NYS Music 20​19

Category: News Desk

  • Natalie Merchant to be Honored at 39th Annual John Lennon Tribute

    In celebration of what would have been John’s Lennon’s 79th birthday, grassroots non-profit Theatre Within has announced artists for the 39th Annual John Lennon Tribute on Friday, December 6, including Natalie Merchant. The event will be held at Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space on Broadway and 95th street.

    In addition to artist-activist Natalie Merchant, who will be honored as the sixth recipient of the “John Lennon Real Love Award,” the Tribute will feature performances by Joan Osborne, Rachael Yamagata, Sam Amidon, Willie Nile and Raye Zaragoza, backed by a band led by drummer Rich Pagano, one of the founding members of the Fab Faux.

    Merchant, who will be appearing in the long-running charity concert for first time, said in a statement:

     “John and Yoko’s activism had a profound impact upon me as a child. Through their ingenious war protests they challenged the entire world to reflect upon itself. In my estimation, ‘Imagine’ remains the most powerful three minutes and eight seconds of music ever recorded. It contains a vision of our highest aspirations in the most concise language and simple melody. John and Yoko realized that popular art and celebrity could be used to push society closer toward equity and compassion. I’ve tried to follow their example throughout my life, as an artist and citizen. It’s such an honor to be recognized for my work with the John Lennon Real Love award this year.”

     “With her beautiful songs, social activism, and support of charitable causes, Natalie Merchant has truly brightened our world and our hearts,” said Yoko Ono. “Natalie’s outspokenness on the environment, domestic violence, and special-needs children shines light on these vitally important issues. I am so happy that Theatre Within is honoring her with this year’s John Lennon Real Love Award.” 

    Theatre Within Artistic Director and longtime Tribute producer/host, Joe Raiola says of Merchant, “John Lennon combined music and social activism in a unique and remarkably positive way. Natalie Merchant is a great artist blazing a similar path with heart, caring and compassion, and she is very deserving of this honor.”

    Proceeds from the Tribute will support Theatre Within’s ongoing free workshops – in songwriting, art, meditation and more – at Gilda’s Club NYC for those whose lives have been impacted by cancer. Workshops include the John Lennon Real Love Project, a visionary songwriting program for children, which will be made available to public schools and libraries in the NY tri-state area starting in the spring of 2020.

    Tickets for Theatre Within’s 39th Annual John Lennon Tribute are currently sold out. However, additional seats may be released for sale. For seat availability, visit LennonTribute.org. A limited number of VIP packages with up-close center orchestra seats are available at LennonTribute.org/join-friends.

    Theatre Within’s Annual John Lennon Tribute is produced in association with Music Without Borders. It is the only ongoing John Lennon Tribute concert in the world sanctioned by Yoko Ono.

  • First Headliners Announced for 2020 Rochester International Jazz Festival

    Festival organizers have released the names of the first three headliners for the 2020 Rochester International Jazz Festival. They are Nile Rodgers & Chic; A Celebration of 50 Years, Garth Fagan Dance with Monty Alexander Sextet; and Spyro Gyra. Tickets go on sale Friday, Dec. 6 at 10 a.m. at RochesterJazz.com . Three and nine-day Club Passes are also on sale now.

    The 020 Rochester International Jazz Festival will be held June 19 to 27, 2020 in multiple indoor and outdoor venues in downtown Rochester. All headlining shows are held at 8 p.m. at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre.

    Nile Rodgers & Chic take the stage on Friday, June 26. Garth Fagan Dance will celebrate 50 years of dance at the CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival performing with long-time friend, Monty Alexander and his Sextet, on Wednesday, June 24. And returning for the first time since 2003 is contemporary jazz icons Spyro Gyra.

  • Tough Old Bird to Finish out the Year with Two WNY Shows

    Tough Old Bird has spent the fall on tour promoting their latest album, The Old Great Lakes. They finish out 2019 with a couple shows close to home. You’ll find them at Nietzche’s in Buffalo on Friday, Dec. 6 and at Mission Hall in Rochester on Saturday, Dec. 14.

    The brotherly duo of Matthew and Nathan Corrigan has been performing under the name Tough Old Bird for the better part of the decade. Their latest release is a concept album that weaves together an array of musical influences and lyrical narratives around the central theme of area waterways.

    In an interview earlier this year, Nathan told NYS Music, “I think we’ve had a tendency in the past to think of ourselves as a folk band, and with this album I think it was more important to be open to anything, and not worry about what genre it was or whether it sounded like some abstract idea of how we were supposed to sound.”

  • Alanis Morissette, Garbage and Liz Phair Team Up for 2020 Tour Celebrating 25th Anniversary of ‘Jagged Little Pill’

    Alanis Morissette has announced a 2020 tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of her album Jagged Little Pill.  Fellow ’90s classmates set to join the tour are Garbage and Liz Phair. With a kick-off June 1 in Portland, OR, the tour is set to make 31 stops. Two of which will be in New York. They will take the stage on June 26 at LiveNation’s Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater. On July 8, the alt-rockers will perform at SPAC in Saratoga Springs.

    Ticket presales will start on Dec. 10 at 11 a.m. local time. The regular sale will follow on Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. local time. Fans can sign up here to be included in the presale if signed up by Dec. 8. All sales will include a digital download of Morissette’s newly released single “Reason I Drink.” Ticket holders also will receive a copy of the brand new album Such Pretty Forks in the Road, her first album since 2012.

    Jagged Little Pill was Morissette’s third studio album and the first released worldwide. It went on to sell 33 million copies and win five Grammys and was recently turned into a Broadway musical.

    Alanis Morissette 2020 Tour Dates:

    June 2—Sunlight Supply Amphitheatre—Portland, OR
    June 3—White River Amphitheatre—Seattle, WA
    June 5—Concord Pavilion—Concord, CA
    June 7—USANA Amphitheatre—Salt Lake City, UT
    June 9—Hollywood Bowl—Los Angeles, CA
    June 10—Ak-Chin Pavilion Phoenix, AZ
    Jun. 12—Austin360 Amphitheater – Austin, TX
    June 13—Walmart AMP—Rogers, AK
    June 14—Dos Equis Pavilion—Dallas, TX
    June 17—Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre—Tampa, FL
    June 18—Coral Sky Amphitheatre—West Palm Beach, FL
    Jun. 20—Ameris Bank Amphitheatre—Alpharetta, GA
    June 21—PNC Music Pavilion Charlotte, NC
    June 23—Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek—Raleigh, NC
    June 26—Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater—Wantagh, NY
    June 27—Xfinity Theatre—Hartford, CT
    June 28—BB&T Pavilion Camden, NJ
    July 1—PNC Bank Arts Center—Holmdel, NJ
    July 2—Merriweather Post Pavilion—Columbia, MD
    July 3—Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater—Virginia Beach, VA
    July 6—Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion—Gilford, NH
    July 8—Saratoga Performing Arts Center—Saratoga Springs, NY
    July 9—Xfinity Center—Mansfield, MA
    July 11—Budweiser Stage—Toronto, Ontario
    July 16—Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center—Noblesville, IN
    July 17—Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre—Tinley Park, IL
    July 18—Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre—Maryland Heights, MO
    July 21—DTE Energy Music Theatre—Clarkston, MI
    July 23—Blossom Music Center—Cuyahoga Falls, OH
    July 24—Riverbend Music Center—Cincinnati, OH
    July 25—Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN

  • CEG Plans Huge Slate of Phish After Parties NYE Run

    December is here, and that means Phish’s annual four night run at Madison Square Garden is right around the corner. And with those four nights of Phish come… Phish after-parties! CEG Presents has put together an incredible slate of post-shows that you’ll be looking to check out after emptying out on 7th and 8th Avenues following Phish. See below for details on all the great shows you’ll find starting late, December 28-30, plus a special NYE show from The New Mastersounds!

    Click on the band name to browse tickets

    – Saturday, December 28 – Sony Hall

    John Medeski and Billy Martin (Medeski Martin and Wood) will come together with Scott Metzger (JRAD) and Nels Cline (Wilco) for the first time, one night only, for an evening of improvisational music after Phish performs at Madison Square Garden on December 28.

    CEG
    – Saturday December 28 – Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2

    An eclectic jam/funk band, infusing deep psychedelic grooves with improvisational techniques. The ambitiously crafted keyboard mastery, expressive saxophone and immaculate guitar shredding meld into a dynamic fusion. Lean more about The New Motif.

    CEG

    Saturday December 28 – Hill Country     
    CEG
    Saturday December 28 & Sunday December 29 – Gramercy Theatre

    Pink Talking Fish provides their own original musical concept by combining the songbooks of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish to create a unique experience for live music fans.  The band has added to this concept over the years by adding a 4th Act such as David Bowie, Grateful Dead, Michael Jackson and more.  They have also performed complete albums while intertwining songs from the other 2 Acts into the mix. On December 29 at Gramercy Theatre, PTF will unleash one of the most exciting concepts to date: Pink Talking Fish Are Beastie Boys!  This will be a fusion of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, Phish AND Beastie Boys. 

    Joining the band will be DJ Logic, who will be assuming the duties of Mix Master Mike and also adding his flavor to songs from the other 3 Acts.  PTF will also be performing ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ for a NYC Phish After-Party on December 28th, also at Gramercy Theatre.  This will be a full rendition of the Pink Floyd album with Phish and Talking Heads songs intertwined through the album cuts.

    – Sunday December 29 – (le) poisson rouge

    Anybody who’s seen Marco Benevento perform will attest, with eyes closed, smile wide across his face and fingers free-flowing across the keys, he’s a satellite to the muse. With a devout and growing fan-base, Benevento is an artist whose story is only beginning to unfold..

    – Sunday December 29 – Hill Country

    The music of The Grateful Dead transcends time, age and space. Their high energy, soul-touching jams, and family-like environment were central to the counter-culture experience.  Over the past 19 years Dead Sessions has grown to become one of the favorite Grateful Dead experiences in the Northeast. Playing since 1998, the collective is known for their authentic but unique renditions of Grateful Dead classics, thick with spiritual connectivity and heartfelt jams that make the most jaded Deadhead rejoice. Dead Sessions is composed of a rotating cast of musicians throughout the country, but the roots of origin are easily traced to the Green Mountain State. With an unmasked joy that pours off the stage and blurs any boundaries with their audience, the Sessions are beloved by all from the casual fan to the dedicated Terrapin warrior.


    Monday December 30 – (le) poisson rouge

    On December 30, Greenwich Village venue (le) poisson rouge will host Electric In The Village: Ryley Walker, Chris Forsyth, and Garcia Peoples. Guitarist/songwriter Chris Forsyth got his start in Brooklyn’s experimental circles in the early 2000’s, and as the bandleader of Chris Forsyth & the Solar Motel Band, channeled both the psychedelic jamming of the Grateful Dead and the precision of art-punk guitar acts like Television. Illinois-based fingerstyle guitarist and singer-songwriter Ryley Walker adds new flavor to the series; his music has been described as fingerstyle ballads, psychedelic waltzes, and raga-inspired blues. Garcia Peoples is the Brooklyn Sextet blasting through residencies and new songs and sessions and collaborations, leaving a trail of live tapes in their wake, and scaling ever upwards.

    – Tuesday December 31, 2018 – Gramercy Theatre

    The New Mastersounds have been delighting audiences with their infectious brand of funky soul-jazz since they formed in Leeds in 1999. For the first five years of the band’s career they were regulars at the Jazz Café in London, before they began to turn heads on the funk scene in the US, where guitarist/producer/bandleader Eddie Roberts now lives. For over a decade they have been a staple act of the late-night scene during New Orleans’ annual Jazz Fest.

    Though they have collaborated over the years with such musical luminaries as Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Corinne Bailey Rae, Art Neville, Bernard Purdie and Lou Donaldson, they are at their best on stage as a tightly-packed quartet – bass, drums, guitar and keyboards – firing scorching grooves off each other and feeding on the energy of the dancers in the front row.

  • Taylor Swift and Lizzo Dominate Girls’ Choice Awards Nominations

    The Girls’ Choice Awards has announced the nominees for “Empowerment in Music” categories. Leading the pack was Taylor Swift with a total of six nominations. Lizzo follows right behind with five nominations, her hits “Tempo” and “Good As Hell” are competing against each other for the “Most Empowering Musical Collaboration of the Year”.

    Ariana Grande snagged four nods, while Billie Eilish and Halsey are up for two; Cardi B and Dua Lipa will compete for one award each.

    Set as the high point of Girls’ Choice year-round program, the show will take place February 28 and March 1, 2020 and is part of the Girls’ Choice initiative which focuses on today’s pressing issues while educating and empowering new generations.

    This year’s show is produced by partner organizations, creators of the Teen Choice and Young Women’s Honors, and the Sand Sisters Los Angeles. The empowerment festival will feature performances, activations from partners and the awards.

    Voting for the “Empowerment in Music” categories have already begun and ends February 15, 2020. Fans must be over 13 years of age and are allowed to vote as often as once per hour. Go to www.girlschoice.com to vote for your favorite artists.

    For updates follow Girls’ Choice on Instagram: @_Girls_Choice, Facebook: @GirlsChooseChange, and Twitter: @_Girls_Choice.

    Full List of Girls’ Choice Awards Nominations by Category:

    Most Empowering Music Artist of the Year

    Alessia Cara

    Ariana Grande

    Billie Eilish

    Cardi B

    H.E.R.

    Halsey

    Lizzo

    Selena Gomez

    Taylor Swift

    Most Empowering Breakout Artist of the Year

    Bebe Rexha

    Billie Eilish

    Brittany Howard

    Hayley Kiyoko

    King Princess

    Lizzo

    Maggie Rogers

    Rosalía

    Summer Walker

    Most Empowering Musical Collaboration of the Year

    Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Lana Del Rey, “Don’t Call Me Angel”

    Ciara, “Melanin” (feat. Lupita Nyong’o, Ester Dean, City Girls and Lala)

    Idina Menzel & Evan Rachel Wood, “Show Yourself” (Disney’s “Frozen 2 Soundtrack”)

    Kesha, “Raising Hell” (feat. Big Freedia)

    Lizzo, “Good as Hell” (feat. Ariana Grande)

    Lizzo, “Tempo” (feat. Missy Elliot)

    Meghan Trainor “Workin’ on It” (feat. Lennon Stella, Sasha Sloan)

    Taylor Swift, “Lover Remix” (feat. Shawn Mendes)

    Taylor Swift, “ME!” (feat. Brendon Urie)

    Most Empowering Song of the Year (Individual Artist)

    Ariana Grande, “thank u, next”

    Dua Lipa, “Don’t Start Now”

    Halsey, “Nightmare”

    Kacey Musgraves, “Rainbow”

    Lizzo, “Truth Hurts”

    Maren Morris, “GIRL”

    Miley Cyrus, “Mother’s Daughter”

    Rosalía, “A Palé”

    Taylor Swift, “You Need to Calm Down”

    Most Empowering Song of the Year (Group or Duo)

    Christina Aguilera, “Fall in Line” (feat. Demi Lovato)

    Dolly Parton and Galantis, “Faith” (feat. Mr. Probz)

    HAIM, “Now I’m in It”

    Haschak Sisters, “Girl Power”

    Hayley Kiyoko, “What I Need” (feat. Kehlani)

    Maddie & Tae, “Bathroom Floor”

    P!nk, “Love Me Anyway” (feat. Chris Stapleton)

    SHAED, “Thunder”

    Summer Walker, “Come Thru” (feat. Usher)

    Most Empowering Music Group of the Year

    BLACKPINK

    Chloe X Halle

    Florence + the Machine

    HAIM

    Haschak Sisters

    Little Mix

    Maddie & Tae

    Runaway June

    Tegan and Sara

    Most Empowering Classic Girl Power Anthem (Individual Artist)

    Aretha Franklin, “Respect”

    Christina Aguilera, “Fighter”

    Cyndi Lauper, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”

    Diana Ross, “I’m Coming Out”

    Donna Summer, “She Works Hard for the Money”

    Gloria Gaynor, “I Will Survive”

    Joan Jett, “Bad Reputation”

    Shakira, “She Wolf”

    Shania Twain, “Man! I Feel Like a Woman”

    Most Empowering Classic Girl Power Anthem (Group or Duo)

    Christina Aguilera, “Can’t Hold Us Down” (feat. Lil’ Kim)

    Destiny’s Child, “Survivor”

    Dixie Chicks, “Goodbye Earl”

    En Vogue, “Free Your Mind”

    Fifth Harmony, “That’s My Girl”

    No Doubt, “Just a Girl”

    Salt-N-Pepa, “Let’s Talk About Sex”

    Spice Girls, “Wannabe”

    TLC, “No Scrubs”

    Most Empowering Girl Power Anthem of the Decade

    Alicia Keys, “Girl on Fire”

    Ariana Grande, “God Is a Woman”

    Beyoncé, “Run the World (Girls)”

    Demi Lovato, “Sorry Not Sorry”

    Katy Perry, “Roar”

    Kelly Clarkson, “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”

    Lady Gaga, “Born This Way”

    P!nk, “Try”

    Taylor Swift, “Shake It Off”

    Girls’ Choice Music Icon

    Beyoncé

    Carole King

    Céline Dion

    Cher

    Gloria Estefan

    Janet Jackson

    Jennifer Lopez

    Lady Gaga

    Madonna

    Mary J. Blige

    Rihanna

    Taylor Swift

  • Shannon Hoon Documentary to be released in 2020

    A documentary capturing the final years of Blind Melon frontman Shannon Hoon is slated to be released in 2020, per Variety. Both Double E Pictures and Live Nation Productions were recently added as executive producers for the film, which was created using more than 200 hours of the late singer-songwriter’s home videos from Grammy-winning videographer and acclaimed photographer Danny Clinch. Hoon and Clinch were close friends, and Clinch co-directed the documentary alongside Taryn Gould and Colleen Hennessy. Find out more info here.

    “We realized that we basically had all these videos of a guy who was videotaping himself obsessively for five years from before he was famous up until really the day of his death,” Clinch told Variety. “It was the dawn of technology where people started to film each other, and he was way ahead of the curve in a way. It’s kind of one of the earliest moments of someone who was self-archiving his own life.”

    Hoon died from an overdose at age 28, following the monumental success of Blind Melon’s 1992 eponymous debut.

    “He was really an endearing character,” Clinch told Rolling Stone in 2015. “He could just become your best friend right away. His energy was great. He was really creative and super friendly. He definitely liked to have a good time and he enjoyed the rock and roll lifestyle for sure.”

    A Kickstarter was launched in 2015 for the documentary, which has been in the works since then, and has been screen at Tribeca Film Festival and the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam.

  • Debut performance of Jam Just Happened planned for December 6 at Nublu

    A first of its kind show, Jam Just Happened will bring together the intimacy of a podcast and the uniqueness of a live music experience. The first live performance is set for Friday, December 6, at Nublu NYC. The show will feature guitarist Scott Metzger, drummer Adam Chase, keyboard player Aron Magner, and bass player Jay White. 

    The musicians will bring each of their individual styles together to create something entirely unique for a small audience. A podcast companion will be released after the show. This event is presented by Osiris Media and nugs.net, and will be emceed by Tom Marshall.

  • They Might Be Giants Add New ‘Flood’ Shows

    Brooklyn’s “Ambassadors of Love,” They Might Be Giants,  due to popular demand, have added new shows to their 2020 tour. New stops will include  Boston, New Haven, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis and many more. They also have added additional shows in Chicago, Detroit and New York City at the Bowery Ballroom, all of which are now sold out. New Yorkers can still catch TMBG at the State Theater in Ithaca (May 5) and Buffalo at the Town Ballroom (May 6). 

    The 2020 tour is in celebration of the 30th anniversary of their third album, Flood, which catapulted them into international stardom upon its release. Dubbed as an “evening with” show, fans can expect for TMBG to play Flood in its entirety along with favorites and some brand new tracks thrown into the lineup. Find a full list of the shows below and visit the band’s website for ticketing.

    They Might Be Giants 2020 Tour Dates

    Jan.10 – Daryl’s House Club – Pawling, NY

    Jan.11 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY

    Feb.6 – College Street Music Hall – New Haven, CT

    Feb.7 – Columbus Theatre – Providence, RI

    Feb.8 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY

    Mar.5 – Pabst Theater – Milwaukee, WI

    Mar.6 – Vic Theatre – Chicago, IL

    Mar.7 – Geek Bowl XIV – Chicago, IL

    Mar.8-9  – The Majestic – Detroit,MI

    Mar.13 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA

    Mar.14 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY

    Apr.8-9  – Lincoln Theatre – Washington, DC

    Apr.10 – 930 Club – Washington, DC

    Apr.11 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY

    Apr.30 – May 1 – Royale – Boston, MA

    May 2 – Higher Ground – South Burlington, VT

    May 3 – Academy of Music Theatre – Northampton, MA

    May 5 – State Theater – Ithaca, NY

    May 6 – Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY

    May 7-8 – Mr. Smalls Theatre – Millvale, PA

    May 9 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY

    May 12-13 – Beachland Ballroom & Tavern – Cleveland, OH

    May 14 – Vic Theatre- Chicago, IL

    May 15 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN

    May 16 – Fitzgerald Theater – St.Paul, MN

    May 17 – The Pageant – St.Louis, MO

  • Governors Ball Institutes New Age Policy for 2020

    The Governors Ball Music Festival, held annually on Randall’s Island in New York, is instituting an 18 and over age policy for festival attendees beginning in 2020. The 10th edition of the festival will be held June 5-7.

    The Yeah Yeah Yeahs perform at the 2018 GovBall

    Festival attendees 17 and younger must have a valid photo ID and be accompanied by someone 21 or older in order to gain entry to the 2020 festival. According to the new policy, “All persons aged 17 and under MUST attend with an adult who is 21 or older. Each adult must have a valid form of ID and may accompany up to TWO ticket holders aged 17 or younger. All individuals must arrive together, via the same entrance, and all individuals must have valid wristbands/tickets.”

    Festival co-founders Tom Russell and Jordan Wolowitz stated, “The changes we are implementing this year come directly from fan feedback and conversation. We are always listening, always evolving, and always trying to give our fans and our City the best festival they could ask for.”

    In addition to the new age policy, the festival also announced new VIP perks. The VIP Experience allows access to all VIP viewing ages at all four stages, specialty food vendors, shade tents, cell phone charging stations and comfortable seating options. New to the 2020 festival is a separate lane for transportation pick up points, private Wi-Fi, free water and air-conditioned bathrooms. VIP areas will be 21 and over.

    This year’s GovBall was fraught with weather issues. Organizers were forced to cancel the entire final day of the festival due to severe thunderstorms. The cancelation nixed performances by The Strokes and Nas along with 25 other acts.

    The 2020 lineup should be rolled out after the first of the year. For more information, follow the festival’s Twitter feed here or the website here.

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