West Orange Blues Festival & Taste of Downtown Food Court Friday

Put on your red dress, baby, and break out those high heeled sneakers, too — three great blues bands are performing on the baseball diamond at Colgate Park Friday, July 1 when the second Annual Blues Festival and Taste of Downtown Food Court rolls into West Orange from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. (Rain Date, July 2.) 

Cosponsored by the township Department of  Recreation under the direction of Bill Kehoe and the Downtown Alliance headed by Denise Esposito, there are some added attractions this year too: the traditional Skinner-Dunn Horseshoe Tournament and, in the event you throw out your back while throwing that horseshoe, free massages by the Chiropractic Rehabilitation Center of Verona.

Last year, about 200 - 300 residents came out. "With the popularity of the Blues Festival and of Taste of Downtown, we are expecting far more people of all ages," said Denise Esposito, the director the Downtown Alliance. "Combining forces is a natural combination, and it saves on costs, too."

 As to costs, admission to all events is free. The only charges are modest $3-$5 plate charges by the participating restaurants: Guy's Restaurant, Mazzi Dogz, Olga and Juanita's Deli, SuzyQue's BBQ and Bar, Taste of the Caribbean and desserts by Supreme Bakery.

The food court will feed your appetite, the three great bands, all headed by West Orange based bluesmen who all happen to sing baritone (most bluesmen sing tenor) will feed your soul. Here's the lineup: Kevin Kiley and Outpatients at 7 p.m., Big Mike and Jersey Jump at 8:15 p.m. and "and the Suburban Rhythm Kings at 9:30 p.m.

Performer, evening music producer and host Kevin Kiley talked about the music and the origin of the Blues Festival. "I ran the Blues jams at the nearby Franklin Tavern for about six years," Kiley said. "Bill Keogh asked me to perform with my group and to arrange the other bands. It's a great, varied line up. If your idea of the blues is an old guy playing harmonica on his porch — no — the blues is at the root of all American music."

"Mike and Al are more traditional, I'm outside the box," Kiley said. "My band mates and I play a combination of blues, R & B, Beatle covers and more, all with a real strong blues feel."

Gold added his thoughts: "Big Mike DeVita with his big harmonica sound makes his second appearance at the West Orange Bluesfest," Gold said. "His new hard working band, 'Jersey Jump,' pays tribute to the mid-century tight ensemble sound of the big city blues with great and stylish arrangements of classic material."

Gold — who heads a highly popular alternate Sunday's blues jam in the Valley Arts District — and his Suburban Rhythm Kings have a strong following for their deep vocals, soulful playing and crowd pleasing material.

"It'll be great fun, hanging with Kevin and Mike's bands at this great event," Gold said. "Nice sense of musical solidarity and community here; all three bands being based in West Orange; Kiley did an inspired booking."

For a preview of some of the music see Myspace.com/kevinkileytheoutpatient

Colgate Park is on Franklin Avenue and Cherry Street in West Orange. Part of Franklin Avenue along the length of Colgate Field will be closed into a pedestrian mall for the food court. Park along side streets or at the municipal pool and walk down. Call the Recreation Department at (973) 325-4150 or the Downtown Alliance at (973) 325-4109 for more information. There's a weather hotline at (973) 243-1115.