By Scott Cronick
When the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City opened in 2018, it changed the entertainment landscape of Atlantic City.
After investing millions and millions of dollars and renaming the former Trump Taj Mahal venue to the Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena — maintaining its homage to former casino executive Mark Etess, who died in a helicopter crash in 1989 — the casino pledged to be the leader of the pack when it came to concerts and entertainment in Atlantic City.
The Hard Rock has certainly lived up to that promise. The 5,200-seat arena — which now has two balconies after the renovation and can fit up to about 6,000 people depending on the setup — has hosted everyone from KISS to Pitbull, while its sister venue, Sound Waves, accommodates acts that draw up to about 1,300 people, including The Wallflowers, who returned in rocking fashion thanks to Jakob Dylan and his stellar band last weekend.
And the Hard Rock’s 2025 spring and summer lineup is continued proof of that commitment.
“It’s a very exciting time,” said Michael Woodside, vice president of entertainment and marketing services. “The team is hard at work, and we have a very aggressive calendar ahead of us this summer. There is so much energy around the programming. We are happy with the product so far. We have a few more surprises coming up, but we feel our (spring/summer 2025) calendar is complete and looking forward to it.”
Those surprises are enveloped in a $30 million commitment to entertainment by Hard Rock in Atlantic City in 2025. That’s a year-round commitment to its brand — and Atlantic City — that the property takes very seriously.
“There is a risk in every show we buy,” Woodside said. “We are investing over $30 million every year in live entertainment, so there are going to be winners and losers, and thankfully we have done a good job booking more winners than losers. If we were in a primary market like Philadelphia or New York, there are so many less barriers to participate at our property because you don’t have to drive down the Parkway or Expressway and invest in a hotel room. So, it’s not only making sure there is enough demand for the act, but is there enough demand for the act plus are you willing to commit to an hour’s travel to get there?”
That entertainment investment generally focuses on weekends for headliners, but no matter when you go to Hard Rock, there will always be live music, whether it’s a 9-piece horn band in its lively Lobby Bar or more mellow, acoustic- and piano-driven acts in its Council Oak Lounge.
“Entertainment is a 100-percent commitment year-round,” Woodside added. “We want to go big year-round on weekends, but people want to experience the Hard Rock year-round regardless of seasonality. Whether it’s January or the middle of July, people expect us to create that energy and experience. It’s also important for our convention business. We do a lot of business from January to mid-May midweek, which is why we have such an aggressive live music calendar for free. When you walk into the building, whether it’s 5,000 people in the arena, 400 people in the Lobby Bar or 100 people in Council Oak, we want to make sure we always have that great live music experience available to them.”
Arena Shows
Proving that there is no “spring break” when it comes to the Hard Rock brand, April alone is mind blowing. After a weekend where Peter Frampton packed Hard Rock Live while Dylan & Co. rocked Sound Waves simultaneously, former Staind frontman Aaron Lewis will bring his band the Stateliners to the arena this weekend (8 p.m. Saturday, April 12), before Melissa Etheridge and Joss Stone add a country flair on April 18, followed by rappers Cypress Hill celebrating “Bongwalk Empire” on April 19.
But one of the biggest acts of the year for Hard Rock — the Grammy-winning Zac Brown Band — will sell out two shows on April 25 and 26, proving they are one of the biggest country rock acts in the world. The Saturday show is already sold out.
“He was at our property two years ago,” Woodside said. “We have a great relationship, and they are great people to work with. You can almost guarantee every time you have a country show that they are the kindest, most professional group of people. We are always excited to have them for a monster two nights.”
Other major acts this spring and summer include “American Idol” winner and daytime TV star Kelly Clarkson on May 9 and 10.
The Hard Rock, of course, also offers Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, including An Evening with Heart, known for “Barracuda” and “Crazy on You,” on May 31; “Running on Empty” scribe Jackson Browne on June 28; the legendary Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons on July 19, as Valli celebrates 90 years on this planet and more than 70 years as an entertainer that launched the Broadway smash “Jersey Boys”; Chicago, an iconic act approaching 50 years as a successful band whose hits include “25 or 6 to 4” and “Saturday in the Park,” for two shows on July 26 and 27; Steve Miller Band, one of the best live bands on the planet led by Miller’s awesome guitar work on smashes like “The Joker” and “Take the Money and Run” on Aug. 22; Steve Winwood, who was inducted in 2004 as a member of Traffic, will bring his solo hits as well as songs from his bands Traffic, Blind Faith and the Spencer Davis Group on Sept. 26; and Foreigner, which seems to get more popular as the years evolve, courtesy of giant radio hits that include “Hot Blooded” and “I Want to Know What Love Is,” for two shows on Oct. 10 and 11.
Booking those legendary acts is the easier side of the equation for Woodside and his Hard Rock team, but those legacy acts are slowly dying off or retiring, which leads to thinking out of the box.
“I think traditionally when people think about what a casino act is, they often go to Motown, and that has been the case for a long time, and that market does very, very well,” Woodside explained. “Sadly, a lot of those big acts are not touring quite as much as they used to. The original band members, perhaps, aren’t touring anymore, so as I look at the database and how the audience has grown, we are now looking at groups like Toto, who will be here on Aug. 1 (with Men at Work and Christopher Cross). Toto might be the new kind of Motown. We are seeing a big resurgence in ’70s , ’80s, especially the ’90s — like Incubus coming (June 27). That’s kind of becoming the more desirable and higher demand shows for our programming.
Perhaps the best example is the Queens of the Stone Age, a fantastic rock band that has more of a cult following than it does big radio hits, although it has a few of those, including “Go with the Flow” and “Mosquito Song.” Led by frontman Josh Homme, the band hasn’t been to Atlantic City since they played the former House of Blues at Showboat many, many moons ago in 2005.
That changes on June 13, when they will sell out Hard Rock Live!
“Yes, I believe they were here in Atlantic City a long time ago, but there isn’t a lot of recent history for this market, so we took a risk, and it thankfully paid off,” Woodside said. “The show is almost sold out, so if you are a Queens fan, please buy some tickets. It’s going to be a great night.”
Other acts that fit into that mold include the Counting Crows: “The Complete Sweets! Tour” with The Gaslight Anthem on July 5; Rick Springfield’s “I Want My ’80s Tour” on July 11; Hootie & the Blowfish singer Darius Rucker, now a country star, on July 12; Train, known for “Drops of Jupiter” and “Meet Virginia,” on Aug. 15; and the “I Love the ’90s Tour” with Vanilla Ice, Montell Jordan, Rob Base and Young MC on Sept. 13.
Of course, there are also some newbies on the roster, including country superstar Sam Hunt (July 25), who will have the crowd on its feet thanks to smashes like “Body Like a Back Road” “Leave the Night On” and “Take Your Time”; Khalid, who will bring his soulful, chart-topping R&B songs like “Talk,” “Location” and “Better,” on June 6; and The Avett Brothers, the Grammy-nominated folk rock darlings with songs like “I and Love and You” and “No Hard Feelings” on Aug. 9.
Comedy also plays a factor in the Hard Rock world, and they landed one of the biggest comics on the road this summer with Tom Segura, a podcasting giant who has been mostly playing 20,000-seat arenas, for two shows on June 20 and 21.
“We have a lot of legacy acts, whether it’s Chicago or Jackson Browne, but we are also mindful of who else is out there that the casino audience hasn’t seen in Atlantic City,” Woodside said. “So, we are always trying to bring in some new stuff, as well. We are definitely excited about having some new stuff.”
Diversity plays a part of the Hard Rock’s schedule, too, as they booked Sunidhi Chauhan (May 17), an Indian playback singer known for her crazy vocal range; and Latin music with Los Angeles Azules En Vivo 2025, a legendary Mexican group with songs including “Mis Sentimientos,” on Sept. 20.
“We have such a diverse population that we cater to,” Woodside said. “Some of the most densely populated Indian communities are an hour and a half away. That is a large, growing market, and we had a lot of success there with four or five shows a year of Bollywood or East Asian (acts) … and we definitely want to be aggressive in that market because that’s who is living in our backyard.”
Beyond the music
Hard Rock, of course, goes beyond staging concerts.
Cage Fury Fighting Championships 142 returns on May 24, offering mixed martial arts enthusiasts some hard-hitting action in Hard Rock Live. There’s also R&B Promotions Presents Fight Night, a boxing card with Desmond Carr, Justin Penaranda and Paul Kroll on the bill, on May 10 in Sound Waves; and the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame Awards and Induction Ceremony on Sept. 27.
“Atlantic City has such a strong history when it comes to combat sports, mostly boxing when you think back to the Tyson days and the big Boardwalk Hall events, and we jumped into the fray and doing some shows in both the theater and arena,” said Woodside, who added that future announcements of other events are coming soon. “We are trying to create this roster of combat sports, and it has been a home run so far. We are so excited about it.”
There’s also a night of theater — or two nights this weekend, Friday and Saturday, April 11 and 12 — with “My Big Gay Italian Casino Adventure,” a new comedy from off-Broadway actor, producer, writer and director Anthony J. Wilkinson; and those looking for oiled-up hunks can check out the Chippendales on July 11 and 12.
“I think we are always trying to evolve the calendar,” Woodside said. “And we are always mindful of bringing in these acquisition shows, as I call them … something that might not be normal for a casino show, but it brings the right audience for our building. We are constantly tweaking and evolving the process. Our eye is always on who is the next upcoming entertainer we want to tap into?”
Summer coming
As Hard Rock keeps packing them in for their concerts, Woodside is most looking forward to sending people outside this summer.
“The biggest thing I am excited about getting access to a beach this year,” said Woodside, referring to the fact that the North Beach properties had little sand to work with last year that was fixed by a beach replenishment project over the winter. “With the beach replenishment project, we are very fortunate to have so much more real estate so we can provide a great customer experience.”
That will include a new beach bar, dedicated food and beverage service that can be delivered to your beach chair, and a full rental operation for chairs and umbrellas.
“We might have some pop-up entertainment out there, but the focus is on a quality beach experience with cabanas and great food and beverages,” Woodside said.
Summer also means the reopening of two venues perched above the Boardwalk overlooking the ocean and that gorgeous Wheel at the Steel Pier: The Terrace, an outdoor restaurant offering casual cuisine with a view; and The Balcony, an immersive nightlife experience with great cocktails, DJ and the best views anyone can ask for.
“The Balcony … was more successful than we planned,” said Woodside, who said the property aims to reopen both by Memorial Day weekend. “People just love being outside overlooking the Steel Pier and having a view of the ocean, so we are excited. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some significant headliner afterparties, some DJs, some live music, some theme nights …. we will have a little bit of all of it for sure!”
For a full list of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City’s entertainment, go to HardRockHotelAtlanticCity.com.
Hard Rock Headliner Schedule:
Friday, April 11, 8 p.m. – My Big Gay Italian Casino Adventure – Sound Waves
Saturday, April 12, 8 p.m. – My Big Gay Italian Casino Adventure – Sound Waves
Saturday, April 12, 8 p.m. – Aaron Lewis and the Stateliners – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, April 18, 8 p.m. – Melissa Etheridge and Joss Stone – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, April 19, 7 p.m. – Bongwalk Empire with Cypress Hill – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, April 25, 8 p.m. – Zac Brown Band – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, April 26, 8 p.m. – Zac Brown Band – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, May 3, 8 p.m. – Brit Floyd – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, May 9, 8 p.m. – Kelly Clarkson – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, May 10, 8 p.m. – Kelly Clarkson – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, May 17, 8 p.m. – Sunidhi Chauhan – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, May 24, 6 p.m. – Cage Fury Fighting Championships – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, May 31, 8 p.m. – Heart – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, June 6, 9 p.m. – Khalid – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, June 13, 8 p.m. – Queens of the Stone Age – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, June 13, 8 p.m. – Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Experience – Sound Waves
Saturday, June 14, 8 p.m. – Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Experience – Sound Waves
Friday, June 20, 8 p.m. – Tom Segura – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, June 21, 8 p.m. – Tom Segura – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, June 27, 7 p.m. – Incubus – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, June 28, 8 p.m. – Jackson Browne – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, July 5, 7:30 p.m. – Counting Crows with The Gaslight Anthem – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, July 11, 8 p.m. – Rick Springfield – I Want My 80s Tour – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, July 11, 8 p.m. – Chippendales – Sound Waves
Saturday, July 12, 8 p.m. – Chippendales – Sound Waves
Saturday, July 12, 8 p.m. – Darius Rucker – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, July 19, 8 p.m. – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, July 25, 8 p.m. – Sam Hunt – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, July 26, 8 p.m. – Chicago – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Sunday, July 27, 7 p.m. – Chicago – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, Aug. 1, 8 p.m. – Toto + Men at Work + Christopher Cross – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, Aug. 9, 8 p.m. – The Avett Brothers – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, Aug. 15, 8 p.m. – Train – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, Sept. 13, 8 p.m. – I Love the 90s Tour with Vanilla Ice, Montell Jordan, Rob Base, Young MC – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, Sept. 20, 8 p.m. – Los Angeles Azules – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, Sept. 26, 8 p.m. – Steve Winwood – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Friday, Oct. 10, 8 p.m. – Foreigner – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Saturday, Oct. 11, 8 p.m. – Foreigner – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Scott Cronick is an award-winning journalist who has written about entertainment, food, news and more in South Jersey for nearly three decades. He hosts a daily radio show – “Off The Press with Scott Cronick” – 4 to 6 p.m. weekdays on Newstalk WOND 1400-AM, 92.3-FM, and WONDRadio.com, and he also co-owns Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall in Atlantic City, while working on various projects, including charitable efforts, throughout the area. He can be reached at scronick@comcast.net.
