Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Rascals are ready for the Seaside Heights beach
In 2018, Maruca's Tomato Pies came to the Asbury Park boardwalk from Seaside Heights. This year, Asbury Park returns the favor: Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, with the Rascals, play on the beach in Seaside Heights on Saturday, June 29.
“People want someplace to go in the summer, and we’re happy to provide that,” said Southside Johnny Lyon.
The show will take place on the stage at Blain Avenue. Southside Johnny and the Jukes have played a variety of outdoor music venues at the Jersey Shore, including the top of the Windmill hotdog stand in Long Beach; a parking lot at Monmouth Park in Oceanport during COVID; and the beach in Asbury Park during the famous WNEW shows in the 1980s.
Now, bring on the Seaside Heights beach.
More: Maruca's: Seaside Heights pizza legend coming to Asbury Park boardwalk
“I just want to be let loose on stage and I’ll do my best to give everybody a great time,” said Southside who noted that he's feeling fine after leaving the stage during a show at the Stone Pony in February. He was taken to the hospital for tests.
“A momentary glitch in the machine, that's all,” Southside said.
The Jukes hits include “Talk to Me,” “All I Want Is Everything,” “Hearts of Stone,” “Trapped Again,” “I Don’t Want to Go Home,” “It’s Been a Long Time” and “Having a Party.”
The guys also play Friday, June 28, at the Rock, Ribs and Ridges Festival, which runs through Sunday, June 30, at Sussex County Fairgrounds. Molly Hatchet, Larkin Poe, the Outlaws and more are also on the bill.
The Rascals, featuring Felix Cavaliere, are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and their hits include “Groovin’,” “People Got To Be Free,” “I've Been Lonely Too Long” and “Good Lovin’.” The band was founded in Garfield by Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati, Gene Cornish and the late Dino Danelli.
No pets except service animals are allowed, nor is alcohol allowed into the performance area — but there will be alcohol available for purchase. Fans can bring beach towels, sheets and small beach chairs, but umbrellas are not allowed.
More: Southside Johnny is ready to rock. Stone Pony show was just a 'glitch in the machine'
Upcoming Seaside Heights Live shows include Michael Franti & Spearhead with Trevor Hall on Saturday, July 13; Melvin Seals & JGB, Tom Hamilton, and Waiting on Mongo on Saturday, Aug. 10; UB40 on Friday, Aug. 16; and, tapping into the borough's dance club history, a Seaside Summer Freestyle Fest 2024 (hosted by Sal Abbatiello) with George LaMond, Sa-Fire, Soave, Robin S, C&C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams, Tag Team, DJ Anthony Mangini on Saturday, Aug. 17.
Visit seasideheightslive.com for more info on the concerts.
As for Maruca's Tomato Pies, it's still in the borough, less than a block away at 601 Ocean Terrace on the boardwalk from the Seaside Heights Live concert stage.
Go: Rock, Ribs and Ridges Festival with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes and Sugar Mountain, Friday, June 28; Blackberry Smoke, Molly Hatchet and more Saturday, June 29; Larkin Poe, the Outlaws and more Sunday, June 30, Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Augusta, tickets start at $40; rockribsandridges.com.
Go: Seaside Heights Live with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, and the Rascals, 7 p.m. Saturday, June 29, Blaine Avenue Stage, Seaside Heights boardwalk, $49 to $125; seasideheightslive.com.
Willie Nelson update
Willie Nelson, 91, is taking a few days off, but the music legend should be back on stage for Sunday, June 30, Outlaw Music Festival Tour show at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel.
Bob Dylan, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, and Celisse are also on the packed bill.
On June 21, Nelson's social media announced that the “On the Road Again” singer was not “feeling well and, per doctor's orders, has been advised to rest for the next four days.”
The timeline suggests that he'll be back on stage for the tour's Wednesday, June 26, stage in Virginia Beach.
Upcoming shows include Saturday, June 29, at the Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater on Long Island, and Thursday, July 4, at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden, which includes Mavis Staples and Maren Morris.
Go: Outlaw Music Festival Tour, 5 p.m. Sunday, June 30, PNC Bank Arts Center, Exit 116, Garden State Parkway, Holmdel, tickets start at $50; livenation.com.
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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Southside Johnny, Rascals play Seaside Heights beach
