(METUCHEN, NJ) -- In late 2016, Renee Maskin, lead singer of New Jersey's most buzzworthy bands: Lowlight, and indie music veteran, Joshua Van Ness discovered they were having the same vision. Both singer songwriters were looking for an intimate venue to host a special night of music. On January 21, 2017, this mutual dream will come to fruition at a fundraiser to benefit the Metuchen based Fuccile Foundation. The Old Franklin Schoolhouse will be the stage for Lowlight, the debut of the Joshua Van Ness Band and special guests, the May Darlings, as they perform for free and spotlight this charity which has been directly helping Metuchen area families affected by tragedy for 7 years.
Van Ness performs regularly in Metuchen at places like Hailey's Harp and Pub and Novita Bistro. Joshua's genuine affection for the town as he got to know the people in it and his respect for the foundation he heard so much about gave him the jump start he needed to get a band together. "I'd been missing the energy of performing in a group as opposed to solo for quite some time. The idea of giving something back to Metuchen and having them share in this new experience with me is what made me decide that now was the time."
Dubbed "Play it Forward" after hearing stories directly from those the Fuccile Foundation has benefited, the event Came together quickly. Metuchen-born and 2015 Asbury Music Award winning "top solo female act" winner Renee Maskin and her band Lowlight made time to join the bill without hesitation, bringing along the Ocean Grove based folk rock duo May Darlings (Joshua and Renee discovered they are both fans). This lineup is going to give the audience a little bit of everything you want to hear in original music; the soul-rock-funk sound of the Joshua Van Ness Band, Lowlight's polished indie-folk sound, and passionate melodies and musings from the May Darlings.
There is no cover for the event, though donations of any denomination will be encouraged at the door. Bring your own beverages and an appetite for homemade pizza and Italian comfort food (donated by The Comfort Cucina) as profits from meal tickets available for purchase will be donated to the cause. Doors and food sales open at 7:00PM and music begins at 7:30.
For more information visit the public Facebook event page.
