The Jersey Shore is one of the most appealing destinations on the East Coast, and Asbury Park stands out as one of its gems. This small city is famed for its sandy beaches, busy boardwalk, and prime surf, but may be best known for its live music events and venues. One of New Jersey’s biggest annual music events, the Sea.Hear.Now Festival, takes place at Asbury Park and is set to kick off at the end of the summer.
Sea.Hear.Now has been running since 2018 and is set along the Asbury Park waterfront with incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean. The festival is centered around music, but it also is an art, surfing, and food festival, with some of the proceeds going to ocean charities like the Surfrider Foundation and Save the Bay.
Sea.Hear.Now has featured some major acts in the short period it has existed. Musicians like Blondie, Bruce Springsteen, Joan Jett, Pearl Jam, and the Dave Matthews Band have all graced the festival’s stages. There are three stages, and typically, the music played has been a blend of rock, country, and indie.
This year’s festival takes place from September 17th-18th, and it has a lineup set to wow attendees, with famed musicians from some of the best-known bands of all time. The two headliners of the festival are Stevie Nicks and Green Day, and other performers include Cage the Elephant, My Morning Jacket, Billy Strings, and The Head and the Heart. All told, there will be 25 performances from incredible artists encompassing several genres.
The festival is not just music, but is also a celebration of the vibrant culture of the Jersey Shore, and surfing plays a big part in that. Asbury Park is a great area for catching waves, and this festival brings out some of the best professional surfers on the East Coast to showcase their talents.
The festival hosts The North Beach Rumble, an event featuring professional surfers. It takes place between some of the festival stages along the water, so attendees don’t have to leave the event to watch incredible elite athletes competing at their craft.
If you love New Jersey food, the Sea.Hear.Now festival festival provides a great selection of local snacks and meals. Some of the top restaurants and boardwalk snack suppliers will have booths on site, so attendees can enjoy some tasty treats while they listen to their favorite artists perform. There will be something for everyone, with an array of delicious cuisines available.
The Sea.Hear.Now Festival is also a celebration of the Jersey Shore’s art scene. Off the beach, there are a variety of art experiences. The Transparent Clinch Gallery is a big crowd-pleaser, offering immersive photography exhibitions documenting some of the top rock performers throughout history. There will also be other venues with incredible art installations and displays. And, the festival offers sponsored giveaways, so some will leave the event lucky winners.
Tickets are on sale now for this spectacular event. Two-day general admission tickets can be purchased for $215, and prices increase depending on the package purchased. The biggest package is the 2-day Ultimate Experience package, which is offered for $8,750 and includes luxury accommodations and backstage access.
The Sea.Hear.Now festival may be a relatively new addition to the Jersey Shore, but it is already a tradition people look forward to all year. This festival has a stacked lineup of incredible performers, a great surf show featuring top East Coast professionals, delicious food, and great art. It is a celebration of the music, art, and culture that makes the Jersey Shore special.
