Hosted by Corey Harris, a MacArthur Grant recipient, and featuring renowned roots musicians Guy Davis and Alvin Youngblood Hart, True Blues chronicles the extraordinary living culture of the blues in an evening of music and conversation. In bringing the True Blues film to the concert stage, the True Blues concert vividly brings to life this crucial wellspring of American music.
Southside Johnny & The Poor Fools return to the Pollak Theatre for another riveting evening embarking on a stripped down journey through Johnny Lyon’s eclectic version of the Great American Songbook. Playing a wide range of music from Dylan, Mose Allison, Muddy Waters, NRBQ, Richard Thompson, Emmylou Harris, The Band, George Jones and more, The Poor Fools also dive into some of the Southside’s Asbury Jukes material–revisiting some classics as well as the underperformed deep tracks. In this incarnation, musicians such as Jeff Kazee, John Conte, Tommy Byrnes, and Neal “The Dude” Pawley join Johnny for singing, playing, and having some fun on stage. It will be a loose mix of songs, stories and banter between the musicians and–hopefully–the audience. Opening Act: Bob Burger. All ticket holders will receive a free autographed poster signed by the artists after the show.
Folk singer Ani DiFranco melds soul, funk, jazz, electronica and spoken word into her eclectic repertoire, which features the songs “Untouchable Face,” “32 Flavors” and “Wishin’ and Hopin’.” A Grammy-winning songwriter and collaborator, DiFranco has never stopped evolving, experimenting or pushing the limits of what can be said and sung, over the course of more than 20 albums. Her CDs include the live two-disc Living in Clip, the career retrospective Canon and her latest release, ¿Which Side Are You On? Opening the show will be renowned jazz violinist Jenny Scheinman, who has collaborated and played with artists like Norah Jones, Lou Reed, Aretha Franklin, Lucinda Williams and Bono.
Five-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter will appear at the Pollak Theatre this fall in an intimate, acoustic performance. The tour marks Carpenter’s return to singing both timeless hits and deep cuts from her expansive and beloved 13-album catalog after performing with orchestras in early 2014. Over the course of her career, Carpenter has sold over 13 million records. With hits like “Passionate Kisses” and “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” she has won five Grammy Awards (with 15 nominations), two CMA awards and two Academy of Country Music awards for her vocals. Her songs speak to the most personal of life’s details and the most universal. Opening the show will be Tift Merritt.
A wise man once said it’s better to burn out than fade away, and on Thanksgiving Day of 1976, one of the best live acts of the rock era went out in a blaze of glory.
Glen Burtnik, Salvatore Boyd, Bob Burger & Arne Wendt, performing as The Band. They will be joined on stage by a cast of artists, including Southside Johnny, Pat Guadagno, Bobby Banderia, Kate Taylor, Bruce Gassman, Frank Puggy DeRosa, Matt Wade, Stringbean Sorenson, Frank Lombardi, Anthony D’Amato, Emily Grove, Nick Foster, Tommy LaBella, Taylor Hope and more, to bring us on a musical journey back in time to the fall of 1976. Tickets on sale Mon. Oct. 6.
PLEASE NOTE: This concert will take place as scheduled.
There’s simply no better way to start the holiday season than to spend this special evening with Conductor Father Alphonse Stephenson as he provides humorous and personal anecdotes amidst a program of holiday classics and carols performed flawlessly by his 42-piece orchestra and distinguished vocalists. This well-established Christmas tradition is celebrating its 24th year at Monmouth University. Be sure to get your tickets early for this annual sell out!
This event is SOLD OUT – An evening of seasonal music for choir, orchestra, and handbells
performed in the majestic and festive atmosphere of Wilson Hall. The concert is conducted by Professor Michael Gillette and Dr. David M. Tripold and features the Colts Neck Reformed Church Exultation Ringers conducted by Maggie Tripold.
Throughout his long and distinguished career David Lindley has performed music that redefines the word “eclectic.” He founded and lead the first world music rock band, the Kaleidoscope, has collaborated with artists such as Jackson Browne, Henry Kaiser and Ry Cooder and is leader of his own band El Rayo-X, that integrates American roots music and world beat with a heavy reggae influence. Lindley has been one of Hollywood’s most in demand session musicians playing with Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, Linda Ronstadt, Crosby and Nash, Warren Zevon, and many others. His live performances incorporate an incredible array of stringed instruments into a unique concert experience. John Hammond, Jr. is one of a handful of white blues musicians who was on the scene at the beginning of the first blues renaissance of the mid-’60s. A Grammy winner whose 50-year career has seen successful collaborations with the likes of Tom Waits, Dr. John, Duane Allman, Robbie Robertson, and G. Love and who once boasted both Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix in his band; Hammond does justice to classic blues by combining powerful guitar and harmonica playing with expressive vocals and a dignified stage presence.
A former member of the Southern rock outfit Drive by Truckers, Jason Isbell’s solo career has seemed effortless, from Sirens of the Ditch (2007) to Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit (2009), through Here We Rest (2011) and last year’s Live From Alabama. He writes open -hearted songs full of storm and drama, bursting with personal truths, and echoing with the southern sound of his Alabama upbringing. Embracing his newfound sobriety, Isbell next produced an album of haunting atonement and redemption, the sparse and impressive Southeastern, which was a critical success and commercial breakthrough. Tickets on sale Friday, August 22 at 10 am.
