Last month, I published Love Letters to Hopewell Valley from prominent Valley residents. Our Valentine love letters prompted appreciation for our excellent quality of life that includes bucolic surroundings enhanced by fun events and opportunities.
In my column, I asked readers to share anything we may have missed. Katja Lewis of Hopewell Borough recommended the “vibrant music scene.”
I followed up by inquiring about Valley music on social media and received an enthusiastic response. While Hopewell Valley rightly boasts the historical significance of George Washington, many residents remind us to applaud the musical acumen of current community members. Hopewell Valley has been an incubator for all musical genres.
No Hopewell music summary would be complete without mentioning jazz singer Wenonah Brooks and her daughter, award winning, multi-genre singer, Danielia Cotton. Both have been inducted as distinguished graduates of Hopewell Valley Central High School.
Although she’s based in New York City, Cotton continues playing to sellout crowds whenever she visits home.
Less well known performers pepper our local landscape, and diverse venues — ranging from restaurants, churches, vineyards and even residential porches — parade homegrown burgeoning talent to local masses. Tunes are available for everyone’s musical taste.
An ideal way to spend a summer evening is listening to live music and enjoying a picnic dinner with friends in Hopewell Borough Gazebo Park. This classic opportunity has been around for years and is sponsored by Hopewell Recreation Committee.
The schedule is coming out this month, and the concerts are always loads of fun. Some local favorites I’ve seen in the past that feature my friends and neighbors include Gravity Hill and Castle Lane.
A relative newcomer taking the Valley by storm is Ottoburger at Hopewell Fare. In my research, that was the most frequently recommended venue featuring super talented musicians. Dave Butler and Friends performs a live residency the last Monday of every month. There’s no cover and he’s the tour drummer for Guster. Guitarist James Popik, who opened for Dave Mason, Marshall Tucker, and an impressive list of others, will be featured on March 7. Drummer Bob Steeler, formerly of Hot Tuna, will play on March 9.
Additional talented artists are scheduled to appear at Ottoburger, including Joe Russo of the very popular band Almost Dead. Visit Hopewell Fare (hopewellfare.com) to learn more.
If you need a bluegrass or classic country fix, check out The Hopewell Hayride Show at Hopewell United Methodist Church. A crowd pleaser shared to me on social media, this event is gaining a new following and takes you back to a simpler time.
Many years ago, Albert Kessel founded and produced the Hopewell Hayride where he played in the house band up until he passed in December 2023. Today, Mary McIntyre keeps the show, and memories flowing and reports that it will start up again in April after its winter break.
Another relatively new and unique happening is Hopewell’s PorchFest. A schedule and map are key for this free event. PorchFest was initiated in 2023 by Jarrett Crawford, a psychology professor at TCNJ, and features 12 Boro porch locations acting as a stage for bands to perform.
The local community can hang out and listen to many bands at one porch or walk around to get a flavor of offerings throughout the neighborhood. Familiar faces you may see at Porchfest include Crawford’s band Loose Panic and Steve Zarodnansky and his band BTE.
Porchfest is free to the community because it is sponsored by local businesses such as Amy Karyn Interiors, Antimo’s, Heather’s Pet Care, Hopewell Barber Shop, Knox Grove Financial, Old Glory, and Wull and Oak. In addition, they collected canned goods for the Chubby’s food pantry before and during the event. Thanks to Sue Seferian for this info.
Hopewell isn’t the only borough that provides a place to picnic and listen to live music. Pennington Parks and Recreation host a series of concerts at Howe Common. Their annual Pennington Day festival also showcases various musical talent on several stages.
Hopewell Valley Vineyards probably has the most consistent and robust music scene of any of the venues in this column. They have live, local music every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Check their website (hopewellvalleyvineyards.com) for complete listings of every band scheduled along with its musical genre.
A couple of my picks that will have you out of your seat dancing along, include R&B, contemporary music by Bad Hombres, on Saturday March 1 and classic rock with The Dadz on Sunday afternoon March 16.
While the Vineyard is worth checking out anytime they are open, the site is particularly enjoyable when the weather improves and musicians perform outdoors.
What is most notable about music in our Valley is its sheer abundance and the constantly changing opportunities to experience it. Even with the established music scene, the community is always ready to explore new sites and new artists.
Perhaps the venue with the best potential in Hopewell Valley is the new bandshell at Woolsey Park. Hopewell Township received a $500K grant for its installation and they are planning for a pavilion to complete an great vibe. Township Recreation has already had a couple of events there but keep an eye out for future happenings.
Finally, a couple more newcomers to watch for cool music — namely Needle Creek Farm Brewery and Pennytown Pub. Needle Creek Farm just opened a couple weeks ago and they already have live music booked for every Saturday and most Sundays into the foreseeable future. They anticipate larger bands as the weather improves and they can host outside. Check out their social media pages for more information.
Pennytown Pub, is the newest addition from Gretalia Hospitality group and is their fourth eatery in Hopewell Valley. Their schedule includes diverse music and is a great place to hear acoustic presenters. I noticed Open Mic night scheduled Friday, March 28. Perhaps they’ll discover our Valley’s next big artist.
John Procaccini, Gretalia’s founding partner, lives in Hopewell with his wife and kids and shared his enthusiasm about providing an additional music venue. “Supporting local entertainment isn’t just about enjoying a show — It’s about investing in the creativity, culture, and talent that make our community unique.”
