ABOUT OUR SHOW
The Hopewell Hayride is the offshoot of the “HeartlandHayride” a country variety show performed to a live audience and broadcast over WDVR FM 89.7 Radio located in Sergeantsville, NJ. It was the only regularly scheduled Country Music Show performed before a live audience in the Northeast every Saturday night 6 to 8 pm.
Heartlands Hayride was created to foster, encourage, and actively promote the musical arts. The show had been running for many years and for the last 20 years was broadcast from the Virginia Napurano Arts Center in Sergeantsville. In July of 2019, The Radio station cancelled the show and sold the building. Al Kessel who had performed on the show regularly for years decided to try and find a new place and promote the show himself. After some intense networking he found the beautiful Hopewell United Methodist Church where the show continues under it's new name, The Hopewell Hayride Show.
Incredible Musical Acts
A New Home
Meet Al Kessel
Producer of the Hopewell Hayride Show
The music business has always been his first love. He became a history teacher, club owner, husband , parent but through it all he played music. Al worked in many bands and eventually organized his own groups. He never became a star but to this day relishes the journey. For the last 8 or 9 years and until recently was part of the house band on the Heartland Hayride show aired on WDVR fm 89.7 in Sergeantsville, NJ. The show was dedicated to preserving the live radio/audience format that was so important to the development of classic country music (ie Grand Old Opry). Lately, Al decided to venture into the production side of the the business. When the show was cancelled abruptly last year there were many disappointed loyal fans.Al was aware of this and was determined to find a new venue so that we could continue the show. Happily he succeeded in finding theHopewell United Methodist Church in the beautiful town of Hopewell, NJ. The “Hopewell Hayride Show” was born.
Meet Al Kessel
Producer of the Hopewell Hayride Show
The music business has always been his first love. He became a history teacher, club owner, husband , parent but through it all he played music. Al worked in many bands and eventually organized his own groups. He never became a star but to this day relishes the journey. For the last 8 or 9 years and until recently was part of the house band on the Heartland Hayride show aired on WDVR fm 89.7 in Sergeantsville, NJ. The show was dedicated to preserving the live radio/audience format that was so important to the development of classic country music (ie Grand Old Opry). Lately, Al decided to venture into the production side of the the business. When the show was cancelled abruptly last year there were many disappointed loyal fans.Al was aware of this and was determined to find a new venue so that we could continue the show. Happily he succeeded in finding the Hopewell United Methodist Church in the beautiful town of Hopewell, NJ. The “Hopewell Hayride Show” was born.
