January 19, 2024
Our contributing photographer Mark Krajnak checks in with his photo-report from last night's kickoff event for Light Of Day Winterfest 2024:
LOD Winterfest 2024 officially kicked off on Thursday night at the historic Asbury Lanes when a dozen strummers and fiddlers and singers and even a Fantastic Cat - oh, my! - took the stage. Despite the bitter cold and the icy conditions - and the threat of another approaching snowstorm - the place was packed with folks looking to get the LOD weekend started early.
Asbury Park, NJ’s own Jarod Clemons kicked it all off with a bluesy-based set that included his version of a song made famous by his late father, the immortal Clarence "Big Man" Clemons: "You’re A Friend of Mine." The night alternated between bands on the main Lanes stage and the soloists “in the round” so to speak – playing with just their guitars.
Following Jarod, the crowd enjoyed performances from Jake Thistle, Emily Grove, Lisa Bouchelle & The Bleu, The Adam Ezra Group, Bob Polding, Pete Mancini, Dave Vargo, Williams Honor (including James Maddock, Bobby Mahoney, and Johnny Pisano,) and Fantastic Cat.
Tom Cunningham, who hosts Springsteen On Sunday at 107.1 The Boss, emceed the event, with a number of other local celebs and luminaries in attendance, including Light of Day's Executive Director Tony Pallagrosi, John Easdale of Dramarama, and rock photographer Danny Clinch. A great night of music inside to kick off one of the best music weekends of the year.
Stay tuned for more Letters To You coverage of Light of Day Winterfest 2024, including tomorrow night's "Main Event: Bob [Benjamin]'s Birthday Bash" at Red Bank, NJ's Count Basie Center for the Arts.
All photographs by Mark Krajnak; used with permission. Click here to follow Mark and his work on Instagram.