Bruce Springsteen Performs with Trey Anastasio and Gaslight Anthem

Springsteen Surprises Fans at Sea.Hear.Now

Hours before Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band took the stage at the Sea.Hear.Now festival in Asbury Park, he made unexpected appearances with Trey Anastasio Band and the Gaslight Anthem.

Springsteen hopped onstage, giving Anastasio a big hug. They then played “Kitty’s Back,” a song from his 1973 album The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle. The duo traded energetic riffs during the 10-minute jam session. "I never thought I’d have to follow Bruce Springsteen on a beach in Asbury Park," said Anastasio, beaming after their performance together.

Springsteen wasn’t done surprising fans. Just before his own set, he joined the Gaslight Anthem and played “History Books” with Brian Fallon. This track, featuring Springsteen, is from the band’s latest album. They also performed “American Slang,” with both artists sharing vocals and harmonizing on the choruses.

Fans love these surprise performances because they make the festival even more special.

On Saturday night, Springsteen was part of an all-star lineup for a Sea.Hear.Now afterparty at Stone Pony. Alongside Noah Kahan, Robert Randolph, Jake Clemons, and others, they covered classics by Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker, and more.

Earlier this year, Danny Clinch, Sea.Hear.Now founder, talked about how he got Springsteen to play at the festival.

“We were looking for headliners, and he was going to be on the East Coast with his tour ending on September 13th. It seemed like a great chance to ask him,” Clinch shared.

Clinch continued, “I was at his place and said, ‘We’d love to have you at Sea.Hear.Now.’ He laughed and said yes. Later, in the studio, he turned to me and said, ‘I’m gonna do the thing on the beach. I want to bring the band. This could be incredible.’”

These moments of spontaneity and collaboration are what make live music events so thrilling.