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The event, which lasted into the night, featured more than 25 bands playing on two different stages sprawled out across the German Masonic Park in Tappan.
“Any time you get people out for live music, it’s good for the community. It’s good for the heart and it’s good for the soul,” said Rich Russo who MC’d the event and DJ's regularly on numerous local radio stations including 101.7 The Peak.
Rockland-Bergen Music Festival isn’t just about the music either. It’s primary mission is to raise "awareness and consciousness of many organizations that are doing great work in various fields of health and humanity,” according to its website.
Represented were 15 charity organizations involved in the local community including WhyHunger, Habitat for Humanity, and Meals on Wheels.
The event began three years ago as a self-organized 50th birthday celebration for Joe D’Urso, the event’s primary coordinator. D’Urso also performs at the event with his band each year.
The Festival featured delicious food from numerous local restaurants including True Food from Nyack and Bailey’s Smokehouse from Blauvelt.
Bands like Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers, the Willie Nile Band, and Joe Dalia and Thieves, had the diverse crowd of hundreds dancing and singing along to their blues-driven rock’n’roll full of high spirit.
The continued success of the event is a testament to the fact that although the festival is still in its infancy, being only three years old, the Rockland-Bergen Music Festival is already an established tradition in the Tappan community and will continue to occur annually for years to come.Click here to follow Daily Voice Monsey and receive free news updates.
