The New York Coffee Festival will return for the seventh year in this fall. From October 6th-8th, coffee lovers can experience exceptional coffee, food, cocktails, live music, and art at the Metropolitan Pavilion.
The New York Coffee Festival is New York’s flagship coffee event, celebrating the burgeoning specialty coffee scene. Coffee beginners and aficionados alike can look forward to unlimited tastings and presentations from over 100 of the most exciting and innovative coffee, tea, and chocolate exhibitors.
Attendees will also boost their coffee knowledge in workshops, be a part of interactive demos, and meet the top U.S. artisans and baristas one-to-one.
The three-day festival will also feature The Lab program with an exciting line-up of interactive demonstrations, educational workshops, talks and tastings. The Coffee Music Project features the best acts from NYC and beyond. Additionally, The Coffee Art Project showcases the creativity and talents of emerging and established artists. Also returning this year are Coffee Masters NYC, The Coffee Cocktail Bar, The Sensory Experience, and more.
Attendees can also look forward to several new features this year, including a cocktail masterclass led by industry experts. Other new activities include The Roasters Village, and a Latte Art Tournament.
In addition to offering delicious street food, coffee cocktails, live music and coffee-inspired art, 100% of profits are donated to NYC-based Charity: water partnering with Project Waterfall to deliver life-changing water projects in coffee-growing regions. Since 2011, Project Waterfall has raised over $2 million, bringing clean water to more than 80,000 people across seven countries. Returning is Latte Art Live, an interactive zone dedicated to the skill of latte art, the schedule is below.
NYC-based band Black Rose Burning released their latest single, “Night Terrors.” The new song precedes the release of their upcoming album Ad Astra on September 15.
Formed in 2018 by instrumentalist, producer and engineer George Grant, Black Rose Burning also involves guitarist Frank Morin (World Inferno Friendship Society) and drummer Luis Infantas (Monster Zero).
“Night Terrors is pretty much straight forward – if you have them, then you know,” Grant said. “If you don’t, imagine being in the middle of sleep but feeling wide awake and in a nightmare. There can even be ‘monsters’ that sometime remain in your consciousness even after you’ve woken up. Nasty business this. I tried to encapsulate the feeling in a song, but I’m not sure you could ever REALLY explain the experience. I haven’t had this happen to me in years, and I hope it never happens again honestly.”
Ad Astra is Black Rose Burning’s third studio album. In 2021, the post-punk band released their second album The Wheel, one year after debuting with The Year of the Scorpion.
Black Rose Burning is a very unique combination of Goth, Postpunk, Synthwave, Rock and Shoegaze. The project comes bearing multi-generational influences accepting no boundaries, but still maintaining an overall succinct flow and feel. Grant’s soulful vocal delivery, instantly recognizable voice, and solid instrumentation crossing several genres are standout features of this music. Roughly 40 years of songwriting across various styles helped Grant embellish on clever hooks, drive, and the gothic-pop sensibilities of The Cult’s early years.
‘Night Terrors’ is out now exclusively via Bandcamp. The Ad Astra album will be released on September 15 and available digitally on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp. That same night, Black Rose Burning will be playing their album release show at NYC’s Mercury Lounge for The Red Party.
Jonathan Wilson released his latest single, “The Village is Dead,” ahead of the release of his upcoming album, Eat the Worm.
Wilson, a North Carolina native, moved to Los Angeles 15 years ago. There, he became an integral part of the music community as a respected artist and producer. Also in Los Angeles, Wilson recorded his previous albums Gentle Spirit (2011), Fanfare (2013), and Rare Birds (2018).
Just prior to the pandemic, Wilson went to Nashville to record what would become Dixie Blur (2020). These were a collection of songs that harkened back to his Southern roots, both musically and personally. Dixie Blur found Wilson reaching back to the musical foundation of his upbringing while simultaneously moving forward by infusing the music with modern textures and aesthetic soundscapes
Wilson also has his own Fivestar Studios in Topanga Canyon, CA. This allowed him to devote as much time as he wanted to fine-tune the tracks.
“There are a lot of details to the songs,” Wilson said. “There’s a lot of experimentation, and almost none of the songs started as me with a guitar. I really wanted something that sounded fresh and new.”
In “The Village is Dead,” Wilson laments the evolution of New York’s Greenwich Village. While folk clubs once reigned supreme in the 1960s, the area is now gentrified and more upscale.
It’s my homage to the one-time folk revival of the ‘60s in Greenwich Village, with visions of Moondog and Dave Van Ronk crawling down MacDougal Street. But I’ve set it in 2021, where all you find is a few dozen vape shops, karaoke at the Gaslight, beer pong at the Cafe Wah, and wealthy young college boys strutting around NYU’s corner of Manhattan. At the end of the song, just as the strings rise and the music reaches a climax, two young Zoomers set fire in my narrative to Jimi Hendrix’s old guitar, at which point I throw in the towel, stating officially that ‘The Village is Dead.’
Jonathan Wilson
You can listen to Jonathan Wilson’s new song on all streaming services.
Sohil, a singer/songwriter, guitarist, and producer, released his new single, “Movie Star.” Accompanied by a music video shot in New York City, the song is a love letter to Manhattan and New York City as a whole. It blends futuristic sounds, horns, Sohil’s vocals, and self-aware lyrics to paint a true picture of the Big Apple.
Sohil began releasing music to streaming platforms in 2018. Since then, he has released numerous singles and an EP consisting of acoustic versions of several of his songs.
“My songs all give off a feeling of longing and hopefulness,” Sohil previously said in an interview. “I love lyrics that tell a story and paint a picture for the listener so they feel like they are sitting next to me on my couch while I tell them about a moment in my life.”
Sohil’s music combines a blend of sounds all across the map, including hip-hop, electronic, and soul. “Movie Star” in particular combines UK drum & bass inspirations with pop belting and a little saxophone thrown in for good measure.
The music video also acts as a companion art piece to the song. In the video, Sohil sings each line in a different part of the city and truly captures what it feels like to be in New York.
Symphony Space announced its 2023-2024 season, bringing artists, writers, and myriad communities together for one-night-only, only-at-Symphony Space events that celebrate the magic and sanctuary found only in the arts.
Musicians will explore new sides of their work and their influences, and many will also pay tribute to other legendary performers. Additionally, other events will bridge the worlds of literature and performance with artists and authors propelling words from the page onto the stage. In this new season, Symphony Space gives audiences opportunities to experience bespoke events with leading artists in an intimate, one-of-a-kind venue.
Symphony Space
Symphony Space is a multi-disciplinary performing arts center where bold programming, presented in a uniquely warm and welcoming environment, forges indelible relationships between artists and audiences.
Their fundamental mission is to connect art, ideas, and community through their performances and their commitment to literacy and education through the arts. Known for an array of ground-breaking programs, including Selected Shorts, their immersive Wall to Wall concerts, and their innovative Global Arts education initiative, Symphony Space presents a full slate of original, affordable (and free) programming within New York City and in communities throughout the country through tours, public radio broadcasts, podcasts, and virtual events.
One of the most beautiful things about Symphony Space is we offer performance, literature, and music and embrace our identity as an organization of broad communities. That has been the DNA of who we are since the very beginning, when we were founded on marathon, day-long programming: ‘throw open the doors and invite the community in.’ This season, we’re excited for so many captivating artists in so many disciplines to bring their worlds into Symphony Space.
Executive Director Kathy Landau
Events held at Symphony Space typically fall under one of three main categories: music, literature onstage, and film.
Music
This season’s musical offerings traverse a spectrum of genres in thrilling and unique live performances. One example in the upcoming season is Black Opry, a home for Black artists working in country, Americana, blues, and folk music. The groundbreaking collective will be in residence from Nov. 9-11. Spring 2024’s resident musician is the legendary Nona Hendryx, whose performances span genres and disciplines, mirroring her multifaceted and ever-evolving six-decade career. Her residency concludes with a special celebration of Betty Davis on May 16, initially explored by Nona at Symphony Space’s Wall to Wall Women of Soul in April 2023.
The season also features two major events celebrating vibrant, world-changing musical legacies. Symphony Space will host a special celebration of the 85th Anniversary of the influential, music history-making record label Blue Note Records, featuring The Blue Note Quintet, led by six-time GRAMMY Award-nominee Gerald Clayton, with Joel Ross, Immanuel Wilkins, Kendrick Scott, and Matt Brewer. Later in the season, Prince gets Symphony Space’s Wall-to-Wall treatment in a free all-day marathon celebration of his electrifying artistry.
In numerous concerts throughout the season, audiences can witness both rip-roaring and intimate live acts. They will also have the opportunity to see multiple Grammy Award winners, including Sam Bush and the band Cha Wa. Additionally, Symphony Space’s dynamic concert series Revelry returns after a pandemic hiatus. The Revelry series features local, national, and international artists across musical genres in an intimate venue where interactions between artists and audiences are part of the fun.
Literature Onstage
Selected Shorts is Symphony Space’s best-known series. It was conceived over 35 years ago with a simple premise: take great stories by well-known and emerging writers and have exceptional actors perform them live. It continues in Fall 2023, beginning with a sesquicentennial celebration of Willa Cather, hosted by influential documentarian Ken Burns, a longtime Cather fan. Another event includes acclaimed author Min Jin Lee, editor of The Best American Short Stories 2023, hosting a Selected Shorts event curated from the much-anticipated anthology. One of the most groundbreaking and beloved contemporary genre-crossing authors, Neil Gaiman, will also host an evening celebrating Ray Bradbury.
While Selected Shorts brings literature into the sphere of performance, special literary events this season celebrate beloved performers who have turned to the page to tell their stories. This programming features evenings with five accomplished performers introducing their new memoirs, including Leslie Jones and Seth Meyers discussing Leslie F*cking Jones and icon of the stage and screen Sir Patrick Stewart on Making It So: a Memoir.
Another exciting event is comedy legend Keegan-Michael Key and writer and producer Elle Key discussing their book The History of Sketch Comedy, which stems from their Webby Award-winning podcast.
Film
Symphony Space transports theater and art lovers to some of the most talked-about plays and exhibitions from around the world through its film programming. The NT Live presentations feature exquisitely recorded performances from London’s prestigious National Theatre. NT Live productions scheduled to screen this season include the Chichester Festival Theatre’s production of King Lear starring Sir Ian McKellen.
The Exhibition on Screen film series takes audiences behind the scenes at the most acclaimed museums and galleries to see how the blockbuster exhibitions come together, with curator interviews, close-ups, and context that goes far beyond the wall text of a typical art gallery. Exhibitions on Screen will include Leonardo: The Works, which details every single attributed painting from the 500th anniversary of his death.
Additionally, other films at Symphony Space further reflect the institution’s passion for Broadway, music, and literature. During the fall, Symphony Space invites audiences to join the fun for sing-along screenings of 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody, 1982’s Annie, and 1954’s White Christmas. As part of the Thalia Film series, Symphony Space will screen François Truffaut’s adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s classic Fahrenheit 451, a complement to the Selected Shorts event dedicated to the author earlier in the fall.
Comedy fans will also delight in the return of Symphony Space’s comedy series that promises to incite heated debate among A-list performers, Uptown Showdown.
See the list of Fall 2023-Spring 2024 programming to date below. Many programs offer livestreaming options, and discounted tickets for those under 30. Visit here for further details on tickets, programs, and accessibility options, and stay tuned for additional program announcements as the season unfolds.
Symphony Space Fall 2023-2024 Programming
September 2023
NT Live – The Best of Enemies | Tuesday, September 5, 1 pm
Maria Bamford, Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult | Tuesday, September 5, 7pm
Sing Along – Bohemian Rhapsody | Tuesday, September 12, 7pm
Exhibition On Screen – Degas: Passion for Perfection | Wednesday, September 13, 1pm
Siddhartha Mukherjee, The Song of the Cell | Thursday, September 14, 7pm
Leslie Jones, Leslie F*cking Jones | Tuesday, September 19, 7pm
NT Live – Life of Pi | Wednesday, September 20, 7pm
Thalia Book Club – Ann Patchett, Tom Lake | Thursday, September 21, 7pm
Amanda Gorman, Something Someday | Tuesday, September 26, 5pm
Selected Shorts – Ken Burns Presents Willa Cather’s America | Wednesday, September 27, 7pm
October 2023
Patrick Stewart, Making It So | Monday, October 2, 8pm
Keegan-Michael Key & Elle Key, The History of Sketch Comedy | Tuesday, October 3, 8pm
Exhibition On Screen – Leonardo: The Works | Thursday, October 5, 1pm
Sarah Cooper, Foolish: Tales of Assimilation, Determination, and Humiliation | Thursday, October 5, 7pm
Roxane Gay, Opinions | Tuesday, October 10, 7pm
Uptown Showdown – A Comedy Debate Series: Humans vs. AI | Thursday, October 12, 7pm
Selected Shorts – The Best American Short Stories 2023 with Host Min Jin Lee | Wednesday, October 18, 7pm
Sing-Along – Annie | Saturday, October 21, 11am
Sam Bush | Friday, October 27, 8pm
NT Live – King Lear | Tuesday, October 31, 1pm
NT Live – Frankenstein | Tuesday, October 31, 7pm
November 2023
Selected Shorts – A Celebration of Ray Bradbury with Host Neil Gaiman | Wednesday, November 1, 7pm
Thalia Book Club – James McBride, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store | Thursday, November 2, 7pm
Andrew Rannells, Uncle of the Year | Monday, November 6, 8pm
Black Opry in Residence
Chris Pierce | Thursday, November 9, 7:30pm
Kaia Kater | Friday, November 10, 7:30pm
Elizabeth Lubin | Saturday, November 11, 7:30pm
Exhibition On Screen – Munch | Tuesday, November 14, 1pm
Thalia Book Club – Sigrid Nunez, The Vulnerables | Tuesday, November 14, 7pm
Revelry – Jerron ‘Blind Boy’ Paxton & Dennis Lichtman | Friday, November 17, 7:30pm
Thalia Film – Fahrenheit 451 | Tuesday, November 21, 7pm
Uptown Showdown – A Comedy Debate Series: Brains vs. Brawn | Thursday, November 30, 7pm
December 2023
Revelry – Soule Monde | Friday, December 1, 7:30pm
Selected Shorts – Roz Chast, While You Were Sleeping | Wednesday, December 6, 7pm
Revelry – Mile Twelve | Friday, December 8, 7:30pm
Exhibition On Screen – Manet | Tuesday, December 12, 1pm
Sing-Along – White Christmas | Tuesday, December 12, 7pm
Revelry – Stephane Wrembel | Thursday, December 14, 7:30pm
2024 Schedule
Thalia Book Club – E.M. Forster’s A Passage to India 100th Anniversary | Tuesday, January 16, 7pm
Revelry – Cillian Vallely & Kevin Crawford | Friday, January 19, 7:30pm
Revelry – Queen Esther | Thursday, January 25, 7:30pm
Revelry – Hazmat Modine | Friday, January 26, 7:30pm
Blue Note 85th Anniversary Celebration | Friday, February 23, 8pm
Revelry – JigJam | Thursday, March 21, 7:30pm
Wall to Wall Prince | Saturday, May 4, 3-11pm
Nona Hendryx in Residence
A Celebration of Betty Davis Music | Thursday, May 16, 8pm
The Allman Betts Family Revival announced its 2023 dates and all-star lineup. The tour kicks off on Nov. 25 in Saint Louis, MO and will be making three stops in New York.
The Allman Family Revival initially began as a one-off concert in 2017 at The Fillmore in San Francisco to celebrate the late Gregg Allman’s life on what would have been his 70th birthday. Now entering its seventh year, the tour announced their rebrand from The Allman Family Revival to the Allman Betts Family Revival.
Gregg Allman’s son Devon and Dickey Betts’ son Duane spearhead the tour and hand-picked an array of guests who will perform two sets. One will feature songs by Gregg Allman and the other will feature songs by Dickey Betts. The performances will also include deep cuts from their legendary Allman Brothers Band catalog.
Performers include Anders Osborne, Luther Dickinson & Cody Dickenson (North Mississippi Allstars), Jimmy Hall (Jeff Beck, Wet Willie), Jackie Greene, Larry McCray, Orbi Orbison, Ally Venable, Devon Allman, Duane Betts, and the Allman Betts Band featuring the Tal Wilkenfeld on Bass (Jeff Beck). There will also be additional artists that will join in select cities including Sierra Hull & G Love, with more to be added.
The tour will also welcome back The Brotherhood of Light for the otherworldly visuals Allman Brothers fans experienced at the height of their career.
Tickets and up-to-date information are available here.
The Allman Betts Family Revival Tour Dates
November 25 @ The Factory | Saint Louis, MO
November 26 @ Brown County Music Center | Nashville, IN
November 27 @ The Arcada Theater | St. Charles, IL
November 29 @ Kleinhans Music Hall | Buffalo, NY
w/ special guest Sierra Hull
November 30 @ Santander Performing Arts Center | Reading, PA
w/ special guest Sierra Hull
December 1 @ Orpheum Theater | Boston, MA
w/ special guests Greg Koch, Sierra Hull
December 2 @ Beacon Theatre | New York, NY
w/ special guests Greg Koch, Sierra Hull
December 3 @ The Paramount | Huntington, NY
w/ special guests Greg Koch, Sierra Hull
December 5 @ Capital One Hall | Tysons, VA
December 7 @ Macon City Auditorium | Macon, GA
w/ special guests Chuck Leavell, Vaylor Trucks, Melody Trucks
December 8 @ Gaillard Center | Charleston, SC
December 10 @ Sunrise Theatre | Fort Pierce, FL
w/ special guests J.D. Simo, Melody Trucks and Frank Hannon
December 12 @ Van Wezel PAC | Sarasota, FL
w/ special guests J.D. Simo, Melody Trucks and Frank Hannon
December 13 @ Florida Theatre | Jacksonville, FL
w/ special guests J.D. Simo, Melody Trucks and Frank Hannon
December 14 @ Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium | Spartanburg, SC
w/ special guests J.D. Simo
December 15 @ Ryman Auditorium | Nashville, TN
w/ special guest G. Love
December 16 @ Mobile Civic Center | Mobile, AL
December 17 @ ACL Live at The Moody Theater | Austin, TX
Buffalo artist Stress Dolls released a new single, “Body,” preceding a performance at Funk ‘N Waffles in Syracuse.
Stress Dolls is the moniker of Chelsea O’Donnell, an alt/pop/rock artist from Buffalo. Originally the name of a band, O’Donnell adopted the Stress Dolls title for herself and decided to move to Nashville after the group split up in 2017.
However, chronic health issues led to O’Donnell’s hospitalization less than a year later. After undergoing a feeding tube procedure, O’Donnell moved back to Buffalo, and after a period of recovery, began writing, performing, and recording again. Largely due to the tentative nature of her health, O’Donnell established Stress Dolls as a solo act in order to decrease stress and go at her own pace.
During this time, O’Donnell wrote “Body.” The song is a reflection of O’Donnell’s complicated relationship with her body in the face of ongoing health concerns, including Crohn’s disease and gastroparesis.
“I’m working on not pitting blame, or shame, on my body anymore, and through that practice I’ve realized that, really, the body is amazing.” O’Donnell said. “Mine withstood all of that anger, angst, stress, and physical anguish, and with some help, it found ways to heal. I’m learning to be a friend to my body instead of an opponent, and that’s making all the difference.”
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) announced its 2023-24 Spa Little Theatre season. It will feature a robust slate of global, jazz, classical, and pop offerings. The announcement marks the continuation of SPAC’s year-round programming in the Spa Little Theatre.
Spa Little Theatre New Season
Highlighting the series are the SPAC debuts of Grammy-nominated mandolinist Avi Avital alongside accordionist Hanzhi Wang. Also featured is the all-female jazz ensemble säje. Moreover, other performances include contemporary world music virtuosos TISRA: Zakir Hussain With Debopriya Chatterjee and Sabir Kahn. Additionally, there will be appearances by the recently announced modern dance troupes Pilobolus and BalletX. The year-round residency by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will also continue with three special performances.
The “Sounds of the Season” series will also return this December. It will feature a capella group Kings Return, trio Time for Three, and vocalist Kat Edmonson.
BalletX.
“While we have continued to expand our programming outside of the summer months in recent years, being able to inhabit the Spa Little Theatre year-round has opened up new possibilities for our year-round line-up of programming. Our 2023-24 season is a diverse and rich mix of incredible artistry offering everything from jazz to global to classical music along with full modern dance productions,” said SPAC President and CEO Elizabeth Sobol.
Tickets for the 2023-24 Spa Little Theatre season will be available to purchase on Aug. 7 at 10 a.m. for members and Aug. 10 at 10 a.m. for the general public. Multi-ticket packages will also be available in selections of three or five programs (excluding Sounds of the Season) for a discount of 15% or 20%, respectively. Visit spac.org for details.
2023 Fall Season
Pilobolus- Sunday, October 8, 2023, | 2 PM & 7 PM
Pilobolus’s show reminds us that play and creativity are fundamental to the human experience and that stories are alive and breathing. Stories can also teach, comfort, and connect us to ourselves and each other. Building on the success of their critically acclaimed Big Five-OH! Anniversary tour, Pilobolus moves confidently into the next half-century of creation and performance. Alongside groundbreaking new pieces, the company breathes new life into beloved works from the past to create an experience both timely and timeless.
Avi Avital & Hanzhi Wang– Thursday, October 19, 2023, | 7 PM
GRAMMY-nominated mandolinist Avi Avital will make his SPAC debut alongside star accordionist Hanzhi Wang, in a truly unique program that will showcase each artist’s incredible virtuosity. Avital is the first mandolin soloist ever nominated for a Grammy and has been heralded by The New York Times for his electrifying performances. Wang is a rising talent in the classical world, recently winning a roster spot with Young Concert Artists (YCA), the first accordionist ever to do so.
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: American Panorama– Saturday, October 28 | 7 PM
Led by CMS Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han, this program will feature a roster of 13 musicians in a special performance of Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring along with works by Dvořák and American Composers Arthur Foote and Harry Burleigh.
säje– Saturday, November 11 | 7 PM
The GRAMMY® nominated vocal supergroup, säje, is the brainchild of vocalist/composers Sara Gazarek, Amanda Taylor, Johnaye Kendrick, and Erin Bentlage. Traversing a vast array of compelling original material, beloved jazz standards, and contemporary re-imaginings of artists such as The Bad Plus, YEBBA, and Björk, the all-female collective has demonstrated their devotion to thoughtful, sophisticated original compositions and heartfelt covers. Their highly anticipated debut album is expected to be released in the summer of 2023. It will feature new original work and compelling covers, highlighting collaborations with artists Jacob Collier, Ambrose Akinmusire, and more.
2023 Sounds of the Season
Kings Return: We 4 Kings– Saturday, December 2 | 7 PM
The Grammy-nominated Kings Return is back by popular demand following their SPAC debut last spring. The unique, harmonizing group turned internet sensation captures the essence of an old-school a cappella quartet with sounds inspired by gospel and R&B. Kings Return features tenor Vaughn Faison, bass Gabe Kunda, tenor JE McKissic, and baritone Jamall Williams. Their We 4 Kings program features pop, classical, and religious holiday classics. It also reinterprets modern and classic pop, soul, R&B, gospel, jazz, and sacred music.
Time for Three: Home for the Holidays– Saturday, December 9 | 7 PM
Defying convention and boundaries, Time For Three stands at the busy intersection of Americana, modern pop, and classical music. The trio featuring Charles Yang, Nicolas Kendall, and Ranaan Meyer, will present arrangements of Joni Mitchell, Led Zeppelin, and more. Additionally, they will also present special arrangements of holiday favorites.
Kat Edmonson: Holiday Swingin’!– Sunday, December 17 | 4 PM
Kat Edmonson is an award-winning songwriter and singer “with an equal foothold in jazz, cabaret, and vintage cosmopolitanism pop” (The New York Times). The songwriter and her band will perform Yuletide favorites along with Kat’s originals for a magical holiday evening celebration.
2024 Spring Season
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: Instrumental Array– Saturday, March 9 | 7 PM
In a celebration of instrumental odd couples, three duo teams highlight the extremes of possibility for their ensembles. Maurice Duruflé’s post-Romantic trio augments the duo format. All join for the concluding Septet by virtuoso pianist Johann Hummel, who was a pupil of Mozart and Haydn and was admired by Beethoven.
BalletX– Saturday, March 16 | 7 PMand Sunday, March 17 | 2 PM
Led by Artistic and Executive Director Christine Cox, BalletX creates extraordinary dance experiences that inspire human connection through live performances, dance education in Philadelphia public schools, free community pop-ups, and more. The company also offers free community pop-ups, dance classes, artist Q&As, open rehearsals, and in-school dance education.
TISRA: Zakir HussainWith Debopriya Chatterjee and Sabir Kahn– Saturday, March 23 | 7 PM
The pre-eminent classical tabla virtuoso of our time, Zakir Hussain is appreciated both in the field of percussion and in the music world at large as an international phenomenon. Hussain will lead his ensemble TISRA (three) with two of India’s finest young musicians, Sabir Khan and Debopriya Chatterjee. Showcasing rich folk and classical traditions, this unique trio is comprised of tabla, sarangi, and bansuri (bamboo flute). This colorful mix, combined with Indian classical music and the rich rhythm repertoire of Punjab, makes for a compelling program.
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: Wu Han, David Finckel, and Chad Hoopes– Saturday, May 11 | 7 PM
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Artistic Directors Wu Han and David Finckel return to end the season with guest violinist Chad Hoopes.
NYC-based artist Guitarmy of One released a new retro sci-fi inspired single, “Soylent Seaform Green.” The single’s release comes ahead of the release of The Wave Files LP.
Guitarmy of One is a solo project from guitarist Scott Helland. Helland has solo projects dating back to 1996 with his Hellbox Mood Rings CD. However, he began to release music under Guitarmy of One in 2016. Excluding the imminent release of The Wave Files, Guitarmy of One’s latest record is The Spy Detective Collective, inspired by the crime and intrigue shows of the ‘60s and ‘70s.
“I want the music to be a sonic equivalent of those shows and movies where you’re riding the waves of intrigue and espionage so the music has to match that sense of urgency and excitement,” Helland said speaking of The Spy Detective Collective. “Soylent Seafoam Green” maintains Guitarmy of One’s unique surf rock sound. However, it is also infused with inspiration from the 1973 dystopian cult sci-fi thriller Soylent Green.
The movie contains themes of overpopulation, overuse of resources, and pollution. The movie’s namesake refers to a product called Soylent Green, one of the few easily accessible foods. At the end, it’s revealed that the flavor and nutrition comes from its main ingredient—human corpses. “‘Soylent Seafoam Green’ is in keeping with my blend of the spy and surf sound and is quite dark for a surf song. However, it fits the theme of the 1973 dystopian thriller film ‘Soylent Green’ of which the song’s title is based, but don’t worry, listening to the song repeatedly won’t lead to cannibalism!” Helland said.
The song is available across all digital platforms, and Guitarmy of One will release The Wave Files on Aug. 18.
Drew Jacobs, a Comedy Musician from Latham released his fifth CD, Get Your Ha-Ha’s Out! Recorded live at The Linda, WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio in Albany, the album is a brilliant mix of witty stand-up and original songs.
Drew Jacobs first saw commercial success in 2001 when “Santa Claus is Coming To Rock You” aired on the nationally syndicated Dr. Demento Radio Show. Since then, Jacobs released more albums, including Easy Listening For The Hard of Hearing, I’m Allergic To My Job, and more. His latest release, Get Your Ha-Ha’s Out!, seamlessly blends stand-up comedy and original songs.
“I write what makes me laugh: relationships, modern society and life as a babyboomer,” Jacobs wrote on his website. He also listed his musical influences, such as The Beatles, Arlo Guthrie, Weird Al Yankovic, and more.
Get Your Ha-Ha’s Out! is an excellent showcase of Drew Jacob’s talent for both comedy and music. Jacobs managed to produce an album that is both funny and insightful. Moreover, there is something on the album for all listeners to enjoy.
