UNION, N.J., — Thousands of music lovers gathered at Kean University’s East Campus on Saturday for the annual Jazz & Roots Music Festival, a free outdoor event that brought together the community for a day of live music, food, and festivities. The event, held on The Lawn at Enlow Hall in Hillside, featured performances from top jazz, blues, and reggae artists.
Headlining the festival was the Grammy-nominated reggae band Third World, with other performances from jazz ensemble Stefon Harris & Blackout, blues guitarist Solomon Hicks, and DJ Prince Hakim. Kean University has hosted the festival since 2021 as part of its mission to serve as a cultural hub for northern New Jersey.
“Today is an example of Kean University anchoring down, making sure the community understands we appreciate them,” said Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. “We do this free concert every year so we can come together at a great cultural event.”
Festival producer and bassist Mike Griot praised the growth of the event. “The festival is growing in prominence,” Griot said. “All of the acts are great, and our headliner, Third World, is one of the most iconic groups in reggae.”
Attendees enjoyed picnicking on the lawn and exploring food vendors while families, students, and community members soaked in the music. “This is a beautiful event. I’m wowed by it,” said Tracy Burwell, a Kean sophomore attending for the first time.
The festival, which ran from afternoon into the evening, marked another successful year of Kean’s efforts to bring live music to the local community.