Here's why it's a big weekend for talented kids and future stars in Asbury Park

It's a Foundation building weekend in Asbury Park.

Two big events are raising funds for the Asbury Park Music Foundation, which has been promoting music education for kids in city and surrounding area since 2014. Low Cut Connie will headline the inaugural Where Music Lives Awards show Friday, May 17, at Asbury Lanes.

On Saturday, May 18, Glen Burtnik and Friends, Steve Forbert, Alexander Simone and Whodat?, the Parlor Mob, Noun featuring Marissa Paternoster of Screaming Females and more will play. Hip-hop legend Eric B will appear at the second Lakehouse Music Block Party on Lake Avenue.

There will be local vendors and food trucks at the block party.

“We got to keep the money coming in to support the kids, and that's what we're trying to do,” said Tom Donovan, head of the APMF.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

The APMF also curates the Music Mondays series at the city's Springwood Park, bringing live music back to an area of the city with a rich cultural history. The foundation is also behind the Asbury Park Live and Asbury Park Concert Band series on the boardwalk.

Chill Smith, Hooper, Jake Thistle, Dentist, Kevian Kraemer, Kufnotz and Christine Elise, and Sam Cook Parrott of Radiator Hospital will also perform. It's a big party, and Ocean Grove, across Wesley Lake, is getting involved, Donovan said.

“When we did this Block Party last year, ... everybody on the Ocean Grove side was on their porches or they had their chairs in their yards,” Donovan said. “We sent a couple of volunteers over with the tip bucket to collect some money from that. We did that last year and we'll do it this year. It was awesome to look across the water and see all these people clapping.”

There will also be a beer garden by Asbury Park Brewery, libations from Asbury Park Distilling Co., and the Lakehouse Sidewalk Recording Studio will be recording. Organizers are asking that you leave your pet at home.

On Friday, State Senator Vin Gopal; the Spring Lake 5; the Jeryl and Steve Oristaglio Family Foundation; and Dorian Parreott, an APMF board member and a longtime musician and music educator, will be honored with APMF awards at the Lanes before the Low Cut Connie performance.

The Where Music Lives Awards event recognizes recipients' support of the local arts. It’s not an awards show based on artistic merit or another criteria.

“Low Cut Connie is going to blow the roof off the place,” Donovan said.

Go: Inaugural Where Music Lives Awards Show featuring Low Cut Connie, 5 p.m. Friday, May 17, Asbury Lanes, 209 4th Ave., Asbury Park, $75; asburylanes.com.

Go: Lakehouse Music Block Party, noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 18 (rain date is Sunday, May 19), Lake Avenue. $20, givebutter.com/lhblockparty2024.

Asbury Park's Got Talent

It's also a big weekend for Asbury Park's stars of tomorrow.

The Asbury Park's Got Talent Showcase Finale is 3 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at the Asbury Park Senior Center on Springwood Avenue. Peyton Britt, Suniyah Uter, Sophia Chavez Garcia, Antonella Pola, Harmonie Picado, Ian Morales, Ester Auguste, Orlando Perez, Feranmi Odeworitse, Asionna Whittaker and Isaiah Richardson are city kids in the 9 to 13 years old category; Aleena Dunn and Kyra Birchett are 14 to 18; and Danielle Brandon, Chris Rieth, Asionna Whittaker and Isaiah Richardson are 19 and over.

The finalists competed in three showcases since February,

Diane Shelton, Community Outreach Specialist for the city's Interfaith Neighbors, is the show producer.

The APGT shows began in 2019 when Shelton heard from city youth about the need for more creative outlets during Wells Fargo Regional Foundation Planning Grant discussions with area young people and Interfaith Neighbors.

“They said there was no place for them to showcase their talent and this is how this was born,” said Shelton previously to the Asbury Park Press.

The Haitian Flag Day Celebration is taking place across the street from the center in Springwood Avenue Park from, 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday. The event, which will have music, food and more, is presented by the Asbury Park Leaders of L’Union.

Visit instagram.com/apleaders1804 for more info.

Go: Asbury Park's Got Talent 2024 Final Showcase, 3 p.m. Saturday, May 18, Asbury Park Senior Center, 2nd Floor, 1201 Springwood Ave., Asbury Park, free; interfaithneighbors.org.

Subscribe to app.com for the latest on the New Jersey music scene.

Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com.