Sounds of Summer: Free Concerts in your Neighborhood

There’s something about the combination of summer and music that foster nostalgia and inspire the soul. Our surrounding communities and towns offer an opportunity to join the harmonious blend of live music, good company, and a shared love for the arts. Not only are these events free, but they offer a fantastic platform to celebrate and showcase the wealth of local talent. We’ve curated a list for readers to dive into the magic of these summer concert series, exploring the reasons they hold a special place in our hearts, and why they are a quintessential part of the summer experience.

Bernards

Two concerts are lined up for August at Pleasant Valley Park! Beginning at 6pm August 16th is Beatlemania Again and August 23rd, get ready for Hoi Polloi. Read more on this here!

Bloomfield

Be inspired by the beautiful Brookdale Park featuring the Event Horizon on August 4th, at 7:30pm. Find out more here!

Chatham 

Check-out these bands at the upcoming Gazebo Concert at Reasoner Park! August 17th from 6-7pm is featuring Andy Wang, and at 7pm prepare for the 60’s Rock & Roll revue with The John McDermott Band! Click here for more information and updates!

Florham Park 

Head on over to The Great Lawn Gazebo to enjoy these upcoming events! September 10th at 7pm American Idol star Tristan McIntosh gives a stunning performance articulating the essence of legendary Linda Ronstadt, with the tour of The Linda Ronstadt Experience.

Sunday September 17th, 7pm features an eclectic twist of classic, modern, elegance, and edge with The Benjamins. Get more details here!

Madison

August 18th from 6pm-8pm features the classic pop/rock band Rosewood! This concert is located outside the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts on the front lawn! More details found here!

Maplewood

This summer, head to the Gazebo (1662 Springfield Ave) for the 2023 Gazebo Summer Concert Series, where you’ll enjoy live music from talented artists and delicious foods from trucks on site. The concerts take place on Fridays at 7PM. For more information, click here!

Montclair

The Montclair Jazz Festival is back! This inclusive, family-friend musical hotspot is featuring an all day block party on August 12th from 12pm-10pm! There will be 10 hours of live music, including Jazz House KiDs, talented Jazz musicians throughout the day, and finally this event wraps up with DJ Brother Mister for some dance party fun! Then, on September 9th join the celebration for the Grand Finale! From 1pm-9pm ½ mile stretch of Bloomfield Avenue will feature 150 food and artisan vendors, and 5 downtown stages. For more information click here!

Morristown

Craving some good classic jams? Head to Ginty Field on August 8th to listen to The Desperados, an Eagles Tribute Band, at 7pm. So grab your friends and family! All the details are here!

South Orange

Downtown After SunDown is back in action at Spiotta Park each Saturday until September 2nd! From 6:30pm till 8:30pm enjoy the vibrant arts and culture that Downtown South Orange has to offer! The line-up features a cool blend of oldies, Classic Rock, and Soulful R&B, so grab your picnic blankets and enjoy the music! Find out more here!

Summit

Who doesn’t enjoy free ice cream with the sound of some of the best East Coast bands in the area? Come join the Hot Summer Nights Concert Series at 7pm at the Village Green on August 8th! Then, on August 15th, be on the lookout for Audio Riot and Brian Kirk and the Jirk! Find out more here! 

West Orange

Get ready for some versatility with the jazzy, soulful, funky, R&B band K Brown Express! Find this talented (and highly rated) performance at the Eagle Rock Reservation on August 11th at 7:30pm! To find out more click here!

West Caldwell

Food available for purchase starting at 6:30pm all concerts start at 7:30pm at West Caldwell Gazebo. August 3rd, ShopRite Spinn Barbeque (country and western) – all proceeds go towards the West Essex First Aid Squad

August 10th, Parrot Beach, featuring Rollin’ in the Dough Pizza, Mezoco Mexican Taqueria Food Truck, and Danny’s Soft Serve Truck. More information here

Westfield 

Sweet Sounds Downtown Music Festival 2023 is in full harmony with live music from 7pm-9pm every Tuesday from August 1st till August 29th. There are 3 locations for a wide variety of music genres to suit every style! Central Avenue ( 137 Central Ave), Quimby/Elm Street (125 Quimby Street), and the Local Spotlight at Foundation Park (439 South Avenue West). A full list of artists and their music genres are featured here