It might not feel that way, but we’re slowly and surely creeping our way out of the longest, darkest days of the year by milliseconds and each year around this time, Shore music fans like to celebrate with a little thing called the Light of Day concert.
Actually, as we explain in today’s edition of Red Bank oRBit, the Shore-born concert now in its tenth year a stars-and-stalwarts benefit for promoter Bob Benjamin‘s ongoing efforts to aid Parkinsons Disease research has arrived a couple of months later than usual, due to the fact that it’s grown into an international phenomenon. The 2009-2010 tour crisscrossed Europe in December, and this weekend it returns to its Asbury Park roots (with a prehistory that traces back to Red Bank’s old Downtown Cafe) with no less than six separate events, featuring nearly 60 different acts performing at a half dozen venues.
Named after an otherwise forgotten 1987 movie, the series has also drawn the onstage participation of a stellar cast topped by that film’s songwriter (Bruce Springsteen) and star (Michael J. Fox). This year’s Saturday night main event is toplined by LIVE frontman (and Andre Agassi lookalike) Ed Kowalczyk (above) in one of his first solo apperances, with LOD linchpin Joe Grushecky, John Eddie, Nicole Atkins, Jay Weinberg and circus superstar Bello Nock among the weekend’s wonders.
We’ll bring you words from Glen Burtnik and other members of the Light Brigade, along with the updated schedule details and more pertinent links than a Parks Sausage factory, right here in Red Bank oRBit!