Summer in New Jersey wouldn’t be the same without amazing live music. These music festivals will bring out the best of the best artists, plus great dining options, activities for the kids, arts and cultural displays and beautiful views of the ocean.
Exit Zero Jazz Festival
Stages throughout Cape May
May 5-7
There are three days of live jazz music performed on different stages: Cape May Convention Hall, the Convention Hall Deck Stage, Rotary Park Stage, Carney’s Main Room and Carney’s Other Room.
Adjacent Music Festival
May 27-28
Atlantic City beachfront
Headliners blink-182 and Paramore will perform along with popular acts Coheed and Cambria and Jimmy Eat World, and newer artists like Hot Milk, Wheatus and Neil Rubenstein. Overall, there will be almost 50 musical acts across multiple stages over the course of the weekend.
Roots Picnic Weekend
The Mann in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, PA
June 2-4
Lauryn Hill will celebrate the 25th anniversary of “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” Other performers include Diddy & The Roots, Lil Uzi Vert, Ari Lennox, Maverick City, DJ Drama, Uncle Waffles, Glorilla, a live mixtape, Mary Mary, Beanie Sigel, Young Gunz, Symba, DJ Diamond Kuts, Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee, QuestLove Supreme and dozens of other performers. This year, a special standup comedy performance from Dave Chappelle and The Roots at Wells Fargo Center on Friday.
Hot 97 Summer Jam
UBS Arena, Belmont Park, Long Island, NY
June 4
The hip-hop lineup includes Ice Spice, Coi Leray, GloRilla, Lola Brooke, French Montana, Fivio Foreign, Lil TJay, Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop with The LOX, and Cardi B.
Barefoot Country Music Fest
Wildwood beachfront
June 15-18
Thursday night’s kickoff concert features John Pardi with special guests Michael Ray, Shane Profitt and John Eddie. Then, spend the weekend bouncing from five different stages to see more than 40 different country artists, such as Blake Shelton, Kid Rock, Darius Rucker, Lady A, Jimmie Allen and Lainey Wilson.
KTUphoria
Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, NY
June 17
103.5 FM KTU Radio presents its annual summer concert. Performing live are Kylie Minogue, Deborah Cox, Taylor Dayne, Daya, Kristine W. and Ally Brooke, with more acts to be announced.
Beardfest
Paradise Lakes Campground, Hammonton
June 22-25
Aside from music, art and workshops, there will be swimming and camping for you nature lovers! Some of the top performers include Spafford, Pink Talking Fish, Dogs in a Pile, Mark Guiliana’s Beat Music and the West Philadelphia Orchestra.
Sad Summer Festival
PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel
July 14
Taking Back Sunday, The Maine, Pvris, Hot Mulligan, Mom Jeans and Stand Atlantic are the headliners. There will be special guests on special dates, plus more artists on the bill.
Sea.Hear.Now
Sept. 16-17
Asbury Park waterfront
The Killers and Foo Fighters headline this beachfront mega-fest, which includes not only music on the sand but also surfing and a photo collective. Other artists include Greta Van Fleet, Sheryl Crow, Quincy Mumford, Weezer, The Beach Boys, Tegan & Sara and Waiting on Mongo.
Orange Loop Rock Festival
Sept. 31 to Oct. 1
Showboat Festival Grounds, Atlantic City.
Three beach blocks of restaurants, bars, live music, coffee, yoga and more will take place inside the Showboat Hotel. The lineup for 2023 is not yet announced.
Philadelphia
Roots Picnic Weekend
The Mann at Fairmount Park, Philadelphia
June 2-4
Lauryn Hill will celebrate the 25th anniversary of “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” Other performers include Diddy & The Roots, Lil Uzi Vert, Ari Lennox, Maverick City, DJ Drama, Uncle Waffles, Glorilla, a live mixtape, Mary Mary, Beanie Sigel, Young Gunz, Symba, DJ Diamond Kuts, Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee, QuestLove Supreme and dozens of other performers. This year, a special standup comedy performance from Dave Chappelle and The Roots at Wells Fargo Center on Friday, June 2, will kick off the weekend.
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