Oneonta’s Space Carnival will perform their first show in New York State in nearly 5 years, with a special performance on Thursday, July 6 at Lark Hall in Albany.
Space Carnival grew from the Mohawk Valley, playing music festivals and venues across New York State, before the band agreed to part ways, amicably. You may have even seen Chris Meier playing bass with Annie in the Water.
Blending high-energy disco funk and progressive rock, Space Carnival features Jeremy Kraus on Guitar, Cameron Fitch on Keys and Vocals, Chris Meier on Bass, with Josh West (Annie in the Water, Lucid) joining on drums.
Originating in Oneonta in Fall 2013, the group has honed their live sound while accumulating a solid following across the Northeast and as far as Colorado, with crowds drawn by shows full of fresh energy, working through a catalog of confident originals and rotating covers. The four piece returns in 2023, inviting fans to get down to their loose funk and slippery disco vibe.
Space Carnival
Opening the night will be Albany native, SM Ink.
From Jam Band to DJ, Albany native, SM Ink, has continued blazing his trail in the jam scene he has loved so dearly. Furthermore, SM has progressed into a must see artist at clubs and festivals.Taking his love for Bass lines and grooves, SM delivers high energy sets through a wide range of Funky, Minimal, Deep/tech house flavors, which are great for any time, day or night.
Doors open on July 6 at 7pm for an evening of celebration at Lark Hall in Albany, with SM Ink starting shortly after and Space Carnival at 8pm.. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
The late Col. Bruce Hampton once referred to The Quebe Sisters as “un-bee-leivable” with a Texas swing sound, that he remarked was a bright light in music, where he saw “the music of today as horrifying.” With that simple recommendation in 2016, I discovered the sound of The Quebe Sisters, who will make their Caffe Lena return on June 22 in Saratoga Springs.
This trailblazing trio offer a modern day take on country and Western Swing, doing so steadfastly and free of frivolous fanfare. Siblings Grace, Sophia, and Hulda are hardly newcomers, but rather harnass sensibilities coalesced as seasoned performers. The Dallas-based trio have spent the last 17 years merging three-part harmony and triple fiddles to put a youthful, jubilant spin on Bob Wills’ classic genre.
The sisters’ four studio albums – 2003’s Texas Fiddlers, 2007’s Timeless, 2014’s Every Which-A-Way, and 2019’s The Quebe Sisters – serve as sonic proof that these ladies are fearless interpreters and innovators. There’s certainly no boxing the Quebe Sisters. Grace, Sophia, and Hulda Quebe see western swing as an ocean of possibilities.
Bob Wills was all about experimentation – melding just about every style he heard. He hired the best musicians playing regionally traditional instruments, as well as players interested in experimenting on what were the cutting-edge instruments of the day. This spirit formed what we today call western swing, and it needs to be an ingredient in current iterations of western swing to keep the style fresh and vibrant for the present and future. So, for us it’s authentic to the style to introduce our own originals.
Grace Quebe
For these trailblazing women, performing before enthusiastic crowds means the deep, connected roots of country and western swing will be in full display. The Quebe siblings grew up in Texas surrounded by fiddles, bows, microphones, stages, and western swing tunes. Texas is the very reason Grace, Sophia, and Hulda Quebe ended up playing triple fiddle, Grace says. But in true trailblazing fashion, Texas couldn’t contain such immense talent and dedication. The Quebe Sisters took their sound beyond the boundaries of the Lone Star state into North America, Europe, and even Russia.
I think our central ambition in playing music is to touch people’s hearts and souls—to make them feel beauty, to make them hear colors, to make them forget worries and have fun, to make them think about God. There is no time in history or culture that doesn’t need music in this way!
Hulda Quebe
Grace sees nothing odd about their progressive brand of western swing connecting with foreign audiences. “Nostalgia and curiosity play some role,” she says, “but particularly the syncopation and dance elements of the music we love and play make it timeless and universal. Everyone resonates with music that has a good feel. If it uplifts you and makes you want to dance, then we are doing our job right.”
The trio’s current tour, dubbed “Bye, For Now,” wraps up at the end of 2023. After that? Well, as Sophia says, it is, “much-needed R&R and time off the road. For now, we are taking an undetermined hiatus. This isn’t retirement for us, just a nice break.”
It is certainly a well-earned respite. The Dallas-based Quebe Sisters have steadfastly, completely free of frivolous fanfare, elevated the country and western swing genres for more than two decades. The Quebe Sisters stretched the boundaries of an old-timey style and made it newly relevant for fans of all generations.
There is still plenty of time to bask in those Quebe originals onstage. Grace, Sophia, and Hulda have dates in the books through October 2023. More dates will be announced soon. For a detailed list of concert performances, check out their website. Do these ladies wish fans would come out in droves to catch them onstage before they take a little downtime?
“Yes! We hope our fans will have a chance to come out and see us as we wrap up our touring through the end of 2023.”
Hulda Quebe
Modern, creative, and talented women that stretch the boundaries of country and western swing music become beacons. They light the path taking audiences on a trip to the past while keeping them firmly in the present and giving them a glimpse into the future.
Doors will open at 6:30pm for a 7pm show on Thursday, June 22. Tickets cost $5-$28 for this all ages shows. Tickets can be purchased here.
The Quebe Sisters “Bye, For Now” Tour
6/15: Murfreesboro, TN @ Hop Springs 6/17: Floyd, VA @ Floyd Country Store 6/20: New York, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 2) 6/22: Saratoga Springs, NY @ Caffe Lena 6/23: Portsmouth, NH @ The Music Hall Lounge 6/24: Brownfield, ME @ Stone Mountain Arts Center 6/25: Shirley, MA @ Bull Run Restaurant 7/22: Denton, TX @ Dan’s Silverleaf 7/23: Dallas, TX @ Cafe Momentum 7/24: Tomball, TX @ Main Street Crossing 8/22: Berwyn, IL @ Fitzgerald’s 8/23: Milwaukee, WI @ The Back Room at Colectivo 8/24 & 8/25: Minneapolis, MN @ Minnesota State Fair 8/27: Berthoud, CO @ Newell Farm Concert 9/9: Decatur, GA @ Eddie’s Attic 9/10: Bristol, TN @ Bristol Rhythm & Roots 9/11: Nashville, TN @ City Winery 9/12: St. Louis, MO @ City Winery 10/21: Greenville, TN @ Greenville Municipal Auditorium 10/28: Mountain City, TN @ Heritage Hall Theatre
The Catskill Mountain Jubilee 2023 lineup has been announced, returning to Blackthorne Resort in East Durham from Aug. 10-12.
The Catskill Mountain Jubilee 2023 features three nights of music, with two full performances from The Disco Biscuits, Melvin Seals with Karl Denson, and many more. Returning for the third year in a row, the event will take place from Aug. 10-12 at Blackthorne Resort in East Durham. In a recent announcement, new performers added to the lineup include two sets by Twiddle, BlueStar Radiation featuring Lotus’ Tim Palmieri with Rob Derhak, Nate Wilson and Vinnie Amico from moe., Mihali (solo), Sophistafunk, The Englishtown Project, Ben Silver & Allen Aucoin, Gratefully Yours and many more. Other performers include Dogs in a Pile, Desert Dwellers, Space Bacon, Beg Steal or Borrow, Rose Ganache, Eugene Tyler Band, The Laura Leigh Band, Hilltop, Newpy Hundo, Leila, SMInk, and more.
On the cusp of releasing their latest album Emotional Contracts,Deer Tick performed two sold-out nights (June 9th and 10th) at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock. Both shows included performances of new songs while sharing favorites from the bands catalog.
Opening Saturday’s show, Rafay Rashid. A Providence R.I resident by way of Islamabad, Pakistan. Introducing songs from his debut solo album Kitchen Weapons, Rahid and his band (including a few members of Deer Tick) had a melodic grove intensifying as their set progressed. His excitement opening for Deer Tick was evident, calling them out occasionally between songs. Rafay’s performance set the groove, readying the house for what was to come.
Rafay Rashid
With the intimacy of Levon Helm Studios, the vibe between band and audience is beyond palpable. The moment singer/guitarist John McCauley, guitarist Ian O’Neil, drummer Dennis Ryan, bassist Christopher Ryan hit the stage, it was on. With dueling guitars, multiple lead vocals, a solid rhythm section, Deer Tick is a formidable part of rock and roll.
Opening with “Forgiving Ties” from their latest project, the night continued with a host of new material. Deeper into the set, the band maneuvered across the spectrum of Deer Tick. “Jumpstarting” from Dear Tick Vol. 2 had the crowd singing. It continued on from there with people clapping in time and jumping up to dance, because they had no choice.
On night two, their makeshift encore (at Levon’s, it is not logistically feasible to step off the stage to a backstage area), La Bamba leaped out to start it off. Closing, McCauley and company shared “The Real Thing,” the final track from Emotional Contracts.
Deer Tick with Robert Ellis
As a bonus, the Texas Piano Man Robert Ellis sat in with the band. Tucked into the corner of the stage, Ellis’s ticking of the ivories helped take the night to an even higher level. For both Deer Tick and those in attendance, this was a special weekend. Experiencing new songs while pulling out favorites. Quenching the Deer Tick fan palate to the fullest.
Plattsburgh Blues and Jazz will host some of the biggest and most recognizable voices in blues this summer. It all starts on June 17 when Dawn Tyler Watson and Curtis Salgado visit downtown-venue Retro Live. Then, on July 7, Grammy-nominated blues and funk artist Sugaray Rayford will perform at The Strand Center for the Arts.
Both events are put on by Plattsburgh Blues and Jazz (PB&J), a non-profit organization that looks to promote and cultivate the arts and music scene in the Plattsburgh area. PB&J has brought the likes of Kenny Neal, Southern Avenue, John Nemeth, and Vanessa Collier to shores of Lake Champlain.
Dawn Tyler Watson
Dawn Tyler Watson is a Canadian Jazz and Blues artist that has been making music since the early 2000s. Through her career she’s captivated audiences with her energetic and passionate onstage performances. Her 2019 project titled Mad Love earned a Juno Award for Best Blues Album. She’s also picked up six Maple Blues Awards and a BMA nomination for Best Vocalist. Watson brings an impressive vocal range and hints of R&B to her music to create a truly unique and powerful sound.
Curtis Salgado, Carlos Santana and Buddy Guy
Curtis Salgado
Salgado has established himself as one of the most notable and respected blues musicians in the world. Salgado has featured in several influential and important blues groups including The Nighthawks, The Robert Cray Band, and Roomful of Blues. He has won multiple awards including Soul/Blues Album of the Year at the 2019 Blues Music Awards for his album “Damage Control”. Salgado was also nominated for a Grammy in 2018 for Best Traditional Blues Album.
Sugaray Rayford
Sugaray Rayford is an American blues artist who has found the perfect balance between jazz, soul, funk, R&B, and of course blues. Rayford began singing in his local church at the age of 7, by 15 he was already the lead singer of San Diego band. His project Somebody Save Me was nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album. He’s also won three Blues Music Awards, including B.B. King Entertainer of the Year.
Standout singer, songwriter, and bassist Karina Rykman dropped her first single and title track from her upcoming debut album JOYRIDE. The project is set to be released on August 18 and marks Rykman’s first collection of songs since she’s put out a slew of acclaimed singles dating back to 2019.
Karina Rykman was born and raised in New York City. She found music at an early age, making her way around the city performing at and attending live music venues. By the end of her time at NYU she had appeared on America’s Got Talent and the TODAY show. As part of Marco Benevento’s band, Rykman performed dates with Vulfpeck, Dispatch, and The Claypool Lennon Delirium.
Photo Credit: Brantley Gutierrez
Rykman’s own band is made up of Adam November (guitar, loopers, effects) and Chris Corsico (drums). Together the group has made a name for themselves due to their strong instrumentation, funky groove, layered production, and often genreless sound.
All these elements help to make “Joyride” such an interesting and fun listen. The track features a strong vocal performance from Rkyman, whose breathy voice and wistful lyrics could compete with any indie-pop record. The song’s tasteful synths and syrupy bass drive the beat toward an almost psychedelic sound. Joyride also features a guitar performance from JOYRIDE co-producer Trey Anastasio.
’Joyride’ is about being driven insane as you’re kept awake by music in your head all night – so much so that eventually, you give up and ask your partner to take you on a joyride instead of tossing and turning
Karina Rykman
The connection between Rkyman and Anastasio goes back to childhood. Rykman went to middle school with the Phish star’s daughters and became family friends because of it. However, the two had no musical relationship until they both performed at Peach Music Festival in Scranton. Anastasio became interested in being a part of Rykman’s first album, offering the use of his iconic Vermont studio “The Barn.”
When I first heard the early demos, the first thing I said was more Karina… Turn up the bass, sing more, and step out. What makes me most happy about the finished album now is that to my ears, it sounds like Karina unapologetically. It has her nature. It has her incredible joyous outlook that I know is real because I saw it in her when she was a kid.
Trey Anastasio
Photo Credit: Jesse Faatz
JOYRIDE was written and recorded with Rykyman’s childhood friend, producer Gabe Monro. Trey Anastasio’s guitar appears on five of the album’s nine tracks. Legendary mixer Bryce Goggin (Pavement, Swans, Ramones) also helped to create the project.
“You only get to make your first album once,” she adds, “and I couldn’t be prouder of what we created with this one. It’s a moment in time – the first of what I hope to be a lifetime of making records and touring behind them.
Dopapod, approaches their 36th year together and has announced their highly anticipated Fall Tour #27.
Nearing four decades together, Dopapod is gearing up to bring their fans a sensational 41st round of captivating performances.
Fall tour will kick off on Sept. 13 in High Point, NC, heading to Atlanta and Nashville, where they have some surprises in store for audiences, with a special improvised performance during the soundcheck.
Dopapod heads up the East Coast to Brooklyn Bowl on Sept. 20, with fans in Hartford, CT on Sept. 24 including an improvised set during soundcheck.
Excitement is at a peak for this tour, with the quality of live Dopapod performances consistently deliver but also exclusive giveaways and opportunities available to fans. Dopapod is giving away signed Megagem/Emit Time/Dopapod test pressings, ensuring lucky winners receive a truly unique piece of their musical history. Additionally, one signed poster will be given away at each show. Merchandise discounts and other surprises are also in store for those who participate. To enter the giveaway, fans simply need to take a screenshot of their presale ticket and email it to streetteam@dopapod.com. Every fan who sends in an email will receive a special gift from the band, making sure that no one leaves empty-handed.
Dopapod emphasizes that buying presale tickets greatly supports the band, and they deeply appreciate the continued backing of their fans. Tickets for the shows are now on sale. Learn more and find tickets to Dopapod’s fall tour at dopapod.com.
Dopapod Fall Tour #27 Dates 9.13- High Point, NC 9.14- Asheville, NC 9.15- Atlanta, GA** 9.16- Nashville TN** 9.19- Charlottesville, VA 9.20- Washington, DC 9.22- Brooklyn, NY 9.23- TBA 9.24- Hartford, CT** 9.26- Burlington, VT 9.27- Burlington, VT** 9.28- Pembroke, MA 9.29- Philadelphia, PA 9.30- Mason, NH
The NY Harvest Festival & Freedom Fair are returning to Ithaca for the 26th straight year of celebrating music, arts, and cannabis culture. Taking place October 6-9, 2023 at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds, attendees will get to experience a packed musical lineup along with interactions with local cannabis companies.
2021 NY Harvest Festival Cannabis Cup
Featuring multiple stages, fine art displays, street vendors, workshops, activist & educational speakers, a farmers market, onsite camping, and many more activities, the NY Harvest Festival expects to embody the connection between cannabis and music.
On Friday, October 6, the headliner event features two sets of Dogs in a Pile, whose exploratory music blends psychedelia, jazz, fusion, funk, traditional, and rock n roll. Performing their first-ever festival show here years ago, Dogs in a Pile returns to put on yet another unforgettable showing.
Saturday, October 7th’s lineup will additionally feature more local New York talent, as Sophistafunk, The Garcia Project, Gratefully Yours, and special guest Immortal Technique will all take the stage.
Other artists anticipating performances at the event include The Tyler Neal Band, Tony Vacca & World Rhythms, EARTH, The Cosmic Charlies, and so many other up-and-coming local talents.
Lastly, the festival’s main event, the Cannabis Cup, takes place Sunday, October 8 at 4:20 pm, and festival producer and veteran NY cannabis activist Rob Robinson will be the host. Known as America’s longest-running cannabis cup, everyone over 21 that wants to be, gets the opportunity to be a judge.
“NY Harvest Fest is a celebration of our cannabis culture. A place where the culture could always feel free, despite prohibition. Now that cannabis is legal and its potential is being realized, we are excited to bring this event, this culture, back into the light.”
– Rob Robinson
As the longest-running, largest, private cannabis event in New York, the NY Harvest Festival continues paving the way in the marijuana industry while intertwining it with community involvement. Now, for the 26th straight year, the festival has even more freedom and excitement surrounding cannabis legalization.
A shot of the crowd from the 2022 NY Harvest Festival
Last night, the 76th annual Tony Awards celebrated this year on Broadway by making history and breaking rules, and awarding Kimberly Akimbo the Award for Best Musical.
Ariana Debose hosting, credit to Kevin Mazur.
At the United Palace in Washington Heights, the audience gathered to reflect on and award this past Broadway season. The theatre industry has seen drama offstage this year. Arguments about how much actors should give to their performances, discussions on the industry’s ableism and racism, post-COVID struggles that forced iconic shows to close, and Patti LuPone ripping up her Equity union card were just some of the one-act plays we saw debut on social media.
Ariana Debose hosted the show for the second year in a row. But this year, she did things differently. The show opened to her looking through her script for the 76th annual Tony Awards, only to find blank pages. Unlike most Tony Awards opening numbers, there was no singing. DeBose moved into an impressive dance number choreographed by Carla Garcia. It was started the night with a bang as it married Fosse with modern styles. Once onstage―after catching her breath―DeBose shared the “very good reason” why the Tony’s script pages were blank.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4oQeYx5INE
“Our siblings over at the [Writer’s Guild of America] are currently on strike in pursuit of a fair deal,” DeBose said. “I’m sure some of you at home are thinking, ‘Oh, okay, but what does that have to do with the Tony Awards?…Award shows are traditionally written by members of the WGA. So in order for this show to go on, a whole host of people had to come together in order to find a compromise…And so now you are asking, what’s the compromise? Well, we don’t have a script.”
Without teleprompters, the night felt charged. Just like any Broadway show, this truly was a live performance. But that wasn’t the only part of the Tony’s that made it unlike any other before. Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee made history as they became the first out non-binary actors to win Tony awards. Even though Toby Marlow, who won the Tony for best musical score for Six, is non-binary, Newell and Ghee are the first in the Tony’s only gendered category: acting.
Photo by Theo Wargo, Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro.
Newell won best supporting actor in a musical for their performance of Lulu in Shucked, a new musical comedy nominated for 9 Tony awards. Shucked tells the story of Maizy, who travels to find out why all of the corn in her small town, Cob County, is dying. The constant corny humor makes audiences laugh nonstop.
“Broadway, I should not be up here,” Newell said in their acceptance speech. “As a queer, non-binary, fat, black little baby from Massachusetts. And to anyone that thinks that they can’t do it, I’m going to look you dead in your face and tell you that you can do anything you put your mind to.”
J. Harrison Ghee accepts the award for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical for “Some Like It Hot” at the 76th annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at the United Palace Theater in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Charles Sykes, Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Soon after, Ghee accepted the Tony for best leading actor in a musical for their portrayal of Jerry/Daphne in Some Like it Hot. They thanked their producers and creative team for letting them lead. “Thank you…for letting me be representation, letting lives be seen.”
Although there were many great shows nominated, one swept overall. New musical Kimberly Akimbo won 5 awards, including best new musical. Even though the night was unscripted, critics and audiences alike were not surprised.
The musical tells the story of Kimberly, a 16-year-old girl born with a rare genetic condition that makes her age almost five times as fast as kids her age. The show is heartwarming and breaking. Other than best musical, Kimberly Akimbo took home beat supporting actress (Bonnie Milligan), best lead actress (Victoria Clarke), best original score, and best book of a musical.
Despite how the show was real and unfiltered, censorship reminded viewers of big differences between stage and screen. After two previous nominations, Michael Arden scored his first win for Direction of a musical for his work on Parade, which won best musical revival. Arden took his acceptance speech as an opportunity to speak out about the need to fight intolerance. “It is so, so important,” Arden stressed, “or else we are doomed to repeat the horrors of our history.”
Michael Arden’s bleeped-out Tony Award speech is instantly iconic:
"Growing up, I was called the F-word more times than I could remember. And all I can say now is I'm a faggot with a Tony!"#TonyAwardspic.twitter.com/pJYzfgIJoh
What viewers remember most about Arden’s speech, though, is something we could not even hear. “to our beautiful trans, nonbinary, queer youth, know that your queerness is what makes you beautiful and powerful,” he expressed. “Growing up, I was called the f word more times than I can remember, and now all I can say is I’m a f***** with a tony.” CBS censored the last words of Arden’s speech. Still, we saw how the live audience stood up and cheered louder than they had all night.
If you missed the 76th Tony Awards, you can stream it on Paramount Plus.
76th Annual Tony Award Winners
Best Play
Ain’t No Mo’ Between Riverside and Crazy Cost of Living Fat Ham Leopoldstadt
Best Musical
& Juliet Kimberly Akimbo New York, New York Shucked Some Like It Hot
Best Revival of a Play
August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson A Doll’s House The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog
Best Revival of a Musical
Parade Into the Woods Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Best Book of a Musical
& Juliet Kimberly Akimbo New York, New York Shucked Some Like It Hot
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Almost Famous Kimberly Akimbo KPOP Shucked Some Like It Hot
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog Corey Hawkins, Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog Sean Hayes, Good Night, Oscar Stephen McKinley Henderson, Between Riverside and Crazy Wendell Pierce, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Jessica Chastain, A Doll’s House Jodie Comer, Prima Facie Jessica Hecht, Summer, 1976 Audra McDonald, Ohio State Murders
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Christian Borle, Some Like It Hot J. Harrison Ghee, Some Like It Hot Josh Groban, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Brian d’Arcy James, Into the Woods Ben Platt, Parade Colton Ryan, New York, New York
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Annaleigh Ashford, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Sara Bareilles, Into the Woods Victoria Clark, Kimberly Akimbo Lorna Courtney, & Juliet Micaela Diamond, Parade
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Jordan E. Cooper, Ain’t No Mo’ Samuel L. Jackson, August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson Arian Moayed, A Doll’s House Brandon Uranowitz, Leopoldstadt David Zayas, Cost of Living
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Nikki Crawford, Fat Ham Crystal Lucas-Perry, Ain’t No Mo’ Miriam Silverman, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window Katy Sullivan, Cost of Living Kara Young, Cost of Living
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Kevin Cahoon, Shucked Justin Cooley, Kimberly Akimbo Kevin Del Aguila, Some Like It Hot Jordan Donica, Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot Alex Newell, Shucked
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Julia Lester, Into the Woods Ruthie Ann Miles, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Bonnie Milligan, Kimberly Akimbo NaTasha Yvette Williams, Some Like It Hot Betsy Wolfe, & Juliet
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Prima Facie Life of Pi Good Night, Oscar Leopoldstadt A Christmas Carol
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
New York, New York Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot Shucked Some Like It Hot
Best Costume Design of a Play
Life of Pi Fat Ham Leopoldstadt Ain’t No Mo’ Good Night, Oscar
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Some Like It Hot Parade Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot KPOP & Juliet New York, New York
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Leopoldstadt Prima Facie A Doll’s House Fat Ham Life of Pi Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman A Christmas Carol
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
New York, New York Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot Parade & Juliet Some Like It Hot Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Best Sound Design of a Play
Ain’t No Mo’ Life of Pi A Christmas Carol A Doll’s House Prima Facie
Best Sound Design of a Musical
New York, New York Shucked Into the Woods & Juliet Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Best Direction of a Play
Saheem Ali, Fat Ham Jo Bonney, Cost of Living Jamie Lloyd, A Doll’s House Patrick Marber, Leopoldstadt Stevie Walker-Webb, Ain’t No Mo’ Max Webster, Life of Pi
Best Direction of a Musical
Michael Arden, Parade Lear deBessonet, Into the Woods Casey Nicholaw, Some Like It Hot Jack O’Brien, Shucked Jessica Stone, Kimberly Akimbo
Best Choreography
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Some Like It Hot New York, New York & Juliet KPOP
Best Orchestrations
& Juliet Kimberly Akimbo Shucked Some Like It Hot New York, New York
Hot 97 and WBLS-FM, for the first time, jointly announced Hip Hop Forever, a celebration of Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary featuring Wu-Tang Clan, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, and more, coming to Madison Square Garden on Sept. 15.
Hip Hop Forever is part of New York City’s ongoing celebration of Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary, falling just one month after the Hip Hop 50 celebration at Yankee Stadium, which includes Run-DMC, Lil Kim, Snoop Dogg, and more. The Hip Hop Forever event at MSG features one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all time, Wu-Tang Clan. Since their triple-platinum debut record Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) came out in 1993, the group has gone on to release eight albums and created legendary live shows, the band’s prolific careers as individuals and especially as the most storied group in hip-hop history.
Other can’t-miss acts to see include Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, actress, producer, and philanthropist, Mary J. Blige. With a track record of eight multi-platinum albums, nine Grammy Awards (plus a staggering 32 nominations), two Academy Award nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, a SAG nomination, and more, she has cemented herself as a powerhouse that can truly do it all. The best-selling female artist of all time with more than 200 million albums sold to date and 19 Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles, Mariah Carey, makes a special appearance. She is truly the template of modern pop performance, leaving a cultural and indelible imprint on the industry and the world at large.
One of the most prolific dancehall and reggae performers, Sean Paul, will perform a set at Hip Hop Forever, as well as Tyrese, Maxwell, and EPMD. Tickets will go on sale via a presale on Thursday, June 15 at 10 a.m. ahead of the general on-sale on Friday, June 16 at 10 a.m. To purchase, visit here.
