The Sea.Hear.Now Festival is a one of a kind music, surf, and art festival that takes place each year for two days in September along the beach in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Launched by Danny Clinch, a renowned rock photographer, and his long time friend Tim Donnelly, the festival was first held in 2018 and has quickly become one of the most popular events on the East Coast for music fans and beachgoers alike.
One of the most unique features of the Sea.Hear.Now Festival is the combination of live music and surfing. As bands are rocking out on stage, professional surfers will be on the waves performing expression heats. The festival is held right on the beach, with two of the three stages and several vendors set up on the sand. In between sets, festival-goers can take a dip in the ocean or watch professional surfers catch some waves.
Tickets for the Sea.Hear.Now Festival are available in a variety of packages, including single-day passes and weekend passes. VIP or Platinum packages are also available, which offer exclusive access to private lounges, premium viewing areas, lockers and charging stations, among several other perks. With 30,000+ festival goers each year, tickets sell fast.
Guests arriving in Asbury Park for the festival can utilize the city’s metered parking. If visitors park farther away within one of the free parking areas, the city encourages the use of electric scooters to get to the festival grounds. A list of items that are allowed into the festival grounds can be found on the festival website here.
2023 Sea.Hear.Now Lineup
Date: September 16th and 17th
Headliners: The Killers and Foo Fighters
Past Performances
The Sea.Hear.Now Festival features an impressive lineup of over 25 musical acts from a wide range of genres, including rock, indie, and folk. Past performers have included Pearl Jam, Jack Johnson, The Lumineers, Dave Matthews Band, and The B-52s. In the mix of all the big headliners there are also several up-and-coming artists and local bands that play, making it a great opportunity to discover new music as well. Each year festival goers can check out the bands that will be performing on the festival website.
Pearl Jam in 2021
Previous Immersive Art Exhibits
In addition to music and surfing, festival goers can check out the immersive art gallery at the Danny Clinch Transparent Gallery. Not only can they admire Danny’s impressive work within rock n’ roll photography, but artwork from several of the festival bands and musicians are also on display at the gallery during the festival. If visitors are lucky they may even catch a surprise show from one of the musicians when visiting the gallery.
Food Options
The festival also rounds up several food options from New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia to serve up delicious eats during the weekend. Since the festival is also right on the Asbury Park boardwalk guests can choose from any of the local restaurants or have the option of leaving the festival grounds and reentering.
Commitment to Sustainability
Beyond the music, surfing, and art, the Sea.Hear.Now Festival is also committed to sustainability and reducing its environmental impact. In partnership with environmental organizations, the Sea.Hear.Now Festival works to reduce waste and promote sustainability initiatives throughout the festival weekend. They encourage festival-goers to be mindful of their impact on the environment through bringing their own reusable water bottles, and participating in beach cleanups and recycle programs. Within their first year festival goers cleaned up 11.88 tons of plastic.
Overall, the Sea.Hear.Now Festival is a unique and exciting event that combines music, surfing, art, and community. With its commitment to sustainability and celebration of local culture, the festival has quickly become a beloved annual tradition for both locals and visitors alike. With a fun and laid-back atmosphere, it’s a great way to experience the vibrant culture and community of Asbury Park.
