Goldenseal Headlines the 23rd Annual July 4th Oceanfest in Long Branch
The band Goldenseal has been named the headliner at the 2013 July 4th Long Branch Oceanfest celebration. This free concert, presented by the Long Branch Chamber of Commerce, begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Great Lawn, the outdoor concert arena off the ocean boardwalk between Rooney’s Oceanfront Crab House and the Ocean Place Hotel and Resort.
Goldenseal’s repertoire includes Americana-based original patriotic rock tunes, including Streets of America ; This Is My Home and Rock This Place, tunes that have led to record label interest and a “Top Male Performer” nomination at the 2013 JAM awards for lead singer Joe Hughes.
Golden Horns (horn section), keyboards and backup singers will accompany Goldenseal at Oceanfest. Hughes said, “Goldenseal is best known for getting the audience to sing and dance. We pride ourselves on inviting at least one guest from the audience to play the cow bell on stage at every gig.”
Hughes and his band dedicated its second CD entitled “ Streets Of America” to our American soldiers. The band has played by invitation of the military at Fort Dix, McGuire Air Force base, and Fort Monmouth. Goldenseal supports veterans, their families, and charities, such as The Federated Food Banks of New Jersey, the Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation
(www.jsjbf.org), the Special Olympics, and the Light of Day (Parkinson’s) Foundation.
In addition, Goldenseal has donated both its time and CD sales to an American Veteran group known as Vetwork. ( www.vetwork.org) In the fall, Goldenseal is scheduled to perform for the Vietnam veterans group Rolling Thunder at the Vietnam Memorial at the Garden State Arts Center. A highlight will be Honor and Redemption, an original song written by Hughes for Vietnam veterans.
Members of the band include lead singer, song writer, and rhythm guitar player Joe Hughes, a West Long Branch native; drummer and backup vocalist Pat Martucci; Jesse Kessler, a classically trained musician, composer, and arranger specializing in upright and electric bass; and John Bongiovanni, the lead guitarist.
Prior to Goldenseal’s performance at 7:30 p.m. there will also be performances by Swing Sabroso, Mad Satta and Rave On. Music starts at 1:30 p.m. Bring blankets or lawn chairs.
Goldenseal’s entire summer schedule can be found at www.goldensealtheband.com. Contact the band at goldenseal2001@comcast.net
Oceanfest sponsors include Barnabas Health, Monmouth Medical Center; Monmouth University; TD Bank; Xfinity; Asbury Park Press; 92.3 FM NOW; WJRZ 100.1; Ocean Place Resort & Spa; The LINK News; Pier Village; 95.9 The WRAT; Allen Consulting; New Jersey Monthly; JCP & L; Monmouth Park; Greater Media Newspapers and The Beach Beat.com; and AJD Construction.