Immerse Yourself In Springsteen At 4-Day Monmouth U. Symposium

If you are a fan of Bruce Springsteen, there is an upcoming event at Monmouth University that will take a different look at the rock-n-roller and his music: Four days of academic discussion about The Boss.

The Darkness on the Edge of Town Symposium is the inaugural academic conference sponsored by the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music and cohosted by Monmouth University. The conference on the campus of Monmouth University in West Long Branch will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s 1978 classic album, "Darkness on the Edge of Town."

The symposium, Thursday, April 12 through Sunday, April 15, includes tours, music performances, speakers and panels, and there are options to attend the whole conference or just single days.

Standard conference registration for presenters is $350, which includes all conference meals, pre-conference activities, and admission to the Wonder Bar on Friday, April 13.

Discount rates are available for members of the Monmouth University community. Undergraduate students can purchase tickets for $50. Tickets are available for $250 for graduate students, retirees, and emeritus professors. These special rates will be available at the registration table—valid ID must be presented for purchase.

Non-presenters are welcome to attend the sessions for a $20 daily fee. Meals can be purchased separately during the conference.

Non-presenters can also purchase entrance to the Wonder Bar for $10. The Wonder Bar show is a 21-and-over event — valid ID will be requested at the door.

Separate tickets are also available for the Rock & Roll Tour of the Jersey Shore. The four-hour Jersey Shore bus tour on Thursday, April 12, will be $70. The two-hour walking tour of Asbury Park on Sunday, April 15, will cost $40.

The Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music has a Facebook page. There also are full details on the symposium on the Monmouth University website. For more information, click here.

Bruce Springsteen performs in Pittsburgh Sunday, September 11, 2016, at Consol Energy Center. By Jack Fordyce via Shutterstock