Dan Sufalko of Plainsboro is making music his life. Raised in North Brunswick, he was 10 years old when he moved to Plainsboro 15 years ago and graduated from High School North, Class of 2002. He took guitar lessons for about a year when he was 12. “From then I mostly just listened to the radio and records and picked up a little of this and a little of that from lots of different places,” he says.
A folk rock musician and songwriter, Sufalko has been influenced by blues, rock, country, and classical, and feels that all of these styles influence his writing. His favorites include Led Zeppelin, Muddy Waters, and the Rolling Stones.
“Because of Franc and Mickey, the Grovers Mill Coffee House has become by far one of the best in the area to present original music,” he says. “I’m happy and excited to have their support.” He plays at the coffee house, in the Southfield Shopping Center, on Friday, March 5.
Sufalko, who has fronted two small bar bands in the past, feels that he has moved on. “We played mostly dives and parties but some pretty cool music venues too like Grape Street, the North Star Bar, the Trocadero Theater, Doc Watson’s, as well as Arlene’s Grocery in New York City,” he says. “We had very few fans, but it was a good introduction for me.”
Last August he left his day job to attend the Institute of Audio Research in New York City to learn the science of audio engineering. “I started a solo gig, singing and playing acoustic guitar at a few local venues last year,” Sufalko says. “Every month I seem to find more venues that want me to play so it’s kind of turning into a living for me.” Visit www.myspace.com/dansufalko for more information.
“I’m in the process of putting together what will turn out to be a very, very good backing band to promote my EP,” he says. “My hope is to build enough success to turn this music thing into an actual career. I’ve heard lots of people say how difficult it can be, but I’m staying positive.”
Although Sufalko finds some time to hang out with his girlfriend and visit friends for a few drinks in Hoboken, he is not sure he will find time to go fishing this summer. “I have such big plans and big goals for my music that I don’t really have time to get side tracked,” he says. “I’m invested 24/7.” — Lynn Miller
Dan Sufalko, Grover’s Mill Coffee House, 335 Princeton Hightstown Road, 609-716-8771. Friday, March 5, 8 p.m.
BT Bistro, 3499 Route 1 South, West Windsor. Wednesday, March 17, 9 p.m. 609-919-9403. www.btbistro.com.
Triumph Brewing Company, 138 Nassau Street, Princeton. Thursday, March 18, 9 p.m. 609-924-7855. www.triumphbrew.com.
Wildflowers Restaurant, 2572 Pennington Road, Pennington. Tuesday, March 16; Saturday, March 20; and Tuesdays, April 6 and 20, all at 9 p.m. 609-737-2392. www.wildflowersinnrestaurant.com.
KatManDu, 50 Riverview Plaza, Waterfront Park, Route 29, Trenton. Wednesday, April 7, 7 p.m. 609-393-7300. www.katman_dutrenton.com.
