Noteworthy Singer/Songwriters to Perform Original Music and Host Roundtable Discussion

MIDDLETOWN, N.J. - July 15, 2013 - PRLog -- The Middletown Arts Center (MAC), located at 36 Church Street in Middletown, NJ, will present Singer/Songwriters in the Round on Sunday, July 28 from 3:00 - 6:30 p.m. The event will feature five noteworthy singer/songwriters performing original music, sharing stories and answering questions from the audience. Seating is general admission and the performance and roundtable will be held in the MAC's state-of-the-art theater. A suggested donation of $5 is requested to benefit the Middletown Arts Center. Call 732-706-4100 or visit www.middletownarts.org for more information.

Featured Singer/Songwriters in the Round include the following musicians:

Joe Cerisano, featured singer for The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, is an acclaimed singer/songwriter born in Fairmont, West Virginia.  Cerisano’s style of music uses blues, gospel and country-rock melodies influenced by a wide variety of musical artists from Eric Clapton to Bruce Springsteen. In the early 1990s, Joe and his songwriting partner Marc Blatte began writing a series of songs that reflected the most important thing in Joe's life – his family. The songs are featured in the album "Carbon Copy", which emphasizes the traits and traditions that have been passed on to us by our parents. "Carbon Copy" features world-renowned guitarists Eric Weissberg, Jeff Pevar and Ira Siegel.

April Kelly is a gifted singer/songwriter from Toms River, NJ. With over 1,000 written songs, she began focusing on recording and performing her original material after she established her company Band of Gold Music, a full service live music provider performing a very wide variety of music including rock, funk, soul, ballads, acoustic and jazz. Her records reflect her life, her love for singing, and her passion for various styles and expressions in music.

George Wirth, a lifelong resident of the Jersey Shore, is a singer/songwriter with a gift for storytelling. Wirth has performed at The New Jersey Folk Festival, The Clearwater Music Festival and has received numerous Asbury Park Music Award nominations, including Top Male Acoustic, Best Local Release and Best Song. He is the winner of the 2010 Asbury Music Award in the Top Male Acoustic category and two 2009 Jersey Acoustic Musicians Awards for Top Male Songwriter and Best Local Release. He has released two well-received albums of original music, “The Lights of Brigantine” (2006) and “The Last Good Kiss” (2010), which features guest performances by Amanda Shires, Abbie Gardner and Janey Todd.

Lani Nash, a notable singer songwriter known for her poignantly beautiful writing and vocals that linger with a genuine heartfelt quality, moves audiences of all ages. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, her musical start came before she was born. Lani’s grandfather, Connie Crunk (stage name Connie Conway), a noted musician, singer, songwriter, producer and music teacher, worked with songwriter/producer Lee Hazelwood (writer of “These Boots Are Made of for Walking”(Nancy Sinatra), and producer of Wayne Newton) was a great inspiration for Lani. Her mother and aunt, daughters of Connie Crunk, were also in a recording group called “The Three Teens” as teenagers. Nash moved to Oklahoma at the start of her career and toured with her band “The Bootnicks” throughout the south and later moved to Nashville. She has performed, written, produced and released three albums to date. Lani co- produced her most recent record “I’m Only Here for the Music” with Steve Durr, which hit the top 40 on the AMA charts. Her live performances have included venues such as Nashville's Blue Bird, 3rd and Lindsley, Douglas Corner, Blue Bird on The Mountain, Pensacola Songwriter's Festival, Oklahoma - VZD's and Oklahoma Civic Center, South Florida- The Luna Star Café, Folk Club of South Florida featured Songwriter dates amongst many others. Lani Nash is a voting member of The National Recording Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and a volunteer singer songwriter musician at Musicians on Call in South Florida and Nashville, bringing live music to the bedside of children patients in hospitals.

Kevin John Allen is a Country and Americana singer/songwriter from Ocean, NJ with over 40 years of writing, playing and traveling around the world. With over 300 songs written and dozens recorded by other artists, his songs have appeared in movies, television and commercials worldwide. He is a singer/songwriter with a gift for storytelling. He has performed in over 250 venues in the US and has released two critically acclaimed cds "Dark Songs writtern on Black Guitars" in 2012 and "Life's Lonely Rodeo" in 2012. He will be performing material from the soon-to-be released "The Long Road of Life". His music will make you laugh, love, think and dance. Allen has been nominated for six Jersey acoustic Music Awards and is the winner of the 2013 Jersey Acoustic Music Awards in the Best Country Artist category.

About the Middletown Arts Center

The Middletown Arts Center (MAC) is an award-winning, state-of-the-art facility run by the nonprofit Middletown Township Cultural and Arts Council and is dedicated to bringing quality arts programming and events to Middletown and surrounding communities. The MAC offers enrichment programs and entertainment for all ages and abilities.  Visit www.middletownarts.org for more information. The MAC can also be found on Facebook at Middletown Arts Center and Twitter @MiddletownArts.