Carly Rae Jepsen sold out two nights (August 7 and 8) at the Rooftop at Pier 17 in New York City, but the first show on Monday was cut short due to sudden thunderstorms. Before abruptly ending the show and thanking her fans, she told them, “No one is getting electrocuted tonight!” Carly added a last minute intimate show that same night at Rockwood Music Hall, delighting 500 fans with the unexpected addition. She also added a matinee show at Pier 17 for fans who missed the first night, honoring all ticket purchases and offering refunds to those who couldn’t make the matinee.
Carly Rae Jepsen plays last minute intimate show at Rockwood Music Hall. Photo by Alex Perkins
Poolside opened for Carly with a DJ set. Check out our gallery of images from the first night below.
The Orchestra Now (TŌN) the far-sighted orchestra and master’s degree program founded by Bard College president, conductor, educator, and music historian Leon Botstein, announced its ninth season performances, happening from Sept. 16, 2023, through May 19, 2024.
Conductor Leon Botstein and The Orchestra Now at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater on Sun 11-6-16. Photo by David DeNee.
The Orchestra Now is a group of 59 vibrant young musicians from 13 different countries across the globe, including the United States, Austria, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, and more. The main mission of the orchestra is to make orchestral music relevant to 21st-century audiences by sharing unique personal insights in a welcoming environment. Hand-picked from the world’s leading conservatories—including the Yale School of Music, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Royal Academy of Music, and the New England Conservatory of Music—the members of TŌN give on-stage introductions and demonstrations, write concert notes from the musicians’ perspective, and have one-on-one discussions with patrons during intermissions.
Conductor, educator, and music historian Leon Botstein founded TŌN in 2015 as a graduate program at Bard College, where he is also president. TŌN offers both a three-year master’s degree in Curatorial, Critical, and Performance Studies and a two-year advanced certificate in Orchestra Studies. The Orchestra’s home is the Frank Gehry-designed Fisher Center at Bard, where it performs multiple concerts each season and takes part in the annual Bard Music Festival. Dubbed by the HuffPost as “dramatic and intense,” TŌN performs regularly at venues like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and others across NYC and beyond.
The Orchestra Now musicians-Zhenyuan Yao, Milad Daniari, Paul Nemeth, Michael Franz, and Jonathan Wisner. Photo by David DeNee.
The Orchestra Now has also performed with many distinguished guest conductors and soloists, including Leonard Slatkin, Neeme Järvi, Gil Shaham, Fabio Luisi, Vadim Repin, Hans Graf, Peter Serkin, Gerard Schwarz, Tan Dun, and JoAnn Falletta. They are featured on several recordings, including Buried Alive with baritone Michael Nagy, released on Bridge Records in August 2020, which includes the first recording in almost 60 years, and only the second recording ever, of Othmar Schoeck’s song cycle Lebendig begraben.
For the 2023-2024 season, TŌN offers 20 programs and a total of 27 concerts, including two at Carnegie Hall, three at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, one at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater, three free concerts at Manhattan’s Peter Norton Symphony Space and Bard College at Simon’s Rock, and six at the Orchestra’s home at Bard College’s Fisher Center. This year marks the seventh season of The Orchestra Now’s popular broadcast series on WMHT-FM, the classical music radio station of New York’s Capital Region. TŌN’s performances are also heard regularly on American Public Media’s Performance Today.
As we approach the ninth successful season of TŌN, I am exceedingly proud of all we have accomplished since the Orchestra was launched in 2015. Since then, TŌN has performed a remarkable 668 works by 304 composers in 36 venues for more than 88,000 live and virtual concertgoers, with 320 soloists and 33 conductors. I am delighted to continue that impressive record in the 2023-24 season with three U.S premieres, an exploration of numerous undiscovered masterworks, and a roster of guest artists that range from Metropolitan Opera star Stephanie Blythe—Artistic Director of Bard Conservatory’s Vocal Arts Program—to rising young winners of Bard Conservatory Concerto Competitions.
Leon Botstein.
For more information about The Orchestra Now and to purchase tickets to the upcoming 2023-2024 season, visit here.
Exodus: Jewish Composers in Exile Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023 at 7 p.m. The Orchestra’s Carnegie Hall series opens with Leon Botstein and the orchestra performing rarely heard works by Jewish composers written while they were in exile from their homelands during World War II. The program comprises Alexandre Tansman’s rhythmic Polish Rhapsody, inspired by the invasion of his homeland, the NYC premiere of Josef Tal’s dramatic Exodus, based on the Passover Haggadah, Walter Kaufmann’s Indian Symphony, written while in exile in Bombay, and Marcel Rubin’s melancholy Symphony No. 4, Dies irae, reflecting his experiences during the Second World War.
Photo by David DeNee – Conductor Leon Botstein and The Orchestra Now at Carnegie Hall on Fri 5-13-16.
Violinist as Composer Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 7 p.m. Leon Botstein spotlights four European virtuoso violinists who were also major composers in their respective countries but are not household names elsewhere today. The program includes Polish composer Grażyna Bacewicz’s contemplative Partita for Orchestra, Hungarian composer Joseph Joachim’s Variations for Violin and Orchestra, the New York City premiere of a recently discovered concerto by famed Belgian violinist and composer Eugène Ysaÿe, and the energetic and passionate Second Symphony of Romanian composer George Enescu.
Rose Theatre
Debussy’s Afternoon of a Faun
Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 3 p.m.
TŌN welcomes rising French conductor Chloé van Soeterstède, who has conducted orchestras around the globe, including the London and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras. Her program begins with one of Debussy’s most popular works, Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, inspired by a poem about the mythical creature and nymphs. Principal trombonist of the London Symphony Orchestra, Peter Moore, joins the orchestra for Dani Howard’s Trombone Concerto. The afternoon concludes with Rachmaninoff’s vibrant Symphonic Dances, the last piece he ever wrote, and his only work that was fully composed in the United States.
In the popular series Sight & Sound, Leon Botstein explores the parallels between orchestral music and the visual arts. Each program is accompanied by on-screen artworks and musical excerpts performed by The Orchestra Now, followed by a full performance and audience Q&A.
Copland, Culture & Politics in the 1930s Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023 at 2 p.m.
The 1930s were a time of political and social turmoil in the United States. Through the Dust Bowl and Great Depression, art and music aided the struggling nation’s search for identity and hope, depicting and publicizing the struggle of the era’s masses. Aaron Copland mixed everyday Americana tunes with classical music in an unprecedented way. His strict orchestral Statements for Orchestra, written at a time when the composer was becoming more politically active, and Wild-West ballet Billy the Kid both quote popular folk music of the day, earning him a reputation as the United States “populist” composer.
The exhibition Art for the Millions: American Culture and Politics in the 1930s will be on view at The Met Fifth Avenue from Sept. 7–Dec. 10, 2023 in galleries 691–693.
Debussy & Matisse: Creating New Colors
Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 2 p.m.
Artist Henri Matisse helped to revolutionize the visual arts in the first decades of the 20th century with experiments in a technicolor style that changed the course of French painting. In the same era Claude Debussy was rejecting classical German musical tradition, developing his own style of harmony and orchestral coloring that would strongly influence a wide range of composers for years to come. His expressive Images for Orchestra, which evokes English, Spanish, and French cultures, exemplifies the composer’s explorations in color and texture.
Still, Johnson & the Harlem Renaissance Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 2 p.m.
With the rise of new, urban Black communities both in NYC and abroad, the Harlem Renaissance became the first African-American-led movement of international modern art. With that art came developments in visual art, poetry, jazz, and concert music. William Grant Still’s dramatic Lenox Avenue, which was commissioned by CBS for a 1937 radio broadcast, was inspired by street scenes in Harlem. Meanwhile, his orchestration of James P. Johnson’s Yamekraw, A Negro Rhapsody, was a response to Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, capturing what the composer felt was a more “authentic” rhapsody about a black neighborhood in Savannah, Georgia.
The exhibition Harlem Renaissance will be on view at The Met Fifth Avenue from Feb. 20–July 28, 2024, in Gallery 999.
The Fisher Center Series at Bard
The Orchestra Now, Bard’s orchestral masters, presents its ninth season of six different programs and 11 concerts. All performances will be livestreamed on TŌNtube.
Two Sides of Vienna
Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023 at 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 at 2 p.m.
Music Director Leon Botstein opens TŌN’s ninth season with a concert juxtaposing two distinct styles of Viennese music from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These include the vibrant and festive melodies of Franz Lehár and the Strauss brothers, and Mahler’s beautifully tragic Sixth Symphony. The concert opens with music from Lehár’s well-known 1905 operetta The Merry Widow, written in 1940 to celebrate the composer’s 70th birthday. This is followed by two dance pieces: Eduard Strauss’ train-themed polka Bahn frei!, and his brother Johann Jr.’s majestic Emperor Waltz. The program closes with a contrasting style from the same era, Mahler’s deeply personal Symphony No. 6.
Leon Botstein by Matt-Dine.
Jean-Marie Zeitouni Conducts
Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 at 7 p.m.
Celebrated Canadian conductor Jean-Marie Zeitouni makes his debut with TŌN in an all-French program, beginning with Saint-Saëns’ exuberant Bacchanale from his opera Samson et Dalila. Then mezzo-soprano Megan Moore, a co-founder of the Lynx Project who has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, performs Berlioz’s song cycle The Summer Nights. The program also includes Fauré’s music for the play Pelléas et Mélisande, and d’Indy’s soaring and lyrical Symphony on a French Mountain Air, featuring Bard College Conservatory faculty pianist Ryan MacEvoy McCullough.
Stephanie Blythe Sings Brahms
Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 at 7 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024 at 3 p.m.
Award-winning mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe, artistic director of Bard Conservatory’s Graduate Vocal Arts Program, joins TŌN for an all-Brahms concert. She performs his profound and dramatic Alto Rhapsody. The program also includes the sweeping cantata, Rinaldo, concluding with Brahms’ masterful First Symphony, which the composer toiled over for 14 years before its debut performance.
Stephanie Blythe.
Beethoven’s 6th & The Rite of Spring
Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 7, 2024 at 2 p.m.
TŌN welcomes spring with three musical tributes to the vernal equinox. These include Egon Wellesz’s 1911 The Dawn of Spring, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, performed alongside members of the Bard College Conservatory Orchestra, and Beethoven’s lush Pastoral Sixth Symphony, echoing the composer’s love of nature.
Free Concert Series
These concerts are free, no tickets necessary, advance RSVP suggested. Check here for RSVP information.
Schumann & Strauss
Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023 at 4 p.m.
Peter Norton Symphony Space
TŌN Resident Conductor Zachary Schwartzman returns with the orchestra to Symphony Space for another free concert. The program comprises Barber’s overture The School for Scandal, Strauss’ powerfully evocative tone poem Death and Transfiguration, and Schumann’s intense and emotional Symphony No. 4.
Zachary Schwartzman, photo by Jito Lee.
Mendelssohn & Sibelius
Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024 at 4 p.m.
Peter Norton Symphony Space
Zachary Schwartzman returns with the orchestra to Symphony Space for another free concert. The program comprises Mendelssohn’s fiery Ruy Blas Overture, Prokofiev’s masterful Violin Concerto No. 2 with soloist Yangxin Song, a winner of the 2022 Bard Conservatory Concerto Competition, and Sibelius’ voluptuous Symphony No. 1.
Schumann’s Piano Concerto
Sunday, March 3, 2024 at 3 p.m.
Bard College at Simon’s Rock
TŌN Assistant Conductor Andrés Rivas returns to Simon’s Rock for a free concert that includes Species of Motion by retiring music department chair Larry Wallach. The program also includes a performance of Schumann’s symphonic Piano Concerto, performed with Yilin Li, a winner of the 2022 Bard Conservatory Concerto Competition.
Iconic rappers JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown have left zero crumbs on their stops through the east coast on their SCARING THE HOES tour. Their show in Buffalo Aug. 1 was no exception to this as they performed for a sold out crowd at the Town Ballroom.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Opener DJ_Dave brought her experimental production to Buffalo by performing her music using code. She combines her electronic pop music and love for tech to create a newfound fluidity to the industry. Her visuals go beyond just cool tech symbols because she is live coding on stage, refereed to as algorave which is both impressive and entertaining to watch.
DJ_Dave, Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Later on JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown took over the stage. Their presence can not be taken lightly because they had fans going crazy from start to finish. They began the night introducing themselves and immediately going into their track “Lean Beef Patty.” With just 30 seconds in the energy was insane. The rappers were spraying water into the crowd, climbing on top of the barricade, and interacting with fans nonstop.
JPEG, Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
This tour is in honor of the two rappers’ joint album SCARING THE HOES which released earlier this year. After much anticipation it was especially satisfying for fans to get to see the collaborative talent of these two in action. Even with many songs of theirs being together they still took the time to perform a section of the show by themselves.
JPEG, Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
JPEGMAFIA performed fun covers of songs by Carly Rae Jepsen and Denzel Curry. Fans especially got pumped up when he rapped his hit “1539 N. Calvert.” Danny Brown then came back on stage with JPEG, then gave the audience a solo show. The crowd got even more excited for this and couldn’t stop chanting his name.
Danny Brown, Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Danny performed his popular song “Really Doe” that features Kendrick Lamar. This track had people immediately riling up and opening up the pit for mosh pits. It’s so impressive to watch both Danny and JPEG rap in person because there is no gimmicks. Neither of the artists use a backing track. This means every word you hear them rap live is them actually rapping live, and if they mess up it becomes 10x more obvious to the audience watching.
JPEG, Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
The two finished off the night with “SCARING THE HOES” and “Fentanyl Tester.” The packed in crowd was lit with rage and sweat from the non-stop party. Something about Danny Brown finally being back in Buffalo after all these years and visuals that paid homage to old-school video games gave a nostalgic feel.
Danny Brown, Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
If you missed this dynamic duo in Buffalo, fear not because more NY dates are on the horizon. The SCARING THE HOES tour will be making stops in NYC at both Pier 17 on Aug. 9 and Terminal 5 on Aug. 11. Upcoming shows at the Town Ballroom can be found here.
Danny Brown, Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Setlist:
JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown: Lean Beef Patty, Burfict!, Steppa Pig, Garbage Pale Kids
JPEGMAFIA: Jesus Forgive Me I Am a Thot, 1539 N. Calvert, BALD!, Baby I’m Bleeding, Call Me Maybe (cover), VENGEANCE | VENGEANCE (cover)
JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown: Run the Jewels, God Loves You, Shut Yo Bitch Ass Up / Muddy Waters, Hermanos
Danny Brown: Really Doe, When It Rain, Dip, Monopoly, Tantor, Ain’t It Funny
JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown: Guess What Bitch, We Back Hoe!, SCARING THE HOES, Fentanyl Tester
The Allman Betts Family Revival announced its 2023 dates and all-star lineup. The tour kicks off on Nov. 25 in Saint Louis, MO and will be making three stops in New York.
The Allman Family Revival initially began as a one-off concert in 2017 at The Fillmore in San Francisco to celebrate the late Gregg Allman’s life on what would have been his 70th birthday. Now entering its seventh year, the tour announced their rebrand from The Allman Family Revival to the Allman Betts Family Revival.
Gregg Allman’s son Devon and Dickey Betts’ son Duane spearhead the tour and hand-picked an array of guests who will perform two sets. One will feature songs by Gregg Allman and the other will feature songs by Dickey Betts. The performances will also include deep cuts from their legendary Allman Brothers Band catalog.
Performers include Anders Osborne, Luther Dickinson & Cody Dickenson (North Mississippi Allstars), Jimmy Hall (Jeff Beck, Wet Willie), Jackie Greene, Larry McCray, Orbi Orbison, Ally Venable, Devon Allman, Duane Betts, and the Allman Betts Band featuring the Tal Wilkenfeld on Bass (Jeff Beck). There will also be additional artists that will join in select cities including Sierra Hull & G Love, with more to be added.
The tour will also welcome back The Brotherhood of Light for the otherworldly visuals Allman Brothers fans experienced at the height of their career.
Tickets and up-to-date information are available here.
The Allman Betts Family Revival Tour Dates
November 25 @ The Factory | Saint Louis, MO
November 26 @ Brown County Music Center | Nashville, IN
November 27 @ The Arcada Theater | St. Charles, IL
November 29 @ Kleinhans Music Hall | Buffalo, NY
w/ special guest Sierra Hull
November 30 @ Santander Performing Arts Center | Reading, PA
w/ special guest Sierra Hull
December 1 @ Orpheum Theater | Boston, MA
w/ special guests Greg Koch, Sierra Hull
December 2 @ Beacon Theatre | New York, NY
w/ special guests Greg Koch, Sierra Hull
December 3 @ The Paramount | Huntington, NY
w/ special guests Greg Koch, Sierra Hull
December 5 @ Capital One Hall | Tysons, VA
December 7 @ Macon City Auditorium | Macon, GA
w/ special guests Chuck Leavell, Vaylor Trucks, Melody Trucks
December 8 @ Gaillard Center | Charleston, SC
December 10 @ Sunrise Theatre | Fort Pierce, FL
w/ special guests J.D. Simo, Melody Trucks and Frank Hannon
December 12 @ Van Wezel PAC | Sarasota, FL
w/ special guests J.D. Simo, Melody Trucks and Frank Hannon
December 13 @ Florida Theatre | Jacksonville, FL
w/ special guests J.D. Simo, Melody Trucks and Frank Hannon
December 14 @ Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium | Spartanburg, SC
w/ special guests J.D. Simo
December 15 @ Ryman Auditorium | Nashville, TN
w/ special guest G. Love
December 16 @ Mobile Civic Center | Mobile, AL
December 17 @ ACL Live at The Moody Theater | Austin, TX
Rising Central New York star Sydney Irving took to the stage at Spiedie Fest in Binghamton on Sunday Aug. 6, providing direct support to headliner Gavin DeGraw. It was the last day of the annual three-day festival, which showcased great food (including spiedies, of course), hot air balloons, arts & crafts, as well as musical performances from acts such as John Waite, Tommy DeCarlo, Scotty McCreery, and Cooper Greer.
At just twenty years old, Sydney Irving has already proven that no stage is too big. The 2022 Syracuse Area Music Award winner for best new artist has already performed on the main stage at Spiedie Fest on two other occasions; in 2019, opening for Starship feat. Mickie Thomas and again in 2021, opening for Martina McBride. On Sunday she was joined by her band, The Mojo, feauring Luke Hart (guitar), Evan Tennant (drums), Randy Tennant (bass guitar), and Carl Stokking (guitars, vocals). They have quickly become a mainstay on Syracuse’s Locals Only radio, with the recent release of their single “I Don’t Wanna Fight You.”
Concert goers on Sunday could not have been greeted with more perfect summer weather, as warm temperatures and sunshine greeted fans as they arrived. Fans filled the concert area long before the advertised start time and a quick scan of the audience along the stage barrier showed a mixture of Gavin DeGraw and Sydney Irving t-shirts.
Just after 4:30 pm Irving and her bandmates took to the stage and immediately launched into their track “Seasons Change.” The catchy and upbeat pop-rock track released by the band in 2021 set the stage for what was to come on this afternoon. Irving quickly grabbed a captive hold of the audience, a feat often difficult to achieve by most performers at larger festivals. She worked the stage with the charisma and stage presence like she was a 20-year veteran, engaging the crowd in sing a longs, dances, and synchronized claps. The band took the party atmosphere to another level by kicking oversized beach balls into the crowd.
Through out the band’s sixty minute set, they intertwined cover songs with their own original music, with the band paying homage to the musicians they attribute to their own songwriting style. They got the crowd up and dancing on Taylor Swift’s “You Belong To Me,” and Irving and her bandmates put their own spin on the Dolly Parton classic, “Jolene.” Guitarist Luke Hart also put his talents on display with a blistering guitar solo during Tom Petty’s “Running Down a Dream.” However it was the band’s original tracks that were the true highlights on this afternoon. Songs like “Don’t Want to Fight You” and “You Can’t Forget About Me” showcased Irving’s talents as a songwriter and fit in the setlist flawlessly, alongside the cover tracks.
As the set wound to a close, Irving and her band mates performed the Ramones classic “Blitzkrieg Bop.” The high energy track had the crowd singing and clapping along, and left those in attendance highly energized as they awaited the evening’s headliner.
If you missed Sydney Irving & the Mojo’s set at Spiedie Fest, don’t fret. The band have a slew of performances scheduled, including on Aug. 19 at the Dreamland Theater Music & Arts Festival in Utica. See the band’s full sleight of shows here.
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros have recently confirmed that they will be performing select shows in Charlottesville, South Burlington, Columbus, Philadelphia and Baltimore this September. The group, led by Weir alongside Don Was, Jay Lane and Jeff Chimenti, will also be joining Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival 2023, making stops at venues throughout New York State, including Queens and Saratoga Springs.
The band will once again be joined by The Wolfpack, a string and brass quintet featuring Alex Kelly, Brian Switzer, Adam Theis, Mads Tolling and Sheldon Brown, along with Barry Sless on pedal steel performing the expansive catalogue of Grateful Dead, Bobby’s solo albums and more.
They will be joining Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival 2023 for seven shows this September, including Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, NY, Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs and more. They’ll also make their debut performance at the legendary Farm Aid in Noblesville, IN at Ruoff Music Center on September 23.
About Bobby Weir & Wold Bros
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros have released two notable live albums, Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros: Live in Colorado followed by Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros: Live in Colorado Vol. 2. Both volumes feature songs recorded live at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in June 2021.
Notably, the second volume received praise from Pitchfork who raved, “he stages some of the most beloved material in the Grateful Dead’s catalog with the passion and reverence of a couple spending their 50th anniversary looking back on their wedding day,” while American Songwriter said, “Weir and the Wolfs manage to stay true to the template while also taking the music beyond any original incarnation by reinventing them in ways that find imagination and intrigue well stirred in a contemporary context.”
Weir also released Ace: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, an album which features one of the band’s most notable performances, a show at Radio City Music Hall in celebration of his debut solo album, Ace. The band played the entire album live and welcomed a number of special guests, including Tyler Childers and Brittney Spencer.
The band debuted orchestral performances alongside the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, as well as three nights with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at the Atlanta Symphony Hall. Each night the ensemble performed a completely unique set featuring hits from the expansive Grateful Dead catalogue, Bobby’s solo albums and more. Stanford professor and composer Dr. Giancarlo Aquilanti provided original orchestration.
The Members
Bobby Weir, one of the original members of the iconic Grateful Dead, honored with a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007, stands out as one of the rock genre’s most exceptional and unique rhythm guitarists. The Grateful Dead is still one of the highest-grossing concert attractions in the U.S. and their final tally of 2,318 total concerts remains a world record.
Weir has been honored with the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Les Paul Spirit Award, as well as a Goodwill Ambassadorship for the United Nations Development Program. His first solo album in more than ten years, Blue Mountain (2016), was critically praised upon release. Weir has been member of Dead & Company since its formation in 2015. Dead & Company has completed 10 tours and has performed to more than 4 million fans across 235 shows since the band’s debut. Weir is also a member of Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros, who were formed in 2018. The band set out performing the expansive catalogue of Grateful Dead, Bobby’s solo albums and more and has toured extensively throughout the U.S.
Don Was is a GRAMMY-winning producer and founder of the ’80s funk-rock band Was (Not Was), known for hits such as “Walk The Dinosaur” and “Spy In The House Of Love.” As an in-demand, highly acclaimed producer, Was has been honored with four GRAMMY Awards for his production work in each of the past three decades, including Best Album honors for work with the Rolling Stones and Bonnie Raitt. Production credits include the Rolling Stones, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Gregg Allman, John Mayer and Neil Young.
Albums produced by Was have achieved dozens of multi-Platinum, Platinum and Gold certifications and have sold more than 90 million copies worldwide. As one of music’s top bass players, Was has collaborated with countless musicians throughout his storied career, spanning a multitude of genres.
Jay Lane is a longtime Weir collaborator and drummer who played with Weir’s RatDog for more than 16 years. He was also one of Primus’ first drummers and has recently performed with Phil Lesh and Friends as well as Dead & Company.
Acclaimed keyboardist Jeff Chimenti has a long history of working with former members of the Grateful Dead having performed with Bob Weir & RatDog, The Dead and Furthur. He has been a member of Dead & Company since the band’s formation in 2015. In 2020, Jeff Chimenti joined the Wolf Bros.
Tour Dates
September 8—Park City Song Summit Festival—Park City, UT September 10—FirstBank Amphitheater—Franklin, TN* September 12—CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park—Simpsonville, SC* September 13—Ting Pavilion—Charlottesville, VA September 15—Saratoga Performing Arts Center—Saratoga Springs, NY* September 16—Xfinity Center—Mansfield, MA* September 17—Forest Hills—Queens, NY* September 19—The Green At Shelburne Museum—South Burlington, VT September 20—Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater—Bridgeport, CT* September 22—Pine Knob Music Theatre—Clarkston, MI* September 23—Farm Aid—Noblesville, IN September 26—Mershon Auditorium—Columbus, OH September 27—The Met Philadelphia—Philadelphia, PA September 28—Pier Six Pavilion—Baltimore, MD
*Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival 2023
Tickets and More Information
Ticket sales began on July 21, and are currently available for purchase here. VIP packages will be available for the headline dates as well.
Rochester’s acclaimed music chamber ensemble fivebyfive recently unveiled its 2023-2024 season. The theme for this year’s round of programming is “Dichotomies” and is aimed at pushing artistic boundaries. As part of “Dichotomies” the ensemble will be releasing an album, holding collaborative concerts, hosting discussions, and much more.
Created in 2015, fivebyfive has earned a reputation for its ambitious performances and creative programming. The outfit is devoted to commissioning, developing, and performing the works of living artists. Boasting an incredible roster of musicians, fivebyfive takes pride in trying to highlight underrepresented and overlooked creators in the field. “Dichotomy” serves as another impressive artistic challenge for the ensemble. In honor of the theme, the group has curated an extraordinary lineup of visual and auditory experiences based on juxtaposition and contrast.
Fivebyfive is comprised of world-class artists, including Laura Lentz (Artistic Director & flute), Marcy Bacon (clarinet), Ken Luk (electric guitar), Eric Polenik (bass), Haeyeun Jeun (piano) and Marc Webster (Executive Director & audio/video engineer).
The upcoming season is designed to captivate and engage audiences through a range of complex feelings from primordial expression to celestial wonderment. We cannot wait to share these transformative musical experiences with the world.
Laura Lentz
Laura Lentz
Release of fivebyfive’s Third Album
“breath & fire”
Release date: Oct. 15, 2023
The project is inspired by the explosive and intense nature of fire balanced with the steady and tranquil essence of breath. Pieces on the album strongly invoke stillness or motion, and the recording process of matching spaces to the mood or pace in the music seeks to further draw out these energies as you listen.
Oct. 21, 2023 (Syracuse) and Oct. 22, 2023 (Rochester).
Musicians from Pegasus Early Music/NYS Baroque and fivebyfive will perform back-to-back concerts in Syracuse and Rochester. The concerts will feature both traditional and newly arranged versions of Sephardic music. Based in Jewish culture from medieval Spain and Portugal, the traditional performance will include instruments such as the lute, recorder, duduk, shawm, harp, and percussion. The new renditions will be performed in chamber style by fivebyfive featuring flute, clarinet, bass, piano and electric guitar. Additionally, artist Lynne Feldman will display several tapestries depicting Jewish life and discuss Judaic art.
Concert Featuring Medieval and Renaissance-Inspired Music
“Reflections: Music of Then & Now”
Nov. 15, 2023.
As part of a Jewish Music Series, fivebyfive will travel to Buffalo to present a program that reflects back in time to explore medieval and renaissance-inspired music. The performances will also incorporate other pieces that connect us to this present moment. This concert will feature Sephardic music, pieces from the Of and Between album, and Pale as Centuries, composed by Sarah Kirkland Snider.
Meet the Composer: Special Public Discussion with Roberto Sierra
Zoom presentation: Nov. 19, 2023
Grammy-nominated and Latin Grammy winning composer Roberto Sierra will be part of an online Zoom discussion. Through a grant provided by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), fivebyfive commissioned Sierra to create a new work for the ensemble. In Sonidos de Tlön, Sierra explores the dichotomy of fantasy vs. reality using inspiration from 20th-century Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges. During the 2024-2025 season, fivebyfive will showcase his piece in a concert of music and poetry from Latin America.
Multimedia Presentation with Eclipse-Inspired Music and Immersive Video
“Light & Dark: Eclipse Music”
Jan. 20, 2024 & Jan. 21, 2024.
To celebrate the 2024 total solar eclipse, fivebyfive has created a multi-media concert experience with original music by five composers. Jessica Meyer, Marc Mellits, Glenn McClure,Julie Herndon, and Kamala Sankaram were all invited to create work for the celebration. The Strasenburgh Planetarium at the Rochester Museum and Science Center will also present an immersive to go along with the event. The program combines art, science, music, and audience engagement activities to mark this unforgettable event.
Fivebyfive visits Minnesota’s Carleton College in 3-day Residency
In February of 2024, fivebyfive will travel to Carleton College in Minnesota for a three-day residency. The ensemble will present a concert, lead a reading session of student works, and participate in several workshops.. Composition professor and frequent fivebyfive collaborator, Andrea Mazzariello has previously produced works for fivebyfive including Of and Between which was featured on Performance Today several times.
Award-winning actor, producer, and comedian Chris Tucker has announced his highly anticipated tour, his first in over a decade, coming to the Beacon Theatre on Nov. 17.
The Legend Tour will stop in 30 cities during the Fall and Winter. Chris Tucker is known internationally, mostly for his role as Detective James Carter in the blockbuster Rush Hour action-comedy film franchise. Most recently, he was seen on the big screen staring opposite Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Viola Davis in the Amazon Studio hit AIR.
Tucker’s career began in the early 1990s when he became a favorite on Russell Simmons’ HBO Def Comedy Jam. He then rose to prominence with his first starring role, in the 1995 cult classic Friday, alongside Ice Cube. In 1997, Tucker executive produced and co-starred with Charlie Sheen in the hit movie Money Talks and also appeared in Luc Besson’s globally successful sci-fi adventure The Fifth Element. His other film credits include the Hughes brothers’ Dead Presidents, Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown, David O’Russell’s award-winning hit Silver Linings Playbook, and Ang Lee’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.
In 2015, Tucker released Chris Tucker Live exclusively on Netflix, marking the first project he starred in and produced through his own company, Chris Tucker Entertainment. “I started my career doing stand-up in comedy clubs and it’s stand-up comedy that prepared me for all of my movie roles. I’m looking forward to getting back to my roots. I love performing live, there’s nothing like the energy of a live crowd and making people laugh. I’m excited to be back out on tour.” said Chris Tucker. He is also a dedicated humanitarian, spending much of his spare time traveling the world, and doing charitable work through The Chris Tucker Foundation.
Tucker will bring his rave-reviewed live comedy show to the Beacon Theatre on Nov. 17. Tickets for The Legend Tour will be available starting with an artist presale beginning on Thursday, Aug. 10. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning on Friday, Aug. 11 at 10 am.
THE LEGEND TOUR DATES:
Fri Sep 08 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Performing Arts Center
Sun Sep 10 – Norfolk, VA – Chrysler Hall
Wed Sep 20 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace
All that comes around – goes around. The cyclical nature of magnetic individuality remains inevitable. Basically, you must trust people to be who they will be.
DMX offers incredible wisdom on one of his last interviews ever recorded on Drink Champs with N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN.
With that, nobody moves a crowd like the energetic empathetic. Never pathetic, incredibly poetic, and most definitely unapologetic comes Connie Diiamond from the Bronx. Additionally, as far as evolution exists, this woman adapts to the times. Rhymes galore and much more in store – she even cleared Ludacris’ “Move” sample through the door.
Nevertheless, amazement sets in when people move the right way. How wondrous the process of finding oneself. No outside source will bring you happiness quite like the gifted spirit within your being.
Indeed, Connie Diiamond operates within the same wavelength as Nipsey Hussle – who cleared the “Hard Knock Life” sample from Jay-Z. From winning slam poetry contests in high school to collaborating with Ludacris – this nose-to-the-grindstone BX woman continues to strive. Poetic visions and many revisions allowed her to become the fan-proclaimed “Queen of Drill.”
Individuality and Expression
Undoubtedly, as an emcee – Connie Diiamond will go toe-to-toe with anyone. As a classy individual, she stands on moral grounds and principles. With the utmost self-confidence – she does not mind being the only woman in the room. Otherwise, this artist knows her worth and will never sell solely sex for attention or become reliant on a sex symbol status.
Essentially, Connie Diiamond functions much like your typical American citizen. She works at the hair salon suite that she owns during the day and chases her dreams at night. Her craftsmanship knows no limitations as haircuts fund her musical aspirations.
Moreover, the reason why this artist will reach the heights she seeks revolves around her incredible sense of self-worth. As a humble and supportive individual, she continues to put in her 10,000 hours. She accepts the things that occur for what they are, stays in her lane and keeps pushing.
Initially, she rose in popularity due to her freestyle ability to hop on anyone else’s track and make it her own. As she progresses and learns elements of sound structure, how to make certain types of songs, and stay afloat in the industry – she will be dangerous and not one to be tested on the mic.
With positive reinforcement from her friends, family, and fans – it is impossible for her to lose. Many times, people automatically repost her songs due to the authenticity of the sounds. Somebody that radiates positive energy will always receive reciprocal energy – tenfold.
Finally, when it comes time to record, she locks in and blocks out any external influences. Clearly, this laser-sharp focus and multi-hyphenate approach earn dividends. Her song with Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers made it into NBA 2K23. Stay tuned to see what may come next from her!
On July 21, 2023, NYC by way of Philadelphia artist Micky James released his new EP, Loner of the Year. The album features Micky’s signature sound – a mix of glam and grit, paired with glittery guitars and themes of nostalgia throughout. As indicated by the title, Micky dedicates his five-track EP to the loners.
“I want people to know that it’s important to embrace all of the things that make each and everyone of us unique,” states Micky in a recent interview with PEOPLE. “It can be frightening sometimes to free our most authentic selves, only by carving our own path can we feel truly liberated.”
The album opens with “New York Minute,” an upbeat, nostalgic tune, reminiscent of 2000s pop-rock. The catchy, somewhat gritty melody establishes a summertime feel to the album. The song serves as a celebration of misfits and their individuality, all while reminding listeners that life moves fast, so enjoy the dysfunction that comes with being young.
The album’s title track, “Loner of the Year,” further captures the complicated emotions that come with accepting our authentic selves. Despite the melody’s upbeat feel, the lyrics tell a story of a hopeless sort of loneliness, a narration of difficulties experienced by many. The song’s message, paired with its pop tune, is reminiscent of a coming-of-age movie soundtrack, with an optimistic twist at the end, reminding all of us that life goes on, and such loneliness can pass.
“James Brown,” the third track on the album, has an edgy, raw feel, but still brings out the nostalgic sound of 2010s pop-rock. In contrast to “Loner of the Year,” “James Brown” shows an embrace of uniqueness rather than disdain.
Of all the tracks on Loner of the Year, “Girl Talk” best showcases Micky James’ strong vocals. The flirtatious pop anthem compels attention from the listener through a range of James’ well-rounded, broad, captivating vocals. The song’s catchy melody conveys a sense of confidence through lyrics like “keep my name on your lips now honey,” in comparison to the anxiety in “Loner of the Year,” unveiling an emotional journey throughout the album.
“Losing You” concludes the album with an engaging summer breakup anthem, capturing the complicated emotions associated with it. James conveys the struggle between understanding a relationship must come to an end, all while reminiscing on the good times and memories, making it “never a good time to say goodbye.”
The album maintains its nostalgic ambiance and consistently upbeat 2000s/2010s pop-rock vibe from start to finish. Whether seeking a track to unpack intricate emotions, or a catchy melody just for summer ambiance, Loner of the Year offers a brief yet enjoyable musical experience.
About Micky James
Born and raised in the shadows of Philadelphia and NYC, Micky James developed a passion for music and the theatrical at a young age and aspired to become a performer. His music and personal style embody a sound and aesthetic that is nostalgic for a bygone era in rock-n-roll music, all while conveying a contemporary pop ambition.
His vocals are reminiscent of notable voices like David Bowie and Julian Casablancas, referencing the uniquely dark, enigmatic, and romantic attributes associated with those artists. While James’ flamboyant fashions are reminiscent of the glamour and swagger of past rock icons, his work is both equal parts style and substance.
Inspired by the energy of iconic ’60s and ’70s rock bands, he creates a modern, fresh approach to a timeless genre. “I wanted to take pieces of nostalgia and give it a contemporary twist,” he explains, successfully taking his vision and turning it into reality. In July 2020, Micky James released “Kings,” which garnered critical acclaim, with one critic calling it “a defiant uprising of the generationally damned and distinguished, as well as the most authentic rock n roll you’ve heard in years.”
