Asbury Underground Produces Light of Day in the Downtown
Art and music collide Jan. 16 & 17 to showcase local talent
The city is readying once again for the annual Light of Day Winterfest.
Included in an array of musical performances to support its mission to fight Parkinson’s disease will be Asbury Underground’s third annual participation.
“As last year’s success proved, the relationship with the Underground and the downtown brings a whole new dimension, energy, and excitement to our cause, the eradication of Parkinson’s and its related neurodegenerative diseases, ALS and PSP,” Light of Day cofounder Tony Pallagrosi said in a written statement.
Known for its Art and Music Crawl, which attracted 6,000 attendees in October, Asbury Underground has expanded its Light of Day lineup.
“The response has been so overwhelming that this year we have decided to add a second day so that we can provide an even wider scope of what we have to offer here in Asbury Park,” said Underground founder Patrick Schiavino, 
art629 Gallery owner. “This will be our seventh Asbury Underground and our third event done in conjunction with Light of Day.”
Organizers say 32 featured performances will focus on original music and singer/songwriters from the area playing at 16 locations that include art galleries, cafés, restaurants, and shops. The venues will be display local artists’ works.
“This year marks our 16th Anniversary,” Pallagrosi said. “For a number of years, my desire had been to connect what Light of Day was doing on the oceanfront with The Downtown. Pat really helped make that happen in an efficient and effective way.
“We now have an event were audience and musicians alike flow freely between each area and venue,” Pallagrosi said. “Many musicians present their work in different formats at multiple venues, which was always my goal.”
Light of Day has grown into a multi-day festival with showcases in four cities – New York, Philadelphia, Montclair, and Asbury Park.
Locally, the Asbury Underground Light of Day performances will occur Jan. 16 and 17. Attendees can meander from 
venue to venue using distributed maps or download the Asbury Underground App to their smartphones or tablets.
Singer/songwriter Chris Brown kicks off next Saturday’s events 1 p.m. at Heaven Gallery, 721 Cookman Avenue. Stringbean and the Boardwalk Social Club will close out the day’s performances with a 4:15 p.m. show at Parlor Gallery, immediately followed by the 7 to 10 p.m. closing party for Pork Chop’s exhibit at the 717 Cookman Avenue gallery.
Stringbean kicks off Sunday performances 1 p.m. at Cross & Orange, 508 Cookman Ave. The Voodudes close out the Underground Light of Day events with an 8 p.m. performance at Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten, located at 527 Lake Avenue.
Participating venues include art629 Gallery, Exhibit 9 Gallery, Oasis Home, House of Independents, Coil & Co., Twisted Tree Café’, Backward Glances, Holdfast Records, BTII Gallery, Confections of a Rock Star, Café’ Volan, America’s Cup, Cross & Orange, and Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten.
Featured musicians include Steve Forbert, Mike Peters, Emily Grove, Quincy Mumford, Dawg Whistle, The Voodudes, Stringbean and the Boardwalk Social Club, Chris Brown, Blisstique, Colton Kayser, Dan Matlack, Sal 
Boyd, Sunday Blues, Joe Harvard, Frank Lombardi, Geena and Dragster, Doug Zambon, Kiyomi Valentine w/ Lisa Bianco, Kevin John Allen, Julian Fulton, Sophia Nicole, Marc Davis, Jon Francis, Daughter Vision, Shawn Mars, Puppy Grease, Dub Proof, Lowlight, The Danny White Band, and Cat London.
“Asbury Park has a long tradition as being the premier destination for original music here in the state but what most people are unaware of, is that it is quickly becoming one of the most concentrated areas for the fine arts as well,” Schiavino said. “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.”
For a list of scheduled performances and locations, visit www.asburyunderground.com.
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