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.
Here is a look at shows taking place from April 7-13, 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.
(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) will celebrate its 20th Anniversary on Friday, June 12, 2026 with Gala 20: Featuring Max Weinberg's Jukebox — a venue-wide celebration from 5:00pm–11:00pm.
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey proudly presents The Sound Studio Series, an immersive musical experience that places concertgoers at the very heart of the performance. Held in STNJ's intimate Studio space, limited to just 80 attendees, The Sound Studio Series features a dynamic mix of both classical and rock performances. Each concert concludes with an exclusive post-show meet-and-greet with the artists, offering fans a rare opportunity to connect directly with the performers. Tickets for the series are $20-$30.