Former Eagle lead guitarist-singer-songwriter Don Felder will appear across the country with The Guess Who, stopping just off the Garden State Parkway in Holmdel for a July 5 show at PNC. The “Takin’ It Back Tour” started last month in Canada and will continue to August in Seattle. His album—The Vault:  50 Years of Music—is now out. “There’s nothing like playing these songs live for audiences who’ve carried them with them for generations,” he says. “Getting to share the stage with Burton [Cummings] and Randy [Bachman] every night is going to make this tour something really special.”

Connecticut hardcore heroes Hatebreed will headline the New Jersey Hardcore Festival—otherwise known as Hellfest—and play two of its most popular albums in their entirety—their 1997 Satisfaction is the Death of Desire debut and their last album, Weight of the False Self (2020). New York’s Glassjaw will co-headline. Other bands include Trustkill, Vision Of Disorder, First Blood, Old Wounds, Disembodied, Bayway, Bleeding Through and Twitching Tongues.  

“Monmouth NJ 250” will be held on the eve of Independence Day at the East Freehold Showgrounds with Little Steven, Jake Clemons, Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers, Gary “U.S.” Bonds, Low Cut Connie and The Weeklings.

Thank goodness for bassist Christian McBride for it is he and Melissa Walker who head up Jazz House Kids out of Montclair. They educate and mentor the next generation of jazz musicians, thus insuring that the genre itself is self-perpetuating. This special 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. show celebrates the graduation season and, as their promotion team says, “the future of jazz is in incredible hands.”

In 1988, not since Sly & The Family Stone in the ‘60s, did a band couple such driving funk with hard rock. Living Colour’s Vivid debut was the best metal of the year and one of the best debuts of all-time. They opened for the Stones and made five more albums before calling it a career as a band. To see a great electric lead guitarist in Vernon Reid go acoustic, and one of the most soulful vocalists in Corey Glover, will be a night to remember.  

North Carolina’s Harvey Street is pumped to provide the pop of its Insomnia EP down the shore as part of its “Down & Out Tour.” They call their sound “Disciplined Electricity” and this five-piece indie-rock machine has already been proving it night after night in 22 states of the Midwest, South and now Northeast.

Pianist Max Richter will lead the American Contemporary Music Ensemble (two violins, two violas and a cello) on his originals complete with electronics. He was recently nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe in the “Best Original Score” category for his work on the film Hamnet.

Joe Bonanno (pictured) and his Godsons of Soul will headline a “Jersey Stars Tribute” with a hefty cast including Michael Martocci’s Sinatra, Ava Bonanno’s Bruce, Victoria Taylor’s Whitney, Leon Trent’s Kool & The Gang, Sheri Lynn’s Blondie/Gloria Gaynor and Brianna Eve for one more dose of Whitney. Joe’s Soul band will chip in with some Bon Jovi, Southside Johnny, Four Seasons and more Bruce. It’s all for a good cause:  proceeds will benefit food banks in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Guess who’s opening for The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra? Morris Arts is presenting “Giralda: A Evening of Pure Imagination.” First an art exhibition. Then classical guitarist George Attisano, guitar duo Lenin Pazmino and Carlos Chong, Blues People and the Orchestra. It runs from 3:00 in the afternoon to 7:30 at night. At 6:00, artist Serena Bocchino will put on a “live painting experience” as the Orchestra swells, she will paint.

Philly Alt-Rock/Alt-R’n’B trio Madska—singer Maddy Rose Weisman, guitarist Sean Bonney-Burrill and keyboardist Gabe Banford—hits the shore June 13 to perform its new “Medusa” song from its upcoming More Than Dramatic EP due September 18 on Cryptid Records. Greek mythology’s Medusa was a monster-woman with snakes on her head instead of hair. Madska’s “Medusa” is more a fem icon for those who feel disenfranchised. In other words, do not, under any circumstance, fuck with her, or she will turn you to stone.  

If you miss her in New York City at Nightclub 101 on June 10 or in Philly at Nikki Lopez on June 11, you can catch Jersey Girl Annabelle Chairlegs, now an Austin Texas favorite, back in her home state at Shawn’s Crazy Saloon in Bergen County.

Just listen to “Actual Proof” by Herbie Hancock off his 1974 Thrust album. Hear those drums? That’s Mike Clark and that’s all you need to know.

His Southern Boogie doesn’t come out until June 12 but “Lucretia,” the first single, is out now. His swamp-rock, Americana-funk and roadhouse blues leaves his country past in the dust. His music is now much more ballsy, much more TEXAS. He describes it as “gritty and raw.” “Lucretia,” according to him, “is about getting out of a situation where you feel stuck. You just got to put one foot in front of the other, and that’s how I felt writing this song. It’s got biting guitar tones into a bouncy groove to get you on your feet and out of the mud.”

Bassist-Composer John Lang’s nonet, Earotica, will perform three sets of selections from its self-titled Cellar Live Records debut June 11 on Cedar Lane in Teaneck. The sound has been called bold, unforgettable, smooth and funky. They might even do that Horace Silver composition that graces the debut.

The Josh Joplin Group’s Camera One (25^th Anniversary Master) is just out. How many bands completely re-record their album that’s a quarter-century old with (almost) the same guys? (His Group has been compared to XTC.) Born in Washington DC 54 years ago, he’ll be playing solo at The Vogel in Red Bank June 7 with Jeffrey Gaines, 60, from Pennsylvania, whose debut came out 44 years ago.

Go Latin! Cuban-American Hudson County resident Giselle Bellas will bring her astonishing mix of theater, dance, drama and music with themes of sisterhood, migration and identity to The Jersey City Theater Center at White Eagle Hall June 7. A 15-piece Latin Orchestra will spread its salsa while the actors and dancers will make this four-sister story come to vibrant life. Visual, kinetic, with the folkloric rhythms of Latin America, you’ll be squirming in your seat wanting to dance.

They swing! Bigtime. “The Great American Songbook” will be on tap when Peter and Will Anderson—with pianist Ehud Asherie—perform Irving Berlin songs from their Best Of Berlin album and talk about the late composer’s life. Opening will be The Rising Stars, with tenor saxophonist Sofia Carrasco and pianist Victor Sotomayor leading musicians from New Jersey City University.

The Bloomfield Youth Band is celebrating its 40^th Anniversary. Founding Director Patrick Burns has announced “The History of Tomorrow” June 6 at the Bloomfield Middle School, as presented by The Bloomfield Federation of Music, with local composers, band directors and musicians. The program veers dramatically from the Baroque period of Johann Sebastian Bach [1685-1750] to the marches of John Philip Sousa [1854-1932] with trumpet soloist Alex Bermeo as well as the Bloomfield High School Wind Ensemble and more.

Asbury Juke lead guitarist Glenn Alexander has always been a Renaissance Man. The New Jersey Prog House Progressive Music Series will give fans a chance to see the wide variety of sound this extremely talented musician is capable of. Stretch was a band he put together with Dave Larue of Dixie Dregs/Steve Morse Band in 1984. Now, with Maplewood drummer Van Romaine, they will reprise their Southern Rock in the first set. The second set promises to be even more eclectic as Glenn morphed into a jazz-rock fusion zone as L.A.X.

High Fade come all the way from Scotland and will land down the shore May 31. Starting out in the streets of Edinburgh busking for chump change, they’re now touring the U.S. in support of their Twice As Nice album. Filled with hard rock, funky jazz, heavy metal and whiteboy soul,  guitarist-vocalist Harry Velentino, bassist Oliver Sentence and drummer Heath Campbell are adept at burning down the house.

When Michael Arnone brings a little bit of New Orleans music and food to New Jersey at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta for three days May 29, 30 & 31, make sure to see The Nth Power play songs from their new Never Alone album. This hot Louisiana band has been around for 11 years. They recorded Never Alone in Vermont at the suggestion of Phish bassist Mike Gordon. “We created this album with the intention of sharing love back into the world, with the understanding that all people deserve love,” says drummer Nikki Glaspie (who provided beats for Beyonce all over the world). “It’s about compassion, connection and recognizing that none of us are really alone.”

We introduced you to Sam Edelston and his magic dulcimer last March. Now the Bradley Beach inhabitant is playing May 30 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal for the church’s “The Arts at St. Luke’s” series in Hope within Warren County. The show is free and the suggested donation is $10.

Amongst the many artists at Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Fest at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta May 29, 30 and 31 will be guitarist-singer Samantha Fish who’s touring in support of her new Paper Doll Live album. Her 2023 duet album with Jesse Dayton, Death Wish Blues, was the #1 blues album in America and led to invites from the Stones, Clapton and Slash to open their tours. Her shows have been called “electrifying,” “wild” and “raunchy.” 

Two guitar icons on one stage:  sparks will undoubtedly fly when Joe Satriani teams up with Steve Vai. They’ll obviously play their new “Dancing” single and their band with drummer Kenny Aronoff, bassist Marco Mendoza and guitarist Pete Thorn is terrific. The opening act is Washington DC’s Animals As Leaders (all-instrumental prog-metal). Satriani says their new music “really captures the playful side of what Steve and I discovered on stage together last summer — that push-and-pull of melody and energy.” Vai says, “This band thrives on surprise — musically and visually. It’s melodic but relentless.”

Not only will the great Tommy James (who sounds as good as ever) be performing those songs we all know and love but also on the bill will be the perennially entertaining Peter Noone who shed his frontman duties for ‘60s British Invasion group Herman’s Hermits years ago to blossom into an all-around Grade-A showman. Hosting the show will be legendary DJ Cousin Brucie.

With a new live album out with the late Garth Hudson of The Band (Just Stay Live), vocalist Alexis P. Suter of Woodstock NY will bring her band to Tuckerton for a show at the Lizzie Rose Music Room on May 23. Suter’s legend has grown ever since she participated in those historic 1967 Dylan sessions at Big Pink.

As Good As Dead, by Illinois band Local H, was released 30 years ago. It will be re-released from G&P Records this summer on vinyl and CD. To celebrate the occasion, On the heels of its tours with Everclear and Filter, Local H will tour with Toadies and stop down the shore at the Pony in Asbury May 23. Guitarist-Vocalist Scott Lucas explains—“I never really used to care about the past. For me, it was always about moving forward…Lately though, I’ve learned to relax…to appreciate people’s personal affection…especially younger people who have coming to the shows the last couple of years.  They’re still excited about [As Good As Dead] and their excitement is infectious.”

Bring your earplugs to North Avenue in Garwood May 22 when Virginia’s Pig Destroyer, New Jersey’s Deadguy, Arizona’s Sex Prisoner, Wisconsin’s Mellow Harsher and California’s Human Blister make for a five-band blow-out within the walls of Crossroads.

Catch Me If You Can is Ryan Hanratty. His folk-punk is filled with singer-songwriter smarts that he snarls out with proper emotion. Catch him if you can in Keyport at Sun Moon Studio, 29-B West Front Street, at 6:30 p.m., as part of a multi-artist night entitled “Collective Creativity,” where he will obviously impress with his combination of wit, anger and the rhythmic pulse of his acoustic guitar.

Cherry Street in Rahway will rock non-stop on May 16. Start your day off on Irving Street first at The Coffee Box for the Logan Soltys Quartet at 11:00 a.m. for two hours before Lydia Crown holds court at the Cherry Mural at 1:00. No need to leave when she’s done because Rock’n’Soul starts at 2:00, then Milan at 3:00 and finally The Sweater Pills at 4:00.