Jersey Shore Music Festivals for Your Listening Pleasure
The Jersey shore is home to plenty of festivals throughout the summer, especially when it comes to music. Check out these Jersey shore music festivals!
Rock, Ribs, and Ridges
Rock, Ribs, and Ridges is a music and barbeque festival taking place June 25th to 26th on the Sussex County Fairgrounds. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. on both days. Saturday’s lineup includes Stolen Rhodes, The Steppin’ Stones, Pure Prairie League, Jefferson Starship, and Kansas. On Sunday, Farmer Phil Band, Artimus Pyle Band, The Outlaws, and Blues Traveler will take the stage. Buy tickets here.
Giralda Music & Arts Festival
The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra headlines the Madison, NJ Giralda Music & Arts Festival on June 26th starting at 4:00 p.m. There will be picnics, an art sale, and a 50/50 raffle. Tickets can be purchased here.
Black Potatoe Music Festival
The Black Potatoe Music Festival celebrates its 20th year from July 13th to the 15th in Clinton, NJ. The full line-up of independent musicians has yet to be released, but it’s sure to be amazing! Buy your tickets here.
Anglesea Blues Festival
Another music and barbeque event, the Angelsea Blues Festival runs July 8th to the 10th in North Wildwood. Main stage performances begin at 4:00 p.m. on Friday with Blue Jay Slim & the Tone Blasters and Steve Cal’ Band. On Saturday, the music begins at 11 a.m. with the Jeff Fetterman Band followed by Brian Brazil & the Hard Case, James Day & the Fish Fry, and Frank Bey & Swing City Blues Band. The weekend culminates with Bev Conklin and BC Combo. Best of all, this wonderful festival is free!
Maplewoodstock
The same weekend as Angelsea, Maplewoodstock presents free music from artists of various genres as well as food and art vendors. The festivities on Saturday start at noon with Marry the Sea, followed by Western Spur, Rose Boulevard, Glenn Franke’s Big Band, Dollar Store Riot, Pepperwine, Area 301, David Easton Band, Stuff. Bros., Big Mamou, featured act May Acuzena, and headliner Railroad Earth. The Spyce Classics kick off Sunday, followed by Men in My Head, Sun Cut Flat, Deaf Rhino, Tru Soul, Shakey Ground, Golden Bloom, Lisa Rott & The All-Terrain Band, Kwame Binea, featured act Nicole Atkins, and headliner NRBQ.
WNTI Stage
WNTI Stage runs July 15th to 17th in Knowlton Twp. Friday’s line-includes Slam Allen and the Grand Slambovians on the Main Stage and Strange River on the Cafe Stage. The music continues on Saturday with Bubba Grouch, the Grip Weeds, Steel Gravy, the Doughboys, Garland Jeffreys, and Los Straitjackets on the Main Stage and Cailin, Zach Russack, Paul Czekaj, Kirsten Maxwell, Dave Grieco, and Above Ground Blues Band on the Cafe Stage. The festival closes out on Sunday with the WNTI Band, Bovine Social Club, Incendio, and Uncle Floyd on the Main Stage and the Banjo Doodles & Friends, K C Roemer, Pentley Holmes, and Dana Gaynor Band on the Cafe Stage. Buy passes here.
Sourland Music Festival
The one-day Sourland Music Festival hits on July 23rd from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The Hillsborough event features local food and blues, folk, jazz, and rock music and benefits the Sourland Conservancy. This year’s line-up includes the CC Coletti Band, Ten Foot Tall, Jim Ridl, Christine Havrilla & G*psy Fuzz, and the Blue Wave Ramblers. Purchase tickets here.
Asbury Park Blues & Brews Festival
The Asbury Park Blues & Brews Festival takes place the same day as the Sourland Music Festival from noon to 8:00 p.m. Aside from music, the festival also features vendors, art, activities for children, a Beer Garden, and shopping downtown. The acts include the Asbury Park High School Jazz Band, Shore Blue Band, Brian Brazil & The Hard Case Blues Band, Running Dog Band featuring Lee Delray, Incinerators, Billy Walton Band, and the headliner Matt O-Ree Band.
Xponential Music Festival
The Xponential Music Festival runs the entire weekend of July 22nd to 24th. The Camden Waterfront festival is sponsored by WXPN 88.5FM and mixes established artists with newcomers. Friday headliners include Ryan Adams, Kurt Vile and the Violators, and Tommy Stinson. Alabama Shakes, Gary Clark Jr., and Chicano Batman play on Saturday. Brandi Carlile, Old Crow Medicine Show, and case/lang/viers wrap up the event on Sunday. Get your tickets here.
Soulsational Festival
The Soulsational Festival hits Bayville on July 30th. Aside from soul music, the festival will have vendors, a silent auction, a Food and Beer Garden, free yoga classes, a flash mob, and a kid village. Attendees are encouraged to bring food items or gently used toys in lieu of money to buy a ticket. The Shady Street Show Band, Accidental Seabirds, Foxanne, Medusa’s Disco, Don’t Know Jack, The Godlings, Jeanette Lynne, and Jake Tavill will perform on the main stage starting at 6:00 p.m. The Pavilion Stage will host Jessica Paris from Honey Spot Blvd., The Williamsboy, Kim & Dave, Gary Wright & Maxine Snow, Dave Mooney, Joshua Van Ness, Kevin John Allen, Al-Vis Al, Jo Marie & Company, Avery Mandeville, Second Time, Joey Taylor, Rose Manda Morri, Two Reds & a Beard, Ben Piper and the Leftovers, and Melissa Mayhew. Sounds like it’ll be huge!
Long Branch Jazz & Blues Festival
The Long Branch Jazz & Blues Festival starts at noon on July 27th. Along with great music, the festival will sell both local and international food and crafts and provide games for children. Jan Findlay, Dana Gaynor Band, Audrey Silver Quartet, Geoff Achison & The Soul Diggers, Joe Benjamin & A Mighty Handful, and Trudy Lynn Blues Review featuring Steve Krase will perform.
F.A.R.M. Fest
F.A.R.M. stands for the Future of Artistic and Revolutionary Minds. The event seeks to bring together a diversity of artistic talents who challenge musical conventions in Hammonton, NJ from July 22nd to 24th to celebrate love and encourage sustainability. 2016 performers include Andrelien (Heyoka), Bluetech, brightside, Buku, Cosby Sweater, Desert Dwellers, EOTO, Gladkill, Govinda, Liquid Stranger, Moon Hooch, Mshairi, Nadis Warriors, One.Man.And, Papadosio, PhuturePrimitive, Random Rab, Sexy Black Female, Skytree, Space Jesus, and Unlimited Aspect. Purchase tickets here.
Lincoln Park Music Festival
The free Lincoln Park Music Festival in Newark on July 29th attracts more than 50,000 attendees a year. Musical genres range from jazz and gospel to house and hip-hop. The are games, sports clinics, storytellers, and skateboarding for kids. Older guests can receive free health screenings, yoga lessons, massages, and farm produce. Visitors can make purchases at the green market and/or from the art and food vendors.
Festival of Ballooning
While the balloon festival does not focus on music, there are several performances throughout its three-day run from July 29th to 31st in Whitehouse Station, NJ. Third Eye Blind headlines Friday. Dove Cameron and Ryan McCartan and KC and The Sunshine Band will perform Saturday. John Kay and Steppenwolf and Foghat close out Sunday. There are also craft and food vendors, yoga, jazzercise, and fireworks. You can buy tickets here.
Montclair Jazz Festival
The Montclair Jazz Festival on August 13th does not have a line-up listed yet, but the event is free, so why miss it?
Canal Day Music & Arts Festival
The Canal Day Music & Arts Festival on August 20th in Wharton, NJ will hold performances by Paul Gargiulo Band,Leanne Weiss, John Rango of echofission & Friends, Son of Dov, Jonathan Andrew, The Wag, Denville String Band, Bon Temps Brass Band, and Ed Saultz & Terry Hartzell. Other fun activities include kayak and boat rides, a traveling zoo, and art show, ethnic food vendors, a historical site from the Civil War, pony and hay rides, and fireworks.
Highlands Festival
The Highlands Festival at Waterloo on September 18th will, aside from music, host biking, historical tours, kids’ games, dog shows, craft vendors, a farmers’ market, and a beer garden. There are no performers listed as of yet, but you can buy tickets here!
Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival
The Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival takes place over Labor Day weekend on the Salem County Fairgrounds. Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass, Uncle Earl Reunion, Audie Blaylock & Redline, Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen, Malpass Brothers, and Steep Canyon Rangers play Friday. On Saturday, guests will hear Kruger Bros., Jim Kweskin and Geoff Muldaur, Sister Sadie, Boxcars, Claire Lynch Band, and Rick Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. To close off the weekend, Chris Henry and Hard Core Bluegrass, Charm City Junction, Mike Compton and Joe Newberry, Kathy Kallick Band, and Seldom Scene will play on Sunday. Get your tickets here!
Which Jersey shore music festivals will you attend this summer?