Count Basie Center For The Arts Extends Drive-In Concert Series With Iliza Schlesinger And Almost Queen

Christopher Appoldt – Almost Queen

After quickly selling out drive-in shows at Monmouth Park by Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes and comedian Jim Gaffigan, the nonprofit Count Basie Center for the Arts is putting on two more shows in the Oceanport, N.J., racetrack’s parking lot: a July 29 concert by tribute band Almost Queen and a July 30 performance by comedian Iliza Schlesinger.

Almost Queen tickets, which went on sale today through Ticketmaster, start at $110 per vehicle while tickets for the Schlesinger performance run $135 per vehicle. Golden Circle tickets cost and $199-$250 for either show. Only touchless, mobile tickets will be valid. Capacity for the shows is about 900 vehicles, with four people allowed in each.

As with the July 11 Southside Johnny and July 12 Jim Gaffigan shows, the Almost Queen and Iliza Schlesinger Drive-In Live at Monmouth Park performances are being promoted in-house by The Basie Presents.

– Iliza Schlesinger

Area dealership World Subaru and Bank of America are presenting sponsors, with support from Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Saker ShopRite stores.

The shows’ proceeds will benefit the the roughly 1,600-seat landmark Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, N.J., that’s been shuttered since March. A portion of the proceeds will also benefit the New Jersey Arts and Culture Recovery Fund, which was established to ensure the survival and strength of the state’s arts and cultural sector during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.