LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2026 OFFICIAL SCHEDULE & LINEUPS
For Immediate Release
LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2026 OFFICIAL SCHEDULE & LINEUPS
Adam Weiner aka Low Cut Connie Joining Music Festival Lineup Taking Place January 4-24 for the Continuing Quest To End Parkinson’s Disease, ALS and PSP
ASBURY PARK, NJ (January 1, 2026) – The 26th annual Light of Day WinterFest will take place January 4-24 in Asbury Park, Red Bank, Montclair, New York City, Piermont, NY and New Hope, PA.
Tickets for “Bob’s Birthday Bash”(along with various ticket combo packages) are on sale and available via theBASIE.org, the Basie Center box office onsite at 99 Monmouth Street in Red Bank and through Ticketmaster.com.
Show-specific tickets for The Stone Pony and The Wonder Bar are also on sale now. For more details on lineups, performances and ticket packages, visit LightofDay.org.
The Main Event, “Bob’s Birthday Bash”, will take place on Saturday, January 17 at 6:30pm ET at the Count Basie Center’s Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre. The lineup will include John Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls), Willie Nile, Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers w/ special guest Gary U.S. Bonds, Dramarama, Remember Jones, Fantastic Cat, James Maddock, Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan, Williams Honor, Adam Ezra, Jake Thistle, Amanda Cross & Derek Cruz, Matt & Eryn O'Ree, Emily Grove, Miss Emily, plus special guest Adam Weiner aka Low Cut Connie.
All performances and events will raise money and awareness for the continuing quest to end Parkinson’s disease and its related illnesses ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy) within our lifetime.
Over the course of 26 years, Light of Day has raised approximately $7 million. The first official Light of Day concert was held at Asbury Park’s 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. Light of Day shows have taken place around the world on two continents, with shows in England, Wales, Ireland, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Spain. Portions of the proceeds from each show are donated to a local Parkinson’s organization.
Light of Day WinterFest performers have included Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny Lyon, Darlene Love, Michael J. Fox, Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers, Willie Nile, Gary U.S. Bonds, Max Weinberg, LaBamba’s Big Band, Jesse Malin, John Rzeznik, Jakob Dylan, Ed Kowalczyk, Lucinda Williams, Suzanne Vega, Jake Clemons, David Bryan, John Waite, David Bromberg, James Maddock, Nicole Atkins, The Smithereens, Alejandro Escovedo, Peter Asher, Joey Molland, Garland Jeffries, Joe D’Urso, Lisa Lowell, Mike Peters, Dave Hause and Pete Yorn.
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Schedule:
Sunday, January 4
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Rockland
Lineup: Joe D’Urso, Evan Rotella, Jake Thistle, Allie Kenny and Lula Pilar
Turning Point
Piermont, NY
4:00pm
Wednesday, January 14
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Songwriters on the River
Lineup: Willie Nile, Glenn Burtnick, John Easdale & Peter Wood, James Maddock, Brian Dunne, Paul Collins, Will Dailey, Danielia Cotton, Joe D’Urso and Amanda Cross & Derek Cruz
City Winery Loft NYC
New York, NY
7:00 pm
https://citywinery.com/pages/locations/new-york-city
Thursday, January 15
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Kickoff
Lineup: James Maddock, Williams Honor, Jake Thistle, Matt O’Ree Band, Joe D’Urso & Stone Caravan, Emily Grove, Bob Polding, Dave Vargo, Joe Vadala, Milly The Band and Matt Kelley Band.
Asbury Lanes
Asbury Park, NJ
6:30pm
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 – Monmouth University & Blue Hawk Records Present
Hosted by Professor Joe Rapolla and Zack Sandler
Lineup: Elijah Elias, Amani Lillian, Abby Garcia, Corine Rose, Sam Spano, The Peach Trees, Sam Jordan and Blue Hawk House Band
Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel
Asbury Park, NJ
7:00pm
Friday, January 16
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Presents Dramarama and The Weeklings
Lineup: Dramarama, The Weeklings, Miss Emily, Danielia Cotton, The New Rick Barrys and Evan Rotella
The Wonder Bar
Asbury Park, NJ
7:00pm
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Celebrating Five Decades of Willie Nile
Lineup: Willie Nile, Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers, Tangiers Blues Band & Friends with Danny Clinch, Williams Honor, Bobby Mahoney, Ten Ton Mojo, Least of Thieves, Milly the Band, Will Dailey, Evan Rotella, Miss Emily, Danielia Cotton, Jon Caspi and Strumberry Pie
The Stone Pony
Asbury Park, NJ
6:30pm
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Soundbooth
Lineup: Taylor James Davis, Somewhat Relative and Lindsay Jordan
The Asbury Hotel
Asbury Park, NJ
7:00pm
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Acoustic Carousel at Palmetto
Curated by Peter Scherer with the Jersey Shore's favorite local singer/songwriters in an intimate, unplugged setting
Palmetto Southern Kitchen & Bar
Asbury Park, NJ
8:00pm
Free admission
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Acoustic Carousel at Low Dive
Curated by Peter Scherer with the Jersey Shore's favorite local singer/songwriters in an intimate, unplugged setting
Low Dive
Asbury Park, NJ
7:30pm
Free admission
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Silverball Night of Covers
Lineup: Kenny K and the Way, Chuck Lambert Band, Dakota Diehl, Z28, and Jersey Jam
Silverball Museum Arcade
Asbury Park, NJ
6:30 pm
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 McLoone’s
Lineup: Tim McLoone and The Shirleys
Tim McLoones Supper Club
Asbury Park, NJ
7:30pm
Light of Day WinterFest Bobby Mahoney’s Midnight Mass
Lineup: Bobby Mahoney & Friends
Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel
Asbury Park, NJ
11:30pm
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Welcomes SiriusXM E Street Radio
Hosted by Jim Rotolo
Transparent Clinch Gallery
Asbury Park, NJ
5:00pm
Saturday, January 17
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Bob’s Birthday Bash – The Main Event
Lineup: John Rzeznik, Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers with special guest Gary “U.S.” Bonds, Willie Nile, Adam Weiner aka Low Cut Connie, Dramarama, Remember Jones, Fantastic Cat, Williams Honor, James Maddock, Joe D’Urso & Stone Caravan, Emily Grove, Miss Emily, Matt & Eryn O’Ree, Will Dailey, Amanda Cross & Derek Cruz and Joe D’Urso sings “Hold On” (with Adam Ezra and Jake Thistle)
Count Basie Center’s Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre
Red Bank, NJ
6:30pm
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Dead Aire & Friends “Sounds of 1976”
Lineup: Dead Aire & Friends and HopeWell
Palmetto Southern Kitchen & Bar
Asbury Park, NJ
12:00pm
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Transparent Clinch Gallery Presents “Picture This: Saturday Songwriter’s Showcase
Lineup: Emerson Woolf, Will Dailey, Connor Parente + More, Hosted by Johnny Grushecky, Bobby Mahoney and Zack Sandler
Transparent Clinch Gallery
Asbury Park, NJ
12:00pm
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Women of Song
Lineup: Jo Wymer, Dawn Lorentz, Sarah Hodd, Jenny Barnes, Pam McCoy, Bethany and Strumberry Pie
R Bar
Asbury Park, NJ
12:00pm
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Asbury Blues
Lineup: Billy Walton Band, Norman Seldin, Joe Bonanno & Godsons of Soul, Boccigalupe & the Badboys, Sharon Lasher/Joe Grillo, Debra Devi, Summer Fling, HP and the Hot Takeout, Phil Robinson, Mike Montrey, Gary Cavico, James Dalton, Mike Rocket, Evan Rotella and Redbird
The Wonder Bar
Asbury Park, NJ
12:30pm
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Soundbooth Saturday
Lineup: Josh Zuckerman, Phil Robinson and Poppa John
Asbury Hotel
Asbury Park, NJ
7:00pm
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Asbury Park Now at Palmetto
Lineup: The Doug Gatta Band, Mike O’Connor and Natalie Farrell & Lou Panico
Palmetto Southern Kitchen & Bar
Asbury Park, NJ
8:00pm
Free admission
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Asbury Park Now at Low Dive
Lineup: Bri Ellison, Corinne Pines, Blaise and The Foes of Fern
Low Dive
Asbury Park, NJ
8:00pm
Free admission
Sunday, January 18
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Welcomes 107.1 The Boss “Springsteen on Sunday”
Hosted by Tom Cunningham
Mutiny Beach in Convention Hall
Asbury Park, NJ
10:00am
Light of Day WinterFest 2026
Lineup: Adam Weiner aka Low Cut Connie
Transparent Clinch Gallery
Asbury Park, NJ
4:30pm
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Next Generation
Lineup: Rockit, Octopus School, Maddie Freeman, Krazyer, Dakota Diehl, Rock’n Music Academy, Lakehouse Music
The Stone Pony
Asbury Park, NJ
12:15pm
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Songwriters By The Sea I
Lineup: Mark Masefield, Mary McCrink, Levy Okun, Lindsay Jordan, Tom Vincent, David Vargo, Chuck DeBruyn, Robinson Treacher, and Allie Kenny
Watermark
Asbury Park, NJ
12:00pm
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Songwriters By The Sea II
Lineup: Glenn Burtnick, John Easdale/Pete Wood, Danielia Cotton, Will Dailey, Amanda Cross/Derek Cruz, Renee Maskin, Jake Mathison, Evan Rotella, Cranston Dean and Pete Mancini
Palmetto
Asbury Park, NJ
3:00pm
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Songwriters By The Sea III
Lineup: Joe Grushecky, Willie Nile, James Maddock, Williams Honor, Jake Thistle, Adam Ezra, Bob Burger, Miss Emily, Joe D’Urso, Guy Davis, Joe Rapolla, Emily Grove, Will Dailey, Sahara Moon, Joe Vadala and Eddie Testa
Tim McLoone’s Supper Club
Asbury Park, NJ
6:15pm
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Cover Me
Lineup: Jake Thistle’s “Late For The Sky”, Chicks That Rock The 80’s, The Eddie Testa Band, Gab Cinque Band, Full Steen Ahead and Jim Kasun’s “Jim Croce Tribute”
The Wonder Bar
Asbury Park, NJ
12:00pm
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Musicians on a Mission
Lineup: Paul Whistler & Stringbean, Gene Neary Band, Me and Bobby D, The Wag and The Well Wish
R Bar
Asbury Park, NJ
12:00pm
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 The Last Note
Lineup: The Billy Walton Band & Friends with special guest Anthony Krizan
R Bar
Asbury Park, NJ
8:00pm
Friday, January 23
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 New Hope Rocks
Lineup: The Billy Walton Band and The Billy Hector Band
John and Peter’s
New Hope, PA
7:00
Saturday, January 24
Light of Day WinterFest 2026 Songwriters in the Round
Lineup: Willie Nile, Glenn Burtnick, James Maddock, Adam Ezra, Guy Davis, Joe D’Urso, Rick Winowski, Sharon Lasher, Matt & Eryn O’Ree, Jon Caspi,
Outpost in the Burbs
Montclair, NJ
7:00pm
Outpostintheburbs.org
(Schedule and lineups subject to change.)
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 quest to end 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.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Sammy Steinlight, sammy@steinlightmedia.com, (917) 750-8747
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Light of Day would like to thank all of the performers who have dedicated their talents for supporting our fight against Parkinson's.
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