Live music in Essex County, NJ

At The Feast of St Gerard, this freestyle celebration highlights the genre’s legends and the classic tracks that shaped its prime. The set draws on signature hits associated with Exposé, Stevie B, TKA, The Covergirls, George Lamond, Johnny O, Cynthia, Coro, Lisa Lisa and Noel, creating a dance-focused atmosphere that honors a beloved era.

At New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Patti Smith returns to her home state for an evening of songs and stories as part of the Dodge Poetry Festival. Recognized as a pioneering poet of punk, her impact for more than five decades spans literature, music, visual art, politics, and global culture. She has written many books, including the National Book Award winning Just Kids. Her landmark 1975 album Horses has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress. Her honors include France's Legion of Honour, Sweden's Polar Prize, and the PEN Literary Service Award.

At New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Danny Simmons presents a Def Poetry Reunion for the Dodge Poetry Festival, honoring the legacy of the HBO series Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam. The event brings together celebrated alumni with live music and a spirit of activism to pay tribute to influential poets. It offers a welcoming celebration of language, with flowing wordplay, vivid imagery, and the vibrant energy associated with Def Poetry.

Ringside Pub hosts Emo Night with It's Not A Phase Mom, a celebration of 2000s emo, alt, and pop punk. The music draws from favorites like Blink 182, Paramore, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday, All American Rejects, Avril Lavigne, Good Charlotte, and more.

My Hero Academia in Concert transforms the world of the anime into a live music experience at New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. A 15-piece band performs Yuki Hayashi’s signature score while vivid scenes from across the series appear in sync, tracing the story from Deku’s early steps to high-stakes battles. Spanning eight seasons, the performance highlights courage, heartbreak, and hard-won victories, creating an immersive journey through the moments that define the saga.