Downtown After Sundown In South Orange, NJ for the 7th Year

By Gregory Burrus 

Since I always love live music events, have you heard about the Downtown After Sundown Live Music series in South Orange, NJ?  Well, in doing some research I found this statement from a past South Orange Village Center Alliance presentation which produces the Downtown After Sundown Series:

I found this very appropriate in that when it comes to building a strong downtown that the local folks from the village will hang out in, entertainment always ranks high up there.  And I love that the presentation takes it to the next level by saying the entertainment should take place in a
"pedestrian-friendly, intimate setting."

Enter the Downtown After Sundown Live Music Entertainment Series

Addressing the need for entertainment, South Orange, NJ officials created the Downtown After Sundown series which was initiated in 2009 and has been running every year since.  The objective is to get the locals to come on downtown and have some fun in the evening, listen to live music, and meet / enjoy your neighbors on the weekend.  Well, glad to report that so far folks have been coming out.

Now that the popular Downtown After Sundown evening concerts have returned to South Orange Village Center for the 7th year in a row, the South Orange Village Center Alliance has just recently released the 2016 summer schedule for the Annual Downtown After Sundown Concert Series.  The event presents four concerts each weekend in South Orange Village from the last weekend in May through the first weekend in September.  On the holiday weekends, there is an added Sunday concert performance.  The concerts are on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. 

There are two locations for the concerts.  One is on the corner of Sloan Street and South Orange Avenue.  The second location is one block away in the Spiotta Park location.  There are many opportunities for the bands to apply and appear as the music choices range from acoustic to zydeco, jazz to flamenco.  Yes, we are talking all types of jazz, rock, blues, country, gospel and more.  This wide range of genres is also excellent for the potential audiences.  With just about every musical style being represented at these free Downtown After Sundown Live Music series, everyone has their preferences being addressed, so pick the night that interests you and come on out.  

The quality of the musicians, while local, doesn't mean they are just "OK."  The reason being that Northern New Jersey is just across the water from New York, hence quality / very professional musicians who live and play in New York and love to play near home.  I've seen over time the likes of Angelita Mateus (Brazilian Jazz), Courtney Sappington (Jazz), Michael Hill Blues Mob (Blues), and Dave Easton (Funk and Jazz). 

Now it's time to grab your happy spirits, grab your kids, grab your dancing shoes, grab a lawn chair — yes, chair dancing allowed — grab a meal from a local restaurant, select your South Orange, NJ Downtown After Sundown location and get set for some really great live music, all free just for you.  Select your weekends and bands and music genre of interest from http://www.sovillagecenter.org/pub/gen/eventspage.  Come early so you can get a great spot, enjoy your neighbors, post a selfie of you having a great time and let us know you enjoyed yourselves at https://www.facebook.com/Downtown-After-Sundown-107118945991637/.  Oh yeah, don’t forget to look me up as I am usually wandering around the events, so stop me and say "hello" as I am looking forward to seeing you at this year’s 2016 Downtown After Sundown Series. 

About the Writer

Gregory Burrus is a supporter of local businesses, community events, jazz, blues musicians and local art exhibitions.  On a regular basis Gregory promotes art, music, business, history, government and local community events through social media marketing, writing articles, blogging and photo journalism.  Gregory Burrus resides in beautiful, historic town of South Orange, New Jersey, the home of beautiful gas lamps, many historic buildings, some wonderful old trees, the South Orange Performing Arts Center, Seton Hall University, South Mountain Reservation and many gorgeous, vibrant, growing communities in the surrounding North Jersey towns and cities of Essex County.  Having fun living life while helping others. Connect with Gregory Burrus: Facebook | Google+ |YouTube | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Vimeo