NYS Music 202​0

Tag: virtual festival

  • Wave Farm to Host Ragas Live Festival on November 21-22

    Ragas Live Festival will broadcast on November 21-22, hosted by the Brooklyn nonprofit organization Wave Farm. The virtual festival will run for 24 hours straight – from 7 p.m. on Saturday until 7 p.m. Sunday. The 24-hour broadcast will feature over 60 musicians’ global performances.

    Ragas Live Festival

    The Indian classical music tradition known as “raga” was the inspiration for the festival. A “raga” is a musical mode with its own emotions, associated with a specific time of day. The music from the raga harmonizes with changes in light and the emotions associated with a sunset, high noon, or midnight. The musical tradition helped to cultivate the concept for the festival to beam out 24 hours of “raga” to reflect the innovations within the music industry. Ragas Live Festival is in its consecutive ninth year since its start back in 2012. With the music industry having to readjust around COVID-19, Ragas Live Festival was able to transition into a first-ever broadcast for this year’s celebration.

    The Ragas Live Festival will feature performances from all around the world and fellow New York artists including; Andy Statman (Manhattan), Krishna Mohan Bhatt (Brooklyn), Arun Ramamurthy (Manhattan), Roopa Mahadevan (Brooklyn), Ask Hafiz (Manhattan), Samarth Nagarkar (Brooklyn), and more.

    International performers include Terry Riley (Himitsu, Japan), Betsayda Machado y Parranda El Clavo (El Clavo, Venezuela), Derek Gripper (Capetown, South Africa), and more. Pioneer Works, Brooklyn Raga Massive, NYC Radio Live, and the Rubin Museum of Art are all partners in presenting the event.

    Wave Farm will continue to provide support to artists with their Wave Farm Artist Residency Program coming up in February. Artists have the chance to gain valuable radio experience by applying with a specific radio art project. The deadline for the Residency applications is February 1.

    Click here to register for The Ragas Live Festival event.

  • Afro Latin Jazz Alliance to host “Notes 4 Votes” Virtual Event on October 25

    The Afro Latin Jazz Alliance will host the virtual “Notes 4 Votes” on Oct. 25 at 8:30 p.m. EST. The event will showcase jazz and classical music alongside global artists and speakers to support getting out to vote in the 2020 election. “Notes 4 Votes” will be emceed by multi-Grammy Award winner Arturo O’Farrill, journalist and critic Larry Blumenfeld, and Tracy Hyter-Suffern, Executive Director of The National Jazz Museum of Harlem. The Afro Latin Jazz Facebook Page will broadcast the event.

    Notes 4 Votes

    The “Notes 4 Votes” diverse performance list includes, Terence Blanchard, Vijay Iyer, Carla Bley, Dr. Cornel West, Oscar Hernandez, Simone Dinnerstein, Steve Swallow, Dr. Shana Redmond, Matt Shipp, The Villalobos Brothers, William Parker, Kikirikí Biquéy, Ayodele Casel, Akua Dixon, Jen Shyu, Ganavya Doraiswamy, Crystal Joseph, Tiffany Austin, Mimi Jones, Caridad “La Bruja” De La Luz, Luis Perdomo, and more.

    Nothing, nothing, nothing is more important than getting your vote in and on time. Too many of us slept on this moment four years ago and we cannot afford to let the process for change given to us by our framers, go unused. Musicians from every genre and aesthetic are lining up to show us that we must likewise unite. Let nothing stand in the way of showing the nation and the world that we can take back our destiny as a people governed by sanity and the fair application of governance that is the basis of the social contract and the foundation of the American ‘experiment!’

    Arturo O’Farrill

    The Afro Latin Jazz Alliance is a nonprofit created by Arturo O’Farrill in 2007 to promote Afro Latin Jazz through performances and education programs. Their mission is to perform, educate, and preserve the music of the Americas, starting from African and indigenous roots with the entry point of jazz. The Afro Latin Jazz Alliance is committed to social justice, equity inclusion, and equality of all cultures worldwide.

  • Bonnaroo Announces Virtual ROO-ALITY Livestream Event Sept. 24-26

    Bonnaroo releases details of Virtual ROO-ALITY, a three-night live broadcast, set for Sept.24-26 at 4:30 CT exclusively at the official Bonnaroo YouTube channel. The free virtual livestream will continue the celebration of the annual festival with a range of programming, new live performances, unique original content, and archival sets at Bonnaroo’s home at Great Stage Park in Manchester, Tennessee.

    ROO-ALITY

    The lineup of headliners for Virtual ROO-ALITY includes a diverse range of musical genres. A total of 13 performances including Dave Matthews and Friends, Metallica, The White Stripes, James Brown, My Morning Jacket, and more will headline Virtual ROO-AILITY.  Beastie Boys’ historic final concert is one highlight of the archive livestream performances. A diverse range of performances from over 35 artists will perform, including:

    • Nathaniel Rateliff
    • Chromeo
    • Big Gigantic
    • Bruce Hornsby Feat. James Mercer
    • Rob Moose & Polo G
    • Old Crow Medicine Show’s Bonnarootenanny
    • Denzel Curry
    • Lennon Stella
    • Billy Strings
    •  Action Bronson
    • CloZee
    • Moon Taxi
    • Pigeons Playing Ping Pong
    • Ingrid Andress
    • Devin Dawson and ERNEST

    and many more following the announcement of the complete schedule.

    In addition to music, Virtual ROO-ALITY will present viewers with an array of original programming, additional activities, and exclusive experiences throughout the three days. Sanctuary of Love, an event curated by Hayley Williams, will present engaging conversations about topics including digital space and mental health, diversity wellness, and the origins of gender. The panelists for these discussions include Charli XCX, Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, Laura Jane Grace, and more. Viewers can also look forward to other virtual events including the Dog Dance Party, Bonnaroo Campfire Tales, and Cheers to Live.

    Bonnaroo From Home merchandise is now available at the official Bonnaroo online store. The collection includes a “Virtual ROO-ALITY 2020” poster, a “Robe Rage” satin robe, a “Farm Fresh” 8 oz. Candle, a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle, a tie-dye mask, and more. Virtual ROO-ALITY and the Bonnaroo Works Fund will look to raise awareness for the ALCU Foundation, an organization dedicated to protecting civil rights, and Headcount, an organization that promotes participation in democracy through music. Bonnaroo Works Fund looks to collect donations for both organizations.

  • Inclusion Festival Announces First Sensory-Friendly Music Festival

    Inclusion Festival announced its plan to be the nation’s first and only sensory-friendly music and wellness festival. The three day festival will broadcast virtually on the Inclusion Festival’s website and will run from August 21-23, 2020. 

    The festival will be designed to accommodate and include people of all abilities. Believing the concepts of inclusion are fundamental to all experiences and communities. The festival’s fundamentals have grown to spread inclusion as a state of mind past just the festival experience. The festival will have year-round events, experiences, consultation and training, as well as an online magazine.

    The festival will host many incredible musicians on top of featuring people of all abilities. In the spirit of inclusion, Matt Butler will conduct Everyone Orchestra with participants Al Schnier (moe.), Aron Magner (The Disco Biscuits), James Casey and Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, Bridget Law, Kai Eckhardt (Garaj Mahal) and Weedie Braimah. There will also be a very special performance from Paul Hoffman (Greensky Bluegrass) with collaborators Holly Bowling, Lindsay Lou, and Jay Cobb Anderson (Fruition). New sets will be aired from Hayley Jane, Zach Gill (ALO), TIKYRA (Southern Avenue), Peck and Penn (Midnight North), Karina Rykman, Tash Neal (London Souls), and many more.

    The festival aims to showcase best practices in online accessibility including continuous closed captioning, American Sign Language Interpretation, and accessibility tools embedded on the streaming site. Inclusion Festival ONLINE will also offer a wide variety of workshops, diverse conversations including an interview with award-winning author and autism advocate Dr. Temple Grandin, and live nightly dance parties. Viewers can log into Zoom rooms to participate and connect from home.

    The Festival can be viewed on theInclusion Festival’s website. The event will also be streaming on CashOrTrade Streams. All donations received from the live-stream event will directly benefit the non-profit organization Accessible Festivals, dedicated to ensuring that music and recreation are accessible to all people, in addition to supporting the participating musicians and presenters.


    For more information visit the Inclusion Festival’s website.

  • Radio Woodstock Presents Virtual Tribute Festival to the Summer of 1969

    Radio Woodstock is celebrating its 40-year anniversary of broadcasting by commemorating “The Greatest Festival of All Time.”

    Radio Woodstock

    From Aug. 14 to Aug. 16, fans of the station can virtually experience a series of live concerts performed over the years.

    Radio Woodstock asked listeners to submit some of their favorite concerts to the station that they will feature throughout the weekend.

    The town of Woodstock gained its notoriety in the summer of 1969, when they held “three days of peace and music.” The festival showcased a mesh of famous artists like Janis Joplin and Jefferson Airplane.

    woodstock
    Original poster for Woodstock Festival 1969.

    Greg Gattine, Radio Woodstock’s Director of Programming, said that they wanted to provide the “Greatest Festival Ever,” in 2020.

    “As we celebrate our 40th anniversary in 2020 we decided to put together the Greatest Festival Ever.  A one of a kind virtual live experience from our vast archive. Although we won’t be able to celebrate together we can remember the times we stood shoulder to shoulder at some of the greatest concerts of all time and relive that experience for a few days in the middle of August in upstate New York.”

    Greg Gattine

    Members of the music-radio industry calls Radio Woodstock “the coolest radio station on the planet”. They are on of the most unique and eclectic radio stations in the world today, according to supporters.

    The Greatest Festival of All Time goes live on 100.1 or their website at 5 p.m. Aug. 14.

    “This is the kind of innovative programming that makes Radio Woodstock the greatest rock station in the world today.  We will continue to be the torchbearer for independent radio,” said President of Radio Woodstock Greg Chetkof.

    https://youtu.be/OzHBr0ndKus
    Jefferson Airplane live, Woodstock 1969.

  • Lake George Jazz Fest to Stream in September

    For years, the Lake George Jazz Festival has hosted some of the world’s most prominent jazz talent in a fun-filled weekend. Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, the weekend of in-person jazz has been cancelled. Luckily, fans can watch live streams of jazz every Thursday night in September. 

    Lake George Jazz
    Poster design by the Gruskin Group

    While the live concert will definitely be missed, the Jazz Weekend Virtual Series allows for even more to be showcased as music will be streamed every week. The Lake George Arts Project has planned a series of 4 impressive shows that will combine live performances as well as time for audience questions and discussions Each concert will be curated and hosted by LGAP’s Jazz Curator, Daniel Kelly. The renowned jazz musicians will not disappoint fans who miss the in-person festival. The shows will stream on Facebook, YouTube, and the Lake George Arts Project’s streaming page. 

    Even while the LGAP has great virtual events planned, they are still suffering financially from COVID-19. The organization is a non-profit and makes their revenue through ticket sales. While all concerts are on hold, the LGAP has lost $40,000 which might nearly double to $70,000. The Lake George Arts Project is asking for donations to help with their current struggle.

    To encourage more to donate, so-called LGAP’s “angels” Susan and Kenneth Gruskin will match each donation up to $2,500. The LGAP insists that “anything and everything makes a difference whether it is $5 or $500!” 

    The Jazz Weekend Virtual Series will stream on September 3, 10, 17, and 24 at 7pm.

  • Better Noise Music Festival to Stream Worldwide

    Better Noise Music, the independent music label, announces the Better Noise Music Festival on July 16. The festival will benefit Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation which provides support services for people in early recovery from substance use disorders. The festival will feature live performances, unseen footage and more. 

    The Better Noise Music Festival has an impressive line-up of new and classic performances, artist messages and sneak peeks at two Better Noise Films projects slated for the fall. The films are Sno Babies and The Retaliators. The line-up includes big names like Motley Crue, Five Finger Death Punch, and the Dirty Heads.

    The full line-up includes: Motley Crue, Five Finger Death Punch, Papa Roach, Awolnation, Cory Marks, Dirty Heads, The Hu, Bad Wolves, Escape The Fate, From Ashes To New, Fire From The Gods, Bleeker, Tuk Smith, Islander, All Good Things, Hyro The Hero, Eva Under Fire, Nevrlands. Little Stranger, Tempt, The Bottom Line, and Thousand Thoughts.

    The festival will air worldwide on July 16 at the following times: 3PM PST, 5PM CST, 6PM EST, 11PM BST, and 12AM CET. The festival will air at 8AM ACT on July 17. The event is in partnership with LiveXLive. All live streamed performances will be simulcast by LiveXLive on YouTube, Facebook, Twitch and Twitter. Proceeds will benefit the Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation (GRI) to provide support services for those in early recovery from a substance use disorder.

    For more information on the festival please visit Better Noise Music’s website and LiveXLive’s website. 

    Check out this stream and more through our series NY Stream and Support, where you’ll discover artists around the Empire State streaming nightly, and ways to support musicians and charitable groups close to home!

  • Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival Announce Plans for Virtual Benefit Festival

    Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival announced plans to put on a Virtual Festival. The “Spirit of Grey Fox” will take place on July 16-19. There will be never-seen-before footage of original 2020 artists for the festival. The festival will be a benefit fundraiser for COVID-19 relief for artists.

    Grey Fox virtual

    The festival will include archived performances from past years on top of the performances from the original lineup. Some of the highlighted 2020 lineup includes The Infamous Stringdusters, Jerry Douglas, and Delle Mae. Some of the highlighted archived lineup includes the Del McCoury Band, Sam Bush, and Hot Rize.

    The festival will benefit the IBMA Trust Fund COVID-19 Relief Fund to help artists crushed by the pandemic. This Fund is specifically trying to help the bluegrass community. The Board of Trustees set aside up to $150,000 for COVID-19 crisis assistance and has established an account specifically for COVID-19 Relief. Musicians can be awarded up to $500 of relief pay. People will be able to donate by going to IBMA Trust Fund COVID-19 Relief Fund’s website.

    The festival will stream for free on nugs.tv and Grey Fox’s YouTube and Facebook Page. For more information the “Spirit of Grey Fox please visit Grey Fox’s website.

    Check out this stream and more through our series NY Stream and Support, where you’ll discover artists around the Empire State streaming nightly, and ways to support musicians and charitable groups close to home!

  • Annual Montréal Jazz Festival Will Be Broadcast Virtually

    The annual Festival International de Jazz de Montréal will take place virtually from June 27-30 due to the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 virus.

    Annual Montréal Jazz Festival
    Photo by Victor Diaz Lamich/Courtesy of Festival International de Jazz de Montreal

    Le Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is an annual event and draws millions of visitors to the city of Québec each Summer. It holds the Guiness World Record for largest jazz festival. Unfortunately, the festival cannot be held in person this year; however, recordings of live performances will be available for free online. Thanks to support from TD Bank Group and Rio Tinto as well as public partnerships with the Government of Canada, the Government of Québec, and the City of Montréal, the Montréal Jazz Festival will reach more than ever before.

    In order to keep everything up to the Festival’s standards, all performances will be filmed with high-quality production value in a specially made studio in Montreal’s L’Astral catered specifically for these online performances. Director Maxime Théoret-Bissonnette will manage these recordings and ensure that they will be of the highest quality. These live recordings will be free to view for anyone anywhere, making the Festival more accessible than it has ever been. If you can’t catch the performances live, they will be available for free on demand afterwards as well.

    The Festival will kick off on Canadian Multicultural Day, June 27, with a lineup that will showcase Canada’s rich and diverse talent. The show will begin with the Apéros SAQ, a mix of live performances from some of the Festival’s favorite artists. Up next are the Sessions TD and Rhymes Rio Tinto, sessions that will be enjoyable for all fans. The Festival will also showcase recordings of performances from past Festivals. The opening night will finish with the Fin de Soirée Loto-Québec, a virtual party for everyone who wants to join.

    Annual Montréal Jazz Festival
    Photo courtesy of Festival International de Jazz de Montreal

    The Festival will continue for three more days and wraps up on June 30. Although the full schedule has yet to be announced, the lineup includes the top local luminaries and artists of the city. Some notable performers who will be featured are Charlotte Cardin, Jean-Michael Blais, The Barr Brothers, Dominique Fils-Aimée, Elisapie, Jordan Officer, and many more. 

    The Festival’s General Manager Jacques K. Primeau expresses that it is extremely important for the Festival’s team “to bring the jazz Festival to the people.” He also expressed that the Festival “is thrilled to be able to offer an innovative solution to get the music out to the fans” even with such difficult challenges. 

    The Festival is only taking place thanks to the leadership of Primeau and Laurent Saulnier, the Festival’s team, the artists, and the Festival’s generous sponsors. Primeau remarks that “#JazzTogether is truly a community and a family affair” even in the hardest of times.

  • Annual Make Music Day to Be Held Virtually on June 21

    Even amidst this pandemic, the annual Make Music Day will still be held in hopes of spreading happiness and music to anyone across the globe. 

    Annual Make Music Day
    Photo by Thomas Retzer

    Originally started in France in 1983 as Fête de la Musique, Make Music Day is the only music festival of its kind: its mission is to bring free music to anyone and inspire them to create music themselves regardless of their age or experience level. 

    The festival made its North American debut in New York City several years ago, and now has chapters all over the US, including Rochester, Ithaca, and Ossining-Briarcliff. Now every year on the Summer Solstice, over 1,000 cities across the globe take part in this great celebration of music. This year, Philadelphia will dedicate their events to the Black Lives Matter movement.

    This year, although events cannot be held in person, the creators of the festival have still managed to invent creative ways to get many involved with music. A global day-long live stream will be held featuring several New York artists, there will be 12-hour long online music lessons for 25 different kinds of instruments for all experience levels, and composers from around the world will be challenged to perform another’s song. A contest for young people from ages 13-21 motivates them to submit their own work. Make Music Day even will even join Bash the Trash Environmental Arts by encouraging all to create instruments out of trash or household items. Performances of Elliot Cole’s Flowerpot Music, in which he makes music using flowerpots as percussion, will be live streamed for eight hours.

    Annual Make Music Day
    NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 21: Marching bands perform during Make Music Day at the Brooklyn Museum on June 21, 2014 In the Brooklyn Borough of New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for Make Music Day)

    Make Music New York even has their own unique lineup of events for the day. An ever-growing list of musicians and singers will perform Mozart’s Requiem at noon, and it is still possible to sign up and get involved in the performance, and the Third Street Music School will livestream Beethoven Sonatas from 1-5pm. Paul Stein, the activist accordion player, will be entertaining countless via livstream at 4. Joe’s Pub at the Public Theatre will host a virtual block party that will feature NYC immigrant and international performers.

    Make Music Day has even organized ways to safely bring music in person to some. One June 21, musicians will serenade the elderly from outside nursing home windows in order to maintain a healthy distance. Nursing homes are still looking for musicians! If you are interested, contact your local FirstLight Home Care to be matched with a participating nursing home. One-person marching bands will parade around cities across the US; look out for Matthew Cain, who will be playing the tuba in Park Slope on 9th street in Brooklyn. CenterPoint Arts is hosting live concerts from cars outside of Brooklyn Crepe & Juice (274 Flatbush Ave) at 4:15. Porch Stomp! will host pop-up socially-distant singalongs all around Brooklyn from 6-7:10.

    There are even more events which will take place throughout the day on June 21, and there are still many chances to get involved in this global celebration of music.