Sweet Megg & the Wayfarers have recently announced details about their album release party, set for October 19 at Jalopy Theatre in Brooklyn. With a jazzy style, Sweet Megg & the Wayfarers take audiences back to the 1920s, with a six-member band consisting of a wide range of instruments, including three types of saxophones, upright bass, guitar, drums, and lead vocals by Megg Farrell.
Farrell describes the new album as a return to “earlier repertoire of the 1920’s and 30’s, but we’ve also been mixing that with some modern elements.” The lead guitarist adds sweet tones of a telecaster and pedals to the album, creating a sound similar to Les Paul. This new album also features some heart-felt original songs, written and performed by Megg. All members of the band have special arrangements in the album—creating a one-of-a-kind, old-fashioned jazz style with a touch of modern bluegrass and western swing. Listen to the band’s first album below.
Guests of the October 19 show will get a sneak peak of the album debuting in December, which features an array of songs from nearly a century ago. Songs by Jellyroll Morton (“Why”), Billie Holiday (“I Cried For You”), Fats Waller (“Sweet & Slow) and Bessie Smith (“Devils Gonna Get You”) are performed by Megg and the Wayfarers, with their own personalized takes on the ageless tracks. Originals by Farrell are also found on the album (“Under the Moonlight” & “When the Moon Covers Up the Sun”), which drew their inspiration from the moon. The band’s trombone player, Sam Chess, was utilized heavily in these songs to create a youthful and swing-type style.
Throw on your dancing shoes and join the band at the album release party on October 19th at Jalopy Theatre. Doors open at 8 PM and tickets are only $10! Click here for more info.
Buffalo’s Head North has booked two shows in December. It’s been two years since the alternative band’s last live performances. They’ll be playing Brooklyn at The Knitting Factory on Dec. 19, then a show in their hometown at Mohawk Place on Dec. 21. Joining them for both dates is Tennessee-based singer/songwriter Bogues. Ticket information is available here.
Over the summer, Head North released the single “Rhodora,” the first taste of their upcoming sophomore album. This and other new material has been recorded at the band’s own space, Bigfoot! Studios, at the helm of frontman/producer Brent Martone. It’s a follow-up to 2017’s The Last Living Man Alive Ever in The History of The World. For more about that album, see the NYS Music interview.
Groovesafe, a movement within the musical community to bring awareness about unwanted touching and sexual assault at concerts, has been making in roads through the music industry since the charity was formed in 2017 by Ashley Driscoll. On Monday, October 14, members of Turkuaz, Lespecial, Escaper, Goose and many more will join together as Groovesafe Allstars, for a benefit concert supporting Groovesafe at Brooklyn Bowl.
Driscoll has been bringing together musicians from across the jam scene to spread the word about Groovesafe. A topic such as unwanted touching is one that is all too common but the issue had not been brought to light until the past few years, around the same time the #MeToo movement pushed back against sexual assault and sexual harassment in the workplace. Through music scenes that intertwine, the mission of Groovesafe can be spread and consent culture can become the norm.
The October 11 Groovesafe Allstars benefit at Brooklyn Bowl has Driscoll’s mission front and center in the jam scene. Speaking to NYS Music about the event, Driscoll says, “I’m excited about this inaugural event because it allows us to showcase what our mission is all about. The thrilling thing about the “AllStar” aspect is we can unite different GrooveSafe Artist Ambassadors from bands of all genres. Bringing everyone together to highlight the importance of our work at GrooveSafe and our main goal to rebuild consent culture in the live music realm.”
“All we want to do is spread awareness that these bad behaviors are happening and that we won’t stand for them anymore. Change in behaviors begins with this awareness. We will be out there at The Brooklyn Bowl on Monday night to remind people how important it is to respect each others dance space, and focus on why we see shows; the music.
Ashley Driscoll – founder of Groovesafe
The show features The GrooveSafe AllStars – Sammi Garett (Vocals – Turkuaz), Josh Schwartz (Sax – Turkuaz), Greg Sanderson (Sax – Turkuaz), Chris Brouwers (Trumpet – Turkuaz), Luke Bemand (Bass – lespecial), Will Hanza (Lead Guitar – Escaper), Ben Atkind (Drums – Goose), Matt Dolliver (Keys, EWI – Swimmer), Sam Lisabeth (Guitar – Guerilla Toss), Melissa Goscinski (Vocals – Cousin Earth), and Tara Lawton (Vocals – Cousin Earth), with an appearance by Tom Salgo (Guitar-Of Clocks And Clouds). More info can be found here.
This initial event will be the start of a series of benefit concerts, spreading the mission of Groovesafe.
We hope to have a rotating act and continue to put on benefit concerts with talented musicians who support the movement to stop unwanted touching at shows in cities throughout the country. Our touring bands work so hard to bring you the music, let’s work together and make the show experience better. Let’s help people love the music again and give us a voice to create safer shows. Practice consent and take care of each other.
Ashley Driscoll – founder of Groovesafe
Additionally, at the upcoming HarvestFest at Woods Valley, Groovesafe will receive a portion of ticket sales from the weekend event, which features Rob Compa of Dopapod and Hayley Jane, among others.
Jazz and Microbits will occur every Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. The schedule for October features world jazz trio BeBimBop (10/2), Newark-based trumpeter James Gibbs III (10/9), renowned guitarist Paul Meyers and Brazilian percussionist Nanny Assis (10/16), guitarist Bob Devos and bassist Steve LaSpina (10/23), and pianist Oscar Perez (10/30). Click here for directions.
Riverview Jazz, the producers of the Jersey City Jazz Festival, have announced a new intimate jazz series in Kearny Point, NJ. In partnership with Sprig Market Cafe and Kearny Point, each Wednesday in the month of October will bring an evening of delectable bites, bespoke cocktails, and world-class jazz music.
“We are very excited to bring some great jazz to the town of Kearny. We toured the industrial space at Kearny Point and immediately saw the potential for presenting music,” says Riverview Jazz Executive Director Bryan Beninghove. “The food and drinks at Sprig are top-notch, there’s a wealth of amazing musicians in the area, and the vibe is really hip. We’re excited!” RiverviewJazz.Org is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Admission to Kearny Jazz is free with a tasting menu offered for $25/person.
The Massry Center at The College of Saint Rose has unvieled their 2019-20 season, featuring the Wooten Brothers, Martha Redbone, Martin Sexton, Dallas Brass, Milk Carton Kids and Kat Edmonson. The acoustically incredible Kathleen McManus Picotte Recital Hall and other concert spaces play host to a full slate of musical performances during the year, including orchestral works, chamber music, Latin jazz, zydeco, and more. The calendar also features several performances by Saint Rose Camerata in October, February and March.
Martha Redbone – Saturday, October 12
Martha Redbone is one of today’s most vital voices in American Roots music. A multi award-winning musician, the charismatic songstress with the magnificent voice is celebrated for her tasty gumbo of roots music embodying the folk and mountain blues sounds of her childhood in the Appalachian hills of Kentucky mixed with the eclectic grit of her teenage years in pre-gentrified Brooklyn. With the power of her gospel singing African-American father’s voice and the determined spirit of her Cherokee/Shawnee/Choctaw mother, Redbone broadens all boundaries of Americana.
Saint Rose Camerata – Saturday, October 26 – George Crumb’s 90th Birthday Celebration
Saint Rose Camerata honors American composer George Crumb for his 90th birthday (b. October 24th, 1989. The concert includes a group of songs from his early period, works for amplified instruments, and the use of extended techniques. Written in 1969 during the Apollo 11 flight, Night of the Four Moons features extracted texts from poems by Federico Garcia Lorca and an unusual ensemble combination of mezzo-soprano with flute, electric cello, banjo, and an array of ethnic percussion instruments. Celestial Mechanics [Makrokosmos IV], a piano masterpiece of twentieth century, will be performed with special lighting and projected images.
Dallas Brass – Saturday, November 9
Founded in Dallas, TX in 1983 by Michael Levine, the Dallas Brass has become one of America’s foremost musical ensembles. The group has established a unique blend of traditional brass instruments with a full complement of drums and percussion, which creates a performing entity of extraordinary range and musical challenges. They play an eclectic mix of classical masterpieces, Dixieland, swing, Broadway, Hollywood and patriotic music, all with their own unique and sometimes very comical twist!
Milk Carton Kids – Saturday, December 7
The Milk Carton Kids are a neo-traditional folk duo from Los Angeles, California. Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan-formed harmonized vocals and tightly entwined guitar lines might conjure shades of the Everly Brothers or Simon & Garfunkel, but their music has a unique American roots-folk flavor. Their witty onstage banter snaps as crisply as their guitar licks. They’re known on the road for their adversarial, Smothers Brothers-evoking comedic banter as well as their virtuosic guitar skills.
Saint Rose Camerata – Saturday, February 15 – Nineteenth and Twentieth-Century Chamber Music
Saint Rose Camerata presents 19th and 20th– century chamber music including a cello sonata by Beethoven (2020 marks the year of his 250th birthday anniversary), works by Dvořák, Martinů, and American composer Juliana Hall.
Wooten Brothers – Sunday, March 1
Victor Wooten, a five-time Grammy Award-winning artist and a founding member of the eclectic group Bela Fleck and the Flecktones,has also been playing with his brothers for over four decades. They are recognized as some of the most innovative musicians in existence and are collectively known as one of the most talented and dynamic band of brothers the world has ever known
Saint Rose Camerata – Saturday, March 28th Season Finale: Saint Rose Composers and Façade by Walton
Season Finale: Saint Rose Camerata presents a new work about Chilean artist Violeta Parra by Emily Pinkerton, Assistant Professor of Music Industry, and a work for voice and guitar by American composer Domenic Argento. The program also includes Façade: An Entertainment by British composer William Walton. The work is a clever and entertaining combination of recited poems by Edith Sitwell and Walton’s instrumental music. Saint Rose Camerata will perform selected movements from the collection of over forty poems, which were assembled between 1922 and 1928.
Kat Edmonson – Saturday, April 25
Kat Edmonson forged her sound, an unusually charming and seamless blend of old and new, performing in small rooms and clubs before touring worldwide and performing with the likes of Lyle Lovett, Chris Isaak, and more. She has emerged as one of the most distinctive performers in contemporary American music. With a sweetly mellifluous soprano echoing Blossom Dearie’s lighter-than-air approach as well as her gift for evocative songwriting, Kat is a rare artist who embodies the spirit of the past while remaining resolutely au courant.
Martin Sexton – Saturday, May 16
Syracuse native Sexton got his start singing in the streets and subways of Boston in the early ’90s. Still fiercely independent and headlining venues from The Fillmore to Carnegie Hall, he has influenced a generation of contemporary artists. His songs have appeared in television series and in numerous films, though it’s his incendiary live show, honest lyrics, and vocal prowess that keep fans coming back for more.
Click here for more info on the Massry Center’s 2019-2020 season.
Presented by NYS Music, MFDF Funk Night is only $5 for two sets of fun(k) starting at 9pm at Nietzsche’s. Hosts Fantini and Frauenhofer bring a rotating cast of local, regional, and national artists each month for a night of improvised heavy funk.
The final funk night of 2019 is set for Thursday, December 21. Save the date!
The historic Cohoes Music Hall just north of Albany is hosting an incredible slate of music this fall. Built in 1874, the venue has been the hub for entertainment and culture in the Spindle City, with an ornate style, brilliant acoustics and intimate setting for shows of all genres, as well as musicals and more. All shows are all ages, with doors opening at 7pm and music starting at 8pm. Click here for more info on the shows.
Thursday, October 10 – Melvin Seals & JGB
Melvin spun his B-3 magic with the Jerry Garcia Band for 18 years and in doing so helped pioneer and define what has now become “Jam Band Music”. From blues to funk to rock to jazz, Melvin Seals serves up a tasty mix with a little R&B and gospel thrown in to spice things up. John Kadlecik will be joining the band on lead guitar.
Saturday, October 12 – Marco Benevento with special guest Mikaela Davis
Touring in support of his new record ‘Let It Slide’. Dubbed “one of the most talented keys players of our time” by CBS Radio, Benevento’s released six critically acclaimed solo albums over the last decade, performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall and Newport Jazz to Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo. “It’s safe to say that no one sees the keyboard quite like Marco Benevento’s genre-blind mashup of indie rock, jazz and skewed improvisation,” the LA Times raved, while NPR said he combines “the thrust of rock, the questing of jazz and the experimental ecstasy of jam.”
Friday, November 8th – Marc Cohn
After winning a Grammy for his soulful ballad “Walking in Memphis,” Marc Cohn solidified his place as one of this generation’s most compelling singer-songwriters, combining the precision of a brilliant tunesmith with the passion of a great soul man. Rooted in the rich ground of American rhythm and blues, soul and gospel and possessed of a deft storyteller’s pen, he weaves vivid, detailed, often drawn-from-life tales that evoke some of our most universal human feelings: love, hope, faith, joy, heartbreak.
Saturday, November 16th – North Mississippi Allstars
Founded in 1996 by brothers Luther (guitar and vocals) and Cody Dickinson (drums, piano, synth bass, programming and vocals), the now venerable blues rock band are entering their third decade. “This is a very exciting time for North Mississippi Allstars,” Cody says. “There’s been this explosion of creativity lately and it’s encouraging that for a band who has been around for twenty years now, our music is as vital and fresh as ever. It’s like the opposite of burnout — I can’t explain why but it feels totally brand new again.”
Wednesday, November 20th – Tommy Castro & Tinsley Ellis
Tinsley Ellis wears his Southern roots proudly. Born in Atlanta in 1957, he grew up in southern Florida and first played guitar at age eight. Averaging over 150 live shows a year, Ellis has played in all 50 states, as well as Canada, Europe, Australia and South America. Whether he’s out with his own band or sharing stages with major artists like Buddy Guy, The Allman Brothers, Gov’t Mule or Widespread Panic, he always digs deep and plays, as Guitar Player says, “…as if his life depended on it.”
Whether Tommy Castro is squeezing out the deepest blues or playing the funkiest soul grooves, legendary blues and soul giant Tommy Castro knows how to ignite a crowd. Over the course of his still-unfolding career, the guitarist, vocalist and songwriter has released 15 albums ranging from horn-fueled soul and R&B to piping hot blues to fiery rock ‘n’ roll.
Thursday, November 21st – Lotus with special guest Wax Future
Lotus has always been difficult to define musically; an instrumental jamband that has favored groove-based improvisation instead of gaudy solos and noodling. Influences of classic electronic dance music, funk, post-rock and dance-rock have all made their way into the Lotus sound. Approaching two decades together, Lotus has toured actively throughout the US working their way up from dingy basement clubs to world-class venues such as Red Rocks.
The Moho Collective trio will once again return to Lovin’ Cup on October 11, 2019 to celebrate the release of their new EP Akra. Ben Proctor of The Crooked North is set to provide a solo act to open the show. The Moho Collective will then be joined by a seven-piece ensemble that will include members from The Mighty High and Dry, The Eastman Jazz Ensemble and The Saplings, as attendees will enjoy hearing Akra performed in its entirety.
Lovin’ Cup is a venue located in Rochester, NY and has hosted the band’s release parties since their first in 2010. This includes the EP Soma that was released just last year. Though The Moho Collective previously spent much of their early career touring the North-East, they decided to go in a different direction and take time off to record tracks with the Temperamental Recordings label out of Geneseo, NY. Soma and Akra are both the result of this studio time, with more releases to come in the future.
Even with the trio deviating from their usual form of practicing new music live until it is perfect, staying true to form Akra is anything but stagnant. The crowd at Lovin’ Cup can expect more musical experimentation and the trio’s first ever vocal performance. Not only is Akra just as unique as the rest of their recordings but listeners will also hear guest performances from Dana Colley of Morphine and Mike Brown, owner of Temperamental Recordings.
Doors open at 7 PM with the show starting at 8 PM. Tickets are available ONLINE or at Lovin’ Cup, which includes a copy of the EP.
Aron Magner will bring his new jazz-focused side project, SPAGA, to DROM in NYC for an afternoon performance on Sunday, December 29th. The show will take place on the day-off, between the second and third nights of the Biscuits’ four-night run at Playstation Theater, offering fans a unique show to see.
The “mostly acoustic” trio, rounded out by string bassist Jason Fraticelli and drummer Matt Scarano, eschews the jam-rock/electronica fusion of the Biscuits for a more classic sound that harkens back to Magner’s jazz background. After many years focused on the exploration of improvisational jam rock with the Biscuits, Magner has returned to his Jazz roots with SPAGA. The band released a self-titled debut album over the summer which featured five original songs and a re-imagined version of The Disco Biscuits’ “Resurrection.” SPAGA played their first-ever NYC show in September at (Le) poisson rouge – check out NYS Music’s review of the show here.
Tickets are now on sale. Visit DROM for more information.
The annual Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival (DBAF) is making its way back to town this weekend from Friday, Oct. 4until Sunday, Oct. 6. The festivities—brought to you by not-for-profit organization, the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership—will be showcasing artists and art institutions that call the Brooklyn Cultural District their home. The Plaza at Ashland is the host for the event, located at Flatbush and Lafayette avenue—downtown Brooklyn’s newest public space in the heart of the Brooklyn cultural district. Artists and art organizations will be offering free classes, tours, and other free outdoor programming, with performances and showings also scheduled.
Each day of the festival contains specific activities for the public to enjoy. The itinerary is as follows:
On Friday, the festivities kick-off at 5:00 p.m., with a dance party with DJ collective Soul Summit Music and a performance by Soul Tigers Marching Band.
The following day, officially recognized as DBAF Community Day, festivities will run from 11:00 a.m. until 6:55 p.m. Activities will range from a drum circle, dance classes, workshops with instrumentalists, conversation with DBAF leaders and to end the night, there will be a showing of the Spike Lee semi-autobiographical cult-classic, Crooklyn.
To cap off the festival weekend on Sunday, activities will run from 12-5 p.m. With live dance, hip-hop and story-telling performances and to end this year’s BDAF festivities, Brooklyn’s own and hip-hop legend, Talib Kweli sets the backdrop for the Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival Finale. Along with a pop-up of Nkiru Books, Brooklyn’s oldest African-American bookstore.
For more information on the Brooklyn Downtown Arts Festival visit their website.
