New Sea Hear Now experience awaits Bruce Springsteen in Asbury Park. Here's the schedule
Get ready for a new Sea Hear Now experience this weekend.
There will be four additional delay towers with speakers to carry the sound of the music unimpeded on the beach, and two new video towers on the beach to bring fans closer to the visuals — plus other changes including more exits on and off the beach, improved signage, and less smoking in the crowd.
“We’re going to crack down on smoking,” said Asbury Park Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn. “It's a family-friendly event because people bring their kids there, so we need a little less smoking.”
The beach near the front of the main Surf Stage, where Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are playing on Sunday, Sept. 15, will be a no blanket zone. The city and festival organizers collaborated on tweaks for the this year's fest, Quinn said.
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“Last year, we got more complaints then we've gotten in previous years, and as a result I asked people to email me concerns they had with the festival. And I can tell you many of the concerns were implemented into this year’s festival,” Quinn said.
Some fans complained of larger than normal crowds last year. Quinn said the city is able to track how many attendees were at the fest, and that figure never exceeded the announced 35,000, which is the same as this year.
The Sea Hear Now music, art and surfing festival was founded in 2018 by locals Danny Clinch, who has shot several Springsteen album covers, and Tim Donnelly with Tim Sweetwood of C3 Presents.
Incubus and Jack Johnson were the headliners of the inaugural fest.
Opportunities in town: Asbury Park wants you to Shop Here Now with discounts, special events during Sea Hear Now
“Hurt Somebody” singer-songwriter Noah Kahan headlines the Saturday, Sept. 14, show. The Gaslight Anthem, the Trey Anastasio Band, the Black Crowes, Norah Jones, 311, the Revivalists, Kool & The Gang, the Hives and more will play over the two days on the fest’s three stages on the North Beach and in Bradley Park.
E Street Band fans might want to pay extra attention to the Transparent Clinch Gallery pop-up in Bradley Park at the fest.
“You may see a performance or two,” Sweetwood said.
Tickets are sold out for Sea Hear Now, but prices begin at $220 for Saturday, $330 for Sunday on the secondary market.
The city will have extra police, EMTs and first responders on duty this weekend, Quinn said.
“We’re so excited that (Springsteen is ) coming back to his roots in Asbury Park,” said Quinn. “The city has prepared for every possible contingency when he’s here. We expect the biggest crowds to be on Sunday when Bruce is here. We are ready and welcoming and happy to see him again.”
Go: Sea Hear Now, noon to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, and 11:30 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, North Beach and Bradley Park, 1300 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park, sold out; seahearnow.com.
Sea Hear Now set times
SATURDAY
Surf Stage
1:15 p.m.: Passafire
2:45 p.m.: Sierra Ferrell
4:45 p.m.: The Revivalists
6:45 p.m.: The Black Crowes
9 p.m.: Noah Kahan
Park Stage
12:30 p.m.: Sonic Blume
2 p.m.: Robert Randolph Band
3:45 p.m.: Guster
5:45 p.m.: The Hives
8 p.m.: 311
Sand Stage
12:30 p.m.: Bo Staloch
2 p.m.: Joe P
3:45 p.m.: Ziggy Alberts
5:45 p.m.: Grace Potter
8 p.m.: Peaches
SUNDAY
Surf Stage
Noon: Illiterate Light
2 p.m.: Joy Oladokun
3:25 p.m.: Kool and the Gang
5:25 p.m.: Trey Anastasio Band
7:30 p.m.: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Park Stage
11:40 a.m.: Sunshine Spazz
12:40 p.m.: The Aces
2:25 p.m.: Eggy
4:25 p.m.: Norah Jones
6:25 p.m.: The Gaslight Anthem
Sand Stage
11:40 a.m.: Rachel Ana Dobken
12:40 p.m.: Berhta: Grateful Drag
2:25 p.m.: Wilderadd
4:25 p.m.: Action Bronson
6:25 p.m.: Gogol Bordello
Sea Hear Now club shows
Stone Pony, 913 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park
Grace Potter, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13
The Ocean Avenue Stomp featuring the Tangiers Blues Band with the Ocean Ave. Stompers and guests, 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14
Wonder Bar, 1213 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park
“There Goes the Neighborhood” featuring Tide Bends, Not Yer Baby and Surfing for Daisy, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13
Bertha: Grateful Drag, 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14
Asbury Lanes, 209 4th Ave., Asbury Park
Little Steven's Underground Garage Presents Asbury Park A Go-Go Sea Hear Now Afterparty with Chesterfield Kings, Bobby Mahoney, Wyldlife, Shang Hi Los, Joy Buzzer, 10 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15
North Beach Rumble Surf Contest
12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 12:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday, with Balaram Stack, Cam Richards, Sam Richards, Cassidy McClain, Rob Kelly, Pat Schmidt, Mike Gleason, Tommy Ihnken, Logan Kamen, Jamie Dewitt, Cole Deveney, Audrey Iglay and Paul Francisco.
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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Bruce Springsteen plays Sea Hear Now in Asbury Park, schedule, set
