Things To Do: Summer Fun

JULY 18
“Newark Salutes Its Own”

Horizon Foundation Sounds of the City, NJPAC’s free outdoor music series, showcases the talents of BYHAZE, The IZM, Kween Moore, Euphony, J-Read and others in Newark Salutes Its Own.

Catch the stars of tomorrow today at NJPAC’s Chambers Plaza, where Newark’s emerging artists and bands perform musical stylings from R&B and Latin to hip hop and funk. Joining the lineup of Newark Salutes Its Own are the house band LMNOP; photojournalist Shane “BYHAZE” Fuller, half of the hip hop/R&B duo The Ubuntu Theory; poet and interdisciplinary artist Kween Moore; rapper and poet Euphony; musician Jared “J-Read” Fontaine; and Anthony Lawrence Peterson (“The IZM”), an author, songwriter and emcee.

JULY 25
The Wailers’ Julian Junior Marvin
Also appearing: The Alchemystics (reggae/hip hop)

Jamaican-born blues-rock guitarist and vocalist Julian Junior Marvin is known for a style as innovative as it is expressive. A member of Bob Marley & The Wailers from 1977 until Marley’s passing in 1981, Marvin later released four CDs with The Wailers Band, as well as a number of solo projects. As frontman for the current Wailers band, Marvin and company play songs made popular by Marley, performed the way they were meant to be heard.

AUG. 1
New Power Generation
Featuring the music of Prince
Also appearing: Singer and songwriter Angela Johnson

New Power Generation, Prince’s backing band through the 1990s and 2000s, reunites for this tribute to the late superstar’s epic body of work. Spearheaded by keyboardist Morris Hayes (who also served as Prince’s musical director for many years), the re-formed New Power Generation features many members of the original band, joined by charismatic vocalist Mackenzie. Their performance is a high-energy musical kaleidoscope that pays tribute to Prince’s biggest hits, including songs like “Diamonds and Pearls,” “1999,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Pop Life,” “Purple Rain,” “Kiss,” and more.

AUG. 8
Charlie Cruz
Also appearing: 3D Rhythm of Life (Latin/tropical soul band)

One of the fastest rising stars in salsa music, vocalist Charlie Cruz was born in Puerto Rico and spent his teenage years in Paterson, where he first grew to love salsa. As a young performer, he spent two years in Puerto Rico honing his skills as a vocalist in the Domingo Quiñones Orchestra. Soon after, he shared a stage with Gilberto Santa Rosa, Victor Manuelle and Tito Nieves. That concert led to a contract with Sir George Records, where Cruz has produced a string of hit singles, including “Bombon de Azucar,” “Amarte es un Problema” and “Déjala que Baile.” His latest album is Tu Con El.

AUG. 15
“A Night of Inspiration”
The Walls Group & The String Queens

Presented by NJPAC in association with Chew Entertainment, “A Night of Inspiration” is an evening of sublimely moving music that brings together two top acts: The Texas-based Walls Group, composed of four charismatic, supremely talented siblings who specialize in urban contemporary gospel, and the Washington, D.C.-based String Queens, a dynamic, all-female string trio known for a diverse repertoire that moves freely from the Baroque era to the Jazz Age to today’s Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

AUG. 22
The Davell Crawford Movement
Also appearing: The VooDUDES (Zydeco/rock/blues/country)

An evening of American roots music, courtesy of acclaimed New Orleans pianist Davell Crawford and his band. Crawford is one of the most durable artists on the contemporary Crescent City music scene and a leading ambassador of the New Orleans piano legacy. Known for his work in American roots music – which includes gospel, traditional jazz, country, funk and R&B – Crawford’s keyboard prowess has taken him to many of the world’s greatest clubs, performance halls and jazz festivals.

AUG. 29
Lords of the Underground
Also appearing: DJ Wallah (HOT 97) and students of NJPAC’s Hip Hop Intensive

Newark’s own Lords of the Underground – the chart-topping rap trio of Bruce Anthony Colston (aka DJ Lord Jazz), Dupré Kelly (DoItAll), and Al’Terik Wardrick (Mr. Funke) – first broke onto the music scene with their 1993 debut LP, “Here Come the Lords.” That album went platinum and turned the Lords into one of rap’s best-selling units. The group went on to sell over 5 million albums worldwide, and to release five No. 1 singles on the Billboard Rap Chart, including classics like “Psycho,” “Chief Rocka,” “Funky Child” and “Tic Toc.”