If you love music or music history, plan a visit to the world-famous Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey. In addition to local legends Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt and Southside Johnny, musicians of all genres have been rocking audiences at the Stone Pony since 1974.
The Stone Pony is open year-round; however, shows at the outdoor Summer Stage take place between mid-May and Labor Day weekend.
Tickets for Summer Stage shows are general admission (standing) and may be purchased on Ticketmaster. Wear comfortable shoes, dress for the weather, and be prepared to stand on blacktop in a large crowd of other concert-goers. You'll be able to watch the sunset behind the giant outdoor stage while you're enjoying the tunes.
Along the perimeter of the Stone Pony Summer Stage, you’ll find concession stands with beer, wine, hard seltzers, and snacks for sale. You can venture inside to get drinks at one of the air-conditioned bars or to use the bathroom if you don’t want to use the portable potties outside. Be aware that the indoors is usually just as jammed as the outside when there's a Summer Stage performance going on.
Over the past several years, I’ve seen a few shows on the Stone Pony Summer Stage, including Willie Nelson and Almost Queen.
If you like the music of Queen, I highly recommend the Almost Queen tribute band! The lead singer, Joseph Russo, is a native of Middletown, New Jersey. He embodies nearly every characteristic of the late Freddie Mercury, from his facial expressions and mannerisms, to his spot-on vocals and even Mercury's signature mustache. In fact, the entire band provides a realistic "almost Queen" experience!
If you're coming to the the Stone Pony for a concert, you could plan your arrival a little early to enjoy a stroll along the Asbury Park Boardwalk and get something to eat at one of the nearby restaurants.
The Asbury Park Boardwalk has plenty of food choices for all tastes and budgets — from fine Italian dining at Stella Marina, to giant pizzas at Maruca’s Tomato Pies, or craft cocktails and small plates at the ocean-front Watermark bar. Those are just a few options for you to consider.
One of my favorite Asbury Park pizza restaurants, Porta, is about five-minute walk from the Stone Pony. Porta is a very popular spot before Summer Stage shows, so expect crowds there, too.
LOCAL TIP: If you don’t like standing in large crowds, there’s another way to enjoy the music for free. Because the Summer Stage is an outdoor venue with a powerful sound system, you can hear the music from the Asbury Park Boardwalk. Even better, you can bring a chair or blanket and sit on the beach or set up on the lawn across from Ocean Avenue. I’ve even had friends with boats who dropped anchor in the waters around the Summer Stage vicinity, where the music washes over the waves.
Stone Pony Summer Stage 2023 Schedule
Saturday, July 22
Bouncing Souls with Bayside and 7 Seconds
Thursday, July 27
The Ghost Inside and Underoath
Friday, July 28
Louis Tomlinson
Saturday, July 29
Orville Peck
CANCELED Per Ticketmaster Website
Sunday, July 30
Dark Star Orchestra
Tuesday, August 1
Backseat Lover
Wednesday, August 2
Alter Bridge
Tuesday, August 8
Incubus
Friday, August 18
War on Drugs
Sunday, August 20
Pixies and Modest Mouse
Friday, August 25
Gimme Gimme Disco
Friday, September 1
Almost Queen
Saturday, September 2
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes
Sunday, September 3
SiriusXM Presents Yacht Rock Revue - Reverse Sunset Tour
The Stone Pony
913 Ocean Avenue
Asbury Park, New Jersey 07712 732-502-0600 Website
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