Tune In, Turn On
Big news from Carmen and Nancy Marotta, promoters of both the Tony Mart AC Mardi Gras Concerts on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, and Legacy Concerts on the Beach in Somers Point.
The A.C. series is expanding to a second night in 2026, with five Monday night concerts beginning Aug. 3 (through Aug. 31), in addition to the star-studded, 11-band lineup of concerts taking place every Wednesday night starting June 24 – all at the recently renovated Kennedy Plaza in front of Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. All Tony Mart shows start at 7 p.m. and all are free to the public.
“It is truly amazing that we will present 16 shows with some of the greatest living legends that headline anywhere, free to everyone all summer, Mondays and Wednesdays, on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City,” Carmen Marotta told Tune In, Turn On this week. One glance at the Wednesday night Boardwalk concert schedule proves his point.
International recording artist/blues guitarist-vocalist Ana Popovic performs July 1, followed by “Louisiana’s Living Legend,” Bayou blues guitarist Tab Benoit, July 8, returning to perform in the area for the first time since 2022, when he played the Exit Zero Jazz Festival in Cape May.
Other big-name acts slated to play AC Mardi Gras on the Boardwalk include exceptional blues vocalist Shemekia Copeland (July 15); George Porter and the Runnin’ Pardners with special guest John “Papa” Gros. The New Orleans funk/R&B pianist will be performing as part of a New Orleans and Dr. John Legacy tribute.
Rock ‘n’ roll legend, and one of Tony Mart’s all-time favorites, the ageless Mitch Ryder is back for two concerts: on Wednesday, July 29, on the Boardwalk; and Friday, July 31, at Legacy Concerts on the Beach in Somers Point, touring behind Ryder’s latest release, “Songs From The Road” on Ruf Records.
Vocalist Aaron Neville, from the Neville Brothers musical family, performs on Aug. 12; and Booker T. Jones, from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame icons Booker T. & the M.G.’s, creators of the “Memphis sound,” appears Aug. 19.
The new, Monday night AC Mardi Gras on the Boardwalk Concert Series kicks off with a bang with legendary rocker and Tony Mart’s favorite, Gary U.S. Bonds and the Houserockers, with an opening set by ex-Spin Doctors guitarist and very talented musician in his own right, Anthony Krizan, on Monday, Aug. 3, followed by one of the true blues guitar greats, Tommy Castro and the Painkillers, on Aug. 10.
Then, on Aug. 17, powerhouse blues vocalist Dana Fuchs, also no stranger to Atlantic City music fans, returns to perform in support of her new release, “Live in Denmark.” Fuchs has been compared to the great Janis Joplin because of her extraordinary vocal range.
On Aug. 24, the enduring legacy of the Allman Brothers Band “Live at Fillmore East” returns to A.C. with a performance by Melody Trucks (percussionist-vocalist) and her brother Vaylor Trucks, both children of late ABB drummer Butch Trucks. They will be backed by their rhythm section, The Fitzkee Brothers, plus Peter Levin (founding keyboardist of the Gregg Allman Band) and Lamar Williams Jr. (vocalist from respected jam band Oteil & Friends) – a show not to be missed by jam band and Allman Brothers Band fans.
And finally, don’t miss Flow Tribe, “an explosive jam band, entertaining funky NOLA rock ‘n’ roll show,” as Marotta describes the group, in the finale of the Monday Night Concert Series, on Aug. 31.
We cannot wait till summer and the Tony Mart’s AC Mardi Gras Concerts on the Boardwalk to begin! More info at www.tonymart.com.
Doug is the owner/operator of Doug Deutsch Publicity Services, which since 1995 has been servicing nationally touring acts, and working record release campaigns for clients. Doug can be reached at ShoreLocalDoug@gmail.com
