Author: Courtney Griffin

Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival Lineup for 2022 Released

The Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival will return to a live format this July 13-17 in Oak Hill, NY. With over 40 bands, six stages, dozens of performances, hands-on workshops, dancing, camping, jamming, kids activities, ethnic/festive foods, excellent vendors and top luthiers, fans will be guaranteed a memorable weekend of bluegrass music.

Thousands of fans from over 30 states and across the world attend this festival every year, to let loose in the Catskill Mountains. This festival features a multitude of genres consisting of traditional and contemporary bluegrass, jam bands, old-time, swing and cajun.

Advance Full Festival Tickets are now available for $275, including camping from 7am Wednesday, July 13 through 5pm Sunday, July 17. Considering this is a family friendly event, kids 12 and under are free with a ticketed adult. Additionally, Advance Day Passes are available for $85 for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with entry beginning at 8am and ending at about 1:30am. For the connivence of all fans, the festival is ensuring free day parking and shuttle busses. Lastly, Senior day passes (62+) will be available at the gate, with ID, for $80.

This year there will be two new camping options: RV Electrical Hookups in Generatorville and the High Meadow Glamping Village. Only those with full festival tickets can camp on the grounds and must follow safety and health guidelines. To learn more information about the bands, lodging, tickets and activities visit Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival site.

2022 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival Artists and Days of Performance

Alison Brown (Thurs)

Balsam Range (Fri)

Barbaro (Sat)

Bela Fleck My Bluegrass Heart (Fri)

Charm City Junction (Thurs)

Circus No. 9 (Sat)

Compton & Newberry (Fri)

Country Current / U.S. Navy Band (Sat/Sun)

Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band (Fri)

Del McCoury Band (Fri)

Della Mae (Sat)

Donna The Buffalo (Fri)

Dry Branch Fire Squad / Host Band (TFSS)

Dustbowl Revival (Fri)

Fireside Collective (Sat)

Gangstagrass (Fri)

Gibson Brothers (Thurs)

Giri & Uma Peters (Sat)

Grain Thief (Fri)

Jerry Douglas / Artist-in-Residence (Thurs/Fri/Sat)

Jim Gaudet & Railroad Boys Thurs/Fri

Mark Schatz & Bryan McDowell (Fri)

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (Fri)

Mr. Sun (Sat)

Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy (Fri)

Peter Rowan & Los Texmaniacs (Sat)

Quickstep Featuring John Kirk & Trish Miller (T/F/S)

Rhonda Vincent and The Rage (Thurs)

Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley (Sat)

Robin & Linda Williams (Thurs)

Sam Bush Band (Fri)

Serene Green (Fri)

Sierra Hull (Thurs/Fri)

Steep Canyon Rangers (Fri)

Steve Earle & The Dukes (Sat)

Stillhouse Junkies (Thurs)

The Hillbenders (Thurs)

The SteelDrivers (Thurs)

The Wildmans (Sat)

The Travelin’ McCourys (Fri)

We Banjo 3 (Sat)

Yonder Mountain String Band (Sat)

February 11, 2022
Anaïs Mitchell and Bonny Light Horseman Will Entertain Kingston This February

Tony and Grammy award-winning creator of the Broadway musical Hadestown, Anaïs Mitchell will head back on stage with folklore music group Bonny Light Horseman, on February 20th at Old Dutch Church in Kingston.

Bonny Light Horseman is a trio group consisting of singer and songwriter, Anaïs Mitchell; Eric D. Johnson who is best known for his project Fruit Bats and stints with The Shins, and Josh Kaufman an instrumentalist and producer known for his work with Hiss Golden Messenger, Bob Weir, The National. This trio centers their focus on blending traditional folklore music with more contemporary melodies. Their two time Grammy nominated album Bonny Light Horseman, is suitable for a vast audience.

When the three met and decided to sketch musical ideas together, they formed an instant artistic bond. While they experimented for the upcoming 2018 Eaux Claires festival at the time, the trio seized the opportunity to form a band.

“The conversation about starting the group and figuring out the type of music we’d play happened very quickly. It’s like a love story: a really big fire, and the shared ideas of what we wanted the music to feel like. We wanted openness and for it to feel emotional and personal.”
Josh Kaufman

During their live performance later this month, the trio will perform songs from Bonny Light Horseman. Subsequently, Mitchell will take to the stage to share her new 10 track solo album named after herself, in addition to some more fan favorites. This album represents her resilience to music after producing her previous solo album almost a decade ago, to focus on other music related commitments on Broadway and within her band. NPR, supports Mitchell as “one of the greatest songwriters of her generation.”

Anaïs Mitchell is a personal album from real life events, in which she exposes a variety of emotions of hers, not daring to hold back using metaphors, but is rather blunt about her feelings. Ultimately, this album is intimate, real and relatable.

For Anaïs Mitchell’s & Bonny Light Horseman’s upcoming performance, general admission seats are $34 and for Gold Circle seats, within the first 5 rows, tickets are $48. To buy tickets for February’s show visit ticketmaster.

February 7, 2022
Andrew Thomases’ Reminiscence of His Past In NY Inspires New Song “Suburban Void”

Andrew Thomases, reflects on his adolescence from the point of view of suburban life within the busy streets of New York. This past Friday, January 21, Thomases released a new single, “Suburban Void”, sharing his experiences.

Thomases discusses life as a teenager and all the boredom-driven antics he pursued during that time. “Suburban Void” is a catchy upbeat rock song listeners can dance to. He highlights some activities pursued that were “so pathetic”, which is a feeling people may share in remembrance of their immaturity as a teen. Thomases looks back into what was deemed important to adolescents, like getting drunk or preparing for a sweet sixteen. Ultimately, his views have changed since then, resulting from seeing the world differently as he grew up.

Looking back, it seems so pathetic. We were just living in a suburban void, we didn’t know all we could’ve enjoyed. We were just living in a suburban void, that explains why we were oh so annoyed.
Andrew Thomases

All within his first year of being an established artist, Thomases’ fan base spread across 35 countries, 388 streams, and 235 listeners through Spotify. Considering Thomases takes his audience on an emotional and thoughtful journey through his music, he presents himself as relatable to the masses.

For more information on Andrew Thomases’ music visit his website.

January 31, 2022
Brooklyn’s Evolfo Rocks the World with the Announcement of “Site Out Of Mind” Tour w/shows in Troy, Canton, Rochester

Evolfo, Brooklyn’s very own psych rockers, have released the tour dates for their most recent album, Site Out Of Mind. The tour is set to take place between this upcoming March and April for a total of 12 days, across the Midwest and Northeast.

In 2021, Evolfo’s Site Out Of Mind, showed their fans a different side of what they’re capable of, expressing their uniqueness. In regards to their sophomore album, the group’s vocalist and guitarist Matt Gibbs shared, there is a mixture of “tripped out, weirdo, psych improv with our more arranged and melodic tunes.”

Along with Gibbs is Rafferty Swink on keys and vocals, Ben Adams on guitar, Kai Sorensen singing harmonies and playing trumpet, Jared Yee on saxophones, Ronnie Lanzilotta on bass, and Dave Palazola on drums. In Gibbs’ at home recording studio, all seven members shared their ideas and aided in the writing process.

Concepts derived from sci-fiction and one group psychedelic trip, led to the creation of something visionary and beyond the ordinary perspective of a psych rock album. Site Out Of Mind, takes their listeners on a journey into the depths of the spiritual mind and the afterlife.

In 2017, the rockers released their revolutionary debut album, Last of the Acid Cowboys, which totaled to over 6 million streams. However, through the use of thoughtful planning, improvisation and an extensive variety within their fresh new sounds, there’s no doubt that Site Out of Mind will be a success; some may even call it a rocker’s dream.

If the protagonist of that album died at the end of Last of the Acid Cowboys, then this was the protagonist’s internal journey, flipping the landscape, and going through the mountain of their mind in that moment of mortality; perhaps a blurring of brain activity between dying and death, between life and the afterlife.
Matt Gibbs

Tickets are currently available for sale on Evolfo. Additionally, Site Out Of Mind is available on these streaming platforms Listen / Share.

January 29, 2022
Brooklynite Nathan Leigh’s Life Experiences Shape Genre Blending Album “All Myths Are Remixes”

An album full of alternative, rock, punk, indie and jazz vibes are what constitute Brooklyn musician, Nathan Leigh’s latest work of art. As of today, Leigh’s All Myths Are Remixes, is added to his never ending music portfolio. He released his lead single No Poetry (feat. Noie) [Timelapse Mix] [Timelapse Mix] – Single — Nathan Leigh, this past January 14th, providing listeners an idea of what to expect from his latest album.

Nathan Leigh portrays powerful messages throughout the duration of All Myths Are Remixes. It relays a creative vision on how to overcome the anxieties of our deepest thoughts, whereas other songs provide a more easy going and relaxing tone that listeners can vibe to.

“Pirkei Avot,” shares a message of perseverance, especially when all hope is lost. Meanwhile, “Thx::Spkr” opens with a woman discussing the protests taking place in today’s society, as well as the impact of revolutions that are necessary to establish change. Subsequently, “For When You Feel Like Giving Up” eases the mind with a slow jam without words, but is full of jazz melodies featuring saxophonist Anthony Cekay.

I started working on the album in the first days of the pandemic as a project to keep my mind off the existential dread. I thought of each song as a miniature world I could construct to escape into. The recording sessions for ‘Myths, Conspiracy Theories & Other Stuff I Made Up To Sound Interesting’ yielded so much great material that landed on the cutting room floor, and part of my goal with it was to highlight the contributions of my collaborators that didn’t make the album. So each song is constructed around showcasing one collaborator’s work. Working with their tracks has been my way of playing with them and existing in a room together at a time when it’s still not safe to gather such a large group to rehearse.
Nathan Leigh

As a composer, writer, animator, and activist , Leigh is well versed in the artistry of America’s society as we know it. His previous EP dropped on November 19, 2021, House On Stilts, which was accompanied by a stop-motion film.

Additionally, he has worked in the theater industry, sharing his talents for over 300 plays across the U.S. Specifically, he has designed sound and composed music for plays located at the American Repertory Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, New York Theatre Workshop and more. Leigh was presented with his most recent award “Broadway World Berkshires” in 2020 for Sound Design of the Decade for Godspell. Therefore, there is no doubt that All Myths Are Remixes will significantly impact his music career.

To discover more of Leigh’s work visit nathanleigh.net.

January 28, 2022
Bad Bunny Announces Tour, Yankee Stadium Concert in August and Latin America Tour in October

Global superstar, Bad Bunny will begin his first stadium tour this August of 2022. Promoted by Live Nation and CMN, “Bad Bunny: World’s Hottest Tour”, will be first located in cities across the U.S. including a stop at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, followed by Latin America in October.

The artist has already pushed boundaries by breaking the record at Ticketmaster, in April 2021 for the most tickets sales for a tour on its first day, when promoting his “El Último Tour Del Mundo 2022”. Additionally, for a consecutive second year in a row, Bad Bunny has been proclaimed to be the most listened to artist in the world on Spotify. Furthermore, he earned the title of #1 Latin Artist in the U.S. by Billboard for three consecutive years. With that being said, there is no doubt that, “Bad Bunny: World’s Hottest Tour”, will be a huge success and transcend his career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP4aY8kzK44

Bad Bunny will be joined by Grammy nominated DJ and Record Producer, Alesso, along with ten-time Grammy nominated artist, Diplo.

The “Bad Bunny: World’s Hottest Tour” will stop at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx on August 27. By Wednesday, January 26, pre-sale tickets for the tour will begin at 12 pm. Subsequently, they will go on sale to the general public by Friday, January 28 at 12pm on worldshottesttour.com.

Bad Bunny: World’s Hottest Tour – United States Tour Dates

“Bad Bunny: World’s Hottest Tour”

United States Tour Dates

5-Aug Orlando, FL Camping World Stadium

9-Aug Atlanta, GA Truist Park^

12-Aug Miami, FL Hard Rock Stadium^ – SOLD OUT

13-Aug Miami, FL Hard Rock Stadium> – ADDED DATE

18-Aug Boston, MA Fenway Park^

20-Aug Chicago, IL  Soldier Field

23-Aug Washington, DC Nationals Park^

27-Aug New York, NY Yankee Stadium> – SOLD OUT

28-Aug New York, NY Yankee Stadium> – ADDED DATE

1-Sept Houston, TX Minute Maid Park^ – SOLD OUT

2-Sept Houston, TX Minute Maid Park^ – ADDED DATE

7-Sept San Antonio, TX Alamodome^

9-Sept Dallas, TX AT&T Stadium^

14-Sept Oakland, CA RingCentral Coliseum^

17-Sept San Diego, CA PETCO Park^ – SOLD OUT

18-Sept San Diego, CA PETCO Park^ – ADDED DATE

23-Sept Las Vegas, NV Allegiant Stadium^ – SOLD OUT

24-Sept Las Vegas, NV Allegiant Stadium^ – ADDED DATE

28-Sept Phoenix, AZ Chase Field^

30-Sept Los Angeles, CA SoFi Stadium> – SOLD OUT

1-Oct Los Angeles, CA SoFi Stadium> – ADDED DATE

^ with special guest Alesso

> with special guest Diplo

Latin America Tour Dates

Date City/Country Venue

21-Oct Santo Domingo, DR Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez

28-Oct Santiago, Chile  Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos

4-Nov Buenos Aires, Argentina Estadio de Vélez – José Amalfitani

11-Nov Asuncion, Paraguay Estadio La Nueva Olla

13-Nov Lima, Peru Estadio Nacional

16-Nov Quito, Ecuador Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa

18-Nov Medellin, Colombia Estadio Atanasio Girardot

22-Nov Panama City, Panama Estadio Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez

24-Nov San Jose, Costa Rica Estadio Nacional

26-Nov San Salvador, El Salvador Estadio Cuscatlán

29-Nov San Pedro Sula, Honduras Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano

1-Dec Guatemala City, Guatemala Explanada Cardales de Cayalá

3-Dec Monterrey, Mexico Estadio BBVA

9-Dec Mexico City, Mexico Estadio Azteca

January 25, 2022
You and Us Announce First children’s Album ‘For Children of All Ages’

“You and Us” will release its first children’s album, For Children Of All Ages, on February 14, 2022. Nicole Porter, a clinical art therapist, musician and president of the New York Art Therapy Association, encourages children with pandemic trauma to listen to the album for healing.

Components of The Album

“You and Us” presents an album with the vibe of mostly upbeat rock, country and pop music. Consisting of numerous melodies, the album illustrates an enchanting adventure for listeners. For Children of All Ages, begins with a folksy opener, “Nowhere Now Here”, to the Nashville country vibe of “Safety and Security”. Furthermore, children will discover the evocative, mystical sounds in “Social Connection” and more variations throughout the album.

Inspiration For Art Therapy

Porter took a leap into child therapy, following the Sandy Hook School shooting in Newton, Connecticut in 2012. Evidently children across the U.S. had anxiety following the incident. However, psychologists and credited researchers developed ways to cope, such as CBT for Children.

For Children of All Ages provides a rare opportunity to enjoy tunes geared toward uplifting children and families who are experiencing difficult times. It focuses on fostering wellness and a sense of security, and it introduces therapeutic techniques that can be used in a playful way with all children. It’s also a gentle dip into the vast stream of possibility that art therapy holds for healing humans.”
Nicole Porter

People like Porter were inspired to cultivate change, hence why she established the Emerald Sketch, a mental health organization and art therapy trauma response team. Considering that Porter has a young child of her own, she wished to establish a sense of hope and relief in children. Therefore, her goal with this album is to provide wellness and security, in the midst of the challenges of parenting during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Colleagues

Javere Pinnock, longtime collaborator and art therapy trauma responder, produced the album cover art, which depicts a band of mid-pandemic children raising a flag of love and peace. His inspiration derives from the notorious 1945 Joseph Rosenthal photograph, “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima,” and Felix W. de Weldon’s Marine Corps War Memorial sculpture.

Additionally, Porter created this album along with musical colleague Wyndham Garnett, to combine their mutual love of vintage British rock and classic American puppetry. The album is infused with powerful messages of courage, love, support, enthusiasm, grace, and more.

January 21, 2022
Barkin/Selissen Project to commemorate 30th Anniversary With ‘An Evening Of Math And Dance’ At John Jay College

New York City Artistic Directors Kyla Barkin and Aaron Selissen will celebrate the thirteenth anniversary of their dance company. The Barkin/Selissen Project, will host a special presentation of An Evening of Math and Dance at 8:00pm on April 29 and April 30 at The Gerald W. Lynch Theater, located within John Jay College.

The Barkin/Selissen Project (or BSP) is a New York City-based contemporary dance company founded in 2009. The troupe presents the choreography of Barkin and Selissen through live performance, film and workshops.

The dance company strives to blur the lines between the emotional and intellectual, dream worlds and waking states. Barkin and Selissen’s choreography infuses a fresh perspective on complex subjects ranging from mathematics to human nature.

This event would not be possible without the generous grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, which will consist of a performance of Differential Cohomology: Dance of the Diagram. Following this presentation, will be a panel discussion featuring prominent figures of both math and dance. Celebrated mathematician James Simons, commissioned Differential Cohomology, which is based on the mathematical theory that combines topology and calculus. Further details concerning speakers, performer bios and ticket prices will be shared over the next few months leading up to this event.

From across the U.S. to overseas the Barkin/Selissen Project has been presented at a variety of venues consisting of Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out, SUNY Stony Brook’s Staller Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, West End Theater, among others.

By creating a mindful and inspiring environment, B/S P promotes a combination of techniques to prepare artists’ bodies for the challenges of the work and provides a vibrant platform for artistic growth, as well as refinement.

For more information visit BarkinSelissenProject.org.

January 19, 2022

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