Shinedown performing in concert at the Prudential Center in Newark on July 21, 2026. Photo by Julie Hoffman
(NEWARK, NJ) -- A packed Prudential Center came alive on July 21, 2026 as the Dance, Kid, Dance Act II Tour rolled into Newark, bringing together From Ashes to New, Coheed and Cambria, and Shinedown for an evening of powerhouse performances and nonstop energy.
From Ashes to New, the Lancaster, Pennsylvania hard rock band featuring Matt Brandyberry, Danny Case, Lance Dowdle, Jimmy Bennett, and Mat Madiro, opened the evening with an explosive set that blended crushing riffs, rap verses, and melodic hooks, quickly setting the tone for the night.
Next, Coheed and Cambria, the progressive rock quartet from Nyack, New York, featuring Claudio Sanchez, Travis Stever, Josh Eppard, and Zach Cooper, took the stage.
Opening with fan favorite "A Favor House Atlantic," the band delivered a tight, energetic performance that showcased its signature musicianship while longtime fans sang along.
Here are some more shots of Coheed and Cambria.
Closing out the night was Shinedown, the Jacksonville, Florida rock powerhouse featuring Brent Smith, Zach Myers, Eric Bass, and Barry Kerch. With Bass away for the start of the tour, Josh Sturm and Zack Mack joined the band in Newark to help fill out the lineup. Opening with "Safe and Sound," Shinedown wasted no time igniting the arena with towering LED screens, synchronized lighting, thunderous pyro, and Brent Smith's commanding stage presence.
One of the evening's highlights came as the band left the main stage for a secondary B-stage in the middle of the arena, giving fans throughout the venue a closer experience before returning to the main stage for the remainder of the show. Throughout the nearly two-hour set, the packed crowd matched the band's intensity, singing along as Shinedown delivered the kind of polished, high-energy arena performance that has made them one of rock's biggest live acts.
Julie Hoffman is a concert and live event photographer with a background in broadcasting. She started out in the newsroom at ABC News in NYC, and ended up as a Technical Director at Disney/ ABC TV studios in Los Angeles. She has since left broadcasting and moved back to the east coast, where she started up her photography business.
When she is not at a concert, she is shooting print/theatrical headshots out of her studio in Livingston, NJ. For more on her visit her website at www.juliehoffmanphotography.com or her Instagram accounts for Concerts/Live Events and Headshots.
