Thousands gather shoulder to shoulder on the Asbury Park Beach and Boardwalk. Loud music and vivid, colorful, lights fill the beach. Over 25 bands perform amongst the three Sea Hear Now stages, like mountains above the crowd.

The Sea Hear Now festival made its mark in Asbury Park once again, for locals and all music lovers to enjoy. Produced by Danny Clinch, Tim Donnelly, and Tim Sweetwood, the festival returns for its 6th annual event giving attendees a plethora of music, art, and surfing for a fun weekend. This year, 2024, the festival took place on the weekend of September 14th and 15th, and over 35,000 people attended. This year, headliners Noah Khan and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band took the main stage and gathered the weekend’s biggest crowds.

On the first day, bands began to play at 12:30pm, kickstarting with Sonic Blume on the Park Stage and Bo Staloch on the Sand Stage. The night ended with headliner Noah Khan, whose set began at 9:00 p.m. and ended at 10:30pm. He gathered crowds from across the boardwalk and played 16 songs in his set, starting with “Dial Drunk” and ending with “Stick Season.” 

Sunday began at 11:40 am and ended around 10:40 pm. with the long-awaited headliner for the night, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Not only did he headline, but he also came out earlier in the day for surprise performances with bands, Gaslight Anthem and Trey Anastasio. Springsteen returned to his hometown for the music festival and gathered crowds of all ages, lining the beach for his set. His set was 30 songs, opening with “Lonesome Day” and finishing with “Jersey Girl.” Going overtime, the set lasted a little over three hours but was one to remember for the festival attendees and the residents of New Jersey.

Sea Hear Now continues to bring locals and fans back each year to continue the fun. Although it is still secretive, many wonder what’s in store for Sea Hear Now next year.