artist rendering of Yoko Ono Imagine Peace

On December 21st, come together and sing John Lennon's "Imagine" at the very moment Yoko Ono's new video IMAGINE PEACE lights up sixteen Times Square billboards at 11:57pm.

IMAGINE PEACE is Yoko Ono's worldwide initiative of anti-violence. In the film, the words "Imagine Peace" are written in 24 languages set over the tranquil imagery of a blue-sky background. The piece has been transformed into a multi-channel work specifically for Times Square, and spreads the message of peace across Times Square's monumental screens simultaneously.

Says Yoko Ono: "It's Time for Action, Action is Peace. Think Peace, Act Peace, Spread Peace, IMAGINE PEACE! Together we have the power to change the world. I LOVE YOU!!"

Other notable Make Music Winter events include "James Holt: Thru-Line" (2 - 3 PM), where "amateur and professional string players disperse to each of the Brooklyn-bound G train subway platforms. Over the course of an hour, every time a train arrives, musicians will step in and out of the front car to give subway riders a continuous, tag-team performance of the famous Prelude from J.S. Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 in G major."

There's also Phil Kline's ambient boombox work "Peregrine" starting at 7 PM in front of BAM and migrating through Fort Greene, Brooklyn till 7:45. Boomboxes will be provided to the first 50 participants, and if you bring your own they'll provide you with a cassette.

There's lots more happening with Make Music Winter, you can check out the schedule here.

Like AA batteries on the subway tracks and college kids in polo shirts trying to get you to sign some petition, music is pretty inescapable on NYC. But today, June 21, 2012, it is even moreso as it's the annual Make Music New York day which puts musicians of all shades and colors on the sidewalks of our fair city. As you might imagine, some neighborhoods (like Williamsburg) will have more going on than others.

Besides a bunch of random bands, there are some fun events. Mass Appeal brings together hundreds of musicians to perform works created for one specific instrument that anyone (with said instrument) can participate in. This includes the world premiere of Philip Glass' choral work "The New Rule" which happens in Times Square at 6:30. If you'd like to join in, you can download the sheet music here.

Other Mass Appeal events happening today include accordions in Sheridan Triangle (6:30PM), bagpipes in Herald Square (7PM), harps at Urban Plaza (5:30), ouds at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza (7PM), and many more.

More MMNY: Joe's Pub is throwing an all-day block party at Astor Pl./Lafayette from 11AM  - 7PM with performances from Chris Parrello, Heather Christian & the Arbornauts, Sxip Shirey and more.

Slavic Soul Party is playing at Jacobi Medical Center Pedestrian Mall; and Tompkins Square Park has Support Women Artists Now at 3PM, the Hungry March Band at 6PM, and Bill Popp & the Tapes at 7PM.

There's lots, lots more going on today. Go outside, you'll probably run into some of it. But you can check their website to see what's going on in your neighborhood.

Historically and technically Punk Island is part of Make Music New York, but this year Punk Island actually happens three days later (this Sunday) on Governors Island. Flyer and more info below...

Continue reading "Make Music New York today (free music & events all over NYC); Punk Island Sunday"

On June 21st 2011, Nick Franglen played the theremin under the Manhattan Bridge for 24 hours, starting and ending at midnight. "Sensors on the bridge above him registered the passing of each cyclist, creating a moment of silence for everyone who crossed the bridge throughout the day." This week Nick posted a film documenting the event which you can watch (don't worry it's only 17 minutes), below...

Continue reading "Watch Nick Franglen's 'Hymn To The Manhattan Bridge'"

The annual 'Make Music New York' takes over New York City on Tuesday, June 21.

"From 11 in the morning to 10 at night, musicians of all ages, creeds, and musical persuasions -- from hip hop to opera, Latin jazz to punk rock -- perform on streets, sidewalks, stoops, plazas, cemeteries, parks and gardens. From high school bands to marquee names, MMNY is open to anyone who wants to take part, enjoyed by everyone who wants to attend."

Yoko Ono hosts people in Central Park in the morning.

Nick Franglen of Lemon Jelly will play a 24-hour piece of improvised music under the Manhattan Bridge.

There will be 17 "Mass Appeal" events which are basically flash mobs of people all playing the same instrument.

There's the Pop-Up Pianos.

"Heavy Metal under the BQE" will feature sets by Wizardry, La Otracina and others at Union Ave & N. 8th St. It's one of many things happening in Williamsburg.

Lukcy 13 Saloon, Bar 4 and the Tea Lounge are some of the Park Slope venues participating.

Mike Doughty and Emily Wells are at City Winery.

Tracy Bonham, MAKU Sound System, Ethan Lipton & His Orchestra, and others are at Joe's Pub.

What else?

On June 21st, British artist and electronic musician Nick Franglen (of Lemon Jelly) will play a 24-hour piece of improvised music, starting and ending at midnight, in collaboration with the thousands of people who walk or bicycle across Manhattan Bridge during the course of the day.

Franglen will be installed in The Archway under the Manhattan Bridge, playing a Theremin with looping effects pedals to create washes of sound. Meanwhile, sensors installed on Manhattan Bridge's pathways, high above The Archway, will register the passing of each bicycle and pedestrian, sending messages to Nick's equipment that imprint a moment of silence on the music for everyone who crosses the bridge. The music will be a unique collaboration between the musician and the bridge users, who will unwittingly guide and develop the character of the piece.

Continue reading "Look for Lemon Jelly's Nick Franglen under the Manhattan Bridge (or just watch him online)"

photos by Greg Cristman

Yoko Ono's Secret Piece (1953)
throughout Central Park from 5AM - 8AM on June 21, 2011.
Celebrate the summer solstice with Yoko Ono's meditative Secret Piece, at sunrise in Central Park.

We will meet at Columbus Circle starting at 5AM. Bring any musical instrument or just your voice, and we will send you to a secluded part of the park to play the note of your choice to the accompaniment of birds.

At 8AM we will all return to Columbus Circle for hot green tea.

UPDATE: Apparently Yoko didn't even go to her own event. ZINGARA says "I woke up really early this morning thinking that different musicians where going to get together and play a Yoko Ono tone. instead i got there and everybody was on their own wandering around the park like a homeless person. There was someone there but as soon you sign your name they send you away." Lori Zimmer adds, "woke @ 330 to go to central pk... was handed a map with little explanation. very disappointed, not much explanation, no yoko, green tea from starbucks out of styrofoam cups after 3 hours...."

The other pictures in this post are from that Japan benefit that Yoko Ono threw at Le Poisson Rouge in March. You already saw the Cibo Matto pics from the same event. Here are the rest with Yoko, Sean Lennon, Patti Smith, Lenny Kaye, Antony, Lou Reed and more included. They continue below...

Continue reading "spend Tuesday morning with Yoko Ono in Central Park (check out some Japan Benefit pics in this post)"

tonight in NYC
* Make Music NY
* Mike Birbiglia @ UCB
* Jim Campilongo @ the Living Room
* Frog Eyes @ Sound Fix Records
* Ben Perowsky Quartet @ Barbes
* The Roots present The Jam @ Highline Ballroom
* Reverend Vince Anderson & His Love Choir @ Union Pool
* Hailey Wojcik, Blair, Oh The Color, Shark? @ The Cameo
* Darcy James Argue's Secret Society @ Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola
* Indian Jewelry, Effi Briest, Total Slacker @ Mercury Lounge
* Reggie Watts, Heather Duby, Lunar Youth, Follow That Bird @ Pianos
* Jazz Talks w/ Esperanza Spalding and Anat Cohen (7pm) @ Greene Space
* Emanuel & The Fear, Dinosaur Feathers, The Silent League @ Knitting Factory
* Soundcheck w/Bobby McFerrin, Jason Moran & the Bandwagon-2pm@Greene Space
* Curren$y, Snakes Say Hisss, Rugz D. Bewler, Smoke DZA, Sean O'Connell, Tabi Bonney, Stalley, Ski Beatz, Hedgehog, Big K.R.I.T., McKenzie Eddy @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Stethoscopes, Scary Living, Gunfight!, MiniBoone, Quiet Loudly, Pet Ghost Project, Thought, The Courtesy Tier, The Twees, Black Taxi, The Binary Marketing Show @ Spike Hill

Make Music NY is today...

Now in its fourth year, Make Music New York, "the largest music event ever to grace Gotham" (Metro New York), is a unique festival of free concerts in public spaces throughout the five boroughs of New York City, all on Monday, June 21st, the first day of summer. MMNY takes place simultaneously with similar festivities in more than 327 cities around the world -- a global celebration of music making.

From 11 in the morning to 10 at night, musicians of all ages, creeds, and musical persuasions -- from hip hop to opera, Latin jazz to punk rock -- perform on streets, sidewalks, stoops, plazas, cemeteries, parks and gardens. From high school bands to marquee names, MMNY is open to anyone who wants to take part, enjoyed by everyone who wants to attend.

Joe's Pub
Block Party at Astor Pl and Fourth Ave, Manhattan
10 AM: The Whiskey Boys
10 AM: Joe Iconis
10:45 AM: Gabriel Kahane
11:45 AM: Shrive Alive
12:45 PM: The Xylopholks
1:45 PM: Electric Junkyard Gamelan
2:30 PM: The Bill Murray Experience
3:30 PM: Balthrop, Alabama
4:30 PM: Black Sea Hotel
5:15 PM: Pearl and the Beard
6:15 PM: Somi

Hiro Ballroom, presented by the French Music Export Office in association with the Cultural Services of the French Embassy
88 Ninth Ave (at 17th St), Manhattan
8PM: Sebastien Schuller
9PM: La Grande Sophie
10PM: General Elektriks
11PM: Acid Washed DJ

Bryant Park Summer Film Festival (the first in its summer series there) hosts a sunset screening of Goldfinger. Doors at 5pm.

Diamond Rings' new video for "Show Me Your Stuff", below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday? (Make Music NY day)"

NoBuny @ Bruar Falls Saturday night (marcus_in_ny)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Make Music NY
* Beyonce @ MSG
* Nobunny @ Death by Audio
* Punk Island @ Governors Island
* Your Nature @ Studio at Webster Hall
* Roy Nathanson, Omega III, Sotto Voce @ Sycamore
* DJ Green Lantern, Dead Prez @ Highline Ballroom
* Absu, Rumpelstiltskin Grinder, Sothis @ BB King's
* The Weight, Dirty Sweet, Nikki Lane @ Bruar Falls
* H2O, Stigma, Cruel Hand, Turn It Up @ Knitting Factory
* Yannick Noah, Coralie Clement, Mayra Andrade @ Central Park Summerstage
* Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, Titus Andronicus @ Kearny Irish American Association
* Nullsleep, Machine Drum, Protman, Minusbaby, Glomag, Jerohme Spye, Futureboots, Yoshi, The Machinist, Mikrosopht @ Santos

Today is the Seventh Heaven street fair in Park Slope.

Eugene Mirman is bringing his weekly Tearing the Veil of Maya show to The Bell House tonight. JANEANE GAROFALO, MIKE BIRBIGLIA, TODD BARRY, and JOHN MULANEY are also on the bill. Tickets are on sale. Tickets are also still on sale for the Michael and Michael show happening at the same venue on July 15.

Ted Leo and Titus Andronicus are on tour together. Tonight that show comes to Kearny Irish American Association in their shared home-state of NJ. Tomorrow they play Maxwell's. Ted Leo will play a free Hudson River Rocks show this summer on Thursday, July 23th with Radio 4 and Extra Golden. He was also recently added as opener to a show happening in Asbury Park this summer.

Clearwater Festival reaches its second and final day. Arlo Guthrie (an Alice's Restaurant devotee) headlines. Arlo also has a free NYC show scheduled for this summer.

Dead Prez, who played the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival yesterday, plays with DJ Green Lantern at Highline Ballroom tonight.

Make Music NY hits NYC today, with outdoor shows planned all over the city. The fest includes the Punk Island shows happening on Governors Island, as well as lots of other gigs. Blues Control plays in front of Goodbye Blue Monday (Blues Control is having car trouble, and can't make it back to NYC in time for this show). Sharon Van Etten has a set at the Sackett Street Block Party. Check out a full schedule of events at the MMNY site.

Peggy Sue performed at Bruar Falls on Thursday. Video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Sunday? (Make Music NY)"

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"

From 11 in the morning to 10 at night, musicians of all ages, creeds, and musical persuasions -- from hip hop to opera, Latin jazz to punk rock -- perform on streets, sidewalks, stoops, plazas, cemeteries, parks and gardens. From high school bands to marquee names, Make Music New York is open to anyone who wants to take part, enjoyed by everyone who wants to attend.

Brooklyn band Cheeseburger played the event outdoors on Bedford Ave. last year, and chiptune guy Nullsleep played in 2007. Videos from those two performances below...

Continue reading "Make Music NY returns on June 21, 2009 - sign up now"

Why does the Mermaid Parade have to be the same day musicians are playing for free all over the city including punk bands on Governors Island and blog-approved bands in Brooklyn at the After the Jump Festival?

If you do go to the Mermaid Parade, consider also going to the ball afterwards.

Make Music New York is NYC's largest music event, with 850 free concerts on streets, sidewalks and parks, all on the first day of summer. TONY has partnered with MMNY to create this special channel to help you make the most of this essential summer event.

Much like looking at the schedule of free stuff going on today for "Make Music New York", I totally procrastinated posting these pictures of Best Fwends playing my show at the Red Scoot Inn during SXSW (March 15, 2007)....

I can't say exactly why, but I loved them. They hit play on an iPod or something, and then jump around like maniacs singing to the songs they wrote. They look and act nuts, and they're really a lot of fun unless you don't think they're fun like my own best fwend who was standing next to me at the show and thought they were like Beavis & Butthead (in a bad way), and was pretty much embarrassed for herself to even be standing there in front of them at all. I wished they kept playing after they stopped.

VICE also had some not-nice stuff to say about them, but Gorilla Vs. Bear has been known to say nice things on their behalf.

So, maybe you'll love them, or maybe you'll hate them, but either way you can find out for free if you happen to be in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn today (June 21, 2007) when they play an incredible free show w/ the incredible Oxford Collapse (also BV show veterans), and Cheeseburger - who I'll even admit to liking sometimes.

More pics & info & tour dates & videos below...

Continue reading "Oxford Collapse, Cheeseburger & BEST FWENDS - the best free show today? (+ pics from SXSW) & TOUR DATES"

On Thursday, June 21, New York joins 340 other cities around the world to host a day of free, outdoor music-making. From Metropolitan Opera singers to high school rock bands, church choirs to underground MCs, Tuvan throat singers to Salsa bands, punk rockers to string quartets, there's something for everyone. [MAKEMUSICNY]