Madison Square Garden Entertainment announced the debut of “Sphere Experiences,” one of its core content categories to be featured at Sphere, the company’s next-generation entertainment medium opening this fall in Las Vegas.
Sphere at The Venetian (courtesy MSGE).
“Sphere Experiences” will launch this fall with a first-of-its-kind immersive production – Postcard from Earth. “We are redefining the future of entertainment through Sphere,” said James L. Dolan, Executive Chairman and CEO, MSG Entertainment. “Sphere provides a new medium for directors, artists, and brands to create experiences that cannot be seen or told anywhere else, and Sphere Experiences are just one of the ways we will use the venue’s technologies to engage the senses and transport audiences to places both real and imagined. Postcard from Earth will set a new bar for multi-sensory storytelling possibilities, and we look forward to having audiences experience it at Sphere this fall.”
Sphere is a next-generation entertainment medium, bringing wonder to the world and redefining the future of live entertainment, where artists, creators, and technologies will create extraordinary experiences, taking storytelling to a new level. The venue will host “Sphere Experiences” from leading Hollywood directors, concerts and residencies from the world’s biggest artists, including U2 who hinted there will be a residency coming soon, and premier marquee events. The first Sphere venue is currently under construction in Las Vegas, expected to open in fall 2023.
The Postcard from Earth event will feature the new technology Sphere has been putting together for eventgoers. Audience members will be transported to a new world for approximately 60 minutes, with the world’s most advanced concert audio system, featuring crystal-clear audio that is the same for every guest, however, some people may hear different things, like different languages or instruments, truly customizing the listening experience. There are 4D technologies enhancing the experience, with 10,000 immersive seats including a system that utilizes deep vibrations so guests can feel the rumble of thunder or a roaring motorcycle as well as environmental effects like changing temperatures or familiar scents. The “Sphere Experiences” also feature the highest resolution LED screen on earth at 16K x 16K, making guests feel like they have traveled to a new world.
Production of Postcard from Earth is currently underway and will offer a unique perspective on the beauty of life on earth, debuting to the public at Sphere at The Venetian in October. Tickets will be available for purchase starting April 12 at 3 p.m. EST. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit here.
Forest Hills Stadium in Queens is celebrating its centennial this summer with a stacked lineup of events showcasing the stadium’s rich past and celebrating its future.
Forest Hills Stadium was built in 1923, and ten years ago went under renovation to make it more modern and renewable, making shows as environmentally friendly as they can be. The venue is climate-positive and carbon negative, meaning the venue offsets more than what’s created, tracking recycling efforts from concession areas, backstage, and beyond all season long. The stadium also supports local community-driven initiatives in an effort to give back to Queens, including QueensWay (a project proposing to convert the former LIRR Rockaway Beach Branch (RBB) into a new, public park) and Queens Community House (a multi-site, multi-service settlement house that serves the diverse neighborhoods of Queens).
This summer hosts the most diverse and exciting list of performances yet, celebrating the venue’s centennial. The new season will feature approximately 30 music and comedy performances from an exciting and eclectic mix of some of the biggest names in music and entertainment today. Some artists include one of the best-selling rock bands, the Dave Matthews Band, on June 6, the brand new Re:SET concert series featuring headliners like boygenius, Steve Lacy, and LCD Soundsystem, and up-and-coming indie artist Maggie Rogers in late July. Other artists include platinum-selling indie rock band The Strokes on Aug. 19, a former member of One Direction, the boy band that rocked the 2010s, Louis Tomlinson on July 29, indie rock group the Arctic Monkeys on Sept. 8 and 9, rock group in August Fall Out Boy and in July Weezer, and many more.
Indie group Cigarettes After Sex perform at Forest Hills Stadium Sept. 15.
Mike Luba, the executive responsible for the stadium’s rehabilitation produces concerts at the venue in coordination with The Bowery Presents, spoke about how exciting this summer will be, and the venue’s anniversary. “It’s hard to believe that it’s coming up on a full decade since we began the renovation of the stadium. We’ve come a long way since that first show with our brothers in arms Mumford and Sons, who bravely stepped up to play the opening night back in 2013. It’s been incredibly rewarding to ride along with the stadium crew, the hundreds of artists, our invaluable community neighbors and partners as well as the over 1 million folks who have found their way out to the magical oasis of a stadium smack in the middle of Queens.”
Tickets for the summer events at Forest Hills Stadium are on sale now here, with more to be announced at a later date.
2023 Forest Hills Stadium Centennial Season Calendar
Saturday, May 20th & Sunday, May 21st – Head In The Clouds Music & Arts Festival Promiseland Saturday, June 3rd – Lane 8, Sultan + Shepard, Jerro, Massane (LIVE), Ocula Sunday, June 4th – Kevin Hart Friday, June 9th – Dave Matthews Band Wednesday, June 14th – BERT KREISCHER’S FULLY LOADED COMEDY FESTIVAL: Shane Gillis, Tiffany Haddish, Dave Attell, Big Jay Oakerson, Dan Soder, Rosebud Baker Friday, June 16th – Re:SET (LCD Soundsystem, Jamie xx, IDLES, L’RAIN & More) Saturday, June 17th – Re:SET (boygenius, Clairo, Dijon, Bartees Strange) Sunday, June 18th – Re:SET (Steve Lacy, James Blake, Toro y Moi, Fousheé) Friday, June 23rd & Saturday, June 24th – Zach Bryan, Charles Wesley Godwin Friday, July 7th – The Smile, Robert Stillman Saturday, July 8th – Two Friends, Matoma, NOTD, Deerock Thursday, July 13th – Weezer, Future Islands, Joyce Manor Thursday, July 27th – Maggie Rogers, Soccer Mommy Saturday, July 29th – Louis Tomlinson Tuesday, August 1st – Fall Out Boy, Bring Me The Horizon, Royal & The Serpent, Games We Play Saturday, August 5th – Rock The Bells Festival Saturday, August 12th – Queens of the Stone Age, Phantogram Thursday, August 17th – Jason Mraz & His Superband w/ The New York Pops Saturday, August 19th – The Strokes, Angel Olsen, Seaton Smith, Promiseland Friday, September 8th & Saturday, September 9th – Arctic Monkeys, Fontaines D.C. Friday, September 15th – Cigarettes After Sex Sunday, September 17th – Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Festival Friday, September 22nd – Duran Duran, Grace Jones, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Bastille Friday, September 29th – Sylvan Esso, Goth Babe, Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul Saturday, September 30th – Jungle
The 31st annual Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival in Trumansburg is back this summer featuring four days and five stages of world, national, regional, and local music.
The Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival is held at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds in Trumansburg which is located about ten miles north of Ithaca on the west side of Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes region of Central New York. Since the festival’s birth, the guiding quote has always been “To create joy in the midst of crisis is a powerful thing and brings magic to the table.” It was founded by Donna the Buffalo and is a mission-based organization that focuses on nurturing local artists and talent while reaching around the globe to bring world music and culture to new audiences to inspire creativity and foster community building.
Four days before the festival there is a Culture Camp, which helps community building by having attendees attend four days of music and dance workshops led by regional and national artists. Tickets for Culture Camp and a full list of workshops can be found here. This year, the festival features a variety of genres like Americana, regular and Appalachian folk, country, and world music from countries like Ukraine and Congo.
There will be over 80 artists featured at the Grassroots Festival. Some of the performances include renowned Americana / folk roots music duo Watchhouse, Gambian multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer Sona Jobarteh, Grammy Award-winning Country music legends The Mavericks, and 2022 Best Reggae Album Grammy Award winner and Jamaican lyricist Kabaka Pyramid. Other performers include Appalachian folk music multi-instrumentalist sisters Rising Appalachia, beloved Ukrainian folk music quartet DakhaBrakha, Democratic Republic of Congo Afropop superstar Jupiter & Okwess, Louisiana Zydeco boss Keith Frank & The Soileau Zydeco Band, and acclaimed singer-songwriter Ryan Montbleau Band.
For more information about the 31st annual Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival and to purchase tickets, visit here.
Playhouse Stage Company announced the regional premiere of the hit musical The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, featuring teens from the Playhouse Stage Academy training program, at the Cohoes Music Hall.
The Playhouse Stage Company has been producing free summer musicals at Albany’s Park Playhouse in Washington Park since 1989, producing musicals year-round at Cohoes Music Hall since 2016, and has since become manager of the historic Spindle City venue in 2020. They are celebrating their 35th anniversary with a great lineup of events for the season. The company makes theater an all-inclusive art form by providing free and affordable admission at each production, welcoming people from all walks of life and socio-economic backgrounds. The company also provides arts education programs to young people in the community with Playhouse Stage Academy.
The Cohoes Music Hall opened its door in 1874 in Cohoes. It was restored in 1974 to become what it is today, a historic music hall with a great lineup of events. In late December of last year, the venue was awarded $1.88 million in funding through New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation grants, transforming it into an energy-efficient building. The Lightning Thief production begins on April 13 and runs to the 23, reuniting Director Chuck Kraus, Choreographer Ashley Simone Kirchner, and Musical Director Brandon Jones, who has worked on more than a dozen teen productions at both Albany’s Park Playhouse and Cohoes Music Hall for Playhouse Stage Company.
The LightningThief is a rock musical adapted from the best-selling young adult novel by Rick Riordan of the same name. It was first produced by Theatreworks USA as a one-hour “theatre for young audiences” production in 2014, in 2017 an expanded two-act version premiered at the Lucille Lortel Theatre and was a critically acclaimed hit, and in 2019, there was a limited engagement on Broadway. The show features a thrilling rock score with music and lyrics by Rob Rikicki and a book by Joe Tracz.
The novel follows Percy Jackson, a troubled young man struggling with dyslexia and ADHD, who finds himself expelled from five schools in a few years. He comes to learn he is the half-blood son of a Greek God and finds himself at “Camp Half-Blood,” where he and his friends are sent on a quest by the Oracle of Delphi to uncover the truth behind the theft of Zeus’s lightning bolt. “The Lightning Thief is an epic story that is ideal to be performed by our gifted teen students,” said Owen Smith, Playhouse Stage Company’s Producing Artistic Director. “Fans of the book series will revel in the loyalty to the original book, while the average audience member will be enthralled not only by the cast of colorful characters and rock score but also how personal and relatable the story is.”
The cast is led by AJ Halsey (Percy Jackson) and Joshua Hoyt (Grover), who received strong reviews for their performances in last summer’s The Wedding Singer at Park Playhouse, as well as Molly Kantrowitz (Annabeth Chase) who is playing her first principal character for Playhouse Stage. The cast features eighteen of the area’s most talented teen performing artists, hailing from all corners of the Capital Region. Those who have graduated from the Playhouse Stage Academy have gone on to study in top collegiate theatre programs, and to appear on Broadway, film and television, or national tours.
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical plays April 13 through 23, 2023, at Cohoes Music Hall. Performers play Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are now on sale online, by phone, and in-person through the Playhouse Stage Box Office at Cohoes Music Hall.
The Over Yondr Festival announced its 2023 lineup, coming to Greenville in the picturesque Catskills Mountain foothills from June 16-18.
The Over Yondr Festival is a three-day phone-free weekend, meaning that festival goers will secure their phones in pouches in their possession, providing a rare opportunity for people to disengage from their devices, but there will still be designated areas for attendees to use their phones. The festival was founded in 2019 by Yondr, the pioneers of phone-free performances, as a way to help people disconnect in such a hyperconnected world.
The company has zero social media accounts, and does little advertising, so people aren’t bombarded with so many notifications and advertisements, more than they already are. They regularly work with Dave Chappelle, Madonna, Jack White, Childish Gambino, Ali Wong, Kevin Hart, and more to provide these phone-free experiences. The three-day weekend features live music, games, food trucks, full bars, and hot showers in the picturesque and cozy valley town of Greenville.
The lineup provides audience members with a weekend of sonic discovery, featuring performances from both established artists and exciting up-and-coming artists. Headliners include the unique pop ensemble U.S. Girls who recently released their latest album Bless This Mess to critical acclaim, Brooklyn-based artist Madison McFerrin who blends a unique mix of R&B, jazz, and electronic music, and high-energy indie rock band Melt. Additional acts include Kate Davis who just released her latest album Fish Bowl last week, as well as Miss Grit, a rising indie-pop songwriter who released her debut record Follow The Cyborg earlier this year.
Festival passes are on sale now for the third annual Over Yondr Festival, taking place from June 16-18. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets early as only 400 total passes will be made available for this year’s exclusive festival experience. For more information about the festival and to purchase tickets, go here.
Festival Lineup U.S. Girls Madison McFerrin Melt Kweku Collins Kate Davis Miss Grit Jeremy & The Harlequins Kendra McKinley Charlie Sztyk + Seamstress Camp Saint Helene Eugene Tyler Band Cyote Moonrocka 30 Rack
Jonas Brothers are returning to New York State with two massive shows at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 12 and 13, performing five albums each night, including their new album The Album which features the upcoming single “Waffle House,” out this Friday, April 7.
The Jonas Brothers recently wrapped up their five-night Broadway residency, each night dedicated to an album or era of theirs. They will be returning to the state for two nights at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 12 and 13, catering to fans of all ages by performing all their different records each night. Their new single “Waffle House,” releases via Republic Records on Friday, April 7, launching a new era for the band’s latest full-length record The Album, executive produced by Jon Bellion, set for release on May 12.
The Jonas Brothers took the world by storm in 2019 with the surprise release of their critically acclaimed and widely successful single “Sucker” following a six-year hiatus. The single has since become 5x-platinum and debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, becoming the first #1 for the band and the first #1 debut from a group this century. The band went on to release Chasing Happiness, an Amazon Original film documenting the brothers’ rise and return to music before going on to deliver their third #1 album with the arrival of their platinum-selling Happiness Begins.
The band has won multiple awards, including three in the categories of “Top Duo/Group,” “Top Radio Songs Artist,” and “Top Radio Song” for “Sucker” at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards, a 2019 MTV VMA for “Best Pop Video,” “Best Duo/Group” at the 2020 iHeart Music Awards, and two Teen Choice Awards, including the prestigious “Decade Award.” They have garnered a Grammy nomination and an American Music Award nomination as well.
This Saturday, April 8, the band will be performing on Saturday Night Live as a musical guest for the third time alongside host Molly Shannon.
There will be multiple presale options for each night, including a Citi and Verizon presale starting April 12. Fans who previously registered for the Broadway shows will have the opportunity for first access to tickets with a special Verified Fans on sale, more information is available through email. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning on Friday, April 14 at 10 a.m. ET, and to purchase tickets and find more information on Jonas Brothers at Yankee Stadium, visit here.
The City of Albany announced the 75th annual Tulip Festival will take place on Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14 in Washington Park, featuring many notable New York State artists and headliners Guster, American Authors, and more.
The Albany Tulip Festival is Albany’s signature spring event, featuring nearly one hundred artisans selling their handmade crafts, a fine arts show, delicious food trucks, the KidZone family fun destination, three world-class live entertainment stages, a brand new wellness stage with free dance classes, and more than 248,000 tulips in 175 different varieties. The festival will bring many genres from across the state and beyond performing on multiple stages for the many people that attend.
Saturday, May 13
Main Stage, Washington Park Parade Grounds
1:30 p.m. – Precious Metals is a solo project led by Troy native singer-songwriter J Lee White, featuring a band of established local musicians including Mateo Vosganian (drums), Jesse Bolduc (bass), and Chase Keener (keys, guitar). The band’s high-energy alt-rock sound pulls from the early 2000s emo explosion and 2010s indie rock revival.
3:00 p.m. – Karina Rykman has garnered a lot of attention and avid listenership through her playing of the bass, singing, and enjoying herself through her performances, like jumping and dancing while she sings. Her music straddles the worlds of jam rock and indie pop with touches of psychedelia. She has only released six singles so far but continues to be an unmissable live act.
4:30 p.m. – Guster is an American alternative rock band from Boston founded in 1991. They are known for their unique style of live shows with notable humor and touches of their own tastes. The band is comprised of Adam Gardner, Ryan Miller, and Brian Rosenworcel, formed when they did band practices at Tufts University.
Local 518 Stage, Washington Park Lakehouse Stage
1:00 p.m. – Space Trash is a local quartet combining rhythm, blues, rock, funk, and pop originals.
2:15 p.m. – Frank Palangi is an indie rock recording artist from Upstate New York, reigniting the fuel on a genre that refuses to die. He has received numerous awards, including Best In the Region for Glens Falls and Albany areas, the national unsigned-only competition finals, radio artist of the year (radio wigwam), and an LA Music Award single Nomination.
3:30 p.m – OHZHE is a hip-hop artist from Albany, bringing his charisma and versatility to the stage, connecting with his audience through his reliability and vulnerability. He looks to inspire his city with his lyrics, perspective, and lifestyle.
4:45 p.m. – T.V. Doctors are a trio from Upstate New York comprised of Bob Morris, Acoustic & Electric Drums, Josh Witmer, Guitar, Guitar Synth, Keys, Samples, and Evan Conway, Bass, Bass Synth, and Keys.
Albany Tulip Festival.
Sunday, May 14
Starting off the day from 9-10 a.m. is the annual Yoga Fest on the Main Stage. The event is free, but those who wish to attend must register here.
Main Stage
1:30 p.m. – The Age is a project of Adrian Lewis, who makes music so the audience can get a glimpse of how he sees the world, through fragments of introspection and humility. He touches on themes of insecurity, devotion, heartache, and more.
3:00 p.m. – Eastbound Jesus doesn’t fit into one genre, they shred on the banjo, play ballads, and make you jump to their fast-paced rocking tunes in what they call “Northern rock.” Everything they do comes from a real, genuine place that makes for a sound all their own.
4:45 p.m. – American Authors are a New York-based pop-rock band that has accomplished what many bands dream of doing, having their music climb to the top of the charts and singles go multi-platinum. Their single “Best Day of My Life” has been featured in over 600 movie trailers, commercials, and TV shows, also appearing as the theme song for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. American Authors has played award shows and hit the stages of legendary venues all over the world.
Local 518 Stage
1:00 p.m. – Caity and the Gallaghers are the full band iteration of the folk singer-songwriter Caity Gallagher, joined by the talented bassist Ben Woodul, pianist Dan DeKalb, and percussionist John Morris. Compared to a modern combination of The Cranberries and Jackson Browne, she elevates melodic, emotional, and lyrical expression in her music.
2:15 p.m. – Glass Pony is an Albany collective that plays a variety of genres spanning multiple decades from psychedelic and jam-focused rock to funk, post-punk, and more. The band offers a sound that truly translates through generations with a stylistic blend that engages a broad listenership, with the focus squarely set on delivering captivating live performances
3:30 p.m. – Nickopotamus combines elements of jam, funk, rock, punk, groove, and zydeco to provide the listener with an exciting experience that will have them singing along. Hailing from Albany, the four-piece is led by singer/songwriter/ guitarist Nick Souder, with Andy Flemming on Bass, Dave Pemrick on Drums, and Kate Beauvais on Aux Percussion.
4:45 p.m. – DJ HollyW8D, originally from Brooklyn, is an influencer who curates shows for independent artists and hosts a radio segment on WCDB 90.9 FM. He energized crowds throughout the Upstate New York Capital Region and believes music brings joy, energy, nostalgia, and good vibes. His latest venture is titled #MoreMusicLessViolence which is a community concert series focused on bringing creatives of all ages together along with community members through positive music.
For more information about the Albany Tulip Festival, visit here.
Tedeschi Trucks Band has announced two arena shows dubbed “The Garden Parties” at TD Garden in Boston, MA on Sept. 27 and Madison Square Garden on Sept. 29.
Photo by David McClister.
Tedeschi Trucks Band is a Grammy Award-winning 12-piece rock and soul powerhouse, led by the husband/wife duo of guitarist Derek Trucks and singer/guitarist Susan Tedeschi. They are known for their world-class musicianship and contemporary blend of a wide range of American musical influences. The band continues to tour in support of I Am The Moon, their acclaimed fifth studio project which “explodes with joyful, powerful and positive music” (Guitar Player). The album was made off the road during the pandemic and includes four albums released over the summer of 2022.
Since forming in 2010, the band has traveled countless miles to bring their music to fans all over the world, from sold-out multi-night residencies across America to tours through Europe and Japan, and their flagship annual summer amphitheater tours. Their extensive catalog isn’t geared towards one genre, spanning rock, blues, jazz, and even country, and no setlist is ever the same. Today the band announced two arena show performances happening at TD Garden in Boston, MA on Sept. 27 and Madison Square Garden on Sept. 29. “The Garden Parties” are presented by Live Nation & Peter Shapiro’s Dayglo Presents. The special guest for these performances will be fellow Grammy Award-winner, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real.
These performances come on the heels of their recently expanded summer run of tour dates across the US. Tickets for these performances go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 7 at 10 a.m. ET, with the TTB Fan Club presale beginning Tuesday, April 4 at 10 a.m. ET. The artist, venue, promoter, and Chase Bank presales begin Wednesday, April 5 at 10 a.m. ET and fans can download the Tedeschi Trucks Band app in both the Apple and Google Play Stores to get easy access to tour dates and up-to-date information about the band. To purchase tickets, visit here.
2023 Tour Dates New dates in bold 4/28 – N. Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena 4/29 – Birmingham, AL – BJCC Concert Hall 4/30 – New Orleans, LA – Jazz & Heritage Festival 6/22 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place* 6/23, 24 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre* 6/27, 28 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap*
6/29 – Richmond, VA – Virginia Credit Union Live~ 7/1 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center~ 7/2 – Scranton, PA – Peach Music Festival
7/3 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion at Meadowbrook~
7/5 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater~ 7/7, 8 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater~ 7/11 – Canandaigua, NY – Constellation Brands – Marvin Sands PAC~
7/13 – Toronto, Canada – Budweiser Stage~ 7/14 – Rochester Hills, MI – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre~ 7/15 – Indianapolis, IN – TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park~
7/18– Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion~ 7/19 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center~ 7/20 – Milwaukee, WI – BMO Pavilion* 7/22 – St. Louis, MO – Fabulous Fox Theatre*
7/24 – Kansas City, MO – Kansas City Convention Center Music Hall* 7/25 – Lincoln, NE – Pinewood Bowl Amphitheater* 7/28, 29 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre* 9/27 – Boston, MA – TG Garden^ 9/29 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden^
with Vincent Neil Emerson ~ with Ziggy Marley ^Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
Following up on her successful Dead of Winter Residency singer-songwriter and classically trained harpist Mikaela Davis will be playing a Here Comes Sunshine Residency in May at Upstate locations like Buffalo, Albany, Syracuse, and more.
Mikaela Davis, photo by Tim Mosenfelder/WireImage.
Mikaela Davis is a native of Rochester, navigating folk, rock, and chamber pop in her music. She emerged in the early 2010s showcasing her harp skills with solo covers of indie singer/songwriters, producing her debut album Delivery in 2018. At age eight she began studying classical harp at the Crane School of Music, writing her own songs after that, and touring whenever she wasn’t in school. Since her debut, she has released several singles, including August’s release of “Left Hand Path,” and has shared the stage with Bob Weir, Christian McBride, Bon Iver, and more. She also performs with her band Southern Star, recently recording at the Relix Studio in New York City, releasing an exclusive Relix Studios vinyl.
Davis recently announced she will be playing a Here Comes Sunshine Residency in May in multiple Upstate cities like Ithaca, Buffalo, Albany, and Syracuse, with additional one-off shows in Burlington, VT, and the Rochester Lilac Festival. All residency shows will feature two sets, a mixture of original & Grateful Dead songs. Along with the announcement of these shows, Davis says a brand new album is in the works, to be announced at a later date.
For more information about Mikaela Davis and to buy tickets to her Here Comes Sunshine Residency, visit here.
Mikaela Davis Residency Shows
5/2 – Buffalo NY – 9th Ward at Babeville [Residency Show] 5/3 – Albany NY – Parish Public House [Residency Show] 5/4 – Syracuse NY – Funk n Waffles [Residency Show] 5/5 – Burlington VT – Burlington, VT [Residency Show] 5/7 – Ithaca NY [Residency Show] 5/8 – Ithaca NY [Residency Show] 5/9 – Buffalo NY – 9th Ward at Babeville [Residency Show] 5/10 – Albany NY – Parish Public House [Residency Show] 5/11 – Syracuse NY – Funk n Waffles [Residency Show] 5/15 – Rochester NY – Lilac Festival 5/16 – Buffalo NY – 9th Ward at Babeville [Residency Show] 5/18 – Syracuse NY – Funk n Waffles [Residency Show] 5/19 – Albany NY – Parish Public House [Residency Show]
The Kings Theatre in Brooklyn has announced that as of March 27, fans can only purchase tickets via ATG Tickets which are available for purchase through their box office and website.
The Kings Theatre was built in 1929 as one of the five original Loew’s Wonder Theaters, originally a movie palace live performance venue featuring vaudeville reviews. The movie palace was inspired by the French Renaissance Revival style of the Palace of Versailles and the Paris Opera House and became stagnant after its closing in 1979 until undergoing restoration in 2013. In 2015, the venue was officially opened as the Kings Theatre with a debut performance by Diana Ross. Now the theatre is widely recognized for being a cultural and economic cornerstone of the Flatbush community, and a great addition to Brooklyn’s cultural landscape as a whole. The venue announced that their new ticket service is ATG Tickets, only available for purchase through their website or box office.
Ticketmaster has come under fire the past few months for the mishandling of the presale ticket sale of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, causing fans to not be able to access tickets, getting booted out of the ticket queue, and overselling the presale quantity so fans without Verified Fan codes were unable to get tickets at all. It has become the largest ticket-selling company in the world, despite the fact that in 1994 Pearl Jam famously filed a complaint with the antitrust division of the U.S. Department of Justice, citing that Ticketmaster has a “virtually absolute monopoly on the distribution of tickets to concerts.”
In January, Live Nation Entertainment, the concert industry giant that owns Ticketmaster, came under attack at a Senate Judiciary hearing, with both sides criticizing the botched sales of tickets, and calling the company a monopoly that hinders competition and harms consumers. Some questioned whether the two merging companies should be broken up once their agreement with the Justice Department expires in 2025. According to various estimates cited by the senators, Ticketmaster controls ticketing at 70 to 80 percent of major concert venues in the United States, making them indeed a monopoly.
Other tours have also been affected by Ticketmaster, like Drake and Beyoncés. Platinum tickets, or tickets that the company purposely sells for higher prices because they know fans will buy them, were a big issue for both of these tours, with some tickets nearing $1,000. The Cure recently announced a North American tour, utilizing the Ticketmaster Verified Fan system, where fans with verified accounts are randomly selected for presale codes to purchase tickets earlier than the general public. Robert Smith of the band spoke publicly on his Twitter account disagreeing with the idea of platinum ticketing, and the fees that Ticketmaster puts on tickets, which are sometimes close to the cost of the actual ticket. Since he was so open about his distaste for the company, Ticketmaster gave credit to accounts who bought tickets to see The Cure as a consultation for the expensive fees.
The Kings Theatre has been one of the few venues to fully switch away from Ticketmaster, possibly creating a trend of major venues boycotting the monopoly. The theatre switching to only using their website and box offices for ticket purchases will have positive effects on fans trying to purchase tickets, hopefully putting an end to outrageous fees and long wait times. For fans that have purchased tickets through Ticketmaster for the theatre’s events, they will be transferred to the new system. For more information about the Kings Theatre and to view future events, visit here.
