NYS Music 202​2

Category: News Desk

  • 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.  

  • Easy Star All Stars Announce Spring Tour, Brooklyn Stop

    Revered reggae band, Easy Star All Stars, has announced their Spring 2022 tour, with stops in Brooklyn and Philadelphia. Their Brooklyn show will be their first 4/20 show in the borough since 2015.

    Easy Star All Stars tour

    After taking a break from touring due to the pandemic, Easy Star All Stars is welcoming fans back with their favorite tracks, as well as some new material. The group will be performing full versions of their best selling album, Dub Side of the Moon, along with songs from Radiodread, Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Club and Easy Star’s Trillah.

    Special guests Jah People, The Far East and SunDub will add their own twists to the shows as they perform fan favorites like ‘Take Your Time’, ‘Magic Moments’ and ‘Close To Me’.

    Easy Star Allstars – Rock N Roll Resort

    Fans will also be happy to hear that the group has been working on their next tribute album, although it’s currently unknown which classic album has caught their attention. This latest release will be their first album since 2012. 

    Tickets for the tour are available now.

    Tour Dates :

    March 26 – Mt. Snow, VT – Mount Snow Reggaefest

    April 09 – Sugarloaf, ME – Reggaefest

    April 10 – Cambridge, MA – Middle East (Matinee show)

    April 20 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl (with The Far East and SunDub)

    April 21 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia

    April 22 – Washington, DC – The Hamilton

    April 23 – Baltimore, MD – Soundstage

    May 14 – Tequila, MX – Akamba Festival

  • The Final Four of NYS Music March Madness 2022

    And then there were four…. Welcome to the Final Four of NYS Music’s March Madness 2022, featuring up and coming bands from around New York State, all coming to a local music venue near you.

    final four march madness 2022

    Since 2015, New York State Music has crafted a March Madness friendly competition that spans all the musical harbors of the Empire State. As fans and musicians, the NYS Music team aims to spotlight the great talent found across New York in a friendly contest, bringing broader attention to the next generation of artists and bands on the rise. March Madness 2022 highlights 64 bands and artists you might not know, but should know, as these homegrown talents are making waves through the New York State. Check out Round 4 here.

    Enter your email address, get to know the bands, and vote for your favorites below!

    [forminator_form id=”404413″]

    Bearsville Theater Region Winner
    Fine Grain

    finegrain

    Fine Grain, a shoegazy punk band from Albany took both the red and blue pills with a Genny and got banned from Trader Joe’s. The girthy tones of this gritty group will remind you of late nights on a stoop in September, your first beer after work, weird questions about your parents cephalopods, and of course, the crushing weight of capitalism.

    Fine Grain is currently in the studio at Brunswick Recording, working on new music, and have been incorporating visual projections that sync up to their music, intensifying the experience for fans.

    Funk n Waffles Region Winner
    Gooseberry

    final four march madness 2022

    Gooseberry is a 4-piece band from Brooklyn, born during the Fall of 2019. Their combination of indie rock and soul is a recipe for a unique sound that Gooseberry delivers in each song. The band consists of Asa Daniels (formerly of Baked Goods) on guitar/vocals, Evin Rossington (drums), Sam Rappaport (keys, vocals), and Will Hammond (bass). The band is a genre-bending alchemy of many disparate elements. They are often referred to as having “two bands in one.” This phenomenon can be attributed to the distinctly different approaches of their two chief songwriters—Asa and Sam.

    New on the block, Gooseberry has already begun developing a devoted following in and around New York City, running the full gamut of venues from The Bowery Electric to DROM to house shows across the boroughs, quickly staking their claim in the ever-lively Brooklyn music scene. Fans know they’ll be kept on their toes, as the band moves in and out of genres and styles, always keeping the crowd engaged. Upcoming shows include Thursday, March 24 with Grady Spencer & The Work at Hill Country in NYC, then at Bowery Electric on April 14 and at The Knitting Factory on May 21.

    DSP Shows Region Winner
    Seize Atlantis

    final four march madness 2022

    Seize Atlantis has a unique, tight sound fueled by punchy bass, hard-driving percussion, melodic lead guitar, and pronounced moody vocals with meaningful lyrics, a truly dynamic range of soft to heavy Alternative Rock. Formed in 2019 out of Glens Falls, Seize Atlantis is a four-piece band most closely influenced by bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam, providing their own spin on a variety of covers from classic rock to modern pop in addition to their own original music.

    Catch them on Friday, March 18 at Mean Max Brew Works in Glens Falls, April 10 at Fitzgerald’s in Fort Edward, and on April 22 at Empire Underground with Under the Den, Bad Mothers, and Sydney Worthley. Watch “The Unstoppable Groove” below.

    The Helping Friendly Hemp Company Region Winner
    HANZOLO

    HANZOLO won the EQX Battle of the Bands and opened Albany’s annual Pearlpalooza music festival in 2021. They have opened for bands like Lawrence, Wild Belle, and *repeat repeat. The boys released their first album Table Butter in 2019 and followed it up with their second, HANZOLO, in the fall of 2021. Hanzolo’s music has been compared to Table Butter: soft enough to spread yet hard enough to keep its shape.

    Upcoming HANZOLO shows include April 8 at Madison Theater in Albany, April 14 at Pauly’s Hotel, April 24 at The Range in Ithaca and April 27 at Lark Hall.

    Voting for the Final 4 has closed. Stay tuned for Championship Round starting on Saturday March 26 at 10am, ending Sunday, March 27 at 11:59pm!

    NYS Music has partnered with businesses across New York State to highlight these 64 up and coming bands. Regional sponsors include Funk n Waffles, a premiere music venue in Syracuse established in 2007 with a unique take on the culinary and entertainment industries, offering a wide variety of gourmet waffles and breakfast food, as well as offering live music every night! Bearsville Theater in Woodstock is where Americana was born – where Dylan took folk music and married it to Rock & Roll. where folk went electric, and where Janis took a breath and recuperated, before launching her hurricane energy and heart stopping songs out into the world. Renovated in 2019-2020, Bearsville Theater has an impressive calendar of shows for Hudson Valley music lovers.

    DSP Shows based in Ithaca, NY and Northampton, MA, is one of the leading independent concert promoters in America, with shows at venues including State Theatre of Ithaca, Hangar Theatre, The Haunt, Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, Brewery Ommegang, Asbury Hall, The 9th Ward at Babeville, and Daryl’s House among others. The Helping Friendly Hemp Company offers a wide variety of industry leading products including tinctures, soft chews, and hemp flower, using only USA grown hemp extract.

    The winners of each region will be rewarded with a collection of prizes worth $3000. Partners for NYS Music’s March Madness 2022 include Mirth Films from Albany, a music news/entertainment outlet that specializes in original video content and live streaming, with news coverage ranging across the whole country, who will provide a professional multi-camera recording session at The Palace Theatre in Albany for the winning band, premiering exclusively on Mirth Films.

    The XPerience Monthly is the greater Capital Region’s alt-monthly newspaper, bringing independent music and thought provoking articles to the area. The XPerience Monthly will feature the winning band in a newspaper profile and interview this summer.

    Check out Past Years’ NYS Music March Madness Here

  • Don’t miss Jennifer Hartswick and Nick Cassarino, Live at Lark Hall on March 23rd

    Two artists in the wide-reaching jam scene will come together at Lark Hall on Wednesday, March 23 when Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band) and Nick Cassarino (The Nth Power) take the stage. This live duo have a rich sound, having worked together as early as 2018 on Hartswick’s solo album Nexus.

    Jennifer Hartswick Nick Cassarino

    Jennifer and Nicholas have been playing, writing, laughing, and storytelling for almost two decades. Born and raised in Vermont, their bond is ever present in this intimate acoustic duo. Hartswick and Cassarino have each made names for themselves, touring tirelessly. Their passion, dedication and sophistication are evident in their joyous, soulful performances, providing audiences with a truly special musical experience

    Hartswick is one of the most exciting performers in music today, pulling double duty on trumpet and vocals, exuding confidence and joy, bringing her own refreshing spirit to the stage every time she performs. Jennifer’s music is honest, soulful and comes with a maturity far beyond her years.

    Hartswick is an original member of the Trey Anastasio Band and has recorded/shared the stage with Herbie Hancock, Phish, Christian McBride, Tom Petty, Aaron Neville, Carlos Santana, The Rolling Stones, Big Gigantic, Dave Matthews, Meghan Trainor and countless others.

    Jennifer’s live performances are renowned as spontaneous, joyful and contagious. Her natural charisma and sincerity shines through, and each performance is a celebration of musical collaboration. And whether she is wailing on the trumpet or singing an intimate vocal solo, her performance is all part of a single seamless instrument, one that is played not only with astounding technical proficiency, but also with sensitivity, conviction and heart.

    Nicholas Cassarino was born into a musical family in Vermont, singing publicly as early as age five, and at age 11 began playing guitar. In Vermont, he met Hartswick, who would later introduce him to the likes of Nikki Glaspie, Christian McBride, and the entire jam/festival scene.

    In 2008, Nick moved from Burlington to NYC, joining a 10-piece hip-hop collective, Lifted Crew, and toured with rap icons Slick Rick the Ruler and Big Daddy Kane. He also worked extensively at gospel churches in the city and began furthering his solo career. Watch the duo perform “Drowning” live from Telefunken Studios.

    Tickets for this performance from Jennifer Hartswick and Nick Cassarino are available here.

  • Rochester International Jazz Festival Announces 2022 Lineup

    After two years of silence on Rochester’s downtown streets, the 19th edition of the Rochester International Jazz Festival will finally take place June 17-25, 2022. From the 17th through the 25th the streets will literally come alive with music. The entire headliner series will be taken out of Eastman Theater and presented free out on Parcel 5 and also in MLK Park on the final weekend. Add in the free shows on Gibbs, er Jazz, Street, the Fusion Stage and elsewhere, that’s over 130 free shows over nine days.

    Rochester International Jazz Festival 2022

    Of course the festival’s signature Club Series is also back. Both the Little Theater and Innovation Square (née Xerox Auditorium) are back after renovations, along with Kilbourn Hall, Max of Eastman Place, Montage Music Hall, Hatch Recital Hall, Glory House (formerly Lutheran Church), Wilder Room, Temple Theater and the Big Tent. The Hyatt Regency Ballroom will also be added as the newest venue. Club passes are on sale now in both 3- and 9-day varieties. There truly is no better way to enjoy the festival.

    Rochester International Jazz Festival 2022

    “It is with a profound gratitude to all our patrons and sponsors that RIJF has been able to weather the past two years of the global pandemic. It has been an extremely challenging period worldwide for all live event producers. We are beyond excited to bring the Rochester International Jazz Festival back to all of you as global health restrictions ease. From June 17-25, we will stage another amazingly diverse program for all patrons to enjoy in Downtown Rochester. We invite you all to downtown Rochester to enjoy the finest in creative improvised music, and never forget: ‘it’s not who you know, it’s who you don’t know.’

    John Nugent, Producer and Artist Director

    The full lineup can be found below. See RochesterJazz.com for full schedule and details and stay tuned for our preview in early June. See you on Jazz Street!

    3D Jazz Trio In The Spirit Of Ray Brown, Adam Melcho, All In Brass Band, Ana Egge, Andy McKee, Arturo O’farrill Quintet, Bad Sneakers, Big Lazy , Bill Frisell Trio, Bill Tiberio Group, Bob James Quartet, Bob Viavattne, Bobby Rush, Booker T Presents: A Soul Stax Revue, Brockport Big Band, Brubeck Brothers Celebrating Dave Brubeck’s Centennial, California Guitar Trio, Champian Fulton, Champian Fulton Trio, Charlie Lindner & The Pickle Mafia, Chris Botti, Cinnamon Jones, Con Brio, Connie Han, Connie Han Trio, Cy Smith, Danielle Ponder, Davina & The Vagabonds, Dan Wilson, Dayna Kurtz, Devon Allman Project with Special Guests Allman Family Reunion, Dmitry Baevsky Quartet, Drum Battle!! Kenny Washington vs. Joe Farnsworth, Dwayne Dopsie & Zydeco Hellraisers, Emmaline, Eastman School of Music / Eastman Community Music School Group, Eastman School of Music-Rochester International Jazz Festival Jazz Scholarships Performance, G Love & Special Sauce, Gary Versace Trio, Gate Swingers Big Band, Giveton Gelin, Grace Serene & The Superclean, Greece Jazz Band, Grupo Ife, Hans Bilger Group, Harold Danko, Helen Sung, Helen Sung Trio, Hell’s Kitchen Funk Orchestra, Hot Club of Cowtown, Huntertones, Immanuel Wilkins, Itamar Borochov Quartet, Jamie Baum Quintet, Jeremy Beck & The Heavy Duty Horns, Jeremy Pelt Quintet, Jesse Stone, Jimmie Highsmith Jr., Jochen Ruckert Quartet, Joe Locke Group, John Bailey Sextet, Jon Ballantyne, Jonathan Kreisberg Quartet, Jonathan, Scales Fourchestra, Joonas Haavistio Trio, Judah Sealy Band, Kaisa’s Machine, Kenny Werner Trio, Kind Folk, Kurt Elling “Super Blue” W/ Charlie Hunter, Laura Anglade Quintet, Lew Tabackin Trio, Lioness, Majestics, Martin Taylor, Matt Savage Trio, McDonald Labarbera Quintet, Melody Masters Big Band, Michael Weiss, Michael Weiss Trio, Mike Cottone & Friends, Mike Ledonne Trio, Moho Collective, Ms. Lisa Fischer, Music Educators Big Band, Nabate Isles, New Power Generation, Nikki Hill, NYC Chillharmonic, Parker Trio, Paul Beaubrun, Penfield Big Band, Peter Bernstein, Prime Time Brass, Ranky Tanky, Ravi Coltrane Freedom Trio, Red Hot & Blue, Reverend Paytons’s Damn Dig Band, Richie & Rosie, RIJF All Stars, Rina, Robin Mckelle, Robin Thicke, Rochester Metro Jazz Orchestra, Ryan Johnson & The Coexistence, Samantha Fish, Samara Joy, Sammy Miller & The Congregation, Sarah Mckenzie, Scott Mulvahill Trio, Shayna Steele, Sheila E., Sonidos Unidos, Soul Stew, Spyro Gyra, Stephane Wrembel, Sunna Gunnlaugs, Sunna Gunnlaugs Trio, Syndicate Jazz Band, Tessa Souter, The Aquaducks, The Able Bodies, The Bacon Brothers, The Cookers, The Dip, The RT’s, Tiberi & Garzone Quartet, Tivon Pennicott Quartet, Tommy Emmanuel, Tommy Smith, Tuck & Patti, Tuomo & Markus, Under The Surface, Vanessa Collier, Ward Hayden & The Outliers, Wayne Escoffrey Quartet, Wynonna Judd.

  • Incubus Announce 2022 Summer Tour, Jones Beach and Syracuse Stops

    Long running rock band, Incubus, has announced their 2022 summer tour, featuring special guests Sublime With Rome and the Aquadolls. The group will be stopping in Wantagh and Syracuse as part of the Cadillac Tri-State concert series.

    Incubus tour

    Beginning in July, Incubus will be touring the US, starting in West Palm Beach and ending in Oregon. Special guests, Sublime With Rome and the Aquadolls, will bring extra life to the stage as concert-goers enjoy hits like ‘Santeria’, ‘What I Got’ and ‘Take Me Away’.

    After first coming together in 1991, Incubus has gone on to receive widespread critical and commercial success. The Grammy nominated band has sold over 23 million albums worldwide, while also topping multiple charts. Their summer tour follows the 20th anniversary of their multi-platinum album, Morning View.

    Sublime With Rome was formed in 2010 by original Sublime members, Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh, with the help of vocalist Rome Ramirez. The group strives to forge their own path while also honoring the origin of their name. The Aquadolls are another group working hard to forge their own path, by releasing hard hitting singles like ‘Cry Baby’ and ‘Disappearing Girl’. Formed in 2012, the trio has performed at a number of music festivals, including Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits.

    Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 AM on incubushq.com.

    7/24 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

    7/26 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place

    7/27 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre

    7/29 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion

    7/30 – Doswell, VA –  AfterHours Concerts at The Meadow Event Park

    7/31 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

    8/02 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Heath Amphitheater at Lakeview

    8/03 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center

    8/05 – Camden, NJ – Waterfront Music Pavilion

    8/06 –  Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center

    8/07 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater

    8/09 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center

    8/10 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre

    8/12 – Bonner Springs, KS – Azura Amphitheater

    8/13 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis

    8/14 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Chicago

    8/16 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP**

    8/17 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion

    8/19 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

    8/20 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater

    8/22 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion

    8/24 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre

    8/26 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

    8/27 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre

    8/28 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

    9/01 – Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater

    9/03 – Bend, OR –  Hayden Homes Amphitheater

  • Triveni, performing Indian Classical Music, arrive at The Egg on April 10

    Zakir Hussain, Kala Ramnath, and Jayanthi Kumaresh will come together for the first time as a trio for the 2022 Triveni tour. They will make a stop at The Egg in Albany on Sunday, April 10 at 3pm, as part of The Egg’s Rhythm International series.

    These leading Indian classical exponents of their respective instruments – tabla, violin and Saraswati veena – are each also renowned as a virtuoso collaborator, pathbreaker and educator, advancing the art of their particular instruments to remarkable levels in the context of their classical traditions and beyond.

    triveni

    The musicians have been honored in India and abroad with numerous awards, and each has successfully toured all over the world with their own acclaimed solo projects. 

    The name Triveni derives from the mythical site of the union of three sacred rivers in India, and the name aptly represents the confluence of the varied musicalities which the three maestros bring to this collaboration. A hallmark of Zakir Hussain’s iconic career has been his groundbreaking work at the forefront of brilliant musical dialogues between Hindustani (North Indian) and Carnatic (South Indian) music.

    With Kala Ramnath, an innovative representative of North Indian raga tradition, Jayanthi Kumaresh, the leading exponent of the ancient South Indian veena, and Zakir Hussain seamlessly stitching North and South Indian rhythm traditions to provide a bridge for veena and violin to meet, Triveni promises to be a fluent, joyous and entirely original musical conversation, a sonic experience of the highest order. 

    Zakir Hussain 

    The pre-eminent classical tabla virtuoso of our time, Zakir Hussain is appreciated as one of the world’s most esteemed and influential musicians, one whose mastery of his percussion instrument has taken it to a new level transcending cultures and national borders. Along with his legendary father and teacher, Ustad Allarakha, he has elevated the status of the tabla both in India and around the world. 

    Triveni

    He is the recipient of countless awards, including two Grammys, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, and Officier in France’s Order of Arts and Letters. Voted “Best Percussionist” by both the Downbeat Critics’ Poll and Modern Drummer’s Reader’s Poll over several years, Zakir was honored with SFJazz’s Lifetime Achievement Award at their 2017 Gala for his “unparalleled contribution to the world of music.” 

    Kala Ramnath 

    Maestro Kala Ramnath with her “Singing Violin” stands among the world’s finest, most inspirational instrumentalists. Most significantly in an Indian context, in May 2017, she was awarded the illustrious Sangeet Natak Academy Puraskar for her contributions to the violin in Hindustani Classical Music.   

    Triveni

    Born into a dynasty of prodigious musical talent, one which has given Indian music such violin legends as her paternal uncle Professor T. N. Krishnan and paternal aunt Dr. N. Rajam, Kala’s violinistic vision began manifesting early. Recognizing her innate talent, her astute grandfather, Vidwan A. Narayan Iyer, took her under his tutelage. 

    Acknowledged as a virtuoso of staggering proportions, Kala has performed at the most prestigious music festivals in India. She has appeared on world stages including the Sydney Opera House, Paris’s Théâtre de la Ville, London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts, Singapore’s Esplanade, New York’s Carnegie Hall, the Rudolstadt Festival in Germany, and the Edinburgh Music Festival in Scotland. 

    Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh 

    With her mesmerizing glides, the timing and purity of her notes, and her soulful playing, Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh has been captivating audiences around the world for thirty years and is one of the leading Veena (roughly, the Indian lute) artistes today.

    Triveni

    Apart from several prestigious venues and festivals in India, Jayanthi has performed at many international festivals, including the San Francisco Jazz Festival, the Darbar Festival, the Queensland Music Festival, the Darwin Music Festival, and the Adelaide Music Festival, and at prestigious venues such as the United Nations in New York, the Palladium, Indiana, the Théâtre de la Ville, Paris, and the Northwest Folklife Festival, Seattle. 

    Blending the traditional and the innovative in her music in terms of content, technique, virtuosity, and expression, Jayanthi seeks to express the true voice of the Veena, which transcends the boundaries of language and region. 

    Tickets for The Egg performance of Triveni are available here.

    Triveni Tour Dates

    3/24/2022Mount BakerBellingham, WA
    3/26/2022Seattle Theatre GroupSeattle, WA
    3/27/2022KalakendraPortland, OR
    3/29/2022Museum of Instruments Phoenix, AZ
    3/31/2022BYU Provo, UT
    4/2/2022University Wyoming Laramie, WY
    4/5/2022Walton Arts Center Fayetteville, AR
    4/7/2022University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA
    4/8/2022McCarter Theatre Princeton, NJ
    4/9/2022NJPACNewark, NJ
    4/10/2022The Egg Albany, NY
    4/12/2022Pittsburgh Cultural Arts Pittsburgh, PA
    4/14/2022Sixth&i Washington, DC
    4/17/2022Global Arts LiveSomerville, MA
    4/19/2022Davidson Theatre Columbus, OH
    4/20/2022Cleveland Museum of Art Cleveland, OH
    4/23/2022Indian Classical Music Circle Austin, TX
    4/24/2022Wortham Center Houston TX
      

  • Bobby Weir Announces “50th Anniversary of Ace” with Two Nights at Radio City Music Hall

    Bobby Weir and Wolf Bros have announced their two night stand at Radio City Music Hall, in celebration of Ace’s 50th anniversary. The special performances will be taking place April 2-3, 2022.

    Bobby Weir

    The two night stand will feature performances of Grateful Dead classics that were written by Weir, including ‘Greatest Story Ever Told’, ‘Cassidy’, ‘Playing In The Band’, ‘Looks Like Rain’ and more. These shows will feature several unannounced special guests, including The Wolfpack, which consists of a dedicated strings section.

    Released on May 1, 1972, Ace was Weir’s first solo album, although many consider it a Grateful Dead album, due to the fact that his band members make appearances throughout the project. A majority of the songs on Ace also made appearances on other Grateful Dead albums, including their 1971 self-titled and Skeletons from the Closet. 

    As the one of the original pioneers of concert sound, the Grateful Dead have cemented their place in musical history. The founding members were Bob Weir, Jerry Garcia, Rob “Pigpen” McKernan, Phil Lesh and Bill Kreutzmann.

    Following the release of his latest album, Live in Colorado, Bobby Weir and Wolf Bros will also be touring the US from 3/9 to 10/9. Tickets for Ace’s 50th anniversary concerts, as well as Weir’s regular tour, are currently on sale here.

  • 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.

  • Big Daddy Kane, Greg Nice and Majah Hype to Perform at Antigua the Takeover

    There won’t be any half-stepping from legendary MC, Big Daddy Kane, as he is set to perform while aboard the Antiguan shores. Hosted by travel association, The Ultimate Soul Escape, the storied hip hop veteran will see himself, beatboxing pioneer Greg Nice of Nice & Smooth, as well as comedian Majah Hype — known as the King of Caribbean Comedy – in the ultimate mixture of business and pleasure.

    Set for July 21-25, The five-day cruise/excursion will see the performers and attendees alike enjoy live musical performances, comedy concerts, music jamborees, and beach parties that will be held throughout the tropical island of Antigua. The event is expected to bring revelers to Antigua and contribute an estimated $10 million to the local economy.

    Big Daddy Kane began his career as a member of the fabled Juice Crew and is considered to be one of the most influential and skilled MCs in hip hop. Known for his advancement of hip hop lyricism and multi-syllabic rhyming, Kane has been an inspiration for many historic rappers that have come behind him. His proteges include the likes of Jay – Z, whom Kane mentored and took on tour during the late 1980’s, exposing him to a much greater audience.

    The Ultimate Soul Escape is a travel association that brings together professionals, event planners, promoters, entrepreneurs, and friends. Up to 400 people from around the country travel to exotic destinations such as St. Lucia, Costa Rica, Aruba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, and St. Maarten, to expand their networks, socialize, and have fun.

    It is always an honor to work with Ultimate Soul Escape. The professionalism of their staff and the 5-star quality of services, visually energizes their guests. It is such a worthwhile travel experience!

    Big Daddy Kane

    Ticketing information and further announcements on Antigua Takeover 2022 can be found here.

    The ultimate soul escape is the ultimate escape for Grown folks to congregate. You can wine and dine maybe even meet a new playmate. The hospitality is straighter than straight so get your tickets now because you don’t want to miss this date July 21st-25th Greg Nice Approved!

    Greg Nice