Country music rocks New Jersey

By TAYLOR M. LIER
Staff Writer

 Country artist Dierks Bentley sings to a sold-out crowd at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville. The venue is among several in New Jersey that have welcomed country artists and their growing fan base in the Garden State.  MARK R. SULLIVAN Country artist Dierks Bentley sings to a sold-out crowd at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville. The venue is among several in New Jersey that have welcomed country artists and their growing fan base in the Garden State. MARK R. SULLIVAN New Jersey may be known for being stronger than the storm, for the lights and sounds of Atlantic City, and as the home of Bruce Springsteen, but the state is also gaining momentum as a new mecca of country music.

When one thinks of “honky tonks” and cowboys, New Jersey is not typically the first place that comes to mind. However, the Garden State — where several major concert venues routinely showcase country performers — has been a major player in the genre’s mainstream success. According to Adam Weiser, senior talent buyer for the Starland Ballroom, the Sayreville concert venue has become a New Jersey home for some country artists.

“Starland Ballroom is, for some, their first taste of what country is like out in New Jersey. It is a welcoming place, not only for the artists, but for the fans,” Weiser said.

 Country musician Rachel Allyn, a New Jersey native, reaches a high note during a live performance with her guitarist and producer, Warren Hibbert. At right: Allyn strums a few chords on her guitar while producing tracks in the recording studio.  PHOTO ABOVE BY M. DAVID LEEDS; PHOTO AT RIGHT BY CHRISTOPHER VANDERYAJT Country musician Rachel Allyn, a New Jersey native, reaches a high note during a live performance with her guitarist and producer, Warren Hibbert. At right: Allyn strums a few chords on her guitar while producing tracks in the recording studio. PHOTO ABOVE BY M. DAVID LEEDS; PHOTO AT RIGHT BY CHRISTOPHER VANDERYAJT Major country artists including Eric Church, Cole Swindell and Dierks Bentley have graced the Starland Ballroom stage, and the venue’s operators have welcomed the sellout crowds that accompany the big names.

“We have hosted artists like Kip Moore, Sam Hunt, Tyler Farr and Thomas Rhett. It is cool to see artists who came to us just a few years ago now play at bigger venues like Madison Square Garden. Country is so fan-driven and the fans follow those artists wherever they travel to,” Weiser said.

The Sayreville venue will present country artist Chase Rice on Aug. 27, he said.

The Prudential Center in Newark is another popular concert venue where New Jersey fans can see their favorite artists. In the seven years since it opened, the venue has hosted notable country acts including George Strait and Florida Georgia Line.

“Country does very well here in New Jersey because of the strength of the genre,” said Sean Saddeh, executive vice president of entertainment programming at Prudential Center. “There have been so many artists who have crossed over that have come to our venue.”

Prudential Center will welcome Shania Twain on July 7, and several other country concerts are in the works, according to Saddeh.

“Country music has evolved into so much more than what it used to be. For artists that come to Prudential Center, it is their home away from home with supportive New Jersey fans. Artists can feel like one with the people,” Saddeh said.

While many country musicians have roots in the Deep South or along the dirt roads of small towns out West, New Jersey native Rachel Allyn has proved that one does not have to fit the geographical stereotype of a country performer.

Hailing from Sussex County, Allyn has been performing since she was 10, when she started listening to a mix of artists from rocker Elvis Costello to country singer Faith Hill. Accordingly, Allyn described her own style as a bit of rock mixed with country.

Though she plays her music all over the United States, Allyn said performing in New Jersey is easy and comfortable.

“When I put my band together three years ago, there wasn’t much of a country vibe in the state. Then, bars and restaurants came out with local country nights, and before you know it, Kenny Chesney is selling out at MetLife Stadium,” Allyn said.

Allyn has had the opportunity to share the stage with legends like Kenny Rogers and Sara Evans. On May 30, she will perform at the Boots, Brews and BBQs Festival at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson. The event will feature breweries, food trucks and performances by Allyn, Bulls Eye and Big Hix.

Allyn said a factor that has contributed to the country music craze in New Jersey is its accessibility.

“In the past 20 years, a lot of artists have crossed over to different genres, like Garth Brooks and Shania Twain, and even the biggest — Taylor Swift,” Allyn said.

While some country artists have a good feel for the fans of New Jersey, performing in the Garden State is an entirely new experience for performers like Wyoming’s Josh Dorr.

Dorr, 26, is a country musician signed with Sony Music Nashville who has co-written music for several musicians on the same record label. Dorr will bring his vocal talents to iPlay America in Freehold Township on June 27.

Having only traveled through New Jersey in the past, Dorr said he is excited to play music in front of a new crowd.

“New Jersey is so close to major media outlets like Philadelphia and their country stations, so I hope New Jersey is becoming the next Philly and spreading the country love,” Dorr said.

Dorr said country’s best aspect and what makes it so popular is the story being told through the lyrics.

“I love how it takes me out of my world and into another one. I always had a vivid imagination, and I love how a country song could make me close my eyes and for a moment it is like its own three-minute audiobook playing in my mind,” Dorr said.

While the classic image of country music may be associated with acoustic guitars and banjos, Dorr said the genre has incorporated a rock ’n’ roll feel in recent times.

“Country music is branching out, and artists are using instruments like drums to make their performances more epic. The genre is at a broader spectrum than it has ever been,” Dorr said.

Country music is also at the fingertips of residents and motorists in New Jersey through radio stations like Greater Media’s Country 102.5 FM. The former classical music station has become a staple for country listeners, according to Program Director Mike Brophey. Accessible online at Country1025.com, the station has been supporting the country scene for several years.

“The station is for all listeners, and we have been recognized by several notable country music associations,” Brophey said.

The variety in sound with country music is a major contributor to the genre’s rise in popularity, according to Brophey.

“There is a high percentage of country music [that is] what some would consider party and goodtime music. Country is lyrically real and relatable to listeners, whether they are fans of the genre or not … it doesn’t sound foreign to them,” Brophey said.

Though it is nearly 900 miles northeast of Nashville, New Jersey is establishing itself as a top market for country music, Saddeh said.

“I am excited to see the future of country, and if you ask anyone in the industry, you will see that the Northeast is becoming the strongest area for country music,” Saddeh said.

To some in the Garden State, country has transcended the music itself and has become a way of life, according to Weiser.

“As I see more and more fans come out to shows, tailgate in parking lots and really enjoy the artist they come out to see, I find that country isn’t a music genre, but a lifestyle,” Weiser said.