Pete Seeger @ Clearwater Festival 2009 (more by Chris La Putt)

Clearwater Festival, the annual benefit for the Hudson River environmental group of the same name, will be happening this year at Croton-on-Hudson's Croton Point Park on June 19th & 20th. Pete Seeger, the non-profit's founder, plays every year - joining him this year will be Steve Earle, Rhett Miller, Joan Osborne, Buckwheat Zydeco, Felice Bros and more. More of the initial lineup is below. Tickets to the fest are on sale (and currently almost half the door price). Pictures from last year's day one are HERE and day two are HERE.

A bit farther Upstate in Hunter, NY, the three-day Mountain Jam will be happening June 4th-6th. The lineup for that includes Gov't Mule, Levon Helm & Friends, Drive-By Truckers, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, The Avett Brothers, Dr. Dog, Les Claypool, Jay Farrar (of Son Volt), These United States, Justin Townes Earle (note dad, playing above) and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger Band (the same, except grandpa). The full current lineup is below, and tickets are on sale.

Later this summer (in July), Camp Bisco will be in Mariaville, NY.

Lineups so far for both fests are below...

Continue reading "Mountain Jam (6/4-6) the Clearwater Festival (6/19-20) have announced initial 2010 NY concert lineups & tickets "

Governors Island - Water Taxi Beach on July 11, 2009 (cutzer)

This past weekend was a big one for new venues in NYC. Brooklyn Bowl had its first show in Williamsburg on Friday, and Sunday was the first Pool Party on the Williamsburg Waterfront. On Saturday, it was the opening of The Beach on Governors Island. Video from the first show (to give you some idea of what its like) below...

Continue reading "Governors Island Beach is open (videos from the 1st show) "

"The Highline Ballroom, along with Liberty Event Management & Water Taxi Beach, is proud to announce the Beach on Governors Island. This unique venue will quickly become New York's premier live outdoor venue, resting on the coast of the New York Harbor, providing stunning views of Lower Manhattan. In addition to the concert area, the Beach will feature a café, several bars, and a shaded courtyard beer garden. The Beach isn't just a concert venue; it's an experience.

Governors Island, in the heart of New York Harbor, is only 800 yards from Lower Manhattan, and even closer to Brooklyn. The Beach @ Governor's Island, will operate in conjunction with NY Water Taxi, who will be providing continuous ferry service to the island for ticket holders on their fleet of boats." [The Beach on Governors Island]

The beach, which is currently a parking lot (I heard they drop the sand around July 4th), will be operating a lot like Water Taxi Beach in Long Island City. You can take a water taxi there and hang on the beach, and drink and eat. Most days will be deejays, and AEG and Highline Ballroom are working with Water Taxi to also bring bands there. The stage will be set up at the end of the beach, and you'll watch from the sand (or at least some people will... I think there will be some non-sand places to watch from too). The first big beach show announced is The B-52's...

The Highline Ballroom is proud to announce the addition of The B-52s to our second annual Governors Island Concert Series: The Beach on Governors Island. The B-52s on The Beach will be a rain-or-shine, all-ages performance scheduled for August 18th on beautiful Governors Island, located only 800 yards off of Lower Manhattan.

To add to the fun, the fifty-two girls (and "girls") attending the show dressed in the most creative beach or nautical attire (sailor suits, bikinis, marine uniforms, mermaid costumes, etc) attending the concert will be given free tickets to a future show at The Highline Ballroom.

Tickets for that show are currently on AmEx presale. General sale starts Monday, June 29th. Girls, ready your nautical attire. Guys leave it at home?

Other acts at the Beach this summer include Erykah Badu on August 4th, and a free show with Tragedy, an "All Metal Tribute to the Bee Gees". Many more shows TBA, but you can see the full lineup for now, below. Some shows are free. $52 tickets for Erykah Badu go on sale Saturday, June 27th at noon.

The Highline/AEG-produced shows aren't the only music events on Governors Island this summer, though not all events there happen on the beach. Folks on the Island will happen on the island, and, Punk Island, a Make Music NY event in its second year, took place there on Sunday, June 21st. How did that show go? It looks like, despite the rain, headliner Reagan Youth drew a pretty sizeable crowd. Videos below.

The B-52s performing "Love Shack" with country act Sugarland at the CMT Awards on June 26th, is also below, along with with the full Beach at Governors Island schedule with all upcoming B-52s tour dates...

Continue reading "concerts on the BEACH ON GOVERNORS ISLAND - Erykah Badu, the B-52s & more TBA ++ Punk Island happened"

Punk Island @ Make Music 2008 on Governors Island (makemusicnewyork)

Make Music NY 2009 is happening around New York City on Sunday, June 21st. The free, outdoor-music event will turn street corners, sidewalks, and parks around the city into one-day music venues. One of those spots is Governors Island, where MMNY will again host a "Punk Island" lineup. Announced bands for 2009 include '80s hardcore punk band Reagan Youth (who played last year's event), Blanks '77, and "dozens more" to come.

Both bands are also scheduled to play the Underground Revolution Fest on May 22nd - 23rd at the Gramercy Theater, though no ticket info for that still.

Governors Island is also home to a new concert spot dubbed The Beach at Governors Island. The Highline Ballroom, who also three shows on the island last year, is presenting the first scheduled show at the location -- Dark Star Orchestra, Keller Williams, Pete Francis and Barefoot Truth on July 11th. Tickets are on sale.

Also planned again for Governors Island this summer is Folks on the Island, a series of folk concerts, one of which will be headlined by Judy Collins on Sunday, July 26th.

"Punk Island" videos from last year, with hours and directions for Governors Island, below...

Continue reading "Governors Island hosting more concerts in 2009 - Punk Island, Folks on the Island, Hippies on the Island, and more"

Governors Island Garden Party, 1910 (Library of Congress)

Continue reading "The Governors Island Concert Series (2008)"