Sheila E, Arrested Development, Aimee Mann, more: Who'll be at Summer Parks Concerts in NJ?

Phaedra Trethan, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
Updated ·4 min read

CAMDEN — Among the acts slated to perform at Camden County's Summer Parks Concert Series: Hanson.

By way of explanation for anyone unfamiliar with the harmonic trio of brothers who reached pop stardom in the 1990s, Commissioner Director Lou Cappelli helpfully explained, "They were a boy band. But they're grown up now.

"So," he added dryly, "now they're a man band."

But Hanson isn't the only big draw Camden County will host at its parks this summer: Arrested Development, the Afrocentric hip hop ensemble, and percussionist Sheila E. will perform on the Camden Waterfront, at Wiggins Waterfront Park.

"Go to any corner of Camden County... and there are concerts," said Commissioner Jeff Nash, liaison to the Parks Department. He cited a report that showed millions of dollars in economic impact as thousands of people come to the concerts. "All the stores are filled. All the restaurants get booked. That's the collateral benefit of these shows."

Camden City Councilman Angel Fuentes called on residents from all over the region to "take advantage of music as diplomacy," by going to concerts outside their hometown parks and meeting, singing and dancing with others.

Sheila Greene, a longtime Camden resident, talks about concerts at Wiggins Waterfront Park, part of Camden County's Summer Parks Concert Series.
Sheila Greene, a longtime Camden resident, talks about concerts at Wiggins Waterfront Park, part of Camden County's Summer Parks Concert Series.

Recalling a show by the band War several years ago, Camden resident Sheila Greene said she loved Wiggins Park as a music venue, "with a backdrop of the moonlit sky and Philadelphia in the background."

More: Bucks County Playhouse hopes to fill seats, make theater more affordable. Here's how

More: Dine with a view at one of these 14 restaurants along the Delaware River in Bucks County

Who's playing in the Summer Concert Series?

The Sunset Jazz Series at Wiggins Park on the Camden Waterfront happens Mondays at 8 p.m. The lineup is as follows:

  • June 12 – Arrested Development

  • June 26 – Celisse

  • July 10 – Sheila E.

  • July 17 – New York City Gospel Choir

  • July 31 – Pink Martini featuring China Forbes

  • August 7 – Spyro Gyra

  • August 21 – The Urban Guerilla Orchestra

Catch Pink Martini July 31 at Wiggins Park.
Catch Pink Martini July 31 at Wiggins Park.

The Twilight Concert Series takes place at Cooper River Park in Pennsauken on Thursdays at 8 p.m. The lineup is as follows:

  • June 1 – Ferko String Band

  • June 15 – City Rhythm Orchestra

  • June 29 – Hanson

  • July 13 – Opera Philadelphia’s Christmas in July

  • July 20 – Ruben Studdard Sings Luther Vandross

  • August 10 – Country on the Cooper Presented by 92.5 XTU

  • August 24 – TBA

Singer Aimee Mann in Los Angeles. AP photo
Singer Aimee Mann in Los Angeles. AP photo

The Sundown Music Series takes place at 7:30 p.m. on alternating Wednesdays at the McLaughlin-Norcross Memorial Dell in Haddon Lake Park, Haddon Heights. The lineup is as follows:

  • June 7 – Mutlu/Melissa Menago

  • June 21 – Samantha Fish ft. Jesse Dayton/ Julia Pratt

  • July 12 – Travel Lanes/Cloudbelly

  • July 26 – Don McCloskey/Daphne Ellen

  • August 2 – Aimee Mann/Jonathan Coulton

  • August 16 – Calexico/Sug Daniels

  • August 30 – Gabe Dixon/Sahara Moon

What other shows are coming to Camden County this summer?

The July 4 concert and festivities include fireworks on the Delaware River. The performances start at 5 p.m. with the Tri-County Symphonic Band's Salute to America; Tara Hendricks takes the stage at 6:30 p.m. and UB40 performs at 8 p.m. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m.

The XPoNential Music Festival takes place at Wiggins Waterfront Park on Sept. 22-24. Acts include Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers, Low Cut Connie, Allison Russell, Old Crow Medicine Show and Tegan and Sara. The festival is sponsored by radio station WXPN and is in its 30th year (formerly known as the Singer Songwriter Festival, it used to take place at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia).

More: Bruce Hornsby, Allison Russell among artists joining 2023 XPoNential Music Festival

Other featured acts announced by the public radio station include: The Hold Steady, Margo Price, Sammy Rae & The Friends, Bailen, Celisse, Leyla McCalla, Say She She, Sunny War, Don McCloskey, Julia Pratt, Nik Greeley & The Operators, Moustapha Noumbissi, Mobbluz and Velvet Rouge.

Tickets are available at www.xpnfest.org.

A full list of events will be mailed to Camden County households, Cappelli said.

For a full list of concerts, performances, festivals, movie nights, farmer's markets, children's events, Pride events, breweries/wineries, charity walks and fitness programs, visit www.camdencounty.org

Phaedra Trethan has been a reporter and editor in South Jersey since 2007 and has called the region home since 1971. Contact her at ptrethan@gannettnj.com, on Twitter @wordsbyPhaedra, or by phone at 856.486-2417.

Support local journalism with a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Sheila E, Arrested Development, Hanson, Aimee Mann among summer shows