For two days, May 8 and May 9, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will strut its considerable stuff onstage at NJPAC in Newark just like it did 28 years ago for the prestigious venue’s opening night. The new presentation includes “Revelations,” a joyous Black dance experience set to spirituals and blues. The New York Times once said of this troupe that watching them “can change your life.”

Alice Cooper. 78, is rockin’ better than ever and he’s got a hotshot new lead guitarist, Anna Cara, 22, from England (pictured), to take the place of Nita Strauss who’s having a baby. The last stop of “Alice’s Attic,” as he’s calling it, will on the waterfront in Camden May 9 and, as most experienced concert-goers know, the last show of any tour is always a blow-out, balls-to-the-wall affair. “This is like a dream-come-true,” gushed Cara.

For two days, May 8 and May 9, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will strut its considerable stuff onstage at NJPAC in Newark just like it did 28 years ago for the prestigious venue’s opening night. The new presentation includes “Revelations,” a joyous Black dance experience set to spirituals and blues. The New York Times once said of this troupe that watching them “can change your life.”

BoDeans is on its “40 Years of Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams…and Good Things” tour. Formed in early-’80s Wisconsin, nurtured into the epitome of Americana grandeur, founding member-vocalist-multi-instrumentalist-composer-producer Kurt Newmann says, “it’s a great feeling to play music for people who want to hear it and sing along. These days, it often brings them back to memories of their youth, and that’s what make them happy.”

Devil’s Cut has flirted with country and metal for years and it all comes to fruition on this Kentucky’s band’s Roadkill debut with the lead single “Drink With The Devil.” Jelly Roll’s drummer Cody Ash is their manager and pushed them into a metal-twang zone. They covered Dan & Shay’s “Tequila” in 2019 and by 2022 their “Insomnia” went viral. “We grew up on Tim McGraw and Garth Brooks, but we love Metallica and Pantera,” says frontman Trey Landrum. “We’re metal with hints of country, but we’re doing it differently; fucking with it and making it our own.”

Dayseeker’s “Pale Moonlight Tour,” with Northlane, sace6 and Wind Walkers, will have them performing songs off Creature In The Black Night, which hit #1 on the “Alternative Album” chart. Lead single “Pale Moonlight” made the U.S. Rock Radio Top 10.  It’s the first headlining tour for the band that started in Cali 14 years ago. Frontman Rory Rodriguez describes their sound as “sad rock” after starting out as post-hardcore. The sadness must come from their 2022 Dark Sun album, an intensely personal effort dealing with Rory’s father’s death.

Mark Whitfield, 59, is universally acclaimed as one of the greatest living guitarists of his generation. He fuses jazz, blues, gospel and rock into a seamless whole ever since he came under the sway of George Benson. Legends like Herbie Hancock and Wynton Marsalis have enlisted his aid.  He has recorded with the likes of Mary J. Blige, Chris Botti and Christian McBride. He’ll be bringing his trio to Cedar Lane in Teaneck on May 2.

They’re opening for Streel Panther so get there early. Cody Parks and Dirty South consider themselves “country metal.” Singer-Songwriter Parks formed his Dirty South six years ago and describes them as “Def Leppard on cornbread.” Their 2023 Smothered and Covered EP raised some eyebrows in Nashville and this gig in Sayreville at Starland Ballroom is the last night of 30 nights on the road so expect fireworks.

It’s called “Havana Nights.” The Arturo O’ Farrill Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble, plus the all-female Latin Percussion Ensemble known as La Manga and the Jazz Arts Academy All-Stars will perform at Triumph Restaurant in Red Bank in a showcase fundraiser for Music Education Programs for area youth. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has deemed April 29 as International Jazz Day. This event will positively percolate with percussion as well as Cuban food and even a classic car show!

Kean U’s Wind Ensemble is comprised of high school and college students up to retired educators. Formed just last year, the inter-generational chemistry between almost 50 musicians—under the direction of Patrick Burns (a conductor with 40 years of experience)—will come to fruition April 27 at 7:30 p.m. on-campus when their “Spread Your Wings” Spring Concert will also feature a band from nearby Kearny High with piano soloist Kodiak Kehoe, a Kean Freshman.

It’s called New Voices Bold Visions. The New Jersey Ballet—under the direction of Maria Kowroski—will dance at NJPAC downtown Newark on April 24 at 7:30 p.m. and again the following afternoon at 3:00. Part of the program will be “Red Angels,” the 1994 work by Ulysses Dove originally written for the New York City Ballet’s “Diamond Project” and now a key component of this troupe’s presentation.

Has it really been four decades of Los Angeles band Fishbone and its rock, ska, punk, funk, metal, reggae, soul, humor, goofiness and social commentary? In 2016, the original 1979 lineup reformed. In 2017, they broke up again. Only singer Angelo Moore (sax, theremin and percussion) and guitarist Spacey T, are originals. Keyboardist Chris Dowd was there right from the jump but took a 24-year break before coming back. Drummer Hassan Hurd, trumpeter JS Williams and bassist James Jones are the new guys. 

Singer-Songwriter Dave Pirner, guitarist Jeremy Tapparo, drummer Michael Bland, keyboardist Ivan Neville, The String Genius Quartet and the Robert Robinson Gospel Singers will echo Soul Asylum’s original 1993 “MTV Unplugged” at The Vogel in Red Bank on April 16. The show will include longtime concert favorites “Farmer John” and “What Will Become Of Me,” which were never properly recorded in a studio. Consider this their “Unplugged” tour.

With their new Chain Of Command EP out on the Blue Grape label, Albany hard rockers Flatwounds will stop in New Brunswick at the Cinco de Mayo Mexican Restaurant to blast those in attendance to smithereens.  Singer Colin O’Hare, guitarist Matt Degnan, bassist David Granger and drummer Wade Coonrad sprinkle their hardcore with ‘90s alt-rock.

Florida Pop-Rock trio Arrows In Action will undoubtedly play “Stop Talking” and the three other new songs off their upcoming “deluxe version” of I Think I’ve Heard This Before album when opening for Massachusetts indie band Boys Like Girls. The band describes “Stop Talking” in a press release as “the culmination of many seemingly unrelated influences that is uniquely us. The bass riff and orchestral samples drive the almost cabaret-style verse but the chorus still launches into hooky melodies and guitars over a fat dance beat.”

Main Street in Asbury Park will be rockin’ when Fozzy plays the Wild Air Beer Works but get there early to see metal band Who On Earth whose 2022 Blame debut showed the influences of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Alice In Chains and Tool. They even do “Hold The Line” by Toto. Last year’s Smoke & Mirrors EP included some sharp, socially reflective lyrics. A new full-length is due later this year. 

Bassist-Composer Mark Wade will bring his trio with pianist Cecelia Coleman and drummer Scott Neumann to Main Street at 7:00 for a special CD Release show in celebration of his New Stages album on Dot Time Records (March 27 release). His sound captures the alluring spontaneity of jazz crossed with the sterling classicism of centuries past. “I try to take inspiration wherever I can find it,” he says. “Good music is good music, no matter what label you want to put on it. I’ve  played jazz and classical music professionally now for years, and some of the most inspiring sounds I’ve heard were from my experiences playing classical music in the orchestra.”

Steve Forbert was Compromised in 2015 so that album has been remixed, remastered and retitled as Things That I See. It’s been 50 years since his groundbreaking Alive On Arrival debut and he’s still the same wisecracking commenter on life’s foibles. His voice has weathered into the warm embrace of an old friend. His songs have been recorded by Rosanne Cash, Keith Urban, Marty Stuart and Webb Wilder.

The Exit 102 Band from Monmouth County will light up Tim Kerwin’s Tavern in Middlesex April 4. Their patented “Sounds Of The Jersey Shore” show is a powerhouse, high-energy, fan-interactive party with soul, blues and the kind of rock’n’roll that you can’t sit down for. They will also be performing April 17 at the Five Dimes Brewery on Red Bank.

Within Princeton University’s Alexander Hall, is the Richardson Auditorium. That’s where the “St. Matthew Passion,” written by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1727 for solo voice, choir and orchestra, will ring out through the Hall. Gabriel Crouch and Michael McCormick will direct the University’s annual Spring Concert with the solo voice of Julian Gregory of The King’s Singers and the baroque orchestra known as The Sebastians.

New Brunswick heavy pop-punk-hardcore band Homebase marks its fourth year of existence by hitting the Meat Locker in Montclair April 3 with Jam Poetry, Losing Color and Solgrave. Matt Valentin (Guitar/Vocals), Antonio Valentino (Vocals), Chris Ochoa (Drums), Arturo Cordova (Guitar) and Dave Caruso Josh (Bass) are psyched to play live their new five-song EP—Close To Something—as well as their signature song “Bold” and the popular “Nuff Said.”

What a quartet! Keyboardist John Medeski, who rose to fame in the trio known as Medeski, Martin & Wood, bassist Jorge Roeder, drummer Kenny Wolleson and guitarist Julian Lage will perform at the South Orange Performing Arts Center on April 2.

Toronto’s alt-pop Pony starts its tour in Jersey City April 2 with Cleveland’s Heart Attack Man and Hoboken’s Phoneboy. Clearly Cursed, by Pony, is just out.  Singer Sam Bielanski says the title track was inspired by a visit to a psychic. “She read my tarot cards and told me I had a dark spirit attachment which she could easily vanquish for $1,500 so I decided to co-exist with it.”

It’s been over 40 years of Gipsy King magic. “Historia” is the new single. They’ve sold 26 million albums and have had over two billion streams. Their “Bamboleo” and “Djobi Djoba” are anthems. Their music has been used in Hollywood films. Their Catalan rhumba and Flamenco lineage are but a base for the wild excursions of jamming brothers Cosso and Mikeal Baliardo as they move and groove in support of their dad, guitarist Tonino Baliardo. Expect a party as it’s the last show of the tour.

The septet known as The Pink Floyd Project features two lead singers, lead guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, sax, video and “Sound FX.” Founder/Band Director/Lead Guitarist/Technical Director Leo Madrazo started the band during the Covid lockdown “transforming isolation into inspiration,” as he likes to say. It took six months but now they’re something all Pink Floyd fans should see. But do they do “See Emily Play”?

Florida Guitarist-Vocalist-Composer Selwyn Birchwood’s “Electric Swamp Funkin’ Blues” tour hits Tuckerton Mar. 28 at Lizzie Rose. The Alligator Records recording artist is one of Joe Bonamassa’s favorite bluesmen. He’s 6’4, plays barefoot, and totally commands the stage. As he says, “you would be hard-pressed to find an album or a band that sounds exactly like mine and that has been and always will be the goal. I pride myself in writing songs so that when you hear a band like us, you hear a band that sounds just like…US!”

Those in Hudson County should consider themselves lucky as the hotly anticipated documentary film Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It will be screened at WFMU’s Monty Hall in Jersey City March 28. Preston died in 2006 at 59 after a turbulent, tragic, fascinating life filled with his onstage and in-studio joyousness profoundly affecting (and improving) the music of The Beatles, Stones, Streisand and Clapton.

Bassist-Composer-Arranger-Producer-Blues Man Mike Griot knows no boundaries when it comes to genre. Thus, his latest project, “The Soul of Burt Bacharach,” comes complete with a 17-piece orchestra performing the music of composer Burt Bacharach [1928-2023] whose work with Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones, BJ Thomas, Herb Alpert and The Carpenters has been well-documented. It’s been reported that over a thousand singers have recorded his compositions. WBGO Radio Personality David Popkin hosts.

Guitarist Geoff Thorpe says, "In your face! Catchy riffs! Blistering solos, with a heavy metal and punk rock attitude! The new Vicious Rumors single 'Abusement Park' from The Devil's Asylum album has the band at the top of its craft! Imagine a nightmare theme park gone horror with machine gun guitars and kick drums with a melodic and harmony-filled chorus in true Vicious Rumors style. After being forced to push back the tours due to my broken shoulder, the guys and I are looking forward to getting the band back on the road. So come and celebrate Heavy Metal with us performing classics, deep cuts and new album tracks.”