Top 20 NJ Arts Events of the Week: Asbury Park Music and Film Festival, NJ Folk Festival, more

by JAY LUSTIG
David Crosby Asbury Park

David Crosby will make an appearance at the Asbury Park Music and Film Festival, April 27.

A roundup of arts events taking place around the state, through April 29:

The fifth annual Asbury Park Music and Film Festival takes place from April 25 to April 28, with some of the most notable events including:

The New Jersey premiere of “Echo in the Canyon,” a film about the rock scene in Laurel Canyon, California, featuring interviews conducted by Jakob Dylan of The Wallflowers. After the screening, Dylan and director Andrew Slater will participate in a question-and-answer session, and Dylan, Cat Power and Jade (of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros) will perform songs by The Byrds, Beach Boys and The Mamas & The Papas. April 25 at 7 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre. (see trailer below)

Gary U.S. Bonds’ “Unusually Big Birthday Bash,” a concert celebrating the 80th birthday of the rock pioneer (who will reach that milestone on June 6) will feature Bonds along with Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers and others. April 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre.

A screening of “Creem: Boy Howdy! The Story of Creem Magazine,” a documentary about the irreverent, Detroit-based rock magazine, which was published from 1969 to 1989. The screening will be followed by a question-and-answer session featuring director Scott Crawford and disc jockey Rich Russo. April 27 at noon at House of Independents. (see trailer below)

CLARENCE CLEMONS

A screening of “Who Do I Think I Am?,” a documentary about the late Clarence Clemons, followed by a question-and-answer session with director Nick Mead, producer Joe Amodei and Clemons’ nephew, E Street Band member Jake Clemons. April 27 at noon at the Paramount Theatre. (see trailer below)

A screening of rare and never-before-seen clips from Bruce Springsteen’s personal archive, presented by Thom Zimny, who has directed many Springsteen-related film projects and serves as his film archivist. A question-and-answer session moderated by Chris Phillips, editor of Backstreets magazine, will follow. April 27 at 3:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre.

A screening of the documentary “David Crosby: Remember My Name,” followed by a question-and-answer session featuring Crosby and one of the film’s co-producers, Cameron Crowe. April 27 at 7 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre.

A show for children, featuring the music of Bruce Springsteen, presented by Rock and Roll Playhouse. April 28 at 11 a.m. at The Stone Pony.

DANIEL KRAMER, COURTESY OF GRAMMY MUSEUM

BOB DYLAN

For the fourth straight year, the festival will present a collection of rare and never-before screened clips from the Bob Dylan Archive at the University of Tulsa. April 28 at 11:30 a.m. at House of Independents.

A screening of “The Show’s the Thing: The Legendary Promoters of Rock,” followed by a discussion with co-directors Molly Bernstein and Philip Dolin and Philadelphia-based promoter Larry Magid. April 28 at 1 p.m. at House of Independents.

A screening of “Asbury Park: Riot, Redemption, Rock ‘n’ Roll,” a new version of the documentary about Asbury Park’s history and music scene that screened at the festival two years ago. The new version has added Bruce Springsteen interview and performance footage, and other changes. Followed by a question-and-answer session featuring director Tom Jones and Backstreets magazine editor Chris Phillips, plus a performance by musicians in the Asbury Park-based Lakehouse Jr. Pros program. April 28 at 3 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre. (see trailer below)

“An Evening With the Farrelly Brothers.” A conversation with the writing/directing/producing duo Bobby and Peter Farrelly, whose credits include “Dumb and Dumber,” “There’s Something About Mary,” “Kingpin,” “Me, Myself & Irene,” “Shallow Hal,” “Green Book” (Peter Farrelly only) and more. April 28 at 7 p.m. at The Stone Pony.

Trey Anastasio film

TREY ANASTASIO

A screening of “Trey Anastasio: Between Me and My Mind,” a documentary about the Phish frontman, followed by a question-and-answer session with producer Jamie Schutz and Mike Greenhaus of Relix magazine. April 28 at 7 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre.

“Yas Queen!” a concert paying tribute to Queen by Jersey-based rock ‘n’ roll showman Remember Jones. April 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank.

Also coming up this week:

MUSIC

The New Jersey Folk Festival usually has a single theme, but its 45th annual edition, this year, will re-emphasize the themes of the last four years: Maritime, Bluegrass Showcase, Turkish Traditions, and Native Americans of New Jersey. The free event will take place on the grounds of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and will have four stages, with workshops, discussions and jam sessions in addition to performances by the Magnolia Street String Band, Dan O’Dea & Eagle Ridge, the Amir Vahab Ensemble, Stephen Sanfilippo, Spook Handy, Roger Deitz, Lisa and Lori Brigantino, Dave Vargo and many others.

PROFESSOR LOUIE & THE CROWMATIX

Aaron “Professor Louie” Hurwitz was a frequent collaborator of The Band in the ’90s, contributing as a producer, engineer and musician to their three albums of that decade (Jericho, High on the Hog and Jubilation). He also frequently backed Band member Rick Danko (who gave him his “Professor Louie” nickname), at his solo shows. Last year, he and his own band, Professor Louie & the Crowmatix, released an album, The Lost Band Tracks, featuring their versions of songs The Band recorded in 1991 (with Hurwitz’s help) but never released. April 26 at 8 p.m., Professor Louie & Crowmatix, joined by the Woodstock Horns, will present an evening of music by The Band at Roy’s Hall in Blairstown.

The British progressive folk-rock band Strawbs will celebrate its 50th anniversary at the Strand Center for the Arts in Lakewood, with a variety of musical performances April 26 from 6 to 11 p.m., and April 27 from 1 to 11 p.m. The sets will include reunions with former members and collaborations with guests such as Annie Haslam of Renaissance, Larry Fast, Richard Barone, Wesley Stace, Eric Bazilian of The Hooters, Sophie B.Hawkins, Tammy Faye Starlite, the band’s former producer Tony Visconti, and a 30-piece orchestra.

Also, Visconti, best known for his work with David Bowie, will give a talk followed by a question-and-answer session at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, April 27 at 10 a.m. Free shuttle service will be provided between the Strand and the university.

SIMONE DINNERSTEIN

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra — conducted by its music director, Xian Zhang, and joined by pianist Simone Dinnerstein — , will perform at Prudential Hall at NJPAC, Newark, April 25 at 1:30 p.m.; the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, April 27 at 8 p.m.; and the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, April 28 at 3 p.m. The program will include Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 and Symphony No. 40; and Walton’s Suite No. 2 from Façade.

The Montclair Orchestra will close its 2018-19 season with a concert titled “French Connection,” April 28 at 7 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Montclair. The program will include Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 60 “Il distratto”; Hector Berlioz’s Les nuits d’été (featuring baritone Yunpeng Wang); and Georges Bizet’s Symphony in C. Ten percent of ticket proceeds will be donated to the French Heritage Society’s Notre Dame Restoration Fund.

FILM

The Loew’s Jersey Theatre in Jersey City will present the 1939 film version of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” with Charles Laughton and Maureen O’Hara, at 6 p.m., April 27, followed by the 1923 silent film version, with Lon Chaney, at 8:20 p.m. The silent film will be accompanied by live organ music. Some of the proceeds will be donated to the fund to restore Notre Dame.

OTHER

Paul Stanley of Kiss will sign copies of his book, “Backstage Pass,” April 29 at 6 p.m. at Bookends in Ridgewood. According to a press release, in the book Stanley “grants fans an all-access backstage pass to his personal life and shows them how to pursue a rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle of their own, offering hard-won advice from a music legend.”

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