Rapper Troy Ave has upped the ante in his beef with Taxstone. The Brooklyn-bred rapper released a diss track and music video after testifying in the court case that led to Taxstone being found guilty of manslaughter, assault and weapons charges. “Dear Hater I Won” sees Troy Ave celebrate the former podcaster’s incarceration, strutting and dancing in front of the same Manhattan courthouse where the verdict was reached.
Troy Ave sports the same 3-piece suit in the “Dear Hater I Won” video that he wore to court.
Furthermore, he rehashes and sums up his talking points over the last few years. Notably, he once again accuses Taxstone of writing a letter to the judge in the hopes of getting off. He then rehashes the fatal Irving Plaza incident that saw his friend and bodyguard Ronald “Banga” McPhatter shot and killed.
After wrestling the murder weapon away from Taxstone, Troy Ave fired off several shots of his own. The “Chuck Norris” rapper has since denounced street culture after agreeing to testify against Taxstone. The verdict and record is a conclusion to the 2016 Manhattan shooting that drastically altered the lives of both Brooklynites.
What began as a disagreement because of comments the popular podcaster made regarding the “Your Style” rapper’s music eventually resulted in gun-violence. In turn, what was once a burgeoning voice in the podcast scene has now been silenced. Meanwhile, Troy Ave has seen his once-prominent buzz completely fade.
Brooklyn indie/emo trio wakelee have just released a tease of their upcoming album by unveiling their newest single/video “Tug Of War.” The new single and music video show a sneak peak into the upcoming self-titled 12-track album out April 14th.
Front man/guitarist Alex Bulmer talks about the newest single by stating, “We had the structure for this song since 2021, but it took so long to land a vocal melody. We got so frustrated with it that we decided to get into a room together and loop the instrumental over and over again. We would then present our individual verse and chorus ideas to each other. We played the theme from “Shark Tank” as we did our pitches. It was ridiculous, but it turned out to be one of our favorite tracks from the album.”
When asked about the music video for “Tug Of War,” Alex says, “We wanted to film a music video ourselves, so we put our iPhone on cinema mode and spent 3 hours in our rehearsal space putting it together. We love how it came out! We wanted it to look like one continuous shot. It was really fun to make.”
“Don’t sleep on rising indie-emo trio wakelee…”
– The Honey Pop
Formed in Brooklyn in 2019 by Bulmer, his identical twin brother David (drums) and Elliot Shiang (vocals/bass), they met at a friend’s show in NYC and immediately bonded over Halal food and indie music. The trio has since released an EP, a healthy batch of emo-tinged singles, including the recently released tracks “Mood Rings,” “Everything Under The Sun” and “Outside.”
With some more news to look forward to, wakelee will play a special album release show. The band will play on Saturday, April 15th at NYC’s Mercury Lounge with special guests Tennis Courts.
Tower Records, the iconic music-retail chain that was synonymous with the music business in the pre-digital erahas unveiled a new creative space. Located on Kent Avenue in Brooklyn‘s Williamsburg neighborhood, Tower Labs, has been designed to engage and stimulate music fans with a range of offerings. Tower Records’ latest venture will including live music events, album listening parties, and a new speakeasy style ‘vinyl drop’ window for limited edition music and merchandise releases.
“With the relaunch of Tower Records, our goal has been to bring fans a new music discovery experience while preserving the brand’s legacy and storied past,” says Danny Zeijdel, President of Tower Records.
The opening of Tower Labs in Williamsburg, Brooklyn marks a new era as the neighborhood has become a music and cultural hub. Our new space will not be a traditional retail store, rather a hybrid center for performances, pop-ups, listening parties, and content creation. Fundamentally, the intention here is to develop a blueprint for future Tower Records locations.
– Danny Zeijdel
Tower Labs
With this intention, the first events at Tower Labs include an intimate performance followed by a meet-and-greet with singer/songwriter Caroline Rose (March 24), with another fan-focused event with R&B/Pop star Lolo Zouaï scheduled on April 27 before her sold-out NYC show. This will coincide the relaunch of Pulse!, Tower Records’ classic in-house magazine. This new iteration will be digital, consisting of filmed interviews, performances, podcasts and events at Tower Labs. Pulse! will once again aim to chronicle music history and current events, while spotlighting both established and emerging acts.
In essence, Tower Records has been a mainstay of the music buying experience for the better part of five decades since being founded in 1960. Moreover, since the company’s relaunch in 2020, the iconic music brand has been trying to bring back the spirit of the creative and inspiring space that is the record store. Tower Records’ official website states that their intentions are “for artists and bands to host a more personal gathering with core members of their community. This may consist of listening parties, jam sessions, podcast interviews, gear demos, and more.” Accordingly, the rebuild has begun as the famous retail chain has been offering music and art fans exclusive merchandise drops, including limited edition vinyl releases and branded products.
Although Tower Records has refurbished their business model, the essence remains. As such, music buyers all over the globe have responded. Tower.com quickly rose to be a top online store for physical music in North America and the brand recently opened another online store in Europe. At its peak, Tower Records had nearly 200 stores across 15 countries, now they’re at every music lover’s fingers.
Brooklyn based folk-pop trio Camp Bedford have just shared the second single from their upcoming debut EP So Often & So Sweet titled “Jupiter.” With Roxanne Quilty on guitar and vocals, Mariela Flor Olivo on lead rhythm guitar and vocals, and Tallen Gabriel helming the cello, this anticipated album comes out on March 31st.
The queer and femme-led band’s deep friendship shines through in their music. At once witchy, nostalgic, and magical, “Jupiter” and “2 AM,” which were released in February to warm reviews, both capture Camp Bedford’s sonic essence beautifully. Thus, these two releases are setting the stage for what’s soon to come from the band.
Of their newest single, Camp Bedford wrote, “‘Jupiter’ is about recognizing the parts of yourself that no longer serve you and setting them on fire. Written like a spell or incantation, this track’s ethereal elements and driving energy capture the experience of surrendering to your own power.”
“This folk-pop trio finds beauty in the form of complex musical arrangements packed with substance”
When talking about their follow-up single “2AM,” the band wrote, “A rousing angsty anthem, ‘2AM’ captures the post-breakup frustration and anger of watching your former partner give someone else the time and energy you wished they would have been able to give you. Even if it’s not logical and both parties grow and expand into new versions of themselves after a breakup, we wanted to honor the gnawing hurt that comes in initially watching an ex be ‘better’ to someone else than they were to you.”
By melding their unique voices and styles of instrumentation, Camp Bedford is a folk-pop-rock band spinning tales of adventure, self-discovery, and overall, their life’s journeys. They are nostalgic forward-thinkers, for instance, Camp Bedford’s music is infused with the magic of possibility. Compared to the likes of Joseph, First Aid Kit, and Wye Oak, the group finds inspiration in poetry, nature, and musical genres ranging from bluegrass to hyper pop.
King of punk rap music Curtis Waters brought the Bad Son Tour to the iconic Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn. As part of his first ever headline tour, with help from Tommy Richman and Jonah Roy, Curtis Waters turned Baby’s All Right into an anticapitalist-rock paradise for an incredible show.
Curtis Waters (Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma)
Curtis Waters is a rising star in the music industry, known for his infectious beats, catchy lyrics, and fearless experimentation with various genres. Born in Nepal and raised essentially everywhere, Waters has been making music since his early teens and honed his skills through online collaborations with other musicians around the world. His breakthrough hit, “Stunnin’,” which he produced, wrote, and performed, went viral on TikTok in 2020 and propelled him to mainstream success.
Since then, Waters has continued to push boundaries with his music, blending elements of hip-hop, rap, and punk to create a unique sound that better reflects who he is and resonates with fans worldwide. With recent releases HIMBO and GOD’S LONELY MAN that were 7 years in the making, Curtis Waters is poised to become one of the most exciting voices in music today.
Tommy Richman (Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma)
Hailing from Woodbridge, Virginia, Tommy Richman is a certified star. Tommy’s passion for music started at a young age, when he began taking voice lessons and singing in his church choir. After dropping out of college to pursue his dreams, Tommy persevered and has become a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. With hit releases such as “Star Girl”, Richman’s music gives us a glimpse into the mind of a true musical genius. Richman just released “Wish I Never Knew You”, produced by him and Jonah Roy. With his signature sound and unwavering commitment to his craft, we can’t wait to see where Richman’s journey takes him next.
Curtis accepting the “Most Humble Musician Ever” Award (Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma)
The energy of the show was absolutely unmatched. From start to finish, the concert was akin to an eventful burst of a supernova, with support from Jonah DJing and playing guitar all night, to opening up the pit during every single song – even launching himself off the stage to mosh with the people. Between the jumping and yelling, there were sentimental moments, like when two dedicated fans presented Curtis with a specialized “Most Humble Musician” award and a brand new tie he wore at the rest of the stops on tour. While there was a general set list, because the crowd was so engaged with the show, he performed a never before seen song, specifically requested by his self proclaimed biggest fan. Riding off the high of the buzzing crowd, Curtis and friends left the stage to interact with fans after the show, showering them with support and admiration for the hardcore show. From anticapitalist rants to heartfelt speeches about success, anyone who attended the show is already counting down the days until the next time they can attend a Curtis Waters concert.
Curtis moshing in the crowd (Photograph by Chinaza Ajuonuma)
Though Bad Son Tour may be over, stay tuned to Curtis and Tommy’s socials for news for any upcoming performances.
And then there were four: welcome to the Final Four of NYS Music March Madness 2023, featuring up and coming bands from around New York State, all coming to a local music venue near you.
For the past 8 years, this annual competition has been shining a spotlight on the talented artists and musicians from across the Empire State. This year’s competition is the biggest and best yet, with a lineup of diverse genres and highly skilled performers. March Madness 2023 highlights 64 bands and artists you might not know, but should know, as these homegrown talents are making waves through the New York State. Check out Round 4 here.
Enter your email address, get to know the bands, and vote for your favorites below!
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Yard Amphitheater Region Winner
Mainline
Mainline officially hit the scene at the end of 2019 when Anthony Schettino (Bass), Johnny Iodice (Lead Singer & Guitar), Mason Servedio (Drums), and Devin Reck (Guitar) released their debut single “Open Fire” which eventually led to the self-titled EP that came out in February of 2020. Their album “The Unholy Idol” has garnered up over 80,000+ streams across platforms, and has gotten worldwide attention. The current lineup since 2022 now includes Ryan Hartell on guitar, replacing Devin Reck. As of November 2022, the band released their most recent single “In Nothing We Trust” everywhere on streaming. You can find Mainline on April 15 at The Chance Theater.
Straight from the band:
“We are just excited to have been asked to be part of this year’s March Madness competition, and now to make it into the final four! It’s been a great way to engage with our own fans, also to promote ourselves and everyone involved. Thank you to everyone who has been voting!”
Mainline
Funk n Waffles Region Winner
The Forest Dwellers
The Forest Dwellers are a reggae-infused folk/ indie group based out of Rochester, NY that plays universal medicine music. The band blends melodic music with incredible vocal harmonies. Stemming from different styles and genres, The Forest Dwellers fuse them into a new take on a familiar sound all its own. Listen to their song “Open Road” here. The Forest Dwellers are playing Sterling Folkfest in Sterling, NY dates May 25th- 29th. As well as The Family Hoedown at the G Lodge in Hannibal, NY dates June 9th-11th. You can also catch them playing every Wednesday in June at Abilene Bar and Lounge in Rochester as part of their first residency.
Straight from the band:
“We’re very excited to have made it into the final four of the NYS Music March Madness! We didn’t anticipate it happening but we’re just incredibly grateful for all the support. Over the last 5 and a half years we’ve had the pleasure to play music over the greater NYS region, and we hope to receive more opportunities to continue doing what we love. Thanks to NYS Music Magazine, the sponsors, venues and all the contributing bands. Much Love.”
The Forest Dwellers
Jane Dough Region Winner
Murder in Rue Morgue
Murder in Rue Morgue is CJ Carr, John Wolff, Matt Biss, and Dan Ouimette, hailing from the hometown of Manowar, and Level 7 in Auburn. The band is highly influenced by melodic death metal, such as In Flames, Killswitch Engage, and Times of Grace. The band is a group of hardworking musicians who leave it all up on the stage giving the best show every time. On the news front, Murder in Rue Morgue are representing the 315 metal scene, and are soon releasing their brand new single and music video for “Blood Song”. Listen to their 2019 album Endless Cycles here.
Straight from the band:
“Throughout New York there are tons of incredible bands and it is an honor to be part of this bracket! We are excited to see all the scene coming together and supporting each other! Together we flourish! Every week that has gone by we’ve listened to so many new artists and did some deep dives and research on our opponents. Genuinely incredible. We are also very excited about the possibility of playing at new venues in the state, many places we haven’t heard of.
We are grateful to be here, we are driven to keep going, and we respect and love all these wonderful musicians from all over New York State! “
Murder in Rue Morgue
Strand Theatre Hudson Falls Region Winner
Seize Atlantis
Seize Atlantis has a unique, tight sound fueled by punchy bass, hard-driving percussion, melodic lead guitar, and pronounced moody vocals with meaningful lyrics, a truly dynamic range of soft to heavy Alternative Rock. Formed in 2019 out of Glens Falls, Seize Atlantis is a four-piece band most closely influenced by bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam, providing their own spin on a variety of covers from classic rock to modern pop in addition to their own original music.
Catch them this Friday and Saturday at Scally’s Roadside Bar and Grill in Hudson Falls NY and Pauly’s Hotel in Albany, respectively.
Straight from the band:
“We couldn’t be more grateful and excited to have reached the Final Four of NYS Music March Madness! We’ve been up against some truly amazing and talented bands, and this competition has shown a light on how many quality performers there are in New York. We couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this state’s independent music scene! We look forward to competing with some legitimate powerhouses this round, and even if we don’t win we will continue to support and collaborate with as many other independent artists and prestigious venues as possible. We also can’t wait to release our new EP this summer!”
Seize Atlantis
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NYS Music has partnered with these great businesses across New York State to highlight the 64 up and coming bands and artists of NYS Music March Madness.
The finalists of of each region will be rewarded with a collection of prizes worth $3000. Partners for NYS Music’s March Madness 2023 include Mirth Films from Albany, a music news/entertainment outlet that specializes in original video content and live streaming, with news coverage ranging across the whole country, who will provide a professional multi-camera recording session at a prestigious venue in Albany for the winning band, premiering exclusively on Mirth Films.
Additionally, one finalist will earn a spot on the lineup for the Scarsdale Music Festival, held on June 3, 2023.
WEQX is a radio station in Manchester, VT. They’re are completely independently owned and operated, always have been, since 1984. This station exists out of a love for music, a love for radio, and the commitment to always giving their listeners the best of the best.
San Francisco-based guitarist and composer Bill Orcutt will return to Brooklyn’s Roulette to present his latest project, an all-electric Guitar Quartet, performing the music from his critically-acclaimed 2022 LP, Music for Four Guitars on Monday, March 27 at 8 pm.
One of today’s most innovative guitarists and composers, Orcutt will join forces with three other renowned experimentally-minded players – Wendy Eisenberg, Ava Mendoza and Shane Parish – to present this music in an expanded format combining Orcutt’s intricate compositions with no-holds-barred improvisation.
Orcutt is the former guitarist and founder of the notorious 90’s group Harry Pussy. His sound is a stuttered reimagining of blues guitar, one weaving looping melodic lines and angular attack into a dense, fissured landscape of American primitivism, outsider jazz, and a stripped-down re-envisioning of the possibilities of the guitar. Whether he’s playing his decrepit Kay acoustic or gutted electric Telecaster (both stripped of two of their strings, as has been Orcutt’s custom since 1985), Orcutt’s jagged sound is utterly unique and instantly recognizable, compared with equal frequency to avant-garde composers and rural bluesmen. The New York Times has called him a “powerful musician… a go-for-broke guitar improviser,” and described his sound as “articulated sprays of arpeggiated chords and dissonance.”
With Music for Four Guitars, Orcutt created 14 brief pieces built upon tiny minimalist phrases which expand into dense tapestries of sound and mood. His sound marries the collective guitar punch of the minimalist guitar orchestras work of No Wave pioneers Glenn Branca and Rhys Chatham with the knotty Delta psychedelia of Trout Mask Replica-era Captain Beefheart.
While Orcutt played all four guitars on the album, he is presenting the expanded version at Roulette with the assistance of three of the most talked-about players on the alternative guitar scene – Ava Mendoza, Wendy Eisenberg and Shane Parish
Mendoza is a guitarist, singer/songwriter, composer and bandleader based in Brooklyn who leads the globe-trotting avant-rock trio Unnatural Ways, works in a duo with former Can vocalist Malcolm Mooney, and records and performs in a variety of contexts. She is a first-call session musician who has worked with bandleaders including William Hooker, Nels Cline, Nate Wooley, and William Parker. Her knotty, dynamic, yet intricately melodic playing style mixes rock, jazz, metal, and funk with years of classical and improvisational training.
Wendy Eisenberg is an improviser and songwriter who uses guitar, pedals, the tenor banjo, the computer, the synthesizer and the voice. Their work spans genres, from jazz to noise to avant-rock to delicate songs in performances spanning from international festivals to intimate basements. Though often working solo as both a songwriter and improviser, with acclaimed releases on Tzadik, VDSQ, Out of your Head and Garden Portal, they also perform in the rock band Editrix, and in endless other combinations of their heroes and peers including Allison Miller, Carla Kihlstedt, John Zorn, Billy Martin, and Caroline Davis.
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Athens, Georgia-based guitarist/songwriter Shane Parish is a self-taught musician who communicates through emotion, unexpected melodicism, technical whimsy, a nuanced sense of form, and rich timbral variety, simultaneously drawing from the guitar’s history and aiming for its future. Avant Music News described Parish as “one of the most consistently innovative finger-picking acoustic guitarists in a generation.” In 2016, he was recognized for his solo acoustic efforts by composer John Zorn, who issued the album Undertaker Please Drive Slow on Tzadik Records, hailing it as “a remarkable and soulful acoustic solo project that digs deep into Appalachian roots… At times reminiscent of John Fahey and Robbie Basho, at times of John Cage and Morton Feldman.” Parish has self-released numerous recordings of folk interpretations in the years since Undertaker.
For tickets and information, visit the event site here.
Back in 2012, Alt-J somewhat quietly released their debut album, An Awesome Wave. The Leeds, UK band officially released the LP (on Infectious Records) in May of that year, just after finishing a run of shows supporting fellow British indie-rockers, Wild Beasts. Alt-J would spend the rest of 2012 on the European festival circuit, supporting bands like Grouplove and Bloc Party, and playing tons of local shows across the UK.
Alt-J’s first US shows also came in 2012, at the incredibly intimate Glasslands and Mercury Lounge venues in New York City. This pattern drastically changed in November of 2012 when Alt-J was awarded the coveted Mercury Prize, given to the best album released in the UK by a British or Irish artist.
Fast forward less than one year from the shows at Glasslands and Mercury Lounge (roughly 200-person capacity local venues), Alt-J found themselves headlining Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan in front of over 3,500 fans. The world tour that spanned much of 2013 catapulted Alt-J into legendary indie rock status, where they remain today over a decade later.
An Awesome Wave album cover.
While the prestige of the Mercury Prize is sure to garnish fresh attention for a new band, it was hardly the only reason Alt-J saw so much success early on. The band spent nearly five years working on the album, after meeting at Leeds University in 2007. The time and dedication the band put into their beloved project culminated in a truly unique and fresh take on indie rock. The genre had already been a little over 10 years old at the time and was in need of an evolution.
The music on An Awesome Wave was a diverse blend of psychedelic rock and melodic storytelling, with deliberately sparse arrangements giving all the different layers wide spacing in the mix. The percussions feel as if a different set of elements were used for each song, cohesively tied together with frontman Joe Newman’s unique voice and vocal delivery. Different parts of the album feel rooted in various past eras of folk and rock music, all crafted with a modern focus on production and presentation. It feels almost “stripped back” in ways, while creating a thunderous atmosphere with very few layers. It is almost impossible to find any band or album that compares to Alt-J on An Awesome Wave; the prime reason the band took off once the world was able to get their hands on the record.
Earlier this month, Alt-J set out on a short run of shows to celebrate a decade of An Awesome Wave. The tour kicked off with two nights at Brooklyn’s historic Kings Theatre in Flatbush, the perfect venue in NYC for such a show. After the renovations, Kings Theatre has become one of the premier concert venues in NYC; boasting pristine audio production in a stunning setting. The songs from An Awesome Wave thrived in the cavernous, sold-out theater backed by a dynamic visual production and an audience singing along to the entire record. Alt-J played An Awesome Wave in order to start the show, followed by a short set of songs from all three of their subsequent releases.
Hearing An Awesome Wave at Kings Theatre transported me right back to when I first saw Alt-J at Hammerstein Ballroom in 2013. I took my Dad to that show, a die hard Yes fan, promising him that this new band was somewhat of a modern Yes with their blend of prog and folk. We were both left stunned after that show. I’ll never forget hearing those thick and evil chords from “Fitzpleasure” live for the first time, dropping into them with a trippy, ascending light pattern in the back of the stage. I had listened to the album a few times by then, but the live presentation of that song in particular elevated how I would hear An Awesome Wave forever. I anticipated this same moment of the show for weeks leading up to Kings Theatre. Joe Newman sang the cryptic lyrics at the top of the song, “In your snatch fitzpleasure, broom-shaped pleasure” and when the synths dropped a chill ran down my spine and my whole body moved along to the rhythm of that song. A decade of listening to that song did nothing to dull the feeling of hearing it live again.
Alt-J have a few more An Awesome Wave anniversary dates this month, with three nights at The Wiltern in LA followed by two nights at the Fox Theater in Oakland. After that, the band heads to Australia for an extensive tour around the country before a final run of shows in Europe and the UK. Head over to their website for the full tour itinerary, and check out the rest of the photo gallery from night two at Kings Theatre last week below.
Move over Oscars, the Female Voices Rock Film Festival will return to Brooklyn May 5-7, to showcase this year’s most visionary independent films from women creators. Priority for this year’s festival is to shed light on films created by storytellers long marginalized in Hollywood, especially women of color and LGBTQ+ voices. The festival maintains that these stories make for some of the most important and enlightening films, and strives to use the Female Voices Rock festival’s platform to uplift these filmmakers.
The Female Voices Rock festival was launched in 2019. In 2018, the festival’s data showed women comprised only 20% of all directors, writers, producers, editors and cinematographers working on the top 250 US domestic grossing films. While the representation of women in film has grown and adapted exponentially in the past couple of years, the Female Voices Rock film festival strives to have those same standards reflected behind the scenes as well.
Creating a safe and inspiring space for women to express themselves, share visionary stories and meet future collaborators is what Female Voices Rock is all about. Each year we thrive to do better and to increase diversity and inclusion by making sure women’s voices continue to be championed
Catherine Delaloye, founder and executive director
Premiering at the festival this year are Erica Eng’s “Americanized,” a story of Eng struggling with finding her place in Oakland’s hip-hop culture as a Chinese American; Abbey George’s “Jesus Would Have Loved Punk Rock,” about two girls taking on their corrupt Catholic high school’s administration; Kayla Arend’s “Leaving YellowStone,” a horror about a woman who finds herself amidst a crumbling relationship in the isolated wood; and many more, see the full list below.
This year, producer Kira Leinonen is recruiting industry professionals for the festival’s industry panels to bring invaluable information to participants in developing short films into features, steps in producing your first film, budgeting, editing and more. Past festivals have procured panelists from films so varied as The 1619 Project, Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Manchurian Candidate and The Woman King, to name a few. This year’s panelists and film line-up are to be announced.
Americanized – directed by Erica Eng
Anniversary – directed by Lain Kienzle
Bienvenidos a Los Angeles – directed by Lisa Cole
Birth Rights – directed by Maria Rosales
Call Button – directed by Rhona Rees
Choices – directed by Kameishia D Wooten
Counting – directed by Sarah Young
Daddy – directed by Jo Steinhart
Firecracker – directed by Caroline Guo
Five Star Review – directed by Vivien Vitolo
Girls Night In – directed Alison Roberto
Her and I – directed by Stephanie Marin
Hummingbird – directed by Lindsey E. Gary
I’m Sorry, I Tried, I Love You – directed by Goldie Jones
In Sickness & In Health – directed by Sarah Smick
Incurable – directed by Bahare Nikjoo
Jesus Would Have Loved Punk Rock – directed by Abbey George
Leaving Yellowstone – directed by Kayla Arend
Mama Retreat – directed by Eileen Álarez
Mary Meet Grace – directed by Faryl Amadeus
Matka/Polka (Mother/Pole) – directed by Joanna Suchomska
No Man’s Land – directed by Kristen Buckels
Punch Line – directed by Becky Cheatle
Rearranging Skin: A Love Letter to the World
Resurrection – directed by Luiza Budejko
Ro & the Stardust – directed by Eunice Levis
SAM – directed by Ryan Thielen, Jen Stafford
The Blue Dream – directed by Angelita Mendoza
Tooth – directed by Jillian Corsie
Unattached – directed by Fanny Texier
Wannabe – directed by Josie AndrewsWho? How? and Where? – directed by Victoria Garza
Festival attendees can expect, in addition to screenings, workshops, parties, talks with industry professionals, networking opportunities, with more to be announced. The festival, held at the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn, will begin on Friday, May 5 with an opening night party from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. A single day pass for Saturday is $40 and $50 for Sunday. The all access pass, $125, ensures access to the Opening Night Party, awards ceremony and closing party, filmmaker brunch, all screening blocks and industry panels, red carpet access and one drink ticket for the opening and closing parties. Tickets and more information can be found here.
Albany based jam band Hilltop have announced their newest spring tour, taking place across New York and the New England area.
Hilltop, who recently too part in NYS Music’s March Madness 2023, are already starting to grow their own dedicated fanbase and now they are looking to expand that. Coming off another succesful show at the Parish Public House in their home town, Hilltop looks forward to bringing their music to audiences across the northeast.
Inspired by legendary acts like Phish and The Grateful Dead, Hilltop combines original music, iconic covers, and musical improvisation to create an unforgettable experience for their audience.
With over 100 shows under their belt, Hilltop shows no signs of slowing down. The band, consiting of brothers Stephen & Reid Perry, and their friends Aris Nieuwkerk and Dave Klang, have also performed at festivals in Lake George as well as Catskill Mountain Jubilee last August.
On tour, Hilltop will be joined by area favorites The Apollos, Vertices, as well as supporting The Chops and Seapods ft. Al Schneir. The tour will take stop at New York venues including The Monopole, Brooklyn Music Kitchen and Funk N Waffles, interlaced with vibrant New England shows.
For more information, please visit Hilltop’s website.
Hilltop 2023 Spring Tour
3/23 – Zenbarn – Waterbury, VT (w.s.g. The Apollos) 3/24 – Sawtooth Kitchen – Hanover, NH 3/25 – The Monopole – Plattsburgh NY 3/31 – Brooklyn Music Kitchen – Brooklyn, NY 4/1 – Midway Cafe – Boston, MA (supporting the Chops) 4/6 – Stella Blues – New Haven, CT 5/12 – Funk N Waffles – Syracuse, NY (supporting Seapods ft. Al Schneir) 5/13 – Parish Public House – Albany, NY (w.s.g. Vertices)
