Jersey City Mayor James Soloman, in conjunction with the Jersey City Public Library and Liberty State Park have announced the 51^st Annual Summer Fest at North Cove Field Sundays at 6:00 p.m.

The Jersey Sound in Montclair at 1 Lackawanna Station on August 8 will be the sound of barking dogs. It’s called Barknic and it’s the largest fundraiser to date of Wise Animal Rescue. Housed indoors from noon to 5:00 p.m., adoptable canines, local vendors, activities, photo opps, raffles and music will be the order of the day with all proceeds supporting Wise, the volunteer-run foster-based rescue mission and all the pups in its care.

Julien’s Auctions—the leading pop-culture auction house—will hold “The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation 2026 Auction” in Los Angeles on August 11 to benefit the Houston estate’s foundation.

The second annual Soulstice Music & Arts Festival will take place on the last day of July and the first two days of August. The Peace Love Music Movement—an organization that describes itself as supporting “independent musicians, small venues and local culture by producing live events that celebrate authenticity, diversity and artistic freedom”—is producing the event with the Asbury Park entity known as Pattenburg House. There will be a “Kid Zone,” food/drink vendors and “health activities.”

“The thing that’s most important to me about Bill Evans is not a style. It’s not the way that he plays, or the devices that he uses. It’s the sound of the piano, and that’s something that comes from deep inside. So I made sure to hone in on my own sound for this album.”—Randy Ingram

It’s been 46 years since Bil Evans died but tributes to the legendary New Jersey pianist have continued to be released in 2024, 2025 and now, with the appearance of Sound Within: A Celebration of Bill Evans (Chill Tone Records), 2026.

There will be several New Jersey artists performing at the Union Jazz Festival this year on August 21, 22 and 23:  including sax men Don Braden (Boonton) and Bruce Williams (Montclair), plus guitarists Dave Stryker (West Orange) and the gypsy jazz of Stephane Wrembel (Montclair). Plus, keyboardist Leonieke Scheuble (Kearny) is back from headlining in Japan. There will be both free and ticketed shows both outside and inside at the Union Arts Center at 1980 Morris Avenue.

The eighth annual Sea.Hear.Now Festival will take place on three stages September 19 and 20 in Asbury Park.

They came out of Plainfield 30 years ago all spit and sweat. Five albums later, FABCOM! Records released Rising on The Fourth Of July. Two of the songs were recorded and produced by Feelies guitarist Glenn Mercer who strums here with drummer Rob Takleszyn and bassist Bob Torsello. Unfortunately, original founding member Jay LoRubbio died in 2018 at 61. Silence ensued. Work on what would become Rising came to a dead halt. Enter Feelie Mercer who encouraged them to continue.

Forever King Clark’s You’re Not There came out last Friday. It continues the upward spiral of last year’s Five Dollar Yacht Club (). The new EP covers some interesting topics, mainly ghosts, fast-food jobs and crippling social anxiety. Singer-Guitarist Bobby Kallok reached out to say, “we wanted to create a release that was like discovering a lost cassette from a past that never existed.”

Bruce Springsteen: Finding America In Song

Union County Rockers The New Bardots have released Working Undercover on Bongo Boy Records in Blairstown, their fourth. The album was recorded at Sky Lab Recording Studio in Monmouth County with drummer Johnnie Rago, keyboardist John Croot, bassist Dan Skye, guitarist Gar Francis and our favorite pissed-off author Wayne Olivieri on vocals, harmonica and percussion.

He’s the teenaged blues phenom from Mississippi that The Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation honored last year by giving him an “Emerging Artist” scholarship. His name is Harrell Davenport. He records and tours as Young Rell and his debut is startling for someone so young.

They came out of Kentucky to settle in New Jersey 42 years ago. Guitarist Tara Key and bassist Tim Harris started Antietam shortly after they got married at Hoboken City Hall. Add bassist Wolf Knapp and drummer Mike Weinhart and the original lineup was set.

MPAC in Morristown has announced the rest of its concert year. For information and updates, visit mayoarts.org.

It’s complete. It’s beautiful. The long-talked about brand new home of the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music on the campus of Monmouth University in West Long Branch has finally opened to the public. The immersive exhibits are just the start.

The class of 2026 has been announced, showcasing, according to NJHOF Chairman Jon F. Hanson, “the diverse talent, resilience, and spirit of achievement that define the great state of New Jersey. Each inductee, through their creativity, leadership, and pursuit of excellence, has made impactful contributions that continue to inspire future generations."

They’ve been on the road for what seems like forever but the follow-up to their Killing The Bear debut comes out next week. Three singles from the upcoming album are out now. Check out “Crows In Camouflage” below. The band is based in the Washington DC area but Brian K. Pagels is originally from Freehold. Their “coastal heartland rock” has been honed into a sharp edge over the last five years.

The Fods gotta be the only indie-rock band from both Jersey City and Cheshire UK. They’ve just completed the tenth and final song for their new Does Not Conform To Regulations album (the follow-up to their Don’t Argue.)  These dudes love the art of collaboration so all 10 tracks are with their musical friends.

Bamberdost, the East Rutherford trio comprised of 1980s veterans Paul Mauled, Chris Pingor and Jack Gibson, have followed up last year’s Songs About Your Girlfriend album with Dharmageddon, a loud, ballsy, almost anthemic album with “adult songs about complicated relationships,” as our friend Jim Testa writes in his “Constant Listener.”

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark (NJPAC) has announced this year’s lineup for the 15^th annual TD James Moody Jazz Festival Nov. 6-22. Highlights include tributes to Miles Davis, Zakir Hussain and James Moody [1925-2010}, the bebop sax man who was raised in Newark. Anticipation is also running high for a rare appearance by Tony Award winner Ben Vereen.