Wantagh, New York’s outdoor arena, the Jones Beach Theater, is the archetype for state-of-the-art entertainment. Aside from being the premier concert and festival destination of New York State, the venue consistently hosts many of the state’s most exciting events! In the year 2023 alone, the beloved arena had a very abundant line-up of the hottest artists and bands! The plethora of shows was immensely diversified and had a little something for every type of music fan! The genres hosted by Jones Beach Theater varied from rock to hip-hop, R&B, pop, and country! Moreover, these performers were not your run-of-the-mill touring group; they’re actually culutural icons, Grammy-winning legends, and more! Whether you live in New York or are visiting as a tourist, Jones Beach Theater is definitely the go-to area for top concerts and entertainment! You still get a chance to see some incredible acts, as many shows have already been confirmed at the Jones Beach Theater! In the meantime, here’s a review of what went on in the year 2023!
summer concert season
Jones Beach Theater opened the summer season with a bang by hosting the highly-awaited Hot Summer Nights Tour! This co-headlining outing features old-school reggae rap legend Shaggy and Grammy Award-winning girl group TLC. The tour is one of the most high-profile R&B/hip-hop tours of spring, and their show at the Jones Beach Theater definitely didn’t disappoint! Just a few days later, the KTUphoria moved into town and delivered the most thrilling festival of the season! The show, organized by 103.5 KTU, featured pop sensation Kylie Minogue, Daya, Deborah Cox, Kristine W, Ally Brooke, and Taylor Dayne. It was an evening of outstanding girl power, and these ladies lit up the Jones Beach Theater with their incredible hits.
On July 4th, Jones Beach Theater was packed with people all eager to celebrate the big day. Independence Day has long been an American tradition. Of course, Jones Beach is part of that annual spectacle and has been a significant part of the celebration. The Fireworks Spectacular is exactly what it sounds like. The very eventful day was tons of fun thanks to the venue’s ample space, countless concessionaires, some great entertainment, and ultimately, the most visually stunning fireworks display anyone can see in Wantagh, New York. If you missed this exciting celebration of America’s Independence Day, you can still catch next year’s Fire Works July 4th Spectacular.
For the rest of July, the Jones Beach Theater was visited by numerous high-energy bands like Counting Crows, Dashboard Confessional, Big Time Rush, Sam Hunt, Brett Young, and Matchbox Twenty. Kids also had a great time at the venue upon the arrival of the highly-coveted kids’ pop music concert, Kidz Bop Kids. The concert featured several talented children, all singing family-friendly renditions of today’s biggest hits! Imagine hearing the songs of Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Olivia Rodrigo, and more in one night – except the songs were rewritten to take out any suggestive lyrics. The resulting work was a thrilling live concert with age-appropriate music that the whole family could enjoy!
Another July visitor is the veteran touring group Dave Matthews Band. It seemed like Dave Matthews Band is a yearly visitor to the venue, and for good reason! The venue’s ample space and parking, excellent facilities, and incredible acoustics have made it a favorite of the iconic jam rock band Dave Matthews Band. This band had basically traveled the world and performed in probably every major venue in North America. Still, they return to Jones Beach Theater every year! That’s saying something!
Before July came to a close, the Jones Beach Theater ended the month with some epic heavy metal and hard rock shows. Mudvayne, Coal Chamber, Gwar, and more came into town to deliver Mudwavyne’s Psychotherapy Sessions Tour on Friday, 28th July. This was Mudwavyne’s very first major headlining tour in a while, and fans flocked to the venue for a glimpse of the nu-metal sensation. Meanwhile, Godsmack and Staind delivered a memorable co-headlining tour. The coveted concert featured every hit that made the late ‘90s and early 2000s an awesome time to live in.
The following month, old-school rock reigned supreme at the beloved arena as Foreigner, The Goo Goo Dolls, Joe Bonamassa, Styx, and The Smashing Pumpkins. It was definitely an eventful month, with these high-powered bands delivering songs that dominated the airwaves during the last few decades. Meanwhile, The Lumineers and James Bay came in on Friday, 18th August, to perform their newer-sounding indie rock staples. On Saturday, 26th August, Slightly Stoopid, who had demonstrated incredible longevity with their versatile rock tunes, rocked the night away with their outstanding hits, such as “Closer to the Sun,” “World on Fire,” and “Way of Life.”
Before summer came to a close, Jones Beach Theater made sure that fans got their season’s worth by offering a myriad of incredible big-name bands and artists like The Offspring, Sum 41, and Simple Plan. This pop-punk extravaganza was part of The Offspring’s Let the Bad Times Roll Tour, which virtually sold out all their 24 dates. On Saturday, 2nd September, Jones Beach was fully packed with fans from New York and beyond. The following day, on Sunday, 3rd September, one of America’s greatest songwriters, James Taylor, took over the outdoor arena. Timeless classics, such as “Something in the Way She Moves,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” “Fire and Rain,” and more filled the air. The crowd was a little more low-key compared to the previous night, but the venue was still a full house.
The rest of September was plentiful and epic. It was definitely a great close to the summer season as the venue hosted shows by Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, Sting, Zac Brown Band, and many more. Fans definitely had a great time as these artists delivered great entertainment, while the venue had excellent facilities. Jones Beach Theater has always been praised for giving attendees the best concert experience. Walter T. from New York mentioned that he had been a frequent Jones Beach Theater attendee. “The amphitheater at Jones Beach is likely my most traveled-to venue for music. Through the years, there have been improvements to the concessions. The sound is very good, no matter where you sit. Parking is ample as it uses beach lots. Food and beverage are fairly on par with what other venues charge.”
Meanwhile, Sheen M. from Queens, New York, often travels to Wantagh to see her favorite bands. “Great outdoor Location with Beautiful views of the water. I usually visit to see any major rock/ heavy metal band.” Lastly, first-time concert attendee Caroline N. had a great experience when she visited the venue in September. “This is a nice venue: very spacious, multiple food options, merchandise vendors, and numerous toilets in the restrooms (2 full rows, which is amazing).”
There you have it! The 2023 concert experience at the Jones Beach Theater was absolutely thrilling for thousands of music fans who visited the venue to see their favorite artists. Jones Beach Theater’s team has dedicated their efforts to providing the best facilities, top-tier lights and sound system, and excellent customer service! Come see for yourself this 2024! The venue now has a wide line-up of confirmed shows! Hurry and get tickets now to see your favorite band and artists at the Jones Beach Theater!
