Grammy Nominee Thompson Square to Headline Country Music, BBQ Fest in Seaside Heights

Thompson Square (Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Townsquare Media)

The partnership between Seaside Heights officials and a locally-run digital radio streaming station is about to get much bigger, with plans announced this week for a major country music festival and barbecue fest in the borough this fall.

The Coors Light Seaside Heights Country Music & BBQ Fest, will take place on Sept. 13 and 14 with two days filled with country music, food trucks, award-winning BBQ food, crafters, beer trucks and more. It will be headlines by top-selling country duo Thompson Square.

“We said we were going to bring Nashville to the Jersey Shore and we meant it!” said “Kaptain Jack” Aponte, owner of JerseyShoreCountry.com, a streaming station owned by the popular Shore area DJ who is broadcasting from the Seaside Heights boardwalk all summer. “This is the first of many country music fests and events to come. JerseyShoreCountry.com is proud to be part of it.”

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Aponte said more acts will be announced as the summer goes on.

The multi-platinum selling and Grammy-nominated Thompson Square are two-time Academy of Country Music (ACM) Vocal Duo of the Year winners and Country Music Association (CMA) Vocal Duo of the Year winners. Additionally, they have won multiple CMT Music Awards and American Country Awards and received American Music Award and Teen Choice Award nominations.

Their latest album debuted last summer.

The duo received Grammy nominations for Best Country Duo/Group Performance and Best Country Song for their double platinum-selling hit “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not.”

“To have our very first Country Music and BBQ Fest in Seaside Heights is beyond exciting!” said Mayor Anthony Vaz. “We are continually bringing events to our town for all families to enjoy and country music is certainly for all families. We welcome everyone to come and enjoy a great time with amazing talent, great food and some family fun!”

The event will also support a good cause.

“Our goal was to create a quality event, at an affordable price, and to give back to an amazing organizations”, said Dee Pellegrino of DPM Shore Solutions, organizer of the event.

Troopers Assisting Troops, an organization composed of retired and active New Jersey State Police troopers raises funds to provide service dogs to soldiers with PTSD and other injuries, will benefit from a portion of the proceeds of the Country Music Fest.

“We are honored to have some of our brave men and women of the United States Military and their incredible service dogs at our event,” said Pellegrino.

In addition to Troopers Assisting Troops,  the Seaside Business Improvement District, a nonprofit that provides economic revitalization and neighborhood preservation to the Borough of Seaside Heights will receive a portion of the proceeds.

The Coors Light Seaside Heights Country Music Fest will begin on Friday, Sept. 13th at 5 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. and feature CJ Solar and Southern Halo. On Saturday, Sept. 14, the events begin at 11 a.m. and include Spensha Baker from Season 14 on Team Blake of The Voice, Josh Phillips and headliner Thompson Square.  The event location will be on Grant Avenue between the Boulevard and Ocean Terrace.

Tickets are $20 for a two-day wristband and go on sale on this Wednesday, June 26. For additional information & to purchase tickets, visit exit82.com or etix.com.