Bands to highlight holiday music project

Long B

LONG BRANCH -- Spiro Ballas, senior volunteer for Saint Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center, is hosting a holiday music show on Dec. 6 at the Brighton Bar in Long Branch.

The show is being held to honor the achievement of Ballas' holiday music project and to raise awareness of the hospice program, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary.

As part of the project, Ballas has released two CD compilations of holiday songs: "Ho Ho Ho Spice," which was released in 2002, and "Holiday Heart," which was released in 2005.

"It's a fun and safe way to learn about a real serious and important matter," Ballas said in a press release.

The show will feature New Jersey bands that appear on both CDs, including Jon Caspi; John Raido of Boxcar Nancy, and Jon and Deena from the Cucumbers.

According to Ballas, the bands will play a mix of holiday songs, their take on standard carols and their own original music.

The show will begin at 8 p.m. and admission is $15 at the door. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $12 and CDs will be available for purchase.

Profits from the show will support the Saint Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center.

For more information on the show or the CDs, visit www.HoHoHoSpice.com or call Ballas at (973) 322-4866.

For more information on the hospice program, visit www.sbhchospice.com

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