Monday, July 14, 2025
77 ° Cloudy
77 ° Cloudy
On May 29, the second of two pilot concerts produced by Stage United and the Doylestown Borough lit up Broad Commons Park with the sounds of blues, soul, and Americana. Headlining the night was Jarod Clemons and The Late Nights, joined by local favorites Fallon’s Religion as the opening act. For over 1,000 attendees, the free, all-ages show was a powerful reminder of the role live music plays in bringing a community together.
“It was an amazing night,” said Joe Montone, the founder of Stage United and a lifelong Doylestown resident. “The weather held out, we had a beautiful sunset over the stage, and the music was just incredible. Both bands played mostly originals with a few covers, and it all came together in a way that felt really special.”
The evening began with Fallon’s Religion, from Bucks County, taking the stage at 6:50 pm for a 40-minute set that blended Americana with southern soul. Jarod Clemons and The Late Nights came on at 8 pm, playing just over an hour of their signature blend of blues and Jersey soul. “We wanted to give the audience two different flavors of music,” Joe said. “Fallon’s Religion brought that homegrown vibe, and Jarod Clemons and his band, from Asbury Park, brought a fresh take on the blues.”
For many in attendance, it was a chance to see a legacy carried forward; Jarod Clemons is the son of the late Clarence Clemons, the legendary saxophone player known for his work with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. “Jarod has this incredible presence,” Joe shared. “For him to come to a town he’d never played before and see that many people turn out; it really meant a lot to him, and you could feel it in the performance.”
The concert was part of Stage United’s mission to inspire communities through live music. The nonprofit, founded by Joe, works to build a sustainable arts infrastructure in Doylestown by bringing live music to local audiences. “We’re not just about putting on a show,” Joe said. “We’re about creating something that lasts. In a small town like Doylestown, we need more support to make sure live music can happen again and again.”
The May 29 show capped off the pilot series at Broad Commons Park, which had kicked off on May 1 with a concert featuring Philadelphia-based indie rockers Mo Lowda & The Humble and The Dave Woodard Band. The first concert drew a similarly enthusiastic crowd and set the tone for the second night, showcasing the community’s appetite for live music. “Both shows were super well-attended,” Joe said. “We heard from so many people how much they loved the first night, and it really inspired us to keep going.”
This two-show pilot series was a collaboration between Stage United, and the Doylestown Borough. In order to implement both shows, Stage United worked closely with Doylestown Borough officials, including Caitlin Hernandez, director of Parks and Recreation, John Davis, borough manager, Dave Burger, director of public works, and Doylestown Mayor Noni West. Local sponsors also stepped up to help make it possible, including the new 333 North Broad Apartments, C&N Bank, the Doylestown Rotary, and numerous businesses throughout town.
The festive atmosphere extended beyond the music. Local businesses like Artifact Brewing and Chambers 19 Bistro & Bar set up on site, joined by food trucks and a pop-up tent from Maxwell’s on Main. “Guests could bring their own food, too,” Joe said. “We had lifelong borough residents there, young families, and everything in between. It was music that really spoke to everyone.
Joe’s commitment to live music in Doylestown is deeply rooted. “I’ve been producing shows for 15 years,” he said. “Through that experience, I realized the missing piece was the arts infrastructure to make live music more possible in this area. My nonprofit is designed to work together with the community to bring music to more audiences out here, so that looks like fundraising or grant opportunities for arts patrons coming together to produce these concerts with us.”
In addition to the pilot series at Broad Commons Park, Stage United has been involved in numerous community-focused music events, including Picnics on Pine, which Joe has produced for the past five years, and concerts at the Moravian Pottery & Tile Works Museum and Abington Arts Center.
This past June, Stage United held its annual fundraiser at New Hope Winery, bringing together artists from the Central Bucks School District and supporting not just Stage United, but also Stand Up For Justice, a nonprofit that funds antibullying and antibigotry campaigns in classrooms.
For Joe, it all comes back to the power of live music to inspire. “I think of my own story; seeing live shows around this town when I was a teenager made me realize it was possible to make music my life,” he said. “Even for those who just love going to shows, there’s something about live music that brings people together in a way nothing else does. It’s central to what makes a town feel like home.”
Looking ahead, Stage United is already planning future events, including the second season of “A Night of Song” at the Moravian Pottery & Tile Works Museum, which will start in the fall and run into the spring. “We’ll be featuring primarily single or duo songwriters, from folk to blues to soul, whatever the night calls for,” Joe said. “The idea is to connect the handcraft of songwriting with the handmade legacy of the Tile Works itself.”
The pilot series at Broad Commons Park showed what’s possible when a community comes together to support live music. “This is just the beginning,” Joe said. “The more we collaborate as a community, the more opportunities we’ll have to experience live music together, and to make sure that future generations get to feel what it’s like to see it in their own backyard.”
