LaBamba's Big Band and Friends to Headline LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 'BOB'S BIRTHDAY BASH'

Jersey Shore legend RICHIE "LaBAMBA" ROSENBERG, a late-night TV fixture for 25 years as a horn section mainstay in Conan O'Brien's Basic Cable Band, returns to his roots to lead LaBAMBA'S BIG BAND & FRIENDS, Featuring Special Guest GARY U.S. BONDS, as the headline attraction of "Bob's Birthday Bash," the main event of LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST for its 18th anniversary edition, with a goal of topping last year's record-breaking $555,000 raised in its ongoing battle against Parkinson's disease

"Bob's Birthday Bash" will be held Saturday, Jan. 13 at the Paramount Theater, 1300 Ocean Ave., in Asbury Park and also will feature favorite WinterFest performers the Willie Nile Band, Joe Gruschecky and the Houserockers, James Maddock & Band, Garland Jeffreys, Remember Jones, Jeffrey Gaines, and Ben Arnold, as well as Light of Day newcomer Greg Kihn, among others. Tickets are $43 and up and ON SALE NOW at Ticketmaster. Doors open 7 p.m. Show time 7:30 p.m.

This will be the second time in four years that LaBAMBA's BIG BAND has headlined "Bob's Birthday Bash." The previous time, in 2015, the original trombone player in Southside Johnny's Asbury Jukes was joined by Southside Johnny and, in a surprise appearance, Bruce Springsteen, with whom LaBamba has played and toured on numerous occasions.

LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST, presented by the Asbury Park Press, has gained international notoriety for surprise performances by Bruce Springsteen in 11 of the previous 17 years. For 2018, LaBamba has assembled an 18-piece unit, with 13 horns, that will include other bandmates from the Jukes and Conan's Basic Cable Band in a night he promises "is going to be legendary."

The 10-day festival will bring over 150 music acts to 30 venues in three New Jersey cities, New York City, and Philadelphia, January 5-15, following holiday season tours of Europe and Canada.

Last year's event raised $555,000 - a record amount - to combat Parkinson's disease, topping the previous year record of $525,000, with the 17-year total approaching $4.5 million.

LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2018 also will include shows in New York City (Jan. 10 @ The Cutting Room), Philadelphia (Jan. 6 at World Café Live), and Montclair, NJ (Jan. 5 at Outpost in the Burbs) with the rest being held at numerous venues in Asbury Park. They are the culmination of a worldwide series of shows that began as a one-day event in Asbury Park, where it still is primarily based, while growing to a 10-day festival in the New Jersey/New York/Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Complete ticket and additional information for all LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2017 events at www.lightofday.org and on Facebook.

Here's the complete list of LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2018 shows to date:

Friday, JAN 5

LOD "NORTH JERSEY" SONGWRITERS BY THE SEA, Including a Tribute to Tom Petty - Willie Nile, James Maddock, Jeffrey Gaines, Joe D'Urso, Emily Grove, Isabella Rose - Outpost in the Burbs, Montclair, NJ, 7pm, $35-$40

Saturday, JAN 6

LOD "PHILADELPHIA" - Willie Nile & Band, Joe Gruschecky & the Houserockers, Remember Jones, Ben Arnold Band, Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan (Downstairs); Jim Boggia, Graham Alexander, John Byrne, Nalani & Sarina, Vini Lopez (formerly of the E Street Band), Isabella Rose, Lisa Bouchelle - World Café Live, Downstairs & Upstairs, Philadelphia, PA, 7pm, $15, $20, $30

Sunday, JAN 7

LOD "COVER ME: BEST OF THE JERSEY BAR BANDS" - The Best of George Harrison - The Beatles, Bangladesh & Beyond (Mark Ribler & Friends), Eddie Testa, Light My Fire, Soul Cruisers, Guilty Pleasure, Rockinon, Pat Guadagno & Tired Horses - Stone Pony, All Ages, 1pm, $15-$20

Wednesday, JAN 10

LOD "NEW YORK CITY" - Gary U.S. Bonds, Dramarama, Johnny Pi's Punk Rock Pizzeria, Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan, The King Sings The Boss -The Cutting Room, 18+, 7pm, $75 VIP Reserved Seating, $45 GA Reserved Seating, $25 GA Standing

Thursday, JAN 11

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

LOD "SANDY MACK's WONDER JAM" - Karmic Juggernaut, Keith Kenny, Waiting on Mongo, Joe Miller, Mack Jamily Allstars, Strumberry Pie, Secret Sound, Acoustic Juggling Suns, Predator Dub Assassins, Stu Coogan (90.5 The Night) - Wonder Bar, Thurs.,21+, 7pm, $12

LOD "WINTERFEST 2018 KICK-OFF" - Bobby Bandiera Tribute to Tom Petty, Dramarama, Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan, The King Sings The Boss - House Of Independents, Thurs.,18+, 7pm, All Ages, $20

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

Friday, JAN 12

LOD "ASBURY ANGELS INDUCTION" - Boccigalupe & the Bad Boys, Miss Emily, Willie Nile, The Verve Pipe, Laura Crisci, Bobby Mahoney, Pat Toner, Bob Polding Band, Mad Kings, Peter Hogklint, Mike Rocket, more - Stone Pony, Fri., All Ages, 6:30pm, $25adv/$30dos

LOD KASHMIR - The Live Led Zeppelin Show with Colossal Street Jam, Bitter Crush - House Of Independents, Fri.,18+, 7pm, $20 adv/$25 dos

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

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

LOD AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH Albert Lee BAND, Special Guest Bobby Bandiera Band - 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

Saturday, JAN 13

LOD "BOB'S BIRTHDAY BASH", Paramount Theater, Sat, All Ages, 6pm, $43-$205

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

LOD TBA, McLoone's Supper Club, Sat., All Ages, Noon, $TBA

LOD TBA, McLoone's Supper Club, Sat., 18+, 7pm, $TBA

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

LOD TRIBUTE TO PRINCE, STARRING QUINCY MUMFORD & THE REASON WHY, House Of Independents, Sat., 18+, 8pm, $15 adv/$20 dos

LOD "ASBURY BLUES" - Billy Walton Band, Karen Phillips, Tony Tedesco & Full Fathom 5, James Dalton, Chuck Lambert, Pam McCoy, Normin Seldin, Joe Whyte, RB3, String Bean, Papa John Bug & The Jam Band - Wonder Bar, Sat., All Ages, Noon, $12/$15

LOD "FULL TILT BOOGIE BASH" - Billy Hector, Laura Crisci, Christine Martucci, Colton Kaiser, Mike Miz, Slyders, Sharon Lasher, Dawg Whistle, Strumberry Pie - 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 14

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

LOD "SONGWRITERS BY THE SEA BOARDWALK CRAWL" - Bruce Tunkel, Karen Mansfield, Pat Guadagno, Sams Sims/Kyle Ward, Frank Lombardi, Joshua, Scott Elk - Langosta Lounge, Sun., All Ages, 3pm, $15

LOD "SONGWRITERS BY THE SEA BOARDWALK CRAWL" - James Maddock, Joe Grushecky, Joe D'Urso, John Easdale, Peter Elkas, Emily Grove, Joe Rapolla, Williams Honor, Ben Arnold - 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 15

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

ABOUT THE LIGHT OF DAY FOUNDATION

The Light of Day Foundation, Inc., utilizes the awesome power of music to raise money and awareness in its continuing battle to defeat Parkinson's disease and related neuro-degenerative diseases, specifically Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), within our lifetime. The Foundation's mission is to fund research into possible cures, improved treatments and support for patients who suffer from those diseases, their families and their caregivers to help improve their quality of life. Gifts to the Light of Day Foundation, Inc. are tax-deductible to the full extent of the Internal Revenue Code. The Light of Day Foundation, Inc. is designated by the IRS as a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization. The Light of Day Foundation, Inc.'s Federal ID # is 20-1560386. Light of Day - the concerts and the organization - grew from a birthday party and fund-raiser held in 1998 at the Downtown Cafe in Red Bank to celebrate the 40th birthday of artist manager and music industry veteran Bob Benjamin, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1996.

Photo by: Barry Goldenberg

To post a comment, you must register and login.