For immediate release:
Songwriters By The Sea to host April Smith Homecoming Show with Jersey Shore/Springsteen favorites Marah and Willie Nile
Songwriters By The Sea hosts Joe D’Urso and Joe Rapolla.. will bring their songwriters’ series to the historic Strand Theater in Lakewood, N.J. on March 27th, and will be joined by Ocean County native April Smith, Willie Nile and Marah.
Tickets are $15 and are available online directly from The Strand at www.strandlakewood.com, or by calling the theater at (732) 367-7789. Student tickets are only $5. The show will start at 8 p.m.
What started out as a coffee shop show for area songwriters to casually perform with other writers in Asbury Park is quickly evolving into a bona fide series.
This is the first time the show will be performed in a theater environment. The series started last summer and ran weekly at America’s Cup in Asbury Park. The format includes four or five songwriters taking turns playing acoustic versions of their tunes. There may be a story involved, other performers often join in, and there can be sing-alongs or other interaction with the audience.
The folks at the ..Strand.., longtime fans of Joe D’Urso’s music and his work with the Light Of Day organization, which supports Parkinson’s Disease research, thought the format would work well at the historic theater.
“When we saw what Joe D’Urso and Rapolla were doing, we thought ‘that’s the kind of atmosphere we want. That’s something we’ve got to try at the theater", said Ray Coles, former Lakewood mayor and current Strand Theater board member.
The March 27 show is a homecoming of sorts for April Smith, as this will be her first show in the area following her appearances at the South By Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival in Austin,Texas. April, whose music has been getting a lot of attention nationally lately, went to Toms River High School East grew up not too far from The Strand. She was also recently nominated for artist of the Year by the Deli Magazine.
This is the first area appearance for Marah since the Light Of Day benefit last November at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park. Long-time supporters of Light of Day, Marah was joined by Bruce Springsteen at the 2006 show at Sayreville’s Starland Ballroom. Rapolla and D’Urso, also have joined Bruce on stage at the Light of Day concerts, and D’Urso is a member of the organization’s Board of Directors.
Willie Nile, the critically acclaimed New York based singer-songwriter, joins the show following a world tour throughout Europe as well as Austin’s SXSW.
“We’re really happy at the way this is turning out,’’ said Joe D’Urso. “Joe (Rapolla) and I just wanted to do something where we could spend some time together in this country, (D’Urso and Rapolla tour Italy each summer together) while getting together with other great songwriters in the area.”
Rapolla agrees.
“This is an honest show. We don’t work together with each other or the other artists. Some of us barely know each other before the night of the show, and yet there’s always a connection created between artist and audience. Response from everyone has been great. Having artists like Marah and April, who’s been killing it lately, is a real privilege. And Willie is just great to hang out with, with or without a guitar. He has a knack for really engaging everyone and involving the audience. This should be fun!”
WHAT: Songwriters by the Sea, featuring Joe D’Urso, Joe Rapolla, Willie Nile, Marah and April Smith
WHEN: 8 p.m, March 27, 2009
WHERE: Strand Theater, 400 Clifton Ave., Lakewood, N.J.
TICKETS: $15 for adults, $5 for students. Available at www.strandlakewood.com or by calling (732) 367-7789.