photos by David Andrako

"New York's most eager faces and earthy races paraded the liberal grounds of Park Slope via Prospect park on Sunday. They aligned from the realist regions of every borough and bridge for a complimentary concert hosted by Talib Kweli, The Roots and many others entitled "Okay Africa". Inescapably, most of the vicinity was bombarded by a sea of blankets, beer bottles and wine drinkers who arrived bracing themselves to 'rough it up' for a free show. Every path eventually occupied its self by mellow scenesters, Brooklyn heads, hipsters, their families and even a few local celebs that were all in gear for a naturalist's side to life. Ethnic forces ruled by a long-shot with some well-intended culture clashing. Negativity failed to align for the most part, thanks to everyone and their arousal of cool Summer spirit. Good times were clearly in fine perspective." [A Triumphant Discovery]

More from last Sunday's packed show in Prospect Park, below...

Continue reading "The Roots & friends (OkayAfrica) @ Prospect Park - pics "

Hudson Square Fest 2009 (more by Andrew Frisicano)

City Winery will be hosting the second annual Hudson Square Music & Wine Festival, free Tuesday night music in its parking lot/courtyard. The first of those is tonight (June 29th) with Al Kooper Rockabilly Trio. Music starts at 5pm and ends by 7pm, and the series runs through August 10th.

The full schedule, which includes Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens and Bajah & The Dry Eye Crew (and Ed Kowalczyk of Live), is posted below...

Continue reading "Hudson Square Fest kicks off (free Tuesday evening shows)"

photo by Jane Richey

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars played an intimate acoustic set at the University of Vermont's Ira Allen Chapel on Tuesday [4/6], celebrating the release of their new album "Rise and Shine," from Charlotte's Cumbancha record label, and preparing for their performance at Higher Ground's Showcase Lounge [on Wed 4/7].

About 100 people gathered in the chapel to watch a short excerpt from the film, "Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars," [which tells the story of their experiences in Sierra Leone's brutal civil war and the formation of the band]....After the screening, the band came out and played a couple of songs....The band took a quick break to answer questions from the audience about their music and the film, but jumped back into more music aafter only three short questions. The pews in the Ira Allen Chapel didn't allow the audience much room to dance, but Alhadji Jeffrey Camara (aka Black Nature) took the microphone soon after the Q&A had ended and got everyone on their feet.

Bandleader/ Songwriter Reuben Koroma said that despite the long flight, the band was not tired, and was excited for [Wednesday's] show. [Burlington Free Press]

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars kicked off their US trip, which runs into May, with a pair of shows in Burlington, Vermont.

They tour in support of their new record, Rise & Shine, which came out March 23rd on Cumbancha (and which you can preview here).

The group visits NYC for a show on Wednesday, April 14th at Highline Ballroom. Also on the bill are Bajah & The Dry Eye Crew and True Panther act and "Bubu King", Janka Nabay. Tickets are still on sale.

Clips from the doc and new album promos, album cover art and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars released a new album & are now on tour (dates include Highline Ballroom)"

The Roots Picnic 2009 (more by Tim Griffin)

As Pitchfork reported, The Roots Picnic will be happening again this year at Philadelphia's Festival Pier on Penn's Landing, on Saturday, June 5th. ?uestlove announced part of the lineup via a Twitvideo (which you can see below), and it includes of Mayer Hawthorne, Clipse, the Very Best, Neka, Tune-Yards (a recent Questlove favorite), Das Racist, Bajah & the Dry Eye Crew, Pattern Is Movement, headliner Vampire Weekend and The Roots (with two side-projects, Black Thought's Money Making Jam Boys and ?uestlove with DJ Jazzy Jeff). He also says that the fest will be reuniting a certain black hat/gold chain (and it could be assumed, Adidas)-wearing hip-hop crew.

Tickets go on sale Friday, March 5th at 10am.

Mayer Hawthorne headlines Webster Hall Thursday night (3/4).

Picture sets from last year's Picnic are here. Pictures from a 2009 show at Brooklyn Bowl that featured more than a few of the members of this year's lineup are here. See ?uestlove's video for yourself (where he also announces that it's the Roots' one year anniversary on Fallon - congrats!) below...

Continue reading "The Roots Picnic - 2010 date & initial lineup (Vampire Weekend, Clipse, The Very Best, Tune-Yards, Run DMC?)"

photos by Chris La Putt

Performances by Iggy Pop, Patti Smith and Gogol Bordello brought the crowd at Carnegie Hall to its feet on Friday night, as the musicians took part in the 20th annual Tibet House benefit.

The concerts, whose musical acts are organized by composer and Tibet House Vice President Philip Glass, are scheduled to coincide with the Tibetan New Year and bring in anywhere from $100,000 to $250,00 for the nonprofit group every year.

The evening began with chanting from several Drepung Gomang Monastery monks, followed by comments from Glass about the difficulty in finalizing a final roster of performers every year given all the participants' busy schedules. Next, Robert A. F. Thurman, the president and one of the co-founders Tibet House, likened the Tibetan people to the Na'vi, the blue, cat-like aliens featured in James Cameron's sci-fi film "Avatar." He noted that both groups of individuals deserved and needed saving, and repeated the film's catch phrase "I see you" for double effect. [Wall Street Journal]

Other artists that performed at the show Friday night included Bajah + the Dry Eye Crew and Regina Spektor. Patti Smith also introduced Iggy Pop whose shirtless set included a stint crowd surfing in the Carnegie Hall audience. More pictures from the show below...

Continue reading "Tibet House Benefit 2010 in pictures (Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, Regina Spektor, Gogol Bordello & more)"

The Very Best were scheduled to play some CMJ shows, but plans changed last minute due to travel complications. Those complications must have been worked out because on October 31st Flavorpill is hosting "Gods and Heroes", a show with The Very Best, Bajah + The Dry Eye Crew, DJ Stretch Armstrong, Subswara, Small Change and more at Brooklyn Masonic Temple. Tickets are on sale. Open bar all night. The money is going to charity. Flyer below...

Continue reading "The Very Best can come here now - they're playing Flavorpill's Halloween party @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple "

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Wiz Kalifa - Flight School Mixtape (Yousendit, Zipped MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Souls of Mischief - "LaLaLa" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Souls of Mischief - "Tour Stories" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Tanya Morgan - "So Damn Down" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Tanya Morgan - "Bang N Boogie" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: KRS-One & Buckshot - "Survival Skills" (MP3)

Saul Williams at Afropunk 2009 (more by Tim Griffin)

NYC invented HIP HOP, so CMJ would be nowhere if it didn't rep the art form to the fullest. Over five packed days, our fair city will be set ablaze by the likes of Raekwon, Saul Williams, Souls of Mischief, and a host of others, as well as smaller, buzzier names that you can look forward to name checking in the future. So with all these great events going down, we figured we'd make it easy for you with the BV Guide to Hip Hop at CMJ 2009!

Speaking of Souls of Mischief, we have A PAIR OF TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR GIVEAWAY for that Audible Treats showcase that will feature them along side Tanya Morgan, Trinity, Finale and many more. Details on how to win those at the bottom of this post.

Continue reading "the BV Guide to Hip Hop at CMJ 2009"

photos by Tim Griffin

Their new friends Dirty Projectors didn't jam with them, but plenty of others joined the Roots at their $10 show on October 1st at Brooklyn Bowl. Pictures and video below...

Continue reading "The Roots played Brooklyn Bowl w/ Talib Kweli, Pattern is Movement, Mayer Hawthrone & special guests - pics & video "