The inaugural NJ Music Festival.com Awards are underway this year as our staff, along with polls from fans, choose the best of festivals, music, and live music in the Garden State.
NJ Music Festivals launched as a brand on Dec. 7, 2022, though didn’t launch its website as you see now until Apr. 2 of this year.
Awards are nominated for by direct NJ Music Festivals staff and writers, website partners, and readers who submitted nominees via a form.
Below are the categories and nominations for the 1st NJ Music Festival.com Awards in alphabetical order
Record of the Year:
Bleachers – Bleachers
Bruce Springsteen – Live from Asbury Park
The Gaslight Anthem – History Books Short Stories
Joe P – Garden State Vampire
Concert of the Year:
The Bouncing Souls, The Vandals, The Dead Milkmen, Sheer Mag, Catch 22, Des & the Swagmatics – Stone Pony Summer Stage
Creed, 3 Doors Down, Finger Eleven – PNC Bank Arts Center
Dave Matthews Band – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
George Strait, Chris Stapleton – MetLife Stadium
Luke Combs – MetLife Stadium
The Ocean Ave Stomp – The Stone Pony
Sum 41, The Interrupters, Joey Valence & Brae – Stone Pony Summer Stage
The Rolling Stones, John Batiste – MetLife Stadium
Concert of the Year (Large):
George Strait, Chris Stapleton – MetLife Stadium
Jelly Roll – Prudential Center
Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band – MetLife Stadium
Luke Combs – MetLife Stadium
The Rolling Stones, John Batiste – MetLife Stadium
Zach Bryan – Prudential Center
Concert of the Year (Midsize):
Alanis Morisette, Joan Jett, Morgan Wade – PNC Bank Arts Center
Cage the Elephant, Young the Giant, Bakar – PNC Bank Arts Center
Creed, 3 Doors Down, Finger Eleven – PNC Bank Arts Center
Dave Matthews Band – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Hozier, Alisson Russel – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Stevie Nicks – Etess Arena
Third Eye Blind, Yellowcard, A R I Z O N A – PNC Bank Arts Center
Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Concert of the Year (Small):
Brian Fallon – House of Independents
Frank Turner – Crossroads
Something Corporate, Hidden in Plain View, Zac Clark – Stone Pony Summer Stage
Streetlight Manifesto, Mercy Union – Stone Pony Summer Stage
Sum 41, The Interrupters, Joey Valence & Brae – Stone Pony Summer Stage
T-Pain – Stone Pony Summer Stage
The Bouncing Souls, The Vandals, The Dead Milkmen, Sheer Mag, Catch 22, Des & the Swagmatics – Stone Pony Summer Stage
The Ocean Ave Stomp – The Stone Pony
Music Festival of the Year:
Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival – Atlantic City (Goldfinger, Hot Mulligan, Saves the Day)
Barefoot Country Music Fest – Wildwood (Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Kane Brown, Old Dominion)
Bayville Festival – Bayville (Tropidelic, The Expendables)
Rock, Ribs, & Ridges – Augusta (Larkin Poe, Blackberry Smoke, Southside Johnny)
Sea.Hear.Now Festival – Asbury Park (Bruce Springsteen, Noah Kahan)
Shadow of the City – Asbury Park (Bleachers)
XPoNential – Camden (Guster, The Walkmen, Roseanne Cash)
Festival Set of the Year:
Bailey Zimmerman (Barefoot Country Music Fest)
Bleachers (Shadow of the City/North2Shore)
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band (Sea.Hear.Now Festival)
The Gaslight Anthem (Sea.Hear.Now Festival)
Goldfinger (Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival)
Hot Mulligan (Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival)
Keith Urban (Barefoot Country Music Fest)
Noah Kahan (Sea.Hear.Now Festival)
The Offspring (MMRBQ)
Music Festival of the Year (Outside NJ):
Winner: Governors Ball (Queens, NY)
There were many considerations for this category, however since it represents something outside of New Jersey, they will not be listed.
The winners of each award will be chosen by NJ Music Festivals writers and staff. Be on the lookout for submissions for next year’s awards.
NJ Music Festivals 