We always look forward to Asbury Park’s exciting roster of weekend events, and are keenly anticipating Sonic Garden’s fringe festival of performances and talks at Café Volan, Thursday September 29 through Tuesday, October 4th.  Event programmer and impresario David Spelman has truly outdone himself in concocting a line up of film and music events which reflect the creative interests of Asbury. Spelman’s festival coincides with All Tomorrow’s Parties, and is envisioned as a thought-provoking counterpoint and complement to ATP.  Its scope will appeal to the spectrum of artists, musicians, writers, entrepreneurs, surfers, scenesters and scholars who make Asbury unique. If this festival is anything like David’s recent Ellnora Guitar Festival, which American Songwriter praised for its “extraordinary artistry, extraordinary diversity, and extraordinary generosity”, it is sure to please crowds and critics  and will achieve Spelman’s  goal of creative comingling of vibrant cultures here on the Jersey Shore.

Impresario David Spelman

I’m particularly looking forward to the screening of the documentary “Heartworn Highways,” followed  by a Q&A with the film’s producer, Graham Leader, on Thursday, September 29th at 8pm. Directed by James Szalapski and scheduled for a much deserved, major DVD re-release in 2012, the 1975 documentary explores the  contemplative side of country music as the director captures singers and songwriters outside the core of the Nashville establishment. The intimate performances and conversations with artists such as Townes Van Zandt, David Allan Coe, Guy Clark, and Rodney Crowell during the early stages of their careers will captivate country fans and general music lovers alike. This should really be a stand out event!

Can’t wait for this!

I am honored to take part in this festival by introducing the highly celebrated cartoonist and country-crooner  Andy Friedman on Monday, October 3rd at 8pm. Andy has been described as an “erudite redneck” (Boston Globe) who has a “mastery of wordy self-loathing that many white dudes with guitars would kill for” (Nashville Scene). Although stories of his early mailroom days may have audiences roaring with laughter, his deep, scratchy vocals and crafty guitar melodies will have them swooning as well. I hope to give him the introduction he deserves because I know his appearance will be meg awesome.

Marilyn Laverty to introduce Andy at Café Volan

These events, plus appearances by director Aaron Schock, musician Vernon Reid, and filmmaker/photographer Ralph Gibson are all happening at Café Volan, 510 Bangs Ave., Doug Parent and Paul Cali’s hip addition to Asbury Park’s culinary and cultural community.