NJ Music Festivals

August is one of the biggest months for concerts in New Jersey this year, including huge shows at East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium, which can house over 80,000 attendees per show.

The amphitheaters (PNC Bank Arts Center and Freedom Mortgage Pavilion), arenas (Prudential Center), and summer venues (Stone Pony Summer Stage) will continue to bring huge headliners as well.

Below is a list of featured shows in New Jersey during the month of August:

August 1: Goo Goo Dolls at PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel

Goo Goo Dolls, known for mega hits ‘Iris’ and ‘Slide,’ along with a full setlist worth of even more hits, will stop by PNC on August 1 with Dashboard Confessional.

The ‘Summer Anthems’ tour kicked off earlier this year in Australia and will continue across North America through the end of the summer. The band has also been playing new and unreleased songs on tour.

August 1: Toto & Men at Work at Etess Arena, Atlantic City

Toto and Men at Work continue their co-headline tour with special guest Christopher Cross at Hard Rock’s Etess Arena. The tour already stopped by PNC Bank Arts Center last week.

August 2: The Offspring at PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel

The Offspring is stopping by with one of the best touring pop-punk lineups of the year, with openers Jimmy Eat World and New Found Glory. The band is touring their new record, ‘SUPERCHARGED,’ which was released this year.

August 2: Descendents at Wellmont Theater, Montclair

For a more intimate, yet probably even more punk show, head to Montclair for Descendents, who are back in NJ after co-headlining Starland Ballroom with Circle Jerks last April.

August 2: Yacht Rock Revue at Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park

Yacht Rock Revue on the Summer Stage has become a new annual tradition in Asbury Park, and it continues this year. The band has created a fanbase surrounding this one show each year, and the reviews have been solid every time!

August 2: Colin Jost at Ovation Hall, Atlantic City

Ovation Hall’s lineup of entertainment has been heating up, with more great shows announced for the fall. However, they’re kicking things off early with a great comedy show from SNL ‘Weekend Update’ star Colin Jost.

Jost will also be at the Count Basie Theater in New Brunswick on August 7.

August 3: Linkin Park at Prudential Center, Newark

Linkin Park will return to New Jersey for the first time since 2014, when the band stopped by PNC Bank Arts Center. The show was remembered by Linkin Park fans for Mike Shinoda taking part in the ‘ALS Ice Bucket Challenge’ after the show.

This will be the band’s first time in New Jersey with their new lineup, which features Dead Sara frontwoman Emily Armstrong on lead vocals. You can also be sure to check out the band’s new collaboration with Haribo, which can be found at concession stands throughout PruCenter.

August 3: Spike & the Gimme Gimmes at Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park

Spike & the Gimme Gimmes, formerly Me First & the Gimme Gimmes, will be playing your favorite pop, country, and latin-gone punk songs on top of a bowling alley. Really a perfect venue for their headlining show.

August 3: Lil Wayne at PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel

Lil Wayne returns to New Jersey, a state he frequents in, with his most notable last show at PNC Bank Arts Center in 2019 with blink-182.

August 7: Cody Jinks at Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park

Cody Jinks, along with Shane Smith & the Saints, will return to the Summer Stage for more country music. The Summer Stage has seen an increase of country lately, and there are still a few of those shows left on the calendar for this season of shows.

August 7: The Doobie Brothers at PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel

The Doobie Brothers are back at PNC for their 89th show in New Jersey. The band is bringing on The Coral Reefer Band, the supporting band to the late Jimmy Buffett, to open the show.

August 8: Little Big Town at PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel

LBT has been around Jersey for a while, most recently opening for George Strait and Chris Stapleton at MetLife Stadium. This show will be their first headlining show in the state since 2022, however.

August 8: Des & the Swagmatics at The Stone Pony, Asbury Park

Ska band Des & the Swagmatics are taking on the Indoor Pony in a few days. The band is from New Jersey and, of course, has played a ton of shows in the area.

The band was part of the Stoked for the Summer lineup last year in support of The Bouncing Souls.

August 8: Styx & Kevin Cronin at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, Camden

Styx and Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon, with guest Don Felder of Eagles, are back in Jersey for ‘The Brotherhood of Rock’ tour.

The band performed at PNC in July, and it was a great show! Check out our review:

August 8: Rebelution at Ovation Hall, Atlantic City

Reggae band Rebelution is headlining Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino, adding to a huge day of music in New Jersey. The band sub-headlined Sea.Hear.Now in 2023.

August 8: idobi Radio Summer School (festival) at Starland Ballroom, Sayreville

From the brain of Warped Tour’s Kevin Lyman, idobi Radio Summer School is making another stop at Starland Ballroom, one of the last shows of the tour.

The festival is headlined by Rain City Drive, Charlotte Sands, and Taylor Acorn, and will also feature Beauty School Dropout, Arrows in Action, If Not For Me, and Huddy.

The tour also stops in Philadelphia on August 10 at Franklin Music Hall, the closing stop on tour.

August 9: My Chemical Romance at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford

MCR’s biggest show yet: MetLife Stadium, in their home state of New Jersey.

The MCR brothers grew up in Belleville, NJ, just 15 minutes from the Meadowlands.

The ‘”Long Live” The Black Parade Stadium Tour’ will also feature Death Cab for Cutie and Thursday on the bill. The band is playing the entirety of the ‘Black Parade’ record.

August 9: The Avett Brothers at Etess Arena, Atlantic City

The Avett Brothers have been playing pretty intimate venues so far this year, and while Etess Arena is not the most intimate venue (it’s a big hall!), it is still a fun place to see a group like these guys.

The band sub-headlined Sea.Hear.Now in 2021 with Pearl Jam.

August 9: The Black Keys at Etess Arena, Atlantic City

The next day, The Black Keys will return to New Jersey after headlining the Stone Pony Summer Stage on June 14.

August 9: Almost Queen at Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park

Speaking of the Summer Stage, Almost Queen will be there on the same night. The band is Jersey’s biggest Queen tribute, and like Yacht Rock Revue, they are able to draw a huge crowd and build a fanbase every single year.

August 13: Dropkick Murphys and Bad Religion at Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park

Dropkick Murphys and Bad Religion, with special guest The Mainliners, are touring the United States as part of the ‘Summer of Discontent’ tour.

The tour will also stop at Ovation Hall two days later, on August 15.

August 14: Katy Perry at Prudential Center, Newark

Pop-star Katy Perry returns to New Jersey for the first time in 8 years, with a guest who hasn’t played a show in the state since 2012: Rebecca Black.

Katy Perry, known for hits like ‘Roar,’ ‘Firework,’ and ‘Last Friday Night,’ is teaming up with Rebecca Black, known for her huge hit, ‘Friday.’

August 15: Train at Etess Arena, Atlantic City

Train is coming back to Atlantic City this summer, something they often do, with guest Edwin McCain.

For the last few years, the band has alternated summers playing either PNC Bank Arts Center (or Freedom Mortgage Pavilion) or playing one of the casinos in Atlantic City. The band is also billing themselves high on festivals, including Oceans Calling, where they are subheadlining beneath names like Fall Out Boy and Green Day.

August 16: Stoked for the Summer at Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park

Stoked for the Summer is back for another year on the Summer Stage. The festival is a summer version of The Bouncing Souls’ fan-favorite Home for the Holidays homecoming show, which returned last December.

This year, the lineup includes The Bouncing Souls, Lagwagon, Dillinger Four, H2O, Spraynard, and Crazy & the Brains.

August 16: Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats at Etess Arena, Atlantic City

Nathaniel Rateliff and his backing band, The Night Sweats, are coming back to New Jersey for a night at Etess Arena on the ‘South of Here’ tour. The band recently headlined its biggest show yet at Madison Square Garden.

August 17: Cypress Hill and Atmosphere at Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park

Cypress Hill, Atmosphere, and special guest Lupe Fiasco will hit the Summer Stage for a night of rock, rap, and everything else.

Both headliners have already played shows in the state this year (Cypress Hill at Etess Arena and Atmosphere at Starland Ballroom), but Lupe Fiasco has not done a show in the Garden State since 2019 at Starland.

August 19: The Who at Prudential Center, Newark

The Who is on their farewell tour, and the legendary rock group is making two stops in New Jersey!

On August 19, the band will headline a show at Prudential Center in Newark, and on August 23, the band will headline a show at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

The Who was last in New Jersey in 2017 at Boardwalk Hall.

August 23: Silversun Pickups at Wellmont Theater, Montclair

Silversun Pickups, who make sure to always play a show in New Jersey, are back this summer for a show at Wellmont Theater.

It’s not a hot take to say that the Wellmont’s lineup has not been at its best this year, but with a few shows like Silversun Pickups and a really great lineup in November and December, it will heat up for the end of the year.

August 23: Chevelle at Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park

Chevelle is coming to the Summer Stage for their biggest headline show in New Jersey yet. Dead Poet Society and Asking Alexandria will also be joining the band.

August 27: Simple Plan at Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park

Pop-punk stars Simple Plan are back in New Jersey with a super fun pop-punk lineup on the ‘Bigger Than You Think!’ tour. The tour name is right, because as for midrange pop-punk bands, Simple Plan has been among the biggest in terms of venue size on tour.

The band is bringing Bowling for Soup, 3OH!3, and LOLO to the show.

August 28: System of a Down and Korn at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford

A huge metal show caps off August’s hard rock concert series at MetLife, with System of a Down and Korn co-headlining the stadium.

It should be noted that System of a Down has not been in NJ since 2012 at PNC Bank Arts Center, and Korn only just returned to NJ last year for two shows.

August 29: The Red Clay Strays at Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park

The Red Clay Strays, a country group taking the genre by storm, are coming to the Summer Stage for the ‘Get Right’ tour. It’s fair to say that this will be the last time the Strays headline a venue this size, as they are only getting bigger and more popular.

August 29: Coheed and Cambria & Taking Back Sunday at PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel

Coheed and Cambria, along with Taking Back Sunday and special guest Foxing, will be playing a big show at PNC Bank Arts Center in August.

As for these two groups, this is a pretty big venue for them, and it didn’t sell too bad. TBS will likely be back in December for their annual run at Starland Ballroom.

August 30: Live and Collective Soul at Ovation Hall, Atlantic City

Live and Collective Soul are co-headlining a summer tour this year, with a Jersey stop at Ovation Hall in Atlantic City. Our Lady Peace will be joining the tour for a huge ’90s nostalgia night.

Last year, Live and Stone Temple Pilots stopped by PNC Bank Arts Center. Take a look at our review:

August 31 & September 1: Oasis at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford

To close out the month, and probably one of the most anticipated shows to come to New Jersey in years, Oasis will headline two nights at MetLife Stadium: August 31 and September 1.

The band, who is currently tearing up the UK, will come to MetLife with Cage the Elephant and Cast.

Oasis last played a show at Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden in 2008. They sold out two nights at MetLife Stadium in about 10 minutes.