New York City’s East River ferry route has introduced a new Back To The Future: The Musical themed ferry experience. Beginning on October 20, select NYC Ferry departures will give riders a taste of Broadway’s latest hit show, as well as surprises throughout the month.
The ferry rides will feature a ticket giveaway, trivia, and cast appearances. In addition, travelers will be able to board the special Back To The Future: The Musical vessel on other NYC ferry routes through November 17.
Back To The Future: The Musical is a multi-award-winning Broadway musical based on the classic 1985 film. The show won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical, as well as four WhatsOnStage Awards. It is officially open at New York City’s Winter Garden Theatre.
The NYC Ferry is a reliable, convenient public transit option for New Yorkers, offering service through all five boroughs. Tickets are $4.00 per one-way ticket, and are also available in discounted ticket packages. To plan your travel on the ferry, and view schedules and service alerts, visit ferry.nyc.
Back To The Future: The Musical is now showing at the Winter Garden Theatre. To purchase tickets, visit www.BackToTheFutureMusical.com, purchase via Telecharge at 212-239-6200 or Telecharge.com, or at the Winter Garden Theatre box office at 1634 Broadway.
In 1994, a unique and laid-back sound known as “hip-hop blues” emerged from the streets of Philadelphia. It was the creation of G. Love & Special Sauce, a trio that quickly captivated music lovers with their blend of Delta blues, hip-hop, rock & roll, soul, and funk.
The self-titled debut album from this talented trio swiftly went Gold, setting the stage for a remarkable musical journey. Now, three decades later, they’re celebrating the 30th anniversary of this iconic album with an extensive national tour, including a special stop in Homer, New York, and another in New York City.
Born Garrett Dutton in Philadelphia, G. Love (as he is popularly known) was raised with a diverse musical palette, equally enchanted by folk, blues, and rap. His musical influences ranged from Lead Belly and Run D.M.C. to John Hammond and the Beastie Boys. Upon relocating to Boston, G. Love, along with his band, Special Sauce, broke into the music scene in 1994 with their Gold-selling self-titled debut album. The album garnered widespread critical acclaim for its bold vision and innovative production, establishing the trio as a pioneering force in the music industry.
Over the next three decades, G. Love continued to build on this success, releasing seven more acclaimed studio albums with Special Sauce and four solo albums. His music was described by The New York Times as “a new and urgent hybrid” and by NPR as a “musical melting pot.”
G. Love and Special Sauce’s most recent studio effort Philadelphia, Mississippi saw the group embark on an innovative and deeply reverent sonic journey to the heart of the South. Produced by Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi All-Stars, the album is a tapestry of joyful, improvised performances and freewheeling collaborations with a range of special guests, including blues luminaries like Alvin Youngblood Hart and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, as well as rap icons Schoolly D and Speech. This album followed their 2020 Grammy-nominated release The Juice, co-written and co-produced by Grammy-winning icon Keb’ Mo’.
The Juice paid homage to centuries of blues heritage while offering a contemporary pop spin on the genre. It masterfully mixed programmed beats and hip-hop grooves with blistering guitar and sacred steel, conveying a message of hope and determination in a society that sometimes struggles with doubt and despair.
Now, G. Love & Special Sauce is coming full circle, revisiting the album that started it all. Their self-titled debut produced chart-topping hits like “Cold Beverage,” a college radio staple, and “Baby’s Got Sauce,” dubbed the “Song of the Year” by Seattle’s KEXP-FM 90.3. The album even reached #32 on the Heatseekers chart.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of their iconic debut, G. Love & Special Sauce is embarking on a 40+ date tour that crisscrosses the United States.
Tickets for this extraordinary musical journey will go on sale on Friday, October 20th, at 10:00 a.m. local time in each respective market.
Tour Dates
1/11 – St. Louis, MO – Blueberry Hill Duck Room
1/12 – Chicago, IL – Park West
1/13 – Minneapolis, MN- Fine Line
1/14 – Milwaukee, WI- Turner Hall Ballroom
1/17 – Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark
1/18 – Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue
1/19 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
1/20 – Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird Café and Music Hall
1/21 – Homer, NY – Center for the Arts of Homer
1/24 – Boston, MA – City Winery
1/25 – Boston, MA – City Winery
1/26 – Philadelphia, PA – City Winery
1/27 – Philadelphia, PA – City Winery
1/30 – New York, NY – City Winery – Pier 57
1/31 – New York, NY – City Winery – Pier 57
2/1 – Annapolis, MD – Rams Head On Stage
2/2 – Annapolis, MD – Rams Head On Stage
2/3 – Washington, DC – The Hamilton Live
2/6 – Virginia Beach, VA – Elevation 27
2/7 – Charlotte, NC – Visulite Theatre
2/8 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
2/9 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm
2/10 – Atlanta, GA – City Winery
2/13 – Fort Myers, FL – Point Ybel Brewing
2/14 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live
2/16 – New Smyrna Beach, FL- Beachside Tavern
2/17 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room
2/18 – Key West, FL – American Legion
2/29 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
3/1 – San Juan Capistrano, CA – The Coach House
3/2 – West Hollywood, CA – Troubadour
3/3 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
3/5 – Santa Barbara, CA – Soho
3/6 – San Francisco, CA- The Independent
3/8 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
3/9 – Seattle, WA- The Showbox
3/12 – Salt Lake City, UT – The State Room
3/13 – Aspen, CO- Belly Up Aspen
3/14 – Steamboat Springs, CO – Strings Music Pavilion
After an exciting and groundbreaking run of shows at the Sphere in Las Vegas, U2 has announced they are playing an additional 11 dates on their ‘U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere,’ run for January and February 2024.
‘U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere,’ is a first-of-its-kind live music experience that ushers in a new era of live entertainment with the world’s biggest rock band, U2, in the world’s most cutting-edge venue, Sphere. The show marks U2’s first live outing in four years and Sphere will be the only place fans can see this show, now with 36 total dates running through February 18, 2024. Bono, The Edge, and Adam Clayton will once again be joined onstage by Bram van den Berg, sitting in on drums for Larry Mullen Jr.
Acknowledged as one of the best live acts in the world, U2, formed in Dublin in 1978, has since toured the globe countless times, released 14 studio albums, sold over 170 million albums, and won numerous awards, including 22 Grammys and Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience award. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 and have twice been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. U2 has consistently pushed the boundaries of live performance, with ground-breaking stage shows that embrace the latest in technology and innovation.
Credit: Ross Stewart.
The Sphere, curated by Madison Square Garden Entertainment, is becoming the next-generation entertainment medium, bringing wonder to the world and redefining the future of live entertainment, where artists, creators, and technologies create extraordinary experiences, taking storytelling to a new level. The venue transforms the concert-going experience with innovative technologies that include a 16K x 16K LED display inside the main venue bowl that wraps up, over, and around the audience, creating a fully immersive visual environment. The Sphere also has the world’s most advanced concert audio system, featuring crystal-clear audio and 10,000 immersive seats including a system that utilizes deep vibrations so guests can feel the rumble of thunder or a roaring motorcycle.
Tickets will be available during a general on-sale starting Wednesday, October 25 at 11 a.m. PT. On-sale times may vary, check the Ticketmaster listing for more information.
U2 Sphere Dates
2023 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16
2024 FRIDAY, JANUARY 26 SATURDAY, JANUARY 27 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18
Global sensation Bad Bunny announced a 47-date North American tour slated for this spring, titled the Most Wanted Tour. Kicking off on February 21 in Salt Lake City, the tour will make stops in Los Angeles, Detroit, Boston, Washington, DC, Houston, and Dallas, as well as three back-to-back shows at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on April 11, 12, and 13.
The Most Wanted Tour will be curated as an experience for day-one fans, featuring a rollercoaster of explicit lyrics paying homage to the Bad Bunny’s “trap” style roots. Parental discretion is advised.
Bad Bunny rose to global fame in recent years, and became the top touring artist in 2022. After winning 3 Grammy Awards, the rapper took a break from large-scale tours, and will make his comeback this spring on the Most Wanted Tour
Bad Bunny released his newest album, nadie sabe lo que va a a pasar mañana, to massive success, as it became the most-streamed album in a single day so far in 2023 on Spotify. The Spanish title translates to “nobody knows what will happen tomorrow.” The record’s lead track, “MONACO,” hit #1 in 16 countries on Spotify, making a mark with over 900 million streams so far.
Fans can register for the Most Wanted Tour resale here until October 22 at 11:59PM. Once registered, fans will be randomly selected to receive a code that grants them access to the on-sale on October 25.
In addition, the tour will offer a variety of VIP packages and experiences, including premium tickets, access to the pre-show VIP Lounge Experience, exclusive gift items, and more. Visit vipnation.com for more information.
Syracuse’s Amphitheater on Lake Onondaga will have a new name, starting today: Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview.
Naming rights have been held by St. Joseph’s Health since 2018, and before that, the venue was simply called Lakeview Amphitheater since opening in September 2015.
Announced on Friday morning, the Syracuse-based Empower FCU said the following in a statement:
Empower FCU was born and raised in the Salt City, and now is among the largest credit unions in New York, with over 250,000 members, over 600 employees and more than $3.2 billion in assets. The Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview reflects a commitment to our Central New York roots by creating unique experiences for our members and the local community we serve.
St. Joseph’s Health said in a statement they were thankful for the partnership and will continue the “fast lane” program for nurses going to the venue: “Music is a healing art, and as we stated when we took on this sponsorship in 2018, we firmly believe it is an important part of the culture of our diverse community and our healing ministry.”
The 17,500-seat venue also announced this morning that country music star Lainey Wilson will bring her “Country’s Cool Again” tour to Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview on June 24, 2024 with special guests Ian Munsick and Zach Top.
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.
Critically-acclaimed Buffalo native, Westside Gunn, continues to push the envelope on his “underground” status with the release of his latest LP, And Then You Pray For Me. Released this past Friday, the star-studded project features a host of hip hop heavy hitters along with a mesh of styles and sub-genres. All in all, showcasing the Griselda head honcho’s status within the game.
‘And Then Your Pray For Me” album cover
The Making of “And Then You Pray For Me”
Furthermore, the self proclaimed “FlyGod” took a unique approach to the creation of And Then You Pray For Me, recording most of the album overseas. Immersing himself in inspiring locals, he laid down tracks in Paris, Athens, London, and Denmark. Subsequently, as Westside Gunn cements his place in hiphop folklore, he has begun to experiment with different sounds. After years of maintaining an air of creativity and cultural fluidity with his keen fashion sense, expressive styles and interest in art, this has begun to manifest itself in his music — which has long fed the streets with a combination of boom bap and luxury drug raps. While the new experimental sounds have been well received, it has led to questions on whether Westside Gunn’s loyalty to the boom bap sound that gained him relevance has begun to waiver.
After all, the 21-track project boasts contributions from legendary figures such as RZA, Rick Ross, Jeezy and DJ Drama. While contemporary stars the Iikes of Ty Dolla $ign, J.I.D., EST Gee and producer Tay Keith make appearances with the addition of British rapper, Giggs, for a bit of European flair. Meanwhile, And Then You Pray For Me maintains its gritty feel with appearances from Griselda cohorts and fellow underground stars. Particularly, Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine, Stove God Cooks, Rome Street and longtime producers Conductor Williams and Derringer grace the project. Ultimately culminating in an electric blend of trap, boom bap with remnants of R&B & soul samples.
Everybody keep asking me based on the the clips they heard wondering is “AND THEN YOU PRAY FOR ME” Boom Bap or Trap bc the “Disgusting” record ft Giggs sound trap & the “ Dunhill”ft Unknown clip sounded trap but the @JIDsv record sounded like Boom bap
I have Virgil Abloh doing my artwork and who left on earth can say that. I cannot disrespect his legacy, he’s immortal and I feel this is his way of blessing me; even though he’s not here in the physical.
– Westside Gunn
In a heartfelt tribute to the late Virgil Abloh, a close friend of Westside Gunn, the renowned Off-White creative designed the artwork for And Then You Pray For Me. Abloh, known for his innovative and boundary-pushing designs, also created the iconic cover for Westside Gunn’s 2020 album, Pray For Paris. This latest collaboration between Abloh and Westside Gunn is a testament to their enduring friendship and creative synergy.
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.
Toronto-NYC indie rock power trio ON has unveiled the music video for their latest single release ‘Gator’, an infectious groove and rock waltz, released via Toronto’s Indiestructable Records on October 10.
The band ON is a power trio including lead vocalist Lucy Di Santo, drummer Dan Cornelius and guitarist Steve Fall, they continue to carry out the legacy of previously formed 90’s Sire Records band ACID TEST. The newest single ‘Gator’ encompasses infectious guitar riffs with a dash of groove that honors their post-punk, grunge, old-school funk and 90s college roots. The song is a clever blend of pop melody and raw rock, with a tight weave of classic and alternative coated with grunge. ‘Gator’ follows up the bands latest single ‘Make Me’, a song of frustration and wanted to recapture that euphoria in the new video.
“The song has a strong guitar hook and melody – and the drums are tailored to support and enhance those elements. So I thought the drums should be a drum pattern that anyone could tap along to ON their steering wheel while waiting in traffic. Simple drum groove. Simple drum fills.”
– Drummer Dan Cornelius
Upcoming Tour Dates
Sun 10/15 Toronto – Bovine Sex Club (with Snailmate, Second Wife)
Tues 10 /17 Ithaca, NY – Deep Dive (with Snailmate)
Wed 10/18 Buffalo, NY – The Lounge at Revolution Gallery (with Snailmate & Daisy Chain)
Thurs 10/19 Kingston, ON – The Toucan (with Snailmate)
Sat 10/21 NYC, NY – Bar Frida (with Snailmate)
‘Gator’ is out now and available from fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.
The Illusion, a Long Island based psychedelic rock band from the 1960s and 70s was recently inducted into the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHoF). At the induction ceremony, the group performed onstage for the first time in 51 years.
The Illusion made a name for themselves touring with the likes of The Who, The Allman Brothers Band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and more. The group’s first single was released in 1968, with their debut album, The Illusion, released on Steed Records the following year. The band continued with two more albums and ultimately dissolved in the early 1970s. The group notably worked alongside Jeff Barry (Tina Turner, The Crystals), who served as the band’s producer for all three of their albums.
The group was inducted into the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame on October 7, celebrating original members John Vinci, Rich Cerniglia, Chuck Alder, Mike Ricciardella, and the late Mike Maniscalco. Cerniglia, Alder, and Ricciardella took the stage alongside friends to play a selection of hit songs from their original discography.
The Illusion has had such a major impact and influence on so many of the performers who later themselves became inductees into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, it is high time they themselves became inductees. Congratulations to the Illusion on being inducted into the LIMEHoF.
Barry Fisch, General Manager of LIMEHoF
The Illusion is credited with being an influential figure in the Long Island rock scene, as well as a key influential figure for their friend and collaborator Jimi Hendrix. The group met Hendrix by chance at a recording studio early in their careers and went on to become close friends, frequently playing together across the country.
