Artists Around The World Join Together For Special Version Of "Peace Train"

Legendary Singer-Songwriter, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and celebrated humanitarian Yusuf / Cat Stevens has teamed up with Playing For Change, the multimedia company responsible for the popular “Songs Around The World” video series, to produce “Peace Train'' around the world with more than 25 musicians from 12 countries. Featured musicians include five time Grammy Award winning blues/americana artist Keb’ Mo’, Grammy nominated Senegalese artist Baaba Maal, and Silkroad’s Rhiannon Giddens, also a Grammy Award winner. The video was released on September 21st in honor of the International Day of Peace.

---

Westrick Music Academy Now Enrolling for Fall Choirs & Classes

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Westrick Music Academy (WMA), home of Princeton Girlchoir (PGC) and Princeton Boychoir (PBC), is currently enrolling youth in grades 1 and 2 for their Poco Voce Choir, which will explore new and engaging ways to build and strengthen young musicianship skills. This non-auditioned music class explores the young singer’s voice. During each session, children will focus on tone development and fundamental musical skills through fun and engaging games and activities. The Poco Voce Choir is the perfect opportunity for young musicians to develop their singing voice and musicianship skills. Poco Voce Choir will be every Wednesday from September 29 - December 1. 

---

Chris Isaak To Play Count Basie Center for the Arts On November 30th

(RED BANK, NJ) -- The Count Basie Center for the Arts presents Chris Isaak on Tuesday, November 30 at 8:00pm. In the course of Isaak’s career, he has released nine extraordinary albums, twelve singles, been nominated for two Grammy awards, acted in several motion pictures and starred in his own critically acclaimed TV series. Tickets range from $29 to $79.

---

Brian Fallon To Release "Night Divine"

Brian Fallon has announced a very special new album comprised of his recordings of classic hymns. Night Divine, produced and recorded by Fallon himself, arrives on November 5 via Lesser Known Records/Thirty Tigers. The album is available for pre-order now. To herald its arrival, Fallon shares the first single and album opener, “The Virgin Mary Had One Son.” Soulful and spirited vocals glide over lithely picked acoustic guitar and add another dimension to the original composition.

---

Engelbert Humperdinck Returns To MPAC On October 6th

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Beloved crooner Engelbert Humperdinck returns to the stage at Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) on Wednesday, October 6 at 7:30pm. In a career spanning over 50 years, Engelbert has generated sales in excess of 140 million records, including 64 gold albums and 35 platinum, four Grammy nominations, a Golden Globe, and stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Las Vegas Walk of Fame, and Leicester Walk of Fame. Tickets range from $49-$89. 

“Jamming with The Coda Band Featuring The Chiclettes!” Vinnie Medugno LIVE! at the PNC Bank Arts Center

It’s a gorgeous Thursday, Sept. 8, 2021 afternoon at Holmdel, NJ’s PNC Bank Arts Center. As we make our way up to the spacious amphitheater, music lovers are already lining up for an afternoon concert by Vinnie Medugno featuring The Chiclettes and The Coda Band.

---

Makin Waves with The Foes of Fern: 'So Much Fun'

Holmdel-raised Matt “Fern” Fernicola and his creative partner in crime, Joe “Pom” Pomarico have been a fixture on the Asbury Park music scene since 2015 with the Berklee College of Music-originated Airacuda, and then Pom’s brainchild, Telegraph Hill Records. A veteran guitarist of such acts as The Burns, Bar/None recording artist Little Hag (aka former Telegraph act Avery Mandeville), and current Telegraph acts Natalie Farrell and Lake Champagne, Fern also now fronts his own mammoth, contagiously fun band The Foes of Fern.

---

October Events at MPAC

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) in Morristown features a robust lineup of classic pop, contemporary and rock in October as it continues its return to full capacity events. The lineup includes show by 38 Special; Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo; Christopher Cross; Engelbert Humperdinck; Kenny Loggins; Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone and The Grass Roots;Mary Chapin Carpenter, Marc Cohn, and Shawn Colvin; Brian Wilson; The Marshall Tucker Band and Outlaws; Josh Gates;Rain (Beatles tribute); Indigo Girls; ABBA the Concert; Judy Collins; Paul Anka; Collective Soul, Better Than Ezra & Tonic; and Dead On Live.

---

An Interview with John Pizzarelli, Who Stars with Catherine Russell in “Billie and Blue Eyes” at Toms River’s Grunin Center on Sept. 26

Grammy Award-winning guitarist/singer/producer John Pizzarelli stars with Grammy-winning vocalist Catherine Russell in Billie & Blue Eyes on Sept. 26, 2021 at 7pm at Toms River, NJ’s Grunin Center for the Arts. Spotlight Central recently caught up with Pizzarelli to talk with him about his musical family, his work with such musical icons as Paul McCartney and James Taylor, in addition to his upcoming tribute to Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra, Billie & Blue Eyes, at Toms River’s Grunin Center.

---

Recap and Photos from 2021 Shadow of the City Festival

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Jack Antonoff’s annual New Jersey music festival, Shadow of the City, made its triumphant return this weekend at The Stone Pony Summer Stage to the delight of a roaring sold-out crowd, most of whom had been holding their tickets for nearly two and a half years. After the festival’s multiple postponements due to the pandemic, Antonoff’s band Bleachers took the stage on Saturday night and were ready to, well… “Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night”– the title of the band’s third studio album, released this past July. It’s safe to say their mission was accomplished. The only tears shed were tears of joy, as the band powered through an exuberant 25-song set.