Eclectic Music At This Year’s Monmouth County Fair

Springsteen! The Premier Tribute to the Boss

Local cover bands and tribute singers will headline this year's annual Monmouth County Fair that begins July 22, featuring a Bruce Springsteen tribute band and a Motown-style cover band on each of the fair's weekend nights.

"We opted to try a mix of local and big-name acts this year," said Entertainment Chair Susan Liu about such groups as Springsteen! The Premier Tribute to the Boss, Total Soul, and the Colts Neck Swing Band. "We had a tighter budget than usual, but tried to go for bands with big local followings."

On Wednesday evening, the local Celtic pipe-and-drum band the Atlantic Watch will help kick off the Opening Ceremonies at 8PM, providing the national anthem and traditional Irish music for the fair's opening night.

For weekend visitors, the fair's nighttime lineup offers a chance to rock out or dance along. On Friday night, Freehold-based Springsteen! pays tribute to another Freehold native, the Boss, with a two-hour set beginning at 8pm on the main stage, while Motown cover band Total Soul will offer R&B hits on Saturday night from  8:30 PM to 10PM.

Local favorites The Colts Neck Swing Band will provide the week's musical finale on Sunday at 12 PM and 1:15 PM on the main stage, and smaller acts will play throughout the week on the outdoor entertainment stage. The Monmouth County Fair runs from July 22-26, and the musical acts are included in the fair's admission price ($7 for adults, free for children under 12).