Labor Day weekend at the Jersey Shore: 7 big shows including Sting

Don't think of this upcoming Labor Day weekend as the end of summer.

Rather, it's the beginning of Local Summer, says the crew at Low Dive on the Asbury Park boardwalk. They're hosting Dentist with Blaise on Friday. Sept. 1 for a “Kick Off Local Summer” show.

“It's been wonderful to have people back after a couple of years of waiting and everyone is free and having fun with live music on the Asbury Park boardwalk,” said Peter Mantas, entertainment director of Low Dive and the adjacent Break next door.

In the past 12 months, city surf rockers Dentist played some very high profile gigs, including the Sea Hear Now and North to Shore fests in Asbury Park; the Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival; and opening for Brian Fallon at Crossroads in Garwood. Plus they were the Five Guys featured artist last February. Blaise's rhythm and thrills pop is heating up city stages, and online his Whiskey & Wisdom podcasts are a shot of truth with a chuckle chaser.

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The Matt Wade Band is on the Break stage Friday night.

Go: Dentist and Blaise, 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, Low Dive, 1000 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park. Free. www.lowdiveap.com.

Here's a message in a bottle -- Sting is in Atlantic City this Labor Day weekend.

The former Police frontman plays Sunday, Aug. 3 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City on the Etess Arena stage. The show is part of his extended “My Songs World Tour,” which features Sting and Joe Sumner, who is Sting's son.

Go: Sting, 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City. Starting at $150 on secondary market. www.hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com.

The Not Leaving Sober guys, a Jersey country band, are not leaving Union Beach local Maggie Heasty behind.

Heasty was recently diagnosed with lung cancer, said the band, so they're setting up a tip jar at their Saturday, Sept. 2 show at JakeaBob's Bay in Union Beach.

“Please share and come out to support,” said Not Leaving Sober on their socials. “A little help from us all can go a long way for our friend, Maggie.”

Go: Not Leaving Sober, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, JakeaBob's Bay, 525 Front St, Union Beach. www.facebook.com/jakeabobs.bay.

The British are coming, the British are coming! Sigala is a Brit deejay whose debut Jackson 5 sampling single, “Easy Love,” was a smash over there and you've probably heard it over here, too. He's spinning Sunday, Sept. 3 at night inside the Headliner main room for his Jersey Shore debut.

“Can't wait to see you all in the U.S.,” said Sigala on social media.

Go: Sigala, 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3, Headliner, 1401 Route 35 north, Neptune. $17.50. www.headlineroasis.com.

In the words of the great Neil Sedaka, breaking up is hard to do. Or is it? The Asbury Park country duo Williams Honor took on the concept on their latest album, “eX.”

“They don’t all have to be tear in your beer songs -- a lot of people think breakup songs have to be depressing-type songs, well, it definitely doesn’t have to be,” said Williams Honor member Reagan Richards.

Williams Honor plays Thursday, Aug. 31 at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park. Jake Thistle, Bobby Mahoney and Emily Grove are special guests, and they're part of the band, too.

Go: Williams Honor, 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, Asbury Lanes, 209 4th Ave., Asbury Park. $40. www.asburylanes.com.

They're having a party.

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes will make their 2023 Stone Pony Summer Stage debut on Saturday, Sept. 2. The guys usually hit the Pony around the Fourth of July weekend, but this year they're changing things up. Southside Johnny Lyon is a founder of the Sound of Asbury Park with hits like “Talk to Me,” “All I Want Is Everything,” “Hearts of Stone,” “Trapped Again,” “I Don’t Want to Go Home,” and “It’s Been a Long Time” and “Having a Party.”

Matthew Curry opens outside after Seven Hills and the Billy Walton Band play inside the Pony pre-show. Jarod Clemons and the Late Nights play inside the Pony after the Southside and the Jukes' show.

Go: Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, Stone Pony Summer Stage, 913 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park. $50 advance/$60 at the door. www.stoneponyonline.com

Foreigner is bidding adieu to the concert stage and their show Sunday, Sept. 3 at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel is the final one on the current leg of their Historic Farewell Tour. Alas, farewells in rock 'n' roll often means see you later, alligator. The band, which only features Mick Jones from its original lineup, will be on the road until 2024, according to www.foreigneronline.com.

Go: Foreigner and Loverboy, 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3, PNC Bank Arts Center, Garden State Parkway, Holmdel. $29.50 and up. www.livenation.com.

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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; [email protected]