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Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites...10/23/25


By Danny Coleman

originally published: 10/23/2025

"My Mississippi Roots," I'm going deep on that one," said bassist James "JB" Barnes as he discussed the recently released album of the same name. "I had to reach back to my family history on my father's side. My dad was from Port Gibson, Mississippi, was born in 1928 and he's not with us anymore but he is my lineage. The Barnes family name comes from that part of Mississippi, Claiborne County and that's where my dad is from; there's a lot of tradition down there in Mississippi; look at the blues musicians who came out of there (Mississippi). Muddy Waters, B.B. King, there is a lot of history down there, good, bad and ugly."

Banes currently resides in the Piscataway area of New Jersey via Cleveland, Ohio but this record says very little about his life's journey and much about the ancestors who made it possible; in particular, his father. 

Armed with a strong sense of what makes him who he is, he embarked on a musical mission to bring his family history to the forefront through his music and perhaps most importantly, through his lyrics.  

"There are some serious messages in these songs," he began. "The lyrics on this effort, I have to give my producer Anthony Krizan some credit because he helped me develop my lyrics where they made more sense for the groove we were layin' down. We kind of did the music first and I had an idea for the lyrics; for instance, "My Mississippi Roots" is the title cut of the record and my father's story as well. My father died very young, I was four years old when he passed away but he's the one with the Mississippi lineage. Two of my sisters and my brother were all born in Mississippi, I was the only one who was not born down there. During the mid-fifties my dad and my mom made the decision to get out of the Jim Crow South, they weren't doing bad  there, they were doing OK but they wanted to move north like a lot of families did at that time. So, I wanted the lyrics to tell a story and "My Mississippi Roots" is a prime example of taking lyrics and having them make sense. "I was born in the hollow way down south of the Dixie Line," that's my father talking, "My daddy made a living farming from dawn to dusk," he grew up on a farm, "My momma drove a school bus to help take care of us," my grandmother drove a school bus while my grandfather worked the land. He had a farm with horses and cattle; he wasn't a sharecropper, he was just a farmer with a bunch of acres he bought after his World War ll service in 1949. So, those lyrics are really diving deep into my dad's story because he didn't live a long life. So, he died when he was 36, I'm 66, so I said it's about time I tell his story. So, that's what that song is about lyrically, musically it's a combination of some grooves that I've played with over the years but the lyrics were really heartfelt."




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Before going any farther up the road or back to the past, let's get an understanding of how the record and Barnes' music career came to be. When asked how he discovered an interest in the bass and wound up in New Jersey, he was more than glad to share. 

"I'm glad you asked that," he laughed. "We were living in Cleveland, Ohio when my father passed away in 1964; my mother remarried. Her pastor in Cleveland was a gentleman named Bishop Watkins who was from Newark, New Jersey originally and he had moved to Cleveland many years before but his brother still lived in Newark. So, her pastor introduced my mom to his brother, she married him and what did we do? We moved from Cleveland to Newark in 1965. My older sister married a bass player named David Johnson and I kind of grew up listening to him pluck his bass; he was playing with some top people. He was playing with Roy Ayres and I kind of got interested in the bass from just being around his scene. I was like, wow! I just loved the bass, he had an upright bass and I never really learned to play that but I should've but he primarily played electric bass and that was an inspiring thing for me. I wanted to play the bass and as I grew up; what can a band do without a good bass player? You have some of the great bass players out there now who are great songwriters and producers. You've got Marcus Miller, Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten and the Rock bass players; I thought John Entwistle was a great player, Jack Bruce from Cream and in the Blues world; who did it better than Willie Dixon?"

"I've been a blues musician for, I'd say, 30 years or more," he went on, "I grew up on kind of jazz music; jazz fusion and once I got my ears on the blues, I said, that's just what I love. I mean, Hell, we might as well say it, Blues and Jazz are joined at the hip. There is no jazz without blues, there is no rock and roll without blues and I have a small three piece band that I started in 2012 so, we've been together a while. I'm on my third guitar player, the original guitarist unfortunately passed away from a heart attack, the second guitar player went his separate way, the gentleman that's with me now, MoeDene, has been around for about four years and I met him through a mutual friend; he's been in the R&B scene for a long time and we needed a guitar player so, I asked him to come sit in with us and it kind of worked out. The drummer, Tommy Doud, I've been playing with for the past 30 years or so. He started out in the Metal scene, he had a record deal until his lead singer rolled over in a car. He didn't die but he couldn't sing anymore and so I've been with Tommy for a long time."

With that kind of longevity and creative support; what was it like and who helped with the recording of this new record?

"I used friends, MoeDene and Tommy were on "Blues Falling Down Like Rain," I used my son; he is a Berklee graduate and a helluva piano player who is out in L.A. now trying to make a living. I used a guy named Chip Degaard, he's a piano player and also a gentleman I'm working with on putting together a larger band to do tours with and I brought him some different singers. I brought in a gentleman named Steven Braxton who is singing lead on three or four songs on the record; I used him on my last record in 2023 called, "JB's Favorite Things." I pulled in a guy named Kevin Goins. He comes from a funk background, his brother Glenn Goins was part of the Funkadelic band with George Clinton back in the day before he passed away but before that he gave the keys to his brother Kevin who has been around for quite some time here in the New Jersey area. I used him on a couple of songs, he's a great soul singer and he gave me the soul I was looking for on "Southern Girl" and "Stand Up and Give Peace & Love a Chance." So, I used a few different people to make it a smorgasbord of talent. Anthony Krizan plays a lot of the guitar work on this album and is my producer and friend; I've known Anthony for probably 40 years. He was with the Spin Doctors for a short stint and he's played with a who's who of everybody and he has the studio in Raritan; Sonic Boom where we recorded it and he's a great guy who puts out some good music. He doesn't consider himself a blues man but I told him, I said, "Dude, you're a blues man whether you want to be or not" (Laughs). It was fun, it wasn't like we were working; you know? I'm a bass player, not a guitar player but I know what I want and I'd bring him some grooves and Ideas on tempo and pace; we have a very good formula together and we'd just create. A lot of these original songs were me and him brainstorming and putting them together like a puzzle."

Ah, it's great to have friends but sometimes you have to trust your gut and go a bit beyond what some of those in your corner suggest, even if they are already a bit more established; such is the case with "My Mississippi Roots." 

"It's 13 tracks and I've become friends with Bernard Allison over the years and he advised me, "Keep it to 10 or 11 tracks if you can" but I guess I'm a little hard headed and I want to say so much. It's 13 tracks, the first six tracks are like "Get Up and Go Blues" which has Steve Braxton singing on it and it's an upbeat blues; talking about you having to move on, your heart may still be there but you really have to get up and go. The second track is a song I co-wrote with my first guitar player from the small band I did years ago and I wanted to resurrect a song that I heard him do. I changed some lyrics, I'm sure he didn't mind since he passed away but I still gave him co-writing credit on the song and that's "Gotta Make a Change." You've got things going on in your life and you know you need to change them so you talk about it until you make a change (Laughs). That's slow blues and so, there's a little bit of everything from a blues point of view and there's even some classic rock on this. I wanted to do a version of "Wild Horses," I did a Beatles song, "Oh Darling" on the last album and I said I want to do a Stones song on this one and the title, "Wild Horses" reminded me of how I perceived my dad of being because he really loved my mom and "Wild horse couldn't drag him away" from her, the only thing that took him away was his death. So, I wanted to do that song and make it kind of like an R&B song and the way Steven sang it gives it that flavor. "Sara Smile," when I first heard that song, I heard it by a man named Michael Burks, he died pretty young, I heard his version of that song and said, "We are gonna do a blues version" but it still is connected to the R & B flavor. "Southern Girl" talks about my father's search for a wife; that's an assumptive song. I don't know what was in his head back in the 1930s and '40s because I wasn't alive but it's just an assumptive song being a southern man who wanted a southern woman to walk through life with and he met my mother and she happened to be from Louisiana."




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With the summer festival season all but over for this year; what does he plan to do to support this new r

elease? 

"I'm looking to gear up for next year, I'm gonna do some local record release shows to get some buzz out there and help support the record and I'm putting together a bigger band so that I can do this record justice; not that I'm saying I didn't do that with the last one but this one is a personal thing. This talks about my family and I really want to get it out there and connect with people over this record."

To discover more about James "JB" Barnes and "My Mississippi Roots," please visit https://www.bbdrhythmandblues.com/

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


Ace Cafe 
15 Market Place New Hope, PA
Thurs. 6 p.m. Bike Night
Allentown Borough
Main Street Allentown
Tues. 4 p.m. Drop-In Pumpkin Painting. All ages (Takes place at 16 South Main Street
All Saints Church
16 All Saints Road Princeton
Sat. 7 p.m.  Silent Film: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (FREE event)
Al's Airport Inn
636 Bear Tavern Road West Trenton
(609) 883-5252 
Thurs. 5 p.m. Connor Choi
Sat. (12 p.m.) Acoustic Brunch w/ Kampfire Radio (7 p.m.) Jonathan Savage
Sun. (12 p.m.) Sunday Acoustic Brunch w/ Keith Monacchio (6 p.m.) Snap Dragons 
Mon. 5 p.m. Rob Silvers
Tues. 7 p.m. Mike & Laura
Wed. (3 p.m.) LGBTQ Happy Hour (7 p.m.) DJ Diva
Ancient Order of Hibernians 
2419 Kuser Road Hamilton 
Fri. 8 p.m. Karaoke
Aristaeus Brewing
2475C Big Oak Road Langhorne, PA 
(215) 757-2337
Thurs. 7 p.m. Trivia 
Sun. 11 a.m. Music BINGO Brunch for "Swifties" 
Arm & Hammer Park
1 Thunder Road Trenton 
(609) 394-3300
Thurs. 4:30 p.m. FREE Trick-or-Treat
Arts Council of Princeton 
102 Witherspoon Street Princeton 
(609) 924-8777 
Thurs. 6 p.m. ART OF: Terrariums
Fri. 3 p.m. Glassblowing Workshop: Make Your Own Wine Glass (BYOB)
Sat. (11 a.m.) Stylebook Clothing Swap (1 p.m.) Pumpkin Palooza (3 p.m.) Artist Talk: Victor Davson "Visit to Bayou Road" and Other Paintings
Sun. (10a.m.) Make Your Own Pumpkin Glass. Ages 13+ (1:30 p.m.) Make Your Own Pumpkin Glass. All ages
Wed. (6:30 p.m.) ACP BYOB: Hand Lettering (7 p.m.) JAM: Jersey Art Meet-Up
Ashlynn Distillery 
32 West Bridge Street Morrisville, PA 
Thurs. 6 p.m. Cecil & Mike
Fri. 8 p.m. LoFash
Sat. 8 p.m. John Rodden
Wed. 6 p.m. Cara Cartney
Bailey's Bar & Grille 
6922 Bristol-Emilie Road Levittown, PA  
(215) 946-7992 
Thurs. 6 p.m. Sports Candle Workshop
Wed. 7 p.m. Eagles Wreath Make & Take
Bent Iron Brewing
70 Extonville Road Hamilton
Thurs. 7 p.m. Dynamo Trivia
Fri. 5:30 p.m. LakeHouse
Sat. 12 p.m. Halloween Costume Party feat. (5:30 p.m.) The Amptons
Sun. 1 p.m. Gunpowder Falls
Bill's Olde Tavern
2694 Nottingham Way Hamilton
(609) 586-0192
Thurs. 7 p.m. Music BINGO
Sat. 7 p.m. LakeHouse
Sun. 7 p.m. BINGO
Mon. 7 p.m. Trivia 
Tues. 9 p.m. / Wed. 9 p.m. Karaoke 
Ages 21+
Blooming Grove Inn
40 West Upper Ferry Road West Trenton 
Fri. 4:30 p.m. Bud Belviso
Booterbeer Brewing Company
229 East Colliers Mills Road New Egypt
Fri. 12 p.m. "Frets, Frights & Foam" Halloween Farm Event feat. (6 p.m.) Stone Martin
Sat. 12 p.m. "Frets, Frights & Foam" Halloween Farm Event feat. (2 p.m.) Yoga w/ Adrianne. $25
Sun. 12 p.m. "Frets, Frights & Foam" Halloween Farm Event 
Bordentown City
Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown  
Fri. (5 p.m.) Movie In The Park: "Beetlejuice" (Takes place at 101 Park Street) (7 p.m.) "Frightening Fridays!" Haunted History Tours. $20
Sat. 12 p.m. Bordentown Walking Tours. $20 
Boro Bean 
9 East Broad Street Hopewell 
(609) 466-6681 
Sat. 11 a.m. John Abbott 
Bowman's Tavern 
1600 River Road New Hope, PA 
(215) 862-2972
Thurs. 6:30 p.m. Matt Gordeuk
Fri. (5:30 p.m.) Bennett Lee (8 p.m.) Bob Egan 
Sat. 6:30 p.m. Maci Miller Duo 
Sun. (12 p.m.) Bill Avayou Duo (6 p.m.) Lorenzo
Tues. 6 p.m. Chris Giakas
Wed. 6 p.m. Liz DuFour 
Broken Goblet Brewing
2500 State Road Bensalem, PA
(267) 812-5653
Thurs. 7 p.m.  Mike Estabrook
Fri. 7 p.m. "Thick Lizzy" Thin Lizzy Tribute / "Gigantic" Pixies Tribute
Sat. 2 p.m. "Hoppy Halloween 11" Beer Fest. $56-$68 ($11.68 Designated Driver Tickets available)
Wed. 7 p.m. Chunky Knit Blanket Class
Bucks On Bridge
25 Bridge Street Lambertville
(609) 483-2615
Fri. 6:30 p.m. Poetry Night 
Tues. 5 p.m. Chess Night
Wed. 6 p.m. Trivia
Burlington City
Sat. 12 p.m. Burlington City Fall Festival
B2 Bistro Jimmy's American Grill
140 US Route 130 South bordentown
(609) 291-0200
Tues. 7 p.m. Trivia 
Cadwalader Park (Ellarslie Museum)
299 Parkside Avenue Trenton 
(408) 335-4400 
Fri. 6 p.m. Opening Reception: "Mel at 90: The Revival of Realism"
Sat. 9 a.m. Younity's Domestic Violence Awareness Community Walk
Cazz's Sports Bar 'N' Grille
1560 Haines Road Levittown, PA 
(267) 580-5469 
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Karaoke w/ Paul

Chesterfield Inn
633 Chesterfield-Arneytown Road Chesterfield
(609) 298-1917
Fri. 9 p.m. "2025 Halloween Bash & Costume Contest" 
Club Atlantis
1858 Street Road Bensalem, PA 
(215) 944-1777 
Sat. 9 p.m. DJ Robbie Tronco 
All Events Ages 21+ and Dress to Impress
Cody's Roadhouse Distillery
5605 Bensalem Boulevard Bensalem, PA
Sat. 8 p.m. Karaoke Halloween Costume Party
Continental Tavern
2 North Main Street Yardley, PA  
(215) 493-9191
Fri. 8 p.m. Robert Clancy
Sat. 8 p.m. Boondashark
Cooper's Riverview                                                                     
50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300 
Thurs. 7 p.m. Be5D
Fri./Sat. 9 p.m. Shot of Southern (Dinner and VIP packages available)
Wed. 7 p.m. Live Band Jam 
Cream Ridge Winery
145 Route 539 Cream Ridge 
(609) 259-9797 
Sat. 5:45 p.m. Annual Franken Wine Sangria & Music Night feat. Redbird & The Rubber Chickens
Crossing Vineyard and Winery
1853 Wrightstown Road Washington Crossing, PA
(215) 493-6500 
Thurs. 7 p.m. Trivia
Sat. 2:30 p.m. Bill Thomas
Sun. 2 p.m. On The Fly
Crosswicks Community House 
480 Main Street Crosswicks
(609) 442-5830
Fri. 7:30 p.m. 24th Annual Witches Ball Benefiting Dare to Care of Mercer County. Ages 21+ (Ticketed event, ladies only, BYOB)
Sun. 4 p.m. Annual Halloween Parade and Party
Curran’s Irish Inn
1909 Bristol Pike Bensalem, PA
(215) 245-1800
Thurs. 7 p.m. Music Bingo 
Mon. 7:30 p.m. Quizzo
Dacey's Pub 
215 West Philadelphia Avenue Morrisville, PA
(215) 295-4838
Fri. 6:30 p.m. Acoustic Music Night 
Wed. 8 p.m. Quizzo
Dadz Bar and Grill 
744 Main Street Lumberton
(609)267-4344
Thurs. 7 p.m. Open Mic Hosted by Jimmy Mannix feat. (8:30 p.m.) David Bermingham Trio
Dharma Bums 
4935 River Road New Hope, PA
(215) 663-2867
Thurs. 7 p.m. Michael Kracht
Fri. 8 p.m. Dead On The River. $11.75
Sat. (12 p.m.) Vintage Clothing Market (8 p.m.) "Divided Sky" Phish Tribute. $11.75
Sun. 6 p.m. The New Hope Nonet
Wed. 7 p.m.  DBums Hootenanny: An Open Mic of Music, Comedy & Spoken Word Hosted by Michael Henry Robert
Escape Resort, Restaurant & Bar 
120 Pheasant Run Road Newtown, PA 
Thurs. 7:45 p.m. Ballroom Dancing Class Series
Flying Pig Tavern & Tap 
167 US-Route 130 North Bordentown 
(609) 899-7447
Fri. 9 p.m. Rave On
Tues. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Wed. 8 p.m. Trivia
Founding Father's Sports Bar & Grill 
2900 Street Road Bensalem, PA 
(215) 923-1100
Fri. 6 p.m. Bob Pantano Dance Party w/ DJ Joe Castro
Friendly's 
1031 Washington Boulevard Robbinsville 
(609) 426-9203 
Wed. 6 p.m. Open Mic Night Hosted by Kevin McGowan and/or Gino Formaroli (Sign-ups begin at 5:30 p.m.)
German American Society 
215 Uncle Pete's Road Hamilton 
(609) 585-5200
Sat. 1 p.m. Halloween Trick or Treat on "Shakedown Street" Wolfman Jack & Karl's Garcia Band
Sun. 11 a.m. Jersey Iron MC 2nd Annual "Biketoberfest" Swap Meet and Bike Show
Gleason's Bar
6700 Mill Creek Road Levittown, PA
(215) 943-4781 
Thurs. 7 p.m. Music Bingo / “Ladies Night” Hosted by Best Choice Productions 
Fri. (6 p.m.) "Happy Hour" (8:30 p.m.) Cover Dawgs
Sat. 8:30 p.m. DJ Slice
Tues. 7 p.m. Game Show Palooza
Green Parrot Restaurant Pub, & Patio
240 North Sycamore Street Newtown Township, PA 
(215) 504-7277 
Tues. 7 p.m. Music BINGO
Wed. 5:30 p.m. Halloween Cookie Decorating Class
Grover's Mill Coffee House 
Princeton-Hightstown Road Princeton Junction   
(609) 716-8771  
Thurs. 6 p.m. Open Mic Hosted by Wade Prestridge. $10
Fri. 7 p.m. "War of the Worlds" 87th Anniversary Live Radio Re-Broadcast
Sun. 10:15 a.m. Martian Bike Ride. Ages 12+
Hamilatte Cafe
1971 Route 33 Hamilton
Sat. 6:30 p.m. Acoustic Saturdays
Havana New Hope
105 S. Main Street New Hope, PA.
(215) 862-9897
Thurs. 7 p.m. Bluess Jam Hosted by Mikey Jr. & The Slidewinder Blues Band
Fri. ( 8 p.m.) The Lords of 52nd Street (11 p.m. ) DJ Dance Party 
Sat. (3 p.m.) Matt Setzer (8:30 p.m.) Bonehead (11:59 p.m.) DJ Dance Party 
Sun. 3 p.m. High Heel Drag Race After Party
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Steve
Tues. 7 p.m. Jillian Ashcroft Jazz Quartet 
Wed. 7 p.m. Jumper Duo
Hilltop Park 
211 Hamilton Street Fieldsboro
Sat. 6 p.m. Jack-O-Lantern Night
Historical Society of West Windsor
50 Southfield Road West Windsor
Sat. 2 p.m. Trunk or Treat (FREE event)
Hopewell Valley Golf Club
114 Pennington-Hopewell Road Hopewell
(609) 737-1199
Thurs. 6 p.m. Trivia
Hopewell Valley Vineyards
46 Yard Avenue Pennington 
(609) 737-4465 
Fri. 4 p.m. "Music & Merlot" feat. (5:30 p.m.) Deb & Mike
Sat. (1 p.m.) On The Fly (5:30 p.m.) "Music & Merlot" feat. A Little Bit Off
Sun. 2:30 p.m. "Jazzy Sundays" feat. Hopewell Valley Vineyards Jazz Band
Hurricane Jacks Bar and Grill
7759 New Falls Road Levittown, PA
(267) 914-4517
Thurs. 7:30 p.m. Music Bingo w/ DJ John W. 
Tues. 8 p.m. Acoustic Tuesday
Wed. 7 p.m. Open Mic w/ Laura Fiocco
Il Portico Restorante Italiano 
273 West Route 130 South Burlington
(609) 239-1000 
Thurs. 7 p.m. Jazz Night
Fri. / Sat. 7 p.m. Live Music w/ Tony O
Irish Rover Station House 
1033 South Bellevue Avenue Langhorne, PA 
(215) 970-5412 
Wed. 7 p.m. Quizzo Night
Iron Plow Vineyards
26750 Mount Pleasant Road Columbus 
(732) 306-9111 
Fri. 5:30 p.m. Wild Grit
Sat. (12 p.m.) Chet & Ari (4:30 p.m.) Rachel & Ty
Sun. 1 p.m. AudioPilot
Ivy Tavern
3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton 
(609) 888-1435 
Thurs. 8:30 p.m. Karaoke 
All shows 21+     
John & Peter's
96 S. Main Street New Hope, Pa 
(215) 862-5981 
Mon. 9 p.m. Open Mic Night (Sign-ups start at 8 p.m.) 
Tues. 9 p.m. John Gallagher Jr. and Hannah Winkler Album Release Show. $15 (advance)
Wed. 9 p.m. The Invitational
All shows 21+
Killarney's Publick House
1644 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road Hamilton
(609) 586-1166 
Thurs.7 p.m. Flying Ivories Dueling Pianos
Fri. (5:30 p.m.) Skyline (10 p.m.) DJ Bay
Sat. (10 a.m.) Brunch (6 p.m.) Hard to Pet Duo (8 p.m.) Electric Stingray
Sun. 10 a.m. "Sunday Funday" Brunch feat. (11 a.m.) Bob Banka
Mon. (5 p.m.) Kid's Night: Pumpkin Painting" (6:30 p.m.) Mixology Class. $45
Tues. 7 p.m. Music BINGO (FREE) / Murder Mystery Dinner "Welcome to the 1920s" $65
Wed. 8 p.m. Boozy Spelling Bee w/ DJ Dan Murphy
Laurita Winery 
85 Archertown Road New Egypt 
(609) 752-0200 
Thurs. 7 p.m. Sip & Wick Candle Making Class
Fri. 7 p.m. 90s/2000s Dance party. $10
Sat. "Hallowine Festival" feat. (11 a.m.) The Grouser Girls (2:30 p.m.) Dockside (6 p.m.) Night Ryde. $16
Sun.  "Hallowine Festival" feat. (11 a.m.) Strictly '60s (3 p.m.) Pennington Station  
Library Company of Burlington
23 West Union Street Burlington
(609) 3861273
Fri. 6:30 p.m. Open Mic Night
Lillipies Bakery
30 North Harrison Street Princeton 
(609) 423-2100  
Sat. 10 a.m. Storytime with Jeff 
Locust Hall at Johnson's Farm
2691 Monmouth Road Jobstown
(609) 723-2630  
Sat./Sun. 10 a.m. Fall Harvest Weekend
Logan Inn 
10 West Ferry Street New Hope, PA 
(215) 862-2300
Fri. 7 p.m. Aaron Quarterman
Sat. 7 p.m. Rob Tait
Sun. 11:30 a.m. Brandon & Liz
Magikava
87a South Main Street New Hope, PA 
(215) 862-2739 
Thurs. 6 p.m. Astrology Readings by Riss Cottrill 
Mon. 6 p.m. Magik "Art Mondays" 
Wed. 6:30 p.m. Open Mic Night  
MarketFair
3535 U.S Highway 1 Princeton (Center Courtyard)
(609) 452-7777
Sun. 12 p.m. Halloween Extravaganza
McManimon's Pub
151 Liberty Street Trenton 
(609) 393-9023
 Fri. 8 p.m. Frank Pinto & Richie Z
McStews Irish Sports Pub
5316 New Falls Road Levittown, PA 
(215) 949-9570 
Sat. 8 p.m. Sky Valley, Rich Ryan Band, Misfit Love
Tues. 7:30 p.m. Trivia Night
Mercer Cemetery at Trenton (Trenton Train Station)
South Clinton Avenue Trenton 
Fri. 6:30 p.m. Movie Night in the Cemetery: "Coraline!" (FREE event)
Mountainview Golf Club
890 Bear Tavern Road Ewing
(609) 882-4093
Fri. 6:30 p.m. Kindred Spirit
Music In The Square (Village Square Park)
30 Saddle Way Chesterfield
Sat. 6 p.m. CES 2026 Trunk or Treat
Music Mountain Theater
1483 Route 179 Lambertville
(609)397-3337
Fri. 8 p.m. "Sweeney Todd"
Sat. 3 p.m./ 8 p.m. "Sweeney Todd"
Sun. 3 p.m. "Sweeney Todd"
Naked Brewing Company 
212 Mill Street Bristol, PA 
(267) 544-7129
Thurs.6:30 p.m. Dana Collins Project 
Sat. 6:30 p.m. Honey Spot Blvd. 
Sun. 12 p.m. "Sunday Stroll"
Tues. 7 p.m. Trivia
Needle Creek Farm Brewery
91 Titus Mill Road Pennington
Fri. 3 p.m. "Family Fall Weekends" 
Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company 
909 Ray Avenue Croydon, PA 
(215) 458-7081
Thurs. 7 p.m. Thursday Night Frights in the Fear Garden: "Funhouse" 
Sat. 12 p.m. "Boos and Brews Halloween Party" feat. (6 p.m.) Edgar Allen Poe Impersonator
New Egypt Flea Market Village 
933 Monmouth County Road Cream Ridge 
(609) 758-2082
Sat. 5 p.m. Moonlit Market feat. (6 p.m.) Halloween Aura Night at Witch's Place
Sun. 8 a.m. Flea Market 
Wed. 8 a.m. Flea Market
New Hope Winery / Tavern 
6123 Lower York Road New Hope, PA 
(215) 794-2331 
Fri. 8 p.m. "Jingo" The Heart & Soul of Santana
Sat. 8 p.m. "Beginnings" A Celebration of the Music of Chicago
Newtown Brewing Company
103 Penns Trail Newtown, PA 
(215) 944-8609 
Thurs. 7:30 p.m. "Useless Knowledge" Trivia 
Fri. 6 p.m. Dave Cudrak
Sat. 6 p.m. Sister Blue
Wed. 4 p.m. Open Mic Night Hosted by Bill Monach
Nick's Roast Beef
4501 Woodhaven Road West Philadelphia, PA 
(215) 637-515
Thurs. 7 p.m. Trivia 
Wed. 7 p.m. Karaoke
Nomad Distilling Company
20 South Main Street New Hope, PA
Sun. 10 a.m. Brunch
Nottingham Tavern 
9 Mercer Street Hamilton Square 
(609) 587-6623
Thur. 9 pm. Karaoke w/ Super Dave Curtis 
Sat. 9:30 p.m. DJ Frank Olivetti
Mon. 6 p.m. BINGO
Tues. 4 p.m. Pies on the Patio feat. (6:30 p.m.) Ant Cannuli
Ages 21+   
O'Fowley's Tavern & Grill 
200 State Road Croydon, PA 
(215) 785-6998 
Mon. 7 p.m. Music Bingo Hosted by Best Choice Productions w/ DJ John S 
Tues. 7 p.m. Quizzo
 Old Barracks
100 Barrack Street Trenton
Sat. 7 p.m. Concerts by Candlelight
Old Hights Brewing 
123 West Ward Street Hightstown 
(609) 469-5976
Thurs. 5 p.m. Vinyl Night
Fri. 6:30 p.m. The Successful Failures Duo
Sat. 6 p.m. FOGlight
Sun. 1 p.m. Halloween family Fun Day feat. (2 p.m.) Local Performers Showcase 
Old Town Pub
135 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown 
(609) 291-9232
Sun. 10 a.m. Brunch
Wed. 7 p.m. Trivia
Ottoburger (Planet Animal Taste)
65 East Broad Street Hopewell
(640) 867-4915
Mon. 5:30 p.m. Dave Butler and Friends
Palmer Square 
40 Nassau Street Princeton 
Fri. (4 p.m.) "Spirits on the Square" (5 p.m.) Annual Hometown Halloween Parade
Sat. 1 p.m. Fall Music Series feat. Eco Del Sur
Patriots Crossing 
1339 River Road Titusville 
(609) 737-2780
Thurs. 8 p.m. Ladies Night  (9 p.m.) Beer Pong Tournament. $10
Wed. 7 p.m. "Quizzo" 
Patriot's Theater at The War Memorial   
1 Memorial Drive Trenton 
(609) 984-8400
Sat. 7:30 p.m. Capital Philharmonic Opening Night World Premier of "Oh God...Beautiful Machine"
Pete's Steak House 
523 Whitehorse Avenue Hamilton
 (609) 585-8008
Fri. 9:30 p.m. "Halloween Party" w/ Out Of The Red
Princeton Country Club
1-Wheeler Way West Windsor
(609) 452-9382 
Thurs. 6 p.m. Karaoke Night w/ Live DJ
Fri. 5 p.m. Happy Hour 
Sun. 11 a.m. Jazz Brunch
Princeton University (Richardson Auditorium)
Nassau Street Princeton
Sat.  "Homecoming Weekend" feat. (3:30 p.m.) Kindred Spirit (Takes place on Prspect Street)
Puss N Boots Tavern
942 Trenton Road Fairless Hills, PA
Fri. 8 p.m. Karaoke
Tues. 7 p.m. Trivia 
Randy Now's Man Cave
119 West Ward Street Hightstown 
(609) 424-3766
Fri. 7:30 p.m. Corey Glover. $30, doors open at 7 p.m.
Sat. 7 p.m. Kinderhook Acoustic. $25
Ristorante LUCCA & Piano Lounge 
144 US Route 130 Bordentown 
(609) 262-0110
Thurs. 8 p.m. Jazz Night  
River House at Odette’s 
274 South Rive Road New Hope, PA 
(215) 682-2022 
Thurs. 7 p.m. Cara Cartney
Fri. 7 p.m. Max Rogers
Sat. 7 p.m. Bob Egan
Sun. 11:30 a.m. Brunch w/ Alex Otey Duo
Wed. 7 p.m. Tony Alosi
Robin's Nest Restaurant
2 Washington Street Mount Holly 
(609) 261-6149 
Fri. 4 p.m. Wounded Souls feat. Carie McCay
Roebling Museum 
100 2nd Avenue Roebling
(609) 499-7200 
Sat. 1 p.m. Company Town Walking Tour
Rossi's Bar & Grill
2110 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road Hamilton
(609) 890-2004 
Thurs. 5:30 p.m. Ernie White
Sat. 11 a.m. Brunch
Sun. 11 a.m. Brunch 
Tues. 7 p.m. Quizzoholics
Sandy's Beef & Ale
2028 E. Old Lincoln Highway Langhorne, PA
(2670 852-2333
Thurs. 8 p.m. Quizzo  
Mon. 7 p.m. Music Bingo
School of Rock Princeton
1761 Princeton Avenue Hamilton
(609) 890-7090
Sat. 6 p.m. Ratsauce, Capri, The Jaspers, Reefamancers
Second Sin Brewing Company
1500 Grundy Lane Bristol, P
(267) 812-5251
Thurs. 7 p.m. Trivia
Shady Brook Farm 
931 Stony Hill Road Yardley, PA 
(215) 968-1670 
Thurs. 11 a.m. "Fall Fest" 
Fri. 11 a.m. "Fall Fest"  feat. (6:30 p.m.) Mike Estabrook & The E-Miners or Mushmouth
Sat. 11 a.m. "Fall Fest" / "Party On The Patio" feat. (6:30 p.m.) Joe Lestochi
Sun. 11 a.m."Fall Fest" 
Tues. 6 p.m. Jon Savage and The Classic Rockers
Slim's Irish Pub 
2195 Galloway Road Bensalem, PA
(267) 332-0047
Mon. 6 p.m. Open Mic Night Hosted by Cecil 
Wed. 6 p.m. Karaoke Contest
Small World Coffee 
14 Witherspoon Street Princeton 
(609) 924-4377 x2 
Sat. 7 p.m. Black Cat Habitat
Smithville Park
815 Smithville Road Easthampton 
Sat. 1 p.m. "Autumn Lands Fest" feat. Gypsy Funk Squad
Sparky World-Famous Beer Garden
4333 New Falls Road Levittown, PA 
(215) 943-2321 
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Dana
Sat. 9 p.m. Halloween Party w/ Never Enough
Sun. 9 p.m. Open Mic Hosted by Cara Cartney
Mon. 9 p.m. Game Night Hosted by Kid Dalton 
Tues. 7 p.m. Johnny Betz 
Spellbound Brewing
10 Lippincott Lane #12 Mt. Holly 
(609) 832-0077 
Sat. 12 p.m. 11th Anniversary Party feat. (6 p.m.) The Successdful Failures Duo
Spigola Vino E Cucino
3817 Crosswicks Hamilton Square Road Hamilton
(609) 585-5255
Fri. 8 p.m.  Masquerade DJ Party w/ DJ Nick
Starving Artist Cafe
18 Bridge Street Stockton
Thurs. 6 p.m. Open Mic Hosted by Daisy Jane (Sign-ups at 5:30 p.m.)
Fri. 10 a.m. JB Kline's Facebook Live
Steam Pub 
606 2nd Street Pike Southampton, PA 
Sun. 6 p.m. Fall Sip & Shop
1675 Spirits 
2685 Bristol Pike Bensalem, PA
(215) 645-1445
Fri. 6 p.m. Crisis! at the Ceili
Tavern On The Lake 
101 Main Street Hightstown 
(609) 426-9345  
Thurs. 8 p.m. Country Music DJ Night
Tues. 6 p.m. Trivia 
Wed. 7 p.m. Karaoke  
TGI Fridays
2703 Mount Holly Road Suite 3 Washington Twp.
(609) 239-486 
Thurs. 7 p.m.  Trivia   
The Beer Garden and Education Center at Snipes Farm
890 West Bridge Street Morrisville, PA 
Sat. 6 p.m. Steal Your Face
The Birdhouse Center For The Arts
7 North Main Street Lambertville
(215) 681-4660
Tues. 7:30 p.m. NJNO the "not just nyckelharpa orchestra" Community Orchestra
The Buck Hotel 
1200 Buck Road Feasterville, PA 
(215) 396-2002 
Thurs. 7 p.m. Kirko
Fri. 8:30 p.m. The Zings
Sat. (11 a.m.) Brunch (8:30 p.m.) Philly Heart & Soul
Tues. 7 p.m. Danny Lynch Duo
The Cool Cricket
216 Burlington Street Fieldsboro
(609) 291-9110
Fri. 9 p.m. Karaoke w/ Dave Curtis
Sat. 9 p.m. Exit 107
Mon. 7 p.m. Bike Night
Tues. 7 p.m. BINGO
The Corner Inn
24509 East Main Street Columbus
(609) 298-8543
Sat. 9 p.m. Karaoke w/ We R Entertainment
The Cure Insurance Center  
81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton  
(609) 656-3200  
Sat./Sun. 8 a.m. Eastern Region Pop Warner Cheerleading  
The Dubliner
34 North Main Street New Hope, PA 
(215) 693-1816
Fri. 7:30 p.m. Tommy Conwell
Sat. 7 p.m. Gabriel Donohue
Sun. 3 p.m. "Traditional Irish Session" 
The Federal Twist Vineyard 
8 Federal Twist Road Stockton
(609) 773-6066 
Sat. 3 p.m. Cloudburst. $5 (Ages 20 and under FREE)
The Five Four Bar & Grill
8919 New Falls Road Levittown, PA 
(215) 547-5525
Thurs. 8 p.m. Karaoke w/ Paula and Sam 
Fri. 9 p.m. Bambu Weasels
Sat. 9 p.m. Halloween Party w/ 3 Rows Deep
Tues. 7 p.m. Music Bingo w/ Jonathan Appel
The Ivy Inn
248 Nassau Street Princeton
(609) 921-8555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Trey Brown
Fri. 9:30 p.m. DJ Bockman
Sat. 9:30 p.m. DJ Ronnie D
Sun. 2 p.m. Gameday
Tues. 7 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv 
Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Trey Brown
The Morrisville Tavern 
376 West Trenton Avenue Morrisville, PA
(215) 295-5310
Thurs. 7 p.m. Trivia
Sat. 8 p.m. Jukebox Graveyard
Mon. 8 p.m. Karaoke
Tues. 7 p.m. Music Bingo
Wed. 7 p.m. Trivia Night 
The Newtown Theatre
120 North State Street Newtown, PA
(215) 968-3859
Sat. 8 p.m. "New York's Finest" Tribute to Sting & the Police
Sun. 7 p.m. The Golem: How He Came Into the World
Tues. 7:30 p.m. Cult Vault: "Halloween"
Wed. 7:30 p.m. "Dracula" (1931) 
The Penguin Rocks (24 Hour On-Demand Music/Radio)
www.thepenguinrocks.com 
Mon. -  Fri. "Radio Jersey" Hosted by Lee Mrowicki 
Sun. - Sat. "Classic Jersey" Hosted by Gary Wien
Sun. - Sat. "Beyond The Palace" Hosted by Lee Mrowicki 
Sun. - Sat. "Danny Coleman's Rock On Radio" feat. John Ezzo and Calls from Twisted Livin' and American Love Affair
Sun. - Sat. "From The Basement" Hosted by Mike Marrone
Sun. - Sat. "Deuce Radio" Hosted by Matt Barker
Sun. - Sat. "Altrok Radio" Hosted by Sean Carolan
Sun. - Sat. "Lighty's Corner" Hosted by Gary Wien 
Sun. - Sat. "The Troubador Show" Hosted by John Godfrey 
The Roost
181 Rte. 539 Cream Ridge
(609) 208-0050
Thurs. 6:30 p.m. DC Duo
Fri. 9 p.m. Chris Rendell
Sat. 9 p.m. Diablo Sandwich Band
Mon. 6 p.m. Music BINGO
Tues. 6 p.m. Trivia
Wed. 6 p.m. Joe Vadala
The Union Firehouse
18 Washington Street Mount Holly
(609) 288-6491
Fri. 8 p.m. "Jagged Little Thrill" the Alanis Experience "Halloween Edition" Doors open at 7 p.m.
The Union House 
19 East Union Street Burlington
(609) 531-6077
Thurs. 7 p.m. Trivia
Fri. 8 p.m. Coconutz
Sat. (10 a.m.) Brunch (8 p.m.) American Beauty
Sun. 10 a.m. Brunch
Tindall Road Brewing Co.
102 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown
(609) 526-8651 
Thurs. 6 p.m. Wicked Sweet Cake Night
Sat. 1 p.m. Pop-Up Event: The Wandery: A Traveling Book Shop
Tues. 7 p.m. Karaoke w/ Missy
Tir Na Nog 
1324 Hamilton Avenue Trenton 
(609) 392-2554
Sun. 3 p.m. "Irish Sessions" 
All Shows 21+
Trenton Social
449 South Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-7777
Thurs. 5 p.m. "Happy Hour Throwback Thursday
Sat. 9 p.m. Live Music (TBA)
Mon. 6 p.m. "Monday Night Karaoke" Hosted by Sweets
Trinity Church
33 Mercer Street Princeton
(609) 924-2277
Thurs. 7 p.m. Princeton Symphony Orchestra w/ Maestro Rossen Milanov Presents "Brahms Piano Quartet Number 1 in G Minor, Op. 25
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
Sat. 8 p.m. Luca and the Leftovers
Triumph Brewing Company (Princeton Location)
20 Pamer Square east Princeton 
(609) 924-7855
Fri. 5 p.m. Private Label Trio
Sat. 5 p.m. Parker Cheek Quartet
Vault Brewing Company
10 South Main Street Yardley, PA 
(267) 573-4291
Fri. 7 p.m. Dave Posmontier Trio
Sat. 7 p.m. Shiretones
Village Idiot Brewing Company
42 High Street Mount Holly
(609) 975-9270 
Thurs. 7 p.m. Trivia
West Windsor Arts Center/Nassau Park Pavilion
952 Alexander Road Princeton 
Sun. 4 p.m. Hysteria! Or, They Came Through the Air
Whitehill Mansion
217 Fourth Street Fieldsboro
Sat. (11 a.m.) Kid's Ghost Hunt. $20 (Parent and 1 kid / $30 Parent and 2 Kids) (5 p.m.) Trunk or Treat / Movie Night: "Hocus Pocus"
Working Dog Winery
610 Windsor Perrineville Road Hightstown
(609) 371-6000
Thurs. 4 p.m. Open Mic Night Hosted by Kevin McGowan
Fri. 4:30 p.m. Rich Cassenti
Sat. (10 a.m.) Halloween Wine Glass Luminaries (1 p.m.) Rave On 
Sun. 1 p.m. Rob Silvers
WWFM 89.1 FM HD2 Radio
MCCC Old Trenton Road West Windsor
Jazzon2.org
Mon. 7 a.m./7 p.m. "Danny Coleman's Got The Blues"


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.

 

COLUMNS


This Week in Music: Previews for Concerts from October 21-27, 2025

Here is a look at shows taking place from October 21-27, 2025 along with our featured listings and a look at some upcoming shows. New Jersey Stage offers previews of concerts throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas.




Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Pumpkin Man" by Greg Amici




Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites...10/16/25




This Week in Music: Previews for Concerts from October 16-20, 2025






 

MORE NEWS

(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents JC Cole on Friday, October 24, 2025. Billy Penn & The Inside Drivers will open the night. Doors are at 7:00pm, showtime is 7:30pm.


The Landis Theater presents Halloween Night show with Alice Cooper and Type O Negative tribute bands




Four Sticks - The Music of Led Zeppelin to Perform at Drew University




WXPN presents Jillith Fair - Loving Jill Sobule at The Fallser Club




KC and the Sunshine Band LIVE! at STNJ






 

UPCOMING SHOWS


Tony Tedesco & Friends at Belmar Arts Center

(BELMAR, NJ) -- "Are you going to write about the show?" I was asked at the Belmar Arts Center. To be honest, I hadn’t gone to the show planning to write about it. The show was billed as "Tony Tedesco & Friends" and featured Tony with Keith Monacchio and Lou Montesano - three guys you might have been able to see each week at The Saint 20 years ago.


The Wag presents Annual Halloween Spectacular Shows




The Marquee Club in the Spotlight Cabaret at bergenPAC




Cousin Brucie Presents The Rascals LIVE! at PNC Bank Arts Center






Advertise with The Penguin Rocks for $50-$100 per month, click here for info




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