"Light Of Day" Turns "Sweet 16" Today

LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2016 SEASON OFFICIALLY STARTS TODAY

WITH SIRIUS/E STREET RADIO SPECIAL, AND CANADA TOUR KICKOFF

WILLIE NILE, JOE D’URSO TO GUEST DJ ON SIRIUS FOR ENTIRE HOUR

AS 16^th SEASON OF GLOBAL BATTLE VS. PARKINSON’S DISEASE

‘THROUGH THE AWESOME POWER OF MUSIC’ BEGINS

The Light of Day turns "Sweet 16" today, join them in the battle against Parkinson's. 

LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2016 season officially kicks off today with a special one-hour block of programming on Sirius XM’s E Street Radio (Channel 20), and further north, the launch of Light of Day Canada. It’s the start of this year’s campaign to raise money and awareness for Parkinson’s disease and related neuro-degenerative diseases through “the awesome power of music.”

Willie Nile and Joe D’Urso, both of whom have been performing at LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST since its launch 16 years ago, will be guest DJs today at 4 p.m. for the full hour on E Street Radio. They’ll be playing songs from artists playing this fall in Canada and Europe – including themselves – as well as those scheduled to participate in LIGHT OF WINTERFEST 2016, such as Ed Manion, The Hooters, Joe Grushecky, JesseMalin, Jake Clemons, and Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen is a long-time supporter of the Light of Day Foundation, most visible through his annual WinterFest performances 11 of the last 15 years.

LIGHT OF DAY ON E STREET RADIO premieres TODAY (Friday 11/6) at 4 pm ET. Rebroadcasts are scheduled for Saturday 11/7 at 12am ET; Saturday 11/7 at 8am ET; Monday 11/9 at 4pm ET; Tuesday 11/10 at 12am ET, and Tuesday 11/10 at 8am ET.

Meantime, LIGHT OF DAY CANADA gets started today with a five-show, four-day schedule, and artists including Blue Rodeo, Miss Emily with Rob Baker and Gord Sinclair of The Tragically Hip, Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers with Eddie Manionof the E Street Horns, Joe D'Urso and Stone Caravan, Jason Heath & The Greedy Souls and Bobby Mahoney.

Light of Day Canada Schedule 2015/2016

November 6 - St. Catherine, Ontario, Canada

November 7 - Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada (day)

November 7 – Toronto, Canada

November 8 - Toronto, Canada

November 14 - Kingston, Canada

Just Around The Corner...
Photo: Jeff Ross

In other Light of Day WinterFest 2016 news …

·        Expect several show announcements throughout November, as Light of Day adds more diversity and performance options than ever before, making 2016 the biggestWinterFest ever.

·        Up next and new this year is Light of Day Westchester, being held Nov. 15 at theEmelin Theatre in Mamaroneck, NY. It’s an evening of rock ‘n’ roll that includes many popular regional performers from Westchester and Rockland counties and is hosted by Board Vice President Joe D’Urso and his band, Stone Caravan, and Larchmont favorites Sway.

·        Also this month is the launch of Light of Day’s10^th anniversary European tour — an 18-day, 16-show holiday run in 10 countries (Nov. 27-Dec. 14), including five shows throughout Italy. Artists on board include Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez, Rob Dye, and EricBazilian (The Hooters). Stay tuned for further details!

Tickets for all LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2016 events, with the exception of Bob’s Birthday Bash, are on sale NOW for the Asbury Park portion of LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2016, where the bulk of the action will occur, being held Jan. 8-18, 2016 at such fabled rock venues as the Paramount Theater, the Stone Pony, and the Wonder Bar, among others. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com), Ticketmaster charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000, and all Ticketmaster outlets. A wide variety of combination ticket packages – as well as single tickets to each show – will be available.

Concert goers can purchase tickets for individual shows, on an a la carte basis. Tickets range from Free to $45. There will be approximately 50 events just in Asbury Park alone. Beyond Asbury Park, shows will be held in New York City (Jan. 13 @ The Cutting Room), North Jersey (Jan. 9 in Montclair), and, for the first time, Philadelphia (Jan. 8 @ World Café Live). They are the culmination of a worldwide series of shows that began as a one-day event in Asbury Park and grew to 10-day festival in the New Jersey/New York/Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Ticket prices DO NOT include any fees and/or service/convenience charges.

Admission to all Light of Day Asbury Park events is subject to capacity restrictions at their respective venues.

Individual event ticket prices:

Friday, JAN 8

LOD “Philadelphia,” The World Cafe, Upstairs, Philadelphia, Pa., Fri,. Jan. 8, 7pm, $TBA

Saturday, JAN 9

LOD “NORTH JERSEY” Outpost in the Burbs, Montclair, NJ, Sat, Jan. 10, 7pm, $TBA

Sunday, JAN 10

LOD "COVER ME: BEST OF THE JERSEY BAR BANDS", Stone Pony, Sun, Jan. 11, All Ages, 1pm, $20adv/$25dos

Monday, JAN 11

LOD “HAPPY MONDAYS”, Wonder Bar, Mon., 21+, $TBA

Tuesday, Jan 12

LOD’s “LAUGHSTOCK”, The Stress Factory, New Brunswick, NJ; NY Comedy Club, NY, NY, Tues., $TBA

Wednesday, JAN 13

LOD "NYC", The Cutting Room, Weds., Jan 14, 18+, 7pm, $75 VIP Reserved Seating, $45 GA Reserved Seating, $25 GA Standing

Thursday, JAN 14

LOD "FIRST NOTE", The Saint, Thurs.,18+, 6:30pm, $8adv/$12dos

LOD "SANDY MACK's WONDER JAM", Wonder Bar, Thurs.,21+, 7pm, $10

LOD “SWEET LITTLE’ SIXTEEN KICK OFF", House Of Independents, Thurs.,18+, 7pm, $20adv/$25dos (All performers have to do a Chuck Berry tune!)

LOD “MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY’S BLUE HAWK RECORDS PRESENTS”, Langosta Lounge, Thurs., All-Ages, 7pm, FREE ADMISSION

Friday, JAN 15

LOD "ASBURY ANGELS INDUCTION", Stone Pony, Fri., All Ages, 6:30pm, $25adv/$30dos

LOD “REMEMBER JONES: THE BACK TO BLACK/AMY WINEHOUSE", House Of Independents, Fri.,18+, 7pm, $20adv/$25dos

LOD "ROCK HEAVY", The Saint, Fri,18+, 8pm, $8adv/$12dos

LOD "OPEN MIC", Wonder Bar, Fri., 21+, 6pm, $12

LOD “NEIL BERG’S 100 YEARS OF BROADWAY", McLoone’s Supper Club, Fri., All Ages, Doors/Dinner 6pm/ Show 8pm, $TBA

LOD "LATE NIGHT FRIDAY" Langosta Lounge, l, Friday, 21+, 9pm, FREE ADMISSION

LOD "TBA” Paramount Theater, Fri., All Ages, 8pm, $TBA

Saturday, JAN 16

LOD "BOB'S BIRTHDAY BASH," Paramount Theater, Sat, All Ages, 6pm, SOLD OUT.

LOD "ROCK",The Saint, Sat., 18+, 7:30pm, $8adv/ $12dos

LOD "ED MANION", McLoone’s Supper Club, Sat., All Ages, Noon, $15

LOD “TBA”,McLoone’s Supper Club, Sat. 1/17, 18+, 7pm, $TBA

LOD "LATE NIGHT SATURDAY", Langosta Lounge, Sat., Jan. 17, 21+, 10pm, FREE ADMISSION

LOD "TBA", House Of Independents, Sat., 18+, 8pm, $TBA

LOD "ASBURY BLUES", Wonder Bar, Sat., All Ages, Noon, $12/$15

LOD "SURFER’S GARAGE", Wonder Bar, Sat., 21+, 7pm, $12/$15

LOD “DOWNTOWN – ASBURY UNDERGROUND," curated by Pat Schiavino and Asbury Underground. Noon – 7PM Over 20 venues! FREE ADMISSION

Sunday, JAN 17

LOD "SONGWRITERS BY THE SEA BOARDWALK CRAWL", Watermark, Sun., All Ages, Noon, $15

LOD "SONGWRITERS BY THE SEA BOARDWALK CRAWL", Langosta Lounge, Sun., All Ages, 3pm, $15

LOD "SONGWRITERS BY THE SEA BOARDWALK CRAWL", McLoone’s Supper Club, Sun., All Ages, 6pm, $20

LOD "KID'S ROCK", Stone Pony, Sun., All Ages, Noon, $15

LOD "MUSICIANS ON A MISSION", The Saint, Sun., 18+, Noon, $10

LOD "LAST NOTE", The Saint, Sun., 18+, 7:30pm, $8adv/$12dos

Monday, JAN 18

LOD "GOODBYE BRUNCH," Toast, Mon., All Ages, 10:30a-1:30p.

Fight Parkinson's: Light Of Day Winterfest

Bruce Springsteen Makes A Surprise Appearance At Light Of Day Winterfest 12
Photo: Mark Weiss

SPECIAL PAIR OF TICKETS TO SOLD-OUT ‘MAIN EVENT’

PLUS LIMITED EDITION, AUTOGRAPHED, CLASSIC ROCK PHOTOS

BY MARK WEISS BEING AUCTIONED EXCLUSIVELY ATCHARITYBUZZ.COM

TO BENEFIT LIGHT OF DAY FOUNDATION AS WINTERFEST 2015 FESTIVAL APPROACHES

BID NOW! www.charitybuzz.com/lightofday

Southside Johnny & Gary U.S. Bonds signed photos up for auction!

Over 150 Music Acts Converge On NJ & NYC Jan. 9-19, 2015

To Support Worldwide Foundation’s 15^th Anniversary Festival

In Global Battle Against Parkinson’s Disease

“Let’s do it, people.” – ArtistDirect.com

A pair of tickets to the sold-out LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2015 “Main Event” at the Paramount Theater, with headliners LaBAMBA’SBIG BAND featuring Southside Johnny and Gary U.S. Bonds kicks off the first of two Charitybuzz fundraising auctions benefiting the Light of Day Foundation, 15 years strong in its global battle against Parkinson’s Disease and related illnesses.

Also on Light of Day's Charitybuzz auction block are 35 limited edition, autographed, classic Rock & Roll photographs from the '70s and '80s, donated by renowned photographer Mark Weiss (who shot Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet and Twisted Sister's Stay Hungry album covers). Photo sales are moving briskly at www.charitybuzz.com/lightofday.  The auction ends Jan. 8, 2015. 

Charitybuzz will kick off a second online auction  Jan. 9, 2015 for two weeks only. This second auction will spotlight two very special LIGHT OF DAY movie posters signed by Bruce Springsteen, Joan Jett and Michael J. Fox.  Springsteen wrote the powerful anthem “Light Of Day,” performed in the 1987 movie of the same name by Joan Jett, who starred alongside Michael J. Fox.  Fox has bravely battled Parkinson's since the early ‘90s, and on one legendary night in November 2003, at the fourth annual LOD show, he brought the house down when he joined Springsteen on stage at the Stone Pony for a rousing rendition of “Light of Day.”  Also featured in this auction is a signed photograph of 2015 Hall of Fame Inductee Joan Jett, shot by Weiss in 1981; along with photos of previous Light of Day performers including Springsteen, Richie “LaBamba” Rosenberg, Gary U.S. Bonds, Southside Johnny, Glen Burtnik, John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, Willie Nile, John Eddie, Garland Jeffreys, Jesse Malin, Brian Fallon of Gaslight Anthem and Joe Grushecky.

Proceeds from all auctions solely benefit the Light of Day Foundation.

With a goal of bringing in a record half million dollars for its 15^th anniversary edition, LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST, raised a record $425,000 to combat Parkinson’s disease last year alone, by far the most of any previous year. In honor of this 15^th anniversary, the push is on to exceed a half million dollars, bringing the 15-year total above $3 million!

Mark Weiss is passionate about his photo campaign, FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME, which he started to benefit Lunch Break, the soup kitchen in Red Bank, NJ.  When his photographsraised over $25,000 for Lunch Break after just two annual Charitybuzz auctions, Weiss realized another foundation close to his heart and hometown could benefit as well.

“I never imagined when I was 16 and sneaking my camera into concerts, that I could make a living out of it, much less help out  those in need by donating the sales of these photos some three decades later,” says Weiss. “My career as a photographer has been a dream come true, and it’s time to give back."

His campaign is a selection of photographs from the first time Weiss shot the artists, going back to the ‘70s. He has pulled the photos from his extensive archives and reached out to the musicians to sign a few to help these amazing organizations.  Some highlights of the collection include Aerosmith live at Madison Square Garden in 1976, signed by all five band members.  Also up for grabs are three KISS photographs which actually changed Mark's life: In 1977, while still in high school, he was arrested for selling his photos outside the Garden for a buck a piece. After a night in jail, he headed over to Circus Magazine with his portfolio, and within six months he’d become a staff photographer. 

Other classic photos up for auction are Ozzy Osbourne taking a bath at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in 1981; Debbie Harry of Blondie in 1978; Ted Nugent in 1978 and Johnny Winter from his 1991 album cover shoot Let Me In; plus 30 more, all signed by the actual artists.

"Whether helping the people in my hometown with life's basic necessities or helping find a cure for a deadly disease, we all do whatever we can,” Weiss continues. “I am honored to stand alongside the generous and talented musicians I have worked with for decades to help make this year's LIGHT OF DAY a monumental success.  We all remember the great memories of first times, but there also are memories of the first times we’ve heard disheartening news.  I have been humbled and inspired by Bob Benjamin's story and by the powerful snowballing impact LOD has had for the last 15 years.”

Benjamin, an artist manager and music industry veteran, has been living with Parkinson’s since 1996, two years before he co-founded Light of Day with concert promoter Tony Pallagrosi and musician Joe D’Urso. Benjamin put together the first fundraiser show on his 40th birthday at the Downtown Cafe in Red Bank, NJ, and raised $2,000. From that small event, the LIGHT OF DAY Foundation was born in 2000. Benjamin named the Foundation after the Springsteen anthem with the fitting lyrics: Well I'm a little down under, but I'm feeling okay - I got a little lost along the way - I'm just around the corner to the light of day.  

Light of Day Winterfest has gained international acclaim for surprise performances by Bruce Springsteen in 10 of the previous 14 years, including last year’s event, and always at the Paramount since “The Main Event” was added to the festivities. LaBamba, an original member of Southside Johnny’s Asbury Jukes and a late night TV fixture for the past 20 years anchoring the horn section in Conan O’Brien’s house band, has assembled a 20-piece unit that will include a 13-piece horn section. LaBamba’s Big Band will feature the horn players from Conan’s Basic Cable Band, and nine other current and former members of the Jukes – among them Mark “The Love Man” Pender, Rick "G the G” Gazda and Stan Harrison – for a night LaBamba promises “is going to be legendary.”

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Except for the Paramount show, tickets are on sale NOW for the Asbury Park portion of LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2015, where the bulk of the action will occur, being held Jan. 11-19, 2015 at such fabled rock venues as the Stone Pony and the Wonder Bar, among others. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com), Ticketmaster charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000, and all Ticketmaster outlets (including select Walmart stores). A wide variety of combination ticket packages – as well as single tickets to each show – will be available.

Tickets are on sale NOW for LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2015 – NORTH JERSEY, and LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2015 – SOUTH JERSEY. Light of Day WinterFest2015 – South Jersey, starring Dramarama’s John Easdale, Joe D’Urso & Stone Caravan, Stone Baby, Ben Arnold, Soraia, and NYTROUS, hosted by radio legend Michael Tearson (Sirius XM), will be held Friday, Jan. 9, 2015 at Hebe Music Lounge at Big Shots Bar and Grill, 835 Route 130 South, Burlington, NJ. Tickets are $10 in advance; $14 day of show at Brown Paper tickets athttp://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/946073. More info at www.hebemusic.com.Light of Day WinterFest 2015 – North Jersey, a Songwriter’s Circle starring Willie Nile (just added!), Garland Jeffreys, James Maddock, Steve Conte (New York Dolls guitarist), and Joe D’Urso, will be held Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015 at Outpost in the Burbs @ Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 67 Church St., Montclair, NJ. Tickets are $35 in advance; $40 at the door; $75 VIP at Outpost Ticketleap,www.outpost.ticketleap.com, and all other Outpost in the Burbs ticket outlets. More info at www.outpostintheburbs.org.

Tickets are on sale NOW for LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST NYC 2015, starring Suzanne Vega with Dramarama’s John Easdale, John Eddie and His Dirty Ol’ Band, Joe D’Urso and Stone Caravan, and more to be announced, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015 at the Cutting Room, 44 E. 32^nd St., NYC. Tickets are $45 for General Admission Seats; $75 for Limited VIP Upfront Table Seats. Doors 6 p.m.; Show time 7 p.m. For info and tickets, call (212) 691-1900 or go to www.thecuttingroomnyc.com.

For more about Light of Day Foundation, go to www.lightofday.org.