May is a great month for concerts in New Jersey as outdoor venues begin to open up! Here’s a list of all the featured shows in New Jersey, NYC, and Philadelphia.
*Denotes show not in New Jersey.
May 3 – 4: Motley Crue at Etess Arena, Atlantic City
Motley Crue are playing two nights at Etess Arena at Hard Rock Live in Atlantic City to open up the month of May. Tickets are starting at $149 to see the legends in a casino in New Jersey. Sounds fun.
May 4: Sum 41 & The Interrupters at Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park
Sum 41 is playing their final show in New Jersey this May with ska-punk band The Interrupters and hip-hop duo Joey Valence & Brae. The show is the first show on the Stone Pony Summer Stage this year. The Interrupters also played the first SPSS show last year with Frank Turner. The show is billed as Sum 41’s final tour, as they’re touring old songs and some brand new songs from their new record, Heaven :x: Hell.
May 4: Hawthorne Heights at Starland Ballroom, Sayreville
Hawthorne Heights is celebrating 20 years of The Silence in Black and White on May 4th at Starland Ballroom. They’re bringing guests Bike Routes with them for the show.
*May 4 & 8: Social Distortion & Bad Religion at Rooftop @ Pier 17, NYC
Social Distortion and Bad Religion are teaming up for a huge coheadline tour with two nights at the Rooftop in New York City. The bands are bringing guests and are playing over an hour each for both sold out shows. They’ll be at The Fillmore in Philly on May 5th.
*May 5: Impractical Jokers at Radio City Music Hall, NYC
Impractical Jokers, featuring Sal Vulcano, Brian Quinn, and James Murray are coming to Radio City on May 5th for the Drive Drive Drive Drive Drive tour.
*May 9: Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden, NYC
Billy Joel is continuing his residency at the Garden with show #102. His final show of the residency is coming up in just a few months.
May 10 – 11: Kelly Clarkson at Etess Arena, Atlantic City
Kelly Clarkson, singer and host of the Kelly Clarkson Show, is playing two nights at Etess Arena in AC.
May 10: The Nerds at Wonder Bar, Asbury Park
If you need something to do on a Friday night, The Nerds are a cool local band to check out. They’re always in the area and put on a good show.
May 11: Say Anything at Wellmont Theater, Montclair
Say Anything is also celebrating 20 years of a record, theirs being …Is A Real Boy. The Los Angeles natives are bringing guests AJJ and Greet Death with them on tour for the sold out theater show. The band will also be at The Fillmore in Philadelphia on May 4th.
May 12: Neil Young & Crazy Horse at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, Camden
Neil Young is coming to Camden/Philadelphia in May to open up the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion for 2024. Lawn tickets start at $75 and openers are yet to be announced.
May 16 – 17: Penn & Teller at Sound Waves, Atlantic City
The Magic-duo Penn & Teller will be performing two nights at Sound Waves at the Hard Rock in Atlantic City. Sounds like a great time.
May 17 – 18: Morgan Wallen at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Morgan Wallen is playing two nights at MetLife, opening their year of concerts at the stadium. The shows are part of his One Night At a Time Tour. Wallen is bringing special guests Parker McCollum, Ernest, and Nate Smith to the stadium.
May 17: The String Cheese Incident at Etess Arena, Atlantic City
The String Cheese Incident is coming to Etess Arena at Hard Rock in AC! Tickets start at $59, a lot better than Kelly Clarkson and Motley Crue tix.
May 17: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead at Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park
Joe Russo has announced a third set in New Jersey which will occur before their two sets at The Peach At The Beach fest in Atlantic City, headlined by Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. The band will be taking the Summer Stage for a headline show on Friday evening.
May 22: Parliament Funkadelic feat. George Clinton at Wellmont Theater, Montclair
Parliament Funkadelic with George Clinton is coming back for another year at the Wellmont! Last year, the group brought Fishbone on tour with them, and this year they’re bringing special guests Dumpstaphunk. There are still some seats available for the show.
May 23 & 26: The Rolling Stones at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
The Rolling Stones are playing two shows at MetLife at the end of May as part of the Hackney Diamonds stadium tour. The band is celebrating the release of their brand new record.
May 24: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong at Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong is bringing along Andy Frasco and the UN, along with Dogs in a Pile for the Pigeons Frasco Dogs Tour. The show opens early with gates at 4:00 pm, and should be a fun time from the three bands.
May 24: Heart at Etess Arena, Atlantic City
Heart will be in Atlantic City on May 24th for a show at Etess Arena. The Seattle-locals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.
The bands are also playing an afterparty at the indoor Pony at 11:00 pm, titled Magic Beans.
May 25: Hozier at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, Camden
Hozier will be playing a show as part of his Unreal Unearth tour and album release in Camden. He’s bringing special guest Allison Russel on the NJ date, and the show is already sold out.
*May 29 – 30: Tyler Childers at Madison Square Garden, NYC
Tyler Childers is bringing Sylvan Esso to the MSG for two nights at the end of the month for the Mule Pull ‘24 Tour.
*May 31: US Darts Masters at The Theater @ MSG, NYC
Not a concert, but there’s gonna be pro darts in NYC. That’s pretty cool.
NJ Music Festivals 