Paddle Out to Asbury Park, NJ for Sea.Hear.Now This Weekend
The Lumineers, Dropkick Murphys, Joan Jett, Blind Melon, Dispatch, Bad Religion, Donavon Frankenreiter, Dave Matthews and others blow into town for a two-day festival set on the edge of the Atlantic
o one really knows who Jim Donnelly is around Asbury Park, NJ and that’s okay. Our records show that there is no one, we can find, living in the Asbury area by that name, but Tim Donnelly on the other hand…that guy. Tim Donnelly and friends are a big reason that the small seaside town on the Jersey Shore will welcome 30,000+ giddy visitors on an off weekend in late September. Thanks to their brainchild, Sea.Hear.Now, the town of Asbury is set to experience one of the more anticipated events on the East Coast this season when folks like The Lumineers, Dropkick Murphys, Joan Jett, Blind Melon, Dispatch, Bad Religion, Donavon Frankenreiter, Dave Matthews and others blow into town for a two-day festival set on the edge of the Atlantic with enough event experiences, food options, late-night shindigs, and good vibes to draw families and friends from around the country. Congratulations to Tim and his friends…friends like the world-renowned guy with a camera, Danny Clinch, HM Wollman & Tim Sweetwood for bringing this legendary group of musicians to the area.
Not sure if Tim did a ceremonial wave dance this week but whatever he is doing, keep it up.
But the allure of Sea.Hear.Now, at least for many, does not sit exclusively in the magic of the three stages where more than 25 badass acts will perform, but largely in the fact that Tim and Co., by design, took full advantage of the festival’s proximity to the ocean and invited 20 or so of the better male and female surfers in the area to come out and compete in a high-action surf competition during both days of the festival. All festival-goers can enjoy watching world-class surfing while folks like Joan Jett and others play just a couple of hundred feet away on a stage on the beach. Not sure if Tim did a ceremonial wave dance this week but whatever he is doing, keep it up…swell forecasts are smiling on the idea this weekend.
Jack Johnson at Sea.Hear.Now., 2018.
The talent of pro surfers includes Quincy Davis, Sam Hammer, Balaram Stack, Pat Schmidt, Mike Gleason and others who will paddle out in the water on both Saturday and Sunday 2:30 – 5:30 p.m. right off the beach of the festival. Blankets, sheets and/or towels are allowed if you need a place to watch the action while listening to “Cherry Bomb” live. What you can and not bring in may be found here. No horses apparently. Keep them in the back.
Being fans of the ocean and their community the Sea.Hear.Now crew, in their inaugural year of 2018, recorded that 11.88 tons of recycling was collected and more than 9,500 festival-goers went reusable with an official Green Wave cup or bottle. Organizers estimate that 35,252 bottles were saved by the fest’s hydration stations. More than 500 fans participated in the Surfrider Foundation’s Rock and Recycle Program last year at Sea.Hear.Now. Not bad for a first-year festival that is paving the way for how events could look at the responsibility to their community and leading with sustainability when bringing that many guests to town.
We’re excited to see what Tim and 30,000 of his friends can help do for the Asbury community this year and beyond. We’ll be down by the water looking for Mr. Donnelly and his crew to say “thank you” if you want to buy someone a beer.
Should be a fun weekend.
BONUS: The depth some of the musicians performing carry is often overlooked but thanks to the gang at the pop-up Danny Clinch Transparent Gallery in Bradley Park over the weekend you can witness talents off the stage such as art and stories from some of your favorite musicians like Dave Matthews with some original drawings and Greg Graffin from Bad Religion photography and others. Worth the look if you’re looking to expand your horizons.
