Arts & Entertainment

Ben Weiner's Acoustic Musings to Entertain Before Real Diamond

The Manalapan resident, who has been rocking around Monmouth County, will open before Real Diamond on Wednesday, Aug. 24.

If you are planning on heading to Real Diamond this Wednesday, Aug. 24 at the Manalapan Recreation Center you should get there early to secure a good spot on the lawn, get some food, and to listen to opening act Ben Weiner. 

Weiner taught himself guitar when he was 14 and has since played for 39 years. He attended Forest Hills High School in Queens, NY and played an original song entitled “Strangers” in his high school talent show. Forest Hills High School, which had graduated Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, reviewed Weiner’s performance and said, “with his prowess on a 12 string guitar and meaningful lyrics, Weiner could be Forest Hills’ next Paul Simon.”

In college, Weiner formed a two-some combining his guitar capabilities and and another talented music major who Weiner said, “sang the best harmonies you’ve ever heard.” The duo, “Cajun Blue”, played at local venues and were a regular act in the student center on Thursday afternoons. 

Find out what's happening in Manalapanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

After college, Weiner would not find himself playing in public for 30 years. Three years ago, friend and neighbor Hank Grassi phoned Weiner and asked him to perform at a venue in the Highlands. 

“I thought there was no way I could ever play again, but, when my daughter ask me why not and I said, ‘because I would be too afraid’, she responded with, ‘Daddy, if I ever told you I was afraid to do something, you'd be on me like a ton of bricks’,” Weiner said. “So, as a single dad, I know my actions often speak louder than my words, so, I took the gig and it's been downhill ever since.”

Find out what's happening in Manalapanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Weiner has played at Trinity Restaurant in Keyport, Nonna’s Restaurant on Route 9 North in Englishtown, and at Albivi’s in Millstone Township. Also, every month Weiner plays at Mulligan’s in Farmingdale and The Laurita Winery in New Egypt. 

Since back on the entertainment circuit, Weiner has been contacted to play at local adult communities and private parties, which he has done. He also has been the opening act for the Manalapan Arts Council Summer Concert Series last year at BeatleMania, and this past July at the Tommy Mara and the Crests show. And Weiner will once again be the opening act for the last MAC Summer Concert of the season, . Weiner hits the stage at 7 p.m. and will be playing hits from the sixties including the Beatles, James Taylor, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Jimmy Buffet, Eric Clapton, Simon and Garfunkel - and also some more modern hits by Michael Buble and The Plain White T’s.   


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here