The 2026 Light of Day WinterFest will take place in January.
A show titled “Celebrating Five Decades of Willie Nile” — Nile became a professional musician in 1976, though he didn’t release his first album until 1980 — will be part of the 2026 Light of Day WinterFest.
It will take place at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park on Jan. 16 — the night before the festival’s main concert, which will be on Jan. 17 at The Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank.
The festival will last from Jan. 4 to Jan. 24. Tickets for Light of Day shows at The Stone Pony and The Wonder Bar will go on sale Nov. 22 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.com.
The lineup and on-sale information for the Basie show — titled “Bob’s Birthday Bash,” in honor of Light of Day founder Bob Benjamin — will be announced in December.
Founded in 1998, Light of Day raises 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.
CRISTINA ARRIGONI
WILLIE NILE
Here is the schedule as it currently stands, with many other shows to be announced later.
Jan. 4, 4 p.m.: “Light of Day Rockland: Young Songwriters Showcase” with Evan Rotella, Jake Thistle, Allie Kenny, Lula Pilar, hosted by Joe D’Urso at The Turning Point, Piermont, New York.
Jan. 16, 6:30 p.m.: “Celebrating Five Decades of Willie Nile” with Nile, Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers, Tangiers Blues Band & Friends featuring Danny Clinch, Milly, Bobby Mahoney, Miss Emily, Jon Caspi, Evan Rotella, Strumberry Pie, at The Stone Pony, Asbury Park.
Jan. 16, 6:30 p.m.: “Friday Night at The Wonder Bar” with Dramarama, The New Rick Barry’s at The Wonder Bar, Asbury Park.
Jan. 17: “Bob’s Birthday Bash” (lineup TBA) at Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank.
Jan. 17, noon: “Asbury Blues” with Billy Walton Band, JoBonanno & the Godsons of Soul, Stormin’ Norman Seldin, Debra Devi, Boccigalupe & the Badboys, Sharon Lasher/Joe Grillo, HP & the Hot Takeout, Summer Fling, Mike Montrey, Gary Cavico, James Dalton, Evan Rotella, Mike Rocket, Redbird, at The Wonder Bar, Asbury Park.
Jan. 18, noon: “Next Generation” with RockIt, Maddie Freeman, Krazyer, Dakota Diehl, Rock’n Music Academy, Lakehouse Music and Octopus School at The Stone Pony, Asbury Park.
Jan. 18, noon: “The Best New Jersey Tribute/Cover Bands” with Jake Thistle’s Late for the Sky (Jackson Browne tribute), John Kasun’s Jim Croce Tribute, Full Steen Ahead, The Gab Cinque Band and others, at The Wonder Bar, Asbury Park.
Jan. 24, 7:30 p.m.: “Songwriters in the Round” with Guy Davis, Willie Nile, Glen Burtnik, James Maddock, Adam Ezra, Joe D’Urso, Matt & Eryn O’Ree, Rick Winowski, Jon Caspi, Sharon Lasher, at Outpost in the Burbs, Montclair.
As usual, most Light of Day shows will take place in Asbury Park. There will also be shows in New York City and New Hope, Pennsylvania, though, in addition to Red Bank, Montclair and Piermont.
For information, visit LightofDay.org.
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