• By Mabel Pais

The North to Shore (N2S) Festival, after its astounding success with hundreds of thousands of attendees and participants at its inaugural N2S in June 2023, returns in June 2024 with a repetition of the three-city, three weekend celebration of the arts and ideas across New Jersey.

Conceived by Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy, the North to Shore Festival was designed to spotlight New Jersey’s culture, creativity, and diversity. The lineup begins this year in Asbury Park June 10-16, swings down the Shore to Atlantic City June 17-23, and concludes in Newark June 24-30 at several locations in each city.

The North to Shore Festival will feature scores of diverse and talented artists you won’t want to miss, including Kevin Hart, Matchbox Twenty, Gary Clark, Jr., The B-52s, Gabriel Iglesias, Bleachers, Jeezy, Scarface, Barenaked Ladies, Lake Street Dive, Prince Royce & Wisin, Keyshia Cole and Trey Songz, Frankie Valli, Stephen Colbert, as well as film screenings, live podcasts, and engaging panels.

“Our inaugural North to Shore Festival was the beginning of a proud, new annual tradition that brings some of the biggest stars to New Jersey to bolster our tourism industry and boost demand for our local businesses,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “I’m thrilled to announce this year’s lineup features a number of world-renowned acts that will hit the stages in Newark, Asbury Park, and Atlantic City this June. This year’s festival will be even bigger and better than ever before, and we look forward to welcoming those from near and far to experience our unique state this summer.” The announcement was made during a press conference in March 2024 at the iconic Stone Pony in Asbury Park, the heart of the Jersey Shore music scene where festival organizers, state leaders, and the arts community came together to celebrate the next edition of North to Shore.

“The North to Shore Festival is an opportunity to showcase all that New Jersey has to offer, including some of the best local and global acts, our incredible diversity and unique culture,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “As we announce this year’s lineup for the three-city, month-long celebration, I eagerly anticipate another chance to enjoy New Jersey’s music, art and food scene alongside people from all over the state and nation.”

In its inaugural year, North to Shore was designed to be an economic engine for the state. Organizers’ goals were far exceeded as the newborn festival drew an audience of nearly 250,000 to experience more than 300 artists in more than 100 venues in three of New Jersey’s most arts-rich cities. While most festival events were free to the public, ticketed events brought in $7.6 million in ticket sales.

“Last year’s inaugural North to Shore Festival proved to be a tremendous success for New Jersey’s communities, cities, and economy. As part of Governor Murphy’s vision to make New Jersey the best place to live, work, and raise a family, this three-week festival celebrates and showcases the strength of our state’s talent and diversity in innovation and arts,” said NJEDA (New Jersey Economic Development Authority) Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “The NJEDA is proud to take part in this year’s North to Shore Festival, which will not only bring world-class talent back to New Jersey but will help boost the economy at the heart of the summer season by supporting local restaurants, hotels, venues, and main streets.”

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) is producing this three-week extravaganza in collaboration with partners Casinoeed Reinvestment Development Authority, NJM Insurance Group, NJ Travel & Tourism, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Outfront Media, RWJBarnabas Health, and United Airlines, with leadership support from this year’s title sponsor, Prudential Financial.

“We are proud to serve as title sponsor for North to Shore and help showcase the creativity and diversity that defines New Jersey and our home city of Newark,” said Shané Harris, Vice President and Head of Social Responsibility, Prudential Financial, President, The Prudential Foundation. “A vibrant cultural scene is key to having thriving communities, and we are excited to continue our long-standing relationship with NJPAC to bring North to Shore’s creative economic engine to Newark and across the state.”

Producing partners this year include Montclair Film and Newark International Film Festival, which together will add a curated film component to the festival; TechUnited:NJ, which will join North to Shore by hosting more than 5,000 attendees at the Propelify Innovation Festival, showcasing tech leaders, emerging startups, and cutting edge technology; Stockton University, which will manage a series of E-Games competitions and soccer programming in Atlantic City; and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon BCBSNJ), which in collaboration with NJPAC and the NJEDA will host virtual discussions on maternal health, the arts as a catalyst to health, and food insecurity.

A portion of ticket sales to select events will support Growing Healthy Pantries — a partnership among Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Community FoodBank of New Jersey, FoodBank of South Jersey, Fulfill, Mercer Street Friends, Norwescap, and Feeding America — which addresses food security statewide. Growing Healthy Pantries helps 900 food pantries in all 21 counties promote healthy food choices to improve the overall health of New Jerseyans.

“Thousands of families rely on New Jersey’s 900 community pantries and the major food banks that provide the healthy foods they distribute,” said Jonathan Pearson, Horizon’s Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Executive Director of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. “Good health begins with good nutrition. Support for Growing Healthy Pantries adds an important social mission to the North to Shore Festival that expands the impact of this event to every corner of the State.”

NJPAC once again provided direct grants to artists, nonprofits, small businesses, and art organizations based in each host city to self-produce performing and visual art events during the festival. The grants, which total $367,000 this year, support the creative economy of each city, and give a platform to artists and arts organizations that call New Jersey home. A full list of grant recipients is available at northtoshore.com.

Additionally, for the first time, grants have been provided to artists interested in performing on the North to Shore Festival Community Showcase Stages, centrally located performance venues in each city, including the Audible Showcase Stage in Newark.

“We are thrilled to bring North to Shore back to the Garden State this summer to celebrate the vast diversity and top-notch talent that is quintessential New Jersey,” said NJPAC CEO John Schreiber. “In its inaugural year, North to Shore proved to be an economic driver for the businesses and downtown districts that serve our state’s residents day-in and day-out. I’m proud to bring that support back to three of our most iconic cities this summer.”

This year, festival goers can maximize the festival experience with the North to Shore app, where they can plan their schedule, explore artists, buy tickets, get access to exclusive content and giveaways, and more.

“Asbury Park is ready to shine for a second year as one of the host cities of the North to Shore Festival,” said Asbury Park Mayor John Moor. “We are eager to share the talent and energy that makes our small city so captivating with the rest of the state and beyond. 

“It is an especially proud moment for us as the iconic Stone Pony is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2024,” Moor continued. “North to Shore is tapping the expected and unexpected venues in town and will be presenting a wide variety of acts and activations. We are honored to kick off this year’s festival and look forward to seeing everyone in Asbury Park in June.”

“The Great City of Atlantic City got to showcase why we’re among the entertainment capitals of the country during last year’s North to Shore Festival, and we’re looking forward to getting another opportunity this time around,” said City of Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, Sr. “Everything that makes our city special and unique, particularly in the arts and culture scene, will once again be on full display as we promise this festival will be even bigger and better in year number two.

“Newark has long been a hotspot for talented artists, entrepreneurs and innovators to grow, perform and master their craft,” said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka.  “With dozens of entertainment venues- including New Jersey Performing Arts Center – as well as authentic restaurants, boutique shops and recreation facilities available, Newark is a perfect location to host North to Shore.

TICKETS

Tickets to this year’s festival are available now at NorthtoShore.com.

The North to Shore (N2S) Festival

The North to Shore Festival, launched in 2023, features all the talent, diversity and creativity that New Jersey has to offer, packed into three extraordinary weekends of performances, screenings, parties and conversations in three of the state’s most iconic cities. Hosted by Atlantic City, Asbury Park, and Newark, the North to Shore Festival brings together events at more than 100 venues for an over-the-top showcase of Jersey excellence, aligned with Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy’s vision of a celebration worthy of the Garden State’s long legacy of innovation in the arts, film and technology. For the latest updates on festival concerts, screenings and more, visit northtoshore.com and follow the festival on Instagram, X, Facebook, and TikTok.

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)

Visit njpac.org for more information.

(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Cuisine, Spirituality, Health & Wellness, Business, and Education)

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KULTURE KOOL HONORS AAPI MONTH  WHILE CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

• By Mabel Pais

Kulture Kool, North Jersey’s leading South Asian Cultural Center, is thrilled to celebrate its 15-year anniversary show, ‘Utsav: Celebrations of India,’ at the Memorial Auditorium, Montclair State University, June 1, 1-4 pm.

The event, perfectly timed to honor Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, promises to be an extraordinary journey through the vibrant festivals celebrated in India throughout the calendar year, featuring cultural immersion, entertainment, and a grand audio-visual spectacle. More than 200 performers, ranging in age from 3 to 50, will take the stage to bring the rich traditions and colorful celebrations of India to life. Attendees can expect a captivating showcase of Indian performing arts, including dance, music, and storytelling.

The theme, ‘Utsav,’ embodies the spirit of joy and unity found in Indian festivals, making it an unforgettable experience for audiences of all backgrounds.

Kulture Kool has been serving the South Asian community in New Jersey for 15 years, offering classes and workshops in the Indian performing arts, languages, and cultural immersion. As the largest institute of its kind in the region, Kulture Kool has become a vital part of the community, hosting over 2,000 school assemblies and countless public events.

COLLABORATION WITH NJ SYMPHONY

The Center recently made history by organizing the first-ever full Indian music concert with the New Jersey Symphony, further demonstrating its commitment to promoting South Asian culture.

Archana Athalye, Founder and Director of Kulture Kool, shares her excitement for the upcoming event: “Utsav is more than just a show—it’s a celebration of our journey over the past 15 years. We’ve grown from a small group of passionate individuals to a thriving community that embraces the beauty and diversity of South Asian culture. This grand celebration is our way of sharing that journey with everyone. We can’t wait to see you there!”

The ‘Utsav’ show at Montclair State University is open to the public, and tickets are available for purchase on Kulture Kool’s website. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience a vibrant cultural event filled with dance, music, and the lively spirit of India’s festivals.

TICKETS

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit kulturekool.com or contact Archana Athalye @ 203-558-7868.

Kulture Kool

The Kulture Kool South Asian Cultural Center offers a wide range of programs in Indian performing arts, languages, and cultural immersion. Founded in 2009, Kulture Kool has become a cornerstone of the community, providing quality education and enriching experiences that celebrate the diverse traditions of South Asia.

(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Cuisine, Spirituality, Health & Wellness, Business, and Education)