Andy B will lead his SoulFolk into Highland Park on North Fourth in the lounge at Pino’s Gift Basket Shoppe and Wine Cellar, an atypical venue which features live acoustic music. You can’t get any more acoustic and lively than Andy as he hearkens back to earlier generations of folkies, bluesmen, swingsters and the terminally hip. He’s a character alright and his alternately gruff and tender vocals always hits the right note. The new album, to be released May 18 on Deko Entertainment/ADA Warner Music Group is entitled Tellin’ Myself Weird Little Stories. 

Spring Street in Newton, Sussex County, will roar with the sounds of drummer-producer-composer-arranger-vocalist-guitarist-keyboardist Omar Hakim on May 22. Dude’s played pop, rock’n’roll, R’n’B and jazz-rock fusion in his illustrious career. Whether it’s with Daft Punk, Sting, Bowie, Madonna, Miles Davis, Dire Straits or Weather Report, he stings with ferocity. Now he fronts his Sonic Boom Squad and will preview tracks off his upcoming Come Out To Play CD.

Dylan fans gotta go see this! Pat Guadagno has Rob “The Honeydripper” Paparozzi in his Tired Horses band. Papa played with the Original Blues Brothers Band and it’s his harmonica you hear in the Dylan movie A Complete Unknown. These Horses will be doing an all-Dylan show for Bob Fest, a birthday bash for Dylan’s 84^th. They will be concentrating on Dylan’s “Bootleg Rare & Unreleased” catalog of songs.

Singer-Songwriter-Educator Francesca Fuentes has seen love from both sides now. Her artistic temperament is such that she pours out her heart and soul into her music like early Joni Mitchell. But she’s funkier. Her lyrics encapsulate romance, breakups, mental health and faith. In 2021, her Diary Of Dreams debut introduced an introspective poet with an ear for pure pop hooks. No doubt she will sing her new “I Just Wanna Be Your Lover Again” 

If you’ve watched Bridgerton on NetFlix, Westworld on HBO, Shameless on Showtime or Modern Family on ABC, you’ve heard the classical crossover of The Vitamin String Quartet. With arrangements straight out of the 19th Century, the music of Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, The Weeknd and Daft Punk never sounded like this! With over two billion streams and seven charting albums, the VSQ will sooth your soul yet blow your mind.

“Keep New Jersey Loud” is the mission statement of Radio Garden State and it will be taking over White Eagle Hall in Jersey City May 17. It’s “a celebration of the Garden State and the people who make it great,” according to organizers. Emerson Woolf & The Wishbones, Reality Suite, John Cozz, DJ April, Creatures Of Chrome, Mark Moran of Weird NJ and others will be there. 

Alabama Pianist-Vocalist Johnny O’Neal, 69, moved to New York City in 1981 to work with Clark Terry during a Blue Note residency where he backed Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Brown, Nancy Wilson, Joe Pass and Kenny Burrell. He was a member of Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers in ’82 and ’83, and made his Carnegie Hall debut in ’85.

Gridiron’s new Poetry From Pain lands May 30 from Blue Grape Music. The first single, “Still Playing For Keeps,” is already out. The band, known for its hiphop-hardcore mash-up, is spread out between Philadelphia, Delaware and Michigan (must be hard to rehearse!). They even dabble in death metal, and have three records out:  Loyalty At All Costs (2020), Worldwide Brotherhood (2021) and No Good At Goodbyes (2022). 

Chris Ruggiero, 25, calls it “Livin’ The Dream.” Fresh off his Darlene Love collaboration, Ruggiero will interpret the music of Adele, Lionel Richie, Jay & The Americans and more. Influenced by Justin Timberlake, he says, “I try to make every move and sing every song with a touch of class that reminds the audience of a time when entertainers put their heart and soul into their songs and delivering an exceptional concert was paramount.”

Sunset Blvd. Records will release Rock Remaker, a remix EP of last year’s Rockmaker, by The Dandy Warhols, May 16. On May 9, the Oregon band will preview some of its songs at The Stone Pony. “I absolutely love remixes, someone else’s interpretation, or complete destruction of a song,” says guitarist-keyboardist Peter G. Holmstrom. One of the remixed songs, “I Will Never Stop Loving You,” features lead vocals by Debbie Harry. 

They may spill out dancing onto Cedar Lane in Teaneck May 7 when the boss lady of Rio de Janeiro, Sanny Alves, hits Bergen County. The fiery samba and bossa nova singer—who got her start in the band of her father, the celebrated bassist Luiz Alves—will be backed by guitarist Derick Campos and drummer Scott Latzky. After her set, there will be a jam session where audience members will be invited onstage as part of this club’s “Brazilian Night.”

England has a case of Bad Nerves. And they’re Still Nervous. Mick Jagger has sung their praises. So has Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam and Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran. They play “ferociously fast distorted pop songs” according to their camp, inspired by The Ramones.  Songs like “You’ve Got The Nerve,” “Antidote,” “USA” and “You Should Know By Now” have made them one of the top global punk attractions of the year. 

Singer-Songwriter Violinist Kishi Bashi—born in Seattle and raised in Virginia—will perform at the White Eagle Hall May 5. It’s a rare opportunity to see this multi-genre artist—known for collaborating with symphony orchestras on his classical-pop fusion—in the intimate environs of this popular Jersey City room. He’s recorded and toured with Regina Spektor, and leads his own electronica band Jupiter One.

South Carolina alt-rockers Winyah—now based in Tennessee—are a new band with a debut, Lot To Learn. With thought-provoking lyrics and a snap-to-it rhythm section that churns along complete with blister lead guitar, their melodies stick to the brain like a tattoo.

Sparks will fly when the Larry Fuller Trio—Pianist Fuller, bassist Lorin Cohen, drummer Carmen Intorre, Jr.—lights up the Madison Community Arts Center on Kings Road at 3:00 in the afternoon with the Metuchen High School Jazz Sextet opening. With Oscar Peterson as his main influence, his swing is the thing, and you can bet he’ll plummet the depths of the “Great American Songbook.”

Rorschach Test will be on the “Scars & Stripes” tour of Genitorturers, landing right smack dab in the middle of Dark Force Fest at the Parsippany Sheraton on May 3. New guitarist Luis Kalil of Red Devil Vortex (pictured) will join the band as will keyboardist Luke Guillotine of Murder Weapons and the bassist known as The Narcoleptic Goddess.

Mike Griot of the band known as Blues People (a must-see) put in his time playing soul, jazz gospel and hip-hop, but he always returned to his first love, the blues. He’s the go-to bassist for numerous national acts but it’s with Blues People where he really shines. You can also catch them May 2 in Madison at Shanghai Jazz and May 4 at the South Orange Performing Arts Center.

April 30 is International Jazz Day. The Chris DeVito Trio—pianist DeVito, bassist John Lenis and drummer Gavin Davies—will headline the Watchung Arts Center on Stirling Road. Mayuko Abe, the young Japanese trumpeter going for her Masters in Jazz Performance at William Paterson College in Wayne, will also perform.

It’s been 66 years and counting for the Florham Park-based New Jersey Ballet under the direction of Maria Kowroski.  On April 24 (and April 25) choreographer Harrison Ball’s World Premiere of his second ballet, New Ancient Strings, will use 19 dancers to meld dance, fashion, costuming and stage design. It should be, without a doubt, a sight to behold. 

In support of their Fasten Up (Mack Avenue Records) 27^th album, the award-winning jazzed-up Yellowjackets will hit South Jersey at the Bell Theater on April 24. Their combo of progressive electro/acoustic funky jazz crossed with instrumental soul music action has made ‘jackets fans passionate about the band for four decades. These Grammy Award-winners never fail to satisfy. 

Supporting their current Duck album, The Aristocrats—guitarist Guthrie Govan (ex-Asia), bassist Bryan Beller (ex-Steve Vai) and drummer Marco Minnemann (ex-Joe Satriani)—will blast out their all-instrumental jazz-rock fusion at The Vogel in Red Bank on April 22. Their 2011 self-titled debut was the first of five studio CDs. Four world tours and three live albums later, they’re at the peak of their powers.

Live Yarn Volume #1 is due May 2 but you can see them live in Blairstown at Roy’s Hall April 18. These veteran Brooklyn roots-rockers—now based in North Carolina—have always been high-energy. From their 2006 inception to their 2024 Born Blessed Grateful & Alive album, they’ve maintained a standard of excellence. The new live album was recorded in Nashville at Americana-Fest as well as their own event, Yarnival, and the Rooster Walk Festival in Virginia. 

On the heels of their “Where Did She Go” ballad from the just-released Heartache In Room 14, the “Club Heartache Tour” hits Asbury at Wonder Bar March 22. The luxurious harmony of this Los Angeles alt-country act—who, reportedly, are psyched to play at this year’s Bonnaroo—is just the tip of a deep iceberg of talent.

Canadian country singer Cory Marks is supporting the release of his second album, Sorry For Nothing (Better Noise Music) by opening shows across the country for L.A. rock band Dorothy. The trek will land him in Asbury Park at the Pony on April 18.  Marks makes music that reminds many of the legendary Merle Haggard crossed with bluegrass smarts and Power Ballad stadium anthems. He can also go metal.

Rhonette Smith will be the featured musician at “Collective Creativity,” an open-mic event at the Sun Moon Art Studio on West Front Street in Keyport from 6:45 to 9:00. Hosted by Matawan singer-songwriter Ed Hussey, the evening promises to deliver some pleasant surprises. Bing your guitar and strut your stuff! 

There are those who call Gene Loves Jezebel goth pioneers. Others call ‘em post-punk. They’re out on what they call their “Hit & Run Tour.” Their 1980s MTV hits “Jealous.” “The Motion Of Love,” “Heartache,” “Josephina” and “Desire (Come and Get It)” established this British band.

Singer-Songwriter-Guitarist Patrick Michael DiNizio was  born in Plainfield in 1955  and died in Summit in 2017 at the age of 62. He was also an actor, film producer and politician. He started The Smithereens in 1980. He was also fond of playing solo. In 2000, he toured in the living rooms of his fans for five months, inviting many of them to his own backyard in an effort, as he said, “to break down the walls and barriers that traditionally have separated artists and audience.”  There will never be anyone like him again and we wish he would have won his New Jersey Senate seat but he only garnered 19,312 votes. 

Touring with Wednesday 13, Stitched Up Heart and I Ya Toyah in support of its Redefined debut (Judge & Jury Records), the staunch metalcore of Dead Rabbitts should fill Starland Ballroom in Sayreville on April 10. Singer Craig Mabbitt says, “this album is about rebirth, rediscovery and  reclaiming the fire in your belly for what matters most in life.” Multi-platinum producer Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, Seether, Skillet, Of Mice & Men) was behind the board, heading his own production company/label.

Foreign Leisure Records will release Oh Smokey, by Americana-indie rock band Clem Snide, on vinyl, May 2. The band—featuring singer-songwriter Eef Barzelay—will be previewing tracks April 6 in Neptune City at Cats Luck.  Eef recently fired his manager, divorced his wife and moved away from his Tennessee home after 20 years in Nashville. The resulting angst has found itself in his music.

Chuck Redd has toured Europe 25 times as a member of Charlie Byrd’s trio and the Great Guitars band of Byrd, Barney Kessel and Herb Ellis, be it on vibraphone or drums. He’s toured Japan with the Benny Goodman Tribute Orchestra and served as Artist-In-Residence at the Smithsonian Jazz Café in DC from ’04 to ’08. Here he’ll be on vibes with John DiMartino on piano. The special 3:00 p.m. start time includes The Ming-Yang Qin Quintet opening.