So- rensen on guitars, harmonicas and vocals, Dan Mul- vey on upright electric bass, Joe Murphy on lead guitar and Sweet Joey Pisch, drums. The Boardwalk Social free-wheeling, un- scripted shows often draw crowds of dozens of onlook- ers who were walking along the boardwalk and then stop to look, listen and even dance while this tight-knit ensemble works their musical magic. The repertoire includes classic blues, pioneer rock roll, contempo- rary blues, folk standards, gospel, funk and reggae tunes.

Area musicians like percussionist Richard Black- well, vocalist Lance Larson and harmonica player Sandy Mack often come by to sit in with the Boardwalk Social Club during the second set on Monday nights. Filmmaker Sarah Galloway recently debuted her 20-minute documentary about the band at Asbury Park Music and Film Festival, and it won an award. Additional screenings of will likely be ar- ranged for later this summer either inside Langosta Lounge or the Asbury Park Yacht Club. Monday performance formally kicks Stringbean and the Boardwalk Social eighth season of their Monday night residency on the Asbury Park Boardwalk. Call Langosta Lounge at 732-455-3275 for more information.

Steamy Papa John Bug and his Jam Band perform tonight at 8:30 at the Red Bank Club, 164 Broad Red Bank, a.k.a. the Reckless Estate. Bug (John Verdecias) spent time on the road with (sadly departed) legendary folk icon Richie Havens, who always included blues in his live shows. Bug and his Jam Band have recorded an EP of origi- nals at Shore Fire Studios in Long Branch and released the disc last year. The Reckless Steamy Nights series is organized by dedicated volunteers at the Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation, and performances take place in the living room of the Reckless Estate.

Patrons may bring BYOB. Finger foods, juice and water are served in the dining room. Donation is $10. Call 732-933-1984. Pork roll and music in Trenton Once again, two pork roll festivals go on Saturday in downtown Trenton, one at Mill Hill Park in the historic Mill Hill District near the New Jersey State- house, the other at the Trenton Social Club, a large venue on South Broad Street, formerly known as Conduit.

The Mill Hill Park gathering runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $5, and a highlight of the events on one outdoor stage is the annual Pork Roll Queen competition. Performers in Mill Hill Park Saturday include Plan 9, MSB Band, School of Rock, Swing Con Seis, Dentist and Brian Erickson. The gathering in Mill Hill Park is known as the Trenton Pork Roll Festival, and event marks its year with a beer tent, various pork roll and vegetarian dish vendors and the light-hearted afternoon competition to determine the 2018 Pork Roll Queen.

More info at www.porkrollfestival.com A few blocks away at Trenton Social, a large night- club at 449 S. Broad St. Admission is also $5, though VIP packages are also Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.

Performers include Trenton jazz guitar legend Dick Gratton, Pepper Wine, Big Country and the Finger Pick Band, Jake Tavill, Charles Laurita and the Mischief, the Bansai Bills, Cook Thugless, Peaky Blinderz and JK Lago, all on an outdoor stage behind the club. Performers on the indoor stage at Trenton Social in- clude Jay Countree, Jung Wombats! and Conor Choi. The Trenton Pork Roll Festival also promises a wide variety of food vendors and pork roll-based, creative dishes. More information is at www.trentonporkroll- festival.com. Richard Skelly hosts the eclectic Blues from 8 to 10 p.m.

Thursdays on 88.7, WRSU- FM, New Brunswick. Info: www.radio.rutgers.edu. Stringbean on the boardwalk, Fest returns in June Taj Mahal is one of the headliners at this Festival. COURTESY OF JAY BLAKESBERG Richard Skelly Special to Asbury Park Press USA TODAY NETWORK NEW JERSEY.