Each week, New Jersey Stage shines a spotlight on events happening throughout the Garden State. Events are chosen from the NJ Stage online calendar. Event listings are free and visitors to the website are encouraged to vote for their favorite events. The event receiving the most votes receives the "People's Choice Award" for the week. This week's People's Choice is The Sensational Country Blues Wonders! who are performing on Sunday, August 21 as part of the Summerfest Concert Series at Liberty State Park in Jersey City. The band mixes equal parts Rockabilly, Country and genuine guitar Gospel music with a spoonful of greasy Blues to wash it all down. Their unique brand of American Roots Music is like no other, and they please crowds of all ages.
MUSIC
There's something for every music fan this week in New Jersey including two chances to catch The Orchestra - a band featuring former members of ELO, including Jersey's own Glen Burtnik. The band will be at The Levoy Theatre in Millville on Thursday, August 18 and The Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove on Saturday night.
Highlights throughout the week include Neil Sedaka performs at Bergen Performing Arts Center (BergenPAC) in Englewood on Wednesday, August 17. Thursday features David Crosby (from Crosby, Stills & Nash) at South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) in South Orange, Glen Tilbrook of Squeeze at House of Independents in Asbury Park, Air Supply at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, and the sounds of New Orleans via Big Sam’s Funky Nation at Anchors Bend in Asbury Park.
Friday includes two very cool shows by female artists in Asbury Park: Emily Grove and Friends take over McLoone's Supper Club with a special tribute to Joni Mitchell, while the Wonder Bar (literally across the street) hosts Jillian Rhys McCoy where she takes another look at Chicks that Rocked the 80s. You'll likely hear songs by Blondie, Pat Benatar, Heart, Joan Jett, Cyndi Lauper, Bananarama, Berlin, Madonna, Lita Ford, Patty Smyth & Scandal and more, performed by Jillian and her all-star band. Friday also contains a taste of Ireland when Celtic Thunder comes to the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, celebrating the influence of Irish and Celtic music around the world.
You can hear the punk sounds of Ireland on Saturday, August 20 at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park when Flogging Molly and Frank Turner perform on the Summer Stage. A few blocks away, John Sebastian will perform a special backstage show at The Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, while across the state Kenny Chesney performs at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford and Celtic Thunder brings their act to Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown. Classical music fans will enjoy Chris Botti & Joshua Bell at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel on Sunday, August 21, while jazz fans have the kick off of Jazz Jam Sessions (a series of five free concerts formerly presented at venues throughout Newark) on Thursday at Clement’s Place, the recently opened club and performance space at Rutgers University-Newark’s 15 Washington Street building, and the 6th Annual Morristown Jazz and Blues Festival on Saturday to look forward to.
Finally, Tuesday, August 23 is the type of Tuesday you can only have during the summer. Toad the Wet Sprocket and Rusted Root are at BergenPAC in Englewood; Black Sabbath is at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, Ani DiFranco is at The Newton Theatre in Newton; and Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford!
COMEDY
A trio of comedy shows caught our eye this week including The Best of the Second City at the Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) on Friday, August 19 where you'll see some of the best sketches, songs, and improvisations from the 52 year history of the legendary comedy troupe -- a company that launches the careers of Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, and many more. Other great shows include a series of dates by Carlos Mencia (August 18-20) at The Stress Factory in New Brunswick and Bob Nelson at Uncle Vinnie's Comedy Club in Point Pleasant Beach on Saturday, August 20.
FILM
On Wednesday, August 17, the House of Independents in Asbury Park hosts the premiere of Destiny's Bridge 2016 - a documentary about Tent City. A homeless minister stands up to a New Jersey town that is evicting him, along with 80 other people living in the woods. Police raids and arrests bring uncertainty to the off-the-grid residents that are staking claim to the unused public land that they have been living on for eight years. With the town closing in and eviction on their doorstep, the innovative homesteaders set out to create their own self-sustained tiny house community called Destiny's Bridge. The documentary will be followed by a Q&A with filmmakers, Jack Ballo and Bill Jersey, along with the film’s main subject and Tent City founder, Minister Steve Brigham. The discussion about the documentary will also include tiny house issues in New Jersey. Elsewhere in Monmouth County on August 17, the Count Basie Theatre presents Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - a great summer flick that had its original theatrical run over 25 years ago!
Just go to www.newjerseystage.com/events to add your events to the calendar at New Jersey Stage and get on our radar. Listings are promoted on our twitter account, added to major search engines, and can easily be shared across social media.
