Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 08/02/2025
(MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ) -- The Middlesex County Jazz Festival will, for the third year in a row, present four free Jazz concerts in four Middlesex County towns, September 24-28, 2025. The producing organizations include the Borough of Carteret; the Metuchen Arts Council along with the Friends of Metuchen Arts; the New Brunswick Jazz Project; and Woodbridge Arts. This year’s offerings spotlight women in jazz as well as several of the towns excellent high school music programs. An important mission of MCJF is to promote music education.
Woodbridge Arts will open the MCJF Festival on Wednesday, September 24 at Parker Press Park starting at 7:00pm. The Woodbridge High School Jazz Choir, under the direction of Lisa Romero, start things off. Next up that evening are the Brass Queens, a 10 piece band with an all female horn section, whose sound is deeply inspired by the music of New Orleans mixed with the flair of modern pop. Elizabeth Bougerol of The Hot Sardines headlines the evening with her vocal stylings of the early 20th century jazz.
Moving to Friday, September 26, Carteret will present the Jazz vocalist, bandleader and on-air radio host at WBGO, Lezlie Harrison at the Carteret Performing Arts Center at 45 Washington Street in Carteret. As a vocalist, Ms. Harrison has long captivated audiences with her distinctive style and heartfelt delivery. Her role as a curator and presenter at jazz radio station WBGO informs the breath and caliber of the music she performs.
On Saturday, September 27 the Festival moves to Metuchen where the Metuchen Arts Council and the Friends of Metuchen will present a full evening’s entertainment starting at 5:30pm with a collaborative performance featuring the Metuchen High School Jazz Combo and the Metuchen Dance Center followed by the Metuchen High School Jazz Collective and Orchestra directed by John Messenger. At 7:00pm the AAPI Collective led by trombonist Peter Lin takes the stage followed by Sherrie Maricle and the 15 member, all female swing band, DIVA Jazz Orchestra. The Metuchen event takes place indoors in the newly refurbished Metuchen High School auditorium located at 400 Gove Avenue in Metuchen.
On Sunday, September 29, the Festival finishes up in New Brunswick where the New Brunswick Jazz Project will provide a lively afternoon on Livingston Avenue in front of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center starting at 1:00pm with Mike Noordzy and the Rutgers Alumni Jazz Orchestra, followed by the renowned jazz vocalist Antoinette Montague. The afternoon is capped off with Conrad Herwig Latin Side All-Stars.
All Middlesex County Jazz Festival concerts are free and accessible. For concert details and up-to-date weather and performance related announcements visit www.middlesexcountyjazzfestival.com.
Grant funding for the Festival has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund.
FULL CONCERT SCHEDULE
Woodbridge – Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at Parker Press Park, 400 Rahway Avenue in downtown Woodbridge
7:00pm – Woodbridge High School Jaz Choir
7:30pm – Brass Queens
8:30pm – Elizabeth Bougerol (of The Hot Sardines)
Carteret – Friday, September 26, 2025 at the Carteret Performing Arts Center, 46 Washington Street, Carteret
7:00pm – Lezlie Harrison
Metuchen – Saturday, September 27, 2025 at Metuchen High School, 400 Grove Avenue, Metuchen
5:30pm – Metuchen Dance Center + Metuchen High School Jazz Combo
6:00pm – Metuchen High School Jazz Ensemble and Orchestra
7:00pm – AAPI Jazz Collective with Peter Lin
8:15pm – Sherrie Maricle and the Diva Jazz Orchestra
New Brunswick – Sunday, September 28, 2025 at Livingston Avenue in front of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center
1:00pm – 1:45pm – Mike Noordzy & the Rutgers Alumni Jazz Orchestra
2:15pm – 3:30pm – Antoinette Montague
4:00pm – 5:30pm – Conrad Herwig Latin Side All Stars
EVENT PREVIEWS
State Theatre New Jersey presents Buddy Guy
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents Buddy Guy on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 8:00pm. At nearly 90 years old, Buddy Guy remains a singular force in American music. Fresh off earning his ninth Grammy® Award in 2026 for Best Traditional Blues Album (Ain't Done with the Blues), the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and one of the last living architects of electric blues will celebrate a historic milestone with the Buddy Guy 90 Tour, featuring select headline performances across North America in 2026.
TOTALLY TUBULAR FESTIVAL 80s New Wave Tour Comes to Atlantic City on August 8th
(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Tour organizers for the acclaimed 80's New Wave tour TOTALLY TUBULAR FESTIVAL have announced a line-up change due to the unfortunate cancellation of The Motels. Bow Wow Wow will replace The Motels for some shows and Men Without Hats will replace The Motels for others. The tour comes to the Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena on Saturday, August 8, 2026. The tour's colorful lineup also features Thomas Dolby & The Lost Toy People, A Flock Of Seagulls, The Producers, Animotion, The Escape Club, and Tommy Tutone.
State Theatre New Jersey presents Buddy Guy on August 8th
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents the legendary Buddy Guy on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 8:00pm. Guy won his 9th career Grammy Award for 2025's Ain't Done With The Blues. Limited tickets remain.
The Vogel presents Early Elton Trio on Saturday
(RED BANK, NJ) -- The Vogel presents Early Elton Trio on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 7:30pm. This is a Tribute to the Elton John, Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson Trio Tours of 1970 – 1972 featuring Jeff Kazee (Southside Johnny + The Asbury Jukes), Rich Pagano (The Fab Faux) and John Conte (Southside Johnny + The Asbury Jukes).
Albert Music Hall presents Pineystock on Sunday
(WARETOWN, NJ) -- Albert Music Hall will be filled with peace, pickin' and harmonies on Sunday, August 9, 2026 as Pineystock returns for a "far out" afternoon celebrating the sounds and spirit of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Todd Rundgren to perform shows in Englewood, Ocean City, and Red Bank in August
(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- Legendary producer/songwriter/guitarist Todd Rundgren is bringing his 2026 Damned If I Do Tour to the Garden Sate in August. He's got shows at bergenPAC in Englewood on August 8th; Ocean City Music Pier on August 11th; and Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank on August 12th.
The Newton Theatre presents Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives on August 12th
(NEWTON, NJ) -- The Newton Theatre presents Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 7:00pm. In a career spanning over 50 years, dozens of albums, and too many shows to count, Marty Stuart charts a course through new territory at every chance possible.
BoDeans - 40th Anniversary Tour comes to Newton Theatre in August
(NEWTON, NJ) -- BoDeans are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their critically acclaimed debut album, Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams, in 2026. In honor of the anniversary, the band has a special tour planned which comes to The Newton Theatre on Friday, August 14, 2026 at 8:00pm.
Music Box at the Borgata presents The Marshall Tucker Band on August 14th
(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Music Box at the Borgata presents The Marshall Tucker Band on Friday, August 14, 2026 at 7:30pm.
Christone "Kingfish" Ingram to Headline 2026 Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Christone "Kingfish" Ingram has been announced as the headliner for the 2026 Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival. The free festival will be held on Saturday, August 15th on the Green. The music begins at noon and runs until 10:00pm. The lineup also includes James Langton New York All-Star Big Band, Richard Baratta Gotham City Latin/Jazz Septet, LaBamba and the Hubcaps, and Dylan Triplett.
FEATURED EVENTS
