NYS Music 202​2

Author: Christian Hince

  • Rachel Bard Releases New Single “The Buildings Are Fake”

    NYC-based singer-songwriter Rachel Bard has released a new track, “The Buildings Are Fake,” her third song to be put on streaming services.

    Having written it in 2018 after visiting Los Angeles as a first year film student, the track “is a heartbreak song about the City of Angels.”

    A greyscale image of a television featuring on screen a vague image of a beach with a palm tree.
    Cover art for “The Buildings Are Fake.”

    Produced by Brian McTear and Amy Morrissey, the song takes a stripped down garage rock approach. Almost Pixies-like it sets a nice quiet-loud contrast between its imagery-driven verses and disillusioned, anthemic choruses as the track builds towards a loud finish.

    As for Bard’s vocal performance, comparisons that ring strongly include Nico and Dan Bejar of Destroyer. Her gloomy, vibrato-laden delivery faithfully match the song’s cynicism and rise to meet the track’s energy during louder moments.

    In “The Buildings Are Fake,” Bard is quite visual in how she delivers her ideas. During the verses she muses about pushing “through crowds of teardrops and sunscreen” and “watching the stars all over the floor,” picturesquely reflecting the excited curiosity of a young film student.

    It’s all for nought however. “The buildings are fake, and so is your job,” Bard shouts on the hook, comparing the glamorous facade of Los Angeles and the artificial nature of movie sets to that of a dishonest romantic partner, enforcing the track’s general sense of disappointment.

    While Rachel Bard doesn’t stray from being artsy and metaphorical in “The Buildings Are Fake,” its message never fails to be clear. This air of let down and heartbreak is conveyed in full articulation over a solid slacker-rock backdrop, making for a fine new addition to Rachel Bard’s resume.

  • Sound Mind Holds Fourth Annual Music Festival

    On Saturday, Sound Mind Live hosted their fourth annual music Sound Mind Live Music Festival, an event which aims to raise awareness and support for mental health programs.

    Held in Central Park, performers included Outkast’s Big Boi, rock bands Cold War Kids and American Authors, KAMAUU, Wrabel, and Allison Russell.

    Cold War Kids frontman Nathan Willett promoted the event in a CNN interview on Saturday.

    Speakers at the festival included Talinda Bennington, widow of Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington who passed away from suicide in 2017, New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Ann M. Sullivan, Matt Kudish, the Executive Director of NAMI-NYC (National Alliance on Mental Illness NYC), and Chris Bullard, the Executive Director of Sound Mind Live.

    Sound Mind Live Executive Director Chris Bullard speaking during the event.
    Sound Mind Live Executive Director Chris Bullard speaking during the event.

    “Sound Mind is based on the premise that collectively our voices are stronger, and that by amplifying artists who are speaking openly about their mental health, we can elevate the conversation and build a community and culture that breaks the stigma that exists today,” reads the “Our Vision” page on Sound Mind Live’s website.

    Non-profit partners of the organization include The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention, the Trevor Project, and several others.

    Big Boi of Outkast fame.
    Cold War Kids performing Saturday.
    American Authors lead man Zac Barnett.
    American Authors performing Saturday.
    Kamau Mbonisi Kwame Agyeman, better known by his stage name, KAMAUU.
    KAMAUU performing Saturday.
    Stephen Wrabel, professionally known by just his last name.
    Wrabel performing Saturday.
    Canadian singer-songwriter Allison Russell.
    Russell performing Saturday.
    Talinda Bennington, widow of Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington.
    Bennington speaking during the festival.
    New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Ann M. Sullivan.
    Matt Kudish, the Executive Director of NAMI-NYC speaking during the festival.
    Chris Bullard speaking during the festival.

  • Marina Laurendi Romances On New Single “Gramercy”

    New York City-based singer-songwriter Marina Laurendi has released a new single “Gramercy.”

    A lush five-minute track, it’s the lead single for her debut EP Stay Mine coming this Friday, which will be accompanied by the release of a music video for the song.

    Encloaked in purple lighting, Marina Laurendi sings at The Bitter End in NYC.
    Marina Laurendi performing at The Bitter End in Manhattan. (Photo found on website)

    On “Gramercy,” Laurendi croons about an impassioned romance using New York City imagery. Taking an approach reminiscent of Lana Del Rey, a former Lake Placid native, she muses about kissing on the L Train and compares the euphoria of her bout of love to the heights of skyscrapers.

    Laurendi always returns to the song’s guiding analogy: the connection between her relationship’s vulnerability and the secrecy of Manhattan’s Gramercy Park. “You got the key to me, treat me like I’m Gramercy,” she sings on the infectious hook.

    Her lyrics paint a genuine and intimate picture, and Laurendi’s shaky vocals which never stray from technical peerlessness convey her ideas perfectly.

    The same can be said about the song’s musical arrangement which only moves her message forward. The track’s instrumentation varies across its runtime, featuring light chords on acoustic guitar and bright licks on electric, rich keys, pulsating violins, and a noisy organ in the song’s final seconds. “Gramercy” never overplays itself with all these components however, swelling and falling throughout its pop-oriented song structure in a way that stays true to Laurendi’s sentimental subject matter.

    No piece of “Gramercy” goes to waste, as Laurendi’s knowledge of her hometown and endearing vocals over a well-crafted musical backdrop contribute to a captivating love song and worthy lead single.

  • Opera Saratoga Announces New Details for 2022 Summer Festival

    Opera Saratoga announced Thursday their updated casting, and ticket information for their 2022 Summer Festival.

    The festival, which runs from May 26 to July 10, will host eight shows at venues spanning from Albany up to Lake George Village.

    Four different performers on the stage during a presentation of The Barber of Seville.
    The Barber of Seville will be performed on Proctors MainStage in Schenectady on July 8 & 10.

    Guest performers include artists Carolee Carmello, Craig Colclough, Siphokazi Molten, Daniel Mobbs, Phyllis Pancella, Sidney Outlaw, and Marietta Simpson.

    The festival will open up with Stars of Tomorrow, an annual concert at The Charles R. Wood Theater in Glens Falls.

    Headline performances of the festival include two Gioachino Rossini works, The Barber of Seville on Proctors MainStage in Schenectady and Petite Messe Solennelle at The Round Lake Auditorium on July 10. The Barber of Seville is the final scheduled concert of the festival.

    Also featured will be Sky on Swings by Lembit Beecher and Hannah Moscovitch at The Egg in Albany, and a performance of Stephen Sondheim’s famed Sweeney Todd on the Amphitheater Stage of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

    Other events include A Broadway Cabaret at The Mansion of Saratoga in Rock City Falls, A Juneteenth Celebration at Proctors’ GE Theater in Schenectady, and the 2020 Opera Gala: Opera Under the Stars at The Barn at French Mountain in Lake George Village.

    Opera Saratoga has been offering tickets for individual performances for the summer festival since March 21, and is also providing broader access through two different event passes.

    The “All Access Pass” offers 20% savings off tickets to Sweeney Todd, Sky on Swings, A Broadway Cabaret, and both Rossini operas, along with granting free tickets A Juneteenth Celebration and Stars of Tomorrow. The pass also provides holders a 20% discount off any additional tickets purchased.

    The “Festival Highlights Pass” gives priority seating and 20% off tickets to Sweeney Todd, Sky on Swings, and The Barber of Seville. Holders can also customize their pass by including additional tickets to concerts of choice from the Opera Saratoga 2022 Festival with a 10% discount for each purchased.

    Tickets for individual performances have been available online or by phone through the offices of SPAC (Sweeney Todd, Stars of Tomorrow, A Broadway Cabaret, Petite Messe Solennelle), Proctors (The Barber of Seville, A Juneteenth Celebration) and Egg Box (Sky on Swings). Other details can be found on Opera Saratoga’s website.

  • Nerd Salad Drop Explosive New Single “Dogmeat”

    Brooklyn-based progressive rock band Nerd Salad has released a new single, “Dogmeat.” The song is the lead single in promotion of their debut album Press Start coming June 3, is the group’s first new music since their 2018 release Your Father and I Aren’t Angry, We’re Just Disappointed.

    nerd salad dogmeat
    Artwork for “Dogmeat.”

    “Dogmeat” follows a highly transformative structure over its seven-and-a-half minute runtime, going from basic verse-chorus format to instrumental breakdown before returning to its original melody in the song’s conclusion.

    The song’s dreamy opening riff gives off a nice warmth that contrasts the apocalyptic subject matter on the verses. “Our future is grim and bleak, all alone to find what you seek,” they sing in the track’s opening lines over a funky blues guitar rhythm. The song’s verses paint a detailed Mad Max-like picture of a world past salvage. “Found you in this desolate wasteland, digging through trash and scraps of old tin cans,” they sing in the second verse’s opening lines.

    The melodic chorus gives release to this tension, where all instruments crash together on top of the song’s defining words, “the ceiling’s now the ground, we’re all just dogmeat now.”

    The instrumental bridge after the third verse fully plays into the chaos described here, with a long disjointed guitar solo being paced by hyper-frenetic drumming. This part of the song keeps up with the track’s understanding of tension and release, as this section closes out with a heavy blues jam. We then hear the chorus one more time, reinforcing the song’s musical identity before the song’s outro.

    All members of Nerd Salad are very talented musicians, and while the song displays this clearly, no part of “Dogmeat” leans into self indulgence. This is even true during the “Paranoid Android” reminiscent freakout which closes the song, as every part of the track properly serves its purpose of detailing a world in havoc.

    “Dogmeat” is a creative and chaotic piece of progressive rock, and is a good sign of what’s to come from Nerd Salad next month.

  • Bacon Brothers Announce New EP “Erato”, Summer Tour Dates

    The Bacon Brothers have announced bi-coastal tour dates for this summer in support of their new EP Erato, to be released July 8.

    The tour includes three performances in New York, with the band stopping in Rochester for the Rochester International Jazz Festival on June 24, New York City at City Winery on the 25th, and Caroga Lake at Sherman’s Park on July 30.

    Top of the image: Erato. A crude drawing of a nude but covered woman sitting on a rock playing a zither, a harp-like stringed instrument, which is plugged into a Fender amplifier. Bottom: The Bacon Brothers.
    Cover art for Erato by the Bacon Brothers.

    Erato, the five song EP, is slated to be the brothers’ 11th studio release. They call their sound “Forosoco – a blend of folk, rock, soul and country influences.” “We’re still exploring the sound we began making 25 years ago; we’ve just gotten a lot better at it,” says Michael Bacon, an Emmy-winning composer whose found success alongside his brother Kevin, an A-list Hollywood actor.

    For the EP’s lead single, “In Memory (Of When I Cared),” the brothers collaborated with Desmond Child, a Songwriters Hall of Fame member whose credits include Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer,” Aerosmith’s “Crazy,” and Joan Jett’s “I Hate Myself For Loving You.”

    The Bacon Brothers also found collaboration from Kevin’s son Travis, who produced the track “Karaoke Town.”

    The Bacon Brothers Tourdates

    Jun 24—Rochester, NY—Rochester International Jazz Festival
    Jun 25—New York, NY—City Winery
    Jun 26—Atlantic City, NJ-–Sound Mind Music Festival
    July 14—Minneapolis, MN – Dakota Jazz
    July 30—Caroga Lake, NY – Sherman’s Park
    July 31—Waterville, ME – Waterville Opera House
    Aug 2—-Ocean City, NJ – Ocean City Music Pier
    Aug 5—-Plymouth, NH – The Flying Monkey (Rescheduled)
    Aug 6—-Brownfield, ME – Stone Mountain Arts Center (Rescheduled)
    Aug 7—-Beverly, MA – The Cabot (Rescheduled)
    Aug 24–San Juan Capistrano, CA – The Coach House
    Aug 25–Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
    Aug 26–Agoura Hills, CA – The Canyon
    Aug 27–Napa, CA – Blue Note Napa
    Aug 28–Napa, CA – Blue Note Napa
    Sep 9—-New Braunfels, TX – Gruene Hall
    Sep 10–The Woodlands – Dosey Doe
    Sep 11—Lubbock, TX – Cactus Theater

  • Ghost ‘Imperatour’ to Appear at Belmont Park’s UBS Arena

    Swedish rock band Ghost has announced dates for Imperatour, a trek across North America that features Atlanta metal band Mastodon as a special guest.

    The tour, which is in promotion of their fifth album released in March, Impera, begins August 26 in San Diego and finishes September 23 in Green Bay, WI. This includes a stop at Belmont Park’s UBS Arena in Elmont, NY on September 10.

    ghost imperatour

    Information regarding tour dates and tickets can be found on Ghost’s website.

    Produced by Klas Åhlund and mixed by Andy Wallace, Impera‘s subject matter focuses on the fall of empires. Upon release it swept album charts internationally, debuting at number one in five different countries including Sweden and coming in at number two in the U.S.

    Singles from the record also found commercial success, with “Call Me Little Sunshine” and “Hunter’s Moon” both hitting number one on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.

    Mastodon has had recent success of their own as well. Their ninth album Hushed and Grim, released in October 2021, debuted at number one on Billboard’s Hard Rock Albums chart and number 20 on the Billboard 200.

    Ghost Imperatour Tour Dates:

    Fri Aug 26 – San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena San Diego

    Sat Aug 27 – Tucson, AZ – Tucson Convention Center Arena

    Tue Aug 30 – Austin, TX – Moody Center

    Wed Aug 31 – Corpus Christi, TX – American Bank Center Arena

    Fri Sep 2 – Huntsville, AL – Von Braun Center’s Propst Arena

    Sat Sep 3 – Duluth, GA – Gas South Arena

    Sun Sep 4 – Asheville, NC – ExploreAsheville.com Arena

    Tue Sep 6 – Tampa, FL – Yuengling Arena

    Thu Sep 8 – Danville, VA – BLUE RIDGE ROCK FEST*

    Fri Sep 9 – Trenton, NJ – CURE Insurance Arena

    Sat Sep 10 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena

    Mon Sep 12 – Providence, RI – Dunkin Donuts Center

    Tue Sep 13 – Bangor, ME – Cross Insurance Center

    Thu Sep 15 – Quebec City, QC – Videotron Centre

    Fri Sep 16 – Laval, QC – Place Bell

    Sat Sep 17 – Toronto, ON – Coca Cola Coliseum

    Mon Sep 19 – Saginaw, MI – Dow Event Center

    Tue Sep 20 – Youngstown, OH – Covelli Centre

    Wed Sep 21 – Peoria, IL – Peoria Civic Center Arena

    Fri Sep 23 – Green Bay, WI – Resch Center** 

    *Ghost and Spiritbox only **Ghost, Spiritbox and special guest Carcass 

  • State Champs Leap Back Into Focus with “Kings of the New Age”

    Albany pop-punk veterans State Champs have returned with their fourth studio album Kings of the New Age, a 35-minute montage of guitar-driven angst and lust that rarely slows down.

    Kings of the New Age is the first release by the band to feature only one guitarist, after Tony Diaz stepped away in 2020. Nevertheless, the group’s sound isn’t any smaller, with the other four members nicely filling in the gaps. This is aided by some tight production from California based Drew Fulk a.k.a. WZRD BLD, whose collaborations include Lil Wayne, A Day To Remember, and Ice Nine Kills. Cleanly mixed, the band’s full arrangement shines through on Kings of the New Age, with no instrument or vocal sounding unclear, choppy or overshadowed.

    While production does play a significant role in the band’s presence standing tall with a smaller lineup, credit has to be given to Tyler Szalkowski for his increased duties as both lead and rhythm guitarist. Songs like “Here to Stay” and “Just Sound” showcase guitar work that both maintains a loud presence while enhancing the song melodically.

    kings of the new age
    Cover art for Kings of the New Age.

    Lyrically the album generally focuses on topics of romantic lust and strife. “Being with you is like working on the weekend,” sings lead vocalist Derek DiScanio on the chorus of “Everybody But You,” the album’s lead single. Even though romance is a major focus of the record, songs like “Here to Stay,” which begins the album, reinforce the idea behind the album’s title. “The kings of the new age, the wrong time, the right place,” sings Discanio in the track’s opening lines.

    With State Champs entering the scene of pop-punk after the genre’s boom in the late ’90s and early 2000s and before its recent renewal with Machine Gun Kelly’s pivot towards the genre hatching new commercial attention, the optics of this timing might not be great, but they don’t mind. “On our own it’s safe to say, we’re here to stay,” DiScanio sings at the end of the opener’s chorus.

    State Champs attempt to reinforce this footprint on Kings of the New Age with four features scattered across the album, with appearances from Neck Deep’s Ben Barlow, Against The Current’s Chrissy Costanza, Nashville country pop singer Mitchell Tenpenny, and Four Year Strong’s Alan Day & Dan O’Connor.

    Each artist is given a bridge to sing or maybe a little more on the tracks which they have feature duties, which is something that holds back the effort and impact of these guest contributions. Chrissy Costanza’s contribution on “Half Empty” slightly stands apart in this regard however, with her bridge and chorus near the song’s ending adding another perspective to this track about a struggling relationship.

    And even though part of this album’s mission is clearly dedicated to not changing up the band’s formula, this leads to Kings of the New Age sounding repetitive at points. This is why slight deviations on songs such as “Act Like That,” which functions more as a straightforward pop rock track, and closer “Some Minds Don’t Change” with its loud, waltzy chorus are easily appreciable moments.

    Nevertheless, State Champs’ classic pop-punk formula works out well overall, with loud anthemic choruses and relatable melancholy lyrics shaping a strong album for the seasoned band. Kings of the New Age doesn’t reshape the punk genre or push too hard on any boundaries, but it’s good enough on its own to prove that State Champs deserve to hang around.

    Key Tracks: Here To Stay, Just Sound, Act Like That” (featuring Mitchell Tenpenny)

  • Everclear Announces 30th Anniversary Tour, Five Concerts in NYS

    Rock band Everclear has announced tour dates in commemoration of their 30th anniversary as a group.

    The tour is preceded by several cross-country shows, and will be accompanied by the release of their 1993 debut album World of Noise on streaming services, with a deluxe edition of the record dropping on June 10. It features Texas band Fastball and Oklahoma group The Nixons as guests, beginning on June 9 in Emmet, ID with the last show taking place on September 3 in Henderson, NV.

    The members of Everclear standing from left to right: Bassist Freddy Herrera, Vocalist and Guitarist Art Alexakis, Guitarist Davey French, and Drummer Brian Nolan
    Band members left to right: Freddy Herrera (bass), Art Alexakis (vocals, guitar), Davey French (guitar), Brian Nolan (drums)

    Everclear’s last show before the 30th anniversary run will take place in Syracuse on June 4 at Taste of Syracuse.

    The tour will stop in New York for a four-show stretch in July, with concerts at Schenectady’s Frog Alley Brewing Co. on the 15th, Hammondsport’s Pavillion at Point of the Bluff Vineyards on the 16th, Patchogue’s Patchogue Theatre on the 22nd, and Palladium Times Square in New York City on the 23rd.

    Everclear has had a 30-year run as a group and it has been a successful one, including 11 studio releases, four of which have been certified either Gold or Platinum. They’ve sold over six million records and have accrued 12 Top 40 hit singles on Mainstream Rock, Alternative, and Adult radio charts. Everclear’s most recent record was 2015’s Black Is the New Black.

    Everclear "World of Noise" 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, Remastered with Bonus Tracks. A lady walking on the street ducks and puts her hands over her ears in visible discomfort.
    The deluxe edition of “World of Noise,” due June 10, will include several bonus tracks and will be availability in vinyl form later this year.

    EVERCLEAR TOUR DATES:

    Saturday, May 28
    Sunday, May 29 
    Saturday, June 4     		Everett, WA @ Downtown Everett Association 
    Deadwood, SD @ Outlaw Square
    Syracuse, NY @ Taste of Syracuse 
    30th Anniversary Tour w/ Fastball and The Nixons
    Thursday, June 9 
    Friday, June 10 
    Saturday, June 11 
    Sunday, June 12 
    Tuesday, June 14 
    Thursday, June 16 
    Friday, June 17 
    Saturday, June 18 
    Sunday, June 19 
    Tuesday, June 21 
    Thursday, June 23 
    Friday, June 24 
    Saturday, June 25 
    Thursday, June 30 
    Friday, July 1 
    Saturday, July 2
    Sunday, July 3 
    Wednesday, July 6 
    Thursday, July 7 
    Friday, July 8 
    Saturday, July 9 
    Tuesday, July 12
    Wednesday, July 13 
    Thursday, July 14 
    Friday, July 15 
    Saturday, July 16   
    Thursday, July 21
    Friday, July 22
    Saturday, July 23
    Saturday, August 6 
    Saturday, August 13   
    Friday, August 19
    Saturday, August 20
    Saturday, August 27   
    Saturday, September 3     		Emmett, ID @ Stoney’s Road House 
    Grand Junction, CO @ Los Colonias Amphitheater
    Colorado Springs, CO @ Sunshine Studios 
    Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre 
    Odessa, TX @ The Ector Theatre 
    Waco, TX @ The Backyard 
    Lubbock, TX @ Cook’s Garage 
    Norman, OK @ Riverwind Casino ^ 
    Memphis, TN @ Minglewood Hall 
    Virginia Beach, VA @ Beachfront Concert Series + 
    Glenside, PA @ Keswick Theatre 
    Washington, PA @ Hollywood Casino at The Meadows
    Princeton, WV @ Food Truck Frenzy 
    Charleston, WV @ Haddad Riverfront Park + 
    Greenville, SC @ Cowboy Up Nightlife 
    Jacksonville, NC @ Limelight
    Baltimore, MD @ Hammerjacks 
    Nashville, TN @ Sky Deck 
    Lexington, KY @ Manchester Music Hall 
    Franklin, OH @ JD Legends 
    Streator, IL @ Streator’s 4th of July Celebration + 
    Mentor, OH @ Mentor Civic Amphitheater +
    Millville, NJ @ Levoy Theatre 
    Jim Thorpe, PA @ Penn’s Peak 
    Schenectady, NY @ Frog Alley Brewing Co. 
    Hammondsport, NY @ Pavilion at Point of the Bluff Vineyards 
    Patchogue, NY @ Patchogue Theatre
    New York, NY @ Palladium Times Square
    Salisbury, MA @ Blue Ocean Music Hall
    Kannapolis, NC @ Village Park Amphitheater + 
    San Pedro, CA @ Flannel Nation Festival at Port of Los Angeles^ 
    Marietta, OH @ The Aldelphia Music Hall ^
    Sunbury, PA @ Spyglass Ridge Winery ^
    Niagara Falls, ON @ The Avalon Ballroom Theatre at Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort ^ 
    Henderson, NV @ M Resort and Casino

    ^ Everclear only; no Fastball or The Nixons

    + indicates free show

  • 2022 Jersey City Jazz Festival Lineup Announced

    The Jersey City Jazz Festival has returned for its ninth annual celebration on the weekend of June 4th and 5th in the Powerhouse Arts District.

    Just across the Hudson River, the free-to-the-public event will include performances from fourteen bands on two stages, food trucks, a full bar, and a VIP experience at the parking lot on 107 Morgan Street. The festival will also coincide with Bike JC’s annual Ward Tour on the 5th, with there also being an “after-party jam session” at Moore’s Place.

    Jersey City Jazz Festival
    Jazz group Nation Beat will lead off the festival with their performance at noon on the 4th. (photo by Carolina Mama)

    Brazilian-inspired group Nation Beat will lead off performances at noon on the 4th, followed by singer & WBGO radio host Lezlie Harrison at 1, pianist David Kikoski at 2, Winand Harper and his band the Jeli Posse at 3, flamenco guitarist Andreas Arnold at 4, Afro-Cuban jazz group Santi De Brian’s Arkestra Bembe at 5, and acclaimed vocalist Svetlana at 6.

    The next day, award-winning duo Sounds of A&R will lead off at noon, followed by guitar-driven ensemble Walter Parks and the Unlawful Assembly at 1, modern gypsy jazz artist Gonzalo Bergara at 2, New Orleans-based trad group Aurora Nealand and the Royal Roses at 3, and guitarist Julian Lage at 4.

    Both days will close out with dancing to salsa performances by percussionists Little Johnny Rivero on the 4th at 7, and Johnny Rodriguez and the Dream Team the following day at 5. Shows will alternate on an hourly basis between the Bank of America and Exchange Place stages.

    Jersey City Jazz Festival
    Little Johnny Rivero’s career watermarks include the eighteen albums he recorded with the La Senora Ponceña Band and having performed with names in Latin Music such as nine-time Grammy Award winner Eddie Palmieri.

    The festival, which was first held in 2013, is produced by Jersey City-based non-profit Riverside Jazz, and is presented by Exchange Place Alliance. “We have some of the best players in the world here – and it’s not just one style of music or jazz, it’s everything!” says Riverview Jazz director Brian Beninghove. “Not everyone has access to great music and art, but we do here – and we want to celebrate it with a big, free party for the people.”

    Information on purchasing VIP tickets, directions, parking, volunteering, and links to the artists can be found on Riverview Jazz’s website.

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