John Prine and Steve Earle & The Dukes to headline 6th Annual Rockland Bergen Music Festival at German Masonic Park in Tappan, NY June 22 & 23
Performers Include Willie Nile Band,Donna The Buffalo, Joe Purdy, Williams Honor, James Maddock, Guy Davis, Joe D’Urso, Stone Caravan, and more.
Presented by New Jersey/New York fixture Joe D’Urso and Halmar International, the 6th annual Rockland-Bergen Music Festival kicks off on Wednesday, June 19 at Levity Live in West Nyack, NY with the Rockland County Music Awards. For the first time in its history the festival will span five days and four music venues, featuring headlining sets from Steve Earle & The Dukes and American songwriting legend John Prine at German Masonic Park in Tappan, NY on Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23 respectively. This will serve as Prine’s only metro-area performance of the summer.
Tickets are currently on sale on at rbmfestival.com
“When I first started this festival five years ago on my 50th birthday, I hoped to see it grow and bring in many of the world’s best songwriters as well as involve more local charities and communities in both Rockland and Bergen counties,” says Joe D’Urso.”
Both counties have been underserved with outdoor entertainment/national talent over the years. I had a few “goal” songwriters in mind when I started, and I am extremely proud to present John Prine and Steve Earle this year as they were part of the “goal” writers I was thinking about.”
Rockland-Bergen Music Festival’s mission is to host a week of music that will connect the local community to great artists as well as charities like Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, WhyHunger, Light of Day, and many more. There will be 16 charities on site each day under the banner of “Active’s Circle of Hope” once again sponsored by Active International.
“Having the amount of local charities involved at RBMF each year is just as important to me as having some of our Country’s best songwriters performing,” stated D’Urso. “I always joke that the weekend of RBMF is my inner Harry Chapin and Pete Seeger exploding as my goal from day one was to have every single person who walks into German Masonic Park make a connection with one of the organizations that we have on site each day. Not just a donation/drop in the bucket, but making that organization a part of their lives for years to come. It will enrich lives, trust me on this one.”
The festival begins on Wednesday, June 19 at Levity Live in West Nyack/Palisades Mall as the RBMF will honor a handful of area personalities with the first ever Rockland County Music Awards. The honorees will be announced in the June issue of Rivertown Magazine. The free admission event will be a mixture of music, speeches and hopefully a new chapter for Rockland County looking at its past, present and future.
The next two days of music will take place at Rockland/Bergen county music venues ’76 House, located in Tappan, and The Turning Point, in Piermont. Featured acts on June 20 and 21 include School of Rock Orangeburg, Foxfires, Bach to Rock, McMule, Scott Wolfson & Other Heroes, The Slippery Chickens and Matt Jaffe.
The daytime outdoor portion of the RBMF will take place on Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23 at German Masonic Park featuring Donna The Buffalo, Joe Purdy, Joe D’Urso & Stone Caravan, Williams Honor, Willie Nile Band, James Maddock Band, Guy Davis, Jeffrey Gaines, The Roues Brothers, Miss Emily, Anthony D’Amato, Tim O’Donohue & TMU, Johnny Markowski, David Frye, Christine Martucci, Chihoe Hahn, Adam Falcon and full length concerts from headliners Steve Earle & The Dukes, and John Prine.
A few new elements to RBMF this year include the involvement of City Winery who will be pouring many of their famous wines each day at German Masonic Park, the Rockland County Music Awards, and the Rockland County Beer Garden which makes its debut highlighting local craft beer. Also, the legendary Capitol Theater of Port Chester, NY will be on site each day at the RBMF giving out promotional tickets to their famed theater.
Ticket Pricing
Advance Tickets: $53 (ends 6/16) for Saturday June 22, $81 (ends 6/21) for Sunday, June 23
Week of Tickets: $57 (ends 6/21) for Saturday June 22, $86 for Sunday, June 23
Day of Tickets: $60 for Saturday June 22, $90 for Sunday, June 23
Children 12 and under admitted for free with Adult
High School and College ID: $35–day of purchase only, no advance
Main RBM Festival Sponsors
Halmar International–Title Sponsor
Cannataro Park Avenue Financial–Glow-Seeger Stage Sponsor
Cannataro Park Avenue Financial–Mr.Lou/Stefan’s Turning Point Stage Sponsor
Rockland County Tourism–General Sponsor
Active International–Circle of Hope Sponsor
City Winery–Media Sponsor
Levity Live–Media Sponsor
Capitol Theater–Media Sponsor
Palisades Center–Patron Sponsor
Orange & Rockland–Patron Sponsor
McLaughlin & Associates–Friend Sponsor
Gregg Casserta/Michael Savin–Friend Sponsor
Rockland County Business Journal–Friend Sponsor
Organizations On Site Under “Active’s Circle of Hope”
Light of Day
WhyHunger
People to People
Dan Sullivan Foundation
Hi-Tor Animal Care Center
Habitat for Humanity
Camp Venture
Penguin Plunge
V.C.S.-Volunteer Counseling Services
Sunrise Day Camp
Meals on Wheels
South Orangetown Ambulance Corp
Love Hope Strength Foundation
Orangetown Auxiliary Police
PFLAG Rockland
Wednesday, June 19
Levity Live-West Nyack, NY
The 1st Rockland County Music Awards presented by RBMF:Honoring Rockland County Music Past, Present and Future
Thursday, June 20
The Turning Point-Piermont, NY
Scott Wolfson & Other Heroes
McMule
Joe D’Urso’s Acoustic Excursion
’76 House-Tappan, NY
School of Rock Orangeburg
Friday, June 21
The Turning Point-Piermont, NY
Miss Emily
The Slippery Chickens
Joe D’Urso & Stone Caravan
’76 House-Tapan, NY
The Foxfires
Saturday, June 22
German Masonic Park – Tappan, NY
Steve Earle & the Dukes
Willie Nile Band
James Maddock Band
Guy Davis
Jefferey Gaines
Christine Martucci
Joe D’Urso & Stone Caravan
The Demos
Johnny Markowski
Adam Falcon
Miss Emily
David Frye
Chihoe Hahn
Pete Mancini
Stella Mrowicki
and others to be announced shortly…
The Turning Point – Piermont, NY
Matt Jaffe
Williams Honor
Joe D’Urso & Stone Caravan
’76 House – Tappan, NY
Bach to Rock
Sunday, June 23
German Masonic Park – Tappan, NY
John Prine
Donna the Buffalo
Joe Purdy
Williams Honor
Joe D’Urso’s Acoustic Excursion
The Roues Brothers
Tim O’Donohue & TMU
Matt Jaffe
Anthony D’Amato
Bobby DiBlasio Band
’76 House – Tappan, NY
(RBMF Wrap Up Shindig) with Tim O’Donohue & TMU
Festival Information
Rain or shine event
Parking: $10 (portion of proceeds donated to Light of Day & WhyHunger)
Parking lot opens at 9:30am
Tailgating is now allowed in German Masonic Park parking lots
Gates open at 10:30am
Music begins at 11:00am
Music ends at 7:30pm
No re-entry except for medical reasons
Notes
-Blankets and chairs welcome
-No outside food, beverages, plastic bottles, cans, pets, coolers, or knapsacks
-There will be no tents allowed this year due to the expected size of the crowds
-Small umbrellas are fine in case weather is inclement as this is a rain or shine event
-Hats, sunglasses and bandannas for shade, Sunscreen
-Personal identification and medical documentation, in case of emergency
-Cash is good to bring. There is an ATM on site as well and the town of Tappan is close by
-Rain gear, just in case, and clothing with a hood. Extra pair of shoes/sneakers.
Masonic Park asks that you please NOT bring
-Liquor, Beer, Wine, Soda, Water (All will be sold on site at very reasonable pricing per Joe D)
-Coolers
-Backpacks are OK for clothing and personal items, but are subject to security search upon entrance
-Guns or knives (really?)
-Fireworks
-Pets (Service animals, trained to assist an individual with a disability, are allowed)
For sponsorship and vending opportunities please email [email protected]
For tickets and more information, please visit RBMFestival.com
For more information, please contact:Sonny Bailey-Lemansky[email protected]
Joe [email protected]
