Here is a look at shows taking place from September 29 to October 5, 2026 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. Click on the title to go to the full preview. Jump to Featured Events, Event Previews, Event Listings, Coming Soon.
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Thursday, October 1 - MPAC presents The Commodores. (MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) presents The Commodores on Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 7:30pm. One of the greatest Motown and R&B / funk artists of all time, The Commodores have influenced artists both young and old, and in all genres with their classic songs.
Thursday, October 1 - CarteretPAC presents Lonestar. (CARTERET, NJ) -- The Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center presents Lonestar on Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 8:00pm. Lonestar is a celebrated American country music group that captured global attention with their timeless ballad "Amazed," a crossover sensation that spent 9 weeks at No. 1 on the country charts and 2 weeks at No. 1 on the pop charts.
Friday, October 2 - State Theatre New Jersey presents Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band. (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band as part of the Ledbetter Heights 30th Anniversary Tour on Friday, October 2, 2026 at 7:30pm. Tickets start at $52.
Friday, October 2 - The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Laura Mann and Ben Arnold. (TUCKERTON, NJ) -- The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Laura Mann and Ben Arnold on Friday, October 2, 2026 at 7:30pm. These are two artists with strong roots in the Philadelphia music scene.
Friday, October 2 - John Pizzarelli presents "Dear Mr. Bennett" at Grunin Center. (TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Grammy Award-winning producer and guitarist extraordinaire, John Pizzarelli presents "Dear Mr. Bennett" at Grunin Center for the Arts on Friday, October 2, 2026. See John salute the legendary Tony Bennett and celebrate over 60 years of unparalleled artistry. Showtime is 7:00pm.
Saturday, October 3 - CarteretPAC presents W.A.S.P. with "1984 to Headless" Tour. (CARTERET, NJ) -- W.A.S.P. brings its "1984 To Headless" Fall North American Tour to the Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 8:00pm. The band will pay tribute to their 1st Four Albums... Live! The lineup includes Special Guest KK's Priest.
Sunday, October 4 - State Theatre presents Samara Joy & Her Septet. (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents six-time Grammy® Award winner Samara Joy & Her Septet on Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 7:00pm. Samara Joy has emerged as one of the most captivating new voices in jazz, bringing a fresh perspective to a beloved tradition. With a sound that feels both rooted in history and uniquely her own, she has quickly drawn the attention of audiences and critics alike.
Wednesday, September 30 - Riverview Jazz Presents Three Free Concerts in Jersey City This Week. (JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Riverview Jazz will present three free concerts in Jersey City parks this week, bringing a diverse lineup of salsa, Latin jazz, big band, world music, classical and gypsy jazz to outdoor spaces throughout the city.
Thursday, October 1 - Mason Gross School of the Arts presents AJAYE in concert. (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Mason Gross School of the Arts is set to host a live concert by Nashville-based acoustic singer-songwriter AJAYE on Thursday, October 1, 2026 from from 7:30pm to 9:00pm. The free concert of original music, which will also include a short performance by a Rutgers music student, singer-songwriter Sam Tunkel, will take place at the intimate Victoria J. Mastrobuono Theater, part of the Mason Gross Performing Arts Center on the Douglass Campus.
Friday, October 2 - Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie presents Joe Zook and Blues Deluxe. (TRENTON, NJ) -- Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie invites area music lovers to rock out to the sounds of Joe Zook and Blues Deluxe when the popular band takes the stage Saturday, October 2, 2026. Doors will open at 6:00pm for the 6:30pm to 9:00pm show. Transformed into a blues club with cafe seating, Trenton City Museum will set the stage for not only great music, but great food and beverages, too, which are included with reservations.
Friday, October 2 - The Doobie Brothers play Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena. (ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena presents The Doobie Brothers: Walk This Road Tour on Friday, October 2, 2026 at 8:00pm. A limited number of tickets are still available for the Grammy Award-winning, Platinum-selling, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame legends.
Friday, October 2 - Phish to Play Three Nights at Boardwalk Hall. (ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Phish is playing three nights at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City from October 2-4, 2026. While Saturday night's show is sold out, tickets remain for the other two shows.
Friday, October 2 - The Wellmont Theater presents Switchfoot. (MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- The Wellmont Theater presents Switchfoot on Friday, October 2, 2026 at 8:00pm. The band has spent nearly three decades cementing their place as one of alternative rock's most enduring and impactful acts. Anberlin will open the night.
Friday, October 2 - Classic rock comes to the Broadway Theatre of Pitman this weekend. (PITMAN, NJ) -- Classic rock comes to the Broadway Theatre of Pitman this weekend with performances by Crazy Train - America's Ozzy Tribute on Friday and Separate Ways, a Tribute to Journey on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Both shows start at 8:00pm.
Saturday, October 3 - JAMTOBERFEST '26 to Take Place in Flanders. (ROXBURY TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- As summer winds down and the warm, crisp air of autumn arrives, New Jersey music fans will have one more chance to gather outdoors for a full day of live jam-band music, food, dancing and community. JAMTOBERFEST '26 takes place Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the Swim & Sport Club in Flanders, NJ. Gates open at 12:00pm, with music beginning at 1:00pm.
Saturday, October 3 - Brick Library to present "Garden State Homegrown: A Tribute to New Jersey Musicians". (BRICK, NJ) -- New Jersey has been the home to many musicians who made it big. Join Gerard and Diane Barros for "Garden State Homegrown: A Tribute to New Jersey Musicians" on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at the Brick Branch of the Ocean County Library. The event begins at 2:00pm.
Saturday, October 3 - Music Box at the Borgata presents Micky Dolenz - 60 Years of The Monkees. (ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Music Box at the Borgata presents Micky Dolenz - 60 Years of The Monkees on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 8:00pm.
Saturday, October 3 - Jamtoberfest '26 takes place October 3rd in Flanders. (FLANDERS, NJ) -- On Saturday, October 3, Jamtoberfest '26 takes over the Swim & Sport Club in Flanders for an all-day outdoor concert celebrating the music, energy, and spirit of the Allman Brothers Band, Grateful Dead, Phish, and the jam-band scene.
Saturday, October 3 - Evil Genius to Celebrate 15 years in Philly with Fishtown Music Festival. (PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Evil Genius Beer Company celebrates 15 years of very silly names and very serious beers - and a brand that was built on celebrating nostalgia - with a giant, all-day, all-ages block party taking over Fishtown. Evil Genius 15th Anniversary Music Festival will debut on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 11:00am to 10:00pm, from Cecil B. Moore to Palmer Street on Front Street and from Front Street to Blair Street on Palmer Street. Headlined by 2000s alt-rock legends, Wheatus ("Teenage Dirtbag"), the giant block party will feature ten hours of live music, food and drink from around the neighborhood, two exclusive beer releases, and an outdoor market with nearly 50 local vendors, artists and makers. The fido and family friendly party is no charge and open to the public, with food and drink pay as you go.
Saturday, October 3 - Stone Pony Summer Stage presents Rise Against with Alkaline Trio. (ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Summer may be over but The Stone Pony Summer Stage isn't done yet. On Saturday, October 3, 2026, the stage hosts Rise Against with Alkaline Trio and Teen Mortgage. Gates open at 5:30pm; showtime is 6:30pm.
Sunday, October 4 - Wharton Performing Arts School Faculty Recital Comes to Plainfield. (PLAINFIELD, NJ) -- Music lovers are invited to experience the artistry of the Wharton Performing Arts School (PAS) faculty at a free Faculty Recital on Sunday, October 4, 2026 at the Plainfield Performing Arts Center (724 Park Avenue) in Plainfield. Showtime is 3:00pm.
Sunday, October 4 - 'Where East Meets West' brings acclaimed sitar and tabla virtuoso, Ustad Shafaat Khan, to Centenary Stage Company. (HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company will welcome internationally acclaimed Indian classical musician Ustad Shafaat Khan to the Kutz Theatre at the Lackland Performing Arts Center on Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 2:00pm.
Click on the date for more information or to purchase tickets to the show.
Wednesday, September 30 @ 7:30pm - Maria Muldaur With Pianist Bruce Katz at Lizzie Rose Music Room, 217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton. Few artists have traveled as many musical roads—or done so with as much authenticity—as Maria Muldaur. Best known for her Grammy-nominated 1974 hit “Midnight at the Oasis,” Muldaur's remarkable career spans more than six decades and encompasses blues, folk, gospel, jazz, jug band music, R&B, and Americana. Emerging from the vibrant Greenwich Village folk scene of the early 1960s, she performed with the Even Dozen Jug Band and the Jim Kweskin Jug Band before launching a successful solo career.
Thursday, October 1 @ 7:30pm - The Commodores at Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC), 100 South Street, Morristown
Thursday, October 1 @ 8:00pm - Lonestar at Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center, 46 Washington Ave, Carteret
Friday, October 2 @ 7:00pm - John Pizzarelli presents “Dear Mr. Bennett” at Grunin Center - Main Stage, 1 College Drive, Toms River
Friday, October 2 @ 7:30pm - Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick
Friday, October 2 @ 7:30pm - Laura Mann & Ben Arnold at Lizzie Rose Music Room, 217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton
Friday, October 2 @ 8:00pm - Graham Nash – Live on Tour 2026 at Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC), 100 South Street, Morristown. Graham Nash will perform a career-spanning retrospective of his six decades of contributions to contemporary music. Joined by Todd Caldwell (keyboards), Adam Minkoff (bass, drums, guitar, and vocals), and Zack Djanikian (guitar, bass, drums, and vocals), Nash will take the audience on a musical journey that encompasses his years with The Hollies, CSN, CSNY, and his beloved solo efforts.
Saturday, October 3 @ 10:00am - Milk & Cookies Series: Fiesta with Flor at State Theatre Studio, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. Fiesta with Flor is a vibrant, high-energy celebration of global music, culture, and community! Grammy® and Latin Grammy® nominee Flor Bromley invites audiences of all ages to sing, dance, move, and celebrate together through irresistible rhythms, joyful songs, and interactive storytelling. Inspired by the rich musical traditions of Latin America, the show creates a welcoming, dynamic experience where everyone is part of the fiesta.
Saturday, October 3 @ 12:00pm - Milk & Cookies Series: Fiesta with Flor at State Theatre Studio, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick
Saturday, October 3 @ 7:30pm - Popa Chubby at Lizzie Rose Music Room, 217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton. Popa Chubby has been hard rocking the blues in his fierce and soulful way for more than 30 years. Over the course of a career that dates back to 1994, he has been a force to be reckoned with on the guitar, and his tempestuous, soulful playing has never been more powerful. An imposing figure with a shaved head, tattooed arms, a goatee and a performance style he describes as “the Stooges meets Buddy Guy, Motörhead meets Muddy Waters, and Jimi Hendrix meets Robert Johnson," Popa Chubby is an endearing character who is one of the genre’s most popular figures.
Saturday, October 3 @ 8:00pm - W.A.S.P. 1984 to HEADLESS at Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center, 46 Washington Ave, Carteret.
Sunday, October 4 @ 3:00pm - Patriot Songs of the American Revolution at Grunin Center - Main Stage, 1 College Drive, Toms River. Musician and historian Bobby Horton combines storytelling, musicianship, history, and a genuine love for the people who settled this nation, fought for our future, and created a new nation in Patriot Songs of the American Revolution.
Sunday, October 4 @ 3:00pm - The Stylistics - An Unforgettable Night of Soul at Kean Stage - Wilkins Theatre, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union. The lights dim, the anticipation rises, and then—like a wave of pure soul—The Stylistics take the stage! With the legendary Herb Murrell and Airrion Love, joined by the electrifying Jason Sharp, the crowd erupts in applause, knowing they are about to experience a night of timeless R&B magic.
Sunday, October 4 @ 3:00pm - Leonia Chamber Musicians present Schubert Fest! at Presbyterian Church in Leonia, 181 Fort Lee Road, Leonia. Edgar Girtain Trio No. 1; F. Schubert "Shepherd on the Rock"; F. Schubert "Trout" Quintet in A major, D. 667; with guest artists: Melissa Fogarty (soprano), Junah Chung (viola) & Deb Spohnheier, (double bass). Admission is free, suggested donation.
Sunday, October 4 @ 7:30pm - Ellis Paul at Lizzie Rose Music Room, 217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton. Ellis Paul doesn’t just write songs; he’s a guitar-carrying reporter who covers the human condition and details the hopes, loves, losses of those he observes, turning their stories into luminous pieces of music that get under your skin and into your bloodstream. And much like the artists who have influenced him, everyone from Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Paul Simon to the singer-songwriter who is undoubtedly his greatest inspiration, Woody Guthrie, Paul weaves deeply personal experiences with social issues and renders them as provocative works that are as timely as they are timeless.
The Strand Center for the Arts presents The Bob Band on October 9th (LAKEWOOD, NJ) -- The Bob Band comes to The Strand Center for the Arts on Friday, October 9, 2026. The band is a group of veteran musicians based in Washington, D.C. dedicated to capturing the vibe, spirit and arrangement of Bob Dylan's original recordings. Showtime is 8:00pm.
SOPAC presents Willie Nile's Jukebox on October 9th (SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) presents Willie Nile's Jukebox on Friday, October 9, 2026 at 7:30pm. For one night, Willie is throwing open the jukebox — pulling rarities, deep cuts, and the songs fans always ask for into a single, career-spanning set. ** Note: This show was rescheduled from September 26th due to the weather.
Adelphi Orchestra to Open 73rd Season with "American Voices at 250" in Fair Lawn (FAIR LAWN, NJ) -- The Adelphi Orchestra, Northern New Jersey's longest continuously performing chamber orchestra, will open its landmark 73rd consecutive concert season with "American Voices at 250." Led by Principal Conductor Kyunghun Kim, the program commemorates America's Semiquincentennial alongside the 200th anniversary legacy of Ludwig van Beethoven.
The Newton Theatre presents SoulShine - An Allman Brothers Experience on October 10th (NEWTON, NJ) -- The Newton Theatre presents SoulShine - An Allman Brothers Experience on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at 8:00pm. SoulShine is a group of seasoned New York musicians who, through their mutual love of the Allman Brothers Band, have united for the sole purpose of bringing you the ultimate Allman Brothers experience.
Lace and Lee Find Their Sound Through Friendship, Storytelling and a Little Bit of Magic Indie-folk duo Lace and Lee are in the middle of another run supporting Five For Fighting while preparing for the release of their debut EP, Mirror Mirror, due November 27, 2026.
South Jersey Jazz Society presents 2026 Jazz@ThePoint Festival in October (SOMERS POINT, NJ) -- The South Jersey Jazz Society will present its annual Jazz@ThePoint festival from October 15–17, 2026, bringing three days of world-class jazz, history and celebration to Somers Point. This year's festival, themed "Red, White & Louis," honors the 250th anniversary of the U.S.A. while celebrating the music and legacy of one of America's most influential and beloved musical artists Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, the internationally famous jazz trumpeter, bandleader and singer known for songs like "What a Wonderful World," "Hello, Dolly!," "Star Dust," and "La Vie En Rose."
State Theatre New Jersey presents their annual Classical Season Celebration on October 15th (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey celebrates the power of classical performance with the annual Classical Season Celebration on Thursday, October 15, 2026. This year's event will take place in STNJ's intimate Studio space with a performance featuring internationally acclaimed violinist Christina Bouey and award-winning pianist Yoon Lee entirely lit by candlelight.
BlowUpRadio.com's Perennial Benefit Webathon For The Spondylitis Association Of America To Air October 16th-18th (SOUTH AMBOY, NJ) -- New Jersey internet radio station BlowUpRadio.com - Where NJ Rock Lives, announces its 19th annual Banding Together Webathon to benefit the Spondylitis Association Of America. Taking place Friday October 16th through Sunday October 18, 2026, on their internet radio station. Over forty 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.
Anthony Nelson to Headline 6th Annual ROCC FEST - From Praise to Presence (NEWARK, NJ) -- The Roseville Outreach Community Corporation presents the 6th Annual ROCC FEST - From Praise to Presence jazz gospel concert on Saturday, October 17, 2026 at the Roseville Church in Newark. The event begins at 6:00pm and is headlined by Anthony Nelson.
There are multiple performances including:
Saturday, October 17, 2026
@ 2:00pm
Algonquin Arts Theatre
Manasquan, NJ
Saturday, October 17, 2026
@ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
Tuckerton, NJ
Saturday, October 17, 2026
@ 8:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center
Carteret, NJ
Saturday, October 17, 2026
@ 8:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
Rahway, NJ
There are multiple performances including:
Saturday, October 17, 2026
@ 2:00pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theatre)
Princeton, NJ
