2009 LOD Niagara Artists and Host

The Light of Day, Niagara Falls benefit concert is proud to announce a 2 tiered line-up of great performers. Beginning with great local talent and the reunion of Niagara's greatest rock and roll band, The Rick Rose Band and ending with the Songwriters in the Round consisting of artists from New York and New Jersey. With connections to such great artists as Joe Grushecky, Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes and Little Steven, the Songwriters in the Round segment of the show will see these artists both playing and providing background on songs they've written. Check out this great line up!

2009 HOST
Rita Carrey Fournier
	Rita Carrey Fournier is the older sister to comedian Jim Carrey. She is a Canadian television and radio personality. Born in Canada, she grew up in Toronto, Ontario and is an accomplished singer/songwriter and public speaker. Rita is heavily involved in community events such as Dreams Take Flight which helps terminally ill and under-privileged children live their dreams. She also spends alot of her spare time speaking with children at local community schools. You can check out her quick wit and talent every afternoon on 91.7 Giant Fm in Niagara. Rita joined Joe D'Urso and Stone Caravan at one of the Light of Day Niagara Summer shows at Yanks Old Niagara and she tore it up! We are extremely excited to have Rita host this year's show and I'm sure she'll make it a lot of fun!! Visit the Giant FM web site at www.giantfm.com.
PERFORMERS 2009 (confirmed as of September 1, 2009)
Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan
	In 1996, D'Urso left his job at the legendary Premier Talent Agency in New York City to pursue his career as a singer-songwriter. Since then, D'Urso's music has earned glowing praise from the media. The BBC's Gary Price says, "Joe D'Urso sings like an angel and writes songs like a demon". He currently sits on the Board of Directors for The Light of Day Foundation which raises money and awareness for Parkinson's Disease, Joe is a founding member of Pinkfest, whose sole purpose is to battle Breast Cancer and he is very heavily involved with World Hunger Year (WHY) as he is on the Supervisors Board and also a founding member of AAHAP (Artists Against Hunger and Poverty). WHY was co-founded by Chapin and Bill Ayres. "Joe brings to his life and music the magic combination of passion and purpose," said Jen Chapin, daughter of Harry and Chair of WHY Board of Directors. For more information visit Joe's web site at www.jdcaravan.com.
Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers
	Joe's first band, the Iron City Houserockers, released their debut album, Love's So Tough in 1979. In Rolling Stone, Greil Marcus wrote "their debut album is strong, passionate and a little desperate. This is hard rock with force, but there's no macho in it..I hope they're around for a long, long time. Rolling Stone Magazine again praised Joe's singing and writing with the Houserockers a year later calling their follow-up effort, Have A Good Time But Get Out Alive, "a new American classic". In 1995, Joe began his now decade-long collaboration with another hard-rocking storyteller, Bruce Springsteen. Bruce even ended up doing a short tour as a "Houserocker". Joe's CD "A Good Life" may have been his greatest record to date! A cornerstone of the Light of Day shows in Jersey, Joe and the Houserockers have become a Niagara favorite after 2 great shows this past year. For more information visit Joe's web site at www.joegrushecky.com.
MARAH
	Marah was formed by singer/songwriter/guitarist Dave Bielanko from Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, bass guitarist Danny Metz and drummer Ronnie Vance in 1993. Singer/songwriter/guitarist and harmonica player Serge Bielanko, Dave’s older brother, joined the band in 1995. The group featured Mummers Parade influenced banjos combined with standard rock music instruments to create a highly eclectic Roots Rock sound. The band played the Light of Day Summer Concert Series this year creating an entirely new legion of fans with an amazing, energetic performance that began with their rendition of Philadephia's "Rocky"!!! We are looking forward to their return to Niagara at the Greg Frewin Theatre in November! For more information visit Marah's web site at www.marah-usa.com.
Ron Lasalle & The East Side Rockers
	A Nashville resident for the last 12 years, Ron LaSalle was born and raised in Niagara Falls, N.Y., where he began playing bass and writing songs with a blues band at age 14. His resume includes a long list of jobs in both the comercial and artistic sides of the music business: playing bass with Bo Didley, being a staff songwriter for EMI, producing records, cofounding D'ville Records with Garry and Tim Coats and fronting his own band, The East Side Rockers. Their busy touring schedule around the USA and Canada with an average of 300 shows a year has granted them a loyal court of fans. His music oozes Menphis soul, R&B, R&R, gospel, country, you-name-it and all I can say about his latest album "Too Angry To Pray" is that I put it into my car stereo in Nashville and went back to its case when I returned the car in NYC. It became the soundtrack of our coast to coast ride.
Willie Nile
	Nile grew up in Buffalo, New York, part of a bustling Irish Catholic family with what he calls “an open-door policy.” For as far back as Willie can remember, his parents welcomed house guests from around the world for extended stays, and “the cosmopolitan nature of the world kind of rubbed off,” he says. After studying philosophy at the University of Buffalo, he headed for Greenwich Village, determined to make a name for himself as a latter-day. Nile is a songwriters’ songwriter. No less a personage than Lucinda Williams has said of him, “Willie Nile is a great artist. If there was any justice in this world, I’d be opening up for him instead of him for me.” And he’s never been more eloquent than he is here. Lou Reed hails Streets of New York as “a great album,” while Graham Parker calls it “a real gem—stirring melodies, passionate vocals, intriguing lyrics…every track a winner.” Little Steven adds, “Willie Nile is so good I can’t believe he’s not from New Jersey!” For more information visit Willie's web site at www.willienile.com.
The Maddhatters
	Over the course of ten years, The Maddhatters have established themselves as a crucial element to the Niagara Region's music scene. All born and raised in Niagara Falls, the rock-esque quartet oozes with melodic instrumentals and larger-than-life vocals. Believing that in order to write hit songs, you need to play hit songs, The Maddhatters have mastered the live show with their beyond accurate portrayal of covers. Having earned a supportive following, they have taken on the role of original songwriters and are currently recording with Ignition Audio - Paul Gigliotti (Producer). They plan to release their debut CD in the fall of 2009! Currently, the boys are keeping busy with regular shows in and around Southern Ontario. For more information visit The Maddhatters MySpace page - click here.
SPECIAL GUESTS
Dave Rave
	Dave Rave is a musician’s musician. To the general public, he’s the manic Teenage Head rhythm guitarist who graduated to lead singer and catapulted the band back into the charts; but musicians know him as a valued session player (Daniel Lanois, Andrew Loog Oldham, Alex Chilton, and countless others) who can play the best version of a song he’s never heard. Dave took over as lead singer of the already popular Teenage Head. Dave replaced Frankie Venom who incidentally had worked with Dave on several other projects including a band named Madonna. Dave Rave continued to take Teenage Head on an upward trajectory with radio friendly hits like “Can’t Stop Shakin’”. Dave spends his time in Canada and the US playing live, producing, writing and coming up with more ideas to bring great musicians together for the purpose of entertaining themselves and the masses. For more information visit Dave's web site at www.dave-rave.com.
Rick Rose
	Rick Rose is known as Canada’s hardest working music man with an undeniable level of resilience , tenacity and percerverence. Being a staff writer for Sony Music in Nashville, Rick has had many of his songs recorded by artists worldwide. He wrote the theme song for the Orion Film “Rude Awakeing” starring Cheech Marin & Eric Roberts. He collaborated in NYC on this masterpiece with Paul A. Rothchild ( The Doors , Janis Joplin ) and Jim Steinman ( Meatloaf, Bonnie Tyler ). The song was titled “Rude Awakeing “and was chosen for a Post Grammy Nomination for the “Best Original Composition”. The song was performed by Bill Medley of The Rightheous Brothers. Juno Nomineess “Doc Walker” have included “ Dreaming Out Loud” a song that Rick wrote with Naisoe Sheridan on their 2nd CD “Curve” for Universal Records. In Nashville rick also wrote with Desmond Child (Cher, Kiss, Bon Jovi) and Billy Falcon (Bon Jovi). For more information visit Rick's web site at www.rickrosemusic.com.
The Roxwells
	Hailing from Niagara Falls, Ontario, "The Roxwells" are a three piece band consisting of: James Gizzie on guitar/vox, Matt Liefl on bass/vox, and TJ Rogers on the drums/vox. The band has been playing together on and off since high school, but it wasn't until May 2009 when the band began laying the foundation for their unique brand of rock 'n' roll. Working with close friend and producer Michael Herkimer, the band was able to solidify their ambitions, and create an organic sound that is truly their own. Their self-titled EP is due out in early 2010, with a short tour to follow. Their live show is a "non stop whirlwind," with an electric energy that is not to be missed. For more information visit ??.
Nick Lesyk & Serena Prine
	Two members of the bands Oliver Black/ Townline have been playing throughout Canada for the last 7 years. Having worked with and played with Daniel Lanois (U2, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel) The Trews, Thornley, Theory of a Deadman, Defaul, and Three Days Grace. Currently working on putting together a new band and an album slated for release in 2010.
Matt Dell
	Matt Dell is a solo acoustic artist, born and raised in Niagara Falls, Ontario. First playing the piano at age two, Dell has felt a passion for music from a very young age. Over the years, Dell, 22, has picked up an array of instruments, from guitar to drums, and his vocal skills remain a natural crowd pleaser. As a well-rounded musician, Dell is able to create everything from heart-felt ballads to catchy pop songs. The musical styles of Dell's work include Power Pop, Punk, Emo, Metal, and Jazz, providing a little something for every music fan. The music of Matt Dell is heart-warming, upbeat, and hard to forget. His performances are sure to leave listeners humming along to the catchy tunes and powerful melodies. Matt opened a couple of LOD Summer Concert shows in 2008 and will be performing acoustically on the main stage at Light of Day 3. For more information on Matt check him out on Facebook.
Black Flies
	This band from Niagara Falls Canada formed in early 2007 , immediately starting work on the back catalog from songwriters Jeremy Vokey and Nathanial Goold . They each bring in complete songs that are given continuity from the rhythm section of Jay Forhan and Chris Chudobiak . Within six months the group was playing live and preparing to record thier first album .The debut album Road Ahead was produced and mixed by Dean Malton @ Groundloop studios in Ridgeway , Ontario . They also filmed a video for the lead off track "You were Miles" . At the 2009 Niagara Music Awards "Road Ahead" was nominated for Album of the Year , as was "You were Miles" for Video of the Year and the band itself for best Rock Band . They did win the 2009 Group of the Year award . The song "Train" will be in the upcoming Indie film Gravy Train . For more information on the Black Flies check out their MySpace page.