Pete Donnelly, founding member of The Figgs, former member of NRBQ, touring member of Soul Asylum, Graham Parker and others is a tireless performer, producer and engineer. Past artists including G.Love, Carsie Blanton and Amos Lee have all used Pete's production skills.
A short time ago, Donnelly performed at an epilepsy awareness concert series; "Candlelight Concert for Epilepsy." Taking the stage at a church in Ewing, NJ as the opening act for former Live mainstay Ed Kowalczyk; Pete was very engaging and very much in tune with the capacity crowd of approximately 300 at this quickly growing concert series.
There are those who say that "One is never more naked than when in front of a room full of people with only an acoustic guitar between them and the audience," a statement that this writer feels is quite accurate. Donnelly seemed somewhat shy at first as he put his acoustic over his shoulder, a distinction which quickly dissipated as he launched into the opening of "Got Caught Up" off of his most recent release "Face The Bird."
Donnelly's set was a short eight songs, three of which were from the new disc and the rest offering a nice representation of the true uniqueness of this great artist. "Something Happened" was followed by "American Town" and then "There's Always Something to Talk About," which he delivered quite nicely to a now very appreciative crowd. One gets the feeling that he could sense the audience's pleasure by the smile that crept upon his face from time to time as he relayed several funny short anecdotes prior to slipping seamlessly into "All The World Will Fail."
Not even a slight audio glitch could derail the Pete train as he chugged through "Original Wonder" and the new tune "Toodle-Oo" an upbeat kind of punkish tune which was perfect for one man and an acoustic guitar.
Finishing up with "The Trench," Donnelly made a quick exit to well deserved applause only to surface in the hall where he manned his own merchandise table selling discs and vinyl albums of "Face The Bird." Although his availability was brief due to his tour schedule, Pete stayed for the maximum time he could and autographed as well as interacted nicely with his fan base both old and new.
"Face The Bird" was recorded in a vacant store front in a southern NJ shore town, a perfect setting for what Donnelly set out to accomplish; his inner most feelings. Recorded in a home studio atmosphere, he was able to revitalize his inner songwriter and turn in not only a very good musical compilation of thirteen tracks but some lyrical masterpieces as well.
Overall, Donnelly was very entertaining and playing solo acoustically seemed to suit him well as he put on a great show for an even greater cause.
To learn more about Pete Donnelly, please go to www.petedonnellymusic.com. To find out more about the Candlelight Concert for Epilepsy Series, please visit www.candlelightconcert.org .
This space welcomes any suggestions and/or comments. Please send them to: [email protected]
That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!
THIS WEEKS CALENDAR LISTINGS
Alchemist & Barrister
28 Witherspoon Street Princeton
(609) 924-5555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Arnie Baird
Sun. 9 p.m. Lance Green Trio
Wed. 10 p.m. Open mic. night Hosted by Eric Puliti
All shows 21+
Amalfi's Restaurant & Bar
146 Lawrenceville-Pennington Rd Lawrenciville
(609) 912-1599
Sat. 8 p.m. Mike Matisa & Karly Coleman w/ Matt Panfili
Amarones Windsor Inn
29 Church St. Windsor
(609) 448-714
Thurs. (6:30 p.m.)Pizza Night w/Scott Gager & Debbie (7:30 p.m.) Texas Hold'em
Fri. 8 p.m. Phaze
Sat. 8 p.m. Meg Hanson Band feat. Billy Hill
Tues. 7:30 p.m. Texas Hold'em
Big Shots Bar and Grill/Hebe Music Lounge
835 E Rte. 130 South, Burlington
(609) 267-1200
Fri. 8 p.m. Paint Box, A Thousand Days, Fromless Form
Sat. 8 p.m. Nobody Yet, Speak In Sounds
Wed. 8 p.m. Open Mic.
Blend
911 Rte. 33 Hamilton
(609) 245-8887
Fri. 5 p.m. Rich Schneider
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Tues. 8 p.m. Trivia Jam
Candlelight Lounge
24 Passaic St. Trenton
(609) 695-9612
Sat. 3 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Vince Ector Quartet. (No cover-$10 minimum)
Chambers Walk Cafe
2667 Main St. Lawrenceville
(609) 896-5995
Fri./Sat. 6 p.m. Dick Gratton
The Backstage at Championship Bar
931 Chambers St. Trenton
(609) 394-7437
Fri. 6 p.m. Dropping A Popped Locket, Wade Wilson, Lurch Lightning, Ray Strife, Potent da Rockstar, JJ Demon, Phat J, Nathan Ryan, Steez Click. All ages, $15.
Sat. 4 p.m. Broadside, Squid Brothers Inc., Cut The Act, As Your Ghost Takes Flight, Government of Sheep, The Bronson Special, Along The Way, Automatic 253, Risk. All ages, $8/$10
Sun. 10 p.m. Pickaxe, Pablo, (TBA). Ages 21+, $5
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
Fran's Pub
116 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215)862-5539
Fri. 9 p.m. DJ Night
Sat. 8 p.m. Sixty Sents
Sun. 3 p.m. Blue Reighn
Mon. 8 p.m. Open Mic Blues Jam
All shows 21+
Havana New Hope
105 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-9897
Thurs. "Beat The Clock" College Night DJ Dance Party
Fri. 8 p.m. Howie Day/Collide/Judith Owen w/ Leland Sklar. Doors at 6 p.m., $25
Sat. 7:30 p.m. David Uosikkinen / The Naturals Hosted by Pierre Robert of WMMR. Doors at 7 p.m., $35 (advance) $40 (day of show)
Sun. 3 p.m. Ladies 2000
Mon. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron Sherr and Bridge
Wed. 8 p.m. Pat Foran & Friends
All shows 21+
Ivy Tavern
3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Fri. 10 p.m. El Ka Bong
Sat. 10 p.m. Tangled
All shows 21+
John & Peter's
96 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981
Thurs. 9 p.m. The Matt Setzer Orchestra
Fri. 8 p.m. Eric Sommer
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Mike Montrey Band w/ The Williamsboy
Sun. 9:30 p.m. Weird Hot
Mon. Open Mic.
Wed. The Invitational (Featuring John & Peter's House Band)
All shows 21+
JoJo's Tavern
2677 Nottingham Way Hamilton
(609) 586-2678
Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke
Millhill Basement
300 South Broad St. Trenton
(609) 989-1600
Fri. 9 p.m. "Mayo Es Impresionante" feat. Carlo Quinonez, Beverlymud, Gimmee Back My Sons. DJ Sets by DJ Cutlerly. Ages 21+, $5
Palermo's Of Hamilton
310 Klockner Rd. Hamilton
(609) 838-7979
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Out of The Red
All shows 21+
Patriot's Crossing
1339 River Rd. Titusville
(609) 737-2780
Fri. 7:30 p.m. Astronaut Jones
Sat. 7:30 p.m. Blues In Disguise
Pete's Steak House
523 Whitehorse Ave. Hamilton
(609) 585-8008
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Ernie White & Tom Reock
Sat. 9:30 p.m. F2 and The Anchovy Brothers.
RHO Waterfront
50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300
Thurs. 9 p.m. College Night w/ DJ Jeff Scott Gould
Fri. (4:30 p.m.) Matt & Rachel (8 p.m.) Eddie Testa Band (10 p.m.) DJ Jimmie Palumbo
All Shows 21+
Spigola Ristorante
3817 Crosswicks Hamilton Square Rd. Hamilton
Fri. 8:30 p.m. Acoustic Road
Sat. 8:30 p.m. Kindred Spirit
Sunsets at Cream Ridge
181 Rte. 539 Cream Ridge
(609) 208-2500
Thurs. 7:30 p.m. Billy Simmons
Fri. (6 p.m.) Rob Silvers (9 p.m.) Tangled
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Melanie and Sonny
Mon. 7 p.m. Open Mic. and Karaoke w/ Rich Barry
Tavern On The Lake
101 Main St. Hightstown
(609) 426-9345
Fri. 9 p.m. War Hammer
Sat. 9 p.m. Groove Pocket
Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night
The Cool Cricket
216 4th St. Fieldsboro
(609) 291-9110
Fri. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Sat. 9 p.m. Polish Nannies
The Ivy Inn
248 Nassau St. Princeton
(609) 921-8555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Ron Sherr
Fri. 10 p.m. Alright Alright
Sat. 10 p.m. Diablo Sandwich
Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv
Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Ron Sherr
The Record Collector
358 Farnsworth Ave. Bordentown
(609) 324-0880
Fri. 8 p.m. Reach Around Rodeo Clowns / The Burliques. All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $12 (advance)
Sat. 8 p.m. Richard Barone & Friends / Nalani & Sarina. All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $25 (advance).
The Sticky Wicket
2465 South Broad St. Hamilton
(609) 439-0007
Fri. 9 p.m. WE
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Deep Release
All shows 21+
The Sun National Bank Center
81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Thurs. 7 p.m. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Presents: Legends. Doors at 6 p.m., $12, $25, $45, $80
Fri. 10:30 a.m./7 p.m.Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Presents: Legends. Doors 9:30am/6 p.m., $12, $25, $45, $80
Sat. 11 a.m./3 p.m./7 p.m. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Presents: $12, $25, $45, $80
Sun. 12 p.m./4 p.m. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Presents: Legends. $12, $25, $45, $80
Tir Na Nog
1324 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 392-2554
Fri. 9 p.m. Tommy Glover
Sat. 9 p.m. Some Assembly Required
All shows 21+
Trenton Social
449 South Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-7777
Thurs. 8 p.m. Cinema Thursdays
Fri. 10 p.m. Friday night w/ Jay Kountree & Jaxx
Mon. 10 p.m. Service Industry Night w/ DJ-Jay Kountree
Tues. 9 p.m. LiveMusic/Open Mic.
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
Fri. 10 p.m. Christine Havrilla. $5 (coverage)
Sat. (1 p.m.) John Beacher & The Common Ground (10 p.m.)The Brummy Brothers $5 (cover charge)
Sun. 7 p.m. Open Jam Night hosted by Something Shiny
All shows 21+
Villa Romanza
429 Rte. 156 Hamilton
(609) 585-1717
Sat. 8 p.m. "Honoring Mother's Day" Comedy Show feat. Julia Scott, Sandy Ehlers, Joan Weisblatt, Randi Lupo, Joan Syngonakis.
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].
