Intimate, stripped-back acoustic songs are British singer-songwriter Bobby Long’s bread and butter. With gravelly vocals and soul-baring lyrics, he's dazzled us with his brand new album, Sultans, which highlights Long’s distinctive Americana sound supported by solid backing instrumentals.
The multi-instrumentalist has made great strides in the British and American folk scenes ever since the 2008 Twilight soundtrack featured one of his first songs, “Let Me Sign,” which quickly became a staple for any Edward Cullen fangirl. In the decade plus since then, Bobby has released four full-length albums, toured around Europe and North America, and garnered a worldwide fan base who have given him millions of streams online.
This month, the acoustic rocker will embark on a 21-stop tour across the United States in support of his new Sgt. Pepper- inspired record, hitting New York, Philadelphia, Dallas, St. Louis, and more!
Based on the east coast, but originally from Greater Manchester, England, the well-traveled musician now resides in Jersey City with his family. Read below to discover his top picks from his home city, including everything from coffee shops to thrift stores!
The Grind Shop
3722, 360 Communipaw Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07304
"This is a great and friendly spot to get your coffee and breakfast from in the morning. They offer a wide array of pastry, great doughnuts and bagels as well as some CBD-based products. I head over there every morning to start the day, and the staff are really friendly."
Pinwheel Garden Dumpling and Noodle Bar.
318 Communipaw Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07304
"There are lots of places springing up on Communipaw at the moment, and this is my fave. Really tasty food in a pretty but unpretentious environment. The place is small so you can see your food being made in the kitchen, and the servers are always chatty and helpful. Family friendly so you don't feel like you are putting anyone out when accompanied by an energetic little boy like my son."
Cool Vines
276 Grove st, Jersey City, 07302
"This is probably showing my age--a few years ago I would've picked a bar. They always have a wide array of great wines and beers at great prices, and they have all been thoroughly reviewed and tasted by the staff. Because of the thoughtfulness of the staff, you never feel like an uneducated idiot when picking out a bottle. They also do tastings all the time. Sometimes I just dip in to taste some new spirit or wine so I have a buzz on the way home."
Liberty State Park
200 Morris Pesin Dr, Jersey City, NJ 07305
"Living in such close proximity to New York and seeing Manhattan from your window tends to dull your appreciation of the place. This park is really pretty, great for running, playing soccer, kids play area, walking the dog etc. But the best thing about the park is the view of the Statue of Liberty which has her back to the park. Having it so close to where we live and it being so accessible makes me realize how lucky we are living here. Ghostbusters 2 is one of my fave films growing up so I get a massive kick out of it. It also represents the greatness of America I think."
Another Man’s Treasure Vintage Store
200 Morris Pesin Dr, Jersey City, NJ 07305
"This place looks really cool, and they also always some really good vinyl. They even have a listening booth. We get our kid little vintage pieces from here that are affordable and super cool. We found this vintage Mickey Mouse jacket that I wished came in my size. I’ve found some great jackets in there, and my wife, who works in fashion, is always finding great pieces for herself. Again the staff are really, really nice and thoughtful."