"Just Around the Corner" is Light of Day 2012 which is opening at The Canal Room at 285 West Broadway at Canal Street in NYC on January 11th (LOD NYC) with Joe D'Urso & Stone Carvan, Willie Nile, James Maddock, Israel Gripka, Rich Pagano & The Sugarcane Cups, Jake Clemons, JT Bowen and the Sensational Soul Cruisers, who will perform a special birthday tribute to Clarence "Big Man" Clemons. The Light of Day Foundation raises funds for research and possible cures, improved treatments and support to improve the quality of life for patients who suffer with Parkinson's disease and other neuromuscular illnesses. Funds are also to assist family members and caregivers of those with Parkinson's disease.
On Thursday, January 12th, Light of Day 2012 (LOD) comes to the seaside town of Asbury Park with four nights of musical talent provided by over 100 artists at 16 venues, and proves to be by far the largest Light of Day event to date.
"Just around the Corner", a documentary by Flat Broke Productions, which premiered last year at the 11th annual Light of Day concert series at the Showroom in Asbury Park, is a movie which follows the story of Bob Benjamin, Light of Day founder, and his use of rock 'n' roll in his battle against Parkinson's disease. At age 38 when Bob was diagnosed, he chose to fight back with his 'weapon' - rock 'n' roll. A birthday celebration at a Red Bank club in 1989 has blossomed into the Light of Day Foundation, a world-wide, grassroots musical movement which sponsors concerts in the U.S., Canada and Europe, and has raised over $1.5 million for Parkinson's research.
Light of Day New Jersey opens with a "Just Around the Corner" screening at The Showroom, an independent theater at 708 Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 12th. Additional screenings will be held at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Friday, January 13, 10:30 a.m.on Saturday, January 14, and 10:30 a.m. Sunday, January 15th. Tickets are $10 each, and admission is included in the Light of Day ticket package.
Doors open at 5 p.m. at The Saint at 601 Main Street with Light of Day's "First Note" (18 to enter/21 to drink). Bands include Lightening Jar, Anglia, No Wine For Kittens and Lisa Bianco And The Fury. Acoustic Performers include Joe Miller, Christopher McKeon, Rick Barry, Colton Kayser, The Juneberries, Keith Kenny and Laura Warshauer.
At 7 p.m. doors open at Asbury Lanes at 209 Fourth Avenue with "Rock 'N Bowl-A-Thon, and rockability legend Robert Gordon, who will headline the Light of Day Foundation's first ever Rock-'N-Bowl-a-Thon" which will pair "celebrity" bowlers with music fans for a night of bowling for a cause. Celebrities expected to attend include Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez, (original drummer for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band), Diamond Dallas Page, (former WCW World Heavyweight wrestling champion), tabloid personality, Ashley Dupre (close friend of former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer), Johnny Petraglia, (a member of the Professional Bowlers' Assocation's hall of Fame), and Kelly Kulick, the only female bowling professional to win a men's event.
Friday, January 13th opens with the screenings of the documentary "Just Around the Corner" at The Showroom at 1:00 and 3.00 p.m.
"A Tribute to the 'Asbury Angels' at the Stone Pony begins at 5 p.m. which pays tribute to musicians no longer with us, with performances by Tara Elliot/Red Velvets, Jody Joseph, The Sensational Soul Cruisers, and acoustics by Mike Rocket, Goerge Wirth, Billy Hector and Laura Crisci.
At 6 pm at the Wonder Bar, Fifth and Ocean Avenue, is the second annual Light of Day's New Jersey Open Mic Night with 6-8 p.m. under-21 open mic, 8-10 p.m. over-21 open mic and 10 p.m.-close, Light of Day performers.
At 7 pm. is "Rich Russo's Anything, Anything Show", at Asbury Lanes at 209 Fourth Avenue, with punk-rock supergroup, Manitoba, which makes its' debut this year. The show, hosted by Disc Jockey, Rich Russo, whose free-form radio show, "Anything Anything" can be heard on Sunday nights in northern New Jersey on 105.5 WDHA-FM and on Westchester County's 107.1 The Peak FM.
Saturday, January 14th opens with the screening of "Just Around the Corner" at The Showroom at 10:30 a.m., and continues with Asbury Blues at the Wonder Bar at noon with Billy Hector, Billy Walton, harmonica player, Sandy Mack, a long-time staple of the Asbury blues scene, and the Tangiers Blues Band, which draws from an electic repertoire which includes songs by blues greats, Albert King and Muddy Waters, as well as rock by Elvis Costello, and a bit of Lady Gaga all mixed in! Also, twelve-year old guitar prodigy "Little Jimmy" Lawroski will perform, who has already played at Asbury venues such as The Saint, the Stone Pony and the Paramount Theatre, and is now a regular now with jam bands, Splintered Sunlight and Juggling Suns. He has also sat in with gifted guitarist, Matt O'Ree's band. Lawroski is currently writing his own music.
Also, at 12 p.m. brings the first ever Light of Day for kids (LOD 4 Kids) at Tim McCloone's Supper Club on the Boardwalk. Acclaimed children's artists Mr. Ray and Dawnie, perform Light of Day's first show for kids about friendship, dinosaurs and rainbows. Mr. Ray, a.k.a. Ray Andersen, was Meatloaf's guitar and keyboard player and has jammed regularly with Bruce Springsteen making Mr. Ray the most 'parent friendly' children's artist to date!
Musician's on a Mission "Songwriter's On Stage" take center stage at the Stone Pony at 12 p.m. with the Blackberry Blues Band, Stormin' Norman Selding with Pam McCoy, Nicky Addeo, Steel Mill, Lance Larson, Harry and Joel (the Diamonds), Pat Guadagno,and Richard Blackwell. The Saint opens at 1 p.m. with performers, Mike Askin, Tommy Strazza, Sara Donner, Frank Lombardi, Matt Kay and Mike Butterfield.
Then at 7 p.m. doors open at the Paramount Theater (sold out!) with David Bromberg, Southside Johnny and The Poor Fools, Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers, Willie Nile, Garland Jeffreys, Joe D'Urso & Stone Carvan...and more!
Also at 7 p.m., The Stone Pony opens the doors to the "Rockin' Country Ramble" as country rockers take the stage with Corey Wagar, Kinderhook, After the Reign, Michael Patrick and the Suburban Hillbillies, Bob Polding, Joe Whythe and Ronnie Brand, sponsored by Rockin' Country 106 radio.
Sunday, January 15th opens at 12 p.m. with the series "Songwriters by the Sea" at the Watermark on the Boardwalk and Part 1 of the "Boardwalk Crawl". Performers include Lisa Bianco, Chris Brown, Matt Wade, Emily Grove and Arlon Bennett. Part 2 of the "Boardwalk Crawl" continues at Langosta Lounge at 3 p.m. with Steve Reilly, Collin Rocker, The Monacchios, Lisa Bouchelle, and Jon Caspi. Part 3 at Tim McLoone's Supper Club at 6 p.m. headlines with John Eddie, Joe Grushecky, Joe Rapolla, Linda Chorney and Stewart Franke.
"The Last Note" at The Saint at 8 p.m. includes performers Wakah Chan, The White Chocolate Experience, Woodfish, Quincy Mumford and the Reason Why, and Random Test.
Light of Day 2012 winds down on Monday, January 16th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with an official Light of Day Brunch at Toast at 516 Cookman Avenue.
Follow the 'light' in Asbury Park this week for some great music - and to support a great cause!
For further information, visit www.lightofday.org.
Comments