(NEWTON, NJ) -- On Friday, August 15, 2025, The Newton Theatre presents Asleep at the Wheel. For over fifty years, Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson has been traversing the globe as an ambassador of Western swing music and introducing its irresistible sound to generation after generation. More than 100 musicians have passed through the Wheel, but Benson remains the front man and the keeper of the vision, in the process racking up more than 30 albums, ten Grammy awards and literally millions of miles on the road.
“I’m the reason it’s still together, but the reason it’s popular is because we’ve had the greatest singers and players,” Benson explains. “When someone joins the band, I say, ‘Learn everything that’s ever been done, then put your own stamp on it.’ I love to hear how they interpret what we do. I’m just a singer and a songwriter, and a pretty good guitar player, but my best talent is convincing people to jump on board and play this music.”
Asleep at the Wheel has collaborated on records with genre-spanning friends, including Willie Nelson on 2009’s Grammy Nominated Willie and the Wheel and other critically acclaimed artists, including Brad Paisley, Jamey Johnson, Merle Haggard, George Strait, the Avett Brothers, Amos Lee, Old Crow Medicine Show and Lyle Lovett on Still the King, their 2015 critically acclaimed and Grammy winning tribute to Bob Wills. On their latest release, Half A Hundred Years, Asleep At The Wheel continued their contributions to the American music landscape when three original members of Asleep at the Wheel—Chris O’Connell, Leroy Preston, and Lucky Oceans—returned after 40 years to lend their voices and musicianship to a number of tracks on the album along with Emmylou Harris, Lee Ann Womack, George Strait, Lyle Lovett and Willie Nelson.
Tickets range from $52.50 - $80 and available for purchase online. The Newton Theatre is located at 234 Spring Street in Newton, New Jersey. Doors are at 7:00pm, showtime is 8:00pm.
Asleep at the Wheel represents an important cornerstone of American roots music, even though some of its members and audiences represent a new generation. That far-reaching appeal remains a testament to Benson’s initial vision.
“It took me 60 years, but I’m doing what I’m meant to do—singing and playing and writing better than I ever have. A bandleader is just someone who gathers people around them to play the best music they can play. I just try and make the best decisions possible and kick some ass every night onstage.”
The Newton Theatre was founded in 1924. It is a beautifully restored 605 seat performing arts center in the heart of Sussex County, presenting diverse programming, including world-renowned music acts, comedians, family productions, holiday shows and much more.
"Reese Wynans, I came to know him when he joined Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble and then after Stevie Ray Vaughn was killed, he played with a lot of people but for the last few years he's primarily toured with Joe Bonamassa. He's an amazing keyboard player and a super guy. I didn't know him prior to working on this record but my friend Mark Prentice who produced it with me suggested we bring him in and it was a perfect call."
Jacob Tremont has made a name for himself in the indie underground, known for his cinematic songwriting and raw, poetic voice. With a style that blends '90s alt-rock, modern folk, and lo-fi elements, Tremont's sound is often likened to icons like Elliott Smith, Bright Eyes, and Pavement. As a regular figure in New York and New Jersey's DIY music scenes, he's built a reputation for his emotionally resonant songs and captivating live performances.
The Princeton Festival was first founded in 2004, beginning its inaugural season in 2005 with four performances of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd in the Kirby Theatre at the Lawrenceville School and a performance by the Concordia Chamber Players. It has since grown to a nearly month-long event featuring opera, musical theater, baroque and chamber music, and a constantly evolving selection of other genres, including dance, world music, orchestral pops, and choral concerts.
Images used on this site have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and PR firms. If there is a problem with the rights to any image, please contact us and we will look into the matter.
