​​​​​​​Camden rapper Apollo Ali, the last grandson of heavyweight champion “Jersey” Joe Walcott, will be performing songs off his brand-new LP, “Don’t Bite,” on the Garden State Hip-Hop and Makin Waves Summer Rap ‘n’ Rock Tour. He honors his grandfather with a new single, “Champion Sound,” from his just-dropped LP, “Don’t Bite.” ... READ ON

Newark-based punk-rap band Sunny Gang will celebrate the release of their long-awaited EP, “American Carnage,” on June 21 at Asbury Park Brewery with Dusters, Nervous Triggers, Offtopkills and OhWon.... READ ON

In an effort to promote racial and musical harmony and unity, Garden State Hip-Hop and Makin Waves have organized the Summer Rap ‘n’ Rock Tour with a dozen rotating rap, rock and DJ acts playing seven dates in six Mid-Atlantic cities. Also featured this week are “Calling All Divas,” Mint 400 Records, classic Sounds of Asbury Park at the Stone Pony, The Vaughns, Shred Flinstone, Art All Night, Fan Jam, and Patricia Arroyo.... READ ON

In support of her new five-song EP, Christine Mitchell will play July 27 at the Chubby Pickle in Highlands.... READ ON

Never say die is a motto few bands live up to as intensely and successfully as New Brunswick-based Green Knuckle Material.  The band has been touring non-stop and will play four shows on the upcoming Garden State Hip Hop and Makin Waves Summer Rap ‘n’ Rock Tour.... READ ON

The Mrowicki Asbury Park music tradition continues with Stella, the sensational singer-songwriter daughter of legendary DJ Lee. As an audio-tech student at Rowan University, young Stella produced, recorded and mixed her self-titled debut album and performed all its instruments and vocals.... READ ON

In support of his third LP, “Predawn,” Asbury Park singer-songwriter Frank Lombardi will continue to play a weekly residency on Wednesdays at Asbury Park Yacht Club with Cranston Dean Band, featuring Rachel Ana Dobken on drums.  The record features Lombardi at his best. ARTWORK COURTESY OFAIRPLAY RECORDS... READ ON

Bob Makin takes a look at the latest releases by Little Vicious, Little Steve & the Disciples of Soul, and Mike Daley & the Planets in this month's Makin Waves Record Roundup.... READ ON

“Live Love” is a new Summer of Love live album co-produced by the Asbury Park-based national production’s promoter Tony Pallagrosi and band leader Glen Burtnik (“Beatlemania,” Cats on a Smooth Surface, Slaves of New Brunswick, Styx, The Weeklings). Also featured this week are 90.5 the Night, Monmouth Museum, Spirit of the Upstage Club Jam Session, The Cryptkeeper Five, The Vansaders, Northside Lounge, Houston & the Dirty Rats, Fourth Wave, Chemtrail, Reality Suite, Jon Caspi & the First Gun, Elephant Talk, After the Burn, Art All Night and the Brighton Bar.... READ ON

Green Knuckle Material, a hard-working groove-rock/hip-hop band with roots in North, Central and South Jersey, will celebrate the release of their new EP, a re-recording of three songs from their 2016 “Back to Your Roots” debut, and an accompanying comic book on May 25 at Debonair Music Hall with Jean Pool, Tula Vera and Olive & the Pitz.... READ ON