Bruce Springsteen, the E Street Band and Noah Kahan are scheduled to headline the Sea.Hear.Now Festival on a New Jersey beach the weekend of September 14-15 — marking a triumphant homecoming show for the leader, who of course named his 1973 debut album after the festival location In Asbury Park. Kahan will headline on Saturday (September 14) and Springsteen will close out the festival with an undoubtedly epic performance on Sunday night.
Also on the bill are Trey Anastasio Band, Black Crowes, Norah Jones, Gaslight Anthem, 311, The Revivalists, Kool & The Gang, The Hives and more.
The festival — which celebrates music, surfing and art with more than 25 artists, three stages, a professional surf competition and art installations throughout the weekend — takes place at the city’s North Beach and Bradley Park. It was produced by Tim Donnelly, C3Presents, and top photographer Danny Clinch, who has photographed Springsteen several times over the years, including for the album cover of his 2020 album “Letter to You” and a 2017 cover story for diverse.
This year’s surf competition will return with the North Shore Sessions, where the pro surfer who catches the “wave of the day” will take home the prize. The 2024 surfing lineup includes surfers: Balaram Stack, champion Cam Richards, Sam Hammer, Cassidy McLean, Rob Kelly, Pat Schmidt, Mike Gleason, Tom Ehnken, Jimmy DeWitt, Logan Kamen, Cole Devenney and Audrey Igla.
Springsteen — who is scheduled to resume his North American tour March 19 in Phoenix — will appear at an event at Monmouth University’s Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music in West Long Branch on April 24 at the American Music Tribute Concert honoring Jackson Browne. And John Mellencamp, Dion DiMucci and Mavis Staples April 24 at the Pollack Theatre.
Previous Sea.Hear.Now headliners include Pearl Jam, Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins and last year’s 2023 lineup with Foo Fighters, Sheryl Crow and The Killers, who covered Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire” during their set.