Gilda’s Club in New York City announced a benefit concert to help support victims of cancer. The live virtual benefit concert called “It’s Always Something” will take place on May 19 at 8PM EST and will feature big names like Jon Batiste, Rosanne Cash, Sting, and many more.
Gilda’s Club was created in the memory of Gilda Radner, an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, where she won an Emmy Award for her work in 1978. Radner died from ovarian cancer in 1989. The club was founded by Gilda’s husband, actor and comedian Gene Wilder, Joanna Bull and many of Gilda’s friends in her memory and opened its signature red door in June of 1995.
The venues hope is that in the next 25 years to make their free cancer support program more accessible to more people, in more places, in more ways than currently possible. Since the launch of their virtual support program in March 2020 they have had more than 13,000 virtual visits and we’ve seen an increase in participation and attendance which is up 45% across all activities.
The benefit concert will feature performances by Jon Batiste, Rosanne Cash, Sting, Kenny Loggins, David Sanborn, Kandace Springs, Bernie Williams, and Gil Parris. The benefit will also include appearances from Robin Roberts, Susie Essman, Jon Hamm, Brooke Shields, and JB Smoove.
The “it’s always something” benefit is being put on by executive producers Susan Brecker and Mark Krantz with help from original SNL writer, Alan Zweibel who is a consulting producer. Ray Conley will be directing the event while Will Lee will serve as the musical director and Dan Melnick will be acting as the coordinating producer.
In September of 2020, Spotify joined forces with Songkick and Ticketmaster to embrace the “new normal” for the live music industry: entirely virtual events due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. An “On Tour” tab was added to each artist’s Spotify profile, where users could find information about upcoming livestreams and virtual shows. Spotify also leveraged their popular personalization tools to start recommending virtual events based on listener preferences.
This week, Spotify has taken these efforts a step further, announcing exciting new partnerships with four virtual event platforms: StageIt, Mandolin, NoCap, and nugs.net. These strategic partnerships will grant Spotify users access to the entire event streaming catalog available on each platform. Fans will be able to explore virtual event offerings directly through Spotify’s app and more easily experience the music they love.
Spotify users will now be able to access virtual live music events under an artist’s “On Tour” tab, or via Spotify’s Concerts hub. From there, they will be redirected to the platform’s event page where they can view these live performances. Spotify is also continuing virtual event recommendations to its users based on their listening habits and the artists they follow. Push notifications are delivered to fans 24-48 hours prior to any event they may have interest in.
Nugs.net, one of Spotify’s new virtual event partners, has seen especially impressive growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. What began as a site where fans could download music sets has evolved into a game-changing virtual event streaming site. Nugs.net has streamed over 900 concerts during this year alone, allowing fans to watch their favorite artists perform from anywhere in the country.
StageIt, Mandolin, and NoCap have also skyrocketed in popularity this year, as music lovers crave the live experiences they have been missing. Artists rely on these streaming sites as a way to engage with fans and regain a sense of normalcy. The overwhelming success of these platforms has now caught Spotify’s attention, opening the door for strategic partnership opportunities.
To explore these virtual event listings for yourself, check out the updated “On Tour” hub on Spotify artist pages, now supported by StageIt, Mandolin, NoCap, and nugs.net.
Dawes have announced a fall tour in support of their new album Good Luck with Whatever, beginning in early September 2021.
Good Luck with Whatever is Dawes’ seventh studio LP and was produced by 6x GRAMMY® Award-winner Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit) at Nashville’s famed RCA Studio A. The new album received critical acclaim as well as performances on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzc16xo6pho
Leg 1
SEPTEMBER 9 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall 10 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern 13 – Durham, NC – Carolina Theatre 14 – Richmond, VA – The National 15 – Washington, DC – Warner Theatre 17 – New York, NY – Central Park Summerstage 18 – Boston, MA – Orpheum 21 – Toronto, ON – Phoenix Theatre 23 – Pittsburgh, PA – TBD 24 – Harrisburg, PA – Harrisburg University 25 – Grand Rapids, MI – Calvin College 26 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre 28 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room 30 – Auburn, AL – Auburn University Amphitheatre
OCTOBER 2 – Nashville, TN – The Ryman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO802GtaBcw
Leg 2
NOVEMBER 17 – Vancouver, BC – The Vogue 18 – Seattle, WA – Showbox 19 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom 21 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Fremont Theater 22 & 23 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up 26 & 27 – Los Angels, CA – Fonda Theatre 28 – San Francisco, CA – Fillmore 30 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Commonwealth
DECEMBER 1 – Fort Collins, CO – TBD 3 – Minneapolis, MN – First Ave 4 – Chicago, IL – The Vic 5 – Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theatre 7 – Louisville, KY – Headliners 8 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant 10 – Dallas, TX – McFarlin Memorial Auditorium 11 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s 12 – Houston, TX – Heights Theater
On April 13, 2021, The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) announced the winners of the 2021 ASCAP Pop Music Awards, celebrating well-known stars of the genre.
Some familiar faces who received awards are The Weeknd, celebrated as 2021 songwriter of the year with “Heartless,” and Post Malone, celebrating “Circles” as the song of the year.
The celebration kicked off with an Instagram Live interview with Lewis Capaldi and a performance of “Before You Go.”
For the complete list of winners, visit the ASCAP website. The American Society of Songwriters, Composers, and music Publishers is an official organization dedicated to license and promote their affiliates, ranging across every genre.
On April 13, Lincoln Center announced that their Josie Robertson Plaza is transforming into “The Green,” allowing New Yorkers to enjoy the space.
The Green is a part of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation-Lincoln Center Agora initiative, Restart Stages, whose mission is to help rebuild the arts sector and the city’s revival by reimagining and reactivating public spaces. It will create 10 outdoor performance and rehearsal spaces, an outdoor performing arts center, and more public venues.
Design by Mimi Lien Rendering by Timothy Leung
In coordination with NY PopsUp, part of Governor Cuomo’s New York Arts Revival, the initiative will go beyond the Lincoln Center. Restart Stages began on April 7, World Health Day with performances for healthcare workers by the New York Philharmonic.
Mimi Lien, set designer and MacArthur Genius grantee, is in charge of the plaza’s reimagination. She wanted to create it into a place of inclusion and inhabitation rather than just an area to walk through to see a performance or get to the Library. Lien envisions The Green as a park space where people can relax and a site of social infrastructure.
Before The Green, the plaza was 14,000 square feet of open concrete. After being redesigned, it will be made of recyclable and biobased SYNLawn grass-like material. It is provided by SYNLawn New Yorkand contains high soy content from U.S Farmers. Hudson Scenic Studio is providing the fabrication. To add to the community aspect of The Green, the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts is providing books for the public to borrow. A small snack bar will be in the northeast corner and there will be pop up performances in the Summer and Fall.
The Green opens on May 10 through September 2021, from 9 a.m to midnight. Due to the pandemic, safety protocols will be in place to follow guidelines.
AFROPUNK returns virtually this year on April 23 with the theme “Black Spring” and has partnered with NPR Music.
For almost two decades, AFROPUNK has focused on breaking barriers and dismantling oppressive structures affecting Black communities all over. They work to create an inclusive and liberating space.
This year’s theme “Black Spring” combines their legacy of inclusion and activism by highlighting Afro-Latinx and Afro-Caribbean talents and culture. It aims to celebrate African lineage and embrace Black people globally despite the differences in language and location. “Black Spring” represents revitalization, reclamation, revolution and renewal as it represents freedom and change. It calls for Afro-Latinx and Afro-Caribbeans to embrace the intersectionality within their identities.
For the first time, AFROPUNK is collaborating with NPR Music this year. With over a decade of music journalism the Tiny Desk concert series, NPR Music has created a path of discovery for artists of all backgrounds and genres. The pandemic didn’t stop the Tiny Desk from taking place, the performances just came from home and allowed artists to perform from all over the world. “Tiny Desk Meets AFROPUNK” will capture the intimate and authentic feels from the home concert series with performances from international artists.
People performing and any details about how the show will go or whatever: This year’s lineup includes Rico Nasty, Seu Jorge, Seafoam Walls, DAWERXDAMPER, Black Pantera, ChocQuibTown, Projexx, and JUP DO BAIRRO. “Black Spring” will be hosted by Santana Caress Benitez. It is produced by veterans Anthony Maddox, Tina Farris, and Dominic Pearson along with Cyrus Dennis, Allen T. Lamb, Sango Amoda, Shauna Gray and Anita Asante. Performers for “Tiny Desk Meets AFROPUNK” are ChocQuibTown, Calma Carmona, Leudji Luna, and Nenny with AFROPUNK veteran Jorge “Gitoo” Wright as host.
The program “Tiny Desk Meets AFROPUNK” streams at 3 p.m. EST on April 23 on NPR Music’s website and Youtube. “Black Spring” airs right after at 4 p.m. EST on Planet Afropunk.
Safe & Soundz festival will take place June 11-13, 2021 at Magic Forest Farm in Coeymans Hollow, outside of Albany, NY.
The festival lineup includes Space Bacon, Wax Future, Escaper, Leon Trout, Pheel, Pi Wrecks, Weird Phishes, Ampevene, Baked Shrimp, Boogie knights, Chyld, Bobby Ganache, Father Figure, The Business, and Saturday morning yoga with Ilas.
Held at Magic Forest Farm and produced by Shepheard Productions, the festival is a small event with only 150 tickets sold and 9 campsites. Each campsite came with their own fire-pit and 2 Car-side parking spots and is good for up to 8 campers maximum. They also offer 3 rental options: Tipi (4 people), Yurt (3 people) and Cabin (6 people), each with its own charm and amenities. Attendees are also encouraged to find a nice secluded spot away from others to pitch their tent, hang their hammock and relax on any of the beautiful 230 acres in the Catskill mountains.
The Safe & Soundz festival will be taking many COVID-19 safety precautions. The stage will have socially distanced viewing pods. These pods will be on a first come, first served basis throughout the day/night and capacity will not exceed 1 group per pod (8 people max). People are also expected to wear a face mask anytime they leave their campsite or their viewing pod. In addition to following all state and local safety guidelines the festival will also be checking attendees temperatures upon admission, supplying sanitation sites throughout the grounds, masks will also be required when moving around campsites. These rules are subject to change come mid-June, but for right now, they’re taking the most precaution to ensure everyone’s safety.
Although the festival is sold out, Safe & Soundz festival tickets may be available on resale sites and groups. For more information visit Shepheard Production’s Facebook Page.
Live music returns to The Sultan Room in Brooklyn, who will host a series of outdoor concerts titled “Sultan Room Under the Stars” and a series of Sunday day parties, “Sultan Sundays.”
Photo credit: Jeff Brown
The Sultan Room music venue opened in 2019, and along with The Turks Inn and Doner Kebab, the venue is owned by Varun Kataria and Tyler Erickson. Since COVID-19 halted live in person performances, the Sultan Room’s doors have been closed. However, it is reopening this Spring with several outdoor performances on the Turks Inn rooftop, Kismet Garden.
“Sultan Room Under the Stars” has several upcoming concerts beginning on April 21 with Native Sun. Other performers for the series’ lineup include Jachary, Ron Gallo, TOTH, Melanie Charles, Daddy Long Legs and more. Most of the show dates feature two performances from each artist and doors opening at both 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. All shows will be seated and following CDC’s guidelines with masks and face shields worn by both performers and the audience.
“Sultan Sundays’ ‘ begins this Sunday, April 18 also taking place on the Turk Inn’s Rooftop. Every event starts from 3 p.m and will end at 9 p.m. featuring a rotation of local DJs and party promoters. This weekend’s event is “The Sultan Room Presents: Discosis”. Upcoming “Sultan Sundays” include Sailor Boom, Mickey Perez + Toribio + Jimmy Perez, a Mariah Carey Party and more.
With the venue slowly reopening, they host a variety of entertainment. They are hosting a new drag show called “Gigs” with Bushwig’s co-founder Horrorchata as the host. The Sultan Room also will have a comedy event, and even more shows with local and national artists, Lespecial, HNRY FLWRand Sophia Rei’s album release show. Their new cafe will present smaller events and concerts. The Sultan Room’s website has more information and ticket sales.
Upcoming shows at The Sultan Room
April 21 – Native Sun April 28 – Jachary May 5 – Ron Gallo May 12 – Toth May 19 – Toth May 26 – Melanie Charles June 2 – Daddy Long Legs June 9 – Adeline June 16 – Araya June 23 – Garcia Peoples June 30 – Mirah
In 2022, a bio-musical about Brooklyn born singer-songwriter Neil Diamond is coming to Broadway in summer 2022.
Neil Diamond performs onstage during the Songwriters Hall of Fame 49th Annual Induction and Awards Dinner on June 14, 2018. (Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall Of Fame)
The show, “A Beautiful Noise,” was announced in 2019, but pushed back due to the pandemic. Thanks to things slowly opening up, the show will premiere in Boston at the Emerson Colonial Theater in June 2022 and then move to Broadway after four weeks. It will show audiences Neil Diamond’s life, from growing up to stardom.
Although we don’t know the cast yet, Steven Hoggett (Once, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) will choreograph, Oscar-nominated screenwriter Anthony McCarten (Bohemian Rhapsody, The Theory of Everything) will write the book, and Michael Mayer, who won a Tony in 2007 for Spring Awakening will direct.
Neil Diamond (1976). by Danny Gutierrez
Even though Broadway has seen a lot of jukebox bio-musicals, Tony award-winning producer Ken Davenport says that this new show is different. It is “a biographical musical drama and not a jukebox musical. He’s “excited to show people what separates it from some of the jukebox musicals that have been around.”
Neil Diamond thinks that “A Beautiful Noise” opening will be “a moment of relief, unity, strength and love” much like when he performed “Sweet Caroline” at Fenway Park in 2013 after the Boston Marathon bombing.
After performances start “and we’re all able to safely be in the same space together, experiencing the thrill of live theater, I imagine those same emotions will wash over me and the entire audience,” Diamond says. The emotions will be just as high when “A Beautiful Noise” opens on Broadway after over a year of darkness.
It will be a while until Broadway is back to normal. “At this point we’re thinking early fall, perhaps early September. That’s the way things are pointing,” President of the Broadway League Charlotte St. Martin said to NBC. “We believe that some of the longer-running shows may be first to come back, because a lot of the cast has muscle memory.”
Until then, you can still see live theatre in NYC. Sign up to be able to get tickets to the Neil Diamond musical “A Beautiful Noise” 24 hours before everyone else once they’re available.
On April 14th, Mexican singer Alejandro Fernández announced his fall 2021 “Hecho en México” U.S. tour. The announcement comes on the heels of four consecutive number one singles.
The 19-date tour, produced by Live Nation, will kick off on September 10th in Reno at the Grand Sierra Theatre with stops in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Miami, New York and more, before wrapping October 24th in Phoenix at Arizona Federal Theatre.
A portion of proceeds will be donated to Families Belong Together – a campaign of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, that works to end family separation and promote dignity, unity, and compassion for all children and families.
The multiple Grammy winner and son of the legendary Vicente Fernández, has conquered stages all around the world with his personal interpretation of Mexican music.
He has sold more than 35 million records worldwide and won countless awards and nominations. Alejandro is the first act to achieve No. 1s on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums in the 1990s, ‘00s, ‘10s, and ‘20s.
His most recent album, Hecho en México, debuted #1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Album chart. The album marked Alejandro’s return to the mariachi format and garnered him a Latin GRAMMY win for Best Ranchero/Mariachi Album and a GRAMMY nomination for Best Regional Mexican Music Album.
The album has earned four consecutives #1 singles at radio in the United States and Mexico with “Caballero,” “Te Olvidé,” “Decepciones,”and his current single, “Duele.”
Throughout 2020 while live touring shut down, Alejandro Fernández remained very active, looking for new and innovative ways to be close to his fans and lend his voice to important causes impacting our community.
In the early days of the pandemic, Alejandro partnered with Univision TV’s Dr. Juan Rivera in sharing vital information about health and COVID-19 on television and social media platforms.
Seeing the impact of the shutdown on the artist community, Fernández released a stirring rendition of Joan Sebastian’s classic “Eso y Más” as a fundraiser for out of work musicians, donating 100% of the proceeds to MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund in the United States and MúsicaMéxico COVID-19 in Mexico.
In October 2020, the singer offered a historic live streaming event, América A Una Sola Voz (America Together in One Voice), a breathtaking concert viewed by over 150,000 fans in 19 different countries across the American continents.
During the show Alejandro paused to remind his fans of the importance of voting in the upcoming elections. Following this performance he launched (along with a coalition of artists) the “Vota Por Nosotros” (Vote For Us) get-out-the-vote campaign airing on Estrella Media, encouraging Latino voters to vote on behalf of our entire community in the November 3rd elections.
In accepting his Latin GRAMMY, Alejandro dedicated the award to the victims of the recent hurricanes in southern Mexico donating MXN $1,000,000.00 to the Mexican Red Cross to aid with the relief efforts.
Most recently Alejandro joined Mana’s Fher Olvera as the face of the “We Are Home” campaign calling for a fair and dignified immigration policy for the millions of Latino immigrants living in the US.
Alejandro will be joined by his son Alex Fernandez and latin-pop duo HA*ASH on certain dates in the tour.
Tickets go on sale beginning Friday, April 16th at 10AM local time on Ticketmaster.com.
ALEJANDRO FERNÁNDEZ TOUR 2021 DATES:
Fri, Sep 10 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Theatre^
Sat, Sep 11 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center*
Sun, Sep 12 – Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center*
Wed, Sep 15 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena*
