Source: LightOfDay.org
The Light of Day Foundation (LOD) has announced their annual LOD WinterFest 2023, their annual music festival taking place January 7-20, with “Bob’s Birthday Bash” taking place in Asbury Park on Saturday, January 14 at the Count Basie Center Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre.
Other Asbury Park venues participating will be The Stone Pony, Wonder Bar, The Saint, McLoone’s Supper Club, Langosta Lounge, Watermark, AP Yacht Club, Asbury Hotel, and Asbury Lanes. In addition, there will be shows in Montclair NJ, New York City, Philadelphia, and Rockland County.
When Bob Benjamin, manager of Pittsburgh-based band Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1999, he was honored with a birthday party at which he requested that any proceeds be donated for Parkinson’s research.
The first official Light of Day concert was held at Asbury Park’s The Stone Pony in November 2000 featured a surprise appearance by Bruce Springsteen, who joined the Houserockers for a raucous, hour-long set. Bruce has since appeared at approximately half the LOD WinterFests.
Light of Day has since grown into a multi-day festival in the New Jersey region and an internationally recognized tour through Canada, England, Wales, Ireland, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Spain and Australia. All net proceeds are donated to a local Parkinson’s organization.
Light of Day WinterFest performers have included Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny Lyon, Michael J. Fox, Jesse Malin, Darlene Love, Gary U.S. Bonds, Max Weinberg, LaBamba’s Big Band, Suzanne Vega, David Bryan (Bon Jovi), David Bromberg, John Rzeznik, Garland Jeffries, Lucinda Williams, Lisa Lowell, Nicole Atkins, and The Smithereens.
Tony Pallagrosi, Executive Director of LOD, says, “We are always so grateful for the incredibly loyal support that LOD has been so fortunate to receive over the years and as we go forward in this precarious, post-Covid world, we look forward to coming together, creating new memories, seeing old friends and making new ones, enjoying great music and embracing and celebrating our common cause together!”
“23 years of Light of Day shows spanning the globe from Asbury Park to Rome to Los Angeles to London to Philadelphia to Stockholm and beyond, is simply amazing,” said Bob Benjamin, Founder, Light of Day Foundation. “I cannot wait for this year’s Light of Day WinterFest with two weeks of shows burning up the boardwalk. I hope to see you there!”
Ticket prices for Light Of Day WinterFest 2023 range from $60-$415 with various combination packages being offered. For more info, please visit the Basie.org Web site.