Weehawken, NJ . The annual Sounds of Summer free concert series continues to strike a chord with music lovers of all ages, transforming Hamilton Park on Boulevard East into a melodious haven every Sunday. The event, which has been a staple for about 15 years, draws crowds eager to experience a diverse lineup of local and international musicians.
Weehawken Township Mayor Richard Turner expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, “We do it every Sunday at Hamilton Plaza. We also have some concerts in Pershing Park down by the waterfront and then this Wednesday we have a big concert at 7 o’clock by the park at the Chart House with Paquito D’Rivera and a Brazilian jazz group.”
Joseph Cimino, a co-organizer of the concert series, emphasized the local flavor of the event. “Every band has to have a local musician. You have to be from town to play here, and it’s been going very, very well,” he said.
On August 11th, the crowd was treated to a delightful performance by Two for the Road, featuring Donna Coney Island, a longtime Weehawken resident and music teacher at Theodore Roosevelt School. Coney Island shared, “We play modern country, some old-time stuff, a lot of classic rock that sort of thing. Our demographic is pretty much our age, but kids like it too, and I’m the local music teacher in town at the Theodore Roosevelt school, so I’m hoping that some of my kids and their families come out tonight.”
Matt Graham, a Weehawken Township resident, expressed his relief at finally being able to enjoy the outdoors with his family. “Being cooped up in the house, my son’s been running a fever. It broke earlier today, so we’re ready to be outside and get some nice weather,” he said.
For Joao Marcopito, a Weehawken resident, the concert was a new experience for his family. “It’s me and three kids. This is the little one. This is Max, and I want to see if they enjoy the music, like music. Oh, so you don’t even know if they’ll like the music yet? No, I mean we tried once, but I think this is going to be the new experiment with everyone aware that they’re going to watch a show, so let’s see how it goes,” he shared.
As the sun sets over Weehawken, the Sounds of Summer concert series continues to create a harmonious blend of community, culture, and music, proving once again that the best things in life are often the ones that bring us together.