NYS Music 2023

Author: Faith Logue

  • Summer at the Plaza 2023 Festival Lineup Announced

    The annual Summer at the Plaza 2023 Festival lineup has been announced, taking place at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, featuring family-friendly concerts, movies, and festivals, starting with the annual July 4 celebration.

    The Summer at the Plaza 2023 celebration kicks off on July 4 with an exciting program with incredible live music. The “Queen of Percussion” Sheila E. has made a name for herself as one of the most talented musical icons over the decades. She is fearless and passionate, following the beat of her drum, and touching the lives of many over the years. Sibling Upstate NY natives Jocelyn & Chris also perform. Along with the performances are the best fireworks display in the region and great food and beverages.

    Featured on June 21 is a Pride Night Celebration with Jan’s Jukebox, of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 12 and All Stars season 6, and special guest DJ Phoenix, from 6-9 p.m.

    The popular Lunchtime at the Plaza Concert Series returns this summer, featuring live music and a variety of food trucks on ten Wednesdays between June 7 and Aug. 16 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

    The lunchtime concert series provides an excellent opportunity for state employees and the public to come to the Empire State Plaza and enjoy being out in warmer temperatures and summer sun while listening to live performances and eating a healthy lunch from one of the Plaza food vendors or shopping at the weekly farmers market.

    Jeanette Moy, Commissioner of OGS

    Kicking off the series is Acute Inflections, New York’s Jazzy R&B duo, consisting of Elasea Douglas (vocalist) and Sadiki Pierre (bassist). June 14 brings Upstate NY native Maria Zemantauski, who has toured Spain, Italy, and across the continental United States to great acclaim. She brings Brian Melick to perform a variety of Spanish classical, flamenco, and American fingerstyle music. June 21 features a Make Music Day celebration featuring Heard, a collective of musicians who bring their skills and passion for world music, jazz, and improvising to create irresistible grooves set in a unique sonic tapestry.

    Heard.

    The Lunchtime at the Plaza series on June 28 acts have yet to be announced, and the following week has no concert because of the July 4 celebration. Veteran Appreciation Day is July 12, featuring the Gone Gray Band, performing a mix of 50s, 60s, and 70s music that shaped their lives. July 19’s show has acts that have also yet to be announced. July 26 features Carmen and Life’s Guilty Pleasures with lead singer Carmen Lookshire from Albany, performing a mix of jazz-infused songs. The last few weeks feature The Age performing R&B/soul on Aug. 2, The Dominant 5, a brass ensemble, on Aug. 9, and finally R&B group Legacy on Aug. 16.

    The New York State Food Festival returns Aug. 16 from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. The annual Food Festival pairs a wide variety of delicious food and beverages with an exciting lineup of free entertainment, featuring the Robert Randolph & The Family Band, with an additional performance by Flavour. Robert Randolph has jumped from spiritual to secular music, finding an audience among roots rook aficionados, jam band followers, or blues fans with his fiery, passionate instrumental work and heartfelt music.

    Returning on Sept. 13 from 5-9 p.m. is the Hops & Harvest Festival, celebrating the best of what autumn has to offer in Upstate New York as well as tasty beers crafted by several local breweries. This year will feature a performance by the Yonder Mountain String Band, with additional performances by Sicard Hollow and Bees in the Barn. Grammy-nominated progressive bluegrass group Yonder Mountain String Band is celebrating its 25th year as a band. Blending bluegrass with elements of rock, alternative, psychedelic and improvisational music, the band exists and excels in a rock world, without drums, as an acoustic group, performing at festivals, rock clubs, theaters, and stadiums.

    Yonder Mountain String Band.

    Summer at the Plaza 2023 also features the Capital Concert series with a variety of artists. Commissioner Jeanette Moy said the lineup “includes something for everyone, with alternative, rock, country, and hip-hop artists taking the stage and providing the public with evenings full of free entertainment.” Kicking off the series on July 12 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. is Spin Doctors and Cracker. Spin Doctors, from New York City, had an extremely successful run in the 90s with their 1992 debut album Pocket Full of Kryptonite, featuring the familiar hits “Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong.” Peaking at No. 4 on the Top 100 singles chart, “Two Princes” had more U.S. radio spins than any other rock & roll song in 1993.

    Cracker has been described as a lot of things over the years: alt-rock, Americana, insurgent country, and many more. Cofounders David Lowery and Johnny Hickman have been rockin’ for a quarter of a century – amassing ten studio albums, multiple gold records, thousands of live performances, and hit songs that are still in current radio rotation around the globe, including “Low,” “Euro-Trash Girl,” “Get Off This” and “Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out With Me.”

    Spin Doctors, photo by Zachary Beecher.

    July 19 brings heavy-hitting rock legend Night Ranger to the stage, captivating audiences with its killer melodies, and intricate instrumentation, selling over 17 million albums worldwide, performing across more than 4,000 stages, and acquiring a radio audience that exceeds one billion. They have earned widespread recognition that includes both multi-platinum and gold albums, and have released an impressive amount of hit singles and album tracks including “Sister Christian,” “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me,” “When You Close Your Eyes,” and the anthemic “(You Can Still) Rock In America.”

    Returning to the Summer at the Plaza series on July 26 is the unique modern country Eli Young Band, a true band of brothers who play their own instruments and write their own songs. The band was founded by Eli Young with guitarist James Young, bassist Jon Jones, and drummer Chris Thompson at the University of North Texas in 2000. The trailblazing group has come a long way since its founding, producing Billboard’s No. 1 Country Song of the Year and winning the ACM Award for Song of the Year with “Crazy Girl,” plus multiple CMA, CMT, ACA, and Teen Choice Award nominations. 

    Closing out the Capital Concert Series is a hip-hop night with Big Daddy Kane, featuring performances by Roxanne Shanté and Black Sheep. Big Daddy Kane made a name for himself as one of hip-hop’s most lyrical, diverse, innovative, trendsetting MCs. He is the first rapper to ever hold two sold-out shows at the world-famous Apollo Theater for women only. With several gold albums, Kane has endured a long career, releasing iconic songs like “Ain’t No Half Steppin’,” “Raw,” “Smooth Operator,” “Warm It Up,” and more.

    Other events include free fitness classes starting June 6, free and open to individuals of all ages, regardless of fitness level or experience. The classes will be held at a new outdoor location on the Empire State Plaza this summer, between The Egg and Cornerstone. Lessons take place every Tuesday and Thursday through Aug. 31 from 5-6 p.m.

    For more information about the Summer at the Plaza 2023 lineup, visit here.

  • Morrissey Announces Four Night Run at United Palace in October

    Morrissey announced that he will return to New York for a four-night run at the historic and magnificent United Palace in Washington Heights from Oct. 21-25.

    Morrissey

    Regarded as one of the most iconic and influential artists of all time, Morrissey emerged as the lead singer of the British band The Smiths, one of the most influential alternative rock bands of the 1980s. Since their break up, he embarked on a successful solo career, featuring thought-provoking lyricism, heartfelt melodies, and his distinctive vocal style. His solo debut, Viva Hate (1988), was critically acclaimed, setting the stage for a series of highly regarded albums such as Vauxhall and I (1994) and You Are the Quarry (2004).

    The United Palace, recently in the spotlight as the host venue for the Tony Awards, has received praise for its grandiose architecture and inviting atmosphere. The New York Times described it as a “dream world” where the performing arts flourish, providing an ideal setting for Morrissey’s performances. Each night of the four-night run features his timeless repertoire, from his early days with The Smiths to his prolific solo career.

    For more information about Morrissey’s four night fun, visit here.

    Morrissey at the United Palace
    Saturday, October 21 
    Sunday, October 22
    Tuesday, October 24
    Wednesday, October 25

  • Louis Armstrong House Museum Celebrates 80 Years With New Building Opening in July

    The Louis Armstrong House Museum in Queens announced it is celebrating its 80th anniversary and officially opening its new state-of-the-art building on July 6.

    Louis Armstrong Musuem
    Photo credit Albert Vercerka/Esto.

    Louis Armstrong is a definitive arbiter of Jazz and America’s first Black popular music icon, entertaining millions from heads of state and royalty to the kids on his stoop in the working-class neighborhood of Corona, Queens. The Louis Armstrong House Museum preserves his legacy by offering guided tours of the historic home and preserving Armstrong’s 60,000-piece archives. The brand-new Louis Armstrong Center, located across the street from the historic home, will further help celebrate his legacy by offering year-round exhibitions, performances, readings, lectures, and screenings through an array of public programs for all ages. It now includes the home itself that reflects the personal values of Louis Armstrong and the garden that serves as a place for gatherings and a place for live performances.

    This is a landmark moment for the Louis Armstrong House Museum. Standing on the shoulders of the jazz and community greats who have come before us, the new Louis Armstrong Center invites today’s musicians, neighbors, and global fans to discover Louis and Lucille Armstrong’s story from a new perspective. We will bring the Armstrongs’ unique archives alive through new interactive events. And we will ensure that music once again rings out on 107th Street through groundbreaking programs in collaboration with emerging artists and contemporary icons.

    Executive Director Regina Bain.

    The opening of the 14,000 square foot Center has spurred the creation of new programming. The Museum is announcing the upcoming season of its groundbreaking Armstrong Now, which will feature the creation and debut of new works by Esperanza Spalding, Amyra León, and Antonio Brown. Armstrong Now will provide established and emerging artists with a platform to create new work inspired by Armstrong’s legacy, as well as the vast collection of artifacts and documents in the Armstrong archives. 

    Also included at the Center is the new exhibition curated by Jason Moran, Here To Stay will look at Louis Armstrong’s five-decade career as an innovative musician, rigorous archivist, consummate collaborator, and community builder. “In Here to Stay, we amplify Louis Armstrong’s ability to connect with communities locally and globally. His star shines bright worldwide, but especially here at his home in Corona, Queens. I consider this one of the ‘wonders’ of the world, meaning, we have Lucille and Louis’ magnificent home, and now a museum dedicated to his life and archive,” said Moran.

    Louis Armstrong Museum
    Photo provided by the Louis Amstrong Museum.

    Ticketing and information about all of the Louis Armstong Museum’s events and programs can be found here.

  • Catskill Mountain Jubilee 2023 Announces Lineup Including The Disco Biscuits, Melvin of Seals, And More

    The Catskill Mountain Jubilee 2023 lineup has been announced, returning to Blackthorne Resort in East Durham from Aug. 10-12.

    Catskill Mountain Jubilee 2023

    The Catskill Mountain Jubilee 2023 features three nights of music, with two full performances from The Disco Biscuits, Melvin Seals with Karl Denson, and many more. Returning for the third year in a row, the event will take place from Aug. 10-12 at Blackthorne Resort in East Durham. In a recent announcement, new performers added to the lineup include two sets by Twiddle, BlueStar Radiation featuring Lotus’ Tim Palmieri with Rob Derhak, Nate Wilson and Vinnie Amico from moe., Mihali (solo), Sophistafunk, The Englishtown Project, Ben Silver & Allen Aucoin, Gratefully Yours and many more. Other performers include Dogs in a Pile, Desert Dwellers, Space Bacon, Beg Steal or Borrow, Rose Ganache, Eugene Tyler Band, The Laura Leigh Band, Hilltop, Newpy Hundo, Leila, SMInk, and more.

    Tickets and lodging packages for the Catskill Mountain Jubille 2023 edition are on sale through Tixr.com at CatskillMountainJubilee.com.

  • Hip Hop Forever Celebration Featuring Wu-Tang Clan, Mary J. Blige, and More Coming to MSG

    Hot 97 and WBLS-FM, for the first time, jointly announced Hip Hop Forever, a celebration of Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary featuring Wu-Tang Clan, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, and more, coming to Madison Square Garden on Sept. 15.

    Hip Hop Forever

    Hip Hop Forever is part of New York City’s ongoing celebration of Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary, falling just one month after the Hip Hop 50 celebration at Yankee Stadium, which includes Run-DMC, Lil Kim, Snoop Dogg, and more. The Hip Hop Forever event at MSG features one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all time, Wu-Tang Clan. Since their triple-platinum debut record Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) came out in 1993, the group has gone on to release eight albums and created legendary live shows, the band’s prolific careers as individuals and especially as the most storied group in hip-hop history.

    Other can’t-miss acts to see include Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, actress, producer, and philanthropist, Mary J. Blige. With a track record of eight multi-platinum albums, nine Grammy Awards (plus a staggering 32 nominations), two Academy Award nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, a SAG nomination, and more, she has cemented herself as a powerhouse that can truly do it all. The best-selling female artist of all time with more than 200 million albums sold to date and 19 Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles, Mariah Carey, makes a special appearance. She is truly the template of modern pop performance, leaving a cultural and indelible imprint on the industry and the world at large.

    One of the most prolific dancehall and reggae performers, Sean Paul, will perform a set at Hip Hop Forever, as well as Tyrese, Maxwell, and EPMD. Tickets will go on sale via a presale on Thursday, June 15 at 10 a.m. ahead of the general on-sale on Friday, June 16 at 10 a.m. To purchase, visit here.

    https://youtu.be/HXsqCrHSKvU

  • Music Haven Announces 2023 Summer Lineup

    Music Haven 2023 in Central Park in Schenectady announced its summer lineup, kicking off its 33 season of “traveling the world one concert at a time.”

    Music Haven 2023 will take listeners 50,000 miles and back while presenting music and performing arts from Ghana, Andalusia, Ireland, Texas, Gambia, Louisiana, South Asia, Georgia, Stratford-upon-Avon, and beyond. “This summer, our musical journeys will cross seven distinct bodies of water—The Atlantic and Indian Oceans; the Alboran, Black, Mediterranean, and Arabian Seas; and the Bay of Bengal” says Eddie Award-winning Producing Artistic Director Mona Golub. “We’ll gather to hear spectacular global artists who have not played these parts before, welcome back some old friends who have dazzled the world since they last graced our stage, and showcase, as special guests, some of the finest talents our region has to offer.”

    Each show features a variety of food and beverages available for purchase at all shows beginning at 6 p.m. on 7 p.m. concert nights and throughout festivals and special events. Michele’s Charcoal Pit and Ben & Jerry’s return with food and dessert available for purchase. Reflecting tradition, international offerings showcasing the locales from which the global artists come will be sold at the concession stand. Proctors is the official rain site for concerts on July 9 – July 23 and Aug. 20, with Niskayuna High School serving as the rain site July 30–Aug. 13. Shows scheduled on Aug. 11, 25, and 26, will take place in the park rain or shine. All concerts start at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise.

    Music Haven 2023 Lineup

    July 9—Rocky Dawuni

    **moved to Proctors.

    Groove to the rhythms of Ghanaian multi-Grammy-nominated “Afro Roots,” a mixture of Reggae, Afrobeat, Highlife, and Soul music, artist Rocky Dawuni. An international star and champion of social causes, Dawuni straddles Africa, the Caribbean Islands, and the United States, and is a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment for Africa. Opening for him is Zorkie Nelson and Umoja Drummers, thumping out beats on authentic handmade instruments.

     July 13—La Banda Morisca

    La Banda Morisca, an Andalusian sextet, pays homage to their ancient Al-Andalus cultural heritage while rocking it forward with rich sonic accents from North Africa’s Maghreb Desert and the Middle East. Opening for them is Maria Zemantauski, a master of the Flamenco guitar.

    July 16—Joey Alexander

    Returning for the first time since 2015, Joey Alexander has appeared at some of the world’s most prestigious festivals and events, wowing audiences with his proficient mastery of the piano. Opening is Joe Barna and Sketches of Influence who similarly appraise jazz with one eye on the past and the other on the future.

    Joey Alexander.

    July 22 from 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.—NipperFest Music & Arts Festival

    Celebrating all things 518, the festival features 16 bands on two stages, including Billboard AAA Top 40 artists Jocelyn and Chris, an artist pavilion, food trucks, and craft beer. 

    July 23—Sona Jobarteh

    Gambian singer, educator, and activist Sona Jobarteh is the first professional female Kora virtuoso to hail from any of the great West African Griot dynasties. She will mesmerize listeners with her distinctively modern riff on an ancient African groove. Opening for her is Heard.

    Sona Jobarteh.

    July 30 from 5-9 p.m.—Blues BBQ featuring Vanessa Collier, Johnny Sansone, and Jontavious Willis

    July concludes with Music Haven’s annual Blues BBQ featuring Blues Music Award’s reigning Contemporary Female Blues Artist, Vanessa Collier, New Orleans multi-instrumentalist Johnny Sansone and Taj Mahal protégé Jontavious Willis.

    Aug. 5—Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra

    August kicks off with the newly renamed Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra. Under the baton of Artistic Director Glen Cortese, the SSSO returns with “Legends of Broadway,” selections from beloved musicals including West Side Story, Les Miserables, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, and more.

     Aug. 6—Eileen Ivers

    The original star of “Riverdance,” a founding member of Cherish the Ladies, and a nine-time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, Eileen Ivers has played with Sting, The Chieftains, and Symphony Orchestras alike and has been called “The Future of the Celtic fiddle.” Opening for her are The McKrells, blending Celtic and bluegrass to create a sound enjoyed around the world.

    Aug. 11 from 5-9 p.m.—In the Heights

    Lin-Manuel Miranda, known for creating the hit musical Hamilton is celebrated with a Latin Block Party featuring live music by Taina Asili and Latin food, followed by a screening of the Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights.

    Aug. 13—Aditya Prakash Ensemble

    The Aditya Prakash Ensemble fuses South Asian Karnatik vocals with jazz and funk. One of the youngest musicians to ever perform with sitar legend Ravi Shankar, Prakash is a master of South Indian Karnatik singing. Opening is the SUNY Schenectady Jazz Faculty Combo, comprised of the region’s most talented players and educators.

    Aug. 20—Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole

    Cedric Watson is a four-time Grammy-nominated fiddler, singer, accordionist, and songwriter, and one of the brightest young talents to emerge in Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco over the last decade. Opening are Old-Fashioned Aces who will wow audiences with their deeply-rooted traditional Cajun sounds.

    Aug. 25–26—Will Kempe’s Players

    The Capital Region’s own traveling Shakespearean troupe Will Kempe’s Players, closes the 2023
    season with back-to-back repertory performances of the Bard’s The Taming of the Shrew and Two
    Gentlemen of Verona    . Period music by Andy Rutherford on lute and Yvonne Hansbrough on flute.

    For more information about Music Haven 2023, visit here.

  • Summer Solstice in Times Square Celebration Returns

    The annual Summer Solstice in Times Square celebration will return this year on June 21 from 7:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m., featuring free yoga classes centered in the heart of New York City.

    Summer Solstice in Times Square
    Photo by Michael Hull for the Times Square Alliance.

    The tradition started 20 years ago when three people did yoga at sunrise in Times Square – two became the co-founders of Solstice in Times Square: Mind Over Madness Yoga. This single event has grown to welcome thousands of yogis taking multiple classes throughout the day and filling one of the busiest intersections in the world with peace and calm. This year, Solstice in Times Square: Mind Over Madness Yoga takes place on Wednesday, June 21 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue between 44th and 48th Streets.

    It is time once again to celebrate the sun and the arrival of the summer season in Times Square with our annual Solstice in Times Square: Mind Over Madness yoga event as we continue to welcome more and more New Yorkers, visitors, and tourists to the Crossroads of the World. We call on yogis from all over the country and world to find peace in the busiest place on the planet, and encourage them to stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, and enjoy a Broadway show.

    Tom Harris, President of the Times Square Alliance.

    Participants of the Summer Solstice in Times Square will have the opportunity to join one of seven free yoga sessions throughout the day and visit the Yoga Village between 44th and 45th Streets, which will feature booths, giveaways, and activities. Registered participants who attend will receive a free yoga mat courtesy of event partner Peloton. For more information about the event, visit here.

    Yoga Sessions

    7:30 am – 8:30 am: instructed by Douglass Stewart (event co-founder)

    9:30 am – 10:30 am: instructed by Kirra Michel (presented by Peloton)

    11:30 am – 12:30 pm: instructed by Ruchika Lal (presented by Consulate General of India, New York)

    1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: instructed by Marco Rojas

    3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: instructed by Nyota Nayo

    5:30 pm – 6:30 pm: instructed by Joseph Encinia

    7:30 pm – 8:30 pm: instructed by Matt Boylin

  • Wildfire Smoke Causes BRIC to Cancel Opening Night, Yankees Game, And More

    The immense amount of smoke from the Canadian wildfires has caused many events in New York City and beyond to be canceled, including BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!, the Yankees-White Sox game, Broadway shows, and more.

    wildfire smoke
    New York City covered in a smoky haze, photo courtesy of the Associated Press.

    The Northeast has been affected by an ongoing record-setting series of wildfires, initially beginning in March and increasing in intensity by June. Due to this, many U.S. states, with one of the hardest hit being New York State, have seen hazardous air quality alerts. People in these areas are told to stay inside and limit outdoor activities, especially those who are most at risk including children, the elderly, or those with respiratory conditions, however, many people who aren’t in that group have complained about sore throats, coughing attacks, and overall not feeling well after being outside for even just a few minutes.

    New York City is one of the hardest hit by this unprecedented event, causing many events in the area to be postponed or canceled. BRIC, the internationally-renowned arts and media institution based in Brooklyn, has canceled its opening night of Celebrate Brooklyn, the longest-running, free summer music festival in New York City. The night was going to feature co-headliners Taj Mahal and Corinne Bailey Rae and the opening act Harlem Gospel Travelers. BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! is set to resume with their Family Day concert on Saturday, June 10, with an incredible line-up of Brooklyn-based talent including the innovative duo Soul Science Lab and openers Olivia K and The Parkers.

    Chris Stapleton canceled his outdoor concert in Syracuse at St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater due to the wildfires, with his team saying they hope to have an update by mid-day on June 9 on the rescheduled date. Bryant Park Picnic Performances announced the postponement of their previously scheduled dance performance on June 8 with Robin Dunn and Friends and The Lite with LayeRhythm. They will continue to monitor conditions for their Friday, June 9 7:00 pm performance with Dance Heginbotham and Jennifer Muller/The Works and Joffrey Concert Ballet Group. The Summertime Lunchtime Jazz Concerts outside of Brooklyn Borough Hall were also canceled, hoping to resume Wednesday, June 14.

    wildfire smoke
    Photo by Prospect Park Alliance.

    Concerts are not the only thing affected by this, sports games and Broadway shows have also been postponed. The Yankees-White Sox game for June 7 was rescheduled because of poor air quality and will be made up on June 8. The WNBA announced the postponement of the New York Liberty vs. Minnesota Lynx game at Barclays Center due to smoke entering the arena, reported by Howard Megdal. The Broadway performances of Hamilton and Camelot, as well as a Shakespeare in the Park production of Hamlet were canceled as well. Notably, Hamilton was canceled just two hours before the curtain call due to cast members calling in sick. Hamlet hopes to resume performances this weekend, according to a spokesperson for The Public Theater, noting that health experts “will continue to closely monitor the ongoing situation.”

    Gov. Ball, from June 9-11, is still set to go on, with forecasters suggesting the smoke will clear up in a few days. Jen Carfagno, a Weather Channel meteorologist, told CBS News that, “forecasts show the wind will switch directions ‘at all levels of the atmosphere and bring in cleaner air.’ For now, the best thing to do is limit the amount of time spent outdoors, and if you have to go outside, wear a mask to help filter the air you’re breathing in.

  • Chelsea Music Festival Announces June Festival ‘Song For The Earth’

    The Chelsea Music Festival in NYC announced the return of its annual June festival, this year titled Songs For The Earth, running from June 24-29.

    The Chelsea Music Festival celebrates the creativity of one of New York City’s most dynamic neighborhoods and brings together world-renowned performers to celebrate great music. Since 2010, the festival has become a critically acclaimed, accessible, and interactive gateway to chamber music in non-traditional concert spaces like art galleries, churches, and more. The 2023 festival theme is Songs For The Earth, focusing on honoring and drawing attention to the changing needs of our planet.

    Iranian-Canadian composer and pianist Iman Habibi joins the festival as the Composer-in-Residence. Habibi is the co-founder of the piano duo ensemble Piano Pinnacle with his wife and pianist Deborah Grimmet and is a 2022 laureate of the Azrieli Music Prize and a recipient of dozens of international music awards. Tying in with the theme of helping the planet, Habibi’s work and values as an artist are shaped by his care for the natural world. Festival Co-Artistic Director and conductor Ken-David Masur performed Habibi’s work “Jeder Baum spricht” with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, translated as “every tree speaks,” a line by Beethoven.

    This year’s festival has events ranging from chamber music, art song, jazz, and daytime outreach will foster ecological awareness and focus on the earth as our shared home. This season, the festival partners with a number of environmentally-focused culinary partners including Growing Uptown, an organization that teaches communities to grow their own food and promote food security.

    Chelsea Music Festival 2023 Lineup

    June 24- Opening Weekend

    11:30 a.m.-4 p.m.- Taking place at the Genesis House is a performance by the Asaran Earth Trio and Festival Talks with Visual Artist-in-Residence MaDora Frey and composer Nicky Sohn alongside Artistic Directors Melinda Lee Masur & Ken-David Masur.

    7:30-9:30 p.m.- The performance this night is titled Dear Earth, Dear Friend, featuring music that spans the centuries including composers such as Franz Schubert, Amy Beach, and Edvard Grieg, alongside New York Premiere Performances of works written by Nicky Sohn and David Evans, as well as solo piano works by Olivier Messaien, Louis-Charles Daquin, Edward Macdowell, a trio by Edvard Grieg, and music by Composer-in-Residence Iman Habibi.

    Genesis House.

    June 25

    1:30-3 p.m.- Back at the Genesis House, there are performances by gamin, violinist Tomotaka Seki, and violist Ayako Tahara.

    3-4 p.m.- The Verona Quartet, described by The New York Times as an “outstanding ensemble…cohesive yet full of temperament,” appear at the Chelsea Music Festival.

    6:30-8:30 p.m.- Performances by cellist Angela Lee, violinists Lisa Lee & Jocelyn Zhu.

    Verona Quartet.

    June 26

    7:30-9:30 p.m.- In Rite of Healing, the Veron Quartet performs Reena Esmail’s breathtaking quartet from their new album SHATTER alongside quartets by Korean-born American composer Texu Kim and Beethoven. The performance takes place at the General Theological Seminary.

    June 27

    12-1 p.m.- The Asaran Earth Trio, an all-female multinational group of virtuosic musicians and educators who perform folk songs from around the globe as well as original compositions, return.

    5:30-7 p.m.- The Stay Grounded Planting Workshop & Happy Hour features performer Rogério Boccato on percussion with all natural materials and group, as well as artwork displays.

    7:30-9:30 p.m.- The concert of the night is Beloved of the Sky, featuring soprano Sonya Headlam and Festival Strings performing works by Dvorak, Holst, Florence Price, and World Premieres by Iman Habibi and Sung Jin Hong with intermission reception.

    June 28

    5:30-7:30 p.m.- Dinner from 5:30-7:30 and a show immediately after. The Four Elements Concert features the tour de force quartet of the most sought-after percussionists including Rogério Boccato and Keito Ogawa collectively composing live on stage a four-part suite based on nature’s four elements (earth, water, fire, and air). Their music will be interspersed with readings from poems from around the world about each of the elements.

    June 29

    7:30-9 p.m.- Our Shared Home Festival Finale at St. Peter’s Chelsea, featuring works by Takashi Yoshimatsu, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Patricio Molina, Claude Debussy, and Gerald Finzi with a reception to follow.

    9-10:30 p.m.- Jazz Finale with Los Hermanos with Cuban pianist Aldo López Gavilán and violinist Ilmar Gavilan. Pre-concert reception included.

    For more information about the Chelsea Music Festival and to purchase tickets, visit here.

  • Run DMC, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, And More to Perform at Hip Hop 50 at Yankee Stadium

    The celebratory and legendary concert Hip Hop 50 has been announced for Aug. 11 at Yankee Stadium, celebrating 50 years of Hip Hop with some of the biggest names in the genre including Run DMC, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, and more.

    Hip Hop 50

    Hip Hop 50 is celebrating 50 years of Hip Hop right in the birthplace of the genre, the Bronx. EMMY Award-winner and BASSic Black Entertainment CEO Adam Blackstone, who was the musical director for the dynamic, star-studded halftime show at Super Bowl LVI, where he also performed bass guitar on stage, is serving as managing creative music director, along with partner, producer/keyboardist Omar Edwards (Musical Director for JAY-Z).

    The event is a part of Mass Appeal’s Hip Hop 50 initiative – a massive cross-platform initiative that celebrates Hip Hop’s anniversary in the most authentic and globally impactful way possible by acknowledging and recognizing Hip Hop as not only a genre but a movement that has impacted the worldwide community. Every facet of the Universe includes a charitable component connected to the Universal Hip Hop Museum.

    Aug 11th is Hip Hop’s 50th birthday! So…’Up in the Bronx’ where it all started we will be celebrating this historic moment in history! I am honored to pay tribute to the culture that allowed this little shy kid from Queens to grow up and become The Mighty King of Rock! Thank you Hip Hop!!!

    DMC

    The event includes many well-known artists from the five boroughs and rappers born outside of New York. Featured is Run DMC’s “Bottom of the Ninth…The Walk-Off” performance, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, a “Queens of Hip Hop” set featuring Eve, Lil Kim, Remy Ma, Trina, and more, as well as the beginning founders of rap like DJ Kool Herc, who was known for his turntablism that influenced early rap, and the Sugar Hill Gang. More artists are to be announced soon.

    Hip Hop 50, DJ Kool Herc.
    DJ Kool Herc, credit Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

    Hip Hop 50 live at Yankee Stadium tickets will become available beginning with presales on Thursday, June 8 at 10 a.m. EST until 10 p.m. EST before the general sale on Friday, June 9 at 10 a.m. EST. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit here.