Bandcamp announced their plans to waive their revenue on September 4, 2020 from midnight to midnight Pacific Time to support musicians facing hardships during COVID-19. The music company plans to keep waiving their revenue for these first Friday of the month days for the rest of the year.
According to the Crack Magazine when Bandcamp withdrew its fees for a day back in March as a promotional act people ended up buying $3 million worth of music in 24 hours. Since then BandCamp has continued these waved revenue days periodically including a 3 month stretch back in May, June, July of this year as a move intended to help independent artists and labels, who are being affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Bandcamp’s website since the pandemic hit in March, people have bought more than $75 million worth of music and merchandise directly from artists and labels, and to date, fans have paid artists over half a billion dollars on Bandcamp.
Bandcamp started waving it’s revenue on the first of the month back in May saying, “To keep supporting musicians during the Covid-19 pandemic, we are waiving our revenue share on all sales this Friday, May 1, from midnight to midnight PDT. Let’s come together as a community to put money directly into artists’ pockets” via their Twitter page.
To keep supporting musicians during the Covid-19 pandemic, we are waiving our revenue share on all sales this Friday, May 1, from midnight to midnight PDT. Let’s come together as a community to put money directly into artists' pockets: https://t.co/hPhgm7WBR4pic.twitter.com/DG6KYI2IN5
Bandcamp announced plans to continue the first Friday revenue waiving until the end of the year considering the pandemic is far from over. The following dates will continue this first Friday tradition: September 4, 2020, October 2, 2020, November 6, 2020 and December 4, 2020.
New York favorites to check out and support on September 4
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad are a Western New York favorite by reggae fans. They formed in 2011 and are based out of Rochester. Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad’s sixth studio album MAKE IT BETTER was released September 16, 2016 on Rootfire Cooperative and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae Chart. Their newest single “Good Love” released on February 7, 2020 is available for $0.99 on Bandcamp along with more of their content.
Aqueous is another Western New York favorite hailing from Buffalo New York. They have a devoted following for their indie-jam rock sound. They have recently made it into the national music scene due to their unique way of performing where no two shows are ever the same. They enjoy blurring the lines between a multitude of styles and genres. Their latest live performance for the Live From Out There streaming performances are available on BandCamp for each song for around $5 along with more of their content.
Consider the Source is another favorite from New York City. Consider the Source is an instrumental trio formed in 2004. They are self acclaimed SiFi/ MiddleEaster/ Fusion sound that breaks normal genre concepts. The group has released five studio albums, two live albums, and one compilation album. They have become widely known especially by Radiohead fans for their Radiohead inspired performances. Their latest album You Are Literally A Metaphor was dropped in 2019 and is available on Bandcamp for $10 along with more of their content.
For more information on Bandcamp and their first Friday revenue waiving visit their website.
LOCKN’ Festival is officially being postponed to October 1-3, 2021 due to COVID-19. The festival had originally planned to take place in June 19-21 of 2020, was delayed to October 2-4 of 2020 in hopes the virus would subside, but was officially postponed until 2021 on August 29, 2020.
The 8th annual LOCKN’ Festival will take place at Infinity Downs & Oak Ridge Farm on LOCKN’s 387-acre property located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Arrington, VA. The LOCKN’ 2021 festival will mark an all-star celebration of Phil Lesh’s upcoming 81st birthday, with the legendary musician performing alongside an array of famous friends and special guests over the three-day event. There will also be a special “Steal Your Thursday” which will kick off the festival weekend on Thursday, September 30, 2021.
A complete artist lineup and additional ticket information will be announced soon. Individuals who already purchased LOCKN’ 2020 tickets can obtain a full refund for tickets and camping accommodations or choose to have their ticket rollover to LOCKN’ 2021. LOCKN’ 2020 purchasers transferring their order to LOCKN’ 2021 will receive one free access voucher for all three crowdless performances from the LOCKN’ site by Joe Russo’s Almost Dead on October 2-4, 2020. There will be a lot of additional benefits applied per ticket type, with VIP Ticket Holders and Super VIP Ticket Holders will receive an invitation to a private celebration at LOCKN’ 2021 with complimentary food and beverages, along with some surprise guests. Super VIP Ticket Holders will also get a very special ride on the Main Stage turntable. GA ticket holders who rollover will also be entered to win a VIP ticket and camping upgrades for LOCKN’ 2021.
For people who are looking for a refund on their LOCKN’ 2020 tickets instead of a rollover can request a full refund of the total purchase price, including all fees. Requests must be made by September 27, 2020 by 11:59 PM EST. Refunds will be processed in as little as 30 days following the deadline; refunds will be issued to the ticket holder’s original method of payment. If no selection is made by September 27, 2020 orders will automatically roll over to 2021.
There is also the option for LOCKN’ 2020 ticket holders to donate their current ticket to LOCKN’ if they are unable to attend in 2021 to help to ensure another year of music and family on the farm. A portion of the face value of all donated ticket sales will be given to HeadCount to support its mission of promoting participation in democracy by registering voters at live and virtual events. For complete details on how to rollover tickets, request a refund, or donate LOCKN’ 2020 tickets, visit here.
For more information on LOCKN’ Festival 2021 visit their website.
In My Elements, created by Elements Festival, has announced their fall edition and will attempt to recreate the concept of the Elements Festival in a smaller, more intimate environment. This fall installment will take place on September 25 – 28 on Lake Como in Pennsylvania.
In My Elements festivities will focus on the safety of attendees by being a tested and contained retreat. The festival, in addition to onsite cleaning and safety protocols, will require all guests, staff and vendors to participate in an advance 2-part COVID-19 test prior to entry and will limit attendance to 250 people following PA outdoor gathering limits.
The festivities will include music for techno and house devotees as well as intimate stages where guests will be able to experience the sounds from their Air and Water stages. There will also be special programming with daily yoga and meditation sessions and wellness activities held in open-air environments, to help calm the mind and cleanse the spirit. Exciting art installations and wild shows. The festival will be located in forests and lakefront settings giving guests a peaceful place to explore.
In My Elements full lineup includes: Wax Motif, Eli (Soul Clap), Sacha Robotti, Desert Hearts: Lee Reynolds + Porky, Gene Farris, J.Phlip, Golf Clap, Westend, The Golden Pony, Alexander:Louis, Cakewalk, Dastan, Kate Stein, Koop, Late London, Nacho Isa, Papyon, Ria Bird, Ryssa, TMBER, with more regional DJs to be announced.
The TCR 2-Part Testing Model required by attendees will work by first In the week leading up to the retreat, people will take a test at one of their certified testing locations in multiple cities. Results will be reported before the retreat. Although testing kits may vary depending on location, the preferred test is the Mako Medical TaqPath COVID-19 Combo Assay with 100% PPA and 100% NPA. At home mail-in tests are available as an add-on to tickets for an additional fee. The second part of the two part testing is that when guests arrive on site, their cars will be guided into distanced parking spaces where they will take an active COVID-19 rapid test. Results will be received in about 30 minutes and guests will be directed into the event grounds. This test will be a Sofia 2 SARS Antigen FIA with 96.7% PPA and 100% NPA sensitivity, manufactured by Quidel.
General admission passes are now on sale and can be purchased here. This time around the In My Element guests have the option of camping or cabin packages, including a deluxe cabin apartment option. Camping passes are currently sold out and cabins are following close behind. If there’s another lockdown, or the gathering is cancelled for any reason, they will issue full, automatic refunds of all tickets and credit card fees, no questions asked.
For more information visit In My Elements website.
Hamilton Leithauser announced his record release party will be held on a virtual platform for his upcoming record, Live! at Café Carlyle LP. The record release party is taking place on September 12, at 8PM EST.
Hamilton Leithauser is an american singer-songwriter best known for being the lead vocalist of the American indie rock band The Walkmen. He is also widely known for his solo work like “A 1000 Times” and “Here They Come” His newest record, Live! at Café Carlyle LP, was recorded at New York City’s landmark Café Carlyle in January 2020. The Café Carlyle is known for being a luxurious, mural-lined cabaret venue at the Carlyle Hotel. It’s a high end establishment with a dress code and is known for having many celebrity appearances and originally opened in 1955.
The record release party will be broadcasted from Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY where Hamilton Leithauser will be performing the album. Levon Helm Studios was established in 1975 and is famously known as an american studio and venue founded by Levon Helm who is widely known as the drummer and one of the vocalists in The Band who played Woodstock back in 1969. Tickets to the record release show can be bought here are available now and are $15 now and $20 on the day of the show.
For more information visit Hamilton Leithauser’s website.
JazzFest White Plains announced virtual festival dates. The virtual festival will take place September 8-11 and will host a variety of artists. The 9th annual JazzFest White Plains will be streamed on Zoom and on Facebook.
The four days of Jazz will include not only performances but conversations as well. It will feature a mixture of artists at the forefront of jazz and rising stars. From Westchester jazz talent to jazz masters the festival will be something spectacular for Jazz enthusiasts. JazzFest White Plains are teaming up with the spirit of Arts Westchester’s annual ArtsBash.
The festivities will start at 4:30 – 5:30PM on September 8 with the “ArtsBash Virtual Mixology” event making Jägermeister cocktails and live jazz music by The Rico Jones Trio. Then at 6PM there will be a “presenting Jazz in the time of COVID-19” conversation. At 8PM the night will wrap up with “Westchester Jazz: Then and Now” featuring Art Bennett on sax, Kathryn Farmer on piano and vocals, Kenny Lee on trumpet, and Rocky Middleton on bass.
The second day will start at noon on September 9 with a performance form “Isabella Mendes & Flavio Lira Duo.” At 6PM there will be “Jazz Education in Westchester” conversation. Wrapping up at 8PM the “Jazz, From One Generation to the Next” event will happen featuring conversations and performances by Alexis Cole and Lucy Wijnands, Bobby Sanabria and Gabrielle Garo, and Ulysses Owens Jr. and Aaron Jennings.
On the third day September 10 the fun will start bright and early at 8AM with “Jazz at the Intersections” performances featuring Amir ElSaffar with an Arabic music and jazz combination, Jomion & the Uklos with a West African/Carribean music and jazz combination, and Pablo Mayor with a Columbian music and jazz combination.
On the last day September 11 the festival will wrap up at 8PM with “Jazz’s Rising Stars” featuring performances of Connie Han on piano, Matthew Whitaker on piano, Veronica Swift on vocals, and Alicia Olatuja on vocals. There will also be a moderated discussion about what it’s like to be a young rising star in jazz today which will be moderated by Keanna Faircloth, WBGO.
The festival is free to the public but is accepting donations online here. People wanting to register for certain events to get the zoom link can do so on JazzFest White Plains’ website. The events will also all be live streamed on Arts Westchester’s Facebook Page.
For more information visit JazzFest White Plains’ website.
SummerStage Jubilee was announced by City Parks Foundations to benefit free programming in the park. The benefit will take place on September 17, 2020 at 8PM across different virtual platforms. The benefit will include performances from big names like Sting, Norah Jones, and Trey Anastasio and an appearance from Billie Jean King.
The 2020 SummerStage Jubilee Benefit Concert will help support the free parks programs and ensure they can continue. The City Parks Foundation is the largest presenter of free arts and cultural programs in New York City parks. They serve 300,000 New Yorkers each year through arts, education, sports and community building initiatives. The fundraising being done through the SummerStage Jubilee event will help fund free tennis and golf instruction, experiential, science-based lessons, buying tools and bulbs for volunteers to beautify local parks, providing training, microgrants, and coaching to facilitate their local advocacy. Donations will also help ensure SummerStage, New York City’s largest free music festival, and SummerStage Anywhere, its virtual festival, will remain free and available to all New Yorkers. At a time when public programs have been upended, destroyed, and cancelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, the city’s parks have remained open as some of the only public assets available to all still in these trying times.
David Barse, City Parks Foundation Board Chairman spoke about the SummerStage Jubilee Benefit Concert saying, “This benefit concert will help support the important work that the City Parks Foundation does in every community, park and green space we serve in New York City. Although the concert is free, as is our usual SummerStage festival, we hope that viewers will feel motivated to support our work and make donations to keep that work going during these challenging times.”
The benefit will last an hour and will highlight the various City Parks Foundation programs. SummerStage Jubilee will feature musical performances by Sting, Norah Jones, Trey Anastasio, Rufus Wainwright, Leslie Odom Jr., Rosanne Cash, Emily King, PJ Morton and others to be announced on top of notable advocates for CPF’s work including tennis icon BillieJean King.
https://youtu.be/BQE9IqKPMAA
The benefit festival can be viewed across all SummerStage social platforms (Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and Twitch) via live stream on Thursday, September 17 at 8PM EST. Donations can be made on the SummerStage website.
For more information on the event visit the City Park Foundations website.
Beau Fleuve Music & Art Festival announced it’s 2020 Lineup for it’s 4th annual festival. The festival will take place on August 30 from 10AM-8PM and will be held virtually this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Beau Fleuve Music & Art Festival takes place at City of Buffalo and celebrates all genres of music, arts and culture. The festival strides to be unique and trendsetting while bridging the gap between generations, communities and cultures. This year’s festivities will be a mixture of live, pre-recorded, and interactive content featuring some of Wester New York’s favorite artists, musicians, curators, and community stakeholders. Annual Beau Fleuve Music & Arts Festival might be on the virtual screen this year but it will continue it’s traditions of an all day celebration exhibiting a “Mind, Body & Soul” Concept utilizing our platforms to speak to the state of our community, society and self.
The festival will start at 10AM with an interactive art gallery called the “La Maison Des Arts.” Throughout the virtual art gallery attendees can literally walk through and purchase art from Western New York’s finest artist. Gallery will feature paintings by artists and visual content. At 12PM there will be a yoga session called the “Yoga Fleuve.”. Attendees will be led by certified yoga instructor Taminka Jones as she guides you through a mental elevation to be liberated and conscious. Rounding in at 2PM the “Buffalo Then & Now” discussion will take place. These discussions will be amongst Buffalo & Western New York Community Stakeholders on the current state of our society, Buffalo past & present, arts community and more. At 4PM there will be the Black Art’ appreciation section titled “Black Art.” The festival is bringing Buffalo and Western New York’s black community to the table to talk about the appreciation for black art & artists, its influence, disparities, and more. At 6PM there will be a performance/ visual art exhibit by Edreys Wajed aka Billy Drease Williams called “Check out my melody?” Wrapping up the festival at 8PM there will be a performance by Curtis Lovell featuring Naila Ansari called the “Night with Beau Fleuve.”
Beau Fleuve Music & Art Festival can be attended via their social media platforms on Instagram and on Facebook.
For more info visit Beau Fleuve Music & Art Festival’s website.
Ticketed music events will now be banned at bars, restaurants, and similar venues in the state of New York due to new coronavirus guidelines for Stage 3 and 4 reopening for licensed on premise establishments released on August 18, 2020. These new guidelines prohibit these establishments in NY from offering live music that customers pay for separately.
The Hollow, Albany – photo by Zach Culver.
Not only do they prohibit ticketing music events but prohibit any events where a patron has to buy a ticket. On top of that it prohibits venues from advertising live entertainment. These new guidelines will bring all events that have been planned by venues to a screeching halt. Music will be allowed at establishments but has to be “incidental” music according to the rules posted in Q&A format on the State Liquor Authority website. Incidental music basically means music can be at performed at establishments but it can’t be advertised and promoted as a reason people should go to the establishment.
“Restaurants and other on premises food and beverage establishments that have a license through the SLA are only allowed to offer on-premise music if their license certificate specifically allows for such activity (i.e., live music, DJ, recorded, etc.). A manufacturer that has an on premises license also must assure that its on premises license certificate specifically allows for the type of music it is offering. A manufacturer without a separate on premises license may offer music unless its license certificate specifically prohibits such music.
If offering music, indoors or out, all relevant aspects of the respective Department of Health guidance dining must be followed, e.g., patrons should not be standing except for necessary reasons (e.g., restroom, entering/exiting), standing patrons should wear face coverings, etc. Performers should be at least 12 feet from patrons.
All other forms of live entertainment, such as exotic dancing, comedy shows, karaoke etc., are not permissible currently regardless of phase.
Additionally, please note that only incidental music is permissible at this time. This means that advertised and/or ticketed shows are not permissible. Music should be incidental to the dining experience and not the draw itself.”
New York State Phase 3/4 Guidelines for Licensed On-Premises Establishments Answer for “Can I have live entertainment or a DJ in my indoor or outdoor dining area?”
This new coronavirus guidelines will disproportionately hurt musicians and venue operators. Many musicians depend on ticketed events for income. Many bars and venues depend on special music events to pay the bills. According the New York Upstate article Julie Leone, who is co-owner of The 443 Social Club & Lounge on Burnet Avenue in Syracuse had spoken to a State Liquor Authority enforcement officer August 18 and, “Was told the agency could automatically suspend the liquor licenses for any venues found to be advertising shows. That seems to be different from regular enforcement, in which officers physically visit the venues to verify non-compliance.”
To many, this guideline seems shocking, unfair, and far out of left field. It will effectively shut down many establishments again that have only recently been able to reopen. These guidelines were implemented with the intention to try to keep people from mingling for prolonged periods of time to help contain the spread of the virus by Governor Andrew Cuomo and other state officials but to musicians and venue operators it feels like an attack on the music industry.
Funk n’ Waffles, Syracuse – photo by Josh Davis.
Dave Ehmann, owner and founder at Adirondack Independence Music Festival elaborated on his feelings about this implementation of these guidelines on his Facebook page saying, “I don’t know about anyone else but I feel like someone needs to hear enough is enough with this bullshit. This is nothing more than a straight up attack on the music industry. Why aren’t we yelling louder and pushing back? It’s gone way past being safe into straight up nonsense. Peaceful protests are in order here.”
The Haunt, Ithaca – photo by Casey Martin
Adam Gold, owner of Syracuse’s well know Funk ‘n Waffles gave his two cents on the new guidelines saying, “I was under the impression these were the regulations anyways. For me it was more of a reminder: ‘By the way, you still can’t do anything (music-wise). We aren’t currently having any indoor dining, even with it being technically allowed for several weeks now. It seems the one thing experts tell you to avoid doing is being near a bunch of strangers in a building for more than an hour.’”
Jarrett Hartstone, promoter at Hartstone Productions, feels that safety is paramount and guidelines should not limit live music performances.
Having closely followed this entire pandemic since the beginning, I fully believe in the need for reopening guidelines in order to keep people safe and control the spread of COVID-19. That said, I think that this latest order by the State and SLA saying that establishments can’t advertise live music and that it has to be “incidental” takes it step too far.
As long as an establishment is operating within the safety guidelines (ie; maintaining social distancing, requiring face coverings, frequently disinfecting, even making people remain seated at tables if need be), there is no reason why they can’t safely host live music and advertise it to help generate business to their already reduced-capacity establishment.
While safety measures are indeed critical to controlling the spread of the virus, so is the need to give businesses (in this case musicians, music venues, bars and restaurants) a fighting chance to survive.
If an establishment isn’t operating within the safety guidelines, by all means, issue a violation. But the focus should be on whether or not they are operating safely, which has nothing to do with advertising and hosting a particular band.
Jarrett Hartstone, Hartstone Productions
Corey Rossoff, owner of the Monopole in Plattsburgh, feels awful for musicians and bands who rely on live performances for income. He divulged on this saying, “I feel bad for all the musicians. We have cancelled all of our live music due to social distancing being impossible with a band playing. Everyone wants to be near the stage. We cancelled open mic because of all different people having to share instruments. We don’t even have the upstairs where bands play even open. With no end in immediate site I just have told bands there is no sense booking anything at this point. We have the downstairs open at reduced capacity at this time. This was even before this information was emailed to us from the SLA a couple of days ago. We don’t charge covers when we do have live music but under this ruling we could not even have any live music. So as I said I don’t know what avenue all the musicians have to make an income so I feel awful for all the many bands everywhere.”
If you are part of an independent music scene in New York State and would like to comment on this story, email nora@nysmusic.com.
LarkFest is a well known Albany tradition loved by it’s community for bringing guests from all over, vendors, artists, and musicians to the Lark Street Corridor in Albany. Unfortunately, this year the festivities have been cancelled due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. The festival was scheduled to happen on September 19, 2020 from 10:30AM -5:30PM.
Lark fest is put on by the Lark Street Business Improvement District. It is a celebration of everything unique and exciting about Lark Street and the creative culture of the greater Capital Region of New York. LarkFest was cancelled this year due to the inability to keep attendees safe which is the festival’s highest priority. On top of the inability to keep people socially distancing and safe, the restrictions on mass gatherings make it impossible to make LarkFest happen this year.
The team behind LarkFest encourages people to continue to safely support the artists, musicians, businesses, and vendors that make this event so special each year despite it being cancelled this year. LarkFest plans to be back and booming in 2021. Until then, there are a few local arts & cultural organizations that are so critical to the foundation of what makes their community unique and beautiful the team behind LarkFest want to point people in the direction to support. These organizations include African American Cultural Center, Albany Center Gallery, Albany Symphony Orchestra, Creative Impact Capital Region Artist Fund, Irish American Heritage Museum, Palace Theatre.
For more information on LarkFest visit their website.
Start Making Sense announced their plans to perform at the Jericho Drive-In Glenmont, NY on August 28, 2020 at 7PM. The show will follow social distancing guidelines with attendees staying in their cars and will be followed by a showing of the film The Big Lebowski at 9PM.
Start Making Sense is a Talking heads tribute band that even Bernie Worrel, the keyboardist for Talking Heads and a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member, thinks the band does a great job recreating the Talking Heads’ music. Worrel said, “To all you listeners… This is an appropriate title — Start Making Sense. This band makes plenty of sense to me, and is a great representation of Talking Heads’ music. So listen up and go check them out!”
Tickets are on sale now here and include three different tiers of pricing according to the tiers of parking. Advance pricing on the first three rows will cost $80 a car load. Rows four through six are for sale for $70 a car load with the advance pricing. And lastly rows seven through thirteen will cost $60 per car load with the advance pricing. Each car load can have up to four people at that price with an additional $10 more per person over 4 to be paid at the gate. Day of show pricing is an additional $10 more per vehicle. Doors open at 6PM.
For more information on Start Making Sense visit their website. For more information on the show visit the Jericho Drive-In’s website.
