GLENN ALEXANDER
Glenn Alexander, longtime guitarist for Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, will perform at that band’s show at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, New Year’s Eve at 6 p.m. But then he and four of his Jukes bandmates who also play in his own blues/rock/R&B group Shadowland — saxophonist John Isley, trumpeter Chris Anderson, trombonist Neal Pawley and drummer Tom Seguso — will “bolt up the Parkway,” he says, to perform at First Night Morris in Morristown.
Shadowland — which also features bassist Greg Novick and singer Oria (Alexander’s daughter), in addition to the five Jukes — is scheduled to perform sets at 9:45 and 10:45 p.m. at the Mayo Performing Arts Center.
That adds up to a pretty long day at the office, for Alexander. “We’re pretty thrilled to be performing for First Night, and for me it is always so thrilling and rewarding to get to hit with my own band,” he says.
Shadowland is one of about 20 acts that will perform at First Night Morris, the largest event of its kind in New Jersey. About 20 venues will be used, offering children’s activities, visual art displays and film screenings in addition to the live entertainment.
ELIZA NEALS
Shadowland will be preceded on the Mayo PAC stage by blues singer Eliza Neals, at 7 and 8:15 p.m.
Other attractions, at different venues, will include jazz artists Rio Clemente, Frank Vignola, Brynn Stanley and Ty Stephens; The Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey; The Harmonium Choral Society; Latin-Caribbean-African percussionist Emedin Rivera; folksinger Spook Handy; The Morris Plains Community Band; comedians Joe Matarese and Daniel Tirado; square dancing with caller Mary Moody; hypnotist Stephen Christopher; and Dinoman’s dinosaur show.
Activities are scheduled from 4 p.m. to midnight and, starting at 4:45 p.m., shuttle buses will be available for patrons to travel from venue to venue. Some of the films and live sets also will be available for online streaming.
There also will be fireworks at 9:15 and midnight.
For the complete schedule and more information, visit firstnightmorris.org.
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