NYS Music 202​2

Author: Faith Logue

  • All-Women F.I.R.E. Festival in Oswego Announced

    On Oct. 16, the all-women F.I.R.E. festival will take place at the Oswego Music Hall from 1-5 P.M., featuring a wide variety of artists, musicians, and businesses.

    F.I.R.E. festival

    The F.I.R.E. festival was created by Jess Novak, who performs alongside the Jess Novak band. She has performed over all over the country, recorded multiple albums, and is an award-winning journalist. The festival was created because of the frustration caused by all-men lineups at festivals.

    As a musician, I’ve been on so many festivals where women are under-represented or when they are included, are only singers. While there’s nothing wrong with amazing female vocalists, I wanted to be sure we presented more than that. I want original music writers and players. I want female-run businesses and brilliant artists to decorate the walls. I want to transform the space in an effort to show that Central New York is bursting with female talent. I also want to provide young ladies with something I wish I had when I was a kid-proof that we can do and create whatever we dream.

    Jess Novak

    The event is part of the Oswego Music Hall guest curator series where people from the community pitch event ideas to utilize the space. Novak planned the event at a downtown location back in March 2020 but COVID stopped it from happening. She wasn’t sure she wanted to do it again, but women kept coming to her asking her if she was going to plan it, and that inspired her to make it happen.

    The lineup for the festival is all women, including the vendors and businesses. Musicians include local performers Ella Drotar, Ashley Cox and Novak along with many others, and world-renowned violinist, Lydia Violet.

    Novak, who is also seven months pregnant, will be celebrating a new book and the release of a new album. Copies of the book, “Dare to Begin” will be available for sale for the first time at a public show. All ages, and people, are welcome to the F.I.R.E. festival, and admittance is $8.

  • NYC Mayor Eric Adams Considers Moving Madison Square Garden

    Madison Square Garden, “the world’s most famous arena,” is in talks of being moved by NYC Mayor Eric Adams amidst the ongoing Penn Station Redevelopment talks.

    mayor eric adams
    Mayor Eric Adams, photo by Getty Images for Concordia Summit

    Adams has been working on the Penn Station project for a while, and the MTA has recently approved a $57 million contract for the renovation’s architectural and engineering designs. The plan would bring “light” to the nation’s largest transit hub. MTA CEO Janna Lieber said the money would be used for vertical circulation. “That’s stairs, escalators, and elevators to get people on and off the platforms,” he said.

    Madison Square Garden has been talked about being moved for a while now. Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg wanted to move the stadium closer to Manhattan’s westside but was shut down by opposition from James Dolan, CEO of the arena with a strong political force backing him, and the former, late state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.  

    James Dolan, CEO of Madison Square Garden
    James Dolan, photo by Getty Images/Ethan Miller

    Mayor Eric Adams spoke on Sept. 21 about considering talks of moving the arena again. He says Pennsylvania Plaza, the space surrounding Madison Square Garden, would be a perfect place with new housing stock. “I think that we can find the right balance between office and housing,” he said. “We have to build more housing. There’s a real need for housing in the city and particularly in areas that have access to transportation, good health care, good schools.”

    The plan is backed by Gov. Kathy Hochul but has been criticized as a cash grab that will serve to benefit real estate developers and drain city finances. Dolan was involved in secret talks to possibly relocate the arena to Hudson Yards, but reportedly Hochul got involved and killed the plan, according to Crain’s.

    The moving of the arena hasn’t been confirmed or denied but it seems to be in talks right now between city officials and James Dolan, CEO of MSG.

  • Big Eyed Blues Festival Returns to Brooklyn for 12 Anniversary

    The Big Eyed Blues Festival returns to Brooklyn for its 12-anniversary celebration, featuring three days of blues with established and upcoming artists on Sept. 22, 24, and 25.

    big eyed blues festival

    The Blues Festival was created by Blues singer Beareather Reddy, who resides in Brooklyn to showcase talented Blues singers and provide a venue where these artists can be seen and heard. She noticed there was a lack of Blues venues in the city, and she wanted to create a solution to the problem.

    Her passion to help keep Blues music striving, inspired her to found the not-for-profit organization, the Brooklyn Blues Society. “In some way, I feel it is my purpose to open the gateway to some and to bring others back to the realization, that Blues music is an integral part of their rich heritage,” she said.

    Big Blue Eyed Blues Festival Schedule

    Sept. 22, 7-9 P.M.- “The Acoustics” The Jalopy Theatre, 315 Columbia Street Brooklyn

    The night features Junior Mack “Exploring The Blues And The Truth”, Mimi Block, and Keith “The Captain” Gamble will play “Blues in the Key of Violin”. Michael Hill’s Acoustic Blue Duo ends the night with electric blues. The event will be live streamed and is in partnership with the Jalopy Theatre.

    Sept. 24, 7-10 P.M. “Command Performance” The BKLYN Commons 495 Flatbush Ave. Brooklyn.

    Michael Hill is the MC for the event, which features talented singer/songwriter and guitarist from Paterson, NJ, Clarence Spady. Also performing are Beareather & The Brown Liquor Sounds as well as the musical and historically focused group the Antoinette Montague Experience. Brooklyn’s own The Alexis P. Suter Band will end the night with her earth-shattering vocals and electrifying rhythm. The schedule for the evening is as follows:

    7:00 P.M. – 7:05 P.M. – Master of Ceremonies – Michael Hill
    7:05 P.M. – 7:40 P.M.– Clarence Spady
    7:45 P.M. – 8:20 P.M. – Beareather & The Brown Liquor Sounds
    8:20 P.M. – 8:35 P.M. – Break
    8:35 P.M. – 8:45 P.M. – Citation Presentation & Board Members Introductions
    8:45 P.M. – 9:20 P.M. – The Antoinette Montague Experience & Band
    9:20 P.M. – 10:00 P.M. – The Alexis P. Band

    Sept. 25, 12-3 P.M.- “A Day in the Park” The Prospect Park Boat House Brooklyn.

    The free final event is The Tilden Senior Center Drama Club presenting their version of “The Classic Blueswomen,” written by Beareather Reddy and directed by Evria Ince Waldron, in partnership with NIA Theatrical Production and The Prospect Park Alliance.

    Tickets for the events on Sept. 22 and 24 are available here.

  • Harry Styles Makes History at MSG, Joins Legends With His Own Banner

    Harry Styles wrapped up his 15-consecutive night at Madison Square Garden, creating history at his “Love On Tour” dates and becoming the newest banner to be raised at the rafters.

    Harry Styles
    Photo: Lloyd Wakefield/MSG Entertainment

    Styles’ residency at The World’s Most Famous Arena wrapped up on Sept. 21, starting on Aug. 20. He joins only a few legends having their banners at the arena, presented to Styles by CBS Mornings host Gayle King during the encore of the final show.

    Selling out 15 consecutive nights at Madison Square Garden is a massive accomplishment and reinforces Harry Styles as one of the most impactful artists of his generation. It is a testament to Harry and his fans that a banner celebrating this remarkable achievement will hang from the rafters alongside some of the most legendary artists and athletes in history. Harry has already headlined The World’s Most Famous Arena several times in his skyrocketing career, and we’re honored that MSG was Harry’s House for these 15 incredible nights.

    Jim Dolan, executive chairman and CEO, MSG Entertainment

    Fans traveled from all over the world to see Styles at MSG and to celebrate his brand new album Harrys House, with interactive photo activations placed around the venue for fans to share their best “Love On Tour” styles; custom postcards distributed at each show with various designs, and exclusive specialty food and beverage options. His fans wore feather boas to each show, and the final show saw them being placed at each seat in the lower bowl, courtesy of the Garden.

    Harry Styles’ critically acclaimed single “As It Was” continues to smash records on the Billboard charts with a 14th week at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and a record 15th week atop the Billboard Global 200. It is also the first song to spend its first 24 weeks in the top three positions on the same chart, with 23 of the 24 in the top two, extending its record. 

    He joins only two other musical legends with banners at the arena, with Billy Joel and Phish occupying the rafters. It is a remarkable accomplishment for Styles, showing the new generation of artists are being loved by new and old, and his career is just beginning. He will continue his “Love On Tour” in cities like Austin, TX, and Chicago, IL.

  • SPAC Announces Event With Karen Brooks Hopkins

    SPAC announces the return of its WAMC@SPAC series with “BAM! And Then It Hit Me with Karen Brooks Hopkins” on Sept. 26 at 6 P.M. in the Nancy DiCresce Room at The Pines@SPAC facility. 

    SPAC
    Photo credit: Bob Klein

    Karen Brooks Hopkins is the president emerita of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, where she worked for 36 years, serving 16 of those as president. Hopkins was presented the National Medal of the Arts, the highest award given to artists and arts organizations by the U.S. government, on behalf of BAM by President Obama in 2014.

    We are so proud to be presenting Karen Hopkins at SPAC. She has been a powerhouse and an icon in the industry, someone who was instrumental in the evolution of the Brooklyn Academy of Music into one of the most important presenting and producing organizations in the world. BAM’s fierce commitment to contemporary artists and new work made Brooklyn a magnet for anyone who cared about the arts. I myself moved from Manhattan to Brooklyn precisely to be right there in BAM’s orbit, a mere walking distance from a great cauldron of creativity. Both lovers of the performing arts and the uninitiated will be compelled by Karen’s ‘behind-the-scenes’ storytelling from 36 years at the helm of the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

    Elizabeth Sobol, President & CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center

    “BAM! And Then It Hit Me” is a memoir of Hopkins’ life and her 36 years at America’s oldest performing arts center. It is an inspiring and constructive read for any not-for-profit organization or local arts center detailing key strategies for institutional success. Visual elements highlighting behind-the-scenes moments from BAM’s legendary performances over the years will also be shared with the public for the first time.

    The book event is a part of SPAC’s growing LiteraryArts@SPAC initiative, which includes WAMC@SPAC events and conversations with renowned authors and poets, like Presidential Inaugural Poet Richard Blanco, journalist Chris Cox, New York Times columnist Pamela Paul, and more.

    The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) is known for its summer concerts, as well as for hosting residencies from the New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

    “BAM! And Then It Hit Me with Karen Brooks Hopkins” is free to attend, however, seating is limited. Go here to reserve seating, there will also be a book signing following the event.

  • SNL Returns For Season 48 with Musical Guests Kendrick Lamar, Willow and Megan Thee Stallion

    SNL returns for season 48 on October 1st with the announcement of the first three hosts and musical guests, which include Kendrick Lamar, Willow, and Megan Thee Stallion. Four new cast members also join the cast as featured players.

    SNL Season 48
    New cast members. From left to right, Marcello Hernandez, Molly Kearney, Michael Longfellow, and Devon Walker.

    This marks the first non-COVID Saturday Night Live season since Season 45 in Fall 2019. Four new cast members are being welcomed, including Marcello Hernandez, Molly Kearney, Michael Longfellow, and Devon Walker. Hernandez is a Cuban/Dominican stand-up comedian, actor, and writer who has opened for comedians like Jim Breuer and Gilbert Gottfried.

    Kearney is the first non-binary cast member in the show’s history. They recently had a part in Amazon Prime Video’s “A League of Their Own” TV series. Longfellow was recently featured in the “Netflix Is a Joke: The Festival,” as a notable up-and-comer. Finally, Walker has writing credits that include Netflix’s “Big Mouth” and Phoebe Robinson’s “Everything’s Trash.”

    This season saw the departure of multiple SNL veterans, including Staten Island native Pete Davidson and cast member Kate McKinnon. Recently, Chris Redd announced his departure from the show. During his time on the series, Redd scored a Primetime Emmy for outstanding original music and lyrics in 2018 for the song “Come Back Barack.”

    SNL Season 48
    Chris Redd, photo by Jeff Kravitz.

    In a statement, Redd said “Being a part of SNL has been the experience of a lifetime. Five years ago, I walked into 30 Rock knowing that this was an amazing opportunity for growth.”

    The season premieres on Oct 1 with host Miles Teller, and musical guest Kendrick Lamar. Teller makes his hosting debut, after a successful summer staring in the blockbuster sequel Top Gun: Maverick. Lamar has been a musical guest twice before, and is supporting his recent album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, which came out in May.

    Miles Teller and Kendrick Lamar kick off the season.

    On the Oct. 8 episode, renowned Irish actor Brendan Gleeson, star of The Banshees of Inisherin, will also make his hosting debut. The musical guest is Willow, daughter of Will Smith, who has amassed a large following with her hit songs “Wait a Minute!” “Meet Me At Our Spot,” and “emo girl” with Machine Gun Kelly.

    The final announcement is for the Oct. 15 episode, where Megan Thee Stallion will pull double duty as the host and musical guest. This isn’t her first time on the show, but her first time doing double duty. She will be supporting her new album Traumazine which came out Aug. 12.

    Lorne Michaels, creator of SNL, spoke about the new season at the Primetime Emmy Awards saying that season 48 is “a transition year, and the change years are always difficult. There are new people, and things are changing, and a different generation comes into the show.” The show won its sixth straight Emmy in the Variety Sketch Series category.

  • Snarky Puppy Release Single “Belmont” off Upcoming Album “Empire Central”

    Snarky Puppy has released their new instrumental track “Belmont” and has announced the release of an album titled Empire Central, paying homage to NYC, which made the band who they are today.

    snarky puppy

    The group are four-time Grammy award winners and are one of the most respected names in the instrumental music industry. Formed in 2004, the group is led by bassist Michael League. The group combines a variety of jazz idioms, rock, world music, and funk.

    Snarky Puppy has always been a band that prioritizes the sound of the music. On this record there was some collaboration in the writing process but when a song goes to the band and the players start making suggestions or changing things our collective feeling really comes through. The songs ended up being a lot more direct and funkier than those on our previous records. I think it reflects the many moods of the city’s scene.

    Michael League

    Their new single “Belmont” is a funky ballad, featuring many different people and instruments, like a tenor sax, flugelhorn, drums, distorted violins, and percussion. The track is over six minutes long but goes by so quickly. It was arranged beautifully, with rises and falls, and one can’t help but sway to the music. The sound engineers were also amazing here, as each instrument is isolated and you are able to hear each one clearly.

    The album Empire Central references NYC, and is a 16-track record recorded live in front of a studio audience at the Deep Ellum Art Company in Dallas, TX over eight nights. On the record, there are over 20 artists, including three guitarists, four keyboardists, two brass, two reeds, a violinist, multiple percussionists and drummers, and League on bass.

    Snarky Puppy is also going on tour to support the album, with shows in Buffalo at the Town Ballroom on April 6, NYC at the Beacon Theatre on April 13, and Ithaca at the Cornell University Concert Series on April 16. Tickets for those shows are on sale here. The new record comes out Sept. 30 and will be available on all streaming platforms.

  • ‘The Phantom Of The Opera’ on Broadway Closes After 35 Years

    Broadway’s beloved The Phantom Of The Opera will close after 35 years on stage due to the ongoing crisis the pandemic has had on the theatre business, with fewer people going to shows over the past two years.

    the phantom of the opera
    Emilie Kouatchou and Ben Crawford lead the current cast of “The Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway.

    The show is the longest-running show in Broadway history and will commemorate its 35 anniversary in January, and then will play its final performance on Broadway on Feb. 18, according to a spokesman. The show has become a staple in Broadway history, however, due to the pandemic it has grossed a lot less money since the reopening of the theatre.

    The musical made almost $900,000 for the week ending Sept. 11, but it is making less than half the money that shows like Hamilton, The Lion King, and Wicked are making. Tickets are also significantly cheaper than other shows, with “Phantom” costing around $80 a ticket, and others costing well over $100 because the demand to see the show is less.

    “Phantom” is a symbol of 1980s Broadway, created by three of the most legendary figures in musical theater history: the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, the director Hal Prince and the producer Cameron Mackintosh. The show is about a mask-wearing opera singer who frequents the Paris Opera House and falls for a young soprano. It is famous for the mask as well as the chandelier that crashes on stage every night. On Broadway, the show has been seen by 19.8 million people and has grossed $1.3 billion, since opening.

    The Phantom Of The Opera will still have production in London, as well as a brand new one in Australia. The first Mandarin language production is set to open in China next year, and a Spanish-language version is in the works. Tickets will go on sale shortly for the final productions, and for information on when those will be and how to purchase them, go here.

  • Brooklyn Pop Duo Fake Dad Release New Single “Painkiller”

    Fake Dad, a Brooklyn alt. pop duo just released their new single “Painkiller,” about struggles with mental health and addiction, and how hard it is to support someone as they struggle with both.

    Fake Dad

    Fake Dad is made up of Andrea de Varona and Josh Ford. They make music out of their tiny Brooklyn apartment, and since the beginning of 2018 have been inseparable with a love of music at the center of their relationship long before they started writing together.

    Their music has a signature production sound with distinct voice styles and is there to give you a friendly pat on the back after a long day, and they want you to know everything is going to be okay.

    We hope listeners feel understood and not alone in their respective battles with anxiety, depression, substance abuse, self-harm or really any kind of mental health struggle. Sometimes our connections with others, and a sense of belonging alone are reasons to stay on this earth and try to get better.

    Fake Dad

    Their new single “Painkillers” is a nod to the 80s synth-pop era, with uplifting lyrics about trying to break free from inner demons, and an ode to a relationship between two extremely anxious individuals desperately looking inward for ways to love each other better.

    The lyrics that get repeated a lot throughout the song are “Someone tell me I’ll survive this/please just tell me I’ll survive.” These set of lyrics are very emotional and fans have actually thanked the band for writing it, as it helps those going through a mental health crisis tell themselves they will get through it.

    Overall, the song is very well produced, and Varona’s vocals are very haunting and make you feel like you will make it through anything. “Painkillers” by Fake Dad is out now on all streaming platforms.

  • Live Nation Announces Fans Can Easily Get Tickets to Irving Plaza and Gramercy Theatre with Club Pass

    Live Nation announces the new Club Pass, where fans can have a fast and seamless experience getting general admission tickets to venues like Irving Plaza and Gramercy Theatre in New York City.

    live nation

    The Club Pass will be available starting at $79, giving fans access to shows at one venue of their choice. They will be able to go to shows from Oct. 1 to Dec. 3 in hopes of maybe exploring new music genres, and finding up-and-coming artists in music venues across the country.

    For fans who want to go on a road trip across the country, there will also be a Multi-Club Pass available for $299 that allows them to enjoy shows at all participating Live Nation clubs. There are thousands of shows in well-known venues like Irving Plaza in New York City, The Fillmore in San Francisco, and the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.

    Fans can enjoy shows from different artists like Måneskin, Marcus King, Mother Mother, Noah Cyrus, Dayglow, and many more. The Live Nation Club Pass will be on sale from Sept. 19 through Sept. 30 here. Each venue will have a limited number of Club Passes available. All members will be added to the club’s membership list. On the day of the show, fans will show their Photo ID to receive a ticket at the Club’s box office.

    Venues participating in Club Pass include

     713 Music Hall (Houston, TX

    Ace of Spades (Sacramento, CA)

    The Aztec Theater (San Antonio, TX)

    Bayou Music Center (Houston, TX)

    Belasco (Los Angeles, CA)

    Bogarts (Cincinnati, OH)

    Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom (Chicago, IL)

    Coca-Cola Roxy (Atlanta, GA)

    The Depot (Salt Lake City, UT)

    The Echo Lounge & Music Hall (Dallas, TX)

    Echoplex and The Echo (Los Angeles, CA)

    Emo’s (Austin, TX)

    Egyptian Room and Deluxe at Old National Centre (Indianapolis, IN)

    The Fillmore (San Francisco, CA)

    The Fillmore Detroit (Detroit, MI)

    The Fillmore Minneapolis (Minneapolis, MN)

    The Fillmore New Orleans (New Orleans, LA)

    The Fillmore Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA)

    The Fillmore Silver Spring (Silver Spring, MD)

    The Fillmore Charlotte and The Underground (Charlotte, NC)

    Fillmore Auditorium (Denver, CO)

    The Foundry (Philadelphia, PA) 

    The Gramercy Theatre (New York, NY)

    GLC Live At 20 Monroe (Grand Rapids, MI)

    Hollywood Palladium (Los Angeles, CA)

    House of Blues Anaheim (Anaheim, CA)

    House of Blues Chicago (Chicago, IL)

    House of Blues Cleveland (Cleveland, OH)

    House of Blues Dallas (Dallas, TX)

    House of Blues Lake Buena Vista (Lake Buena Vista, FL)

    House of Blues Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV)

    House of Blues New Orleans (New Orleans, LA)

    House of Blues North Myrtle Beach (North Myrtle Beach, SC)

    House of Blues San Diego (San Diego, CA)

    Irving Plaza (New York, NY)

    Marquis Theater (Denver, CO)

    Mercury Ballroom (Louisville, KY)

    Observatory OC (Santa Ana, CA)

    Observatory SD (San Diego, CA)

    Roxian Theatre (Pittsburgh, PA)

    The Ritz (Raleigh, NC)

    Riverside Municipal Auditorium (Riverside, CA)

    St. Andrew’s Hall (Detroit, MI)

    Summit (Denver, CO)

    Scoot Inn (Austin, TX)

    The Wiltern (Los Angeles, CA)

    Tabernacle (Atlanta, GA)

    Theatre of the Living Arts (Philadelphia, PA)

    Varsity Theater (Minneapolis, MN)

    The Van Buren (Phoenix, AZ)