{"id":2455092,"date":"2026-06-11T18:57:45","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T18:57:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2455092"},"modified":"2026-06-11T18:57:45","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T18:57:45","slug":"top-15-nj-arts-events-of-the-week-north-to-shore-princeton-barefoot-country-music-festivals-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/top-15-nj-arts-events-of-the-week-north-to-shore-princeton-barefoot-country-music-festivals-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 15 NJ Arts Events of the Week: North to Shore, Princeton, Barefoot Country Music Festivals, more"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\t\t\t3<\/i><\/p>\n

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Janelle Mon\u00e1e will perform at NJPAC in Newark, June 17, as part of the North to Shore Festival.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Here is a roundup of major arts events taking place around New Jersey, through June 18.<\/p>\n

FESTIVALS<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 <\/strong>The fourth annual North to Shore Festival<\/strong> <\/a>\u2014 produced by NJPAC, and co-sponsored by The New Jersey Economic Development Authority \u2014 will last from from June 13 to June 28, with most of the shows in Newark and Asbury Park, though there are also three at the new ParkStage venue in Freehold. As usual, the bookings are very eclectic, and the size of the shows will range from huge to tiny.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the show\u2019s scheduled for the festival\u2019s first six days:<\/p>\n

June 13:<\/strong> \u201cClaypool Gold\u201d featuring Primus, Les Claypool\u2019s Frog Brigade & The Claypool Lennon Delirium at Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park.
June 13:<\/strong> Horse the Band at Asbury Lanes.
June 13:<\/strong> Brick City Comedy Revue with Kyle Grooms, Rae Sanni, John Moses at Newark Culture Club.
June 14:<\/strong> Brian Fallon & the Painkillers at Stone Pony, Asbury Park.
June 14:<\/strong> Leanna Firestone at The Baronet at Asbury Hotel.
June 15:<\/strong> Malibu, The Extensions, Blush at Wonder Bar, Asbury Park.
June 16:<\/strong> Hot Mulligan, Joyce Manor, Saturdays at Your Place, Koyo at Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park.
June 16:<\/strong> Sed\u2019s House of Blues at Allettante Restaurant, Newark.
June 17:<\/strong> Janelle Monae at Prudential Hall at NJPAC, Newark.
June 17:<\/strong> Lila Ik\u00e9 at House of Independents, Asbury Park.
June 17:<\/strong> Luke Combs UK (tribute show) at Stone Pony, Asbury Park.
June 17:<\/strong> The Antoinette Montague Experience, \u201cHere\u2019s to the Ladies Who Swing and Bling\u201d at Newark Culture Club.
June 17:<\/strong> Bad Cop Bad Cop, Pretty Bitter at Wonder Bar, Asbury Park.
June 18:<\/strong> Secondhand Serenade, Every Avenue at House of Independents, Asbury Park.
June 18:<\/strong> Ren\u00e9 Vaca at Prudential Hall NJPAC, Newark.
June 18:<\/strong> Eric D\u2019Alessandro at Victoria Theater at NJPAC, Newark.
June 18:<\/strong> Surfing for Daisy at Stone Pony, Asbury Park.
June 18:<\/strong> Eddie 9V at Wonder Bar, Asbury Park.
June 18:<\/strong> Yawn Mower, Black Flamingos at Baronet Rooftop at Asbury Hotel.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Michael and Kevin Bacon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2022 <\/strong>The Princeton Festival<\/strong><\/a>, which started on June 5 and continues through June 21, is offering a variety of pop, classical, dance and family events in a tented pavilion at Morven Museum & Garden, and other venues.<\/p>\n

Here are the remaining events. Everything is at Morven Museum & Garden, unless otherwise noted.<\/p>\n

June 11 <\/strong>at Trinity Church: Twelfth Night Ensemble, performing Vivaldi\u2019s The Four Seasons<\/em> and other works by Vivaldi, Pietro Locatelli, Ancangelo Corelli and Francesco Durante.
June 11 <\/strong>at Princeton Garden Theatre: \u201cFootloose\u201d screening, in anticipation of The Bacon Brothers\u2019 June 20 concert. (Kevin Bacon co-stars in the film.)
June 12 and 14:<\/strong> Puccini\u2019s \u201cMadama Butterfly,\u201d featuring Toni Marie Palmertree as Cio-Cio-San and Victor Starsky as Pinkerton, with Rossen Milanov conducting The Princeton Symphony Orchestra.
June 13:<\/strong> Queen Nation, Queen tribute
June 14:<\/strong> Yoga in the Garden with live music
June 18:<\/strong> Time for Three (singer-violinists Nick Kendall and Charles Yang, singer-bassist Ranaan Meyer)
June 19:<\/strong> Juneteenth Community Celebration
June 19:<\/strong> Rochelle Ellis, talk on \u201cJazz and the Civil Rights Movement\u201d
June 19:<\/strong> \u201cGreat Ladies of Jazz\u201d featuring Capathia Jenkins and Aisha de Haas singing the songs of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday and others, with Lucas Waldin conducting The Princeton Symphony Orchestra
June
June 20:<\/strong> The Bacon Brothers (Michael and Kevin Bacon)
June 21:<\/strong> \u201cAmerica at 250!\u201d family event, with storytelling, educational talks and more
June 21:<\/strong> \u201cAmerican Fanfare\u201d with singer with Julie Benko and Rossen Milanov conducting the Princeton Symphony Orchestra<\/p>\n

\"2026<\/p>\n

ERIC CHURCH<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2022 <\/strong>The sixth annual Barefoot Country Music Fest<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 New Jersey\u2019s biggest annual country event \u2014 will take place June 18-21, on three stages on the beach in Wildwood, with headliners including including Miranda Lambert (June 18), Kelsea Ballerini (June 19), Post Malone (June 20) and Eric Church (June 21).<\/p>\n

Other performers will include Shaboozey, Tucker Wetmore, Cole Swindell, Ty Myers, Chase Rice, The Fray, Tracy Lawrence, Chase Matthew, Hank Azaria & the EZ Street Band (performing a Bruce Springsteen tribute) and Williams Honor.<\/p>\n

MUSIC<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> Josh Groban<\/strong> will perform, with Jennifer Hudson featured as a \u201cspecial guest,\u201d at the Centennial Gala fundraiser for The Count Basie Center for the Arts<\/a> in Red Bank, June 13 at 8 p.m. The two are on tour together this summer, and this is their only currently scheduled New Jersey appearance.<\/p>\n

The Basie is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year; the building began life in 1926 as Reade\u2019s Carlton Theater.<\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg will present one of his Max Weinberg\u2019s Jukebox<\/strong> shows in the Twilight Concert Series<\/a> at Jack Curtis Stadium at Cooper River Park in Pennsauken, June 11 at 8 p.m. In these shows, Weinberg and other musicians play classic rock songs \u2014 by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who and others, including, possibly, Bruce Springsteen \u2014 that are requested by audience members.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Max Weinberg\u2019s Jukebox<\/strong> will also perform at The South Orange Performing Arts Center<\/a>\u2018s \u201cGala 20,\u201d June 12. The event will begin with a cocktail hour at 5 p.m., followed by a dinner emceed by comedian Liz Glazer at 6 p.m., the band\u2019s performance at 8 p.m., and an afterparty featuring singer Rebecca Covington Webber<\/strong> at 9:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

\u2022 <\/strong>The San Francisco-based Telegraph Quartet<\/strong> (violinists Eric Chin and Joseph Maile, violist Pei-Ling Lin and cellist Jeremiah Shaw) is known for performing both standard chamber music material and more contemporary works, and will do just that in their concert in the Back Deck series at The Morris Museum<\/a> in Morris Township, June 11 at 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

The concert will feature Claude Debussy\u2019s 1893 String Quartet in G minor, Op. 10, as well as Eleanor Alberga\u2019s 2001 String Quartet No. 3, and a string quartet arrangement of Jerome Kern\u2019s Great American Songbook standard, \u201cThe Way You Look Tonight,\u201d famously crooned by Fred Astaire and others.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

BEN FOLDS<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2022 Ben Folds<\/strong> \u2014 the rock singer-songwriter and Ben Folds Five frontman who has also branched out, at times, to orchestral and chamber-pop music \u2014 will perform with New Jersey Symphony<\/a> (conducted by Edwin Outwater) at Prudential Hall at NJPAC in Nesark, June 13 at 7:30 p.m.; and The State Theatre in New Brunswick, June 14 at 2 p.m.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Les Claypool\u2019s Claypool Gold Tour<\/strong>, featuring three of his bands \u2014 Primus, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, and Les Claypool\u2019s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade \u2014 will come to The Stone Pony Summer Stage<\/a> in Asbury Park, June 13 at 6 p.m., as part of the North to Shore Festival (see above<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Primus, formed more than 40 years ago, will feature bassist-vocalist Claypool along with guitarist Larry LaLonde and drummer John Hoffman.<\/p>\n

Claypool and Sean Ono Lennon will perform with different sets of other musicians in Les Claypool\u2019s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade \u2014 which has had various different lineups since its initial incarnation in 2000 \u2014 and the more recent side project The Claypool Lennon Delirium, which has released two full-length albums as well as an EP and a new song, \u201cWAP (What a Predicament),\u201d that you can listen to, below.<\/p>\n

\u2022 <\/strong>The Brazilian musician Sergio Mendes died in 2024, at the age of 83, but his S\u00e9rgio Mendes Band <\/strong>\u2014 featuring longtime members such as singer Gracinha Leporace (his widow), drummer L\u00e9o Costa, bassist Andre de Santanna and guitarist Kleber Jorge \u2014 is continuing to play his music, and will be at The Mayo Performing Arts Center<\/a> in Morristown, June 11 at 7:30 p.m.; and BergenPAC<\/a> in Englewood, June 14 at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

HERNDON LACKEY<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

THEATER<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 <\/strong>The Bell Theater<\/a> at Bell Works in Holmdel will present \u201cWe\u2019ll Meet Again,\u201d<\/strong> described as \u201cA New American Musical,\u201d June 18-21 and 24-28. The play is about Henry Stern, a Jewish boy whose family escapes from Germany shortly before the start of World War II, and settles in Alabama. For decades, he then searches for other family members who survived the Holocaust.<\/p>\n

The musical\u2019s score includes traditional Jewish songs as well as popular American songs from the \u201930s and \u201940s, including \u201cBoogie Woogie Bugle Boy,\u201d \u201cThe House I Live In\u201d and \u201cI\u2019ll Be Seeing You.\u201d<\/p>\n

Herndon Lackey \u2014 whose many Broadway credits include \u201cLes Mis\u00e9rables,\u201d \u201cParade,\u201d \u201cLoveMusik\u201d and \u201cInherit the Wind\u201d \u2014 will play the adult Henry.<\/p>\n

\u2022 <\/strong>The annual Plays-in-the-Park<\/a> series at The Stephen J. Capestro Theater at Roosevelt Park in Edison will present \u201cAll Shook Up,\u201d<\/strong> June 17-20 and 22-27 at 8 p.m. This jukebox musical features songs associated with Elvis Presley, and its plot was inspired by Shakespearean comedies including \u201cTwelfth Night,\u201d \u201cAs You Like It\u201d and \u201cMuch Ado About Nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

FILM<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> Lloyd Kaufman, co-founder of Troma Entertainment and the director of Troma films such as \u201cThe Toxic Avenger,\u201d will participate in a \u201cTroma Entertainment Retrospective\u201d<\/strong> hosted by Kevin Smith at Smith\u2019s SModcastle Cinemas<\/a> in Atlantic Highlands, June 14 at 4 p.m. Smith and Kaufman will discuss and Troma\u2019s history and show clips.<\/p>\n

Also, SModcastle Cinemas will screen \u201cThe Toxic Avenger\u201d<\/strong> itself, June 14 at 1:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

JOE CIROTTI<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> The Sustainably Green Music & Arts Fest<\/a><\/strong>\u2014 being presented by The Washington Business Improvement District and the Washington Borough Green Team, June 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Downtown Washington (Warren County) \u2014 will offer exhibits, vendors, activities for children, and music by Riot Season, at 10:30 a.m.; Joe Cirotti\u2019s Gyspy Jazz Band, at 12:30 p.m.; and BBD Rhythm & Blues (featuring singer-bassist James \u201cJB\u201d Barnes), at 2:30.<\/p>\n

Click HERE<\/a> to read a recent NJArts.net feature on Cirotti.<\/p>\n

\u2022 <\/strong>The New Jersey-based Discovery Orchestra <\/strong>\u2014 which, in its own words, \u201cteaches the listening skills that help people deeply connect<\/em> with classical music\u201d \u2014 will perform George Gershwin\u2019s monumental, jazz-influenced Rhapsody in Blue<\/em> at The Kasser Theater at Montclair State University, June 14 at 3 p.m., and the show will be taped for its seventh public television special. George Marriner Maull will conduct, and discuss the work, and Clayton Stephenson will be featured on piano.<\/p>\n

There is no admission charge, but tickets must be reserved in advance at discoveryorchestra.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

_____________________________<\/p>\n

REVIEWS<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThings I Remember,\u201d<\/a> <\/strong>works by Leandro Comrie at Guttenberg Arts. (Through June 20)<\/p>\n

\u201cAlexandra Schoenberg: Shifting Perspectives\u201d<\/a> <\/strong>at Hillside Square Gallery, Montclair. (Through June 26)<\/p>\n

\u201cWillem de Kooning: The Breakthrough Years, 1945\u201350\u201d<\/a><\/strong> at Princeton University Art Museum. (Through July 26)<\/p>\n

\u201cAllan Rohan Crite: Neighborhood\u201d<\/strong><\/a> at Zimmerli Art Museum, New Brunswick. (Through July 31)<\/p>\n

\u201cHenri Matisse: Beyond Color\u201d<\/strong><\/a> at Morris Museum, Morris Township. (Through Aug. 9)<\/p>\n

\u201cSalvador Jim\u00e9nez-Flores: Ra\u00edces & Resistencias\u201d<\/a> <\/strong>at Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton. (Through Aug. 1, 2027)<\/p>\n

_____________________________<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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CONTRIBUTE TO NJARTS.NET<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since launching in September 2014, NJArts.net, a 501(c)(3) organization, has become one of the most important media outlets for the Garden State arts scene. And it has always offered its content without a subscription fee, or a paywall. Its continued existence depends on support from members of that scene, and the state\u2019s arts lovers. Please consider making a contribution of any amount <\/strong>to NJArts.net via PayPal, or by sending a check made out to NJArts.net to 11 Skytop Terrace, Montclair, NJ 07043.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.njarts.net \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

3 Janelle Mon\u00e1e will perform at NJPAC in Newark, June 17, as part of the North to Shore Festival. Here is a roundup of major arts events taking place around New Jersey, through June 18. FESTIVALS \u2022 The fourth annual North to Shore Festival \u2014 produced by NJPAC, and co-sponsored by The New Jersey Economic […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2455093,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2455092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Top-15-NJ-Arts-Events-of-the-Week-North-to.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2455092","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2455092"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2455092\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2455094,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2455092\/revisions\/2455094"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2455093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2455092"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2455092"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2455092"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}