By Tim Hawk
Artists have used many of Atlantic City’s buildings and homes as a canvas for their work to highlight culture and the community. Now the state of New Jersey will use Atlantic City as part of its canvas to showcase the talent, creativity and diversity of the Garden State during a first-of-its-kind three-city festival in June. The month-long North to Shore Festival will celebrate music, film, comedy and technology across three cities — Atlantic City (June 3-11), Asbury Park (June 13-24) and Newark (June 20-25).
In March Gov. Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy, along with New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) president and CEO John Schreiber and the three mayors of the host cities, announced the multi-city festival during a press conference in Newark.
“This superstar event, held over three weekends in June, will attract folks from all over, creating another great reason for tourists to visit the Garden State as well as opportunities for local businesses in three of our iconic cities to shine,” said Murphy through a press release.
Since then the festival has expanded as more people wanted to get involved.
NJPAC, a nonprofit arts organization, is producing the festival in collaboration with multiple partners that include Montclair Film, Live Nation, and Platinum Productions.
North to Shore will feature homegrown talent in music, comedy, and art to go along with headliners such as The B52’s performing at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, Alanis Morissette with special guest Aimee Mann at the Prudential Center in Newark, and New Jersey’s own Halsey at NJPAC in Newark.
In all, more than 50 venues will offer the opportunity for people to experience the talent, creativity and diversity New Jersey has to offer.
The multi-city festival officially kicks off Saturday, June 3, with the DropKick Murphys headlining Session 1 of the Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival. Atlantic City’s part of the festival ends the next weekend with more than 12 events to choose from on Sunday.
“I understand that it’s big and it’s new,” said Tom Hall, artistic director of the Montclair Music Festival. “People aren’t sure where they fit.”
Hall has experience running large festivals — he heads the Montclair Film Festival that’s now in its 12th year — and offered a tip for seasoned and beginner festival-goers attending North to Shore in Atlantic City.
His number one piece of advice is for people to check their calendars and find what they are interested in, then find that pocket of time in their schedule.
“Anytime there’s a big broad schedule like this with so much happening, I think it’s really important for individuals to say to themselves, ‘what do I want to do and then when can I do it.’”
Atlantic City will offer a number of events throughout the week — some are free and some require tickets — that most anyone can find some interest in.
Help create a mural alongside local artists or enjoy a few laughs during a night of comedy at Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall and the Atlantic City Comedy Club. Enjoy a mix of local live music and pottery making while sampling local craft beers at The Seed: A Living Beer Project.
Expand your music tastes and check out indie rock acts Miss Cantaloupe and Molly Ringworm at the Anchor Rock Club, or Gavin DeGraw and Colbie Caillat at Boardwalk Hall.
There is something special about finding a spot on the beach and watching a movie as the last light of the day fades into the ocean. North to Shore will offer that with free screenings of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “Top Gun: Maverick” on historic Chicken Bone Beach.
If you are looking for a night of dancing look no further than Joe McGinty & The Loser’s Lounge at the Anchor Rock Club. The former Psychedelic Furs keyboardist and Atlantic City native first played in his hometown 40 years ago and will be back June 8 for an opening night party.
“It’s just going to be two sets of, you know, slamming classic disco hits,” he said, noting that the Loser’s Lounge has been performing tribute nights in New York City for approximately 30 years.
Even though McGinty is in the area a lot — he owns a house in Ventnor — playing in Atlantic City is “like coming full circle” and said he would be interested in playing in the area more often.
“I’m excited that this (festival) is happening in Atlantic City, and it’s just a nice coming together of different worlds,” said McGinty.
One event he is looking forward to is the screening of “Primal Scream,” a sci-fi thriller directed by William Murray, which was filmed in Atlantic City in the1980s.
“It’s gonna be a great weekend,” said McGinty.
Hall said he hopes the festival will bring out the curiosity in people so they experiment and try new things because it’s not everyday that such a diverse lineup is open to explore.
He also wants people to have a good time and hopes the festival helps build community and foster conversation around the arts in Atlantic City.
“The most important part is the audience and the community and what you can build together,” said Hall.
Tim Hawk has been a photojournalist for more than 30 years, covering South Jersey and the Jersey Shore. He is also an adjunct professor at Rowan University he teaches photojournalism.
