As a New Jersey native, going down to the shore is a huge aspect of the summer season. Everything about it entices not only New Jersians, but tourists. Asbury Park is a hot spot, with its variety of restaurants, bars, and nightlife. However, what exactly happens when Asbury hits the off-season? Well for all you music lovers, there’s something in store for you: Sea.Hear.Now.
What is Sea.Hear.Now?
Sea.Hear.Now is a music festival that takes place every September in Asbury Park. Not only is it packed with a variety of artists, but the festival also provides food and surf. This is a weekend of fun; two days of music with over 25 different bands. The talent is spread across three different stages, all on the waterfront.
Sea.Hear.Now attracts at least tens of thousands of people, causing an abundance of large crowds. People from all over the tri-state area and beyond make the trek to the Jersey Shore just to experience what this festival has to offer.
The festival has been active for 5 years now, so although fairly new, it definitely has some popular artists under its belt. Let’s take a look at the history of Sea.Hear.Now, as well as some of the artists of past shows.
The Founders of Sea.Hear.Now
The festival has held annual shows since 2018, with the exception of 2020 due to COVID. The inaugural festival was held in that September and has continued in this month ever since. Although Founders Danny Clinch and Tim Donnelly made the festival official in 2018, they have been holding mini-art shows on the Asbury Park boardwalk for years.
After New Year’s Day in 2013, Clinch and Donnelly held a Hurricane Sandy fundraiser. This event included art, music, and surf. This is what launched Sea.Hear.Now into full force. The pair have known each other since childhood growing up in Toms River, NJ. They began to get close after graduating college.
Danny Clinch is a renowned journalist turned music photographer who began photographing in the 90s. He holds his own art tent at the festival titled, Transparent Clinch Gallery. Here, not only does he display his own work, but also holds a Sea.Hear.Now section within it. Clinch has many famous connections and even performed on stage with Pearl Jam at the 2021 festival.
Tim Donnelly is also a music photographer who began with his friend and partner Clinch in the 90s. He worked as a writer for MTV, Surfing Magazine, and Relix Magazine. Donnelly is passionate about working with charities, specifically the Surfrider Foundation. This is one foundation that is represented at Sea.Hear.Now every year.
Seeing the passion these two have for their craft, it’s no wonder that Sea.Hear.Now has become so successful.
Artists of the Past
One interesting aspect of this festival is that you will not know who is playing until way after tickets are purchased. This can leave fans in quite a hassle if they do not like the artists playing. However, this is doubtful given the festival’s incredible track record.
Sea.Hear.Now 2021 had some fantastic artists headlining. After being pushed back a year due to COVID, the festival decided to add even more performers to the setlist. Pearl Jam, The Smashing Pumpkins, Billy Idol, Lord Huron, and Orville Peck were just some of the many artists playing. The variety this festival provides allows each attendee to find music they connect to.
Last year’s festival in particular had attendees absolutely flabbergasted. The top headliner of the 2022 Sea.Hear.Now was the sensational Stevie Nicks. Her set had the crowd in a chokehold, setting up the rest of the festival for success. She was soon followed by Backseat Lovers, Cage the Elephant, Green Day, and Wet Leg also made great appearances.
Although it seems like absolutely nothing can top these lineups, this year’s is definitely a close second. Two amazing headliners, The Killers and the Foo Fighters were a major hit. The Killers played their popular hit, “Mr. Brightside,” which got the crowd hyped. They were followed up by Greta Van Fleet, Weezer, Mt. Joy, and Stephen Sanchez.
Greeta Van Fleet blessed the crowd with a live performance of their upbeat “Safari at Sea,” while Stephen Sanchez played his love ballad, “I Found You.” The range of these artists is incredible, gifting the audience with live renditions of their art. The waterfront atmosphere, topped with the beautiful September breeze provided for a fun-filled, memorable weekend.
What is Next For Sea.Hear.Now?
Although you are taking a risk by purchasing tickets without knowing what artists will be performing, there is very little chance you will be disappointed. Just from this year alone, the variety of artists is astounding. Really, it can only go up from here!
You can definitely plan for another year of Sea.Hear.Now given the popularity it continues to see each year. If you’re looking to buy tickets, do so early as they sell out fast! Presale begins as early as February. Take a look on their Instagram for specific updates regarding next year’s festival. Who knows? Maybe you’ll see your favorite artists up on the main stage!
