Willie Nile is a singer-songwriter born and raised in Buffalo, New York who moved to NYC when he started playing music professionally. His songs today are the musical embodiment of the city - gritty and creative; sometimes optimistic, sometimes depressing.
His first record came out in 1980, but it was the records from 2006 on that caught my attention. Record after record seemed to be classics. It's rare to see an artist have 10 straight great albums, but Willie has been in an incredible groove.
His song "One Guitar" from "The Innocent Ones" album has become something of the Light of Day anthem as a finale type song with all of the artists performing it on stage together.
Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at new releases by Des & the Swagmatics, Bamberdost, Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves, Jonny Couch, Sean Henry Tonight!, and Ava LaMonte. Plus a look back at "Duluth" by Particle Zoo.
(FORKED RIVER, NJ) -- In honor of Patriot Day, the Lacey Branch of the Ocean County Library will host "The Soundtrack of Resilience: Music and 9/11" on Thursday, September 10, 2026. The event begins at 2:00pm.
(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.
