The Smithereens to Headline Light of Day Winterfest 2016

New Jersey power pop legends THE SMITHEREENS will be bringing a string section and horn section to headline Bob's Birthday Bash, the sold-out all-star anchor event of LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2016 of the Light of Day Foundation's "Sweet Little 16" anniversary celebration in its global battle to defeat Parkinson's disease and the Parkinsonisms in our lifetime "through the awesome power of music."

The Smithereens - Pat Dinizio on lead vocals, Jim Babjak on guitar, Dennis Diken on drums, Severo "The Thrilla" Jornacion on bass and special guest Andy Burton (John Mayer Band) on keyboards - will be formally kicking off the yearlong 30th anniversary of the release of its multi-platinum major label debut, Especially For You, on Enigma/Capitol Records as the evening's main attraction, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016 here at Paramount Theater, 1300 Ocean Ave.

"I played Light of Day for the first time last year as a solo acoustic act and it was one of my most memorable performing experiences in that I've seldom seen an audience that responsive to virtually every performer," says Dinizio. "It was simply electric."

Acts confirmed to join the Smithereens at the Paramount are Joe Gruschecky & the Houserockers, Mike Peters of The Alarm & Big Country, Willie Nile, James Maddock, Jesse Malin, Steve Forbert, Jill Hennessey, Dramarama, the Matt O'Ree Band, Emily Grove, Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan, Luca, Milly, and Rob Dye. This edition of Bob's Birthday Bash sold out in 25 minutes, topping last year's previous record of 37 minutes. Plenty of tickets are available for all other Light of Day WinterFest 2016 events in Asbury Park, Montclair, New York and for the first time, Philadelphia! Complete, up-to-the-minute information on all Light of Day events can be found on the official Facebook events page.

Tickets for all LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2016 events, with the exception of Bob's Birthday Bash, are on sale NOW for LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2016, being held Jan. 8-18, 2016 at such other fabled rock venues as the Stone Pony and the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, the Cutting Room in NYC, and World Café Live in Philadelphia.Tickets are available through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com), Ticketmaster charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000, and all Ticketmaster outlets. A wide variety of combination ticket packages - as well as single tickets to each show - will be available.

"We're honored that we're headlining WinterFest," continues Dinizio. "It's some sort of acknowledgement that what we did over the past 35 years as a rock 'n' roll band from New Jersey meant something, and that it had some sort of impact on a lot of people who love rock 'n' roll."

Bob's Birthday Bash honors Bob Benjamin, the artist manager and music industry veteran who has been living with Parkinson's since 1996, two years before he co-founded Light of Day with Executive Director Tony Pallagrosi. Last year, Billboard Magazine presented the Humanitarian Award to Bob and the Light of Day Foundation at the Billboard Talent & Touring Conference & Awards in New York City "for their 15 years of bringing awareness and support for Parkinson's disease through live music events."

"Parkinson's disease could happen to anybody at any time," says Dinizio. "We know people and have supporters of the band who are stricken with this disease who come to the shows. Obviously we have a lot of empathy for anyone who's soffering. This is one of the good events for a good charitable cause."

Presented by the Asbury Park Press, Light of Day Winterfest has gained international notoriety over its 15-year history. Last year's event raised over $500,000 - a record amount - to combat Parkinson's disease, topping the previous year record of $425,000 and bringing the 15-year total above $3 million.

Complete ticket and additional information for all LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2016 events at www.lightofday.org and on Facebook.

The Light of Day Foundation, Inc., utilizes the awesome power of music to raise money and awareness in its continuing battle to defeat 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.