July Concert Calendar
Enjoy live music, lots of it is free
WEDNESDAYS
Gregory McLoughlin continues his Wednesday night Happy Hour concerts at Symposia Books (510 Washington St., Hoboken) from 5 to 7 p.m. Come for the music, stay to browse the shelves for fun finds in used books.
Church Square Park in Hoboken hosts free concerts with both original and cover bands every Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. July 2 - West African Drumming presented by Issyra Gallery; July 9 - The Demolition String Band; July 16 - Ben Butler Band; July 23 - Jersey Sound; and July 30 - Undercover.
West Side Arts & Music presents Music At The Fountain every other Wednesday through the summer. The free shows run from 7 to 9 p.m. at Lincoln Park, Jersey City.
July 2 - ALEOProductions presents The Steely Dan Engagement (classic rock tribute);
July 16 - Nikki & The Sky Rockets (indie rock); July 30 - The Statuary Presents: The Ted Chubb Quintet (contemporary jazz); August 13 - Big Lazy (instrumental blues, surf, jazz, and rockabilly)
GROOVE ON GROVE takes place every Wednesday (weather permitting) from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Grove Street PATH Plaza in Jersey City. Dancing Tony presents a mix of local and touring bands and sounds. Special show on Monday, July 7, due to 4th of July break: Mercury Brothers at 8, Allison Strong at 7, and Mike Slamer at 6 p.m.
Sunday, July 6
Jersey City’s Look of Love includes several scene veterans, including Ben Rubin (owner of JC Instrumental,) Reena Rock and Lara Savage. They’ll be at Gold Sounds (44 Wilson Ave., Brooklyn) on Sunday, July 6 with Julu Gray, Morgan Cole Brown, Hank Painter, and an act I haven’t heard yet (but I love the name anyway,) Danello, The Sad Surfer. Showtime is 7 p.m. and tickets are available here.
Thursday, July 10
There once was a Jersey City band called Ben Franklin. They were awesome. And Billy Gray from that band is now doing double duty in Bloody Your Hands and The Vibrant Colors. I haven’t heard either yet, and I haven’t seen Billy in years, but I plan to remedy that on July 10, when those two bands will do a mash-up set along with venerable Jersey rockers The Planes and Lukka at Bar Freda (801 Seneca Ave., Ridgewood.) Advance tickets are $12.67 here or $15 at the door, showtime is 8 p.m.
You might remember the name Common 2 from several mentions in my old Jersey Journal column. Originally a “bedroom” project by multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriter John Gallagher, it’s now expanded to a full band lineup. They’re headlining a bill with Ringwood NJ’s Quality Living, Project Diem, and Dear Tongue at the Cobra Club (6 Wyckoff Ave., Brooklyn) on Thursday, July 10. Admission is $10 and doors open at 7:30 p.m.
At Weehawken’s Lincoln Harbor Park, also on July 10, The Toomai String Quartet, an award-winning group of Julliard-trained musicians, will perform music from around the world, from Mozart to Duke Ellington to Latin, Cuban, and even Bluegrass. Showtime is 8 p.m. and admission is free.
If you’re looking for a good Brooklyn show on July 10, check out my old pals Cementhead, a catchy indie-rock combo that’s been on a roll of late. They’re playing with Karais James, Nino Mendoza, and Foxy Music NYC at Bridge & Tunnel Brewery (15-35 Decatur, Ridgewood) and for all you geezers or parents with kids at home, it’s a nice early 7:30 pm show
Friday, July 11
Friggin’ Fabulous Productions’ Nick Ciavatta is a great friend to local music and he’ll be celebrating his 60th birthday by performing at a fundraiser for the Jersey City Theatre Company (it’s their 20th anniversary too!) The show takes place at White Eagle Hall and will feature Nick’s band Sea of Otters, Sylvana Joyce & The Moment, Carol Lester, Beeman & Bannon, Dujuana Sherese, and Marty & Carmen. Tickets are $20 and showtime is 7 p.m. Advance tickets are available here.
Hoboken’s 3 Dollars is releasing a new EP today, and they’re celebrating with a hometown show at 801 Hudson St. with Little Slicer and Bitheru. Doors open at 7 and admission is on a sliding scale from $5-$10.
Wednesday, July 16
Weehawken’s Lincoln Harbor Park presents A Tribute To Django Reinhardt, recreating the stylings of the brilliant jazz guitarist with five internationally renowned interpreters of Reinhardt’s music, along with Anthony Hervey on trumpet and Alexis Cole on vocals. Showtime is 8 p.m. and admission is free.
Thursday, July 17
Geri Fallo & the City of Hoboken present Freedy Johnston and Karyn Kuhl & The Gang as part of the free Concerts in Sinatra Park series on Thursday, July 17 at 6:30 p.m. Freedy, an unofficial Hobokenite of long standing, will be backed by an all-star combo of familiar faces (Dave Schramm, Paul Moschella, and Jared Nickerson.) “Hoboken Jack” Silbert will emcee.
Saturday, July 19
The Lucky 7 Tavern Rock N Roll BBQ is always a highlight of the summer, with Coles Street next to Lucky 7’s closed off and filled with food vendors, a wading pool and games for the kids, and a stage curated (of course) by Dancing Tony. This year’s fete features Best Dressed Ghost, Shadow Monster, Strange Neighbors, Child Eater, KNWLDG, and Kief Shuvel. The fun runs from 2 to 9 p.m. and admission is free. Or you could catch the early part of the BBQ and then run over to White Eagle Hall for…
Folk-rock power trio The Fightscuffs and jazz fusioneers Wonder Collective take over Hoboken’s Symposia Bookstore (510 Washington St.) on Saturday, July 19. Doors open at 7 p.m. and advance tickets are available here or $12 at the door.
Sunday, July 20
Jersey City’s popular groove band Widely Grown presents a free concert at the North Cove Field stage of Liberty State Park on Sunday, July 20. Showtime is 6 to 8 p.m. and admission is free.
Thursday, July 24
Reese Van Riper - once described as the bastard son of Cab Calloway and Tom Waits - headlines a night at The Pet Shop (193 Newark Ave., Jersey City) with Fair Panic and Yawn Mower. Van Riper will be celebrating the release of his new EP, “The American Dream,” but this whole bill rocks: Fair Panic features violinist Tory Daines, and Yawn Mower just happens to be one of the best punk bands in the state. And it’s free, kicking off at 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 27
Weehawken’s Summer Concerts At Hamilton Plaza presents Two For The Road, featuring the vivacious Donna Coney Island, for an evening of “classic rock with a tinge of country.” Get there early to get a good seat! Showtime is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and admission is free to all ages.
Wednesday, July 30
The Latest Noise: Unplugged returns to Art House Productions (345 Marin Blvd, Jersey City) for its monthly showcase on Wednesday, July 17. July’s Unplugged features the Hoboken supergroup The Maybes (Dom and Jaime Della Fave, Jonathan Andrews, and Dave Calamoneri,) along with singer/songwriters Maidin and Lauren Rosato. Showtime is 8 p.m. and admission is $15 at the door. Advance tickets are available here.
Weehawken’s Lincoln Harbor Park presents keyboardist and bandleader Jeremy Beck’s Motown On The Hudson revue, with Broadway songstress Allison Semmes and The Platters’ Jovian Ford on vocals performing classic Motown hits. Showtime is 7 p.m. and admission is free.