https://static01.nyt.com/images/2023/06/04/nyregion/04nj-fest1-whcb/02nj-fest1-whcb-facebookJumbo.jpg
New Jersey’s Governor, Philip D. Murphy, and Tammy Murphy, the First Lady of New Jersey, have created a new festival that will be taking place in the state that they hope could one day become as well-known as South by Southwest and Bonnaroo. The North to Shore Festival promises to deliver on its boast with over 220 acts, including music, comedy, dance and film, taking place over the course of a month. The performers will be taking to 115 venues in three different cities, from Newark to Atlantic City.
To make the festival stand out, the organizers have also focused on showcasing local talent, and gave grants of up to $5,000 to 58 New Jersey-based artists. One event that has received attention is “You Got VERRRSED: NJ Poets vs. New York Poets,” scheduled to take place in Newark on June 24 following a performance by Grammy Award winner Marisa Monte.
The North to Shore Festival hopes to rival the likes of SXSW, and expects that over 350,000 people will attend. The festival could potentially boost New Jersey’s economy by an overall expected windfall of $100m, a figure that more than justifies the investment required, according to officials.
In addition to local talent, the North to Shore Festival will also feature national and international acts, including Halsey, Santana, and Jazmine Sullivan. The festival has multiple events happening across the three locations, from concerts, to comedy shows, to dance classes. The wide range of different types of entertainment is sure to attract a diverse audience.
The venues themselves are varied, too. Stages range from famous clubs, like the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, to lesser-known venues like the Watermark, another Asbury Park venue located down the street. Liberty Hall Museum, a former mansion, is also on the roster for a performance by orchestral indie-pop artist Emelie Sandé.
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center is producing the festival, with President and CEO John Schreiber overseeing operations. In a recent New York Times interview, Schreiber called the North to Shore Festival “a chance to turn up the volume on the local folks” and thanked the Murphy family for promoting New Jersey.
Natalie Merchant, accompanied by New York City’s Orchestra of St. Luke’s, will perform in Newark on June 25. “I think it’s really ambitious and impressive,” she said of the idea behind the festival.
But her decision to participate did not have much to do with performing in a liberal-leaning state, Ms. Merchant said. “I tend to not penalize my fans in states with political conditions like abortion restrictions.” Instead, “I talk about them onstage.”
The North to Shore Festival will take place June 4-11 in Atlantic City, June 14-18 in Asbury Park and June 21-25 in Newark.
