NYC’s The Shed announced a new collaboration with West Side Fest, an upcoming celebration on September 30 from 3-7pm. The West Side Fest brings together the best of arts and culture on Manhattan’s West Side. For the inaugural celebration, all ages can enjoy free admission to participating museums and cultural institutions. In addition, the fest will have free indoor and outdoor activities including crafts, artmaking, and much more.
The celebratory block party will feature dance sets by The Dragon Sisters in partnership with Poster House, and Ladies of Hip-Hop in partnership with Chelsea Factory. The day will also have ongoing DJ sets from Riobamba, BEARCAT, and Ashley Venom.
Other organizations participating in West Side Fest include the Whitney Museum of American Art, Poster House, Hudson River Park, Westbeth Artists Residence, Little Island, West Village Rehearsal Co-op, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center, the New York City AIDS Memorial Park, The Kitchen, the Rubin Museum of Art, the High Line, and the Center for Art, Research and Alliances (CARA).
Photo: Jean Coleman
The West Side Cultural Network is a group 19 museums, parks, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. The network is located within a half-mile portion of historic New York along the west edge of Manhattan.
The Shed is a multimedia arts space in Hudson Yards, Manhattan. An independent non-profit, the venue works to bring together artists in fields including classical music, pottery, dance, digital media, and more. The Shed is located at 545 W 30th St, New York, NY 10001. For more information visit The Shed’s website.
On Thursday, Sept. 14, The GRAMMY Museum, in simultaneity with the Americana Music Association, will host a celebration of Doc Watson in his 100th birthday year.
It includes a conversation moderated by WNYC’s John Schaefer with Steve Earle, Bill Frisell, Matthew Stevens, and Yasmin Williams to celebrate the album, I Am A Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100. This intimate discussion will take place at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York with a performance to follow.
I Am A Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100 is a new tribute album that celebrates the deep influence and legacy of the legendary North Carolina folk musician Doc Watson. The album includes a diverse and impressive lineup of Hall of Fame inductees, GRAMMY award winners, and NPR Tesk Diny alumni, including Dolly Parton, Rosanne Cash, John Leventhal, Jeff Parker, Valerie June, Nora Brown, Jerry Douglas, and more.
The record pays homage to Watson’s lasting legacy on American music, showcasing the power and relevance of his music a century after his birth. It has been spotlighted by Rolling Stone, NPR’s Fresh Air, SPIN, Stereogum, and more. The album features new renditions of some of Watson’s most beloved recordings from his expansive catalog, highlighting his talent and charisma.
Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson earned seven GRAMMY Awards and 23 nominations including the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. He received the National Medal of Arts in 1997 from President Clinton and has been the subject of multiple books, boxed sets, and compilation albums. Watson was an integral part of the early 1960s folk revival and became known as one of the greatest flatpicking guitarists of all time, a style that influenced the playing of countless guitarists, releasing 30 albums spanning 50 years. He was also considered a master of the banjo and lost his eyesight at a young age.
Given Watson’s seismic impact on guitar playing, there are many guitar-playing styles represented on the record, from the finger-tapping style of Yasmin Williams (“Doc’s Guitar,” a Watson original) to the slide guitar of Ariel Posen (“Will The Circle Be Unbroken”) and the harmonics featured on Lionel Loueke’s version of “Reuben’s Train.” Young adult Nora Brown contributes a moving rendition of the hymn “Am I Born To Die.” The album concludes with “Your Lone Journey,” a song that Watson penned while mourning his son, and lovingly interpreted here by Bill Frisell.
While Hip-Hop started in the Boogie Down Bronx, Brooklyn birthed hip-hop’s heart. As an art form, New York started hip-hop. How wondrous the gift of spinning records to make new records. Hustle never quits. From the DJ spinning on turntables to the space decked out in graffiti – real performers make bystanders break out and dance. In the beginning, Brooklyn seismically shook the genre to its core and showcased all four core elements of hip-hop masterfully.
Imitation remains the highest form of flattery and nobody does it better than cats from Brooklyn. Subsequently, those outside of New York may struggle to understand the sense of pride attached to being Brooklyn-bred. The confidence serves as a survival tactic and the greatest emcees of all time – Biggie and Jay-Z exemplify this to the fullest.
Brooklyn Lineage
Many significantly trace hip-hop’s lineage to the Native Tongues. Imagine a genre-wide family tree and the many roots/branches that sprout as time progresses. Individuals who emerged from the throws of Native Tongues travel far and wide. Real artists leave an incredulous mark on the genre through the element of timelessness. Jungle Brothers, Yasiin Bey, De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest all blossomed ‘Straight out the Jungle’ of the Native Tongues.
Hip-Hop as a Timeless Tool
While hip-hop began to surround the sound of Brooklyn in the late eighties – it wasn’t until the next decade that hip-hop started to resonate across all boroughs. Accordingly, Brooklyn encapsulated the sound that everyone tried to emulate. While some might argue that Cutmaster D.C.’s “Brooklyn’s in the House” put Brooklyn on the map – it’s not about who did it first – rather who did it right. Artists like Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z stepped into the spotlight and left a footprint in the hip-hop world that could never be duplicated.
Centrally, hip-hop exists as the single greatest knowledge-based tool for all to encounter. The sheer cultural wisdom and latitude that the platform provides outweighs all other genres by a landslide. Hip-hop changes the world when it allows artists to elevate from aspirational to generational. Essentially, nobody manifested their realities into existence quite like Brooklyn-area emcees.
Surviving as a Brooklyn Artist
Naturally, a Brooklyn artist may be known to overcompensate within their discography to reach their desired heights. Reason being, overconfidence and a tough demeanor come as prerequisites for anyone who aims to survive in Brooklyn. Simultaneously, the way that Brooklyn artists polish their renditions to overcome struggles and hardships contributes wonderful works of art as a whole.
Consequently, groundbreaking artwork emerges to reflect the socioeconomic conditions of the times. Hip-hop during the Reagan-era birthed many blossoming acts with illusions of grandeur. Only the strong survive, as the opportunities of the times gave many a chance to shine. Alas, Brooklyn-born artists consistently put forth the most bravado and gumption to properly represent New York – the mecca of hip-hop.
Brooklyn We Go Hard
After Biggie passed in 1997 – he left a major void. As time went on, Jay-Z continued to outshine his counterparts. In 1998, Mos Def and Talib Kweli purchased Nkiru Books in Park Slope to turn it into an education center filled with open mic events, workshops and lectures. Nevertheless, Brooklyn carries the most soul and flavor for all to appreciate. Throughout time, gentrification slammed Brooklyn as it hardly resembles the original infrastructure. Long live Brooklyn landmarks like Albee Square Mall and Fulton Mall where countless hip-hop heads would gather and legends were made.
Today, nobody holds it down for Brooklyn quite like Joey Bada$$ and the Pro Era crew. The Beast Coast movement includes Flatbush Zombies, Underachievers and Pro Era which was started by Capital Steez. These prolific artists capitalize on the concept of tonal perception – which allows the listener to interpret the lyrics based upon how they sound.
Undoubtedly, hip-hop remains the most pivotal component to artistry as a whole. Nobody could replace the contributions made by hip-hop and the blessings continue to multiply within the genre. For those about to rap – we salute you!
On the heels of a performance on the Rooftop at Pier 17, Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann will bring a mob of musicians, Billy and the Kids to the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester this October.
photo by Filip Zalewski
The pair of shows will take place on October 20 and 21, the only dates on the calendar for this talented group of musicians.
The announcement arrived in a late-Thursday tweet from Billy and the Kids’ official account:
So… we went pier to pier. Up next, we’re thinking of maybe pulling into a port and kicking up our feet for two nights…. But what port?
Then on Friday, the announcement was official as Bill Kreutzmann said “I had so much fun going ‘Pier to Pier’ with the Kids last month, but now it’s time to pull into port – Port Chester, NY, that is – and drop anchor for two nights at Peter Shapiro’s Deadhead Palace.”
Kreutzmann added “So I’m inviting all of you to my East Coast ‘Daze of the Dead’ parties. Please dress in costume (if the spirit moves). Billy and The Kids will be joined for both of these shows by some very special guests – I’ll keep you guessing for now, but I’m just over the moon about them.”
Later that afternoon, it was revealed that the Capitol Theatre run will include frequent lineup contributors Tom Hamilton, Aron Magner, Reed Mathis, and unnamed guests, although as Jambands.com points out, most recently on the road, Kreutzmann invited Kanika Moore and Daniel Donato to join as special guests.
Kreutzmann ended his message with a hint at future shows out west, saying “When we dance, we are all together, we are all one, and we are all very much alive. This ‘Daze of the Dead’ trick is for New York but don’t you worry California – stay tuned for a special treat.”
Presale for Billy & The Kids at the Capitol Theatre is now underway.
In honor of hip hop’s 50th anniversary and lasting culture, Genius brought a return to their “IQ/BBQ” summer showcase. In the first edition of the annual event since Covid, hosts Miabelle and Jacques Morel took on the role of emcee, with DJ Saige, DJ Stacks, RNB House Party and DJ S’Wit serenading the crowd with memorable hip hop tracks.
Held at Queens’ Knockdown Center, the day-long festivities provided a fitting end-of-summer experience for guests to enjoy. While in the midst of a year-long celebration of hip hop, IQ/BBQ expertly combined the best of hip hop and urban culture to provide all-around good time.
Guests gather at center stage at IQ/BBQ. Photo by Ki Steiger-Dahl
In light, Knockdown Center’s large terrain set the stage for a diverse live music experience, allowing for the ambience to differ with each change of location. Consequently for performers, it left the crowd scattered. As guests warmed up to performances by opening acts Rich Greedy and Wynne, their attention split between a number of enjoyable experiences at Genius IQ/BBQ.
IQ/BBQ Brought the Culture
After all, aside from a rich lineup of acts, IQ/BBQ offered experiences like the So Fresh, So Clean Shop. Presented By Paco Rabanne 1 Million, attendees had the chance to snag free barber shape-ups by Groomed Guys, along with sneaker cleanings by Fresh Kicks NYC.
Photos by Kia Steiger-Dahl
In like manner, the outdoor Rap Cafeteria, presented by Showtime’s The Chi, created a true backyard barbecue vibe for Genius. This fun space featured picnic tables with designs that paid homage to iconic cities and eras from hip-hop’s first 50 years. Along with games, food from some New York City’s best food trucks and of course, great music.
IQ/ BBQ’s Rap Cafeteria offered delicious eats from some of New York City’s best vendors
Meanwhile, VIPs enjoyed sips of PATRÓN EL ALTO in the VIP Genius Lounge, which was adorned with famous song lyrics featuring PATRÓN.
Photos by Kia Steiger-Dahl
Performances
As the acts warmed up so did the crowd. However, New York City’s “too cool for school” attitude reared its head, as less experienced and less-known performers struggled to captivate the crowd. Yet as the evening waned and guests had eaten and drank their fill, the center stage began to heat up. Performances from Luh Tyler and Lola Brooke got the crowd going. While Armani White showcased true stage presence and talent in getting a stubborn crowd to come alive.
Photos by Spicy Rico
As a result, a now-perked up and fully gathered crowd waited patiently for the headliners, Clipse, to make their appearance. After a near hour-long wait Pusha T dawned the stage, feverishly spitting out lyrics from his Grammy-nominated release, It’s Almost Dry.
Pusha T came out to a very engaged crowd. Photo by Kia Steiger-Dahl,
After performing records performing a slew of solo tracks, he brought out his brother Malice as they performed one of their classic album cuts, “Popular Demand” to a now-fully engaged crowd. The energy levels remained high throughout their set as they ran through a number of hit records including “Mr. Me Too,” and “What Happened to That Boy,” before ultimately performing a run of deep album cuts and closing out with one of hip hop’s classic records, “Grindin’.”
Pusha T and No Malice are in the midst of a reunion 14 years in the making. Photo by Kia Steiger-Dahl.
As Pusha T and Malice performed their last record, the duo thanked the crowd for repeatedly showing the Virginia natives love. Just as suddenly as the electrifying performance began, it was over, and guests dispersed knowing that hip hop delivered them another memorable day.
The Al Hirschfeld Foundation has announced a new partnership with NYC’s City Winery, with a special live event and exhibition on September 18 titled “Hirschfeld’s Music.”
David Leopold, Creative Director of The Al Hirschfeld Foundation, will launch the celebratory event with a live multimedia presentation. Leopold will take attendees on a virtual tour through decades of musical history as seen by Hirschfeld. The presentation will touch on Hirschfeld’s friendships with Duke Ellington, Aerosmith, and Benny Goodman.
For the first time, nine decades of Hirschfeld’s work will be on display at the event featuring rarely-seen images, as well as old favorites. Artwork on display in the exhibition will be available for purchase here. Proceeds supports the Hirschfeld Arts Curriculum program.
We are delighted to be working with City Winery to share Al Hirschfeld’s love of music. Hirschfeld was a serious hot jazz fan in his youth, and he never lost his passion for music throughout his whole life. One of his first jobs was as a song plugger on the night boat to Albany. He drew so many album covers over the years that some used record shops simply have Hirschfeld cover sections. You don’t get many people who can say that they help Django Reinhardt get his first recording date and also find themselves in the studio with Aerosmith. Hirschfeld’s strong connection to music has never been explored…until now.
David Leopold, Creative Director of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation
Following the live event, City Winery Gallery will open a new, free exhibit of Hirschfeld’s vast collection of music art. The pieces depict some of the most iconic musicians of the 20th century, including Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, The Beatles, and more.
In addition, “Hirschfeld’s Music” will extend the celebration will the debut of 12 collectable wine bottles, labeled with Hirschfeld portraits of legendary musicians. The collectables will be available exclusively at City Winery beginning in September. Featured artists include Mick Jagger, The Grateful Dead, Aerosmith, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, and more.
To purchase tickets for the presentation on September 18 at 7:30pm, visit citywinery.com/newyork.
Tommy Stinson’s Cowboys in the Campfire released a video for their new track “Here We Go Again,” alongside an upcoming Eastern US tour this September. The group will make a stop at New York City’s Bowery Electric on Sept. 9, and will continue with stops across Washington, DC, Winston-Salem, NC, and more.
“Here We Go Again” is the first track off Cowboys in the Campfire’s debut record, WRONGER. As a founding member of The Replacements, Tommy Stinson and his close friend Chip Roberts combined their talents to form the group alongside touring member Chops LaConte this year. “Here We Go Again” features Stinson on the ukulele, with the quirky video showing clips of tour life, Stinson getting a haircut, and the group across chicken coops and living rooms.
In a previous interview with NYS Music, Tommy Stinson discussed his love of performing, saying, “I gotta play for the peoples a little bit because it’s what keeps me alive.” Keeping Cowboys in the Campfire on the road is the group’s current priority, as they embark on their tour this September.
Tommy Stinson’s Cowboys in the Campfire is Tommy Stinson and Chip Roberts, with live accompaniments by Chops LaConte.
More information and tickets for the upcoming tour are available here.
Three-time Tony Award winner LaChanze announced a solo performance on Oct. 1 for the inaugural season of the Perelman Performing Arts Center, or PAC, titled ‘An Evening with LaChanze.’
An Evening with LaChanze was co-written by LaChanze and Daniel “Koa” Beaty, directed by Jerry Dixon, and includes musical direction by Marco Paguia.
The evening is the first of PAC NYC’s Downtown Sessions series, which seeks to expand the facility’s music program with performances by Tony-winning artists. PAC is one of Manhattan’s newest performing arts spaces, opening this fall in the Financial District’s World Trade Center.
Perelman Performing Arts Center Aerial View. Credit: Bill Saltzstein
An Evening with LaChanze will feature original music by Crystal Monee Hall, American Standards, and Broadway favorites.
We’ve designed an inspiring evening of music and moments, filling this beautiful new space in lower Manhattan with love, light, and laughter.
LaChanze
PAC NYC’s Downtown Sessions will extend throughout the fall, including other performances by Brian Stokes Mitchell and Ben Platt. The series seeks to bring audiences closer to beloved artists in intimate performances.
LaChanze, as founder and current president of Black Theatre United, will also perform at BTU’s inaugural gala on October 30 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City. Supported by Business for Good, the gala’s theme will be “A Salute to Broadway Legends: Past, Present, and Future,” and will highlight legends such as Common, Billy Porter, and Samuel L. Jackson.
Prepare for a Christmas rock experience as the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) has announced its annual holiday tour. The multi-platinum rock group, which has consistently hit the touring charts for the past 15 years, unveiled the details of their highly anticipated 2023 winter tour, “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve – the Best of TSO & More.”
This year’s tour promises a new and larger presentation of the beloved holiday tradition, “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” which has captured the hearts of multiple generations. TSO will visit 62 cities, including Albany, Rochester, Buffalo, and Belmont Park (the only New York Metro area show for the season).
A product of the imagination of TSO’s late founder Paul O’Neill, and based on TSO’s CD and TV special, The Ghosts of Christmas Eve, follows the journey of a runaway who breaks into an abandoned vaudeville theater on December 24. While seeking shelter from the cold, the teen is discovered by the theater’s caretaker who uses the ghosts and spirits from the building’s past to turn her life around. Following the performance of the rock opera, 2023’s tour also boasts a rocking, blazing, and laser-lit second set containing more of TSO’s greatest hits, fan favorites, and surprises. If you are unable to attend, fans at home can watch a digitally restored The Ghosts of Christmas Eve on their local PBS station.
For 27 years you have helped make Paul O’Neill’s TSO stories a part of your holiday tradition. And, for 27 years, our tradition has been to make every year’s tour better than the last for you. 2023 is no exception as this year’s tour will be the best ever. I can’t wait to see our ‘repeat offenders’ out at the shows and look forward to seeing the new faces as well.
TSO music director and lead guitarist Al Pitrelli
For New York TSO fans, TSO will be touring in Albany on November 29, Rochester on November 30, Buffalo on December 2, and Elmont on December 20. Be sure to grab tickets before they sell out if you plan to attend.
Presales for TSO fan club members will be held on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. local time and Friday, Sept. 8 at 10 a.m. local time. The public on-sale is set to begin on Friday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. local time. Beginning with the public on sale, special $39 tickets will be available for one week or while supplies last. Keeping with O’Neill’s character, TSO will give at least $1 from every ticket sold to charity. To date, more than $18 million has been donated by the group.
Photo by Jason McEacher.
For more details on tour dates and ticket sales, visit here.
Maya Donovan, released her newest single, “The Company,” on September 8, a song sure to appeal to audiences that share similar struggles, and with her blending of folk, jazz, and pop, it’s sure to perk up the ears of music listeners.
Maya Donovan has been expressing her emotions through music since she was a little girl. She mastered piano at seven years old, while also learning how to bring her melodies to life.
This song is no exception. Maya Donovan’s, “The Company” is a song that addresses her anxiety directly, personifying her fears and struggles as a real person. She discusses the constant feeling of being in limbo: unsure if the symptoms she experiences are just “in her head,” or a genuine illness.
The title, “The Company,” has two meanings, one being the unexpected companionship Donovan finds in her anxiety, and the other suggesting something more insidious. Donovan explains, “anxiety sometimes feels like it’s being orchestrated by this sinister network that I’m always trying to outsmart, a ‘company’ if you will, with a conspiracy to overthrow me from my own body.”
Maya Donovan crafts a powerful, relatable story for those who also struggle with their mental health, and the journey it takes to rediscover yourself on the never-ending mental health journey.
Donovan graduated from the prestigious LaGuardia High School for Performing Arts in New York City. The skills she learned while at this school are prevalent in all her performances at the Bitter End in Greenwich Village.
Maya Donovan’s latest single, “The Company,” is now available for streaming and download on all digital platforms. For more information on Maya Donovan, visit her website MayaSings.com.
Catch Maya Donovan this fall
Tuesday, September 12 – City Winery – The Loft , with Song Suffragettes
