by Michele Zipkin
The Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival is back with more sudsy goodness and legendary jams. This year it takes place April 5th and 6th at the Atlantic City Convention Center (1 Miss America Way, Atlantic City, NJ 08401). It’s time to get your tickets!
Lots of tasty beer will be available from loads of brewing companies, including 16 Mile, 21st Amendment, Abita, Allagash, Hop City, Batch 19, Brooklyn Brewery, Dogfish Head and many more.
Massachusetts psych-rock band Westgate will be kicking off the music on April 5th at 7:15, followed by hardcore/punk rock band (also from MA) A Wilhelm Scream at 8:15. Finally, NJ-based punk band Bouncing Souls will be headlining at 9:30. This will truly be an evening to punk out and what better place to do it than in Atlantic City with copious amounts of beer at your disposal?
On April 6th for session two, Belgrade will take the stage at 12:15, followed by Continental at 1:30, and then Reverend Horton Heat at 2:15. Cheers Elephant and indie/punk/hardcore and funk band Soihadto will perform in the evening for the third session starting at 6:00. This will precede the piece de resistance of the festival- Rusted Root, who will hit the stage at 8:30 pm.
Lots of scrumptious food will also be available to feast upon, nosh, or snack on, including wings from Wild About Wings, Harry’s Oyster Bar and Seafood, fine dining from the Palm restaurant, Spanky’s B.B.Q and Grill, and Tony Boloney’s pizza and subs.
Various demonstrations will also take place presented by food and beer-savvy individuals. Beer expert Gary Monterosso will be there signing books and giving talks on the taste and history of beer. Brad the “Grill Sergeant” Turner will demonstrate various cooking techniques with beer as the main ingredient. Kurt Kendall, creator of the cigar website and reproduced 7.20.4 cigar, will host a few seminars on how to pair beer and cigars. You can bust a move at the AC Fest’s silent disco presented by Boogie Nights at the Tropicana, or check out Matt Deibert’s enormous sand castle inspired by the beers and music of the fest.
Tickets for this event are $56 at the door and $51 in advance through Ticketmaster. VIP tickets are $99 also through Ticketmaster and include festival admittance 30 minutes prior to gate, a welcome toast with festival producer Jon Henderson and staff including one of New Jersey’s limited brews in the Mustache Lounge, access to said lounge including a tasting of unreleased and limited beers every hour, and a VIP gift bag. .
Check the AC Beer and Music Fest website for more information on events, demonstrations and tickets.
