NYS Music 202​2

Category: News

  • MPTF and Binghamton Local 380 Announce Free Jazz Events

    The Recording Industry’s Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF) and Binghamton Local 380 announced that free live Jazz events will be happening in Binghamton and Ithaca to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month throughout April.

    Grants totaling $235,000 from MPTF will support 224 live, admission-free events throughout the US and Canada. Funding will support professional musicians to perform at different venues and live streams on Facebook.

    MPTF
    MPTF sponsored event.

    Jazz Appreciation Month was created at the Musuem of American History in 2001, and it celebrates the extraordinary heritage and history of jazz. It was also made to encourage people of all ages to study the music, listen to jazz, read books about jazz, and attend concerts.

    MPTF’s Trustee Dan Beck spoke about the new events scheduled for Jazz Appreciation Month.

    Seeing regional jazz greats working again, coming out of the past 24 months of the pandemic, is extremely exciting and so culturally important. Jazz Appreciation Month has been a significant focus of the MPTF’s efforts throughout its history.

    Binghamton’s Local 380 represents over 160 professional musicians in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes region of New York.

    Schedule

    April 3 2PM- Empire Saxophone Quartet (with percussion) @ The Heart at Castle Gardens

    April 6 6:30PM- Island Hoppers Steel Band @ United Methodist Homes: Hilltop

    April 15 4PM- Alpha Brass @ Willow Point Nursing Home

    April 17 3PM- Chris White Trio @ Bridges’ Tudor Houses

    April 27 7PM- Southern Tier Brass @ Good Shepard Fairview

  • Sad Summer Fest 2022 Presented by Journeys

    Sad Summer Fest presented by Journeys features a variety of artists and local bands including Neck Deep, MayDay Parade, and more. This unforgettable event will make stops in New York City at Pier 17 on July 22nd, and at the Stone Pony Summer Stage July 29th. 

    When asked what message he has for fans ahead of the summer tour, vocalist of Waterparks Awsten Knight writes, “I am ready to step around in the mud and get huge. If you see me doing push-ups in the parking lot do not approach me Lucas will tackle you OUT! Saddie summer will be my baddie summer better watch out because I get MOODY in the summer!! See you soon.” 

    “We’re stoked to be on Sad Summer this year!” says Neck Deep lead singer Ben Barlow. “We really can’t wait for another American summer, ripping a few heavy gigs, making the most of the sunshine and closing your night out with a show you’ll never forget.”  

    Mayday Parade will co-headline Sad Summer Fest for the second time, coming back this time with their latest music in the setlist. The band released their most recent album “What It Means to Fall Apart” in November and has spent the start of 2022 taking those new songs on the road, as well as performing songs from their self-titled album in celebration of its eleventh anniversary. Speaking on the band’s return to the Sad Summer Fest stage, lead singer Derek Sanders says, “We’re happy to have the opportunity to play such a great tour with so many wonderful bands. We look forward to seeing so many of you out there, it’s gonna be a wild summer.”  

    Journeys is excited to partner with Sad Summer Fest again this year. Connecting with our consumers and employees through live music events has always been a huge part of our identity as a brand. The ongoing partnership between Sad Summer Fest and Journeys has allowed us to come together to create a memorable and safe experience for fans that were missing live music and the face to face connection with their favorite artists.

    Kari Irons, Journeys, Senior Vice President of Marketing 

    Tickets will officially go on sale March 24th at 10am local time, for purchase here.

    SAD SUMMER FEST 2022 PRESENTED BY JOURNEYS

    July 8 – Sacramento, CA – Heart Health Park @ Cal Expo 

    July 9 – Anaheim, CA – City National Grove Outdoors 

    July 12 – Dallas, TX – Gilley’s 

    July 13 – Houston, TX – Lawn @ White Oak Music Hall 

    July 15 – Orlando, FL – Orlando Amphitheater at the Central Florida Fair 

    July 16 – Atlanta, GA – Coca Cola Roxy 

    July 19 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE Outdoors 

    July 20 – Pontiac, MI – Crofoot Outdoors 

    July 22 – New York, NY – The Rooftop @ Pier 17 

    July 23 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium Outdoors 

    July 24 – Baltimore, MD – MECU Pavilion 

    July 26 – Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live Outdoors 

    July 27 – Newport, KY – Ovation 

    July 29 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage 

    July 30 – Philadelphia, PA – Skyline Stage @ the Mann 

    August 2 – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica 

    August 3 – Lewiston, NY – ArtPark Amphitheater 

    August 5 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave/Eagles Ballroom 

  • Happy Birthday, Lady Gaga!

    Happy Birthday, Lady Gaga! Born on March 28, 1986, in Yonkers, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta aka Lady Gaga is one of the most successful pop stars in the world. She grew up in the city with her parents Cynthia and Joseph Germanotta, with her younger sister Natali. Taking her name from the song Radio Ga-Ga by Queen, Gaga has shown her versatility from being in the film and music industries, with multiple number one hits and nominations to show for it.

    lady gaga
    Lady Gaga at the SAG Awards for film House of Gucci.

    Gaga learned how to play the piano at the age of four, and At the age of 11, she was accepted to the Juilliard School in Manhattan but she instead attended a private Catholic school in the city. She wrote her first piano ballad at 13, and at age 14 she had her first performance at a New York nightclub.

    Her debut album The Fame and single “Just Dance” received both popular and commercial acclaim, and “Just Dance” was nominated for a Grammy Award. Although it didn’t win, it reached number one on the charts. The second single off of the album “Poker Face” went to the top of the charts in every category and country in 2009.

    In 2010, she released her album Fame Monster, then in 2011 released yet another critically acclaimed album Born This Way. In 2013, she released another album titled Artpop. One of the highlights of her career thus far was working with Tony Bennett on the jazz album Cheek To Cheek. The album won a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. She performed at Super Bowl 50 in 2016. Also in 2016, Gaga released her fifth studio album, Joanne, her fourth number one album in the United States.

    In 2017, she announced she had signed for a Las Vegas residency. She performed two separate shows over 27 dates: Lady Gaga Enigma, a collection of her most popular songs, and Lady Gaga Jazz & Piano, which had stripped-down versions of her greatest hits. In 2020, she released her sixth studio album Chromatica, which hit high on the charts, and had the number one single “Rain On Me” with Ariana Grande.

    lady gaga
    Lady Gaga at her residency, photo by Getty Images.

    For films and TV shows, she has done a lot. In 2016, she earned a Golden Globe for her portrayal of The Countess in American Horror Story: Hotel. Also in 2016, she was cast to play Ally in A Star Is Born, which grossed an impressive $400 million globally. She and her co-star Bradley Cooper received Golden Globe, Grammy and Oscar win for their duet song “Shallow.” In 2021, she played Patrizia Reggiani in House of Gucci and has won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress.

    Lady Gaga proves she is not done yet in her outstanding career, and she continues to deliver number one hits and be who she truly is, a star.

  • Disco Biscuits Announce The Return Of City Bisco

    Philadelphia’s own The Disco Biscuits have announced the return of their two-day City Bisco festival. The mini-fest is scheduled for the weekend of Saturday, June 18 and Sunday, June 19 and will once again be held at TD Pavillion at the Mann. This will be the fifth installment of City Bisco and it marks the 10-year anniversary of the festival since its inception in 2012.

    City Bisco

    This year’s bill also features performances from electronic duo Bob Moses, renowned DJ Shiba San and moe. It’s a promising sign for the jamband mainstay as it marks another scheduled gig for the band as guitarist Chuck Garvey continues to rehabilitate from a recent stroke. moe. is also slated to perform at their own Summer Camp music festival in Chillicothe, IL from May 27-29.

    Other acts scheduled this year include fellow electronica icons The New Deal, TAUK, LP Giobbi and Township Rebellion with the Disco Biscuits capping off each night with two sets of music.

    Presale tickets for the event will be available with the code CITYBISCO starting March 23 at 10 a.m. EST with the general on-sale beginning March 25 at 12 p.m. EST. Tickets can be purchased here.

  • Clearwater Festival In Croton Makes Plans for the Future

    The Clearwater Festival, held at Croton Park in Croton, NY, will not take place in 2022 as the event undergoes a re-envisioning process to help create a festival the Clearwater organization can sustain into the future.

    The festival began in the 1960s as a small “folk picnic” by Pete and Toshi Seeger to help raise funds for the building of the sloop Clearwater. The festival has since grown to be one of the country’s oldest and largest annual music and environmental festivals. Its award-winning Zero Waste program has also been a model for many festivals around the country.

    Clearwater Festival Beacon
    The Clearwater Festival.

    Clearwater Festival usually takes place on Father’s Day weekend. Over the years, it has been staffed by a team of volunteers, and it has become the organization’s way of reaching out to others. It helps bring together community, celebration, education, and activism for the protection of the Hudson River.

    The pandemic has affected the festival due to the severe reduction of cash flow usually brought in by the event. The organization did not have enough cash to begin planning and production for a 2022 Clearwater Festival, so therefore there will not be a festival this summer. Although there were two virtual events in 2020 and 2021, online event participation has gone down as more things are moving in-person, so a virtual option is not viable.

    Hopefully, the new re-envisioning process will bring the festival back in person for years to come.

  • Robert Posner Elected to Long Island Music Hall Of Fame Board Of Trustees

    Robert Posner has been elected to be on the Board Of Trustees for the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame recognizes Long Island’s musical heritage and supports local artists by hiring them and other executives.

    Posner has a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and is an audit partner at Grassi, and he helps contractors, subcontractors, and architecture and engineering firms grow and become successful. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Advancement for Commerce, Industry & Technology (ACIT).

    Robert Posner.

    Posner is a music fan, and his favorite artists are the Dave Matthews Band and Billy Joel. He has taken up playing the guitar, and his son Andrew played clarinet for the Northport Marching Band.

    Speaking of his election, Posner had a lot to say.

    I am very excited to join the Long Island Music Hall of Fame’s board of trustees. I have followed this wonderful organization for many years and have enjoyed attending their world-class Induction Ceremonies. I am looking forward to contributing to its continued growth, promoting music education and Long Island’s diverse musical history.

  • 2022 Eddies Music Awards Nominees Announced, Ceremony to be held at Proctors

    The fourth annual Eddies Music Awards nominees have been announced, with an in-person ceremony scheduled for April 24, 2022 at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady.

    There are over 210 finalists in 36 categories honoring the work of 2021. Nominations and voting are determined by a group of judges that represent the local community.

    2022 eddies awards

    The Eddie Music Awards ceremony will return to the theatre after a two-year absence, as it was postponed twice due to the pandemic. It eventually was live-streamed and last year’s show was able to have a small audience. Co-founder and producer Jim Murphy is excited to be back:

    It was important we continue to shine a light on the local music scene, even if it was scaled back. This year is a return to a full-scale celebration. We hope the whole music community comes together.

    NYS Music is proudly nominated for Arts Publication of the Year, with Zach Culver nominated for Best Photographer of the Year and Alain Clerine nominated for Best Writer of the Year.

    At the ceremony, there will be performances by Erin Harkes, Buggy Jive, Nite Train w/ Thomasina Winslow, Hot Club of Saratoga, Rich Ortiz, and Super 400. Erin Harkes will be continuing her past role as emcee. She also hosted the first Eddies Music Awards in 2019 and was a musical performer at the 2020 Eddies Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

    Buggy Jive is a soul rock song-writer who takes influence from Led Zeppelin and Prince. He has been nominated each year of the Eddies Music Awards including a record five nominations this year, and was a winner of Video of the Year in 2021.

    Nite Train w/ Thomasina Winslow is a seven-piece blues group who has been around in the Capital Region for almost 20 years. In 2019, they were an Eddies Music Award nominee for Best Blues Act. They released their newest album titled  “Cat on A Mission” in late 2020.

    Hot Club of Saratoga are a swing collective that play music that reflects the style of The Quintet of the Hot Club of France that were prominent in the 1930s. They are nominated this year for Best Jazz Artist.

    Rich Ortiz is a singer-songwriter who has opened for Chicago, REO Speedwagon, Styx and many other touring artists. He is a three-time Eddie nominee for Solo or Duo Performer of the Year, with a win in 2019.

    Super 400 are a rock trio who have been together 26 years, and have one live and four studio albums. They are 2022 Eddies nominees in the Rock/Pop Artist of the Year category.

    The Eddies Music Awards’ tickets are on sale now.

    Solo or Duo Artist of the Year
    Buggy Jive
    Girl Blue
    Dave Maswick & Joel Brown
    Om Quillio
    Sean Rowe
    Sirsy

    Solo or Duo Performer of the Year (Covers)
    Rick Bolton & Jackie Dugas
    Jeff Brisbin
    Steve Candlen
    Sten Isachsen & Maria Zemantauski
    Rich Ortiz
    Maurizio Russomanno


    Party Cover Band of the Year
    Diva & The Dirty Boys
    Legend
    Mixed Roots
    Off The Record
    The Refrigerators
    Soul Session


    DJ of the Year
    DJ AyO
    DJ Ketchup
    DJ RVMBA
    DJ ShOw
    DJ T.G.I.F.
    Intell Hayesfield


    Country/Bluegrass Artist of the Year
    Brule County Bad Boys
    Jim Gaudet and The Railroad Boys
    The Insolent Willies
    Red Haired Strangers
    Three Quarter North
    Marty Wendell


    Country Cover Band of the Year
    Beatin’ the Odds
    Courtney Shayne: A Patsy Cline Experience
    E.B. Jeb
    Skeeter Creek
    Stony Creek Band
    Whiskey Highway

    Americana Artist of the Year
    Annie & the Hedonists
    The Lazy Suns
    Lost Radio Rounders
    Sara Milonovich & Daisycutter
    The Nocturne Troubadours
    Rusticator


    Rock/Pop Artist of the Year
    Dark Honey
    Jocelyn & Chris
    Joe Mansman and The Midnight Revival Band
    Super 400
    Under the Den
    Warden & Co.


    Alt/Indie Artist of the Year
    Architrave
    Curious Comet
    E.R.I.E.
    joetaurone
    Sean Rowe
    The Sea The Sea


    Folk/Traditional Artist of the Year
    Dan Berggren
    Drank The Gold
    Reese Fulmer
    John Kirk and Trish Miller
    Michael Jerling
    Carolyn Shapiro


    Hip Hop/Rap Artist of the Year
    B Chaps
    Dezmatic
    Mike Larry Draw
    Sime Geezus
    Emcee Graffiti
    JB!! aka Dirty Moses


    Jazz Artist of the Year
    Joe Barna
    Bright Dog Red
    Hot Club of Saratoga
    Chuck Lamb
    Dylan Perrillo
    Colleen Pratt


    Punk/Hard Rock Artist of the Year
    After the Fall
    BattleaXXX
    Candy Ambulance
    Fine Grain
    Prince Daddy & the Hyena
    Kid Vicious


    Metal/Hard Rock Artist of the Year
    Bad Mothers
    Bendt
    Brick by Brick
    The Erotics
    Malefic
    Psychomanteum


    Jam Band of the Year
    Ampevene
    Annie In The Water
    Glass Pony
    Hilltop
    Let’s Be Leonard
    Raisinhead


    Blues Artist of the Year
    Amy Ryan Band
    Biscuits ‘n’ Gravy
    George Fletcher Blues Band
    Matt Mirabile & Alison Jacobs
    SoulSky
    Mark Tolstrup & Jill Burnham


    RnB/Soul/Funk Artist of the Year
    The Age
    Anneice Cousin
    The E-Block
    Buggy Jive
    Ali Sifflet
    Victory Soul Orchestra

    Electronica Artist of the Year
    Madeline Darby
    Fox Kraft
    SM Ink
    PJ Katz
    Rambutan
    soo do koo


    Classical Artist/Ensemble of the Year
    Albany Symphony Orchestra
    Albany Pro Musica
    Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra
    Musicians of Ma’alwyck
    Opera Saratoga
    Schenectady Symphony Orchestra


    World Music Artist of the Year
    Taina Asili y La Banda Rebelde
    Heard
    Jordan Taylor Hill
    Sten Isachsen & Maria Zemantauski
    Mixed Roots
    Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra


    Best Venue Small (up to 299 people)
    Caffé Lena
    The Hangar on the Hudson
    The Hollow Bar + Kitchen
    The Linda
    Nanola
    9 Maple Avenue


    Best Venue Medium (300-999 people)
    Cohoes Music Hall
    The Egg
    Lark Hall
    Putnam Place
    The Strand Theatre
    Van Slyck’s (Rivers Casino & Resort)


    Best Venue Large (1,000 people and up)
    Empire Live
    Palace Theatre
    Saratoga Performing Arts Center
    Times Union Center
    Troy Savings Bank Music Hall


    Presenter of the Year
    A Little Booking Agency LLC
    DJ T.G.I.F.
    Guthrie Bell Productions
    Step Up Presents
    Sugar Productions
    Super Dark Collective


    Radio Station of the Year
    RadioRadioX
    WAMC
    WCDB
    WEQX
    WEXT
    WVCR


    Radio DJ of the Year (terrestrial or streaming)
    Wanda Fischer (WAMC)
    Art Fredette (RadioRadiox)
    Sime Geezus (WSPN)
    Andy Gregory (WEXT)
    Bill McCann (WCDB)
    Jeff Morad (WEQX)


    Record Label of the Year
    Cacophone Records
    Equal Vision
    Lorchestral Recording Company
    Magnetic Eye Records
    Paintbox Records
    Upstate Records


    Live Production Crew of the Year
    824 Productions
    Aces
    Denis Entertainment Group
    High Peaks Sound
    Live Sound Inc
    Specialized Audio-Video Inc.

    Music Recording Studio of the Year
    Fool’s Hill Music
    Jim Mastrianni Studio
    Millstone Studio
    NRS Recording


    Arts Publication of the Year (print, TV or new media)
    Nippertown
    NYS Music
    Preview (Times Union)
    The Spot 518
    The Ticket (Daily Gazette)
    Xperience Monthly


    Music Journalist of the Year
    Alain Clerine (NYS Music)
    R.J. DeLuke (Times Union)
    Michael Hallisey (The Spot 518, Nippertown)
    Indiana Nash (Daily Gazette)
    Liam Sweeney (Xperience Monthly)
    Don Wilcock (Nippertown)


    Music Photographer of the Year
    Stephanie Bartik
    Frank Cavone
    Zach Culver
    Jim Gilbert
    Rudy Lu
    Andrzej Pilarczyk


    Songwriter of the Year
    Girl Blue
    Reese Fulmer
    Buggy Jive
    Sara Milonovich
    Lecco Morris & Justin K. Rivers
    Sean Rowe
    Russel the Leaf
    Seth Warden


    Music Video of the Year
    As Iz – “Steve Nover is Here (Infinite Cha Cha)”
    Buggy Jive – “Tiptoes”
    Don Ferlazzo – “Take A Look At Me Now”
    Joe Mansman and The Midnight Revival Band – “Renegade Love”
    Jocelyn & Chris – “Sugar and Spice”
    SIRSY – “Astronauts”
    The Nocturne Troubadours – “You’re Not Alone”
    The Sea The Sea – “Stumbling Home: Oil on Paper”

    Record of the Year
    Dan Berggren – “Imagine That”
    Jocelyn & Chris “- Sugar and Spice”
    Erin Harkes – “New Year’s Day”
    Kate McDonnell – “Ballad of a Bad Girl”
    Mike McMann – “True”
    Prince Daddy & the Hyenas – “Curly Q”
    Sean Rowe – “Squid Tattoo”
    Carolyn Shapiro – “Honeydew”


    Album of the Year
    Bright Dog Red – “In Vivo”
    Candy Ambulance – “Hard-Boiled”
    Reese Fulmer – “It’s All a Dream”
    Sime Gezus – “Shadow of Death”
    Buggy Jive – “You Won’t Like the Answer”
    Mike McMann – “True”
    Sara Milonovich & Daisycutter – “Northeast”
    Sean Rowe – “The Darkness Dressed In Colored Lights”
    Marty Wendell – “Risky Business”

  • Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery New Spring and Summer Events

    With Spring just around the corner, Green-Wood Cemetery launches its spring and summer calendar with a dynamic array of tours, exhibitions, and concerts. From Concerts in the Catacombs to fascinating history tours, this unique venue will present an array of events coming up.

    The Green-Wood Cemetery New Spring and Summer Events
    The Green-Wood Cemetery New Spring and Summer Events

    Established in 1838, The Green-Wood Cemetery, a National Historic Landmark, is recognized as one of the world’s most beautiful cemeteries. The Green-Wood Cemetery located in Brooklyn is constantly transforming the urban green space. Being much more than a cemetery, serving as a unique venue for a wide range of fascinating programs. 

    The Green-Wood Cemetery
    The Green-Wood Cemetery New Spring and Summer Events

    Visitors can ride along on the trolley to Discover Green-Wood every Saturday. Or, for those who prefer to walk, walking tours provide connoisseurs of all sorts an opportunity to indulge: Early-morning Birding, Great Trees, Green-Wood at Night, and many more. 

    Green-Wood Cemetery at Night

    Visitors can also attend a diverse line-up of arts and cultural programs—performances and exhibitions drawing on the Cemetery’s history and landscape for inspiration. Green-Wood is also an outdoor museum, an arboretum, and a repository of history.

    “Events, concerts, and installations highlight the beauty and history of the Cemetery, with artists and performers engaging the site in dynamic never before seen ways.”  

    – Harry Weil
    Secret Mausoleum Music Club

    Among The Highlights of the Season Are: 

    • Hanami Festival: (Wednesday, April 20th) Translated from the Japanese as “flower viewing,” the Hanami festival celebrates the spring season with music and entertainment set among Green-Wood’s extensive collection of flowering trees as they come into full bloom. 
    • A Day in the Life of a Mortuary Science Student: (Thursday, March 31st) Hear from mortuary science students and graduates as a part of Green-Wood’s “A Day in the Life” series, which brings together those in the death-care field for lively conversations on the intricacies of their trade and to answer your questions about end-of-life care.  
    • A Night at Niblo’s Garden: (Thursday and Friday, July 28th and 29th) A Victorian extravaganza like none other! Set around beautiful Crescent Water this evening features a dazzling array of nineteenth-century showmanship under the starry summer skies. Bring a blanket and a picnic! 
    • Concerts in the Catacombs: (April–September, various dates) Curated by acclaimed composer, Broadway star, and vocalist Gelsey Bell, this series features a diverse range of musicians—including Palestinian Kanun (Mediterranean Zither) player and composer Firas Zreik and electro-acoustic composer and improviser Zeena Parkins—in a space rarely open to the public.  
    • Gardens as Cosmic Terrains, an art installation by Heidi Lau: (May 7th–June 26th; open Saturday & Sundays) Heidi Lau, Green-Wood’s first-ever artist in residence, will present the sculptures she created during her residency at the Cemetery. These were created specially for the Cemetery’s Catacombs. 
    • Memorial Day Concert: (Monday, May 30th) After a two-year hiatus, Green-Wood’s annual Memorial Day concert is back to kick off the summer. Bring a picnic, sit back, and enjoy the music by composers who are interred at Green-Wood, including Lift Every Voice and Sing by James Weldon Johnson, selections from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein, and many more, plus patriotic favorites of course.  Fred Ebb, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Leonard Bernstein, and others. 
    • Revolutionary Spirits: (Saturdays, April 9th, May 14th, and June 11th) This special event in partnership with Fort Hamilton Distillery kicks off with a trolley tour of the Cemetery to discover the Who’s Who of the Revolutionary War and the distillers who made their mark on the young Republic, followed by a whiskey tasting in Industry City. 
    • Gay Green-Wood: (May 15th) A themed trolley tour highlighting important LGBTQ+ figures including “It’s Raining Men” co-writer, Paul Jabara; sculptor of Bethesda Fountain, Emma Stebbins; activists and founders of the Hetrick Martin Institute, Drs. Emery Hetrick and Damien Martin, among others. 

    These latest events are for everyone and provide family-friendly activities. All can be found on Green-Wood’s website at www.green-wood.com/calendar and many are either free or reasonably priced.  

  • Celebrate World Down Syndrome Day with Delta Spirit and Ian Brennan

    In honor of World Down Syndrome Day on March 21, GRAMMY award-winning music producer and field-recorder Ian Brennan has collaborated with the Sheltered Workshop Singers on his most personal project yet with the new single “Abnoy (Don’t Call Me Names).”

    Brennan follows up his acclaimed recording career of over 50 albums with the latest single. Brennan also produced the Sheltered Workshop Singers debut album Who You Calling Slow? He is known for doing recordings in underrepresented regions such as Rwanda, Malawi, South Sudan, Karachi, Comoros, Palestine, and more. His work has been featured on the front-page of The New York Times, in an Emmy Award-winning segment of 60 Minutes, and PBS Television. This time, he will be collaborating with his older sister Jane who has Down Syndrome.

    Grace, who sings vocals on “Abnoy (Don’t Call Me Names).”

    The single “Abnoy (Don’t Call Me Names)” features lead vocals by Grace, pictured below. The song helps represent a misunderstood community of creators, immersed in melody and passion. Listeners will feel the emotion of hurt, love, and bravery when listening to this track.

    Ian Brennan spoke about collaborating with his sister Jane, and all she has gone through during her life.

    But music is still the one thing that brings her to life. It has the power to bring her out of a near coma — stimulating vocal communication and inspiring dance. Albeit only with the fingers of one hand, the expressiveness and zeal for life remain.

    The new single by The Sheltered Workshop Singers “Abnoy (Don’t Call Me Names)” is out now, and all proceeds made from the song will benefit The ARC of the United States.

    On Friday, March 18, award-winning actors Zack Gottsagen and Jamie Brewer joined GLOBAL for their virtual dance party in celebration of World Down Syndrome Day. The dance party also celebrated the SXSW nomination of Delta Spirit’s ‘What’s Done Is Done’.

    Down Syndrome Day

    This year’s virtual dance party brought together down syndrome advocates and celebrities like Amanda Booth, Kathie J. and Michael Parks Randa to highlight and support those with down syndrome. DJ Walt White and DJ Shane Beard oversaw the party to make sure everyone got their chance to shine. 

    Delta Spirit’s ‘What’s Done Is Done’ is the first music video featuring professional actors with Down syndrome to be accepted into the SXSW film festival. The video features The Peanut Butter Falcon’s Zack Gottsagen and American Horror Story’s Jamie Brewer, who were both honored as GLOBAL Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy awardees. 

    Each year, March 21st marks an important day of recognition and acceptance for those with down syndrome. The Global Down Syndrome Foundation gives support to millions by hosting events, raising funds and bringing communities together, while using World Down Syndrome day to boost these efforts.

    Two additional “I ❤ You” dance parties will be hosted 7/22 and 9/30, 6:30 PM to 8 PM MT. Registration for both events is currently open. Donations can be made to honor loved ones and those with down syndrome in your community. 

    additional reporting by Kamra Wint.

  • Garden of Dreams Talent Show Returns This Year

    The Garden of Dreams Talent Show will return to Radio City Music Hall after a two-year hiatus on April 13. The event was previously cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19.

    architecture of sound
    Radio City Music Hall reopened for vaccinated audiences in May of 2021.

    Young people from the tri-state area will take the stage and perform a variety of different acts. This year’s show will feature acts from the cancelled shows in 2020 and 2021.

    The creative director of the Garden of Dreams Talent Show is rap icon and pioneer Darryl McDaniels of RUN DMC.  

    “I am thrilled that these exceptional kids will finally get the chance to bring their talents to Radio City Music Hall,” said McDaniels, who is also a member of the foundation’s board. “April 13 will be a night to remember, filled with joy, laughter, tears, and hope in the resiliency and spirit of the next generation – you won’t want to miss it!”

    The Garden of Dreams Foundation is the charity foundation of Madison Square Garden Entertainment—the company that owns Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks, the New York Rangers, and the Westchester Knicks. The Garden of Dreams Foundation provides educational opportunities and mentorship programs for kids in the New York area.

    The talent show is free but requires ticket reservations.