Asbury Park Music + Film Festival Returns

The Asbury Park Music & Film Festival is returning for its fifth consecutive year on April 25-28, with weekend-long events that celebrate the role of music and film, from an appearance by the Farrelly brothers to a presentation of rare Bob Dylan performance footage.

For more than 100 years, Asbury Park has been a fabled music destination, from the bandstand shows of Arthur Pryor in 1904 to The Stone Pony where hometown hero Bruce Springsteen got his start, organizers say. Celebrating the role of music in film, the festival offers the chance to relish in Asbury Park’s artistic and economic renaissance, where music remains at the center of it all.

And under 70 minutes away from New York City, Asbury Park makes for an ideal weekend getaway for those who want to escape the city's hustle and bustle, organizers say.

Where to stay? The Asbury Hotel’s interiors are inspired by the destination's mash-up of Victorian-era history and rock-n-roll present. From the lively lobby bar Soundbooth to legendary photographer Danny Clinch’s on-site gallery, the 110-room property features several bars and hangouts where travelers can spend time in between festival events.

What else is there to do?

• Asbury Lanes, the recently reopened bowling alley-turned music venue, features performances programmed by The Bowery Presents, including Papadosio (4/25), Girlpool (4/26) and Slothrust (4/27)
• Silverball Museum Arcade, located right on the boardwalk is a living, breathing and blinking tribute to Asbury Park’s pinball and video gaming past, with 600 games in rotation and a cafe serving classic boardwalk treats.

Where to chow down? While hopping between the Music & Film Festival’s 22+ performances, visitors can discover Asbury Park’s burgeoning culinary scene; our top picks include:

• Cardinal Provisions with not-to-miss brunch items like their polenta waffle, blueberry skillet cake, and brekky bowls.
• Porta, a pizzeria by day and nightclub by night, referred to by Eater NY as the “restaurant that turned the Asbury dining scene around”
• Asbury Park Distilling Co., Asbury Park’s first distillery since prohibition

Here is what else is expected to happen at the festival:

NJ PREMIERE OF ECHO IN THE CANYON
Thursday, April 25, 2019
7:00 PM 11:00 PM
PARAMOUNT THEATRE
Followed by Q&A with Jakob Dylan and the film’s director, Andrew Slater plus musical performance by Jakob Dylan, Cat Power and Jade (singer from Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros) performing songs by The Byrds, Beach Boys, and The Mamas & The Papas.

YO LA TENGO
Friday, April 26, 2019
6:00 PM 11:30 PM
THE STONE PONY
Following their sold-out eight night run of Hanukkah shows in NYC this past December, Yo La Tengo commence their world tour this spring in support of the brand new album There's A Riot Going On. Catch this iconic New Jersey indie rock band live in Asbury Park!

GARY U.S. BONDS' UNUSUALLY BIG BIRTHDAY BASH
Friday, April 26, 2019
6:30 PM 10:00 PM
PARAMOUNT THEATRE
With Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers, very special guests + more.

JAKE MILLER
Friday, April 26, 2019
7:00 PM 11:59 PM
HOUSE OF INDEPENDENTS
With special guests Logan Henderson + Just Seconds Apart.

BOBBY BANDIERA WITH SPECIAL GUESTS BLISS.
Friday, April 26, 2019
8:00 PM 11:59 PM
WONDER BAR
Bobby Bandiera with special guests Bliss.

CREEM: BOY HOWDY! THE STORY OF CREEM MAGAZINE
Saturday, April 27, 2019
12:00 PM 2:30 PM
HOUSE OF INDEPENDENTS
Ripping back the curtain on legendary rock rag Creem Magazine’s wild and disruptive newsroom; a dysfunctional band of unruly outsiders who weren’t all that different from the artists they covered.

Screening followed by a Q&A with Director Scott Crawford and Rich Russo.

NJ PREMIERE OF CLARENCE CLEMONS: WHO DO I THINK I AM?
Saturday, April 27, 2019
12:00 PM 3:30 PM
Paramount Theatre
Featuring interviews with President Bill Clinton, Joe Walsh, former bandmates and friends, and close family members, Clarence Clemons: Who Do I Think I Am? highlights Clarence’s life as musician while also presenting another side of Clarence not many saw when he was under the bright stage lights. It’s an intimate portrait of a man who searched for enlightenment and for some meaning at the unknowingly final years of his life.

Screening followed by Q&A with Director Nick Mead, Producer Joe Amodei and special guest Jake Clemons.

JERSEY STORYTELLERS PROJECT: PRIDE IN THE ARTS
Saturday, April 27, 2019
1:00 PM 3:00 PM
WONDER BAR
Our growth and evolution as individuals and as a society hinges on learning from one another. By coming together to explore our trials and our triumphs, and the moments in between that make us laugh or give us a new perspective, the Storytellers Project aims to help strangers, neighbors, friends, and family better understand one another, and better understand the common threads and experiences that connect us all.

The Asbury Park Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, welcomes you to join us for an afternoon of storytelling featuring stories told by members of the LGBTQ community.

FEMALE FIRSTS PANEL
Saturday, April 27, 2019
3:30 PM 5:30 PM
TRANSPARENT GALLERY
A candid discussion with key female leaders who discuss a significant first in their career and a significant first they learned along the way. Panel featuring Karen Duffy, Kris Moran, Tracey Edwards and Lockey Maisonneuve , moderated by Ivy Charmtaz from News 12 New Jersey.

Karen Duffy- Actress, NY Times Best-Selling Author, and Former MTV VJ

Kris Moran- Artist, Decorator and Set Designer

Tracy Edwards- Round the World Sailor, Inspirational Speaker and Activist

Lockey Maisonneuve- Author & Inspirational Speaker

Panel followed a special screening of Maiden. In 1989 Tracy Edwards leads the first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Race, a grueling yachting competition that covers 33,000 miles and lasts nine months.

SUGGESTED DONATION $10

THE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN ARCHIVES
Saturday, April 27, 2019
3:30 PM 6:00 PM
PARAMOUNT THEATRE
Thom Zimny, long time film director and archivist for Bruce Springsteen, will present an exclusive screening of rare and never before seen footage of Springsteen from the Thrill Hill Vault spanning from his early years to recent tour highlights. Following the screening, a panel discussion and Q&A will take place moderated by Backstreets editor, Chris Phillips.

DAVID CROSBY: REMEMBER MY NAME
Saturday, April 27, 2019
7:00 PM 11:00 PM
PARAMOUNT THEATRE
A screening of the documentary David Cosby: Remember My Name directed by A.J. Eaton. Screening followed by a Q&A with David Crosby and producer Cameron Crowe.

WAITING ON MONGO
Saturday, April 27, 2019
8:00 PM 11:59 PM
WONDER BAR
Waiting on Mongo is an award-winning funk band from Asbury Park, NJ. The band features seven devoted musicians on guitar, bass, keys, drums, and horns, bringing funk and jams inspired by Chicago, Phish, James Brown, The Grateful Dead, and more.

THE PO' BOY JAM TANGIERS BLUES BAND FEATURING DANNY CLINCH
Saturday, April 27, 2019
8:00 PM 11:59 PM
THE STONE PONY
The Mercury Brothers • Sunshine Spazz and SPECIAL GUESTS TO BE ANNOUNCED!

HOT WATER MUSIC
Saturday, April 27, 2019
8:00 PM 11:59 PM
HOUSE OF INDEPENDENTS
Hot Water Music celebrating 25 years, playing the album “No Division” in full with Iron Chic and Crime In Stereo

ROCK AND ROLL PLAY HOUSE PRESENTS THE MUSIC OF BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN FOR KIDS
Sunday, April 28, 2019
11:00 AM 12:30 PM
THE STONE PONY
Using the songs created by the most iconic musicians in rock history, The Rock and Roll Playhouse offers its core audience of babies and kids games, movement, and stories and an opportunity to rock out. The Rock and Roll Playhouse is an early and often first introduction to a child's lifelong journey with live music and rock and roll.

BOB DYLAN CENTER PRESENTS: DYLAN ARCHIVES IV
Sunday, April 28, 2019
11:30 AM 1:00 PM
HOUSE OF INDEPENDENTS
After such an incredible event last year, the Bob Dylan archives at The Bob Dylan Center, are proud to present rare gems from the vault, volume 4.

MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL
Sunday, April 28, 2019
12:00 PM 2:30 PM
PARAMOUNT THEATRE
Featuring never-before-seen archival footage, studio outtakes, and rare photos, Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool tells the story of a truly singular talent and unpacks the man behind the horn.

CELEBRITY YAPPY HOUR
Sunday, April 28, 2019
12:00 PM 4:00 PM
WONDER BAR
Get Happy, Yappy Hour is coming back to Asbury Park!

Yappy Hour, the ever popular gathering event for dogs and their owners is returning to Wonder Bar on April 6. It will host its inaugural event of the season

Saturday from 12-4pm

THE SHOW'S THE THING: THE LEGENDARY PROMOTERS OF ROCK
Sunday, April 28, 2019
1:00 PM 3:30 PM
HOUSE OF INDEPENDENTS
The Show's the Thing is the story of the promoters and agents who developed the rock concert touring business in the 60's and 70's. From a "wild west" culture to a corporate take-over in the 90's, this story presents a key part of the history of rock ‘n’ roll.

Screening followed by a discussion with Directors Molly Bernstein and Philip Dolin plus Philadelphia legendary promoter Larry Magid of Electric Factory Concerts moderated by Rich Russo.

ASBURY PARK: RIOT. REDEMPTION. ROCK 'N ROLL

Sunday, April 28, 2019
3:00 PM 6:00 PM
PARAMOUNT THEATRE
Followed by a Q&A with Chris Phillips and Director Tom Jones. Musical performance by Lakehouse Jr. Pros. As part of the documentary, Springsteen reunites with his earliest band members to play a now legendary concert to a sold out Paramount Theatre and to trade guitar licks with the future of music in Asbury, a group of 11 year old rockers who prove the best days for the town must just lie ahead.

AN EVENING WITH THE FARRELLY BROTHERS
Sunday, April 28, 2019
7:00 PM 10:00 PM
THE STONE PONY
Mike Fleming of Deadline Hollywood sits down with Hollywood’s zaniest writer/director/producer brothers Bobby and Peter Farrelly (2019 Academy Award winner for Green Book). Get ready for an unforgettable evening of clips, conversation and Q&A.

Filmography includes Dumb and Dumber, There's Something About Mary, King Pin, Me, Myself and Irene, Shallow Hal and many more.

JAZZ IS PHSH
Sunday, April 28, 2019
7:00 PM 11:59 PM
WONDER BAR
Jazz Is PHSH is an instrumental tribute to PHISH that is comprised of a collective of ALL STAR musicians that includes members of Phish’s Giant Country Horns, Trey Anastasio Band, Snarky Puppy, Dave Matthews Band, The Flecktones, Victor Wooten Band, Sun Ra Arketra, and more!

HOT WATER MUSIC
Sunday, April 28, 2019
7:00 PM 11:59 PM
HOUSE OF INDEPENDENTS
Hot Water Music celebrating 25 years, playing the album “Caution” in full with Iron Chic and Crime In Stereo.

TREY ANASTASIO: BETWEEN ME AND MY MIND
Sunday, April 28, 2019
7:00 PM 10:00 PM
PARAMOUNT THEATRE
Driven by a constant need to create, Phish frontman Trey Anastasio takes on new projects, including some of his most personal music to date as well as Phish’s ambitious New Year’s Eve show at Madison Square Garden.

Shortly through this look into the creative process of founding Phish guitarist and vocalist Trey Anastasio, it becomes clear that he is simply exploding with creativity and joy like few others. As the frontman of one of America’s longest lasting and most successful touring bands and a solo musician as well, Anastasio’s virtuosic musicianship has made him an icon, beloved by his die-hard fanbase for the depth of his artistic output and the boundless enthusiasm that he exudes on stage and off.

Screening followed by a Q&A with producer Jamie Schutz and Mike Greenhaus of Relix.

YAS QUEEN! WITH REMEMBER JONES
Sunday, April 28, 2019
7:30 PM 11:00 PM
COUNT BASIE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
National soul sensation and Asbury Park native Remember Jones takes on the legacy of Freddie Mercury with YAS QUEEN!, a brand new celebration of the ground-breaking music of QUEEN at the Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre at the Count Basie Center for the Arts. In true Remember Jones’ style, the show will feature a 10-piece band, including horns and strings, along with an over the top, huge rock choir to breathe new life into the songs that have captured the hearts and souls of millions around the world.

PRESENTED BY COUNT BASIE CENTER FOR THE ARTS

PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH ASBURY PARK MUSIC + FILM FESTIVAL