Press and Media

Steve Earle, John Prine Headlining This Month's RBMF

Coming up in just a couple weeks: the return of Joe D'Urso's annual Rockland Bergen Music Festival, for its sixth year. Joe tells Backstreets that this one is "the best to date," and just looking at those headliners, it's hard to argue: Steve Earle & The Dukes on June 22, and John Prine on June 23. Willie Nile returns to the festival, and D'Urso will be playing, too, with Stone Caravan on Saturday and acoustically on Sunday.

"When I first started this festival five years ago on my 50th birthday," the Light of Day veteran says, "I hoped to see it grow and bring in many of the world's best songwriters as well as involve more local charities and communities in both Rockland and Bergen counties. Both counties have been underserved with outdoor entertainment/national talent over the years. I had a few 'goal' songwriters in mind when I started, and I am extremely proud to present John Prine and Steve Earle this year as they were part of the 'goal' writers I was thinking about."

With events beginning on Wednesday, June 19 with the First Annual Rockland County Music Awards, the Festival again lands at German Masonic Park in Tappan, NY, for the weekend.

In addition to his work with Light of Day, D'Urso is also on the Board of Directors for WhyHunger, one of the many organizations the festival will benefit. Joe tells us, "We'll have 16 charities on site each day, in keeping with my love of Harry Chapin and Pete Seeger... I am still very much grass roots: no Live Nation, no Ticketmaster, and no 15-dollar beers!"

For tickets and more information, visit rbmfestival.com.

- June 6, 2019