By Danielle Davies
Summer at the Jersey Shore is epic for plenty of reasons, but one of our favorites is the enormous array of live music. From duos and trios to full-scale bands, summer gives us the opportunity to hear from some of our most beloved local musicians everywhere from the beach and boardwalk to bars and restaurants.
“Bringing in live music adds to the energy of our venue,” says Mitchell Gurwicz, of The Roost Pub & Grill at Harbor Pines Golf Club. “Live music enhances the overall dining experience with a heightened level of excitement. That’s what we want for our guests. Come out to The Roost and dine, drink and have fun.”
Here are five places to catch live music this week.
1. The Roost at Harbor Pines
The Roost is already a pretty spectacular venue to visit, what with the outdoor Adirondack chairs and fire pits juxtaposed against a chic and energetic interior. Throw in some live music, as The Roost does on Fridays through the summer, and it just takes things up a notch. Get there this week for Atley Moon Duo, playing from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. One of the most popular bands in the area, Atley Moon is a guaranteed good time. The Roost is located at 500 St. Andrews Drive, Egg Harbor Township. See HarborPines.com.
2. Charlie’s Bar & Restaurant
Charlie’s doesn’t always have live music, so when they do, you have to mark that day in the calendar and be sure to show up. This week, they’re doing it twice! Get to Charlie’s at 9 p.m. Thursday for our own local piano man, Greg Clark, who performs great renditions of Billy Joel and Elton John, but also takes requests. Come back at 9 p.m. Saturday for a raucous good time with Petty Cash, who play cover songs from Prince and Pearl Jam to Billie Eilish and Johnny Cash. Charlie’s Bar & Restaurant is located at 800 Shore Rd., Somers Point. Visit CharliesBar.com.
3. Queen Jayne’s Lounge & Royal Drinkery
As the new kid on the block, you may be wondering whether Queen Jayne’s Lounge & Royal Drinkery lives up to the hype – let us confirm that it does. Adding to the luxurious feel of the intimate venue is the fact that so far, there’s been live music a few days each week. Head there from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday for eclectic, acoustic sounds of Sidestory Duo; 6 to 10 p.m. Friday for piano and vocal interpretations of classic rock with Rainbow Full of Sound; and 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday for instrumental cocktail jazz with SKJ Duo. Queen Jayne’s Lounge & Royal Drinkery is located at 264 New Road. Visit their website: Somers Point QueenJaynes.com.
4. Somers Point Beach Concerts
Hosted by Tony Mart and sponsored by AtlantiCare, the Somers Point Beach Concerts are a tradition that’s been going strong for 30 years. Held at 7 p.m. each Friday of the summer on the beach in Somers Point, the shows are full of music fans in beach chairs and boats, all tuning in for a good time. Get there this Friday for one of the world’s greatest guitarists, Stanley Jordan, paying tribute to Jimi Hendrix in “Stanley Plays Jimi”, followed by The Brandon Ireland Band with “Big Bob” Ernano. These concerts are located at the beach on New Jersey and Bay Avenues in Somers Point. See TonyMart.com.
5. Mardi Gras Atlantic City
Tony Mart hosts more than one series of magical music events. In addition to Somers Point Beach Concerts, they’re behind the Mardi Gras series of concerts at Kennedy Plaza in Atlantic City. Shows take place from 7 to 10 p.m. each Wednesday of the summer. Get there on Aug. 2 for Honey Island Swamp Band, a New Orleans Roots Rockin’ Melodic Jam Band; and on Aug. 9 for the Tito Puente Jr. Orchestra followed by Willpower, a tribute to Tower of Power.
