A group of live event industry organizations and professionals has come together to form a new coalition called Fix The Tix. Their mission is to protect fans from price gouging and deceptive ticketing practices.
Concert ticketing is currently a hot-button issue in the industry and beyond due to unfair practices by big ticketing monopolies like Ticketmaster gouging the prices on tickets so fans aren’t able to afford them, while also making buying a ticket nearly impossible for big artists. For example, the Taylor Swift Eras Tour left many fans out in the parking lot without tickets due to the company’s poor planning and execution of the tour’s presale. Fix The Tix is a new coalition formed by some of the biggest names in the industry, including the Recording Academy, Dice, Universal Music Groups, RIAA, and more.
They haven’t provided a lot of information for what their plans are yet, but have said that their goal is “to collectively advocate for a ticketing experience better than the nightmare many fans and artists currently navigate… We are coming together to protect fans from price gouging and deceptive and predatory ticketing practices”. With some of the biggest venues, promoters, and producers backing them, the coalition’s plans may change the way ticketing is done in the future.
Notably, Ticketmaster and Live Nation are left off the list of nineteen organizations joining the coalition. For more information about Fix The Tix, and to possibly join, visit here.
Empire State Youth Orchestra’s CHIME (Creating Harmony Inspiring Musical Excellence) program has announced that their students recently worked with the composer Adrian Gorson to create their own composition. The composition is called “Amplify Our Voice” (AOV) with a theme of “Stop Violence, Show Kindness” and the performance will occur on May 19th at 5:30 p.m. in the Schenectady High School Auditorium.
Amplify Our Voice offers CHIME students a powerful vehicle to create an original composition, process emotion, explore shared experiences, and “amplify” their voices to the world. The process begins with students choosing a theme. Once the theme is selected, students have workshops on improvisation later creating musical motifs and mini compositions based on the chosen topic. Students create an original, multi-level work in collaboration with a resident artist/composer through reflection, experimentation, and composition.
CHIME’s AOV initiative places youth in the driver’s seat, and opens the door to limitless innovation, and organic, creative expression. Its goals fundamentally change the traditional youth orchestra paradigm by empowering youth to exert personal influence over musical style. This transforms the traditional music education system into one that is culturally responsive, relevant, and equitable. AOV assists students in mastering their instruments and layering their artistic and experimental voice atop those who have preceded them, and to break new ground for others to follow in their footsteps.
“Over the course of this project, I’ve seen a lot of growth with the student’s confidence and ability to express themselves. Whether it was through improvisation sessions, composing their own pieces, or leading discussions, I certainly sense some healthy fearlessness to share their voice. The final piece of music that was created from all their work and inspiration is really beautiful and moving, but seeing this new feeling of empowerment in the students is the real goal.”
Dr. David Bebe, CHIME Conductor/ESYO Curriculum & Enrichment Coordinator
This year’s composer Adrian Gordon is no stranger to CHIME. In the fall students performed his piece “A Hero’s Journey” in the fall, and he has been collaborating with them virtually throughout the year. On March 13 Gordon visited the CHIME sites, Yates Elementary, Van Coralear Elementary, and Proctors and not only presented his first musical draft of this year’s AOV piece but also took feedback from the students.
Jones Beach has joined forces with the Music Forward Foundation and Northwell Health, New York’s largest healthcare provider, to provide students in underserved communities with a series of music industry career-readiness programs, equipping them with the necessary skills and resources to succeed in their chosen field.
Music Forward @ Jones Beach Theater, a community partnership with Northwell Health, will help high school students and community partners across Long Island engage in a series of music industry career-readiness programs, including venue tours and paid internships. The program offers students interested in live music careers exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the iconic Jones Beach Theater, and teaches them skills associated with producing live music events, such as talent acquisition, venue operations, live production, marketing, ticketing, and more.
The Northwell Health at Jones Beach is a 15,000-seat amphitheater in Wantagh, one of two major outdoor arenas in the New York metropolitan area. Each summer they bring in thousands with their summer concert series. This year some of the star-studded acts coming to the venue include TLC, the Steve Miller Band, Counting Crows, Big Time Rush, Matchbox Twenty, Goo Goo Dolls, The Lumineers, and more.
Music Forward transforms young lives, inspires careers, and champions a more inclusive music industry. “The crew at Jones Beach is grateful to Northwell and Music Forward for collaborating with us to create this program,” said Adam Citron, General Manager of Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater. “The amphitheater is an important part of the community and a great place to start a career. Our entire crew looks forward to helping the students get their start in the music industry.” Twelve graduating high school seniors will be selected for the program’s inaugural seven-week paid internship, taking place in July and August, learning the skills necessary to start their careers in the highly competitive music industry.
Through this partnership, Northwell Health and Music Forward will help remove barriers and increase access and opportunity for BIPOC youth, young women, and under-represented communities within the music and live entertainment industry. For more information about the program, visit here.
Throughout the month of May, The Capitol Theatre’s ‘Inner Sanctum’ bar & venue Garcia’s celebrates 10 years, with a month long lineup of live performances by local and nationally touring artists.
Created in partnership with Jerry Garcia’s family, the official anniversary date falls on Tuesday, May 16, but music will be featured all month long, including SoulShine, Liquorcake, Gimme Gimme Disco and Brown Eyed Women.
Earlier in the month The Rock and Roll Playhouse performed the music of Dave Matthews Band as well as Jerry Garcia tribute Finders Keepers. Mihali performed on Friday, May 12, and will return on Sunday, May 14, with a show at Brooklyn Bowl in between on Saturday.
Garcia’s will also offer a signature anniversary drink all month, the Cherry Jerry, made with Spiced Rum, Cherry Dr Pepper, a splash of lime and of course a cherry on top!
Over the last ten years Garcia’s has presented an eclectic mix of exciting acts such as Dinosaur Jr., Black Pumas, Goose, Yola, Marcus King, Twiddle, Mihali, Melvin Seals, Warren Haynes, Orebolo, Keller Williams, Eric Krasno, Dopapod and many more. As a hub for the development of next generation artists, Garcia’s Talent Buyer & Manager Josh Cohen has booked emerging acts early on such as Daniel Donato, Eggy, Dogs In A Pile, TAZ, Mikaela Davis among others, that have now gone on to playing large scale venues across the country.
Previously the Marketing Director for B.B. King Blues Club, at Garcia’s, Cohen has been focused on nurturing & growing the inclusive environment that is so unique to the historic Capitol Theatre. He likens the venue to a majestic tree in the middle of a village where the locals congregate to dance and celebrate life:
When bands play Garcia’s, we see them summon the energies of The Capitol Theatre and find footing in the rich history of improvisational music and the community through which it lives on. The vibe you find when attending a Garcia’s show is that of an ever-growing, loving family who is eager to welcome new faces with open arms. Whether we come for the music and stay for the vibe or vice versa, we are together, listening to every note and dancing with delight.
Josh Cohen – Garcia’s Manager
DeadCenter nights have also become a local fixture and staple of the venue, with local Grateful Dead tribute bands playing regularly like Stella Blue’s Band who have played the venue more than any other band, and are nearing their 100th show, 8Track, Dead Meat, Spadtastics, Deadgrass, Grateful BRO, Finders Keepersand SoulShine, an Allman Brothers Band tribute. DeadCenter nights have become such a mainstay, that these upcoming shows will celebrate 1,425 performances to date.
The Albany Center Gallery (ACG), located on Broadway in Albany, is accepting submissions for an upcoming exhibition celebrating Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary this August.
ACG and curators Robert Cooper, Truemaster, and BoogieRez invite local and regional artists to submit their work for consideration. This call for submissions is free and open to the public.
Hip Hop finds its origins dating back to August 11th, 1973, when a back-to-school party was held in the Bronx, at 1520 Sedgwick Ave. Over the years it became known as the party that started the culture of Hip Hop. Hip Hop is both a culture and a style of music, beginning with four elements: MC’ing, B-boy/B-girl, graffiti, and DJ’ing. 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of Hip Hop and to commemorate this historic occasion, events of varying degrees are planned around the world, including the Capital Region at Albany Center Gallery.
From Tuesday, August 1 to Saturday, September 2, 2023, this exhibition will be held at ACG in celebration of Hip Hop’s culture and overall multidisciplinary influence on people, especially creatives.
Along with the exhibition, the commemoration will include multiple associated programs highlighting performances that embody the spirit of Hip Hop and this cultural phenomenon. Albany Center Gallery is looking for visual art (photography, painting, sculpture, installations, and graffiti), and performance artists (MCs, DJs, Dancers, Poets, and more) to join ACG and curators in celebrating the 50 years of Hip Hop.
All art forms and mediums are welcome to submit. The work submitted should represent an artistic style that is inspired or influenced by the artist’s experience in Hip Hop culture throughout the years. Work must be submitted by Sunday, June 4, 2023, at midnight to be considered. Submit work and learn more details here.
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic Summer Jam at Wonderland Forest, a new 500-acre campground and concert venue in Lafayette just outside Syracuse over July 28 and 29.
Summer Jam 50 offers a recreation of the original Summer Jam from 1973, with music from Dark Star Orchestra (Celebrating the Grateful Dead Experience), Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country (A Celebration of The Allman Brothers Band), and The Weight Band (Celebrating the Music of The Band.)
The inaugural Summer Jam Music Festival in 1973 took place at Watkins Glen Race Track in Schuyler County and featured these three historic bands with 600,000 fans in attendance.
Each band will play both days of Summer Jam 50 at Wonderland Forest in Lafayette, as she weekend culminates with a full two-set recreation from Dark Star Orchestra of the Grateful Dead’s original show on July 28, 1973.
Wonderland Forest’s location in the rolling hills of Central New York’s Apple Valley offers the perfect atmosphere for a variety of special events and occasions. Camp Wonderland, for long a local camping site, will soon feature vintage RVs for rent, private glamping, as well as traditional camping sites. Gatsby Landing is an elegant indoor/outdoor event area that can accommodate wedding ceremonies and receptions, team-building excursions, and much more, all surrounded by the breathtaking views of Apple Valley.
We are honored to be hosting our first event at Wonderland Forest by recreating this iconic music festival. Wonderland Forest promises to be an amazing new venue experience for music lovers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
Dan Mastronardi of Wonderland Forest
A portion of Summer Jam 50’s proceeds will benefit the non-profit 501(c)(3) The Allman Brothers Band Museum in Macon, Georgia (known as ‘The Big House’). Big House Foundation’s primary mission is to preserve and promote the rich musical heritage and inclusive diverse culture of The Allman Brothers Band through music education programs and exhibits.
Summer Jam 50 at Wonderland Forest in Lafayette tickets go on sale May 11 at 12 p.m.
Live Nation has announced the return of its annual “Concert Week” promotion. The promotion offers fans a chance to purchase tickets to some of the hottest concerts happening this year for the decent price of $25. This year, concert week falls between May 10th to May 16th and you’ll find plenty of shows across New York State with this deal, including at SPAC, St. Joseph’s Amphitheatre, Artpark, KeyBank Center, Darien Lake, and more.
The limited-time ticket offer includes over 300 of today’s biggest acts across a wide variety of genres, including hip-hop, country, Latin, R&B, metal, pop, rock, K-pop, electronic, comedy and more.
Artists included in the Live Nation Concert Week range from 5 Seconds of Summer, Beck & Phoenix, Bebe Rexha, Big Time Rush, Don Toliver, Fall Out Boy, Janet Jackson, Kountry Wayne, Larry June, Maroon 5, Marca MP, Shania Twain, Snoop Dogg, VALLEY and many more. Concert Week features live events across all venue sizes – from clubs and theaters, to amphitheaters and arenas.
Fans can visit LiveNation.com/ConcertWeek to see the full list of participating events. Once they’ve selected a show, they should look for the ticket type labeled “Concert Week Promotion,” add the ticket(s) to their cart and proceed to checkout. Fans can filter their search on LiveNation.com/ConcertWeek by participating events, venues, or artists. While on the website, fans can also set the location to the closest city and the site will refresh to only include participating shows nearby.
The general on-sale for Live Nation Concert Week will begin on Wednesday, May 10th, at 10 AM ET through Thursday, May 16th, at 11:59 PM, or while supplies last at LiveNation.com/ConcertWeek.
Big Time Rush (Getty Images)
Participating shows at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC)
TLC 06/16/2023
Dermot Kennedy 06/19/2023
Tedeschi Trucks Band 07/01/2023
Tears For Fears 07/02/2023
Big Time Rush 07/03/2023
Counting Crows 07/05/2023
Goose 07/07/2023
Garbage 07/08/2023
Kidz Bop Kids 07/09/2023
Jason Aldean 07/16/2023
Gov’t Mule 07/28/2023
Matchbox Twenty 07/30/2023
Foreigner 08/01/2023
The Chicks 08/06/2023
Goo Goo Dolls 08/08/2023
Zac Brown Band 8/13/2023
Brit Floyd 8/22/2023
Pentatonix 08/23/2023
Eric Church 08/24/2023
Lynyrd Skynyrd 09/08/2023
Outlaw Music Festival 09/15/2023
Killer Queen 09/16/2023
Participating artists celebrating Concert Week at JMA Wireless Dome
Elvis Costello & the Imposters 07/08/2023
Def Leppard & Mötley Crüe: The World Tour 08/05/2023
Participating artists celebrating Concert Week at Warsaw, Brooklyn
Lankum 07/28/2023
Participating artists celebrating Concert Week at Landmark Theatre
Encanto: The Sing-Along Film Concert 10/20/2023
Participating artists celebrating Concert Week at St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater
Luke Bryan 06/15/2023
Falling in Reverse 06/30/2023
Counting Crows 07/01/2023
Kidz Bop Kids 07/16/2023
Matchbox Twenty 07/29/2023
Mudvayne 08/01/2023
Godsmack 08/03/2023
Pantera 08/08/2023
Zac Brown Band 08/11/2023
Disturbed 08/12/2023
Goo Goo Dolls 08/16/2023
Yellowcard 08/17/2023
Ghost 08/18/2023
Parker McCollum 08/19/2023
Pentatonix 08/24/2023
Sam Hunt 08/25/2023
Foreigner 09/02/2023
Shinedown 09/13/2023
Participating shows in Western New York
Brooks & Dunn at KeyBank Center: May 13, 2023
Bryan Adams at KeyBank Center: June 13, 2023
Ben Folds at ARTPARK – Amphitheater : June 16, 2023
Luke Bryan at Darien Lake Amphitheater: June 16, 2023
Thomas Rhett at KeyBank Center: July 6, 2023
Kidz Bop Kids at Darien Lake Amphitheater: July 14, 2023
Sam Hunt at Darien Lake Amphitheater: July 15, 2023
Foreigner at Darien Lake Amphitheater: July 28, 2023
Culture Club at Darien Lake Amphitheater: July 29, 2023
Outlaw Music Festival at Darien Lake Amphitheater: July 30, 2023
Matchbox Twenty at Darien Lake Amphitheater: August 1, 2023
Regina Spektor at Kodak Center: August 1, 2023
Orville Peck at ARTPARK – Amphitheater: August 1, 2023
Jelly Roll at Darien Lake Amphitheater: August 3, 2023
Fall Out Boy at Darien Lake Amphitheater: August 04, 2023
Jason Isbell at ARTPARK – Amphitheater: August 5, 2023
Godsmack at Darien Lake Amphitheater: August 6, 2023
Pantera at Darien Lake Amphitheater: August 9, 2023
Nickelback at Darien Lake Amphitheater: August 16, 2023
Parker McCollum at ARTPARK – Amphitheater : August 17, 2023
The Offspring at Darien Lake Amphitheater: August 20, 2023
All American Rejects at Darien Lake Amphitheater: August 21, 2023
ODESZA at Darien Lake Amphitheater: September 1, 2023
Ray LaMontagne at Kodak Center: September 22, 2023
This Mother’s Day weekend, do something special with your family and celebrate with The Rock and Roll Playhouse at the Brooklyn Bowl. Additionally, The Rock and Roll Playhouse will celebrate Mother’s Day weekend at various other venues throughout the country, and a portion of the proceeds will go to Femme House.
There’s no shortage of activities for your children, including The Beatles for Kids, Taylor Swift for Kids, and Shania Twain for Kids.
The lineup for the Mother’s Day weekend concert at the Rock and Roll Playhouse includes a performance at the Brooklyn Bowl. Credit: Shore Fire Media.
Senior Director of The Rock and Roll Playhouse, Stephen Grybowski shares “Live music is the heartbeat of the human soul. It’s truly one of the few things on earth that can unite any two people from any two walks of life, anywhere in the world. To be able to help parents share the music that they love with their children and the next generation is the best part of what I do.” When asked who has more fun, the kids or the parents? “It’s really hard to compare! Children are experiencing this music often for the first time in their lives, so the beauty of that is pretty unrivaled. At the same time, it means so much to a parent to share the music that they grew up with and love so deeply with their children.”
The largest national concert series for families, The Rock and Roll Playhouse was founded in 2014 at its flagship venue, Brooklyn Bowl, by industry pioneer Peter Shapiro, and Amy Striem, a certified Early Childhood and Elementary teacher, who were looking to create opportunities for families to experience live music together in historic music venues. The Playhouse has since performed to hundreds of thousands of kids and their families in over 42 venues across 30 cities, playing music from the most iconic musicians in history to inspire the next generation of children. The program has raised funds for the Can’d Aid Foundation’s Tunes Programs, VH1 Save the Music Foundation, The Rex Foundation, UNICEF, and Keep the Music Alive, as well as thousands of ticket donations to local school fundraisers and charity auctions around the country.
Femme House is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, fostering more equitable opportunity for women and gender-expansive individuals in the technical and behind the scenes areas of music. The organization fosters future producers, mixers, engineers, DJs, artists, and executives of the industry by providing education and scholarships, cultivating community, propagating visual representation, and offering professional development opportunities. In 2022, Femme House raised over $100,000 to fund scholarship programs, provided six fellows with free gear and specialized music instruction, and doubled down on its commitment to diversifying the deck by ensuring that over half of its lineups have BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ representation.
The Mother’s Day weekend celebration with The Rock and Roll Playhouse is open to all ages and tickets are available now.
The Rock and Roll Playhouse Mother’s Day Weekend Schedule:
Saturday, May 13:
Bluebird Theatre – Denver, Co – The Beatles for Kids
Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA – The Beatles for Kids
Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia – Philadelphia, PA – The Beatles for Kids
Fairfield Theater Company – Fairfield, CT – The Beatles for Kids
Slowdown – Omaha, NE – The Beatles for Kids
Space (Morning Show) – Evanston, IL – The Beatles for Kids
Space (Evening Show) – Evanston, IL – The Beatles for Kids
Sunday, May 14:
Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY – The Beatles for Kids
Deep Ellum Art Co. – Dallas, TX – The Beatles for Kids
Elevation 27 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Beatles for Kids
Last Concert Cafe – Houston, TX – The Beatles for Kids
Portland House of Music – Portland, ME – The Beatles for Kids
Woodlands Tavern – Columbus, OH – Taylor Swift for Kids
Acclaimed actor John Malkovich will star in The Music Critic at the Beacon Theatre in New York City on Oct. 28. The Beacon Theatre’s production of The Music Critic will be the last of its 2023 tour dates, before its final performance in June 2024 at Portland, Oregon’s Arlene Schnitzer Theatre.
Written and conceived by Aleksey Igudesman, The Music Critic is a show in which classical music, theater, and comedy collide.
Actor of John Malkovich, star of The Music Critic. Credit: Aleksey Igudesman and Julia Wesely.
John Malkovich’s career spans over four decades and 70 films, the first of which was an uncredited role in 1978’s A Wedding. Malkovich has worked with several big names in the business, including Sally Field in Places in the Heart (1984) and Glenn Close in Dangerous Liaisons (1988.) He has also ventured into producing, with Ghost World (2001), The Libertine (2004), Juno (2007), and The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012).
Aleksey Igudesman was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991.) He is known as a violinist, composer, conductor, comedian, filmmaker, actor, writer, poet, and entrepreneur. His secret passions are cooking, eating out in luxurious restaurants, and writing reviews on TripAdvisor.
Tickets for The Music Critic at New York City’s Beacon Theatre starring John Malkovich go on sale May 12 beginning at 10 a.m. Until then, check out the program for The Music Critic.
The Music Critic U.S. Tour Dates:
Benaroya Hall, Seattle Washington, Oct 17, 2023
Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles California, Oct 20, 2023
Majestic Theater, Dallas, Texas, Oct 21, 2023
Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, San Antonio, Texas, Oct 22, 2023
Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin, Texas, Oct 23, 2023
Filmore Theatre, Detroit, Michigan, Oct 25, 2023
Chicago Theatre, Chicago Illinois, Oct 26, 2023
The Beacon Theatre, New York City, New York, Oct 28, 2023
Arlene Schnitzer Theatre, Portland, Oregon, June 12, 2024
The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) announced that for the year 2024, the budget allocation is $110 million, as well as additional grants reaching $127 million to organizations and artists, and capital project funding.
Lake Placid Sinfonietta Photo: Lohr McKinstry.
The New York State Council on the Arts is dedicated to preserving and expanding the rich and diverse cultural resources that are and will become the heritage of New York’s citizens. This year the NYSCA awarded more than 3,600 direct grants, and $90 million to support the visual, performing, literary and media arts, arts education, and more. Governor Kathy Hochul just announced over $42 Million in awards for Small and Mid-Sized Capital Project grants.
Strengthening our creative sector increases tourism, boosts our economy, and enhances the rich heritage and cultural life of New York State. These record grants will support a wide range of diverse and innovative projects at our arts and cultural organizations across the state, helping ensure all who visit will continue to have wonderful experiences for years to come.
Governor Kathy Hochul
Among those who received a grant award for Small and Mid-Sized Capital Projects, Central New York, more specifically Oneida, had a generous amount given to them. The projects include $1.2 million towards the Artspace Utica Lofts, 41 affordable one and two-bedroom live/work artist units, along with a 3,000-square-foot community workspace located in the Commercial and Arts & Cultural Districts downtown, and $300,000 towards the Children’s Museum of History, Natural History, and Science for Final Construction and Capital Systems Components of Final Museum Construction Phase. A complete list of grantees is available here.
For the 2024 year, the NYSCA will allocate $110 million to support the sector as it is a very important year for the arts as the bounce back from the COVID pandemic continues every day. The total funding for grants is $127 million, $90 million in grantmaking to organizations and artists, and $37 million in capital project funding. For more information about the NYSCA and to prequalify for aid, visit here.
