NYS Music 2023

Category: Special

  • Fourth Annual Free Dead in the Park Benefit Concert Set for May

    The 4th annual Free Dead in the Park Benefit Concert, presented by the Capitol Theatre and Rythm Premium Cannabis, is scheduled for May 16 at 4:30 p.m. at Central Park. The concert series, which began in 2018, supports Riverkeeper, a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection of the Hudson River and its tributaries. Stella follows in the footsteps of the Grateful Dead, taking the same stage at the Naumberg Bandshell in Central Park.

    The 2022 Free Dead in the Park Concert. Credit: Ron Cohen.

    Stella Blue’s Band has been performing for more than a decade, and is made up of Bill Bonacci (lead guitar, vocals,) Steve Liesman (rhythm guitar, vocals,) Greg Solomon (bass), Ken Aigen (keyboards), Ron Cohen (drums, vocals), and Amy Stahlin (vocals.) First formed in 2009 to recreate the experience of a Grateful Dead show, Stella was the first band chosen for residency at Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, which has become the band’s homebase. The band plays regularly at New York City venues such as the Brooklyn Bowl and The Cutting Room, among several other venues in the tri-state area.

    Free Dead in the Park began in 2018, after a fan obtained a $25 permit for Stella Blue’s Band to play in the bandshell to honor the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead’s concert at the venue. In the years since it has evolved into a fundraising event for Riverkeeper. “Free Dead in the Park is such an exciting and significant event each year because it connects music fans with the environment and gives them the opportunity to make a difference in their community by helping protect the Hudson River,’’ said Tracy Brown, president of Riverkeeper.

    Riverkeeper is a member-supported organization that preserves and restores the Hudson River from source to sea and safeguards drinking water supplies through advocacy rooted in community partnerships, science, and law. The non-profit originally began as the Hudson River Fisherman’s Association in 1966, when the Hudson River was dying from pollution and neglect. Today, Riverkeeper continues its fight, seeking out polluters and teaming with citizen scientists and activists to reclaim the Hudson River.

    The show will be produced by G4D Productions with support from Best Instrument Rentals. The event would not be possible without support from the NYC Parks Department, which has helped to make the concert a success. The show also has support from a group of committed private contributors like the Morgan Le Fay Dreams Foundation and Friends of Free Dead in the Park.

  • Gotham Jazz Announces 5th Annual GothamJazz Festival at The DTA

    Gotham Jazz announced their Gotham Jazz Festival at The DTA in lower Manhattan on Sunday, April 16. Fans can enjoy their favorite hot jazz, swing and blues tunes from 1pm-12am. 

    gotham jazz festival

    The Gotham Jazz Festival is an annual celebration which features New York City’s best hot jazz, swing, and blues bands. The DTA, otherwise known as the exquisite and exclusive private club from the Gilded-Age, contains four ballrooms and lounges that will showcase performances with over 100 musicians & 20 bands.

    The commemoration was founded in 2017 by ​Prohibition Productions​. In the following year, Prohibition Productions partnered with ​New York Hot Jazz Camp​ to exhibit performances by their splendid faculty, students, & alumni. The camp is a seven-day educational experience that allows adults to connect with the city’s top traditional jazz players. It is located at the Greenwich House Music School and has been running for six years. Prohibition Productions and The ​New York Hot Jazz Camp​ have now announced their partnership with The Gotham Jazz Festival. 

    All music enthusiasts are encouraged to attend and savor the eleven-hour musical marathon of harmonious jazz featuring an eclectic star-studded line-up.

    Tickets and more information about The Gotham Jazz Festival can be accessed here.

    NYHJC All-Star Band:

    Catherine Russell, Bria Skonberg, Dan Levinson, Ron Wilkins,Cynthia Sayer, Rossano Sportiello, Tal Ronen, Kevin Dorn.

    EYAL VILNER BIG BAND

    FRANK VIGNOLA & VINNY RANIOLO

    DANNY JONOKUCHI & THE REVISIONISTS

    MONA’S HOT FOUR – led by Dennis Lichtman

    STÉPHANE SÉVA SWING ONDULE 4TET (from France)

    TERRY WALDO’S GOTHAM CITY BAND feat. Tatiana Eva Marie

    HOT TODDIES JAZZ BAND feat. Hannah Gill & Queen Esther

    DAVID OSTWALD’S LOUIS ARMSTRONG ETERNITY BAND

    SVETLANA & THE NEW YORK COLLECTIVE

    MIKE DAVIS & THE NEW WONDERS

    CYNTHIA SAYER’S JOYRIDE

    OUR BAND w/Justin Poindexter

    MIMI & THE PODD BROTHERS

    ADRIEN CHEVALIER GYPSY JAZZ 5

    MICHELA MARINO LERMAN & FRIENDS

    MOLLY RYAN & MANHATTAN PREMIERE

    MISS MAYBEL AND THE JAZZ AGE ARTISTS

    CALVIN JOHNSON & NATIVE SON

    solo pianists: 

    TERRY WALDO, DALTON RIDENHOUR,  MIKA NISHIMURA

    DJ ANDRIUS

  • Natalie Merchant Debuts Singles/Videos for “Tower Of Babel” & “Big Girls”

    Jamestown, NY’s Natalie Merchant debuted her new single “Tower of Babel” recently, alongside a soul-infecting indie video to paired alongside. The single anticipates Merchant’s forthcoming album Keep Your Courage, set for an April 14th release. Merchant stated, “For the most part, this is an album about the human heart.”

    Natalie Merchant Debuts New Single/Video “Tower Of Babel”

    “Tower of Babel” is soul-inflecting, featuring horn arrangements by trombone player Steve Davis, and follows the first single and video, “Come On, Aphrodite.”

    As much as I had wanted to not let events in the world intrude, I couldn’t disregard the prevailing atmosphere of fear and confusion that we have been living in as a result of the pandemic, climate crisis, economic instability, insane politics, violent insurrection and the shocking fallout from the conservative-stacked reactionary Supreme Court.

    Natalie Merchant

    Keep Your Courage is the Natalie’s ninth solo studio album, and the latest new material since 2014’s self-titled record. In the words of Uncut, “‘Keep Your Courage,’ almost a decade in the making, finds Merchant as witty and welcoming as always, turning her gaze to what helps us endure life’s ups and downs.”

    The eclectic album features contributions from Celtic folk group Lúnasa, Syrian virtuoso clarinetist Kinan Azmeh and jazz trombonist Steve Davis. There are lush orchestrations by seven composers throughout, including: Gabriel Kahane, Stephen Barber, Colin Jacobsen and Megan Gould. The new record is comprised of nine original songs by Merchant as well as an interpretation of “Hunting the Wren” by Ian Lynch of the Irish band Lankum.

    In celebration of the new music, Merchant will embark upon an extensive tour this spring, going into the fall of 2023.

    NATALIE MERCHANT TOUR—U.S.  

    April 14—Poughkeepsie, NY—Bardavon, 1869 Opera House‡ 

    April 15—Poughkeepsie, NY—Bardavon, 1869 Opera House‡ 

    April 18—Pittsburgh, PA—Byham Theater 

    April 19—Charlottesville, VA—The Paramount Theater‡ 

    April 21—Philadelphia, PA—Kimmel Cultural Campus 

    April 22—Hershey, PA—The Hershey Theatre 

    April 24—Greenville, SC—Peace Center Concert Hall 

    April 26—Clearwater, FL—Ruth Eckerd Hall 

    April 27—Fort Lauderdale, FL—with The South Florida Symphony Orchestra 

    Au-Rene Theater – Broward Center for the Performing Arts† 

    April 28—St. Augustine, FL—The Saint Augustine Amphitheatre 

    April 30—Atlanta, GA—with The Atlanta Symphony at Atlanta Symphony Hall†‡ 

    May 9—Portland, ME—Merrill Auditorium 

    May 10—Boston, MA—Emerson Colonial Theatre‡ 

    May 11—Boston, MA—Emerson Colonial Theatre 

    May 13—Cleveland, OH—Keybank State Theatre 

    May 14—Cincinnati, OH—Taft Theatre 

    May 16—Carmel, IN—The Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts 

    May 17—Ann Arbor, MI—Michigan Theater 

    May 19—Chicago, IL—Chicago Theatre 

    May 20—Milwaukee, WI—The Pabst Theater 

    June 2–3—New York, NY—Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts—Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center† 

    June 25—Newark, NJ—New Jersey Performing Arts Center† 

    June 28—Providence, RI—Veterans Memorial Auditorium† 

    June 30—Washington, DC—John F. Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts† 

    July 1—Washington, DC—John F. Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts† 

    July 8—Chautauqua, NY—Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater† 

    September 20—Spokane, WA—Martin Woldson Theatre at The Fox 

    September 22—Seattle, WA— Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery  

    September 23—Portland, OR—Keller Auditorium 

    September 26—San Francisco, CA—The Masonic 

    September 27—Saratoga, CA—The Mountain Winery* 

    September 29—San Diego, CA—Humphrey’s‡ 

    September 30—Los Angeles, CA—Walt Disney Concert Hall 

    NATALIE MERCHANT TOUR—EUROPE 

    November 2—London, UK—London Palladium 

    November 3—London, UK—London Palladium 

    November 5—Glasgow, UK—Glasgow Royal Concert Hall 

    November 6—Manchester, UK—O2 Apollo Manchester 

    November 8—Dublin, IE—Olympia 

    November 11—Bath, UK—The Forum 

    November 13—Amsterdam, NL—Carré Theatre 

    November 14—Brussels, BE—Cirque Royal 

    *On-sale timing TBA 

    †With symphony orchestra 

    ‡Sold Out 

    To listen and watch “Tower Of Babel,” click the link here. 

    Pre-save/pre-order the forthcoming album here. 

  • Homeschool Announces Authentic EP And Releases Single “Loving You To Death” 

    NYC-based singer-songwriter and actor, Homeschool, has just announced the release of his newest EP Just Now. As a follow-up to the EP’s first track and lead single which documents D’Agustino’s burgeoning sense of self, today finds the release of another new track entitled “Loving You To Death.” 

    Homeschool Announces Authentic EP And Releases Single "Loving You To Death" 

    It has been a tumultuous year for Tom D’Agustino, also known as “Homeschool,” a solo project of NYC singer-songwriter. As an independent artist with unfettered control of the creative process, Homeschool has spent the past year experimenting with music and masculinity, inching closer to what they feel is an “authentic” way of being in the world. As a newcomer to acting, D’Agustino is reveling in the opportunity to explore the worlds of different characters, to “experiment with who I’m able to become,” he states.  

    Homeschool Announces Authentic EP And Releases Single "Loving You To Death" 

    Formerly known as the front person of the garage pop quartet, Active Bird Community, Homeschool pokes fun at traditional masculine rock archetypes by blending bedroom pop textures with anthemic, self-aware hooks to tell detailed stories of loss, identity, and self-exploration.  

    Just Now, the new 6-track EP slated for May 19th, is the result of this new exploration. AsD’Agustino’s  first foray into self-producing his own music, Just Now showcases their independence and shameless autonomy as a gender-fluid person, while taking ownership over all aspects of their creative life, whether it be songwriting, production, acting or writing.  

    In celebration of these new releases, Homeschool sold out their debut headlining show at Mercury Lounge in NYC and received positive press from outlets such as Ones To Watch, Brooklyn Vegan, FLOOD, Under The Radar, Paste, Stereogum, Our Culture. Now, D’Agustino announces the upcoming release of a long-awaited brand new EP entitled Just Now, due May 19th. As a follow-up to the EP’s first track, he has also relased the single “Loveing You To Death.” 

    D’Agustino wrote, “‘Loving You To Death’ was written during the tail-end of the Covid lockdown when my partner and I had just moved into an apartment together. We had spent a year living with her parents before that, and this song explores my neediness, clinginess, and overall attachment to her. It’s a fun, upbeat way to interrogate my constant need for love and reassurance that I have value. I think by reminding someone how much I love them, I can be sheltered from how I don’t love myself enough. I’m sure all that affection can get annoying though, so in the song I am trying to convince her of all of these positive things about me so she won’t think I’m a needy little baby. But I so am.”

    To celebrate the EP on its release day, May 19, Homeschool will play an EP release show at Baby’s All Right with fellow NYC rocker and queer/non-binary TikTok champion Libby Larkin. Tickets are on sale this Friday, March 31th click the link HERE to purchase. 

    Homeschool’s Just Now weaves genre-bending stylings into self-aware reflections that paint the pain of life with a surprisingly upbeat and humorous brush. “While some of these topics are heavy, I think a lot of this record turned into me poking fun at myself,” they say. At the end of the day becoming “just now,” doesn’t have to be a bummer. It can be a dance, a laugh. It can be the glitter on your eyes that make the tears sparkle. 

    To listen to “Loving You To Death,” click the link here.

    For more music by Homeschool, click the link here. 

    Just Now is available everywhere on May 19th. 

  • FRIDAY Shares Clown-like Grunge Single/Video “Dear God”

    NYC-based multihyphenate creative Nicole Daddona, also known as FRIDAY, has shared her new single and music video, “Dear God.” The grunged-out ballad is a punk reclamation of emotions, paired with a video that shows her dressed up as a crying, cigarette-smoking clown as she takes over an empty indoor children’s entertainment facility.  

    When Nicole Daddona preforms as her alter ego FRIDAY, she channels her creativity in each moment and brings a sense of nostalgic fun to each track. Daddona catches her audience with an emotionally deep sound that when you listen, you’ll transport you to a world where the weekend never ends.  

    FRIDAY Shares Clown-like Grunge Single/Video "Dear God"

    With each song, FRIDAY captures different aspects of the human experience, adding her unique, colorful perspective. When listening to “Dear God,” her hook-filled songs and playful melodies will get stuck in your head and your heart. 

    FRIDAY Shares Clown-like Grunge Single/Video "Dear God"

    Besides Nicole’s new project FRIDAY, she is the founder and designer of the “lowbrow, high fashion” clothing and accessories company Magic Society, creating iconic, playful, and maximalist designs like the Judy Bag (a purse made from deadstock blow-up dolls). She’s also one half of the production company Magic Society Pictures, who just debuted their most recent film The Mundanes at this year’s SXSW.  

    FRIDAY Shares Clown-like Grunge Single/Video "Dear God"

    It’s well known that FRIDAY is a true creative powerhouse. This talented artist is not only a visual artist and filmmaker but also a fashion designer who has turned her hand to music. Through her whimsical and eclectic solo musical project, FRIDAY explores themes of love and loss with a touch of nostalgia and DIY aesthetics. In fact, she once described her music as “Harry Nilsson meets Nirvana,” which gives you a taste of the unique sound she brings to the table. 

    FRIDAY Shares Clown-like Grunge Single/Video "Dear God"

    FRIDAY’s music draws inspiration from a range of artists, including Marc Bolan, Jeff Lynne, George Harrison, Nirvana, and Harry Nilsson. Her sound is an accumulation of multiple genres, inspired by Art Rock, 70s power pop, grunge, bubblegum pop, and NU-Disco influences.  

    From the influences of NYC, her music is inspired by vintage horror films, unrequited love, dreamcore, and weirdcore. It’s a cross-genre project that has something for everyone. FRIDAY channels her creativity in each moment and brings a sense of nostalgic fun to each track. 

    To listen to “Dear God” by FRIDAY, click the link here. 

    To watch the music video for “Dear God,” click the link here. 

    For more on FRIDAY, click the link here. 

  • Telecom Debuts on the Music Scene with Captivating single “Ramon”

    New band Telecom, from Brooklyn-based musician Sean McVerry, has released their debut single, “Ramon” on March 21 and have plans to release more music soon. Telecom melds 60s brit-pop, late 2000s New York indie grit, and cheeky theatrics. McVerry has worked and toured with artists such as Karen O, Danger Mouse, and Aurora.

    Telecom members, from left to right: Andres Valbuena, Zeno Pittarelli, and Jonathan Sacca. Credit: Matt Speno

    Telecon comprises Andres Valbuena on drums, Zeno Pittarelli on guitar, Jonathan Sacca on bass, and several other Brooklyn musicians. Their founder, Sean McVerry, is a New York music scene veteran, and recently on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he won the show’s “instant songwriter” segment. Telecom has earned millions of streams on music platforms, and music has been featured on several television shows such as NBC’s Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and Adult Swim on Cartoon Network.

    Telecom’s debut single “Ramon” and its upcoming counterpart were co-produced and mixed by former DFA engineer Abe Seiferth at Brookly’s Transmitter Park studios. McVerry moved a free piano he found on Craigslist into the apartment, (nearly crushing himself to death) and the songs quickly came together. He started working on the songs in late 2020 in his home studio in Crown Heights, as a way to express his feelings about the Covid-19 pandemic. The songs provide different takes on the situation, with “Ramon” describing McVerry’s feelings of being trapped with his neighbors in their Brooklyn apartment building. Both songs remained dormant until a writing retreat with Pittarelli and Rahn in 2021, at which point Telecom was beginning to take form.

    If Telecom’s future music is anything like “Ramon,” the band is certain to have a long and successful career ahead of them. Upon listening to their debut single, audiences are sure to be eager for more by Telecom. McVerry truly found magic with the three artists that make up the group.

    McVerry said of Telecom’s Debut Single:

    ‘Ramon’ began with a free piano from Craigslist. After mining a ’70s drum break from my vinyl collection, I laid down the initial cassette tape demo of the song. The track thumps along a hypnotic groove, as the speaker romanticizes the cat in the courtyard, and the introspection that comes with isolation.

    “Ramon” is now streaming.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O1nCFGx0cE

  • Justin Meyer Releases Single “Friends With Fear” 

    Brooklyn-based artist, producer, and engineer Justin Meyer has just released his newest single “Friends With Fear,” out Friday, March 24th. Inspired by Justin’s journey of graduating during the pandemic, the single puts a positive spin on uncertainty and the shared experience of having a quarter-life crisis.  

    Justin Meyer Releases Single “Friends With Fear” 

    Written in 2022, “Friends With Fear” explores the experience of having a quarter-life crisis while confronting the unique challenges of graduating during a pandemic. The upbeat track fuses thought-provoking lyrics with Lily Kelso’s background vocals and Alden Spence’s electric guitar layers to create an undeniably hypnotic sound.  

    Sharing more behind the song’s inspiration, Justin Meyer explains, “‘Friends With Fear’ is about having a quarter-life crisis and trying to be okay with life’s unknowns. I went through college during the pandemic and graduated a year early, leaving me feeling this sense of time slipping away very quickly. I got super focused on the impermanence of life for about a year. This song is about making friends with those feelings and letting them settle instead of fighting them and making them even worse. Furthermore, it’s about reclaiming the joy of being alive.” 

    Hailing from Golden, Colorado, Justin Meyer has had a lifelong passion for music. In 2019, he followed his dream and moved across the country to pursue his Music Production and Engineering degree at the renowned Berklee College of Music.  

    “Justin’s musical career has just begun, but I see it continuing into the far future.”

    —The Crescent Magazine 

    After graduating in 2021, he moved to Brooklyn, New York, and secured a position as an assistant engineer at the prestigious Kensaltown East studio. With his latest single, “Friends With Fear,” Justin continues to demonstrate his exceptional production and songwriting prowess. 

    Justin Meyer Releases Single “Friends With Fear” 

    Prior to his studies at Berklee, Justin had already begun to hone his sound with his first two EPs, Afterthought and Dreams. During the 2020 lockdown, Justin kept busy, producing his first album Metanoia released in 2021. His third EP, Lonely Rock Star, was recorded as part of Justin’s capstone project at Berklee and featured instrumentation by fellow Berklee alumni.  

    Afterthought EP (2019)

    Justin has had the pleasure of collaborating with many talented artists such as Mae McCoy, Lily Kelso, Aldo Rey, and Claire Donzelli. Returning with his latest single, “Friends With Fear,” Justin continues to demonstrate his exceptional production and songwriting prowess. 

    To listen to “Friends With Fear,” click the link here. 

    For more music by Justin Meyer, click the link here. 

  • Presenting the Winner of NYS Music’s March Madness 2023….

    Seize Atlantis! This Glens Falls local band with a grungey soft rock sound prevailed over Hudson Valley’s respectable rock outfit MAINLINE, and takes home the gold for NYS Music’s March Madness 2023.

    Seize Atlantis began as a jamming project in 2018, with a rotating cast of members and a different name. But eventually, only Mike Dardas (bass/backing vocals), Cody Platt (drums), and James Mullen (lead vocals/guitar) remained, and they decided to form a tight-knit trio. Meanwhile, Luc Bourgault had been playing with Cody and James in high school, and he eventually joined the group as lead guitarist.

    After playing a few shows together, the pandemic hit, and the band took a seven-month hiatus. During this time, they decided to rebrand themselves as the Seize Atlantis we know and love today, reflecting their new creative direction and revitalized energy. Since returning to the stage in May 2021, Seize Atlantis has been performing regularly and writing new music.

    Their debut EP was released last summer, with another one on the horizon. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, they’ve built up a loyal fanbase and earned the support of local venues throughout the Capital Region and North Country. With their unique sound and passion for music, Seize Atlantis is a band to watch in the coming years.

    According to the band members themselves, their musical journeys began in different ways. Cody’s parents “mistakenly” bought him a drum kit, and he fell in love with it from there. Mike picked up the bass guitar for the first time when a friend needed a bassist for their middle school band. Luc’s interest in guitar started with the Guitar Hero craze, and he quickly discovered his talent for picking out melodies by ear. James was influenced heavily by bands like U2 and Pink Floyd from a young age, and his passion for writing lyrics started at the age of 15.

    For all of them, music has been a driving force in their lives, and performing and creating has become an integral part of who they are. This deep passion for music truly bleeds through in their tunes, since, as James puts it, “this is what keeps us sane!”

    Seize Atlantis has big plans for the upcoming summer months. They’re set to release their highly anticipated second EP, Ruins Rebuilt, in June, they already have a number of dates lined up to celebrate the occasion.

    Fans can expect an EP release party, as well as a performance at GEM Fest 2023 in Glens Falls on July 22nd. But Seize Atlantis is not content to rest on their laurels. As a completely DIY and independent operation, they handle everything from management and booking to designing and selling merch, as well as recording, mixing, and mastering all of their original material. The band is always striving to grow and evolve in every aspect of being an indie band, and they’re committed to taking the next step in their journey.

    As Seize Atlantis gears up to release their second EP, Ruins Rebuilt, the band is excited to showcase their new collaborative approach to songwriting. In contrast to their previous release, which was a concept album with a social commentary theme, these new songs delve into more personal and introspective themes. The band describes the creative process for this EP as a true team effort, with each member contributing to the unique dynamic and sound of each song. They can’t wait to share this new direction with their fans and see how they react to the EP as a whole.

    Stay tuned to Seize Atlantis on socials to be up to date on any upcoming shows, like their performance at 42 Degrees Tavern on Apr 15 in Glens Falls. You can also catch them at Eldorado Bar in Troy, where they’ll be playing with Black Tongue Reverend and Shadow Witch, on Saturday, April 22, and at Mean Max Brew Works in Glens Falls on May 5

    Congratulations Seize Atlantis, NYS Music’s 2023 March Madness Winner!

    For the past 8 years, this annual competition has been shining a spotlight on the talented artists and musicians from across the Empire State. This year’s competition is the biggest and best yet, with a lineup of diverse genres and highly skilled performers. March Madness 2023 highlights 64 bands and artists you might not know, but should know, as these homegrown talents are making waves through the New York State. Review each round below.

    Round One

    Round Two

    Sweet 16

    Elite 8

    Final 4

    Finals – Seize Atlantis vs. Mainline

    Seize Atlantis joins previous NYS Music March Madness winners include HANZOLO (2022), Organ Fairchild (2021), Black Mountain Symphony (2018), Root SHOCK (2017), Sprocket (2016) and Lucid (2014).

    March Madness 2022

    Our sincere thanks to the sponsors of NYS Music March Madness 2023 – Mirth Films, Funk n Waffles, Scarsdale Music Festival, WEQX 102.7, Yard Amphitheater, Jane Dough, and The Strand Theatre Hudson Falls.

    funknwaffleslogo

  • Fifth Annual Sound Mind Music Festival set for May 20 in Brooklyn

    Sound Mind Live has announced the fifth annual Sound Music Festival for Mental Health will take place on Saturday, May 20, between Irving Ave and Wyckoff Ave in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The free event, which starts at 12 p.m., will feature a number of performers including Iron & Wine, Hiss Golden Messenger, Langhorne Slim, Kamauu, and Pom Pom Squad, and includes DJ sets from House of Yes, Food by Smorgsaburg, Yoga and Sound, Bath Sessions, and more.

    BetterHelp is partnering with Sound Mind Live for this year’s Sound Music Festival

    For this year’s festival, the world’s largest therapy platform, BetterHelp, is partnering with Sound Mind Live to provide a month of free therapy for their combined communities.

    “We’re so proud to partner with Sound Mind on this amazing festival,” Co-founder of House of Yes Anya
    Sapozhnikova says.

    Additionally, containing its focus on mental health awareness, the Sound Music Festival will host a series of panels in partnership with Absurd Conclave, including Mental Health in Communities of Color, Mental Health in the Music Industry, The Importance Of Fostering Community, and more.

    Research shows that since the pandemic, more people have contemplated self-harm, with one in four youth having considered suicide, and the fall out of post-pandemic depression is expected to last 3-5 years. The upcoming Sound Mind Music Festival hopes to bring about deeper community connections for healing and elevate conversations and resources that can help those in need find affordable resources sooner.

    “Over the past several years the world recognized that mental health issues impact us all in one form
    or another,” Executive Director of Sound Mind Live Chris Bullard says.

    Guests will have the opportunity to make a donation and enjoy a VIP experience, which includes an enhanced viewing area, a private bar, and complimentary swag bags. This year’s Sound Music Festival is in partnership with over 10 music artists, 3 local venues, and over 20 mental health organizations including National Alliance on Mental Illness, JED Foundation, and TransLifeline, and is supported by the Society of Valued Minds, an initiative of Otsuka America, Pharmaceutical, Inc., BetterHelp, Sozosei Foundation, and G4D Productions. Media partners include YouTube Health and Consequence.

    While this year’s Sound Music Festival for Mental Health in Brooklyn is free, tickets are still needed to enter the event and can be found here.

  • NYS Music March Madness 2023: The Finals

    We have arrived at the Final Frontier of NYS Music’s March Madness 2023. 64 bands we brought together, to build their name and share their sound with a wide audience, but now two remain.

    March Madness

    For the past 8 years, this annual competition has been shining a spotlight on talented artists and musicians from across the Empire State. This year’s competition is the biggest and best yet, with a lineup of diverse genres and highly skilled performers. March Madness 2023 highlights 64 bands and artists you might not know but should know, as these homegrown talents are making waves through the New York State. Check out the Final 4 here.

    NYS Music has partnered with these great businesses across New York State to highlight the 64 up-and-coming bands and artists of NYS Music March Madness.

    The finalists of each region will be rewarded with a collection of prizes worth $3000. Partners for NYS Music’s March Madness 2023 include Mirth Films from Albany, a music news/entertainment outlet that specializes in original video content and live streaming, with news coverage ranging across the whole country, who will provide a professional multi-camera recording session at a prestigious venue in Albany for the winning band, premiering exclusively on Mirth Films.

    Additionally, one finalist will earn a spot on the lineup for the Scarsdale Music Festival, held on June 3, 2023.

    WEQX is a radio station in Manchester, VT. They are completely independently owned and operated, always have been, since 1984. This station exists out of a love for music, a love for radio, and the commitment to always giving their listeners the best of the best.

    Enter your email address, get to know the bands, and vote on our finalists below!

    [forminator_form id=”404413″]

    Seize Atlantis

    Formed in 2019 out of Glens Falls in Upstate New York, Seize Atlantis is an energetic four-piece rock band consisting of close friends front-man James Mullen (lead vocals/guitar), Mike Dardas (bass/backing vocals), Luc Bourgault (lead guitar), and Cody Platt (drums). Seize Atlantis has a unique and tight sound fueled by a driving & punchy drum/bass duo, melodic lead guitar, and strong pronounced moody vocals with meaningful lyrics that bring a truly dynamic range of soft to heavy rock. Their influences are from bands such as Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Pearl Jam, along with the 90s-00s Rock. The band offers its own spin on a variety of covers from classic rock to modern pop in addition to its own original music. They are currently working on their sophomore EP, Ruins Rebuilt due out this June.

    Mainline

    MAINLINE officially hit the scene at the end of 2019 when Anthony Schettino (Bass), Johnny Iodice (Lead Singer & Guitar), Mason Servedio (Drums), and Devin Reck (Guitar) released their debut single “Open Fire” which eventually led to the self-titled EP that came out in February of 2020. Their album The Unholy Idol has garnered up over 80,000+ streams across platforms and has gotten worldwide attention. The current lineup since 2022 now includes Ryan Hartell on guitar, replacing Devin Reck. As of November 2022, the band released a new single “IN NOTHING WE TRUST” everywhere on streaming.

    The band will be performing at the Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie on April 15, visit here to buy tickets.

    Voting for the finals has ended. Stay tuned for the winner to be announced on Wednesday, March 29.

    Check out Past Years’ NYS Music March Madness Here