Rick Barth is a Northwest NJ singer/songwriter that has played shows all over the NY, NJ, and PA area. Sometime in 2014, after appearing on a show on HomegrownRadio to promote his cover shows, Rick was asked by the hosts if he had any original music.  Rick played a couple of songs and, after some cajoling by the hosts, decided to record his debut album, which would go on to become Hand Me Down Soul (released in 2015 and available at CD Baby, Amazon, iTunes, and www.rickbarthnj.com).

Enjoy Rick's performance.

Our other performer is a repeat offender on our First Friday Program, Dave Lockhart.  He has written a number of new tunes since his last appearance on May 5th, 2017.  As a member of Dead Winter Carpenters and now a new duo, Miranda and Dave, he brings a lot to the table.

Relisten to Dave's performance.

Marcus Randolph

If you missed this month's In House performance, or just want to relive all the fun, check out our October First Friday podcast, featuring Crust and Doug Travers.

Jill Cagney and Phil Conklin

Relive our August First Friday concert with these two great artists.

Bobby Messano & Friends

Bobby Messano joined us live, direct from his Nashville digs. You can catch up with his doings here. Checking out his history, you will find some interesting folks he has played with, including Steve Winwood, Lou Gramm, and the two icons in this picture (Bobby is on the right here).

If you missed it, or want to relive the experience, check out our podcast from July's First Friday In House performances, featuring Bobby Messano and Tam Garcia, two artists who bring us fresh original tunes and a few old favorites.

If you missed it, or want to relive the experience, check out our podcast from June's First Friday In House performances, featuring Anthony Tamburro and October Rose.

May

Relisten to this event

Well known bassist Dave Lockhart from the nationally touring band Dead Winter Carpenters is also a talented solo artist. With the guitar, harmonica, and his soulful, bluesy voice he expresses artful iterations of covers and original works. He has a wealth of musical knowledge and a background in bass, which allows him to play the guitar in a unique and exciting style that makes it hard to look away.

After slogging away on the bar-and-club circuit for two decades, Shark Hat is hotter than ever. On June16, 2017 the quartet will release its third (as yet untitled) album of original music with a celebration at the Bitter End in Greenwich Village. Featuring live favorites like “Red Beans and Rice” and “Watch Your Speed” along with brand-new songs such as “Pity” and “Unfortunate,” the recording shows Shark Hat’s many facets—a foundation of classic ’70s-style rock piled on with all sorts of party music, including funk, blues, R&B, and country. The album ends with another live staple, a cover of the Marvin Gaye tune “Don’t Do It” by way of the Band’s Last Waltz. 

Shark Hat likes to keep things simple, believing that a sturdy, well-written song played with conviction, and hopefully big ears, forms a direct path to musical bliss.

Join us at HGRNJ’s Boonton Studios at 108 Cornelia St. at 7:00 PM (EST) for a FREE live Shark Hat performance, in anticipation of their upcoming gig at Boxcar Bar & Grill, 25 Chatham Rd, Short Hills, NJ on Saturday March 4^th, 8-11PM. 

If you are geographically removed from Boonton, you can still catch our Live 3/03/17 Global Webcast at www.homegrownradio.org. It's also available on mobile devices via the free TuneIn Radio app. (Just search “HomegrownRadioNJ” within the app).

HomeGrownRadioNJ welcomes Chris Bolger and most of the Dog House back for another First Friday performance on March 3^rd, 2017.  You can listen to their past performance here: http://www.homegrownradionj.com/Archives/1stFri_podcasts.shtml

Chris has been playing music in and around New Jersey with The Dog House and many other performers for quite some time and if you have not caught up with him, now is your chance. 

We’ll also meet the newest member of The Dog House on Friday, Don Oriolo.  He is a true Renaissance man bringing so many talents and projects to the table it will make your head spin.  Don is well known across the entertainment spectrum, having been a fixture in the art, music, television and film industries for decades. Oriolo is also widely admired for his charitable and philanthropic endeavors.  Check out his website for more on that.

Jefferson

From Bloomingdale, NJ, this singer-songwriter writes earnest, introspective songs usually stripped to the core of acoustic guitar and vocal, yet sporadically with band in tow.  New EP Specchio arrived at the end of January 2017, following previous full-length entitled Rinnovo (2014) and his debut Fedelta (2013).  Think Elvis Costello or Paul Westerberg inspired songwriting with that blue-collar, honest delivery.  

February 3

THE WEDGE is a four-piece electric Blues, Rock, and Soul band from Union County, New Jersey. They've been touring extensively in New Jersey and New York, and are excited to be performing on HomeGrowRadioNJ as part of their latest mini-tour! Start your weekend off right with the exciting sounds of THE WEDGE!

We're also honored to welcome keyboardist TIM GYSIN back to HomeGrownRadioNJ to open for THE WEDGE. Tim will be featuring selections from his albums and maybe even a few surprises!

December 2

Click here to listen again to this great evening of entertainment

featuring

Elvie and The Boys                                     The Two Ukes              Brian Rothenbeck

Elvie and The Boys have been making music in the Essex County area for a little over four years. With singer/guitarist Louise Adams (Elvie) and a revolving cast of very talented “Boys”, they’ve been doing Classic Rock and Blues standards, more contemporary singer/songwriter numbers and everything in between. The personnel for the December First Friday performance will be Louise Adams on acoustic guitar/vocals, Jim O’Brien on acoustic guitar/vocals, Jack Bashwiner on bass/vocals and Tom Monaghan on drums/vocals.

"Is it possible The Two Ukes..." "The two what? What was that word? Did you say Ukes?" "Oh, excuse me your honor. The Two Ukuleles!" These "uku-ladies" have taken the northern New Jersey area by storm! Two ladies with ukuleles! Jodie and Casey make up this fabulous uke duo. Be sure to listen in for some gorgeous harmonies, exciting mash-ups, and as many My Cousin Vinny references as you'd like!

Brian Rothenbeck is singer-songwriter forged in the fires of New Jersey basement punk rock, but these days has resigned himself to write heartfelt, quiet, and contemplative indie folk while still maintaining the spirit of, and the love for, the scene that created him. You can sample Brian's music here.

November 2016

In case you missed it, here is our November First Friday In House podcast featuring Rostafa and Chris Bolger with Doghouse.

October 2016

In case you missed it, here is our October First Friday In House podcast featuring Leny Nigro, Meg Beattie, Michael Williams, Charles and Wallace from the Atlanta Cafe Band, Blood Orange, and Jerry The Bulldog.

September 2016

Laura Birdsong Project.

August 2016

Anthony Tamburro and The Ides of February (Doug Travers and Lou Viggiano)