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United Children's Music Project presents World-Class Venezuelan Artists María Brea and Kristhyan Benítez on May 28th

(WEEHAWKEN, NJ) -- United Children's Music Project (UCMP) presents Venezuelan soprano María Brea and Latin Grammy–winning pianist Kristhyan Benítez in an unforgettable evening of Latin American artistry as part of its acclaimed Latin Night Thursdays concert series on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at UCMP (4710 Park Avenue) in Weehawken, NJ. Showtime is 7:30pm.





 



New Jersey Youth Chorus to Celebrate the Season with Spring Concert on May 17th

(NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ) -- The New Jersey Youth Chorus (NJYC), a program of Wharton Arts, invites audiences to its annual Spring Concert on Sunday, May 17, 2026 at the Nicholas Music Center at Rutgers University (85 George Street) in New Brunswick. Showtime is 4:00pm.




Jason Didner's New Album Celebrates Asbury Park's Resilient Spirit of Community

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Asbury Heart is Jason Didner's love letter to a city that refused to quit — and to the musicians, misfits, and believers who kept the beat going. Drawing on the sounds, stories, and personalities that transformed Asbury Park from a place of decay into an unlikely worldwide music destination, the album spans punk, soul, reggae, and heartland rock in the spirit of the Jersey Shore scene itself: eclectic, unguarded, and alive.




A Chat with Veronika and Madelene of Arrival From Sweden Who Perform at UCPAC on May 16

Arrival from Sweden is coming to Rahway, NJ's Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 8:00pm. Founded in 1995 in Gothenburg, Sweden, Arrival from Sweden is one of the world's most popular ABBA tribute bands and the only group that has ever been given a previously unreleased song directly from ABBA to record.




Orion Weiss Returns to South Jersey on June 7th

(SEWELL, NJ) -- Music at Bunker Hill welcomes pianist Orion Weiss in his third appearance on their series on Sunday, June 7, 2026 at 3:00pm. Weiss is a "brilliant pianist" (The New York Times) with "powerful technique and exceptional insight" (The Washington Post).











 

EVENT PREVIEWS

State

State Theatre New Jersey presents The Sound Studio Series 2026

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey proudly presents The Sound Studio Series, an immersive musical experience that places concertgoers at the very heart of the performance. Held in STNJ's intimate Studio space, limited to just 80 attendees, The Sound Studio Series features a dynamic mix of both classical and rock performances. Each concert concludes with an exclusive post-show meet-and-greet with the artists, offering fans a rare opportunity to connect directly with the performers. Tickets for the series are $20-$30.



Bruce

Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band's Land Of Hope And Dreams American Tour Announced For Spring 2026

(NEWARK, NJ) -- Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band will launch their Land Of Hope And Dreams American Tour across the country this spring, kicking off at Minneapolis' Target Center on March 31. The 20-date run will feature 19 arena shows, including several local shows in New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia.



Adelphi

Adelphi Orchestra to present "Soaring Melodies" in NJ and NYC

(RIVER EDGE, NJ) -- The Adelphi Orchestra, under the direction of Kyunghun Kim, presents Soaring Melodies, an inspiring program of classical masterworks to be performed on May 8 in NJ and May 16, 2026 in NYC.



Westminster

Westminster Choir College to celebrate 100th anniversary

(LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ) -- Westminster Choir College of Rider University is celebrating its 100th anniversary, marking a century of excellence in music education and performance. Centennial events in Lawrenceville and Princeton honor legacy while supporting future generations of musicians.



Punch

Punch Brothers to Kick off 28-City Tour at Mayo Performing Arts Center on May 14th

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- The Grammy Award-winning Punch Brothers will begin a twenty-eight city U.S. tour on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC). Tickets range from $53-$85. Showtime is 7:30pm.












LATEST COLUMNS


Makin Waves Song of the Week is "Fairweather Friends" by Exit Eleven

After a long hiatus, the Central Jersey band Exit Eleven are back with a new single that they will celebrate the release of on May 8 at Asbury Park's fabled Stone Pony.




Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 05/07/2026

Terry Barber is an "Internationally acclaimed" vocalist who has graced stages such as The Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, The kennedy Center and more and his recent project called "Mercury" will now grace the stage of The Brook Arts Center, otherwise known as "The Brook,"  in Bound Brook, NJ on May 15 at 8 p.m. for a one night only engagement. 




BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music 5/4/26

Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians each week with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at new releases by Teen Idle, Rich Lancia, Somebody Club, Suede Aces, and Exit Eleven. Plus a look back at "Songs for the Moon" by The Porchistas.




This Week in Music

Here is a look at shows taking place this week along with our featured listings and a look at some upcoming shows. New Jersey Stage offers previews of concerts throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas








FEATURES


MPAC Announces Free Summer Concert Lineup for 2026

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Mayo Performing Arts Center's Arts in the Community free summer concert schedule for 2026 has been announced. MPAC will present six free concerts between June and August. The lineup includes the return of three of their most popular events – Bollywood Dance Party, Country Line Dancing and Salsa at Sunset, as well as singer-songwriters, and more.




Audra McDonald LIVE! at bergenPAC

Spotlight Central and Love Imagery have photos and a recap of Audra McDonald at Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) on May 3, 2026.




RECAP: Lily Vakili's "Live Wire" EP Release at Francis Kite Club

(NEW YORK, NY) -- On May 6, 2026 - a rainy Wednesday night in New York City - fans and friends packed into Francis Kite Club on the Lower East Side to celebrate the release of Live Wire, the new EP from Lily Vakili. The intimate venue created the perfect setting for a performance that felt deeply personal, emotional, and completely alive.




Jazz Royalty Comes to the Hamilton Stage on June 6th

(RAHWAY, NJ) -- Saturday, June 6, 2026 marks the date when Jazz Royalty comes to Hamilton Stage with Dizzy Gillespie alumni and Grammy winning bassist John Lee in collaboration with 16-time Grammy winner Paquito D' Rivera.




Roger McGuinn LIVE! at the Pollak Theatre

Spotlight Central and Love Imagery have photos and a recap of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn at Monmouth University on May 1, 2026.












LINKS

* The Penguin Rocks - a special music site presented by NJ Stage
* Classical Music
* Music Organizations in New Jersey
* Venues & Performing Arts Centers