The Morris Museum in Morristown will, for the seventh year in a row, present its popular outdoor “Back Deck” concert series. Bring lawn chairs, have a picnic, enjoy the sunset! If it rains, the concert will be moved indoors. Tickets go on sale April 21. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m.

International Jazz Day isn’t until April 30 but within the New Jersey Performing Arts Center downtown Newark—at the intimate Victoria Theater—a free April 26 Sunday afternoon jazz concert at 4:00 p.m. will feature over 100 young musicians from the NJPAC TD Jazz for Teens Moody Jazz Orchestra, George Wein’s Scholars Ensemble, Montclair’s Jazz House Kids, Riverdale Country School (Bronx, NY) and Pennsylvania’s Valley Jazz Orchestra.

When Montclair singer-songwriter Jason Didner saw Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, he was fascinated enough by Bruce’s composite love interest in the film Faye Romano to write “Dear Faye,” a song about “love and regret,” according to Didner, who goes on to say, “Bruce is known for songs written to imaginary women who represent periods in his life.”

Montclair’s Lily Vakili, on the heels of her Oceans Of Kansas album, will release the six-track Live Wire EP on May 8. The first single, “Anybody Knows,” is out now.

America’s largest goth-industrial convention—Dark Force—will return to the Parsippany Sheraton May 1, 2 and 3.  Night #1 stars Combichrist, the Atlanta band led by Norwegian vocalist Andy LaPlegua for the last 23 years.

Singer-Songwriter-Bassist Gregory McLouhlin used to perform on the streets of his Hoboken hometown. Then he recorded an album. His “Thank God It’s Monday” livestream recently reached 300 episodes. Now he’s the subject of a documentary, directed by Josh Presuto, that tells the tales behind such songs as “Businessman and “Photograph.”

Look at all those bands! The 17^th annual Elephant Talk Music Fest will take place with 70+ bands  for all ages at the Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall in Atlantic City on April 17, 18 & 19.

“We are bringing hope over fear, democracy over authoritarianism, the rule of law over lawlessness, ethics over unbridled corruption, unity over division, and peace over war.” – Bruce Springsteen

A year ago March, Middlesex County band Good Damage was “Better Off Alone.” Nine months later, they were “Just Alive.” Now they’re hitting the road with shows in Clifton at Dingbatz on April 25, The Water Tower in Oaks Pennsylvania on May 16 and at Crossroads in Garwood on May 20.

North Bergen singer-songwriter-guitarist Alejandro Meola’s self-described mission-in-music is to “support cultural diversity through the arts.” Thus, the Argentine-American will be debuting his new single “Sed De Nacer” April 11 in Boston at The Jungle, April 15 in New York City at Berlin in the East Village, April 27 in Charlotte, North Carolina, at The Evening Muse, April 30 in Miami at Luna Star Cafe and May 2 in Atlanta at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. 

Born in Newark, raised in Irvington, with a home in Bradley Beach, Sam Edelston is blazing new trails when it comes to the fretted dulcimer, a string instrument related to the zither that’s played like a lap steel guitar. If you ask him, he’ll tell you his mission is to make the dulcimer as popular as the guitar in rock’n’roll. Joni Mitchell used to play it but Edelston, on his Making Waves debut, is the first artist to use it as a lead ax in a rock setting.

No one does Tom Waits like Eddie Skuller. Skuller, the Jersey City chameleon, has already transcended the Waits essence with his spot-on rendition of “Chocolate Jesus” and turned the Willie Dixon blues classic “Spoonful” into a reggae. Now he plans to sing the ballads of Tom Waits at the 503 Social Club on Third Street in Hoboken on May 16.

The free 2026 Spring Arts and Music Festival will take place on Washington Street between Observer Highway and Seventh Street May 17 (rain date: May 31) in Hoboken from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with over 300 vendors and two stages of live music. Over 30,000 visitors are expected.

The free 2026 Spring Arts and Music Festival will take place on Washington Street between Observer Highway and Seventh Street May 17 (rain date: May 31) in Hoboken from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with over 300 vendors and two stages of live music. Over 30,000 visitors are expected.

The annual family-friendly community event known as Ailey Day returns to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center downtown Newark for the 18^th time on April 11. The all-day event features free dance classes and performances. The Newark Public Library will host story-time with readings of children’s books including a biography of Alvin Ailey [1931-1989}, the legendary dancer, director, choreographer and activist.

The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music opens its new digs June 7 on the campus of Monmouth University in Long Branch. The massive 32,000 square foot structure includes exhibition galleries, research archives, immersive interactive experiences and a performance theater.

Singer-Songwriter Shane MacGowan [1957-2023] was the lead singer of Great Britain’s Celtic Punk Pogues. He wrote lyrics on the Irish immigrant experience and pulled no punches. Decades of booze and drugs killed him at 65. On November 13, 20^th Century Paddy: The Songs of Shane MacGowan will be released with Pogues interpretations from Tom Waits, Steve Earle, The High Kings, Hozier & Jessie Buckley, Johnny Depp & Imelda May, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Dropkick Murphys, Glen Hansard, The Libertines, David Gray, Primal Scream, Kate Moss, Damien Dempsey, Moya Brennan, Amble, Camille O’Sullivan, Cronin, Garron Noone, Johnny Mac & the Faithful, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Lisa Moorish & Another Day, Lisa O’Neill, LYRA, Madra Salach, Mundy, Picture This, Pinch of Snuff, The Murder Capital, Bruce Springsteen and The Pogues themselves. Half of its royalties will benefit the Dublin Simon Community, an Irish homelessness organization.

The Somerset County trio known as Burn In Tweed has released its stirring “Sunhouse’ song wherein telescopes collapse, vampires flee and lovers tango while bassist Bex pumps out jaw-grinding lines of desperation, drummer Shane J. Dillon cracks those rimshots fit to tear a bloody hole in your neck, and vocalist-guitarist Ronny Day goes nuclear on this production from Andy Janowiak at Highlands Studio in Hunterdon County.   According to their website, it’s “spikey sweet punky pop, steeped in metal and beats with a Turnpike heart.”

Born in Passaic and raised in Garfield, David Brigati rose to prominence singing lead on “Peppermint Twist” by Joey Dee & The Starliters. It hit #1 in 1961, knocking “The Twist,” by Chubby Checker, off the top spot. But by ’65, he quit the group, and was replaced by his younger brother Eddie.  When Eddie quit the group to form his own, he took two Starliters with him—lead guitarist Gene Cornish and keyboardist Felix Cavaliere. They called themselves The Young Rascals.

Canadian Sebastian Bach, 57, sang for Ocean County band Skid Row on its first three albums. Now he’ll sing for Bergen County band Twisted Sister. And he’s thrilled. He recently posted the following…