NYS Music 202​0

Tag: Jack Johnson

  • Farm Aid Announces Lineup For 35th Anniversary Virtual Festival

    Farm Aid organizers have announced that the annual benefit concert for farmers will occur this year via FANS online platform. Dubbed “Farm Aid On The Road,” this special livestream event will be available to watch on FANS.com September 26 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. EDT.

    Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews will be headlining the festival. Joining them are Bonnie Raitt and Boz Scaggs, Brandi Carlile, Black Pumas, Chris Stapleton, Jack Johnson, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff and many others.

    “This pandemic and so many other challenges have revealed how essential family farmers and ranchers are to the future of our planet,” Willie Nelson said in an official statement. “Farm Aid 2020 is going to give the whole country a chance to learn about the important work of farmers and how they’re contributing to our well-being, beyond bringing us good food.”

    Farm Aid

    Equally important are the included stories from many family farmers across America, showcasing why they farm, how they have manage to stay strong during the pandemic and where they believe the future of agriculture lays.

    Started in 1985 by Nelson, Mellencamp and Young, the festival’s mission has remained raise money and share stories from American farmers. Over the years the farm festival has made two stops in New York; Randall’s Island (2007) and a sold out day at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (2013).

    Farm Aid
    Neil Young Performing At SPAC (2013) photo by Jim Gilbert

    “Since we started in 1985, Farm Aid has kept its finger on the pulse of farm country and deployed funds and resources to help farm families confront the challenges they face,” said Executive Director Carolyn Mugar. “It’s clear that this is a critical moment for farmers and ranchers. We risk losing their important contributions to our communities and our families if we do not adequately respond as a country.”

    This year’s festival is free of charge but donations are being accepted. Farm Aid accepts donations year-round here. Visit FarmAid.org for more information.

  • “Groove Therapy” Podcast Promotes Health, Hugs, And Rock & Roll

    “Groove Therapy,” a new podcast combining live music with health and wellness, launched in late August. Produced by Osiris Media and available through Apple Podcasts and Spotify, “Groove Therapy” explores the effects music can have on our minds and bodies.

    Founded by Dr. Leah Taylor and Taraleigh Weathers, “Groove Therapy” has two episodes out with a third coming on Friday, September 4. So far, the podcast has explored the idea of “conscious partying” and interviewed Joel Cummins of jam band Umphrey’s McGee. Each episode will have a different guest, either a musician or mental health professional. Listen to the trailer below:

    “Groove Therapy” seeks to explore the collective joy of live music with an educational twist. While there’s a time and place for sex and drugs in rock and roll, “Groove Therapy” is about replicating that ectastic feeling when the lights go down at a concert in healthy and responsible ways throughout daily life. “The world needs this now more than ever. What we’re doing is really different: we’re talking about health, hugs, and rock and roll,” said Dr. Leah Taylor in the podcast’s first episode.

    Together, Leah and her co-host Taraleigh have over 35 years of experience in health and wellness. Leah has an MA in Counseling Psychology and a PhD in Mind-Body Medicine, while Taraleigh is the author of a book, How to Rock Your Life: Maintain the Magic of Live Music in Your Everyday Experience.

    “Groove Therapy”’s September 4th episode is set to feature Zach Gill, of Animal Liberation Orchestra and Jack Johnson’s band. Leah and Taraleigh promise a “long list of fun people” in future episodes. For more information about the podcast, check out the Facebook community group.