Just as The Hard Rock Cafe in Atlantic City is beginning to draw its Pinktober music celebration to an end, it brings in a major act in honor of the special event. Chris Ayer, 27, is a Virginia-born, folk-inspired musician, who has the glory of admitting he's won the John Lennon Songwriting Competition.

He performs at 7 p.m. Thursday for an all ages, free concert.

"For me, music has always been a solo thing, where I'm writing my own songs, and as a writer, I draw from all kinds of musical influences," Ayer says. "I'm really all over the map. I'm inspired from a lot of different cultures, not just obvious places, and it leads me to an interesting songwriting place; it's something you feel more than you think about."

"Evaporate," the song that won Ayer the competition, is a favorite among fans and critics, alike, and Ayer can't wait for Atlantic City to hear it as he's never played southern New Jersey before.

"I'm really excited to finally play in Atlantic City," Ayer says. "I've played New York a bunch throughout the last 3 years, and I've played Virginia, D.C., Boston, Chicago and throughout California. I go out and play wherever I can - literally wherever."

As for Ayer's biggest claim to fame, winning the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, the young musician couldn't be more grateful for such a momentous honor.

"It was really cool to see that so many people would connect to my music," Ayers says. " I've been playing small and random shows for a few years now, and there hasn't been any big break, but the listeners have cared enough to tell their friends about me and my music, and that has been overwhelming and continuous. It really keeps me going even when it's a crazy time out there."

Catch Ayer tonight at the Hard Rock Caf� during Pinktober. The show is sponsored by 102.7-FM The Shark. All ages are welcome, and those of legal drinking age can indulge in special pink cocktails, in honor of breast cancer awareness. The Hard Rock Caf� is located at 1000 Boardwalk in Atlantic City, call 609-441-0007.

What To Expect: An intimate show with beautifully-crafted acoustic music. "I love playing shows where people can sing along," Ayer says. "It's such an active thing, and that's something you don't get when you just record something. It's a conversation with the audience, and it's always really fun."

Fan Favorites: "People really respond to my song 'Roy G. Biv,'" Ayer says. "It's a new one with a contemporary edge to it; it doesn't take itself too seriously. I'm really happy with the lyrics and the way it all came together."

Latest Album: "Don't Go Back To Sleep" was released in August, and it was project many years in the making. "I was touring non-stop and just constantly writing on the road," Ayer reveals. "The album came out of a big variety of situations, but the themes are really present to what was happening with me, internally. Whether you're traveling or home, you realize that things happen fast and I don't like to miss out. So the record became a way for me to remind myself to always celebrate what's going on, even if it's not always happy."

Musical Influences: Ayer lists Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Leonard Cohen, Josh Ritter and Adam Duritz as big influences for his music. "There's a lot of personal relationships with music, and that's what makes you always want to listen to their record. I look up to and aspire to that attitude and presence."

Go See Him: Thursday at the Hard Rock Caf�, 1000 Boardwalk in Atlantic City. The show is free and begins at 7 p.m. The party is a Pinktober celebration and raises awareness for local and international charities for breast cancer research.

Web site: www.chrisayermusic.com, www.myspace.com/chrisayer