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FEATURES

Makin Waves Top 10 Jersey Indie Albums of 2025

Here are the top 10 albums by New Jersey-based indie artists for 2025, according to Makin Waves.

 
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bergenPAC presents Darlene Love on Sunday

(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) presents Darlene Love, hailed by Rolling Stone Magazine as "one of the greatest singers of all time." She will bring her annual holiday show, Love For The Holidays, to Englewood on Sunday, December 21, 2025 at 7:00pm. Limited tickets remain.

Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center presents Country Icon Trace Adkins in September

(CARTERET, NJ) -- Multi-PLATINUM entertainer Trace Adkins will bring his 30th Anniversary Tour to the URSB Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center on Friday, September 18, 2026, for one night only. The show is part of Adkins' nationwide headline tour celebrating 30 years of chart-topping hits and powerhouse live performances. Showtime is 8:00pm.

Makin Waves Dirty Jersey Dozen 2025

Each year, Makin Waves picks the 12 independent New Jersey-based music acts who made the most waves. That means residing at least half the year in and paying income tax to New Jersey (and not just from here), extensive touring in support of a new original LP or EP, preferably internationally; professional quality narrative videos; singles that garnered broadcast and online radio play and significant streams; national press, and other awards. Note that the Dirty Jersey Dozen are presented in alphabetical order. To get a sense of pecking order, please check out the 27th Annual Makin Waves Awards

People Get Ready: A "Blues & Rock 'N' Roll Summit" is coming to Lizzie Rose Music Room featuring Glenn Alexander & Shadowland plus James JB Barnes & The JB Blues Band

(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- People Get Ready: A Blues and Rock 'N' Roll Summit is coming to Lizzie Rose Music Room, featuring a potent double-bill of New Jersey-based talent: rocker Glenn Alexander & Shadowland featuring Oria and the Asbury Jukes Horns; and some tasty original blues by James 'JB' Barnes and the JB Blues Band. The event takes place Friday, January 30, 2025 at 7:30pm.



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COLUMNS


Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 01/08/2026

"I'm good," began Jersey Shore area artist Danny Giovanna, "I was born and raised in Monmouth County, a wonderful place to grow up and so close to the shore, which is where so much of my story when I was younger started. I found myself going to Asbury Park, it was a way for me to get away from everything going on at home."




This Week in Music: Previews for Concerts from January 6-12, 2026




Makin Waves Song of the Week: "A New Year's Lullaby" by The New Bardots




Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 01/02/2026






 

MORE NEWS

Today we are highlighting the five time Grammy Award Nominated band, Roomful of Blues. First formed in 1967, the group touts an impressive tenure approaching almost sixty years in the industry. While some new faces have come and gone in that tenure, the eight-piece blues band is still going strong- most recently welcoming their first female singer, D.D. Bastos, to the octet.


Kean Stage presents Billy Ocean on April 2nd




The Jersey Four featuring Gerry Polci to Perform at Drew University




Centenary Stage Company presents the Six One Five Collective




Makin Waves with Greg Amici: Comeback of the Year






 

UPCOMING SHOWS


MPAC presents Yellow Brick Joel: The Tribute Concert

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) presents Yellow Brick Joel: The Tribute Concert on Thursday, January 8 and Friday, January 9, 2026 at 8:00pm each night. This incredible live show features David Clark, a masterful performer who brings Billy Joel's music to life, alongside Bill Connors, who channels the genius of Elton John in a way you've never seen before.


Lizzie Rose Music Room presents James Maddock




NJPAC presents Get the Led Out




The Landis Theater presents Obey Your Master - Metallica Tribute Band on January 10th






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