The eventful festival dedicated to Bluegrass music, DelFest, has announced the lineup for their 14th annual festival taking place later on this year.
DelFest usually takes place over Memorial Day weekend but this year it takes place from September 23-26 to ensure safety from COVID-19. While the dates have changed, the location remains the same in the city of Cumberland, Maryland along the Potomac River. The venue is at the Allegany County Fairgrounds, personally chosen by Del McCoury, leader of the Del McCoury band and legendary bluegrass musician.
DelFest organizers are working with both local and state health officials to adhere to safety mandates for attendees, staff and musicians. COVID-19 protocols will be made known closer to the festival. More information about DelFest can be found on the website.
NYC-based artistBobby Páraknightreveals his musical creativity with his upbeat debut single titled “The Prelude,” releasing today, March 30.
Bobby Páraknight
Páraknight is 21-years-old and a jack of all trades with experience in many different art forms. His current endeavor is music but he has performed in other ways within his artistic journey. He is an actor who was trained in theatre and has been on television and film. He also is a dancer specializing in contemporary, jazz and ballet.
Páraknight’s professional music career is influenced by The Beatles, who are his heroes. Since his early teens he has been performing, writing songs and composing music. He performed with other musicians and played live shows at some popular venues, pubs and theatres in New York.
I felt capable, more than ever really being able to express my artistic vision, be it fabled story-telling, a call to action or simply an excuse for a good time! I have abundant words to say, art to create & limits to test as a young person, music seems to abide beautifully. You become choice-less and the venturing is the only obvious path. It’s a controlled and crafted sonic force I believe, a rare visceral element that moves us so effortlessly.
Bobby Páraknight
Páraknight describes his creative process when producing and writing his music as experimental and expansive. The sound he creates is dependent on the moment and his feeling during that time and it reflects through the instrument he plays. It can also depend on the vision that he has and is going for and his creative and imaginative thinking lays out a thematic outline. After figuring out the outline of the song, Páraknight fills the rest of the song up with a melody and lyrics that are either sensible or playful.
“The Prelude” is one of the many songs that Páraknight curated and it is his debut single. It begins as an upbeat pop song and transitions into a ballad. Páraknight produced the song on his piano during a private jam session and received inspiration from the late 70s’ motown and disco sound while infusing it with a modern pop beat.
I have been writing songs for years now and it does become tricky, deciding on the debut track as you want to express your true self while not drifting. I have a lot of selected material lined up for production with early mixes in the studio, The Prelude comparatively is a recent song which I composed in a spur of the moment on a piano during a private jam session, I believe it’s an apt launching point, in displaying my roots in music while complimenting the zeitgeist, simply being a great, upbeat and unique song.
Bobby Páraknight
Páraknight is available today on all platforms. “The Prelude” is his first release with more to come later.
The Saratoga Performing Arts Centeris bringing back the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s residency making it the first series of live performances since 2020 for SPAC.
The Saratoga Performing Arts Center is located in Saratoga Springs and has been around for over 50 years. Their first summer season hosted 21 shows over the span of four weeks. The center had performances from non-classical musicians over time including Harry Belafonte in 1967 and a record breaking performance from Grateful Dead in 1983. In 2014 the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center became SPAC’s third resident company.
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center developed when the president of the Lincoln Center at the time, William Schuman, wanted an organization dedicated to chamber music. It officially began in 1969 in the Alice Tully Hall. CMS started educational and developmental programs for young musicians. There are about 70 performances that take place outside of New York City and the country per season. They are a part of several residencies and even have their own record label.
The Chamber Music Society residency at SPAC comes back this year after the 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID-19. This season is from June 13 until August 29 featuring compositions from Beethoven’s string quartets and Schumann’s Piano quartet in E-flat major. The U.S premiere of Twelve Blocks by pianist Michael Brown is also a part of the agenda. The co-Artistic directors David Finckel and Wu Han return along with the Calidore String Quartet’s SPAC debut.
The series takes place at Pitney Meadows Community Farm which has large outdoor space for events. It will have a maximum capacity of 200 per performance and each performance is 75 minutes without an intermission. Socially distanced pods for two are provided for ticket buyers from the price of $100-120. Tickets for subscriptions to all six shows will be available on April 1 for SPAC members and April 6 for the general public. Single performance tickets are available on April 12 for SPAC members and April 16 for the general public and won’t be available at the door. Tickets can be purchased on SPAC’s website along with additional information regarding COVID-19 protocols.
On your way to SPAC, don’t forget that Stewart’s Shops is your ice cream shop! With over 345 shops in 31 counties across New York and southern Vermont, the convenience store chain is known for their fresh &local dairy products. With dozens of choices at the cone counter, you’re bound to find something you love! Try a shake, sundae, or cone today, What’s Your Flavor?
Young Jazz pianist Joey Alexander released his new single “SALT” after his major-label debut album WARNA, and will release two more singles in April and May.
Alexander has already made a name for himself and has had an eventful journey throughout his career all before turning 18. For about seven years, he has taken the jazz world by storm and achieved an extraordinary amount of success that is rarely seen. He already released five studio albums, My Favorite Things, Countdown, Joey.Monk.Live!, Eclipse and Warna. Alexander received three Grammy nominations and even performed at the preshow and during the 58th Grammy Awards. Also, two of his albums reached the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.
Along with his charting success, he is respected by legendary Jazz musicians and gained attention from mainstream media. Alexander has performed at major events alongside other talented artists. In 2016, he performed with Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding at the International Jazz Day in the White House for President Obama. His show for his debut at Carnegie Hall sold-out as well as the Rose Theater at the Jazz Lincoln Center. While these are significant accolades, there is more in store for the prodigy.
After his first album release from Verve Records, Warna, which translates to color from his native tongue Bahasa, he has more music on the way. Warna was a reflective body of work describing unfolding his experiences and feelings while on the road. His newest singles “SALT,” “Under the Sun” and “Summer Rising” were written during Summer 2020 while he was in Manhattan during the pandemic.
Alexander’s inspiration for “SALT” was the essential use it has in our lives and compared it to blues in jazz, which he believes we need in these worrying times. Each new single is made with the intention of evoking hope, positivity and peace through the blues. The song is the first recording Alexander did with a Fender Rhodes piano. He is accompanied by Daniel Winshall on the electric and upright bass, Tyson D. Jackson on the drums and Jaleel Shaw on the alto saxophone and Gilad Hekselman on the electric guitar.
“SALT” was released on March 19 and is the first single of 2021 from Joey Alexander. His other two singles will drop within the next two months.
Brooklyn based musician, Dräger, released his new single “Light Years” on March 11 and announced his debut album Goths à la Discothèque comes out May 7.
Dräger Credit: Andrew Segreti
Spencer Draeger founded Dräger as the essence of his modern dystopian era. “Light Years” is an upbeat song with a message about choosing the road less traveled and following the unknown. According to Under the Radar this is the perfect example of his “synthedelic pop” sound. Synthedelic pop is a mixture of modern pop, ‘80s new wave and the underground dance scene. The single explores the excitement of chasing thrills on the journey to the future.
Goths à la Discothèque delves into the many universal themes of modern times including technology, love and society, and makes it his own. His album was inspired by 2020 and the effect it had on the world as it switched to a digital reality and caused people to forge new ideas. He portrays the present-day issues and fuses it with a party sound.
The album consists of 11 songs which were all produced, written, recorded and mixed by Dräger in his home studio. “Light Years” is now available for streaming and the lyric video is on Youtube. The album Goths à la Discothèque drops in May under Trash Casual.
In 1986 Dorf founded the Knitting Factory, a venue in New York City celebrating independent music. He managed to make the Knitting Factory an international success by expanding to Europe and Asia with tours, record deals and more. His relationships with Apple, Intel, MCI and Bell Atlantic made him a pioneer for producing music on the web.
Dorf left the Knitting Factory and worked on the Carnegie Hall concert fundraising series, founded a Hebrew School and ventured into winemaking. In 2008 combined his love for winemaking and music and founded City Winery. It became notorious as it is the city’s first winery, restaurant, music venue and space for private events. The company is now in six different states and Washington D.C.
Michael Dorf Presents’ began in 2004 and became an annual Carnegie Hall Tribute Series called Music of. The fundraising series honored many major legends throughout the years including Aretha Franklin, Prince, David Bowie and much more. Through these concerts, they raised over $1.5 million and donated to organizations dedicated to music education for children.
With COVID-19 precautions still in effect, Michael Dorf Presents’ “The Best of Music ‘The Music of’ 2004-2020” will be virtual this year. The show will be live streaming from Carnegie Hall with a lineup of 21 artists including Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top, Patti Smith, and Glen Hansard to name a few.
Tickets for the live stream are $25 and there are also some VIP packages available. Viewers can pay $50 for entry to the live stream and for a signed poster or $50 for entry and a chance to talk to Michael Dorf on zoom before the show. There is also the $1,500 Give more donation package which includes entry to 20 upcoming streams and 100 percent of the donation going towards the donors chosen music education program.
“The Best of Music ‘The Music of’ of 2004-2020” is presented by City Winery and is powered by concert streaming platform, Mandolin. It streams on April 15 and begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase on the City Winery website.
Long Island guitar prodigy Brandon “Taz” Niederaurer will perform live to a limited audience with a live webcast at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock.
Almost at the age of 18, Taz has already come a long way in his career and musical journey. At eight years old he felt connected playing guitar after watching School of Rock and hearing his father’s music collection. At 10 years old he made his television debut and appeared on the Ellen Show. Fatefully in 2015, he played the role of Zack Mooneyham in Anthony Lloyd Webber’s Broadway Production of School of Rock.
Taz has shared the stage with many notorious artists such as Lady Gaga, Slash, some members of the Allman Brothers Band,The String Cheese Incident and many more. He performed in two more productions by Webber in 2018 and had a role on the Netflix series for Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It. Recently he performed a guitar solo of the national anthem for the AFC title game this year.
Taz performing the National Anthem at the AFC Champion Title Game
Taz has performed on many stages already and now he is heading to the Levon Helm Studios, also known as The Barn. The Barn was the home and recording studio for famous drummer Levon Helm best known for his work in The Band and his other band Midnight Ramble. Even though he passed in 2012, the legacy of his studio is ongoing.
Tickets for Taz’s performance are sold in pairs and every pair will be socially distanced. The cost for reserved seating stands at $60, standing room is $40 and for the webcast tickets are $15 but for VIP it costs $40. Tickets for the webcast are already on sale and the tickets for the public are on sale on March 19. The show is on April 2 and begins at 8 p.m.
The legendary Apollo Theater revealed its Spring 2021 programming and virtual events which includes the return of their highly favored programs.
On Saturday March 20 and Sunday March 21 the Apollo Theater presents the fifth bi-annual WOW (Women Of the World) festival in collaboration with the WOW Foundation. The theme for this year’s festival is “Black Women Transcending” and will consist of panels, workshops, performances and speakers. Some of the famous participants are awarding-winning actress Aunjanue Ellis, writer and activistNikki Giovanni, co-host of The Talk and writer Elaine Welteroth and more. WOW: Teen Summit is also a part of the agenda focusing gender politics and its impacts on girls and women of color globally.
The Apollo Theater located in Harlem is a staple in Black entertainment and for the Black community. It was one of the first and few non segregated theaters that provided opportunities for Black performers in the 1930s. Their renowned contest Amateur Nightbegan in 1934 where many legends and notorious artists began and launched their careers.
Some of the legends who began or performed at The Apollo are Ella Fitzgerald,Billie Holiday, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin,James Brown, Gladys Knight and more. The Apollo is built on the foundation of music including genres like jazz, gospel, hip-hop, R&B, soul and more. However, its programming extends to different art forms such as dance, theater, and spoken word.
The Apollo is a non-profit presenter of different art forms and commissioner as they produce festivals, musical and dance works through initiatives dedicated to projecting the African American narrative. In 2019 they announced their first Master Artist-in-Residence with Ta-Naheisi Coates with a theatrical adaptation of his novel Between the World and Me. They are involved in many multidisciplinary collaborations with various organizations, some of which are featured in their programming for this Spring.
More events are taking place for the spring programming. The Apollo Comedy Club: A Look Back on Laughter on April 2, celebrates the past comedic talents at the theater, features new upcoming comedians and is presented in partnership with Def Jam producer Bob Sumner. On April 3 Roc Nation’s sibling band Infinity Song performs for Apollo Music Cafe.The Apollo Education Career Panel called Cinematography – Shifting the Looking Glass takes place on April 20.
Another Apollo Education Career Panel, FootPrint- Design and Creativity in Sneaker Culture, happens on May 6. Finally, on May 20 Apollo Film Presents: ImageNation’s Cocktails & Sol Cinema is a collaboration with Harlem based company ImageNation, screening of Pan-African films with a reception consisting of a live performance or DJ and followed by a talkback.
Tickets and more information regarding these events are available on The Apollo Theater’swebsite.
Brooklyn based singer and musician Shrines, also known as Carrie Erving, announced her video EP for Our Ship is Readyis set to release on April 16.
Her debut EP titled Release came out in 2019. Our Ship is Ready is inspired by the time Shrines spent in Ireland. Each track is a modern reimagining of traditional Irish folk songs that she learned while she was there. She learned from traditional Irish singers Iarla O Lionaird and Karan Casey. Shrines credits her time in Ireland for having a deep impact on how she sings and writes music. This EP serves as a “snapshot” of her the time she spent creating during the pandemic while living in isolation in nature. She recorded at her home studio vocal producer Rosana Caban from the band Psychic Twin and arranging and mixing with cellist and a longtime collaborator Chris Loxley long distance.
The video EP was created while Shrines and her husband who also played video director, Brody Bernheisel, were quarantining in Maine. The videos remain true to the essence of the songs as it shows the connection between the natural settings and the lyrics. Each track has a recurring theme of starting a journey and getting lost in the excitement of the unknown future. The songs arrangements consist of strings, pianos, synths paying homage to her favorite 60s and 70s folk songs.
With her new EP coming out, Shrines shares a glimpse of what’s to come with the video for the song “Silkie.” Her goal for the visual EP is to give viewers an escape after going through the difficult year since it gave her grounding and solace while making it.
Long Island’s Versa the Band, releases their politically reflective first single of the year entitled “ROLL (Homies Love Democracy).”
Credit: Derlis Chavarria and CK Productions
The band started in 2019 with a mission to create music that is out of the box and not tied to just one genre. While they are called a band, that is not quite the dynamic. The name originated from when the creator Ethan Fezzilari was brainstorming band names with his best friend for their cover band. The name Versa came to him after driving on the Long Island Expressway and seeing a Nissan Versa in front of him. The name stuck with him even though Versa the Band is a solo project.
Versa the Band describes themselves as a “music collective” Fezzilari collaborates with other artists of different backgrounds. With influences from various artists such as Bon Iver, James Blake, Sam Cooke and more, Versa the Band has a versatile catalog. They tap into multiple sounds consisting of Hip Hop, Alternative, Pop, Jazz and more. He also draws inspiration from natural sounds and from things humans do regularly that create sound.
With his El Salvadorian background, music has played a major role in his life. He recalls being around music all the time and seeing his mother cook with music playing in the background. While his parents aren’t musicians, their creativity influenced where he is today. The piano was the first instrument that he played when his mother made him and his siblings take lessons. Piano remained a constant throughout his career as a musician. He began his career in the entertainment business as a child actor in community theatre and progressed to short films and commercials. Versa the Band really fell in love with music through singing and the art of it.
Versa the Band is signed to founder Fezzilari’s own Indie label CK Records. The company broadens to different aspects of entertainment including film and theatre. His executive involvement made him yearn for more creativity and his experience as director contributes to his writing skills. His journey with song writing began about two years ago. Versa the Band’s songs “Chelsea in the Spring,” “Barefoot,” “Just Friends,” and “Don’t Be Alone” were all released under the label. It allowed him to stay true to their sound and proved their individuality and creativity.
The newest single “ROLL (Homies Love Democracy)” is another step further in not conforming to just one sound. It derives from a meme, specifically a meme that said “All my homies love Celine Dion.” The song is written from the perspective of the United States during the era of Trump’s administration and the issues resulting from COVID-19. He saw the way certain communities were struggling and lacked resources during a time when they needed it the most. Fezzilari says this is the most unique song the band has come out with. It captures the frustrations that many people felt during these times and they hope it will get people to think and receive the deeper message.
The first half of the song calls out the current state of the political climate, while the second half serves as a cry for help. The single is produced by LOGO, mastered by Colton Lava, mixed by donSMITH along with Cliff 41 Studio. “ROLL (Homies Love Democracy)” is one of the tracks on Versa the Band’s upcoming album Free Thinker, which is releasing in June. Free Thinker is a 16 track project, containing five interludes and two more singles coming out shortly. This first single along with the video releases on March 12.
