On Saturday, July 25, Middlesex County celebrated the third year of this musical celebration, which featured local singers Tangie Cobb, Myles Cherette, and Valarie Adams, rising gospel stars The Group Fire, Bishop Searight, and the Royal Priesthood Choir. Headliners included Grammy Award-winning singer Erica Campbell and Stellar Award- winning singer Jonathan McReynolds, who closed the show with hour-long sets. The event was hosted by Middlesex County Commissioner Chanelle Scott McCullum, and emceed by radio host Toya Beasley, and actor/arts advocate Deonté Griffin-Quick.
With perfect sunny weather, concertgoers filled the park, Livingston Avenue, and George Street to watch their favorite performers during the four-hour festival. The location was prime, given its proximity to the New Brunswick, NJ, Train Station, award-winning restaurants, hotels, historic theaters, and convenient parking decks. The County’s free shuttle service, RIDE, also provided transportation for those who needed it.
One of the most intimate and engaging performances of the day came from “The Group Fire.” Members Terelle Cooper, Juwan Cooper, Justin Cooper, Tajohn Hill, and Al Hill made their way down to the crowd to connect with fans for an up-close-and-personal show. See quotes from guests below.
“Working in the New Brunswick Community for over 20 years, I have attended and participated in many wonderful, lively, and uplifting events, and the Gospel Festival is one of the best that this city has ever seen.”
Kelly Blithe, Director of Communications & Community Engagement for the State Theatre New Jersey
As a volunteer it is extraordinary experience. I want to thank the entire Arts Institute Team for their incredible work in organizing the festival. I want to sincerely thank you for creating a safe space where the community can come to New Brunswick and listen to some of the best Gospel Music artists for free. Over 4,000 people came out and met new people. People are already asking, “when is next year’s festival?”
Barbara McEachin-Burton – FolkLIVE-Gospel Music Festival Volunteer & a New Brunswick Resident
The New Brunswick Police Department and first responders monitored approximately 4,000 guests throughout the day — the festival’s biggest crowd yet — all without incident. Headliner Erica Campbell took to her social media page to give the unit a special shout-out for their service.
No event is complete without food, and multiple vendors were on site to provide local bites, specialty non-alcoholic beverages, desserts, and more.
If you missed this year’s event, you can watch the livestream on YouTube.
Middlesex County’s FolkLIVE event series bridges cultures, bringing the community together to celebrate the diverse histories, traditions, and stories that shape Middlesex County through art, music, dance, and storytelling. As this year’s gospel festival moves further into our rearview, artists for next year’s have already begun to pour in.
Next up in the series are the FolkLIVE: New Jersey Folk Festival 2026 on August 29 and the FolkLIVE Mexican Folkloric Festival 2026 on September 12. Stay tuned to MiddlesexCountyCulture.com for information about these and other exciting events happening year-round throughout Middlesex County.
Click below to view photos from the day.
Photo Credit: Lindy Zeledon
FolkLIVE is a project of the Regional Folklife Center at the Arts Institute of Middlesex County with support from the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners. The Regional Folklife Center at the Arts Institute of Middlesex County is a project of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
To read more about our Folklife initiatives, see the Regional Folklife Center at The Arts Institute of Middlesex County page.
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