North to Shore Festival

The North to Shore Festival (aka North to Shore Arts and Ideas Festival, North to Shore, North2Shore, or N2S) is an annual three-week-long music, comedy, film and technology festival in New Jersey.^[1][2] The event is hosted in June by three New Jersey cities: Atlantic City, Asbury Park, and Newark.^[3]

The North to Shore Festival is produced by, among others, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, SJ Presents, Madison Marquette, Live Nation Entertainment, Platinum Productions and Absolutely Live!^[4][5][6][7]

In announcing the festival, inaugurated in 2023, Governor Phil Murphy stated that the event was inspired by SXSW in Texas and intended to showcase the vibrant arts scene and inclusive cultural environment in New Jersey.^{[8][9][10][11][12][13]}

Due to the density of its population, its location between two major metropolitan cities drawing touring acts, its reputation as an artist-friendly cultural environment and its long history as a summer beach resort for the middle and working class, New Jersey historically had has a relatively large number of entertainment venues, and has continued to invest heavily in the performing arts in the present.^[14][15]

Asbury Park N2S venues have included: The Paramount Theatre, The Stone Pony, House of Independents, the Convention Hall Arcade, Asbury Lanes, Wonder Bar, the Carousel Building, the Turf Club, the Saint, the Asbury Park boardwalk, Asbury Book Collective, and Georgies.

Atlantic City N2S venues have included: the Hard Rock, Ocean, the Trop, Resorts Superstar Theater, Caesars, Boardwalk Hall, Anchor Rock Club, the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, Bader Field, Rhythm & Spirits, Chicken Bone Beach at ACX1 Studios, Dante Hall Theater, Noyes Arts Garage, and Union Hall Arts.

Newark N2S venues have included: the Prudential Center, the Newark Museum of Art, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Weequahic Park, Newark Symphony Hall, Bethany Baptist Church, Halsey Street, Newark jazz club Clement's Place, Military Park, the recently restored Krueger-Scott mansion, Branch Brook Park, Harriett Tubman Square, Ferry Street (the main thoroughfare in the Ironbound), and the Newark Public Library.

In March 2024, in addition to dozens of smaller events in each city conducted by local performers, artists, and thinkers, N2S announced its June 2024 featured line-up in each of the three cities:^[17]

The Newark International Film Festival and Montclair Film will provide film programming. TechUnited:NJ will host more than 5,000 attendees at the Propelify Innovation Festival on technology during the festival. Stockton University will manage a series of e-sports competitions and soccer programming in Atlantic City as part of Atlantic City week.

The 2023 festival was held in Atlantic City (June 7–11), Asbury Park (June 14–18). and Newark (June 21–25) It drew an audience of nearly 250,000 to more than 300 shows.

During the festival planning process, organizers asked local creators to submit ideas for events. The festival sought "local producers or presenters of music, comedy, dance, theater or visual art in Atlantic City, Asbury Park or Newark." Certain creators were to be awarded stipends of up to $5,000 to execute their concepts.^[7]

The announced 2023 N2S lineup included:

Additional acts included Anthony Krizan (formerly of Spin Doctors), Eric B. & Rakim, Brian Fallon of Gaslight Anthem, Gavin DeGraw, Jay Wheeler, Low Cut Connie, Marisa Monte, Remember Jones, The Smithereens and Southside Johnny.

A tribute concert in honor of the music and life of Clarence Clemons will also was held at 2023 N2S.^[18][19]

Film screenings were held at Dante Hall in the Ducktown section of Atlantic City during the festival, curated by Montclair Film, a nonprofit organization in the New Jersey film community.^[20] Investor Daymond John of Shark Tank was scheduled to speak at the festival in Newark. The annual Newark International Film Festival was also scheduled to take place during N2S.

The Newark International Film Festival was scheduled to host a "From Hip Hop to Hollywood" conversation at N2S with Newark councilman and Lords of the Underground alum Dupré "DoItAll" Kelly, speaking with Redman, Ludacris and Lady London.

Television presenter and science communicator Bill Nye of Bill Nye the Science Guy was to speak at Asbury Lanes during the festival.

• New Jersey music venues by capacity
• The Aquarian Weekly
• Music of Asbury Park
• Nightclubs in Atlantic City
• James Moody Jazz Festival
• New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission