NYS Music 202​1

Category: NYC Metro

  • Cory and The Wongnotes Announce Live Tour

    Guitarist and producer Cory Wong will head out on the road this summer with his new band, Cory and The Wongnotes. This will be their first live tour as a band.

    cory wong and the wongnotes
    Corey Wong

    On stage, Wong will be accompanied by an 11-piece band that includes members from Hornheads, Stay Human, and featured vocalist Antwaun Stanley. This tour will be a follow-up from a YouTube series on Cory Wong’s YouTube called Cory and The Wongnotes.

    The eight episode Youtube series is a fun mix of a talk show, comedy sketches, and of course live music from their album Cory and The Wongnotes. They also have played live on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert alongside Eddie Barbash performing “Bluebird” from their new album.

    This will be a national tour and they will be playing in Brooklyn February 4, 2022 at Brooklyn Steel. For more details and tickets, check out www.corywongmusic.com/tour

    Cory Wong and the Wongnotes 2021-2022 Tour Dates:

    NOVEMBER 2021

    3 – Kansas City, MO

    5 – Denver, CO

    6 – Salt Lake City, UT

    8 – Vancouver, BC

    9 – Portland, OR

    10 – Seattle, WA

    12 – San Francisco, CA

    13 – Los Angeles, CA

    14 – San Diego, Ca

    16 – Phoenix, AZ

    19 – Dallas, TX

    20 – Austin, TX

    JANUARY 2022

    26 – Columbus, OH

    27 – Detroit, MI

    28 – Toronto, ON

    29 – Pittsburgh, PA

    30 – Rochester, NY

    FEBRUARY 2022

    1 – Burlington, VT

    2 – Boston, MA

    3 – Philadelphia, PA

    4 – New York, NY

    5 – Washington, DC

    7 – Charlottesville, VA

    8 – Raleigh, NC

    10 – Asheville, NC

    11 – Atlanta, GA

    12 – Nashville, TN

    13 – Indianapolis, IN

    15 – St. Louis, MO

    16 – Des Moines, IA

    17 – Madison, WI

    18 – Chicago, IL

    19 -Minneapolis, MN

  • Dead and Company 2021 Summer Tour includes 4 stops across NYS

    It’s true, the Music Never Stopped, as Dead and Company will head out on the road this summer, their first shows since Playin in the Sand in January 2020. Dead and Company will embark on a 2021 Summer Tour, making four stops in New York State. Citi Field, Bethel Woods, Darien Lake and SPAC will all find multiple generations of Deadheads traversing the state this summer on a mission to get down.

    dead and company 2021 summer

    The most recent New York appearance for Dead and Company was their Halloween run at Madison Square Garden in 2019. The Empire State will have an “Easy Wind” blowing across it later this summer, as Dead and Company comes to Citi Field on Friday, August 20, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts on Monday, August 23, Darien Lake Amphitheater on Wednesday, August 25, and Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Friday, August 27.

    Dead and Company 2021 summer

    The Capital Region served as the foundation for Dead and Company’s start with their first performance at Times Union Center in Albany on October 29, 2015. John Mayer and Oteil Burbridge joined the band beyond description for “Playing in the Band” as the first tune to start their journey.

    To ensure fans get tickets in their hands directly, Fan Registration is now available here until Sunday, May 16 at 10PM PDT, through Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program. The Verified Fan Presale begins Wednesday, May 19th at 10 AM local through Thursday, May 20 at 10 PM local venue time. Supplies are limited.  

    Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, May 21 at Noon local venue time through Ticketmaster.

    Dead and Company 2021 summer
    A rainbow over SPAC, June 2019

    Dead & Company will continue their work with longtime sustainability partner REVERB. This summer the band has committed to a comprehensive carbon offset program via Reverb’s unCHANGEit Climate Campaign, covering all projected emissions from this year’s tour – including fan travel to and from shows. These Dead & Company tour offsets will immediately fund important projects around the world and here at home that directly fight climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.

    Dead and Company Summer 2021 Tour will offer a variety of enhanced experience packages that range in amenities from Loose Lucy’s Lounge access and early venue entry to branded lawn chairs and limited-edition screen-printed posters, paired with premium concert tickets. Travel Packages that bundle concert tickets with local accommodations will also be available. All enhanced offerings and travel packages go on sale May 19 at 10AM local venue time. For full details, visit here.

    Jerry Garcia’s words and music get to carry another Summer and Fall Tour across the country. This cast certainly knows how to honor his historic improvisational ability while expressing their own voices on it. They have been given the seal of approval from original crew members and fans a like. Six years later it remains the Dead’s biggest revival. Oteil Burbridge doesn’t feel like a stranger for another tour. “When Bill Walton says you’re good, you quit worrying.”

    Check deadandcompany.com for complete tour information. 

    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?  

    Dead & Company 2021 Tour

    Mon-Aug-16 Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park

    Wed-Aug-18 Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live

    Fri-Aug-20 – New York, NY – Citi Field

    Sat-Aug-21 Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park

    Mon-Aug-23 Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

    Wed-Aug-25 Darien, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater

    Fri-Aug-27 Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center

    Sat-Aug-28 Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium

    Thu-Sep-02 Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center

    Fri-Sep-03 Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center

    Sun-Sep-05 Hartford, CT – The Xfinity Theatre

    Tue-Sep-07 Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center

    Fri-Sep-10 Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre

    Sat-Sep-11 Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center

    Mon-Sep-13 Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre STL

    Wed-Sep-15 Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center

    Sep 17-18 Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field

    Wed-Oct-06 West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

    Thu-Oct-07 Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

    Mon-Oct-11 Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion

    Tue-Oct-12 – Atlanta, GA – Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood

    Thu-Oct-14 Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion

    Fri-Oct-15 Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

    Mon-Oct-25 Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion

    Wed-Oct-27 San Diego, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

    Oct 29-31 Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl

  • Lineup Announced for 24th Brooklyn Film Festival

    The Brooklyn Film Festival (BFF) has announced the film lineup for its 24th edition, titled “The Clearing.” Over the course of the 10-day festival, BFF will present 37 film programs online, and a partial line up of 22 programs in-person at Windmill Studios in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

    brooklyn film festival 2021

    Brooklyn Film Festival’s organizers have been staging International, competitive film events since 1998. BFF’s mission is to provide a public forum in Brooklyn in order to advance public interest in films and the independent production of films. They seek to draw worldwide attention to Brooklyn as a center for cinema and to encourage the rights of all Brooklyn residents to access and experience the power of independent filmmaking. BFF, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit group that promotes artistic excellence and the creative freedom of artists without censure.

    The 2021 edition will feature 36 World Premieres, 28 USA bows, 34 east coast debuts, and 25 first-time screenings in NY. In total, BFF will show in competition 147 features and shorts from 35 countries. The full lineup includes 13 narrative features and 9 documentary features highlighted in this release. The festival will also present 39 narrative shorts, 23 documentary shorts, 25 animation and 21 experimental films.

    On June 5th, BFF will begin in-person screenings at Windmill Studios in Brooklyn at 3pm, with the feature documentary film Queens of Pain. At 6pm, there will be a short narrative program, led by the world premiere of Until, by Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, and at 9pm, BFF will present the world premiere of the feature narrative, American Desert.

    Along with the film screenings, BFF will offer parallel events, such as pre-recorded filmmaker introductions and Q&A sessions on the festival website. Live interviews and get-togethers will be staged on Facebook and other social media.

    Tickets are available on the BFF website. Tickets for indoor screenings must be purchased in advance, online. All tickets and passes purchased online for BFF indoor programs can be picked up at Windmill Studios. Online, BFF will sell each film category for $10 and a Full Festival Pass for $24. All passes will be valid 24/7 from June 4-13.

    The online lineup will be available 24/7 for the entire 10 days, and the indoor event will feature three programs a day on weekends, and two on weekdays. Each program is two-hours long. To find out both the online and indoor schedule, check BFF’s website.

    Below is a partial line up of feature films playing in competition this year listed in alphabetical order. For further info on all the films, passes, and tickets, please check the BFF website.

    FEATURE NARRATIVES:

    AMERICAN DESERT
    Dir: Adrian Bartol, United States, 82 min, 2020, Narrative Feature, World Premiere
    It’s 2010, US Army veteran Matt Benning has returned from Afghanistan to a wrecked economy. Demons of war haunt him, a romance blossoms.

    BONE CAGE
    Dir: Taylor Olson, Canada, 89 min, 2019, Narrative Feature, NY Premiere
    Jamie works operating a wood processor, clear-cutting for pulp. At the end of each shift, he walks through the destruction he has created.

    CORRAL
    Dir: Marcelo Brennand, Brazil, 84 min, 2020, Narrative Feature, US Premiere
    Corral is a political drama that takes place in rural Brazil, in the city of Gravatá, where during the mayoral elections.

    GOSSAMER FOLDS
    Dir: Lisa Donato, United States, 95 min, 2019, Narrative Feature, NY Premiere
    In 1986, nine-year-old Tate Millikin is uprooted and unwillingly moved to the suburbs of Kansas City. As his parent’s marriage unravels.

    HELL IS EMPTY
    Dir: Jo Shaffer, United States, 98 min, 2020, Narrative Feature, World Premiere
    A self-styled messiah initiates a teenage runaway into his cult of sister-wives. Her rebellious nature upends the community.

    KALOKHACHYA PARAMBYA [PROP SHOOTS OF DARKNESS]
    Dir: Makarand Anaspure, India, 98 min, 2020, Narrative Feature, East Coat Premiere
    Prop shoots of Darkness is conflict of young orphan Alif about spirituality and material world. Industrious and helping everyone in the village.

    KRINGLE TIME
    Dir: Matthew Lucas, United States, 103 min, 2021, Narrative Feature, World Premiere
    After becoming the unlikely star of a children’s show, a public access TV station manager grapples with the problematic legacy of his predecessor.

    MOVING IN 2008
    Dir: Calogero Carucci, United States, 78 min, 2020, Narrative Feature, East Coast Premiere
    A family tragedy during the recession of 2008, catalyzed by unemployment, personal crisis, and illness.

    ONE NIGHT IN KATHMANDU
    Dir: Mohan Rai, Nepal, 70 min, 2019, Narrative Feature, US Premiere
    A GIRL, 26—together with a BOY, 33, who is a stranger to her– take an injured man to a hospital when an accident take places near them.

    TANGO SHALOM
    Dir: Gabriel Bologna, United States, 116 min, 2020, Narrative Feature, NY Premiere
    “TANGO SHALOM”: Moshe Yehuda (Jos Laniado), a Hasidic Rabbi and amateur Hora dancer, enters a big televised Tango competition to save his Hebrew school.

    TWO IS A MAGIC NUMBER
    Dir: Holger Borggrefe, Stefan Hering, Germany, 85 min, 2020, Narrative Feature, US Premiere
    A day at the lake. Andrejs ex-girlfriend Nadia pays him a visit. Nadia and Andrej’s former best mate Claudius are a couple now.

    UNDER THE LANTERN LIT SKY
    Dir: Michelle Bossy, United States, 75 min, 2020, Narrative Feature, World Premiere
    The story of Blanche DuBois and her husband, who in different ways are coming to terms with their sexuality in 1920s Mississippi.

    WALK WITH ME
    Dir: Isabel del Rosal, United States, 112 min, 2020, Narrative Feature, NY Premiere
    As she braves life after divorce, a young mother must challenge herself to take some personal risks after finding love in an unexpected place.

    FEATURE DOCUMENTARIES:

    AND SO I STAYED
    Dir: Natalie Pattillo, Daniel Nelson, United States, 90 min, 2020, Documentary Feature, World Premiere
    And So I Stayed is an intimate story of domestic violence survivors who killed their abusers in self-defense.

    INTO THE LIGHT
    Dir: Benjamin Schwartz, United States, 74 min, 2020, Documentary Feature, NY Premiere
    In the 1980’s Chuck Connelly was recognized as a key figure among the New York-based Neo-expressionist painters.

    LIFE & LIFE
    Dir: NC Heikin, United States, 80 min, 2020, Documentary Feature, East Coast Premiere
    Life & Life focuses on pressing criminal justice issues in America as seen through the life of recent parolee Reggie Austin.

    LITTLE PAKISTAN – FUTURE HISTORIES
    Dir: Sana Akram, United States, 120 min, 2021, Documentary Feature, US Premiere
    Little Pakistan – Future Histories is a dérive—a drifting in an online environment illustrating an immigrant neighborhood of Pakistani-Americans.

    MAYOR MOHAMED
    Dir: Jeffrey M., United States, Syria, Turkey, 86 min, 2021, Documentary Feature, World Premiere
    In this quintessential film about the Muslim-American immigrant experience, Mayor Mohamed Khairullah risks his life to bring humanitarian relief into Syria.

    ORGAN STOPS – SAVING THE KING OF INSTRUMENTS
    Dir: James Dawson, United Kingdom, 70 min, 2021, Documentary Feature, US Premiere
    Martin has spent his life playing and building pipe organs; nowadays he dedicates all his time to rescuing them – “It’s a real crisis.”

    QUEENS OF PAIN
    Dir: Cassie Hay, Amy Winston, United States, 75 min, 2020, Documentary Feature, NY Premiere
    One of the most successful teams in New York sports history, Gotham Girls Roller Derby is a feminist powerhouse of elite athletes, misfits, and renegades.

    TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES
    Dir: Hannah Jayanti, United States, 103 min, 2020, Documentary Feature
    Truth or Consequences is a speculative documentary about time and how we weave the past into the present and our possible future.

    THE WISDOM OF TRAUMA
    Dir: Zaya Benazzo, Maurizio Benazzo, US, Canada, 88 min, 2021, Documentary Feature, World Premiere
    Trauma is the invisible force that shapes our lives. It shapes the way we live, the way we love and the way we make sense of the world.

  • Hearing Aide: FRANK ‘Dreams and Fears of the Outside’

    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.

    frank

    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

  • LOVE ROCKS NYC Returns to The Beacon Theater in June 2021

    Live music comes back to New York’s Upper West Side this summer. The fifth annual LOVE ROCKS NYC benefit concert for God’s Love We Deliver returns on Thursday, June 3, 2021. Produced by John Varvatos, LOVE ROCKS NYC will be shown as a live stream event courtesy of platform Fans.Live from the historic Beacon Theatre in New York City. Rochester native drummer Steve Gadd will perform as part of the amazing house band put together by Music Director and band leader Will Lee.

    LOVE ROCKS NYC

    The stellar house cast will include Steve Gadd, Shawn Pelton, Eric Krasno, Larry Campbell, Jeff Young and Ricky Peterson. Ken Dashow will serve as the house DJ. The event will be hosted by Jeff Garlin from Curb your Enthusiasm, Michael Imperioli from The Sopranos, New York Yankee Bernie Williams and Special Guest Tina Fey of SNL. This years featured performers all-star lineup of pop, rock, blues and soul music stars to include Sara Bareilles, Jon Bon Jovi,, Gary Clark Jr., Billy F Gibbons, Warren Haynes, Joe Bonamassa, Emily King, Ledisi, Pedrito Martinez, Tash Neal, Fantastic Negrito, Ivan Neville, Robert Randolph, Nathaniel Rateliff, Jimmy Vivino, Yola and more to be added.

    LOVE ROCKS NYC
    Steve Gadd, Robert Plant, Will Lee, Eric Krasno LOVE ROCKS NYC 2019

    The past four LOVE ROCKS NYC benefit concerts have delivered a staggering array of music stars from legendary headliners such as Keith Richards, Dave Matthews, Mavis Staples, Robert Plant, Warren Haynes, Emmylou Harris, Buddy Guy, Andra Day, Ziggy Marley, Ann Wilson and Sheryl Crow to rising stars such as Leon Bridges, Marcus King, Allen Stone, Larkin Poe, Hozier and The War and Treaty.

    LOVE ROCKS NYC 2020 served as a milestone as the first of many live streams last year with the touchdown of the pandemic before its performance last March. Upper West side resident Trey Anastasio helped carry the virtual torch at the end of last year with an 8 week residency to help raise money under the Beacon Jams for a charitable cause. This year’s concert event will also pay tribute to the NYC Front line workers who have played a critical role in supporting the city during the pandemic.

    Dave Matthews LOVE ROCKS NYC 2020

    Fans anywhere can experience this memorable night of music by signing up at loverocksnyc.com to receive a free live stream link. You can help support the organization through the special $20 = 2 Meals suggested donation option on the website. Love Rocks NYC has helped raise more than $13 million to date.

    Derek Trucks and his wife, Susan Tedeschi were surprise musical guests at last March’s Love Rocks NYC benefit. Attendance was limited to venue and production staff, artists and their teams and media. “That was the day they shut down, no gatherings over 500 people. So they did the show just for the webcast with maybe 200 or 300 guests in the audience,” Trucks said of the night. “It felt so strange to look over the Beacon and see a few hundred people dancing and having a good time but keeping their distance. It was an odd scene. That one felt like the last party before the end of the world.”

    Paul Shaffer, David Letterman, Jeff Coffin LOVE ROCKS NYC 2020

    Last March’s most special guest David Letterman reunited with Paul Shaffer on stage in New York City for the first time in five years. Letterman made light of the newly presented restrictions for the live music entertainment world by quoting Tom Petty’s song “Letting You Go.” “It’s a restless world, uncertain times, you said hope was getting hard to find.”

    Letterman elaborated, “After listening to that song, tonight it occurs to me that when things are hard, harder than they’ve ever been, even more troubled, you have got to look for something positive and one of the great gifts, one of the great blessings of life, honest to God, is live music.”


  • March on Broadway: Actors Stream in Protest of Inequity

    Tuesday, May 11 kicked off a three-part streaming event to combat racism and inequity in the Broadway community. The March on Broadway includes actors Laura Benanti, Stephanie J. Block, Sierra Boggess, Kelli O’Hara, and Celia Keenan-Bolger have joined March on Broadway’s fight against the treatment of minority Broadway workers.

    march on broadway

    The actors are each hosting guest speakers live to talk about the treatment of those with minority status on Broadway. Yesterday at 9AM, Lauren Benanti (@laurabenanti) talked with Davon Williams and Courtney Daniels about the Black Theatre Matters Bill, a monumental piece of legislation that has passed through the Actors’ Equity Association’s First Inaugural National Convention that stands poised to radically change the union and the industry at large.

    Tonight, May 12, at 9PM, Stephanie J. Block (@stephaniejblock) will host Jaime Cepero, Shakina Nayfack, and L Morgan in a conversation centered around Trans, Non-Binary, and Gender Non-Conforming Artist inclusion in the theatre industry.

    Tomorrow, May 13, at 2PM Sierra Boggess (@officialsierraboggess) will talk with Nattalyee Randall, Ryan J. Haddad, and Joshua Castille about Deaf and Disabled community within the theatre industry and its issues with accessibility. An ASL interpreter will be present for the duration of the livestream. Viewers are encouraged to participate in every conversation and share their thoughts.

    march on broadway
    The March on Broadway, April 22. Photo by Rebecca J Michaelson (@rebeccajmichaelson)

    The March on Broadway was held on April 22nd in protest against the Broadway League and the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the union for live theatre performers. The protest was a response to the inequitable treatment of marginalized communities and hoped to create change which would make Broadway a safer place to work when shows open.

    The protest was also sparked by the Hollywood Reporter’s cover story about Scott Rudin, a Broadway and film producer with an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, and 17 Tonys. Several interns have come out with horror stories about the way he treated them. Each was subject to nearly constant verbal and physical abuse. Kevin Ghram-Caso, Rudin’s executive assistant from 2008-2009, developed PTSD after working for the producer and later committed suicide.

    march on broadway
    Sis and Ashley De La Rosa. Photo by Rebecca J Michaelson

    The protest and live streams focus on the following five demands:

    1. Following Scott Rudin’s resignation from the Broadway League, the Actors’ Equity Association must take immediate action in adding him to the “Do Not Work” list. 
    2. A full report on how the 2019-2020 Equity dues were spent and what percentage was spent to help conversations around diversity. 
    3. A full list of organizations that AEA is working with to help Black, Indigenous, and POC feel safer. 
    4. Specific plans of action and a timeline for how the Black Theatre Matters bill will be implemented as well as greater visibility on how the national council votes on policy. 
    5. Working to achieve greater inclusion for Trans, Non-Binary, and Gender Non-Conforming union members. Working to achieve greater inclusion and accessibility for Deaf and Disabled union members.  

    Protest organizers Nattalyee Randall and Courtney Daniels said, “At a time where marginalized communities are doing most of the heavy lifting, it is essential for our allies to accept their role and position in dismantling white supremacy.”

    march on broadway
    Photo by Rebecca J Michaelson

    Days after the Hollywood Reporter published the story on Rudin, the AEA and other entertainment industry unions released a joint statement speaking out against workplace harassment. On April 17, AEA asked Rudin to release his staff from NDAs, which force his assistants to remain anonymous or silent. A spokesperson for Rudin said “he is stepping back from his professional work, so that he can do the proper work to address these issues.”

    Still, the fight is far from over. The Broadway League has not commented on the March on Broadway or Rudin’s abusive behavior. “Now can you believe what we have done in six days?” Courtney Daniels asks. “Now could you imagine what we could do in a month?” The streams are leading up to the meeting between the AEA and March on Broadway’s organizers on the 14th to talk about these demands.

    We have a union that is interlocked in supremacy. We are tired of the town halls. We have waited an entire year for our union to work for us. To give us answers. To show us transparency. No, we will not be easily distracted.

    Courtney Daniels

    Find more information about March on Broadway here. Follow on Instagram @50milerunforjusticeprotest and @randomblackgirllll

  • American Classical Orchestra Offers Free Digital Events this Summer

    New York City’s foremost period instrument orchestra, American Classical Orchestra (ACO), has provided various events for this Summer. Starting on May 6 through July, ACO is offering a range of free digital activities.

    In 1984, Artistic Director Thomas Crawford founded the American Classical Orchestra. Crawford is known for his historically accurate performance styles, as well as his numerous accolades. As NYC’s only full-scale orchestra, ACO dedicates performances to 17th, 18th, and 19th-century music on period instruments. The group consists of high-performing artists across an array of well-established ensembles.

    Throughout May, the Orchestra is presenting a lively new podcast series: TACOTalk. This podcast explores in-depth conversations among the Orchestra’s musicians, special guests, and honorary host Thomas Crawford. In addition to the provided insight about ACO, the members will also examine the period-instrument movement in the U.S. Each episode seeks to analyze the existing duality that classical musicians face with historical performance and contemporary culture. Produced by Mark Zaki, the 12 episodes of TACOTalk are available now, and more are coming soon.

    American Classical Orchestra

    ACO’s Video Series

    Beginning in June, ACO will present Beethoven Sonatas Video Releases. Due to the pandemic, the Orchestra had to cancel their planned recitals featuring Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas. ACO’s Sfzp Project originally scheduled these performances to be a part of their program. The Sfzp Project is a three-year cycle of programs and events intended to advance fortepiano performance in NYC and beyond. The events will resume in Fall 2022, but the Orchestra has something else in store until then.

    AOC has decided to film the performance of seven of those sonatas. Worldwide leading keyboard artists will conduct the performances on original and replica fortepianos. Two of these instruments are from the Metropolitan Museum’s collection. The films will release weekly on Thursday at 11 a.m. from June 3 to July 15. All of which can be streamed on ACO’s website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel.

    June 3 – Eric Zivian, pianoforte; Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-flat Major, Op. 26 ‘Funeral March’

    June 10 – Shuann Chai, pianoforte; Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 ‘Appassionata’

    June 17 – Dongsok Shin, fortepiano; Beethoven: Early Piano Sonata to be confirmed

    June 24 – Jiayan Sun, fortepiano; Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21, in C Major, Op. 53 ‘Waldstein’

    July 1 – Petra Somlai, fortepiano; Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2 ‘quasi una fantasia’ ‘Moonlight’

    July 8 – Shuann Chai, fortepiano; Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 25 in G Major, Op. 79 ‘Cuckoo’

    July 15 – Dongsok Shin, fortepiano; Beethoven: Late Piano Sonata to be confirmed

  • José González Announces US Live Solo Tour Dates

    Singer-songwriter and guitarist José González has announced plans for a U.S. co-headline tour alongside 2x GRAMMY® Award-nominated singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright.

    José González

    Tickets are now available to the public and can be purchased here. The long-awaited dates begin on September 20 at Kansas City, MO’s Uptown Theater and then travel through an October 1 performance at Glenside, PA’s historic Keswick Theatre.

    However, González has also confirmed two ticketed interactive online performances. The first, “Up Close & Personal” on June 10 will be live from the Botanical Garden in Gothenburg followed by an interactive Q&A. The second online show on September 12 will feature the first full Local Valley show with full production that will include pre and post-show interaction with González. 

    I am very much looking forward to performing for all my fans worldwide again. First with the up and close interactive online event on June 10, and later on with some summer shows and touring once my album is released. I am also especially excited to be able to present the world premiere of my new tour online for all the fans worldwide that won’t have the chance to catch any of my shows this fall and winter.

    José González

    The upcoming tour dates celebrate González’s fourth solo album Local Valley, set for release on September 17th. The single “Visions” is out now, and the rest of the album is up for pre-order.

    JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ X RUFUS WAINWRIGHT U.S. TOUR 2021

    JUNE

    10 – “Up Close & Personal” Livestream Performance* 

    SEPTEMBER

    12 – Livestream Performance*

    20 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater

    21 – Des Moines, IA – Hoyt Sherman Place

    23 – Minneapolis, MN – Northrop At UMN

    24 – Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre

    25 – Carmel, IN – The Palladium at The Center For The Performing Arts

    26 – Detroit, MI –Cathedral Theatre at The Masonic Temple

    28 – Washington, DC – The Anthem

    29 – Boston, MA – The Orpheum Theatre

    30 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17 

    OCTOBER

    1 – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre 

    * Not a Rufus Wainwright show 

  • PEAK Announce Summer 2021 Dates, Album Release Show

    Spring has arrived, and Brooklyn’s PEAK bring with them fresh dates and the world looking ahead to Summer 2021.

    For the first announcement in what will be a big year for the band, they’ll release their forthcoming full-length sophomore album, Choppy Water, in September, with a the Brooklyn, NY-based quartet will be hosting an album release show at the Knitting Factory on September 10 (at full capacity), with a support acts to be named very soon.

    peak summer 2021

    PEAK Summer 2021 TOUR DATES:

    May 30 Yasgur’s May Meltdown, Bethel, NY (PEAK headline Friday)
    June 17     Stella Blues, New Haven, CT
    July 10 Electric Haze, Worcester, MA
    July 17 Snug’s Bar, New Paltz, NY
    July 23     B.R.Y.A.C. Bridgeport, CT
    August 26 Tellus 360, Lancaster, PA
    August 27 Altered State Distellery Erie, PA
    September 10 ALBUM RELEASE SHOW Knitting Factory, Brooklyn, NY

    Watch PEAK perform “Vanishing Skies,” live from the Studio.

  • Miley Cyrus Performs Three Times as Elon Musk Hosts SNL

    SNL returned for the final three episodes of the season, with host Elon Musk and musical guest Miley Cyrus, who saved the episode with three musical appearances, beginning with a cold open featuring cast members and their moms.

    Cyrus sang godmother Dolly Parton’s 1977 hit “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.” Miley was then joined on stage by her mom Tish, the cast and moms, to collectively open the show.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlEXNWjm1f8

    This marked Cyrus’ seventh time on Saturday Night Live, and sixth as musical guest. Cyrus also appeared later in SNL show in “The Astronaut,” one of three pre-recorded sketches in the otherwise lackluster episode.

    For her second musical appearance of the night Miley was joined by The Kid LAROI for “Without You,” marking the broadcast premiere of the single the pair released last month.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nbXBeYY1Po

    “Plastic Hearts” was the third and final performance of the night from Cyrus, singing the title track of her recently released album. The highest energy number of the night featured a backing horn section and Cyrus in a flowing, feathery pink dress.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLLKzis7NfQ

    Joining the show for a cameo appearance during a Wario courtroom sketch, musician Grimes played Princess Peach, with husband Elon Musk on the stand as Wario, on trial for killing Mario.

    The penultimate episode of Season 46 of Saturday Night Live airs on Saturday, May 14 at 1130pm ET/PT. Keegan-Michael Key will host with musical guest Olivia Rodrigo.

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