The legendary Newport Jazz Festival returns for the summer at Fort Adams State Park in Rhode Island from Aug. 4-6, featuring legendary talents like Herbie Hancock and Diana Krall, and newcomers like Bronx native Samara Joy.
The Newport Jazz Festival returns for its 69th anniversary at Fort Adams State Park, one of the most important and enduring cultural institutions in America. Fans and artists alike return each year to the venue to experience the joy of this long-running tradition of diversity, discovery, and artistic virtuosity. The festival is produced by The Newport Festivals Foundation (NFF), a non-profit organization with the goal to offer opportunity, inspire through exposure and facilitate the collection of resources needed for musicians to celebrate and innovate. This year’s festival features many legendary artists, including a thrilling new class of GRAMMY winners and nominees.
This year’s festival lineup features artist legendary keyboardist, NEA Jazz Master, and 14-time Grammy winner Herbie Hancock and Canadian jazz pianist and singer known for her contralto vocals and for selling 15 million albums worldwide, Diana Krall. Charles Lloyd, NEA Jazz Master who plays tenor saxophone and flute, and Vijay Iyer, Grammy-nominated and multi-award winning composer, and pianist also make an appearance.
Some of today’s most virtuosic artists and cultural leaders like Jon Batiste and Kamasi Washington will perform at the festival as well as GRAMMY winners and nominees including Best New Artist Samara Joy, DOMi & JD Beck, and the first Pakistani to win a Grammy Award, Arooj Aftab. The lineup also includes bounce legend Big Freedia, musical polyglots Thundercat, and DJ Pee .Wee (aka Anderson .Paak). Big Gigantic and Alfa Mist, as well as songwriters Cautious Clay, Durand Jones and The War & Treaty, perform as well. Special ensembles include Newport Jazz artistic director Christian McBride’s annual Jam Jawn, MoodSwing, Scary Goldings featuring John Scofield, Superblue, Orrin Evans Quintet, and the Bill Charlap Trio.
Tickets are on sale now, with specially priced three-day tickets and student tickets available. Children ten and under are free, and single-day and two-day tickets go on sale at a later date. For more information about the Newport Jazz Festival and to purchase tickets, visit here.
Governors Ball organizers announced on Thursday that New York rap star Ice Spice has been added to the Friday lineup. Ice Spice was born and raised in the Bronx and attended SUNY Purchase, and started turning heads last year with her fiery single “Munch (Feelin’ You)” which appears on her debut EP Like..?.
“Munch (Feelin’ You)” by Ice Spice. Via YouTube
Ice Spice joins a rap-heavy Friday at Governors Ball, featuring Lil Uzi Vert, Metro Boomin, Joey Bada$$, Maxo Kream, and more. Tickets for all three days of the festival are still on sale but moving fast. Head over to the Governors Ball website for more.
As we wait for the festival to unveil more details about it’s new home in Flushing Meadows Park, check out our 2022 coverage of the festival’s last edition in the shadow of Citi Field.
Fotografiska New York is presenting its annual Unfiltered Music Festival this spring. The second of the annual series, the festival is scheduled for April 17-19, featuring some of the most accomplished performers in contemporary classical music in one of the most breathtaking music venues in New York City.
Scheduled guests include four-time Grammy-winning, Chicago-based sextet Eighth Blackbird, three-time Grammy-nominated violinist and composer Curtis Stewart, and renowned pianist Jenny Lin. The festival follows a 2022 inaugural event that featured classical superstars including Caroline Shaw and Anthony McGill.
Four-time Grammy-winning sextet Eighth Blackbird, from Chicago, will perform on night one of the Fotografisca Unlimited Music Festival. The ensemble, consisting of Lisa Kaplan, Matthew Duvall, Lina Andonovska, Zachary Good, Maiani da Silva, and Laura Metcalf, will share music by some of the most exciting voices in contemporary music including Viet Cuong, Valerie Coleman, Julius Eastman, and Andy Akiho. Violinist, improviser, composer, arts leader, and multimedia artist Curtis Stewart will follow on night two. Among his many accolades, Stewart is the Artistic Director of the American Composers Orchestra. Acclaimed pianist Jenny Lin, named by the Washington Post as “surely one of the most interesting pianists in America right now” will conclude the festival.
Fotografiska was founded in Stockholm in 2010. The museum lets visitors discover world-class photography, eclectic programming, elevated dining, and surprising new perspectives. A core mission of Fotografiska is to inspire a more conscious world. The museum does this through photography, producing dynamic and unparalleled rotating exhibitions, spanning various photographic genres, in inclusive and immersive environments. With locations in Stockholm, New York City, and Tallinn, and coming soon to Berlin, Fotografiska is the premier global gathering place for photography and culture.
Click here for more information on Unfiltered Music Festival.
The second annual edition of the Hudson Valley Follow The Arrow festival presented by Marco Benevento at Arrowood Farms in Accord lineup has been announced for June 17.
Follow The Arrow Festival was created by Marco Benevento along with his record label Royal Potato Family and Impact Concerts in 2022. The festival featured performances by Antibalas, The Slip, and Mikaela Davis, among others. It is centered around the importance of self-expression and maintaining one’s values, all while listening to great music and enjoying a sense of joy and positivity.
Woodstock-based artist Benevento has toured the world for his eight studio albums, amassing a devoted fanbase, while drawing praise from tastemakers far and wide. The Los Angeles Times said, “it’s safe to say that no one sees the keyboard quite like Marco Benevento’s genre-blind mashup of indie rock, jazz, and skewed improvisation.” His songwriting is infectious and earthy, yet at the same time is pumped full of dance-rock energy. On his latest album Benevento, he dives deep down a psych funk rabbit hole, reimagining the negative times we are living in with optimistic groove tracks like “At The End Or The Beginning,” “Winter Rose” and “Do You Want Some Magic?”
We’re so excited to invite everyone back to Follow The Arrow this summer. As anyone who attended last year will tell you, it was a magical day. Everyone partied and had an amazing experience, but it was also family friendly vibes where you could bring your kiddos and relax because they were having as much fun as everyone else. This year’s line-up includes some of my all-time favorite musicians and we’ll be revealing a few exciting additional artists and plans for the day in the coming weeks. We’re still feeling it from last year, so you know we’re only gonna build on it and have ourselves an absolute blast.
Marco Benevento
This year’s festival features Marco Benevento and his band as well as indie rock groups Rubblebucket, The Barr Brothers, and Scott Metzger, with a second round of artists and special guests to be announced in early April. Rubblebucket is a spunky art-pop and indie-rock band from Brooklyn, featuring members Kalmia Traver and Alex Toth. Their performances are high-energy, with an engaged crowd that sings every note, grooving back and forth to their music. The duo’s sixth record Earth Worship explores love songs for and from the natural world, featuring infectious melodic complexity, hooky vocals, and shimmering beats.
The Barr Brothers is an indie folk band founded in Montreal in 2006, consisting of brothers Andrew and Brad Barr, as well as bassist Morgan Moore, pedal steel guitarist Brett Lanier, and harpist Eveline Gregoire-Rousseau. Scott Metzger has performed extensively all over the United States, Europe, Japan, and Australia and has recorded projects of all styles. He is a full-time member of the critically acclaimed, increasingly popular Joe Russo’s Almost Dead.
The second round of artists includes heavy groove trio LaMP featuring guitarist Scott Metzger with keyboardist Ray Paczkowski and drummer Russ Lawton who are best known for their work with the Trey Anastasio Band, Beacon, NY-based indie folk band Upstate, and jam rock meets indie pop dynamo Karina Rykman and her band. In addition, Marco Benevento and friends will cap the night off with Let’s Dance: A Tribute To David Bowie, with special guests Duane Betts, Stuart Bogie, Mikaela Davis, and Sister Sparrow.
Tickets go on sale on March 24 at 10 a.m., including an allotment of discounted early bird tickets. For more information about Follow The Arrow Festival and to purchase tickets, visit here.
The CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival has announced the lineup for the 20th anniversary, happening from June 23-July 1 at 19 venues across the Flower City featuring over 1,700 artists.
Photo by Eli Stein.
Founded in 2002, the CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival is one of the world’s leading jazz festivals, held annually in Rochester with over 210,000 attendees. Over nine days, there are 300 shows with more than 1750 artists from around the world, traveling from places like Australia, Benin (West Africa), Canada, Cuba, Denmark, England, Finland, Japan, and more. The festival is produced by RIJF, LLC, a privately held company owned by John Nugent and Marc Iacona.
In a blink of an eye, we find ourselves producing our 20th Jazz Festival. Sustaining an event of this magnitude has been realized thanks to hundreds of thousands of appreciative fans, talented musicians, overwhelming community support, collaborative corporate and government sponsorship support, and an enthusiastic team that goes above and beyond every June to make this Jazz Fest succeed. We are so appreciative of them all. We are committed to presenting a unique combination of Grammy Award-winning musicians for our Headliner Series, Club Pass Series, and free concerts. The power of the unity, community, and positive energy created during these nine days is second to none! We are blessed to be able to celebrate these memorable two decades and focus on ‘Jazz in June’ for many years to come!
Marc Iacona, Producer and Executive Director.
More than 100 free shows and events will be presented on nine free stages including 49 shows on the City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage presented by the Community Foundation, 16 free shows in the new Wegmans Pavilion on East at Chestnut, Squeezers Nightly Jam Sessions presented by the DiMarco Group at the Hyatt Regency Rochester, 8 shows on the Wegmans Stage at Parcel 5, 2 shows on the City of Rochester Stage at East & Chestnut, 5 Jazz workshops for music students, and more.
The ticketed headliner shows return to Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre this year. On June 23, Pat Metheny‘s Side-Eye will perform at 8 p.m. Metheny is an American jazz guitarist and composer, leader of the Pat Metheny Group, and is also involved in duets, solo works, and other side projects. Metheny’s new Side-Eye project will be an unforgettable encounter spotlighting two sensational rising stars: pianist Chris Fishman and drummer Joe Dyson.
On June 24 at 8 p.m., five-time Grammy-award blues musicians Keb’ Mo’ performs. He is a singer, guitarist, and songwriter, writing much of his own material, applying his acoustic, electric, and slide guitar skills to jazz and rock-oriented bands. The next day brings Omara Portuondo on her farewell tour at 4 p.m. She is a Cuban singer and dancer and a founding member of the popular vocal group Cuarteto d’Aida. During her long career, she has collaborated with many important Cuban musicians and won many prestigious awards.
Keb’ Mo’.
Finishing out the ticketed headliners is a sold-out show with Bonnie Raitt on her Just Like That…Tour. Raitt is a 13-time Grammy award winner, receiving 30 nominations, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She has been ranked No. 50 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time,” and ranked No. 89 on the magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
The free headliners for Rochester’s International Jazz Festival will perform at the Wegmans Stage at Parcel. Kicking off the events on June 28 is Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers, playing a mix of folk rock, bluegrass, Southern rock, and more. Hornsby has won three Grammy Awards, including a 1987 Grammy Award for Best New Artist with Bruce Hornsby and the Range, a 1990 Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album, and a 1994 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
The next day brings Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes at 9 p.m. Founded by the Jersey Shore, the group is closely associated with Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, recording and performing several Springsteen songs. He also made an appearance on their Better Days album in 1991. June 30 brings the Artimus Pyle Band Celebrating Lynyrd Skynyrd. Since his departure from Skynyrd Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Artimus Pyle’s career has led him down an amazing path of solo records and projects culminating into one the finest tributes to southern rock royalty. Artimus Pyle, Brad Durden, Jerry Lyda, Dave Fowler, and Scott Raines come together to deliver hit after hit, with some of the most seasoned musicians in the southeast.
Ending the five free headliner shows on July 1 is Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue at 9 p.m. Trombone Shorty is a Grammy-nominated NOLA icon, blurring the lines between funk, soul, R&B, and psychedelic rock. His latest release Lifted contains bold lyrics full of self-assurance, standing up to hard times and loss with grit and determination.
The Festival’s signature Club Pass Series will present 192 shows in 11 venues. Enjoy unlimited access with a 3 or 9-Day Club Pass, or $30, $35 (Kilbourn Hall) cash at the door. For more information on other events happening at the International Jazz Festival and to purchase club passes, go here.
2023 Full Lineup
78 RPM Big Band, Airmen of Note, Akiko Tsuruga Organ Group, Al Chez & the Brothers of Funk, Albino Mbie, Alexi Tuomarila Quartet, All in Brass Band, American Patchwork Quartet, Artimus Pyle Band Celebrating Lynyrd Skynyrd, Atlas Band, B.D. Lenz Group, Bassel & the Supernaturals, Big Lazy, Bill Frisell Trio, Bill Goodwin Trio, Bill Tiberio Band, Blue Moon Marquee, Bonnie Raitt: Just Like That…Tour 2023, Brockport Big Band, Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers, Camille Thurman with Darrel Green Quartet, Catherine Russell, Celebrating Toots Thielemans With Kenny Werner & Gregoire Maret, Chris Lewis & the Jon Ballantyne Trio, Chris Minh Doky All Stars, Chris Whiteman Trio, Christian Sands, Christian Sands Trio, Corner House, Cory Weeds Quartet, Curtis Stigers, Damon Fowler, Dave Restivo Trio + Christine Jensen, David Hazeltine, David Hazeltine Quartet, Dawn Thomson & Gary Versace, Deanna Witkowski Plays Mary Lou Williams, Dear Marian: Laura Dubin Trio Plays Marian McPartland, Diana Herold & Helium, Doc Robinson, Durham County Poets, Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra w/ Herb Smith, Eastman Community Music School (ECMS) Faculty w/ Special Guest Vocalists!, ECMS Jazz Alumni, ECMS Jazz Combos Directed by Bob Sneider, Eddie 9v, Eldorado Slim Featuring Scott Sharrard of Little Feat, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Erez Aviram Ensemble, Eri Yamamoto & Bruce Barth, Eastman School of Music-RIJF, Fred Costello, Gabrielle Cavassa, Gate Swingers Big Band, Glen David Andrews, Greece Jazz Band, Harold Danko, Harry Allen Trio, Helen Sung Quartet+, Helen Sung Solo, High School Jazz Bands, Houston Person & Eric Person, Houston Person & Eric Person “Person2Person,” iGNiTE, Joe Beard Band, Joe Robinson, Joel Frahm Trio, Joey Alexander Trio, Joona Toivanen Jazz & Flyfishing, Jonatavious Willis, Juliet Lloyd, Keb’ Mo’, Kurt Rosenwinkel Quartet, Latriste Fulton & The Frequencies, Lionel Loueke & Gretchen Parlato, Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra, Luis Deniz Quartet, Mambo Kings, Marc Broussard, Mark Guiliana Quartet, Mark Kelso & the Jazz Exiles, Matthew Whitaker, Melody Masters Big Band, Mike Kaupa’s Ecms Ensembles! Saturday Ensemble & Junior Jazz, Miss Tess, Ms. Lisa Fischer w/ Taylor Eigsti, Music Educators Big Band, Nancy Kelly, Nathan Paul & the Admirables, Nduduzo Makhathini, Neil Swainson Trio, Nellie McKay, New Horizons Big Band Directed by Priscilla Todd Brown, New Horizons Jazz Band Directed by Don Sherman, Nick Finzer Sextet, NYChillharmonic, Oddgeir Berg Trio, Okan, Olli Hirvonen Group, Omara Portuondo “Vida,” Pat Metheny Side-Eye, Pedrito Martinez, Penfield Big Band, Peter Johnstone & Tommy Smith, Phylicia Rae Sealy, Ralph Alessi & This Against That, Rich Thompson Trio, Richie Goods & Chien Chien “Connected,” Rochester Metro Jazz Orchestra, Samara Joy, Soul Stew, Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, St Paul & the Broken Bones, Steve Smith & Vital Information, Syndicate Jazz Octet, Tatiana Eva-Marie, The Baylor Project, The Bossa Nova Wave Diego Figueiredo + Ken Peplowski, The Buddahood, The Clements Brothers, Tia Fuller Quintet, Tom Guarna Trio, Tommy Gearhart, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Twisted Pine, USP, VickiKristinaBarcelona, Victoria Victoria w/Charlie Hunter, Vince Ercolamento & Friends, Vincent Peirani, Violet Mary.
The Sembrich in Bolton Landing announced the 2023 Summer Festival Trailblazers, celebrating the singular achievements of outstanding individuals in arts and culture, beginning on June 11 and running through Aug. 30.
The Sembrich Museum.
Those who attend The Sembrich can experience music, history, and nature all at once, with museum exhibitions and an annual summer festival. It was once the teaching studio of Polish soprano Marcella Sembrich, one of the most famous musicians at the turn of the 20th century. Visitors can discover her legacy, which includes over 400 performances at the Metropolitan Opera and faculty positions at both the Juilliard Graduate School and the Curtis Institute of Music. The summer festival includes an exciting mix of world-class musicians, noted musical scholars, and a free film series.
Recently, The Sembrich received a total of $120,400 in grant funding from New York State to support new and ongoing initiatives, awarded through two agencies, the NYS Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and I LOVE NY/New York State’s Division of Tourism. Director of Institutional Advancement Caleb Eick said “these funds will allow us to continue to grow and expand our programs and presence in our community. We are excited to undertake new initiatives and further solidify The Sembrich and our region as a world-class cultural destination.”
The 2023 Summer Festival Trailblazers showcases singular achievements of outstanding individuals in arts and culture, from David Smith to Marin Alsop and Alma Mahler to Philip Glass, there will be 23 individual events throughout the summer months beginning on June 11 and running through Aug. 30. The Sembrich’s Artistic Director Richard Wargo spoke on the itinerary for the festival, showcasing an exciting series of programming.
The art world has always had trailblazers, those unique individuals who forged a route through the wilderness for others to follow. Our festival this summer is built around a number of these innovators…modernist sculptor David Smith, conductor Marin Alsop, musicians Grigor Piatigorsky and Alma Mahler, composers Franz Liszt, Philip Glass and Lin-Manuel Miranda, to name just a few. A number of our featured performers can be said to be “trailblazers” in their own right: guitar and cello duo Boyd Meets Girl, the all-female horn quartet Genghis Barbie and Hub New Music, whom the Boston Globe praised as ‘contemporary chamber trailblazers.’
The Sembrich’s Artistic Director Richard Wargo
The highlights of the festival begin with “In the Footsteps of Piatigorsky,” a studio talk and performance by cellist Evan Drachman, dedicated to his celebrated grandfather, Gregor Piatigorsky, one of the pre-eminent string players of the twentieth century. The music featured includes Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, and Rubinstein, happening June 17 at 2 p.m. The Sembrich’s lakeside subscription Promenade Series enters its second season with an exciting lineup of groups including the Adirondack Jazz Repertory Ensemble, guitar and cello duo Boyd Meets Girl, and the leading post-feminist all-female horn group Genghis Barbie.
Genghis Barbie.
A staple in The Sembrich’s Summer Festival, World Music Wednesdays brings cultural traditions from across the globe to the shores of Lake George. Featured this year includes tango traditions with the Latin-Grammy artist Pedro Giraudo and his Tango Quartet, Celtic dances with Poor Man’s Gambit, and Georgian polyphonic singing with acclaimed choral group Iberi. The Sembrich’s Film Series this year features CODA (2021), Koyaanisqatsi (1982), The Conductor (2021), tick…tick…BOOM! (2021), and Elvis (2022).
The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing on July 15 is a presentation with vintage photos by Betty Spinell about forbidden love, jealousy, and mental instability that resulted in a shocking, cold-blooded murder. The ensuing “trial of the century” mesmerized the public and helped close the curtains on America’s Gilded Age. Discover the life and inspirations of turn-of-the-century muse and femme fatale, Alma Mahler on July 19 at 2 p.m. featuring quotes from her diary and music by Mahler, Strauss, and Schoenberg performed by Robert Osborne, bass-baritone and Tammy Hensrud, mezzo-soprano.
Featuring some of the finest concert artists in the classical music scene, the Alfred Z. Solomon Masterwork Series celebrates monumental figures in arts and culture including sculptor David Smith, Jean Francaix, Franz Liszt, and more. Artists performing include 25-year-old virtuoso pianist Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, the trailblazing quartet HUB New Music, and members of The Philadelphia Orchestra.
Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner
On Aug. 16 at 2 p.m. The Sembrich brings “Hamilton: The Man, The Musical, The Cultural Phenomenon,” to the venue, featuring musical theater historian John Kenrick and a lively studio talk that explores New York native Lin-Manuel Miranda’s trailblazing blend of hip-hop and Broadway styles in the revolutionary musical Hamilton. Finally on Aug. 26 at 6 p.m., there will be an elegant cantina-style gala performance on the lakeshore featuring rising operatic star, tenor Leonardo Sánchez, titled “Mi México Querido” (“My Beloved Mexico”). The performance includes the color, tradition, and passion of his beloved Mexico, featuring instruments like the guitar, guitarrón, vihuela, and accordion – pillars of traditional Mexican music.
For a full listing of events, or to purchase tickets visit here.
Move over Oscars, the Female Voices Rock Film Festival will return to Brooklyn May 5-7, to showcase this year’s most visionary independent films from women creators. Priority for this year’s festival is to shed light on films created by storytellers long marginalized in Hollywood, especially women of color and LGBTQ+ voices. The festival maintains that these stories make for some of the most important and enlightening films, and strives to use the Female Voices Rock festival’s platform to uplift these filmmakers.
The Female Voices Rock festival was launched in 2019. In 2018, the festival’s data showed women comprised only 20% of all directors, writers, producers, editors and cinematographers working on the top 250 US domestic grossing films. While the representation of women in film has grown and adapted exponentially in the past couple of years, the Female Voices Rock film festival strives to have those same standards reflected behind the scenes as well.
Creating a safe and inspiring space for women to express themselves, share visionary stories and meet future collaborators is what Female Voices Rock is all about. Each year we thrive to do better and to increase diversity and inclusion by making sure women’s voices continue to be championed
Catherine Delaloye, founder and executive director
Premiering at the festival this year are Erica Eng’s “Americanized,” a story of Eng struggling with finding her place in Oakland’s hip-hop culture as a Chinese American; Abbey George’s “Jesus Would Have Loved Punk Rock,” about two girls taking on their corrupt Catholic high school’s administration; Kayla Arend’s “Leaving YellowStone,” a horror about a woman who finds herself amidst a crumbling relationship in the isolated wood; and many more, see the full list below.
This year, producer Kira Leinonen is recruiting industry professionals for the festival’s industry panels to bring invaluable information to participants in developing short films into features, steps in producing your first film, budgeting, editing and more. Past festivals have procured panelists from films so varied as The 1619 Project, Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Manchurian Candidate and The Woman King, to name a few. This year’s panelists and film line-up are to be announced.
Americanized – directed by Erica Eng
Anniversary – directed by Lain Kienzle
Bienvenidos a Los Angeles – directed by Lisa Cole
Birth Rights – directed by Maria Rosales
Call Button – directed by Rhona Rees
Choices – directed by Kameishia D Wooten
Counting – directed by Sarah Young
Daddy – directed by Jo Steinhart
Firecracker – directed by Caroline Guo
Five Star Review – directed by Vivien Vitolo
Girls Night In – directed Alison Roberto
Her and I – directed by Stephanie Marin
Hummingbird – directed by Lindsey E. Gary
I’m Sorry, I Tried, I Love You – directed by Goldie Jones
In Sickness & In Health – directed by Sarah Smick
Incurable – directed by Bahare Nikjoo
Jesus Would Have Loved Punk Rock – directed by Abbey George
Leaving Yellowstone – directed by Kayla Arend
Mama Retreat – directed by Eileen Álarez
Mary Meet Grace – directed by Faryl Amadeus
Matka/Polka (Mother/Pole) – directed by Joanna Suchomska
No Man’s Land – directed by Kristen Buckels
Punch Line – directed by Becky Cheatle
Rearranging Skin: A Love Letter to the World
Resurrection – directed by Luiza Budejko
Ro & the Stardust – directed by Eunice Levis
SAM – directed by Ryan Thielen, Jen Stafford
The Blue Dream – directed by Angelita Mendoza
Tooth – directed by Jillian Corsie
Unattached – directed by Fanny Texier
Wannabe – directed by Josie AndrewsWho? How? and Where? – directed by Victoria Garza
Festival attendees can expect, in addition to screenings, workshops, parties, talks with industry professionals, networking opportunities, with more to be announced. The festival, held at the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn, will begin on Friday, May 5 with an opening night party from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. A single day pass for Saturday is $40 and $50 for Sunday. The all access pass, $125, ensures access to the Opening Night Party, awards ceremony and closing party, filmmaker brunch, all screening blocks and industry panels, red carpet access and one drink ticket for the opening and closing parties. Tickets and more information can be found here.
On Saturday, Aug. 19, the third annual Open Sky Music Festival will take place at Lake Placid Center for the Arts (LPCA).
From 12-10 p.m., experience a day of fun, food, and music featuring everything from bluegrass to rock, pop, and blues. The festival is completely outdoors and is open to all ages.
The first Open Sky Music Festival was held in 2021 and continued into 2022. Incredible headliners are scheduled to perform on the mainstage and local favorites on The North Country Stage. Among the high-profile acts, Martin Sexton is scheduled to perform. Sexton grew up in Syracuse, and since the moment he picked up a guitar, has been hooked ever since. Sexton tours with what Rolling Stone calls his “soul-marinated voice,” acoustic guitar, and a suitcase full of heartfelt songs.
The LPCA has been a premiere destination for New York arts festivals for more than 50 years, since 1972. Against the backdrop of the Adirondack Mountains, audiences will have a great view to look at while watching the talented performers. LPCA is home to robust arts education programs, beautiful visual art galleries, and meaningful services to artists and fellow arts organizations. The center is the perfect destination for a weekend trip with the little ones, and or a quick day trip with your group of college friends. LPCA provides visitors with food and beverages from a number of vendors.
Festival passes for the Open Sky Music Festival at Lake Placid Center for the Arts start at $75 and go on sale on March 29 at 10 a.m. From March 29-31, LPCA members can purchase early bird passes for $50. Click here for more information.
“The Little Mermem” from the 2021 Open Sky Music Festival
The Great Blue Heron Festival 2023 will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a lineup of fan favorites and ten new, never-been-to-The-Heron artists.
The Great Blue Heron Festival draws in thousands of fans from across the U.S. each year, remaining a tradition for people young and old to celebrate self-expression and music. The festival will take place at the Heron Farm in Sherman, an award-winning campsite, voted number one in the U.S. by HipCamp. The Heron is open daily for seasonal camping from May through October along with the Green Heron Growers Farm Store.
From June 30-July 2, there will be three stages, called the Main Stage, the big top Dance Tent, and the Tiger Maple Stage, as well as over 30 artists, featuring returning headliners Donna the Buffalo. The group has been together for over thirty years, releasing over ten records, performing with various musicians, including prominent folk/roots performers such as Jim Lauderdale, the father and son zydeco musicians Preston and Keith Frank, and more. Three Heron newcomers and finalists include Keller & The Keels, Couch, and Kaleta & the Super Yamba Band.
Keller & The Keels have been making Appalachian-style psychedelic bluegrass tunes since 2004, recording three albums since. Featuring award-winning flat picker Larry Keel, his bass-playing wife Jenny Keel, and Keller Wiliams, the trio is excited to perform at Great Heron. Boston-based group Couch infuses pop with funk, rock, and R&B/soul. Their vibrant sound is further defined by the members’ backgrounds in jazz, a cappella, and musical theatre. They celebrated the release of their debut EP, COUCH in Feb. 2021 as well as three new singles and a 20-city headline tourin 2022.
Brooklyn-based group Kaleta & the Super Yamba Band is fronted by Afrobeat and Juju veteran Leon Ligan-Majek a.k.a. Kaleta, living his adolescent years in Lagos, Nigeria where Afrobeat was born. The group has performed across the globe, releasing its debut album Mèdaho in 2019. Other performers for the festival include Peter Rowan, Kevin Kinsella OG JBB, Henhouse Prowlers, The Probables, Root Shock, Smackdab, Dr. Bacon, New Planets, Dirty Gems, Sun King Warriors, Pa Lane, and more.
Tickets for the Great Blue Heron Festival 2023 edition are on sale now.
The 12th annual Blue Note Jazz Fest is scheduled to run for the month of June, and then some, across seven locations in New York City this summer.
The festival begins on May 31 and continues until July 2. Venues for this year’s Blue Note Jazz Festival include the Beacon Theatre, Sony Hall, Town Hall, SummerStage in Central Park, Celebrate Brooklyn at the Prospect Park Bandshell, and the Blue Note Jazz Club itself in Greenwich Village.
The lineup for this year’s Blue Note Jazz Fest. Credit: Sacks and Co
A number of artists are scheduled to perform at the Festival including Grace Jones, Pat Metheny, NxWorries, Robert Glasper, BJ The Chicago Kid, Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers, and more. The festival will open at the Hammerstein Ballroom with a performance by the great Grace Jones. While Jazz music is an inspiration behind the festival, the Blue Note continues to broaden its offerings, highlighting all musical styles, backgrounds, and cultures. Additionally, a number of celebrities have made appearances at the Blue Note. Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett, Quincy Jones, Liza Minelli, Dave Chapelle, and Chris Rock have made appearances, among others.
Since 1981, the Blue Note Jazz Club has been recognized for its artistic integrity, commitment to showcasing diverse and genre-spanning artists, and a long-running community of music lovers and friends built within its storied walls. The club is committed to preserving the history of Jazz while simultaneously showcasing new talent. In addition to highlighting new talent, the club has been known for iconic appearances from Chick Corea, McCoy Tyler, Joe Lovano, John Scofield, and Chris Botti. In 2011, the Blue Note Jazz Festival brand was established. It has since become the largest Jazz festival in New York City.
Ticket information and more about the Blue Note Jazz Fest in New York City can be found here.
2023 BLUE NOTE JAZZ FESTIVAL LINEUP
May 31 /// Grace Jones /// Hammerstein Ballroom June 1 /// Ghost-Note /// Blue Note June 1 /// Mashina /// Beacon Theatre June 2 /// Ghost-Note /// Blue Note June 2 /// Ms. Lisa Fischer /// Sony Hall June 3 /// Ghost-Note /// Blue Note June 3 /// Avery Sunshine /// Sony Hall June 3 /// Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers + John Scofield, Kenny Garrett, Christian McBride /// Town Hall June 4 /// Ghost-Note /// Blue Note June 4 /// Harlem Blues Project /// Blue Note Brunch June 5 /// Talib Kweli and The Whiskey Boys /// Blue Note June 6 /// Talib Kweli and The Whiskey Boys /// Blue Note June 7 /// Talib Kweli and The Whiskey Boys /// Blue Note June 8 /// Lettuce & Friends /// Blue Note June 9 /// Lettuce & Friends /// Blue Note June 9 /// Manhattan Transfer /// Sony Hall June 10 /// Lettuce & Friends /// Blue Note June 10 /// Cortex /// Sony Hall June 10 /// Chucho Valdés & Paquito D’Rivera /// Town Hall June 11 /// Lettuce & Friends /// Blue Note June 11 /// Harlem Gospel Choir /// Blue Note Brunch June 12 /// Talib Kweli and The Whiskey Boys /// Blue Note June 13 /// Talib Kweli and The Whiskey Boys /// Blue Note June 14 /// Talib Kweli and The Whiskey Boys /// Blue Note June 15 /// Soulive /// Blue Note June 16 /// Soulive /// Blue Note June 17 /// Soulive /// Blue Note June 18 /// Soulive /// Blue Note June 18 /// Buddy Guy /// SummerStage June 18 /// Harlem Gospel Choir /// Blue Note Brunch June 19 /// TAUK /// Blue Note June 20 /// The Motet /// Blue Note June 21 /// The Motet /// Blue Note June 21 /// Meshell Ndegeocello /// Sony Hall June 22 /// Ron Carter /// Blue Note June 22 /// Omara Portuondo /// Sony Hall June 23 /// Ron Carter /// Blue Note June 23 /// Sergio Mendes /// Sony Hall June 24 /// Ron Carter /// Blue Note June 24 /// Pat Metheny Side-Eye /// Beacon Theatre June 24 /// NxWorries, Robert Glasper with Lalah Hathaway & Bilal, BJ The Chicago Kid /// Celebrate Brooklyn June 25 /// Ron Carter /// Blue Note June 25 /// Harlem Gospel Choir /// Blue Note Brunch June 26 /// Julius Rodriquez /// Blue Note June 27 /// Ron Carter /// Blue Note June 28 /// Ron Carter /// Blue Note June 28 /// Harlem Gospel Choir Sings Nina Simone /// Sony Hall June 29 /// Soulive /// Blue Note June 30 /// Soulive /// Blue Note July 1 /// Soulive /// Blue Note July 2 /// Soulive /// Blue Note
