Gary U.S. Bonds, John Cafferty, John Eddie, the Nick Clemons Band and Ricky Byrd will be among the performers at the fifth annual Big Man’s Birthday Bash, a marathon benefit concert taking place at Bar Anticipation in Lake Como, Jan. 7 at 2 p.m. The event celebrates the anniversary of the birth of the late E Street Band saxophonist Clarence “Big Man” Clemons, born Jan. 11, 1942.
Proceeds will go to CFC Loud N Clear and TOPAC (The Overdose Prevention Agency Corporation), two organizations that support those addicted to drugs.
“My father always taught me to ‘give back’ and remember the less fortunate,” said Nick Clemons, Clarence’s son, in a press release. “I try to do that and CFC Loud N Clear and TOPAC do great work at a time that New Jersey still has its worst heroin epidemic ever.”
This will be Bonds’ and Eddie’s first appearances at a Big Man’s Birthday Bash. Cafferty will be joined by his bandmate in the Beaver Brown Band, saxophonist Michael “Tunes” Antunes. Byrd is best known as a member of Joan Jett’s Blackhearts.
Many other acts are on the bill as well, including the BIG RoaD All Star Band, featuring J.T. Bowen (from Clarence Clemons’ Red Bank Rockers band), JoBonanno, Jillian Rhys McCoy, Eddie Testa, Remember Jones, Pat Roddy and others.
This is the event’s third year at Bar Anticipation, after previously taking place at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park and Martell’s in Point Pleasant.
For information, visit the event’s Facebook page. Tickets go on sale Oct. 21 at 10 a.m. via big-road.ticketleap.com.