SOMERS POINT — Most of the paperwork is in order and Mayor Dennis Tapp is set to sign a contract with Tony Mart Cares for operation of the 2025 Beach Concert Series on Bay Avenue.
Solicitor Tom Smith noted the entity, which has operated the series for decades, still needed to submit a couple of documents but that by and large everything was in order, noting Tapp could sign the contract.
“The mayor can now sign the contract but we still need the certificate of insurance or any alternative such as a letter of surety from a financial office that the vendor uses,” Smith said during a City Council meeting April 24.
Smith said some deadlines remain:
— May 15: The city must have signed contracts with each of the bands.
— May 31: A list of vendors and their contract agreements is required.
Smith said there would be only three vendors this year at William Morrow Beach and that all had been notified of the steps necessary.
— May 31: The city must have a list of all sponsors.
Smith noted that more can be added afterward but that every one would have to be approved by the city.
“It looks like they are pulling the paperwork together at this point,” Smith said. “I’ll keep monitoring the deadlines.”
Over the winter, City Council changed its relationship with the promoter after soliciting bids for the popular series instead of sticking with the nonprofit vendor that made the series No. 1 in the country in 2023.
Some expressed dismay at the time.
“Please don’t put this legacy, the support of our wonderful musical artists and the promotion of Somers Point’s fabulous reputation as a great community for the performing arts in jeopardy,” Beach Concert Committee member John Loreaux pleaded with City Council. “Please do not take this tremendously important part of our lives in the community and region and put it out to auction.”
Council President Charlie Haberkorn said the move was intended to protect the city from a financial liability standpoint.
Carmen Marotta, who operates Tony Mart Presents with his wife, Nancy, said he is pleased to be able to continue providing live performances in the city, talking about the legacy of music in Somers Point. His father, Tony Marotta, operated the Tony Mart Cafe, better known as Tony Mart’s, hosting live music for decades.
“We are very, very proud that we were able to do what we have done. We just wanted to say that to us, the most important thing is the legacy, preserving this unique legacy that goes all the way back to the ’30s,” Marotta said.
The Concerts
— June 13: Musical Stars of Late Night TV. Jimmy Vivino from “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and GE Smith from “Saturday Night Live.”
— June 20: Tony Mart Tribute to classic rock guitarists. Tony Mart Allstars with guest star Billy Walton performing Hendrix, Clapton, Santana, Prince, George Harrison, Stephen Stills, Rolling Stones, Joe Walsh, John Fogarty.
— June 27: Dead Zep. Melodic medleys of Grateful Dead and Led Zeppelin with Musical Director Waynard Scheller, producer/performer with Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia Family Foundation.
— July 4: The Dane Anthony Band. Motown, R&B, disco, classic rock, funk.
— July 11: The Boss and the Jukes. South Side Johnny guitarist Glenn Alexander with members of the Asbury Jukes, E Street Shuffle Springsteen tribute.
— July 18: The Girls Can’t Help It! Patty Balbo’s tribute to the women of rock ’n’ roll with songs by Janice Joplin and Grace Slick to Madonna, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift. Featuring members of the band Red.
— July 25: Tom Hambridge, Nashville songwriter/producer of the Rolling Stones, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skinner, Buddy Guy, Susan Tedeschi, FAT MEZZ.
— Aug. 1: John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, original “Eddie & the Cruisers” soundtrack artists.
— Aug. 8: Melody Trucks Band featuring Vaylor Trucks, Southern rock, Americana, Little Feat, The Band, Derek & the Dominoes, Traffic and the Allman Brothers.
— Aug. 15: Vanessa Collier Band, blues rock.
— Aug. 22: Legacy Conway Twitty’s grandson Tre Twitty with road house blues of the Nighthawks and boogie-woogie pianist the Rev. Billy C. Wirtz.
— Aug. 29: The Billy Walton Band.
— Sept. 5: South Jersey Allstar Legacy Salute Concert with Patty Blee, Lew London, Dr. Bobby Fingers, Danny Eyer, The Tony Mart Allstars with Howard Isaacson, Campanell Family Tribute to Bobby Campanell dedicated to Herb “Bubba Mac” Birch.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff