Music superstar Nelly will hit the road in 2025 with his “Where The Party At Tour.” The tour will celebrate the 25 anniversary of Nelly’s debut studio album, Country Grammar and includes dates at the Darien Lake Amphitheater in Buffalo on Aug. 1, and Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh on Jul. 27.
Known for iconic 2000’s hits such as “Hot in Herre” and “Dilemma,” Nelly will perform his catalog across New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Europe, and the United States in 54 shows in the “Where The Party At Tour.” The tour will marks Nelly’s return to headlining following his success as a special guest for Janet Jackson’s Together Again Tour.
An incredible lineup of special guests will accompany Nelly across the various legs of the tour. Fans can look forward to electric performances from collaborators and friends such as Ja Rule, Eve, St. Lunatics, Fabolous, Jermaine Dupri, Chingy and Additional surprise guests.
The show will take fans on a journey through Nelly’s career, including chart-topping hits like “Hot in Herre,” “Dilemma,” and “Ride wit Me.” Known for his larger-than-life personality and ability to bridge genres from hip-hop to country. Nelly promises a show packed with surprises.
The Bronx Music Heritage Center has announced their 10th annual Melrose Parranda, a musical Puerto Rican holiday procession, for December 21.
Developed as a performance venue and community cultural center, the Bronx Music Hall is dedicated to cultivating and showcasing the vibrant music, dance, theater, and interdisciplinary arts of the borough.
With a 250-person performance theater, grand lobby and exhibit hall, rehearsal rooms and classrooms, and an outdoor amphitheater and plaza, the space of the Bronx Music Hall is as versatile as the creatives it hosts.
In addition to creations of the modern day, the BMH acts as the permanent home for the Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco)’s Bronx Music Heritage Center, which preserves and promotes the history of the artists of the Bronx while simultaneously cultivating the creatives of today.
Among the Center’s vast collection of events is their time honored Melrose Parranda. Rooted in the Puerto Rican caroling tradition, folks participating in the festivities can expect to join the parade led by members of the Bronx music and cultural community including Jorge Vásquez, Matthew Gonzales, and Bobby Sanabria.
Each stop along the parranda will feature a different casita reminiscent of the homes on the countryside of Puerto Rico, winding through the Melrose Commons and community gardens before concluding at “La Casita de Chema,” or Rincón Criollo Centro Cultural, a casita renowned for its musical legacy.
Now in its tenth year of tradition, the parranda will feature a set of new businesses incorporated within the route in addition to its routine program booklet with information on the traditions and lyrics on some of the songs to be sung during the night of festivities.
The tenth annual Melrose Holiday Parranda will be hosted on Saturday, December 21. This event is completely free and open to the public. To RSVP and learn more, check out the event’s page here.
To learn more about the Bronx Music Heritage Center, the Bronx Music Hall, and their calendar of events, be sure to visit the space’s official website here.
A tour-de-force combination of acclaimed jam band artists, the Skeleton Krewe Trio composed of Rob Barraco, Barry Sless, and Stephen Inglis have announced their debut tour along the east coast, including dates in Williamsburg and Woodstock.
Born from what was intended to be a one-off performance partnership, the Skeleton Krewe Trio is possibly one of the most exciting collaborations of today’s jam band scene.
Comprised of Rob Barraco of Dark Star Orchestra, Phil Lesh & Friends, and The Dead, Barry Sless of Bob Weir and Wolf Bros, David Nelson Band, and Phil Lesh and Friends, and the GRAMMY-nominated Hawaiian slack key guitarist Stephen Inglis, the Skeleton Krewe is a set of individually talented artists whose skills, distinct backgrounds, and natural musical connection culminate in a sound definitively their own.
In an exciting development, the Skeleton Krewe Trio has announced their debut tour across the east coast, including nights at the Brooklyn Bowl on February 22 and the Bearsville Theater on February 28.
In addition to their own talents, the unit will expand to a quintet for two nights with the addition of Barraco’s DSO bandmate Skip Vangelas on bass and his son Tom Barraco on drums- one of which includes the Brooklyn Bowl.
“This collaboration represents a unique moment in time where three distinct musical paths converge. We’re creating something entirely new while honoring the traditions we each bring to the table.”
– Rob Barraco
The Skeleton Krewe Trio’s debut tour promises a variety of sounds spanning original compositions, interpretations of works by the Grateful Dead, and dynamic improvisations that span genres from traditional Hawaiian to psychedelic Americana.
Tickets for the Trio’s tour are on sale now. For more information on the tour and the Skeleton Krewe Trio as well as ticketing information, visit their official page here.
The full list of tour dates are available below.
TOUR DATES
Feb. 20 • The Hamilton • Washington, DC
Feb. 21 • 118 North • Wayne, PA
Feb. 22 • Brooklyn Bowl • Williamsburg, NY
Feb. 23 • Newton Theatre • Newton, NJ
Feb. 24 • Rams Head On Stage • Annapolis, MD
Feb. 26 • Space Ballroom • Hamden, CT
Feb. 27 • Portland House of Music & Events • Portland, ME
Feb. 28 • Bearsville Theater • Woodstock, NY
Mar. 1 • Narrows Center for the Arts • Fall River, MA
Musicians J.D. Parran and Andrew Drury have announced new roles as event curators along with a collaborative opening project at Assisted Living, a new art space in Newburgh.
Both renowned musicians and collaborators in their own rights, J.D. Parran and Andrew Drury share expansive musical careers.
Among many things, Drury is a soloist, lead for the Content Provider quartet and other large ensembles, producer of audio and video works, a musical collaborator across all swaths of sounds, and a musical educator.
He’s presented over 130 concerts as a part of his Soup & Sound series in his home in Brooklyn and in adjacent neighborhoods, and is the co-founder of the non-profit Continuum Culture & Arts. In addition to work in his own neck of the woods, Drury has given masterclasses in 20 universities across three continents and has led over 1,500 workshops in schools, prisons, museums, homeless shelters, and more.
J.D. Parran shares a similar love for music in all forms- composing, collaborating, and educating. Having mastered a wide variety of woodwind instruments, Parran has appeared on over 50 recordings over the past three decades including collaborations with John Lennon, Stevie Wonder, Yoko Ono, and more.
In addition to his purely musical endeavors, Parran is also a veteran educator who gives lectures at City University of New York and teaches the clarinet and saxophone at Harlem School for the Arts.
He has also been commissioned as a composer by the likes of the National Endowment for the Arts, Meet the Composer, the New York State Council on the Arts, and the Helen W. Buckner Foundation.
Hosted in the Assisted Living art space situated just behind the brand new Untouchable Bar, Drury and Parran will be collaborating in an event dubbed an “UNinauguration.”
“Part riot, part manifestation, part protest, part prayer: two celebrated stalwarts of creative music share good musical medicine on the grim occasion of the 2025 presidential inauguration. Indeed this is an UNinauguration. J. D. Parran and Andrew Drury will play a panoply of instruments from around the world in addition to bass saxophone, alto clarinet, flutes, and drums. Parran led an unInauguration mini-tour with a quartet in 2017. For 2025 he joins forces with his frequent collaborator Drury.”
Featuring the powerful combination of two skilled individuals, the UNinauguration of Assisted Living will not be one to miss. The pair will perform this exciting event on Friday, January 17 at 9:00 PM with a requested donation of $10.
For more information on the event and the space’s adjacent bar, visit Untouchable’s official Instagram page here.
Eight-piece soul-pop band, Lawrence, has announced the U.S. leg of their world tour.
The band will play four dates in NY at such venues as: the Empire Live in Albany, on Mar. 7, Buffalo RiverWorks in Buffalo on Mar. 9, The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, on Mar. 28, and The Paramount in Huntington on Mar. 29.
Fronted by siblings Gracie and Clyde, Lawrence will embark on a 16-city tour of the U.S. to support their fourth studio album, Family Business. This will be their biggest solo headlining tour to date after the massive 65-date stadium run with the Jonas Brothers in 2023.
Released on June 21, 2024, Lawrence’s fourth album, Family Business, has brought the band to new heights. The album’s opening track, “Whatcha Want,” broke into the Top 40 on the US Pop Chart, while Lawrence has performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Today with Hoda & Jenna, and CBS Saturday Morning. The album is accompanied by their biggest headline tour yet which not only brought them to Australia for the first time but will bring them back to Europe and the UK, in addition to their US tour which has new dates to be added.
Clyde and Gracie Lawrence created Lawrence, an eight-piece soul-pop band comprised of musician friends from childhood and college. The band has gained a following for its high-energy, keyboard-driven sound, which features tight, energetic horns and explosive lead vocals.
Tickets are available now. Learn more and purchase tickets here.
Lawrence: The Family Business Tour Part 2 Tour Dates:
Thu Mar. 06 – Providence, RI – The Strand Ballroom
Fri Mar. 07 – Albany, NY – Empire Live
Sat Mar. 08 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues Cleveland
Sun Mar. 09 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo RiverWorks
Tue Mar. 11 – McKees Rocks, PA – Roxian Theatre
Thu Mar. 13 – Knoxville, TN – The Mill & Mine
Fri Mar. 14 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
Sat Mar. 15 – Jacksonville, FL – FIVE
Sat Mar. 16 – Orlando, FL –Universal Studios – Mardi Gras
Thu Mar. 20 – Richmond, VA – The National
Tue Mar. 18 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall
Fri Mar. 21 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
Sun Mar. 23 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
Tue Mar. 25 – Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe
Thu Mar. 27 – Montclair, NJ – The Wellmont Theater
Fri Mar. 28 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
Spoken word artist FlowPoetry and multi-instrumentalist Noah Lehrman have announced the release of their live album slated to release Dec 17.
FlowPoetry (aka Adam Pergament) is a neo/beat spoken word artist who hails from Madison, Wisconsin. Noah Lehrman is a NYC-native world/fusion drummer and multi-instrumentalist. The two artists were recently on tour in the Northeast when an opportunity arose at Rockwood Music Hall in NYC.
Upon finishing their July 31 gig, the duo met up with pianist Shoheen Owhady for their second show of the day, a breakout midnight jazz set as a trio. The three talents felt a connection with Adam’s languid words and Noah and Shoheen’s stunning improvisation on “Tonight”, “DripStuck”, and “Get Up Off the Floor”, along with sparkling reimaginations of FlowPoetry classics “Holy Man”, “Garden”, and “Braincells”, topped by a literally show stopping version of “Rachet”- for an audience crawling with electricity.
Flames & Flowers & Steam is the resultant live album of that late set at Rockwood. The album’s first two singles “Tonight”, an opening incantation that distills the evening’s magic down to its lyrical and experimental essence, and “Drip Stuck”, a romantic meditation on love and loss, are no available on Apple Music, Amazon Music, iTunes, Pandora, Spotify, and all streaming services and digital platforms.
FlowPoetry and Noah Lehrman’s Flames & Flowers & Steam boasts 11 tracks. Each track more unique and exciting than the last. With sensational wordplay, fantastic musical dynamics, and overall, an intoxicating bunch of melodies, this live album is sure to impress the listener as it did the audience in attendance.
That show marked the end of a Midwest-East Coast tour that spanned 3,000 miles, 11 cities, 8 states, 6 guests and 2 time zones, and saw the debut of music and improvisations touching on styles spanning jazz to jambands and edm to cosmic cowboy tunes.
FlowPoetry/Adam is the originator of the lyrical jam poetry form, with over 1800 live US performances under his belt. As a drummer/percussionist, Noah has performed with members of moe., Phil & Friends, RatDog, and more, and he appears internationally as a singer-songwriter. Together they bring a lyrical sense and melodic beats to their song-structures, improvisational explorations, and psychedelic imagery.
For more information on FlowPoetry and Noah Lehrman’s upcoming live album Flames & Flowers & Steam, click here.
Organized by the artist-led organization Fight for the Future, over 600 artists have signed a letter demanding major labels to drop a lawsuit that threatens the existence of the Internet Archive.
Considered the Library of Alexandria of the digital age, the Internet Archive non-profit is one of the only dedicated spaces for digital preservation with the renown, care, and attention it has retained. With a large majority of its material being out of print or obsolete in the modern day, the Archive is a precious resource for artists, fans, and historians alike.
Are you a fan of a band that existed prior to the ritual of posting on social media after a concert? Check the Internet Archive, as they may be featured among the website’s hundreds of thousands of concert recordings. Curious about obscure VHS tapes or radio shows of the past? The Archive has you covered.
Looking for a track only available on the 78 rpm records that predated the vinyl record in the 1890s? The Internet Archive’s community-driven Great 78 Project that seeks to digitize the rare materials is a treasure trove for the niche fanatic or merely curious individual.
If this sounds like an awe-inspiring, nearly endless resource built upon the passion of preservation, that’s because the Internet Archive is exactly that- however, to major record labels, such a space seemed to pose a major threat.
Filed in August of 2023, Universal Music Group and Sony Music filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the Great 78 project, describing it as an “illegal record store” that performed “wholesale theft of generations of music” under the guise of preservation and research- which the labels claim is all but a “smokescreen.”
This lawsuit would cost the Internet Archive a total of $621 million in so-called damages for the supposed loss of streams grossed as a result of such a project. However, as critics of the labels have pointed out, these 78 records would only cost a total of $41,000 in their entirety based upon their streams thus far.
Such a lawsuit could spell the end for the Archive in its entirety, not just the Great 78 project- including its universally applicable WayBack Machine.
Defendant and expert audio preservationist George Blood who was recruited for the Great 78 Project argues exactly what countless fans and archivists have stated prior- a vast majority of the material being converted would have become media lost to time if not for the care and attention given by the folks behind Internet Archive, who in turn are maintaining not only the sounds of the past but the past itself.
The response from the music community has been a resounding echo of this sentiment, as in the efforts of the artist-led Fight For The Future which has been fighting legal battles for the online musician and user since 2011. In an open letter to Sony, Universal, and other major music labels, Fight For The Future and over 600 artists at the time of writing have demanded the lawsuit be dropped.
Above all, the letter states that musicians “don’t believe that the Internet Archive should be destroyed in [their] name.” The three main demands made are for the labels to 1. Protect our diverse music legacy, 2. Invest in living, working musicians- not back catalogs or monopolies, and 3. to make streaming services pay fair compensation.
Fight For the Future and all of the artists featured share one main argument- in a time where musicians are struggling to get by, why on earth should labels sink so much time, effort, and money destroying a public good?
“The music industry is not struggling anymore. Only musicians are. We demand a course-correction now, focused on the legacies and futures of working musicians.”
Thus far, notable names featured in the letter’s signatures include the lead singer of Riot Grrrl group Bikini Kill Kathleen Hanna, founder of Death By Audio and member of A Place To Bury Strangers Oliver Ackermann, Billie Marten, AJJ, and an ever-expanding countless more.
Want to take action yourself and make your voice heard on the matter? If you’re an artist, you have until Wednesday, December 18 at 12:00 PM EST to add your name to the list of signatures here.
In addition to signing, some musicians are planning to upload music files or live sets of their own to the Archive in solidarity. If you have a recording you’d like to contribute to the cause while simultaneously expanding a public resource for good, visit the Internet Archive’s uploading guidelines.
Are you a music fan or simply a user of the Internet Archive that wants to make a difference? You can sign in solidarity with musicians, archivists, and the average online consumer alike here.
To keep up to date on Fight For the Future’s fight against this major lawsuit and all of their other initiatives, as well as to preserve the Internet Archive for generations to come, be sure to visit their official website.
On February 3 and 4, Artistic Director Ted Sperling leads the 120–member MasterVoices Chorus in the premiere of the acclaimed opera, “Blind Injustice.” The show takes place at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
“Blind Injustice” features music by Scott Davenport Richards and libretto by David Cote. The opera tells the true story of the Ohio Innocence Project’s work to overturn the convictions of six men, women, and teens who were wrongly imprisoned for violent crimes they didn’t commit. The opera is based on the book of the same name by Mark Godsey and the casework by the Ohio Innocence Project at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. The inspiring 90-minute work in staged presentation showcases an operatic score infused with jazz, gospel, funk, hip-hop, and musical theater. The shows take place on Feb 3 and 4 at 7:30pm.
“Blind Injustice” makes its New York premiere following a critically praised world premiere at Cincinnati Opera in 2019 and a subsequent production at PEAK Performances at Montclair State University (MSU) with Ted Sperling conducting and members of the MasterVoices Chorus joining MSU choristers in February 2024. Immediately following each performance, there is a 30-minute moderated conversation with four exonerees portrayed in the opera: Nancy Smith, Laurese Glover, Clarence Elkins, and Rickey Jackson, as well as artists and experts working in the field of criminal justice reform. Conversations are free to ticket holders.
Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center
MasterVoices (formerly The Collegiate Chorale) was founded in 1941 by legendary American choral conductor Robert Shaw. Under the artistic direction of Tony Award winner Ted Sperling since 2013, the group is known for its versatility and a repertoire that ranges from choral masterpieces and operas in concert to operettas and musical theater. Season concerts feature a volunteer chorus of 100+ members from all walks of life alongside a diverse roster of world-class soloists from across the musical spectrum.
Conductor Ted Sperling
One of today’s leading musical artists, Tony Award-winning Maestro Ted Sperling is a classically trained musician whose career has spanned from the concert hall and the opera house to the Broadway stage. Presently Artistic Director of MasterVoices, he has led such symphony orchestras as the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Boston Pops, San Diego Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, the Iceland Symphony, Czech National Symphony, and BBC Concert Orchestra, as well as New York City Opera and Houston Grand Opera. Put simply, you’ll want to catch him live conducting this opera in February.
For more information on the upcoming “Blind Injustice” opera performed by MasterVoices at Lincoln Center, click here.
Progressive bluegrass unit The Infamous Stringdusters have announced a string of tour dates across the east coast, including dates in Saratoga Springs and Westhampton Beach.
The five member progressive band The Infamous Stringdusters are best known for their musical influences across the entire sonic spectrum. Most recognized for their strongest influence, bluegrass, the band has seen a wide array of acclaim including a win for Best Bluegrass Album” at the 2017 GRAMMY Awards and a number of awards from the International Bluegrass Music Awards.
Comprised of Andy Falco on guitar, Chris Pandolfi on banjo, Andy Hall on dobro, Jeremy Garrett on fiddle, and Travis Book on double bass, The Infamous Stringdusters are beloved by fans for their releases but even more so for their live performance- the stage is where they truly shine.
On the heels of their annual ‘Ski Dust’ tour that brings the band through the mountains of Colorado and Utah, the Stringdusters have announced an exciting extension to their travels with a set of seven dates spanning the east coast, including a stop at the Universal Preservation Hall and the Westhampton Beach Pac.
Tickets for The Infamous Stringdusters’ latest tour are available now, including their Saratoga Springs stop on March 13 and Westhampton Beach stop on March 15.
For more information on The Infamous Stringdusters, their latest tour and its subsequent expansion, and ticket purchasing opportunities, visit their official website here.
The full list of tour dates is below.
TOUR DATES
12/12 – 12/16 – Puerto Morelos, Q.R. – Strings & Sol 12/30 – Richmond, VA – The National 12/31 – Richmond, VA – The National 1/8 – Crested Butte, CO – Center for the Arts 1/9 – Beaver Creek, CO – Vilar Performing Arts Center 1/10 – Beaver Creek, CO – Vilar Performing Arts Center 1/11 – Denver, CO – The Mission Ballroom 2/7 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up Aspen 2/8 – Telluride, CO – Sheridan Opera House 2/9 – Telluride, CO – Sheridan Opera House 2/10 – Telluride, CO – Sheridan Opera House 2/11 – Grand Junction, CO – Mesa Theater 2/13 – Park City, UT – Egyptian Theatre 2/14 – Park City, UT – Egyptian Theatre 2/15 – Park City, UT – Egyptian Theatre 2/16 – Park City, UT – Egyptian Theatre 3/13 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Universal Preservation Hall 3/14 – Harrisburg, PA – XL Live 3/15 – Westhampton Beach, NY – Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center 3/16 – Hartford, CT – Infinity Music Hall 3/20 – Live Oak, FL – Suwannee Spring Reunion 3/21 – Roswell, GA – From The Earth Brewing Company 3/22 – Mount Vernon, KY – Renfro Valley – New Barn Theater 5/16-18 – Aztec, NM – Tico Time Bluegrass Festival 5/22 – Mills River, NC – Sierra Nevada Brewing Company 5/24-25 – Pelham, TN – CaveJam 8/8-10 – Alta, WY – Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival
The Apollo Theater in Harlem has announced the 2025 winter and spring season with a stunning array of performances, exhibitions, and educational programs in performance spaces new and old.
The historic Apollo Theater has been providing the community of Harlem and beyond with quality entertainment and education since it opened its doors in 1914.
Having played a major role in the exponential growth of quintessential American genres such as jazz, swing, R&B, gospel, blues, soul, and the list goes on- the impact felt by the Apollo within New York and across the world cannot be stated enough.
Beginning as a platform for emerging jazz and tap acts which would feature the likes of soon-to-be icons such as Ella Fitzgerald, Bessie Smith, and Billie Holiday, The Apollo has since evolved into not only a musical performance space but a nonprofit presenting theatrical and dance programs, film screenings, educational programs, and community outreach.
Returning with their 2025 winter and spring season, The Apollo has announced an extensive lineup of performances and events that explore legacy and lineage while celebrating the impact of Black artists with time-honored works alongside bold and cutting-edge new productions.
With three dates spanning January 9 to the 11, the Apollo will be hosting a multi-media performance of Loss in Under the Radar: Loss. Originally produced by The Theatre Centre, Loss explores themes of grief within Afro-Caribbean communities in an immersive experience towards healing as audiences follow the intergenerational family narrative retold live on stage.
Organized in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Black women-led theatrical dance company and social activism ensemble, Lineage Legacy and Liberation: An Examination of Urban Bush Women’s Art-Making and Community Organizing Praxis will open as a multi-media gallery on January 13 and remain open to the public through March 12.
In addition to its expansive display of rare photographs, performance footage, audio clips and more, the exhibition will feature a series of pop-up performances on select dates throughout its installation period.
A showing of Claudine directed by John Berry and starring Diahann Carroll will be held on January 17. Oscar-nominated, the romantic comedy balances warm humor with its serious approach to a variety of issues ranging from cyclical poverty to the indignities of the welfare system. An emphatic piece on both Black working-class strife and Black joy, Claudine is presented in collaboration with the Harlem Festival of Culture Foundation.
Returning once more is Apollo’s partnership with WNYC and the March on Washington Film Festival on January 19 as scholars, community leaders, and activists will engage with the audience of Harlem and beyond in conversation about the lasting legacy and teachings of Martin Luther King Jr.
Presented on the first Thursday of each month from February through May is the Apollo Comedy Club. Made in partnership with the producer of Def Comedy Jam and creator of Laff Mobb on Aspire Bob Sumner with Freddie Ricks as host, the Apollo presents the best of comedy’s emerging acts on their Stages at the Victoria.
The Apollo Music Café series returns for the first Friday and Saturday of each month from February through May, featuring diverse performances spanning the sonic pallets of R&B, hip-hop, soul, jazz, funk, rock, and more. The Music Café seeks to showcase artists of the independent music scene who have made/are making an impact on the way music as an art form is consumed and experienced.
On February 22, composer, pianist, and vocalist Samora Abayomi Pinderhughes will perform The James Baldwin Essays: As Much Truth As One Can Bear in celebration of Baldwin’s legacy. Commissioned by Harlem Stage in 2015, the piece is one of Pinderhughes’ many performances that utilizes music to examine socio-political issues.
Each Wednesday from February 19 to June 25 will host the time-honored Amateur Night, America’s longest running talent show. Having been revered by artists as a once-in-a-lifetime experience uplifting emerging talent, names such as Ella Fitzgerald, Luther Vandross, Lauryn Hill, H.E.R and more have graced Amateur Night’s stage where the audience has the power to shape a career.
The Grand Finale winner will receive $20,000 alongside the “Child Star of Tomorrow” who will win $5,000.
While the 2025 lineup is already full of rising stars, live auditions for the 2026 season will be held on March 22 at The Apollo’s Historic Theater.
Guardian Spirit will present the poems, prose, and essays of bell hooks set to the musical works of Martha Redbone on March 29. Highlighting and celebrating bell hooks’ work and influence on the modern artist and individual, Redbone will set her stories within the world of music and storytelling.
Highlighting the intricate dynamics of generations of Black female strength and resilience is Jeffrey Manor from April 7 through the 12. Set in the south side of Chicago, Jeffrey Manor explores themes of generational dysfunction and mental health struggles born of a lifetime of trauma through the secrets and tragedies of Black women bound together by lineage.
Jason Moran will celebrate Duke Ellington’s great canon on April 11 through his illuminating piano explorations alongside iconic images of The Duke taken by legendary photographer Gordon Parks.
Among all of these stunning productions, the Apollo offers a myriad of educational programs including but not limited to MLK Young Changemakers, Treasures from the Archives, professional learning workshops, and more.
For more information on the Apollo’s Winter and Spring 2025 season, their expansive educational programs, and ticketing information, be sure to visit their events page here.
