Where to Listen to Live Music on LBI
Bird and Betty’s
Because nothing says “vacation” like live music and cocktails. Whether you’re a local looking for an escape or here for a summer getaway, these live music spots are guaranteed to melt the stress away.
The Jersey Shore is known for being a launch pad for legendary musicians; Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and countless other bands and artists all got their start here. Long Beach Island takes their music scene very seriously for this reason, attracting top local talent who want to show off their skills around the destination. In fact, our bars and restaurants usually book out their live music acts for the entire summer by April (yes, THAT serious), so you’ll definitely run into some seriously talented musicians here.
There are two ways to go about the live music scene here in LBI. The first is to identity your favorite performers and cover bands, follow them on social media, and plan your outings accordingly. Most, if not all, artists will have an events page on Facebook or on their website where you can see where they’re playing and when. Easy.
The second approach, which is helpful if you’re new to the area or just want to discover a new band, is to gravitate towards the bars that tend to have the best, most frequent and most varied lineups. That’s where we come in. We’ve seen a lot of live music over the years, and while listening to great, good, fine and mediocre performances is part of the magic here, we have four tried-and-true spots where you can catch a great gig. Grab a drink, round up your friends and get ready to jam out because we’re stage diving right into our favorite spots for live music on Long Beach Island.
The Shell
The Shell offers a beach vacation atmosphere with live music every day from 4-6pm in the summer. Grab a poolside drink from the tiki bar and enjoy some of the shore’s best bands. It’s the perfect way to fully enjoy the sun, the sand and of course, live music. On weekends their live music starts a little later to keep the party going all night long. The Key West-themed decor will transport you to the tropics and get you moving and grooving. If you’re like us and you shut the place down at 2am, call up Chicken or the Egg for some late night bites and take a walk just down the street to pick it up. It’s really a perfect summer night.
Nardi’s
Locals and vacationers alike have very strong opinions about Nardi’s, but we happen to love it and don’t mind if the naysayers stay home and leave more room for us on the dance floor! You definitely know the iconic hot pink party bus that goes up and down the island picking up patrons (for free) and that’s what makes Nardi’s one of our favorite places to be for live entertainment. There’s live music there all summer long and it’s always a great time with ice cold beer flowing and the band bumping. Nardi’s atmosphere is the perfect mix of a bar and club with plenty of bar seats and a huge dance floor.
Bird and Bettys
Bird and Betty’s is one of our newest obsessions and a recent addition to the live music scene on LBI. In addition to local bands, they also bring in bands from Philly and NYC. Some of the more popular events here do require tickets so make sure you always check out their Instagram or website before making plans for the night because these shows can sell out quickly. Bird and Betty’s has a huge stage (we’re waiting for karaoke to come back) and a killer dance floor. Be sure to try some of their specialty cocktails when you’re there because it’s one of the best places for unique drinks on LBI. Also, a photo opp in front of the skee-ball machine is an absolute must.
Old Causeway
While Old Causeway isn’t exactly on LBI as it’s right before the causeway, we definitely think they are worth a mention when it comes to live music. Whether you’re looking for some mid-week music or a Friday night live band that’ll make you get up and dance, you’ll find it at OC. We love the cozy vibes and stiff drinks here — the Cherry Drop Martini is dangerous— and its the perfect combo for a great night. Find out which band is playing on Old Causeway’s Instagram a day or two prior and round up your friends for a night of live music and dancing. Don’t forget to use the Mud Shuttle to bring you home and save that Uber money!