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*
The City of Albany announced a Virtual Tulip Festival celebration for 2021, which will occur throughout the entire month of May. The series will feature musical performances, tulip garden tours, prizes, and more.
While I join so many of you that are looking forward to getting back to celebrating the annual Tulip Fest the way we are accustom to, I am excited to participate in the month-long celebration of virtual Tulip Fest. I want to thank the Office of Cultural Affairs for their commitment to reinventing this and many other traditional Albany events in light of the COVID-19 outbreak and hope you and your family and friends will virtually join us for a full month of great programming.
In addition to the local musical performances, the Virtual Tulip Festival will present fun videos for kids to enjoy. Plus, the City of Albany Gardeners will provide a tour of the tulip beds and much more! Videos will premiere on the Albany Events YouTube page, on Facebook, and also on Public Access Channel Albany 1302. Make sure to stay tuned for schedule updates.
The 2021 Albany Tulip Queen, Court, and Mother of the Year will be presented later on with their own celebrations.
New York City synthpop trio January Jane excitedly stake their musical claims with their with their debut EP Your Drug. The band consists of lead vocalist Pat Via, guitarist Mitch C. Mitchell, and keyboard player Peter Scialla. The EP is planned to be released on June 18 via Whiskey Vinyl/BGM.
Your Drug borrows from a diverse array of influences ranging from modern day pop to 80’s pop rock in the style of songs like “Your Love” by The Outfield. The EP can be broadly categorized as pop but the band takes inspiration from several different decades and styles of pop. The soaring upbeat choruses that many of the songs offer can be directly tied to the styles of millennial pop of acts like Walk The Moon and Imagine Dragons. The band differs from many of its contemporaries by adding a 80’s rock edge to its songs. Via’s voice has a much more distinct gruffness to it which pairs nicely with the moody synth and guitar tones of the verses.
Songs like “Addicted to The Night” offers a deceptively simple but extremely sticky hooks that that refuses to leave your head hours after you’ve listened to it. Paired with a verses that build the tension of the song with its dueling electric guitar creating a song that would go off well at any party. The edge added by Via’s voice sets many of the songs of the songs off from their contemporaries. The versatility in Via’s vocal inflections allows him to pull of the clear shimmery pop hooks as well as the more 80’s-eque moody verses.
The infectious grooves on these tracks display their influences and love for ’80s rock and pop while sounding undeniably modern and perfect for the ’20s.
Matt Pinfield, DJ
The consistent infectious energy is certainly the strong suit of Your Drug. The band doesn’t miss a beat with any song, offering an EP that has a signature sound throughout but still switch up the style between each track. The 80’s throwback sound dose not come off as a gimmick, rather a new completely new direction for modern electro pop.
The EP is also an extremely easy listen, toping out at just under 17 minutes. The exciting mixture of sounds act as perfect soundtrack for the dancefloor and exciting midnight drive. Overall, Your Drug is extremely likeable and is suitable for just about any kind of pop fan – no matter the age.
Key Tracks: Addicted to The Night, Versions of You, NYC
SummerStage free concerts return to Central Park, bringing socially distanced live music this summer. The first benefit concert of the series of free shows begins with Dawes on Friday, April 16 at 10AM ET.
The SummerStage
With new New York City announcements on limited-capacity concerts, live performances are scheduled for Central Park and Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park/Richard Rodgers Amphitheater. Events will follow all regulations regarding large-scale outdoor events, included masks, socially distanced seating, and limited capacity. For admittance, a free ticket, proof of vaccine and/or a negative COVID test, and health screening (a questionnaire and temperature checks). All in-person performances will also be live-streamed on SummerStageAnywhere.org.
In addition to the musicial performances, ranging from hip-hop, indie rock, and jazz, there will also be outdoor, family-friendly marionette shows throughout the summer through CityParks PuppetMobile.
The City Parks Foundation will also soon launch a micro-grants program for grassroots arts organizations and individual artists to provide funding for free cultural programs in parks and neighborhood plazas in the city’s most under-resourced communities. These two organizations strive to provide free cultural programs across the city.
A Past SummerStage Show from 2019
Dawes will kick off the SummerStage free concerts season on April 16 as part of their 2021 tour to promote their new album, Good Luck With Whatever. Tickets go on sale begins at 10 AM, Friday April 16 on AXS.
The last year has been enormously difficult for our city. Live performance, with the energy that is generated by experiencing it with others, will be a balm for our collective soul. SummerStage has been an active member of the NYS Nonprofit Outdoor Performing Arts Coalition, working with fellow outdoor venues and the NYS Department of Health to ensure that we are well-prepared to provide a safe and comfortable concert-going experience that follows strict health protocols. SummerStage will help restore vibrancy to our city through free performances in parks, which have been such important public spaces for New Yorkers seeking safe respite during the pandemic.
Heather Lubov, Executive Director – City Parks Foundation
The City Parks Foundation, Summer Stage, and Capital One provide vibrant, culturally impactful, free events in New York City. Now that vaccines are rolling out at a wider, consistent pace, there is hope for more live concerts, beginning with these benefit outdoor shows.
The band Moon Kissed prides itself on joyful, high energy performances, and they certainly didn’t miss the mark when it came to their newest single. “Clubbing in Your Bedroom” embodies self-expression and creating your own fun in the midst of a pandemic, rather than the wallowing and unengaged attitude many express during this time.
Photo Credit: Sara Laufer
“’Clubbing In Your Bedroom,” is an invitation to get dressed up for no one and nothing and to move your body in order to heal. The song was written in an attempt for salvation and levity amidst pandemic despair. We miss playing live, we miss our friends, we miss touch. But, “Clubbing In Your Bedroom” celebrates the fact that we still have the power and ability to let it all go, even for just one song, and we can and should dance in our bedrooms and be free for a brief moment in time.”
Khaya, on the new single
Written and produced by Khaya Cohen and Emily Sgouros, “Clubbing in Your Bedroom” followed a dynamic late-night clubbing session in Emily’s bedroom. Mixed and mastered by Justin Dan Ver Volgen, the song encourages honest self-expression, encouraging “weirdness.”
Moon Kissed met each other at a party on New Year’s, 2019, and quickly connected, making their debut with I Met My Band at a New Year’s Eve Party. A catchy, synth-pop style was developed, taking influence from artists such as Charli XCX, Chairlift, and Grimes. Making a name for themselves through energetic, often sweat-inducing live performances, the group sets out to capture the moment between themselves and the audience, emphasizing the magic of being in the moment.
Albany-based artist Gavin Preller excitedly announced his debut album: There is Wonder. The project is being mastered by Kramer and is set to be released on May 21st via Shimmy-Disc/Joyful Noise Recordings.
There Is Wonder was written and recorded between the months of October 2020 and February 2021 in Preller’s home town of Bethlehem, New York. Preller wrote, arranged, and performed every song from a basic basement setup in his parent’s home – except for drums on two tracks, which were recorded by Leor Manelis. Initially, Preller wrote and recorded the first six tracks before sending it to his iconic producer Kramer for mastering, Preller was them unexpectedly signed to the Shimmy-Disc label and encouraged to expand the six songs into a full record.
It’s hard not to hear flares of the likes of Sufjan Stevens and Jeff Buckley, proof of just how much Preller’s vocals are truly captivating.
Variance
Gavin Preller began studying classical piano at the age of 3, later picking up guitar at ten years old. In 2019 he attended Berklee College of Music before dropping out after one year to live in an agricultural community in Southern France. Back in the States in February, 2020, Preller took his backpack and acoustic guitar on a cross-country train to Portland, OR. He was living by himself in a used van, without a job, using a nearby Planet Fitness for showers, when Covid hit. That March, he sold the van and returned to his parent’s home in Upstate New York where he has been working on new music ever since.
Troy Savings Bank Music Halland WEXT present the UpLift Commission Series, faeturing local artists to participate. In collaboration with Organ Colossal, the Lift was curated and invited a small audience to sit on stage with artists while they performed.
The pandemic caused the program to end forcing staff at the Music Hall to find creative ways to keep it going. The Hall reached out to the Organ Colossal to find local community talent in the Capital Region. Each artist selected has contributed to their community throughout the years and their participation is another contribution. Their creations for this project reflect the mood of current times and each performance is honest and speaks to the changes music has faced over the year.
Upcoming UpLift Commission Series performances begin later this month. Indie singer based Upstate and Brooklyn,Belle Skinner, performs on Friday, April 23 at 7 p.m. Mother and son duo, sitarist Veena and tabla drummer Devesh Chandra perform on Friday, May 7. New York-based Puerto Rican singer, Taína Asili and guitarist Gaetano Vaccaro perform on Friday, May 21. The events are free and open to the public and links to performance will be released closer to the performances.
Troy Savings Bank Music Hallwas created in 1870 built on the upper level to show the bank’s appreciation to the local citizens for their support. In the beginning, the hall hosted performances from musicians nationally and internationally even during the World War II era. In 1979 the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Revitalization Committee after Troy’s declined and had problems supporting the arts.
The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Corporation came about through funding from the bank and from the city and county. It is a non profit organization and it leases the Hall from the bank. The Hall has a reputation for orchestra and chamber music. However with sound as its main priority, it became a venue with classical and modern music performances.
