Southside Johnny & his 8-piece band the Asbury Jukes will return to The Ridgefield Playhouse in party mode on Friday, August 16, at 8 p.m. For more than 30 albums, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes have delivered their soul-searing brand of raucous blues and R&B, and have become known for their huge hits “I Don't Want To Go Home”, “Love On The Wrong Side Of Town”, “The Fever”, “This Time It's For Real” and “Got To Get You Off My Mind”. They recently celebrated the release of their latest CD Men Without Women: Live 7-2-11.A portion of the proceeds from this Playhouse event will benefit the World War II Foundation. Kara Sundlun, host of WFSB’s Better Connecticut, will be on hand with silent and live auction items the sale of which (100%) will go directly to benefit the World War II Foundation and her documentary about former Rhode Island Governor Bruce Sundlun, her dad, who was awarded a Purple Heart. As an added bonus for concertgoers, The Bayou North (109 Danbury Rd., Ridgefield) is offering a free cocktail with dinner the night of the show until 11 p.m. when tickets/stubs are presented. This event is part of the Guinness Black Lager Rock Series with media sponsor i95fm The Home of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
An accomplished singer-songwriter who plays the harp, piano, guitar and harmonica, New Jersey’s own Southside Johnny is critically acclaimed for his singing talents and ability to adapt his voice to any song. Johnny (real name John Lyon) got his nickname from his love of the blues and R & B that came out of Chicago’s South Side. He is considered by some to be the godfather of the New Jersey sound. He recorded “The Fever”, which Bruce Springsteen wrote and gave to his friend Johnny to record. It was on this song that Johnny built his music career. Joining Southside Johnny on tour this year are Jukes collaborator/musical director Jeff Kazee on Hammond B3 organ and piano, Glenn Alexander on guitar, John Conte on bass, drummer Tom Seguso, trombonist/guitarist Neal "The Dude" Pawley, Chris Anderson on trumpet and John Isley on saxophone.