Category: Beyond NYS

Sauce City Releases New Music Video For “Lens of One”

Indie band Sauce City has shared their new music video for their soulful single “Lens of One” ahead of the bands’ live performance at Drom in the East Village on April 19.

The East Village-based band Sauce City have shared that their music video was also a submission to the 2024 Tiny Desk Contest. This year’s Tiny Desk contest has received over 6,600 entries so far, with mostly being from the independent artists who make up the community.

The trio shared that they named their band “Sauce City” because they love sauces more than food. The two, Paul and Eric first met at a band camp on Long Island whilst they were still middle schoolers. The two later met Kirin while she was their collegiate in an a cappella group. After networking with a drummer and bassist, the trio moved to NYC and started jamming together in April of 2022 and Sauce City was born.

When describing the inspiration behind the single, Kirin shared that in July 2023, her NYC apartment was burglarized just before their big single-release show the next day leaving her without a guitar to play. Kirin added “In the kindest of gestures, our close family friend, Glenn Coleman, gifted me a beautiful Epiphone to use from his personal collection. Having solely founded the company “Coleman Audio”, Glenn was a pioneer in the recording industry. Legends such as Stevie Wonder and Joan Jett not only used his unique analog consoles to record, but also developed personal relationships with Glenn over the years”.

After the set back from the inherent trauma, Glenn texted Kirin to “take all these feelings and write a song” as he gifted her his guitar right before he passed from his long battle with cancer three months later.

But in the midst of all the turbulent series of events, and in following Glenn’s wise advice, Kurin wrote “Lens of One”. A soulful single that reminds many of how the world is full of beautiful, radiant highs but also dark, and sometimes scary lows. “The culmination of these, however, is what gives us our own unique perspective on the world – our “Lens of One”,” She added.

After sharing their music video for the contest, the band will also be performing at Drom in the East Village on April 19th, with tickets available on Drom’s website.

To learn more about the soulful band, fans can visit here.

March 15, 2024
Nigeria’s Most Wanted Tour Arrives at Irving Plaza in May

Afrobeats artists Shallipopi and Odumodublvck have announce a co-headline ‘Nigeria’s Most Wanted Tour 2024’, the first-ever joint tour in Afrobeats history. The nine-city tour includes a stop at Irving Plaza on Thursday, May 2.

Shallipopi (Crown Uzama), also known as Pluto Presido, stands as a testament to the boundless potential of creativity and the rapid influence of social media in the music world. Hailing from Benin in Nigeria, Shallipopi has crafted a unique niche for himself as an exceptionally talented singer and trendsetter.

It was 2023 that witnessed his meteoric ascent, as he unleashed his hit single “Elon Musk.” The song became an instant sensation, catapulting him into the spotlight and setting the stage for a series of subsequent triumphs. Hits like “Sharpiru” and the electrifying remix of “Elon Musk” further solidified his status as a musical force to be reckoned with.

Marking another milestone in his extraordinary journey, he launched his record label -“Plutomania Records” in October of 2023 with two signees – Zerrydl & Tega Boi Dc who have both featured on previous projects with him. Shallipopi’s fusion of raw talent, unrelenting determination, and unwavering dedication positions him as a true trendsetter.

Odumodublvck, born Tochukwu Gbubemi Ojogwu, has emerged as a prominent voice in Nigerian Hip-Hop, seamlessly blending drill, grime, and Afrobeat influences. His viral 2023 single, “Declan Rice,” showcased his shapeshifting flows, paving the way for his critically acclaimed mixtape “EZIOKWU” on NATIVE Records/Def Jam.

Despite his diverse musical aesthetics, Odumodublvck emphasizes the universality of his songs, aiming to connect with a broad audience. Originally a soccer enthusiast from Abuja, Odumodublvck absorbed Ghanaian music from his father’s collection and later drew inspiration from artists such as Sisqó, Sean Paul, Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, and JAY-Z. Stylistically influenced by 50 Cent and inspired by JAY-Z’s journey to superstardom, Odumodublvck navigates the music scene with determination.

Their joint single, “Cast” was released in November 2023 and peaked at #1 on TurnTable Top 100 and at Top 10 on Billboard US Afrobeats.

Shallipopi & Odumodublvck’s individual projects “Presido La Pluto” and “EZIOKWU” also peaked at #1 on the TurnTable Top 100 Albums lists with #1 hits “Elon Musk” and “Ex-Convict” from Shallipopi and “Blood On the Dance Floor” feat. Wale & Bloody Civilian + “Declan Rice” from Odumodublvck.

Tickets are now on sale.

NIGERIA’S MOST WANTED TOUR DATES

Sat Apr 27 – Minneapolis, MN – Uptown Theater

Sun Apr 28 – Boston, MA – Big Night Live

Thu May 02 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza

Wed May 08 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring

Sun May 12 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle

Sat May 18 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern

Wed May 22 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore

Fri May 24 – Houston, TX – House of Blues Houston

Mon May 27 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues Dallas

March 13, 2024
Billy Strings Announces Summer 2024 Tour Dates

Billy Strings has announced additional tour dates for 2024 that find he and his band playing back-to-back nights in Bridgeport, CT, State College, PA, Worcester, MA, Inglewood, CA and Berkeley, CA.

The summer dates are just the latest added to Strings’ extensive 2024 run, which also includes upcoming stops at Tampa’s Yuengling Center (two nights), St. Augustine’s St. Augustine Amphitheatre (three nights, all sold out), Lexington’s Rupp Arena (two nights, one sold out), Greenwood Village’s Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre (two nights, both sold out), Minneapolis’ The Armory (sold out) and Rosemont, IL’s Allstate Arena (two nights) among others.

Raised in Michigan and now based in Nashville, Strings is known as one of music’s most compelling artists. Most recently, he released “Meet Me At The Creek > Pyramid Country > Must Be Seven > Meet Me At The Creek (Live at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Winston-Salem, NC 3/4/23),” a 38-minute live performance that showcases the energy of Strings’ electric concerts. Watch below.

The track follows “California Sober,” his GRAMMY-nominated collaboration with legendary artist Willie Nelson and Strings’ first project since partnering with Reprise Records, as well as his latest full-length album, Me/And/Dad, which features Strings alongside his dad, Terry Barber, and was nominated for Best Bluegrass Album at this year’s GRAMMY Awards.

Since his 2017 debut, Strings has been awarded Best Bluegrass Album at the 63rd GRAMMY Awards, Artist of the Year at the 2023 and 2022 Americana Music Awards, Entertainer of the Year at the 2023, 2022 and 2021 International Bluegrass Music Awards, Best New Headliner at the 2022 Pollstar Awards and Breakthrough Artist of the Pandemic at the 2021 Pollstar Awards among several other accolades. He has also performed on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” PBS’ “Austin City Limits” and “Bluegrass Underground.”

Tickets for the new shows will be available for pre-sale starting March 13 at 10am local time with general on-sale following Friday, March 15 at 10am local time. Full details can be found here.

BILLY STRINGS 2024 TOUR DATES

April 12—Tampa, FL—Yuengling Center

April 13—Tampa, FL—Yuengling Center

April 17—Savannah, GA—Enmarket Arena

April 19—St. Augustine, FL—St. Augustine Amphitheatre (SOLD OUT)

April 20—St. Augustine, FL—St. Augustine Amphitheatre (SOLD OUT)

April 21—St. Augustine, FL—St. Augustine Amphitheatre (SOLD OUT)

April 26—Lexington, KY—Rupp Arena

April 27—Lexington, KY—Rupp Arena (SOLD OUT)

May 11—Conroe, TX—Big As Texas Festival

May 17—Greenwood Village, CO—Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre (SOLD OUT)

May 18—Greenwood Village, CO—Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre (SOLD OUT)

May 21—Minneapolis, MN—The Armory (SOLD OUT)

May 24—Rosemont, IL—Allstate Arena

May 25—Rosemont, IL—Allstate Arena

June 22-23—Columbus, OH—Buckeye Country Superfest

July 14—Whitefish, MT—Under The Big Sky Festival

July 19—Redmond, OR—FairWell Festival

July 26—Bridgeport, CT—Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater

July 27—Bridgeport, CT—Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater

July 30—Worcester, MA—DCU Center

July 31—Worcester, MA—DCU Center

August 2—State College, PA—Bryce Jordan Center

August 3—State College, PA—Bryce Jordan Center

August 10—Quincy, WA—Outlaw Music Festival

August 17—Berkeley, CA—Greek Theatre at U.C. Berkeley

August 18—Berkeley, CA—Greek Theatre at U.C. Berkeley

August 23—Inglewood, CA—Kia Forum

August 24—Inglewood, CA—Kia Forum

March 13, 2024
OT The Real of BSF Releases New Project ‘Prepare for War’

OT The Real is the latest Black Soprano Family artist to drop. Following the release of his debut BSF release Zombie in 2023 which featured appearances from BSF and Griselda affiliates the likes of Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine, 38 Spesh, Rome Streetz, Elcamino and Amir, with production handled exclusively by AraabMuzik.

Prepare for War released under OT The Real’s own Independent Label

In like manner the Philadelphia native returns with, Prepare for War under his own independent label. Notably, the 10 track, 30-minute project stays close to home featuring several trendsetting Philadelphia rappers. Likewise, the project’s cover art is not only an ode to the city, but an inside look into the strenuous gangland conditions in his hometown.

Prepare For War features appearances and production from Houston native Sauce Walka, legendary underground producer Harry Fraud, fellow rising Philly artist Ot7Quanny, and Philly veterans Gillie Da Kid, AR-AB, Gray Rizzy and others. Moreover, OT will also be releasing a new video for the project’s focus track, “Active,” which features Sauce Walka, in addition to the “Hellstar” music video released in anticipation of the project.

March 11, 2024
David Shaw Responds to War Against Women’s Reproductive Rights with Powerful Single

Acclaimed singer-songwriter David Shaw of The Revivalists has shared his powerful new single, “Alabama,” serving as his deep response to the ongoing battle against women’s reproductive rights.

Recorded at the historic FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL, “Alabama” also speaks about last week’s Alabama Supreme Court ruling that embryos created during IVF fertility treatments should be considered children. Shaw’s frustration and the recent birth of his daughter inspired his emotional return to the feelings originally captured while recording in Muscle Shoals.

“Music has always been, and always will be at its core a way for people to come together over a common love and bond,” says Shaw. “It’s the great communicator. It reaches the heart of the unreachable and the voice of the unspeakable. It has the distinct ability to pierce the heart of the hardened. Alabama was written to be a beacon of awareness for what’s going on in the South and our beloved country.

Known far and wide as frontman for The Revivalists, David Shaw made an extraordinary solo debut with 2021’s David Shaw, exemplifying his hard-working and courageous nature. Produced by GRAMMY Award-winner Jack Splash (Kendrick Lamar, Alicia Keys, Solange), the album saw the singer, songwriter, musician, and producer following the direction of his internal compass, with rock ‘n’ roll impulses and honesty. Listening solely to his creative impulses, Shaw constructed a studio in his backyard where the songs took shape before recording at The Parlor Recording Studio in New Orleans, LA. Accompanying Shaw on the album is an ensemble of talented musicians and friends including Neal Francis (vocals/guitar), PJ Howard (drums), Mike Starr (bass), and Chris Gelbuda (guitar).

In addition to The Revivalists’ five studio albums – which have earned close to 800M worldwide streams and include the RIAA Platinum-certified #1 hit, “Wish I Knew You” – Shaw spearheaded the creation of the band’s RevCauses, a philanthropic umbrella fund supporting organizations dedicated to investing in our communities, health, and environment. By donating a portion of ticket sales, through fan donations, and a variety of other fundraising efforts, the band assisted multiple national and local organizations in building a better future. Current organizations benefitting include After School Matters, Mercy Ships, Musically Fed, Trans Lifeline, ACLU of Louisiana, Healing Minds NOLA, New Orleans Family Justice Alliance, and Restore The Mississippi River Delta.

I adore living in the south. It’s my home. There’s a warmth here to the people and places we inhabit. But sometimes it can feel like you’re swinging upstream without a paddle with an 800-pound gorilla on your back. It’s hard and it hurts to realize where we are and how far we have to go to reach some sort of common ground and understanding. We’re divided in so many ways but bodily autonomy and reproductive rights for women shouldn’t be one of them. We’ve got to stand up and come together on this. I’m hoping with some action we can find a way forward together. I love you all.
David Shaw

The powerful and emotional single “Alabama” is out now.

March 8, 2024
Mammoth WVH Makes A Triumphant Return To Legendary Toad’s Place

New Haven, Connecticut is mainly seen as the smaller market city that the prestigious Yale University calls home. Some might not know that steps from the university sit the legendary club known as Toad’s Place.

The rock club has housed legendary acts such as The Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel and Stevie Ray Vaughan. This time around, on Wednesday, March 5, Mammoth WVH returned to the legendary rock club. After releasing their sophomore record, Mammoth II on Aug. 4, 2024, the band is currently on their “Mammoth II Tour” supporting their newest album.

Before Mammoth WVH graced the almost 50-year stage, guitarist Nita Strauss of the Alice Cooper band warmed up the crowd with her solo act. Joining Strauss on stage was Christopher Dean on bass, Johnny Young on guitar, Katt Scarlett on keyboards, Kasey Karlsen on lead vocals and her fiancee, Josh Villalta on the drums.

Strauss provided amazing guitar skills throughout the opening set that dazzled the sold-out crowd. Being the in-house guitarist for the National League Football team, The Los Angeles Rams since 2020, Strauss has gained national attention for her guitar prowess and did not disappoint.

During Strauss’ nine-song setlist, she wowed the crowd with her signature sound which can be heard on her newest record, The Call of the Void. At one point in the show, Strauss took a minute between songs to recognize the legendary Toad’s Place. “Even out in California, we know about the legendary Toad’s Place and Pepe’s pizza!” brought a thunderous roar from the audience which was beginning to swell larger. With the band headbanging in unison, some of the Toad’s attendees joined in as the band did more than enough to warm the rainy New Haven crowd for Mammoth WVH.

The opening riff of AC/DC’s “Night Prowler” off of 1979’s Highway to Hell blasted over the PA system like thunder strike and the house lights dimmed. The anticipation for the Mammoth WVH’s second trip to Toad’s was palpable. Even with the house lights dimmed and fans packed wall to wall like a can of sardines, the headbanging again picked up while fans held their drinks and the rock horns up. As Mammoth jumped right into “I’m Alright” off the Mammoth II, as mentioned earlier, the band played a 15-song setlist that lasted just over an hour and a half.

Joining the ranks of Mammoth WVH is, Wolfgang Van Halen (son of the late, Eddie Van Halen) on guitar and lead vocals, Jon Jourdan on guitar, Ronnie Ficarro on bass, and Garrett Whitlock on the drums. Frank Sidoris tours as a third guitarist with the band but this time around he was on the road with Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators.

The crowd, which was of all ages, had smiles across their face like kids on Christmas for the entire set. Mammoth WVH performed at Toad’s two years ago on the double bill “Young Guns Tour” with Dirty Honey. Like the first time, Mammoth’s performance did not disappoint.

In between songs, Van Halen was smiling and playing along with the crowd. While he did not speak for a long time in between songs (certainly not as long as Paul Stanley of KISS), when he did though, he was laughing with his band and talking to members of the audience along the barricade.

At one point in the show, before the start of “Distance” off of 2021’s Mammoth WVH, the rest of the band, besides Van Halen exited the stage, for Van Halen to play an acoustic version of the song. With Oasis’ “Wonderwall” jokingly being played for a brief second at the start, the bone-chillingly beautiful rendition of the tune left lasting memories on the crowd. Typically during a Mammoth WVH performance, while the music is clear, at times with all the instruments you can’t fully grasp each individually. During “Distance,” you were able to fully grasp how great of a musician Van Halen is. His voice is amazing and his guitar skills are mind-blowing. It doesn’t take long to understand why he recorded every instrument track on the first two albums.

The energy of the entire band on stage kept the thrill alive in the audience which was entirely general admission. With Whitlock beating the daylights out of his drums, which kept each song moving forward, the rest of the band was in another gear. It’s easy to see how close of a tight-knit group they are. Each band member was able to feed off the other and bring out the best of the band.

With only two albums under the band’s belt, they were able to play multiple tracks from each of the first two albums. If you were hoping to hear some classic Van Halen, then this show isn’t the one for you. The band does not play anything Van Halen which is a great thing. Wolfgang is an excellent songwriter and overall great musician so it’s amazing to see what he has accomplished so far.

Mammoth WVH is one of the up-and-coming bands in rock music and the fan base is growing larger and larger every day. It’s only a matter of time until they sell out much bigger venues than Toad’s Place. There is very little to hate about this band. If you’re looking for a hungry band with excellent musicianship then this is the band for you.

With fans pilling out onto York Street, what was once a crowded venue turned into a crowded street. The cold and wet night did not keep fans away from standing outside the side door waiting to meet the band just minutes after they walked off the stage. With Toad’s Place dubbing themselves “The place that legends play,” fans exited the venue on Tuesday night knowing that they saw another rock legend in the making.

Nita Strauss Setlist: Summer Storm, Our Most Desperate Hour, Mariana Trench, Alegria, The Quest / Drum Solo, The Wolf You Feed, Through the Noise, Dead Inside, Victorious

Mammoth WVH Setlist: I’m Alright, Right?, Epiphany, Miles Above Me, Like a Pastime, Horribly Right, Optimist, Stone, Distance, Think It Over, Mammoth, You’re to Blame, Take a Bow, Another Celebration at the End of the World, Don’t Back Down

March 8, 2024
Dreamville Festival Announces 2024 Lineup: SZA, J. Cole, and Nicki Minaj to Headline

Dreamville’s annual spring festival is returning to Raleigh, NC from April 6-7 in Dorothea Dix Park. Dreamville Festival is curated by the label’s founder, and North Carolina native, J. Cole as well as members of his Dreamville team, who will also be performing at the festival.

Dreamville 2024 Lineup, Courtesy of Dreamvillefest.com

Day one will feature SZA and Chris Brown as the headliners. SZA is hot off her second studio album SOS, which earned the 2023 BET Album of the Year award and many other accolades. Last November, Chris Brown released a new album, titled 11:11, touring this June in support. In addition to the headliners, J.I.D, Lil Yachty, Schoolboy Q, Sexyy Red, Jeremih, Earthgang, Teezo Touchdown, Amaarae, Lute, Luh Tyler, and Domani are all performing on the first day of the festival.

J.I.D performing at Made in America Festival, 2022. Photo By: Lucas Kurzweil

Day two of the festival will feature J. Cole and Nicki Minaj as headliners. J. Cole is currently on the “Big As The What?” tour, co-headlining with Drake, and Nicki Minaj is also on tour for her December 2023 release Pink Friday 2. Rema, Jeezy, Monica, Rae Sremmurd, Key Glock, Bas, Muni Long, Cozz, Omen, TiaCorine, and Chase Shakur join on day two.

J. Cole performing at Gov Ball 2022. Photo by: Joseph Buscarello.

Tickets are for sale now. As the festival website states, “ALL are welcome at Dreamville Festival!”

March 8, 2024
Kamasi Washington to Play Beacon Theatre Upon Release of New Album “Fearless Movement” – Listen to “Prologue” now

Legendary west coast jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington has announced a new album – Fearless Movement – along with a tour that kicks off on May 4 at the Beacon Theatre.

Along with the tour announcement, Washington has released the first track from Fearless Movement, “Prologue,” alongside a mesmerizing video directed by longtime collaborator AG Rojas and choreographed by Samantha Blake Goodman.

Kamasi Washington is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and bandleader born and raised in Los Angeles, who has released three albums, all acclaimed – The Epic; Harmony of Difference, and Heaven and Earth. In 2020, Washington scored the Michelle Obama documentary Becoming, earning Emmy and GRAMMY nominations for his work.

Washington views Fearless Movement his dance album: “It’s not literal. Dance is movement and expression, and in a way it’s the same thing as music—expressing your spirit through your body. That’s what this album is pushing.”

With his previous albums dealing with cosmic ideas and existential concepts, Fearless Movement focuses on the everyday, an exploration of life on earth. This change in scope is due in large part to the birth of Washington’s first child a few years ago. A dance album as an embodied form of expression signals a shift in focus for Washington.

“Being a father means the horizon of your life all of a sudden shows up. My mortality became more apparent to me, but also my immortality—realizing that my daughter is going to live on and see things that I’m never going to see. I had to become comfortable with this, and that affected the music that I was making.”
Kamasi Washington, on Fearless Movement

The album also features Washington’s daughter, who wrote the melody to “Asha The First” during some of her first experimentations on the piano, as well as a host of collaborators. Among them, André 3000 appears on flute, George Clinton lends his voice, as do BJ The Chicago Kid, Inglewood rapper D-Smoke and Taj and Ras Austin of Coast Contra, the twin sons of West Coast legend Ras Kass. Washington has also enlisted lifelong friends and collaborators Thundercat, Terrace Martin, Patrice Quinn, Brandon Coleman, DJ Battlecat and more.

Fearless Movement also features “The Garden Path,” a song Washington performed for the first time ever, making his late-night television debut, on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”

Washington has announced an extensive North American tour kicking off May 4 at Manhattan’s Beacon Theatre with dates in Chicago, Houston, San Francisco and the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival, which he will co-curate with Herbie Hancock for the second year in a row, on June 16.

Pre-order/Pre-save Fearless Movement here. Tickets for Kamasi Washington at the Beacon Theatre, and all shows, are on sale March 8 at 10am, here.

KAMASI WASHINGTON 2024 TOUR

May 4—New York, NY—Beacon Theatre

May 5—Philadelphia, PA—Union Transfer

May 7—Toronto, QC—History

May 8—Cincinnati, OH—Ludlow Garage

May 9—Detroit, MI—St. Andrews Hall

May 10—Chicago, IL—Thalia Hall

May 11—St. Paul, MN—Fitzgerald Theater

May 12—Omaha, NB—Slowdown

May 14—Houston, TX—House of Blues Houston

May 15—Dallas, TX—House of Blues Dallas

May 16—San Antonio, TX—Empire Theater

May 17—Austin, TX—Empire Garage

May 30—Vancouver, BC—The Vogue Theatre

May 31—Seattle, WA—The Showbox

June 1—Eugene, OR—McDonald Theatre

June 2—Portland, OR—Crystal Ballroom

June 5—Sacramento, CA—Crest Theatre

June 6—Monterey, CA—Golden State Theatre

June 7—San Francisco, CA—Warfield

June 8—Santa Cruz, CA—The Catalyst

June 9—Solana Beach, CA—Belly Up

June 11—Mesa, AZ—Mesa Arts Center

June 16—Los Angeles, CA—Hollywood Bowl Jazz Fest

July 31—Alexandria, VA—The Birchmere

March 7, 2024
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band and Noah Kahan Headlining Sea.Hear.Now 2024

Sea.Hear.Now 2024 has announced its lineup, bringing Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band to the beaches of Asbury Park, NJ for a historic headline performance on Sunday, Sept.15, along with another first-time headliner set from Noah Kahan on Saturday, Sept. 14.

The Gaslight Anthem, Trey Anastasio Band, The Black Crowes, Norah Jones, 311, The Revivalists, Kool & The Gang, The Hives and more will perform at the world-class two-day festival in North Beach and Bradley Park. Sea.Hear.Now celebrates music, surf, and art with over 25 artists, three stages, a professional surf contest, and art installations throughout the weekend.

Fans can watch some of the biggest East Coast surf legends catch waves between the jetties. This year’s surf contest returns with the ocean calling the winner; the “North Beach Sessions” pro surfer who catches the “wave of the day” will take home the prize purse. The 2024 esteemed surf lineup includes surfers: Balaram Stack, reigning champ Cam Richards, Sam Hammer, Cassidy McClain, Rob Kelly, Pat Schmidt, Mike Gleason, Tom Ihnken, Jamie DeWitt, Logan Kamen, Cole Deveney, and Audrey Iglay. Stay tuned for future announcements!

Stoke Henge, located in the sand just off the boardwalk, is once again the center of all things art. Asbury Park visual artist Pork Chop will return with his iconic jellyfish and surfboard arch serving as the festival’s visual centerpiece.

Photo by Ismael Quintanilla III.

Ocean County-based muralists and artists Jasen Mack and Tim Sramowicz are the featured artists on the beach. A special nod this year will be given to legendary surf photographer Dick “Mez” Meseroll.

Over in Bradley Park, the Transparent Gallery will feature artwork from participating festival musicians, a special surfboard collaboration, and special pop-up performances.

Presale for one-day or two-day tickets for Sea.Hear.Now 2024 begins Thursday, March 7 at 10 a.m. ET and is the best chance to purchase 2-Day General Admission, GA+, VIP, Platinum, or Ultimate Experience tickets. Fans can sign up now for a presale passcode.

GA+ allows unlimited access to the GA+ Lounge with relaxed seating and air-conditioned restrooms, a private bar with drinks for purchase, complimentary water, and a dedicated GA+ Concierge to assist with festival needs. VIP Tickets provide an exclusive viewing area with elevated sightlines of the stages, VIP Lounges, and more. Platinum Tickets offer all GA+ and VIP amenities, plus exclusive front-of-stage viewing at the Surf, Park, and Sand stages, and much more.

March 6, 2024
Best Thing to Do on Leap Day: Circles Around The Sun & Mikaela Davis at The Stone Pony

Funky west coast powerhouse Circles Around the Sun (CATS) are bringing their magic to the East Coast and more, along with Mikaela Davis and Southern Star. The group stopped in at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park on February 29, quickly becoming the best thing to have happened on a this leap day.

The night started off with Mikaela Davis and Southern Star which was incredibly ambient, funky, and unique. The harp mixed in with intricate guitar and ultimately a saxophone provided a very unique sound. Their set included a nod to the good ol’ Grateful Dead with a “Here Comes Sunshine” cover.

Seeing CATS with Mikaela Davis sitting in at Peach Festival in July 2023, I knew we were in for a quite a treat. There’s something mesmerizing and attention demanding about the harp. It may be how difficult it looks to play, or how rarely a typical person may encounter one, especially in a live rock band setting.

Circles Around The Sun played a classic set with old and new song starting off with “Away Team.” Their set included “Money’s No Option” and ended with “Babyman.” Then Mikaela joined them on stage for three songs ending with “Language“, which is the title track of their newest record.

Circles Around the Sun is known well in the jam band community particularly for the tragedy in losing their founding member, the great Neal Casal. CATS is a band who prove to be unique, funky, and ground breaking in the absence of Casal, with guitarist John Lee Shanon fitting in well, unafraid to experiment, getting weird with guitar solos, truly showing off his unique musicianship. The space funk grooves of this band paired with the epic sounding harp playing of Mikaela Davis is truly a force to behold.

Circles Around the Sun – Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ – Thursday, February 29, 2024 – Leap Day

Setlist: Away Team, Landline Memories, Immovable Object, Moneyâs No Option, Halicarnassus, Babyman
Encore: After Sunrise*, Gloaming Way*, Language*
* with Mikaela Davis

March 4, 2024