Get ready for an exciting jazz season as the highly anticipated Art of Jazz series returns to the newly transformed Buffalo AKG Art Museum for the 2023–2024 season. This season promises to be a remarkable journey, featuring a phenomenal lineup of emerging talents and legendary jazz icons.
What sets this season apart is the unique concept of bringing studio mastery to the live stage. For over two decades, the Art of Jazz series has been a beacon of excellence in North America, and now, it makes its triumphant return to Buffalo AKG.
The Art of Jazz series showcases captivating musical projects presented by Grammy® Award winners, nominees, and some of the most skilled artists, composers, and arrangers in jazz. The goal? To capture the essence of studio perfection and bring it to the live stage. In the upcoming season, the series will spotlight four remarkable “art of the project” concepts, promising unforgettable and distinctive experiences for jazz enthusiasts and music lovers alike.
Let’s take a closer look at these four exceptional projects:
Gary Smulyan, “Tadd’s All, Folks” featuring Anaïs Reno (November 10, 2023)
The season kicks off with a fresh and captivating approach to the timeless music of legendary jazz composer Tadd Dameron. The extraordinary quintet, featuring Gary Smulyan, explores Dameron’s compositions through mesmerizing vocal performances. Anaïs Reno takes the spotlight, delivering each song’s emotional depth and nuance. The project offers a unique perspective on Dameron’s modern musical language, showcasing his compositions’ enduring power.
Diego Rivera Quintet, “Bridges” (February 4, 2024)
Embark on a musical journey celebrating multicultural influences and the blending of Mexican roots with the jazz world. Led by internationally acclaimed saxophonist Diego Rivera, the quintet transcends borders and genres, creating a harmonious fusion of Latin America’s traditional rhythms and jazz improvisation. The performance promises to transport you to a world where cultural boundaries dissolve, and the universal language of music reigns supreme.
Dan Wilson, “Things Eternal” (March 10, 2024)
Guitarist/composer Dan Wilson takes the stage with his awe-inspiring project, “Things Eternal.” The project pays tribute to the unwavering spirit of humanity through heartfelt dedications and masterful reinterpretations of iconic songs. Wilson’s profound understanding of Brazilian music shines through as he seamlessly blends Brazilian composers’ influence with his creative genius. The concert promises an unforgettable experience filled with soul-stirring melodies and impeccable musicianship.
Rodney Whitaker—”Oasis: The Music of Gregg Hill” (April 12, 2024)
Prepare to be captivated by multiple Grammy® Award-nominated bassist, Rodney Whitaker and his quintet, as they present the music of jazz composer Gregg Hill. This ensemble, featuring Terell Stafford, Tim Warfield, Bruce Barth, Dana Hall, and Rockelle Fortin, grooves to infectious melodies that pay homage to the beloved hard bop era. The project showcases the ensemble’s award-winning artistry at the highest level in jazz.
The 2023-2024 Art of Jazz Series promises an exceptional season filled with distinctive projects that celebrate the art of jazz. From the timeless compositions of Tadd Dameron to the multicultural fusion of Diego Rivera, from the heartfelt dedications of Dan Wilson to the infectious grooves of Rodney Whitaker, each concert offers a unique musical experience. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this remarkable journey, and support the return of the Art of Jazz series to the Buffalo AKG. It’s a season that promises to captivate, inspire, and celebrate the beauty of jazz.
Get your season subscription and tickets here to secure your spot at these extraordinary concerts. Whether you’re a jazz enthusiast or simply curious about the power of music to bridge cultures, this season has something special in store for you.
The Beacon Bonfire Music and Art Festival announced its return to the Hudson Valley region this fall, taking place on November 4 and 5 in Beacon. The festival emerged as a community gathering during the pandemic, and evolved into a multi-venue event, showcasing some of the region’s best music, art, and performance.
The festival will take place in 26 indoor and outdoor venues along Beacon’s Main Street. Beacon will host over 400 artists and musicians across over 20 genres, featuring performances from Matt Dickey Group, Ears With Eyes, Rose Stoller, Stephen Clair, Alex Harris, and more.
Photo Credit: Austin Ruffer @austininyourface
In addition to music, the Beacon Bonfire Music and Art Festival will host artistic exhibits from the Ethan Cohen Gallery, Ron English, Frank Hyder, Donna Mikkelson, and Emil Alzamora. Film screenings will take place later in the evening, with both short and feature length programming.
For the kiddie crowd, the festival will offer special kid-friendly programming, including interactive workshops, clay art exhibits, the Steamroller Large Scale Print, and more. Families can enjoy campfires, s’mores, and singalongs on and around Main Street. Children under 12 years old will have free access to the festival.
Photo Credit: Raymond A Wehrli @Zapalandrox
The festival is organized by actors and producers Christian Campbell and America Olivo, Kelly Ellenwood, producer Tim Parsaca, and composer Jeremy Schonfeld. Their aim is to platform regional and local artists in their community, while supporting local art initiatives and performers. All ticket revenue from the festival will go towards the performers.
Tickets, updates, and more information on the festival are available at BeaconBonfire.com.
New York’s globalFEST makes its highly anticipated return for its 21st year to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (LCPA) with a full day of music and performances on Sunday, January 14, 2024, as part of Lincoln Center Presents. Newly announced artists are set to perform across three stages inside David Geffen Hall, celebrating musical traditions, and encouraging discovery.
globalFEST 2023- Son Rompe Pera
After hosting its 20th anniversary at Lincoln Center’s newly-renovated David Geffen Hall, and with its biggest, sold-out crowd ever, globalFEST returns to Lincoln Center with a new lineup curated by festival co-directors Bill Bragin, Isabel Soffer, and Shanta Thake, also Ehrenkranz Chief Artistic Officer at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, plus guest curator Zion Jackson.
The 2024 globalFEST lineup features artists from across the world, including the traditional South African Xhosa rhythms and funk of Thandiswa Mazwai; the electronic-infused Indo-classical sounds of Karsh Kale; Yasser Tejeda’s new spin on Afro Dominican Roots music; gripping singer-songwriter and Brazilian activist Bia Ferreira; Catalan electro-folk duo Tarta Relena; Lonnie Holley whose live shows contain new and spontaneously created sounds; psychedelic Moroccan-French Gnawa quartet Bab L’ Bluz; GRAMMY award-winning Villalobos Brothers, fusing Mexican folk with jazz and classical music; the captivating contemporary Puerto Rican Bomba band El Laberinto del Coco; and the Ukrainian-Canadian Balaklava Blues that fuses Ukrainian polyphony and folk traditions with electronica.
“We are thrilled to once again bring artists from all over the world to Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall. The power of music to bring people together during trying times is more important than ever. globalFEST began following the dark days between 9/11 and the start of the Iraq War. Now in its 21st year, as the world faces new conflicts and the horrors of war are all around us, we remain devoted to encouraging cultural awareness through musical discovery.”
Bragin, Soffer, and Thake
Throughout globalFEST’s history, the festival has acted as a musical beacon, bridging cultural divides and bringing audiences together through the universal language of music. The beloved curation has proven influential to arts organizations and venues across the country and jump-started the US touring careers of incredible artists, including Antibalas, Amythyst Kiah, Angelique Kidjo, DakhaBrakha, Jupiter and Okwess, Martha Redbone, Rhiannon Giddens and more.
Since its beginning, globalFEST has showcased more than 200 artists and groups from 70 different countries, and always to sold-out audiences. Founded in response to the aftermath of 9/11, the run-up to the Iraq war, the closing of borders, and rising xenophobia, the festival was a music-filled light in a dark time. The festival has grown from a concert into a catalytic non-profit organization that serves an intersectional array of global artists and the larger performing arts field. Recognizing that artists are often advocates and ambassadors, globalFEST has also become a platform for those whose homes were under duress, from Gulf artists post-Katrina to Haitian artists after the 2010 earthquake to Muslim artists amidst Trump’s “Muslim Ban.” Additionally, the festival has centered gender equity as a goal and made LGBTQ+ voices a programming priority.
globalFEST 2023 Recap
globalFEST 2024 takes place on Sunday, January 14, 2024 at Lincoln Center, inside David Geffen Hall. Tickets for the general public go on sale Thursday, October 26 at 12 p.m. ET. For the latest news on globalFEST, visit LincolnCenter.org/globalFEST.
Adk-Phoric Festival, a brand new festival coming to Roaring Brook Ranch Resort in Lake George, has announced it will happen on Aug. 17, 2024, going from the early/late afternoon to 11 p.m.
Adk-Phoric Festival: Live & Love Music is an unparalleled event that seamlessly blends live music, DJs, artisanal craftsmanship, and culinary diversity. With an elite lineup of both emerging and established artists across many genres, the festival also features a selection of the finest local DJs to accompany the artists to keep the atmosphere electrifying
It goes beyond musical indulgence, featuring curated selections of food trucks offering an array of gourmet options, alongside a marketplace of bespoke craft vendors showcasing unique, hand-crafted goods. It is a multifaceted celebration of community and culture.
The Roaring Brook Ranch Resort is a picturesque and serene resort located in Lake George. With its sprawling 35-acre estate, including 245 acres of undeveloped land in the majestic Adirondack Mountains, it has a rich legacy of cherished traditions that span generations, dating back to the memories forged in the 1960s. Festivalgoers will enjoy this scenic atmosphere along with the elite sounds of good music.
Tickets for the Adk-Phoric Festival will be available for purchase by November 1.
Albany Symphony, a two-time Grammy Award winner, will present a first-of-its-kind Film Music Festival, made to celebrate music made for media. The festival will be held from October 5 to October 9 at venues such as Albany’s Palace Theatre, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, University at Albany Performing Arts Center, and MVP Arena.
Headlining the innovative new festival are two concerts featuring the Albany Symphony. On Saturday, Oct. 7 at 7:30pm at the Palace, David Alan Miller and the musicians of the Symphony kick off the 2023-2024 season with Soundtrack New York: Musical Scenes from a Cinematic State.
Inspired by the portrayal of the Empire State in film, and by the incredible composers who call New York home, this musical tour includes classic themes including George Gershwin’s Concerto in F featuring pianist Kevin Cole and Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story suite, as well as music from iconic NY films King Kong (Max Steiner), Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Henry Mancini) and Taxi Driver (Bernard Herrmann). Music from contemporary NY composers include Brooklynite Tamar-kali’s work from Mudbound, and Hudson Valley resident Howard Shore’s sweeping landscapes from Lord of the Rings.
On Sunday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 at the Palace, the Albany Symphony presents Video Games Live! An immersive concert experience featuring exclusive orchestral arrangements of music from some of the most popular video games of all time. Musician, composer and creator of Video Games Live Tommy Tallarico and his band will join the Symphony for this performance led by guest conductor Emmanuel Fratianni. Featured video games include Final Fantasy, Halo, Skyrim, Kingdom Hearts, The Last of Us, Undertake, League of Legends and many more.
Albany Symphony teams up with the Empire State Youth Orchestra for a free community concert on Monday, Oct. 9 at 3pm at MVP Arena, in a special event presented by the Albany County – MVP Innovation Partnership. Together, the orchestras will perform music from Star Wars, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean and more—a perfect family activity for the day since many kids and families are off on holiday.
Albany Symphony’s Film Music Festival also includes a special Hollywood Cabaret with pianist Kevin Cole on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 7:30pm at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. Audience members will be seated on stage to join Cole for a night of classic themes from the Silver Screen. Please note that capacity is limited.
On Saturday, Oct. 7, the Symphony and partners at the New York State Writers Institute present Scoring Work in Show Business, a free and open-to-the-public symposium at the University at Albany Performing Arts Center featuring panelists working in the industry. Speakers include producer Nathaniel Reichman, composers Gregory Polzak and Troy Herion, Albany County Film Commissioner Debby Goedeke, and Youth FX Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director Bhawin Suchak. The Symposium runs from 10am to 2pm, with lunch provided.
The Albany Symphony’s Film Music Festival is made possible in part by support through a grant from Market New York and Empire State Development, as well as additional support from the Albany Symphony’s generous partners, patrons, donors and friends. Learn more about Symphony support at AlbanySymphony.com.
An annual tradition, the Beacon Sloop Club’s Annual Pumpkin Festival will be held on Sunday, Oct. 15th, from 12-5pm at Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park in Beacon. Located on the Riverside of the Metro North Beacon Station), this rain or shine event is a fun, family friendly event along the shores of the Hudson River. Admission as always is free and the public is welcome to attend.
Featured at the Pumpkin Festival are Hudson Valley pumpkins of all sizes and shapes, fresh-baked pumpkin pie served with homemade whipped cream, hot pumpkin soup, hot and cold apple cider and many more culinary delights available for purchase.
With two solar powered music stages – including one dedicated for children – live music will be provided throughout the day from performers including Betty and the Baby Boomers, Lost Ryders of the Waywayonda, Lydia Adams Davis, Bindlestick Bill, Rick & Donna Nestler, Sarah Underhill and The Stockport Middleground, The Storycrafters, The Judith Tulloch Band, Sharleen Leahey and more.
Additionaly, numerous food and craft vendors will be on hand as well as environmental non-profits will feature displays of local Hudson River history and the environment including information about their organizations. The many free activities for children, in addition to the children’s stage, make this the perfect family event on the shores of the Hudson.
Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park, located on the majestic Hudson River, gives access to the Beacon Sloop Club’s boat, the Woody Guthrie, which will be taking guests on free sails from the Beacon Harbor, weather permitting. The public may sign up for an afternoon sail to relax and experience the beauty, power and grandeur of the Hudson. Sign ups start at noon at the Beacon Sloop Club table.
Earlier this year, the Beacon Sloop Club’s Corn Festival raised money for the public sailing program on the Woody Guthrie and other environmental education programs. The Sloop Club meets the first Friday of each month at the clubhouse in Beacon for a potluck dinner, business meeting and live music. The clubhouse is located on the banks of the Hudson River near the Metro-North train station, and all are always welcome.
The New York Coffee Festival will return for the seventh year in this fall. From October 6th-8th, coffee lovers can experience exceptional coffee, food, cocktails, live music, and art at the Metropolitan Pavilion.
The New York Coffee Festival is New York’s flagship coffee event, celebrating the burgeoning specialty coffee scene. Coffee beginners and aficionados alike can look forward to unlimited tastings and presentations from over 100 of the most exciting and innovative coffee, tea, and chocolate exhibitors.
Attendees will also boost their coffee knowledge in workshops, be a part of interactive demos, and meet the top U.S. artisans and baristas one-to-one.
The three-day festival will also feature The Lab program with an exciting line-up of interactive demonstrations, educational workshops, talks and tastings. The Coffee Music Project features the best acts from NYC and beyond. Additionally, The Coffee Art Project showcases the creativity and talents of emerging and established artists. Also returning this year are Coffee Masters NYC, The Coffee Cocktail Bar, The Sensory Experience, and more.
Attendees can also look forward to several new features this year, including a cocktail masterclass led by industry experts. Other new activities include The Roasters Village, and a Latte Art Tournament.
In addition to offering delicious street food, coffee cocktails, live music and coffee-inspired art, 100% of profits are donated to NYC-based Charity: water partnering with Project Waterfall to deliver life-changing water projects in coffee-growing regions. Since 2011, Project Waterfall has raised over $2 million, bringing clean water to more than 80,000 people across seven countries. Returning is Latte Art Live, an interactive zone dedicated to the skill of latte art, the schedule is below.
There is something about the village of Lake George that has made this Southern Adirondack town a destination for music festivals and concert series from late spring until mid-fall. Memorial Meltdown, Adirondack Independence Music Festival, Lake George Music Festival, nightly music during the week at the Shepard Park Weekly Concerts (including Fridays at the Lake), Rock the Dock, Jazz at the Lake, Adirondack Bluegrass Festival, Lake George DJ Takeover Music Festival, Rock the Lake Music Festival, and the Lake George Jazz Weekend are just some of the events found on the southern end of Lake George. Now add to this incredible roster of summer music festivals and concerts series a new music festival with a Merlin twist, Wild in the Trees.
A skateboard/music festival hybrid, Wild in the Trees is a most unique event, held October 7-8, 2023, on the grounds of the Lake George Skate Plaza, adjacent to Charles R. Wood Park. A full two days of music, skateboarding and various competitions will be on hand, with 50% of net proceeds benefiting the Ronald McDonald House of the Capital Region.
The logo you see above is an homage to skateboard company Spitfire, an evil looking logo worked into the tree, making it wild. The name of the festival derives from the song “Wild in the Streets” by the Circle Jerks, featured in Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland. The first event was held in 2022, and year two looks to be even better with a stellar lineup, highlighted by Mike Gantzer’s Pro Skater, Candy Ambulance, FUNGKSHUI, Victory Soul Orchestra, Hilltop and many more.
But the festival would not be here without the dedication and perseverance of some local skaters more than 15 years ago.
photo by Frank Cavone
Frankie Cavone, promoter of Wild in the Trees and owner of Mirth Films, has been an avid skater his whole life, but the Village of Lake George did not have a skatepark in his formative years. In 2008, Cavone and Doug Quimby, among others, began a campaign to raise money to carve out a skatepark on the grounds of the former Gaslight Village, a small amusement park that was on the site until 1989 and demolished in 2010.
It would take eight years for the dream to become a reality, with the park opening in 2016, with a competition at the grand opening, the first of many such competitions. Shortly after, in 2018, Cavone would begin Mirth Films, a company that creates original video content, winning awards and gaining acclaim and positive reviews across the Capital Region.
Videography and skateboarding are intertwined in Cavone’s life, as his love of skateboarding led to him bringing video camera to film tricks and flips, and would lead to beginning to shoot jam band shows in 2015. Getting his friends involved on the video end would be the formation for Mirth Films, which has grown steadily over the past five years.
With support from local promoter Dave Ehmann – who supported the skate park fundraising efforts as far back as 2010 – inspiration came to Cavone with Ehmann’s ADK Fest being a standard bearer for events in Lake George. This long relationship would spur something the genesis of what would become Wild in the Trees.
Between skateboarding, live music and videography, Cavone would take his knowledge of these, imbued with a deeper curiosity, led to forming a bond with Mayor Bob Blais of Lake George (the longest serving mayor in U.S. history, at 52 years). Cavone wanted to keep holding skating competitions each year, but also wanted to incorporate music into the event, making for a hybrid music festival concept. Utilizing ‘Bed Tax’ money that hotels in the Lake George region pay (funding events from Americade to Oktoberfest) Mayor Blais assisted Cavone in acquiring a grant for the music festival. With approval, Wild in the Trees was christened in October 2022 and returns for its sophomore grind October 7-8.
The lineup for this year’s Wild in the Trees builds on the skateboarding aspect of the festival, bringing in a band that is both familiar and has many familiar names and faces included. Mike Gantzer’s Pro Skater is a project led by Aqueous/Death Kings’ guitarist Gantzer and serves as a tribute to the iconic soundtracks featured throughout the TonyHawk’sProSkater video game collection. Joining Mike are Evan McPhaden (Aqueous) Ryan Nogle (Funktional Flow, Aqueous, Dirty Work Steely Dan tribute) Jonny Evans (rapper) Billy Bratek (Maufrey) and DJ Fiorella.
Ripping through songs that underscored an entire generation’s experience growing up, Mike is a uniquely qualified musician to lead the charge given his longtime passion for skateboarding, his high ranking scores in TonyHawk’sProSkater online, and his metal/rock/punk trio Death Kings.
It’s almost hard for me to overstate my connection to the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games! I was 10 years old when the first one came out and I was already totally obsessed with skateboarding, and the game just solidified what would become a lifelong love of all things skating (and gaming for that matter).
The soundtrack was iconic and was an early introduction to punk, hip hop, ska, and all kinds of really amazing music and culture. Between skate tapes on VHS and the THPS series, I was getting a fast education, and this timeline happened to be when I connected with guitar playing, too. What was beautiful about some of the punk stuff was that it was accessible enough to approach as a beginner, but also represented a lot of frustration I felt with growing up in an unstable and tumultuous home setting that I could get out in a healthy way.
Fast forward twenty years, and music and skateboarding are still two of my biggest passions in life, and I’m grateful everyday for both of them, so you can imagine my joy at getting the chance to do an entire tribute set to the games’ music AT a skate event for Wild In the Trees ’23. Pretty much my ideal situation! I’m also pretty skilled at THPS, and at one point was ranked top 150 in the world on the online leaderboards, I even made a video of one of my runs, because as it is in skating, if you didn’t capture it, did it really even happen?
Mike Gantzer
Cavone adds in the viewpoint of a skater, saying “When people in other countries think of skateboarding, they think Tony Hawk – he got millions of people into skateboarding.” The synonymous nature of Tony Hawk, Skateboarding, Mike Gantzer and the overall music festival mesh together in a ripper of an event.
Cavone first learned of Mike Gantzer’s Pro Skater within the last 12 months, as he was looking to get an artist to headline the festival that would draw in fans of live music and skateboarding, and would be unique to Wild in the Trees specifically. Cavone would end up asking Gantzer about having The Death Kings (a punk/metal trio that pays homage to all things heavy, including Gantzer, Ryan Stasik from Umphrey’s McGee and Michaelangelo Carubba), but the better fit that Gantzer suggested would be his own ‘Pro Skater’ group.
The roots of the skate plaza effort are never lost on Cavone. Filling a community need with his team endeavor is the origin of Wild in the Trees, an event for which the promoter is stoked.
“If it wasn’t for the skaters, we would never have access to do this. If it wasn’t for the stuff that we did when we were kids, we would never have been able to make that bond with the town and the skaters, and seeing people skate the park as we drive by – something we dreamed of when we were younger – is really a blessing.”
Frankie Cavone
With half the profits from ticket sales going to Ronald McDonald House of the Capital Region, a full two days of skateboarding competitions and live music, and an idyllic setting in the Village of Lake George, the team behind the festival is ready for year two of their experimental music festival, one that caters to a broad audience with a rad sesh planned out over the weekend.
Festival of Firsts returns to the David Rubenstein Atrium as part of the Lincoln Center Presents fall/winter season, from Oct. 5-27.
The Festival of Firsts features artists embarking on new journeys and celebrating significant moments in their careers, with milestones spanning Lincoln Center debuts, World, U.S., and NYC Premieres, album releases, fresh collaborations, and more. With a wide array of genres and artists, Lincoln Center invites audiences to enjoy these free performances.
Festival of Firsts Schedule
Rami Khalifé’s LOST, Return to Beirut
Thursday, October 5 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
LINCOLN CENTER DEBUT
*THIS EVENT WILL ALSO BE LIVESTREAMED*
Considered “a musician of extreme caliber and pure expression” by the Daily Star UK, the adventurous Lebanese pianist Rami Khalifé presents work that is as eclectic as it is bold, ranging from improvised concerts, original film soundtracks, reimagined electronic club music with his AUFGANG project, and live tours with his father, the famed composer and oud player Marcel Khalifé. His musicality has led him to classical training at Juilliard; solos with Globalis Orchestra, the Qatar Philharmonic, the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, as well as live performances at the Kennedy Center, the Sydney Opera House, and Queen Elizabeth Hall.
J Noa
Friday, October 6 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
LINCOLN CENTER DEBUT
J Noa’s 2023 major label debut Autodidacta is a blazing-hot introduction to the San Cristobal rapper’s considerable gifts: tongue-tying rhymes, nonstop bars, and the skills to switch up her flow from heartbeat to heartbeat. Her intricate lyricism ties together relevant social and political statements on drug addiction, racism, homophobia, and clapbacks at local government mismanagement. At the ripe age of 17, J Noa can already boast a ten-year songwriting career and a million-plus viewed YouTube hit with “Betty,” depicting the challenges of teen pregnancy.
Vuyo Sotashe and Chris Pattishall
Wednesday, October 11 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
NEW SINGLE RELEASE
Presented in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center
Over the past decade, South African vocalist Vuyo Sotashe and American pianist/composer Chris Pattishall have become mainstays of the NYC live club scene, with each contributing separately to a wide range of projects spanning jazz, gospel, theater, and film. Now they will present their live debut collaborative performance at the Atrium with an evening of soulful original arrangements. In a program that references Duke Ellington, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, and traditional South African Xhosa hymns, Sotashe and Pattishall will celebrate the release of their first single, “They Say I Look Like God.”
Photo by Yekaterina Gyadu.
Salty Brine’s And If You Listen Very Hard: The Led Zeppelin Show
Thursday, October 12 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
LINCOLN CENTER DEBUT
The showy performance artist, playwright, and vocalist Salty Brine is the next big name in outré downtown alt-cabaret. As part of the Festival of Firsts, Brine makes his Lincoln Center debut with a show from his ongoing Living Record Collection, a thus far 20-chapter series of expeditions into the heart of popular music. Each event merges the live recreation of an entire classic album with stories of personal experience alongside literature and theater, autobiographical monologues, a musical celebration of great LPs, and a fresh look at the artistic process. This evening features Robert Louis Stevenson’s immortal pirate adventure Treasure Island and the heavy metal folk-rock masterpiece, Led Zeppelin IV.
Lady Wray
Friday, October 13 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
LINCOLN CENTER DEBUT
A mainstay of the U.S. Billboard charts since the early 2000s, Nicole “Lady” Wray’s clear voice, potent storytelling, and deeply emotive performances combine the 70s soul and the hip-hop-inflected R&B of the 90s. The Guardian calls Lady Wray’s long-awaited third album, Piece of Me, which boasts a recent remix from New York’s own Pete Rock and a guest verse from Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah, “a classy retro-soul LP… steeped in experience, familial warmth, and overcoming heartbreak.” She will make her long overdue Lincoln Center debut with songs from Piece of Me interspersed with favorite covers and classic hits, all supported by a full live band packed with special guests.
Story of the Sky by the Bruces & Friends
Saturday, October 14 at 11:00 am
David Rubenstein Atrium
DEBUT CHILDREN’S ALBUM
Husband and wife team Morley and Chris Bruce recently self-released and produced their debut family and children’s album, Story of the Sky. This multi-cultural and inter-generational beginning-of-life narrative centers our inter-belonging—connecting human beings with one another and the natural world.
Truth to Power Café
Wednesday, October 18 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
U.S. PREMIERE
From Adelaide to Zagreb and now in New York for its U.S. premiere, Jeremy Goldstein’s Truth to Power Café is a profound theatrical reflection on loss, hope, and resistance. This inspirational event is told through memoir, image, film, poetry, music, and true and authentic stories in response to the question: “Who has power over you and what do you want to say to them?” Truth to Power Café is inspired by the political and philosophical beliefs of Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter and his inner circle “The Hackney Gang,” which included Café creator Jeremy Goldstein’s late father, Mick Goldstein, and poet and actor Henry Woolf.
Photo by Kate Holmes.
Erni Lu
Thursday, October 19 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
FIRST ALBUM & LINCOLN CENTER DEBUT
Peruvian-born singer-songwriter and guitarist Ernesto “Erni Lu” Lúcar has found his true musical home in New York. From a young age, he fell in love with the city’s music scene, particularly the rhythms of boleros, waltzes, acid jazz, and funk, using these genres and strains of contemporary Latin pop and traditional Peruvian folk in his sound. Over the past several years, Lu has gained significant experience composing film scores for movies such as Gary Terracino’s Elliot Loves and Gonzalo Benavente’s Rocanrol 68. He will make his Lincoln Center premiere, backed by a full live band performing a set of original songs celebrating the release of his debut album Siempre, including the new hit single, “Amor Platónico.”
¡VAYA!
Uptown Royalty
Friday, October 20 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
LINCOLN CENTER DEBUT
A Lincoln Center favorite since 2015, ¡VAYA! is a showcase for the finest Latin dance traditions. It offers devotees of Latin music a friendly community, excellent orchestras, and the city’s most inviting dance floor. The husband and wife duo of trombone player and bandleader Ron Renaissance and the glamorous vocalist Jodi Music are at the heart of the NYC-based Uptown Royalty, a combo at the forefront of the future of the modern salsa revolution, fusing classic salsa with contemporary pop, disco, rock, and R&B. Backed by a multi-piece band, their fresh approach to live performance has irresistible charisma, energizing audiences with their spectacular energy.
Migguel Anggelo’s JOY
Wednesday, October 25 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
WORLD PREMIERE
Venezuelan-born and Brooklyn-based artist Migguel Anggelo’s work explores the intersections of queer, Latiné, and immigration identities. As a musician, he has released three albums (English with an Accent, La Casa Azul, Dónde Estara Matisse). As a theater creator, he has been awarded residencies to develop new works at MASS MoCA, the Kimmel Center, Washington Performing Arts, and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. For his new multidisciplinary project, Anggelo dons the whimsical persona of JOY, inspired by the mime Marcel Marceu’s immortal Bip the Clown, who asks us to consider the power of silence in new ways. With the addition of an all-star lineup of live musicians, JOY features original music by Migguel Anggelo and Michelle J. Rodriguez.
Truth Future Bachman’s Skyward: An Endling Elegy
Thursday, October 26 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
WORLD PREMIERE
Brooklyn-based composer, playwright, vocalist, and La MaMa resident artist Truth Future Bachman interweaves three of the most compelling cultural threads of our moment: musical theater, gender fluidity, and superhero/sci-fi parables. Following the 2022 presentation of Luna and the Starbodies at last year’s Festival of Firsts, Lincoln Center is proud to host the world premiere of Bachman’s next great origin story within their multiversal mythos, Skyward.
Larissa Luz
Friday, October 27 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
NYC & LINCOLN CENTER DEBUT
*THIS EVENT WILL ALSO BE LIVESTREAMED*
Presented in collaboration with AFROPUNK
The multitalented and Latin GRAMMY-nominated Brazilian singer-songwriter Larissa Luz also hosts a popular talk show, has acted in numerous television and film roles, and placed second this year in Brazil’s nationally televised edition of The Masked Singer. She is a social activist, speaking out against sexism, racism, and colorism in a field that’s still greatly defined by it. She is a regular performer in music festivals, including Lollapalooza and Rock in Rio, and will be performing music from across her career, including new songs and cuts from her most recent release, the trap pop EP Deusa Dulov.
For more information about the free Festival of Firsts performances, visit here.
The seventh annual Folkfaces Fest is set to take place in Darien Center at Cherry Hill Campground from September 28 through October 1. This year’s theme is Above Hell/Below Heaven, and guests are encouraged to dress accordingly as Angels and Demons, Good and Evil, or Light and Dark.
The festival is an intimate but growing grassroots music festival, led by Tyler Westcott and his band Folkfaces. The celebrations will include workshops, vendors, a kids tent, a film screening, yoga, art installations, a costume contest, raffles, a paint wall, tether ball, volleyball, horseshoes, and more.
Live performances will feature Buffalo Bluegrass Allstars, Matt Rivers, Rushadicus, Jacky Blaire & The Hot Biscuits, Kathryn Koch Band, and more.
Folk festivals have been around as long as people have, and I think that getting out and seeing how different people are writing and performing original and traditional music helps inspire and add to the great tapestry of songs we have in the is world.
Tyler Westcott, in an interview with Jeff Miers
Weekend and individual day pass tickets are on sale now here, and will be available by cash only at the gate. All tickets are non-refundable. Kids 12 and under are free.
Folkfaces Fest 7 will be held at Cherry Hill Campground in Darien Center. The event is BYOB and will take place rain or shine. Cash is encouraged.
Camping passes are sold separately. If you have your weekend pass & haven’t already booked your camping spot please do so by visiting www.cherryhillcamp.com or calling Cherry Hill Campground at (585)813-5099
