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Buddy Guy

Saturday, August 08, 2026 @ 8:00pm



State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Tickets run from $93 - $211

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At nearly 90 years old, Buddy Guy stands as one of the most influential guitarists in American music. As a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and a pioneer of Chicago’s explosive West Side sound, Buddy Guy remains a guiding force for generations of rock and blues legends. The eight-time Grammy®-winner has also earned a Lifetime Achievement Grammy®, 38 Blues Music Awards, the Billboard Century Award, the Presidential National Medal of Arts, and the Kennedy Center Honor. Rolling Stone ranks him #23 on its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time,” underscoring his unmatched impact on modern music.

Born in 1936 in Lettsworth, Louisiana, Guy built his first two-string guitar at age seven. His life changed in 1957 when he moved to Chicago, soon recording for Chess Records and collaborating with its legendary roster. His raw emotion, showmanship, and blistering guitar style reshaped the instrument’s possibilities and set a new standard for electric blues.

Guy’s visibility surged in the 2010s, highlighted by his 2012 Kennedy Center Honor and the release of his memoir When I Left Home. A run of acclaimed albums followed, including Born to Play GuitarThe Blues Is Alive and Well, which earned his eighth Grammy® in 2019; and The Blues Don’t Lie, his 2022 Billboard #1 Blues album. In 2021, PBS American Masters released Buddy Guy: The Blues Chase the Blues Away, cementing his status as both a historic figure and a cultural force.

In 2025, he released Ain’t Done With the Blues, produced by longtime collaborator Tom Hambridge and featuring The Blind Boys of Alabama, Peter Frampton, Joe Walsh, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and Joe Bonamassa. Its lead single, “How Blues Is That?” reaffirmed the grit, humor, and wisdom that define his late-career renaissance. As Buddy shared, “This album is about where I’ve been, it’s about where I’m going…before they passed, Muddy, Wolf, Walter, Sonny Boy, B.B.—they used to say, ‘If you outlive me, just keep the blues alive.’ And I’m trying to keep that promise.” Released on his 89th birthday, the album drew widespread acclaim, praising him as “masterful,” “vital,” and “one of the last of the great bluesmen still standing.” Around the same time, his appearance in Ryan Coogler’s blockbuster SINNERS introduced him to yet another new audience.

In recent years, Buddy announced his Damn Right Farewell Tour, although a step back from extensive touring, he has never stepped away from performing or recording. Now, as he celebrates his 90th year, Buddy Guy remains one of the last surviving architects of electric blues; A bridge from the fields of Louisiana to the clubs of Chicago to the world’s biggest stages. Whether creating new music, inspiring rising artists, or electrifying audiences with the fire that has defined him for seven decades, Buddy Guy continues to show that the blues not only lives, it thrives.

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EVENT PREVIEWS

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Mayo Performing Arts Center's Arts in the Community free summer concert schedule for 2026 has been announced. MPAC will present six free concerts between June and August. The lineup includes the return of three of their most popular events – Bollywood Dance Party, Country Line Dancing and Salsa at Sunset, as well as singer-songwriters, and more.



Classic

Classic American Tales' presents Tales at the Dormer House every Thursday

(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- From June 4 through October 15, 2026 (except for July 2), Classic American Tales (CAT) once more presents Tales at the Dormer House in which guests are treated to lemonade and tasty treats while listening to stories written by noteworthy authors, read by a variety of performers. The schedule is 4:00pm every Thursday at the historic Dormer House Bed and Breakfast (800 Columbia Avenue) in Cape May, NJ. Performances are on the front porch, weather permitting.



Princeton

Princeton Summer Theater presents "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Princeton Summer Theater's 2026 Children's Show is You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, which runs weekends from June 20 to August 1, 2026. A beloved musical since its premiere in 1967, Clark Gesner brings Charles M. Schulz's "PEANUTS" characters to the stage. The musical ventures through the highs and lows of young life, from baseball and homework to young love and friendship. With an empathetic and whimsical eye, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown reminds us of the importance of connection and joy.



2026-27

2026-27 Season Preview: Split Level Concerts at Jersey Shore Arts Center

(OCEAN GROVE, NJ) -- Split Level Concerts at the Jersey Shore Arts Center (JSAC) in Ocean Grove has announced the full concert lineup for its third season. All shows will take place beginning at 8:00pm in JSAC's Palaia Theater. The season lineup includes Willie Nile, John Gorka, Dan Bern, Catie Curtis and Band, Stephen Kellogg, Abbie Gardner, Heather Maloney and Band, and Kim Richey. As they have done in prior years, artists from the Asbury Park music scene will open many of the shows.



MPAC's

MPAC's Summer 2026 Preview

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- From the versatility of Tony winner Darren Criss, the comedy of Abbott Elementary's Janelle James and the nostalgic hits of the Grateful Dead, ABBA and more, Mayo Performing Arts Center's summer lineup features a diverse set of performances and events.












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This Week in Music

Here is a look at shows taking place this week 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