This weekend from July 26 to July 28, Lincoln Park Music Festival’s (LPMF) annual celebration of spirit and dance, gears up for three days of music, movement and Black culture joy.
The festival, started by Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District, created a one-of-a-kind experience where distinct musical genres—gospel, house music, jazz, soul, R&B and hip hop—birthed from the Black experience in America are highlighted.
For its day of house music on Saturday, Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District plans to spark fireworks. Since it created the first outdoor stage in the US dedicated to house music, now in its fourteenth year, the festival brings the iconic, DJ Timmy Regisford to headline.
“I’m excited to play in New Jersey for the first time – and especially happy that it’s going to happen at the Lincoln Park Music Festival. Looking forward to seeing everyone come out and dance and have a great time.”
Regisford is one of the founders behind the renowned Club Shelter parties in New York City. The inception of his internationally acclaimed club parties for over 20 years, helped to pioneer the soulful house music sound that has shaped the face of house music all around the world.
Trinidad-born, Regisford’s work in the industry spans over thirty years. From his position of Music Director of New York’s radio station, WBLS to A&R Director of Atlantic Records, MCA Records, Motown and Dreamworks where he signed chartbusing talents such as Miki Howard, Levert, Loose Ends and Colonel Abrams, as well as, multi-platinum R&B group Guy featuring mega producer Teddy Riley, and hip hop icons Eric B and Rakim.
The complete day of house music, which takes place on Saturday, includes “The Voice of First Choice” Rochelle Fleming; Keith Thompson singing the mega-hit “Break 4 Love”; DJ Duce Martinez of DWILD Music Radio; House Music prodigy DJ Ameer; vocalist Cynthia Tucker; Cassio Ware of Whatszzz Up Superstar; The Beat Brothas of Humble Beginnings and DJ Sassy of Newark’s Femme Tribe.
‘I know I’ve been changed’: A day of Gospel, Jazz, Soul
Before the house music daylong session comes the day for gospel, on Friday. Today, the events kick off at 12 p.m. with the “Lunchtime In The Park” and “Soulful Seniors” segment featuring jazz bands and gospel ensembles. The event runs throughout the day with events such as YOPAT LIVE!—an acronym for Youth Outreach for Performing Arts and Technology—put on by Newark’s next generation singers including, YOPAT protégé, vocal powerhouse Tia Holt.
Stomps and shouts kick up in the evening with “Gospel in the Park,” starring season three winner of the BET gospel singing competition show Sunday Best Le’Andria Johnson. Johnson’s “Sunday Best” coronation song, “I Shall Leap into My Destiny”, co-written by Johnson, entered the Billboard Gospel chart at number
Also performing during Friday’s dedication to gospel is Joshua Nelson of the Revival Temple Center of Deliverance Choir, Crystal Levell, and Michael Gray. Starting at 8:30 p.m., New Jersey’s own Lenny Harold, a former member of Teddy Riley’s multi-platinum, stadium rockin’ group Blackstreet will headline “Soul In The Park,” the R&B segment of the event. “Soul In The Park,” also includes songstress, Gail Campbell and closes out with our first-ever Friday night dance party with DJ Cole Crush (of Soul In The Horn) and Trew & Culture.
When did you fall in love with hip hop?
Rounding up the festival on Sunday is a day immersed in hip hop. Known as “Hip Hop Culture Day” FORSA Radio host Marcy Depina aka “DJ MD” curates a series of sets to showcase subgenres of the most popular musical genre in the world. From underground to Caribbean infused art, the popular showcase brings deejays and emcees from around the world.
Festival hosts for the event carry a lineup with actor Tobias Truvillion (BET’s In Contempt, Fox’s Empire) and hip hop legends, Rah Digga (Co-host The Yanadameen Godcast Podcast, Flipmode Squad,The Outsidaz), and Dupre “DoItAll” Kelly (Lords Of The Underground). House Music hosts include Theresa the “Queen of New Jersey”, Eddie Nicholas, Marcy Depina/DJ MD (Forsa), Broadway Blake (Vibes In The City), SL (Art4Change) and Kids Zone hosts Bella Star, sister rap duo MORA MINA, plus youth scholar Lloyd Brown.
Raising the community with villages
Along with performances, the festival sets up activity and artisan villages for family fun and for guests to indulge in an array of vendors including international foods, clothing, cultural artifacts, specialty products and giveaways. A Kids Zone Village presented by the City of Newark, Believe In Newark Foundation and Hello Fresh includes activities for children and families including NJ Devils Hockey, Girls on Bikes, Newark Thrives, I’m So Yoga Newark, Newark Chess Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Union and Hudson, Fast Signs Newark, My Brothers Keeper Newark and skate partners SQAD, Certified Skateboards, ScoreBrx, Underground Skate Shop.
Additionally, a Sustainable Health and Wellness Village (SHWV) presented by Whole Foods showcases sustainable products and services of local and regional businesses, produce from our local farms, health screenings and more. SHWV also includes the Senior Village, catering to the large downtown Newark senior population with activities, information and connection to services.
Also, a Veterans Village, providing services and information to the senior and former military service persons, also includes a live boxing match on Saturday, July 27, 2019 from 1-5 p.m. with the 2019 New Jersey Diamond Glove & NJ State Tournament Live.
The Lincoln Park Music Festival (LPMF) is the largest music experience rooted in traditions of the African American and Afro Caribbean diaspora in the tri-state region. LPMF has expanded into an audience of 50,000-60,000 international attendees that comes together, over two weekends, to experience multiple genres of music including Gospel, Jazz, House, Hip-Hop, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae, Dancehall, Soca, Kompa and of the Latinx/Hispanic diaspora, as well as film, tech and music business education.
The Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District, Inc. (LPCCD) is a non-profit organization actively engaged in the practice of creative place-making. Its mission to plan, design and develop a comprehensive arts and cultural district in the historic red-light, Lincoln Park neighborhood of downtown Newark.
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