By Danny Coleman
originally published: 10/01/2020
"Gypsy soul," "Unforgettable Character"and"Gorgeous with a unique voice"have all been used to describe Melody Federer; one of the most talented singer/songwriters out there today.
Melody made a recent stop in New Jersey and gladly shared about her gig and spoke of her musical journey; an intriguing, gutsy undertaking driven by determination and a desire to succeed.
"I was born in Texas down in the Bible belt; my dad was a pastor at the time but he's not anymore, he's an author,"she explained."Then we moved to St. Louis, Missouri where all of my extended family is; I have like 70 cousins because I come from a big Irish Catholic family. Then I actually moved to New York when I was 18 and lived in New Jersey for a while on my sister's couch in Hoboken; home of SinatraI believe, I just love him. Then I fell in love with this French piano player who was doing a jazz gig in New York and I saw him when I must have been about 20 years old and we sort of fell into this whirlwind romance and he convinced me to move to Paris with him like a month later. So, I moved to Paris and we started playing as a duo on the street; he would bring his piano and I would sing and then we started playing festivals and we got a little deal offer in L.A. So, I moved to L.A. and did that and then I became a songwriter for others for a while. I went down to Nashville and wrote a bunch of songs for other people and then started releasing my own music again so now I'm living in Seattle."
Wait; did she say 70 cousins? With a last name like Federer; is the tennis great Roger possibly one of them?
"I think so; distantly,"she said with a laugh."I know that we both like to cause a racket!"
Hmmm, yet another link to greatness; something this performer seems to be encountering more and more as her career progresses. Federer has written music for Kelly Rowland, Hilary Duff, Jacob Whitesides, Laura Leighe and others but lately she's been collaborating with a legendary writer and composer.
"Music has kind of taken me on a journey; these songs have taken me around the world. Recently I've been writing a lot with Burt Bacharach and that's been amazing!
Burt Bacharach is just about as good as they come and if bouncing around from coast to coast and different continents has gotten her this far; where else does she draw inspiration from?
"I think I have sort of weird tastes for a person of my age. Just yesterday I was driving and I was listening to The Foundations and those songs are just perfection to me and they don't get old. My dad kind of raised me on James Taylor who is my ultimate hero, Joni Mitchell, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, The Doobie Brothers, America and then I kind of discovered jazz in high school and loved Frank Sinatra, Louie Armstrong, Nat King Cole and then in Paris more jazz and now pop, country; I'm kind of all over the map. I do like a lot of older music from the 40's to the 70's; I don't know why but it just feels like they really captured something in time with the live musicians. One of my first memories was my dad playing my mom a James Taylor song on his guitar. He was self-taught and would play in the house or just to my mom sometimes and I remember him singing "Blossom" to her. He also taught me piano by ear, he'd just show me how to play the chords and just play around; he even wrote some songs when I was little; once again for my mom or about American history because he really likes American history."
Terms such as"Old soul"and"Born too late"come to mind when reacting to her musical tastes but this vivacious entertainer is a self-professed people person; one who enjoys stopping here on the Atlantic coast and loves interacting with fans and strangers alike.
I feel like the conversations that I have with East Coasters in New York and New Jersey are like playing a good game of tennis; lots of back and forth,"she said with sincerity."Everybody is so chatty and friendly here; they just chat with me in elevators or at the store and I think; do they know me? Then I remember, oh OK, I'm on the east coast and people are friendly."
So, Federer found herself once again here in New Jersey, Monmouth Park to be more specific as the opening act for one of her favorite performers at a drive-up concert event; something which was a first for her.
"Yeah that's the big thing! I got to open for Andrew McMahon which was mind-blowingly cool,"she stated still very excited. "I had to pass a COVID test in order to play the show so waiting on the results made me a little nervous but I was fine."
"The gig came about through my agent AJ Paul because he's worked with Andrew and they were looking for an acoustic opener so he submitted me. They got a lot of submissions and to my shock and amazement they said, "Yeah, she can do it" and I think Katie Tunstall just opened for them and she's so awesome and to be among the ranks of her and getting to open for Andrew is probably the coolest show that I've played so far in my career. I'm pretty stoked; it was pretty interesting to play for people in their cars. Night one was sold out and I think night two was as well; so, yeah..."
Melody has released a series of singles over the last several months and for this wise beyond her years artist this time around is bit extra special because the material is written by her and for her; not for someone else.
"I have singles that are getting added to rotations at stations,"she said sounding as if she was in disbelief. "The one is called "This Town" and the newer one is called, "The Wonder Years." I have this finished album that I poured my heart and soul into the last two years down in Nashville and really took my time with it. I was really specific with the vision and the instrumentation and the arrangement and lyrics and I was super picky; I just wanted it to be authentic. I've written for other people so much and this was my baby; ya' know? I put out the first single thinking; I'll just put it out there and see what happens and it's been getting a lot of alternative radio and AAA love which blows my mind because it has always been a dream of mine to have a song on the radio. The fact that, that is sort of happening is just wild; we'll kind of see what happens with this next single and take it from there. This is what you dream of from the beginning. I've spent so much time in my life and during my angsty years driving in my car listening to the radio and I still love the radio, it's just special I think."
Yes, it is Melody, yes, it is...
To discover more about Melody Federer and her music, she can be found on Facebook, Instagram, iTunes and Spotify under Melody Feder.
That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!
This week's event listings
Bella Mia3224 US Route 206 #1 Bordentown
(609) 291-7475
Sat. 6 p.m. Diane Chiorello
Broken Goblet Brewing 2500 State Road Bensalem, PA
(267) 812-5653
Thurs. 8 p.m. Mike Estabrook
Fri. 8:30 p.m. "First Fridays" w/ Cara Cartney
Sat. 8:30 p.m. Patio Music Saturday w/ Jenny Leigh & Brian Loftus
Wed. 8 p.m. Open Mic
All Shows 21+
Candlelight Lounge 24 Passaic Street Trenton
(609) 695-9612
Thurs. 6 p.m. Thursday Night Blues Jam Hosted by The Mojo Gypsies. $5 (Includes hot buffet)
Sat. 3 p.m. (TBA) $10 (cover charge/$10 Minimum includes buffet)
Championship Bar 931 Chambers street Trenton
(609) 396-5457
Tuesday 8 p.m. "Jam Night" Hosted by Nikki & Caleb
Ages 21+
City Streets 510 Highway 130 South East Windsor
(609) 426-9400
Fri. 7:30 p.m. Kindred Spirit Duo
Mon. 9 p.m. "Malibu Mondays"
Tues. 9 p.m. Trivia w/ Jessie & Chelsea
Wed. 6:30 p.m. "Wine Down Wednesdays" w/ Rich Genoval
Clubhouse at Mountain View 850 Bear Tavern Road Ewing
(609) 771-0400
Thurs. 6 p.m. DC Duo
Fri. 6 p.m. Just Jeff
COARadio.com 125 South Main Street Hightstown
(609) 241-7103
Sun. 7 p.m. "Rock On Radio" feat. Lori Davis & Fran Whitney of The Strand Theater
Cooper's Riverview 50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300
Thurs. 8 p.m. Einstein Bridge
Fri. 7 p.m. Witzend
Sat. 7 p.m. "Social Saturdays" feat. Se7en Band
Mon. 7 p.m. "Sunny Monday Blues Jam"
Tues. 8 p.m. Karaoke w/ Karen and Mark
All Events Ages 21+
Dog & Bull Brew House 810 Bristol Pike (Rte. 13) Croydon, PA.
(215) 788-2855
Fri. 6 p.m. Brian Elliot
Sat. 4 p.m. Box of Books
Sun. 4 p.m. (TBA)
German American Society 215 Uncle Pete's Road Hamilton
(609) 585-5200
Fri. 8 p.m. "New York State of Mind" Billy Joel Tribute. (Advance tickets available)
Hamilton Tap & Grill 557 US Route 130 North Hamilton
(609) 905-0925
Fri. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzoholics Trivia
Wed. 7 p.m. Country Night. $5
Hopewell Valley Vineyards 46 Yard Avenue Pennington
(609) 737-4465
Thurs. 6 p.m. Rick Winow
Fri. 6 p.m. "Music & Merlot" feat. Acoustic DuOver
Sat. (1 p.m.) Acoustic Road (6 p.m.) "Music & Merlot" feat. Winery Catz
Sun. 3 p.m. "Jazzy Sundays" feat. Alex Otey Trio
Iron Plow Vineyards 26750 Mount Pleasant Road Columbus
(732) 306-9111
Fri. 7 p.m. Budd & Maggs
Sat. 7 p.m. Monk & Monk
Sun. 2 p.m. Michele Pflug
Killarney's Publick House 1644 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road Hamilton
(609) 586-1166
Sat. 6 p.m. Mario DiBartolo & Frank Clayton
Laurita Winery 85 Archertown Road New Egypt
(609) 752-0200
Fri. 6 p.m. "Sounds of Summer Series: Music on the Lawn" feat. Vinyl Madness. $15 (advance
Sat./Sun. 12 p.m. "Sangria and Sliders"
Mercer County Park Festival GroundsHughes Drive/Old Trenton Road West Windsor
(609) 448-1947
Fri. 7:30 p.m. Drive-in Movie Night: "Ghostbusters" (FREE event, gates open 6:30 p.m.)
Odd Logic Brewing Co.500 Bristol Pike, Bristol, PA
Thurs. 6 p.m. Hocus Pocus Beers & Brushes w/ Painting with a Twist. (Tickets required)
Old Town Pub 135 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown
(609) 291-9232
Thurs. 8 p.m. Quizzoholics Trivia
Palmer SquareNassau Street Princeton
Sat. 12 p.m. "Fall Music on the Square" feat. Kindred Spirit
Patriots Crossing 1339 River Road Titusville
(609) 737-2780
Thurs. 8 p.m. Open Mic Night
Wed. 7 p.m. "Quizzo"
Patriot's Theater at The War Memorial1 Memorial Drive Trenton
(609) 984-8400
Sat. 7:30 p.m. The Philly Pops at The Hop
Romeo's Restaurant & Pizza10 Schalks Crossing Road Plainsboro
(609) 799-4554
Sat. 7 p.m. The Blue Eyed Balladeer
Rossi's Bar & Grill 2110 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road Hamilton
(609) 890-2004
Thurs. 6 p.m. Monk, Monk & Kramer
Sun. 4 p.m. Mario DiBartolo & Frank Clayton
Temperance House 5 South State Street Newtown, PA
(215) 944-8050
Thurs. 7p.m. "Blues Night" w/ Steve Guyger
Tues. 8 p.m. Trivia w/ Righteous Jolly (outdoors)
Wed. 7 p.m. Open Mic Night w/ Cara Cartney
TGI Fridays780 Route 130 South Hamilton
(609) 581-6910
Fri. 7 p.m. Mike Oregano
The Bog (Cranbury Golf Club)
49 Southfield Road West Windsor
(609) 799-0341
Sat. 7 p.m. NRG
The Cool Cricket 216 Burlington Street Fieldsboro
(609) 291-9110
Fri. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Sat. 6 p.m. Joe Zook & Blues Deluxe
The Roost 181 Rte. 539 Cream Ridge
(609) 208-0050
Sat. 8 p.m. No Bad Days
Tindall Road Brewing Co.102 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown
(609) 526-8651
Fri. 6 p.m. Love & Duffy
Sat. 6 p.m. Slugger O'Toole
Trenton Social 449 South Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-7777
Thurs. 5 p.m. "Happy Hour Throwback Thursday" w/ Jay Kountree
Fri. 5 p.m. DJ ItsJustAhmad
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Conor Choi
Mon. 8 p.m. "Monday Night Karaoke" Hosted by Sweets
Tues. 7 p.m. Open Mic Night w/ Kyle & Mike
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
Thurs. 8 p.m. Trivia
Sun. 7 p.m. Open Stage
All shows 21+
Working Dog Winery 610 Windsor Perrineville Road Hightstown
(609) 371-6000
Sat. 2 p.m. Vic Della pello
Sun. 2 p.m. Chris Giakas
WWFM 89.1 FM HD2 RadioMCCC Old Trenton Road West Windsor
Jazzon2.org
Mon. 7 p.m. "Danny Coleman's Got The Blues"
About the author:
Danny Coleman is a veteran musician and writer from central New Jersey. He hosts a weekly radio program entitled 'Rock On Radio' airing Sunday evenings at 7:00pm EST on ThePenguinRocks.com where he features indie/original bands and solo artists.
Joe Russo's Almost Dead
Thursday, November 12, 2026 @ 7:30pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJJoe Russo's Almost Dead is Marco Benevento, Dave Dreiwitz, Tom Hamilton, Scott Metzger and Joe Russo. We're a Grateful Dead cover band.
Mccarter At The Museum: An Evening With Jason Robert Brown
Thursday, November 12, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Princeton Art Museum
45 Elm Drive, Princeton, NJJoin us for McCarter at the Museum - renowned performing artists in one-night only events at the Princeton University Art Museum.
Jason Robert Brown is a four-time Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist of The Last Five Years, Parade, Songs for a New World, 13, The Bridges of Madison County, Honeymoon In Vegas and The Connector, has performed as a soloist or with his band in venues around the world, including sold-out shows at the London Palladium and Carnegie Hall. His albums as a singer-songwriter include Wearing Someone Else’s Clothes and How We React and How We Recover on Ghostlight, and Coming From Inside the House and Live In Concert with Stephen Sondheim on Concord.
With Special Guest Tony nominee Betsy Wolfe. Tony Award-nominated actress Betsy Wolfe is currently starring as Audrey in the acclaimed Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors, following her recent Broadway run as Madeline Ashton in the hit musical Death Becomes Her. She previously originated the title role in Joy, the new musical inspired by inventor Joy Mangano, and earned a 2023 Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her celebrated performance as Anne Hathaway in & Juliet. Other Broadway credits include starring as Jenna in Waitress, Cordelia in the acclaimed revival of Falsettos, Bullets Over Broadway, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Everyday Rapture, and 110 in the Shade, as well as her critically acclaimed performance as Cathy in the Off-Broadway revival of The Last Five Years. Wolfe made her Metropolitan Opera debut in Die Fledermaus and has appeared as a guest artist with more than 65 symphony, pops, and philharmonic orchestras worldwide, including the New York Philharmonic and BBC Symphony Orchestra, with performances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Her screen credits include First One In, Estella Scrooge, CBS’s Instinct, and the film adaptation of The Last Five Years. Wolfe is also the co-founder of BroadwayEvolved, the acclaimed musical theatre training program she launched in 2018 to train and mentor the next generation of theatre artists.
A limited number of early access tickets for McCarter Director’s Circle members and members of the Museum’s Partner Circle are available, on sale Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM. General public on sale begins Friday, September 18, 2026 at 12:00 PM.
Please be aware there is no public drop-off or parking at the Museum. For visitors with mobility needs, please contact the Museum at least three business days in advance of your visit to request special access to the Museum via Elm Drive. Call 609-258-3788 and select option 1 to speak to a visitor services staff member, or email Louise Barrett at [email protected].
John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band
Friday, November 13, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center
46 Washington Ave, Carteret, NJThe legendary Rhode Island multi-platinum rock’n’roll group JOHN CAFFERTY & THE BEAVER BROWN BAND began their career in 1973 and achieved mainstream success in the 1980s with the “Eddie & The Cruisers – Motion Picture Soundtrack”. The hit single “ON THE DARK SIDE” held the “#1” position on the Billboard Rock charts and the MTV video charts for five consecutive weeks.
Griffin House
Friday, November 13, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ“If you are looking to be blown away by raw talent, then look no further than Griffin House.” —American Songwriter
Floyd Pink - Celebrating The Music Of Pink Floyd
Saturday, November 14, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJFLOYD PINK is a Pink Floyd tribute band from the New York metro area, celebrating the music of Pink Floyd.
EVENT PREVIEWS
State Theatre New Jersey and Relix present Joe Russo's Almost Dead
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey and Relix present Joe Russo's Almost Dead on Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 7:30pm. The band was formed in Brooklyn, NY in 2013. While they are a Grateful Dead cover band, they are known more for interpreting songs by the Dead rather than attempting to replicate the band's work.
NJPAC presents Gregory Porter with special guests Madeleine Peyroux and Catherine Russell
(NEWARK, NJ) -- With a voice that can fill a concert hall and make every listener feel personally embraced, Gregory Porter has become one of the most beloved artists in contemporary jazz. On Friday, November 13, 2026 at 8:00pm, the two-time GRAMMY® winner returns to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) with special guests Madeleine Peyroux and Catherine Russell for an evening of soulful expression, exquisite storytelling and remarkable vocal artistry, presented as part of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival.
Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Griffin House on Friday
(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Griffin House on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 7:30pm. Griffin House is an American singer-songwriter and storyteller who has been making records for over 20 years.
KANSAS to perform at Scottish Rite Auditorium on Friday
(COLLINGSWOOD, NJ) -- One of classic rock's most iconic bands, KANSAS, will perform at the Scottish Rite Auditorium on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 8:00pm. This "garage band" from Topeka released their debut album in 1974 after being discovered by Wally Gold, who worked for Don Kirshner, and have gone on to sell more than 30 million albums worldwide. A limited number of tickets remain.
NJPAC presents Jesse Cook on Saturday
(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents Jesse Cook on Saturday, November 14, 2026 in the Victoria Theater at 8:00pm. A global artist in every sense of the term, Jesse Cook redefines music's power to connect people across cultures and continents.
Forte Piano Music Company presents Exquisite Contrasts: Haydn & Schubert Piano Trios
(PARAMUS, NJ) -- The Forte Piano Music Company presents a Piano Trio Concert - "Exquisite Contrasts" - Haydn & Schubert on Sunday, November 15, 2026 at 2:30pm. This program brings together two landmarks of the piano trio repertoire, revealing the evolution of the genre from the Classical era to early Romanticism.
Mahwah Museum Hosts "Les Paul from Start to Finish" with Jim Wysocki
(MAHWAH, NJ) -- Come to the Mahwah Museum on Sunday, November 15, 2026 for a discussion of a 29-year friendship, rare memorabilia, and the story behind Les Paul's home with Mahwah Mayor Jim Wysocki from his nearly three-decade friendship with legendary musician and inventor Les Paul. The event begins at 2:00pm.
Atlantic City Punk Rock Flea Market - Holiday Edition to take place on Sunday
(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- You can get your holiday shopping done on Sunday, November 15, 2026 when Anchor Rock Club hosts the Atlantic City Punk Rock Flea Market - Holiday Edition. The event runs from noon to 6:00pm.
Song of the Meadowlark takes place on Sunday in Hopewell
(HOPEWELL, NJ) -- Song of the Meadowlark takes place Sunday, November 15, 2026 at Highland Design Farm. This is a meditative rock odyssey weaving reimagined contemporary songs, stream-of-consciousness poetry, and live painting. Doors are at 2:00pm, showtime is 2:30pm.
Avenel Performing Arts Center presents Chris Smither
(AVENEL, NJ) -- Chris Smither will perform at the Avenel Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 7:30pm. Born in Miami, during World War II, Chris Smither grew up in New Orleans where he first started playing music as a child. The son of a Tulane University professor, he was taught the rudiments of instrumentation by his uncle on his mother's ukulele.
