The Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce presents the 9th Annual Sensational Spring Weekend Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26 in the Wildwoods – a two-day celebration paying tribute to 60s and 70s Rock ‘n Roll music.
The fun begins Fri. night, April 25, inside the Wildwoods Convention Center with a Dance Party featuring the David Christopher Band, guaranteed to get everyone moving and grooving to classic oldies from the 60s, 70s and early 80s. The Dance Party takes place from 7 to 11 p.m. and admission is $15 per person.
Sat., April 26 will feature an afternoon of outdoor fun and music during the free Sensational Spring Street Fair at Fox Park, located across from the Wildwoods Convention Center on Ocean Avenue, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Street Fair will include live entertainment throughout the day, a classic car show, a Doo-Wop ‘50s Bus Tour and a variety of vendors offering oldies memorabilia, merchandise, many delicious food options and much more.
Sat. evening at 7 p.m., the weekend’s featured event – the Sensational Spring Concert – will take place in the Oceanfront Arena at the Wildwoods Convention Center. The star-studded musical line-up for the night includes Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels (“Devil With the Blue Dress On”, Sock It To Me-Baby”, ” Jenny Take a Ride”, “Good Golly Miss Molly”), Mark Farner formerly of Grand Funk Railroad (We’re An American Band”, “Some Kind Of Wonderful”, “Heartbreaker”, “I’m Your Captain”) and Jefferson Starship celebrating their 40th Anniversary (“Somebody to Love”, “White Rabbit”, “Volunteers”, “Jane”).Ticket prices are $49.50 per person for stadium seating and $65.50 per person for floor seating.
In an exclusive Do The Shore interview, Paul Kantner, co-founder of Jefferson Starship, expressed his excitement for the band’s Spring Sensational debut. “We’ve performed all up and down the Atlantic coast, and I do like the beach locations. The beach is one of my favorite places,” he began. Kantner stated that the concert crowd can essentially expect the unexpected. “What happens and what we play every night I perform really depends on how I feel and what the audience is telling me,” he stated. “Our performance could include songs from before we even started playing as a band all the way up to songs that haven’t even been recorded yet.”
Though now officially in their 40th anniversary year, Jefferson Starship’s celebration has been career-long. “We’ve been celebrating since we started in 1965,” says Paul. “It’s a thrilling kind of moment to be in such a good band and have the ability and enjoyment to go out and play music for everybody.” Ultimately, what will Wildwood crowds experience at the April 26th headlining performance? “A thrilling celebration of life around us. Passion and an exploration of ideas,” states an animated Kantner. “To the heart of it, I am still playing because I still don’t understand how music is a combination of notes, sounds, and voices that form such a serious emotional attachment to people’s minds.” Jefferson Starship translates this amazing phenomenon into unforgettable “rock and roll chaos.”
Mitch Ryder also expressed his excitement to be back on the east coast and performing in the state that has always wholeheartedly embraced his music. “Jersey has always been good to me,” states Mitch. “A lot of artists who come out of New Jersey have spoken kindly of me and I really appreciate their respect.” In fact, Jersey-born Bruce Springsteen cites Ryder as one of his major musical influences and has even covered “Devil With a Blue Dress” in his “No Nukes” concert album.
His April 26th Wildwoods performance is just one aspect of Ryder’s whirlwind schedule, including editing of a band documentary, composing an original musical production, and a grand European tour. “It’s so ironic to me that I’m so busy this late in my game,” he laughs. “But it’s never been anything but fun. When I’m on stage, I don’t even call it work…My job is essentially to make people happy.” And concert-goers will certainly leave the Spring Sensational show “happy”. Mitch describes the set list as “eclectic”, featuring the band’s hits from the 60s and 70s, John
Mellencamp collaborations, and even a few covers. “It’s not like you have a frightened teenager up there on stage. I have a half a century of experience, so it will definitely be a great show,” says Ryder. “The only real surprise will be which hat I wear.” With an impressive collection of nearly twenty hats, Mitch is yet to select which will best suit his Wildwoods performance. Audiences will have to see for themselves.
For additional information or to purchase tickets, visit www.gwcoc.com, 3306 Pacific Avenue, Wildwood or call 609-729-4000. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations or 800-745-3000. A limited number of tickets will be available at the Wildwoods Convention Center Box Office the weekend of the event.
For additional information about the Wildwoods, visit www.WildwoodsNJ.com or call 800-992-9732.