Category: NYC Metro

  • National Sawdust Announces Fall 2022 Season Of Music And Performance

    National Sawdust announced its Fall 2022 season, bringing worldwide artists to Williamsburg, Brooklyn to share ambitious new explorations in music and performances. The works comprising the season emerge from an America and a world experiencing intersecting crises and urgent calls for change—and respond with themes of healing, metamorphosis, activism, and hope.

    National Sawdust

    National Sawdust is a nonprofit music producer and venue in Brooklyn founded in 2015 by composer Paola Prestini and attorney Kevin Dolan. With its belief of being an innovative leader in changing the landscape of contemporary music, by bringing all voices to the stage and beyond — artistic representation that reflects the ever-evolving multicultural society in which we live, National Sawdust engages worldwide artists in a wonderful art ecosystem in Williamsburg venue.

    JOJO ABOT and esperanza spalding: A GOD OF HER OWN MAKING – September 23 & 24

    A GOD OF HER OWN MAKING is a new spiritual and experiential opera of immersive soundscapes and visuals, in which the human vessel serves as a primary instrument and conduit for sound as a healing pathway to the divine. Created, directed, and composed by 2018 Artist-in-Residence artist Jojo Abot,A GOD OF HER OWN MAKING builds on JOJO ABOT’s exploration of spirituality, and incorporates spalding’s lineages and practices of restorative music.

    Emily Wells – September 29

    Emily Wells

    For her third appearance on the National Sawdust stage, composer, producer, and video artist Emily Wells and her band (bassist Dandy McDowell, drummer Addie Vogt, and multi-instrumentalist Alec Spiegelman) will perform work from her 2022 album Regards to the End, Centering the Stories of Artists Behind Early AIDS Activism.

    Xavier Foley – October 16

    Xavier Foley

    Virtuosic Double Bassist Xavier Foley will co-presented with the Sphinx Organization. This performance is one of a series reflecting both National Sawdust and Sphinx’s commitment to empowering diverse voices that are reshaping the landscape of western classical music.

    Jean-Michel Blais – October 18

    Jean-Michel Blais is a Montreal-based pianist-composer-performer. His debut opus, Il, was written after two years of daily improvisation, recorded with a Zoom H4n in his apartment. It ranked among the Top 10 best albums in Time Magazine.

    Niloufar Nourbakhsh’s ‘We, The Innumerable’ – October 21

    A Concert of Niloufar Nourbakhsh’s Opera We the Innumerable, Tracing an Iranian Woman’s Heroic Journey After Her Life Is Besieged by State Violence, Co-Presented with the Center for Contemporary Opera.

    Ichiko Aoba – October 26

    This performance will be the New York debut of Japanese folk musician Ichiko Aoba. She will perform music from her latest album, Windswept Adan, presented by AdHoc.

    Ichiko Aoba

    Nathan Schram with Special Guests Attacca Quartet, Becca Stevens, & Caroline Shaw – October 29

    GRAMMY Award-winning composer and violist for Attacca Quartet Nathan Schram will premiere his new album Nearsided, which released on July 29th, in this multimedia performance. Schram’s latest album tested the power of exploration and the possibilities of what can be created in the studio and on-stage. Nathan Schram and his special guests–Attacca Quartet, Becca Stevens, Caroline Shaw, and more–are prepared for the world premiere of Nearsided in this album release show.

    AdHoc Presents: Colin Stetson & Elori SaxlNovember 3

    Horn player Colin Stetson will co-present with American experimental electronic composer Elori Saxl on November 3rd. Stetson has an utterly unique voice as a soloist, principally on saxophones and clarinets, as well as a songwriter. Elori Saxl released her debut album The Blue of Distance in 2021 which elegantly combined digitally-processed recordings of wind and water with the rich sounds of analog synthesizers and chamber orchestra.

    Ami Dang with Opener Roshni Samlal – November 10

    South Asian-American vocalist, sitarist, composer, and producer Amrita “Ami” Kaur Dang will bring her experimental ambient music. It referred to her first-generation Sikh-American experience while combined elements of North Indian classical music with noise, dance, and psych music.

    PUBLIQuartet “What is American” – November 11

    2018-2019 Artists-in-Residence PUBLIQuartet, presented with Sphinx, will perform work from their latest album What Is American, a Call to Ponder the Kaleidoscope of Diverse Genres, which originating in black and Indigenous music.

    Michela Marino Lerman and Her Band Love Movement – November 18

    Tap dancer and choreographer Michela Marino Lerman and her band Love Movement will present a multidisciplinary musical experience inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Levels of Love” speech. This will be an evening of dance, music, and therapeutic release.

    Margaret Leng Tan – December 3

    Renowned Avant-garde pianist Margaret Leng Tan, known as the “Queen of the toy piano” and “the world’s premier string piano virtuoso,” will present a program honoring the late American composer George Crumb and his late wife Elizabeth May Brown.

    Sofiane PamartDecember 5

    French pianist Sofiane Pamart, a.k.a. ‘Piano King,’ has made a name for himself by bridging the traditionalist western classical world and the always-innovating realm of hip-hop. Pamart’s collaborations with rappers like Koba LaD, Vald, Joey Starr, and more have helped piano music shed its staid facade and become more accessible to new listeners. Pamart delivers performances that are visually and technically stunning, and his film-inspired aesthetic has led to partnerships with fashion houses like Yves Saint Laurent and Dior Hommes. A classically-trained pianist with a rapper’s flair for storytelling, Pamart aims to bring people together through the emotional vibrancy of his piano compositions. For his only East Coast tour stop, Sofiane Pamart will take piano music into the future with a mix of western classical works and his own hip-hop-classical fusions.

    Juilliard Blueprint Bridge Fellowship ConcertDecember 11

    The Blueprint Bridge Fellowship partner with The Juilliard School, is an annual National Sawdust mentorship. The 2022 winning composers – alumni composers Eugene Astapov, and Lingbo Ma, and current student composers Nicole Balsirow, Aidan Gold, and Sia Uhm – were commissioned to a dream work that the National Sawdust Ensemble will workshop and perform at National Sawdust.

    Matt McBane and Sandbox PercussionDecember 16

    Chamber quartet Sandbox Percussion will perform composer and violinist Matt McBane’s Bathymetry in its entirety in this celebratory album release concert featuring an opening set by Matt McBane. Bathymetry will be out on October 22, 2022 via Cantaloupe Music.

  • Irish Arts Center Announces Fall Programming

    On July 28, tickets for the upcoming fall programs at the renowned Irish Arts Center in NYC went on sale to the general public. The Irish Arts Center will offer multiple entertainment opportunities, including theater, dance, live music, and more.

    irish arts center

    Irish band PIllow Queens will stay in residence at the center from September 13 to 18. The indie rock band hails from Dublin, formed in 2016, and recently released a new album, Leave the Light On, available to listen to below. 

    The Irish Arts Center will also host the Irish Traditional Music Archive in October of 2022. The event exhibits New York-related Irish traditional music from the late 1800s to the late 1900s. Attendees can take in rare recordings, stories, and photographs that showcase the city’s rich Irish musical history.

    Ragas to Reels combines Indian classical and Irish traditional music for a riveting performance reflecting identity and connectivity from November 17 to 19. The performance also includes composer Linda Buckley, flute, whistle and sax player Sam Comerford, vocalist Ganavya, tabla player Nitin Mitta, and poet Sahar Romani.

    On November 20, the Irish Arts Center will host the closing performance of the New York Trad Fest with fiddler and Irish traditional musician Tony DeMarco. The festival showcases traditional dance, music, and song in NY. 

    The Irish Arts Center holds a long history in the city, dating back to its founding in 1972. The center serves as a home for artists and audiences who hold an appreciation for the Irish culture and holds programming throughout the year for people to enjoy.

    Just recently, the center finished on a brand new $60 million-dollar building to continue to bring the best education and entertainment. Singer-songwriter Declan O’Rourke commemorated the 100th performance in the new center with a stay from July 15 to July 17.

    For a full list of upcoming fall programs and tickets, including literature, theater, dance, music, education, and more, visit the Irish Arts Center website

  • Caribou Returns to NYC for Fiery SummerStage Show

    Dan Snaith, a.k.a. Caribou, returned to New York City on Thursday, July 28th for a show at City Parks Foundation SummerStage in Central Park. The show was free, and drew a capacity crowd on a hot and sweaty night in the city. The night filled out with DJ sets from Toribio as well as a performance from experimental electronic artist Ela Minus. Check out the full photo gallery below from Caribou’s set.

    caribou summerstage
    Caribou, Central Park SummerStage, 7/28/22. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

    Caribou was in NYC last November for a three show run at Brooklyn Steel; those shows being rescheduled from an earlier COVID-induced postponement. For these shows, Caribou is joined by three band members who relentlessly flush out Caribou’s live sound. Dan joins in as a second drummer for various songs, including the lengthy jam during fan-favorite song “Sun”, creating a dense layer of percussions behind the electronic elements.

    caribou summerstage
    Caribou, Central Park SummerStage, 7/28/22. Photo by Joseph Buscarello

    Caribou’s tour continues through August and September with shows across Europe before returning to California at the end of September, including a show at The Hollywood Bowl in support of Jamie XX. The lengthy tour schedule over the past ten months has all been in support of Caribou’s excellent fifth LP Suddenly; released back in 2020 on Merge Records. The album sees Caribou at his most proficient, especially in the live presentation. Head over to their website to see the full tour details.

  • Charlie Burg Releases “Ohh! Sumthin’ New” Ahead of Debut Album

    On Friday, July 29, indie and alternative R&B artist Charlie Burg released his newest single, “Ohh! Sumthin’ New” from his upcoming debut album, Infinitely Tall, out on August 19.

    Photo credit: Dannah Gottlieb

    The artist was born in Detroit, Michigan but previously studied at Syracuse University’s Setnor School of Music, and is now based out of Brooklyn. His upcoming album, Infinitely Tall, takes place across three spaces: Burg’s childhood home in Detroit, his beloved college house in Syracuse, and finally his experiences in NYC. 

    In the single, “Ohh! Sumthin’ New,” Burg explores the story of a character yearning for fresh and authentic experiences. With upbeat instrumentation and lyrics which critically examine the world around him, the track entices while simultaneously offering deeper meaning.

    Of the track, Burg shares that it “celebrates and laments the rootlessness of youth … the world of social media makes the protagonist feel like a poser and a fraud, mostly because of how much they subscribe to and partake in its evils. The protagonist desperately wants a change of pace, which is ironic in the face of their desire for solid ground to stand on.”

    Painting: Charlie Burg / Editing: Corinne Ferman

    With soft vocals and acoustic guitar suddenly transformed by the sounds of electric guitar,”Ohh! Sumthin’ New” takes listeners through a whirlwind. Burg incorporates unexpected backing vocals, sounds, and lyrics to keep you guessing and embodies the phrase “a change of pace.”

    Burg’s previous releases, including “Channel Orange in Your Living Room” and “I Don’t Wanna Be Okay Without You,” garnered him much attention, but his upcoming release marks a new shift in sound and ambition for the artist. The young 25-year-old expands on his previous works and leaves nothing behind in this new record.

    Burg will hit the road this fall across the EU, UK, and North America in support of the upcoming release from September through November. Get tickets now via charlieburg.world. To see the complete list of U.S. tour dates, see below.

    Charlie Burg Fall Tour 2022 (U.S. Leg)

    Oct. 12 – Washington DC – Union Stage

    Oct. 14 – Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry

    Oct. 15 – Syracuse, NY – Westcott Theater

    Oct. 18 – Nashville, TN – The Basement East

    Oct. 19 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade

    Oct. 21 – Dallas, TX – Club Dada

    Oct. 22 – Austin, TX – Empire Control Room & Garage

    Oct. 25 – Phoenix, AZ – Rebel Garage

    Oct. 26 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey

    Oct. 28 – Oakland, CA – The New Parish

    Nov. 1 – Portland, OR – Holocene

    Nov. 2 – Seattle, WA – Barboza

    Nov. 4 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court

    Nov. 5 – Denver, CO – Globe Hall

    Nov. 8 – Lawrence, KS – Bottleneck

    Nov. 10 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry

    Nov. 11 – Des Moines, IA – xBK Live

    Nov. 12 – Chicago, IL – Chop Shop

    Nov. 13 – Detroit, MI – El Club

    Nov. 15 – Toronto, ON – Velvet Lounge

    Nov. 17- New York, NY – Irving Plaza

    Nov. 21 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club

    https://youtu.be/Jl3tR4djMk4
  • Meet Petting Zoo, NYC’s Rising Pop-Rock Band

    Petting Zoo is a pop-rock band from Norwalk, Connecticut and currently based out of New York City. Bandmates include Zack Ely, Bennett Newman, Colin Berger, Joe Wen, and DEEGAN.

    Born and raised in Norwalk, Petting Zoo released their first single “Lovin’ Yourself” in 2018. They released their first self-titled EP in late 2020 and have been releasing subsequent singles in 2021. Recently, they are coming back with new songs and lively performances.

    Zack Ely is the vocal and rhythm guitar whose favorite ice cream is Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked. Joe Wen plays electric guitar and bass in the band and Colin Berger is the drummer. Bennett Newman plays bass and electric guitar who is a Black Raspberry ice cream lover. And DEEGAN sang and helped produce the tracks.

    Growing up on Coldplay, Maroon 5, Green Day, the Beatles, Bob Marley, the Police, U2, Petting Zoo have firmly established themselves as purveyors of bright, chart-friendly indie-pop. They are also suckers for contemporary Top 40 and pop/hip hop.

    Their new song “Food” came out on July 15 which is a song filled with summer vibe. The finger-popping bass backs the song while the refreshing vocal with simple guitar chorus and sand hammer created a feeling of drinking iced juice. The speed change and the following sound design in the middle of the song created a sense of running into the sea and diving into it.

    Petting Zoo

    The passion for the food is the inspiration of the newly released song “Food.” Zack is known to devour chocolate and/or chicken parm sandwiches like his life depends on it, which is the origin of him to write a song about food. The members agreed that “Food” doesn’t even have to be a love song since Zack could genuinely just be talking about the entity of food itself.

    They had wonderful performance in Bowery Ballroom on June 10 and will show up more frequently in July which including the show in Red Lion on July 23, Bitter End on July 30, and opened for the 502s at the Bayley Beach Summer Concert Series on July 31. More upcoming shows can be found here.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyxgfvNQGCQ
  • World Premiere of “Sugar Hill: The Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker” Debuts in NYC This Fall

    From November 15 to 27, the world premiere of “Sugar Hill: The Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker” will come to New York City Center after a stay in Pittsburgh from October 19-30.

    The new ballet reimagines the beloved classic, with a libretto by Jessica Swan and music of legends Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Embracing the jazz genre, the ballet comes at a perfect time to ring in this fall’s holiday season at New York City Center.

    Composer Billy Strayhorn at the piano
    Composer Billy Strayhorn playing piano (Photo by Steve Schapiro/Corbis via Getty Images)

    “Sugar Hill” is a tribute to collaboration, diversity, and individuality. The music arrangement celebrates the jazz heartbeat of Sugar Hill in Harlem. Directed by Emmy Award winner Joshua Bergasse, with choreography by Jade Hale-Christofi, the show will present amazing dancers, orchestrations, and arrangements.

    Consummate master of self-expression Duke Ellington and classically-trained, jazz genius Billy Strayhorn, took something wholly European, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, and transformed it into a story that symbolizes the American ideal — the freedom of individualism — by marrying it to jazz. There is no finer visual representation of this than through dance.

     -A. Alyce Claerbaut and Mercedes Ellington

    A. Alyce Claerbaut, niece of Billy Strayhorn, is the “Sugar Hill” Executive Producer, and Mercedes Ellington, granddaughter of Duke Ellington, and producer, director, and choreographer in her own right, expressed the genius of the ballet’s intent.

    Duke Ellington plays the piano
    American musician Duke Ellington (1899-1974). Undated photograph. (Photo by George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty Images)

    The “Sugar Hill” creative team also includes the talent of Julian Crouch (Scenic Designer), Linda Cho (Costume Design), David Finn (Lighting Design), Austin Switser and Switser + Knight (Projection Design) and John Shivers (Sound Design). Stay tuned for when the New York City Center tickets to this genre-bending ballet go on sale.

  • Turkuaz Releases Material From Band’s Final Albums

    Turkuaz has announced the release date for its last albums. Paradiso, inspired by the band’s recent sound, which draws on synth and electronic influences, and Apollyon, a funk-laden 12-track that pays homage to the band’s roots, will both be released on September 9.

    In advance of the band’s final release, Turkuaz has also shared the single “Strange People (Strange Times)” as well as its B-side “Feel No Pain.”

    The forthcoming albums were recorded before the 2021 exit of several band members amid the ensemble’s final tour, which left two founding members, Taylor Shell and Dave Brandwein, to polish these final albums,

    It’s bittersweet finally putting these records out. Taylor and I are obviously sad about the break-up of the band. Though we have our frustrations, what seems most important right now is to give something to the fans that have supported us all these years, and we hope that two full albums of new Turkuaz material will serve as a half-way decent consolation prize in lieu of being able to tour anymore…This release is a celebration of the legacy and sound that the nine of us built together.

    ~ Dave Brandwein

    According to Brandwein, the forthcoming albums show two very different sides of Turkuaz. The musician views Apollyon as an old-school take on the group’s sound, drawing on an increasingly raw edge that still allows room for elaborate grooves and the band’s true funky spirit. Whereas, Paradiso is a modern, synth-laden exploratory that captures elements of Turkuaz’s developed tone in more recent years. Moreover, these albums will allow fans to experience a certain totality for Turkuaz, with the precision of an understood ending.

    Bred out of what Brandwein has deemed a full circle experience, Turkuaz’s final albums deliver two unique sides to the band, which flex distinct facets that showcase a decade worth of hard work and expertise.

    For more information on Turkuaz, visit the band’s website here.

  • St. Ann’s Warehouse Continues Get Back! Summer Concerts 2022

    On Wednesday, July 20, St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn began its summer series, Get Back! Summer Concerts 2022, which will continue every Wednesday through August 10 beginning at 7:00 pm.

    Get Back! Summer Concerts began in 2020 during the pandemic, and took inspiration from the Beatles’ 1969 rock event. The series aimed to provide and surprise people with live music and entertainment as they strolled through Brooklyn Bridge Park. Due to popular demand, the concerts have continued at St. Ann’s Warehouse.

    Empire Fulton Ferry Lawn provides the perfect scene for free live performances which include a wide array of talent and entertainment. The opening concert brought Nigerian-born, New York- and Los Angeles-based multidisciplinary sound artist, saxophonist, DJ, composer, and producer Eli Fola. Fola is a fan favorite and returns to the lineup after performing at Get Back! In 2020 and 2021.

    Two acts, the Queens-based band duendita, and DJ nicole misha, will take the stage for the night of July 27. duendita is a collaborative multi-medium project made with family and friends while nicole misha provides audiences with sets that span across categories.

    Melanie Charles with Zacchae’us Paul will bring the concert series into August on the 3rd. Audiences can expect jazz, soul, experimental, and roots music with Charles’ unique style and commitment to exploration. Atlanta-native Zacchae’us Paul’s original music takes inspiration from Marvin Gaye, and The Black Panther Party, and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

    To close out the 2022 season of Get Back!, the program, Ode to the Black Fiddler, will showcase multiple professional string performers of color. These artists include dancer, vocalist, and violinist La Lulu; violinist Lee England Jr.; and immersive sounds by DJ Sunny Cheeba.

    One of the major highlights of producing these outdoor concerts with St. Ann’s Warehouse has been observing how free access to the arts naturally creates diverse spaces for different communities to come together—especially youth—and find sparks of joy, express themselves, and be present.

    – Curator Khadijat Oseni

    Be sure to check out the concert series as you wrap up the summer! More information about the most up-to-date schedule and inclement weather announcements can be found on the St. Ann’s Warehouse website, here.

  • Willie Nelson & Family Come to SummerStage on September 20

    Country-folk artist Willie Nelson will perform at SummerStage this fall with special guest Charley Crockett, on September 20.

    The SummerStage concert will begin at 6:00 pm and the doors open at 5:00 pm at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. All ages are welcome, and tickets are available for purchase now. Willie Nelson is currently on his Outlaw Music Fest tour and will also stop in Bethel on August 13, Darien Center on August 14, and Saratoga Springs on September 18.

    At 89 years old, the country musician has long made a name for himself in the genre. Popular albums include 1973 Shotgun Willie, Red Headed Stranger (1975), and Stardust (1978). Willie Nelson’s most recent album, 2022’s A Beautiful Time, was released on the singer’s 89th birthday this past April and received positive reception. 

    Nelson is also expected to perform at Farm Aid Fest this September alongside other acts such as Chris Stapleton, Sheryl Crow, and Charley Crockett, among others. Nelson currently serves as one of the board members for the festival.

    Willie Nelson is one of many guests who have come to Central Park to perform at the SummerStage Festival. Since 1986, the event has curated acts across multiple genres. Previous performances include pop duo Oh Wonder, jazz legend Roy Haynes, and many more.

    Tickets to see Willie Nelson & Family, and Charley Crockett, at SummerStage are available now at the City Parks Foundation website.

  • Mitski Brings Laurel Hell to Radio City with Two Sold Out Shows

    Following the release of her latest full-length studio album, “Laurel Hell,” beloved indie musician Mitski returned to New York City the weekend of July 22, 2022 for two sold out nights at Radio City Music Hall. Originally scheduled for March, these and a few other tour dates were postponed due to COVID. Canadian indie folk band the Weather Station opened for Mitski both nights at Radio City.

    Mitski performs at Radio City Music Hall, Photography by David Reichmann

    The Weather Station mentioned “This show is by far the biggest venue we’ve ever played,” and thanked Mitski for bringing them along. Their signature soothing tones and melodies rang through the historic Manhattan hall. The crowd ate it up, anticipation for Mitski’s set rising as the energy in the room increased by the minute.

    The Weather Station performs at Radio City Music Hall, opening for Mitski, Photography by David Reichmann

    Mitski’s set began with her hit single, “Love Me More,” a pounding rhythmic anthem of desperation and desire. The crowd screamed as the first notes played, and screamed again when the track concluded.

    Mitski at Radio City Music Hall, Photography by David Reichmann

    Mitski’s hypnotic and intense dances were inspired by Butoh, a form of Japanese dance theater, and featured exaggerated motions and physical storytelling through dance. The stories of her songs came alive in her dances, especially with her second song of the night, “Working for the Knife.” The Butoh influence also made an appearance in the song’s music video.

    Mitski performs “Working for the Knife” at Radio City Music Hall, Photography by David Reichmann

    “Working for the Knife” was the first preceding single leading up to the release of “Laurel Hell.” This also marked her first major release since 2018, when she had taken a hiatus following the release of her last full-length album, “Be the Cowboy.” The album would go on to be a huge hit, but in interviews at the time Mitski had expressed discomfort with the massive mainstream attention the album had received, and she announced her hiatus from music at a concert at Central Park in 2019. “Working for the Knife” addresses these issues directly, illustrating the struggle between her artistic desire to create and the overwhelming demands of the music industry and capitalist work culture in general. The song is a hard-hitting and thoughtful meditation on the struggles of artists to stay creative and productive, and her vivid and evocative dance choreography captures just that.

    Mitski waves hands with crowd at Radio City, Photography by David Reichmann

    Despite saying very little to the audience throughout the evening, Mitski did open up about her experience as a New Yorker towards the end of the show. “I wrote a lot of these songs in New York,” she said. “I was unhappy here. It was so hard. And realized it didn’t have to be so hard, so I moved. But every time I come back, I realize, ‘God damn it, I miss it.’” She added, “You don’t have to be unhappy. You can change it.”

    Mitski at Radio City, Photography by David Reichmann

    Her massive 23-track setlist included many hits and deep cuts from her six-album catalog. Fans sang along at every opportunity and danced through every moment. Standout tracks included “Washing Machine Heart,” “Nobody,” “Should’ve Been Me,” and “The Only Heartbreaker.” For her encore, she performed “A Pearl,” and left the stage with a bow. The crowd cheered wildly and screamed their love for her. Mitski’s Laurel Hell Tour continues, and you can buy tickets for remaining dates here. Her catalog is available to stream here. And you can listen to the Weather Station here.