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The city’s musical spirit and artistic soul unite Saturday when Asbury Underground rolls out a collaboration between Asbury’s cutting edge visual artists and musicians.

The free grassroots music and arts crawl kicks off at noon with The Lakehouse Music Academy Pros – three full-fledged rock bands comprised of students ages 9 to 16 and winds down with an artist’s reception party from 5 to 9 p.m. at the historic Carousel building along the boardwalk where an homage will be paid to the muralist who brought us the “Wooden Walls Mural Project.”

“We will be joining the two art forms together in what I hope will bring a broader awareness of just how fertile in all of the arts our City truly is,” event founder Patrick Schiavino said in a written statement.

This is the first time the Underground will make its’ way to the beachfront with not only the afterparty event but with continuous music from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Arcade Radio in the Convention Hall Arcade and The Market at Fifth Avenue Pavilion.

“I am very pleased to announce the incorporation of the beachfront and boardwalk this time around,” said Schiavino, art629 Gallery owner. “It opens so many more possibilities for the future.”

Asbury Park has a long tradition as being the premier destination for original music but what most people are unaware of how quickly it’s becoming one of the most concentrated areas for the fine arts, he said.

“This will be our sixth Underground,” Schiavino said. “Each one has doubled in attendance.”

Over 50 musicians who live and work in and around Asbury will be performing in close to 25 art galleries, coffee houses, vapor bars, clothing stores, eateries, and other venues.

Asbury Underground is not a “guided tour,” organizers say.  It is a no-frills event that allows attendees to explore the downtown and boardwalk with maps of participating venues. Participants can download the free Asbury Underground APP from the Apple App Store and Google Play to follow the map, schedule, and get up-to-the-minute updates of various specials being offered.  App users will also be offered several by-invitation-only events, including the Asbury Underground After-party.

Also new this go round will be the collaboration with “Asbury Bites,” a showcase of food samples from the city’s smaller eateries at participating retailers. Participants include Tao Massage, Shelter Home, Words!, Kur Wellness Studios, the ShowRoom Cinema, Backward Glances, Hot Sand, Nita Ideas, Exhibit No.9, Foolish Ginger,  Uncorked, Vintage Subs, Chat & Nibble, Confections of a Rock Star, Purple Glaze Donuts, Dino’s on Main, Twisted Tree Cafe, Crust & Crumble, Speakeatery, Lentil Tree, Mama Chula’s Kitchen, Pepe Events Catering, and Cuban Cafe.

Performers include: Nicole Atkins, Allie Moss and Rick Barry, Amanda Duncan, Cat London, Chris Brown, Dan Matlack, David Dondero, Deal Casino, Dentist, Frankenstein 3000, Geena, George Wirth, Jeff Luke, Jo Davidson, Julian Fulton, Kevin John Allen, Lakehouse Music Pros, Like Minded, Mark Melicia of The Parlor Mob, Paul Rosevear, Renee Maskin, Ron Santee of Battery Electric, Stringbean, Sunday Blues, Tommy Anton, Tommy Fuller, Tony Tedesco and Zach Moyle from Lost in Society .

For more information, visit Asbury Underground website or Facebook page.

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The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.

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