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Newark Celebration 350 (NC 350) announced that Grammy Award-winning music mega stars Faith Evans and Naughty by Nature with “the Princess of Salsa,” India, and some of Newark’s top local performing artists will headline, Founders Weekend Festival, a two and a half day event of arts and entertainment, culture and community that celebrates the 350th anniversary founding of one of America’s greatest cities.
From May 13-15, this free and open to the public Festival will take over Newark’s Military Park and its surrounding areas with two stages of daytime and nightly music concerts, which, in addition to international recording stars, will feature an unprecedented lineup of Newark’s top local music artists. The lineup includes jazz great Stefon Harris performing with the United States Air Force premier jazz ensemble, the Airmen of Note; Gospel group Jubilation with Cissy Houston; one of the city’s best youth school bands, Jazz House Kids; Brick City Jazz Orchestra; Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens and popular DJs to close out each night, Felix Hernandez and Bobby Trends. This unique, one of a kind festival is produced by Newark Celebration 350, a year-long spectacular of over 150 marquee events and festivities that highlight Newark’s rich history and culture. Unlike any other festival, NC 350’s programming was presented by a unique coalition of citizens, educational institutions, cultural organizations and community groups.
“Newark Celebration 350 Founders Weekend Festival will be a shining moment in Newark’s history when we look back on this milestone celebratory year and at the number of extraordinary events and programs celebrating our city’s incredible past and bright future,” said NC 350 Chair Junius Williams. “Newark has always been a great city for great music. We are proud to present this exceptional lineup of Newark’s finest hometown grown talent who have gone on to become international superstars and changed the world with their gifts. Our city and citizens deserve a reminder of our heritage and we hope that everyone will come together to enjoy this weekend.”
“I commend NC350 for taking this opportunity to recognize the incredible artistry that is part of the tapestry of the heritage of our City. From Wilson Avenue to Mount Prospect Street and from Lyons Avenue to Broad Street – and all of the neighborhoods and communities in between –Newark boasts a wealth of talent,” said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. “It is my hope that these performances will encourage and inspire others in our community to share their untapped gifts and expertise with the City.”
As one of Newark’s finest, multi-platinum Grammy award-winning R&B diva Faith Evans will bring her powerhouse voice and show stopping presence to the stage as the Festival’s Friday night headliner. With a music career spanning over two decades, Evans has released eight studio albums, with over 18 million albums sold and spawning over 30 singles. She has also performed on 20+ soundtracks and a host of guest appearances during her career. A seven-time Grammy nominee, Evans won a Grammy for “Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group” in 1998 for “I’ll Be Missing You,” an homage to her late husband and hip-hop legend Notorious B.I.G.
Hot on the heels of their 25th year anniversary as one of hip hop’s legendary and most enduring iconic groups, Naughty by Nature will hit the stage on Saturday night in a not to be missed triumphant return to their hometown of Newark. Former East Orange High School students and friends—Anthony “Treach” Criss, Vincent “Vin Rock” Brown and deejay and producer Keir “Kay Gee” Gist —made history by becoming the first artists to win the first Grammy for Rap Album of the Year in 1996. Their hit singles, “O.P.P.” “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright (Ghetto Bastard),” “Jamboree” and the infectious “Hip Hop Hooray” became the anthems of a generation while their latest albums and sold out concerts continue to bring on a new legion of hip hop fans from all over the world.
Closing out the weekend’s power lineup on Sunday will be the incomparable, India, one of the world’s top Latin music recording artists. Crowned the “Princess of Salsa” by Celia Cruz, her duet on the hit song “La Voz de la Experiencia” (The Voice of Experience) with the late Queen of Salsa unleashed a string of numerous Latin chart topping hit singles including the Grammy nominated “Sobre el Fuego” (Over the Fire), “Sola” and her first number-one song “”Sedúceme.” The romantic salsa hit brought on a greater fan base and many awards and nominations, including two Latin Grammy nominations for Best Salsa Album and Best Tropical Song in 2003, and her third Grammy Award nomination for Best Salsa Album. India has been honored with a star on the Walk of Fame at Union City’s Celia Cruz Park.
In addition to a stellar music line-up, festivalgoers can also look forward to enjoying performances that reflect the city’s heralded traditions of dance and spoken word poetry and offerings of the city’s diverse and ethnic cuisine at the NC 350 North Ward Food Truck Festival.
Other festival highlights include the Kidz Korner, a family fun activity area, a local arts and crafts fair as well as public art exhibitions including Newark’s proclaimed “peace ambassadors,” the Animodules. The new edition of these three-dimensional sculptures created by students and senior citizens in the communities under the direction of professional artists will be unveiled and erected outside of New Jersey Performing Arts Center. In addition, the Festival Expo will offer community outreach programs for health screenings, voter registration and information services by city and social service agencies and non-profit organizations. This not to be missed extraordinary weekend of festivities and programs invites city residents and visitors to experience the very best of Newark during this historic milestone year. More talent and programs to be announced in the coming weeks. Please visit nc350.org for updates.
The Signature Partners for Newark Celebration 350 are Prudential Financial, Victoria Foundation, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and PSEG. Premier Partners are Foundation for Newark’s Future, Community Foundation of New Jersey, Barnabas Health, Panasonic, Dodge Foundation, Newark Charter School Fund, Rutgers University-Newark, City of Newark, Fidelco and MCJ/Amelior Foundation. Spotlight Partners include Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Charles Edison Fund, Bank of America, PNC Bank, Investors Foundation, JP Morgan Trust, TD Bank, Essex County College, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Profeta Urban Investment Foundation, Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, Edison Properties, Turrell Fund, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Capital One, Novartis, Gibbons Law, McCarter & English, Wells Fargo, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC, Century 21 Construction, Schumann Fund for New Jersey, Matrix Development, Lowenstein Sandler, and AAA Northeast.
