The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music at Monmouth University is proud to announce a multi-act, two-night concert event celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
Called Music America: The Songs that Shaped Us, the concerts will take place on June 4 and 5 at the OceanFirst Bank Center on the Monmouth campus, just prior to the grand opening of the new Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music on June 7. This will be a major contribution to the national commemoration of America’s semiquincentennial and the cornerstone of the Springsteen Center’s grand opening celebrations.
Among the artists scheduled to perform over the two nights are Jon Bon Jovi, Jackson Browne, Rosanne Cash, Kenny Chesney, Gary Clark Jr., Dion, Dropkick Murphys, Shemekia Copeland, Valerie June, Keb’ Mo’, Nils Lofgren, Darlene Love, Public Enemy, David Sancious, Bruce Springsteen, Tony Trischka and Sister Sadie, Mavis Staples, Trombone Shorty and the New Breed Brass Band, Stevie Van Zandt, and Jimmie Vaughan. The Disciples of Soul will serve as the house band.
Each artist will perform landmark songs from American music history. Blues, bluegrass, rock, hip-hop, folk, jazz, country, and gospel are among the genres that will be represented. Narration will precede each performance, giving context to the artist, song, and genre celebrated. Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks.
“Music America: The Songs that Shaped Us is a journey through American music history,” said Robert Santelli, executive director of the Springsteen Center and the concerts’ executive producer. “The concerts reflect everything the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music stands for: the power of music to bring people together, the rich and diverse treasury of American music as a mirror of our national culture, and the inspiration to think about our shared history in these divisive times.”
The concerts are a continuation of the Springsteen Center’s celebration of America’s semiquincentennial, which began in 2024 with the launch of the traveling exhibition, Music America: Iconic Objects from America’s Music History. Music America is currently on display at the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame in Boston.
“We’re honored to bring together some of the most celebrated performers of our time for this once-in-a-lifetime event,” said Eileen Chapman, director of the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music. “By uniting these artists on one stage, we’re creating an unforgettable experience that honors our past while inspiring the next generation who will shape our future.”
Tickets for each concert will be sold separately. They will go on sale at noon on April 21 at springsteencenter.org
Music America: The Songs That Shaped Us - Frequently Asked Questions
When are the Music America 250 concerts?
Thursday, June 4, 2026 and Friday, June 5, 2026.
June 4 Artists include, but are not limited to: Bruce Springsteen, Dropkick Murphys, Keb' Mo', Kenny Chesney, Nils Lofgren, Rosanne Cash, Shemekia Copeland, Trombone Shorty and the New Breed Brass Band, Tony Trischka and the Sadies and Valerie June.
June 5 Artists include, but are not limited to: Bruce Springsteen, Darlene Love, Dion, Gary Clark, Jr., Jackson Browne, Jimmie Vaughan, Jon Bon Jovi, Mavis Staples, Nils Lofgren, Public Enemy and Stevie Van Zandt.
Line-up is subject to change
Are tickets for June 4 and June 5 sold together or separately?
Tickets for each show will only be sold separately
When will tickets go on sale?
Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, April 21, at 12:00 PM EDT
Where can I purchase tickets?
How many tickets can I buy?
There is a STRICT FOUR-TICKET LIMIT per show. Tickets are non-transferable, non-printable, and non-refundable, and all parties must arrive together. Seats are very limited and will sell out quickly. If any double purchases are detected, all tickets will be returned to the credit card used for the purchase.
What is the cost per ticket?
Ticket prices will range from $150-$400
How can I increase my chances of getting a ticket?
If I am lucky enough to purchase a ticket, when will it be sent to me?
Your tickets will be sent digitally and must be scanned directly from your smartphone. Be sure to access your tickets using the same email address you used at checkout. Tickets are non-printable, non-transferable, and parties must arrive together
If my plans change, can I transfer my tickets to someone else?
No, as noted above, tickets are non-printable and non-transferable
Does your venue ADA seating?
Yes, ADA seating is available
