ZEYBRAH in conjunction with THE CITY OF LONG BRANCH
presents the 17th annual Oceans of Rhythm Festival on August 28th

The 17th annual Oceans of Rhythm Festival is held as part of the Long Branch Back to School Festival on Saturday, August 28th
(Rain date August 29th)

Oceans of Rhythm Festival, held in Long Branch, New Jersey for 17 years is designed to bring diverse sections of the community together, for a family oriented, educational and recreational, multi-media festival, that will expand and broaden the experiences of all those who participate, both audience and artists. It is ZEYBRAH's aim to provide a vehicle for positive community growth and development.

SCHEDULE:

• 10:00 am: the beginning of the Back to School Festival sponsored by the City of Long Branch Housing Authority with free school supplies, food and other free information and surprises
• 1:00 pm - Oceans of Rhythm Festival: "Back To Roots & Culture" with music, song, dance and storytelling
• 3:00 pm - African Stiltwalker leads Musical Procession to the ocean.

At the Great Lawn and Amphitheater and Beach:

• 4:00 pm - Festivities and jam session

FEATURED ARTISTS:

• EFFervescence, Music/Fusion Peace Tribute
• Oceans of Rhythm Ensemble, with Special Guests
• Sister Isis and The Tribe, Family Drum & Dance
• African Stiltwalker & Ensemble
• Yakar Roots and Rhythms African Drum and Dance Company from Senegal, West Africa

VENUES AND DIRECTIONS

Venue 1:

Jerry Morgan Park on Liberty Street, Long Branch, NJ, between Union near Broadway & Joline Ave. across from Gregory School

Venue 2:

The Great Lawn and Amphitheater and Beach Between Rooney's Restaurant and Pier Village

Basic Directions

By Car:

To Venue 1: From NJ Turnpike or other routes, get onto the GSP to exit 105, Long Branch, then continue straight on Hwy 36 to Liberty St. 2 blocks before the ocean or Ocean Ave).

To Venue 2: Continue down Broadway to the ocean near Pier Village. You can park close to the Great Lawn and Amphitheatre, at Ocean Ave. and Cooper St. at McKinley Ave. & Greeley Terrace)

By Train:

To Venue 1 or 2: Take NJ Transit train to Long Branch train station, you can walk 20 minutes or take a cab to the Jerry Morgan Park and from there join our procession through the park, over to Broadway and left of the Ocean Place Resort find the Great Lawn and the beach!

FREE ADMISSION- DONATIONS ACCEPTED

ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN IN THE PROCESSION AND JAM SESSION

INFORMATION:

LB Housing Authority 732-222-3787 ext. 108

Oceans of Rhythm is supported by funds form the Monmouth County Arts Council and the City of Long Branch

Goals

Our philosophy is reflected in the goals of the festival:
• To bring different groups together in celebration of common themes, thus strengthening the community.
• To provide wholesome educational and recreational activities for the entire family.
• To draw upon the wisdom of traditional communities to empower the modern community
• To encourage and foster positive growth for our communities.
• To provide an outlet for various youth groups and individuals to develop artistically.
• To remember the ocean as the vehicle by which many of our ancestors came to the Americas
• To encourage people to take care of and protect the ocean environment.
• To attract people from Long Branch, Monmouth County, throughout New Jersey, New York and beyond.
• To emphasize and acknowledge traditional folkloric cultures from Africa & the Caribbean, which so often serve as the roots of our contemporary music and dance.

The aim of the festival is to create a cultural tapestry, woven with positive energy, harmonious music and dance, traditional cultural expressions, and the beauties of nature, especially the ocean. By holding the festival in the Long Branch area, we aim to contribute to the revitalization of the community, while celebrating the various cultural heritages that exist there.