NYS Music spoke with Broken Social Scene co-founder and frontman Kevin Drew about his new solo record Aging, the band’s upcoming show in New York City, and much more.
Broken Social Scene frontman Kevin Drew playing a show at Webster Hall in New York, 2022. Photography by David Reichmann (@davidpresspass)
In our exclusive interview, Kevin answered some of David’s burning questions, including “How did Broken Social Scene get Tracy Ullman and Meryl Streep on stage to sing “Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl” at Webster Hall last year?” Kevin told us he and Tracy dated for a year during the pandemic and maintained a friendship since, adding, “I told Tracy to come out and sing. Her bestie [Meryl Streep] showed up, and she’s a very lovely woman […] and I think she was just having fun!”
Kevin also talked about how he felt seeing Phoebe Bridgers wear a sweatshirt with lyrics from the BSS song, “Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl” on Zane Lowe’s podcast. “I thought it was Photoshop!” The sweater instantly went viral, and the band began selling the sweater on their website in response, donating the profits for charity. He went on to talk about the difficulty of being a “middle-class band,” as he called it. “It’s difficult for us, because every dime counts now. It’s not like every dollar. It’s like every dime.”
Then there is Boygenius, the indie supergroup comprised of Julien Baker, Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. Drew played with the trio recently in Toronto, saying “They were louder than loud, I think it was the loudest audience I had ever attended. It was insane. […] I’m a big, big fan of Lucy [Dacus]. Lucy was the first one that I heard. And I just immediately thought ‘Who is this?’ So I was happy when I heard that Lucy was an admirer of our band. And then I think that’s probably how we got the gig.”
Kevin spoke about his new solo record, Aging, and what it meant to record a solo project. “The desire to put up a solo record was not high, but it was actually Brendan Canning, you know, my partner in BSS, he said, ‘You gotta put it out man.’” Kevin went on to say, “I didn’t think my mom was going to pass a month before we dropped a song. You know, we arranged everything sort of the 10 months in advance and I had no idea why I was waiting so long and it all kind of lined u. And Brendan just says ‘Look, put it out and just we’ll play.’”
Kevin Drew’s solo record, Aging, will be released digitally November 2nd. You can buy physical copies of the record here, which includes a 75-page book titled, “Towards Everything.”
Broken Social Scene plays Brooklyn Steel this weekend with support from Hannah Georgas, buy your tickets here.
Drew spoke to NYS Music about much more, including all things music, touring, and even haunted hotel rooms. Be sure to check back here next week for our full show review and much more from our interview.
Comedy icons, writers, producers, actresses, and Saturday Night Live alumni Amy Poehler and Tina Fey announced they are adding dates to their sold-out Tina Fey & Amy Poehler: Restless Leg Tour, including four shows at The Beacon Theatre in February.
The initial leg of the tour included a sold-out, limited run of East Coast shows in Spring 2023, where fans saw the duo celebrate their 30 years of friendship with an evening of jokes, never-heard-before stories, and conversational entertainment.
Tina Fey is an award-winning writer, actress, author, and producer, known for creating and starring as Liz Lemon in 30 Rock, which holds the record for the most Emmy nominations in one season for any comedy series (22) and received a total of 103 Emmy nominations and 16 wins over seven seasons. Prior to creating 30 Rock, Fey completed nine seasons as head writer, cast member, and co-anchor of “Weekend Update” on Saturday Night Live.
While at SNL, Fey also wrote the screenplay for the hit comedy film, Mean Girls, which Fey subsequently adapted for Broadway (12 Tony Award nominations) and again as a new musical feature film, now in post-production for Paramount. Fey’s memoir, Bossypants, topped the New York Times best-seller list and remained for 39 consecutive weeks, and went on to sell over five million copies in the US thus far.
Amy Poehler is one of Hollywood’s most versatile and sought-after talents, with credits including actress, writer, executive producer, and bestselling author. Poehler, perhaps best known for her starring role on the Emmy-nominated NBC comedy series Parks and Recreation, can currently be heard as the titular character in the scripted podcast Say More with Dr? Sheila. She also serves as executive producer on the series in partnership with Audacy and her production company, Paper Kite Productions.
Last year, Poehler made her documentary directorial debut with Amazon’s Emmy-winning documentary Lucy & Desi, which she executive produced alongside Imagine Documentaries & White Horse Pictures. She also starred in and directed Netflix’s Moxie and will star in and produce the upcoming Roku film, First Time Female Director. She has several additional projects in development as part of Paper Kite Productions, including NBC’s thriller-drama The Mother-In-Law, and the Netflix animated feature Steps.
They will hit The Beacon Theatre on Wednesday, Feb. 7, Thursday, Feb. 8, and Friday, Feb. 9, with a matinee show on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024.
Presales begin on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 10 AM, including an artist presale with code RESTLESS. General on-sale starts on Friday, Sept. 29 at 10 AM here.
AMY POEHLER & TINA FEY: RESTLESS LEG TOUR DATES:
Sat Sept 30 – Denver, CO – Buell Theatre
Sun Oct 1 – Denver, CO – Bellco Theatre – matinee show
Sun Oct 1 – Denver, CO – Bellco Theatre – evening show
Thur Oct 12 – Austin, TX – Bass Concert Hall
Fri Oct 13 – Austin, TX – Bass Concert Hall
Sat Oct 14 – Austin, TX – Bass Concert Hall – matinee show
Sat Oct 14 – Austin, TX – Bass Concert Hall – evening show
Sun Oct 15 – Austin, TX – Bass Concert Hall – JUST ADDED
Wed Nov 8 – Highland, CA – Yaamava’ Theater
Fri Nov 10 – Las Vegas, NV – Resorts World Theatre*
Sat Nov 11 – Las Vegas, NV – Resorts World Theatre*
Thur Dec 14 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met
Fri Dec 15 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met
Sat Dec 16 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met – matinee show
Sat Dec 16 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met – evening show
Fri Jan 12 – Portland, OR – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall – JUST ADDED
Sat Jan 13 – Portland, OR – Alaska Airlines’ Theater of the Clouds – matinee show
Sat Jan 13 – Portland, OR – Alaska Airlines’ Theater of the Clouds
Fri Jan 19 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre – JUST ADDED
Fri Jan 26 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic – JUST ADDED
Sat Jan 27 – Oakland, CA – Paramount Theatre – JUST ADDED
Wed Feb 7 – New York, NY – The Beacon Theatre – JUST ADDED
Thur Feb 8 – New York, NY – The Beacon Theatre – JUST ADDED
Fri Feb 9 – New York, NY – The Beacon Theatre – JUST ADDED
Sun Feb 11 at 2 pm – New York, NY – The Beacon Theatre – JUST ADDED
Every Us, a new NYC-based music collective released their new single, “Fool’s Gold,” a catchy track that marks the group’s second-ever release.
“Fool’s Gold” is an crowd-pleaser that captures the essence of a jubilant, carefree night out on the town. The track features catchy, anthemic vocals and a distinct vision of energized crowds clapping to the beat.
Every Us is a new music collective based in New York City, founded on the idea of capturing moments that make us feel a part of something greater than ourselves. The group has three more singles to come, with a full EP set to release in the spring.
Every Us boasts a lineup of collaborators including Olivia Reid, Michael Tighe (Jeff Buckley, Adele, Mark Ronson), Charlie Klasfield (Clean Bandit, Branchez), and guitarist Dan Sagher (Charlie Burg).
Through community events in the past year, they have curated a lineup of artists in the NYC and Brooklyn area, spanning genres like folk, R&B, jazz, and electronic. Their mission and outlook are to uplift new voices while sharing their music and fostering a larger community. Instead of being known as a singular figure or group, Every Us is a community sound and style.
Live Nation, the world’s largest concert promoter, is launching a new program to improve the lives of touring musicians and cut down on the growing costs traveling artists are facing.
Willie Nelson performs in concert during Farm Aid at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center on Sept. 23, 2023, in Noblesville, Indiana. Gary Miller/Getty Images
As reported by Billboard, the concert giant has announced the launch of “On the Road Again,” a new program inspired by legendary singer/songwriter Willie Nelson to support developing artists and their road crews. The program has no expiration date and is expected to save artists tens of millions every year. It tackles the growing costs of travel expenses and the ability of artists to make money through merch sales.
“Touring is a crucial part of an artist’s livelihood, and we understand travel costs take one of the biggest bites out of artists’ nightly profits,” a press release from Live Nation reads. “By helping with these core expenses, we aim to make it easier for artists on the road so they can keep performing to their fans in more cities across the country.”
Starting today, all acts playing Live Nation-owned and operated clubs, from headliners to support acts, will receive a $1,500 gas and travel cash stipend per show to all headliners and support acts, on top of nightly performance compensation. The company’s clubs will no longer charge merchandise selling fees, allowing artists to keep 100% of merch profits, which many artists rely on to generate cash for the band while they’re on the road.
Participating venues.
In January, Ineffable Music Group became the first company to waive merch fees for the company’s venues and showrooms. The decision by Live Nation to waive these fees will likely lead to more cash in the hands of touring artists. Participating venues in New York State include Warsaw, Gramercy Theatre, and Irving Plaza.
“Touring is important to artists so whatever we can do to help other artists, I think we should do it. This program will impact thousands of artists this year and help make touring a little bit easier,” said Nelson, who provided his hit song On the Road Again as the anthem for the program.
On the Road Again also includes financial bonuses to local promoters who help execute shows as well as tour reps and venue crew members who have worked over 500 hours in 2023. It also includes $5 million to Crew Nation, a fund created during the pandemic to support crew across the industry facing unforeseen hardship.
Some industry workers have commented that this program could kill independent venues, who wouldn’t be able to compete. Prices on other things may increase as well to pay for the program as well. The National Independent Venue Association said in response “Temporary measures may appear to help artists in the short run but actually can squeeze out independent venues which provide the lifeblood of many artists on thin margins…it appears to be a calculated attempt to use a publicly-traded conglomerate’s immeasurable resources to divert artists from independent venues and further consolidate control over the live entertainment sector. Such tactics threaten the vitality of small and medium-sized venues under 3000 capacity, many of which still struggle to keep their doors open.”
Company officials added that On the Road Again is “a true collaboration that draws on insights from Nelson’s years on the road as well as feedback from touring artists, their teams, and venue operators to help support day-to-day life on tour. All benefits from On the Road Again are being provided directly from the venue’s existing earnings, with no increases to consumers.”
For more information on the program and a list of participating venues, visit here.
A day filled with rain and overcast could not keep the Connecticut fans away from Yes at the College Street Music Hall in New Haven on Sunday evening. This show is only the fourth show of the Classic Tales of Yes tour as they are supporting their record that came out this past May titled Mirror To The Sky.
Yes is composed of Jay Schellen on the drums, Billy Sherwood on the bass guitar, Jon Davison on lead vocals, Geoff Downes on keyboards, and Steve Howe on the guitar. Howe has been a part of Yes since 1970 and is the only original member left.
Despite there being no opening act for Yes, as fans were still piling into the venue, William Roger Dean who designed album covers for Yes, Asia, and Uriah Heep welcomed fans into the hall. Dean used a slide show and provided commentary about his journey with the band and announced that prints of his work would be made available upstairs by the bar.
After Dean left and the road crew changed around the stage a bit, the house lights dimmed, and Yes took the stage. While most rock bands try to wow the audience with amazing pyrotechnics, a massive screen with images, and a crazy light show, Yes on the other hand prefers to focus more on their music than what their stage looks like. With one backdrop with the band’s name behind them, and a few drapes off to the side of the stage, all eyes were on the progressive rock band from London, England.
Throughout the 13 songs that the band played, they dipped into every era of the band and played songs that spanned their entire career. Whether they played “Time and a Word” off of the record of the same name from 1970, or a brand new track titled “Cut From The Stars” the aforementioned Mirror To The Sky, no matter when fans first started to listen to the band, there were at least a few songs that they recognized.
The crowd, though on the older side, stuck with the band the entire length of their set. From the first note of “Going for the One” off of the record with the same name till the very last song, fans were singing and clapping throughout. Watching the band on stage was like watching a timewarp back to the 70s. The energy on stage was amazing to watch. While Davison is not the original singer, he deserves all the credit for his vocal range. Howe was a man possessed on the guitar, his skill has aged like fine wine and he was truly sensational. Schellen, Sherwood, and Downes also played great, added to the overall sound, and provided perfect harmonies.
Towards the end of the set, around the encore, the lower bowl flocked towards the barricade to get a closer look at their heroes before the show ended. When Davison ran to the front, he started fist-bumping, high-fiving, and shaking hands with fans who were at the very front. Davison did this as a form of appreciation and a thank you to them for coming out in the cold late September rain. You could see that the band truly appreciated their fans as they were smiling at them the entire set and interacting with them as much as they could.
As Yes took their final bow to a standing ovation from the crowd, fans were left joyful after watching the progressive rock masters at work on stage. As Yes paved the way for many other acts that came after them, it’s easy to see how the band once ruled the world and still has the skills to back them up.
Setlist: Going for the One, It Will Be a Good Day (The River), Machine Messiah, I’ve Seen All Good People, America (Simon & Garfunkel cover) (instrumental version), Time and a Word, South Side of the Sky, Turn of the Century, Don’t Kill the Whale, Cut From the Stars, The Revealing Science of God (Dance of the Dawn) / The Remembering (High the Memory) / Leaves of Green / Ritual (Nous sommes du soleil), Roundabout, Starship Trooper
The world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, known for their on-court extravagancy, longevity and dominance of the Washington Generals, make their triumphant return to UBS Arena at Belmont Park to open 2024.
Following a New Year’s Eve performance from Billy Joel, the record-breaking basketball entertainers will bring their unforgettable blend of athleticism and skills to the court to UBS to open the new year, taking on their fierce rivals, the Washington Generals, on Sunday, January 1, 2024 at 1pm. See Hammer, TNT, Bulldog, Cheese, Torch, Hot Shot, Jet, Wham and Thunder – just to name a few – as they run circles around the Washington Generals on the court and bring the hype to the crowd.
Presented by Jersey Mike’s Subs, the Globetrotters will continue to bring a show with unrivaled fan engagement. With pre-game offerings like the Magic Pass, unforgettable post-game access and more in-game fan interactions than ever before. Plus, fans might even find themselves at mid-court as part of the all-new, fan-filled Halftime Skills Showcase.
But that’s not all – this year’s edition of the Globetrotter will be sponsored by their new official ball partner, Spalding. Moreover, beginning in December, the world’s most renowned basketball brand will be a constant at every destination. Additionally, fans will be able to take home an official Spalding Harlem Globetrotters basketball or get their hands on the new Harlem Globetrotters Marble Series ball on game day.
The Harlem Globetrotters were originally organized in Chicago in 1926, first as the all-Black “Savoy Big Five” and would debut in January 1927 in Hinckley, Illinois as the New York Globetrotters. The name would change in 1930 to the Harlem Globetrotters, reflecting on the cultural notoriety of the African-American neighborhood in Manhattan, home to the burgeoning Harlem Renaissance.
Proud inductees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, The Harlem Globetrotters epitomize basketball entertainment. With dynamic athletes and unmatched skills, they’ve team showcased their iconic brand of basketball in over 124 countries and across six continents since 1926. Winners of 2 Cynopsis Sports Media Awards and Emmy nominated for their hit NBC weekly series, Harlem Globetrotters: Play it Forward, they continue to make waves and stand as leaders across diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Information on the Harlem Globetrotters 2024 world tour is on their official website along with tickets.
Smokey Robinson graced the stage at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, Canada, and from the moment he walked out to the introductory overture, the audience knew they were in for an unforgettable night of classic Motown magic.
“Being With You” set the tone for the evening, with Robinson’s velvety voice still as captivating as ever. He transported us back in time with “I Second That Emotion,” a nod to his days with The Miracles, and followed it up with “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” a soulful rendition of The Miracles’ classic.
As the night progressed, Robinson’s timeless hit “Quiet Storm” swept through the venue like a gentle breeze, and “Ooo Baby Baby” had the crowd swaying in their seats, relishing every note. The medley of “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” “Get Ready,” and “My Girl” paid tribute to The Temptations, showcasing Robinson’s versatility as he effortlessly crooned through these iconic songs.
“The Tears of a Clown” brought a wave of nostalgia, and Robinson’s emotional delivery tugged at heartstrings throughout the venue. “I Love Your Face” was a tender and heartfelt moment, showing that even after all these years, Smokey’s ability to convey deep emotions remains unparalleled.
Robinson’s rendition of “Fly Me to the Moon” was a testament to his vocal range and ability to infuse a timeless classic with his unique style. “If We Don’t Have Each Other” and “Beside You” showcased his more contemporary work, reminding us that his talent continues to evolve.
“Just to See Her” had the crowd on their feet, swaying and clapping along, and “The Tracks of My Tears” was a pure, unadulterated masterpiece, transporting us back to the golden era of Motown.
Closing out the night with “Cruisin’,” Robinson left the audience craving for more, his voice as smooth and captivating as ever. The energy in the room was electric, a testament to the enduring appeal of Smokey Robinson’s music.
In Niagara Falls, Canada, OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, Smokey Robinson delivered a concert for the ages, taking us on a journey through his illustrious career. His voice, still as mesmerizing as when he first graced the stage, left no doubt that he is a true legend of Motown. The setlist was a perfect blend of classics and newer hits, ensuring that both longtime fans and newcomers alike left the venue with their hearts full and their spirits lifted. Smokey Robinson’s performance was a musical experience that will be cherished for years to come.
Borderland Music & Art Festival brought some heavy hitting national and local bands to the historic Knox Farm State Park situated in the small village of East Aurora. Over three beautiful days – September 15, 16 & 17 – the historic grounds hosted many great bands on two stages that filled the air with sounds to sooth the soul from some amazingly talented artists.
Friday started as a wonderful partly cloudy morning with perfect temps. As festival goers started to flow in, setting up their chairs and blanks for the day, you could hear the first band. Folk/Americana jam-type band The Stove Pipes playing the Homespun stage which was situated off behind the horse stables at the top of the hill opposite the Mainstage. As the day progressed there was very minimal overlapping of each band’s sets. Making it an easy walk between both stages through or around the horse stables to see each band play throughout the day.
On the Homespun stage you could catch other local and reginal acts like, Dirty Blanket, Not Fade Away Band (Playing Dead Zepplin) & Farrow. The Mainstage acts included local, regional, and national touring acts like Leroy Townes Band, The 502s, Dawes & Goose. Goose being the closing act of night one, brought the house down with their amazing set of music. An absolute not to be missed band of abundantly talented musicians. Setlist via Elgoose.net.
Goosesetlist: Flodown[1], Mr. Action, Pancakes, Honeybee[2], Writing A Novel[3], Creatures, Rosewood Heart[4], Animal Encore: Slow Ready -> Arcadia [1] Flopener. [2] With Coach on rainstick. [3] Father John Misty. [4] With Taylor Goldsmith on guitar and vocals, Griffin Goldsmith on drums, and Jeff on guitar.
Saturday at Borderland was met with beautifully clear skies and temperatures out on the farm. Saturday’s crowd filled in the ground of Knox Farm State Park much earlier being a Saturday. Again with very little overlapping of each band’s sets, it was quite easy to catch most of each act playing both the Homespun and Mainstage. Starting out the day on the Mainstage with a great improvisational set was The Damone Jackson Outcome, a band known for their high energy improv sets.
First up on the Homespun stage was A Girl Named Genny, a folk/Americana band with a little bit of Rock and Roll. Other Homespun stage acts included local and reginal bands, Never Ben, Public Water Supply, Grosh and Organ Fairchild. Other Mainstage acts included local, reginal and national acts like, Miller & The Other Sinners, Mighty Poplar, Neal Francis and Sammy Rae & The Friends. Trey Anastasio Band closed out night two with a stellar set of mostly Phish tunes to send everyone home only wanting more. And what an exceptional set of music it was, made even better with an almost Phish/Kuroda level light show. Setlist via Phish.net
Trey Anastasio Bandsetlist: Sand, Back on the Train, Everything’s Right, Blaze On, A Wave of Hope, Outside the Lines, Llama [1], Heavy Things, Oblivion, Pillow Jets > …And Flew Away, Wolfman’s Brother > First Tube Encore: Ghost [1] Performed in an alternate arrangement.
Sunday, was the closing day to the perfect three-day Borderland Music & Arts festival and the weather could not have been better for mid-September. Starting out the day on the Homespun stage was The Red Grenadines, followed by Folkfaces, and NYS Dead Coalition. During Folkfaces and in between The Red Grenadine & NYS Dead Coalition was the Tailgate & Buffalo Bills Watch Party with many in attendance. Starting the day on the Mainstage was Karina Rykman, followed by, Krasno/Moore Project, The Infamous Stringdusters, and to close out the night, and festival, with two sets, our hometown heroes, moe.
Set 1: The Pit> Rise, Blond Hair and Blue Eyes, Gone, Do It Again> George, Lazarus Set 2: Skitchin’ Buffalo, Mexico> Ups And Downs> Silver Sun> Rebubula> Four[1] > Rebubula [1] Chuck on vocals. 1st time played since Chuck’s stroke.
The Stove PipesLeroy Townes BandDirty BlanketThe 502sNot Fade Away BandDawesFarrowGooseGooseGooseGooseGooseGooseGooseGooseThe Damone Jackson OutcomeA Girl Named GennyMiller & The Other SinnersNever BenMighty PoplarPublic Water SupplyNeal FrancisGroshSammy Rae & The FriendsOrgan FairchildTABTABTABTABTABTABTABTABTAB
Festival of Firsts returns to the David Rubenstein Atrium as part of the Lincoln Center Presents fall/winter season, from Oct. 5-27.
The Festival of Firsts features artists embarking on new journeys and celebrating significant moments in their careers, with milestones spanning Lincoln Center debuts, World, U.S., and NYC Premieres, album releases, fresh collaborations, and more. With a wide array of genres and artists, Lincoln Center invites audiences to enjoy these free performances.
Festival of Firsts Schedule
Rami Khalifé’s LOST, Return to Beirut
Thursday, October 5 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
LINCOLN CENTER DEBUT
*THIS EVENT WILL ALSO BE LIVESTREAMED*
Considered “a musician of extreme caliber and pure expression” by the Daily Star UK, the adventurous Lebanese pianist Rami Khalifé presents work that is as eclectic as it is bold, ranging from improvised concerts, original film soundtracks, reimagined electronic club music with his AUFGANG project, and live tours with his father, the famed composer and oud player Marcel Khalifé. His musicality has led him to classical training at Juilliard; solos with Globalis Orchestra, the Qatar Philharmonic, the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, as well as live performances at the Kennedy Center, the Sydney Opera House, and Queen Elizabeth Hall.
J Noa
Friday, October 6 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
LINCOLN CENTER DEBUT
J Noa’s 2023 major label debut Autodidacta is a blazing-hot introduction to the San Cristobal rapper’s considerable gifts: tongue-tying rhymes, nonstop bars, and the skills to switch up her flow from heartbeat to heartbeat. Her intricate lyricism ties together relevant social and political statements on drug addiction, racism, homophobia, and clapbacks at local government mismanagement. At the ripe age of 17, J Noa can already boast a ten-year songwriting career and a million-plus viewed YouTube hit with “Betty,” depicting the challenges of teen pregnancy.
Vuyo Sotashe and Chris Pattishall
Wednesday, October 11 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
NEW SINGLE RELEASE
Presented in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center
Over the past decade, South African vocalist Vuyo Sotashe and American pianist/composer Chris Pattishall have become mainstays of the NYC live club scene, with each contributing separately to a wide range of projects spanning jazz, gospel, theater, and film. Now they will present their live debut collaborative performance at the Atrium with an evening of soulful original arrangements. In a program that references Duke Ellington, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, and traditional South African Xhosa hymns, Sotashe and Pattishall will celebrate the release of their first single, “They Say I Look Like God.”
Photo by Yekaterina Gyadu.
Salty Brine’s And If You Listen Very Hard: The Led Zeppelin Show
Thursday, October 12 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
LINCOLN CENTER DEBUT
The showy performance artist, playwright, and vocalist Salty Brine is the next big name in outré downtown alt-cabaret. As part of the Festival of Firsts, Brine makes his Lincoln Center debut with a show from his ongoing Living Record Collection, a thus far 20-chapter series of expeditions into the heart of popular music. Each event merges the live recreation of an entire classic album with stories of personal experience alongside literature and theater, autobiographical monologues, a musical celebration of great LPs, and a fresh look at the artistic process. This evening features Robert Louis Stevenson’s immortal pirate adventure Treasure Island and the heavy metal folk-rock masterpiece, Led Zeppelin IV.
Lady Wray
Friday, October 13 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
LINCOLN CENTER DEBUT
A mainstay of the U.S. Billboard charts since the early 2000s, Nicole “Lady” Wray’s clear voice, potent storytelling, and deeply emotive performances combine the 70s soul and the hip-hop-inflected R&B of the 90s. The Guardian calls Lady Wray’s long-awaited third album, Piece of Me, which boasts a recent remix from New York’s own Pete Rock and a guest verse from Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah, “a classy retro-soul LP… steeped in experience, familial warmth, and overcoming heartbreak.” She will make her long overdue Lincoln Center debut with songs from Piece of Me interspersed with favorite covers and classic hits, all supported by a full live band packed with special guests.
Story of the Sky by the Bruces & Friends
Saturday, October 14 at 11:00 am
David Rubenstein Atrium
DEBUT CHILDREN’S ALBUM
Husband and wife team Morley and Chris Bruce recently self-released and produced their debut family and children’s album, Story of the Sky. This multi-cultural and inter-generational beginning-of-life narrative centers our inter-belonging—connecting human beings with one another and the natural world.
Truth to Power Café
Wednesday, October 18 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
U.S. PREMIERE
From Adelaide to Zagreb and now in New York for its U.S. premiere, Jeremy Goldstein’s Truth to Power Café is a profound theatrical reflection on loss, hope, and resistance. This inspirational event is told through memoir, image, film, poetry, music, and true and authentic stories in response to the question: “Who has power over you and what do you want to say to them?” Truth to Power Café is inspired by the political and philosophical beliefs of Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter and his inner circle “The Hackney Gang,” which included Café creator Jeremy Goldstein’s late father, Mick Goldstein, and poet and actor Henry Woolf.
Photo by Kate Holmes.
Erni Lu
Thursday, October 19 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
FIRST ALBUM & LINCOLN CENTER DEBUT
Peruvian-born singer-songwriter and guitarist Ernesto “Erni Lu” Lúcar has found his true musical home in New York. From a young age, he fell in love with the city’s music scene, particularly the rhythms of boleros, waltzes, acid jazz, and funk, using these genres and strains of contemporary Latin pop and traditional Peruvian folk in his sound. Over the past several years, Lu has gained significant experience composing film scores for movies such as Gary Terracino’s Elliot Loves and Gonzalo Benavente’s Rocanrol 68. He will make his Lincoln Center premiere, backed by a full live band performing a set of original songs celebrating the release of his debut album Siempre, including the new hit single, “Amor Platónico.”
¡VAYA!
Uptown Royalty
Friday, October 20 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
LINCOLN CENTER DEBUT
A Lincoln Center favorite since 2015, ¡VAYA! is a showcase for the finest Latin dance traditions. It offers devotees of Latin music a friendly community, excellent orchestras, and the city’s most inviting dance floor. The husband and wife duo of trombone player and bandleader Ron Renaissance and the glamorous vocalist Jodi Music are at the heart of the NYC-based Uptown Royalty, a combo at the forefront of the future of the modern salsa revolution, fusing classic salsa with contemporary pop, disco, rock, and R&B. Backed by a multi-piece band, their fresh approach to live performance has irresistible charisma, energizing audiences with their spectacular energy.
Migguel Anggelo’s JOY
Wednesday, October 25 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
WORLD PREMIERE
Venezuelan-born and Brooklyn-based artist Migguel Anggelo’s work explores the intersections of queer, Latiné, and immigration identities. As a musician, he has released three albums (English with an Accent, La Casa Azul, Dónde Estara Matisse). As a theater creator, he has been awarded residencies to develop new works at MASS MoCA, the Kimmel Center, Washington Performing Arts, and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. For his new multidisciplinary project, Anggelo dons the whimsical persona of JOY, inspired by the mime Marcel Marceu’s immortal Bip the Clown, who asks us to consider the power of silence in new ways. With the addition of an all-star lineup of live musicians, JOY features original music by Migguel Anggelo and Michelle J. Rodriguez.
Truth Future Bachman’s Skyward: An Endling Elegy
Thursday, October 26 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
WORLD PREMIERE
Brooklyn-based composer, playwright, vocalist, and La MaMa resident artist Truth Future Bachman interweaves three of the most compelling cultural threads of our moment: musical theater, gender fluidity, and superhero/sci-fi parables. Following the 2022 presentation of Luna and the Starbodies at last year’s Festival of Firsts, Lincoln Center is proud to host the world premiere of Bachman’s next great origin story within their multiversal mythos, Skyward.
Larissa Luz
Friday, October 27 at 7:30 pm
David Rubenstein Atrium
NYC & LINCOLN CENTER DEBUT
*THIS EVENT WILL ALSO BE LIVESTREAMED*
Presented in collaboration with AFROPUNK
The multitalented and Latin GRAMMY-nominated Brazilian singer-songwriter Larissa Luz also hosts a popular talk show, has acted in numerous television and film roles, and placed second this year in Brazil’s nationally televised edition of The Masked Singer. She is a social activist, speaking out against sexism, racism, and colorism in a field that’s still greatly defined by it. She is a regular performer in music festivals, including Lollapalooza and Rock in Rio, and will be performing music from across her career, including new songs and cuts from her most recent release, the trap pop EP Deusa Dulov.
For more information about the free Festival of Firsts performances, visit here.
The Eighth Step at Proctors in Schenectady will present the award winning contemporary folk duo Magpie, celebrating their 50th year anniversary on Saturday, September 30th. Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalists Terry Leonino and Greg Artzner will perform a variety of instrumental harmony vocal originals with long time collaborator Ralph Gordon playing the acoustic bass.
For 50 years, Leonino and Artzner have turned their harmonies towards themes of peace and justice: civil rights, politics, diversity and the environment with an emphasis on the Chesapeake Bay, the Hudson River, worker’s rights and a world at peace. They sing for justice with a joyous verve of 30’s swing and American folk to support social activism.
“Terry and Greg are proud to be more links to the chain, dedicating their lives and music to leaving this world a better place.”
– Pete Seeger
Magpie has spent their musical career playing folk festivals, concert halls and more while gathering fans from independent stages large and small. The duo creates an instrumental sound that’s powerful, rich and moving inspiring people to come together through the art of song. Since 1973, they have brought their unique sound and remarkable versatility to audiences in the U.S. and abroad through their influential songs.
The duo Magpie looks forward to celebrating their 50th anniversary and many more to come. For more information visit online at Eighth Step.
