Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi Lead Music America Concerts Celebrating Nation’s 250th Birthday

Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen sharing the stage in 2012.

The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music at NJ’s Monmouth University has announced a two-night concert event celebrating America’s 250th birthday. Music America: The Songs that Shaped Us, with performances by Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Jackson Browne, Mavis Staples, Kenny Chesney, Dion, Darlene Love, and others, will take place on June 4 and 5, 2026, 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. The April 14 announcement called the shows “a major contribution to the national commemoration of America’s semiquincentennial and the cornerstone of the Springsteen Center’s grand opening celebrations.”

Tickets for each concert will be sold separately. They will go on sale on April 21 at 12N ET here.

Among the other artists scheduled to perform over the two nights are Rosanne Cash, Gary Clark Jr., Dion, Dropkick Murphys, Shemekia Copeland, Valerie June, Keb’ Mo’, Nils Lofgren, Public Enemy, David Sancious, Tony Trischka and Sister Sadie, 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.

Related: Springsteen and JBJ joined Paul McCartney on stage at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium in 2022

“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.”