JAMES MINCHIN III
Linkin Park (from left, Dave Farrell, Brad Delson, Joe Hahn, Emily Armstrong, Colin Brittain and Mike Shinoda) will perform at The Prudential Center in Newark, Aug. 3.
Here is a roundup of major arts events taking place around New Jersey, through Aug. 7.
MUSIC
• Chester Bennington’s 2017 death put a temporary end to Linkin Park. But the hard-rock band — whose major hits in the first decade of the century included “In the End,” “Numb” and “What I’ve Done” — reassembled in 2023, with Emily Armstrong of the band Dead Sara replacing him on lead vocals; rapper Mike Shinoda, guitarist Brad Delson, bassist Dave Farrell and DJ Joe Hahn returning; and Colin Brittain (who had previously played with Papa Roach, a Day to Remember and others) joining on drums. This new version of the group released an album, From Zero, last year.
Though Delson contributed to the album and is still considered a band member, Alex Feder is playing guitar on their From Zero World Tour, which started in September and will make its only New Jersey stop at The Prudential Center in Newark, Aug. 3 at 7:30 p.m., with PVRIS opening.
From left, Patrick Simmons, Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and John McFee of The Doobie Brothers.
• The Doobie Brothers — who released Walk This Road, their 16th studio album (and their first with full participation by Michael McDonald since 1980’s One Step Closer), this summer —will perform at The PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m.; and The Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. McDonald is participating in this tour, as are band co-founders Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons, and longtime member John McFee.
The Coral Reefer Band, Jimmy Buffett’s longtime backing band, will open both shows. Since Buffett’s death in 2023, they have continued to perform his songs under the leadership of guitarist Mac McAnally, with McAnally, Scotty Emerick, Will Kimbrough and others splitting lead vocals.
• The big-voiced singer-songwriter Nicole Atkins — who got her start on the Jersey Shore music scene but is now based in Nashville — will kick off the free Summer Concert Series presented by the borough of Matawan in its Terhune Park, Aug. 7.
Also coming up in the series are Saltwater Country, Aug. 14; Mission Dance, Aug. 21; and Steve Forbert, Aug. 28.
All shows are at 7 p.m., and lawn chairs or blankets are recommended.
• The Mexican group Cuarteto Latinoamericano — brothers Saúl and Arón Bitrán on violins and Álvaro Bitrán on cello, along with Javier Montiel on viola — will perform in the Back Deck series at The Morris Museum in Morris Township, Aug. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
The quartet, which has won two Latin Grammys in the Best Classical Album category, will perform works by Heitor Villa-Lobos, George Gershwin, Astor Piazzolla, Samuel Barber and Antonín Dvořák.
ZACK SMITH
Dayna Kurtz of Lulu & the Broadsides.
• Singer-songwriter Dayna Kurtz will bring her Lulu & the Broadsides side project to Parker Press Park in Woodbridge, Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m., for a free show in the Woodbridge Wednesdays series. Mary-Elaine Jenkins will open.
Kurtz is a New Jersey native who is now based in New Orleans. Explaining Lulu & the Broadsides’ music on her website daynakurtz.com, Kurtz says: “New Orleans music is for dancing. From King Oliver’s hot jazz to Big Freedia’s frantic bounce, whether the sounds are made for quick-stepping in a parade or swaying slow in your sweetheart’s arms, the common thread running through nearly all of it is that it’s made to move to: wiggle, shimmy, shake your hip and let your backbone slip.”
Listen to the group’s song “That’s a Pretty Good Love,” below.
• The Red Mill Museum Village in Clinton — the site of the now-defunct Black Potatoe Music Festival — will host the Soulstice Music and Arts Festival, Aug. 2-3, with a similar mix of rootsy rock ‘n’ roll. Performers will include The Jon Stickley Trio, Ain’t Sisters, Joe Cirotti Trio, C.C. Coletti Band, Latchkey Kids, Corduroy, The Adventures of Matt Black, Gabriie & Megan Chappius, Jarod Richardson (all Aug. 2); and Jimmy Leahey & the Grey Men Group; Diamond Eye Jack, Divided Sky, Caren Kennedy & Friends, Bryan Hansen Band, Blacksheep & the Wolf Criers, Fool Me Twice, Charlie Don’t Surf and Todd Sargent (all Aug. 3).
Other attractions will include yoga, breath work, food trucks, craft beer, local wine, vendors, and children’s activities. There will be no admission charge for children 12 and younger.
The festival is co-sponsored by the nearby Pattenburg House in Asbury, and will include late-night music by Larry Keel and the Jon Stickley Duo on Aug. 2.
WES ORSHOSKI
Bob Weir of Dead & Company, shown at The BB&T Pavilion in Camden in 2017.
• Dead & Company — featuring Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart, plus John Mayer and others — will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Dead’s 1965 formation with concerts at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Aug. 1-3. The Aug. 3 show, which will feature an opening set by The Trey Anastasio Band (and, in all probability, a guest appearance by Anastasio with Dead & Company), will be shown live at IMAX theaters across the country, including ones in Paramus and Manhattan, beginning at 9 p.m. EST.
For a complete list of participating theaters, visit imax.com/movie/dead-and-company-live-in-imax-from-golden-gate-park.
THEATER/MUSIC
• Crossing Borders (Cruzando Fronteras) — the annual festival featuring readings of new plays by Latine playwrights, and Latine music — will take place at Two River Theater in Red Bank, July 31 and Aug. 1-3, with no admission charge for any event.
Here is the schedule. All events will be inside the theater except for the Kick-Off Celebration.
July 31, 5 p.m.: Community Kick-Off Celebration, with music and food on the plaza.
July 31, 7 p.m.: “The Myth of the Two Marcos,” written by Tony Meneses, directed by José Zayas.
Aug. 1, 5:30 p.m.: “Stories From the Heart” (poems, stories and more by Red Bank middle school students).
Aug. 1, 7 p.m.: “Miss America Pretty,” written by Iraisa Ann Reilly, directed by José Zayas.
Aug. 2, 2 p.m.: “Disaster Preparedness,” written by Eliana Pipes, directed by Taylor Reynolds.
Aug. 2, 8 p.m.: Music by Latin rock band Xol Azul.
Aug. 3, 2 p.m.: “Vidas Privadas,” written by Christina Pumariega (inspired by Noël Coward’s “Private Lives”), directed by Eddie Torres.
Since “Crossing Borders (Cruzando Fronteras)” began in 2011, seven of its plays have gone on to be fully produced by Two River Theater.
• The Theater Project will present “Kaleidoscope Kabaret” — described as “a vaudeville of new work,” and featuring short plays and music — at The Oakes Center in Summit, Aug. 1-2 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 3 at 2 p.m.
The playwrights will be Lynn Marie Macy, Rosemary Parrillo, Jonathan Samarro and Joseph Vitale, and the winners of The Theater Project’s 2025 year’s Young Playwrights Competition (Lucas Luchsinger and Karma Beech Wilson). Audience members can discuss the plays with the writers, after every show.
The music will be by Gail Lou, David Tillistrand, Sandra Toll and the band Maybe Tomorrow.
COLIN JOST
COMEDY
• Colin Jost, who co-hosts “Weekend Update” on “Saturday Night Life” — and has served as an anchorman on more “Weekend Update” installments (226) than anyone else in the show’s 50-season history — will bring a rare standup tour to BergenPAC in Englewood, Aug. 1 at 8 p.m.; Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, Aug. 2 at 8 p.m.; and The Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, Aug. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
OTHER
• The New Jersey State Fair/Sussex County Farm & Horse Show will take place at The Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta, Aug. 1-9, with attractions including monster trucks, demolition derbies, tractor pulls, pig races, petting zoo, Circus Incredible, bands such as Southpaw and The Nerds, The Arbor Buddies Puppet Show, exhibits by local artists and artisans, and more.
• “Twin Peaks” actors Ray Wise (who played Leland Palmer), Kimmy Robertson (Lucy Moran), Dana Ashbrook (Bobby Briggs) and Harry Goaz (Andy Brennan) as well as Sabrina S. Sutherland (production coordinator of the second season of “Twin Peaks” and co-executive producer of “Twin Peaks: The Return”) will discuss the show and sign autographs at “Twin Peaks: Conversation With the Stars,” taking place at The Scottish Rite Auditorium in Collingswood, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m., and The Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m. The events will include a video tribute to “Twin Peaks” co-creator David Lynch, who died in January.
“Twin Peaks” ran on television for two seasons, in 1990 and 1991, with the feature film “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me” and the Showtime series “Twin Peaks: The Return” following in 1992 and 2017, respectively.
REVIEWS
“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again]” at F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre at Drew University, Madison. (Through Aug. 3)
“The Mallard,” presented by Premiere Stages at The Bauer Boucher Theatre Center at Kean University, Union. (Through Aug. 3)
“How My Grandparents Fell in Love: A Musical” at New Jersey Repertory Company, Long Branch. (Through Aug. 10)
“Andrea Chung: The Ocean Doesn’t Recognize Tears” at Project for Empty Space, Newark. (Through Aug. 17)
“The Garden State” at Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Summit. Works by members of New Jersey Photography Forum. (Through Aug. 25)
“Pulp: The Fluid and The Concrete” at Hunterdon Art Museum, Clinton. Paper-making works. (Through Aug. 31)
“Indigenous Identities: Here, Now & Always” at Zimmerli Art Museum, New Brunswick. (Through Dec. 21)
“Morven Revealed: Untold Stories From New Jersey’s Most Historic Home” at Morven Museum & Garden, Princeton. (Through March 1)
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