We’ve made it to Round 3 of NYS Music’s March Madness, a Sweet 16 of artists who call New York home or got their start in the Empire State. We have 16 incredible artists and some tough matchups coming up.
There’s B.O.C. vs D.M.C., Jigga vs Aqueous in a battle of Bed-Stuy and Buffalo, Joan Baez (who narrowly beat out KISS by one vote) taking on Beastie Boys, and two of the biggest names to come out of New York, Neil Diamond vs Lou Reed.
Voting for the Sweet 16 is open until midnight on Wednesday, March 27. You can also vote on each bracket on Twitter, and we will combine all votes together ahead of the Elite 8, which starts on Thursday, March 28 at Noon.
It’s that time of year again – sure there are a few dozen basketball games happening over the next few weeks, but its also time for the 2019 NYS Music’s version of March Madness! In the past, we have looked at up and coming bands from around the state, for a friendly competition that introduces these rising artists to the NYS Music audience.
This year, we look to the past and present for our field of 64 famous New York musicians and artists from all corners of the Empire State. Frank Sinatra, Jay-Z, Paul Simon, Arlo Guthrie, Cab Calloway, Billy Joel, KISS, Anthrax, Neil Diamond and Lou Reed are all included, as well as more recent artists breaking through such as Sean Rowe and Aqueous.
Voting for Round 2 is open until midnight on Sunday, March 24. You can also vote on each bracket on Twitter, and we will combine all votes together ahead of Round 3, which starts on Monday, March 25 at Noon.
Saratoga Springs’ Wild Adriatic performed at last year’s MusikFest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and thanks to C&C Media Group, we present “Cooperstown” in a full 360′ experience.
To view the video, watch on YouTube or put on your Virtual Reality headset using your tablet or smartphone. 360 videos are best watched in 1440p on a tablet or mobile device, but are available up to 4K! If you have Google Cardboard, click on the Cardboard icon in the lower right.
This 360 experience comes courtesy of C&C Media Group, Wild Adriatic and Musikfest. Subscribe to C&C Media Group to see the full show!
After months of speculation, the Woodstock 50 lineup was revealed Tuesday. Included in the lineup were the rumored artists leaked two weeks ago.
Headliners for the Aug. 16-18 festival, being held at Watkins Glen International Speedway in the Finger Lakes region of New York include: Jay-Z, the Killers, Dead & Company, Imagine Dragons, Miley Cyrus and Chance the Rapper.
In a reflection of the current musical landscape, the lineup includes several pop and hip-hop performers: the aforementioned Jay-Z, Run the Jewels, Common, Halsey, Janelle Monáe, Cyrus, India.Arie, Princess Nokia, Chance the Rapper and Earl Sweatshirt.
There’s also a noticeable female presence this year with artists such as Soccer Mommy, Brandi Carlile, Bishop Briggs, Monáe, Cyrus Margo Price, Jade Bird, Emily King, Flora Cash and Cherry Glazerr.
The somewhat lacking legacy component of the lineup that producer Michael Lang had promised was also officially revealed in the Tuesday announcement. Several original Woodstock performers will be gracing the stages for the 50th. Santana, Canned Heat, John Fogerty, Country Joe McDonald, John Sebastian, Melanie, David Crosby and members of Dead & Company all performed at the original Woodstock at Bethel in 1969.
Tickets for the three-day event go on sale April 22. For more information, visit the official Woodstock website here.
Woodstock 50 Lineup:
Friday, Aug. 16:
The Killers Miley Cyrus Santana The Lumineers The Raconteurs Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats John Fogerty Run The Jewels The Head and The Heart Maggie Rogers Michael Franti & Spearhead Bishop Briggs Anderson East Akon Princess Nokia John Sebastian Melanie Grandson Fever 333 Dorothy Flora Cash Larkin Poe Brian Cadd Ninet Tayeb
Saturday, Aug. 17:
Dead & Company Chance The Rapper The Black Keys Sturgill Simpson Greta Van Fleet Protugal. The Man Leon Bridges Gary Clark Jr. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros David Crosby & Friends Dawes Margo Price Nahko & Medicine For The People India.Arie Jade Bird Country Joe McDonald Rival Sons Emily King Soccer Mommy Sir Taylor Bennett Amy Helm Courtney Hadwin Pearl John-Robert IAMDBB
Sunday, Aug. 18:
Jay-Z Imagine Dragons Halsey Cage The Elephant Brandi Carlile Janelle Monáe Young The Giant Courtney Barnett Common Vince Staples Judah & The Lion Earl Sweatshirt Boygenius Reignwolf The Zombies Canned Heat Hot Tuna Pussy Riot Cherry Glazerr Leven Kali The Marcus King Band Victory Hollis Brown John Craigie Amigo The Devil Liz Brasher
It’s that time of year again – sure there are a few dozen basketball games happening over the next few weeks, but its also time for NYS Music’s version of March Madness! In the past, we have looked at up and coming bands from around the state, for a friendly competition that introduces these rising artists to the NYS Music audience.
This year, we look to the past and present for our field of 64 famous New York musicians and artists from all corners of the Empire State. Frank Sinatra, Jay-Z, Paul Simon, Arlo Guthrie, Cab Calloway, Billy Joel, KISS, Anthrax, Neil Diamond and Lou Reed are all included, as well as more recent artists breaking through such as Sean Rowe and Aqueous.
This year’s field is also a great way to learn about some artists who hail from NY that you might not have known about. Yes, Lana Del Rey is from Lake Placid, Anthrax was formed in Queens, Rick James and Goo Goo Dolls call the Queen City of Buffalo home, Ra Ra Riot are Syracuse University graduates, and State Champs calls the Capital District home.
Voting for Round 1 is open until midnight on Wednesday, March 20. You can also vote on each bracket on Twitter, and we will combine all votes together ahead of Round 2, which starts on Thursday, March 21 at Noon.
Among the songs that celebrate New York City, “New York State of Mind” by Billy Joel, from his 1976 album Turnstiles, has become a fan favorite in regular rotation at his concerts, in particular at Madison Square Garden. While the song was never released as a single or a hit for that matter – Turnstiles only made it as high as 122 in the Billboard 200 – its place in Joel’s catalog and hearts of fans is firmly in place.
Rather than head down south or out west, Joel sings about preferring to take a Greyhound down the Hudson River Line. Joel discussed “New York State of Mind” in an interview with Howard Stern in 2010, saying that he wrote the song in 15 minutes on a bus headed Upstate to his then-home of Highland Falls. While there is no Hudson Line for Greyhound Buses, the route along I-87 follows the Hudson River, and along the other side of the river would be the Metro North Hudson Line, connecting Poughkeepsie to Grand Central Station. Perhaps Joel combined these two in order to preserve a oneness of New York’s mass transit and treat that journey like he was staying local, and for the 20-25 million who live within an hour of the Big Apple.
Joel longs for New York in “New York State of Mind,” having lived in California for the past three years. With a return home, Joel felt pride that can be felt in the emotion behind the lyrics.
Billy was born in the Bronx in 1969, grew up in Hicksville, and is one of the most famous products of Long Island. His father and mother emigrated to New York from Germany via Switzerland and Cuba during World War Two and settled in Brooklyn before moving to Long Island after Billy was born. Billy’s father returned to Europe, settling in Vienna, Austria where Billy has a famous half brother Alexander who is a classical conductor and most recently conducted the Staatstheater and Staatsorchester in Braunschweig, Germany from 2007-2014.
Billy got his start playing piano in high school, eventually dropping out despite being a good student due to a lack of credits his senior year. He was quoted in Hank Bordowitz’s biography Billy Joel: The Life and Times of an Angry Young Man (2006) that rather than finish his credits in summer school, he would begin a career in music. “I told them, ‘To hell with it. If I’m not going to Columbia University, I’m going to Columbia Records, and you don’t need a high school diploma over there.’ (He later graduated in 1992 after submitting papers to the school board). From there, Joel joined the Echoes, the Hassles and finally the duo Atilla with Hassles drummer Jon Small. After an affair with Small’s wife, whom Joel later married, he signed with Family Records for his 1971 debut Cold Spring Harbor.
Billy Joel most memorably performed “New York State of Mind” at The Concert for New York City, the October 2001 benefit for New York City Fire and Police Departments and first responders following the terrorist attacks on New York City on September 11. In 2012, Joel hit an emotional nerve once again, performing the song at 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief, held at Madison Square Garden on December 12. During the song he changed the lyrics to include Breezy Point (Queens) and Oceanside (Nassau) to great cheers from the crowd.
The influence of New York is present throughout the lyrics of “New York State of Mind,” as the trip back to his home state moved Billy so much to pen the song in 15 minutes. His state of mind is New York-centric, as is the beginning of his career, and arguably his best years are found while living in the Empire State. Billy is a New York staple, a musician infinitely tied to New York City, Madison Square Garden, Long Island and Nassau Coliseum through many songs and albums, but none is more connected than “New York State of Mind.”
“New York State of Mind” lyrics
Some folks like to get away, Take a holiday from the neighborhood Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood But I’m takin’ a Greyhound on the Hudson River line I’m in a New York state of mind I’ve seen all the movie stars in their fancy cars and their limousines Been high in the Rockies under the evergreens I know what I’m needin’, and I don’t want to waste more time I’m in a New York state of mind It was so easy livin’ day by day Out of touch with the rhythm and blues But now I need a little give and take The New York Times, the Daily News It comes down to reality, and it’s fine with me cause I’ve let it slide I don’t care if it’s Chinatown or on Riverside I don’t have any reasons I left them all behind I’m in a New York state of mind Oh yeah
Marco Benevento’s performances are a lively experience to watch in any setting. Alongside bassist Karina Rykman and drummer Andrew Borger, Marco puts on an unpredictable show with a range of originals and unique deconstructed cover choices. With a history of performances with Garage a Trois, Benevento Russo Duo, G.R.A.B., Joe Russo’s Almost Dead and Bustle in Your Hedgerow, Marco is a master on the keys and a treat to see live, and today you can see a performance from Marco in 360 degrees.
So get your Virtual Reality headset on (or your tablet or smartphone) and get ready to bust out some dance moves with Karina and rock out on stage with Marco and drummer Dave Butler. This 360 experience comes courtesy of C&C Media Group, Marco Benevento, Royal Potato Family, and Ardmore Music Hall who collaborated as a way to say THANK YOU to fans by giving them an immersive 360 concert for free.
Watch “Bus Ride” from Marco’s September 22, 2018 show at Ardmore Music Hall in Ardmore, PA. Want more? Subscribe below to see the full show and tune into Set 1 and Set 2! (360 videos are best watched in 1440p on a tablet or mobile device, but are available up to 4K! If you have Google Cardboard, click on the Cardboard icon in the lower right.)
March 9 – Woodstock, NY – Levon Helm’s Barn (SOLD OUT) March 29 – New Orleans, LA – Hogs For The Cause April 26 – New Orleans, LA – Blue Nile April 27 – New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s May 1 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – River Street Jazz Cafe May 2 – Ardmore, PA – Ardmore Music Hall May 3 – Jersey City, NJ – White Eagle Music Hall May 4 – Greenfield, MA – Hawks & Reed May 10 – Washington, DC – Pearl Street Warehouse May 11 – Harrisburg, PA – The Abbey (Free) June 13 – Bethel, NY – Mountain Jam July 13 – Marshfield, MA – Levitate Festival
The Felice Brothers have released “Poor Blind Birds” from their upcoming album Undress , set for release on May 3 via Yep Roc Records. Brothers Ian and James Felice grew up in Palenville in the Catskills, and are joined by Will Lawrence and Jesske Hume and other Hudson Valley musicians from time to time.
Reflecting on the current political climate and general uncertainty in the world, Undress finds the group in a very different place than their last album, 2016’s Life In The Dark. Between personnel changes, families growing and the political landscape, the result is a tighter, more pared-down release. “Every song is a story,” said James Felice. “On this album everything was a bit more thoughtful, including the arrangements, the sonic quality and the harmonies.”
photographs by lawrence braun
Ian and James Felice are self taught musicians, inspired as much by Hart Crane and Whitman as by Woody Guthrie and Chuck Berry, they began in 2006 by playing subway platforms and sidewalks in NYC and have gone on to release nine albums of original songs and to tour extensively throughout the world. Following the release of Life in the Dark, The Felice Brothers served as the backing band for Conor Oberst’s 2017 release Salutations and the subsequent tour.
Tour Dates: April 27 – Skyloft – Albany, NY April 28 – The Westcott Theater – Syracuse, NY April 29 – The 9th Ward at Babeville – Buffalo, NY
April 30 – The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern – Toronto, ON
May 2 – Sleeping Village – Chicago, IL
May 3 – On the Rail Roots Festival – Lexington, KY
May 4 – Rumba Cafe – Columbus, OH
May 6 – Club Cafe – Pittsburgh, PA
May 7 – Tellus 360 – Lancaster, PA
May 9 – Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA May 10 – The Bell House – Brooklyn, NY May 11 – BSP Kingston – Kingston, NY
May 12 – Hopewell Theater – Hopewell, NJ
May 15 – 35 Artspce – Portsmouth, NH
May 16 – Columbus Theatre – Providence, RI
May 18 – The Sinclair – Cambridge, MA
May 23 – Elevation 27 – Virginia Beach, VA
May 24 – Richmond Music Hall – Richmond, VA
May 25 – Wolf Trap – Vienna, VA (with The Avett Brothers)
June 6 – Grey Eagle Tavern – Asheville, NC
June 7 – Eddie’s Attic – Decatur, GA
June 8 – Exit/In – Nashville, TN
June 9 – Avondale Brewery – Birmingham, AL
June 10 – Gasa Gasa – New Orleans
June 12 – Barracuda – Austin, TX
June 14 – Tumbleroot – Santa Fe, NM
June 15 – 191 Toole – Tucson, AZ
June 16 – The Casbah – San Diego, CA
June 17 – Bootleg Theater – Los Angeles, CA
June 19 – The Chapel – San Francisco, CA
June 21 – Doug Fir Lounge – Portland, OR
June 22 – Tractor Tavern – Seattle, WA
June 24 – Visual Arts Collective – Garden City, ID
June 25 – Urban Lounge – Salt Lake City, UT
June 27 – Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO
After the recent news of the Bethel Woods Woodstock Anniversary show being scaled back, fans have turned their attention to original Woodstock co-founder Michael Lang’s anniversary event for what may feel more like a Woodstock 50th anniversary celebration with headliners recently leaked.
Billboard has recently reported that after a brief delay, Woodstock festival organizer’s have wired a “full payment” to most artist appearing at the festival in advance. Some of those artist leaked include Dead & Company, The Killers, Imagine Dragons, Chance the Rapper, and Bethel Woods celebration-announced artist, Santana, who has expressed his desire to play both anniversary shows.
The reason for the delayed payments was due to the financial backers of the festival, Dentsu, trying to resolve possible attendance issues at the Watkins Glen site where the festival is being held, expecting over 100,000 fans. Considered a first year event, and Dentsu not being a major promoter like Live Nation or AEG, artists require 100% of their fee paid upfront before the lineup was announced.
Representatives for the main headliners told Billboard that they were paid weeks ago, but some of the other 80+ artist have not received payment making some fear the festival would be scrapped, and now pushing the February lineup announcement to sometime in March.
The day after reports surfaced that the event was having financial problems, Woodstock representatives confirmed that organizers had wired several million dollars to various major talent agencies that represent acts appearing at Woodstock 50. One agency boss even confirmed that all their artist have been paid in full, and festival camping organizers Superfly, has also been paid in full for the event.
Woodstock co-founder Michael Lang recently stated: “There’s always been lots of rumors around Woodstock. We have excellent partners and an incredible talent lineup of over 80 artists which will be announced within the next couple of weeks. We’re preparing a once in a lifetime event.”
Woodstock 50 will take place at the Watkins Glen International Speedway on Aug. 16-18.
“Woodstock never happened – it was planned.” This phrase sums up the massive effort put into the original Woodstock music festival, and after reading Barefoot in Babylon, you’ll see how much planning, including last minute changes of venue and crises both big and small, went into making Woodstock a pinnacle event in American music history. For those who enjoy a good music festival, there is perhaps no better publication recounting the extreme detail that went into planning this generation-shaping event than Barefoot in Babylon: The Creation of the Woodstock Music Festival, 1969.
In reading the 1979 history of the festival, one notices not only the culture of the late 1960s and the prevailing anti-war attitude in the nation, but also the minutia that we commonly overlook when we go to a festival. Food, security, fences, water, stage set-up, the performers, traffic, bathrooms, medical assistance, and just the all-around aura of each festival is given a full treatment in Barefoot in Babylon. As problems arose, sleep was lost, people ingested bad acid, a few deaths occurred, camaraderie was had between people from every part of the country, and memories were all that was taken. And a movement of music festivals around the country took on new life.
The struggles that Woodstock Ventures had in securing the site is a recurring theme throughout the book as they are constantly told there is no room at the inn. Various townships, including Wallkill, found ways to prevent the festival from taking place with only weeks to go before fans arrived. There is an overwhelming feeling that you are there, and can visualize every moment of the festival, how the stage slipped 6 inches during a torrential downpour, security extorting money from the festival producers, possible mass-electrocution, and the National Guard waiting on standby for what they thought would be a major health crisis. Regardless, the festival went off, hitches and all, and the legacy of the efforts of two hippies and two businessmen culminated in a weekend we continue to experience in spirit when attending music festivals each year.
Barefoot in Babylon is meticulously researched, with Spitz working a decade after the festival ended and working tirelessly to track down every member of the original staff that could be found. Stanley Goldstein, headhunter and campgrounds coordinator for the festival, was a major asset to Spitz, identifying and helping to connect him with staff so that he might jog their memories, and then, painstakingly, piece the stories together chronologically. Musicians including Richie Havens, Country Joe McDonald and more filled in behind the scenes details, with a full view of every detail of the planning of Woodstock extensively chronicled.
Tracking down a copy of this book takes some effort, as the book is out of print, but online retailers have used copies for sale. 500 pages doesn’t seem like enough to tell the whole story of Woodstock from conception to cleanup, but every moment, every individual, every problem that arose – and there are so many, you’ll be shocked they pulled it off – are all documented with great precision.
Barefoot in Babylon is written by Bob Spitz, author of The Beatles: The Biography, and whose most recent book, Reagan: An American Journey., is now available.
