NYS Music 2023

Tag: Upcoming Festival

  • Lineup Revealed For Inaugural AfroCruise

    Rock The Bells, AfroFuture, AfroVerse and Sixthman festivals have announced the first-ever AfroCruise which will sail from Miami, Florida to Nassau, Bahamas. The cruise will depart on March 29, 2024 and will arrive on April 1. The multi-day event will feature performances from some of the biggest African artists and will also showcase African and diasporic culture through food and fashion. 

    Linking together travel, live music, and a cultural celebration, the AfroCruise is one of the first events of its kind. Hosted on the Norwegian Pearl, the celebration still possesses all of the amenities and elements normal to an extravagant cruise ship. Attendees will have access to the boat’s fully stocked bars, dining options, pools, casino, spa, fitness center, and more. 

    Amongst the hustle and bustle of a standard cruise, the event also boasts an impressive roster of performing artists. Headlined by Nigeria’s Adekunle Gold and Ayra Starr, AfroCruise gives guests the opportunity to experience some of the best music from all over the world. The aim is to fully immerse attendees into the sounds and sensibilities of Afrobeats and Amapiano music. 

    Ayra Starr

    AfroCruise will also feature multiple different cultural events and workshops. In addition to traditional cruise ship tournaments and activities, there will also be an event focused on the African rice dish Jollof, a West African BBQ, and several different themed parties. 

    Rock The Bells was founded in 2018 by acclaimed rapper LL Cool J and Geoff Yang. The organization creates content and experiences within hip-hop culture. Together, with their partners Afrofuture, AfroVerse and Sixthman festivals, the collective looks to create an event that celebrates and encapsulates contemporary African and Disaporic culture. Click here for reservations and more details

    Artist Lineup

    Adekunle Gold

    Ayra Starr

    Black Sherif

    The Compozers

    Juls

    Mayorkun

    Naira Marley

    Spinall

    Teni

    Uncle Waffles

    Zinoleesky

  • Hudson Valley Jazz Festival Continues To Showcase Local Acts

    The Hudson Valley Jazz Festival will once again bring the sounds and soul of jazz music to Upstate New York. The celebration is now in its 14th season and has long acted as one of the premier showcases for local musicians. This year’s festival runs from August 9-13. 

    While there have been plenty of big names that have performed at the festival, the Hudson Valley Jazz Festival is truly dedicated to fostering and exhibiting musical talent around the region. Going along with the theme of community, the event will not take place at just one location like a traditional festival. Instead, the festival will unfold across various restaurants, clubs, galleries, community centers, and stages. 

    Among the towns where the festival will be held include Kingston, Warwick, Tarrytown, Montgomery, Stone Ridge, Greenwood Lake, and Woodstock. Another unique aspect of the Hudson Valley Jazz Festival is that each specific venue chooses the performers. Every participating town, business, and/or organization will have the ability to highlight the artist(s) of their preference. The result is a hyper-local experience that looks to demonstrate the diverse sounds and styles of jazz in Hudson Valley. 

    Drummer Taru Alexander via hudsonvalleyjazzfest

    There will be over 20 performances as part of the festival, with many of them being free. It all gets started on Wednesday, August 9 at The Cove in Greenwood Lake. The performance features a local all-star lineup including well-known vibraphonist Bill Ware. 

    Check here for the complete details of the festival, performers and venues are subject to change.

    Hudson Valley Jazz Festival Summer Lineup

    Wed Aug 9

    7 PM-  Taru Alexander, Robert Kopec, Eric Person, Bill Ware- The Cove, 13 Castle Court, Greenwood Lake

    7PM- Sean Crimmins Heart Strings Band- Front St. Tavern 63 North Front St. Kingston

    Thurs. Aug 10

    6:30 PM – Camille Thurman with the Darrell Green Quartet- On The Lawn,1405 Kings Hgwy Sugar Loaf Crossing, Sugar Loaf

    7 PM- Bill Pernice Trio- Coquito, Forester Ave. Warwick

    7 PM- Bill Evans Tribute- UpFront Gallery, 31 Jersey Ave, Port Jervis

    7PM- Depetris/Laks Duo- Front St Tavern, Kingston

    Friday Aug 11

    6:30 PM- Vanessa Racci Band Presented by Jazz Forum Art- Pierson Park, 238 West Main St, Tarrytown

    7 PM- JUDI SILVANO + FRIENDS: Summertime Songs with Matt Finck, Teri Roiger, Gabriele Tranchina, & John Menegon- Astoria Hudson 84 Clinton Street, Montgomery ($20 Suggested Donation for Fundraiser for the Wallkill River Center for the Arts in Montgomery, NY)

    6 PM- Soul Jazz Collective with Steve Raleigh- Front St Tavern, Kingston

    7 PM- Jerry Vivino & Friends, with Adam Nussbaum, Sue Williams and Tomoko Ohno- Railroad Green, Railroad Ave, Warwick.  

    Saturday Aug 12

    12 PM- Nancy Tierney Trio- Front St Tavern, Kingston

    1 PM- Rave Tesar / Mike Jackson Group- Trails End Taphouse, Greenwood Lake Garden Market 1197 17A, Greenwood Lake

    7 PM- David Amram- Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St Beacon

    7 PM-  Jeff Ciampa with Chris Pasin Quartet- Lydia’s 7 Old US 209 Stone Ridge

    7 PM- Steve Slagle Group with Matt Garrity- BARNSTOCK, 86 Baumgarten Rd. Woodstock.

    Sunday Aug 13

    2 PM- Billy Stein, Joe Giardullo, Harvey Sorgen- Albert Wisner Library, 1 McFarland Dr, Warwick

    3 PM- The Rick Savage Quartet with Joe Vincent Tranchina, Gandharva Earl Sauls and special guest artist Eliot Zigmund- The Last Whiskey Bar, 45 Woodlands Way, Warwick

    6 PM- Bob Shaut and Sax Life- Frank Guido’s Little Italy, 4 Thomas St, Kingston7PM- The Analog Jazz Orchestra with special guest artist– The Falcon, 1348 Rt 9W Marlboro

  • Live At The Gantries Lineup Announced

    Presented by the Kupferberg Center for the Arts, Live at the Gantries brings free music to the banks of the East River. The concert series runs every Tuesday from July 11 through August 15. Performances are set to take place at Gantry Plaza State Park in Queens. 

    Each concert is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM. The series looks to support and foster some of the most talented local artists and bands in NYC. This year’s lineup features music from several different genres, including R&B, Afrobeat, Soul, Dance, and Jazz.

    The beauty of Live at the Gantries is that it brings together the vibrant Queens community and showcases the incredible musical talent. It’s a celebration of diversity, culture, and the power of music to bring people together

    Jon Yanofsky, Director of Kupferberg Center for the Arts

    Gantry Plaza State Park sits on 12 acres of land and gives attendees a pristine view of the Manhattan skyline. The park provides the perfect venue to enjoy the sounds of live music as the sun sets over the Big Apple. 

    Live at the Gantries Lineup

    TUE, JUL 11, 7 PM: AJOYO

    AJOYO is a groovy mixture of jazz, electronic, and pop all grounded in strong West African rhythms. Spearheaded by Sarah Elizabeth Charles, Yacine Boulares, and Jesse Fischer, their unique sound is perfect for summer. 

    TUE, JUL 18, 7 PM: Bartlett Contemporaries

    Bartlett Contemporaries with the Uptown Funk Sound is a dynamic band influenced by the diverse sounds of Queens, NY. Their music often lies somewhere in the realm of hip-hop. Blending bebop, hip hop, dance and more to create a sound that is both timeless and fresh. 

    TUE, JUL 25, 7 PM: Afro Dominicano

    Afro Dominicano infuses their songs with a captivating Afro-Caribbean soul. Incorporating Dominican styles with African elements, Afro Domincano produces music that encapsulates both the diversity and collectivity of NYC.

    TUE, AUG 1, 7 PM: Linda EPO’s Ensemble New Yorkino

    Growing up in Queens, New York City and Puebla City, Mexico Linda EPO’s voice has been greatly shaped by her cultural surroundings. As part of her career, Linda has been on a worldwide tour with the Grammy nominated Heritage Blues Orchestra.

    TUE, AUG 8, 7 PM: Michael Olatuja & Lagos Pepper Soup

    New York-based composer and bassist Michael Olatuja combines the sounds of Lagos, London, and New York City to create “cinematic Afrobeat”. One of the most innovative artists today, Olatuja has worked with the likes of Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Shakira, and Angelique Kidjo. 

    TUE, AUG 15, 7 PM: Slavo Rican Assembly

    The Slavo Rican Assembly was founded by Jan Kus, a saxophonist and composer hailing from Slovenia and based in New York City. This seven-piece band combines Latin jazz scene with South Slavic musical heritage.

    Here for more details and information.