The Rutgers University Libraries are pleased to feature Mike Montrey, the frontman for the Mike Montrey Band, who will perform two 45 minute acoustic music sets at the grand reopening of the Scarlet Latte cafe on Friday September 7th. The reopening event will be held from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm; Mr. Montrey will perform between 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm.

The Scarlet Latte cafe, located on the lower level of Alexander Library on the College Ave. Campus, opened in September 2011. The cafe sells specialty grade organic coffee by artisan roasters, Red House Roasters of Union City, New Jersey - a local New Jersey company owned by Rutgers alumni. The cafe also offers teas, hot chocolate, sodas, juices, bagels, salads, sandwiches, and a variety of pastries.

The sound of Mike Montrey Band (The MMB) has a rugged outline -- awareness of life's tremors pepper the lyrics, sung with a tenor that both trembles and soars, seemingly made for this kind of poetry. Yet it's the high-spirited melodies and flowing, exploratory warmth of the musicianship that keeps them from settling anywhere near easy classification; "indie acoustic singer-songwriter," "sultry, jazzy zouk" or "roots" could aptly be applied at any given performance.

Aquarian Weekly praised the Mike Montrey Band's new album: "The new MMB Album, Weaving The Basket, rocks. It is spontaneous and dynamic. The songs are true works of art, gems in the rough that have been presented to the listener for their own interpretation of value."

In addition to the musical performance the grand re-opening will feature giveaways of Rutgers memorabilia, including free Scarlet Latte cafe stainless steel coffee/tea tumblers for the first 150 visitors to the cafe during the reopening event.

For more information on the Scarlet Latte cafe reopening, please send an email to events@rci.rutgers.edu.