Sourland sounds like something out of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. It doesn’t give off a happy place vibe. You get the impression that it is populated by dour characters that all resemble Dick Cheney or Nancy Grace. There would be no sunshine, no peaceful meadows and no fun of any kind, especially live music to stir the soul. I’m very happy to report that in this instance, it is not the case. The Sourland Music Festival is Central New Jersey’s premier live music event of the summer. Every year people come together with local food, great music, and a spectacular view, all hosted by the Sourland Conservancy, a non-profit organization that works to protect the Sourland Mountain region and all its historical and ecological resources. The 90-square-mile Sourland region is home to the largest contiguous forest in Central New Jersey. The sparsely populated area includes parts of Somerset, Hunterdon and Mercer counties, and encompasses a complex ecosystem of forest, wetlands and grasslands.
Tom Marshall, longtime lyricist for the jam band Phish and who now lives in the Sourlands said, “I hike in the Sourland Mountain Preserve all the time. Any charity that helps a cool cause like this, we’d love to take part.”
The festival is held in an open field so bring a lawn chair, a blanket and your sunglasses and don’t forget the sunblock. Grab some local food, a cold beer, and lose yourself to a music lineup that covers Jazz, the Blues, Americana and old school Rock & Roll with popular acts like Norman Taylor, Dave Stryker, Slackjaw, CB Radios, and Jo Wymer with the Matt O’Ree Band. (What, no Sourpatch Kids?)
eNJoy yourself. SAVE THE SOURLANDS!!!
July 19 4-10 pm; adults, $20; kids under 13, $5; under 7, free. Hillsborough Country Club, 146 Wertsville Road, Hillsborough
908-428-4216
sourlandmusicfest.org
