Bruce Springsteen to return to festival stage in September at Sea Hear Now in Asbury Park

ASBURY PARK, N.J. (TND) — A year after cancelling a slate of stadium shows due to peptic ulcer disease, Bruce Springsteen is set to make his return to the music festival stage when he headlines the Sea Hear Now festival in Asbury Park. N.J.

Springsteen, 74, has rarely played U.S. music festivals since their rapid growth in popularity for fans and ubiquity for touring and popular artists in the early 2000s and "The Boss" last played a festival in the states in 2014 when he headlined the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

However, this will not be the first time Springsteen has played at this relatively new celebration of all things special abouthis "adopted hometown" of Asbury Park. At the festival's first year, in 2018, he hopped on stage with punk rockers Social Distortion to perform three songs, including a cover of the Johnny Cash hit "Ring of Fire."

Last September, the "Born to Run" singer canceled first three weeks of and then the remainder of his fall American tour, after postponing a couple of concert dates in August, revealing he had been diagnosed with peptic ulcer disease.

“Over here on E Street, we’re heartbroken to have to postpone these shows," Springsteen said during the first cancellation announcement. "Thank you for your understanding and support. We’ve been having a blast at our US shows and we’re looking forward to more great times. We’ll be back soon."

Springsteen first returned to the stage in November of last year, participating in theStand Up For Heroes benefit, playing four songs including one with John Mellencamp. He resumes his tour of arenas and stadiums of the U.S. and Europe with the E Street Band on March 19 in Phoenix.

A continuation of his 2023 tour, Springsteen's first in seven years, the shows have "The Boss" pare down his usually eclectic, more randomized run through his five-decade long catalog into a group of around 25 songs (with some moved around) that focus on the hits of his eras but also center on a theme of mortality, aging and reflection. Even with the heavy theme, he still manages to perform for around three-hours straight each night.

Since launching the tour in February, The Boss has hit 15 countries, helped inaugurate a new multi-purpose arena in Baltimore and was even joined by former first lady Michelle Obama to sing his "Born in the USA"-era hit, "Glory Days."