Watch Bruce Springsteen’s Festival Performance in Asbury Park, NJ, Featuring the Tour Debut of 8 Songs

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band brought the U.S. leg of their 2024 world tour to a rousing close with a marathon performance Sunday, September 15, at the Sea.Hear.Now Festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey. According to Setlist.fm, Springsteen and his group played a 30-song set that included the tour debut of no less than eight tunes.

The performance, which ran more than three hours, was held on the festival’s main stage, situated right on the beach.

Springsteen and the band’s show featured a mix of classic hits and deep cuts, and was particularly heavy on songs from his first three albums. The show began with a performance of “Lonesome Day” from Bruce 2002’s The Rising. Two songs from Springsteen’s 1973 debut, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., followed—“Blinded by the Light” and “Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?” This marked the first time since 2017 that The Boss and his group played those tunes live.

The concert also featured renditions of three songs Springsteen and the E Streeters hadn’t performed in concert since 2016— “Thundercrack,” “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy),” and “Meeting Across the River.” Bruce dedicated “4th of July, Asbury Park” to late E Street Band keyboardist and accordion player Danny Federici.

[RELATED: Patti Scialfa, Bruce Springsteen’s Wife, Bandmate, Reveals Blood Cancer Diagnosis]

The other songs that got their tour debut at the show were “Local Hero,” “Jungleland,” and “Jersey Girl.” Springsteen closed the show with “Jersey Girl.”

Springsteen’s wife and longtime E Street Band backing vocalist Patti Scialfa made her first appearance with the group since announcing recently that she’s been battling the blood cancer multiple myeloma. Scialfa joined her husband for an emotional duet on his 1987 tune “Tougher than the Rest.”

Bruce Onstage Comments

As reported by the Asbury Park Press, during the show, Springsteen reflected on his history with Asbury Park, which had become run down for decades before experiencing a cultural and economic revival in recent years.

“The band was here on that little street corner when nobody was here, and I didn’t know when I would see folks in this good town again,” Springsteen told the crowd, which was said to have numbered about 36,000. “I just want to take a moment to thank all the people who have invested themselves to bring Asbury Park back to life. On the East Side, on the West Side—I want to thank the LGBTQ-plus community for all they did for Asbury Park in the last 25 years. [Festival organizer] Danny Clinch, I want to thank you for this wonderful event. And most of all I want to thank all of you for being here tonight.”

As Springsteen finished the show’s final song, “Jersey Girl,” he told the crowd, “God bless you, and God bless Asbury Park! The E Street Band loves you!”

Springsteen’s Surprise Appearances at the Festival

Prior to his set with the E Street Band, Springsteen made guest appearances during the performances by two of the day’s other acts. Bruce hit the event’s main stage with Phish frontman Trey Anastasio’s solo band for a rendition of his own 1973 tune “Kitty’s Back.”

He then headed to the smaller Park Stage to join his pals The Gaslight Anthem. The indie-rock band, which also hails from New Jersey, teamed up with The Boss for versions of their tunes “American Slang” and “History Books.” Bruce is featured on the studio version of the latter tune, which is the title track of The Gaslight Anthem’s 2023 album.

Springsteen also gave a surprise performance on Saturday, September 14, at a Sea.Hear.Now after-party event at the famed Asbury Park club The Stone Pony. According to the Asbury Park Press, Bruce played a 30-minute set accompanied by the Tangiers Blues Band. The group was co-founded by and features lauded rock photographer Danny Clinch, Springsteen’s longtime friend and the Sea.Hear.Now fest’s founder. Slide-guitar whiz Robert Randolph and E Street Band sax player Jake Clemons also took part in the performance.

About Springsteen’s Upcoming Tour Plans

Springsteen and the E Street Band will finish up their 2024 itinerary with a Canadian tour leg. The eight-date trek kicks off October 31 in Montreal and is mapped out through a November 22 concert in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The Boss and company also have a few European makeup shows scheduled for next year in Marseille, France; Prague Czech Republic; and Milan, Italy. Visit BruceSpringsteen.net to check out his full itinerary.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Set List, Sea.Hear.Now Festival, Asbury Park, NJ, 9/15/24:

1. “Lonesome Day”
2. “Blinded by the Light”
3. “Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?”
4. “Growin’ Up”
5. “The Promised Land”
6. “Spirit in the Night”
7. “Thundercrack”
8. “The E Street Shuffle”
9. “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)”
10. “Hungry Heart”
11. “Local Hero”
12. “Atlantic City”
13. “Tougher Than the Rest”
14. “Long Walk Home”
15. “Racing in the Street”
16. “Because the Night”
17. “She’s the One”
18. “Wrecking Ball”
19. “The Rising”
20. “Badlands”
21. “Thunder Road”
22. “Meeting Across the River”
23. “Jungleland”
24. “Born to Run”
25. “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)”
26. “Bobby Jean”
27. “Dancing in the Dark”
28. “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out”
29. “Twist and Shout”
30. “Jersey Girl”

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