SMITHSONIAN EXHIBITION OPENS IN ASBURY PARK ON MARCH 12

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- The city of Asbury Park in cooperation with the New Jersey Council for the Humanities is excited to host the local showing of New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music, a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition.  On display at the Asbury Park Library from March 12 through April 17, the city will celebrate New Harmonies' arrival with an action-packed weekend highlighting Asbury Park's rich musical heritage.

The New Harmonies opening weekend celebration in Asbury Park will include:

    * Saturday, March 12 at 10:00 a.m. - Ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Asbury Park Library with the city's mayor, Ed Johnson.
    * Saturday, March 12 at 2:00 p.m. - A free lecture hosted by the GRAMMY® Museum's executive director, Bob Santelli, at Trinity Church in Asbury Park.
    * Sunday, March 13 - A rock-and-roll walking tour of Asbury Park ($10.00).  The tour will begin at the Asbury Park Library and highlight historic venues and music happenings throughout the city.  Please check www.AsburyParkMusic.org for start time.
    * Sunday, March 13 at 7:00 p.m. - The GRAMMY® Museum-produced concert, New Harmonies: Celebrating Asbury Park, at the Paramount Theatre.  The concert's lineup will include E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg and Bobby Bandiera of Bon Jovi, along with performances that represent musical genres associated with Asbury Park; these include gospel, blues, jazz, bluegrass and R&B.  Tickets are currently available at Ticketmaster, the Stone Pony box office and the Experience Asbury Store.


"New Harmonies has given us the opportunity to explore the fascinating aspects of Asbury Park's incredible musical history.  We are honored to host the exhibition in our city and hope that it will inspire people to become even more involved in the cultural life of our community," said Tom Gilmour, Asbury Park's director of commerce and economic development.

New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music is free and open to the public seven days a week from March 12 to April 17.  It is part of Museum on Main Street, a unique collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), state humanities councils across the nation, and local host institutions. To learn more about New Harmonies, visit www.MuseumOnMainstreet.org.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Asbury Park has created a year-long series of events that embrace the rich musical heritage of the city.  The celebration, Asbury Park: Where Music Lives, will include concerts, plays, art exhibitions, educational programs, lectures, films and more.  The Arts Coalition of Asbury Park (ArtsCAP) played an integral role in bringing New Harmonies to the city and worked with the Musical Heritage Steering Committee to help plan and program city-wide events.    For a full schedule of events, please visit www.AsburyParkMusic.org.