Sea.Hear.Now, the sun-soaked festival on the Jersey Shore is returning on September 14th & 15th, 2024. Situated right in Asbury Park, NJ, the set that has everyone scurrying for tickets is easily the three-hour closing performance of Bruce Springsteen. Although we fully expect to welcome the Boss home with open arms, who else at the festival should you see? Read along for a guide to the undercards that might just be your new favorite acts.
Before we get into it, what makes this festival so special? Well, it’s Jersey. I’ve lived here my whole life and of all the places I go to, you tell someone you’re from here, and I’m ready to fight tooth and nail with whoever badmouths it. In the same way, only we can talk smack, we are the only ones who can offer you our experience, so when we do, you take it. This festival is Jersey, created by locals Danny Clinch and Tim Donnelly six years ago, and made to emulate the vibe of the local venue, the Stone Pony, it is an embodiment of us. That venue still sits right across from the festival beach and hosts late-night shows for those who think a full night of music is better than a glass of wine for winding down from the full day of music they paired with it. Arguably the most famous venue in NJ, the launching pad for careers of superstars like Springsteen, and now he returns home to rock the festival based on it. There isn’t a part of this weekend that I’m not excited for, my dad is especially counting down the days. Now, back to our guide, kicking it off with Joe P on the festival’s first day.
Saturday, September 14th, 2024
Joe P
Genre – Alternative/Indie
Most Popular Song – “Off My Mind”
My Favorite Song – “Leaves”
Joe P is a native, living right in the same town where the festival is taking place (I envy his commute). I’ve gotten to speak with Joe a couple of times and he’s a real sweetheart, but unfortunately, I always just miss his shows, but not this time. I’ve been a fan of his for just under two years now after his song “Off My Mind” began to blow up on social media. I’ve been very excited about his much-anticipated album, released on August 23rd, 2024, by the name of Garden State Vampire, named for that state we both share and his below-ground basement residence. I emphatically enjoy his sound, a solid foundation of indie with course yet smooth vocals laid overtop, and an unfearful experimentation of sounds layered through the back of his songs. He has a skillful way of crafting music that sounds like every other song from the genre I love, yet at the same time, giving me something refreshingly new. I will be in his set for the excitement of his music, and to embrace the new artists of Asbury Park getting to play the same stages as the old. Kicking off with Joe and closing with Springsteen will be the hello and goodbye from Asbury natives to all those who give our music a shot.
Sierra Ferrel
Genre – Country/Folk
Most Popular Song – “In Dreams”
My Favorite Song – “Fox Hunt”
If I had to choose something to compare Sierra Ferrel’s voice to, she’s easily a siren. I’m actually a bit nervous about her performance as the festival has a culture of boats pulling up in the ocean to watch the stages from the bobbing decks of their vessels. This may serve as an issue once Ferrel takes the stage and her delicate Appalachian calls begin to dance along musical ranges, her fingers bounding between strings and frets, there may be several sailors that abort their ships in favor of surfing the notes of her voice to the stage like a cartoon character smelling a pie cooling on the windowsill. Jokes aside, she has an enveloping voice that gives you a warm hello, then slaps you on the ass to get your feet moving and kicking like a bard performing for ye olde tavern. The way her voice so effortlessly jumps between scales, high to low notes falling perfectly out of her, it gives me chills just replaying her songs in my head. It feels good, it sounds good, it is good. I’ll be picking up the sides of my dress and kicking my boots in the sand at her set, so if you see me join me.
The Revivalists
Genre – Alternative Rock
Most Popular Song – “Wish I Knew You”
My Favorite Song – “Wait For The Sun”
I’ve been lucky enough to see this band of New Orleans artists twice now, both at festivals, and both times I just had to stay for the full set. Their energy is unmatched, and being from New Orleans, they have technically amazing musicians who consistently bring down the house. Frontman, David Shaw, has a strikingly powerful voice that can confidently hold a crowd throughout their set, a set built to allow the eight parts of the whole to flourish, with breaks for instrumentals that consist of dueling pianos and brass that throw you right onto Bourbon Street. These are some of the bands that I see on the lineup for a fest like this and just think, yeah that’s a no-brainer I’ll be there. They’ll pair perfectly with a sandy IPA on the boardwalk and fail to dance while a circle forms around me.
Sunday, September 15th, 2024
The Aces
Genre – Indie Pop
Most Popular Song – “Daydream”
My Favorite Song – “Girls Make Me Wanna Die”
Four-piece indie pop group, The Aces, would be my choice for starting off your second day at Sea.Hear.Now right. Consisting of two sisters and two friends, it’s hard not to have a good time feeling their music as they play it. Influenced by bands like The 1975 and The Strokes, they bring a feminine sound to the side of the genre that needs it. I prefer the less produced sound that they have been maturing into with more recent releases, as it seems to me, that they’ve shifted to focus more on what makes them great, their voice and their instrumentation. This shift has also not lost their experimentation with sound that gave them a unique edge in the first place, if anything they’ve honed in their skill and continue to improve with each new release. I’m very excited to see what their career has in store for them, but for now, I’ll settle with watching them deliver a stellar performance on the beach.
Action Bronson
Genre – Hip Hop/Rap
Most Popular Song – “Baby Blue”
My Favorite Song – “Bonzai”
Action Bronson is a proven industry name, boasting collaborations with Chance the Rapper and Mac Miller, it’d be a crime to not stop by for his performance. I was pleasantly surprised to see his name on the lineup, but his tangled lyricism and abstract beats would catch my ear whether I knew who he was or not, though I would maybe think he was someone else for a minute…but that’s neither here nor there. His stage presence is always one to be reckoned with as he just exudes ownership of his surrounding space. I’m not sure if he will, but hopefully, he can be accompanied by his live band because that is when he truly goes from great to fantastic, either way, I’ll be there.
Norah Jones
Genre – Pop/Jazz
Most Popular Song – “Don’t Know Why”
My Favorite Song – “Come Away With Me”
Nine-time GRAMMY-winning artist Norah Jones will also be gracing the area with a performance as the sun begins to dip over the dunes. Frankly, I’m stoked, like are you kidding me? I can’t wait to hear that first pop of sound on the word “waited” off of “Don’t Know Why.” Once I hear that, she’s got my full undivided attention. Her jazzy sultry voice is like velvet to the ears, over her soothing soft backings, it’s magic. Releases as recent as March of this year continue to offer great music with tracks like “Running,” and quite honestly, any artist successful enough to make a Christmas album is someone I’ll stop to listen to ten out of ten times. If you like her old stuff, you’ll like her new, so I urge you to show up for more than just the end of her set. She’s a true musician.
No matter what your schedule looks like, you’re going to have a fantastic day of music ahead of you. My best piece of advice, and if you hear anything from this article, hear this, bring sunscreen. You’ll see a lot of permanent sunglasses and half-circles from hats sitting upon the forehead of many, so don’t be one of them. Have fun, be safe, tip your bartenders, and see you there.
