THE FORECAST: SCATTERED JAZZ & BLUES
Festival spokesman Ira Rosen, left, arrives at Marine Park this morning to take the wraps off the 22nd edition of the Red Bank Jazz & Blues blast in Red Bank.
OK, so what about the weather?
As previously noted, the annual Red Bank Jazz & Blues Festival seems always to unpack some meteororlogic drama from its valise on arriving.
Well, the satchel’s on the motel bed, and this year, festival spokesman Ira Rosen has a good vibe about its contents.
Yesterday’s stage setups went as smooth as sable, he told redbankgreen as he arrived at the Marine Park shortly before 7a today to start the preparations for tonight’s unveiling. And to a 30-year veteran of outdoor shows, there’s gotta be some karma in that.
“Today and Sunday look great,” Rosen says, referring to forecasts of abundant sunshine on days one and three of the event.
“Tomorrow, they’re saying scattered showers to thunderstorms. I’m going with scattered showers.”
Day one of the festival kicks off with a singing of the national anthem at 4:45p and ends with the last howling chords from the guitar of local blues favorite Matt O’Ree, tonight’s headliner, who takes the stage at 8:30p.
In between are Pork Roll Project at 5p; Nicole Hart & the NRG Band at 6:10; and Trenton harpist Mikey Jr. & the Cold Stone Blues at 7:20.
Here’s the full festival lineup.