Tag: Music News

  • Sting Bringing ‘My Songs’ Concert to Jones Beach this Summer

    Legendary English musician Sting is bringing his My Songs concert to the Empire State with a performance at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater on Sept. 8.

    Throughout his tour, Sting will be accompanied by an electric, rock ensemble and, on select shows, special guest Joe Sumner. Sting will perform songs from his career as both a solo artist and a member of The Police.

    sting my songs jones beach
    Promotional Picture for Sting’s My Songs Tour. Credit: Valeska Thomas

    Sting was born in Wallsend, England, and began his musical career with the rock band The Police in the 1970s as their bass guitar player, lead and backing vocalist, double bass player, and studio synthesizer, accompanied by fellow members Andy Summers, Stewart Copeland, and briefly, Henry Padovani. The band went on their first tour, The Police Around the World Tour, from 1977-1980. The Police released their debut studio album, Outlandos d’Amour, in 1978, preceded by their debut single, “Roxanne.” The band had a nearly decade-long career, releasing their fifth and final studio album, Synchronicity, in 1983, before officially breaking up in 1986. They reunited for a final from 2007-08, for their Reunion Tour.

    Since The Police’s breakup, Sting has had a successful career as a solo artist, releasing over a dozen studio albums. His first solo release was 1985’s The Dream of the Blue Turtles. Since then, Sting has released a total of 15 solo studio albums, most recently 2021’s The Bridge. Throughout his career, Sting has won 25 American Music Awards, 17 Grammy Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards, and was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On his My Songs tour, Sting will perform classic hits like ‘Fields of Gold’, ‘Shape of my Heart’, ‘Roxanne’, ‘Englishman In New York,’ ‘Every Breath You Take,’ ‘Roxanne,’ ‘Message In A Bottle’,  ‘Demolition Man’ and many more.

    The My Songs tour will offer a variety of VIP packages and experiences. Packages vary but include premium tickets, access to the pre-show VIP lounge, specially designed VIP gift item, limited edition tour poster, and more. For additional information, visit vipnation.com.

    Tickets to the My Songs concert by Sting, which includes a performance at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater on Sept. 8, go on sale April 21 at 10 a.m. at Sting.com.

    STING: MY SONGS 2023 NORTH AMERICA TOUR DATES:
    Sept. 05 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
    Sept. 07 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
    Sept. 08 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
    Sept. 12 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live*
    Sept. 15 – Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
    Sept. 17 – Austin, TX – Moody Center ATX
    Sept. 20 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
    Sept. 21 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
    Sept. 23 – West Valley City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
    Sept. 26 – Portland, OR – Moda Center
    Sept. 27 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
    Sept. 29 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
    Oct. 01 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Resort and Casino*
    Oct. 02 – Concord, CA – Concord Pavilion
    Oct. 04 – San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre at SDSU
    Oct. 07 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
    Oct. 09 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
    Oct. 12 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
    Oct. 14 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
    Oct. 15 – Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

  • Divining Rod Debut Sizzling New Single Ahead of New Album

    Alternative country band Divining Rod just released a new single, “GOAT” in support of their latest studio album, Santa Monica & Other Golden Classics, due for release on May 19.

    The sound of “GOAT” is reminiscent of Southern Rock’s golden age, due in large part to the song’s exhilarating vocals by founding member Miyuki Furtado. Santa Monica & Other Golden Classics marks Divining Rod’s first major release since the pandemic first hit the United States.

    divining rod goat
    The cover of Driving Rod’s new album, Santa Monica & Other Golden Classics. Credit: Sean Joyce.

    Divining Rod started out as a solo project for Hawaiian native Miyuki Furtado, originally of the rock band the Rogers Sisters. After the Rogers Sisters broke up, Furtado left his beloved Brooklyn neighborhood with his family for greener (and less crowded) pastures. “My wife and I bought a small, beat-up house north of the city and settled down.” With the help of guitarist/vocalist Patrick Harmon, Furtado began playing shows handling guitar, vocals, and drums, utilizing his homemade drumset while Harmon added his unique guitar playing and harmonies to the mix. Second drummer John Malone and bassist Matt Svigals round out the band.

    “GOAT” may be one of the ‘greatest’ songs by Divining Rod of all time. If the rest of Santa Monica & Other Golden Classics is anything like its latest single, Divining Rod is sure to have a long career ahead of themselves, and future releases by the band will be music you certainly won’t want to miss. Before Santa Monica & Other Golden Classics is released, stream Divining Rod’s latest hits.

    When discussing their latest single GOAT, band frontperson Miyuki Furtado writes:

    I’m sometimes asked if my songs are fiction or based on something that actually happened to me in real life. My songs are often based on experiences I’ve had or on stories I’ve heard from friends and acquaintances. It is not uncommon for the subject matter to be a combination of several people. There are times, however, when I’ll write about a specific person; like this one. A pretty terrible person is being portrayed in this story: selfish, dishonest, and cruel at times. GOAT is an appropriate title for the song. Despite this, I wonder if I am subconsciously writing about my negative qualities, given that I was raised Buddhist. In Buddhism, people are a reflection of the individual, so it could be my own embarrassment about my own negativity. The question is still fresh in my mind, I guess – Yeesh!

    Divining Rod’s new single, “GOAT” is now streaming, and their new album Santa Monica & Other Golden Classics is out May 19.

  • First Ever Lake George DJ Takeover Festival Set July 29 and 30.

    The inaugural Lake George DJ Takeover Festival is scheduled for July 29 and 30, as announced by event planning service All We Do Is Epic Dot Com. The inaugural festival will be held at the Barn at French Mountain, 1.5 miles south of the village of Lake George.

    Map of the festival location. Credit: Mark Brenneisen

    The inaugural Lake George DJ Takeover Festival will run from noon to 10 p.m., and feature 10 acres of countryside fields, a whole western town, and the beautiful skyline of French Mountain. Live DJ entertainment in all genres of music will be inside the 9,000-square-foot climate-controlled venue, and several vendors, food trucks, and activities including a cornhole tournament will be at the festival. DJs from Florida, NYC, Boston, Rhode Island, Maine, New Jersey, and all over New York State will appear at the event, to provide an experience like none other. Admission to the festival is exclusive to those 18 years of age and older.

    Mark Brenneisen, the organizer of the festival spoke about the event, saying, “We’re hoping for 1000 attendees the first year with this special blend of multiple music genres to attract more than just your typical EDM festivals which only play one type of music. That coupled with a nice mix of DJs from all over the East Coast and many local acts who have a following we should be able to reach our goal.” Brenneisen continued, “Food is available on demand on-site or pre-order for groups as well and multiple cash bars will also be around the property. If we reach our goal, weather-depending, we will be adding a third outdoor music area.” Mobile DJs will be spotlighted in this event as they usually would not get a chance to play at a festival in general, creating a “unique environment of music and fun.”

    Tickets to the inaugural Lake George DJ Takeover Festival are currently available at a reduced early bird rate. Visit here to purchase tickets and learn about the artists and even contact the venue directly.

    A video from a wedding, another special event the Barn at French Mountain hosts.
  • Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra Announces 2023-24 Season, Featuring 4-Night Phelps Mansion Museum Series

    The Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Maestro Daniel Hege, will begin its 2023-24 season this September and conclude the following, and a special four-night Phelps Mansion Museum Series will be featured in the new season. The new Phelps Mansion Museum series will consist of four Sunday afternoon chamber music concerts sponsored by Garufi Law, P.C. This year’s Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra season will be sponsored by Visions Federal Credit Union and include both the M&T Bank Symphonic Series and the Pops Series.

    Binghamton Orchestra 2023-24 season

    Sept. 30 begins the M&T Symphonic Series with “Beethoven’s Fifth,” featuring Aaron Copland’s Variations on a Shaker Melody, Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto with cello soloist Annie Jacobs-Perkins, and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. Towards the end of the season, on April 6, “Roman Holiday,” will explore Roberto Sierra’s Fandangos, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Capriccio Italien, and Ottorino Respighi’s monumental Pines of Rome. Kids 17 and under get in free to all Symphonic Series concerts. Kids 17 and under get in free to all Symphonic Series concerts thanks to M&T Bank.

    Binghamton Orchestra 2023-24 season Phelps Mansion Museum Series
    Annie Jacobs-Perkins, the opening performer for the M&T Bank Symphonic Series. Credit: Binghamton Philarmonic Orchestra.

    The Pops Series features programs to delight music fans of all ages and on Oct. 28, “Phantom of the Philharmonic,” is full of surprises. “Other Worlds: Superheroes, Fantasy, and Sci-Fi,” towards the end of the series on May 4 explores music across the genres, from Black Panther and Avatar to Game of Thrones, ET, among others. Thanks to Visions Federal Credit Union, kids 17 and under get in free to all Pops Series concerts.

    Phelps Mansion Museum Series
    Poster for Phantom of the Philharmonic, the opening show for the Pops Series. Credit: Binghamton Philarmonic Orchestra.

    General admission for the new Garufi Law, P.C. Phelps Mansion Museum Series begins Sunday, Oct. 15. with the Juilliard Honors Chamber Music Program’s Marian String Quartet. Internationally acclaimed soprano Robin Johannsen will be joined by Philharmonic pianist Tomoko Kanamaru on Dec. 3. The series continues into the new year, when the Castalia String Quartet, led by Philharmonic Concertmaster Uli Speth, performs on Feb. 11. The new series concludes on March 10 with violinist Melissa White and pianist Pallavi Mahidhara.

    Phelps Mansion Museum Series
    The Marion String Quartet, the opening group for the Phelps Mansion Museum Series. Credit: Binghamton Philarmonic Orchestra.

    The Binghamton Philharmonic, founded by cellist/conductor Fritz Wallenberg and his wife, violinist Marianne Wallenberg in 1955, is the Southern Tier’s largest and longest-serving symphony orchestra. It was originally founded as the Binghamton Symphony and Choral Society, with the goal of providing the Southern Tier of New York with live, full-scale orchestral works. The orchestra unionized following Fritz Wallenberg’s 1976 retirement, becoming fully professional, and after its merger with the BC Pops (an orchestra formed in 1974 by Russell Hawkes and violinist/conductor David Agard), in 1996, became the Binghamton Philharmonic. Since 2016, Maestro Daniel Hege has led the Binghamton Philharmonic (as Principal Guest Conductor for his first two seasons, and as Music Director since 2018). Serving 10,000+ people annually, the Binghamton Philharmonic connects professional musicians with audiences to stimulate the economy and expand music’s possibilities for a broad listenership both within and beyond the concert hall.

    The Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra is generously supported by the Frank and Lydia Bergen
    Foundation (Wells Fargo); the Community Foundation of South Central New York; the Conrad and
    Virginia Klee Foundation; the New York State Council on the Arts; Tioga Downs Regional Community
    Foundation; the Victor and Ester Rozen Foundation; and the United Cultural Fund of the Broome
    County Arts Council. The Philharmonic’s extensive Educational and Community Engagement
    programming is underwritten by IBM.

    For more information on the 2023-24 season of the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra, including the new Phelps Mansion Museum series, visit www.binghamtonphilharmonic.org.

  • Second Annual Shinefest is Scheduled for June 17 at Bullville Park

    Soulshine Market has announced that the second annual Shinefest will be held on June 17 at Bullville Park from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m, in Bullville, NY, nestled in the Catskill Mountains, 30 minutes west of Newburgh.

    The festival will feature activities for all ages including an inflatable house, craft tables, cornhole, live music, food, and vendors. Throughout the day, Shinefest will showcase a variety of local talent, as it did last year.

    bullville shinefest
    TEL The Poet, a local performer at last year’s Shinefest. Shinefest will continue to showcase local talent at this year’s festival. Photo Credit: Soulshine Market.

    Shinefest was first held last year at the start of summer at Bullville Park, the same time and location as this year’s festival, and welcomed a variety of musical guests including Kieran McGee, REL The Poet, and more. This year, the event will kick off with a performance by local musician Dewey, followed by performances by Kevin Thomas, Caswyn Moon & Faith Kelly, Prize Fighter, The Blue Hearts Band, Kieran Mcgee, Jacob Kantner, and The Bunker Boys. The main headliner will be announced later this month.

    All proceeds for this year’s Shinefest will go to Hudson Valley Honor Flight. For more information click here.

    logo2.jpg
    Soulshine Market is a food vendor for Shinefest. Photo credit: Soulshine Market.

    Shinefest is hosted with support from Soulshine Market, a food vendor for the festival. Soulshine Market is a family-owned local health food store located at the foot of the Shawangunk Mountains, providing the best in nourishing food, supplements, and gift items for healthy living. The market uses organic and local produce whenever possible, and is committed to using only the cleanest ingredients, including their own sauces and dressings, and several GMO-free, vegan, and gluten-free items are available on their menu.

    Tickets for this year’s Shinefest at Bullville Park are “pay as you go” and available now.

  • UB40 Anniversary Tour “UB45” Stops at The Space at Westbury

    Reggae-pop band UB40 is celebrating its 45th anniversary with its “UB45” summer tour throughout July, which will stop at The Space at Westbury on July 6.

    The Cover of UB40’s debut studio album, 1980’s Signing Off.

    The band will perform their hits “Red Red Wine,” “Food For Thought,” and “(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You,” among others, on their anniversary tour, in addition to being joined by special guests such as Maxi Priest, Inner Circle, Third World, and Big Mountain. Concurrently, UB40 will release a new album this summer, titled UB45, with new songs and reworked classics, and a yet-to-be-announced release date.

    Guitarist/vocalist Robin Campbell said of UB40’s US tour, “We love playing the U.S., and celebrating our 45th year and having a new album makes our return even more exciting.”

    UB40 was originally formed in 1978 in Birmingham, England, and its current members consist of Jimmy Brown (drums), Robin Campbell (guitar/vocals), Earl Falconer (bass/vocals), Norman Lamont Hassan (percussion/vocals), Martin Meredith (keyboards/WX7/saxophone), Tony Mullings (keyboards), Laurence Parry (trumpet/flugelhorn/trombone), Ian Thompson (saxophone) – and Matt Doyle (lead vocals.) Doyle only joined the band recently, taking over for a retired Duncan Campbell after Doyle’s group, KIOKO, opened for UB40 at The Royal Albert Hall in 2018, and later supported them on UB40’s subsequent UK tour and European tours. UB40 released their debut studio album, Signing Off, in 1980, and since then have released a total of 20 studio albums, most recently 2021’s Bigga Baggariddim.

    UB40’s 45th-anniversary summer tour is in support of their upcoming studio album, UB45. One of the most successful British groups of all time, UB40 is represented in the USA and South America by Jeff Epstein and Paul Gaudio of Universal Attractions Agency (UAA.). For more information visit UB40’s website.

    The Space at Westbury originally opened as Westbury Movie Theater in 1927, with a screening of Hula, starring Clara Bow, while The University of Maryland Collegian’s Band thrilled the audience with a spectacular performance. One of the six theaters built by Salvatore Calderone in Nassau County, the Westbury Theatre eventually closed due to a decline in patronage in the late 70s. Eight years ago, Cyrus Hakakian and his partners saved the Westbury Theater from demolition, and the venue now enters a new chapter of its illustrious history as The Space at Westbury.

    For tickets to see UB40 on their 45th-anniversary tour, which includes a stop at The Space at Westbury, click here.

    UB45 Tour Dates Are as Follows:

    7/4/23 Wiggins Waterfront Park Camden, NJ
    7/6/23 The Space Westbury, NY
    7/7/23 Chevalier Theatre Medford, MA
    7/9/23 Wolftrap Foundation for the Performing Arts Vienna, VA
    7/11/23 Schermerhorn Nashville Nashville, TN
    7/13/23 The Amphitheater at Phillip S. Miller Park Castle Rock, CO
    7/15/23 Marymoor Park Seattle, WA
    7/16/23 Bossanova Ballroom Portland, OR
    7/17/23 Brittfest Jacksonville, OR
    7/20/23 Mountain Winery Saratoga, CA
    7/21/23 The Microsoft Theater Los Angeles, CA
    7/22/23 Palm Pool Las Vegas, NV
    7/23/23 Saroyan Theatre Fresno, CA

  • Conway The Machine Drops Music Video for ‘Quarters/Brucifix’ With New Album Set for Spring

    Conway The Machine will release his second studio album, Won’t He Do It, this spring. The prolific Buffalo MC’s road to his major label debut was undeniably impactful and redemptive. God Don’t Make Mistakes served as his commercial breakthrough, as it rose to the top of DSP charts and was also his highest-charting Billboard project to date. Moreover, the project was hailed by critics and fans alike.

    Conway The Machine shot the "Quarters/Brucifix" video in Paris.

    While God Don’t Make Mistakes was Conway’s de-facto origin story to the mainstream market, it will also serve as the bridge to the next phase of his already decorated, mixtape-laden career, which begins with his next album Won’t He Do It.  

    After sharing the album’s first single, “Super Bowl,” featuring Sauce Walka and Juicy J, Conway The Machine has released the album’s second single and first visual in “Quarters/Brucifix.” Featuring Westside Gunn, the music video is shot on location in Paris. The two-sided single features production from Khrysis on “Quarters,” (which also includes vocals from late podcaster, Combat Jack) along with the Daringer produced “Brucifix.”  

    The record sees Conway The Machine maintain his musical trajectory. While his content remains forever rooted to the streets, Conway continues to challenge himself with the production he raps over. Moreover, the former Griselda signee has long cultivated a rags-to-riches image and continues to abide by his street ethics in his music. However, his growing success makes his subject matter that much more idiosyncratic. All in all, his presentation adds to his allure, while he continues to serve as motivation to those with similar backgrounds.

    “I wanted to tap back in with my bro, Khrysis, and give em that feel that my fans know me for providing,” Conway shared with Complex. “I also wanted to set the tone for my new album.”

    Conway The Machine Tour

    In addition to the release of “Quarters/Brucifix,” Conway also announced the Won’t He Do It Spring Tour featuring Sauce Walka and his fellow Drumwork artist Jae Skeese. The month-long, 18-city expedition begins on My 26 in Chicago, IL and wraps up on June 28 in Detroit with a stop in Brooklyn set for June 24.

    Conway The Machine announces Won't He Do It Tour.
  • In Focus: Laufey Plays a One Time Show at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

    Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter Laufey played a sold out show with opener Laura Elliot at the historical Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Massachusetts this past Friday, April 7th.

    Fans of all ages wearing fancy attire attentively listened to Laufey’s captivating vocals as she sang multiple songs from her latest jazz album, Everything I Know About Love. People traveled from Puerto Rico, Florida, and New York City for this one time show.

    Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center 
Laufey
    Laufey

    Laura Elliot opened the show with an incredible set, singing multiple songs off of her first album People Pleaser to celebrate one year since its release. Born and raised in the Hudson Valley she gained recognition after collaborating with Lizzy McAlpine on “weird,” and joining artists like The Walters on tour before having her own People Pleaser tour in 2022. 

    Laura Elliot

    After a twenty minute intermission, Laufey took the stage at 9:05, causing a stream of excited screams to erupt from her eager crowd. The 23-year-old jazz-pop artist got her start in 2020 when her singing videos gained huge recognition on TikTok. Growing up in Iceland and now living in LA, Laufey attended Berklee College of Music and grew up around classically-trained musicians. Since she was young, she listened to jazz artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, who largely inspired the type of music she writes today. Laufey is currently off tour, but previously played at the Bowery Ballroom in 2022 during her Everything I Know About Love tour across North America and Europe. 

    Laufey writes a majority of her songs about heartbreak, which is evident in both her raw and meaningful lyrics and in the short spoken monologues she gave to introduce each song. Her performances of tracks like “James,” “Let You Break My Heart Again,” and “Dear Soulmate” touched on her difficult experiences with past partners, breakups, and feeling lost in the realm of love. Lit by the starlike backdrop of the beautiful Mahaiwe theater, Laufey ran onto the stage with her shiny red guitar and played an incredible show with just her voice and her instruments. Her awed fans—consisting of elders, middle-aged adults, teenagers, and children wearing suits, ties, long flowy skirts, dresses, heels, and intricate updos—stayed completely silent during each performance. No phones were present, as people went to truly enjoy the show. Nearing the end of her set, Laufey announced the workings of a second album, and even performed two unreleased songs for the first time that would feature on it. 

    After playing her last song, “Falling Behind,” Laufey made a quick exit before re-entering to play an encore. She performed a beautiful rendition of “Two Sleepy People” on the stage’s grand piano, and called it a “lullaby” for her audience of one thousand. 

    Setlist: Fragile, Street by Street, Best Friend, I Wish You Love, Dear Soulmate, Valentine, Let You Break My Heart Again, Like the Movies, Promise (unreleased), From the Start (unreleased), Beautiful Stranger, James, Magnolia, Falling Behind
    Encore: Two Sleepy People (Hoagy Carmichael and Frank Loesser cover)

    Mahaiwe
  • Jacob Shipley Gives His Last Respects to a Messy Breakup in New EP

    Troy-based singer-songwriter and actor Jacob Shipley is set to release his second EP, Last Respects, on May 26. The five-track record details Shipley’s experience in the experience of a messy breakup, and his memories from that relationship. Shipley’s second EP will be available via Apple Music, Spotify, and Bandcamp.

    Jacob Shipley
    Credit: jacobshipley.com

    Shipley, born and raised in Troy, is a man of many talents, so much so that he was able to have Broadway as a “backup plan.” As a theatre actor, Shipley had a featured role in the first actor/musician production of Godspell and a lead role in the first national tour of the Broadway musical Amazing Grace. In music, he began playing guitar on a nylon string when he was nine, and at 12, purchased a guitar of his own, a Breedlove, a concert-style guitar with a perfectly light and warm sound. While studying at Ithaca College of Musical Theatre, Shipley released Where Did You Come From, his first EP. The musician has performed for audiences at The Historic Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, The Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall, and more, and his voice has been compared to Jeff Buckley, his wry cynicism to Phoebe Bridgers, and his poetic storytelling to Hozier.

    Last Respects opens with “Waiting” and what an opening track it is. The song describes the ways relationships can go “back and forth” and the conflicting emotions of “I don’t want to go, I don’t want to stay.” “Waiting” is certainly the highlight of the EP, but the rest of the tracks certainly match its level of quality. There couldn’t have been a better track to end the EP on than “Spain” in which Shipley takes audiences to what he likely considers his “happy place” whether it be figuratively or literally, reflecting on the positive memories of his relationship, before ultimately realizing he can’t cling to the happy memories forever. Last Respects is an EP you won’t want to miss and is sure to secure Shipley a long and successful music career.

    The second EP by Jacob Shipley, Last Respects starts streaming on May 26. Until then, check out Shipley’s music here.

  • Fourth Annual Free Dead in the Park Benefit Concert Set for May

    The 4th annual Free Dead in the Park Benefit Concert, presented by the Capitol Theatre and Rythm Premium Cannabis, is scheduled for May 16 at 4:30 p.m. at Central Park. The concert series, which began in 2018, supports Riverkeeper, a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection of the Hudson River and its tributaries. Stella follows in the footsteps of the Grateful Dead, taking the same stage at the Naumberg Bandshell in Central Park.

    The 2022 Free Dead in the Park Concert. Credit: Ron Cohen.

    Stella Blue’s Band has been performing for more than a decade, and is made up of Bill Bonacci (lead guitar, vocals,) Steve Liesman (rhythm guitar, vocals,) Greg Solomon (bass), Ken Aigen (keyboards), Ron Cohen (drums, vocals), and Amy Stahlin (vocals.) First formed in 2009 to recreate the experience of a Grateful Dead show, Stella was the first band chosen for residency at Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, which has become the band’s homebase. The band plays regularly at New York City venues such as the Brooklyn Bowl and The Cutting Room, among several other venues in the tri-state area.

    Free Dead in the Park began in 2018, after a fan obtained a $25 permit for Stella Blue’s Band to play in the bandshell to honor the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead’s concert at the venue. In the years since it has evolved into a fundraising event for Riverkeeper. “Free Dead in the Park is such an exciting and significant event each year because it connects music fans with the environment and gives them the opportunity to make a difference in their community by helping protect the Hudson River,’’ said Tracy Brown, president of Riverkeeper.

    Riverkeeper is a member-supported organization that preserves and restores the Hudson River from source to sea and safeguards drinking water supplies through advocacy rooted in community partnerships, science, and law. The non-profit originally began as the Hudson River Fisherman’s Association in 1966, when the Hudson River was dying from pollution and neglect. Today, Riverkeeper continues its fight, seeking out polluters and teaming with citizen scientists and activists to reclaim the Hudson River.

    The show will be produced by G4D Productions with support from Best Instrument Rentals. The event would not be possible without support from the NYC Parks Department, which has helped to make the concert a success. The show also has support from a group of committed private contributors like the Morgan Le Fay Dreams Foundation and Friends of Free Dead in the Park.