A Winter Blues Takeover Comes to South Orange as a World-Class Festival Returns for Its Most Powerful Edition Yet

On Friday night, February 6, 2026, South Orange becomes the heartbeat of the regional blues scene as the third annual South Orange International Blues Festival: Winter Edition transforms the South Orange Performing Arts Center into a high-voltage celebration of sound, storytelling, and soul. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., this signature winter showcase promises far more than a concert. It delivers a full-spectrum journey through modern and traditional blues, curated with precision and passion by internationally respected bassist, producer, and cultural tastemaker Mike Griot.

In just three years, the Winter Edition of the South Orange International Blues Festival has grown into one of North Jersey’s most anticipated live music experiences, drawing devoted blues fans from across New Jersey and the greater New York City region. Its reputation is built on a simple but powerful idea: bring together exceptional artists who honor the roots of the blues while fearlessly expanding its boundaries. That philosophy has placed the festival firmly within the growing spotlight of New Jersey’s live performance culture highlighted throughout Explore New Jersey’s music coverage, which continues to showcase how the state’s venues are becoming essential platforms for world-class touring and emerging artists alike.

This year’s Winter Edition is designed to feel immersive and emotionally charged from the first note to the final encore. Audiences can expect an evening shaped by deep-pocket grooves, blistering guitar work, powerhouse vocals, and the kind of musical chemistry that only comes from artists who live and breathe the language of the blues. The lineup spans generations, styles, and geographic influence, creating a dynamic flow that moves seamlessly from raw acoustic traditions to electrified, modern blues-rock.

Leading the evening is King Solomon Hicks, one of the most exciting contemporary blues voices to emerge from Harlem’s storied music community. A gifted guitarist, vocalist, and composer, Hicks developed his sound while growing up immersed in a culture shaped by jazz, gospel, and classic blues. His award-winning album Harlem announced him as a major new presence on the national scene, earning industry recognition for its confident songwriting and expressive musicianship. On stage, Hicks blends fluid guitar phrasing with rich, commanding vocals, creating performances that feel both deeply rooted and unmistakably current. His ability to bridge traditional blues structures with jazz and R&B influences gives his live sets a rhythmic complexity that resonates with seasoned blues fans and first-time listeners alike.

Adding a powerful regional voice to the lineup is BLUES People, a New York and New Jersey-based band whose music captures the grit, urgency, and emotional honesty at the heart of modern American blues. Built on decades of collective experience, the group has earned a reputation for explosive live performances and uncompromising originality. Their debut album, The Skin I’m In, brought national attention to their songwriting, which confronts urban life, social struggle, and personal resilience through tightly arranged, groove-driven compositions. Recent victories at the International Blues Challenge have solidified their standing as one of the most compelling blues acts in the region, and their return to a New Jersey stage for this festival signals a homecoming moment for fans who have followed their rapid rise.

Eliza Neals brings a strikingly different but equally powerful dimension to the Winter Edition. An award-winning pianist, vocalist, producer, and bandleader, Neals is widely recognized for her commanding stage presence and fearless creative voice. With formal training in opera and mentorship from Motown songwriting legend Barrett Strong Jr., her musical foundation is both disciplined and deeply expressive. Neals fuses blues, rock, and soul into a high-impact performance style defined by emotional intensity and theatrical delivery. Her recordings receive daily national airplay, and her live shows have earned praise from some of the most influential names in blues and rock. With a rare three-and-a-half-octave vocal range and a reputation for unforgettable performances, Neals brings a modern, genre-blurring energy that expands the festival’s sonic reach.

Rounding out the lineup is New Moon Acoustic Blues, a trio dedicated to preserving and reawakening the earliest voices of the blues tradition. Led by guitarist and singer Karl Schwarz, the group focuses on high-energy acoustic blues inspired by Hill Country, Delta, and Piedmont styles. Joined by veteran guitarist Jack O’Hara and master percussionist Mark Ambrosino, the band recreates the raw emotional power of pre-electric blues while delivering performances filled with rhythmic drive and spontaneous interaction. Their set offers a powerful contrast to the festival’s electric acts, grounding the evening in the historical foundations that continue to influence every modern blues artist on the bill.

The guiding force behind the festival is Mike Griot, whose international career as a bassist and producer spans blues, jazz, soul, gospel, and hip-hop. His professional collaborations include Grammy-nominated and Grammy-winning artists across multiple genres, reflecting a creative versatility that has become central to his work as a curator. For South Orange audiences, Griot is also a familiar and deeply respected figure. He founded SOPAC’s acclaimed “In the Loft” performance series and has served for many years as the driving force behind its popular “Blues in the Loft” programs, helping to establish the venue as one of New Jersey’s most trusted homes for authentic, high-caliber blues programming. A longtime resident of South Orange and Orange, Griot’s commitment to community and cultural access has earned him widespread recognition for leadership in the arts.

What distinguishes the South Orange International Blues Festival from typical concert events is its intentional storytelling arc. The evening is carefully structured to highlight how blues continues to evolve while remaining anchored to its roots. Audiences are invited to experience not only virtuosity, but also narrative—songs shaped by history, migration, identity, hardship, and celebration. Each artist contributes a unique chapter to that larger story, creating a cohesive festival experience rather than a simple lineup of performances.

The Winter Edition also reflects a broader resurgence of intimate, artist-focused live music experiences across New Jersey. Smaller theaters and performing arts centers are playing an increasingly vital role in connecting local audiences with globally respected talent, offering the kind of close-range, emotionally immersive performances that large arenas simply cannot replicate.

In addition to the artistic experience, SOPAC continues to reward community support through its membership program. Patrons who hold Advocate-level memberships or higher receive access to discounted ticket pricing, reinforcing the venue’s commitment to keeping world-class live music accessible to the community it serves.

As winter settles over North Jersey, the third annual South Orange International Blues Festival: Winter Edition offers a powerful reminder of music’s ability to cut through the cold with warmth, connection, and shared experience. On February 6, South Orange will not simply host a concert. It will host a living celebration of the blues—its past, its present, and its rapidly unfolding future—brought vividly to life by artists whose voices continue to shape the sound of modern American music.

Meet the Artists

King Solomon Hicks 

King Solomon Hicks is a guitar phenom known for his mastery as a guitarist, vocalist, and composer. He grew up immersed in Harlem’s vibrant music scene, drawing inspiration from legendary musicians. He won the 2021 Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist with his acclaimed album “Harlem”. He has performed alongside legends like Buddy Guy, Tony Bennett, and Jeff Beck. His music blends blues, jazz, and R&B with a modern touch that reflects both tradition and innovation.  

Blues People 

BLUES People is a dynamic NY/NJ blues band known for their powerful musicianship and early comparisons to legends like The Meters and Buddy Guy. They released their debut album “The Skin I’m In” in 2024, which was nominated by BLUES BLAST MAGAZINE as Best New Artist Debut Album. The band members bring decades of experience, having supported major artists like Sue Foley and Bo Diddley Jr., and they won the North Jersey Blues Society International Blues Challenge in 2023 and 2024. BLUES People explores modern American blues through original songs that reflect urban life and struggle. Their fierce commitment to authenticity and roots makes them a standout force in contemporary blues. 
Eliza Neals 

Eliza Neals is an award-winning musician, pianist, producer, and bandleader whose powerhouse vocals and fiery stage presence are redefining modern blues-rock. A graduate with a BA in opera and protégé of Motown legend Barrett Strong Jr. (I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Papa Was a Rolling Stone), Eliza fuses blues, rock, and soul into unforgettable songs heard daily on SiriusXM’s B.B. King’s Bluesville. Praised by icons like Buddy Guy, Mick Jagger, Joe Louis Walker, and Walter Trout, she’s been invited four times to the Mustique Blues Festival, where Mick Jagger called her “a voice I soon won’t forget.” Recent honors include two 2024 Independent Blues Awards (“Road Warrior” plus “Best Blues-Rock Song” for Candy Store), 2024 Music Connection’s Hot 100 Unsigned Artist, and the 2018 Detroit Black Music Award for Blues Artist of the Year. With a three-and-a-half-octave range and a fearless creative spirit, Eliza Neals continues to break boundaries and electrify audiences worldwide. 
New Moon Acoustic Blues 

New Moon Acoustic Blues is a high energy traditional blues outfit led by guitarist and singer Karl Schwarz. The band performs all manner of Acoustic Blues typified by artists such as the Reverend Gary Davis, Robert Johnson and RL Burnside. Joining Karl on stage, his good friend on guitar, Mr. Jack O’Hara, who’s many musical credits include the late BB King and Lightning Hopkins. New Moon Acoustic Blues’ own, Mark Ambrosino, bringing a smooth and dynamic percussive accompaniment, who’s musical credits include Whitney Houston, Michael Brecker and Ray Charles, the trio brings a wonderful high energy to classic acoustic blues styles. New Moon Acoustic Blues never fails to resurrect on stage the powerful feelings of Hill Country, Delta and Piedmont Blues.

Festival Curator: Mike Griot 

MIKE GRIOT has criss-crossed the world for several decades as a sought-after bass player in a variety of musical genres including, blues, soul, jazz, gospel, and hip-hop.  His diverse credits include Grammy-nominee SUE FOLEY (blues), UK-soul pioneer OMAR (soul), Grammy-nominee RUSSELL GUNN (jazz), Grammy-winner HEZEKIAHWALKER (gospel),
GANGSTARR/GURU’s JAZMATTAZZ (hip hop) and dozens of globally-recognized artists.

Griot is proud to have founded SOPAC’s “In the Loft” series, and has served for many years as curator of its “Blues in the Loft” events. He has received the 2014 HANDS Community Leadership Award… and is a proud, longtime resident of both South Orange and Orange.