3rd Annual Free Music Festival Coming to Kean University in Hillside, NJ

Kean University is having its third annual Jazz & Roots Music Festivalhttps://www.kean.edu/jazz-roots. It’s a FREE, outdoor celebration of an eclectic variety of music, at Kean University's main campus on Saturday, September 23.

Reggae Legends Third World, will headline the event. “Try Jah Love” is one of my favorite songs, I remember my brother and I used to jam to it back when it was first released.

Many other musicians in jazz, fusion, funk, and R&B will also take the stage at the festival. Everyone is encouraged to pack a lunch/dinner and bring their own chairs and blankets. You can also enjoy the variety of food trucks that will be there.

“The Jazz & Roots Music Festival is one of the most exciting days on the Kean calendar when we invite the community to join us in enjoying wonderful music on our beautiful campus,” said Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. “Kean is an anchor institution and a cultural hub in the region. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to this wonderful, free family event.”

The number of attendees has grown dramatically since the music festival began. An audience of about 1,500 people attended the first event in 2021, and last year’s event brought almost 5,000 people.

Producer Mike Griot said, “Adding marquee headliners like Diane Reeves in 2022, and Third World this year, is part of the pact that was made at the start. It’s to create a dynamic festival experience that would compare to all other established music festivals.” Griot said.

The music festival includes performances by Third World, Stefon Harris & Blackout, King Solomon Hicks, and Prince Hakim.

The Kean University Jazz & Roots Music Festival begins at 3:30 p.m. on the Lawn at Enlow Hall, 215 North Avenue in Hillside. No tickets are required. For further information on directions, parking, food vendors, and more, click here.

Taylor Swift was the big winner at last night's 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at Newark, New Jersey's Prudential Center. She won nine awards, one short of the record for a single show; according to Billboard, Peter Gabriel won ten awards at the VMAs in 1987. Swift now has 23 lifetime VMAs, second only to Beyonce (per Billboard). Swift's first award of the night was Song of the Year. The award was presented to Swift by the reunited NSYNC.

Swift also won the night's top prize, Video of the Year. She won that for "Anti-Hero." It's the second year in a row that she won that award. Last year she won the same award for "All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version)."

Nicki Minaj "hosted" and performed. According to a source at MTV familiar with the awards show, no one can labeled as a "host" because of the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes. In addition to Minaj's emceeing duties, she also performed her newest single, "Last Time I Saw You," for the very first time.

Sean “Diddy” Combs was honored with the Global Icon Award. It was the third-ever Global Icon Award, which MTV says "celebrates an artist or band whose unparalleled career and continued influence have achieved a unique level of global success in music and beyond." Shakira received the Video Vanguard Award and also performed at the awards show for the first time since 2006. Other performers included Olivia Rodrigo, Demi Lovato, Doja Cat, Karol G, Kelsea Ballerini, Fall Out Boy, Måneskin, and K-Pop boy band Stray Kids.

The 39th annual awards show was broadcast simultaneously on VH1, MVT2, Comedy Central, CMT, BET, BET Her, Paramount Network, and Nickelodeon. Those who use streams can tune in live on DirecTV and Paramount+ apps.

Take a look below at the winners of the major categories of the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards below.

Doja Cat – “Attention”
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers”
Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl”
Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire”
Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy”
SZA – “Kill Bill”
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” -- WINNER

Beyoncé
Doja Cat
KAROL G
Nicki Minaj
Shakira
Taylor Swift -- WINNER

Miley Cyrus – “Flowers”
Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire”
Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down”
Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy”
Steve Lacy – “Bad Habit”
SZA – “Kill Bill”
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” -- WINNER

GloRilla
Ice Spice -- WINNER
Kaliii
Peso Pluma
PinkPantheress
Reneé Rapp

David Guetta & Bebe Rexha – “I'm Good (Blue)"
Post Malone, Doja Cat – “I Like You (A Happier Song)”
Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – “Gotta Move On”
KAROL G, Shakira – “TQG” -- WINNER
Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – “Creepin' (Remix)”
Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down”

Demi Lovato – “Swine”
Dua Lipa – “Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)”
Ed Sheeran – “Eyes Closed”
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers”
Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire”
P!NK – “TRUSTFALL”
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” -- WINNER

Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – “Gotta Move On”
DJ Khaled ft. Drake & Lil Baby – “STAYING ALIVE”
GloRilla & Cardi B – “Tomorrow 2”
Lil Uzi Vert – “Just Wanna Rock"
Lil Wayne ft. Swizz Beatz & DMX – “Kant Nobody”
Metro Boomin ft Future – “Superhero (Heroes and Villains)”
Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl” -- WINNER

Alicia Keys ft. Lucky Daye – “Stay”
Chlöe ft. Chris Brown – “How Does It Feel”
Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – “Creepin' (Remix)”
SZA – “Shirt” -- WINNER
Toosii – “Favorite Song”
Yung Bleu & Nicki Minaj – “Love In The Way”