Concerts Highlight Best Date Night Options Around Town

The Borgata 

THIS WEEKEND: DJs take center stage this weekend: Tonight: Eli Escobar returns, 10 p.m., Mur.Mur; Percussionist/DJ Ravi Drums performs at Mixx, with music by DJ Echo; 10 p.m., Saturday 

 NEXT WEEK: Skam Artist Takeover: Spring Break, 10 p.m., Saturday, March 10, at Mixx 

BOOK IT NOW: Legendary Irish rockers The Saw Doctors help you celebrate St. Patrick's Day, 9 p.m., Saturday, March 17, The Music Box; Liza Minelli brings her revue to the Event Center, 8 p.m., Saturday, March 24; Lewis Black rages about things large and small, 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, March 30 and 31, The Music Box; Kevin James takes a break from family-friendly films to perform his stand-up act, 8 p.m., April 7, Event Center. 

Check out theborgata.com for details about these and other shows.

Kean University, Union

THIS WEEKEND Tonight, Saturday — The Odyssey, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Wilkins Theater) Sunday — George Winston, 3 p.m. 

THIS WEEK No shows

BOOK IT NOW ; Tao: The Art of the Drum, Saturday, March 17, 7:30 p.m., Ravi Coltrane, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 14; Kathy Mattea, 3 p.m., Sunday, May 6. 

Check out keanstage.com for details about these and other shows.

Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown

This Weekend: Friday — Ballet Folklorico De Antioquia, Colombia features traditional dance, muci and costumes from Colombia, 8 p.m.; 

 
NEXT WEEK: The Starlight Series: A Eulogy for Vincent, a one-man drama with comedy about Vincent Van Gogh, 8 p.m., Tuesday; The Machine, a Pink Floyd tribute experience, 8 p.m., Friday, March 9.

BOOK IT NOW: Garden State Folk and Roots Festival, 3 p.m., Sunday, March 11; Women of Ireland, a celebration of traditional Irish music and stepdancing, 3 and 8 p.m., Saturday, March 17; Country gal Loretta Lynn graces the stage at 8 p.m., March 30.  

Check out mayoarts.org for details about these and other shows.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark

THIS WEEKEND: Friday — Jugglers, cyclists, tumblers and other crowd-pleasing artists lead the Peking Acrobats into Prudential Hall, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday — Soweto Gospel Choir, 8 p.m

 NEXT WEEK: The Chieftains celebrate their 50th Anniversary and help audiences kick off the countdown to St. Patrick's Day; 8 p.m., Saturday, March 10.

BOOK IT NOW Herbie Hancock and His Band, the 14-time Grammy-winning jazz pianist-composer; 8 p.m., Friday, March 23; "Cinematic Titanic," the original crew of snarky cult-classic TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000 brings bad films to hilarious real-time analysis, 8 p.m., Friday, March 30. 

Check out njpac.org to check out these and other events.

The Prudential Center, Newark

THIS WEEKEND: Tonight — Sunday:  Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Thursday, through Sunday

NEXT WEEK: Devils v. Rangers renew their grudge match and slug it out for local fans' loyalty, 7 p.m., Tuesday; Nets v. LA Clippers, 8 p.m., Wednesday; Devils v. Islanders, 7 p.m., Thursday

BOOK IT NOW:  Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil, 8 p.m., Friday, March 30, Saturday, March 31

Check out prucenter.com for details about these and other shows.

South Orange Performing Arts Center, South Orange

THIS WEEKEND: no shows

NEXT WEEK: Author and monologist Malachy McCourt performs "Living Life and Laughing at Death" at 8 p.m., Friday, March 9; Country singer/songwriter Pam Tillis performs at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 10.

BOOK IT NOW: Jazz in the Loft: Jazz Legacy All-Star Jam with John Lee, 5 p.m., Sunday, March 18; Kyle Eastwood Band, the son of the iconic actor is an acclaimed jazz musician, 8 p.m., Saturday, March 24

Go to sopacnow.org for more details about all shows.

Scotty’s Steakhouse, Springfield

THIS WEEK: Tonight and Saturday — New York's Rising Star Chris Monty takes the stage.

NEXT WEEK: Brad Trackman, a regular guests on late-night TV shows and MTV, headlines a show that also features Lori Palminteri and John Clark. Friday, March 9 and Saturday, March 10. 

BOOK IT NOW: Chris Rich started her career as an actress/singer/dancer before concentrating on her comedy career. She headlines a show that includes Ed McGonical and Matt Jenkins, Friday, March 16 and Saturday, March 17.

For details and more information, log onto scottyssteakhouse.com.

Shanghai Jazz, Madison

THIS WEEKEND:Tonight and Saturday — Junior Mance, who performed with Dinah Washington and Dizzy Gillespie, performs with his eponymous trio, Saturday, March, 3

NEXT WEEK: Saxophonist Jim Saltzman and pianist Steve Myerson, Tuesday; Guitar legend and stalwart Jersey guy Bucky Pizzarelli performs on Wednesday.

BOOK IT NOW: The Emmet Cohen Trio, led by the piano phenom who's performed at the Grammy Awards, hits the Shanghai Jazz stage on Friday, March 9

All shows 6:30 and 8:30. Check out shanghaijazz.com for more details.

State Theatre, New Brunswick

THIS WEEK: Tonight — nAzziz Ansari, who steals virtually every scene in which he's filmed, from Kobe Bryant sneaker commercials to TV shows such as Parks & Recreation or films like 30 Minutes or Less, performs his stand-up act; 8 p.m.; Saturday — The "Spring Golden Oldies Spectacular," featuring  Little Anthony & the Imperials, Bobby Rydell and others; 7:30 p.m. 

 NEXT WEEK: Larry the Cable Guy delivers his red-neck ruminations at 8 p.m., Sat, March 10; The Irish Rovers spread their luscious harmonies with the season's traditional hits at 8 p.m., Sunday, March 11;

BOOK IT NOW:  HD screening of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's historic 2002 concert in Barcelona; 8 p.m., Friday, March 16; Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, 8 p.m., Saturday, March 17

 Check out statetheatrenj.org for more details.

Stress Factory Comedy Club, New Brunswick

THIS WEEK: Tonight and Saturday — Bob Marley — no, not that one, the one from Boondock Saints and Conan O'Brien appearances — Thursday through Saturday, March 1-3; 

NEXT WEEK: Comedy icon Dom Irrera performs Friday and Saturday, March 9, 10 

Book It Now: The Rang Tang and Loopy bracket of the "Comedy March Madness".

Check out stressfactory.com for more details.

Wellmont Theatre, Montclair

THIS WEEKEND Singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson, Friday, March 2

NEXT WEEK Longtime powerballadeers (and husband and wife) Pat Benatar & guitarist Neil Giraldo remind us that "Love is a Battlefield", 8 p.m., Thursday 

BOOK IT ; Levon Helm Band, led by the iconic member of The Band, performs on a bill that also includes former J. Geils Band frontman Peter Wolf, Friday, April 6 (Show postponed from Feb. 10). 

Check out wellmonttheatre.com for more shows.