The Papermill Playhouse’s production of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel The Great Gatsby is a must-see for fans of the book and theater alike. The show is visually stunning, with lavish costumes and sets that transport the audience to the sights and sounds of the Jazz Age. The cast is top-notch, with each actor bringing their character to life in a memorable way. The show follows the story of Nick Carraway, a young man who moves to Long Island in the summer of 1922. Nick soon finds himself drawn into the glamorous world of his wealthy neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is a mysterious figure who ..read more

Cold Sholda is a Brooklyn-born Italian-American rapper who has been making waves in the hip hop scene for over a decade. With his unique sound and lyrical style, Cold Sholda has quickly become one of the most popular and respected rappers out of Brooklyn. Cold Sholda released his debut album, “Fire Starta” in 2014.  His 2021 record “CAESAR” was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to establish Cold Sholda as one of the leading voices in the Brooklyn hip hop scene. Cold Sholda has released several more albums including “Bensonhusrt,” “Hungry” and “Well Connected.” In addition t ..read more

Home of famed music stars like Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill, Bruce Springsteen, My Chemical Romance, and many more, New Jersey seems to produce talent after talent in the music industry. But they all started somewhere. NJ is also home to a great many local music scenes, which helped boost these artists into the mainstream. Here’s a list of some of NJ’s biggest music scenes. New Brunswick   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by The Black Lodge (@theblacklodge.nb) College campuses tend to create hubs for people with common interests. New Brunswick, with its ..read more

Demi Lovato, Karol G, Måneskin, and Stray Kids are amongst the star-studded talent set to take the stage LIVE at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) on Tuesday, September 12 at 8:00 p.m. Hosted at New Jersey’s Prudential Center for a second year in a row, the current lineup features veteran performers alongside historic first-time appearances by some of music’s hottest stars. 2023 VMAs: The Lineup Demi Lovato | Photo courtesy of Prudential Center Veteran to the VMA stage, 14x nominee Demi Lovato returns for an electrifying performance for the first time in six years. Her past VMA appearan ..read more

Established as the largest free jazz festival in the greater NYC area and one of the most prominent in the country, Montclair, NJ is celebrating its 14th annual Jazz Festival with a grand finale celebration on Saturday, September 9, 2023. From 1-9 p.m., the vibrant city will transform into a music haven, jam-packed with five stages stretching down the streets of Lackawanna Plaza, a wide variety of 150 food and artisan vendors, and soulful live music performed by some of jazz’s most respected artists. Montclair is no stranger to swing as it has a rich history dating back to the 1920s. During th ..read more

“A Japanese festival you experience in America,” reads a flyer on the Mitsuwa New Jersey Twitter. On Saturday, Mitsuwa Marketplace in Edgewater is hosting a Japanese-style summer festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Every August, the Garden State’s largest Japanese shopping center brings a slice of Japanese food, music, and life to the Hudson River. Mitsuwa Summer Festival, August 12th Saturday Start from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. pic.twitter.com/0THMyTdPiJ — Mitsuwa New Jersey (@Mitsuwa_NJ) July 25, 2023 An Overview of Japanese Festivals Summer festivals are referred to as natsumatsuri in Japanese. Trad ..read more

Afro Beat Fest will finally make its much-anticipated return after a four-year hiatus. The free event is to be held on July 15 at Military Park in Newark and aims to close the gap between the Garden State and Africa with the largest celebration of African culture ever seen in New Jersey. The day will be filled with Afrobeat artists, traditional African fare, a market spearheaded by the city’s black-owned businesses and much more, all centered around the idea of celebrating Africa and its many cultural specialties.  “Afro Beat Fest has become a beloved and iconic event in our city and stat ..read more

The Paper Mill Playhouse’s recent production of the iconic musical “Rent” delivers an electrifying revival that captures the raw energy and poignant themes of the original while infusing it with a fresh and contemporary spirit. Directed by a visionary team and brought to life by an incredibly talented cast, this rendition of “Rent” is a testament to the enduring power of Jonathan Larson’s masterpiece. From the moment the curtain rises, the audience is immersed in the gritty world of New York City’s East Village in the 1990s. The set design, with its industrial scaffolding and graffiti-covered ..read more

American music executive Anthony Martini of E-Town Concrete—a hardcore band from Elizabeth, NJ—has filed a lawsuit against the promoter of New Jersey’s Bamboozle festival. He claims that the promoter, Bamboozle Festival LLC and John D’Esposito, failed to repay a loan of $500,000 with an additional 20% interest, totaling $630,000. Martini, who is now with Royalty Exchange, seeks to retrieve the money via the legal system. This is yet another setback for the festival, which was canceled just a week before it was scheduled to return to the shore on May 5 due to a denied permit by Atlantic City.&n ..read more

Born and raised in Howell, NJ, artist Tony Newbury has steadily climbed the ranks of New Jersey’s music scene, from hosting a concert at a local firehouse, to winning showcase competitions, to his latest performance, a headlining show in Brooklyn this past March. Blending hip-hop, alternative, and pop music, Newbury has amassed over 500,000 total streams across platforms. The sound of his productions are often upbeat and melodic, while his lyrics primarily focus on his Central Jersey upbringing and lofty aim of inspiring other people to realize their dreams.  Nicholas Lorenzo chose the s ..read more