Riot Fest has announced its 2023 line-up for the three-day festival. Beginning in 2005, Riot Fest has been regarded as one of the best festivals in the nation, featuring music from a wide variety of rock bands. The featured headliners include: Foo Fighters, The Cure, The Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie, and Queens of the Stone Age.
Other notable bands featured are Turnstile, The Mars Volta, Mr. Bungle, Tegan and Sara, 100 Gecs, The Gaslight Anthem, Death Grips, AFI, and many more. Riot Fest will span across Friday, Sept. 15, Saturday, Sept. 16, and Sunday, Sept. 17. As in previous years, the festival will take place in Chicago’s Douglass Park.
Originally founded in 2005, Riot Fest is an independent music festival that incorporates the best of punk, rock ‘n’ roll, hip hop, metal, alternative, and just about everything in between. It was named #1 Music Festival by USA Today twice, and was voted Best Music Festival through a poll for Chicago Reader in 2021.
Riot Fest is known for its music features and its reunions, such as that of iconic bands like Naked Raygun, the Replacements, The Original Misfits, and Jawbreaker. This year will feature the return of carnival rides, freak shows, panel discussions, and even a wedding chapel. In addition, Logan Arcade, a local venue, will be having free vintage arcade games, hosted by Riot Pop!!, Riot Fest’s own brand of nonalcoholic and alcoholic seltzer.
The festival is easily accessible with Chicago bus and train lines, and is surrounded by diverse neighborhoods with many drink and food locals. Within the festival itself is a variety of food vendors, including vegan and vegetarian options.
Tickets are available on Riot Fest’s website through the Tixr service. Only three-day passes are currently available, though single-day tickets will be available at a later date. The three-day tickets have a mix of options, such as General Admission, VIP Passes, Deluxe Passes, and Deluxe+ Passes.
AstroGun, a Queens-based alternative rock band, has released their new LP The Underground Sessions. The 11 tracks are, as intended, raw and authentic with the hollow creaks of instruments and the echoes of underground jam sessions.
Credit: B. G. Aramayo
AstroGun is now in its sixth year with three previous LPs: Internalization, Truth & Lies and Liquid Love. The Underground Sessions takes the best of what these LPs had to offer for a powerful album that represents the best the band has to offer. The band has solidified with Astro Li as the drummer, Adam Anthony as bassist and vocalist, as well as Robby Thunders as the guitarist.
We wanted to capture our live sound on a recording, which we hadn’t done before. Something like what Radiohead did with From The Basement. We were also thinking of Nirvana’s Smart Sessions, we wanted it to be raw and organic.
Bassist and Vocalist Adam Anthony
The album has a distinct lyrical sound due to Anthony’s vocals, and maintains an energetic, raw vibe throughout the piece. Each song has an iconic opening the distinguishes one from the other. It occasionally plays with headphone panning, separating certain sounds into one or the other. This happens in “Mind Revolution,” which also contains some of Li’s best drumming with satisfying echoes and creaks. Li’s beats offer a strong foundation for this song.
“Writing on the Wall” is the final song on side A, and it has a satisfying opening using headphone panning. A lone guitar begins on the left side while the main instrumentals come roaring in on the right. It also carries that authentic styling with a small audio spike and the occasional sliding of fingers down a guitar. The lyrics are well mixed in “Writing on the Wall,” more distinct than in other pieces.
“Liquid Love” on side B takes the time for some slower moments that are missing from other songs. This makes it a unique entry, especially with the echoing guitar throughout the piece. The vocals are quieter, but are given space with an absence of clamor. While it is not always so, one of the background drum beats sounds like a dull heartbeat, which is perfect for “Liquid Love.”
The Underground Sessions, divided into separate entries for side A and side B, can be found on the band’s Spotify page.
John Medeski, Joe Russo, and Marc Ribot will be holding a benefit concert for the Music Workers Alliance in the Sultan Room in Brooklyn on Sept. 12. This is not the first time this trio has formed, as they originally came together for the Brooklyn Comes Alive event in 2021.
John Medeski is a jazz keyboard player and composer, gaining popularity as a member of Medeski Martin & Wood. The band, formed in 1991, is known for its “avant-groove” style of jazz fusion. Medeski has remained active through numerous side projects in the 2010s and 2020s.
Joe Russo is a drummer who has played alongside numerous musicians, including Bob Weir and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead during his time with Further. He founded his band, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, in 2013.
Marc Ribot is a guitarist and composer who has explored many genres through his work as a session musician. He has released over 25 albums of his own over his career and currently works with many groups, including Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dogs.
The Music Workers Alliance seeks to empower members of the music industry through collective action. It was formed in 2019 as a reaction to the undiscussed plight of working musicians and DJs in local policy. The organization helped organize relief for musicians struggling with unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic. It often collaborates with other organizations with aligned goals.
Doors open at 7:00 p.m., and the show ends at 10:00 p.m. More information on the Music Workers Alliance can be found on their website. Tickets for their Sultan Room performance can be found here.
The Jonas Brothers’ “The Tour” has expanded with new dates internationally, bringing the total number of shows to 90. “The Tour” kicks off with two sold-out shows in Yankee Stadium this August, with future performances in Buffalo this November and Albany this December.
Visiting 20 countries, many of which for the first time, and 86 cities, “The Tour” is the largest tour the band has ever put together. Earlier this year, the Jonas Brothers released a new album, titled similarly to their tour as The Album. It was produced by Jon Bellion and released with Republic Records.
The Jonas Brothers themselves are one of the most successful groups of this century, with over 20 million sold albums, two Grammy Award nominations, and three consecutive #1 debuts on the Billboard 200. Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas, and Kevin Jonas have not only had successful careers in music, but also in TV, film, and other business ventures. 2019 saw the band’s comeback with the Platinum-certified album Happiness Begins.
For more information and for tickets, check out the Jonas Brothers’ website. For information on VIP packages, check out the link here.
Old Tour Dates
Aug. 12 – Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY
Aug. 13 – Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY
Aug. 15 – TD Garden – Boston, MA
Aug. 16 – TD Garden – Boston, MA
Aug. 17 – Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT
Aug. 19 – Rogers Centre – Toronto, ON
Aug. 22 – Gainbridge Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN
Celebrate México Now Festival (CMN) will be returning to NYC from Nov. 14 to 21, confirmed at locations in both Manhattan and Brooklyn. Programs are across literature, photography, culinary arts, film, dance, and music. Each is a part of the pipeline connecting the arts and culture communities of NYC and Mexico.
The 20-year-old festival returned to live programming last year following the COVID-19 pandemic, run by award-winning curator and producer Claudia Norman of CN Management. Most events are free to attend. CMN has thus far showcased nearly 450 artists and partnered with over 150 venues and cultural institutions throughout NYC.
Confirmed Dates
Ximena Pérez Grobet: Reading Finnegans Wake – Center for Book Arts, Manhattan – Nov. 14 at 6:00 p.m.
Ximena Pérez Grobet will take the audience through the nine-year process of creating, editing, and publishing the limited edition of Reading Finnegans Wake. Using a classic edition of Finnegans Wake by James Joyce that was published in 1965, Pérez Grobet unbound the book, carefully cut the text apart nearly line by line, then reassembled it. This resulted in four knitted versions of the text.
Daniel Ramos: Eres Muy Hermosa – Camera Club of New York, Manhattan – Nov. 15 at 6:00 p.m.
In the fifth year of collaboration with the Camera Club of New York, CMN will be hosting photographer Daniel Ramos. He will be discussing his solo exhibit Eres Muy Hermosa, which showcases a series of portraits made with a 4×5 large format view camera in bars and clubs at night in Monterrey, North Mexico.
Mexico Writes Now: An Evening with Carmen Boullosa, Ximena Santaolalla, Naief Yehya, Alvaro Enrigue, and Oswaldo Zavala – The Center for Fiction, Brooklyn – Nov. 16 at 6:00 p.m.
Some of Mexico’s leading voices in academia, poetry, novel, and essay writing will be assembled at the Center for Fiction, discussing their experiences living and working in NYC. Along with the acclaimed writer Carmen Boullosa, authors Ximena Santaolalla, Naief Yehya, Álvaro Enrigue, and Oswaldo Zavala will read their work and share their favorite Mexican films, photographs, and paintings with the audience.
Boullosa’s novel La otra mano de Lepanto has been acknowledged as one of the top works of literature written in Spanish in the last 25 years. She has written a dozen volumes of poetry and has published nineteen novels, two books of essays, and ten plays.
Diana Wangeman and Jesús “Pat Boy” Chablé: The Present and Future of Ancestral Practices – Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, Manhattan – Nov. 18, TBA
A unique event featuring two indigenous creators seeking to preserve ancestral practices through very different forms of art. Diana Wangeman acts in the culinary preservation of ancient records of corn cultivation and preparation through her popular Brooklyn tortilleria and restaurant Sobre Masa. Jesús Chablé, better known as Pat Boy, performs rap in Mayan and teaches others to rap in Mayan, helping to preserve the language.
A Tribute to Lourdes Grobet – King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center on NYU Campus, Manhattan – Nov. 20 at 6:00 p.m.
CMN will pay tribute to the late Mexican photographer Lourdes Grobet, presenting the final two projects Grobet finished before passing. The first is Bering, Reunión Familiar, a documentary and a part of Grobet’s larger project on the Bering Strait. The second is Laboratorio de Teatro Campesino e Indígena, medio siglo de historia, a book that Grobet worked on for over 30 years.
SHIFT with Antonio Sánchez and Bad Hombre, Thana Alexa, BIGYUKI and Lex Sadler; Echoes in Proximity; and Ampersan, Co-Presented with World Music Institute – Le Poisson Rouge, Manhattan – Nov. 21 at 7:00 p.m.
The only ticketed event as of present, the concert will conclude the CMN Festival. Audiences can expect a showcase of unique, yet contemporary sounds by award-winning musicians that blend genres and styles to create a dynamic music experience. The event will be co-presented with the World Music Institute.
Tickets for the Celebrate México Now Festival are available here. For more information and for updates on future events, check out CMN’s website.
The Planes, a New York City indie rock band, has released their summer single “Thrift Store,” which is a part of the larger album Dark Matter Recycling Co. The new album will release on Sept. 15.
The Planes were originally founded in 2010 by Stephen Otto Perry and are known for their deft songwriting and loud performances. Alongside Perry, who plays guitar and writes the songs, are drummer Don Lavis and bassist Jackie Perrone.
“Thrift Store” is a loud, triumphant piece, the guitars, and drums layered above the vocals. The vocals provide a smooth undercurrent, maintaining a low volume throughout. This is contrasted by the instrumentals, which occasionally dive up and down in volume.
The song flows into itself, with not many clear breaks between chorus and verse. There are sometimes absences in either instrumentals or vocals, which helps mix up the track.
The full-length album, Dark Matter Recycling Co. will release on Sept. 15 through Totally Real Records in the United States and Safe Suburban Home Records in the United Kingdom.
VIBES: The Game For Music Minds is to join “50 Hours of Hip Hop: A 50th Anniversary Celebration” for their upcoming special on Bronxnet TV from 6:00 p.m. on Aug. 11 to 8:00 p.m. on Aug. 13.
The “50 Hours of Hip Hop” special will highlight the best talent music videos and programs dedicated to celebrating 50 years of Hip Hop. VIBES is a televised DJ competition that originally premiered Aug. 2, 2022 to over 1 million U.S. homes through both BRIC TV and Bronxnet TV.
The show itself is a quick mixing competition with three DJs competing over two rounds. They must entertain a live and virtual audience through a variety of musical genres. Since its inception, VIBES has grown into a social platform for competitors, up and coming artists, and has engaged fans at live events in NYC.
VIBES will be premiering with its full season on Noire TV to over 20 million homes in the U.S., Nigeria, and Europe. More information can be found on Bronxnet TV’s website.
Seedstock Music Festival has recently announced its schedule for the 2023 festival on Aug. 12 in Cortland, NY. The festival is returning to its roots with a one-day festival after its 2020 and 2021 absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For over two centuries the Reed family farmed among the hills near Cortland, and for over a century, that farm was known as Reed’s Seeds. When a group of friends moved in to the property, the owners Don and Carol Reed had only one rule: if the boys ever threw a party, they better be invited.
That year in 2008 was the very first Seedstock Festival, owing its name to the farm itself. It would grow from a one-day party with a handful of local bands to a three-day festival with two dozen bands and a thousand people. After its absence in the pandemic, Seedstock returned to a one-day party for 2022’s show and the upcoming 2023 show.
While food is available on the property throughout the day, it is a BYOB event. Glass bottles are not allowed, and all recyclables with deposits are gathered. The money from this is donated to the Cortland Youth Bureau for their music program.
Festivities are divided between the Backyard Stage and the Forest Stage, with 13 bands in attendance for the 2023 Seedstock Music Festival. The gates open at 10:00 a.m. and the first performance begins at 11:00 a.m. on the Backyard Stage.
More information on the bands and the festival, as well as tickets, are all available on the Seedstock Music Festival website. Tickets are in high demand with a limited quantity, and any remaining tickets will be sold at the gate. Children 12 and under receive free admission.
On Aug. 3 and 4, the Queens Public Library (QPL) will be celebrating 50 years of hip hop with their “Hip Hop 50 Summit,” which will feature Darryl McDaniels of Run-DMC, as well as Lumidee and KRS-One. With panel discussions, interactive workshops, exhibits, augmented reality experiences, open mic sessions, DJ sets, and performances, the event will be at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center.
Additionally, the event will be hosted by QPL’s Hip Hop Coordinator Ralph McDaniels, also known as “Uncle Ralph.” Alongside him will be co-host DJ G$Money. In like manner, the goal is to create a space for the discussion of hip hop, its legacy and its future with interactive workshops throughout the two-day event.
I am very excited about the Hip Hop 50 Summit. The conversation and agenda will cover all five decades of hip hop culture and its core elements – DJing, MCing, breakdancing, graffiti art and knowledge. The summit will celebrate hip hop legacy, but more importantly, it will create a space to exchange ideas, while also becoming a lasting resource on the subject for the future.
QPL Hip Hop Coordinator Ralph McDaniels
Noteworthy Panels for Thursday, Aug. 3
“Hip Hop History, Science, Technology & Innovations” is from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., moderated by the young entrepreneur Aaliyah Duah. Rappers Phresher and Young B will work alongside data scientist and CEO of DataedX Group Dr. Brandeis Marshall to discuss aspects of the entertainment industry.
“The Business of Hip Hop, Careers and Activism,” is from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., and will feature rapper Darryl McDaniels, singer Lumidee, and media personality A.V. Perkins. Furthermore, they will be discussing the power of hip hop, from activism to making money.
“Paving the Way: Pioneers of Hip Hop” is from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.. Those in the panel include: KRS-One; Darryl McDaniels; MC Sha-Rock, one of the first female MCs in hip hop history; and DJ Hurricane, known for his work with the Beastie Boys.
“Switch the Style Up: Fashion in Hip Hop” is from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. with host, fashion historian and archivist Tianni Graham. Joining her will be the Shirt Kings, Black fashion designer Malik Dupri, PowHerful Apparel CEO Dave Huie and FIT Professor, as well as hip hop fashion expert Elena Romero.
Noteworthy Panels for Friday, Aug. 4
“The Message: Media, Technology and the Future” from 10:00 to 11:15 a.m. will have moderation from the founder and executive director of the Universal Hip Hop Museum Rocky Bucano. VIBE Magazine Editor-in-Chief Datwon Thomas, YouTube Black Music & Culture Director Tuma Basa, Microsoft Senior Attorney Bruce Jackson, and DJ TedSmooth will all be talking about the intersection of hip hop and media.
“Fight the Power: Social Justice and Education” will close the summit, held from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m., and will include: Dr. Christopher Emdin, the founder of the #HipHopEd social movement; DJ and Co-Founder of Hip Hop Blvd NYC Al Pizarro; hip hop artist and criminal justice reform activist Mysonne Linen; and Lennox Yearwood Jr., President and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus. Likewise they will discuss hip hop as a vehicle for social change.
While the event is free, tickets are limited and are required for entry. Moreover, more information and a full schedule for the panels is available here. As a plus, the event will also be available for streaming on QPL’s Instagram.
Cannastock, the largest consumption-friendly cannabis festival in New York, will be returning to the Capital Region at Milton near Poughkeepsie on Oct. 7 from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. Live music will be headlined by Andy Frasco & the U.N., with additional performances by the reggae group SunDub. Over 100 exhibitors will be present on the fields outside the Hudson Valley Sportsdome.
Guests will interact with the industry pioneers bringing recreational cannabis to the Hudson Valley, including cannabis brands, growers, and manufacturers. In addition to cannabis products available at the new Green Market, festival-goers will be able to enjoy games, gourmet food trucks, and a craft beer and wine garden.
This year will also feature the announcement of the winners for the Excelsior Cup, a competition for the best cannabis products in NYS.
After two sold out Cannastock festivals, we are excited to produce the biggest and best one ever; this time in a spacious grassland with the Catskill Mountains as our backdrop. There will be more exhibitors, games, and chill out areas, along with a larger variety of food trucks and craft beers and wine. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and enjoy live reggae music all day followed by a performance by our favorite party band, Andy Frasco & The U.N.
Cannastock Co-Founder Gary Chetkof
Andy Frasco & The U.N., a blues and rock band, are loved for their kaleidoscopic musical fusion and one-of-a-kind onstage audacity. They will soon release their new album, L’Optimist, their sixth studio album. The new album charts a path of self-exploration and personal discovery through introspective lyrics and music.
SunDub released their debut album, Burden of Love in 2019 to millions of views. The reggae group rallies around the idea that people are the strongest when they work together with those from different backgrounds to create positive change. The core quintet of the group includes guitarist Finn Singer; bassist Josh T Carter; vocalist and keyboardist Eric “The General” Toussaint; and the brother-sister team of Joanna Teters as lead vocalist and Ben Teters as a vocalist and drummer.
An after-show party will be held at the Falcon in Marlboro, NY, featuring Cool Cool Cool.
Tickets will increase in price as it grows closer to the Cannastock Festival. For more information and for tickets, visit here.
