Rock and jazz listeners in NJ are doubly blessed, with both proximity to NYC—the world capital for jazz and arguably the primo city in the US for rock—and a wide array of quality venues here at home.

Rock Clubs

While most NJ rock venues skew toward the region’s suburban population (especially Boomers and Gen X’ers), the area is home to two cutting edge rock clubs:

White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, with a late-2021 bill that includes Waxahatchee, Luna, and Nada Surf.

Asbury Lanes, a bowling alley and music club in Asbury Park that in recent years has featured the Mountain Goats, Kurt Vile, and Phoebe Bridgers

An important piece of NJ rock history is Asbury Park’s Stone Pony, launching pad in the mid-1970s for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, who still play here regularly. Other Bruce Springsteen sidemen have led bands there over the years, and the Boss has made regular guest appearances. The club, and its outdoor Summer Stage, attract local and national acts such as Jason Mraz and Low Cut Connie. 

In rural western NJ near Hackettstown is The Stanhope House, which bills itself as The Last Great American Roadhouse. This long-established club features blues and other roots music, with acts such as Willie Nile, Popa Chubby, and Sam Bush.

Rock in Arenas and Concert Halls

Any rock-music lover in the region is within a half hour of at least one of the many concert venues that feature a mix of well-known acts ranging from oldies and tribute bands to big contemporary touring acts. The largest of these sites is MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands, with a 2021 calendar featuring Lady Gaga and Guns & Roses. The Prudential Center arena in Newark will host Justin Bieber’s 2022 tour, as well as The Weeknd. A long-standing, large outdoor venue, PNC Arts Center offers a very full calendar of summer shows ranging from established current bands like Dave Matthews to older acts like James Taylor and the Doobie Brothers.

Central and northern NJ have several medium-size venues that mostly host touring acts:  

NJ Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) is a beautiful theater in downtown Newark offering an impressive array of shows, including great touring dance companies. Its rock and pop offerings cater to an older crowd. Its 2022 calendar features The Chieftains, Frank Valli and the Four Seasons, and jazz singer Gregory Porter.  

Bergen PAC in Englewood has a 2022 bill featuring Boomer-oriented acts like Melissa Ethridge, Art Garfunkel, and Roger McGuinn.

Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank offers a very wide variety of talent in 2021 and 2022,  including Joan Jett, Cheap Trick, The Beach Boys, and Indigo Girls.

Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown has a 2021 and 2022 calendar that includes Ben Folds, Pat Benatar, Boyz II Men, and Judy Collins.

South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) is a smaller theater with great acoustics and acts that skew a bit more contemporary. Recent concerts have included Dar Williams, John Hiatt, Richard Thompson, and Hood/Cooley from Drive-By Truckers.

The volunteer-run Outpost in the Burbs mounts concerts at a church in Montclair. It offers a series of shows by Americana/contemporary folk artists as well as alt-rock bands. Upcoming shows include The Bongos, Robyn Hitchcock, Suzzy Roche, and Shawn Colvin.

Jazz

Although New Jersey is home to many of the world’s best jazz artists, it manages to support only a small number of modest jazz venues. Clubs that feature nationally known artists (plus local groups) include:

Shanghai Jazz in Madison is an upscale space serving up excellent Chinese food and very high-quality jazz—generally of a subdued nature. Their 2021 calendar includes guitarists Russell Malone and Dave Stryker.

Clement’s Place Jazz, a relatively new venue, is associated with the Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies. Shows here lean toward bebop/hard bop and have included artists such as Steve Wilson, Houston Person, and Bruce Williams.

Tavern on George in New Brunswick features jazz acts twice a week, sponsored by the New Brunswick Jazz Project. Past shows have featured Ravi Coltrane, Arturo O’Farrell, and Tia Fuller.

A very special one-day summer event is The Montclair Jazz Festival, a free outdoor concert produced by world-class bassist Christian McBride and his jazz-singer wife Melissa Walker. Recent highlights have included Kenny Barron, Joe Lovano, Betty LaVette, and Eddie Palmieri.