The 25th Annual Hoboken Arts & Music Festival will return to Washington Street, from Observer Highway to Seventh Street, on Sunday, Sept. 30 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The free event will draw an estimated 30,000 attendees to enjoy roughly 200 vendors including artists, crafters, painters, photographers, local businesses, and non-profits.
The festival includes three stages with live musical performances throughout the day. This year’s headliner is Marshall Crenshaw and The Smithereens.
The Smithereens were formed in Carteret, N.J. Over the past 38 years they had a number of popular songs, including “Blood and Roses,” “Behind the Wall of Sleep,” “A Girl Like You,” “Only a Memory,” and “Too Much Passion.”
Drummer for The Smithereens Dennis Diken said fans can expect to hear several of those hits as well as a few songs they like to cover.
Diken said the band has performed in various Hoboken hotspots, including the now closed Maxwell’s Tavern.
“It’s almost like a hometown gig for us even though we aren’t from Hoboken,” said Diken.
Former lead singer Pat DiNizio passed away last December, but the Smithereens knew their fans wanted them to continue. This is when the band decided to ask popular ’80s singer Marshall Crenshaw to perform with them.
“We were never looking to replace Pat in anyway shape or form,” said Diken “His voice is so unique, there will never be another Pat. We wanted someone who did not sound like him, but someone that would have the spirit of what we are doing, and Marshall really brings something different to the music.”
They will perform at 4:30 p.m. at the Observer Highway stage.
Other performers this year include Joe Grushecky & the House Rockers, RocknRoll Hi-Fives, Sylvana Joyce + the Moment, Zydeco Revelators, Sensational Country Blues Wonders, Maxima Alerta, Elevator Pitch, Songs for Seeds, Kid Notes with Chrissy Roberts & Ralph Capasso, Michael from Michael & The Rockness Monsters, Garden Street School of the Performing Arts, North River Sing Community Chorus and more.
“It’ s almost like a hometown gig for us even though we aren’t not from Hoboken.” –Dennis Diken of The Smithereens
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All types of art
Artists will display and sell oil paintings, watercolors, acrylics, sculpture, mixed media, and photography. Attendees will be able to purchase handmade jewelry, soaps, candles, body products, home décor, jewelry, and clothing.
This year includes local artist Ricardo Roig, who said he got his start at the festival in 2008.
“When I first started I was waiting tables in town and I thought I should put my art out there,” said Roig. “I didn’t even have a booth really. I think I just had a rug and some chairs that I leaned everything against, and I sold everything. It was the first time I thought I could really do this for a living.”
Since then, he has opened his own Hoboken gallery that showcases his hand cut paper stencil screen prints.
He has decided to return to the festival this year because he feels it’s important for Hoboken artists to participate. He hopes to expose visitors to fine art.
“I grew away from it, but now I’m coming back because I want to revitalize the fine art aspect of the festival and reach back out to people. Some people you only see once a year at the festival,” he said.
Nicoletta Siccone, who was born and raised in Hoboken, will return for the sixth time to the festival. She creates art and jewelry out of zippers.
“One of the best things about the show in Hoboken is that it draws a crowd that very much appreciates the arts… I look forward to meeting people who ‘get’ my work,” she said. “I really enjoy experiencing those ‘a-ha’ moments, when they realize that my jewelry is actually made from zippers.”
She will showcase some of her paintings as well as her jewelry.
Astro Vinyl Art, comprised of father-son team David and Alec Friel, are returning for the third time this year. They carve art into vinyl albums as well as use old album covers as inspiration for their own pieces. This year they said they will feature some Frank Sinatra inspired works, as well as Billy Joel and more.
Children’s activities
The festival will also have a dedicated children’s section on Third Street. There will be rides, games, creative activities, and live performances.
Marilyn Baer can be reached at marilynb@hudsonreporter.com.
