Thursdays on the Village Green is returning this July 2023, holding free activities for kids and concerts for all ages in downtown Hamilton.
Kicking off on July 13 and closing on August 10, artists of various genres, including rock and folk, will occupy the Green. For every show, concerts will start at 7:00 pm, while the kids’ activities occur around 5:00 or 5:30 pm.
The full concert list, activity itinerary, and food truck lineup have all been announced, as the Village Green event is shaping up to be a piece of an amazing Summer for Hamilton and the Central New York region. Last year’s series additionally served as their 120th Summer performing these concerts, leading into yet another great experience.
Concert/Activity Schedule
July 13
Syracuse rock band Transient Kicks take the stage with special guests Jes Sheldon and Mike Davis. Blending storytelling with musical improvisation and sound exploration, the Transient Kicks combine funk, jazz, bluegrass, folk, R&B, psychedelic groove, soul, and blues into their talents.
Leading up to the performance, Courtney Wells & Friends host an illusion show at 5:00 pm. Drew’s Balloons will also be on-site joining the festivities at the same time.
The Transient Kicks’ song “Don’t Come Save Me” off of their album “The Clock Has Problems.”
July 20
Mark Shiner and the National Endowment join special guest Dave Montanye for the second show, additionally having the children’s activity, Move Entertainment’s Sammy’s Family Dance Party from 5:00 pm to 6:30.
July 27
Highlighting some of the women involved in local folk music, Alyssa Rose and Liz Fiddle bring their acoustic-folk abilities to the Hamilton stage, somewhere Rose is quite familiar with.
Rose grew up in Sherrill, a short journey from Hamilton where she actually performed her first concert in 2016. Ranging from Taylor Swift to Bruce Springsteen to Justin Bieber covers, Rose, will deliver a wide array of songs, while Fiddle plans to showcase her violin and vocal skills.
For the kids in attendance, The Friends of Rogers presents Rogers Environmental Education Center: Past, Present, and Future from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.
August 3
Performing original Americana music written by Susan Coleman and Mike Gridley, also including a strong foundation James DaRin and Taylor Bucci on the banjo, Harmonic Dirt will take the stage on August 3.
The Henry Howard Family Music Show starts prior to the Harmoic Dirt, beginning at 5:30 pm and concluding at 6:30.
August 10
Mark Sherwood and The Skeleton Crew, a Grateful Dead & Jerry Garcia Band experience, close out the concert series bringing to life some of their covers for Hamilton.
Before the music, Alex Perrine’s Bodies of Waste Sculpture Exhibit and Workshop with Found Material starts at 5 pm. Drew’s Balloons will also be on-site.
Food Truck List and Tickets
The food trucks that will be on the Village Green include: Brake From The Grind, Motley Chew, Oh Crepe, Oscar’s, Ray Brothers Barbeque, Rio Grande, Squeezers Lemonade, TacoCat, and Gilligan’s Ice Cream.
For more information on the Thursdays on the Village Green event , please visit @thursdaysonthevillagegreen on Facebook and Instagram or head to their website here.
The promo video for the 2019 Thursdays on the Village Green concert series.
Ten years ago in 2013, Kendrick Lamar made his way to Randall’s Island for a late afternoon set on the smaller of the Governors Ball stages. It was only a few months after the release of good kid, m.A.A.d. city as Kendrick’s meteoric rise was just underway. Fast forward to 2023; Governors Ball finds itself in a new (and hopefully, permanent) home in Flushing Meadows Corona Park and Kendrick Lamar is closing out the festival unopposed and under the fireworks. This past weekend, Governors Ball proved once again why it is New York City’s favorite music festival.
Kendrick Lamar at Governors Ball 2023. Photo by Lucas Kurzweil
After spending many years on Randall’s Island followed by a two year rental of the Citi Field Parking lot, Governors Ball finally made its long desired move to Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The vast park in central Queens has been woefully underused by the city for decades; a trend that will hopefully be reversed after the success of this year’s festival. The park was designed and built with large-scale events in mind, hosting two World’s Fairs in 1939 and 1964. Flushing Meadows sits on the intersection of two major highways, is adjacent to a subway line with access to Manhattan, and has ample parking lots from the numerous stadiums in the vicinity.
Governors Ball organizers did an incredible job of laying out the festival to take advantage of all of these features, creating a wide open festival experience that never felt too crowded at any point during the weekend. Three stages occupied the larger fields while the vendors and centralized area of the festival was nestled under large trees providing ample shade and character to the grounds. The towering Unisphere greeted fans at the entrance while the main stage was set up right in front of the New York State Pavilion, giving an iconic backdrop to the festival.
The lineup for the 2023 edition of Governors Ball attempted to model the diversity of Queens, the World’s Borough, as well as the eclectic music tastes of New Yorkers. There was a heavy lean towards rap and hip-hop overall, but festival organizers did sprinkle in rock, pop, indie and EDM throughout the weekend. International artists graced the stages as well including Korean pop superstars Aespa, Puerto Rican rapper Eladio Carrión and Japanese singer/dancer Rina Sawayama. Indie and rock was represented by Girl in Red, Black Midi, KennyHoopla, and Haim while Odesza was the lone EDM act for the weekend.
Kendrick Lamar Trades The Production For a Microphone
Kendrick’s latest album Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers was released a little over a year ago, but its relevance lived on with his Governors Ball performance. Although the stage production did not include the same amount of intricate detail that the “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers” tour held, the set had a simplistic yet empowering feel. The only additions to Kendrick on the GovBall NYC stage were some lights on either side, large Henry Taylor backdrops, a couple of flares, and a few dancers. Kendrick proved that he does not need the fancy add-ons to pump up a crowd. He had all of Flushing Meadows screaming the words to his songs like they were the national anthem at a playoff sporting event.
Kendrick did the majority of the set solo, running through tracks like “King Kunta” and “LOVE.” and even his iconic feature on Pusha T’s track “Nosetalgia” (sadly, no Pusha T appearance even though he performed on the adjacent stage before Kendrick). Near the end of his captivating performance, Kendrick brought out his cousin and protegé, Baby Keem, to perform their RIAA Platinum song “Family Ties.” Through his crowd control and high energy performance, Kendrick Lamar further established himself as the best of the best in the rap game.
Lizzo And Odesza Headline With All The Fanfare
Lizzo was the Friday night headliner and she did not disappoint. Her band and numerous dancers lined the stage as the lights went out, leading up to a grand entrance to “Cuz I Love You”, the opening track of her 2019 sophomore LP of the same name. Lizzo’s thunderous voice reverberated throughout the festival grounds, especially when she dropped into her mega hit song “Juice” which sent the crowd into a dance frenzy. The glamorous staging featured retro big band style decor and backdrops, with sultry visuals playing along on the giant LED screen on the stage. Lizzo ran through her setlist with a powerful grace, performing her signature flute solo leading into “Truth Hurts” along with a fan favorite cover of Chaka Khan’s legendary “I’m Every Woman”; a song and a sentiment that has become a mantra behind Lizzo’s approach to music writing and performance.
Odesza fulfilled headlining duties on Saturday, with their larger than life EDM show filled with lasers, flaming pyro, guest vocalists, and a fireworks finale fit for a music festival. The duo took to the stage and started their set off with a bang with “This Version of You” and “Behind The Sun”. There was no shortage of pyro, as large fireballs erupted behind the DJs throughout the show, sending waves of heat into the crowd. Lasers fanned out over the crowd to interact with the tall trees in the back of the field, with house beats driving the dance floor until curfew. Odesza sprinkled in a Pretty Lights cover in “One Day They’ll Know” as well as a “TENSE” and “KEEP MOVING” from their BRONSON collaborative project with Golden Features. They closed out their set with a huge fireworks display over the stage while 2022’s “The Last Goodbye” pulsed through the night.
Filling Out The Days
Lil Uzi Vert was the perfect addition to the rap-filled GoPuff stage. Their Friday night performance had fans in awe. They came down from the stage to rock out with the fans on the barricade, and made sure fans that fell over were able to get up and continue jamming. They brought out rappers Ken Carson and Destroy Lonely, and got the crowd going with songs like “Do What I Want” and “Money Longer.” They left fans with a feeling of anticipation for what is to come in the following weeks by announcing that they have a new album releasing this month.
While rock and indie were not as prevalent on the lineup this year, the biggest draw in the category was certainly Haim on the GovBall NYC stage. The three sisters burst onto the scene in 2013 with their debut record Days Are Gone featuring the utterly infectious song “The Wire”. Throughout the set, the three sisters alternate vocal roles and instruments while also engaging heavily with the fans. Their dynamic performance style creates a light and fun atmosphere that is perfect for the summer festival stages.
On Saturday, KennyHoopla and Snail Mail kept the rock vibes going on the GoPuff stage. KennyHoopla’s vigorous post-punk dominated the crowd first, bouncing all over the stage while delivering a rambunctious vocal performance over heavy guitars. Snail Mail came up next, keeping the punk rock going, featuring a set full of songs from their two excellent LPs: 2018’s Lush and 2021’s Valentine.
Governors Ball Artists March On
In the wake of Governors Ball, many of the artists who played use the opportunity to announce new projects and tours. Many of the artists are on their own headlining tours and mix in the festival appearances. Right before Governors Ball weekend began, Metro Boomin released his highly anticipated soundtrack to the movie Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse. Just after the weekend, Eladio Carrión announced a North American tour with a stop at The Theater at MSG in October. Philadelphia’s major music festival, Made in America, announced their lineup with Lizzo making another headlining appearance along with Ice Spice, and Metro Boomin. Joey Bada$$ is running through the festival circuit with a dozen appearances including Glastonbury, Rolling Loud, and Lollapalooza.
Kendrick Lamar, fresh off the epic Big Steppers World Tour, is also hitting the summer festivals, taking his minimal yet relentlessly in your face festival show to the biggest stages in the world including Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Rokslide, Austin City Limits, and Summer Sonic in Japan. If any of those festivals are within reach, it is worth the opportunity to catch a generational talent at his very best.
The Future Of New York City’s Premier Music Festival
By all accounts, the first edition of Governors Ball in Flushing Meadows was a major success. The layout of the venue was nearly perfect, transit in and out of the festival went smoothly, and three days of music went on without skipping a beat. Governors Ball has been at it for many years and are no strangers to throwing such a large party in NYC, but expectations were sky high this year. One could have argued that the very future of the festival rested with this weekend going off without a hitch. The cost of putting on these events has never been higher, and fans have so many choices of shows these days that it was unclear if Governors Ball could even draw a large enough crowd. Last weekend in Queens put all of the chatter to bed. With the Canadian wildfire smoke clearing out just in the nick of time, a glorious weekend of sunshine and music ensued. There is no doubt Governors Ball will be back at it in 2024; now we can all start dreaming of our ideal lineup we would want to see grace the stages in Flushing Meadows.
The close knit alternative rock band from Glens Falls, Seize Atlantis, just released their newest EP on Saturday, June 17th, titled Ruins Rebuilt. These winners of NYS Music’s March Madness earlier this year created their EP to feature a total of five tracks which showcase the band’s growth in production and lyricism since their founding in 2019.
Ruins Rebuilt is the band’s second EP with their first having been released during the summer of 2022. Since their first release, Seize Atlantis has been performing and creating music consistently, thrusting their sound into the limelight and solidifying them a loyal fanbase. Three of the five tracks on Ruins Rebuilt are singles that have already been released including “Crawl,” “I Need It,” and “Monster” with two new tracks “Hide” and “Cosmos.” Their latest release, just two weeks before the EP dropped, was an acoustic version of “Hide” which takes on a new life and form in the EP’s production. Together, the tracks give off a message and tone of eeriness, worldly unknowns that lay in the future, and memories and scars of the past that one wishes to be forgotten. This theme takes form in context of individuals’ relationships with each other as well as one’s toxic and increasingly complicated relationship with themselves. Every message is highlighted through the sound of hard rock, powerful vocals, and at times overbearing yet incredible instrumental backing.
Each song on the EP takes the band and listeners into a striking direction while staying consistent in theme and tone. The beginning moments of “Crawl” work to immediately grasp listeners with an intoxicating beat that builds in each measure as the band adds in one instrument after another. This rise in sound and intensity is similarly followed by James Mullen’s consistent and powerful vocals which go through multiple flips and key changes. The lyrics express an internal battle while simultaneously instilling the idea that personal demons can enter from the outside as well. In this manner, it calls attention to the parasitical characteristics of fraudulent personalities threatening to take over the social public. “Cosmos” is a track that is more laid back and eerie than the previous, yet this is where the lyric talent of the band truly shines. It follows an individual calling out into an endless void asking if they can be heard and receiving no reply. As the song is a solo, the singer is vocally alone, knowing there will be no answer to come, yet recognizes that everyone is similar in this sense taking away the intensity of that feeling. Halfway through the song, however, production takes over as different voices are blending together and fighting against each other, not giving the audience the ability to understand what they are saying – this is where music is used as a guiding light as everyone is able to comprehend the solemn, invigorating, and sometimes hopeful energy of the rest of the band.
Seize Atlantis has been on a wicked run which has given them various things to celebrate. Not only will the band have new singles to rock out to and share with their fans, but the members are coming off of winning “Favorite Rock/Hard Rock Artist,” and “Favorite Progressive Rock Artist,” at the 2023 ListenUp Awards. To keep the party going, “Ruins Rebuilt” will be debuted on the evening of June 17th at Glens Falls’ Mean Max Brew Works and will also be performed on the road to GEM FEST 2023. You can listen to Ruins Rebuilt and more by Seize Atlantis on any streaming service including Spotify, iTunes, and Apple Music.
On June 14, Punk Island NYC announced that they had to reduce the number of stages for their upcoming “Quinceañera” festival from five to three at the American Veteran’s Memorial Pier in Brooklyn due to circumstances out of their control. Though their stages have been reduced, Punk Island has retained 75% of their lineup, and the free event is still to be on June 18.
Punk Island is a community of punks who love music, musicians, fans, friends, and family. They aim to bring the vitality, diversity, and intensity of the NYC punk scene into the light of day. These efforts have culminated annually for the past 15 years, as free, all-ages music festivals.
While they tried to explore alternatives to allow all the bands to play, their efforts were rejected. Punk Island was forced to cut bands from the roster, all of which have been contacted. The organization is currently unable to provide specific details on the situation, but are willing to have in-person or over the phone discussions with those that may need further clarification.
None of these cuts were made lightly. We deeply apologize for this unfortunate situation. We made every effort to maintain the event in its original form, but ultimately, our influence is limited.… To the bands that were dropped from the lineup, we want to assure you that your participation is secured for next year’s event.
The 31st edition of the New York State Blues Festival kicked off Thursday afternoon of June 15th at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, underneath beautiful blue skies. The annual event, which has grown substantially over the last thirty years, is known for being one of the largest, free, multi-day blues festivals in the northeast, and features a mixture of local, regional, and national blues acts.
Brandon Santini performs at the 2023 NYS Blues Festival
The festivities kicked off Thursday afternoon with a high energy set by Syracuse’s own Fillmore Blues Band. As the band took to the stage, the areas in front of the stage were already filled with early arriving blues fans, eager to get the party started. Festival goers sang and danced as the Fillmore Blues Band weaved their way through a 75 minute set of covers and originals. The set showcased a band known for their dynamic musical improvisation. Led by Mike Petroff on harmonica and vocals, the performance did not disappoint those in attendance. Petroff even took his harmonica into the crowd, playing stage-side on top of a table, giving passionate onlookers an up close view of the musician.
The Fillmore Blues Band kicked off the 2023 NYS Blues Festival
Next up was Memphis based rocker and blues harmonicist, Brandon Santini. Santini launched into his set with a harmonica solo which set the stage for his performance. The set was high energy, and saw crunchy blues guitar riffs to back Santini’s deep vocals and harmonica playing. Santini paid tribute blues harmonica legend Sonny Boy Williamson, with a phenomenal rendition of “Nine Below Zero”. Santini, who played the festival in 2016, was easily an early favorite of the audience as many in attendance came donning his merchandise. His set did not disappoint.
Brandon Santini performs at the 2023 NYS Blues Festival
Headlining the evening were the Blood Brothers ft Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia. The duo of blues guitar heavy-weights were touring in support of their January 2023 full length album Blood Brothers. Easily one of the most anticipated sets going into the weekend, the two did not let those in attendance down. The long time friends, known for their immense musical chemistry on stage, showcased why Joe Bonamassa once stated “They finish each other’s sentences, musically.” Their set, which leaned heavily on tracks from their self titled release, saw the pair dual on many guitar solos. Their passion for the music was visible from the audience, as the two routinely flashed smiles to each other as they tried to “out dual” the other.
Blood Brothers ft Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia perform at the 2023 NYS Blues Festival
The festival continues through Saturday and features headliner and blues legend, Buddy Guy with direct support from Samantha Fish on Saturday night. Admission is free.
The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall has recently announced the anticipated return of their Summer Square Concert Series. The free concerts will be held in the Music Hall courtyard every Saturday evening at 6 p.m. beginning on July 8 and will run all the way through the summer until August 26.
The Troy Summer Square 2023 lineup presents concert goers with the opportunity to hear all types of genres from Jazz to indie/rock. The concert series’ kick off performance on July 8th will present the unorthodox Dust Bowl Faeries to the Troy community, a circus, post-punk, gypsy and psyche-folk band founded by Ryder Cooley & Hazel, a taxidermy ram who performs with the band as their spirit animal. In addition, The Summer Series will present seven more performers to their outdoor stage.
The Troy Music Hall is known for bringing forth top talent from around the state to the area as well as highlighting old and new performers from their own community. This summer will be no different as the Music Hall is prepared to take Troy on a most memorable musical journey. For more information, visit here.
Troy Summer Square 2023 Lineup
July 8th: DUST BOWL FAERIES:
A faerie-tale fusion of circus, post-punk, gypsy and psyche-folk music.
July 15th: BRONTE ROMAN:
Pop Vocalist performs lush Jazz ballads and delightfully swings to hits from the Great American Songbook.
July 22nd: CAROL DAGGS:
Pianist and vocalist, composer and arranger applying musical Jazz sounds to the auditory apparatus and soul via vocal and instrumental flow.
July 29th: JULIA ALSARRAF:
Singer and multi-instrumentalist whose songwriting ranges from contemporary folk to indie pop/rock. Her music has been described as deep, soulful, and vulnerable.
August 5th: IDA MAE SPECKER:
Fiddler, folk singer and songwriter whose music fuses original, contemporary, and traditional material, bringing heartfelt new life and relevance to the chain of American folk music.
August 12th: TRISKELE:
The Capital Region’s premier all female Irish Band! Stunning harmonies that touch your soul.
August 19th: AIVA & HAYLEY:
Singer songwriters from Latham, NY now attending Berklee College of Music in Boston. Performing covers from different genres and original music as well.
August 26th: JEANNE O’CONNOR QUARTET:
Jeanne O’Connor is a vocalist who brings her clear, expressive alto voice to pop, Latin music, and R&B.
Billie Essco flourishes within the hip-hop and fashion scene on his own terms. Holding it down for Buffalo, NY – which he also describes as a “hyperbaric chamber.” Essco is a Buffalo kid through and through. The city of of Buffalo is known for its grimy-ness and is known to make men out of boys by placing individuals on the frontlines and running them through the gauntlet. Hence, some get chewed up, spit out and booed off stage – others accept the challenge and emerge war-ready. Billie Essco stands tall amidst the onslaught of adversity as a true Fashion Rebel in every sense of the word.
Twitter/@BillyEssco
Subsequently, Griselda Records x Fashion Rebels encompass everything that hip-hop has been missing. The way that they have ushered in their own style, adornment, musical influence and mastery resembles the way that A$AP Mob emerged to fill a void in the 2010s. Griselda Mob carries the torch in a valid manner through top-tier excellence and curation.
Surging Buffalo Renaissance
Beautifully, Billie Essco blossomed under the Griselda umbrella as a contemporary curator. His brand, Cafe spurned from the idea that local cafes felt outdated without contemporary taste. To coincide with Cafe, his brand Czen specializes in repurposed garments and consciously progressive graphic design.
-Recently, Cafe announced a collaboration with New Era.–
Nonetheless, the way he designed the brand represents meticulous construction. Drawing from his Fashion/Textile technology experience at Buffalo State – Billie came up with two four-letter brands. The brevity and impactful nature of these eight letters combined with the color schemes and exquisite patterns create the ultimate consumer’s dream.
Multihyphenate Ghetto Couture
Incredibly, the most beautiful part about Essco’s creations lies within their multifaceted roots. Everyone gets their start from somewhere – it just so happens that Billie arose from Buffalo’s trenches. Essco’s vision received the ultimate boost in 2020 when he styled Westside Gunn for the Off-White x Louis Vuitton Paris Fashion Show. Working with Virgil Abloh encouraged him to double down on his efforts.
A political-conscious contemporary brand, Cafe represents the times and adapts accordingly. Similarly, Cafe + Czen releases merchandise that deconstructs racist policies and politics. Auspiciously, with youthful aura and purity, the Cafe trucker hat gives off a Midwestern type vibe. Geographically, this makes perfect sense given Buffalo’s proximity to Cleveland. Foundationally, this brand performs well and resonates heavily with consumers because of its underlying message and the creative connections associated with its core brand elements.
Undoubtedly, the world needs more people like Billie Essco – a critical thinker with historical prowess, tried-and-true methodology and contextually colorful design schemes. In like manner, the young designers continues to elevate with a collaboration with New Era symbolizing a major milestone. Essco’s journey can serve as inspiration for many Buffalo natives. A person who pursues spiritual and mental growth will never plateau in regards to their potential. No matter what age, color or creed – you have limitless abilities – just tap into your gift and never stop working toward your destiny.
President Joe Biden, in a briefing on June 15, spoke on his progress in eliminating “junk fees” that companies often charge. Many major ticketing companies, such as Live Nation, SeatGeek, and xBk will be switching to “all-in” ticket pricing, where all fees will be disclosed upfront.
As stated in his State of the Union Address, Joe Biden planned to fight against junk fees. These junk fees are hidden charges that companies add onto a person’s bills without them really being able to do anything about it. This can often pose an issue for working class people, where these extra charges can quickly add up. For the live music industry, this often occurs at the end of the purchasing process after a person has already spent time comparing options. According to Biden, the solution to this is “all-in pricing,” where all fees are presented upfront in order to not surprise consumers at the end of their purchase.
Biden mentioned several companies represented at the briefing who had already been using the process, such as TickPick, DICE, Newport Festival Foundation, and Airbnb. Some had been using all-in pricing for years, whereas others, like Airbnb, only started recently.
One of the companies to recently agree to this plan was Live Nation, which will automatically list all prices at its own venues upfront starting this September. Customers will also have the option of an all-in option for all other tickets on the platform. Other companies joining it include: SeatGeek, a smaller, mobile-focused ticketing company; and xBk, a small venue in Des Moines, Iowa.
This is real transparency, which leads to more competition, brings down costs for working Americans, keeps growing our economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down.
President Joe Biden
Biden called for competitors to these companies to follow suit and adopt this pricing model as well. He affirmed that this was not the final step, and there was more work to do to address issues in the online ticketing industry and with junk fees. Biden also thanked Congress for the legislation they are working on to address junk fees across industries.
New York based art punks Blonde Redhead are heading on tour to celebrate their first new album in nearly a decade. Sit Down For Dinner is due on September 29th via section1 Records and the band are warming up for the tour with intimate gigs in London, Los Angeles, and Brooklyn’s Baby’s All Right. Check out the dreamy lead single “Snowman” along with photos from the show at Baby’s on Wednesday, June 14th.
Blonde Redhead at Baby’s All Right, 6/14/2023. Photo by Joseph Buscarello
Blonde Redhead’s catalog dates back to the mid 90s when the post-punk and shoegaze scene was thriving in New York City. The band, consisting of vocalist Kazu Makino and twin bothers Simone and Amedeo Pace, released nine records to their name with the last one, Barragán, coming back in 2014. After a mostly quiet hiatus with some scattered shows, the trio is back at it with a new LP and lengthy headlining tour. The band just played intimate warm up shows in LA and NYC, with the next one at The Lexington in London in July. The full tour kicks off in October with a North American run followed by a leg in Europe. Head over to the band’s website for the full itinerary.
Blonde Redhead at Baby’s All Right, 6/14/2023. Photo by Joseph Buscarello
The excitement was palpable at Baby’s on Wednesday night. All the fans who made it out to the show knew they were in for a treat to see the legendary band in such an intimate setting. Housing only a couple hundred people, the venue quickly packed in tight. After the opening bands finished up, Kazu, Amedeo, and Simone took to the stage to meticulously set up their gear. The audience began to buzz with anticipation, and the trio was well aware of it. At one point, Simone asked a fan in the front to plug in his pedal board to an outlet he couldn’t reach, much to the fan’s delight.
Blonde Redhead leaned heavily into the more recent parts of their catalog, opening the show with “Falling Man” from 2004’s Misery is a Butterfly followed by the slinky darkwave of “Here Sometimes” from 2010’s Penny Sparkle. The trio played a few unrecognized songs off the upcoming record Sit Down For Dinner including two labeled “Sit Down For Dinner 1 & 2” on the handwritten setlist. The main set ended with lead single “Snowman” followed by an encore featuring “Silently” and “23.”
The trio breezed through the short but immensely captivating setlist with an effortless grace you would expect from a band playing together for 30 years. At one point, Kazu felt there was some feedback coming from her set-up, asking the crowd if they were hearing what she was. Someone yelled from the darkness “we don’t hear it, you all sound amazing!” The statement brought big smiles to the band, who continued to unleash their infectious art punk.
Blonde Redhead at Baby’s All Right, 6/14/2023. Photo by Joseph Buscarello
Aside from the warm up show next month in London, the band is opening for Phantogram on August 31st in Utah. Kazu, Simone, and Amedeo then take a short break before kicking off the tour in October in San Francisco. Blonde Redhead return to New York on November 10th for a show at Brooklyn Steel. Tickets are still available HERE and make sure to check out Sit Down For Dinner this September.
Harlem Stage has announced its 40th Anniversary Season, taking place from September 2023 to June 2024. It aims to celebrate Harlem Stage as an institution that has been a platform for emerging and established artists of color. Many of the events for the 2023-2024 season feature artists with whom Harlem Stage has built long-term relationships.
Credit: Harlem Stage
Aaron Davis Hall, Inc., later named the Harlem Stage, was opened in 1983 to provide resources, a platform, and an audience for artists of color due to their unequal treatment and recognition. For almost 40 years, the organization has championed the unique and diverse artistic legacy of Harlem. They continue to be a voice for justice as well as historical examination and denunciation of racism and its legacy.
Harlem Stage has hosted legendary artists, including Harry Belafonte, Max Roach, Sekou Sundiata, Abbey Lincoln, Sonia Sanchez, Eddie Palmieri, Maya Angelou, and Tito Puente. The organization has also won the Association of Performing Arts Presenters William Dawson Award for Programming Excellence and Sustained Achievement in Programming.
Harlem Stage began in a time of great inequity, resulting in a form of censorship by exclusion of visionary artists of color. Our intent was to level the playing field by supporting the development of their new work in new forms. Artists of color are constantly in a dialogue with their worlds—and Harlem Stage has always sought to be a place where all of our constituents can engage in the kind of transformative discourse that enriches our lives and broadens our horizons.
Artistic Director and CEO Patricia Cruz
Events
WaterWorks Commissions
A signature program of the Harlem Stage, WaterWorks is intended to identify and cultivate emerging or established artists of color. It engages with the community through residencies and educational activities.
On Dec. 9, 2023 is the “WaterWorks Emerging Artists Showcase,” which will feature artists such as: interdisciplinary performing artist and painter Shantelle Courvoisier Jackson; singer/songwriter Hannah Lemmons; choreographer and dancer Bobby Morgan; interdisciplinary artist, composer, and pianist Mary Prescott; and trumpeter and composer Kalí Rodríguez-Peña.
March 29 and 30, 2024 will have Ambrose Akinmusire performing “Banyan.” It is an intersection of griot, mentor, and oral historian in social history that culminates in this multi-part suite.
On May 3 and 4, 2024, Tamar-kali will be presenting excerpts from the work-in-progress opera “Black Damask.” The opera is about the life and times William Dorsey Swann, who is the first to dub himself as a “queen of drag.” Following the excerpts will be a discussion with the creators of the opera.
E-Moves
“E-Moves” is Harlem Stage’s flagship dance series and has showcased movement-based creations for over 20 years. For the 40th Anniversary Season, Harlem Stage is inviting back several artists critical to the institutions dance legacy.
On a yet-to-be-announced date is Kyle Abraham, who created “Pavement” through the WaterWorks program and first performed with E-Moves in 2006.
EVIDENCE and Ronald K. Brown will return on Oct. 13 and 14, 2023 for a not-to-be-missed performance featuring work from an emerging choreographer, as selected by Brown. EVIDENCE first performed with the organization in 1998.
April 19 and 20, 2024 will feature the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. Their performance in 2024 will include an emerging artist selected by Jones. They performed at the opening of the Harlem Stage Gatehouse in 2006.
On May 17 and 18, 2024, nora chipaumire is presenting “ShebeenDUB” featuring three dancers and a dub DJ. A monumental sound installation, the “soundshitsystem” will be used for the performance. The installation was designed by Ari Marcopoulos and Kara Walker, and constructed by Matt Jackson Studio. nora chipaumire herself is based in Berlin, Germany and Harare, Zimbabwe.
Camilla A. Brown, first in E-Moves in 2004, is returning June 14 and 15, 2024. She is presenting her own work alongside the work of her associate choreographers: Rickey Tripp; Mayte Natalio; Chloe Davis; and Maleek Washington. The theme for the night is “BLACK JOY.”
Guest Curated Programs
On March 1 and 2, 2024, Vijay Iyer is returning to guest curate and perform in “Eternal Spirit: Vijay Iyer and Friends Celebrate the Music of Andrew Hill.” The ensemble includes: drummer Nasheet Waits; trumpet player Milena Casado; and saxophonist Mark Shim. Iyer originally wrote a commissioned work with the Harlem Hall called “Holding It Down.”
Jason Moran will guest curate and perform on April 26 and 27, 2024 for “Pianos for Duke Reimagined: Featuring Jason Moran, Abdullah Ibrahim, and Friends.” Moran originally played Duke Ellington’s music in 1999 with Harlem Stage for “Piano’s For Duke” alongside other superstars of piano. The event for April is to be presented on the 125th anniversary of Ellington’s birth.
Special Projects
Sept. 14, 2023 will have the “Harlem Stage 40th Anniversary Concert” in collaboration with Bryant Park. A thus-far unannounced major jazz artist will be performing.
On Oct. 20 and 21, 2023, Craig Harris will be presenting “TONGUES OF FIRE (in a harlem state of mind),” a combination of music, poetry, and movement. It is an exploration of the evolution of the Harlem community from the ’70s to present day.
“In the Court of the Conqueror,” performed by george emilio sanchez, will be on Nov. 3, 2023. It is a solo performance that revolves around the 200-year-old Supreme Court ruling that reduced sovereignty for native nations, juxtaposed against sanchez’s own experiences with Indigenous identity in an Ecuadorian immigrant household.
On March 22 and 23, 2024, Stew’s “HIGH SUBSTITUTE FOR THE DREAD LECTURER: Baraka Jones in Dub” will be featured. It is in the spirit of his other work, the critically acclaimed “NOTES OF A NATIVE SONG,” and is focused on the twin influences of his life and art.
Uptown Nights
To be fully announced in September 2023, “Uptown Nights” will feature “Uptown Nights Latinx Music Series” from Sept. to Dec. 2023. Uptown Nights is a music series that presents an array of artists from across genres.
