The Light of Day Foundation has announced WinterFest 2023, the annual music festival taking place from Jan. 7-20 in Asbury Park, Red Bank, Montclair, Philadelphia, New York City and Rockland County.
“Bob’s Birthday Bash” will take place on Jan. 14 at the Count Basie Center’s Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre, according to a press release.
Tickets for “Bob’s Birthday Bash” ticket combo packages and select individual venue events go on sale on Nov. 11 at 10 a.m. and will be available via theBASIE.org, the Basie Center box office at 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank, and through Ticketmaster.com.
Ticket prices for WinterFest range from $60 to $415 with various multi-tiered packages being offered: “On-Stage All-Access,” “Platinum All-Access,” “Gold All-Access,” “Silver All-Access,” “Bronze All-Access” and “Super Savers Bob’s Birthday Bash Only.”
Other venues hosting LOD WinterFest 2023 shows include Asbury Park’s Stone Pony, Wonder Bar, The Saint, McLoone’s Supper Club, Langosta Lounge, Watermark, AP Yacht Club, Asbury Hotel, Asbury Lanes; Outpost In The Burbs in Montclair; and City Winery in Manhattan, World Café Live in Philadelphia and Penguin Rep Theatre in Stony Point, N.Y.
For more details on lineups, performances and ticket packages, visit LightofDay.org.
All performances and events will raise money and awareness for Light of Day’s continuing battle to defeat Parkinson’s disease and its related illnesses ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy), according to the press release.
“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, culminating to celebrate my birthday in Red Bank. I hope to see you there,” he said.
Over the course of 23 years, Light of Day has raised approximately $6.2 million to combat Parkinson’s disease, ALS and PSP, according to the press release.
The first official Light of Day concert was held at the Stone Pony in November 2000 and primarily featured local, unsigned artists.
The critically acclaimed Pittsburgh-based band Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers (managed by Bob Benjamin) headlined the show, which featured a surprise appearance by Bruce Springsteen, who joined the Houserockers for a raucous, hour-long set.
Light of Day has grown from a one-day event into a multi-day festival in the metropolitan area. More significantly, Light of Day has expanded into an internationally recognized tour, through a true grassroots effort of musicians, music fans and benefactors, according to the press release.
Light of Day shows have taken place around the world on three continents, with shows in Canada, England, Wales, Ireland, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Spain and Australia. Portions of the proceeds from each show are donated to a local Parkinson’s organization.
“The Light of Day Foundation is a small group of caring, thoughtful ‘civilians’ and passionate, talented musicians who committed themselves to making a difference, galvanized into action by the courage, resilience and determination of our founder Bob Benjamin,” said Tony Pallagrosi, executive director, Light of Day Foundation.
“Light of Day uses the awesome power of music to raise money and awareness in its 23-year-long endeavor to fund research, uncover new, more effective therapeutics, promote education, assist families and ultimately cure Parkinson’s, ALS and PSP in our lifetime.
“We are always so grateful for the incredibly loyal support 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, at Light of Day WinterFest 2023,” Pallagrosi said.
