The High Note

Tina Notaro

Atlantic City's own Tina Notaro joins The High Note Podcast to talk about her remarkable journey as an event creator, community builder, and the beating heart of Atlantic City's arts and nightlife scene. We dig into her work with Noetrope — the movement she built around creating noetic experiences — the legendary Beach Rave at Crystals beach, the New Moon Night Market at Anchor Rock Club, and her role as Program Manager at the Atlantic City Arts Foundation. Tina also shares how she became an officially licensed clown in Atlantic City, how she got the permit that brought Making Waves to the beach, and what's coming up in 2026 — including Night Market dates, Dance Alarm, and the 48 Blocks Festival. Upcoming Noetrope Events: * Night Market (free before 8 PM / $15 after) — May 15, August 21, November 28 @ Anchor Rock Club * Dance Alarm — July 31 @ Anchor Rock Club * No Trope's Haunted Mansion — October 30 @ Anchor Rock Club * 48 Blocks Festival — September 19 (Free, Uptown Park & Fisherman's Park, Atlantic City) * Beach Rave's Haunted Mansion — Oct. 30 * Making Waves Beach Festival — Coming back in 2025, TBA Links: * Noetrope: noetrope.net [https://www.noetrope.net/] * Atlantic City Arts Foundation: atlanticcityartsfoundation.org [https://atlanticcityartsfoundation.org/] * Chelsea EDC: chelseaedc.org [https://www.chelseaedc.org/] Please support The High Note and [https://www.chelseaedc.org/]Buy Me A Coffee [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/highnoteblog]. Subscribe to The High Note podcast anywhere you subscribe to podcasts, including Apple Podcasts [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-high-note/id1143669618?mt=2], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7KM1eoBfP18sqnj8SYmkQc?si=TjUGgm5GRQehiU-fr7G0nA&dl_branch=1], Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/41e289d6-e399-4b28-9da9-22ce7a813c50/the-high-note], Stitcher, [https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-high-note?refid=stpr]and TuneIn. [https://tunein.com/podcasts/Podcasts/The-High-Note-p903715/] Follow @HighNoteBlog anywhere you go on social media including TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@highnoteblog], X [https://twitter.com/highnoteblog], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/highnoteblog/], Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/highnoteblog] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/TheHighNotewithShaunSmith/]. Subscribe to The High Note E-Zine. [https://highnoteblog.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=4023dee89c0868aeec1ee6675&id=a794854b6e] Paul "Dawg" Dixon wrote, composed and recorded the intro and outro music. The voices you hear at the end are Graeme Armstrong [https://highnoteblog.com/episode-27-talisk-at-60th-annual-philadelphia-folk-festival/], Steve Poltz and Keller Williams. [https://highnoteblog.com/keller-williams-and-steve-poltz-interview-shut-the-folk-up/]

Just Wiln

In this episode of The High Note podcast, I sit down with New Jersey alternative rock artist Just Wiln [https://linktr.ee/justwiln] to discuss his debut full-length album "Primer," released Dec. 12, 2025. We dig into the creative process behind compiling updated mixes of previously released singles alongside brand new material, and explore what makes this his most personal and raw record yet. About Just Wiln Justyn Wielenta, known to music fans as Just Wiln, is an alternative and country rock artist from Hamilton, New Jersey. His sound blends elements of alternative, folk, grunge, indie, and rock into something distinctly his own. "Primer" marks his first full-length album, following a series of singles, EPs, and the 2023 release "Bad Chemistry." He is also a photographer [https://www.instagram.com/justynwielen/]. About the Album: "Primer" Released December 12, 2025, "Primer [https://justwiln.bandcamp.com/album/primer]" is a 13-track collection that brings together updated mixes of previously released singles with new, unheard material—including live in-studio performances. The album was produced, mixed, and mastered by Just Wiln and Greg Recchia. Please support The High Note and Buy Me A Coffee [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/highnoteblog]. Subscribe to The High Note podcast anywhere you subscribe to podcasts, including Apple Podcasts [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-high-note/id1143669618?mt=2], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7KM1eoBfP18sqnj8SYmkQc?si=TjUGgm5GRQehiU-fr7G0nA&dl_branch=1], Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/41e289d6-e399-4b28-9da9-22ce7a813c50/the-high-note], Stitcher, [https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-high-note?refid=stpr]and TuneIn. [https://tunein.com/podcasts/Podcasts/The-High-Note-p903715/] Follow @HighNoteBlog anywhere you go on social media including TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@highnoteblog], X [https://twitter.com/highnoteblog], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/highnoteblog/], Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/highnoteblog] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/TheHighNotewithShaunSmith/]. Subscribe to The High Note E-Zine. [https://highnoteblog.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=4023dee89c0868aeec1ee6675&id=a794854b6e] Paul "Dawg" Dixon wrote, composed and recorded the intro and outro music. The voices you hear at the end are Graeme Armstrong [https://highnoteblog.com/episode-27-talisk-at-60th-annual-philadelphia-folk-festival/], Steve Poltz and Keller Williams. [https://highnoteblog.com/keller-williams-and-steve-poltz-interview-shut-the-folk-up/]

John Flynn

John Flynn [https://johnflynn.net/] stops by The High Note to talk about his long history with the Philadelphia Folk Festival, his meaningful work with incarcerated individuals through New Beginnings - Next Step [https://www.nb-ns.org/], and his new album "Kindred Spirits [https://www.amazon.com/Kindred-Spirits-John-Flynn/dp/B0FSDRCHVJ]," which is out now. We also get into his friendship with the legendary Kris Kristofferson. You can catch John live this fall and winter. On November 23rd, he'll be in Devon, PA for a benefit concert supporting disaster relief for victims of this past summer's devastating floods in Kerrville, Texas [https://mluc.breezechms.com/form/953e7c3036418609045]. On Thursday, December 4th, he's playing the storied Lansdowne Folk Club in his native Delco—get details at folkclub.org/concert-schedule [https://folkclub.org/concert-schedule/]. And finally, on December 18th, John continues his annual tradition (30 years now!) with a fundraiser for Camp Dreamcatcher, a therapeutic summer camp for kids dealing with AIDS/HIV, at The Kennett Flash - https://kennettflash.org/events [https://kennettflash.org/events]. Our apologies for some minor sound issues in this episode. Mother Nature had other plans—it was a stormy day on the East Coast. Please support The High Note and Buy Me A Coffee [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/highnoteblog]. Subscribe to The High Note podcast anywhere you subscribe to podcasts, including Apple Podcasts [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-high-note/id1143669618?mt=2], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7KM1eoBfP18sqnj8SYmkQc?si=TjUGgm5GRQehiU-fr7G0nA&dl_branch=1], Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/41e289d6-e399-4b28-9da9-22ce7a813c50/the-high-note], Stitcher, [https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-high-note?refid=stpr]and TuneIn. [https://tunein.com/podcasts/Podcasts/The-High-Note-p903715/] Follow @HighNoteBlog anywhere you go on social media including TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@highnoteblog], X [https://twitter.com/highnoteblog], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/highnoteblog/], Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/highnoteblog] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/TheHighNotewithShaunSmith/]. Subscribe to The High Note E-Zine. [https://highnoteblog.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=4023dee89c0868aeec1ee6675&id=a794854b6e] Paul "Dawg" Dixon wrote, composed and recorded the intro and outro music. The voices you hear at the end are Graeme Armstrong [https://highnoteblog.com/episode-27-talisk-at-60th-annual-philadelphia-folk-festival/], Steve Poltz and Keller Williams. [https://highnoteblog.com/keller-williams-and-steve-poltz-interview-shut-the-folk-up/]

John Brancy

Grammy-winning baritone and New Jersey native John Brancy [https://www.johnbrancy.com/] joins The High Note ahead of his show John Brancy and Peter Dugan Live at the 609 Club this Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Celebrity Theatre inside The Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City. We talk about his South Jersey roots, his career on the world's greatest stages and the cabaret-style performance he and pianist Peter Dugan are bringing home as part of the North to Shore Festival. Listen to "Journey Home: Live from the Kennedy Center [https://www.avie-records.com/releases/the-journey-home/]" Get tickets to John Brancy and Peter Dugan Live at the 609 Club [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/john-brancy-and-peter-dugan-live-at-the-609-club-tickets-1296235488239] benefiting the Atlantic City Arts Foundation [https://atlanticcityartsfoundation.org/]. Subscribe to The High Note podcast anywhere you subscribe to podcasts including Apple Podcasts [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-high-note/id1143669618?mt=2], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7KM1eoBfP18sqnj8SYmkQc?si=TjUGgm5GRQehiU-fr7G0nA&dl_branch=1], Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/41e289d6-e399-4b28-9da9-22ce7a813c50/the-high-note], Stitcher [https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-high-note?refid=stpr]and TuneIn. [https://tunein.com/podcasts/Podcasts/The-High-Note-p903715/] Follow @HighNoteBlog anywhere you go on social media including TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@highnoteblog], X [https://twitter.com/highnoteblog], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/highnoteblog/], Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/highnoteblog] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/TheHighNotewithShaunSmith/]. Subscribe to The High Note E-Zine. [https://highnoteblog.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=4023dee89c0868aeec1ee6675&id=a794854b6e] Paul "Dawg" Dixon wrote, composed and recorded the intro and outro music. The voices you hear at the end are Graeme Armstrong [https://highnoteblog.com/episode-27-talisk-at-60th-annual-philadelphia-folk-festival/], Steve Poltz and Keller Williams. [https://highnoteblog.com/keller-williams-and-steve-poltz-interview-shut-the-folk-up/]

Jayne Toohey

On this episode of The High Note podcast I'm joined by Jayne Toohey — photographer, author and the press contact for the Philadelphia Folk Festival [http://folkfest.org]. Jayne is the creative force behind "Smiling Banjo: A Half Century of Love & Music at the Philadelphia Folk" Festival, a beautiful collection of images and stories that capture the heart of the event. The 62nd annual Philadelphia Folk Festival kicks off Thursday, Aug. 14 through Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, at the Old Pool Farm in Upper Salford Township, Pennsylvania. It's the longest-running continuously held outdoor music festival in North America, celebrating a mix of folk traditions, contemporary artists and community spirit. In our conversation, Jayne shares insights about the history of the festival, her journey photographing its people and performances, and what makes this year's lineup special. 🎵 Links and Resources Buy the book: "Smiling Banjo: A Half Century of Love & Music at the Philadelphia Folk Festival" [https://schifferbooks.com/products/smiling-banjos] Philadelphia Folk Festival Aug. 14-17, 2025: folkfest.org [https://folkfest.org/] Subscribe to The High Note podcast anywhere you subscribe to podcasts including Apple Podcasts [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-high-note/id1143669618?mt=2], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7KM1eoBfP18sqnj8SYmkQc?si=TjUGgm5GRQehiU-fr7G0nA&dl_branch=1], Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/41e289d6-e399-4b28-9da9-22ce7a813c50/the-high-note], Stitcher [https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-high-note?refid=stpr]and TuneIn. [https://tunein.com/podcasts/Podcasts/The-High-Note-p903715/] Follow @HighNoteBlog anywhere you go on social media including TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@highnoteblog], X [https://twitter.com/highnoteblog], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/highnoteblog/], Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/highnoteblog] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/TheHighNotewithShaunSmith/]. Subscribe to The High Note E-Zine. [https://highnoteblog.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=4023dee89c0868aeec1ee6675&id=a794854b6e] Paul "Dawg" Dixon wrote, composed and recorded the intro and outro music. The voices you hear at the end are Graeme Armstrong [https://highnoteblog.com/episode-27-talisk-at-60th-annual-philadelphia-folk-festival/], Steve Poltz and Keller Williams. [https://highnoteblog.com/keller-williams-and-steve-poltz-interview-shut-the-folk-up/]