NYC based electro-indie/pop quartet Young Thieves released their new EP ‘Darker Dreams.’
Produced by Matt Squire, (Panic! at the Disco, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry) the pop anthem tracks provide the perfect backdrop for powerhouse vocals to reside with synth laden songs.
Young Thieves are new to the scene, but continue to rise with the help of all four bandmates; Alexandra Amor (vocals/songwriting), Dmitry Libman (guitar/keyboards/production), Andrew Lynch (guitar/keyboards) and Johnny Coryn (drums).
The Material World Foundation, founded by George Harrison, has created The Inner Light Challenge to help organizations such as MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund, Save the Children, and Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) who provide care to those affected by the pandemic.
The Inner Light Challenge has asked people to share a verse, chorus, or line from The Beatles song ‘The Inner Light’ and post it to social media using the hashtag #innerlight2020. The Material World Foundation will give another $1 (up to $100,000) to help those affected by the virus for every person that posts using the hashtag #innerlight2020.
The Chenango Blues Association announced on their website that their 2020 summer festival will be cancelled. The festival which was originally scheduled for Friday August 21 through Saturday August 22 is postponed to next year. Statements from the association can be seen below.
We agonized over this, and we held out as long as we could , but we have arrived at the conclusion that there is no responsible way to move forward with any of our planned events for 2020. We are all as disappointed as we know you are, and it was difficult to contact all our artists and break the news. At this point in events no one was very surprised, and everyone shared the belief that it was the safe and reasonable thing to do. Our artists, our volunteers and of course all our fellow music lovers mean the world to us and the thought of an event that would put anyone’s well being at risk was reason enough to take pause. An event next year where we will all be present to enjoy it means a lot more than rushing in to something we don’t understand well enough to prepare for. We like all of you too much to do that! It came as quite a blow to have to do this but I have to tell you-we were uplifted by the many kind words of vendors, volunteers and artists about how much the event means to them and how excited they were to participate next year. In fact, most of our artists have already agreed to perform at the 2021 Fest, and we are all thrilled to death because we thought it might be our best lineup yet! Hope to see you all next year-it will be bigger and better than ever. Until then-wash your hands, cover your face and stay safe!
While the Chenango Blues Fest is off for 2020, check out NYS Music’s coverage of past Blues Fests from 2019.
The State Theatre of Ithaca, in partnership with DSP has announced a free live-stream in honor of Bob Dylan’s birthday on Sunday, May 24 at 8 PM. The live-stream will feature a bunch of different artists from Central New York and even some largely well known artists. All proceeds from The Bob Dylan Birthday Salute will go to supporting the participating local and national touring artists that have lost their income and livelihood during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bob Dylan’s birthday is on May 24 and he’ll be turning 79. Dylan is one of America’s top all time artists and is considered one of the most original and influential voices in music history. He is a legendary singer-songwriter that has won Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy awards, as well as the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Nobel Prize for Literature. Although he won’t be performing himself, the show will be in the spirit of Bob Dylan.
The birthday celebration will feature performances from Joan Baez, Sam Harris from the X Ambassadors, Billy Strings, Sarah Jarosz, Eilen Jewell, Aoife O’Donovan w/ Eric and Colin Jacobsen, Chris Smither, Tommy Siegel from Jukebox The Ghost, Steve Forbert, Miss Tess & Thomas Bryan Eaton from Miss Tess & The Talkbacks, Maddy Walsh & Mike Suave from Maddy Walsh & The Blindspots, Joe Crookston, and Jim Miller from Western Centuries.
The State Theater of Ithaca is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization who relies on donations from the community on top of it’s ticket sales to keep its doors open. Donations will go to the artists as well as covering the production expenses that go into creating the live-stream. DSP Shows also known as Dan Smalls Productions, is a staple promoter who largely works out of central New York. Dan Smalls played a significant role earlier this month in organizing the John Prine live-stream tribute with The State Theatre.
People can view the live-stream on the State Theatre of Ithaca’s Facebook page as well as their YouTube channel starting at 8:00 PM EST on Sunday, May 24. For more information visit the State Theater’s website or DSP website.
NYC Nightlife United launches an emergency relief fund that will help musicians and small businesses stay afloat amidst COVID-19 crisis. NYC Nightlife United is partnering with not-for-profit The Solo Foundation whose focus is to bring awareness about social issues revolving around the arts and will help deliver the money raised to those who receive the grant.These organizations are attempting to keep safe spaces, nightclubs, venues, and small businesses from closing while helping promoters, musicians, comedians, sound techs, bar staff, and DJs with having an income still during these difficult times.
NYC Nightlife United is focused on what it calls ‘the ecosystem’ of NYC which is basically businesses and individuals who are key players in the nightlife in NYC. The people whose livelihood is dependent on entertainment that is defined as music, comedy or performances within the 5 boroughs of NYC and make NYC the cultural center it is known for.
Businesses who are looking to apply must meet the criteria of being within the 5 boroughs of NYC, making under $150,000 in revenue per month or having under 50 employees, providing evidence they create an substantial amount of programming being either music, comedy or performances, must be in financial hardship from COVID-19 and must be able to supply letters of recommendation from one from staff member (preferably a manager), from one talent, and from one patron. Those who meet the criteria are potentially eligible for up to $20,000 of relief funds.
Individuals who are looking to apply must be able to prove having had a gig canceled or postponed due to COVID-19. Applicants can include musicians, talent, artists, engineers, and ect. Either individuals or individuals representing a collective like a band or comedy group for example can apply. Those who are able to fit this criteria are potentially eligible for up to $5,000 of relief funds.
The relief fund applications will be due in two phases. The first phase will be small business venue owners on June 5th. The second phase will be individuals of ‘the ecosystem’ on July 5th. Funds will be distributed to as many applicants as possible but not every applicant will get funded. Those who meet the criteria best will be chosen and funded on a nondiscriminatory basis by The Solo Foundation staff. All applicants who are selected will be notified by email.
People can help support the cause by donating through NYC Nightlife United’s website. All donations are fully tax-deductible and will help keep NYC’s nightlife alive.
For more information please visit NYC Nightlife United’s website.
On June 1, Cousin Earth will release their new single worldwide for their newest song, “Bacon, Cat Food & Cheese.” The track, which was recorded last summer and mixed and mastered in quarantine will be available on all streaming platforms and accompanied by an absurdist video featuring the individual band members in quarantine. The video debuts three days early at Noon on Friday, May 29 via Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and NYSMusic.com, along with an audio pre-release on Cousin Earth’s Bandcamp.
That night, band will also stream an online Zoom meeting dubbed “Bacon, Cat Food & Chill” at 8pm on Monday, June 1, with special guests expected, and hosted by Wendy LaManque of The Whistles.
The song, clocking in at nearly 8 minutes, showcases all the things fans have come to love about Cousin Earth: layered vocal harmonies, extended improvisation, and humorous lyrics. “Bacon, Cat Food & Cheese” recently entered the band’s repertoire, juxtaposing a down tempo funk song with an upbeat dance-jam vehicle. It was also featured in several shows as a quirky but party-hard late set jammer.
The lyrical concept started as an inside joke, that became a meme, that became a ridiculous song about the internal strife of eating a sandwich that could definitely be better. At a time when so much is uncertain in the world, Cousin Earth took a silly moment from tour and turned it into a metaphor about life that seems all-too-fitting right now. Without gigs to support them, this Zappa-esque project shows no remorse in pointing out the absurdity in our current isolation as a society.
“Bacon Cat Food & Cheese” was written by Cousin Earth and recorded at Call Hollow Studios in Pomona, NY. in the summer of 2019 with engineering by Matthew Einsidler and Ryan Liatsis.
Electronic Artist i_o released his new song “Annihilation,” part of his third installment titled AM 444 of his 444 album series. This song features Canadian alt-pop artist Lights and has reached #2 on iTunes electronic chart. The AM 444 installment is based on what the world feels like around 4am when the lines between night and day become foggy, and night turns into day, the world just before dawn.
i_o’s 444 album series was named for an obscure New York City underground venue. The 444 album is part of a three-part series of four tracks each as a nod to the number this series nodding to the number four. i_o uses each installment of 444 album series to project his own feelings about the different areas of dance music that he feels defines him as an artist. The first two installments were ACID 444 and NRG 444. ACID 444 was released back in late 2019 and was all about his warehouse roots meanwhile NRG was released in early 2020 and was more of an upbeat, peak of the night, collection of songs.
On AM 444 i_o is joined by Lights on all tracks and highlights his production skills on the more melodic and progressive side. Although “Annihilation” is the only track dropped so far from the AM 444 installment you can already see it making nods to his production value and melodic rhythms. The song’s repetitive and trancelike beats in combination with the ebb and flow of vocals between i_o and Lights really reflects the feeling of 4AM when you are still out dancing just letting the music flow through you which the entire section will be focusing on.
The rest of the AM 444 installment is due to drop on May 29th on mau5trap. For more information on i_o and his 444 album visit mau5trap’s website. For more information on Lights visit her website.
May 18th may be just any other day of the year for most of the world, but for the extended Capital Region in New York, it is a day of celebration. 518 Day highlights the variety of local music that has been a defining part of this expansive region of New York State.
The 518 region stretches all the way from the Canadian border to the Mid-Hudson region, borders with Vermont, and covers more than 12,000 square miles across 17 counties of New York. Area code 518 was established on January 1st, 1947 and has a population of more than 1.3 million residents, with major cities that include Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga Springs, Lake George, Plattsburgh, Saranac Lake, and Troy among others.
The 518 has become it’s own cultural hub and is known particularly for it’s great local music scenes. A great deal of artists come from the 518 region and call it home, including Blotto, Madison Vandenburg, Wild Adriatic, Blind Owl Band, Sawyer Fredericks, Eastbound Jesus, Ominous Seapods, moe., Glass Pony and many, many more.
518 music is being celebrated by Radio Radio X who are running an all day show from 5AM to midnight tonight featuring local music from the 518 area. There will be a pause for Big Ed’s Little Rock and Roll show at 7PM and a new CD by Off The Record Trio which will be played from start to finish. You can listen live online here.
Check out some videos of local 518 talent over the years
When New York hit PAUSE, that included all live performances on Broadway. Initially planned to shut down until April 12, then until June 7, the goalposts have shifted to Labor Day, September 6 as the earliest Broadway doors will reopen. However, an official return date has not yet been announced.
“While all Broadway shows would love to resume performances as soon as possible, we need to ensure the health and well-being of everyone who comes to the theatre—behind the curtain and in front of it—before shows can return,” said Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League. “Throughout this challenging time, we have been in close communication with Governor Cuomo’s office and are grateful for his support and leadership as we work together to bring back this vital part of New York City’s economy—and spirit.”
Last year, Broadway attracted a record 15 million people. Producers and labor unions are discussing ways theaters can reopen safely.
Actors’ Equity Association, which represents 51,000 actors and stage managers, called the postponment “difficult but necessary.”
“Before our members can safely return to work, we will need new protocols that protect audiences and workers alike,” said Mary McColl, executive director of the association.
Hours after the latest postponement came word that producers of the upcoming revival of Neil Simon’s “Plaza Suite” have pushed the production to next year. Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker will now star in the revival starting in March 2021.
Other shows scheduled to open this spring have abandoned their plans, including “Hangmen” and a revival of Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
Additionally, the postponedTony Awards, initially planned for June 7, have not yet been rescheduled.
With the uncertainty of when we will be able to enjoy a play on Broadway, Disney Studios is giving us another option. Announced through their twitter account today, Disney Studios will be releasing the original Broadway production of ‘Hamilton’ on July 3 to stream via Disney Plus.
Surprise! The original Broadway production of Hamilton, filmed LIVE onstage at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, is now coming exclusively to @DisneyPlus this July 3rd. Shout it to the rooftops! #Hamilfilmpic.twitter.com/s43oW0hJGc
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) May 12, 2020
The release comes 15 months early, with the original release date set for Oct. 15, 2021. Due to the continuous cancellation of live performances and social distancing protocols, the expedited release was the only course to take.
“In this very difficult time, this story of leadership, tenacity, hope, love & the power of people to unite against adversity is both relevant and inspiring,” Disney executive chairman Robert Iger said on Twitter.
Featuring the original Broadway cast, the film is based on the live performance shot at the Richard Rodgers Theater June 2016. Like the stage production, the film is directed by Thomas Kail and written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also starred as the title character in that cast.
‘Hamilton’ has risen to blockbuster status since it first graced the Broadway stages in 2015. Since then it has won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, 11 Tony Awards and grossed over $650 million on Broadway. Before the shuttering of mass gatherings started to occur, the play was also touring in London and around North America. Stream Hamilton on Disney Plus today.
