Kean University’s Jazz & Roots Music Festival will return to the East Campus in Hillside on Saturday, September 21. The event is open to the public and offers a free, outdoor celebration of music.
The festival will be headlined by Third World, a prominent reggae band. It will also feature musicians in jazz, blues, reggae, fusion, and more. The festivities will take place on The Lawn at Enlow Hall, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Attendees can bring picnics or visit food trucks available on site.
“The Jazz & Roots Music Festival is easily one of the most anticipated events on the Kean calendar,” said Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. “We take great pride in hosting the festival as part of the University’s role as a cultural hub and anchor institution for the region. We encourage everyone to come join us on our beautiful campus.”
The festival is produced by Kean University in collaboration with bassist and producer Mike Griot.
Griot highlighted that attendance has grown significantly since the festival began in 2021. Nearly 3,000 people attended in 2022.
“With a marquee musical headliner like Third World and other terrific performers, the Jazz & Roots Music Festival has arrived,” Griot said. “It will be a dynamic and fun festival experience, and I am honored for Mike Griot Presents to partner with Kean University in this extraordinary collaboration.”
The event starts at 3:30 p.m., but The Lawn at Enlow Hall (215 North Avenue) will open at 2:30 p.m. It is ADA accessible and does not require tickets. In case of rain, the event will be held on Sunday, September 22.
Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Parking will be available at Kean’s Main Campus (1000 Morris Avenue), with shuttle bus service provided. Accessible parking for senior citizens with an ID and guests with disability parking privileges will be available at the venue in Hillside.
Sponsors include Prudential as Preservation Sponsor; Vermella Union, PSEG, and First Bank as Premier Sponsors; along with In-Kind Sponsors County of Union and WBGO.
Performers include:
Third World – Celebrating their 50th anniversary as ambassadors of reggae music. Known for their genre of reggae fusion mixing elements from R&B, funk, pop, rock, and rap.
Stefon Harris & Blackout – A vibraphonist-composer hailed by The Los Angeles Times as “one of the most important young artists in jazz.”
Solomon Hicks – A renowned guitarist from Harlem who has been performing globally since age 14.
Prince Hakim – A DJ influenced by music from the '80s to today. He is known for spreading his message to “celebrate life” across various global venues.
For further details regarding directions, parking options, food vendors, and more information can be found on kean.edu/jazz-roots.
Alerts Sign-up