Category: News Desk

  • Drive-By Truckers Bring Back Southern Rock Opera for a 2024 Tour

    Drive-By Truckers will be stopping at Irving Plaza on October 17, as part of their Southern Rock Opera Revisited 2024 Tour. With a selection of fan favorites from their vast discography, this tour will be an exciting celebration of their legendary 2001 album.

    Drive By Truckers at Water Street Music Hall – photo by Brian Ferguson

    Drive-By Truckers put love and effort into Southern Rock Opera, which they first self-released on September 11, 2001. They raised money from fans who later became investors to press 5,000 copies, and they independently sold 10,000 copies while going on a huge tour that they organized. The band moved from dive bars to larger venues and theaters due to the album’s success, which also led to proper management and a record deal.

    Southern Rock Opera

    Drive-By Truckers began their journey with Southern Rock Opera, and for 23 years, this trajectory helped them thrive. Acclaimed for their enthusiastic performances and insightful political views, the group’s varied take on rock ‘n’ roll has connected with listeners all over the world.

    Beginning on June 7, the tour will travel throughout North America until the beginning of July. Not only that, but the tour will return in October. On October 17, New Yorkers can catch them at Irving Plaza.

    With a special soundcheck party and limited-edition merchandise, the VIP Experience gives fans an opportunity to dig deeper into the music. Get your VIP tickets now for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness history.

    The band sums it up nicely when they say, “It ain’t about the past.” This tour is meant to spark conversations about our past, present, and future. Thus, get your tickets, mark your calendars, and get ready to rock out when Drive-By Truckers hit the road for their Southern Rock Opera Revisited 2024 Tour.

    For more details and ticket information, visit www.drivebytruckers.com/shows.

    DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS SOUTHERN ROCK OPERA REVISITED 2024 TOUR

    JUNE

    7 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre

    8 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant

    9 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom

    10 – Henrico, VA – Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens* 

    13 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz

    14 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore Charlotte

    15 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City

    16 – New Orleans, LA – The Civic Theatre

    19 – Houston, TX – House of Blues

    20 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater

    21 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues

    23 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren

    26 – El Cajon, CA – The Magnolia

    27 – Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco

    28 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore

    29 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore

    JULY

    1 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom

    2 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre

    5 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex

    6 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium

    OCTOBER

    16 – Washington, DC – Warner Theatre

    17 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza

    18 – Boston, MA – House of Blues

    19 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts

    22 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall

    23 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues

    25 – Minneapolis, MN – Uptown Theater

    26 – Minneapolis, MN – Uptown Theater

    27 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee

    29 – Des Moines, IA – Val Air Ballroom

    30 – Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater

    NOVEMBER

    1 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues

    2 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues

    3 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s

    5 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrew’s Hall

    7 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel

    8 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel

    9 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle

    24 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium

  • Bernadette Peters Hosts Shubert Foundation’s 10th Anniversary High School Theatre Festival

    Bernadette Peters from Hello, Dolly!, and Follies fame will host the 10 Anniversary High School Theatre Festival for NYC public schools on March 25 at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway. 

    The Shubert Festival celebrates six outstanding high school student productions from the 2023-24 school year, selected from more than 20 productions across the city by professional theatre artists and theatre educators. Throughout the festival’s ten-year history, school productions from all five boroughs have performed at the event.

    The Broadway Festival is hosted by Bernadette Peters – author, actress, and singer famously known for her role in a broadway star-packed movie tick, tick…Boom! alongside Academy Awards nominee Andrew Garfield. Apart from theatre and music, Peters was presented with the Animal Medical Center Brooke Astor Award in 2018 in recognition of her lifetime dedication to animal welfare, which includes the “over 2,000 adoptions” she has made at Broadway Barks events.

    Other guest Broadway presenters will include James Caverly, Miguel Cervantes, Charlotte d’Amboise, Jeanna de Waal, Treshelle Edmond, Drew Gehling, Tamar Greene, Anika Larsen, Apollo Levine, Julian Elijah Martinez, Gary Perez, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Seth Rudetsky, Brandon Uranowitz, and Kara Young.

    This year, student presentations will present excerpted scenes and musical numbers, including Titanic by Professional Performing Arts High School from Manhattan, Joseph, And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by Lexington School For The Deaf from Queens, Mamma Mia! By Curtis High School from Staten Island, Zanna Don’t! by Repertory Company High School For Theatre Arts from Manhattan, Titanic by Frank Sinatra School Of The Arts from Queens, and Urinetown by Brooklyn High School For The Arts from Brooklyn. 

    The Shubert High School Theatre Festival highlights the vital lives and theatrical skills of collaboration, artistry, discipline, focus, literacy, student voice, self-awareness, presence, and empathy, in addition to showcasing the outstanding theater currently being produced in NYC public high schools. The evening’s main focus is how a dedicated theater program may benefit students and school communities by encouraging them to consider theater and the arts as possible career options.

    This year’s annual theatre education experience for NYC students is presented by The Shubert Foundation and the NYC Department of Education Arts Office and for more information fans can visit www.shubertfoundation.org.

  • Stella Blue’s Band Returns to Free Dead in the Park This May

    Stella Blue’s Band is excited to announce the fifth annual Free Dead in the Park concert to benefit Riverkeeper, presented by The Capitol Theatre and RYTHM Cannabis, at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park in New York City on Tuesday, May 14.

    Free Dead in the Park, Riverkeeper

    Free Dead in the Park began in 2018 when Stella Blue’s Band first played in the bandshell to commemorate the 50 anniversary of the Grateful Dead’s epic free concert with Jefferson Airplane and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. In the years following, the show has benefitted Riverkeeper and its mission to protect, clean up, and advocate for the Hudson River and surrounding ecosystems. 

    “Free Dead in the Park is our family reunion and it gets better every year,” said Steve Liesman, the band’s rhythm guitar player, a member of Riverkeeper’s board, and the senior economics reporter for CNBC. “It’s an honor to follow in the footsteps of the Dead in beautiful Central Park while helping support the vital cause of cleaning up the Hudson River.” An exclusive commemorative T-shirt featuring a photo of Bob Weir onstage taken by photographer Jay Blakesberg will be given to everyone who becomes a Riverkeeper member at the event.

    Stella Blue’s Band, founded in 2009, recreates the experience of being at a Grateful Dead show – lighting up the tri-state area for more than a decade with its six-piece line-up, including two drummers, strong, soulful vocals, and high-energy performances. 

    Stella Blue's Band @ Free Dead in the Park, Riverkeeper
    Photo by Zapshots Photography.

    “We’re thrilled to be back supporting Free Dead in the Park and Riverkeeper and bringing together the power of good music and collective action for the environment in the heart of New York City,” said Peter Shapiro, owner of The Capitol Theatre

    Riverkeeper protects and restores the Hudson River, and safeguards drinking water supplies through community partnerships, science, and law. They improve water quality, restore habitat for an abundance of life, and address the impact of climate change on waterways. Founded in 1966 as the Hudson River Fishermen’s Association, Riverkeeper became the model for more than 320 Waterkeeper organizations and established globally recognized standards for waterway and watershed protection.

    “Listen to the river sing sweet songs with the Stella Blue’s Band at one of Riverkeeper’s most beloved events, Free Dead in the Park,” said Tracy Brown, President of Riverkeeper. “Join environmentalists and music enthusiasts in celebrating and supporting the preservation of the Hudson River.” 

    For more information, visit here.

  • New York Philharmonic Announces Jam-Packed 2024-25 Season

    The New York Philharmonic has announced their 2024-2025 season of events. The season is packed with hearty, unique, and diverse talent with Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel leading three weeks of subscription concerts.

    New York Philharmonic season
    Gustavo Dudamel

    The New York Philharmonic presents a wide range of new compositions, including 13 World, US, and New York Premieres this season. This consists of five World Premieres, two US Premieres, and six New York Premieres. These premieres encapsulate the diversity and broad perspectives of the Philharmonic’s community.

    For the first time, Dudamel leads New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks, presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer. The Philharmonic explores programming from a variety of musical perspectives. Pianist Yuja Wang appears in contexts that reflect her musical interests, including her first NY Phil appearances in
    which she leads the Orchestra from the piano.

    Also new for the upcoming season, New York Philharmonic musicians were invited to act as an Artistic Partner, curating a program that reflects their varied musical interests, and also celebrates the Orchestra’s brilliant history.

    The Philharmonic examines music of the African diaspora in America from the latter half of the 20th century through the present day. Artistic Partner International Contemporary Ensemble presents the beauty of Afromodernism. The program is curated by artistic director George Lewis; and a Young People’s Concert.

    Over the 2024–25 season the New York Philharmonic shines a spotlight on two French composers who transformed the musical landscape and left enduring legacies. The Pierre Boulez Centennial and Ravel’s 150th Anniversary are two programs that pay deep tribute to the French composers.

    The upcoming season sees several debuts from conductors and soloists alike. Along with this, there are many returning friends and favorites. The New York Philharmonic welcomes all those returning and the unfamiliar faces as well.

    For more information on the New York Philharmonic’s upcoming 2024-25 season, click here.

  • Sound Mind Music Festival For Mental Health Returns to Brooklyn

    On Saturday, May 18, the Sound Mind Music Festival proudly returns to Brooklyn for its sixth year. This festival isn’t just about entertainment, it’s a powerful platform for raising awareness about mental health.

    Since the beginning, this festival has been more than just a lineup of acts; it has inspired improvement and offered hope. Over the years the festival has become a must-attend occasion rooted in the belief that music has therapeutic qualities. Sound Mind Music Festival creates a safe space where music and conversations about mental health coexist harmoniously. Attendees are asked to look into the relationship between music and mental wellness through live performances, panel discussions, and interactive workshops.

    Bailen – Photo by Dery Keretic

    This year’s event has a staggering lineup, including well-known performers like MisterWives, Kevin Morby, Bailen, SHAED, and DJ White Shadow. Every musical taste can be satisfied. 

    MisterWives – Photo by Matty Vogel

    Beyond the music, the festival provides a wide range of experiences meant to nourish the body and the mind. Folks can take part in mindful breathing workshops, movement and yoga classes, and a dance party with DJ sets at House of Yes. Additionally, look forward to the afterparty with DJ White Shadow at Elsewhere directly after the event.

    SHAED – Photo by Cody Ackors

    Moreover, the festival aims to make a difference. The proceeds will support the Sound Mind Center, crafting transformative healing experiences through music and sound.

    DJ White Shadow

    In essence, the Sound Mind Music Festival teaches understanding, empathy, and healing; it offers hope in a world where mental health illnesses have become more common. Get tickets here.

  • HOT 97 Announces 30th Annual Summer Jam at UBS Arena in Long Island

    HOT 97’s Summer Jam festival sees UBS Arena in Elmont, New York as the host for the event’s 30th anniversary. The festival sees a stellar lineup of some of hip hop’s most notable names. This includes Doja Cat, Sexxy Redd, Offset, Method Man, Redman and many more.

    Hip hop’s biggest celebration begins June 2 at UBS Arena in Elmont, Long Island. Summer Jam 2024 sees an explosive celebration of HOT 97’s legacy and the biggest names hip hop has to offer. Cemented rap artists of today, legends of the past, and rising stars all gather at Summer Jam to show their talent and to make the crowd move.

    Headlining this historic occasion are chart-toppers Doja Cat, Davido, and Offset, alongside fan-favorites such as Sexyy Red, the legendary duo Method Man and Redman, rising star Sleepy Hallow, Detroit’s pride Tee Grizzley, and the dynamic 41 Kyle Richh, Jenn Carter, and TaTa.

    Legendary Hip Hop Duo, Method Man and Redman

    Summer Jam started humbly and become a cultural phenomenon. The festival has continuously pushed boundaries and shaped the landscape of hip-hop. With icons Method Man and Redman joining forces to set the stage on fire, this year’s lineup reflects the evolution of the genre and pays homage to the artists who have contributed to its legacy over the past three decades.

    Summer Jam at UBS is something that’ll recur. UBS Arena is the festival’s new home now that its fully built and ready for massive audiences. The arena has been meticulously designed to elevate fans’ audio experience during performances, and those in attendance can vouch.

    Summer Jam 2019 at Metlife Stadium

    General public tickets will officially go on sale on Friday, March 22nd at 10 am on HOT97.com  and ticketmaster.com. You do not want to miss Summer Jam at UBS Arena.

  • GRAMMY Award-Winning Superstar Megan Thee Stallion Announces Tour, Coming to MSG

    Three-time, GRAMMY award-winning superstar Megan Thee Stallion formally announced the “Hot Girl Summer Tour,” featuring GloRilla, coming to Madison Square Garden on May 21.

    Megan Thee Stallion

    The Memphis-born hitmaker GloRilla, who has delivered award-winning hits such as “Tomorrow 2 (feat Cardi B),” “FNF” and “Yeah Glo!,” will join Megan on the domestic leg of the tour.

    The tour comes after Megan Thee Stallion’s latest song “HISS” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February. “HISS” also became the first-ever, solo female rap song to debut No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 and, as a result, she now owns the record for the biggest first week for a solo female rap song in history.

    The achievement signified Megan’s third No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, following her other chart-topping hits such as “Savage (Remix)” with Beyoncé and “WAP” with Cardi B. The song was Megan’s second solo release via Hot Girl Productions – her independent music and entertainment entity. She can release her music independently and still have distribution and resources with Warner Music while having full ownership of her master’s and publishing. 

    Hailing from Houston, Megan Thee Stallion is a three-time GRAMMY-winning recording artist, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. She received nine BET Awards and multiple Billboard Music Awards for “Top Rap Female Artist.” Additionally, she has been honored for her advocacy efforts, with the 2022 Special Achievement Award at The Webby Awards and the Trailblazer Award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. 

    She made history in Nov. 2022, becoming the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Forbes’ prestigious Under 30 issue. She was previously recognized as one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020 after publishing her monumental “Why I Speak Up For Black Women” op-ed for The New York Times

    Tickets will be available starting with a Citi presale beginning on Wednesday, March 20. Additional presales including an artist Hotties presale will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning on Friday, March 22 at 10 a.m.

    Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, access to a VIP bar and cocktail service throughout the night, pre-show VIP Lounge, exclusive VIP merch item, early entry & more. VIP package contents vary based on offer selected. For more information, click HERE.

    2024 HOT GIRL SUMMER WORLD TOUR DATES

    May 14 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center^ 

    May 17 – Chicago, IL – United Center^

    May 18 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena^

    May 21 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden^ 

    May 22 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center^

    May 24 – Napa, CA – BottleRock Napa Valley Festival*

    May 26 – Boston, MA – Boston Calling Festival*

    May 28 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena^ 

    May 30 – Memphis, TN – FedEx Forum^ 

    Jun 1 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena^ 

    Jun 4 – Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena^ 

    June 6 – Hollywood, FL – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino^ 

    Jun 8 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena^

    Jun 10 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center^

    Jun 11 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center^ 

    Jun 13 – Austin, TX – Moody Center^

    Jun 14 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center^

    Jun 16 – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival*

    Jun 17 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena^

    Jun 19 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center^ 

    Jun 21 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena^ 

    Jun 22 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena^ 

    Jul 4 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro 

    Jul 5 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live

    Jul 7 – Paris, FR – Zenith 

    Jul 10 – Amsterdam, NL – Ziggo Dome 

    Jul 11 – Cologne, DE – Lanxess Arena 

    Jul 14 – Dublin, IE – 3Arena 

    Jul 16 – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena 

    Jul 17 – London, UK – The O2

    Jul 27 – Washington DC – Broccoli City Festival*

    ^With Support From GloRilla

  • Caffe Lena in April Features Raul Midon, The Special Consensus, Michael Eck and More

    Esteemed music venue Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs announced a stellar lineup of musicians for the month of April, with Raul Midon, Michael Eck, Vanessa Collier, and The Special Consensus among the featured acts.

    caffe lena april

    CaffeLena has presented New York State with extraordinary music in an intimate setting since the 1960s. It is widely recognized as the longest continuously operating folk music venue in the United States. Bob Dylan performed for two consecutive nights at the cafè in 1961, a year prior to the release of his debut album.

    The venue’s mission is to keep a diverse set of programs and artists, regardless of fame, to present to the community. Caffe Lena is where musical discovery begins on all fronts. All shows held in-person in Lena’s historic listening room are also streamed live to living rooms around the world.

    Caffe Lena’s April shows are not ones to miss. The itinerary is complete with various well-known artists with utmost talent. Various genres like bluegrass, jazz, folk, blues, poetry, funk rock and more are set to light up the intimate venue with energy, love, and art. Artists like Michael Eck see the stage for heartfelt performances signifying great milestones.

    Vanessa Collier

    Michael Eck celebrates his 60th birthday with release of sixth album, fermata, and a performance at Caffe Lena, 8 p.m. Friday, April 19. Eck will be joined by an all-star ensemble, including bassist/vocalist Bob Buckley, guitarist Sten Isachsen, and elusive vocalist Rosanne Raneri.

    Michael Eck

    Caffe Lena’s Top Shows For April

    April 2, 7 PM Live Stream: Storytelling Night Featuring Julia Biaculli

    April 3, 7 PM Poetry Open Mic Night featuring Susan Jefts

    April 4, 8 PM Ruthie Foster

    April 5, 8 PM The Special Consensus

    April 6, 8 PM Peter Mulvey with Opener Zachary Lucky

    April 7, 7 PM House of Hamill

    April 9, 7 PM Songwriting with Eliza Gilkyson

    April 19, 8 PM Live Stream: Michael Eck

    April 26, 8 PM Vanessa Collier

    April 27, 8 PM Bright Series: The Clements Brothers

    April 28, 7 PM Intersectional Voices: Raul Midon

    For more information on Caffe Lena’s April shows and to purchase tickets, click here.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK9dLM8_cKE
  • Slow Fiction Releases Enticing New Single “Monday”

    Multi-faceted  alt rock band Slow Fiction have released their enticing new single “Monday” ahead of the band’s live performance at No Fun venue in Troy on March 27

    Brooklyn based band Slow Fiction consists of five members that bring together amazing performances, distinctive songwriting and innovative vocals delivered by their lead vocalist Julia Vassallo. Their new single “Monday” is a first single from the band’s upcoming EP record Crush set to be released on May 24 via So Young Records.  

    Emerging within a music community shattered by lockdowns, Slow Fiction was woven together from a tapestry of friendships from hometowns and college connections. As boundaries disappeared and audiences expanded, the band became closer, utilizing the changes to play around with their content and achieve ever-greater and more powerful heights.

    Inspired by the raw, sweeping fuzz of bands like Sonic Youth and The Jesus and Mary Chain, the finished composition is a sonically explosive piece of work. A familiar guitar sound from the 2000s meets cutting edge modern angst to produce a sound that is both nostalgic and enticing. The band was liberated as their confidence increased through their live performances, and they used all they had learned to start working on “a lot more cohesive and bigger sounding” project.

    Slow Fiction is fast making a name for themselves as one of the most captivating and intriguing live performers coming out of New York’s thriving scene at the moment. Their new EP goes over and above to demonstrate their potential by combining nostalgic overtones with unquestionably heavy emotional content and stark realities. The band is slowly becoming one of the most intriguing artists to come out of the current music scene because of their skillful blending of personal suffering with a wide range of musical inspirations and dreamy, euphoric tones.

    Following the announcement of their new EP Crush, and the release their new single “Monday” which was accompanied by a visualizer that features a footage taken out the window of a NYC subway, the band has also announce a slew of upcoming tour dates, including a stint at SXSW and shows supporting Hinds and Sprints. 

    To learn more about the band and pre-save their new EP, fans can visit here and Tickets for their tour can be found here.

    Slow Fiction Live

    3/5 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar

    3/6 – Richmond, VA – Richmond Music Hall

    3/8 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle w/ Provoker

    3/9 – Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern

    3/10 – Athens, GA – Hendershot’s

    3/12 – SXSW – Seven Grand @ 11pm

    3/14 – SXSW – Lefty’s Brick Bar – Clash Showcase @ 7pm

    3/19 – Brooklyn, NY – Baby’s All Right w/ Hinds 

    3/21 – Brooklyn, NY – Elsewhere Zone One w/ Sprints 

    3/22 – Brooklyn, NY – Elsewhere Zone One w/ Sprints 

    3/23 – Washington, DC – DC9 w/ Sprints

    3/27 – Troy, NY – No Fun w/ Thus Love, Native Sun

  • Platinum Artist Donna Lewis Shows Chemo Journey Using Music

    Platinum-selling songwriter and artist Donna Lewis of New York is back with a touching song “The Imposter.” Inspired by Lewis’s personal battle with breast cancer, this powerful track explores the depths of the human experience, capturing a blend of light and dark, fear and bravery.

    The song takes listeners through Lewis’s treatment center’s different rooms, vividly capturing the darkness, pain, and terror she experienced during chemotherapy. The chorus, however, shines through the darkness with love, light, and gratitude.

    donna lewis The Imposter

    Sonically speaking, “The Imposter” shows the duality of Lewis’s struggle by combining upbeat downtempo trip-hop exploration with driving sonics and euphoric vocals.

    Lewis, known for her classic love ballad “I Love You, Always Forever,” reunites with acclaimed producer Holmes Ives to create an album that is resilient and full of hope. Together, they transform Lewis’s cancer journey’s hardships into an artistic creation that knows no bounds. In addition to her musical pursuits, Lewis is to become an ambassador for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

    The forthcoming album, Rooms With A View, details the highs and lows of Lewis’s year-long battle with breast cancer. Lewis provides not only an experience but also a ray of hope for anyone going through a difficult time through her stirring lyrics and expressive vocals.

    “It is an offering of hope for anyone going through a dark tunnel. I am forever grateful to share it with you,” said Lewis.

    Stay tuned for Rooms With A View, Donna Lewis and Holmes Ives‘ joint song that is bound to inspire and uplift listeners everywhere – give “The Imposter” a listen here or below.