Chrissie Hynde has announced a new album of original Bob Dylan covers. Standing In The Doorway: Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan arrives via BMG at all DSPs and streaming services on May 21.
During lockdown, the artist recorded remotely nine Dylan interpretations with her Pretenders bandmate James Walbourne. The album includes interpretations of Dylan’s songs “You’re a Big Girl Now.” “Love Minus Zero / No Limit,” Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight,” and “Every Grain of Sand.” All of which were recorded last year.
The nine-track collection was nearly made exclusively via back and forth text messages. Additionally, Walbourne would record an initial idea on his phone and send it off to Hynde to add her vocals. Grammy Award-winning producer/engineer/mixer Tchad Blake (The Black Keys, Fiona Apple) mixed the new versions. After all the collaboration, the works premiered on the Pretenders’ YouTube channel.
This process began a few weeks into lockdown when Walbourne sent Hynde the new Dylan track, “Murder Most Foul.” The impact of the song changed everything for Hynde. She connected to every reference that track had and after listening, her mood was also lifted.
Chrissie Hynde Shares her Inspiration:
Whatever Bob does, he still manages somewhere in there to make you laugh because as much as anything, he’s a comedian. He’s always funny and always has something to say. I called James and said, ‘Let’s do some Dylan covers,’ and that’s what started this whole thing.
The process behind Standing In The Doorway: Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan is featured in the new documentary, Tomorrow Is A Long Time. This documentary premieres exclusively via the UK’s Sky Arts channel on May 24. This work by International Emmy Award-winning filmmakers Michael Nunn and Billy Trevitt will commence the celebration of Dylan’s 80th birthday.
CD and vinyl LP release will take place on August 20. The pre-order is available here.
FRANK, a Brooklyn based group made up of Christian Linsey (drums and percussion, vocals), Billy Ziff (bass) and Scott Porter (guitar, vocals). On April 23, FRANK released their most recent piece of their already great discography. The title, Dreams and Fears of the Outside, is a perfect reflection of where we are now.
With the opening lyrics, “Things will never be the same now, somehow everything’s the same” FRANK puts forth their most eclectic album to date by changing everything while keeping their unique style intact. With a collection of folksy, lyrically driven tunes and funky dance numbers, this latest release offers something that everyone can enjoy. For that matter, this album is loaded with really unique songs that flow nicely into one another.
The album opens with “The Confusion”. This acoustic track builds brilliantly throughout and transitions into an incredibly danceable song, “New York (How I Feel)”. The group finds their groove here before moving on to a song that sounds like it could be right from The Big Pink. Big credit to the band for being able to span such a vast gamut of styles through the first half of the album. Though each song is so different, there is a cohesiveness to the atmosphere of the record.
The bass goes wild on “Namaste” as the drums groove with a spry pep. The energy picks as the anthemic “Can You Hear Me Now?” injects a bit of a Neil Young with guitarist Scott Porter’s dirty yet wonderfully melodic vocals. “Big Sur” is a great downtempo song with lush harmonies and a really harrowing guitar part that hovers like a cloud above the song. “Have a Good Time” is a beautifully written song. It has everything you want from a Rolling Stones influenced vibe. It still maintains the characteristic heavy drums and renegade guitar that FRANK has been putting on display throughout the record.
The last couple songs are a nice come down from the meaty middle of this release. “Today” is a perfect bookend for the album to pair with the opening track. This whole work is a pleasure to listen to, and as guitarist Scott Porter puts it, “The record is like calling a friend.” While each song oozes influence from past artists, FRANK does a spectacular job of making each tune their own. From top to bottom, there is not a song that you should skip. There is plenty of replay value. Keep on the lookout for more from this group. While they are split between the Catskills and NYC area currently, they are still able to release gems like this while apart. Stream the album and access all streaming platforms here. Check out their YouTube, Instagram and Facebook for more info.
Key Tracks: New York (How I Feel), Have a Good Time, Today
Literary-folk duo, Gawain and the Green Knight, have unveiled their latest single, “Birds & Wine,” with a premiere on Folk Alley, along with an animated lyrics video.
The song comes from the forthcoming EP, A Sleeping Place, which will be released on June 21, 2021. Like many of the songs on A Sleeping Place, “Birds & Wine” takes inspiration from Greek mythology—a nod to singer and guitarist Alexia Antoniou’s Greek heritage.
Antoniou examines the connection between Aphrodite, whose name comes from the Greek word for foam, and the sea:
There’s something I really like about taking the abstract and divine – a god – and distilling them into these concrete images. It’s part of the reason why, when thinking about what supplicants might bring to a sacrifice for Aphrodite, I went with ‘birds and wine’ instead of ‘doves and wine’ – I liked the image of someone pulling up to Aphrodite’s altar with a roast chicken, grease and bones.
Originally written in a moment of insecurity, the song evolved into “a big, completely over-the-top boast from the perspective of the goddess of love and beauty herself.”
Antoniou’s bandmate, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Mike O’Malley elaborates, “I referenced neo-soul tracks (like those from Lake Street Dive and Alabama Shakes) for the percussion textures and Vulfpeck for joyous clarinet solos.”
“Alexia’s choice of chords lent a lot of opportunity for melting, diminished harmony, so there’s a lot of that in the winds – the feeling of being perpetually gooey-eyed in someone’s presence.”
Inspired by the etymology of the Greek word for cemetery, which simply means “a sleeping place,” the record sits comfortably in the deep, sometimes dark, parts of the subconscious, arranged in such a way that you remember why life can be so joyful in the first place, its tempo anything but sad.
“I think of this EP as a love letter, full of desperate affection, to anyone who has ever been alive and been scared to die,” Antoniou states. “Death is loud, but it doesn’t mean you were never heard.”’
“Birds & Wine” from Gawain and The Green Knight is available for listening on all streaming platforms.
Music is being served up bistro-style at Rochester’s Lilac Festival this year. While it’s not feasible to host the large open-air concerts the festival has become known for, organizers have found a way to reintroduce music while maintaining safety guidelines.
Over the course of three weekends in May, they are dishing up sets from Big Blue House, Claudia Hoyser, JUMBOshrimp, acoustic-style Big Eyed Phish, and Mikaela Davis & Southern Star. A Lilac Blues & Soul review closes out the series, featuring Steve Grills and the Roadmasters alongside special guests Joe Beard, Cinnamon Jones, Debbie Kendrick, and Mike D’Aurizio.
The events take place under an open air tent, where patrons can purchase tables that seat four to six guests. Relax and nosh in a supper-club fashion – tickets include an appetizer to share. Pair it with a wine or bucket of beer, and additional nibbles from a range of local restaurants. The shows on Mother’s Day, May 9, are all ages, however the remainder are reserved for guests 21 and over (ID required). Tickets are for each event are available now.
Sunday: May 9, 2021: Mother’s Day
Big Blue House – Session: 11:30am
Big Blue House is a raucous trio of seasoned musicians with experience in a variety of genres, merging styles into a unique gumbo of folk, rock, blues, jazz and reggae. Offering a blend of voices, acoustic rhythm and lead guitar, stand-up bass, and occasional mandolin, banjo and resonator guitar. We often add percussion and a random horn or harmonica to fill up the house. Our songs run a broad scope of time and genres but keep a consistency of musicality, lyricism, imagery and tastefulness.
Sunday: May 9, 2021: Mother’s Day
Claudia Hoyser – Sessions: 2:45pm
American Country music artist, social media influencer, and hometown favorite Claudia Hoyser is bringing it back to her roots at the 2021 Rochester Lilac Festival. Claudia has blended her neo-traditional sound with social grace; her musical palette evokes
feelings through the gift of modern story or can bring on some dusty edge with barnburner flair. Just Announced: Claudia will be opening for Toby Keith and Clay Walker at The California Rodeo in Salinas, CA in 2021.
On the heels of the success of her 4 chart singles, Claudia will be releasing her full-length record this summer 2021. Be sure to tune in for her weekly video series “Hoyser Country Monday” every Monday at 6 pm EST on Facebook. The series has rallied up over 120 million views! Claudia also has her own coffee, “Hoyser Country Blend,” which can be found chain-wide in Tops Markets, Hegedorn’s, Herrema’s, Breen’s and in many local establishments.
Friday: May 14, 2021
Jumbo Shrimp – Sessions: 4pm | 6:45pm
Founded in 2006, just two guys, ALL LIVE! Tom on Vocals & Guitar. Ian on the Clamsteamer (a.k.a. Cocktail Drum Kit of his own creation)
A Rochester favorite, playing local bars, backyards and festivals for the past 15 years strong. JUMBOshrimp is working hard to be the BIGGEST little band IN THE WORLD (or Rochester, whichever comes first). While that’s a pretty serious goal, you should also know that they’re very serious about not taking themselves very serious.
JUMBOshrimp plays mostly current music but also mashes in favorite classics, always committed to engaging their audience, having FUN, making music & friends!
Saturday: May 22, 2021
Big Eyed Phish’s: Dave and Tim Acoustic Show Sessions: 2:45pm | 6:00pm
Ben and Jon are the “Dave and Tim” of Big Eyed Phish – The Dave Matthews Tribute Band. Together they perform acoustic versions of DMB songs that everyone knows and loves. Dave and Tim have played together in many venues and put out the infamous “live at Luther College” CD set! Ben and Jon do the acoustic duo justice just as they do for the full band when playing with Big Eyed Phish! Don’t miss this awesome intimate acoustic show!
Friday: May 21, 2021
Mikaela Davis & Southern Star – Sessions: 4:00pm | 6:45pm
Back this year is Lilac favorite, Mikaela Davis with a new sound! Mikaela Davis & Southern Star are bringing a taste of the Grateful Dead to the Lilac Bistro. Recently, Mikaela has not only been playing Grateful Dead tunes with Southern Star but with Bob Weir himself! Mikaela will be playing a set of Dead inspired Americana Folk with her own original tunes.
Sunday: May 23, 2021
Lilac Blues & Soul Review – Sessions: 3:15pm | 6:30pm
On Sunday May 23, the Lilac Festival will conclude with a Blues and Soul extravaganza featuring Steve Grills and the Roadmasters along with special guests blues artist Joe Beard, singers Cinnamon Jones and Debbie Kendrick and singer and harmonica player Big Mike D’Aurizio. Singer guitarist Steve Grills is well know as Rochester’s formost Purveyor of the Blues. Steve has played at the top blues venues and festivals across the country including the Chicago Blues Festival. His CD release After Hours received tremendous airplay leading it to chart at # 39 on the Top 100 Blues Albums of the year.
Bluesman Joe Beard is truly a Rochester legend. His music has taken him all across the US and he has also performed at some of Europe’s most prestigious music festivals. He has released numerous albums to great acclaim. Joe was inducted to the Rochester Music Hall of Fame in 2017. He continues to thrill audiences with his powerful singing and intense and fiery guitar work after more than 50 years.
Singer Cinnamon Jones has built a tremendous reputation over the last few years through her many spirited and soulful live performances. Once you see and here Cinnamon, you will never forget her. Cinnamon toured extensively with the Campbell Brothers and has since toured the US and internationally on her own. She began singing gospel in NYC where she was born. Cinnamon later moved to the SF Bay area where her performing career grew, leading her to be awarded Best Female Vocalist for consecutive years.
Singer Debbie Kendrick has a personality that warms her audiences like the sun breaking through the clouds. She has led her own group in Rochester for well over 10 years and has built a great reputation with her blend of soul and blues music.
Big Mike D’Aurizio is a singer and harp player who possesses a great command and respect for traditional blues. Mike’s powerful electric harp playing and singing is sure to blow your blues away.
Now in it’s 123rd year, the internationally-known festival held at historic Highland Park features lilacs and gardens, runs, beer and wine tasting, and a kid zone. For more information visit the Rochester Events website.
To whet your appetite for the Lilac Fest bistro experience, here’s a clip of Mikaela Davis playing with Bob Weir on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concert series:
Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi of the Tedeschi Trucks Band have announced Fireside LIVE, a special series of socially distanced, limited-capacity performances taking place this summer.
Derek and Susan will be joined by varying members of the Tedeschi Trucks Band each night, with the total band configuration ranging between four and seven musicians depending on the show.
The modified lineup will perform under the name ‘Tedeschi Trucks’ for the first time as a nod to their band members who are unable to join the tour because of the challenging conditions with the current pandemic.
Fireside LIVE was inspired by their very successful at-home online performance series from earlier this year, the Fireside Sessions. The shows will be the first fully live public performances for the ensemble since February 2020, and come on the heels of the recent postponement of their annual summer Wheels of Soul Tour to next year (2022).
Venues will include a mix of small or reduced-capacity outdoor amphitheaters, drive-ins, and pod set-ups, all of which are COVID-19 compliant and taking precautions to ensure the safety of fans, staff, band, and crew.
Fireside LIVE will kick off in Jacksonville, FL with a two-night run on June 11 and 12 and then hit cities across the south before coming to Apple Valley Park in Lafayette, NY on July 9, 10, and 11 before continuing across the Northeast.
Tickets for all shows, except Red Rocks, will go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 23 at 10am EST.
We’re really looking forward to getting on the road and seeing everybody’s beautiful faces,” said Susan. “Getting together earlier this year to record the Fireside Sessions was really re-energizing, and we are excited to play live in front of fans again. As much as we love performing as the full Tedeschi Trucks Band, current conditions just don’t allow for us to do that.
The decision as to which members will join for each show will be decided week to week, depending on local conditions at the time.
Fireside LIVE brings to the stage the same intimate window into Tedeschi and Trucks’ creative chemistry that was on display during the Fireside Sessions, which streamed back in Feb-March on nugs.net.
Stuart Levine, February 1, 2020, London
Packed with deep cuts, reimagined songs, and several premieres of rare covers and new original songs that the band has been working on during the break, the six-episode streaming series was enthusiastically received for delivering something new and unique each week.
For fans who missed the original broadcasts or want to watch it again, TTB and nugs.net will offer a re-broadcast of all six Fireside Sessions. Fans who originally purchased the 6-episode bundle will be able to view the shows for free.
Details on the broadcasting schedule for the encore presentation of the Fireside Sessions will be announced shortly.
FIRESIDE LIVE 2021 ITINERARY June 11-12 Jacksonville, FL Daily’s Place Amphitheater June 18 Huntsville, AL Von Braun Center June 19-20 Murfreesboro, TN Hop Springs Brew Park June 24-25 N. Charleston, SC The Bend June 26 Cayce, SC Columbia Speedway Entertainment Center July 1, 2, 3 Frederick, MD Showtime at the Drive-In July 9, 10, 11 Lafayette, NY Apple Valley Park July 16 Gilford, NH Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion July 18 Elmer, NJ Appel Farm Arts & Music Center July 20-21 Eatontown, NJ Concerts on the Green/Suneagles Golf Club July 30-31 Morrison, CO Red Rocks – on sale TBA *
More dates to be announced
* Red Rocks dates will now be ‘Fireside Live’ shows with a separate ticket sale and with priority access to people who bought tickets for the 2021 ‘Wheels of Soul’ shows at Red Rocks. We are working closely with Red Rocks to confirm ticketing details and will announce further information when finalized. (The 2021 ‘Wheels of Soul’ shows have been postponed to July 29, 30, 2022 and tickets for the 2021 WOS shows will be honored for 2022).
Add Midnight North to the growing list of bands that are slowly starting to announce upcoming tour dates. The Bay Ara-based rock outfit has announced a string of shows in June that cater to some East Coast states.
The spring tour begins June 3 in Asheville, NC at the The Grey Eagle and wraps up June 19 in Stowe, VT at Stowe Cider. The tour also includes a gig at Lincoln Hill Farms in Canandaigua, NY on Friday, June 11.
Midnight North Spring Tour 2021
April 18 | Terrapin Crossroads | San Rafael, CA – SOLD OUT
April 25 | Terrapin Crossroads | San Rafael, CA
June 3 | The Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall | Asheville, NC
June 4 | Charleston Pour House | Charleston, SC
June 10 | Phantom Power | Millersville, PA
June 11 | Lincoln Hill Farms | Canandaigua, NY
June 13 | Levitate Backyard | Marshfield, MA
June 19 | Stowe Cider | Stowe, VT
June 20 | TBA | Portsmouth, NH
Tickets go on sale today at noon. They can be purchased through the band’s website here. You can also listen to some selected tracks from their upcoming album There’s Always A Story there.
Rolling Stone hailed Midnight North as the “Best New Act” in its review of 2018’s Peach Music Festival saying the band “takes the best parts of roots music and weaves them into a tapestry of rock and Americana. They’ve opened for such acts as Phil Lesh, The Infamous Stringudusters, Twiddle and Jackie Greene. And they’ve They’ve also welcomed the likes of Bob Weir, Luther Dickinson, Karl Denson, Eric Krasno, and Nicki Bluhm to join them onstage.
In the nearly 9 years since their origins in early 2012, Midnight North has established itself as a mainstay on stages in both the Bay Area roots music scene and on the nationwide touring circuit.
Noel Paul Stookey today releases a 15-song compilation paired with non-profit beneficiaries in the spirit of giving back, with each track bearing a theme of social concern.
Album art for “Just Causes”
The “Paul” in Peter, Paul & Mary, the seminal 1960s act, will be donating to a different cause for each track on the compilation. Curated and remixed by John Stuart, the compilation focuses on social issues. Stookey spoke on the project after taking part in over 50 albums:
Every songwriter eventually realizes that his art is meant for service: to entertain, inform and in a best-case scenario, to inspire.
As I look over the fifty plus years that I’ve attempted to capture ‘lightening in a bottle’ – a moment realized in a song that transcends time – I recognize that some musical creations seem to have a longer life because they address issues that still challenge us, no matter the generation.
The idea for a compilation that donates 100% of its proceeds to charity struck Stookey at a strange time. “I was literally picking up groceries at our local store when I noticed for the umpteenth time that Paul Newman’s brand of products from his Newman’s Own company advertise on the packaging that ‘100% of profits go to charity,’” he explains. “I thought what a great concept and what the term ‘profits’ means in my life. I’ve been very fortunate in my musical pursuits, and the idea of ‘giving back’ at this point in my life and career struck a chord with me.”
Some issues discussed in the songs on “Just Causes” include hunger, reproductive rights, immigration, missing children, safe energy, drug addiction and the environment. The songs strive for justice for all. One song, “Danny’s Downs” tells a moving story about a family who welcomes a son with Downs Syndrome. The song’s profits will be donated to the National Down Syndrome Congress.
“Just Causes” is Noel Paul Stookey’s first release since 2018, and will be available on March 22nd, 2020. you can find more information noelpaulstookey.com.
On April 11, Ryan Montbleau will team up with Inclusion Dining & Jams to provide a musical experience that acknowledges people of all abilities. Inclusion Dining provides a sensory-friendly restaurant experience intended to accommodate those with autism and other special needs. In addition to Montbleau’s performance, there will also be sensory-friendly music, yoga-inspired dance, collaborative art, sing-alongs, and much more.
Ryan Montbleau’s empowering messages within his music make him a positive outlet in this time of darkness. He has mastered a balance between rock and roll energy with folk introspection. Montbleau dedicates his work to providing hope for those going through hard times. The artist’s inspiring mantra has particularly helped individuals with disabilities feel included.
Presented by Accessible Festivals, this inclusive event at MusikFest Café has been designed for people of all disabilities. The dining experience includes menu items for special diets, modified picture menus, social stories to support ordering and waiting, table-top activities, and therapists on site. Also, Inclusion Dining & Jams will be following health and safety procedures due to COVID-19. These regulations consist of practicing social distancing, mask requirement, temperature check before entry, and enhanced cleaning procedures.
Tickets are now available for purchase here. For folks outside of Bethlehem, a donation-based livestream will be occurring to join in on the evening. The show and livestream will have accessibility features that include visual, auditory, cognitive, physical, and sensory. Live ASL interpreters, captions, and audio and image descriptions will be available as well.
The Chautauqua Institution announced a new agreement with resident Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra musicians. The agreement extends the current Collective Bargaining Agreement through September 2021, but makes some important adjustments that provide for flexibility and creativity in planning the ensemble’s 2021 season.
“I am pleased and grateful we have been able to reach an agreement that will serve both our patrons and CSO musicians during the 2021 season as we all look forward to an enriching and soul-nourishing 2021 Summer Assembly,” said Michael E. Hill, president of Chautauqua Institution.
Performances will occur Weeks Three through Seven of Chautauqua’s nine-week Summer Assembly, and will often feature a smaller ensemble, with all musicians distanced and non-wind and -brass players masked. Guest soloists will be limited in 2021, but the repertoire will be designed to showcase the members of the CSO.
“This hope-filled news allows us to immediately work together to create a season that balances safe practices and bold performances,” said Deborah Sunya Moore, interim senior vice president and chief program officer for Chautauqua.
Photo of Rossen Milanov
“While these are not our ideal planning circumstances, this season does offer us an opportunity to experiment and innovate,” said Rossen Milanov, CSO music director. “We’re excited about the opportunities in 2021 to feature the virtuosity within this amazing orchestra. Most of all, we’re grateful to be planning to play together again in front of our beloved Chautauqua audience.”
The limitations presented by health and safety procedures provide an opportunity to highlight a diverse range of composers and compositions, in keeping with a commitment to both tradition and innovation. As an example, the CSO’s opening night will feature Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 and Gabriela Lena Frank’s Elegía Andina.
CSO member Leslie Linn, trumpet, served as chair of the musicians’ negotiations committee.
“As we prepare for the upcoming season at Chautauqua, we are grateful to have an opportunity to be back together, in-person, to perform for the Chautauqua community, filling the void that has existed for all of us since in-person performing ceased due to the pandemic,” said Linn. “The musicians of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra are excited to have this agreement in place. We thank the Institution for working with us over many months to reach this agreement and are eager to return to Chautauqua and the audience we love.”
Milanov will share the Amphitheater podium in 2021 with Stuart Chafetz, the CSO’s longtime principal timpanist, who was named the ensemble’s first-ever principal pops conductor in November 2019. With the cancelation of the 2020 season, 2021 will be Chafetz’s first with his new title, though he has long served as a go-to conductor for CSO pops concerts.
Stuart Chafetz leads the The Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra in an Independence Day celebration in 2012.
In addition to the CSO schedule, 2021 patrons will enjoy the Music School Festival Orchestra on Monday evenings Weeks One through Four, with a special additional performance on Saturday, July 3, keeping symphonic music as the centerpiece of Chautauqua’s Independence Day celebration.
The Chautauqua Institution has a rich history of musical variety. With symphony, opera, jazz, theater, dance, visual arts and a renowned music school, Chautauqua produces an “ecstatic mix” of programming that can be found only at major organizations. This mix of arts and culture has defined the Chautauqua Institution for over a decade.
Kaatsbaan Cultural Park in Tivoli, just across the Hudson River from Saugerties, will host their inaugural, outdoor Spring Festival. Joining them will be Patti Smith and her longtime collaborator Tony Shanahan, who will offer tribute to Bob Dylan ahead of his upcoming 80th birthday, through original songs and poetry as well as works by Dylan, on May 22, 2021.
On Instagram, Kaatsbaan Cultural Park said they were “Thrilled to have poet performer Patti Smith participate in our upcoming spring festival.”
Smith and Dylan have a longstanding relationship going back to the 1960s, and Smith even performed at Dylan’s Nobel Prize for Literature ceremony in 2016 in his absence.
Additional offerings for the late-May festival will the include works of dance, culinary arts and sculpture.
Artistic Director of Kaatsbaan, Stella Abrera, explained what the event will entail.
The name Kaatsbaan, derived from the Dutch language for ‘a playing field,’ will embody our Spring Festival in every way. We have always been a haven away from the constraints of city life where artists can realize their most ambitious projects. In May, the public will have the opportunity to see this in action, as we create immersive experiences across our fields where they can safely encounter an unparalleled range of artists and styles.
Kaatbaan Artistic Director Stella Abrera
Following the success of a 2020 Summer Festival, held despite challenges faced at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the first Spring Festival will take place on May 22. During last year’s nine-week Summer Festival, Kaatsbaan was able to support over 100 New York-based artists, as noted by executive director Sonja Kostich.
This spring, the greatly expanded program will not only support artists in dance but also across music, poetry, visual and culinary arts, as well as the invaluable individuals who work behind the scenes to make a festival come to life. Kaatsbaan is also committed to the health and vibrancy of our local economy, with the Spring Festival providing opportunities for local economic growth that includes exciting new partnerships.
