She was one of the greatest “misses” of the 1970s – a singer-songwriter of lyrical and musical depth who led a life more tragic than anything conjured by Tolstoy. Now, 45 years after her passing, she is revealed and righteously revered in a powerful new documentary from co-directors Andy Brown and Brian Lindstrom, Lost Angel: The Genius of Judee Sill (Greenwich Entertainment).
While there are many wonderful interviews with her contemporaries like Linda Ronstadt, Graham Nash and Jackson Browne and performances of her songs by Fleet Foxes and more, this documentary is very much a first-person autobiography. The most powerful voice telling Sill’s story here is her own. It comes in audio clips from recently unearthed interviews and heartbreaking passages from her journals read by Sonya Goddy.
Sill’s story begins and ends in hardship, interrupted by a brief two-year window when she was poised to be “the next big thing” in the burgeoning singer-songwriter genre. She would be one of the first signings to David Geffen’s powerhouse Asylum Records, the home of platinum-selling artists like Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt and The Eagles.
Sill would begin tickling the ivories at the piano in her father’s bar at age three. By her teen years, her life went south when she became involved with petty theft and addiction, which sent to a reform school. While there, she fell in love with playing the church organ and gospel music. In 1968, while in prison on fraud and prostitution charges, she realized that if she could endure the agony of kicking heroin cold turkey in the clink, she could do anything. She decided to become a singer-songwriter and marked this commitment with a jailhouse tattoo of a treble clef on her shoulder. She would continue her struggles after prison, working as a jazz bass player in a piano bar and developing a 15 – 20 bag a day heroin habit, before finally getting clean. Within a few short years, she went from living in a car to being the subject of cover story on Rolling Stone Magazine.
Her songwriting career began when she secured a $65 a week job writing songs after scoring her first major achievement penning “Lady-O” for The Turtles. While playing open mic nights at the legendary Troubadour in Los Angeles, she would come to the attention of songwriter and boyfriend-to-be JD Souther. He and other in that tight circle of musicians who would sing her praises to Geffen. Her unique fusion of country jazz and baroque stylings, and her songs uniquely anchored on Bach bass movements, would secure her a record deal and heavy promotion for her eponymous 1971 debut album.
Unlike some artists who play it humble, Sill unabashedly proclaimed: “I really want to be a star” in interviews. Her debut album included the classic “Jesus Was A Cross Maker.” It was a tune based on her turbulent relationship with Souther who, by then, was dating Linda Ronstadt. A faithful friend to the end, Ronstadt provides some of the most pertinent observations in this film about Sill’s massive talent and her inability to cope and roll with disappointments in her career. Sill’s follow-up album, 1973’s Heart Food, would also garner continued critical accolades but even more disappointing sales. It would include the incredible “The Kiss,” a song that is called representative of her “amazing, universal force.” It is a ballad that, like many of her works, is a representation of “a sensual experience with God” according to Big Thief’s Buck Meek.
“She didn’t play the game well and was terrible at kissing ass,” adds JD Souther. “Part of her bitterness was that she knew how good she was.” Another reason for her lack of success may have been cosmetic – that she didn’t possess the physical beauty of contemporaries like Joni Mitchell.
In frustration at her lack of success, and especially in light of the soaring careers of label mates like Ronstadt and Mitchell, Sill would lash out at Geffen, reportedly calling him “a fag” from the stage. “She went to battle with Geffen and lost” adds another musician. She would be dropped from his label, beg for forgiveness that wouldn’t come and spiral down from there.
A car accident would severely compromise her health. It would lead to two spinal fusion surgeries, constant pain and, once again, a dependence on drugs. She would pass away in October 1979 due to an overdose which was officially ruled a suicide. It’s a conclusion doubted by many of her friends and collaborators.
With all of the agony, this film really is more about the pure ecstasy of Sill’s talent and music. The documentary’s directors do a wonderful job presenting her music, with clips of her performances on BBC’s Old Grey Whistle Test and at a low-key lunchtime gig on University of Southern California campus. There are also some great covers including “The Kiss” by Fleet Foxes and “The Phoenix” by Shawn Colvin. Her impact on a new generation of artists is related in interviews with luminaries like Big Thief’s Buck Meek and Adrianne Lenker and Weyes Blood.
Do yourself a favor and see this film now streaming on Amazon and Apple TV or in a theater near you.
Multi-award-winning actress Bernadette Peters will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Chita Rivera Awards.
Photo by Andrew Eccles.
The 2024 Chita Rivera Awards will take place on Monday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m. at The Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place). All proceeds benefit the NYC Dance Alliance Foundation Scholarship Program and the new Chita Rivera Training Scholarship. The NYCDA Foundation is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) committed to broadening performing arts awareness while advocating education and high standards of excellence in dance.
Throughout her illustrious career, Bernadette Peters has dazzled audiences and critics with her performances on stage, film, television, in concert, and on recordings. She has garnered numerous accolades including three Tony Awards, a Golden Globe, four Emmy and four GRAMMY Award nominations, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Best known for her work on stage and one of Broadway’s most critically acclaimed performers, she just concluded a highly successful West End debut in the Cameron Mackintosh production of Old Friends, celebrating the life and work of Stephen Sondheim.
Peters has starred as Dolly Gallagher Levi in the hit musical, Hello, Dolly! and City Center’s Encores! Production, A Bed and a Chair: A New York Love Affair featuring the music of Stephen Sondheim and orchestrations by Wynton Marsalis. Before that, she starred on Broadway in Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music and Follies. Peters earned a Drama Desk nomination for her unforgettable portrayal of the Witch in Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods.
She also enjoys a career that boasts an impressive list of television credits, most recently the Apple TV+ series, High Desert, and a guest-starring role on the NBC-TV series, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist for which she earned an Emmy nomination. Other TV appearances include The CW’s Katy Keene; CBS All Access’s The Good Fight; and Amazon Prime’s Golden Globe-winning series, Mozart in the Jungle.
She has lit the silver screen in over 30 films throughout her distinguished career. She received a Golden Globe Award for her memorable performance in Pennies From Heaven. Other film credits include The Jerk, The Longest Yard, Silent Movie,Annie, Pink Cadillac, Slaves of New York, Woody Allen’s Alice, Impromptu, It Runs in the Family, Coming Up Roses, The Broken Hearts Gallery, and most recently, a surprise appearance in the popular Jonathan Larson biopic, tick, tick…BOOM!
She has recorded six solo albumsand numerous original Broadway cast recordings. Peters devotes her time and talents to events that benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Her “pet project” Broadway Barks, co-founded with Mary Tyler Moore, is an annual, star-studded dog and cat adoption event that benefits shelter animals in the New York City and tri-state area.
The American Theater Wing honored Bernadette Peters’ efforts and awarded her with the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award which recognizes an individual from the theatre community who has made a substantial contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian, social service, or charitable organizations, regardless of whether such organizations relate to the theatre. She is also a New York Times best-selling author who has penned three children’s books.
Carrying the name of one of the great dance icons of the American musical theater, the Chita Rivera Awards celebrate dance and choreographic excellence – past, present, and future. The awards honor the superb achievement of each nominee while recognizing the talents and passion of every theatrical choreographer and dancer. Additionally, through education and scholarships, the awards are committed to nurturing future generations and preserving notable dance history.
We are thrilled to honor Bernadette Peters with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Over an unbelievable career spanning over six decades, Bernadette has starred on stage and screen, performed concerts around the world, written children’s books, and as a humanitarian, has saved hundreds of animals with her charity Broadway Barks. Having Joel Grey on hand to present her Award will make this a truly unforgettable evening.
Joe Lanteri, Founder and Executive Director of the New York City Dance Alliance Foundation, Inc.
Tickets to the Chita Rivera Awards are available now.
The Head And The Heart have announced a headlining run of summer North American dates, beginning July 20 in West Des Moines, IA., and concluding August 20 in Moorehead, MN. The group is coming to Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards on July 24, Palace Theatre on July 28, and Kodak Center on July 29. They are also opening for The Black Keys at MSG on Oct. 30.
Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez
The Head And The Heart will be joined on select dates by Phosphorescent, Michigander, Madison Cunningham, and Houndmouth.
2023 was a triumphant year for the group, who sold out the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre outside Denver for the seventh time, co-headlined a tour with The Revivalists and Father John Misty, and launched their own music festival, Down in the Valley, in Napa, CA. The event featured acoustic and full-band sets from The Head and the Heart plus some of today’s top folk and rock talent, including Dawes, Miya Folick, and Faye Webster. The group was touring in support of their fifth studio album, Every Shade of Blue – released in 2022.
Initially self-released in 2011, The Head And The Heart’s self-titled breakout debut produced instant classics including “Rivers and Roads,” “Down in the Valley” and “Lost In My Mind” (#1 at AAA) and is now certified Gold. 2013’s Let’s Be Still and 2016’s Signs of Light settled into Billboard’s Top 10 Albums chart. The single “All We Ever Knew” became the band’s first #1 at on the Alternative chart and was also #1 at AAA for nine straight weeks. The band’s fourth full-length, Living Mirage, was released to critical praise in 2019.
The band has appeared in Cameron Crowe’s Roadies and their music has been featured in countless other commercials, films, and TV shows. The Head And The Heart has performed 15 times on national television, including appearances on Ellen, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Austin City Limits, and more.
For more information and to purchase tickets to their upcoming tour, visit here.
The Head And The Heart Tour Dates
6/30 Hartford, CT The Capitol Groove Festival *
7/12 Bend, OR Hayden Homes Amphitheater !
7/14 Seattle, WA Day In Day Out Festival *
7/19 Saint Paul, MN Minnesota Yacht Club *
7/20 West Des Moines, IA Val Air Ballroom &
7/21 St. Louis, MO Saint Louis Music Park &
7/24 La Fayette, NY Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards &
7/25 Burlington, VT Waterfront Park &
7/28 Albany, NY Palace Theatre &
7/29 Rochester, NY Kodak Center &
7/31 Wilmington, NC Greenfield Lake Amphitheater &
8/1 Charleston, SC The Refinery &
8/2 St. Petersburg, FL Jannus Live &
8/3 Orlando, FL House of Blues Orlando &
8/6 Birmingham, AL Avondale Brewing Co. &
8/7 Little Rock, AR Robinson Center &
8/8 Wichita, KS The Cotillion &
8/10 Bellevue, NE Outlandia *
8/12 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre $
8/13 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre #
8/15 Aspen, CO Belly Up Aspen ^
8/17 Bozeman, MT The ELM ^
8/18 Columbia Falls, MT Scout & Gather ^
8/20 Moorehead, MN Bluestem Amphitheatre ^
9/14 Templeton, CA Whale Rock Music & Arts Festival *
9/17 Tulsa, OK BOK Center %
9/18 Austin, TX Moody Center %
9/20 Louisville, KY Bourbon & Beyond *
9/21 Houston, TX Toyota Center %
9/16 Phoenix, AZ Footprint Center %
9/27 Los Angeles, CA Kia Forum %
9/28 Palm Springs, CA Acrisure Arena %
9/29 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre %
10/10 Pittsburgh, PA PPG Paints Arena %
10/11 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena %
10/12 Cleveland, OH Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse %
10/13 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena %
10/16 Charlotte, NC Spectrum Center %
10/18 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena %
10/19 Atlanta, GA State Farm Arena %
10/21 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center %
10/24 Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena %
10/26 Indianapolis, IN Gainbridge Fieldhouse %
10/27 Knoxville, TN Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center %
10/30 New York, NY Madison Square Garden %
11/2 Baltimore, MD CFG Bank Arena %
11/7 Chicago, IL United Center %
11/9 Milwaukee, WI Fiserv Forum %
11/12 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena %
With The Decemberists (!), Phosphorescent (&), Michigander (^), Madison Cunningham ($), Houndmouth (#)
Spafford returned to New York City’s Brooklyn Bowl last weekend for a “holiday” performance on April 20 with a show full of cover songs and some exquisitely jammed out originals. This three-set show marked the end of a short run of shows in the Northeast for the band, who are back in action after a scary accident on tour last month in Ohio. Spafford certainly showed no signs of being worse for the wear and made it an enjoyable 4/20 for all involved.
A late arriving crowd to the Bowl walked into a soundtrack mix of classic rock hits on the PA atop a bed of pin strikes and gutter balls. Pre-show music included a nice live version of “In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed” as a nod to the recently departed Dickey Betts. Spafford then took the stage and started things off with the appropriately titled “I Can’t Find My Vape,” a newer, funky instrumental tune in the vein of Herbie Hancock.
The crux of the first set, however, was the next two songs, starting with a near 30-minute “Comfortable.” The song started out exactly as such, with a nice comfortable groove to it, before an intense guitar solo from Brain Moss ushered in another loose but explorative jam with strong psychedelic undertones. Certainly no strangers to extended jamming, the band showed off their musical prowess early and took the sound down to near ambient levels before building it back up to a triumphant finish.
This was followed up “The Postman,” another original but a much more composition-based song off their 2018 release For Amusement Only. The now firmly entrenched keyboardist Corey Schechtman shined on all of them – piano, synthesizer, and organ – as Spafford doled out some more legitimate funk to the Brooklyn Bowl audience through a thick, oozing jam that slowly escalated in pace. The opening set then came to a close with an old school original, the reggae-tinged “Diana” that culminated with another provocative Moss guitar solo.
Spafford then let all the covers out in the second set and wasted no time in doing so. Drummer Nick Tkachyk began things with a simple, lone, up tempo drum beat and the band then immediately launched into their take of Stone Temple Pilots’ “Plush.” With its faster pace and underlying organ fills, it’s certainly a more joyous take on the dour alt rock classic. True to their nature, Spafford stretched out the ending and molded it into a massive jam that maintained upbeat and completely danceable. This eventually led to bassist Jordan Fairless taking over the mic to lead the way on a take of Porno for Pyros’ “Pets,” another regular in the Stafford stable of cover songs.
Another jam that smoothly shifted from mellow to breakneck then served as the springboard for a leap into another signature cover song, Tears For Fears’ “Mad World.” Schechtman on piano alongside some furious rhythm guitar from Moss served as the fuel for yet another ebullient interpretation of a glum pop hit from yesteryear. Spafford then shifted from musical influences to modern day and segued right into a newer cover song they’ve made their own, Demi Lovato’s “Anyone.” Moss did the heartfelt, introspective lyrics about prayer justice all while the song never lost its peppy undercarriage. To close out the second set at Brooklyn Bowl, Spafford once again delved into the alternative music playbook with a pair of Green Day covers. Fairless returned to lead vocals for their their techno-like cover of “Brain Stew” which was parlayed right into a jazzed up take on “Jaded,” both making their live Spafford debut.
The third set began with a not-so-subtle nod to the holiday at end with a quote from the movie Reefer Madness played over the PA and Spafford followed in tow with an entertaining cover of Sublime’s “Smoke Two Joints,” a song they first debuted last year on 4/20. It paid homage to the original at first and then turned into a sprawling, exploratory jam that reached several veritable peaks before rounding back into form.
With the holiday formalities out of the way, the third set was then dominated by the other extended jam of the evening, a 30-minute “Dirtbag” that served as testament to the band’s musical dexterity. Starting with a rollicking funk jam, it soon devolved into total silence before being resuscitated by some triumphant guitar fills from Moss. The multi-textured song also has elements of progressive rock, acid jazz and, of course, jam band, really allowing band the show off their full skill set.
Spafford then closed out another successful appearance at Brooklyn Bowl with one last flurry of cover songs, starting with Pink Floyd’s “Run Like Hell.” It’s not quite as hectic as The Disco Biscuits’ take on it, but thanks to some looping synthesizer sounds produced by Schechtman and more metronome-like precision from Tkachyk on drums, it eventually produced an incredibly lively jam that funneled right into “Cantaloupe Island,” some actual Herbie Hancock. After some heartfelt thanks from Moss, Spafford paid one last respect to the date and sent folks on their way with an honest cover of Tom Petty’s “You Don’t Know How It Feels” and its joint smoking instructions.
As a reminder, Spafford has several upcoming shows in New York including one on June 12 at Rochesterâs Water Street Music Hall. Three days later, Spafford is set to play Colony in Woodstock and then the band wraps up their time in NY (for now) with a stop on Long Island at The Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett on June 17. Tickets for all Summer Tour dates are on sale at spafford.net.
Spafford Brooklyn Bowl – New York, NY 4/20/24
Set 1: Can’t Find My Vape, Comfortable > The Postman, Diana
Set 2: Plush > Pets->Mad World->Anyone, Brain Stew->Jaded
Set 3: Smoke Two Joints > Dirtbath, Run Like Hell->Cantaloupe Island
Danielle Nicole and her band, Kevin Burt, Big Medicine and Soulful Femme put on a fantastic night of blues at Retro Live in Plattsburgh on Saturday, April 20.
Danielle Nicole headlined the show as part of her 2024 tour throughout the US and overseas and in support of the recent release of “The Love You Bleed”. Nicole wrote all but four of the songs on that project and co-wrote the remaining four with Brandon Miller. The album hit number one on the Billboard, iTunes and Spotify charts. Nicole performed cuts from both her new release and prior albums.
Kevin Burt photo by Carl Rubino
With a powerful voice, skillful musicianship, and dynamic stage presence she gave the packed crowd just what it came for – blues that reaches your core. Switching between two four string electric bass guitars, and together with Brandon Miller on electric guitar and vocals and Go-Go Ray drums, she blew the roof off the place, bringing the diverse crowd to enthusiastic dancing and cheering.
Grammy nominated in Contemporary Blues, inducted into the Kansas City Hall of Fame, recipient of multiple Blues Music Award, and charted on the Billboard Blues Charts, it’s no surprise that she has logged over 10 million streams on Spotify.
Nicole’s set included a stellar guitar solo by Brandon Miller alternating between fingerpicking and flatpicking on a Les Paul and a killer drum solo by Go-Go Ray, both of which found the audience screaming with excitement.
Danielle Nicole photo by Carl Rubino
Kevin Burt and his band Big Medicine preceded Nicole’s performance with an excellent set comprised of Burt’s own songs and covers of songs by Bill Withers and well-known blues artists. Burt is a triple first-place winner of the International Blues Challenge and nominee for Best Acoustic Artist at the Blues Music Awards.
With his big voice, excellent guitar skills, blues harp and warm stage presence, Burt delivered a compelling performance of blues and soul music, backed by guitarist Ken Valdez. He performed in support of his newly released album, Thank You Brother Bill, A Tribute To Bill Withers, with all but Burt’s song “Thank You Brother Bill” being performances of some of Wither’s most recognized, and not so well known, songs, which reached the top of the Billboard charts.
Danielle Nicole photo by Carl Rubino
Between songs, Burt touched the hearts of his audience when he spoke of his recent experience teaching music in a local school when it went into an active shooter lockdown, as well as his work to bring music to young people and musical instruments to youth who cannot afford them.
Soulful Femme, a duo consisting of Stevee Wellons on vocals and Cheryl Rinovato on guitar, opened the show with a captivating mixture of Rinovato’s skilled guitar playing and Wellons’ vocals.
Drawing upon influences as varied as Jimi Hendrix and Marvin Gaye the pair presented a unique sound with elements of blues, rock and soul. The pair performed in support of both their current East Coast Tour thorough May and their recent album release ATTITUDE, with all but one of the songs written by Wellons and by Rinovato.
Danielle Nicole with Brandon Miller photo by Carl Rubino
Following Danielle Nicole’s set, she and her band were joined on stage by Kevin Burt and his guitar player Ken Valdez, where the combined forces did a fantastic rendition of Bill Withers’ “Use Me Up”, sung by Burt with guitars by Valdez and Brandon Miller.
The event was put together by Plattsburgh Blues & Jazz, a non-profit organization which brings world class blues and jazz musicians to the Plattsburgh region of Northeastern New York, hosted at Retro Live, a relatively new, and up and coming music venue that is very much a regional North Country jewel.
Saratoga Performing Arts Center has announced “Beethoven For Three” featuring Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos, and Yo-Yo Ma. The show takes place August 25 at 3 pm in the 500-seat Spa Little Theater. Proceeds from the performance will go toward establishing a programming fund for the Theater, SPAC’s year-round performance home.
Beethoven For Three features Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos, and Yo-Yo Ma in Beethoven’s Piano Trio No. 6. The trio is joined by special guest, Antoine Tamestit. Together, the group will then perform the monumental “Eroica” Symphony No. 3 reimagined for four players, in an intimate arrangement that maintains the power and immediacy of Beethoven’s orchestral work.
The show also presents a new opportunity for performers and listeners to examine the boundaries between musical genres, and how musicians can collaborate freely and creatively. The trio’s previous tours and recordings on Sony Classics have been met with rave reviews around the world. This is by no means a show to miss.
Spa Little Theater at SPAC
All tickets purchased for this event support SPAC’s efforts to provide year-round programming for the community in Spa Little Theater. Tickets go on sale April 25 at 10AM. SPAC Member presales begin on April 22 and April 23, tiered by membership level. Tickets are $500, of which $150 is a tax-deductible donation.
“One of the things that has separated people since recording began is the categories that we put people in, in which chamber musicians, orchestra players, people who play concertos, people who do transcriptions, people who compose, people who conduct, are all viewed as separate categories with no overlap. That siloed thinking discourages actual creativity and collaboration between people. And so we feel that one of the things that is really important to do today is to actually go back to the first principles of music, the simple interaction between friends who want to do something together.”
Yo-Yo Ma
For more information on the Beethoven For Three show and to purchase tickets, click here.
On April 20, Matt Maeson took the stage at Electric City with Brother Bird for a one-night intimate engagement in Buffalo. A night full of feelings and connection.
Brother Bird, a Nashville-based singer, started the night by captivating the audience with her melodic sound and mesmerizing lyrics. Each of her songs she performed set the tone for the rest of the night.
Mattâs solo experience brought the audience an intimate engagement. The audience was seated close to the stage. Between songs, Matt would share personal stories about the next song he was going to perform. With each interaction through song and stories, he drew the crowd in, and you could see and feel the audience so engaged with him and taking in each lyric that he sang to them.
By the end of the night, Matt Maeson and Brother Bird left the audience in their feels and more connected.
After his solo tour, Matt will be opening for Zach Bryan from July through December and will be back in New York on December 18 and 19th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Brother Bird will be performing in Brooklyn on May 4, opening for The Brevet.
Matt Maeson setlist: That’s My Cue, Blood Runs Red, Me and My Friends Are Lonely, Halfway the Hole, Cringe, Cliffy, Feel Good, Tribulation, Split Personality Blues, Rational, Nelsonwood Lane, Get Happy, Sanctified, Bank on the Funeral, Cut Deep, Hallucinogenics, Beggar’s Song Encore: Legacy
City Parks Foundation has announced the 2024 season of Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage, New York City’s iconic outdoor performing arts festival, bringing 85 free and benefit shows to Central Park and 13 neighborhood parks across the five boroughs.
Returning for its 38 year, the festival will once again showcase established and emerging artists from across the globe, highlighting forward-thinking women pushing boundaries, featuring a multitude of genres including jazz, hip-hop, indie rock, salsa, reggae, Afrobeats, soul, pop, global, and contemporary dance, to name just a few.
SummerStage is committed to gender and racial equity in its programming, and in 2023, more than 80% of their season lineup featured artists who identified as people of color and more than half of the acts included women or artists who identify as genders other than male.
Neighborhood parks hosting SummerStage this season include Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem, Tompkins Square Park in the East Village, Herbert Von King Park in Bed-Stuy and The Coney Island Amphitheater on the boardwalk in Brooklyn, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, Crotona Park in the Bronx, Stapleton Waterfront Park in Staten Island, and SummerStage’s flagship venue at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park.
SummerStage is back for another incredible season of free performances. It’s always an honor to bring a lineup of both established and rising artists that celebrate the rich cultural fabric of our neighborhoods across the city to parks, all for free. Enjoying live music while outside in a park is one of the most joyful and memorable opportunities we can offer to New Yorkers, bringing neighbors and communities together for what is always a very special, shared experience.
Heather Lubov, Executive Director of City Parks Foundation
Opening the SummerStage 2024 season on Saturday, June 1 in Central Park will be a free performance by GRAMMY-winning and Oscar-nominated soul singer Andra Day in association with Blue Note Jazz Festival.
The season’s free shows in Central Park will showcase an exhilarating array of established and emerging artists from across the music spectrum. Rock music icon Kim Gordon and the legendary Sun Ra Arkestra will bring an electrifying show when they take the stage on June 13; THE AUSSIE BBQ will return on June 15 highlighting the latest sounds of Australia from Jebediah, Last Dinosaurs, and more. Additional highlights include Corinne Bailey Rae and Dixson on June 16, London drummer The Yussef Dayes Experience showcasing his unique experimental style alongside interpretive contemporary jazz bassist and vocalist Aneesa Strings on June 22, and singer-songwriter and GRAMMY winner Madison Cunningham performing on July 1.
The annual Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC) will celebrate the Latin GRAMMYs’ 25 Anniversary with performances by Colombian music star Fonseca and Spain’s captivating new flamenco singer Israel Fernández on July 10 in Central Park, while French sounds will take center stage for Bastille Day in association with the Consulate General of France on July 14, showcasing performances by Laurie Darmon, Magic System, and other guests.
Arooj Aftab, the first Pakistani-American woman to win a GRAMMY, known for weaving Urdu ghazals and poetry into electronic soundscapes, will perform on July 24. On July 28, Catalan Sounds On Tour will return to Central Park with Sidonie and the Balkan Paradise Orchestra; and Show Dem Camp returns with the Palmwine Festival NYC featuring the Cavemen & Friends in association with Move Forward Music on Aug. 17.
Brazilian Day will once again bring a lineup of artists on Aug. 22 with samba legend Alcione, Larissa Luz, DJ Malfeitona, and a film screening of Gerson King Combo in association with the 28 Inffinito Brazilian Film Festival. The 2024 season in Central Park will close with a special celebration of the WNYC and Friends Centennial on Sept. 9.
Photo by Rob Tellerman.
SummerStage 2024 will once again take fans globe-trotting through the five boroughs of New York, presenting an array of world rhythms. Shows in neighborhood parks will include the Godfather of Salsa Andy Montañez and salsa star Charlie Cruz showcasing the stylings of Puerto Rico at theConey Island Amphitheater on June 15. DJ Rekha returns to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens for their acclaimed Basement Bhangra dance partywith Priya Ragu, Ami Dang, and moreon July 20. Ghanafest-NY will return to Crotona Park on Aug. 3 with King Promise, Dan Price The Artist, and DJ Faddah to showcase contemporary West African and Nigerian music.
This year’s festival will continue to highlight the birthplace of hip-hop with shows throughout the boroughs including the return of MIKE’S Young World IV featuring Earl Sweatshirt, Myaap, Sideshow, and more on July 13 and the Chuck Chillout 40th Radio Anniversary Party featuring Ice T, MOP, Schoolly D, Peter Gunz, Lord Tariq, and more hosted by Ralph McDaniels on Aug. 1, both in Bed-Stuy’s Herbert Von King Park. On Aug. 18, hip-hop legends will take over two boroughs: Special Uptown Edition: Celebrating 40 years of Red Alert & Ralph McDaniels of Video Music Box will be in Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park and Funk Flex will celebrate his birthdaywith performances by Slick Rick, Dana Dane, Doug E. Fresh, DJ Maseo, and more in Central Park.
We are thrilled to once again celebrate the vibrant diversity of New York City’s cultures and communities across all five boroughs. Our lineup will shine a bright spotlight on some of music’s most iconic female artists who have made an impact in their genres, from rock and New Orleans soul scions to Dominican merengue and Brazilian samba legends. We are continuing to support rising artists from around the world who are showcasing their fresh takes on various genres like hip-hop, Americana, rock, Latin, pop, and more. 2024 promises to be an unforgettable season!
Erika Elliott, Executive Artistic Director of SummerStage.
The independent performing arts organization Works & Process will return for a second season collaborating with SummerStage to showcase the art of dance. Dance performances will kick off with It’s Showtime NYC! alongside the Maimouna Keita African Dance Company and Kash Gaines’s Caged Birds in Herbert Von King Park, Brooklynon July 11. The Missing Element featuring the Beatbox House will serve as the 2024 dance Artist in Residence, performing at select shows throughout the season.
SummerStage 2024 is delighted to return for six free shows at The Coney Island Amphitheater in Brooklyn. In addition to Andy Montañez in association with La Megaon June 15, shows include The Federation Sound 25 Anniversary featuring the first lady of dancehall Sister Nancy, Tanto Metro & Devonte, and FriendsonJuly 7, the Oldies is Back in Brooklyn showfeaturing The Platters former lead singer Frank Pizarro, Charlie Thomas’ Drifters with Jeff Hall and many others on July 14.
Brooklyn rapper, Coney Island local, and viral internet sensation NEMS presenting GORILLAFEST featuring Ghostface Killah, DJ Tony Touch, and more on Aug. 4, and on Aug.11, NYC’s iconic R&B radio station WBLS will host its 50 Anniversary Celebration with Jon B, Vivian Green, Meli’sa Morgan, Horace Brown, Jeff Redd, and Funk Flex. Closing the Coney Island season will be The Chol Hamoed Spectacular: The Yeshiva Boys Choir presented in association with EG Productions onOct. 20.
The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, New York City’s annual salute to the late saxophonist, will return in its 32 year for a three-day celebration of live jazz in the neighborhoods near where Parker worked and lived, including Harlem’s historic Marcus Garvey Park and Tompkins Square Park in the East Village. Running Aug. 23 to Aug. 25, this year’s lineup will bring together storied, veteran players and the next generation of jazz artists including the Christian McBride Big Band and Wallace Roney Jr in partnership with Jazzmobile; Carmen Lundy, and Helen Sung with Isaiah Collier & the Chosen Few; Louis Hayes, Ekep Nkwelle, and Alexis Lombre with sounds by DJ KulturedChild aka Angelika Beener among others.
The 2024 SummerStage season will also feature ticketed benefit shows in Central Park to help support the City Parks Foundation’s free performances. Artists include English singer-songwriter James Arthur on May 17; Trinidadian soca group KES on June 8; Jamaican-American R&B artist Masego on June 19; prolific American rapper and record producer T-Pain on June 23; a joint experience featuring legendary Mexican rock bands Caifanes and Café Tacvba on June 26.
Other acts include Indie singer-songwriter Ethel Cain on June 27; three nights of pride celebrations featuring Trixie Mattell, Above & Beyond, and others from June 28 through June 30; American rock/folk band Counting Crows on July 11; Irish rock band The Saw Doctors on July 17; a South African amapiano dance party from Piano People on July 27; contemporary worship music collective Elevation Worship on July 31; genre-bending jazz and R&B stars Robert Glasper featuring Yebba on Aug. 1; David Cross and his Super Pals on Aug. 8; alternative rock bands The Gaslight Anthem, Joyce Manor and Pinkshift on Aug. 21; and hip-hop band The Roots with Jungle Brothers and Digable Planets on Aug. 23.
For more information about SummerStage 2024 and the full lineup, visit here.
SummerStage 2024 Lineup
Fri, May 17 5:00 PM
James Arthur Central Park Benefit
Sat, Jun 1 6:00 PM
OPENING NIGHT: Andra Day in association with Blue Note Jazz Festival
Subaru Music Series Central Park Free
Sat, Jun 8 5:00 PM
KES Central Park Benefit
Thu, Jun 13 5:00 PM
Kim Gordon / Sun Ra Arkestra / Slauson Malone 1
Central Park Free
Subaru Music Series
Sat, Jun 15 4:00 PM
THE AUSSIE BBQ: Jebediah / Last Dinosaurs/ Northeast Party House / Sheppard / Sycco/ Thelma Plum in Association with Sounds Australia and the American Australian Association
Central Park Free
Sat, Jun 15 5:00 PM
Andy Montañez / Charlie Cruz / People of Earth / La Mega DJ in association with 97.9 La Mega
Coney Island Amphitheater Free
Sun, Jun 16 6:00 PM
Corinne Bailey Rae / Dixson in association with Blue Note Jazz Festival
Central Park Free
Tue, Jun 18 7:00 PM
The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital featuring Leah Hawkins, Mario Chang, Michael Sumuel
Central Park Free
Wed, Jun 19 5:00 PM
Masego / Jordan Ward Central Park Benefit
Thu, Jun 20 7:00 PM
The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital featuring Leah Hawkins, Mario Chang, Michael Sumuel
Brooklyn Bridge Park Free
Sat, Jun 22 5:00 PM
The Yussef Dayes Experience / Aneesa Strings / Dana and Alden in association with Blue Note Jazz Festival
Central Park Free
Sun, Jun 23 6:30 PM T-Pain’s Mansion in Wiscansin Tour Central Park Benefit
Mon, Jun 24 7:00 PM
The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital featuring Brittany Olivia Logan, Hannah Jones, Matthew Cairns
Jackie Robinson Park Free
Wed, Jun 26 7:00 PM
The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital featuring Brittany Olivia Logan, Hannah Jones, Matthew Cairns
Williamsbridge Oval Free
Wed, Jun 26 6:00 PM
Caifanes + Café Tacvba Central Park Benefit
Thu, Jun 27 5:00 PM
Ethel Cain with Special Guest Teethe Central Park Benefit [SOLD OUT]
Fri, Jun 28 7:00 PM
The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital featuring Brittany Olivia Logan, Hannah Jones, Matthew Cairns
Socrates Sculpture Park Free
Fri, Jun 28 5:30 PM
Utopia Pride: Above & Beyond and Spencer Brown
Central Park Benefit
Sat, Jun 29 5:00 PM
Pride Disco with Trixie Matell, Amanda Lepore, and Jess King
Central Park Benefit
Sun, Jun 30 3:00 PM
Dreamland Pride Central Park Benefit
Mon, Jul 1 5:00 PM
Madison Cunningham / LA LOM / John-Robert / Corrente: Beatriz Mira & Tiago Barreiros Central Park Free
Sun, Jul 7 5:00 PM
Ezra Collective / Celeste / Da Chick DJ in association with Blue Note Jazz Festival
Central Park Free
Sun, Jul 7 5:00 PM
Federation Sound 25th Anniversary featuring Sister Nancy / Tanto Metro & Devonte and friends
Coney Island Amphitheater Free
Wed, Jul 10 6:00 PM
LAMC and Latin GRAMMY 25th Anniversary: Fonseca / Israel Fernández / Bruses
Central Park Free
Thu, Jul 11 5:00 PM
Counting Crows Subaru Music Series Central Park Benefit
Thu, Jul 11 6:00 PM
Works & Process: It’s Showtime NYC! / Maimouna Keita African Dance Company / Kash Gaines’s Caged Birds
Herbert Von King Park Free
Fri, Jul 12 6:00 PM
Sounds of Detroit: Celebrating 50 years of J Dilla feat. The Pharcyde / Slum Village / Breakbeat Lou in association with Fusicology & Future x Sounds
Herbert Von King Park Free
Sat, Jul 13 5:00 PM
LAMC: BRESH Central Park Free
Sat, Jul 13 4:00 PM
MIKE’s Young World IV: Earl Sweatshirt / Myaap / Sideshow / Stahhr / Stacy Epps
Herbert Von King Park Free
Sun, Jul 14
TBD Lineup to be announced
Herbert Von King Park Free
Sun, Jul 14 4:00 PM
GOLDEN OLDIES ON THE BOARDWALK: Oldies is Back in Brooklyn Feat. The Platters former lead singer Frank Pizarro / Charlie Thomas’ Drifters with Jeff Hall / The Marvelettes / Bill Haley Jr’s Comets / Johnny Farina / The Excellents / The Chiclettes / Vinnie Medugno / Hosted by JoeCausi WCBS FM and Sal Abbatiello FeverRecords / Music by The Coda Band
Coney IslandAmphitheater Free
Sun, Jul 14, 5:00 PM
Bastille Day: IAM / Magic System / The Avener / Laurie Darmon / Femi the Scorpion in association with the Consulate General of France
Central Park Free
Wed, Jul 17 5:00 PM
The Saw Doctors / The Coronas Central Park Benefit
Sat, Jul 20 5:00 PM
DJ Rekha’s Basement Bhangra Beyond: Priya Ragu / DJ Rekha / Ami Dang / Lady Pista + Guests
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Free
Sun, Jul 21 TBD Lineup to be announced
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
Sun, Jul 21 6:00 PM
Proyecto Uno / Milly Quezada / DJ Miquelito & Excarlet Molina in association with 97.9 La Mega Central Park Free
Wed, Jul 24 5:00 PM
Arooj Aftab / Sid Sriram / EMEL Central Park Free
Sat, Jul 27 3:00 PM
Piano People in the Park: Scorpion Kings / DBN GoGo / Kelvin MoMo / DJ Moma / DJ
Tunez Central Park Benefit
Sun, Jul 28 5:00 PM
Catalan Sounds On Tour: Sidonie / Balkan Paradise Orchestra / Lau Noah / DJ Turmix in association with the Institut Ramon Llull
Central Park Free
Wed, Jul 31 6:00 PM
Elevation Worship: Praise Party! Central Park Benefit
Thu, Aug 1 6:00 PM
Chuck Chillout 40th Radio Anniversary Party: Ice T / MOP / Schoolly D / PeterGunz & Lord Tariq / Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud / CL Smooth / Joeski Love / D.J. Breakout / Funky Four + 1 More / Ultramagnetic MCs / DJ Chuck Chillout & Crotona Park Free Kool Chip / NINE / Al B. Sure! / Music by Funk Flex / Hosted By Ralph McDaniels & Bugsy Buggs
Thu, Aug 1 5:00 PM
Blue Note Presents: Robert Glasper Featuring Yebba Central Park Benefit
Fri, Aug 2 6:00 PM
Tedsmooth’s Freestyle Jam feat. Coro / C-Bank / DJ Serg / Anthony Mangini / Tedsmooth / Strafe Crotona Park Free
Sat, Aug 3 5:00 PM
The Originals Central Park Free
Sat, Aug 3 6:00 PM
King Promise / Dan Price the Artist / DJ Faddah in association with GhanaFest-NY Crotona Park Free
Sun, Aug 4
TBD Lineup to be announced Crotona Park Free
Sun, Aug 4 5:00 PM
Galactic featuring Irma Thomas / The
Rumble featuring Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr
Central Park Free
Sun, Aug 4 4:00 PM
NEMS Presents: GORILLAFEST Featuring Ghostface Killah / DJ Drewski & Friends /Statik Selektah / Scram Jones / Tony Touch and Friends
Coney Island Amphitheater Free
Thu, Aug 8 6:30 PM
David Cross and Super Pals featuring Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Silverman, Fred Armisen, Zach Zucker, Sean Patton and more TBA Central Park Benefit
Sat, Aug 10 6:00 PM
VP Records 45th Anniversary Central Park Free
Sun, Aug 11 5:00 PM
WBLS 50th Anniversary Celebration: Jon B / Vivian Green / Meli’sa Morgan / Horace Brown / Jeff Redd / Funk Flex
Coney Island Amphitheater Free
Sun, Aug 11
TBD Lineup to be announced
Stapleton Waterfront Park Free
Thu, Aug 15
TBD Lineup to be announced
Marcus Garvey Park Free
Fri, Aug 16
TBD Lineup to be announced
Marcus GarveyPark Free
Sat, Aug 17 5:00 PM
Palmwine Festival NYC: Show Dem Camp feat. The Cavemen & Friends in association with Move Forward Music Central Park Free
Sat, Aug 17 6:00 PM
The Soapbox Presents: The Life of the Party
Marcus Garvey Park Free
Sun, Aug 18 5:00 PM
Special Uptown Edition: Celebrating 40 years of Red Alert & Ralph McDaniels VideoMusic Box
Marcus Garvey Park Free
Sun, Aug 18 6:00 PM
Funk Flex Birthday Party with Live performances by Slick Rick, Dana Dane, Doug E. Fresh, DJ Maseo & Funk Flex Central Park Free
Wed, Aug 21 5:00 PM
The Gaslight Anthem / Joyce Manor /
Pinkshift Central Park Benefit
Thu, Aug 22 5:00 PM
Brazilian Day: Alcione / Larissa Luz / DJ
Malfeitona / Film screening: “Gerson King Combo” in association with 28th Inffini to Brazilian Film Festival Central Park Free
Fri, Aug 23 5:00 PM
Hip-Hop Is The LOML Tour: The Roots ft.
Jungle Brothers / Digable Planets
Subaru Music Series Central Park Benefit
Fri, Aug 23 7:00 PM
Charlie Parker Jazz Festival: Christian
McBride Big Band / Wallace Roney Jr in
partnership with Jazzmobile
Marcus Garvey Park Free
Sat, Aug 24 3:00 PM
Charlie Parker Jazz Festival: Carmen Lundy
/ Helen Sung / Isaiah Collier & the Chosen
Few / Tyreek McDole / DJ KulturedChild aka
Angelika Beener
Marcus Garvey Park Free
Sun, Aug 25 3:00 PM
Charlie Parker Jazz Festival: Louis Hayes /
SuperBlue: Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter ft.
Huntertones / Ekep Nkwelle / Alexis Lombre
/ DJ KulturedChild aka Angelika Beener
Tompkins Square Park Free
Tue, Aug 27 5:00 PM
Snail Mail / Tim Heidecker / Fenne Lily Central Park Free
Mon, Sep 9 6:00 PM
WNYC and Friends Centennial Celebration Central Park Free
Sun, Oct 20 1:00 PM
The Chol Hamoed Spectacular: The Yeshiva
Boys Choir presented in association with EG productions
Long Island alternative/punk band Bad Mary has announced the release of their re-recorded mix of “Better Days” on April 23. The band also announced six live dates, three of which in New York.
The song is the second release from their Better(er) Days EP, which is a collection of re-recorded and remixed versions of the songs from their first album Better Days. The re-release celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the debut album.
The group is composed of Mike Staub, Amanda Mac, Bill Mac, and David Henderson. Together, Bad Mary brings the heat with their alt-punk attitude. The group showcases nasty basslines, strong, catchy riffs, and a frontwoman with an uplifting yet seductive vocal style.
The track is released with a new music video, and a few live shows to celebrate the drop. Bad Mary sees three dates in New York on April 26, June 8, and July 5. The band performs two shows at Mr. Beery’s in Bethpage, Long Island followed by a stop at Arlene’s Grocery in Manhattan.
The single, “Better Days” is a tune about the shortcomings, the setbacks, and the misfortunes in life. It is a theme every individual can get behind. The song is hopeful and encourages you to keep your head up and look forward to those better days.
“’Better Days’ is a song about trying your hardest and just feeling like nothing is working out. We’ve all been there. We as people… we overthink, we feel paralyzed, we can feel like nothing is going our way – but the only thing to do is keep moving forward and hope that there are better (or maybe even betterER) days ahead. This song continues to mean more to me every day, and I love that it’s been with us since the beginning,”
Vocalist Amanda Mac
Better(er) Days will be released in the summer of 2024. The band is currently writing and recording new songs to be released later this year. Along with this, Bad Mary is still adding live dates to their list of shows this year.
See them live:
April 26 at Mr. Beery’s in Bethpage, NY
May 17 at SpiFest in Windsor, CT
May 23 at The Fire in Philadelphia, PA
June 8 at Mr. Beery’s in Bethpage, NY
July 5 at Arlene’s Grocery in New York, NY
July 24 at The Middle East in Boston, MA
For more information on Bad Mary, their upcoming music and dates, click here. Make sure to stay up to date on the band’s upcoming album Better(er) Days, releasing this Spring.
Right now, folk music is having a major resurgence in the mainstream music world. One indie folk band, Tough Old Bird is looking to make their mark with their latest studio album Garden Dream, set to release April 26. So far they’ve released two singles, “Conjurer” and “Locks.”
Brothers Nathan and Matthew Corrigan first started releasing music as Tough Old Bird in 2016 and have debuted three albums since, drawing great influence from their rural upbringings in the small town of Fillmore Glen in Western New York. The band is now based out of Buffalo.
This time around, Nathan and Matthew brought in new musicians, namely Ricky Bechard on drums and Brendan O’Shea on bass. The album was recorded at Sunwood Studios in Trumansburg, NY.
I sat down with the band of brothers to discuss the creative process behind Garden Dream.
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Ryan Bieber: To start, when did the idea for Garden Dream come about? And what was the inspiration behind it?
Matthew Corrigan: I remember almost conceptualizing this album in 2018, like, quite a surprisingly long time ago. We already had our previous album, The Old Great Lakes recorded and done at that point, then we had a few songs left to the side that kind of felt like we really wanted to hold on to them and go in that direction the next time. And so we had a little inkling of an idea for what it would be.
Nathan Corrigan: When we write songs, we tend to just …put them in whatever pile it seems like they belong. Then eventually an idea will start to take shape that some of those songs kind of feel like they’re dealing with some of the same things or sound like they belong together.
Matthew and Nathan performing the title track from their second studio album, “The Old Great Lakes” live.
Ryan: How does Garden Dream differ from your previous projects?
Mathew: I would say that songs themselves are definitely more autobiographically leaning than some of our previous stuff, which felt pretty important to me to reach a certain point where I was comfortable with writing more directly about myself rather than necessarily crafting narratives.
Ryan: And what’s it like being in a band with your brother? Is there some sort of extra special, like, telepathic sort of connection in the songwriting process? Is there a different energy when you write together?
Nathan: That’s a good question. I’ve never really written with anybody else, or played in any other band. So, I don’t have a lot of frame of reference there. I do think we have a pretty good partnership in that sense that we came up listening to a lot of the same music, so we definitely share a musical language that, you know, one of us can reference some very obscure song that very few people would know, but we’ve both listened to almost all the same stuff. So we can just be like, ‘Oh, we want the sound like this.’ And we’ll know what we’re talking about.
Mathew: We’re now very good at being like honest editors for each other. I’ve done a small amount of writing with other people and sometimes it’s harder when you’re less familiar with someone else to critique something or offer an opinion. But I think, between Nate and I … we’re both very respectful of each other’s opinions. I think the biggest benefit is just having someone who’s open and receptive to ideas.
Ryan: How does your upbringing in western New York inform your songwriting process, the lyrics and the themes that you write about?
Mathew: It’’s pretty massive, almost such an influence, I don’t know how to even pare it down into words. I feel like almost everything that I write about comes from my observable world and life and a ton of that is influenced by where and how we were brought up in a rural environment. I feel like the natural world is largely a character in a lot of songwriting I try to achieve.
Nathan: Yeah, I think there’s some lyrics on this album that I maybe didn’t even realize as we were writing them, our direct references to certain things that we might have experienced growing up. We lived way out in the country on a dirt road in the middle of the woods, in a little house that our dad built. And it was kind of like this almost homestead or pioneer-like childhood. And so there’s just little elements of that, that have found their way into into some of these songs that kind of feel like they’re looking back and observing that from a point of view of adulthood.
Ryan: You mentioned having the same taste in music. Growing up what kind of bands or artists were playing in the household that everyone was listening to?
Nathan: Growing up, our parents played a lot of Beatles records in the house and some singer-songwriter things like John Prine. The music that we chose to listen to when we were kids a lot of the time it was country music, because that was not something that was in our house.
Ryan: Folk music – at least some version of folk music and pop music – has definitely seen a growth in popularity in the mainstream with artists like Noah Kahan. I was curious as to your thoughts on this sort of mainstream folk popularity and have you felt like the effects of this as a folk band at all?
Mathew: I would say for for us, we’re fairly influenced by like a previous wave of mainstream folk. The early 2000s indie folk boom was very influential musically once I reached college age. I don’t know if it’s technically a different era, but in my mind, it kind of is and that’s where I’ve learned a lot about songwriting.
Nathan: It seems like that kind of stuff is always there. There’s always people doing it, but it rises and falls in popularity, and you know, it’s placed in the public consciousness. It kind of felt like that stuff was really became popular again in the early 2000s for a few years, and then maybe died off again a little bit, and a version of it is now kind of coming back a little bit again. Yeah, it’s always around.
Tough Old Bird recording Garden Dream at Sunwood Studios in Trumansburg, NY
Ryan: What are you looking for listeners to take away from this project?
Nathan: I sometimes have a hard time talking about what songs are about because I want people to listen to them and decide what they’re about for them. So I hope that people connect with it in some way and find some meaning in it.
Garden Dream is available on Bandcamp for vinyl/CD pre-order and will be streaming wherever you get music on April 26th.
The band will be playing shows in Rochester and Buffalo as well as Glenshaw, PA throughout the month of April and into May. The full tour schedule can be found on their website: here
