Author: nick motto

  • Award-Winning Documentary “Swing 46: The Last Swingin’ Supper Club” Screening October 6 in NYC

    Swing 46 in NYC has announced the special screening of award-winning documentary on the venue, titled “Swing 46: The Last Swingin’ Supper Club.” The airing takes place on October 6 at the jazz club itself.

    The famous jazz and supper club Swing 46 prepares to host an honorable screening along with a Q&A session with the filmmaker. The night gives a snapshot of this historic music venue, which has been a home of music, performance, dancing, and memories for decades. The documentary tells the tale of a music venue born out of the retro swing renaissance of the late 90’s, hosting live music, diners, and dancers for nearly three decades.

    The COVID-19 Pandemic has taken its toll on this great music venue which features live music six nights a week, acclaimed food, and a stunning atmosphere that has drawn many globally. A portion of the funds raised will benefit Swing 46’s daily operations and expenses helping to sustain this iconic music and supper club.

    In addition to providing a home to the New York City Swing Dance Community and world
    renowned artists, Swing 46 became a beloved tourist destination, welcoming jazz fans and dancers from around the world. If funding does not become available to help this beloved club pay ongoing bills like rent, utilities, payroll to staff, and other necessities, it will not be able to continue to operate. Swing 46 may be forced to close its doors permanently and NYC will lose another precious live music venue.

    For more information on the impact and magnitude of the jazz club and to purchase tickets to the October 6 event, click here.

  • Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Announces Appointment of Stacey Bridge to Managing Director

    Troy Savings Bank Music Hall has announced the appointment of Stacey Bridge to the position of Managing Director. Stacey’s contributions have been crucial to the growth of several projects presented by the Music Hall.

    Stacey Bridge

    In her new expanded role, Stacey is directly responsible for day-to-day operations in addition to a significant role overseeing the Renaissance 150 expansion project. Stacey Bridge has held a wide range of roles, specializing in finance and operations and has over 25 years of valuable experience in the industry.

    In addition to her role at Troy Music Hall, Stacey currently serves as a Board Member for the Hart Cluett Museum. She is also a member of the Lending Committee of the Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region. 

    The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall has been a prestigious venue for arts and performance in the Capital Region since the late 19th century. Stacey Bridge has played an instrumental role in contributing to the music hall’s projects for the last decade. There is no better acquisition to the music hall than Stacey.

    With the new appointment, the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall looks to expand their prestige and reach even further. Stacey is surely one to contribute to this goal given her experience, capabilities, and prestige herself.

    “We are preparing our organization for its next phase with the arrival of project Renaissance 150 and the opening of the Capital Region Music Hub. As a part of this preparation, Stacey Bridge has been appointed Managing Director of the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Corporation. Stacey’s contributions have been instrumental in our organization’s growth journey and will continue to be crucial as we move ahead.”

    Jon Elbaum, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Executive Director

    For more information on Troy Music Hall such as upcoming events, click here.

  • Unreleased Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young “Live at the Fillmore East” Hits in October

    Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young’s 1969 Live at the Fillmore East performances are set to release this October as a double live album. The album boasts recordings from the group’s 1969 concert at the Fillmore East in NYC.

    Crosby Stills Nash and Young Fillmore East

    A newly discovered multi-track recording of the band’s September 20, 1969, concert at the historic Fillmore East in New York City captures an early moment from that first tour is releasing as a double live album on October 25.

    Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young were heavily involved in the creation of this never-before-heard live show. Stills and Young compiled and mixed the original eight-track concert recordings at Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles.

    The album was recorded only a month after Woodstock. The concert was the band’s fourth in two days at the Fillmore East and featured both acoustic and electric sets. The setlist spotlights soon-to-be classics from CSN’s self-titled debut and Young’s Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” “Helplessly Hoping,” and “Down By The River” to name a few.

    Stills delivers a stunning solo acoustic performance of his introspective ballad “4 + 20.” Nash follows, alone at the organ, singing “Our House” to its inspiration, Joni Mitchell, who was in the Fillmore audience.

    “Hearing the music again after all these years, I can tell how much we loved each other and loved the music that we were creating. We were four people reveling in the different sounds we were producing, quietly singing together on the one hand, then rocking like f**k for the rest of the concert.”

    Graham Nash

    The electric set is powerful and intense, highlighted by expansive versions of “Wooden Ships,” “Long Time Gone,” and “Sea Of Madness.” The band closes the show with “Find The Cost Of Freedom.” This song by Stills would later be released as the B-side to the protest anthem “Ohio.”

    Live At The Fillmore East, 1969

    LP Tracklist

    Acoustic Set

    Side One

    1. “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”

    2. “Blackbird”

    3. “Helplessly Hoping”

    4. “Guinnevere”

    5. “Lady Of The Island”

    Side Two

    6. “Go Back Home”

    7. “On The Way Home”

    8. “4 + 20”

    9. “Our House”

    10. “I’ve Loved Her So Long”

    11. “You Don’t Have To Cry”

    Electric Set

    Side One

    1. “Long Time Gone”

    2. “Wooden Ships”

    3. “Bluebird Revisited”

    4. “Sea Of Madness”

    Side Two

    5. “Down By The River”

    6. “Find The Cost Of Freedom”

    CD Tracklist

    Acoustic Set

    1. “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”

    2. “Blackbird”

    3. “Helplessly Hoping”

    4. “Guinnevere”

    5. “Lady Of The Island”

    6. “Go Back Home”

    7. “On The Way Home”

    8. “4 + 20”

    9. “Our House”

    10. “I’ve Loved Her So Long”

    11. “You Don’t Have To Cry”

    Electric Set

    12. “Long Time Gone”

    13. “Wooden Ships”

    14. “Bluebird Revisited”

    15. “Sea Of Madness”

    16. “Down By The River”

    17. “Find The Cost Of Freedom”

    To pre-order the CD of “Live at the Fillmore East” click here. To learn more about the vinyl record, click here.

  • New York City Opera Installs Constantine Orbelian as Executive Director & Music Director

    The board of New York City Opera announces the appointment of Constantine Orbelian as the organization’s new Executive Director & Music Director. Constantine succeeds General Director Michael Capasso.

    Constantine Orbelian

    Four-time Grammy-nominated conductor Constantine Orbelian has been called “the singer’s dream collaborator” by Opera News. He has toured and recorded with some of the world’s greatest singers, such as American stars Renee Fleming, Sondra Radvanovsky and Lawrence Brownlee. He also toured with the great Dmitri Hvorostovsky and other renowned singers in European, North American, and Asian music centers.

    Orbelian’s accomplishments include being Music Director of the Moscow Chamber Orchestra and the Philharmonia of Russia. He founded the annual Palaces of St. Petersburg International Music Festival and was Chief Conductor of the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra in Lithuania. He was the first American to become music director of an ensemble in Russia.

    NYC Opera’s 2024-25 season is poised to captivate and inspire with dynamic repertoire that celebrates resilience, history, and community. The season also features the long-awaited revival of William Grant Still’s Troubled Island. It is presented 75 years after its 1949 premiere at City Opera.

    “I am honored and excited to take on the role of Executive Director in addition to my current role as Music Director and Principal Conductor of the New York City Opera, a company with such a rich legacy and profound history in the world of music. This opportunity allows me to blend my passion for artistic excellence with mindful and positive stewardship, ensuring that the cherished traditions of this great institution continue to thrive. Together with this wonderful community, we will embark on a journey that honors the past while boldly shaping the future of this iconic opera company.”

    Constantine Orbelian

    To learn more about NYC Opera’s new executive director and music director Constantine Orbelian, please click here.

  • COLORS Present ‘Tones of NYC’ Program at Knockdown Center in Queens this October

    COLORS has announced the “Tones of NYC” program which will see a diverse array of talented artist performances over the span of two days. The program lasts from October 10 to 11 and is hosted at Queens’ Knockdown Center.

    Knockdown Center in Queens

    About COLORS

    COLORS’ brand-new event concept, TONES OF, launches in New York in October 2024. It is set to explore NYC’s undisputed reputation as one of the most powerful cultural capitals in the world. Tones of NYC features a program of live music, art, workshops, discussions, pop ups and more. The aim is to unite leading creatives and up to 6,000 guests for 2 days of cultural exploration.

    The event boasts a stacked line-up including Street Dreams, Mustafa, Kidsuper, Moses Sumney, Half Moon BK, Sadboi, Naomi Sharon and many more. Another huge element of the TONES program is dance. TONES pulls in some of the world’s finest dancers and choreographers in the form of Charm La’Donna and Amari Marshall. They are both delivering panels as well as workshops.

    Mustafa the Poet

    Built in the city, for the city – ‘TONES OF’ unites both established and next-gen cultural pioneers to collaboratively curate each event. As well as music, TONES day-time agenda opens up discussions on topics from innovation in the arts to the future of design and more. 

    TONES OF connects live acts, DJs, artists, community projects, fashion brands, style heads, creatives, foodies and more. These creative minds deliver talks, workshops, pop-up events, Q&A sessions, parties and of course live music.

    Charm La’Donna

    For more information on the upcoming “Tones of NYC” event presented by COLORS, click here. Tickets are available to purchase on ColorsxStudios website.

  • Ashokan Center Announces Ukrainian Community Day Celebration on September 22

    Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, NY has announced a music celebration in honor of Ukrainian culture on September 22. The event is coined Ukrainian Community Day.

    Ukrainian Community Day

    The event features a diverse lineup of Ukrainian music. This includes The Ukrainian Village Voices, singer Maria Sonevytsky, bandura player Olya Fryz, and Eva Salina, founder of Driftwood Chorus.

    The Ukrainian American Youth Association of the Hudson Valley are selling a range of items. This includes shirts, sweatshirts, handmade jewelry, collectible Ukrainian stamps and more.

    Activities include Ukrainian folk medicine plant walks, dance instruction, hands-on workshops showcasing Ukrainian potters, and wool spinning & weaving artists. Also included, an array of authentic culinary delights to be presented by Soyuzivka, the Ukrainian American cultural center in Kerhonkson.

    Various performances are planned for the event by Zoya Shepko & YiYi Folk Ensemble, Ruby Pinyuh-Derovan, Bourbon & Breast Milk, and more. Each performance pays homage to the vast diversity of Ukrainian culture. Ukrainian Community Day is one for all to enjoy, and for all cultures to take part in and to experience this unique culture.

    Ashokan’s all-age tickets work on a sliding scale with $20 as the suggested price of the event, $10 as the minimum, and $30 to be a supporter. This allows the Ashokan Center to provide tickets to those who are financially unable to attend otherwise.

    50% of all proceeds are donated to Ukrainian-American Youth Association of the Hudson Valley. The support for Ukrainian American Youth Association’s (UAYA) efforts to aid children and hospitals in Ukraine is incredibly important, especially given the current challenges the country faces.

    “The natural beauty and wooden architecture of the Ashokan Center invokes a
    sense of the Ukrainian mountain communities, creating a meaningful and resonant
    backdrop for this event. Showcasing and connecting with Ukrainian culture and
    community helps bring the issues in Ukraine closer to people’s hearts and helps
    support its resilience and fight for freedom.”

    Danylo Mykula, Ukrainian American Youth Association

    For more information on Ukrainian Community Day, and to purchase tickets, click here.

  • Troy Indie Group The Belle Curves Release Genre-Blending Album “Subject to Change”

    Troy-based indie rock band The Belle Curves release their new album titled Subject to Change which blends Americana and rock.

    the belle curves

    The Belle Curves is the primary creative vehicle for Troy-based songwriter Delaney Hafener. The group focuses on an indie sound but with a folky, americana twist. Their latest record Subject to Change displays a variety of the group’s sounds and abilities.

    The opening track “Hand Rolled” is a soft rock tune with a classic sound, but still maintaining their roots with modern indie themes. The next track “Life in the Hinterlands” bolts out of the gate with a roadtrippin’ americana feel. It certainly has a country twang and still holds the indie sound close. Delaney’s voice is dynamic, with high highs and low lows. Her abilities speak for themself throughout this album. The track “Sister” really showcases the power in the softness of Delaney’s vocals.

    The track “The Process” in particular caught my attention quite soon during the first play. The track progresses wonderfully from lowkey to fierce and powerful. It then concludes in such an angelic and completing way with the vocals and instruments coming to a head followed by a fade out.

    For more information on The Belle Curves and their upcoming album Subject to Change visit their Bandcamp by clicking here.

  • Eggy and Dogs In A Pile to Join Forces for Two-Night Run at The Capitol Theatre this November

    Next generation Jam bands Eggy and Dogs In A Pile have announced the meeting of minds this November for a two-night run at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, presented by Relix.

    Eggy and Dogs In A Pile
    Eggy

    This collaboration arrives as both bands are experiencing breakout years, touring across the country and capturing national attention. Eggy is gearing up for the release of their new album Waiting Game on September 6. The band is slated to set out on a lengthy tour this fall in support of the new record.

    Dogs In A Pile has been making significant strides in 2024, selling out headlining shows in major cities such as Washington D.C., Austin, Texas and Denver. The New Jersey-native quintet will soon embark on an extensive fall tour and are in the process of recording their forthcoming album.

    Eggy and Dogs In A Pile
    Dogs In A Pile

    Eggy and Dogs In A Pile have worked for an opportunity like this to arise for quite some time. It is beyond exciting to see how the two unique sounds combine to create something new this November. The two-night run spans November 29 and 30.

    Each night will feature an alternating closer, as Eggy and Dogs In A Pile will both perform approximately 90-minute sets on Friday and Saturday night. The evenings will culminate in a special collaborative encore where both bands will come together for a closing song. Their distinct sounds are mashed up for a one-of-a-kind memorable musical experience for fans in attendance.

    For more information on show times and ticket prices, click here. For more info on Eggy and Dogs In A Pile, visit their sites – eggymusic.com and dogsinapileofficial.com.

  • Cortland Repertory Theatre Presents New Concert “Close to You: The Music of the Carpenters”

    Cortland Repertory Theatre has announced their new “Sounds of Music” Concert Series. Kicking off the series on Wednesday, September 4 is “Close to You: The Music of the Carpenters” featuring lead singer Lisa Rock and her band, a concert that is a heartfelt tribute to vocal legend Karen Carpenter.

    Karen Carpenter captured the attention of a generation with her memorable love songs that topped the Billboard charts more than a dozen times. Lisa Rock returns to CRT with her band and backup singers, bringing their nationally renowned concert to the Pavilion stage.

    Lisa showcases some of the most memorable songs of the 70s including “We’ve Only Just Begun”, “Rainy Days and Mondays”, “Superstar” and many more favorites. Not an impressionist, but an artist with an amazing 4-octive range, Lisa presents a trip down memory lane like no other.

    Iconic Karen Carpenter

    “Close to You” is the first of a series of four Wednesday concerts held in September at the Pavilion. On September 11, Tina Naponelli returns to CRT with her tribute of “Tapestry Unraveled: The Music of Carole King.” “Sounds of Music” takes place every Wednesday in September at 2:00PM and 7:30PM at the Little York Pavilion, Preble.

    On September 21, “Jefferson McDonald’s Great Balls of Fire” tears into the CRT stage. This high-energy performance consists of hits by Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Willie Nelson, and many more. 

    Finally, on September 28, CRT presents “How Sweet It Is: Steve Leslie Sings James Taylor”, with this Nashville-based, award-winning singer/songwriter performing such hits as “Carolina On My Mind”, “Shower The People”, and “Up On The Roof”.

    Lisa Rock performing “Close to You”

    CRT Guild refreshment counters are offering beer and wine along with the regular snacks, cookies and coffee. Individual tickets for all shows, times and seats are $35.00.  A special discount is offered for one ticket to each concert for $120.00 total. 

    To learn more about the upcoming “Sounds of Music” concert series and to purchase tickets, click here.

  • Afrobeat Artist AMAYO Releases New Single “Madam President”

    Afrobeat artist AMAYO released his new single, “Madam President,” on August 22, garnering attention across streaming services.

    Madam President

    The track “Madam President” begins with an explosion of percussion, brass, keys, and vocals. Right off the bat the song hooks the listener and once you read into the lyrics, you see the subject matter is deep upon the funky, groovy, upbeat instrumentals.

    AMAYO is urging the listener to fight – for freedom, for peace, and for justice. With the upcoming presidential election this November 5, the political nature of the track speaks volumes. The artist is speaking through his heart about moving forward and never back.

    Madam President

    AMAYO believes that all people of color, and other marginalized groups win if Kamala wins, clear that he is for Kamala Harris’ victory in the presidency. It is also clear that he draws much inspiration from Bob Marley and the Wailers, Steel Pulse, and other reggae/afrobeat artists.

    Once a part of Antibalas, a massively influential Afrobeat band, AMAYO is no stranger to the sounds he is currently releasing unto the world. He is credited for bringing Afrobeat to a global audience, leading it to become a genre of itself.

    Antibalas Live

    To hear AMAYO’s new single “Madam President,” click here and choose your preferred service.