Brick City Jam Fest Returns With Four Days Of Culture, Music, And Community Power

Newark’s Brick City Jam Fest is back—bigger, longer, and more community-driven than ever. From July 17 through July 20, locations throughout the city will host four days of music, art, dance, and community programming aimed at empowering local creatives and uplifting Newark’s diverse neighborhoods.

What started in 2019 as a one-day film shoot and creative gathering has grown into a multi-day celebration of art, music, culture, and local entrepreneurship across all corners of the city. 

The festival began while Livingston Steele, a filmmaker and community organizer, was filming a trailer for “The Theory of Brick City Music,” a film series about Newark creatives and their resilience. DJs, dancers, and graffiti artists were invited, and the event quickly became a celebration of local talent. This event caught the attention of Newark’s city parks team, leading to collaborations that expanded its reach.

“Brick City Jam’s mission is about creating sustainability for artists, creatives, businesses, and entrepreneurs to prevent homelessness and displacement,” Steele shared. 

“We’re a music, graffiti, and arts organization that creates different aspects of economic development through events, programming, and workshops… but also impacting the community at large,” he added.

When COVID hit, the team had to pivot on what the event would look like. Instead of slowing down, they shifted indoors, hosting music and art showcases inside local businesses.

“Since there’s no venue in Newark for local talent, we activated All Points West, Newark Local Beer, La Tabia Yoga, EqualSpace… all types of businesses to drive attraction and give creatives a platform,” Steele said.

What was once a pop-up celebration now fuels year-round programming focused on sustainability, mental health, and economic growth. 

“We started to take on a life of our own…Now we’re becoming an organization leading more as a nonprofit, to benefit the community and beyond,” he said.

This year’s theme, “Movements: How Creativity Moves the Economy,” guides a festival designed not just to entertain, but to uplift. Each day will spotlight different parts of Newark and offer experiences that tie into the city’s artistic roots and its evolving creative future.

Day 1: Thursday, July 17

M&T Bank (5 p.m.  to 7 p.m.)

All Points West Distillery (7 p.m. to 1 a.m.)

The festival kicks off at M&T Bank with an art show, followed by a vibrant evening of Brazilian jazz and live bands at All Points West Distillery. “There’s going to be hookah, whiskey-infused cigars… and different variations of music and art,” the organizer explained. “Our goal is to activate that business and bring more people to that area… especially since there’s a big population of Brazilian, Portuguese, and Latin Americans in that neighborhood.”

Day 2: Friday, July 18

=SPACE, 550 Broad St. (6 p.m. to 9 p.m.)

The celebration continues at EqualSpace with a night of hip-hop and R&B. EVO Dance Crew will perform, and four strong local artists will take the stage, representing talent from Newark, Jersey City, New York, and Philadelphia. “We’re also going to have a rap cipher at the end,” they said, “and whoever wins will get to perform the next day at Riverfront Park.”

Day 3: Saturday, July 19

Riverfront Park (1 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

Saturday shifts outdoors with a family-friendly lineup that focuses on hip-hop’s impact on culture. There will be breakdancing led by Rich, graffiti and mural art, vendors, and live performances. “It’s a collaboration with Riverfront Park… and it’s all tied to our theme of how hip-hop moves the culture.”

Day 4: Sunday, July 20

Abington Walls (2 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

The festival’s grand finale returns to the place where it all began: Abington Walls, Newark’s open-air gallery on Abington Avenue. “It has two factories where we’re able to bring graffiti artists and muralists to paint,” the founder explained. Sunday will also feature a full-on car show, DJs, live bands, and vendor markets. 

“Our goal is to activate each ward of the community and bring the community out while giving artists, vendors, and businesses a place to thrive,” Steele said.