Light of Day WinterFest kicks off Sunday
For 15th anniversary, organizers seek to raise over a half million
The Asbury Park leg of the Light of Day international concert series gets underway Sunday at the legendary Stone Pony.
Concert organizers of the 15th anniversary edition of the anchor event for the world-renowned Light of Day Foundation will bring over 150 music acts to 30 venues over 10 days in three New Jersey cities and New York City in January — dubbed Light of Day WinterFest — following holiday season tours in Europe and Canada.
Light of Day concerts raise funds for research and treatments for Parkinson’s disease and related illnesses. The festival started as a single concert held at The Stone Pony 13 years ago, according to the foundation website. It has since grown in to an international festival that spans three continents.
As in the past, the bulk of the convert action takes place in Asbury Park venues, including The Paramount Theatre, Stone Pony, Wonderbar and The Saint.
Sleigh Bells lead vocalist Alexis Krauss of Sleigh Bells [shown above] will kickoff the week’s musical festivities Sunday night with her father, Joel Krauss, a founding member of Cats on a Smooth Surface, and Glen Burtnick at The Stone Pony’s “Cover me: The Best of the Jersey Bar Bands.“
Light of Day Winterfest has gained international notoriety for surprise performances by Bruce Springsteen in 10 of the previous 14 years, including last year’s event, which raised a record $425,000 to combat Parkinson’s disease — far exceeding the any previous years’ totals. In honor of the 15th anniversary the push is on to exceed a half million dollars, which would bring the 15-year total above $3 million.
Meeting that goal “would be magical” according to Tony Pallagrosi, Light of Day Foundation co-founder and board director.
“We’re going to produce a festival that’s worthy of the 15th anniversary,” Pallagrosi said in a prepared release. “We’re going to pull out the stops, with lots of surprises.”
The foundation’s support over the past 15 years has been “humbling and immensely gratifying,” Pallagrosi said.
“Using the power of music to raise awareness and funds is a gift that we’re proud to share around the world,” Pallagrosi said, adding that the foundation’s ultimate goal is to phase themselves out. “Our mission has remained unchanged — we hope someday that we don’t have to do this anymore.”
It is the second year in a row the foundation has partnered with Asbury Park artist and gallery owner Pat Schiavino to host the popular Asbury Underground music and art crawl during Light of Day week. This year’s will feature 36 musicians or bands with a focus on original music to play in 15 locations — mostly art galleries or shops downtown. This year’s crawl is set for Saturday, Jan. 17 from noon to 6 p.m.
The largely New Jersey-based concert series has also expanded to New York for a comedy crawl featuring comedians Rick Shapiro and Artie Lang, along with the Light of Day New York City concert Jan. 14 at The Cutting Room starring Suzanne Vega, Joe D’Urso & Stone Caravan, John Eddie, Dramarama’s John Easdale, and Greg Trooper. Shapiro is the first comedian to publicly state he is fighting and beating the disease, according to the release.
South Jersey and North Jersey towns Burlington and Montclair will host their own shows Jan. 9 and 11, respectively.
Below is a full list of Light of Day WinterFest events. Click here to access the schedule with links to purchase tickets.
Sunday, Jan. 11
“COVER ME: BEST OF THE JERSEY BAR BANDS”, Stone Pony, Sun, Jan. 11, All Ages,1 p.m., $20 adv/$25 door
Monday, Jan. 12
“HAPPY MONDAYS” – Wonder Bar, 21+, 8 p.m., $5 suggested at the door
Wednesday, Jan. 14
“NYC” – The Cutting Room, 18+, 7 p.m., $75 VIP Reserved Seating, $45 GA Reserved Seating, $25 GA Standing
Thursday, Jan. 15
“FIRST NOTE” – The Saint, 18+, 6:30 p.m., $12
“SANDY MACK’s WONDER JAM” – Wonder Bar, 21+, 7 p.m., $10
“ROCKIN’ BOWL-A-THON” – Asbury Lanes, 18+, 7 p.m. $20 adv/$25 door
“BLUE HAWK RECORDS LIVE” – Langosta Lounge, All Ages, 7 p.m., FREE
“WINTERFEST PRESENTS PAT DINIZIO” – Asbury Park Yacht Club, 18+, 8 p.m., FREE
Friday, Jan. 16
“ASBURY ANGELS INDUCTION” – Stone Pony, All Ages, 6:30 p.m., $25 adv/$30 door
“ANYTHING, ANYTHING hosted by RICH RUSSO” – Asbury Lanes, 18+, 7 p.m., $20 adv/$25door
“ROCK HEAVY” – The Saint, 18+, 8 p.m., $8 adv/$12 door
“OPEN MIC” – Wonder Bar, 21+, 6 p.m., $12
“CLASSIC COUNTRY TRIBUTE” – McLoone’s Supper Club, All Ages, Doors/Dinner 6 p.m., Show 8 p.m., $15-$30
“LATE NIGHT FRIDAY” – Langosta Lounge, 21+, 9 p.m., FREE
Saturday, Jan. 17
“THE MAIN EVENT: BOB’S BIRTHDAY BASH” – Paramount Theater, All Ages, 6 p.m., SOLD OUT
“ROCK”, The Saint, Sat., 18+, 7:30pm, $8adv/ $12dos
“KIDS and FAMILY” – McLoone’s Supper Club, All Ages, Noon, $10
“Marc Ribler’s Soultown Revue” McLoone’s Supper Club, 18+, 7 p.m., $15
“LATE NIGHT SATURDAY”- Langosta Lounge, 21+, 10 p.m., FREE
“LOD INDIE”, Asbury Lanes, 18+, 8 p.m., $TBA
“ASBURY BLUES” – Wonder Bar, All Ages, Noon, $12 adv/$15 door
“FULL TILT BOOGIE BASH” – Wonder Bar, 21+, 7 p.m., $12 adv /$15 door
“WOMEN OF SONG” – The Saint, 18+, noon, $10
“LOD ROCK” – The Saint, 18+, 7 p.m., $8 ads/ $12 doors
“ASBURY UNDERGROUND” – Multiple Venues Downtown, all ages, noon to 6 p.m., FREE
Sunday, Jan. 18
“SONGWRITERS BY THE SEA: BOARDWALK CRAWL” – Watermark, all ages, noon, $15
“SONGWRITERS BY THE SEA: BOARDWALK CRAWL”- Langosta Lounge, all ages, 3 p.m., $15
“SONGWRITERS BY THE SEA: BOARDWALK CRAWL” – McLoone’s Supper Club, all ages, 6 p.m., $20
“KID’S ROCK”, Stone Pony, Sun., Jan 19, All Ages, Noon, $15
“MUSICIANS ON A MISSION”, The Saint, 18+, Noon, $10
“LAST NOTE”, The Saint, Sun., 18+, 7:30pm, $8adv/$12dos
Monday, Jan. 19
“GOODBYE BRUNCH”, Toast, all ages, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., FREE with brunch
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