It's already been in movie theaters but starting April 29, Janis Ian: Breaking Silence will be available on streaming services. In the film, directed by a British filmmaker Varda Bar-Kar, Arlo Guthrie, Lily Tomlin, Joan Baez and others sing her praises. Packed with film clips of the various eras in which she rose to become an icon, it’s a testament to her bravery in the face of unbelievable hatred and ignorance.

He calls it “modern progressive metal.” When guitarist Steve Dadaian graduated from Cresskill High School in Bergen County, he was immersed in classical music. His new album, Revenant City, drops May 9, but one track, “Garden Of Stars,” with Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess, can be digested here.

The 15^th annual “Rock, Ribs and Ridges Festival” is set for June 27, 28 and 29 at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta. Orleans and the Atlanta Rhythm Section perform on Friday. The Matt Coffy Band, Six Gun Sally, the Artimus Pyle Band, Black Stone Cherry and Grand Funk Railroad are scheduled for Saturday.

Seven never-before-heard Bruce albums will be released for the first time on June 27.  Rumors have abounded for years that Bruce had recorded more albums that were shelved, only played for friends and family of the artist. Now we’ll all get to hear them.

The Jazz Arts Project of New Jersey will honor Rahway trumpeter Warren Vache, Jr., 74, on April 30 at Triumph Restaurant & Brewery in Red Bank. Vache, in his long and illustrious career, has played with the Benny Goodman Orchestra and backed up singer Rosemary Clooney.

Attention Northeast Punk Rockers:  get ready for the New Jersey Punk Rock Flea Market’s “Spring Fling” IN 10 DAYS April 12 and 13 at the Cure Arena in Trenton. They are promising “the raddest, baddest, most chaotic celebration of punk, DIY and alt-culture this side of the Turnpike!”

NFL star quarterback Eli Manning stood before a packed house of Jonas fans at American Dream on Route 3 in East Rutherford last Sunday to announce that the popular boy band from Wyckoff in Bergen County, The Jonas Brothers, will be inducted as part of the 2025 ceremonies later this year.

Besides playing some Jimi on the Experience Hendrix tour, Zakk Wylde, 58, from Bayonne, who made Ozzy sound better and also shredded in his own Black Label Society, will be on stages around the world with Pantera. Billed as “The Heaviest Tour Of The Summer,” opening acts have just been announced:  King Parrot (July 31 to September 13), Snafu (July 15 to July 23), Shock Narcotic (July 25 to July 29) and Flesh Hoarder (Sept. 2, 3).

The next generation of jazz stars will be on display at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark April 26 when over 100 of them will perform for free in honor of International Jazz Day on April 30.

The 60 nominees in six categories for the 2025 New Jersey Hall of Fame induction ceremony later this year have been announced. You can vote as of now by using the link below (which contains capsule biographies on all 60.) You have until April 15.

It’s only been 37 years. Hoboken brothers Bob and Mike Delevante pioneered the Americana format in 1988 with the help of E Streeter Garry Tallent and Heartbreaker Benmont Tench. Now based in Nashville, as is Tallent (who appears on the new album), Delevante has festooned the party with immaculate flair.

Willie Dixon wrote “Spoonful” for Howlin’ Wolf in 1960. He borrowed the song from Charley Patton’s 1929 “A Spoonful Of Blues” who borrowed it Papa Charlie Jackson’s 1925 “All I Want Is A Spoonful.” Eddie Skuller, from Jersey City, has now turned it into a reggae.

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark will host a Broadway Birthday Bash for Governor Thomas H. Kean on April 21 when he hits 90. The 48^th Governor of our great state served two scandal-free terms from 1982 to 1990.

The feisty throb of “Better Off Alone” seems to get better and better with each successive listen. And, that, right there, is the mark of a solid single. It’s a jet-propelled piece of pop-punk that Good Damage excels at.

Patti Smith, 78, has announced plans to tour in support of the 50^th Anniversary of her groundbreaking Horses debut where she will be performing the album in its entirety. Guitarist Lenny Kaye and drummer Jay Dee Daugherty, who both played on the original release, will be with her plus keyboardist-bassist Tony Shanahan and Patti’s son, guitarist Jackson Smith.

Longtime Asbury Park Bluesman-Producer-Singer-Songwriter-Guitarist Billy Hector has unveiled one hell of a night he had down the shore seven years ago at The Saint (closed since 2022 after losing its liquor license). The Billy Hector Band Live at the Saint (AERIA Records) features drummer Sim Cain, bassist Winston Roye, keyboardist David Nunez, tenor sax man Tommy La Bella, trumpeter Steve Jankowski and bari sax man John Martin with a song by guest singer Suzan Elle.

Starting tomorrow night, and continuing every Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00 in Hoboken on Washington Street at Symposia Bookstore, Jersey City singer-songwriter-bassist Greg McLoughlin will be performing solo away from his Lemonade band through April 16. He’s been doing a Monday night youTube livestream with this Monday being his 250^th such stream.

Longtime leader of The J. Howard Duff Band out of Union County, Duff moved down south and the vocal on his latest single sounds like it. Bruce Gladstone’s new album, Journey 2, is his most satisfying work yet. A former Aquarian Weekly Editor, Mike Daly’s Lost N’ Found is a series of recently unearthed recordings by the front man for Every Damn Day and Mike Daly & The Planets.

The latest album in Bruce Springsteen’s archival series of live shows is Omaha, NE Nov 15, 2012. It is here, in the great state of Nebraska, where he performed six songs from what many consider his greatest album, Nebraska.

They call it “The Festival Only Jersey Can Handle.” The third annual North To Shore fest will take place June 14-29 in Newark, Asbury Park, Red Bank, Montclair and Atlantic City.