Light Of Day: For A Brighter Tomorrow

The sound of music will be abundant in Asbury Park from Jan. 12-16 for Light Of Day Week. The five-day music festival is to benefit those who are fighting Parkinson’s Disease, and brings a large crowd to the shore town. The festival was started 11 years ago, and since then Asbury Park Mayor Ed Johnson and the city council have officially made Jan. 12-16 Light Of Day Week. Light Of Day Concert Series will also be happening in other countries including Canada and parts of Europe.

The festivities are kicked off with a Rock-N-Bowl-a-thon that will pair celebrities and fans up for a night of fun on Jan. 12 at Asbury Lanes. Tributes to those musicians and participants of the Asbury Park music scene will be held on Jan. 13 at The Stone Pony, where the festival began 11 years ago. The concert will be headlined by the Sensational Soul Cruisers and will honor Clarence Clemons, Danny Federici, Kevin Kavanaugh, Donnie Bertleson and John Luraschi. The weekend of music continues at venues such as The Wonder Bar, The Watermark, The Saint, McLoone’s Supper Club, The Showroom and The Paramount Theater.

There will be events for children and adults alike, including showings of the documentary Just Around The Corner all weekend at The Showroom. The documentary tells the story of Light Of Day founder Bob Benjamin and his struggles with Parkinson’s Disease and how music has helped in the fight against it. To close out the weekend of music there will be a “Songwriters By The Sea” series, which will showcase singer/songwriters at three venues along the boardwalk, starting at The Watermark at noon and ending at McLoone’s Supper Club at 6 p.m., with a show at Langosta Lounge thrown in at 3 p.m.

Proceeds go towards aiding in the fight against Parkinson’s Disease and other similar diseases. Ticket prices vary from show to show and ticket packages are available. For more information contact the Stone Pony or visit lightofday.org.