IRVINGTON, NJ — Mayor Tony Vauss and the Irvington Municipal Council are inviting the entire community to come out and get a Taste of Irvington Jazz in the Square on Thursday, June 16, from 5 to 8 p.m., at the inaugural performance of the summer music series outside the Municipal Building in Civic Square.
“We just wanted to bring the community out for a night of fun and entertainment,” said organizer Jamilah Beasley on Tuesday, June 7. “We have three awesome bands lined up, as well as DJ Antoine Qua, for a free concert in the square. We can come together as a community.”
According to Beasley, the series will feature scheduled headliners Dimension Band and Valerie Adams on Thursday, June 16; Hunter Hayes on Thursday,July 21; and Golden Child Entertainment on Thursday, Aug. 18.
“All of the concerts will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. in City Hall Plaza in Civic Square and DJ Qua will provide the sounds to keep the crowd moving and the party going in-between the performers’ sets,” said Vauss on Tuesday, June 7. “Everything that we’ve done since I’ve taken office has been about rebuilding community pride. We truly believe in ‘one team, one dream,’ in order to make Irvington strong again.”
Vauss said the three-part Taste of Irvington Jazz in the Square series “is just another example of how we bring the community out to have a good time with one another and enjoy what our township has to offer. Other communities have similar types of events and we want to have that for our residents here in Irvington.”
Councilwoman at Large Renee Burgess said that sounds good to her.
“A Taste of Irvington Jazz in the Square is geared towards the mature crowd,” said Burgess on Monday, Jun 6. “This event is designed to have the community come together and enjoy good food, fun, live entertainment and an amazing DJ. I am looking forward to these events, because it’s going to prove to our beautiful residents that Irvington is changing into a safe and clean environment, where families and surrounding cities will be proud to call this home.”
Burgess said she believes the Jazz in the Square Series is “the start to many good things to come to make our community strong.”
According to Neighborhood Preservation Director Melody Thomas-Scott, even though it’s officially A Taste of Irvington, the three-part concert series reminds her of her childhood growing up in nearby East Orange.
Thomas-Scott said, “It is important that communities come together and celebrate their diversity, providing a place where segments of our community that may not regularly interact can come together and generate a sense of pride for local arts and culture that ultimately transform communities.”
East Orange City Council Chairman and 3rd Ward Councilman Ted Green is also the director of Irvington’s Building Department and knows about organizing free concerts for the community, based on his nine years running the annual 3rd Ward Summer Fest in Elmwood Park, along with his East Orange 3rd Ward City Council partner Councilwoman Quilla Talmadge.
“I think that it’s always good to see that other surrounding towns are bringing entertainment to their constituents,” said Green on Tuesday, June 7, adding “I think it’s a good thing for any municipality to do.”
To learn more about the Taste of Irvington Jazz in the Square concert series, visit www.irvington.net.
Irvington prepares to kick off Jazz in the Square series added by Chris Sykes on
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