Michael Arnone Hosts Crawfish Fest in New Jersey

Twenty-two years of New Orleans music food and fun

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Boiled Crawfish

AUGUSTA, NJ (04/28/2011)(readMedia)-- Michael Arnone brings his annual Crawfish Fest to New Jersey on Friday, June 3 (campers only), Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5 at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta, NJ. For the 22nd year, fans will flock to Arnone's Crawfish Fest for their annual New Orleans "fix" of music and food.

The 2011 Crawfish Fest Line-up features some of the best Swamp-Rock, Zydeco, Delta Blues, Cajun, Funk and Brass Bands that New Orleans and Louisiana have to offer, with a food menu to match. Visitors to the Crawfish Fest regard this event as the single most important Louisiana and New Orleans Style Music, Food and Camping festival north of the Mason Dixon line.

Friday June 3rd is for three-day Camping Ticket holders only. The camping check-in begins at 10 a.m. EST and each camper receives free jambalaya samples on Friday night. Friday's performances will be on the Jager Stage in the Jager Pavilion featuring (The Meters co-founder) George Porter Jr & Runnin' Pardners, Devon Allman's Honeytribe and The Tin Men. Following in the footsteps of his dad, Gregg Allman of The Allman Brothers Band, Devon Allman and his band bring their unique blend of guitar-driven rock to the pavilion. Matt Perrine of The Tin Men was just seen in the Season Two premiere of HBO's Treme.

On Saturday and Sunday visitors will enjoy an array of memorable performances on four stages – the Main Stage, the Jager Pavilion, the News 12 NJ Dance Hall, with the wooden dance floor, and the Kids Stage (all but the main stage is under cover).

The Radiators, who's farewell tour will hit the Crawfish Fest Main Stage on Saturday June 4th for what is sure to be an epic final performance. With over a dozen albums, they'll crack out their hits and crowd favorites in what is sure to be one of the greatest moments in CFF history. We're honored to have one of the final performances of this trailblazing swamp-rock band as they head into retirement after giving the fans what they want – funky rock with danceable beats – for over three decades.

Also appearing on Saturday will be Grammy award-winner Tab Benoit, known for his love and hard work restoring the Louisiana Wetlands. Sonny Landreth, who can also be seen touring with Jimmy Buffet. New Orleans favorite Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes, and former cab driver turned bluesman Mem Shannon and The Membership. The Savoy Family will play two sets of their honed down, hard-core Cajun music laced with an earthy sensuality. Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie, Geno's sound is deeply rooted in traditional Creole music with strong influences from Cajun music and also country and western. Southwest Louisiana's premier Zydeco ensemble, Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas, joining us for another set will be The Tin Men. Brother Joscephus and the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra will bring their 12-piece explosion of righteousness to the Main Stage.

One the Kid's stage, NJ's own Polka Dot and 17 year-old singing sensation Summer Rae McLaughlan will keep the kids entertained and dancing when they aren't getting their faces done up at the face painting booth.

For the folks camping, the day continues into the night with four bands on two stages. Singer-songwriter Carolyn Wonderland will open the Jager stage and will be followed by NOLA Brass Band Bonerama. They can evoke vintage funk, classic rock and free improvisation in the same set; maybe even the same song. A 2nd set of the day by Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie will be followed Baltimore's own funk band- The Bridge – on the News 12 NJ Dance Hall stage.

Headlining the Main Stage on Sunday, June 5th will be The New Mastersounds featuring Art Neville (of the Neville Brothers and The Meters). They will cap this year's edition with two hours of their special blend of Funk. Joining them on Sunday will be New Orleans rock band Cowboy Mouth and Anders Osborne, known for his deep-blues slide guitar, rugged, soulful singing and vast gifts as a songwriter. Legendary guitarist/vocalist Guitar Shorty is a giant in the blues world. Credited with influencing both his ex brother in law Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Guy. The Iguanas reflect the diversity of musical styles found in their home state by fusing blues, Classic R&B, Zydeco, Cajun, Tex-Mex and Roots Rock & Roll. For those looking to dance Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas will grace us with a full set on the News 12 NJ Dance Hall stage. Grammy Nominee Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole will offer up two sets of Blues, Zydeco, Country and Old Soul on Sunday. Let Matt Angus Thing with Anthony Morgan's Choir take you to church Sunday on the main stage and take in the eclectic mix of The High & Mighty Brass Band, who recently opened for Galactic in the northeast, Johnny Ace and Sidewalk Zydeco has repeatedly drawn a "highly recommended" rating from "Time Out NY" magazine for it's NYC shows and has played to packed dance floors in midtown NYC.

Sunday's Kids stage acts to include the award-winning Swingset Mamas, and Summer Rae McLaughlan for an encore performance.

The New Orleans menu includes boiled crawfish with corn and potatoes, chicken & sausage jambalaya, grilled alligator sausage, Shrimp Creole, red beans & rice with pork sausage, catfish, crawfish, oyster, shrimp, hot sausage Po-Boys, crawfish pie, crawfish bread and Crawfish Etouffee. Festival enthusiasts, who prefer a more traditional menu, may choose from grilled Portabella mushroom sandwiches, vegetarian Red Beans, burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, fruit cups, sno-balls, beignets and other desserts.

Also, be sure to check out Michael Arnone at this year's Sync Up Conference on April 30 at 9 a.m. CST where he'll join other highly regarded industry executives for a panel discussion titled Curating a Music Festival. It will be streamed live.

Want to know more about the Crawfish Fest? There's now an app for that! Search for "Crawfish Fest" in the Android App Market Place and the iPhone App in the iTunes App Store to keep up to date on stage performances, shopping, and the menu.

Visit www.crawfishfest.com to purchase Saturday or Sunday single day tickets, Saturday/Sunday two-day combo tickets, group tickets, 4-day/3-night camping and The King Crawfish Krewe VIP tickets. Tickets will also be available at the gate. Free parking is available.

The Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Augusta, NJ are located off Interstate Route 80 at Exit 34B, just one hour west of Manhattan and thirty minutes from the Pennsylvania Pocono Mountains. For more information about tickets, entertainment, food, crafts and lodging, visit www.crawfishfest.com. Please, no recording devices, are pets, food and ice chests.

The Residence Inn Marriot in Mt Olive, NJ is offering fest goers a special rate. Call them for the Crawfish Fest rate. (973) 691-1720

Sponsors include Bud Light®, News 12 New Jersey, Jägermeister, WFDU-89.1FM, WNTI-91.9FM, 84RV.com, DonQ® Rum, Blackbeard Spiced Rum, Residence Inn® Marriott, State Shuttle, Century Link, ITC Promotions and Crystal® Hot Sauce.

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