Southside Johnny

New Jersey sound comes to Morris concert series

The thing we recall most about seeing Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes at a Hamden outdoor concert in 2012 is how straight-forward great they were as musicians. You didn’t need to know their songs to enjoy everything they played.

Longtime fans already knew that, especially after 30 albums, several EPs, a box set and constant live shows around the world. The New Jersey group’s sound is exuberant rhythm and blues backed by a special horn section. And they’re due in Morris (south of Litchfield, east of Bantam Lake) at South Farms on Labor Day weekend.

Johnny and the Jukes emerged from the New Jersey shore scene in 1974, associated with the sound and personnel of Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band. Guitarist/songwriter

Steve Van Zandt organized the band with John Lyon (aka Southside Johnny, who is71) before joining the E Street Band, but Van Zandt kept ties with the Jukes.

The storied group, with songs such as “I Don’t Wanna Go Home,” “Havin’ a Party,” “The Fever,” “Talk to Me” and “This Time It’s For Real,” is the latest act in the Twilight Concerts on the Farm series of live outdoor shows Saturday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. (Gates open at 5:30 p.m.)

Tickets for the New Havenbased, Manic Presents/Premier Concerts event are $150 per socially distanced grid, with a max of two people per grid. It’s rain or shine, with no outside food or drink allowed.

On Sunday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m. at the South Farms location (21 Higbie Road in Morris) will be the Chicago Transit Authority tribute band.

TIckets are $30 ($20 in advance) at https://www .tixr.com/groups/nhcpa southfarms/events /connecticut-transit -authority-chicago-tribute -19116.

Manic Presents / Contributed photo Southside Johnny Lyon, known as the grandfather of the New Jersey sound.

Manic Presents / Contributed photo The Chicago tribute band will be at South Farms in Morris Sept. 6.