Songwriters and storytellers take center stage at Convention Hall this summer as the City of Cape May prepares for the 2024 Summer Concert Series and the third annual Capestock music festival. The Concert Series, which begins on July 7, features a diverse lineup of performers including Mac McAnally, Richard Thompson, Donavon Frankenreiter, and John Oates. The three-day Capestock festival includes tribute bands performing the hits of Jefferson Airplane, Santana, The Who, and other Woodstock performers. 

“Whether they enjoy the country hits of Mac McAnally, the pop favorites of John Oates, or the classic tunes of legends like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Janis Joplin, and the Grateful Dead, music lovers will find a show that truly entertains them this summer,” said Zachary Mullock, Mayor of the City of Cape May. “Our Summer Concert Series and Capestock offer the perfect opportunities to visit Cape May for the day, stay for the weekend, or plan an extended vacation around multiple shows.”

On Sunday, July 7, Mac McAnally kicks off the Summer Concert Series. A member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame, and Alabama Music Hall of Fame, McAnally has been named the Country Music Association’s Musician of the Year a record ten times. The renowned songwriter, singer, and instrumentalist has written dozens of hit records for other artists, such as Alabama, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, and Sawyer Brown. McAnally’s 1977 debut single, “It’s a Crazy World,” reached Number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 and launched a career that includes 14 album releases and numerous hits on the Hot Country Songs chart. The show begins at 7 pm, and tickets are $65. 

On Sunday, July 28, Richard Thompson OBE brings British Folk Rock to the Jersey Shore. As a teenager in the 1960s, Thompson co-founded the groundbreaking group Fairport Convention. The band developed a distinctly English branch of Folk Rock, becoming the first band to play traditional English songs on electric instruments in a deliberate manner. He left the band at the age of 21, collaborating for ten years with Linda Peters, who became his wife, and then embarking on a successful solo career. Thompson has been honored with an appointment to the Order of the British Empire (OBE), the prestigious Ivor Novello Award, and Lifetime Achievement Awards for songwriting from the BBC Radio 2 Awards and the Americana Music Association. Rolling Stone named Thompson one of the Top 100 Guitarists of All Time, and TIME Magazine named his song, “1952 Vincent Black Lightning” one of the 100 Greatest Songs Since 1923. Thompson’s concert begins at 8 pm, and tickets are $60.

On Sunday, August 11, Donavon Frankenreiter will bring a blend of laid-back grooves and philosophical lyrics to the stage. Frankenreiter became a professional surfer at the age of 16, and after surfing throughout the world, he decided to chase a new wave: music. In 2004, he released his first album, which, along with his follow-up in 2006, was certified gold in Australia. He has been delighting audiences from São Paulo, Brazil to Spokane, Washington with his unique sound and soulful delivery. The show begins at 7 pm, and tickets are $40.

On Thursday, August 15, John Oates brings an Evening of Songs and Stories to Cape May Convention Hall. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and The American Songwriters Hall of Fame, Oates has received the prestigious BMI Icon Award as well as numerous American Music Awards, MTV Awards, and Grammy nominations. Performing with a world-class percussionist, Oates will showcase his acoustic guitar skills in an intimate, organic performance that touches on the roots of American pop music from pre-Rock & Roll to the present, combined with fascinating insight and humor. Performing million-seller hits from the past and new songs framed with the stories of his songwriting process, Oates takes the audience on an intimate sonic journey described as, “Musically sophisticated, carefully crafted, and thoroughly entertaining.” The performance begins at 8 pm, and tickets are $60.

From Friday, August 16 through Sunday, August 18, Capestock 2024 brings three days of peace and music to the beach, featuring a lineup of bands honoring the performers who played at Woodstock. On Friday, August 16, Everyday People perform the music of Sly and the Family Stone, Hotlanta brings The Allman Brothers Experience to the stage, and Just Like Janis features incredible vocals and showmanship in a tribute to the incomparable Janis Joplin. 

On Saturday, August 17, Reverend Jefferson performs the music of Jefferson Airplane, Who’s Next offers the ultimate Who tribute show, Kensington Clearwater Revival performs the hits of CCR, and Tuesday’s Gone offers a classic Lynyrd Skynyrd reenactment. 

On Sunday, August 18, Inca performs the music of Santana, Broken Arrow presents a tribute to Neil Young, and Splintered Sunlight shares their unique take on the music of the Grateful Dead. The festival starts at 4 pm on Friday and at 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday, and doors open one hour prior to the start of the festival. Tickets are $45 for Friday or Sunday only, $75 for Saturday only, or $150 for a three-day pass.

The Summer Concert Series shows (excluding Capestock) will be held at Cape May Convention Hall, 714 Beach Avenue in Cape May, New Jersey. Capestock concerts take place on the Beach directly behind Convention Hall. Tickets for all concerts can be purchased in person at Cape May Convention Hall or online at CapeMayCity.com. Online orders are subject to a service fee.

Concert Series updates and other Cape May news can be found at www.capemaycity.com or call 609-884-9565.  Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/capemaycity and follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/capemaycity/.