Acclaimed Brooklyn indie rock band Longwave has released a new music video for the track ‘Tidal Wave’ off of their latest breakthrough album The Strangest Things.
The new video was released to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the album’s release and it was shot by Jason Oliva on tour in the UK and Europe from 2002 to 2003, and edited together by Bill Moldt.
The band will reissue their critically acclaimed album The Strangest Things on Jan. 26 and fans can preorder the limited-edition red vinyl now here including signed versions while supplies last.
The Strangest Things was the band’s second studio album after ‘Endsongs’ in 2000, and was produced by Dave Fridmann (Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, Weezer) at his studio in Fredonia, New York & released by RCA. The 12-track record features the band’s seminal singles like ‘Wake Me When It’s Over’, ‘Pool Song’, ‘Tidal Wave’, and more.
To mark the occasion, The band will return to NYC to headline at Bowery Ballroom the night after its release on January 27, 2024. They will play the new record in full. Tickets are on sale now at boweryballroom.com.
Also, their limited-edition vinyl release will include the 12 tracks; and can be purchased through the band’s website .
Third Eye Blind has announced their ‘Summer Gods Tour’ that will kick off in June with shows in Buffalo, Saratoga Springs, and Wantagh this summer.
Third Eye Blind will kick off their fourth edition of the Summer Gods Tour which will make a stop at Darien Lake Amphitheater on July 3, Freedom Mortgage Pavilion on July 12, PNC Bank Arts Center on July 14, Broadview Stage at SPAC on July 16 and Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater on July 18. The band’s upcoming tour will also feature a Jacksonville-based rock band Yellowcard and the New Jersey-based trio A R I Z O N A.
The band’s frontman shared their excitement for this tour as he stated, “I have this sense that I am feeling the same way everybody else is—that we need a summer tour so badly, like more than ever, we need the lights, the noise, the heat, and everybody up close to each other, singing as one. Can’t wait.”- Stephan Jenkins.
He also announced that a portion of the proceeds will benefit SeaTrees, an organization that works with coastal communities around the world to restore the ecosystems. “We have a beautiful, bright future,” with climate action in the center of it. “That’s what I want people to know,” Jenkins announced on CBS Mornings.
General on-sale tickets will begin on Jan.12 and can be purchased here.
Third Eye Blind Summer Gods Tour Dates
June 8 – Airway Heights, WA BECU Live at Northern Quest
June 9 – Nampa, ID Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater
June 13 – Seattle, WA WAMU Theater
June 14 – Bend, OR Hayden Homes Amphitheater
June 15 – Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
June 20 – Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre
June 21 – Chula Vista, CA North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
June 22 – Las Vegas, NV Fontainebleau Las Vegas
June 25 – West Valley City, UT USANA Amphitheatre
June 26 – Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
June 28 – Chicago, IL Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
June 29 – St. Louis, MO Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis
June 30 – Franklin, TN FirstBank Amphitheater
July 2 – Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
July 3 – Buffalo, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
July 5 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center
July 6 – Noblesville, IN Ruoff Music Center
July 7 – Clarkston, MI Pine Knob Music Theatre
July 9 – Burgettstown, PA The Pavilion at Star Lake
July 11 – Gilford, NH BankNH Pavilion
July 12 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
July 13 – Mansfield, MA Xfinity Center
July 14 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
July 16 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC
July 18 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
July 19 – Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
July 20 – Virginia Beach, VA Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
July 21- Raleigh, NC Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
July 23 – Charlotte, NC PNC Music Pavilion
July 25 – Tampa, FL MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds
July 26 – Jacksonville, FL VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
July 27 – Alpharetta, GA Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
July 28 – Birmingham, AL Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
July 31 – Rogers, AR Walmart AMP
August 1 – Dallas, TX Dos Equis Pavilion
August 2 – Austin, TX Germania Insurance Amphitheater
August 3 – Houston, TX The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
“It’s time you knew the real story of Gamehendge!”
These nine words from actress Annie Golden, playing Jimmy’s Grandma during Phish’s New Year’s Eve concert, released a swell of emotions from Phish fans gathered at Madison Square Garden, witnessing for the first time in nearly 30 years, the first full performance of “Gamehendge.”
Photo by Brian Ferguson
Written by guitarist Trey Anastasio as his senior thesis at Godard College, titled The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday, the rock opera tells the tale of retired colonel from Long Island who enters a mythical land where the lizards live under the rule of the evil king Wilson.
Gamehendge shirt c. 1999, via PhanArt
To the lay person, this is the plot to a children’s book, but to Phish fans, this is the holy grail of shows, only performed five times prior and not even this century, until December 31, 2023.
With a cast of Annie Golden (Grandma), Mitchell Sink (Jimmy), Jo Equality Lampert (The Wolf), Jeff Williams (Colonel Forbin), Daniel Gaymon (Rutherford) and Rebecca Magazine (Tela), the performance spanned a total of 17 songs, with costumed dancers, a flying mockingbird and slow-moving assassin sloth among them, over two sets, stretching past midnight into the first hour of 2024.
The full show remastered video of the entire performance was released on Tuesday. Watch below and relive Phish’s 83rd show at Madison Square Garden.
Set 1: Everything’s Right, Tube, Ether Edge > Reba, Taste, Ruby Waves, A Life Beyond The Dream, Character Zero
Set 2: Down with Disease, Harpua > The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday > The Lizards > Punch You in the Eye > AC/DC Bag > Tela > Llama > Wilson > The Sloth > Divided Sky
Set 3: McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters > Colonel Forbin’s Ascent > Fly Famous Mockingbird > Auld Lang Syne > Split Open and Melt, You Enjoy Myself > Loving Cup > Possum
Encore: Cavern > First Tube > Tweezer Reprise
Additionally – Phish quietly announced a new box set would be available for sale in March. The Spectrum ’97 will celebrate the December 2 and 3 shows during the famed “Phish Destroys America” Fall 1997 tour. More info to come.
Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater has announced iconic Americana artist Toshi Reagon’s 40th Annual Birthday Concerts from January 24-31, featuring a run of seven shows that showcase Reagon’s renowned repertoire, with a slew of special guests and events.
Joe’s Pub has hosted Toshi Reagon’s Birthday Concerts since 2005. Reagon is a multi-talented and versatile singer, composer, musician, curator, and producer with a profound ear for Sonic Americana. Her expansive career includes residences at Carnegie Hall, the Paris Opera House, and multiple festivals and venues nationally and internationally. She has worked with many musicians, choreographers, film and theater makers, including Meshell Ndegeocello, Alsarah, Lizz Wright, Urban Bush Women, Dorrance Dance, Ananya Chatterjea, Nona Hendryx, Carl Hancock Rux, Rhiannon Giddens, Robert Wilson, her band BIGLovely and many more.
Reagon co-composed music for two Peabody Award-winning films and is a 2015 Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellow, a 2018 United States Artist Fellow, and Andrew W. Melon Creative Futures Fellow Carolina Performing Arts. She is currently a Met Museum Civic Practice Fellow and a Bowdoin College Joseph McKeen Visiting Fellow. In 2021, Toshi received the APAP Award for Merit in the Performing Arts and was a recipient of the Herb Alpert Award in Music.
In 2022 Toshi Reagon received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Emerson College. In 2011 she founded the Community-based festival Word*Rock*& Sword, and in 2018 she created the production company Wise Reagon Arts which produces the opera Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower, created by Toshi Reagon and Bernice Johnson Reagon. As of 2023 the opera has been presented on four continents and has been seen by over 40,000 audience members.
Toshi Reagon’s 40th Birthday Concerts include a fundraiser/concert performance of Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower and the popularSacred Music Show. Special guests include BIGLovely, Nona Hendryx, Helga Davis, Joan as Policewoman, Catherine Russell, Morley, and Tariq Al-Sabir.
Joe’s Pub was named for Public Theater founder Joseph Papp. Since it opened in 1998, it has played a vital role in The Public’s mission of supporting artists at all stages of their careers with an intimate space to perform and develop new work. It presents the best in live music and performance nightly, continuing its commitment to diversity, production values, community, and artistic freedom. In addition to one-night-only concerts and multi-night engagements, Joe’s Pub is home to the annual Habibi Festival, which hosts artists representing contemporary and traditional music of the SWANA (Southwest Asia/North Africa) region, and The Vanguard Award & Residency, a yearlong curation series that celebrates the career, and community, of a prolific and influential artist.
Joe’s Pub 2024 winter lineup includes a wide variety of events, including the return of Kim David Smith, Mali Obomsawin, Penny Arcade (as part of the Under the Radar Festival), neurodiverse cabaret from EPIC Players, Isaac Oliver, Xavier Smith, Never Sleep Alone, the debut of Venus Cuffs, Magatte Fall (curated by Angelique Kidjo), Mai Khoi, Nella, Jill Sobule, Donny McCaslin and performance pieces in concert, including Fouad of Nazareth, and Ethan Lipton & His Orchestra.
To purchase tickets to Toshi Reagon’s 40th Birthday Celebration Concerts, and for more information on Joe’s Pub, visit here.
Joe’s Pub 2024 Winter Lineup
Under the Radar Festival
Penny Arcade: The Art of Becoming
Tuesday, January 16 at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 17 at 7 p.m.
Thursday, January 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 21 at 8:30 p.m.
From one of downtown’s most articulate survivors, comes Penny Arcade’s humorous and revealing musical memoir, The Art of Becoming.
Storytelling
House of SpeakEasy: Seriously Entertaining
Tuesday, January 9 at 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, February 6 at 7:00 p.m.
Seriously Entertaining is House of SpeakEasy’s acclaimed series of literary cabarets where authors take the stage to riff informally, dinner-theater-style, on the evening’s theme. The Wall Street Journal calls it “Think-y entertainment for New York’s book-loving crowd,” and The New York Times says it’s “a literary mixtape [with] perfect flow and variety.”
Generation Women
Wednesday, January 10 at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, February 9 at 7:00 p.m.
Generation Women is a multigenerational storytelling night that invites a woman or non-binary performer in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s+ to share an original true story on a theme. The mission of Generation Women is to amplify underheard voices and create space for intergenerational connection and community.
Amanda Krische: Open Invitation, presented in partnership with YoungArts
Saturday, January 27 at 7:00 p.m.
Part performance art play, part dance production, and part dinner party, Open Invitation is a farcical riot of an evening. Created and directed by multidisciplinary choreographer Amanda Krische, and featuring live music and a cast of dynamic performers, audiences are invited to participate in a night of play, care, and movement theater. Through a revolving door of short stories told through movement, Open Invitation constructs a surrealist dream space.
EPIC Underground: Storytellers
Wednesday, February 21 at 7:00 p.m.
The EPIC Underground: Storytellers is a night of dramatic storytelling, stand-up, and spoken word featuring neuro-diverse performers and their original works centered around the theme of Origins. Join the storytellers as they weave their captivating journey through a unique lens of experiences – from triumphs to trials, from laughter to tears – resulting in the joy of finding their authentic selves.
Cabaret
Peter Smith: Songs for a New Year
Thursday, January 11 at 9:30 p.m.
Kick-off 2024 at Joe’s Pub with one of New York’s favorite showgirls, Peter Smith (and a band!) singing songs and slinging stories in celebration of fresh starts. She has been called “a genius” in The Hollywood Reporter and The New Yorker has called her “wickedly playful.”
Photo: Shaniqwa Jarvis.
Monét X Change: Life be Lifein’
Tuesday, January 16 at 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 17 at 9:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 18 at 9:30 p.m.
Born and bred in New York City, Monét X Change is an entertainment spitfire and the first double crown winner from RuPaul’s Drag Race having earned the title Miss Congeniality on Season 10 and becoming the first Queen of Color inducted into the Hall of Fame after winning All-Stars 4. Known for delivering energetic and show-stopping performances, Monét’s showmanship is a reflection of a tireless work ethic to cultivate and perfect her immaculate lip-syncing skills, comedic chops, and pitch-perfect live singing skills.
The Meeting* hosted by Justin Elizabeth Sayre
Sunday, January 28 at 9:30 p.m.
Justin Elizabeth Sayre brings back their classic comedy-variety show, The Meeting* for another round of fun. With lots of special guests, laughs and commentary on the world that is, Sayre returns to the format and the fun.
Lisa Stephen Friday: Trans Am
Monday, January 29 at 6:30 p.m.
TRANS AM is a daring, new, one-woman rock musical by Lisa Stephen Friday, featuring the music of Lisa Jackson & Girl Friday. It’s a touching, funny, rock-your-face-off look at a transgender woman’s very human experience. The band was a cult favorite, punk-pop/glam-rock darlings in the 90s and aughts, regularly headlining NYC clubs like CBGB, The Knitting Factory, Arlene’s Grocery, Mercury Lounge, and more. Lisa is an extraordinary storyteller, actress, and musician with a fascinating life story, and the play is a necessary piece of theatre in today’s rapidly shifting cultural landscape – exploring what it means to be different in a world where labels of “other” are still too often the status quo.
Photo by Mike Kozemchak.
OK, Olympia, Let’s Go!
Monday, February 5 at 6:00 p.m.
A multimedia celebration through live theater and film of the life and career of Olympia Dukakis written by her brother Apollo Dukakis and edited by her children Christina, Peter, and Stefan Zorich. The evening will feature performances by Apollo Dukakis and Phyllis Kay with special appearances by Blythe Danner (Tony and Emmy Award winner), Rocco Sisto (two-time Obie Award winner), and Austin Pendleton (Obie & Drama Desk Award winner).
Kim David Smith: More Mostly Marlene
Tuesday, February 6 at 9:30 p.m.
Described by Broadway World as the “David Bowie of cabaret,” “slyly subversive” by The Wall Street Journal, and labeled the “male Marlene Dietrich” by The New York Times, Australian cabaret performer Kim David Smith conjures the glitter, doom, and decadence of 1920’s Berlin and beyond in his intimate celebration of Dietrich’s musical and cultural legacy: “Mostly Marlene.”
Tease Factory, presented in partnership with Venus Cuffs
Wednesday, February 14 at 9:30 p.m.
Get ready for a taste of the erotic, a rhinestone butt jiggle, spoken word that opens your mind, and sexy burlesque that will tingle your senses -this is the classiest tease you will ever experience in your life.
Mama Alto: Transcendent
Sunday, February 18 at 8:30 p.m.
One of Australia’s finest cabaret artists, Mama Alto, makes her solo USA debut at Joe’s Pub. Mama Alto is a jazz singer, cabaret artiste, and gender transcendent diva. Her liquid velvet voice comes to the fore, traversing smoky torch songs, sumptuous jazz ballads, and luscious vocals.
Joe McGinty & The Loser’s Lounge: The Music of Neil Young
Thursday, February 22 – Saturday, February 24 at 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 22 – Saturday, February 24 at 9:30 p.m.
Joe McGinty & The Loser’s Lounge present the music of Neil Young! For the first time, The Loser’s Lounge will perform an entire show of Neil Young’s incomparable catalog, including songs from his solo career, his work with Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Buffalo Springfield, Rick James, the hits, the oddities, and more.
Comedy
The Last Night On Earth hosted by Matt Wilkas & Nadia Quinn
Wednesday, January 10 at 9:30 p.m.
Join Nadia Quinn and Matthew Wilkas for a magical evening of music, comedy, a bunch of VERY special guests, and a healthy dose of introspection.
Ruby McCollister: Hollywood Soldier
Wednesday, February 7 at 9:30 p.m.
Ruby McCollister presents notes, thoughts, and pieces from her newest work-in-progress solo show: Hollywood Soldier. A night of revelations, laughs, and special guests.
Isaac Oliver is Your Valentine
Tuesday, February 13 at 9:30 p.m.
Writer/performer Isaac Oliver (Intimacy Idiot, The New York Times, “High Maintenance,” “GLOW,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) returns to Joe’s Pub for his annual Valentine’s Eve night of solo sit-down comedy.
Never Sleep Alone
Wednesday, February 21 at 9:30 p.m.
Celebrity sex and dating guru Dr. Alex Schiller leads her audience through a wildly entertaining comedy show where people laugh and learn. Whether you’re single and seeking or happily coupled, NEVER SLEEP ALONE is the New York night you’ve always wanted.
Ryan Raftery: The Titans of Media Trilogy (Tues Anna Wintour | Wed Martha Stewart | Thur Kris Jenner)
Tuesday, February 27 – Thursday, February 29 at 7:00 p.m.
Ryan Raftery returns to Joe’s Pub with his TITANS OF MEDIA TRILOGY OF FEMALE EMPOWERMENT. The Anna Wintour, Martha Stewart, and Kris Jenner musicals will be performed in repertory, Tuesday – Thursday, a different diva center stage every night.
Music
Sxip Shirey’s Hour of Charm
Thursday, January 11 at 7:00 p.m.
Fresh off a winter run in Munich with the contemporary circus production LIMBO, Sxip Shirey curates a night of surprising sounds, beautiful songs, and fantastic compositions.
Bria Skonberg / Anat Cohen
Friday, January 12 at 7:00 p.m.
New York-based and Canadian-born singer, trumpeter, and songwriter Bria Skonberg has been described as one of the “most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation” (Wall Street Journal). Bria has stormed onto the jazz scene with her smoky vocals, blistering trumpet, and compelling compositions and arrangements. The Juno Award winner has sung the music of Aretha Franklin alongside Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child, played with U2 at the iconic Apollo Theater, sat in with the Dave Matthews Band, and much more.
Celebrate AMERI’KANA feat. Making Movies, The Sensational Barnes Brothers, Los Texmaniacs & AMERI’KANA All-Stars
Friday, January 12 at 9:30 p.m.
Celebrate AMERI’KANA is a journey into the rich tapestry of American music, celebrating its diverse origins and the individuals who contributed to its evolution. The specialty show features Latin GRAMMY-nominated Panamanian band Making Movies, Memphis gospel/soul group The Sensational Barnes Brothers, and GRAMMYAward-winning Tex-Mex Conjunto ensemble Los Texmaniacs. The evening will also include a collaborative ensemble called AMERI’KANA All-Stars led by Making Movies with Los Texmaniacs, The Sensational Barnes Brother, Mexican singer-songwriter Renee Goust, Memphis swamp/soulstress Marcella Simien, and more.
Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band / Mali Obomsawin: Sweet Tooth
Saturday, January 13 at 6:30 p.m.
The Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band (JKIBB) continues sacred traditions, performing new works, reimagined traditional melodies, and standards made famous by the Indigenous jazz musicians who came before us. JKIBB is a sonic celebration of the diversity and vitality of Indigenous voices in jazz: past, present, and future.
Bitch / Kaia Kater
Saturday, January 13 at 9:30 p.m.
Bitch is a longstanding queer music icon who released her newest album Bitchcraft in 2022 on Kill Rock Stars. With her signature electric violin and lyrical smarts front and center over huge beats and deep synths, Bitch coined the genre “Poet Pop” and she has been touring nationally ever since. Montreal-born Grenadian-Canadian. Kaia Kater’s jazz-fueled voice and deft songcraft have garnered acclaim from NPR’s Tiny Desk, The Guardian, Rolling Stone, and No Depression. Her upcoming album, Strange Medicine, is due out May 2024.
James Brandon Lewis / ETHEL & Robert Mirabal
Sunday, January 14 at 5:30 p.m
Love is connection. Love is gratitude. Love is passion. Love is audacity. These qualities define tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis’ second album with the glorious Red Lily Quintet: For Mahalia, With Love. In this unique expression of thirteen years of friendship and collaboration, GRAMMY Award-winning, master musician, actor, artist, and storyteller, Robert Mirabal, elder of the Taos Pueblo, and GRAMMY Award-winning, genre-defying, New York-based string quartet, ETHEL, come together gratefully to, yet again, reimagine the concert experience.
Sirintip / Kaki King / Pipo Romero
Sunday, January 14 at 8:30 p.m.
Sirintip is an award-winning experimental Swedish-Thai singer and composer clout in both the pop and jazz worlds. Her unique use of effect pedals with her voice has brought her around the world performing with Snarky Puppy, Mark Guiliana (David Bowie), Benny Andersson (ABBA), and more, heard on over 30 officially released recordings. With a star-studded career that has spanned two decades, Kaki King continues to live at the forefront of guitarists and performance-makers. In the past, she has collaborated with Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters and toured with Natalia Lafourcade, contributed music to Sean Penn’s Into the Wild (which won a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score), and performed in a variety of spaces.
Pipo Romero, a gifted composer and virtuoso acoustic guitarist from Cádiz, Spain, has become a prominent figure in the acoustic guitar scene. His unique fusion of styles, labeled “Spanish Acoustic Fingerstyle,” has garnered praise from critics and journalists. His compositions blend Folk, Flamenco, Celtic, and classical melodies, creating an emotional and multicultural experience.
NYC Winter JazzFest has announced the complete list of artists to be featured at the 20th annual event, held January 10-18, 2024.
Founded by New York concert impresario Brice Rosenbloom, NYCWJF has become the definitive all-inclusive jazz event that offers a “state of the union” of jazz and its many stylistic camps from avant-garde to post-bop, jazz-funk, fusion, hypermodern through-composed music and jazz-inflected world music.
From party bands to ambient electronic groups to the most advanced compositional approaches – audiences sample everything the jazz world has to offer. As a destination event, attendees regularly travel from other states and countries to attend the festival. Many in the industry see it as jazz’s answer to SXSW.
It is our 20th season. We began in 2005 at the Knitting Factory on Leonard Street with the mission of highlighting music that deserved wider attention while the APAP conference was in town, and that mission remains. Over the years that mission has expanded to focus on artists with meaningful messages, in the desire to serve as a beacon for racial and gender justice, community building and wellness. Especially in these times of divisiveness,, we understand the importance of nurturing community through music.
founder and producer Brice Rosenbloom.
The NYCWJF has become a creative home for pathbreaking artists from the local NYC scene and globally, and a pivotal destination for arts leaders and cultural cognoscenti, hardcore fans and new listeners alike. The festival has grown at a rapid pace, from the original one-day single-location program to annual schedules putting as many as 150 groups (over 600 artists) on 20 stages throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn.
A number artists who have gone on to wide industry acclaim including GRAMMYs, MacArthurs and or other major platforms for their work are among past performers: Jon Batiste, Kamasi Washington, Gregory Porter, Jason Moran, Vijay Iyer, esperanza spalding, Robert Glasper, Gretchen Parlato and more. These artists look back to their early WJF appearances as pivotal in terms of artistic growth and audience growth as well. Participants from our very earliest WJF days performing at this year’s festival include Marc Ribot and Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber.
Likewise, NYC Winter Jazz Fest will find unique ways to celebrate artists lost who will always be at the root of this music community: Max Roach, Alice Coltrane, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Curtis Fowlkes, Pharoah Sanders, Sun Ra, J Dilla, and Amp Fiddler.
Our artist-in-residence this year, saxophonist and multi-reedist Shabaka, will perform in six different configurations over the course of the festival. Shabaka’s work transcends conventional notions of genre and draws from a vast palette of cultural influences. While he’s undeniably a pioneering voice in the renaissance of British jazz, his remit is much broader: he has also performed classical concertos with world-leading orchestras; led several hugely influential bands (Sons of Kemet, The Comet is Coming, Shabaka and the Ancestors) and has recently released a critically lauded solo album, Afrikan Culture, a work of exceptional beauty and urgency, focused around the shakuhachi, an east Asian instrument of which Shabaka is a major exponent.
In addition to what is sure to be a revelatory (NOW SOLD OUT) January 11 duo set at Dizzy’s Club with the great Joe Lovano (preceded by an intimate chat at Jazz Congress on the “Universality of Jazz”), Shabaka will take part in both of our Marathon nights in ensembles including Jason Moran, Saul Williams, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and more. He will perform at the January 14 tribute to Black cultural center, The East, (see below) and our Impulse! Records showcase at Le Poisson Rouge (LPR) on January 15 (NOW SOLD OUT).
Schedule of NYC Winter Jazz Fest Events
January 10
Take Two: Tyshawn Sorey x Max Roach — Members, Don’t Git Weary + Gilles Peterson (SOLD OUT)
On what would have been the late Max Roach’s 100th birthday, Pique-nique and NYC Winter Jazzfest along with BMI, present composer and MacArthur Fellow Dr. Tyshawn Sorey, who continues the innovative “Take Two” deep listening series. An ongoing series in Brooklyn and elsewhere, Take Two debuted at last year’s festival with an event in memory of Pharoah Sanders. This year Sorey devotes his attention to Max Roach’s 1968 Atlantic Records classic Members, Don’t Git Weary, which featured a new generation of future heavyweights: Gary Bartz, Charles Tolliver, Stanley Cowell, Jymie Merritt and Andy Bey. Tolliver and Cowell would go on to form the seminal Strata-East label and in many ways this record embodies the template of that sound.
The evening will consist of an uninterrupted playback of the 1968 album followed by Sorey and his ensemble making it their own, reacting to what they heard, feeding off audience energy and a shared listening experience. His ensemble includes highly acclaimed young musicians including trumpeter Adam O’Farrill, saxophonist Mark Shim, pianist Sullivan Fortner and bassist Matt Brewer, plus guest vocalist Fay Victor. The artists will connect the dots between record culture and live music culture. BBC Host and musical impresario Gilles Peterson will serve as master of ceremonies and also DJ a late-night set after the performance.
January 11
Winter Jazzfest x Jazz Congress
Jazz at Lincoln Center produces Jazz Congress, an annual conference designed to bring together artists, media and industry leaders in the global jazz community to exchange ideas in order to nurture and grow the jazz community and the underlying business and organizations that promote, produce, present, market and support the music. The conference was co-produced in association with JazzTimes from 2018 to 2021. After a hiatus in 2022 and 2023, Jazz Congress returns as a one-day event on January 11, 2024. In 2024, Jazz Congress will collaborate with Winter Jazzfest in honor of its 20th anniversary. This will include a NYC Winter Jazzfest 20th Anniversary Panel titled “Universality of Jazz” featuring British multi-instrumentalist and 2024 WJF Artist-in-Residence Shabaka, bassist, composer and vocalist esperanza spalding, and South African pianist and composer Nduduzo Makhatini. The evening concert by Joe Lovano and Shabaka is now SOLD OUT.
January 12 & 13
Winter Jazzfest Manhattan & Brooklyn Marathons
Our epic WJF Marathons will once again unfold across two nights (January 12 & 13), at eight Manhattan venues followed by eight more in Brooklyn the following night. Manhattan Marathon highlights include The Jazz Passengers Remember Curtis Fowlkes (Jan. 12), Marc Ribot’s 70th Birthday celebration (Jan. 12),and a Candid Records showcase (Jan. 12) that will include Terri Lyne Carrington +Social Science plus new label signings Zaccha’eus Paul, Morgan Guerin and Milena Casado, hosted by Carrington.
January 12 & 13
Winter Jazzfest Manhattan & Brooklyn Marathons
Our epic WJF Marathons will once again unfold across two nights (January 12 & 13), at eight Manhattan venues followed by eight more in Brooklyn the following night. Manhattan Marathon highlights include The Jazz Passengers Remember Curtis Fowlkes (Jan. 12), Marc Ribot’s 70th Birthday celebration (Jan. 12),and a Candid Records showcase (Jan. 12) that will include Terri Lyne Carrington +Social Science plus new label signings Zaccha’eus Paul, Morgan Guerin and Milena Casado, hosted by Carrington.
For the first time, NYC Winter Jazzfest will partner withPhiladelphia-based presenter Ars Nova Workshop for a showcase of Philadelphia artists at Nublu (Jan. 12); TSFJAZZ/Paris Jazz Club host their annual French jazz artists showcase (Jan. 12),a sunset performance with Laraaji (Jan. 13), Next Jazz Legacy ensemble performs to open the night at City Winery (Jan. 12), keyboardist and producer Ray Angry hosts a stage curated by Future X Sounds (Jan. 13); Joshua Abrams and Tisziji Muñoz Curate “The Harvest Time Project,” a series of ever-evolving live iterations of Pharoah Sanders’ 1977 record Pharoah with a rotating cast of special guests each night (both marathon nights) with different guests including James Brandon Lewis, Chad Taylor, Surya Botofasina, Carlos Niño, Nate Mercereau, Irreversible Entanglements and special guests; a Jazz Passengers tribute to late trombone great Curtis Fowlkes; Ray Angry and J.Period host a 50th Birthday tribute to J. DIlla and remembering Amp Fiddler; three 70th birthday sets from Marc Ribot and much more.
January 14
A Night at The East (Crown Hill Theatre)
Curated by author and music journalist Marcus J. Moore and NYCWJF’s Brice Rosenbloom, an all-star lineup including Billy Hart and Gary Bartz alongside David Murray, Ahmed Abdullah, Charles Burnham, Nicole Mitchell, Moor Mother, Shabaka, Luke Stewart, Julius Rodriguez, Elucid and Kweku Sumbry will pay tribute to this all-but-forgotten Brooklyn landmark, where hundreds of shows self-produced by Black artists took place in Central Brooklyn from 1969-1975.
January 15
Impulse! Records Showcase at LPR (SOLD OUT)
Impulse! Records is proud to present today’s most groundbreaking jazz stars with an evening headlined by Shabaka, debuting material from his upcoming solo album with guests esperanza spalding and more. Trailblazing jazz harpist Brandee Younger will honor the music of Alice Coltrane. Liberation-oriented free jazz collective Irreversible Entanglements will perform; plus instrumental power-trio The Messthetics (former Fugazi members Joe Lally and Brendan Canty with unclassifiable guitar wonder Anthony Pirog) with keeper of the avant flame James Brandon Lewis and harpist Brandee Younger.
January 16
My Words Are Music: A Celebration of Sun Ra’s Poetry (Nublu)
Sun Ra is better known to most as a musician than a poet, but he identified equally as both. This evening provides direct access to the sentiments of a poet who never called Earth home. Featuring recitations of Sun Ra’s poems and original works by the participating artists, this spoken word event will immerse the listener in the rhythms of celestial verses, hosted by poet, activist and educator Mahogany L. Browne with music by poet and educator Jive Poetic. Special guests include Carl Hancock Rux, Moor Mother and Abiodun Oyewole.
January 17
Celebrating Ryuichi Sakamoto (Roulette)
Join us in celebration of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s musical legacy as New York’s finest musicians come together for a tribute concert on January 17, marking what would have been his 72nd birthday. From the revolutionary Thousand Knives to the iconic sounds of the Yellow Magic Orchestra and the Oscar-winning film scores, the Sakamoto Tribute Ensemble (led by violinist Meg Okura and cellist Rubin Kodheli) will interpret his enduring compositions with the utmost reverence. The special guests, Sakamoto’s friends and collaborators including DJ Spooky, Yuka C. Honda and others will share their words and music in a heartfelt tribute.
January 18
MONONEON & Friends (Brooklyn Steel)
Closing out NYCWJF 2024 will be Mononeon and Friends at Brooklyn Steel. The outrageously clad master of the electric bass will have on hand Knower, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Hannibal Buress, Tivon Pennicott, David Fiuczynski and more for a night to remember. This event is supported by Memphis Tourism.
Danish musician Mikkel Hess brings his roving global collective Hess Is More to National Sawdust, in the groundbreaking experiential program Apollonian Blackout.
JAZZ TALKS AFTERNOON SERIES
As in past years, NYCWJF 2024 will program a series of Jazz Talks. These panel discussions spark intellectual reflection and provide the public with a wider context for understanding all that goes on in the artistic lives of our performers.
Thursday, January 11, 2:30 PM
The Universality of Jazz
With panelists Shabaka, Nduduzo Makhathini, esperanza spalding and moderator Mike Bindraban
After over 100 years, the music we call jazz is still thriving, expanding, and influencing music and culture globally. In a dynamic conversation with three artists from around the world and across the diaspora of Black American Music—Shabaka who hails from Barbados and London, esperanza spalding from the United States, Nduduzo Makhathini from South Africa, along with moderator Mike Bindraban from The Netherlands—we will explore the universality of this music, examining past perspectives and imagining broader paths forward.
Jazz At Lincoln Center, The Appel Room
This conversation is included as part of Jazz Congress, registration required
Saturday, January 13, 2:00 PM
Power to the Artists! Reimagining the Music Industry with Blockchain Tech
With panelists Mark de Clive-Lowe, Pozibelle and Gavin Wong, and moderator Simon Rentner
The music industry is broken and needs immediate resuscitation, and this is especially true for independent artists. Web3—the next, decentralized iteration of the Internet—has the potential to ease these pains by creating low-effort revenue streams for artists. Pianist and live electronics wizard Mark de Clive-Lowe (Everwave.xyz), DJ and Producer Pozibelle, and content creator and entrepreneur Gavin Wong (Sidechainme.com) will share case examples of Web3 working for the artists, such as perpetual royalties and revenue sharing. They’ll also share some of the pitfalls of Web3 and answer your questions. This is a conversation geared toward fans, consumers, and industry-folk alike who all dream of a better world for artists, especially the ones navigating niche cultures like jazz. As Bird might say, “Now’s The Time” for the artist to control their own brands and take action.
Moxy Williamsburg, The Garden Room
Saturday, January 13, 4:00 PM
Live At The East: The Meaningful Music of a Brooklyn Community
With panelists Basir Mchawi, Ahmed Abdullah and Fela Barclift
Beginning in the late 1960s, The East served as a Pan-African cultural organization founded by teenagers and young adults in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. The East taught lessons to Black children that they wouldn’t get in public schools: a full and robust education that centered Africa and the Caribbean. The East was also a hotbed of a thriving Brooklyn jazz scene that hosted the likes of Pharoah Sanders, Max Roach, Betty Carter, Sonny Rollins, Juju, Gil Scott-Heron and many more. Fortunately, some of those sessions are captured on Juju’s 1973 album Live at the East, which has come to mean something special. It means the work on said album is vigorous, a rightful celebration of Black Classical Music. In a special panel discussion, held in conjunction with a one-time-only performance of the music of The East the following night, we delve into the venue’s musical impact on Bed-Stuy and Brooklyn as a whole.
Moxy Williamsburg, The Garden Room
In addition, on January 4, prior to the official start of NYC Winter Jazzfest, we are proud to present a screening of The Sun Rises in the East at Nitehawk Cinema Williamsburg — the first feature-length documentary to explore the inspiring story of The East and the people behind it. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion.
Saturday, January 13, 6:00 PM
The Art Of Being A Multi-Hyphenate
With panelists Jashima Wadehra, Shelly Hartman, Trishes and Queen Esther
Presented with Keychange U.S
Confirmed performers:
Abiodun Oyewole (The Last Poets)
Alex Zhang Hungtai, Che Chen, Leo Chang
Alexis Lombre
Alissia
Allysha Joy
Angelika Niescier, Tomeka Reid, Savannah Harris
Anna Webber “Shimmer Wince”
Anthony Tidd’s Sanity with Ursula Rucker
Bark Culture
Billy Hart
Black Buttafly
Brandee Younger Trio
Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber
Carl Hancock Rux
Carlos Niño
Caroline Davis’ Alula
Charles Burnham
Christie Dashiell
Cisco Swank
Cyro Baptista
Elsa Nilssen
Elucid
esperanza spalding
Gary Bartz
Genevieve Artadi Trio ft. Louis, Cole, Pedro Martins, Isis Geraldo
Georgia Anne Muldrow
Ghost-Note
Gilles Peterson
Guy Mintus
Hannibal Buress
Hess Is More
Immanuel Wilkins
Irreversible Entanglements
Jason Lindner
Jason Moran
Joe Lovano
Joel Ross
José James Presents 1978
Joshua Abrams
Julius Rodriguez
Kalia Vandever
Karl Denson Project
Knower
Kweku Sumbry
Laraaji
Little Big w/ Aaron Parks, Greg Tuohey, DJ Ginyard & JK Kim
Luke Stewart
Mahogany L. Browne & Jive Poetic
Marc Ribot Celebration (3 groups)
Marshall Allen’s Ghost Horizons
Mary Halvorson & Thomas Fujiwara
Matana Roberts
Melanie Charles Trio w/ Endea Owens and Savannah Harris
Micah Thomas Trio
Miguel Atwood Ferguson
Milena Casado
MonoNeon
Moor Mother
Morgan Guerin
Natalie Greffel
Natural Information Society
Nduduzo Makhathini
Next Jazz Legacy
Nicole Mitchell
Oran Etkin
Queen Esther
Rafiq Bhatia with Chris Pattishall
Ray Angry
Rich Medina
Rogê
Roy Nathanson’s “82 Days”
Samora Pinderhughes
Saul Williams
Shabaka (Artist-in-Residence)
Simon Moullier
Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science
The Harvest Time Project: A Tribute to Pharoah Sanders w/ Tisziji Muñoz, Joshua Abrams
Greensky Bluegrass, the Michigan-based bluegrass quintet, added additional dates for their upcoming 2024 Winter Tour. In addition to their extensive legs in November and December, the group will make their way across the country with stops in Huntington and Buffalo.
The tour’s first leg will begin November 1 in Stateline, NV, and run through November 18 in New Orleans, LA. The group will make their way down to Mexico for the Strings & Sol festival in Puerto Morelos, followed by a series of hometown Michigan shows in Saginaw, Detroit, and Kalamazoo. Finally, they will make their way across the eastern half of the country with dates in Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, DC, and New York’s own Huntington and Buffalo.
Greensky Bluegrass, known for their extensive touring schedules, formed in 2000 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Their newest singles, “Congratulations and Condolences” and “Get Out,” came following their newest live recording, Courage for the Road: Fall 2021 (Live).
Tickets for the November 1-December 31 shows are now on sale. Tickets for the January 11-March 9 shows go on sale November 3 at 10AM EDT.
Presale tickets are available now and are allotted through a request system. Fans can submit a request for a chance to be selected for tickets to see Greensky Bluegrass. The request period will close on November 1 at 5PM EDT.
GREENSKY BLUEGRASS 2023-24 TOUR
Nov 01 – Harrah’s Lake Tahoe – Stateline, NV
Nov 02 – Fox Theater – Oakland, CA*
Nov 03 – The Sound at Del Mar – Del Mar, CA*
Nov 04 – The Bellwether – Los Angeles, CA*
Nov 07 – Tower Theatre – Oklahoma City, OK^
Nov 09 – The Heights Theater – Houston, TX^
Nov 10 – Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater – Austin, TX^
Former New York Yankees star Bernie Williams has announced he is making his debut with the New York Philharmonic on April 24 at the Philharmonic’s Spring Gala at the Lincoln Center.
Williams, who won four World Series and the 1996 ALCS MVP as part of the franchise’s dynasty of the late 1990s, is a classically trained guitarist and will perform in the orchestra under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel. He made his debut as a musician during his playing career with the Yankees, releasing his first album The Journey Within in 2003, going on to study guitar and composition at SUNY Purchase, receiving his Bachelor of Music from the Manhattan School of Music in 2016. His 2009 album Moving Forward reached the No. 2 best-selling ranking among U.S. Jazz albums.
Gustavo Dudamel will formally join the New York Philharmonic in 2026 upon finishing a 17-year tenure as the music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He will conduct the Philharmonic in the Spring Gala, with the soloists consisting of artist, actor, author, and activist Common (in his NY Phil debut), soprano Hera Hyesang Park, and Bernie Williams. The Philharmonic will perform several works side-by-side with student musicians from communities across New York City who are being chosen through auditions to participate in this weeklong celebration. The repertoire will be announced at a later date.
Gala events will begin with a cocktail reception at 6:00 p.m. on the Leon and Norma Hess Grand Promenade and continue with the concert, at 7:00 p.m., concluding with a post-performance seated dinner, attended by New York Philharmonic musicians, on the Hess Grand Promenade and Hearst Tier 1. Gala dress will be cocktail attire. For more information visit here.
Spafford has announced they are embarking on their highly anticipated Spring Tour, coming to the Brooklyn Bowl on April 20.
Coming off an incredible and unprecedented 2023 which saw the emergence of Spafford with a revitalized sound and an array of new songs following the addition of keyboardist Cory Schechtman, their iconic type two jams continue to transcend boundaries. This spring tour promises yet another extraordinary musical adventure.
Spafford is known for their astonishing improvisational ability and off-the-cuff extended jams, painting a picture in real-time each night with a musical palette known only to each other. Each show is a sonic pilgrimage, the journey of a team of musicians so in tune with each other that a single note communicates intent and purpose. Spafford is amongst the most creative and hard-traveling bands on the contemporary jam scene, performing countless sold-out headline dates and high-profile festival sets at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Firefly Music Festival, and many others.
Spafford’s Spring Tour tickets go on sale this Friday, January 5th at 10 AM EST. You can also check them out in Buffalo on January 17.
SPRING TOUR DATES:
3.16 Frozen Dead Guy Days – Estes Park, CO 3.20 The Broadberry – Richmond, VA 3.21-23 5 Points Music Sanctuary – Roanoke, VA 3.24 Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC 3.26 Tally Ho Theater – Leesburg, VA 3.28-29 Woodlands Tavern – Columbus, OH 3.30 Madison Theater – Covington, KY 4.18 XL Live – Harrisburg, PA 4.19 The Warehouse at FTC – Fairfield, CT 4.20 Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY
WINTER TOUR DATES:
1.10-11 Broad Brook Opera House – Broad Brook, CT 1.12 Aura – Portland, ME 1.13-14 Soundcheck Studios – Pembroke, MA 1.17 Buffalo Iron Works – Buffalo, NY 1.18 Thunderbird Music Hall – Pittsburgh, PA 1.19 Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH 1.20 El Club – Detroit, MI 1.24 Bell’s Eccentric Cafe – Kalamazoo, MI 1.25 The Castle Theatre – Bloomington, IL 1.26 Moontown Brewing Company – Whitestown, IN 1.27 Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL 2.02-4 Gem & Jam Festival – Tucson, AZ 2.22-25 Old Town Pub – Steamboat Springs, CO 2.29-3.3 The Public House – Crested Butte, CO
The producers of the newly reimagined Broadway production of The Who’s TOMMY have announced full principal casting for the upcoming run at the Nederlander Theatre, with previews beginning March 8 and opening night slated for March 28.
Producers Stephen Gabriel and Ira Pittelman have selected a handful of actors who will reprise their roles from the Goodman Theatre production in Chicago. Among them are Alison Luff as Mrs. Walker, Adam Jacobs as Captain Walker, John Ambrosino as Uncle Ernie, Bobby Conte as Cousin Kevin, and Christina Sajous as The Acid Queen. The actors join previously announced Ali Louis Bourzgui starring as Tommy Walker, who is reprising his Jeff Award-winning role from the Goodman. Additional casting for The Who’s TOMMY on Broadway will be announced soon.
Completing the cast areHaley Gustafson, Jeremiah Alsop, Ronnie S. Bowman Jr., Mike Cannon, Tyler James Eisenreich, Sheldon Henry, Afra Hines, Aliah James, David Paul Kidder, Tassy Kirbas, Lily Kren, Quinten Kusheba, Reese Levine, Brett Michael Lockley, Nathan Lucrezio, Alexandra Matteo, Mark Mitrano, Reagan Pender, Cecilia Ann Popp, Daniel Quadrino, Olive Ross-Kline, Jenna Nicole Shoen, Dee Tomasetta, and Andrew Tufano.
The new production of The Who’s TOMMY premiered this past Summer at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago where Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune named TOMMY as #1 in the Best of Chicago Theater list for 2023, saying, “Tommy explodes with life – it’s a truly ready-for prime-time stunner. Broadway has nothing else like this wizardry going on.”
The Chicago production of The Who’s TOMMY won 9 Joseph Jefferson “Jeff” Awards, the most for any show this season, including Best Director for Des McAnuff and Best Production.
Three decades after the epic pop-culture musical theatre sensation first bowed on Broadway, original Tony Award®-winning creators Pete Townshend (music, lyrics, book) and Des McAnuff (book, direction) have reunited to bring the story of Tommy Walker to today’s audiences.
Myth and spectacle combine in The Who’s exhilarating 1969 rock opera, TOMMY—including the unforgettable anthems “I’m Free,” “See Me, Feel Me,” “Sensation” and “Pinball Wizard.” After witnessing his father shoot his rival, the young Tommy Walker is lost in the universe, endlessly and obsessively staring into the mirror. An innate knack for pinball catapults him from reticent adolescent to celebrity savior.
The Who’s TOMMY creative team includes choreographer Lorin Latarro (Into the Woods, Mrs. Doubtfire and Waitress); music supervision and additional arrangements by Ron Melrose (Jersey Boys on Broadway, London and National Tour); musical direction and additional orchestrations by Rick Fox (Rent, Jesus Christ Superstar); set design by David Korins (Hamilton, Beetlejuice, Here Lies Love ); projection design by Peter Nigrini (Here Lies Love,MJ and Dear Evan Hansen); costume design by Sarafina Bush (for colored girls…, Pass Over on Broadway); lighting design by Amanda Zieve (Broadway associate on Escape to Margaritaville and Allegiance); sound design by Gareth Owen (Back to the Future, & Juliet and MJ); and wig and hair design by Charles LaPointe (Hamilton, Beautiful). Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting/Merri Sugarman, CSA. Additional Chicago Casting by Lauren Port, CSA and Rachael Jimenez, CSA. Tripp Phillips is the Production Stage Manager and Bespoke Theatricals is General Manager.
Pete Townshend’s prior awards for The Who’s TOMMY include a Grammy Award (1993) for the Original Broadway Cast Recording, Tony Award for Best Score (1993), Toronto’s Dora Mavor Moore Award (1995) and the UK’s Olivier Award (1997). For directing The Who’s TOMMY, Des McAnuff received previously, the Tony and Drama Desk Awards (1993), Toronto’s Dora Mavor Moore Award (1995) and the UK’s Olivier Award (1997).
Tickets to The Who’s TOMMY at the Nederlander Theatre are now on sale at TommyTheMusical.com.
As the clock struck midnight and confetti filled the air, Billy Joel made history with his unforgettable inaugural performance at UBS Arena on New Year’s Eve 2023. Returning to Long Island for his first concert since 2018, Joel’s momentous show marked not only a thrilling start to the new year but also a significant milestone in his illustrious career.
At 74, Joel’s energy and musical prowess remained as captivating as ever. Having announced the conclusion of his decade-long residency at Madison Square Garden in July 2024, this performance became a cherished moment for fans, signaling the beginning of the end of an era. Joel’s decision to conclude the residency after his 150th show to prioritize family time underscored the significance of each live appearance, making the UBS Arena debut a cherished affair for both the legendary artist and his dedicated audience.
Billy Joel took the stage at 10:30 pm, kicking off the night with a series of enthralling performances even before the anticipated countdown to midnight. The evening commenced with the captivating Regina Spektor, setting an electrifying atmosphere and paving the way for Joel’s grand entrance. The timing was impeccable, aligning perfectly with the audience’s anticipation for the transition into the new year. As the iconic countdown from Times Square illuminated the arena, Joel seamlessly serenaded the crowd with the timeless tunes of “Auld Lang Syne,” swiftly followed by a heartfelt rendition of “All You Need Is Love.” These musical choices forged a sense of togetherness, uniting thousands in a poignant moment of celebration and unity.
Among the unforgettable moments of the evening was Joel’s surprising cover of “Start Me Up,” infusing his timeless style into the classic Rolling Stones hit. Later on, Joel shifted gears to perform “Souvenir” marking his return to the song since 2018.
At the heart of his New Year’s Eve performance at Elmont’s UBS Arena, Billy Joel paused to share a glimpse into his future plans while addressing the audience. With his trademark wit, the Piano Man reassured fans about his continued relationship with Long Island. “Just because I’m selling that house doesn’t mean I’m leaving Long Island. I still have a house on Long Island,” Joel affirmed, referring to his longtime property in the village of Centre Island. “I’m just gonna spend a little more time in Florida like old Jewish guys from Long Island do.”
Billy was accompanied by a stellar ensemble of incredibly talented musicians, each adding their unique touch to the musical extravaganza. Mark Rivera on saxophone, Tommy Byrnes on guitar, Crystal Taliefero handling percussion and lending her powerful vocals in a stunning rendition of “River Deep,” Dave Rosenthal on keyboards and serving as the musical director, Andy Cichon on bass, Chuck Burgi on drums, and Mike Delguidice on rhythm guitar and backing vocals—these individuals formed the backbone of the performance. The seamless synergy and years of collaboration between Joel and his bandmates were unmistakable, creating an electric atmosphere that ensured an unforgettable night of music and cherished memories for the audience.
The encore was a rollercoaster of emotions, featuring anthems like “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” “Uptown Girl,” “It’s Still Rock and Roll,” “Big Shot,” and “You May Be Right.” Each song carried its own resonance, sparking sing-alongs and an electric atmosphere that reverberated throughout the arena.
Joel’s decision to conclude the night with this powerhouse ensemble of hits was a testament to his commitment to delivering an unforgettable experience. The energy, passion, and sheer joy exuded by Joel on stage were infectious, leaving a lasting impression on Long Island and setting the bar high for future performances at UBS Arena.
As the clock struck 1 am, bringing an end to the performance, the arena echoed with cheers, applause, and a shared sense of gratitude for being part of a momentous occasion. Billy Joel’s New Year’s Eve debut at UBS Arena will undoubtedly be etched into the memories of all who were fortunate enough to witness this historic event, marking a new chapter in the legacy of one of music’s most enduring icons.
Billy Joel – UBS Arena – Sunday, December 31, 2023
Setlist: My Life, Pressure, Everybody Loves You Now, The Downeaster Alexa, Start Me Up, An Innocent Man, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Barbara Ann, The Longest Time, Big Man On Mulberry Street, Movin Out, Half A Mile Away, Vienna, Don’t Ask Me Why, Allentown, New York State of Mind, The River of Dreams, Whole Lotta Love, Auld lang syne, All You Need Is Love, Only the Good Die Young, Nessun dorma, Scenes From an Italian Restaurant, Souvenir, Piano Man Encore: We Didn’t Start the Fire, Uptown Girl, It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me, Big Shot, You May Be Right
