NYS Music 2023

Category: News Desk

  • Watch: Sleepy Hallow Puts Sheff G On The Phone at Rolling Loud

    As Rolling Loud Miami came and went, fans got to enjoy a host of performances by over 100 of hip hop’s best acts. Likewise, there were those unable to take part for various reasons. Notably, Lil Durk did not perform due to his recent hospitalization for dehydration. Likewise, Sheff G did not take part but due to his recent legal troubles. The troubled-but-talented Brooklyn native was to make his much-awaited return at Rolling Loud Miami after serving nearly two years behind bars for gun possession. However, the “We Getting Money” rapper got himself in hot water after he and close friend Sleepy Hallow were part of a large-scale gang indictment.

    Winners Circle Entertainment/ Sleepy Hallow – Rolling Loud Miami 2021 (Show Recap)/Youtube

    As for Sheff G in particular, the indictment accuses him of offering up money and expensive jewelry in exchange for the commission of violent acts. In one alleged incident, Sheff G organized a crew of three shooters, drove them to a crime scene, and then acted as the getaway driver.

    “Sheff G became a prominent member of this gang and became central to our investigation,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. “Sheff G used a lot of the money that he earned to facilitate further gang activity. He encouraged gang members to participate in violent crimes.”

    Sleepy Hallow Puts Sheff G on The Phone

    While Sleepy Hallow was able to bail out and make his Rolling Loud dates, the latest charges were a major setback for Sheff G who was initially scheduled to be released sometime in June and had teased his return to the stage at Rolling Loud. In light of his close friend’s circumstances, Sleepy Hallow bridged the gap between Sheff G and the fans by putting the incarcerated rapper on the phone, to much fanfare from the crowd.

    In the short clip, Sheff G gets the Rolling Loud crowd amped by telling them to “turn the f**ck up.” With the drill scene’s recent stagnation Sheff G’s presence woud’ve been a major boost for New York hip hop. The Brooklynite is one of the most talented young rappers from the new-age and is one of the key figures that helped spark the drill scene in New York.

  • Wu-Tang Clan To Headline SiriusXM and Pandora’s Hip Hop 50 Celebration in Queens

    Legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan has announced they are headlining “For the Love,” a collaboration between SiriusXM and Pandora that celebrates Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary.

    “For The Love” includes an unforgettable day of events on Aug. 10 in Queens at the Knockdown Center, by the Wu-Tang Clan, considered by many to be the greatest hip-hop group of all time. Founded in Staten Island in the early 1990s, the group is comprised of members RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna, and the deceased Ol Dirty Bastard (ODB).

    They have been touring as a unit since their debut record Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) came out in 1993. The now triple-platinum release vaulted the group with songs like “C.R.E.A.M.” (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) and “Protect Ya Neck.” Their live sets are a family affair, with every member of the crew representing their lyrical contributions to their eight studio albums, as well as notable cuts from the Wu-Tang solo discography. Every Wu-Tang Clan show is a celebration of prolific careers as individuals and especially as the most storied group in hip-hop history.

    Earlier in the day, For the Love: Community Giveback Sponsored by Cricket invites fans to the Knockdown Center to celebrate hip-hop’s next 50 years with local students, families, and businesses in support of the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens. Throughout the afternoon, the event will feature a wide range of festivities from breakdancing performances and double-dutch to live, interactive broadcasts of SiriusXM Hip-Hop Nation’s Gray Rizzy and The Heat’s DJ Steel. SiriusXM personalities Mina SayWhat, Torae, Coach PR, D-Stroy, Bugsy, DJ Superstar Jay, DJ Wallah, and DJ Taj will also be on hand during the event to host, DJ, and more. Food will be provided by a host of local, BIPOC-owned and operated food trucks.

    Hip-hop is not just music, it’s a culture which has defined and redefined our society through the years. Wu-Tang Clan has contributed so immensely to the hip-hop community, making a lasting impact on so many people’s lives, and we are honored to share this momentous occasion with these music pioneers and have them take the SiriusXM stage to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of hip-hop.

    Joshua “J1” Raiford, Vice President, Music Programming, SiriusXM/Pandora

    SiriusXM and Pandora will also have a multitude of special hip-hop programs, including countdowns, female only rap, underground cuts, and more. The Wu-Tang Clan headline show will be open to SiriusXM subscribers and Pandora listeners, 21+. RSVP is required for an opportunity to attend the in-person show here.

  • Phish Announce Benefit Shows at SPAC for Flood Recovery

    A late entry to their 2023 Summer Tour, Phish has announced two nights at the Broadview Stage at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) on August 25 and 26, with both shows supporting flood recovery in Vermont and Upstate New York.

    phish spac

    Catastrophic flooding has led to thousands of Vermonters and Upstate New Yorkers losing their homes and property, with flood waters wiping out bridges, train tressels, businesses, cars and disrupting lives. A ‘100-year storm’ follows a similarly malevolent storm that blew through the Northeast in 2011, Hurricane Irene, destroying 500 miles of road and 200 bridges.

    100% of net proceeds from all concert and merchandise sales will be directed to The WaterWheel Foundation’s 2023 Flood Recovery Fund, which will support the many victims and their families, area businesses, and non-profits. The Recovery Fund will support both shorter-term needs and long-term recovery and resiliency projects. 

    On September 14, 2011, Phish would hold a benefit concert at Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction, VT, raising money for Vermonters most in need. Phish formed at UVM in 1983 and has deep ties to Vermont, with Trey Anastasio’s The Barn recording studio located near Burlington, and Mike Gordon and Page McConnell calling the Burlington area home for many years.

    A limited number of Foundation tickets will also be available that include a ticket to the show, a private pre-show performance with Phish’s Trey Anastasio and Page McConnell, access to the Foundation Lounge before and throughout the show, and special Foundation poster and merch, in addition to other amenities. 

    Created by Phish in 1997 to oversee the band’s various charitable activities, The Waterwheel Foundation has been harnessing the kindness of the Phish fan community to create positive change for over 25 years.

    The Flood Benefit Recovery shows will be the 23rd and 24th overall performances for Phish at SPAC, who first played the summer shed in Saratoga Springs on July 27, 1992, opening up for Santana.

    Tickets for Phish at SPAC can be requested here.

  • Northern Current Returns to Saranac Lake this September

    Northern Current is back for another year of live music on Labor Day weekend. The annual free festival takes place on Sept. 3 at Riverside Park in Saranac Lake. The celebration gets underway at Noon and runs until 9:30 PM. 

    Located at the base of Lake Flower, Riverside Park provides a picturesque setting for the event. The festival looks to celebrate the beauty and richness of Saranac Lake and the surrounding Adirondack Mountains. Northern Current is focused on enriching the cultural and artistic diversity of the town by presenting a diverse set of performing artists. This year’s lineup features offerings of Rock, Blues, R&B, Afrobeat, Americana, Old Time Folk, Jazz, Country, and more.

    www.northerncurrentadk.org

    Headlining Northern Current is Canadian outfit Bywater Call. The group’s blend of rock, blues, and R&B results in a soulful and powerful sound. Standout vocalist Megan Parnell fits perfectly with the cascade of horns and noisy guitars that usually features in Bywater Call’s music. Together the group has carved out a lane somewhere between Southern Soul and modern blues-rock. 

    Local bands High on the Hog and Midnight Stargazers will open up the festival. Other New York acts include Afro-funk outfit Kaleta & Super Yamba Band and Americana pairing Richie & Rosie. The festival will also feature Huntress & the Holder of Hands, The Soggy Po Boys, Badenyah Drum & Dance, and DiTrani Brothers. 

    In addition to live music, Northern Current boasts a designated “kid zone,” merchandise, and local food vendors. The event is scheduled to take place rain or shine. Visit here for details and information about the event. 

  • Brooklyn’s Paramount Theatre To Be Renovated with Live Nation Partnership

    Long Island University’s (LIU) long-running restoration of the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre is expected to be completed in the first or second quarter of 2024. This will be accomplished with the aid of Live Nation, which currently has a 25-year operating lease for the building.

    Brooklyn Paramount Theatre exterior in 1948. Credit: Long Island University.

    Plans originally began in 2015 with Onexim, a company owned by Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, but progress halted as Onexim looked for new investors to take over operations. This, combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly offset any chance of an as-planned 2019 reopening.

    In a recent meeting in June 2023 with Brooklyn’s Community Board 2’s Health, Environment & Social Services Committee, progress was shown by Live Nation representatives, though the page on LIU’s website has yet to be updated. It will be opening as the LIU Brooklyn Paramount Theatre.

    Rendering of Flatbush Avenue facade of LIU Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Paramount signage. The current plan for the exterior has changed to be less pronounced than this rendering. Credit: H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture.

    The Paramount Theatre originally operated from 1928 to 1962 as a live performance venue and was also the first theater designed to show talking movies. It helped introduce Jazz to Brooklyn and was an early home to Rock. The Theatre had performances by iconic musicians, such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Bing Crosby, Buddy Holly, and Chuck Berry.

    In 1962, the Paramount Theatre closed its doors. LIU would go on to turn the location into a gym, though it retained the original Rococo-style ceiling and other decorative details. The gym at what once was the Paramount would be replaced, and plans for the restoration would be made. It is hoped by LIU that the renovations will bring opportunities for internships and hands-on experience across disciplines.

    The original 2015 plan had a $50 million budget, but current numbers have not been released.

    Brooklyn Paramount Theatre interior in 1937. Credit: Long Island University

    The theatre is still home to one of two working models of the Wurlitzer 4/26 orchestral organ, the other at home in Radio City. The 1928 instrument is the only one that is still 100% original, and it is maintained by the New York Theatre Organ Society (NYTOS). It is capable of replicating the sound of a full symphony orchestra through a single, very intricate instrument.

  • Nick Balzano of LI Jam Scene Announces Watkins Jam Lineup

    Nick Balzano of the LI Jam Scene has announced his new venture Watkins Jam, taking place July 28-30 at various places in the state, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the famous Watkins Glen Summer Jam.

    Nick Balzano has performed in many bands over the years, with his love for music starting at a young age with drums and piano. For the past ten years, he has been the vocalist and performed multiple instruments in LI Jam Scene. He has also put on many events over the years with companies and venues like Liquid Shadows Entertainment, 89 North, and more, and has always strived to give artists the fair shake and audience they deserve. His newest project, Pine Barrens Jam, hopes to showcase Long Island’s creative talent for years to come.

    Now, Balzano is celebrating the anniversary of the Watkins Glen Summer Jam, which featured The Band, Grateful Dead, and The Allman Brothers Band. On creating the tribute shows, he said “[they] have been some of my biggest inspirations and I’m sure the rest of the members of this project can say the same. The songs, drumming styles, and even the communities they’ve created have had a huge influence on the path I’ve chosen as a musician.”  When putting together the lineup, he specifically chose bands and artists who were also inspired by the three legendary acts.

    The tribute shows take place on July 28 at Deep Dive in Ithaca, July 29 at Courtyard in Rosecoe, and July 30 at LI Glass in Holtsville. The lineup is comprised of various supergroups taking on each band’s eclectic catalog. Whaley will be presenting a set of The Band with the help of Damien Pagan of Funkin A’/Albums We Love on Long Island. The Allman Brothers and Grateful Dead sets will feature John & Rob from Ernie & The Band, as well as Damien & other guests. The original drummer from Balzano’s time in A Band In Ship, Ryan McCloskey, will be joining for The Allman Brothers set for the Upstate dates and Jager Soss of Baked Shrimp will be holding down the second kit on Long Island.

    The original Summer Jam.

    For more information and to purchase tickets, visit here.

  • Les Claypool’s Frog Brigade Announces Fall Tour, Palace Theatre and Brooklyn Steel Shows

    Tickets are now available for Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade’s “Hunt For Green October” fall tour, with dates in Brooklyn and Albany. The rock band recently reformed after a 20-year hiatus, and has just completed their “Summer of Green” tour.

    The band was originally formed by Les Claypool in 2000 during a break from his other band, Primus, with a debut appearance at the Mountain Aire Festival. They would go on to tour around the U.S., release two live albums, and release the studio album, Purple Onion.

    Claypool himself has also been involved with Primus’s recent “A Tribute To Kings” tour, as well as Primus’s first new music in over five years. This 3-track EP, Conspiranoid, includes the 11-minute “Conspiranoia.”

    Les Claypool’s Frog Brigade will have a new, two-set show for their fall tour, going more into their catalog. The “Hunt For Green October” tour will be the last opportunity to hear the Frog Brigade’s take on Pink Floyd‘s Animals. The song will be played at every show in its entirety.

    Let’s put it this way… I think, with Primus and without, I’ve played every music festival in the last ten years, except Lilith Fair. You could say I’m the guy who doesn’t fit in anywhere, but a little bit everywhere.

    Les Claypool

    Upcoming Tour Dates

    Oct. 11 – Fox Theater – Oakland, CA

    Oct. 12 – Riverside Municipal Auditorium – Riverside, CA

    Oct. 14 – El Rey Theater – Albuquerque, NM

    Oct. 15 – Mission Ballroom – Denver, CO

    Oct. 17 – The Factory – St. Louis, MO

    Oct. 18 – Salt Shed – Chicago, IL

    Oct. 20 – The Palace Theatre – Albany, NY

    Oct. 21 – Toyota Oakdale Theatre – Wallingford, CT

    Oct. 22 – Brooklyn Steel – Brooklyn, NY

    Oct. 24 – Wellmont Theater – Montclair, NJ

    Oct. 25 – Fillmore – Philadelphia, PA

    Oct. 27 – Hulaween – Live Oak, FL

    Oct. 29 – The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC

    Oct. 30 – Andrew J. Brady Music Center – Cincinnati, OH

    Oct. 31 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN

    More information and tickets can be found on Les Claypool’s website.

  • Little Island Park Wins Award

    Little Island, a New York City public park, announced that they received a prestigious award. The park is one of ten projects across North America selected this year. It will also now advance to compete for a global award against projects from the Europe and Asia Pacific regions.

    Photo credit Michael Grimm

    Located in Hudson River Park, Little Island features a gorgeous landscape with walking paths, performance spaces, and dazzling views. The Urban Land Institute selected the park for a 2023 Urban Land Institute Americas Award for Excellence in Urban Open Space.

    After winning the regional Americas Award, Little Island will next compete for the Urban Land Institute Global Awards for Excellence. The Urban Land Institute’s mission is to “shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide.” The finalists and winners of their awards are also chosen by a jury made up of “leaders who represent a broad geographic diversity and many areas of real estate and land use expertise, including finance, planning, development, public affairs, design, and professional services, among others.”

    “I’m so glad that in addition to making so many people happy when they come to Little Island, we are getting an award for excellence by the Urban Land Institute. It is a very special honor,” Barry Diller, the founder of Little Island said.

    Little Island History

    Diller, as part of the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, envisioned building the park in the remnants of Pier 54 after Hurricane Sandy heavily damaged the area. In partnership with Hudson River Park Trust leadership, Diller reimagined an entirely new type of public space for New York. He additionally hoped to create an immersive experience with nature and art.

    “Through our partnership, the Hudson River Park Trust achieved its goal of delivering new public open space at one of the piers long planned to be rebuilt, but in a way that no one could have conceived of when the Park was being planned,” President and CEO of the Hudson River Park Trust Noreen Doyle said. “Congratulations to Mr. Diller and The Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, to every member of the engineering, design, planning and construction teams, and to the Little Island and Hudson River Park Trust staff members who pooled their talents for the public good. Thank you to the Urban Land Institute for recognizing their achievements.”

    Little Island opened on May 21, 2021 as an oasis for New Yorkers. The park additionally boasts two acres of magnificent landscape, distinctive architecture, and an abundance of free education programs and performances. Since opening, Little Island has welcomed over 3.5 million visitors and hosted over 572 free performances and 245 arts workshops.

  • Graham Nash To Be Honored at 43rd Annual John Lennon Tribute

    Theatre Within’s Annual John Lennon Tribute event has announced they will honor two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Graham Nash with the 2023 John Lennon Real Love Award at the 43rd anniversary on Dec. 2 at Town Hall in NYC.

    Graham Nash will be honored at John Lennon Tribute.
    Graham Nash poses during a portrait session at the Cambridge Folk Festival 2019 at Cherry Hinton Hall on August 02, 2019 in Cambridge, England.Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images.

    Theatre Within’s Annual John Lennon Tribute celebrates John Lennon’s life, music, and highest values of peace and love. “With its joyful Annual John Lennon Tribute and John Lennon Real Love Project, Theatre Within is furthering the vision that John and I shared for a better world,” said Yoko Ono. Graham Nash is the ninth recipient of the John Lennon Real Love Award. Previous recipients include Natalie Merchant, Patti Smith, Ani DiFranco, and Donovan.

    This is a very special award. I thank Yoko [Ono] and the Theatre Within for thinking of me. Over many years, I watched John and Yoko ‘fight the good fight’ for many whose voices were not being heard, a fight that Yoko continues to this day. I’m proud to be associated with the many fine artists who were previously honored with the John Lennon Real Love Award.

    Graham Nash.

    Nash’s remarkable career spans from the British invasion with the Hollies to the legendary Laurel Canyon scene with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, for which he won a Grammy, to his still vibrant solo concerts and recordings. He is a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, once for CSN in 1997 and once for The Hollies in 2010.

    Nash will play some of his favorite Lennon/Beatles classics and will be joined by several acts. These include folk legend Judy Collins, who will make her first Tribute appearance in over a decade. Rosanne Cash will perform for the third time, the first since she was chosen as 2018’s John Lennon Real Love Award honoree, and Grammy award-winner Rita Coolidge will make a rare live appearance, her first ever at the long-running benefit concert. Finally, drummer/percussionist Rich Pagano, a founding member of the Fab Faux, will serve as Music Director for the 15th consecutive year.

    Proceeds from the Tribute support Theatre Within’s ongoing free workshops in creative expression and mindfulness, including the John Lennon Real Love Project songwriting program. Theatre Within is also providing 200 free workshops for children and adults impacted by cancer through the Red Door Community (formerly Gilda’s Club NYC) and other regional cancer support communities.

    Tickets for Theatre Within’s 43rd Annual John Lennon Tribute on Dec. 2 go on sale starting July 22.

  • The Pretenders Announce A Rare & Intimate US Tour To Kick Off At The Bowery Ballroom

    The Pretenders have recently announced a US headline tour which is set to begin on August 16th at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom. Throughout the nine-date trek, the English-American rock band will perform in unique and intimate venues all across the country.

    The American tour comes ahead of the Pretenders’ eagerly awaited studio album Relentless which will drop on September 15th. Produced by multiple Grammy Award-nominee David Wrench (Courtney Barnett, David Byrne), Relentless marks the second consecutive full-length songwriting collaboration by group founder Chrissie Hynde and Pretenders’ guitarist James Walbourne. The album includes the recently released singles “Let The Sun Come In“ and “I Think About You Daily.”

    The live performances will give the Pretenders an incredible opportunity to introduce their new music directly to the fans. Throughout this run, the band will join Guns N’ Roses as a special guest on their own upcoming North American stadium tour for a total of seven performances making the Pretenders’ original nine-date tour stretch to seventeen. Tickets for their headline dates are available on July 21st!

    The Pretenders 2023 Tour

    August 11 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium *

    August 15 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium *

    August 16 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom

    August 18 – Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park at North Shore *

    August 21 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park *

    August 24 – Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field *

    August 26 – Nashville, TN – The Blue Room

    August 29 – Asbury Park, NJ – The Stone Pony

    August 31 – Washington, DC – The Atlantis

    September 3 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre *

    September 5 – Detroit, MI – Shelter

    September 7 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th St Entry

    September 9 – St. Louis, MO – Busch Stadium *

    October 1 – Dana Point, CA – OHANA Festival †

    October 2 – Los Angeles, CA – The Regent Theater

    October 4 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy + Harriet’s (Outdoor)

    October 6 – San Francisco, CA – Bimbo’s 365 Club

    • * w/ Guns N’ Roses
    • † Festival Appearance