By Terri Vizzone
Famous performers will appear in free world class concerts at Kennedy Plaza on the Atlantic City Boardwalk all summer.
More like the incredible New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, takes place every Wednesday through Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. Mardi Gras AC is a series of free concerts featuring a diverse lineup of popular, critically acclaimed, award-winning artists.
Next Wednesday night July 12, Mardi Gras sizzles, Caribbean style, with one of the greatest, most popular reggae bands of all time. Third World will be performing their hits, “Now That We Found Love,” “96 Degrees in the Shade” and “Try Ja Love” as well as the music of Bob Marley with whom they played in the seminal days of reggae back in Kingston Jamaica.
Mardi Gras AC will feature some of the world’s best reggae, roots rock, neo soul, funk, Latin jazz, fusion, and of course, New Orleans R&B legends including Cyril Neville, Buckwheat Zydeco Jr., Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner George Porter Jr. & The Runnin’ Pardners, Grammy nominated Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Johnny Sansone and The Honey Island Swamp Band, in addition to one of the most popular and greatest of all reggae bands, Third World, the legacy of Tito Puente Jr. Orchestra, and five-time Grammy nominated Shemekia Copeland.
The series will present some of the greatest classic rock ‘n’ roll stars in the world today including Gary US Bonds, The Weight Band featuring members of The Band, The Levon Helm Band and the famous Richie LaBamba from “The Conan O’Brian Show,” Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi’s bands and the Jersey Shore’s famous Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes.
Gary US Bonds is a living legend.
Tito Puente Jr. is a living legacy of Latin jazz fusion, which began with his father.
Shemekia Copeland has been nominated five times for Grammy awards and has won many blues music awards.
On Aug. 23 Tony Marts tells the story of its own legacy when members of The Band and Levon Helm Band perform the music made famous by Bob Dylan and The Band after Levon and The Hawks left Tony Marts in August of 1965.
Hear the stories and feel the power of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band to ever play at Tony Marts in Somers Point. This will be a special night for Americana music fans.
As well as becoming a TV star, Richie LaBamba has been recognized as a Jersey rock ‘n’ roll star. On Aug. 30, he will perform with his 20-piece big band with Billy Walton, Michael Pender, and many more of the Northeast’s best and most popular musicians.
Imagine a free concert series with cheap parking and a quality beverage garden adjacent. Check out the calendars and ads on www.tonymart.com, and in our media partner, Shore Local, South Jersey’s News Magazine.
All concerts take place at Kennedy Plaza, 2301 Boardwalk in Atlantic City.
Let The Good Times Roll!!!!
Photos by John Loreaux
