FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

John Rzeznik of the multi-platinum selling band Goo Goo Dolls to headline the Light of Day Foundation concert series in Asbury Park, NJ on January 18, 2014. Rare solo concert appearance will raise money for Parkinson’s disease support and research.

CONTACT: Jean Mikle; jmikle@aol.com, (732) 859-5149

October 28, 2013- Asbury Park, NJ: Award-winning songwriter John Rzeznik, best known for his string of Number One and Top Ten hits with his band, Goo Goo Dolls, will perform a rare intimate solo concert as the headliner for the Light of Day Foundation’s main event at Asbury Park, NJ’s Paramount Theatre show on Jan. 18, 2014. The multi-artist concert, one of 28 events during a weeklong series of shows throughout Asbury Park, will raise money in the effort to find a cure and help those suffering from Parkinson’s disease. More than 100 artists will perform at nine different venues from Jan. 16-20, 2014.

Tickets go on sale at noon Saturday, Nov. 2 for the series of shows, sponsored by the Light of Day Foundation (http://www.lightofday.org), the Asbury Park Press (http://www.app.com), Ansell, Grimm & Aaron (http://www.ansellgrimm.com) and ShopRite (http://www.ShopRite.com.) Tickets are available through Ticketmaster (http://www.ticketmaster.com), Ticketmaster charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000, and all Ticketmaster outlets (including selected Walmart stores). A wide variety of combination ticket packages – as well as single tickets to each show – will be available.

Asbury Park Mayor Myra Campbell and the City Council plan to proclaim the week of shows as “Light of Day Week” in Asbury Park, in honor of the concert series, which annually draws thousands of music fans from the U.S. and around the world to the city.

The Asbury Park concerts are the culmination of a worldwide series of shows, including eight shows in Canada this past March and in November, and fifteen shows in eleven European countries in late November and early December. Each concert raises money for support and research into more effective treatments and a cure for people who suffer from Parkinson’s and other degenerative neuromuscular disorders.

Rzeznik’s solo set will mark his second performance at Light of Day’s main event, following his memorable appearance in 2008. As a composer, Rzeznik has penned numerous instantly recognizable hits with the Goo Goo Golls, including “Name,” “Slide,” Black Balloon,” Broadway,” “Here Is Gone”” and “Better Days.” “Iris,” from the City Of Angels soundtrack and the band’s 1998 release Dizzy Up the Girl, spent nearly 12 straight months on the Billboard charts and held the Number One position for 18 consecutive weeks. The song was also reported by Billboard magazine to be the biggest pop radio song of the last 20 years. The band’s latest release, Magnetic, debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200 and features their latest hit single, “Come To Me.”

Joining Rzeznik on the Paramount bill will be long-time Light of Day supporters Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers, Willie Nile, Jesse Malin and Joe D’Urso & Stone Caravan. Nicole Atkins and a cappella group the Rock n’ Roll Chorus will also perform. The host for the evening is actor Vincent Pastore, best known for his role on HBO’s acclaimed hit show, “The Sopranos.”

Before the weekend-long series of concerts in Asbury Park, Light of Day will kick off the week with “Cover Me, the Best of the Jersey Bar Bands,” a show featuring some of New Jersey’s finest cover bands, including The Nerds, to be held on Sunday, Jan. 12 at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park. On Wednesday, Jan. 15, the action will shift to The Cutting Room in New York City. Artists and on-sale date for the New York show will be announced separately. Additional artists for all shows will be announced in the coming weeks.

Bruce Springsteen has joined his friend Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers and performed extended sets at nine of the thirteen previous Light of Day events. On Jan. 16, 2012, Springsteen joined Grushecky and the Houserockers for a lengthy set that ended well after 2 a.m. He also shared the stage that night with Nile and Garland Jeffreys, both also long-time supporters of Light of Day.

Light of Day’s New Jersey weekend will kick off on Thursday, Jan. 16 at Asbury Lanes on Fourth Avenue, with a Rock n’ Bowl-a-Thon that will pair participants with celebrity bowlers for a night of fun and music. Also that night, shows will be held at The Saint, where “Light of Day’s First Note” starts the weekend’s Asbury Park festivities at its downtown location, and the Wonder Bar, at Fifth and Ocean avenues, will present Light of Day’s version of Sandy Mack’s “Wonder Jam.”

On Friday, Jan. 17, Asbury Park’s legendary Stone Pony will feature the third annual tribute to the “Asbury Angels,” the musicians and other members of the city’s music scene who have recently passed on. That night the Asbury Angels Project will announce its third set of inductees who will be honored in spring 2014 with the installation of plaques with their names and achievements on benches lining Asbury Park’s famous boardwalk.

Other highlights include a family show at McLoone’s Supper Club at noon on Saturday, Jan. 18. This show for kids of all ages will feature singer-songwriter Tom Chapin, as well as Mr. Ray. On Friday, Jan. 17, free-form disc jockey Rich Russo, host of the weekly radio show “Anything Anything,” will present a show at Asbury Lanes.

On Sunday, concertgoers can attend Light of Day’s three acoustic “Songwriters by the Sea” shows, featuring singer-songwriters playing songs and speaking about the songwriting process.

New this year during Light of Day’s extended weekend are a Gospel Breakfast from 9 a.m. to noon at the Dauphin Grille at the Berkeley, inside the Berkeley Hotel on Asbury Park’s waterfront. “Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway” on Friday, Jan. 17 at McLoone’s will feature top Broadway performers recreating some of the biggest moments from Broadway hits.

Also new this year will be two great events that will be held in Asbury Park’s vibrant downtown. A Light of Day film festival, curated by Joseph Amodei of Virgil Films, will take place at the ShowRoom, Asbury Park’s art house cinema. And Light of Day will also present Asbury Underground, a grassroots music and arts celebration that will feature live acoustic sets by local musicians playing in art galleries and other locations in the downtown area. More information about the downtown events will be released soon.

Performers who will appear at this year’s Light of Day weekend include Emily Kinney, Boccigalupe & the Bad Boys, Billy Hector, Sonny Kenn, Stormin’ Norman Seldin, Matt O’Ree, Christine Martucci, Rob Dye and many others to be announced over the coming weeks.

Concertgoers can purchase a Light of Day ticket package to gain admission to all Light of Day events at one low price. The packages guarantee a seat for the main event at the Paramount Theatre, along with admission to all shows, on a space available, first-come, first-served basis. Single tickets will also be available for individual shows.

Ticket packages include (all seat descriptions are approximate):

Onstage combo package: $425- includes seats on the stage at the Paramount. The ticket package also includes a commemorative Light of Day New Jersey 2014 VIP laminate, a Light of Day New Jersey 2014 t-shirt, and a gift bag worth more than $200, plus admission to all Light of Day New Jersey 2014 events.

Platinum combo package: $295- includes “very best” orchestra seats in the first 10 rows at the Paramount. The ticket package also includes a commemorative Light of Day New Jersey 2014 VIP laminate; a Light of Day New Jersey 2014 t-shirt, and a gift bag worth more than $200, plus admission to all Light of Day New Jersey 2014 events.

Gold combo package: $225- includes great front orchestra in rows 11 to 17 and the loge at the Paramount. The ticket package also includes a commemorative Light of Day 2014 laminate, plus admission to all Light of Day New Jersey 2014 events.

Silver combo package: $175- includes great mid-orchestra and lower side orchestra seats at the Paramount. The ticket package also includes admission to all Light of Day New Jersey 2014 events.

Bronze combo package: $139-includes rear orchestra and lower balcony seats at the Paramount, plus admission to all other Light of Day New Jersey 2014 events. The best seats for the dollar!

Individual event ticket prices are:

SUNDAY, JAN. 12
The Stone Pony, 913 Ocean Ave.: Light of Day’s “Cover Me: The Best of the Jersey Bar Bands.” Doors: 1 p.m., $20. All ages, 21 to drink.

THURSDAY, JAN. 16
The Saint, 601 Main St., Asbury Park: Light of Day’s “First Note.” $8 in advance, $12 day of show. Doors: 6:30 p.m., 18 to enter, 21 to drink.
Asbury Lanes, 209 Fourth Ave.: Light of Day’s “Rock N Bowl-a-Thon.” $20. Doors: 7 p.m., 18 to enter, 21 to drink.
Wonder Bar, 1213 Ocean Ave: Sandy Mack’s Light of Day “Wonder Jam.” $10. Doors: 7 p.m. 21 and up.

FRIDAY, JAN. 17
Stone Pony: Light of Day’s “Salute to the Asbury Angels.” $25 in advance, $30 day of show. Doors: 6:30 p.m. All ages, 21 to drink.
Wonder Bar: Light of Day Open Mic. $12. Doors: 6 p.m., 21 and up.
Asbury Lanes: Rich Russo’s Light of Day “Anything Anything” show. $20. Doors: 7 p.m. 18 to enter, 21 to drink.
McLoone’s Supper Club, 1200 Ocean Ave.: Light of Day’s “Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway.” Doors: 6 p.m., show, 7:30 p.m., All ages.
The Saint: Light of Day’s “Rock Heavy.” $8/advance, $12 day of show. Doors: 8 p.m. 18/enter, 21 to drink
Dauphin Grille at The Berkeley, 1401 Ocean Ave. Light of Day “Mixed Bag One.” $12 in advance, $15 day of show. Doors: 8 p.m. All ages.

SATURDAY, JAN. 18
Paramount Theatre, 1300 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park: $195 (first 10 rows), $145 (rows 11-17 in the orchestra plus the loge), $109.50 (mid-orchestra and lower side orchestra), $79.50 (rear orchestra and lower balcony), and Super Saver seats, $49.50 and $39.50, in the rear balcony.
McLoone’s Supper Club: Light of Day’s “Family Show.” Doors noon. All ages.
McLoone’s Supper Club: Light of Day’s “Soul Town: From Memphis to Motown,” with Marc Ribler and Friends. Doors: 7 p.m., show, 8 p.m., $15. All ages.
The Saint: Light of Day’s “Rock” show. $8 in advance, $12 day of show. Doors: 7:30 p.m., 18 to enter, 21 to drink.

Wonder Bar: Light of Day’s “Asbury Blues.” $12, advance, $15 day of show. Doors: noon. All ages.
Wonder Bar: Light of Day’s “Full-Tilt Boogie Bash.” $12 in advance, $15 day of show. Doors: 7 p.m. 21 and up.
Dauphin Grille: Light of Day’s “Gospel Breakfast.” Free. 9 a.m. to noon. All ages.
Dauphin Grille: Light of Day’s “Mixed Bag 2.” $12 in advance, $15 day of show. Doors: noon. All ages
Dauphin Grille: Light of Day’s “Mixed Bag 3.” $12 in advance, $15 day of show. Doors: 9 p.m. $12 in advance, $15 day of show. All ages.
Asbury Lanes: Light of Day “Indie.” Doors, 8 p.m. $15. 18 to enter, 21 to drink.

SUNDAY, JAN. 19
Watermark, 800 Ocean Ave.: Light of Day’s Songwriters by the Sea. Noon. $15. All ages.
Langosta Lounge, 1000 Ocean Ave.: Light of Day’s Songwriters by the Sea. 3 p.m. $15. All ages.
McLoone’s Supper Club: Light of Day’s Songwriters by the Sea. 6 p.m., $20. All ages.
The Stone Pony: Light of Day’s “Kids Rock.” Doors noon. $15. All ages.
The Saint: Musicians on a Mission Light of Day show. Doors noon. $10. 18 to enter, 21 to drink.
The Saint: Light of Day’s “Last Note.” Doors, 7:30 p.m. $8 in advance, $12 day of show. 18 to enter, 21 to drink.

MONDAY, JAN. 20
Toast, 516 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park: Light of Day’s “Good-Bye Brunch.” 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.