The Garden of Dreams Foundation, along with Madison Square Garden Entertainment have announced the 15th annual Garden of Dreams Talent Show, scheduled to take place at Radio City Music Hall on Wednesday, April 19, at 7:00 p.m.
More than 150 young people from the tri-state area will take the stage to showcase their talents. Additionally, this year’s festival will feature vocal performances of both original and beloved songs.
View of Radio City Music Hall from the stands. Credit: Architectural Digest
This year’s Garden of Dreams talent show at Radio City will welcome 22 acts made up of young people from 22 of the Foundation’s 29 partner organizations, including Make-a-Wish, Children’s Aid, Children’s Village, Covenant House, Cohen Children’s Medical Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, SCAN-Harbor, and more. Since the foundation’s inception in 2006, the Garden of Dreams Foundation has impacted more than 400,000 young people and their families.
The Foundation focuses on young people facing illness or financial challenges, as well as children of uniformed personnel who have been lost or injured while serving our communities. In addition to the local talent showcased at the talent show, Garden of Dreams has drawn a number of high-profile performers. Whoopi Goldberg, Alicia Keys, Sara Bareilles, Remy Ma, Susan Sarandon, Caleb McLaughlin, A$AP Rocky, Gaten Matarazzo, and more have served as both presenters of the event and mentors to the performers.
The Garden of Dreams Foundation established the annual Hero Award, recognizing those embodying the spirit of the foundation. The award was most recently awarded to legendary actor and comedian Tracy Morgan. The 2023 Garden of Dreams Talent Show at Radio City Music Hall is free and open to the public, but tickets must be reserved in advance at gardenofdreamsfdtn.org/talentshow2023.
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.
The illustrious TLC and Jamaican icon Shaggy have announced their upcoming amalgamated Hot Summer Nights 2023 Tour. The tour begins the first of June and will make a stop at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, NY on June 13th and at SPAC on June 16th.. Fans can also expect to enjoy special performances from special guests En Vogue and Sean Kingston.
The Hot Summer Nights 2023 Tour will feature top hits from both TLC and Shaggy that will transport you back to the late 90s and early 2000s. You won’t want to miss TLC’s performances of “Waterfalls,” “No Scrubs,” “Unpretty,” and “Creep.” Fans will also encounter Shaggy’s “It Wasn’t Me,” “Boombastic,” and “Angel”; En Vogue’s “Hold On, My Loving (Never Gonna Get It)”, and “Free Your Mind.” Finally, Sean Kingston will perform “Beautiful Girls” and “Take You There.”
After thirty-two years, TLC remains the best-selling American girl group of all time with over eighty-five million records sold worldwide. The trio earned thirty-five Major Awards including the Diamond Award, video of the year award for Waterfalls, four Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards, Brit Award and five Soul Train Music Awards. TLC is ranked number 12 on the list of 100 Greatest Women in Music and was recognized as one of the greatest musical trios by Billboard magazine.
Shaggy, the multi-Grammy award winning musician makes history as the only diamond-selling dancehall artist in music history. The legend has sold more than 40 million album units to date, in addition to landing eight singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and seven albums on the Billboard 200.
Tickets are now on sale. Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, access to the Takin’ It Back per-show lounge, special gift item, exclusive swag bag & more. For more information, visit here.
HOT SUMMER NIGHTS 2023 TOUR DATES
Thu Jun 01 – Pelham, AL – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
Sat Jun 03 – Miami, FL – FPL Solar Amphitheater @ Bayfront Park
Sun Jun 04 – St. Augustine, FL – The St. Augustine Amphitheatre
Wed Jun 07 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park @ Walnut Creek
Fri Jun 09 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Sat Jun 10 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
Sun Jun 11 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Tue Jun 13 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Thu Jun 15 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Fri Jun 16 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Sat Jun 17 – Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre
Wed Jun 21 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
Fri Jun 23 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Sat Jun 24 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
Sun Jun 25 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Wed Jun 28 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Fri Jun 30 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion At Toyota Music Factory
Sat Jul 01 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Sun Jun 02 – Lake Cowichan, BC – Laketown Shakedown (with Shaggy Only | Buy Tickets Here)
Mon Jul 03 – Austin, TX – Bass Concert Hall~ (with TLC, Shaggy, & Sean Kingston Only | Buy Tickets Here or Here)
Thu Jul 06 – Salt Lake City, UT – Granary Live (with Shaggy & Sean Kingston Only | Buy Tickets Here)
Regina Spektor opened up to her crowd at the Capitol Theatre on Thursday, March 16. Of all the dates on her spring tour, which kicked off in Ithaca earlier this month, it was the nearest show to the neighborhood in which she grew up in The Bronx.
About midway through the set, Spektor opened up about her Bronx roots. She told the crowd how she and her family came to know violinist Samuel Marder and his late wife Sonia Vargas. An accomplished classical musician, Vargas became her piano teacher. Samuel and his sister Eva—both Holocaust survivors—were in attendance at the show. And Spektor was wearing a dress that had belonged to Sonia and was gifted to her by Samuel.
Spektor understandably needed a moment to gather herself after recalling all of that, wearing a dress that had belonged to Sonia and was gifted to her by Samuel. She then launched into the powerful “Ink Stains,” a song that she was inspired to write after she first heard there was such a thing as a Holocaust denier. It was just one song from the twenty in her setlist, but it was the perfect representation of the mood she established on stage over the course of the night: kind, humble, warm, and absolutely not afraid to say what needs to be said.
Openness and kindness were themes throughout the night. Spektor spoke to the crowd as if she were talking to a close friend, and her performance was on point. Even during a set that continuously displayed her versatility, “Poor Little Rich Boy” stood out. That song features Spektor playing percussion on a wooden chair with her right arm and keyboard with her left as she sings.
Between her immense musical talent and ability to connect with the crowd, Spektor had the entire venue hanging on her every word.
Regina Spektor – The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester – Thursday, March 16, 2023
Setlist: Ain’t No Cover, Folding Chair, Becoming All Alone, Loveology, Baby Jesus, Better, What Might Have Been, Eet, Ink Stains, Silly Eye-Color Generalizations, Bobbing for Apples, That Time, Ballad of a Politician, Poor Little Rich Boy, Après Moi, Raindrops, Spacetime Fairytale, Us, Fidelity Encore: Samson
Jerry Garcia Bobblehead games are once again on the schedule for August at Yankee Stadium. Yankee Stadium is extending the bobblehead games this year, starting on Garcia’s birthday, and continuing until Aug. 5.
This marks the second series of bobblehead games at the stadium featuring the late Grateful Dead frontman, the first of which was last year for what would’ve been Garcia’s 80th birthday.
The Rex Foundation will receive a portion of every ticket sold for the Jerry Garcia Bobblehead Games. Credit: Herb Greene
Jerry Garcia was an American musician from San Francisco and co-founder of the rock band Grateful Dead, which gained popularity during the counterculture of the 1960s. While he is considered by many to be the leader of the Grateful Dead, Garcia never embraced the title. The band’s career birthed 13 studio albums over nearly 30 years, officially breaking up shortly before Garcia’s death in 1995, although pre-recorded live albums continued to be released following his death. Garcia, along with his Grateful Dead bandmates, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
A portion of every ticket sold will support the Rex Foundation. Special tickets must be purchased for the Jerry Garcia Bobblehead Games at Yankee Stadium. Each Special Event Ticket includes a New York Yankees Jerry Garcia Bobblehead. The New York Yankees will verse the Tampa Bay Rays for the first two games on Aug. 1-2, and the Houston Astros for the next four games, from Aug. 3-6. Prices vary by date and seating selection.
Listen to the “Touch of Grey” music video by Grateful Dead.
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.
On the evening of Wednesday, March 15, New York City’s Carnegie Hall served as a gathering place to pay tribute to Sir Paul McCartney. Produced by Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Michael Dorf, The Music Of Paul McCartney was the 18th annual Music Of benefit concert to grace Carnegie Hall.
Photograph by Bobby Banks
In front of a sold-out house, Will Lee, Alexis Morrast, Peter Asher, Lyle Lovett, Patti Smith, Sammy Rae, Shovels & Rope, Christopher Cross, Danny Laine, Allison Russel, The Cactus Bottoms, Jennifer Nettles, Resistance Revival Chorus, Music Will Kids Group, Lake Street Drive, Bruce Hornsby, Graham Nash, Ingrid Michaelson, Glen Hasard, Jonathan Russel, Hamilton Leithauser, Betty Lavette, and Nancy Wilson sang their praises. Each artist performed one song from Paul McCartney’s vast catalog and celebrated his musical career.
The evening was marked by golden moments. Patti Smith, who was not originally on the line-up, surprised the crowd with a rendition of The Beatles, “She’s Leaving Home.” She added her own lyrical twists throughout the song, reaffirming her already widely known and beloved creative prose.
Patti Smith at Carnegie Hall on March 15, 2023 in New York City. Photo by Bobby Banks.
The New York City Chapter of The Resistance Revival Chorus then took the stage. The chorus is “a collective of more than 60 women, and non-binary singers, who join together to breathe song and joy into the resistance and to uplift and center women’s voices,” according to the Resistance Revival Chorus. The group performed The Beatles’ “Let It Be.” In doing so, they transformed the event into an interactive experience between the performer and the audience. They radically broke down all barriers between performer and viewer; between stage and seat.
They put their arms up to the sky, and audience members did the same. They danced, and the audience danced. The grand, wide-open room that is Carnegie Hall suddenly became one. They walked tall off the stage to a symphony of cheers, snaps, and the sudden shuffling of a standing ovation – The first of the night.
Photo by Bobby Banks
The stage also welcomed Music Will Kids Group to perform The Beatles’ “Get Back.” The group consisted of four students from a New York City-based high school. Before strumming a note or singing a tune, the lead singer shouted a thank-you into the microphone for their music teacher, Mr. Paris.
To close out the evening, all 23 performers joined on stage to perform their group finale, “Hey Jude.” Performers clapped, hugged, smiled, and filled the stage with joy. Fans stood, swayed, and joined in on the music. Carnegie Hall’s choir of 3,000+ voices reverberated through the city and solidified an already unshakable legacy of one of history’s greatest, Sir Paul McCartney.
The Music Of tribute series has donated collectively over $1.5M in proceeds to organizations that provide music education programs and opportunities to underserved youths. Paul McCartney’s tribute was preceded by tributes to other greats, such as Aretha Franklin, David Bowie, David Byrne, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and more.
Group encore performs “Hey Jude” for the final song of The Music Of Paul McCartney at Carnegie Hall on March 15, 2023, in New York City. (Photo by Bobby Bank/Getty Images)
Music Of Paul McCartney Setlist: “Ooh You” performed by Will Lee, “My Love” performed by Alexis Morrast, “A World Without Love” performed by Peter Asher & Lyle Lovett, “Things We Said Today” performed by Patti Smith, “Heart of the Country” performed by Sammy Rae, “Helter Skelter” performed by Shovels & Rope, “Mother Nature’s Son” performed by Christopher Cross, “Mull of Kintyre” performed by Denny Laine & Christopher Cross, “Blackbird” performed by Allison Russell, “And I Love Her” performed by The Cactus Blossoms, “Silly Love Song” performed by Jennifer Nettles, “Let it Be” performed by Resistance Revival Chorus, “Get Back” performed by Music Will Kids Group, “Let Me Roll It” performed by Lake Street Drive, “I’ve Just Seen a Face” performed by Bruce Hornsby, “For No One” performed by Graham Nash, “I Will” & “Calico Skies” performed by Ingrid Michaelson, “We Can Work It Out” performed by Glen Hansard, “Let Em In” performed by Jonathan Russell, “With a Little Help from My Friends” performed by Hamilton Leithauser, “Maybe I’m Amazed” performed by Betty LaVette, “Yesterday” performed by Lyle Lovett, “Band On the Run” performed by Nancy Wilson, “Hey Jude” performed by entire line-up.
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.
