For Immediate Release

TWO TICKETS TO PARADISE:

EDDIE MONEY OPENS BALLOON FESTIVAL CONCERT SERIES

READINGTON, NJ --- Eddie Money, whose blue-collar brand of rock-and-roll has transcended generations, will open the concert series at the 30^th annual Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in Association with PNC Bank at Solberg Airport in Readington, NJ on Friday, July 27.

Money burst onto the music scene in the 1970s with his double-platinum debut album, Eddie Money, which featured the hits “Baby Hold On” and “Two Tickets to Paradise.” Launched into stardom in the early days of MTV, he followed that success with a stream of Top 40 hits including “Think I’m in Love,” “Shakin’,” “Take Me Home Tonight” with Ronnie Spector, and “I Wanna Go Back.”

Presented by Magic 98.3, Eddie Money performs Friday, July 27 at 8:00 p.m.

Over the years, the Festival’s concert series featuring Grammy Award winning artists, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and pop superstars has proved to be as popular as the twice daily mass ascensions of more than 100 hot air balloons from around the world taking to the skies over the scenic Hunterdon County countryside. This will be Money’s second appearance at the balloon festival, he first performed here in 2003.

“We’re thrilled to have Eddie Money return and open this years’ festival,” said Executive Producer Howard Freeman. “He has stayed connected with the fans who grew up listening to him as well as with today’s audiences who know his music from television, movies, and even video games.”

Born Edward Joseph Mahoney in Brooklyn, NY, he followed in his father’s footsteps and become a New York City police officer. After serving for two years, he put his law enforcement career on hold to pursue music, moving to Berkeley, California, where he began performing at local clubs and was soon mentored by legendary promoter Bill Graham. He changed his name from Mahoney to Money and fans immediately fell in love with his sound, turning “Baby Hold On” and “Two Tickets to Paradise” into smash hits.

An accomplished musician who sings, writes, plays the saxophone, harmonica and piano, Money will headline the Festival’s opening day of “Balloons, Tunes & Booms” on Friday, July 27. Highlights include a mass hit air balloon inflation and ascension at 6:30 p.m., Money’s concert at 8:00 p.m., and a fireworks extravaganza at 9:30 p.m.

Named one of the Top 100 Events in North America five times by the ABA and the No. 1 Thing to Do in New Jersey in 2012 by New Jersey Monthly magazine, the three-day festival at Solberg Airport in Readington, July 27-28-29, is the largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival in North America. Upwards of 165,000 people are expected.

Tickets for Eddie Money include admission into the 30th annual Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in Association with PNC Bank and lawn seating for the concert. Volkswagen Blue Sky Club VIP tickets with reserved seating and VIP parking are also now on sale. Tickets are available at www.balloonfestival.com.

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Eddie Money

Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning

Solberg Airport, 39 Thor Solberg Road, Readington, NJ

Friday, July 27, 8:00 p.m.

$17-$30-$50-$60

1-800-HOT-AIR9 or 973-882-5464

www.balloonfestival.com

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Russ Mensch

Mensch & Company, Inc.

Public Relations & Event Marketing

201-797-2448

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