Two nights. One stage. A lineup that spans the full breadth of American music history. Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi headline “Music America: The Songs That Shaped Us,” a two-night concert event on June 4 and 5 at the OceanFirst Bank Center on the campus of Monmouth University in New Jersey. The shows mark America’s 250th birthday and arrive three days before the official opening of the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music on June 7. Tickets go on sale April 21 at noon at springsteencenter.org.
The supporting lineup reads like a who’s who of American music across generations. Kenny Chesney, Mavis Staples, Public Enemy, Jackson Browne, Rosanne Cash, Gary Clark Jr., Dion, Dropkick Murphys, Shemekia Copeland, Valerie June, Keb’ Mo’, Nils Lofgren, Darlene Love, David Sancious, Stevie Van Zandt, Jimmie Vaughan, Trombone Shorty and the New Breed Brass Band, and more are all on the bill. The Disciples of Soul serve as the house band. Additional artists are still to be announced.
Each performer is slated to play landmark songs from American music history, spanning blues, bluegrass, rock, hip-hop, folk, jazz, country, and gospel. Narration will provide context before each performance, tying the songs to their cultural and historical significance. Robert Santelli, executive director of the Springsteen Center and executive producer of the concerts, describes it as “a journey through American music history,” one that reflects the power of music to unite people across a divided cultural landscape.
The event connects to a broader celebration that began in 2024 with “Music America: Iconic Objects from America’s Music History,” a traveling exhibition currently on display at the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame in Boston. Tickets for each night are sold separately and go on sale April 21.
Concert Dates:
June 4 – Tinton Falls, NJ @ OceanFirst Bank Center, Monmouth University
June 5 – Tinton Falls, NJ @ OceanFirst Bank Center, Monmouth University