Washington, NJ Festival in the Borough - Monique Grimme correspondent

WASHINGTON - A stage devoted to the blues on Sunday, over 30 bands in all!
And in a new twist, this year's Festival in the Borough in Washington
Borough (Warren Cty) will feature an Open Mic on Saturday afternoon Oct. 1. For
those musicians/singers wishing to have the opportunity to play before an
audience, the Open Mic will take place under the awning of North Carolina
Furniture (Broad/E. Washington Avenue) from 12 noon to 5 p.m.
Meanwhile, the ever popular Acoustic Tent returns once again, this time on
Sunday Oct. 2, also by North Carolina Furniture.
The newly expanded two day 7th annual festival, hosted by the Washington
Business Improvement District, takes place Saturday and Sunday Oct. 1 and 2.
This year's event will continue to feature incredible music, this time
over two days. The Saturday portion will run from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. while
Sunday's hours will go from 12 noon to 5 p.m.
Among the great main stage acts set to play on Saturday this year are
Quimby Mountain Band, Jimmy & The Parrots, Kinderhook, Buck Dilly & Live Bait,
Jungle Jazz Initiative, and Too Stupid To Quit. Plainfield Slim & The
Groundhawgs (_www.myspace.com/plainfieldslim_
(http://www.myspace.com/plainfieldslim) ) and Low Society ( _http://www.reverbnation.com/lowsociety_
(http://www.reverbnation.com/lowsociety) ) are among the Sunday Blues bands on the
PNC Main stage, which features a host of other blues acts all day long
presented by MoPromo Mgmt Co (_www.myspace.com/mopromo_
(http://www.myspace.com/mopromo) )
At the Acoustic Tent on Sunday, visitors to the festival will have the
chance to see and hear Emily Barnes (12 noon), JerZGirls (1 pm), Kathy Moser
(2 pm), and Karen Kamenetsky w/Friends at 4 pm.
It's not all about music though as there will be a host of inflatable
rides, a climbing wall, and other kids activities, terrific vendors, delicious
food, a beer garden, and more. Warren County's largest music and street fair
will have nearly 100 craft and specialty vendors, as well as numerous
participating downtown businesses.
Admission is free and there's plenty of free parking, too.
To learn more about the festival, visit _www.festivalintheborough.com_
(http://www.festivalintheborough.com/) .
Warren County Cultural & Heritage Commission also sponsors the festival
with support from the Warren County Freeholders and partial funding from the
New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Department of State, a Partner Agency
of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Washinhgton Festival in the Borough - Oct 1&2 - Washington, NJ

Sunday Music NJ American Water Blues Stage (Downtown Stage) 12:00 noon Duane Chez Blues Band 12:50 SLACKJAW 1:40 - 2:30 Low Society 2:45 - 4:00 Plainfield Slim & The Groundhawgs 4:10 - 5:00 Kim Brewer Band Mr. Music Stage (former St. Cloud lot) 12-12:45 Stone Cold Fever 1 pm Jack Tannehill 2 pm Rockin' Blue 3 pm Mr. Music students and teachers 4 pm Stone Cold Fever NJ American Water Acoustic Tent (located by North Carolina Furniture) 12:00 noon Lelica w/BD Lenz 1 pm JerZGirls 2 pm Kathy Moser 3 pm Emily Barnes 4 pm Karen Kamenetsky & Friends

Duane Chez Blues Band Duane Chez is based out of Central New Jersey and has also roots in the Northwest part of the state. The long time player's new band is making its debut at the Blues Stage this year. SLACKJAW Founded by John Thompson and Randy Marinelli, Slackjaw is a band with a style all its own with influences such as Joe Bonamassa, Eric Clapton, BB King, Steve Vai, and Joe Satriani. Carl Capodice and Lenny DePiano are the newest members of the band. Low Society Low Society screams the blues. Featured performers at this year's Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale Mississippi, this will be their debut appearance at the Festival in the Borough Blues Stage. Singer Mandy Lemons will thrill you with her astonishing powerhouse voice which mixes southern fried soul and northern attitude. You will be astonished to hear so much power coming out of such a small figure, and you can clearly hear the influences of Koko Taylor, Etta James, Big Maybelle, and of course Janis Joplin. Veteran slide guitarist Sturgis Nikides pays homage to the authentic sounds of the Mississippi Delta. Their debut CD 'High Time' is a hard charging mixture of traditional acoustic and electric blues, with a refreshing and diverse original style. This awesome band is from New York City. Plainfield Slim & The Groundhawgs Plainfield Slim is the blues alter ego of singer/songwriter Gar Francis. Guitarist and songwriter for the Doughboys whose song “Black Sheep” from the acclaimed first album “Is It Now?” was chosen by Little Steven’s Sirius radio show The Underground Garage as the #2 “Coolest Song In The World” for the year 2008. The first single “I’m Not Your Man” from the second album by the Doughboys (also written by Gar) was picked as the # 3 “Coolest Song In The World” 2009. Gar has released solo projects under the Gar Francis name and Plainfield Slim & The Groundhawgs, a very raw, hypnotic, Mississippi type juke joint blues band. The Groundhawgs feature Lee Fink on slide guitar, Rocco Scavone on drums and fellow Doughboys Myke Scavone on harp, and Mike Caruso on bass. Plainfield Slim has released 2 full albums. “Another Mule In The Barn” & "When The Devil Hits Home" both of which have received global airplay with songs such as Dirty Girl, Moan, Hideout, Marlene, and Sweet Jesus. Plainfield Slim & The Groundhawgs bring a kind of excitement to the stage that is pure and raw. The songs are simple and right to the point and can make a grown man cry. Kim Brewer Band The members of the Kim Brewer Band enjoy playing Blues and early R&B of the late 1950's - present with a passion for each song they perform. Kim 's love for so many vocalists is too long to list, but early Tina Turner, Etta James,Dorothy Moore, Barbara Lynn, Lou Ann Barton, and Janiva Magness are just a few! Kim started her first blues band in the 90's and has had a love for the Blues ever since. Lew Gatewood, Charlie Peer, Mike Carroll, and Kim have a great respect and love of music which is evident in their performances together. Stone Cold Fever Stone Cold Fever is a four-piece band playing an irresistible mix of British hard rock, blues and classic rock. Stone Cold Fever has played across Central NJ, from private parties, neighborhood bars, street fairs, and rock clubs. With Gary Bouchard on vocals and bass, Mr. Music’s own Bob Russell on lead guitar and vocals, John Gallo on guitar and vocals, and Jerry Kolber on drums and vocals. Stone Cold Fever is truly the “Raiders of the Lost Rock”. Mr. Music, LLC Mr. Music, LLC is sponsoring the stage at the former St. Cloud lot, featuring bands on Saturday and Sunday, along with performances by the teachers and some of the students on Sunday afternoon. Mr. Music is located at 110 Rt. 31 N, in Washington and is now under new ownership with Bob Russell and Lewis Wetherall at the helm offering musical instruments for purchase and music lessons for people of all ages featuring guitar, bass, drums, piano, violin, flute and vocals . Bob Russell, Kevin Frey, Ejvind Boccolini, and Kevin McCann round out the teachers on board. For more information on the store go to www.mrmusic-store.com.