Blab Music
Bill Fosters 16-Year Commitment Keeps Monmouths Free Summer Concerts Running Smoothly
Bill Foster has been the invisible hand behind Monmouth County’s weekly Music in the Park series since 2010. Every Wednesday afternoon he arrives at Main Street Park, sets up soundboards, stage furniture, and sponsor banners, and stays on the sidelines until the last chord fades and the equipment is hauled away.
The series began when the city asked the Monmouth Business Association to take over the concerts. Foster, a former realtor and association member, drafted the equipment list that the city later purchased. Together with sound engineer Richard Mann and technician Ethan Wilson, Foster learned to operate the gear. Foster says he taught himself the basics of running the board after Mann, who had church‑based experience, showed him the ropes.
A typical day for Foster starts at 3 p.m. with cable runs, microphone placement, and the installation of tables and chairs. He also mounts sponsor banners and greets musicians as they arrive. Before the band takes the stage, Foster and the crew review the stage plot that shows where each performer and instrument will be positioned, aiming to iron out any technical or logistical issues before the show.
During the concert, Foster emcees the program, introduces the band, acknowledges sponsors, and announces the weekly raffle winners. He also manages the “pass‑the‑hat” collection that funds the free series. The work often continues until 9:30 or 10 p.m., after the final song.
The portable stage that the crew uses in Main Street Park’s amphitheater was designed by Foster before the park opened in 2016. Built from an agricultural trailer, it is hauled into the park each Wednesday and removed the next morning.
Musicians who perform at Music in the Park appreciate Foster’s meticulous attention to detail. Bill Tollner of the Irish‑infused band Coming Up Threes, which has played the series nearly every year since 2015, praised the support staff as “absolutely exceptional in the way they run the concert series, how they take care of us and the other bands, and how they curate and promote the annual summer concert series.” Tollner added that the crew is quick to adjust on the fly and that they sometimes go beyond the stage, such as when Ethan Wilson returned a guitar stand that Tollner had forgotten.
City officials also commend Foster’s work. Suzanne Dufner, economic development director for the City of Monmouth, said that Foster’s “attention to detail and commitment to doing things right” has helped preserve and expand Music in the Park into a popular weekly event that draws musicians and visitors from throughout the region. Dufner called Foster a “model volunteer” and a “shining star of what it means to give selflessly.”
Foster’s musical roots trace back to Central High School, where he sang, played sousaphone, and earned first‑chair honors in the All‑Northwest Band. He enjoys interacting with the crowd, joking that he “calls it harassing, but I don’t harass.”
The concerts are free to the public and are supported largely by local businesses and the city. Foster makes a point of recognizing sponsors for their generosity, emphasizing that the support comes from “local businesses that have donated to make that happen.”
While Foster could simply listen to the music, he says he was asked to help run the series and is committed to doing it to the best of his ability. His long‑standing volunteerism has become an integral part of Monmouth’s summer cultural life, ensuring that the Music in the Park series continues to provide a high‑quality, community‑focused musical experience for residents and visitors alike.
The series remains scheduled to run through the end of August, with the final concert on the last Wednesday of the month. The Monmouth Business Association continues to coordinate the event, while the city maintains the venue and sponsors the equipment. The volunteer crew, led by Foster, will remain the backbone of the series, ensuring that each show runs smoothly and that the community can enjoy free live music every week.
The series began when the city asked the Monmouth Business Association to take over the concerts. Foster, a former realtor and association member, drafted the equipment list that the city later purchased. Together with sound engineer Richard Mann and technician Ethan Wilson, Foster learned to operate the gear. Foster says he taught himself the basics of running the board after Mann, who had church‑based experience, showed him the ropes.
A typical day for Foster starts at 3 p.m. with cable runs, microphone placement, and the installation of tables and chairs. He also mounts sponsor banners and greets musicians as they arrive. Before the band takes the stage, Foster and the crew review the stage plot that shows where each performer and instrument will be positioned, aiming to iron out any technical or logistical issues before the show.
During the concert, Foster emcees the program, introduces the band, acknowledges sponsors, and announces the weekly raffle winners. He also manages the “pass‑the‑hat” collection that funds the free series. The work often continues until 9:30 or 10 p.m., after the final song.
The portable stage that the crew uses in Main Street Park’s amphitheater was designed by Foster before the park opened in 2016. Built from an agricultural trailer, it is hauled into the park each Wednesday and removed the next morning.
Musicians who perform at Music in the Park appreciate Foster’s meticulous attention to detail. Bill Tollner of the Irish‑infused band Coming Up Threes, which has played the series nearly every year since 2015, praised the support staff as “absolutely exceptional in the way they run the concert series, how they take care of us and the other bands, and how they curate and promote the annual summer concert series.” Tollner added that the crew is quick to adjust on the fly and that they sometimes go beyond the stage, such as when Ethan Wilson returned a guitar stand that Tollner had forgotten.
City officials also commend Foster’s work. Suzanne Dufner, economic development director for the City of Monmouth, said that Foster’s “attention to detail and commitment to doing things right” has helped preserve and expand Music in the Park into a popular weekly event that draws musicians and visitors from throughout the region. Dufner called Foster a “model volunteer” and a “shining star of what it means to give selflessly.”
Foster’s musical roots trace back to Central High School, where he sang, played sousaphone, and earned first‑chair honors in the All‑Northwest Band. He enjoys interacting with the crowd, joking that he “calls it harassing, but I don’t harass.”
The concerts are free to the public and are supported largely by local businesses and the city. Foster makes a point of recognizing sponsors for their generosity, emphasizing that the support comes from “local businesses that have donated to make that happen.”
While Foster could simply listen to the music, he says he was asked to help run the series and is committed to doing it to the best of his ability. His long‑standing volunteerism has become an integral part of Monmouth’s summer cultural life, ensuring that the Music in the Park series continues to provide a high‑quality, community‑focused musical experience for residents and visitors alike.
The series remains scheduled to run through the end of August, with the final concert on the last Wednesday of the month. The Monmouth Business Association continues to coordinate the event, while the city maintains the venue and sponsors the equipment. The volunteer crew, led by Foster, will remain the backbone of the series, ensuring that each show runs smoothly and that the community can enjoy free live music every week.
