originally published: 09/25/2014
(HOBOKEN, NJ) -- The 21st Hoboken Fall Arts & Music Festival takes place Sunday, September 28 from 11am to 6pm on Washington Street (between Observer Highway and 7th Street). The festival features more than 300 artists, crafters, photographers, sculptors, food vendors, local restaurants and businesses, non-profits, car dealers, children's activities & more. Admission is free and the event will be held rain or shine.
The festival includes 3 stages of music led by Darlene Love, The Sensational Soul Cruisers, The Harmonica Lewinskies, Allison Strong, Maddy Bowes, Erin Lee & the Up Past Bedtime Band, Frankie Morales, Michael Napolitano from Preschool of Rock, Emily & the Ideals, Jeremy Beck & the Heavy Duty Horns, Hoboken School of Music, and Jason Didner & the Jungle Gym Jam.
Special features include:
Fine artists are located between 2nd & 3rd Sts. (both sides), 5th & 6th Sts. (North, East side), and artists from the Monroe Center for the Arts bet. First & Newark Sts. (North, East side), so if you are an art collector, these are the locations you will want to explore first. Oil paintings, watercolors, acrylics, sculpture, mixed media, photography, etc.
Children's activities on 3rd street with rides, games, creative activities, face painting, sand art, balloons, live performances and much, much more.
Crafters display / sell handmade: pottery, metalwork, wood items, furniture, blown & fused glass, quilts, household items made from recycled materials, batik clothing, hand painted furniture, candles, jewelry, dried florals, soaps & lotions and other unique handcrafted items.
Food: Lots of great food throughout the fair. Hoboken restaurants will set up street cafes offering an eclectic variety of international foods such as: Thai, Indian, Greek, French, Mexican, Cajun and Italian.
Transportation
Located just 3 blocks from all public transportation:
PATH, NJ Transit Trains & buses, NY Waterway Ferries & the Hudson Bergen Lightrail
Washington Street will be closed from 6am to 9pm between Observer Highway and 7th Street. During this time, NJ TRANSIT Bus No. 22 (North Bergen-Union City-Hoboken), No. 89 (North Bergen-Hoboken) and No. 126 (Hoboken-New York) will operate on a detour.
Customers traveling toward North Bergen and New York will board and alight along Bloomfield Street at customer's request. Customers traveling toward Hoboken Terminal will board and alight along Willow Avenue at marked bus stop locations.
Performance Schedule
Observer Highway Stage11:50am - Allison Strong
12:40pm - Jessy Carolina & the Hot Mess
1:40pm – The Harmonica Lewinskies
2:45pm - The Sensational Soul Cruisers
4:30pm - Darlene Love
3rd Street Stage – Children's area
noon Garden St. School Band
12:50pm Mad Science
1:30pm Hoboken School of Music
1:55pm Studio L Dance Co.
2:20pm Preschool of Rock
3:10pm Erin Lee & the Up Past Bedtime Band
4:10pm Jason Didner & the Jungle Gym Jam
7th Street Stage
12:30pm Maddy Bowes
1:00pm Gene D. Plumber
1:35pm Emily & the Ideals
2:35pm Tom Vincent & the Romance Commandos
3:45pm Jeremy Beck & the Heavy Duty Horns
5:00pm Frankie Morales & the Mambo of the Times Orchestra
Schedules are tentative and subject to change.
About the Artists Darlene Love "Darlene Love's thunderbolt voice is as embedded in the history of Rock & Roll as Eric Clapton's guitar & Bob Dylan's lyrics." – The New York Times
Through the years, Darlene Love continues to captivate audiences worldwide with her warm, gracious stage presence & sensational performances. When she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2011, it was just another accolade in a long ongoing career. While still in high school (1957) she was invited to join a little-known girl group called The Blossoms, who in 1962 began working with producer Phil Spector & his wall of sound hit factory. Her powerful lead vocals have been part of Number One records such as ("He's A Rebel" for the Crystals) as well as many chart hits ("He's Sure the Boy I Love", "Why Do Lovers Break Each Others Heart?", "Today I Met The Boy I'm Going To Marry") & the perennial Christmas favorite "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)", which she has performed annually for the last 27 years on The Late Show with David Letterman.
As back up singer, with The Blossoms, Love contributed backing vocals behind many of the biggest hits of the 1960s, including, The Ronettes' "Be My Baby", Shelley Fabares' "Johnny Angel", Bobby "Boris" Pickett's "Monster Mash", Frank Sinatra's version of "That's Life", the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'." and the Crystals' "Da Doo Ron Ron". The Academy Award winning documentary "20 Feet From Stardom", released in 2013, tells the story of Darlene Love and other classic back up singers. But this was not her only foray into film. She also played Danny Glover's wife in all the Lethal Weapon films. She also appeared on Broadway in hits like Hairspray and Grease and even starred as herself in Leader of the Pack (based on the Ellie Greenwich songbook), credited as Broadway's first jukebox musical. She is currently in the studio working on a new CD with E Street Band member Steve Van Zandt and a bio pic called "My Name is Love," is expected to air on the Oprah network in 2015.
Rolling Stone Magazine has proclaimed Darlene Love to be "one of the greatest singers of all time" and that certainly rings true.
The Sensational Soul CruisersThey're not just another 11-man vocal harmony group with horns. It is unlikely you will ever find a band performing with as much energy, passion, and talent. Under the tutelage of Jackson sax player Screamin' Steve Barlotta, the captain of this fantastic soul cruise for over 20 years, he has captured the essence of the Jersey Shore sound and its R&B roots.
The Harmonica LewinskiesThis is the type of band you'd bring home to your momma and in two months time, your momma would be dating them. Over the past 5 years, they have amassed a dirty cornucopias of influences ranging from Delta Blues, to molten Rock and Roll, to the art of seduction. The Harmonica Lewinskies are an 8-piece NYC based blues and soul band. They have played at the 2012 & 2013 CMJ, Northside & CBGB festivals. Last summer they held a month long residency at Piano's in Manhattan's Lower East Side.
Allison StrongTwo-time Hoboken Music Award Winner Allison Strong released her debut album, March Towards The Sun, on August 31st to a standing room only crowd at New Jersey's prestigious Bergen PAC. In addition to playing well-received solo sets at New York City's Rockwood Music Hall & Pianos, she has opened for headliner Teddy Geiger, performed for former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, and has appeared on stage at the White House, the Metropolitan Opera, and on Broadway in Bye Bye Birdie and Mamma Mia.
Maddy BowesMaddy earned her way as a singer and songwriter with solid maturity gained from a professional entertainment background. Club dates at The Bitter End and a role in Broadway's Billy Elliot – for 700 performances! – are a few of her creds. A fresh faced 16 year old out of Hoboken NJ, ready to strike. The soulful prowess is vocally and lyrically unique, real and honest, and wise beyond her years. Maddy Bowes has a voice that's fierce, yet full of grace when she peels off the wool and takes off the gloves. She debuts with self-composed, musically addictive breakout songs that smash the heart.
Erin Lee & the Up Past Bedtime BandGet ready to hop, holler and sing along with funky songs about baseball and boating, it's perfect for anybody not-quite-ready-for-bed on a summer evening. Erin Lee Kelly is an award-winning songwriter whose children's music has received rave reviews ("Irresistible!" -Disney's Family Fun Magazine) and radio play from Massachusetts to New Mexico. The Up Past Bedtime Band are New York City musicians who can usually be found up well past bedtime playing everything from country music to punk in many of NYC's top venues. Together, they create fabulously interactive music for families featuring intricate harmonies, groovy drumming and silly songs about the everyday challenges of childhood.
Frankie MoralesFrankie Morales & the Mambo of the Times Orchestra. Frankie Morales has sharpened his sound since starting out on the streets of El Barrio, NYC's Spanish Quarter. At the age of 14 he sang backup for Latin legend Joe Bataan and at 15 with Hector Lavoe. This lead to other opportunities singing with Celia Cruz, Ismael Rivera, Ismael Miranda, Pelin Rodriguez, Cheo Feliciano, Joe Cuba, Fania 6 & Tito Nieves. Frankie Morales was the Lead singer for Tito Puente orquestra 1990-2000, which won him 2 Latin Grammy's, 1 Nomination, Ace Latin Award & Bobby Capo Lifetime Achievement Award!
Michael Napolitano from Preschool of RockPreschool of Rock has redefined children's music by combining entertainment and education through exhilarating performance, offering classes, shows, preschool enrichments and birthday parties throughout New Jersey and New York. They provide the hippest music education for young children, inspiring creativity, confidence, and freedom of expression.
Emily & the IdealsA true Hoboken original, Emily Turonis was born and raised in the square mile where she got her education in American music: Jazz, Blues and Soul. But Emily and the Ideals is also heavily influenced by the musical traditions of Brazil, Cuba and Spain and beyond. This group explores Fusion-Everything. They bring together many genres while holding down a constant sound, thanks to Paul Maurice Steinman directing the group on guitar. Their repertoire features a mix of original material, lesser known tunes from across the world, and some old favorites spanning the 20th Century.
Jeremy Beck & the Heavy Duty HornsSinger/Keyboardist Jeremy Beck joins forces with The Heavy Duty Horns led by Justin Flynn to create a thrilling array of a Soaring Vocals and Hammond Organ Funk backed by a Greeezy Rhythm Section and an Amazing 4 Piece Horn Section. Funk Driven Sophistication.
Hoboken School of MusicExperience the energy of the Indian hand drums tabla as they come alive in the hands of the young & talented students of Taalim School of Indian Music, a partner of Hoboken School of Music. The rhythmic backbone of north Indian music, tabla is the most popular percussion instrument from India, whose sounds can be heard in everything from traditional Indian music to hip hop and pop songs like Selena Gomez's "Come and Get It". The quartet will showcase classical tabla compositions as well as vocalizing some compositions (Indian version of scatting). For more info, visit www.taalim.com
Jason Didner & the Jungle Gym JamAn award-winning "kindie" band that brings a true rock-n-roll spirit to songs that emphasize kindness, active play, imagination & love of learning. The band's debut album "Everyone's Invited!" was honored with the Parents' Choice® Approved seal & named CD Baby Editor's Pick as it entered the online music retailer's top 10 kids/family album charts. Based out of Montclair, NJ, they have been compared to "Elvis Costello in a particularly good mood." The band performs a lively & interactive concert with lots of call-and-response, & opportunities for young audience members to portray the characters in the songs using the puppets the group provides. Prior to forming the Jungle Gym Jam, Jason scored a YouTube and radio hit with "You Can't Get There from Here in Jersey," a comedy song that was featured on NPR's Car Talk.
EVENT PREVIEWS
bergenPAC presents Six-Time Tony Award (R) Winner Audra McDonald on May 3rd
(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- Six-time Tony Award® winner Audra McDonald will play a one-night-only concert at bergenPAC (Bergen Performing Arts Center) on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 7:00pm.
Acclaimed Organist Chelsea Chen to Perform Solo Recital Concert at Christ Church in Short Hills on May 3rd
(SHORT HILLS, NJ) -- Christ Church in Short Hills will present a solo concert recital by internationally acclaimed organist, Chelsea Chen, on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 4:00pm. The special concert will feature a selection of traditional organ compositions along with contemporary music.
T.K. Blue to Celebrate Randy Weston's 100th Birthday at Jersey Jazz LIVE! Concert in Madison
(MADISON, NJ) -- In the history of jazz, no American musician's career has been more interconnected with the continent of Africa than that of the great pianist and composer Randy Weston. Weston, whose centennial birthday was celebrated on April 6, 2026, was a giant, not only as a creative and spiritual force, but standing six feet, seven inches, an imposing figure in the venues at which he performed throughout the world.
The New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra to present a program Honoring the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra will perform at the Zimmerli Art Museum on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 2:00pm. The program will honor the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
Outpost in the Burbs presents Willie Nile Band on Sunday
(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Outpost in the Burbs presents Willie Nile Band on Sunday, May 3, 2026. The New York Times once called Buffalo, NY born Willie Nile "one of the most gifted singer-songwriters to emerge from the New York scene in years." Jersey City based artist Debra Devi will open the night.
Lily Vakili to Celebrate Release of "Live Wire" EP on Wednesday
(NEW YORK, NY) -- Lily Vakili will celebrate the release of her Live Wire EP on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at The Francis Kite Club. Doors are at 8:00pm; Showtime is 8:30pm.
RVCC Student Jazz Ensemble to Perform May 7th
(BRANCHBURG, NJ) -- Raritan Valley Community College's (RVCC) Student Jazz Ensemble will perform in concert Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 7:30pm. The concert will be held in the Welpe Theatre at the College's Branchburg campus. The group is directed by RVCC faculty member Jeremy Sweet.
The Lovin' Spoonful to Perform in Newton
(NEWTON, NJ) -- The Lovin' Spoonful will perform at The Newton Theatre on Friday, May 8, 2026 at 8:00pm. They were America's answer to the Beatles! The band, led by John Sebastian, Steve Boone, Joe Butler and Zal Yanovsky, exploded onto the charts sending their first 7 singles soaring onto Billboard's top-10 charts virtually overnight.
Barrymore Film Center presents Ann Talman: Elizabeth Taylor and the Shadow of Her Smile
(FORT LEE, NJ) -- Ann Talman brings her award-winning show Ann Talman: Elizabeth Taylor and The Shadow of Her Smile to the Barrymore Film Center on Friday, May 8, 2026 at 7:30pm. Ann joined Actors' Equity with co-star Elizabeth Taylor in 1981 when she landed the plum role in The Little Foxes playing Miss Taylor's daughter on Broadway. The Little Foxes traveled the world for eighteen months including six months in London and their loving friendship lasted for the rest of Miss Taylor's life.
Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center presents Eaglemania on May 8th
(CARTERET, NJ) -- Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center presents Eaglemania on Friday, May 8, 2026 at 8:00pm. EagleMania has been dazzling audiences for over a decade by spectacularly reproducing the music of the Eagles.
