Watch Bruce Springsteen and Bleachers join forces for ‘Jersey Girl’ and ‘Chinatown’ in Asbury Park
Bruce Springsteen made a surprise appearance with Bleachers during their Asbury Park set at Shadow of the City Festival on Friday 28 August, joining Jack Antonoff's band for renditions of "Jersey Girl" and "Chinatown". The moment continues a recurring collaboration between the two New Jersey acts, who first performed "Chinatown" together in 2020, and reflects Springsteen's ongoing habit of turning up unannounced at shows by fellow artists close to home.
Springsteen and Antonoff first recorded a stripped-back version of "Chinatown" on the roof of Electric Lady Studios in December 2020, later releasing a full electric take that appeared on Bleachers' 2021 album "Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night". Antonoff told the hometown crowd how meaningful it was to play where he wrote the songs, before launching into a cover of Tom Waits' "Jersey Girl" — itself famously covered by Springsteen in 1985 — at which point The Boss joined him onstage. The appearance follows Springsteen's recent guest slot at a Bon Jovi Madison Square Garden show in July and news that his wife, Patti Scialfa, is now in remission from multiple myeloma; Bleachers, meanwhile, are set to tour Europe and the UK from November, concluding at London's Eventim Apollo on 3 December.
- Springsteen joined Bleachers onstage in Asbury Park on 28 August
- They performed "Jersey Girl" and "Chinatown" together live
- Bleachers begin a UK and Europe tour in November
New here? Start with this
Bruce Springsteen and Bleachers are both closely linked to New Jersey. Springsteen is a long-established singer and songwriter, while Bleachers is led by Jack Antonoff, who grew up in the state and has written songs about it.
The two artists have worked together on “Chinatown”, first recording it in 2020 before a fuller version appeared on Bleachers’ 2021 album. “Jersey Girl” was written by Tom Waits and later became associated with Springsteen through his 1985 cover.
Their musical connection reflects a wider tradition of local artists sharing the stage. Asbury Park, a New Jersey seaside town with a long music history, is an important setting for both performers and their audiences.