Upstage Magazine Seeks To Keep The Dream Alive

On Saturday, May 1st, 2004, Upstage Magazine and AsburyMusic.com will be presenting a benefit concert at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park. The club is located across from Convention Hall at the corner of 5th and Ocean Avenue. Over twenty artists from New Jersey will perform throughout the day.

(PRWEB) April 22, 2004 --For over six months, Upstage Magazine has been a major supporter of the Central New Jersey arts scene. The start-up publication has sponsored art shows, music events and film festivals. On May 1st, 2004, the art community is taking part in a benefit concert to return the favor.

Over twenty bands will perform from noon to 2am at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park in an event called the "Keep The Dream Alive Show". The Wonder Bar is located across from Convention Hall at the corner of 5th and Ocean Avenue. It is easily accessible by the Garden State Parkway (exit 102), NJ Transit (North Jersey Coast Line), and Routes 18, 33 and 35. Admission is $10. In addition to the music there will be raffles, a silent auction and vendors on hand. Catered barbecue meals will be available for purchase from 2pm to 7pm. Raffle donations will be accepted until the day of the show. Proceeds from the event will go to towards production costs for the magazine.

The show will be a blend of popular singer-songwriters and rock and roll bands from the Jersey Shore, Trenton, New Brunswick and North Jersey. A special guest star recently seen on a VH-1 special will make a surprise appearance. The event will be emceed by James Dalton (JPAT) who will also be performing as a member of the Trio with Josh Zandman and Tommy Anton.

"The support we received from the art community was tremendous," said Upstage publisher Gary Wien. "Within 24 hours of inviting musicians we had 20 bands commit to playing. In addition, we have several artists who will be showing their artwork at the club and tons of great raffle prizes. The prizes include autographed CDs, books, t-shirts, photographs, concert tickets, film festival passes and much more. Original pieces of artwork and an autographed photograph from Sonny & Cher are among the items in the silent auction."

Upstage Magazine is an arts and entertainment publication for Central New Jersey. The publication, which comes out monthly, covers art, music, theatre, dance, independent film, poetry, comedy and literature. The magazine's tag line is "the search for intelligent nightlife". It is freely distributed in art-related towns like Asbury Park, Red Bank, Long Branch, New Brunswick, Princeton, Trenton, Toms River, Point Pleasant and various towns along the Jersey Shore. Each issue is also placed online at http://www.upstagemagazine.com.

Upstage Magazine and AsburyMusic.com strive to promote the local arts scene as much as cover national acts heading to the area. The magazine's distribution area is a vastly underrated arts region. The area boasts Tony Award winning theatres, world class dance companies, wonderful poets, filmmakers, actors, writers, photographers, artists, and some of the biggest stars in the music business such as Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, and Count Basie have come from the area.

"We're not owned by a giant media company, we're a grass roots organization that is trying to provide an independent voice," added Wien. "We have developed a solid audience in a short period of time, but we have a very limited staff so growing is a slow process. This benefit will hopefully allow us to weather the storm and continue to grow."

Sponsors include 90.5 FM "The Night", the Wonder Bar, Drummer's Alley, Altrok.com, and the Olive Pit CDs store. Band bios and photos are available at http://www.upstagemagazine.com/benefit

The schedule for the show is as follows:
12:00 -12:25pm   D.W.I.
12:35pm - 1:00pm   Chrisie Santoni Band
1:10pm - 1:35pm   Ken Shane
1:45pm - 2:10pm   Matt O'Ree
2:20pm - 2:45pm   Wendie's Words & the Wunderboys
2:55pm - 3:20pm   April Smith
3:30pm - 3:55pm   The Trio (Josh Zandman, JPAT, Tommy Anton)
4:05pm - 4:30pm   Eystone
4:40pm - 5:05pm   Robert Dye
5:15pm - 5:40pm   Melissa Chill
5:50pm - 6:15pm   Bobby Strange
6:25pm - 6:50pm   Jason Shain
7:00pm - 7:25pm   The Ayes
7:35pm - 8:00pm   Bruce Tunkel
8:10pm - 8:35pm   Glory Days
8:45pm - 9:10pm   Danny White Band
9:20pm - 9:45pm   special guest
9:55pm - 10:15pm   Bob Burger
10:25pm - 10:55pm   Audiot
11:05pm - 11:35pm   StereoSoul
11:45pm - 12:15am   DIBS
12:25am - 12:55am   special guest
1:05am - 2:00am   Days Awake