As The Boss has done for 14 of the past 26 Light of Day Winterfests, Bruce Springsteen made a surprise appearance during Joe Grushecky’s set at the Count Basie Theater on Saturday night.
After about five hours of music, with sets from John Rzeznik, Willie Nile, Low Cut Connie, and many more, Springsteen hit the stage to perform for almost 90 minutes in the 1,500 capacity venue.
Springsteen first joined Light of Day legend Willie Nile for “One Guitar” earlier in the night. Between that and his other set, John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls performed acoustically for nearly an hour, including a harmonica feature from Danny Clinch on “Broadway.”
Bruce then stepped back out on stage with Grushecky and Gary U.S. Bonds, 86, to perform “Jole Blon” and “This Little Girl.”
After Bonds left the stage, Springsteen played into his hits and fan favorites, like “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” “Atlantic City,” and “The Promised Land,” dedicated to Renee Good. Springsteen also performed “Savin’ Up,” which is now a Light of Day staple, “I’m Not Sleeping,” “Pumping Iron,” “Lucky Town,” “Never Be Enough Time,” and “Johnny 99.”
The three-song encore featured all performers on stage at once for “Light of Day,” “Happy Birthday to You,” dedicated to Light of Day’s Bob Benjamin, and “Thunder Road.”
Over the past 26 years, the festival has raised over $7.5 million for Parkinson’s, ALS, and PSP.
Springsteen hinted that he would be back next year, after a fan in the balcony yelled out a deep-cut song request: “We’ll do that next year — I have to practice that one!”
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