Maybe it does, maybe it means a lot more. Perhaps it means the "15th Annual Ernie White Christmas Show" in Hamilton where approximately $200,000 has been raised to help the less fortunate. Maybe it's Cook Smith's "Winter Solstice Show" in Asbury Park where the food and monetary donations go directly to a local food bank. Maybe it's the amazing work of Holiday Express and other organizations such as Musicians on a Mission that means so much more to so many.
Maybe, just maybe, it's the continuous unselfishness of music communities all across our globe that embodies the spirit of giving as well as support for and love of our fellow man. No matter what the case; music brings people together. Different genres, styles, sounds nor geography stand in the way of the powers of unification made possible by music.
So while most of us are off over the next week, try and focus a bit on what we can do to support our local musicians, food banks, soup kitchens and shelters. Try not to get caught up in the "Retail" meaning of Christmas. Instead choose to remember those less fortunate and what one can do to help; there's no musical ability needed for that gig, it's strictly a solo performance.
Rock On Radio has a new home. Effective 12/28/14 the program will be broadcasting live from " A 40 Foot Hole Studio" (www.40footholestudio.com) at 10 p.m. EST. This move will allow the program to do full electric performances versus strictly acoustic as well as bring the show to you visually through a live video stream. Listeners can now interact via their laptops in four ways, audio, video and through a Facebook chat room. The program will also now have a live audience in attendance and all are encouraged to come on down and support the station and Rock On Radio for this free event! This Sunday, Point Pleasant, NJ solo artist Scott Brandt will be the first guest of the program in its new surroundings and we are very excited to have him.
There's a light holiday schedule this week in the area entertainment scene but the quality is never less than stellar.
I would like to personally wish all of those who make this space possible and the readers a very Merry Christmas and a joyous holiday season! I thank you for your continued support and talents!
That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!
THIS WEEKS CALENDAR LISTINGS
Amalfi's Restaurant
146 Lawrenceville-Pennington Rd. Lawrenceville
(609) 912-1599
Fri./Sat. 8:30 p.m. (TBA)
Amarones Windsor Inn
29 Church St. Windsor
(609) 448-7144
Thurs. 6:30 p.m. Scott Cager & Debbie
Fri. 8 p.m. Lonnie Youngblood
Sat. 8 p.m. Sounds of The Street
Wed. 7:30 p.m. DJ John Rossi
Big Shots Bar and Grill/Hebe Music Lounge
835 E Rte. 130 South, Burlington
(609) 267-1200
No music scheduled until 2015
Blend Bar & Bistro
911 Highway 33, Hamilton
(609) 245-8887
Sat 9 p.m. ZQ Acoustic w/ Mike & Steve
Tues. 8 p.m. Triviajam
The Backstage at Championship Bar
931 Chambers St. Trenton
Fri. 7 p.m. I Am The Trireme, Godless A.D., (TBA). All ages, $10
Sat. 5 p.m. Who Killed Marilyn?, The Silverhounds, The Damn Long Hairs, Electric Puke, Zero Gear, A Crisis of Confidence, (TBA). All ages, $10
Candlelight Lounge
24 Passaic St. Trenton
(609) 695-9612
Sat. 3 p.m. Victor North Sax Quartet. (No cover-$10 minimum)
Chambers Walk Cafe
2667 Main St. Lawrenceville
(609) 896-5995
Sat. 6 p.m. Dick Gratton
Chickie's & Pete's
183 US Highway 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-9182
Tues. 8 p.m. Acoustic Music Night feat. The Dawgs
Dubh Linn Square
167 Rte. 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-7100
Sun. 4 p.m.Billy O'neal
Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night hosted by Shaun Ruymen
Wed. 9 p.m. Trivia Night
Fran's Pub
116 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215)862-5539
No music scheduled until 2015
All shows 21+
Havana New Hope
105 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-9897
Thurs. Closed for Christmas
Fri. 8:30 p.m. Bigg Romeo
Sat. 8 p.m. "Earth Wind and Fire Tribute" w/ Earth Wind and Fire Review. Doors at 6 p.m., $25
Sun. 6 p.m. JB Kline Band
Mon. 10 p.m. Karaoke in the Bar w/ DJ Ron Sherr and Bridget
Wed. 9 p.m. "New Year's Rockin' Eve" w/ Se7en Band (a.k.a Chris James Band). $10
All shows 21+
Ivy Tavern
3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Fri. 10 p.m. Gunsmoke
Sat. 10 p.m. Polish Nannies
All shows 21+
John & Peter's
96 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981
Thurs. Bar is OPEN (no entertainment)
Fri. 9 p.m. Ben Vaughn Quintet w/ Cliff Hillis
Sat. (3 p.m.) Rev. B-Ill's Christmas Spectacularrrrrrr (9 p.m.) Bluebalz
Sun. (3 p.m.) Miss Pumpkin's Drag Show Benefit (9 p.m.) Sugar Burns
Mon. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night
Tues. 9 p.m. Sage
Wed. 9 p.m. New Year's Eve Party w/ DJ aggrEschen
All shows 21+
JoJo's Tavern
2677 Nottingham Way Hamilton
(609) 586-2678
Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke
Palermo's Of Hamilton
310 Klockner Rd. Hamilton
(609) 838-7979
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
All shows 21+
Patriot's Crossing
1339 River Rd. Titusville
(609) 737-2780
Fri. 7:30 p.m. (TBA)
Sat. 7:30 p.m. (TBA)
Pete's Steak House
523 Whitehorse Ave. Hamilton
(609) 585-8008
Fri. 9:30 p.m. That Acoustic 80's Band
RHO Waterfront
50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300
Fri. 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. Free Buffet Customer Appreciation Party w/ DJ Frank Olivetti
Sat. 9 p.m. "Alsato Navideno" Hosted by Paul Perez w/ DJ Coqui, Freestyle Contest, Kombo Latino. $20
Wed. "New Year's Eve Gala" w/ DJ Bob-E-Luv. $50/$65
All Shows 21+
Tavern On The Lake
101 Main St. Hightstown
(609) 426-9345
Fri. 9 p.m. Steve The Band
Sat. 9 p.m. Far Cry
Wed. (8 p.m.) Karaoke Night (10 p.m.) "New Year's Eve Party" feat. live music, 2 seatings, $25/$28
The Ivy Inn
248 Nassau St. Princeton
(609) 921-8555
Thurs. Closed
Sat. 10 p.m. El Ka Bong
Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv
The HOB Tavern
146 Second Street
(609) 291-7020
Sat. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Wed. 9 p.m. New Year's Eve Party w/ DJ A3RO
The Millhill Basement
300 South Broad St Trenton
(609) 989-1600
Sat. 9 p.m. "My God Damn Birthday Party" feat. The Cryptkeeper 5, Brick Mower, GameDay Regulars, The Jukebox Romantics / DJ Streams of Whiskey w/ Jay Insult
The Record Collector
358 Farnsworth Ave. Bordentown
(609) 324-0880
Fri. 8 p.m. Uncle Floyd. All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $18 (advance)
Sat. 8 p.m. Ben Vaughn Quintet / Cliff Hillis. All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $15 (advance)
The Sun National Bank Center
81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Check web site for upcoming events
Tir Na Nog
1324 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 392-2554
Fri. 5 p.m. Bill Shannon
Sat. 9 p.m. Ed Wilson
All shows 21+
Trenton Social
449 South Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-7777
Thurs. 8 p.m. Cinema Thursdays Presents: (Closed)
Fri. 10 p.m. Friday night w/ Jay Kountree & Jaxx
Mon. 10 p.m. Service Industry Night w/ DJ-Jay Kountree
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
Fri. 10 p.m. Alycat. ($5 cover charge)
Sat. 10 p.m. Mercer County Pour. ($5 cover charge)
Sun. 7 p.m. Open Jam Night
Tues. 9 p.m. Acoustic Grateful Dead feat. members of Splintered Sunlight
Wed. 10 p.m. New Year's Eve feat. Pure Jerry. ($5 cover charge)
All shows 21+
Wildflowers Inn
2572 Pennington Rd. Pennington
Sat. 9 p.m. Live Acoustic Rock
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Join 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].
