New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Hero" by Dina Hall


By Bob Makin

originally published: 08/08/2025

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “Hero” by Dina Hall. PHOTO BY TINA PASTOR

​​​​​​Sayreville-raised, Bethlehem, Pa.-based singer-songwriter-guitarist-percussionist Dina Hall has been working hard in support of her recent debut album, "Firefly."

The dream-inspired track “Hero” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.

As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Hero” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Aug. 8 on “Radio Jersey at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin and Mixcloud.

“I woke up from a vivid dream very early one morning, and knew that there was something powerful happening in my subconscious,” Dina said. “In the dream, I found myself in a large house that I didn't recognize. It was dark outside and there were many rooms, but no lights on in the house. Suddenly, I saw someone I recognized behind a large glass wall. This was someone that I loved very much, but had been estranged from over a year. The main point of the whole dream is that this was their teenage self, and yet they are an adult now. In the dream, I ran all through the house, up and down stairs, inside and outside, but could never reach them, before I woke up. That morning, I immediately started on the song and it just flowed out of me. Words, music, all complete within an hour or so. It was incredible.”




Promote your shows at New Jersey Stage! Click here for info



Joining Dina on the track are bassist Nick Franclik, drummer Josh Kanusky, Hammond B-3 organist Andrew Portz, and guitarists And Killcoyne, Rameen Shayegan and Jay Lapp.

A dynamic Americana blend of folk, rock, and blues, the album was produced, recorded and mixed by Todd Schied at Red Rock Recording in Stroudsburg, Pa.

Hear “Hero” and the rest of the album”Firefly” live when Dina plays Aug. 8, Beneduce Vineyards, Pittstown; Aug. 9, Musikfest, Bethlehem; Aug. 15, Appalachian Mountain Club, Blairstown; Aug. 16, Lost Tavern, Hellertown, Pa.; Aug. 17 and Sept. 1 and Oct. 31, Stone Farm Cellars, Center Valley, Pa.; Aug. 22, SURV, Bethlehem; Aug. 23, Yergey Brewing, Emmaus, Pa.; Aug. 24, Daryl’s House, Pawling, N.Y.; Aug. 29 and Sept. 26, The Hub, Lake Harmony, Pa.; Aug. 30, Hotel Bethlehem; Aug. 31, Sept. 19 and Oct. 25, Stone Farm 46, Easton, Pa.; Sept. 5,  Bucks County Brewery, Pipersville, Pa.; Sept. 6, Hopewell Valley Vineyards; Sept. 12 and Oct. 19, Brothers Kershner, Skippack, Pa.; Sept. 20, Mr. Lee’s, Bethlehem; Sept. 27, Lost Tavern, Hellertown, Pa.; Sept. 28, Phoenixville First, Phoenixville, Pa.; Oct. 24, Riegelsville Inn, Riegelsville, Pa., and Oct. 27, Sumneytown Hotel, Sumneytown, Pa.

She’ll also play with her full band Oct. 12 during Oktoberfest at SteelStacks in Bethlehem.

Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].



New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.




Promote your shows at New Jersey Stage! Click here for info




 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Blowupradio.com

Blowupradio.com Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Supersized Annual Benefit Webathon For The Spondylitis Association Of America

(SOUTH AMBOY, NJ) -- New Jersey internet radio station BlowUpRadio.com - Where NJ Rock Lives, announces its 18th annual Banding Together Webathon to benefit the Spondylitis Association Of America. Taking place for a full week, Thursday October 16 through Wednesday October 22, 2025, on their internet radio station. Ninety acts from New Jersey and all over the globe will perform half hour performances, as they raise money to fund research and provide the programs and services to help the community suffering from this debilitating disease.



bergenPAC

bergenPAC presents Hanson

(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) presents Hanson on Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 7:00pm. Over their first 28 years as the band Hanson, brothers Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson have made a significant mark in music.



Monmouth

Monmouth String Quartet presents Stranger Strings: A Ghostlight Concert

(LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- Monmouth String Quartet presents Stranger Strings: A Ghostlight Concert at The Whitechapel Projects on Thursday, October 23, 2025. Step into the shadows this Halloween and experience the eerie beauty of music like never before. Performances take place at 6:00pm & 8:00pm.



The

The Levoy Theatre presents Phil Vassar

(MILLVILLE, NJ) -- The Levoy Theatre presents Phil Vassar - 25 Years of Paradise on Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 7:00pm. He's celebrating the 25th anniversary of his breakout hit "Just Another Day in Paradise" with this tour.



The

The Newton Theatre presents Shaun Cassidy

(NEWTON, NJ) -- Shaun Cassidy will bring his The Road to Us tour to The Newton Theatre on Friday, October 24, 2025. Cassidy is an American writer, producer, actor and singer. Doors are at 7:00pm; showtime is 8:00pm.





FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Aaron

Aaron Lewis and the Stateliners: American As It Gets Tour

Wednesday, October 22, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 

New

New Jersey Symphony: Disney’s Fantasia in Concert

Thursday, October 23, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music


 

Classical

Classical Season Celebration

Thursday, October 23, 2025 @ 7:00pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: music


 

Hanson

Hanson

Thursday, October 23, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music


 

An

An Intimate Evening with Priscilla Presley

Friday, October 24, 2025 @ 8:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts Center
46 Washington Ave, Carteret, NJ 07008
category: music