NYS Music 202​1

Author: Samantha King

  • Rough Trade NYC Announces Store Relocation and Venue Closing

    On Jan. 19 Rough Trade NYC announced that they are closing and moving from their location in Williamsburg this spring to a different place in New York later this year.

    Rough Trade NYC

    Rough Trade is a mainstream vinyl store as well as a venue for concerts. They are the only location for the company outside of the UK. The store opened in Brooklyn in 2013 and the venue was in partnership with the Bowery Presents. This was an essential place for music lovers from all over to gather and enjoy the art. It was more than a record store, it was a place to enjoy performances from artists of different genres. Artists such as Sza, Halsey, Tinashe, and several others performed there. There weren’t just individual performances, many annual events took place as well.

    These gigs and events will no longer occur due to the relocation. Rough Trade’s concert venue will not be reopening due to this change. The COVID-19 pandemic is responsible for this decision since it has limited the ability of people to gather at live music shows. While the store reopened in June last year, the pandemic caused cancellations of scheduled and upcoming concerts at Rough Trade. Refunds will be made automatically to people who have purchased tickets online or by phone, and the box office will be open certain days for those who purchased them in person.

    The future of the store will be dependent on selling vinyl due to the increased demand for them during this time. The switch to a virtual world is also a factor in the decision as it is a new reality and is causing online sales to boost. When Rough Trade NYC closes its doors before relocating, all sales will be made on its website. The announcement for the new location is happening in the summer.

  • Celebrities Come Together to Fundraise for Famous New York Jazz Club Birdland

    In efforts to rescue the legendary New York jazz club, Birdland, a virtual concert will take place with many celebrity appearances on Jan. 24. This is the final attempt to save the iconic venue.

    Birdland
    Photo from Theater Mania

    Birdland is named after and inspired by famous Jazz artist Charlie “Yardbird” Parker, opened in 1949. It was located on Broadway and 52nd which was the hotspot for jazz during that time. As inspiration for the club, Parker was the headliner. Several notorious jazz artists performed there, causing 1.4 million people to attend within the first five years of its opening. It attracted the likes of locals and celebrities and continued to do so throughout the years.

    The club closed in 1965 and reopened and relocated Uptown to 2745 Broadway in 1986. While Birdland was able to discover about 2,000 rising artists, the Uptown location didn’t last for long. It moved back to Midtown at 315 West 44th St. in 1996. Since it returned to the area it gained even more popularity for the music and the menu.

    Although the club is a staple in the jazz world, the pandemic’s restrictions recently took a toll. First, the shut down of indoor dining became a setback and caused them to rely on a concert series called Radio Free Birdland. At first, the series took place in the club but as COVID-19 became more unpredictable, there were more restrictions. Producers Tom D’Angora and Tim Guinee created a GoFundMe that raised over $200,000 in hopes of saving it. The virtual concert “Save Birdland: A Celebration of Music, History, and Community” was created in order to call more attention to the GoFundMe. It will stream on the website “Save Birdland”.

    This concert will be a star-studded event with appearances and performances from many celebrities of different backgrounds. Former President Bill Clinton, Michael Broderick, Leslie Odom Jr, Chita Rivera Giancarlo Esposito, and many more are a part of the lineup. With the hopes that “Save Birdland” will bring enough awareness, this is the final effort to save the renowned jazz club.

    Charlie Parker (as), Fats Navarro (tp), Bud Powell (p), Curly Russell (b), Art Blakey (d). Birdland New York, June 30, 1950

  • Fyütch Celebrates Historical Black Women in His New Single

    Bronx rapper, Fyütch, released a new song, “Black Women in History,” highlighting the strengths of powerful Black women on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

    Fyütch
    photo from Fyütch.com

    Fyütch is a social justice musician who uses hip-hop and visual storytelling to educate upcoming generations. He directs music and poetry workshops for K-12 students, college students and corporations. He makes music with the intent of spreading positivity through messages about fatherhood, spirituality and love.

    His distant relative, Fannie Lou Hamer, and other overlooked Black women inspired the song. The lack of representation for Black women in history was apparent when he was growing up. He only recalled learning about Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks. Fyütch felt compelled to tell their stories and in order to honor their accomplishments; he made “Black Women in History”.

    It acknowledges Black women who have made history in the past and who are currently making history in the present. It began with Civil Rights Leader, Fannie Lou Hamer, who helped Black people register to vote despite voter suppression. He mentions more Black women who have fought against voter suppression such as J Frankie Pierce who also made a school for Black girls in the 1920s; and currently, Stacey Abrams and Felicia Davis. Shirley Chisolm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, and Kamala Harris, the first woman to be elected Vice President of the United States were noted for making history as political figures. 

    The song reveals Claudette Colvin, who was 15-years-old when she refused to give up her seat on the bus, and Ida B Wells who refused to give up her seat years before Rosa Parks. Fyütch also commemorates Black women who have made history in the medical field such as Rebecca Crumpler, who is the first Black woman to get a medical degree along with Jane Hinton and Alfreda Webb, who were the first Black veterinarians. The last impactful Black woman named in the song is Dr. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett who recently helped create the COVID-19 vaccine. 

    The song doesn’t only recognize Black women in history, it features two Black women musicians. Rissi Palmer and Cheri Moon, from the children’s music band Snooknuk, collaborated with Fyütch to bring the song to life. Palmer made history as the first Black woman in 20 years to reach the Billboard country charts. Her radio show on Apple Music called Color Me Country, honors the contributions of BIPOC country singers. Cheri Moon focuses on raising social awareness for children through family music and has collaborated with Missy Elliot and Timbaland.

    “Black Women in History” gives thanks and gratitude to Black women that have made an impact, by standing up for what they believe in and for being the firsts, despite the struggles they have gone through.

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