On Monday, November 28, 2011 the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District and presenting sponsor Time Warner will host the Twelfth Annual Winter's Eve at Lincoln Square - New York City's largest holiday festival! Winter's Eve kicks off with a neighborhood tree lighting ceremony and features free entertainment, food tastings, in-store activities and shopping around and about this colorful and vibrant neighborhood.
Stores, restaurants, cultural organizations and public spaces in the district will be buzzing with activities for both children and adults. At the same time, sidewalks along Broadway from Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle to 68th Street will be alive with performers, street musicians, jugglers, stilt-walkers and more, making for a festive fun-filled stroll through the streets of this dynamic Upper West Side neighborhood.

WHEN: Monday, November 28, 2011, 5:30 PM, Rain, Snow or Shine!

WHERE: The celebration begins with a neighborhood tree lighting ceremony at Dante Park at Broadway& 63rd Street and continues along Broadway from Time Warner Center to 68th Street.

Arlo Guthrie is playing the tree lighting. The Klezmatics are playing in the dance tent. Catherine Russell is playing in the American Folk Art Museum. Marching bands will be playing on the street, and much more.

Sufjan Stevens at Beacon Theater (more by David Andrako)

Tickets for Sufjan Steven's August 2nd's appearance at the Prospect Park Bandshell have flown away. Luckily, the notorious S.O.O.F. will bless the park with a second date on the following night: August 3rd at Prospect Park Bandshell. Tickets for the new Brooklyn show go on AEG/venue presale at 10AM on Thursday (6/17) and noon on Friday (6/17). No word on openers (though we think My Brightest Diamond is opening the first night). We'll keep you posted.

In other SOOF related news, IFC is currently streaming a clip from the film Make:

Directors Scott Ogden and Malcolm Hearn's documentary, "MAKE," is about four artists on the furthest fringes of our society. Isolated by their disabilities, they find a voice and try to make sense of a world that shuns them, through incredible works of art. These are the characters that inspired Sufjan Stevens' album, "The Age of Adz." Stevens, who called the film "a beautiful and insightful look at the sublime task of making art when nothing will else do," based his album's narrative specifically on the life and apocalyptic work of the schizophrenic artist, Prophet Royal Robertson featured in "MAKE."

..."MAKE" includes a soundtrack with original compositions from Sufjan Stevens and Marc Bianchi (Her Space Holiday), along with music by Jim Guthrie, Oneida, Tommy Guerrero, and Au Revoir Simone.

The film's screening and release party will happen at the American Folk Art Museum on June 17th (RSVP info at the link). Screenings happen at 1:00, 3:00, 4:30 & 5:45 pm in the auditorium (lower level 1). The reception is 5:30-8:30 pm in the atrium, with live music by Takka Takka.

Check out the 17 minute clip below....

Continue reading "Sufjan Stevens adds 2nd Prospect Park show, "Make" documentary screening @ Folk Art Museum"

According to Wikipedia, Henry Darger lived from "April 12(?), 1892-April 13, 1973)". That means he may or may not have a birthday coming up (really though, who doesn't have a birthday coming up?). To celebrate, the American Folk Art Museum (where his work is on display) will have a party for the man who created the vivian girls on...

Saturday, May 15, 2010
@ Espace, 635 West 42nd Street, New York City

Concert o Premium Open Bar o Hors d'Oeuvres o Dancing o DJ o Aerial Performance by Cirque-tacular Entertainment

Join us to celebrate Henry Darger's birthday at this extraordinary benefit party. Rock-and-roll legend Patti Smith will perform an intimate concert, preceded by a VIP party and followed by dancing and a DJ. Platinum VIPs will have the opportunity to meet Patti Smith at a private cocktail party. A night you don't want to miss! All proceeds from the evening support the museum.

Tickets will set you back anywhere from $250 to $1000 a piece (which is even more, or less, than it will cost you to see Karen O and Nick Zinner 10 days later at MoMA). Flyer below...

Continue reading "Patti Smith celebrating Henry Darger's birthday at (and raising money for) The American Folk Museum "

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Gil Scott-Heron - Me and the Devil (MP3)

I'm New Here, the first LP in more than 15 years from poet & musician Gil Scott Heron, came out earlier week on XL. In January, Gil played at SOB's for MLK Day, and now with the album out, there are more shows coming up. Gil will be playing a release party/show at American Folk Art Museum (45 West 53rd St) on February 26th as part of its Free Music Fridays series (5:30pm). NOTE THIS UPDATE:

Attention: GIL SCOTT-HERON WILL NOT BE AT THIS LISTENING PARTY!
We would like to address the misunderstandings about the Gil Scott-Heron album release event at The American Folk Art Museum. There has been some miscommunication about the event. This is just a chance to listen to the album and celebrate the album release. Gil will not be performing or present at this event. We apologize for the misunderstanding.

Gil will be at jazz spot the Blue Note for two nights (with two sets each) on March 2nd and 3rd. Ticket links for those are below. He'll also be at Coachella and play the UK this April.

The album, produced by XL label owner Richard Russell, mostly opts for ominous, spare electronics in front of Gil's words, which are best known for being paired with jazz and blues. Even with over a decade passed (some of which was spent in jail), Gil doesn't seem to have missed a beat. You can hear elements of the new album's sound in "Message to the Messengers," the lead track from his 1994 album Spirits. That song and videos for two of the album's most immediate tracks, "Me And The Devil" and "Where Did The Night Go," are posted above and below...

Continue reading "Gil Scott-Heron album out now - more shows announced "

the original Vivian Girls (on display at the Folk Art Museum in NYC)

"Each Friday, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, the museum trustees and staff invite the public to explore the galleries free of charge, have a drink in the cafe, and enjoy live music in the stunning atrium." The linueps are listed at the NYC museum's website.