Jersey Shore

Asbury Park’s Spring Music Calendar Is Heating Up

Published

2 weeks ago

March 8, 2026

As winter slowly loosens its grip on the Jersey Shore, something else begins to rise in Asbury Park: the sound of guitars, drums, and crowds returning to the city’s legendary live music venues.

For decades, Asbury Park has been synonymous with the Jersey music scene. From the early days of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band to today’s mix of indie performers, touring acts, and local favorites, the city continues to serve as one of the most vibrant live music hubs on the East Coast. With March underway, the calendar at many venues is beginning to fill as the Shore prepares for the busy spring and summer concert seasons.

One of the most iconic venues remains The Stone Pony, located just a block from the Atlantic Ocean. Since opening in 1974, the Pony has hosted countless performers who would go on to national fame. While its famous Summer Stage series attracts major crowds during the warmer months, the indoor venue stays active throughout the year with tribute nights, themed shows, and appearances by emerging artists.

A few blocks inland on Cookman Avenue, House of Independents has become another major anchor of the city’s modern music scene. The venue regularly hosts touring indie bands, DJ events, comedy shows, and themed dance nights that draw audiences from across Monmouth County and beyond. Its intimate concert environment and downtown location make it a popular stop for artists traveling between New York and Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, Asbury Lanes offers one of the most unique concert settings in the region. Originally a bowling alley built in the 1960s, the venue was reimagined several years ago as a hybrid entertainment space that combines bowling lanes with a concert stage. The result is a venue where visitors might bowl a frame while a punk band or indie rock group performs, or just be watching some line dancing just a few feet away.

Smaller venues also play an important role in the city’s music ecosystem. The Saint, a compact venue on Main Street, has long served as a launching pad for up-and-coming artists and local bands. With a capacity of just a few hundred people, shows there often feel more like private concerts than large events.

What makes Asbury Park unique is the density of its music culture. Within just a few blocks, visitors can move between venues, restaurants, and bars, often catching multiple performances in one evening. For many musicians, the city remains a rite of passage — a place where careers begin, reputations are built, and audiences discover new sounds.

As spring approaches, that rhythm will only grow stronger. By late April and May, outdoor shows begin returning, boardwalk crowds increase, and the music spills from clubs into the streets.

In Asbury Park, the off-season is simply the quiet moment before the amplifiers turn back on.

Related Topics:Asbury Park Featured Live Music

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Jersey Shore Film Festival Highlights Independent Voices and Real-World Stories

Jersey Javelin

Features Editor The Jersey Javelin oversees long-form features and signature storytelling at The Jersey Review, focusing on depth, context, and cultural relevance. With a disciplined editorial eye, the Javelin selects stories that cut through noise - profiling people, places, and moments that shape New Jersey’s identity. Each feature is approached with precision and restraint, favoring clarity over sensationalism and substance over trend. The Javelin’s work is defined by thoughtful reporting, narrative balance, and a commitment to stories that endure beyond the news cycle.

1 Comment

Eva Braun

March 8, 2026 at 2:48 pm

Congrats to you Tom!

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Fashion

Join The Jersey Review Team

Published

2 weeks ago

March 9, 2026

Editor-in-Chief

The Jersey Review is expanding and currently seeking Fashion Editors and Writers to contribute to our growing coverage of New Jersey’s fashion, style, and culture scene.

We’re looking for passionate voices with an eye for trends, local designers, events, and lifestyle storytelling.

If you have a strong sense of style and a talent for engaging writing, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today and help shape the future of fashion coverage in New Jersey.

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Entertainment

Jersey Shore Film Festival Highlights Independent Voices and Real-World Stories

Published

3 weeks ago

March 5, 2026

Silver Screener

Jersey Shore Film Festival- The Jersey Review

The Jersey Shore Film Festival (JSFF) is part of a growing network of independent film events that continue to shape New Jersey’s creative identity. Set against the backdrop of the Shore, the festival focuses on showcasing independent films, documentaries, and experimental work, giving both emerging and established filmmakers a place to share their stories with a live audience.

While larger festivals often lean toward industry premieres and celebrity-driven programming, JSFF takes a more grounded approach. The emphasis is on storytelling, conversation, and accessibility. Screenings are typically held in smaller, more intimate venues, where audiences are not just watching films but engaging with them. Filmmakers are often present, creating opportunities for discussion and a deeper understanding of the work.

A defining feature of the festival is its attention to documentary filmmaking. Many of the films presented explore real-life events, personal histories, and complex social issues. These are not stories built on spectacle. They are stories that ask questions, challenge assumptions, and stay with viewers long after the credits roll.

That focus on real-world storytelling reflects a broader trend in independent cinema. Audiences are increasingly drawn to films that examine identity, ethics, and the unseen forces that shape people’s lives. One widely reported example of this kind of subject matter comes from a story covered by ABC News, detailing identical twins who discovered as adults that they had been separated at birth as part of a controversial adoption study. The case raised serious questions about psychological research, family separation, and informed consent.

Stories like that are not unusual within the documentary space. They are the kind of narratives that often find a home at regional festivals like JSFF, where filmmakers are given room to explore difficult subjects without the pressure of mainstream commercial expectations. The goal is not just to inform, but to create a connection between the audience and the people on screen.

The festival also serves as a platform for New Jersey-based filmmakers. For many, it offers a chance to present their work locally before moving on to larger markets. That kind of regional exposure is important. It helps build a creative community and reinforces the idea that meaningful work can come from outside traditional film hubs.

Beyond the films themselves, events like the Jersey Shore Film Festival contribute to the cultural rhythm of the Shore. Towns along the coast have long been associated with music and visual art, and film has become a natural extension of that tradition. During festival screenings, the atmosphere shifts. The same places known for summer crowds and boardwalk traffic take on a quieter, more reflective tone.

Although the Jersey Shore Film Festival is not as widely documented as some of the state’s larger events, its role within the independent film landscape is clear. It provides a space for storytelling that is thoughtful, personal, and often challenging.

As interest in independent film continues to grow, festivals like JSFF are likely to become even more important; not just as showcases, but as places where stories are heard, discussed, and remembered.

Events & Festivals

The Green Light Is Back On: Belmar–Lake Como St. Patrick’s Day Parade Rescheduled for Saturday, March 28

Published

3 weeks ago

March 1, 2026

Jersey Javelin

After one of the most extraordinary winter storms the Jersey Shore has ever seen, the green flags are flying once again.

Following a historic blizzard that blanketed the region with more than two feet of snow, the Belmar–Lake Como St. Patrick’s Day Parade — the largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in New Jersey — has officially been rescheduled for Saturday, March 28, 2026. And with the announcement, one thing is clear: the spirit of the Irish, and the pride of this Shore community, remain as strong as ever.

Marchers and spectators plan to gather for the 53rd Belmar Lake Como St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Belmar, NJ **rescheduled for Saturday, March 28, 2026**.

This marks the first weather-related postponement in the parade’s 53-year history, a testament to both the severity of the storm and the deep commitment organizers have to doing things the right way.

Now, with the snow cleared and safety assured, the beloved tradition is back on the calendar — and expected to be bigger than ever.

🕰 Parade Details at a Glance

Event: 53rd Annual Belmar–Lake Como St. Patrick’s Day Parade
New Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026
Step-Off Time: 12:30 PM
Route:
- Begins at North Lake Boulevard in Lake Como
- Proceeds north along Main Street
- Concludes at 5th Avenue in Belmar

Spectators are strongly encouraged to arrive early, as crowds are expected to exceed 100,000 people.

🌨 A Blizzard for the Record Books — and a Parade Worth Protecting

Originally scheduled for March 1, the parade was forced to pause after a powerful nor’easter brought the Shore to a standstill, creating unsafe conditions along the route and surrounding areas. Rather than rush forward, the Parade Committee made the call to protect participants, spectators, and the integrity of the event itself.

“Safety is our first priority, but tradition is a close second,” – said Chip Cavanagh, Parade Chairman.

“This blizzard was one for the record books, but we weren’t going to let 53 years of history end with a snowdrift. Moving the parade to March 28 ensures a clear route with safe viewing areas for spectators so we can host the celebration our community expects and deserves.”

Behind the scenes, organizers worked closely with officials from both Belmar and Lake Como, coordinating logistics, public safety, and scheduling to ensure the parade’s signature elements — including world-class pipe bands and marching units — would still be able to perform.

The result: a rescheduled event that preserves everything people love about this parade, without compromise.

🥁 Why This Parade Matters

The Belmar–Lake Como St. Patrick’s Day Parade is more than a march down Main Street — it’s a regional institution.

Now in its 53rd year, the parade has grown into a defining Shore tradition, drawing visitors from across New Jersey and beyond. Each year, it showcases:

Internationally renowned Irish pipe and drum bands
High school and community marching bands
Local organizations, first responders, and civic groups
Businesses and families proudly representing the Shore’s Irish-American heritage

It’s a celebration rooted in tradition, but fueled by community — one where generations line the same curb year after year, sharing music, memories, and a deep sense of belonging.

🚆 Plan Ahead: Getting There & Watching Live

With massive crowds expected, planning ahead is key:

NJ Transit typically runs additional trains on the NJ Coast Line for parade day
Parking will be limited; public transportation and carpooling are strongly encouraged
For those unable to attend in person, the parade will be livestreamed, allowing viewers everywhere to take part in the celebration

🍀 The Wearing of the Green Continues

If anything, this year’s postponement has only strengthened the meaning behind the celebration. What was delayed by snow has returned with renewed anticipation — a reminder that tradition endures, even in the face of record-breaking storms.

On Saturday, March 28, Main Street will once again be filled with music, green attire, waving flags, and the unmistakable energy that signals the Jersey Shore’s transition from winter to spring.

Fifty-three years in, the Belmar–Lake Como St. Patrick’s Day Parade remains a shining example of community resilience, pride, and celebration.

So bundle up one last time, wear the green proudly, and come be part of history — because the parade is back on, and Belmar is ready.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Jersey Shore. 🍀