Jim Testa/ Jersey Journal
While the long-awaited opening of White Eagle Hall proved to be the biggest story of 2017, it was a very good year for musicians and fans of live local music in Jersey City, Hoboken and the rest of Hudson County in many other ways as well.
Even the weather cooperated throughout the summer and into the fall, with a terrific season of Jersey City’s Groove on Grove, outdoor concerts in Hoboken, and a record-setting turnout for The Ghost of Uncle Joe’s, the annual Halloween benefit for the Historic Jersey City & Harsimus Cemetery.
Fans enjoyed regular shows at the Fox & Crow in Jersey City Heights, Porta and the Pet Shop Downtown, festivals and special events at Cathedral Hall, and a slew of top-flight live events at WFMU’s Monty Hall in Jersey City. In Hoboken, Maxwell’s Tavern continued to present local talent along with country and blues nights, with open mics at Finnegan’s and other taverns providing a stage for up-and-coming talent.