From a petition attempting to save the beach:

"Please help us save our beach! Long Island City's Water Taxi Beach has served the neighborhood, the city, and beyond for 6 years now. It brought in revenue and boosted the economy locally here in LIC, as well as within the whole of New York City from visitors far and wide.It employed 47 workers, enlisted over a dozen vendors w/ many employees. The city has closed it down to accomodate the new Hunterspoint South developement, which is understandable. So WTB asked for permission to move this unique urban experiment to a vacant lot further away from the construction, just to the south of the existing parking lot. They developed a new design, expanding the Beach, adding a nine-hole miniature golf course and a better volleyball court configuration. The site has great views and a lot of open space. But NYC EDC has shot down the proposal with little consideration."

The Water Taxi Beaches at South Street Seaport and Governors Island will open this summer though.

Governors Island 2010 (more by Matthew Eisman)

Sadly, 2010 was the first and last year for "Gone to Governors,'" the series of 10 free summer shows that went down last year on The Beach at Governors Island. Water Taxi Beach will still operate the beach though, and their might be some ticketed shows on the beach, but that is not even definite at the moment.

Governors Island concert promoters Highline Ballroom and Bowery Presents are however still busy putting on much larger events on other parts of the island, like the Dave Matthews Band Caravan and the Governors Ball.

And, as you know, the 'Pool Parties' are also not returning to Williamsburg Waterfront this year, though there will be a handful of free events at the outdoor Brookln space. Whether Pool Party promoter Jelly has anything else up their sleeve remains to be seen.

Two days after filling in at the Seaport, Beach Fossils were one of the bands who played Mishka's 4th of July bash at Water Taxi Beach in Long Island City. During the show, the Beach Fossils bassist was apparently frustrated with the sound (or was just trying to be rock n roll) and so decided to throw his bass guitar into the river. I guess he has some expendable income laying around (and isn't super worried about the environment). Video below...

Continue reading "Beach Fossils threw a bass into the East River during Water Taxi Beach concert (video) "

Suckers in Prospect Park the other day (more by David Andrako)

Mishka, Etnies and something called SEEN (located at seenallover.com) are co-presenting a BBQ/party on Long Island City's Water Taxi Beach (dubbed "Red, White & Brews") this 4th of July. Confirmed music includes Suckers, Beach Fossils, The Death Set and Ninjasonik. There are also lots of DJs and they're promising a "Very Special End Of The Night Performance".

Add this one to the list of music events happening this 4th of July in NYC.

A flyer, more details on the party and all Beach Fossils dates are below...

Continue reading "Beach Fossils, Suckers, DeathSet, Ninjasonik & many others playing Water Taxi Beach in LIC on 4th of July"

Yeasayer @ Webster Hall in May (more by Benjamin Lozovsky)

"All concerts are accessible via New York Water Taxi. The Water Taxi's will leave every 15 minutes from the Battery Maritime Building Slip 5 on the Southern Tip of Manhattan, located next to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. The first ferry will leave at the published show door time. Additional pickup locations may be added.

The closest subway stations to the Battery Maritime Building are: 1 at South Ferry, W at South Ferry, and 5 at Bowling Green. It is also a short walk from the Wall Street Area. Various city bus lines also service the Battery Park Area with stops near the ferry terminal.

Taxis and car may pull directly in front of the terminal for drop offs only. There is NO parking at the terminal.

Your Concert Ticket is your Roundtrip Ferry Pass, no additional tickets are needed.

See individual show pages for ferry times and schedules, as they are subject to change." [from the Governors Island concerts Directions]

Those are the official instructions posted on www.thebeachconcerts.com. They're from the point of Water Taxi who runs Water Taxi Beach which is the same beach that becomes "The Beach at Governors Island" for concerts, including the free ones this summer. And for nighttime events (like most of the free "Gone to Governors" events), it may be the instructions you have to follow to and from the shows. But that's okay because as it points out, Water Taxi/ferry service is included in your concert ticket price which also means that, for the free shows, it is free. As it mentions, the first ferry leaves at the show's posted "doors" time (6pm for Yeasayer).

ALSO NOTE THOUGH: you can also get to and from Governors Island on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with the always-free ferry service from the same-or-close-to-same exact location (Battery Maritime Building @ 10 South Street), and from the new Brooklyn location at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The schedule for those is HERE. They start running MUCH earlier (and from Brooklyn!). Only problem is that they stop running by 7pm on the weekends, so you will need to take the Water Taxi that runs special for the concerts at that time (that isn't actually a problem though).

UPDATE: There's also show-specific ferry info posted on the left side of the beachconcerts site. Right now it says this:

For Yeasayer on Saturday June 5th:
Public ferries will be running from Slip 6 at the Battery Maritime Building when The Beach is open to the general public from 10:00am to 5:30pm.

Once doors open at 6:00pm, ferries to The Beach will be running continuously from Slip 7 at the Battery Maritime Building.

Currently, ferries will only be running between Manhattan and Governors Island. Our new ferry service between Brooklyn and Governors Island will be in place for our upcoming shows!

I think that clears up some of it, but to clarify, there is a Brooklyn ferry in the day, but not at night. You can go in during the day from Brooklyn, but still have to go back to Manhattan at night.

Don't be scared. Governors Island is an amazing place. Get there early and walk around. Saturday's free Yeasayer show is "doors at 6, bands at 8". There are two openers (Keepaway and Delicate Steve). Then late-night there's an afterparty with Chris Keating DJing at Tribeca Grand (free with RSVP). New Yeasayer tour dates below...

Continue reading "more Yeasayer tour dates - free show Saturday, an afterparty & Manhattan/Brooklyn Governors Island ferry instructions "

view from the ferry in 2009 (more by Chris La Putt)

First Passion Pit & Tokyo Police Club, then M.I.A./Sleigh Bells, and then Local Natives (and I just noticed Michael Franti & Spearhead w/ Trombone Shorty). All of a sudden Bowery Presents is doing shows on Governors Island, a space that was booked last year by AEG & Highline Ballroom. Well, Highline Ballroom is still involved. I found this press release that was issued in February:

Continue reading "as you probably noticed, Bowery Presents does shows at Governors Island now..."

I haven't gone out yet this week. Last weekend I was out of town and missed Joakim's deejay set at the Tribeca Grand (among lots of other events), but have since managed to get a copy of his new album, Milky Ways which I strongly recommend.

While I found his last album Monsters & Silly Songs a bit inaccessible overall in comparison to the singles "Lonely Hearts" and "I Wish You Were Gone", Milky Ways is much more listenable while still being interesting. Over the course of just 10 tracks, Joakim manages to at times channel Radiohead, Talking Heads, hints of noise rock, both modern & retro disco, and robots, to create his own unique sound. Milky Ways is scheduled for release on September 15th in the US, 14th in the UK, and August 31st internationally. !K7's set up a website dedicated to the release where you can find out more about the album, stream some tracks, and get a free download of "Watermelon Bubblicious" after signing up for the !K7 newsletter.

Moving on to this weekend, here's what's happening starting with Saturday (8/29):

Continue reading "the week in Dance w/ Showtrotta (part 2) "

DOWNLOAD: Tim Sweeney Live @ Sunday Best - August 16 (MP3)

Joakim

It's been a very exciting week in dance, with both Bassment Jaxx and Royksopp show announcements. Unfortunately we still have to wait a few months before those happen. In the meantime, here is what's going on this weekend:

Continue reading "the week in Dance w/ Showtrotta (part 2) (Joakim, Michna, Theo Parrish, Holy Ghost, Soul Bowl, the Drums & more) "

DOWNLOAD: Flashmen ft. Sewingpattern - As The Night Rolls On [Guitar Edit] (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: 33Hz - I Feel Alive (Eli Escobar remix) (MP3)

Dublex Inc

This weekend is packed with plenty of opportunities to get down outside. To begin with there is P.S.1's weekly Warm Up, followed by New Release's Beach Party, LIC on Saturday (8/8). This week's Warm Up features the Music Committee of the (late) Merce Cunningham Dance Company: Stephan Moore and David Behrman, Eats Tapes, Lovefingers (highly recommended disco! check out the tons of free mixes on his site), Master Khan (check out his mix from last month on Beats In Space), and special guests. More info on Warm Up and Stephan Moore & David Behrman below:

Stephan Moore is a Brooklyn sound artist whose work relies on the collection and use of real world sound, perception of sonic environments, improvisation and interactivity. David Behrman has been active as a composer and artist since the 1960s, making sound and multimedia installations for gallery spaces as well as concert music. The MCDC was founded in 1953 by Modernist choreographer Merce Cunningham, who commissioned more new music by American composers than any other single choreographer.

Warm Up Admission
On Warm Up Saturdays, from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the admission fee to P.S.1 and Warm Up is $10.00. Included in this price is access to all exhibitions and to Warm Up. We do not offer special discounts for seniors or students on Warm Up Saturdays. Cash only.

More info on Warm Up, including where to buy advanced tickets and free admission for MoMA members and L.I.C. residents can be found here.

continued....

Continue reading "the week in Dance w/ Showtrotta (part 2) (PS1, Dublex Inc, Boys Noise, Simian Mobile Disco, BEMF, 33Hz, more)"

DOWNLOAD: Dirty Sound System - Summer Tape 2009 (MP3)

Dirty Sound System

It's been a while since I was this excited about a weekend, dance-wise. One of the many reasons why is Dirty Sound System is coming to New York this Saturday (8/1). According to their website, the French duo of Clovis Goux & Guillaume Sorge...

...spin everything from house, electro free jazz to spacey disco, acid house, krautrock, sunshine pop, folk, rythm'n'blues, music soundtracks... it depends on how far the dancefloor is ready to go.

Based on the awesome set their Dirty compatriot Pilooski spun at Mister Saturday Night back in May (which you can now download here) and their excellent selections on Dirty Edits 1 & 2 & Dirty Space Disco I have no doubt about their ability to get a dancefloor moving.

Info on the party they are deejaying on Saturday night below, plus download their Summer Tape 2009 at the top of this post and some mixes by Prince Language's (who is also deejaying the party) here. Also, be sure to check out Dirty Sound System's latest release Dirty French Psychedelics (available at Turntable Lab and on iTunes).

continued below...

Continue reading "the week in Dance w/ Showtrotta (part 2) (Dirty Sound System, Plant Music, Ete D'amour, Sunday Best, APW & more)"

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) "

Last week in dance I got a late start. I'm not sure what it was, but I couldn't get myself out and on a dancefloor until Sunday. Once that finally happened I could not have been happier...Justin Martin absolutely killed it at the BKLYN Yard as did Alex from Tokyo later that day at the Rivington Hotel. More on each of their awesome sets later. For now, here's where you can get down at the start of this lovely 4th of July weekend:

Continue reading "the week in Dance w/ Showtrotta (July 4th weekend edition) "

"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"

DOWNLOAD: Luke Solomon - Live at Sunday Best, 6/7/09 (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ghislain Poirier - In the Mix on Sinden's Kiss FM radio show 5/21/09 (MP3)

Tyler Askew & crowd @ Loving Day Flagship Celebration - 6/7/09 (Willie Davis)

I haven't been out dancing yet this week, but still have plenty to tell you about last weekend, specifically Sunday and how it's turning into my favorite day to get down. Things began a little out of the ordinary, trekking over to 23rd and the FDR for the Loving Day celebration (of the Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia which legalized interracial marriage in the US, which happened not too long ago in 1967!). The vibe was great - everyone just looked happy and was hanging out. Unfortunately not many were dancing to the great soulful, jazzy, housey set Tyler Askew was playing. I'm going to blame it on the massive line that had formed for the free BBQ being given out. In any case, I got down with a small group of strangers and learned more about Loving v Virginia which you can do here as well as learn about throwing your own Loving Day celebration.

Luke Solomon @ Sunday Best @ the BKLYN Yard - June 7, 2009 (cloud_city)

From there things picked up in terms of dancing. I headed down to the Gowanus yet again for Sunday Best. It was slightly less packed than it was for Mr. Scruff - still quite a crowd. I'm not sure how they did it, but food & drink lines were pretty much nonexistent and the bathroom one is still there, but much shorter. There were all the makings of a great Sunday as Luke Solomon started his set around 7, following through with 2 great hours of an interesting blend of house, soul, techno, and even hints of tech-house that had the tiny dancefloor overflowing with people. You can download his set at the top of this post, and check out other past sets from Sunday Best here, or better yet, subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or RSS.

I was perfectly happy by the end of Sunday Best and could have just gone home...but the Lower East Side is just so close thanks to the F-train, so I headed to the Rivington Hotel for Été d'Amour with Tony Humphries. The penthouse was packed with people dancing when I arrived, as it had been for Dimitri's set the weekend prior. Unfortunately it didn't last long. After hanging out on the roof for an hour or so it dawned on me that I couldn't hear the music at all. The sound only improved slightly one flight down, and by the time I was back on the main penthouse level I realized something was very wrong. The volume was way down thanks to someone complaining...so frustrating as Tony's set was great, just not loud enough! I've been assured that this week things will be under control for Stretch Armstrong's set, but more on that in a bit. First here is what's going on Saturday (6/13):

Continue reading "the week in Dance w/ Showtrotta (part 2) "

DOWNLOAD: LA Riots - the Crystal Method's mix on LA's Indie 103.1 (zSHARE MP3)
DOWNLOAD: LA Riots - July 2008 Mix (zSHARE MP3) (tracklist below)

Kelley Polar @ PS1 - August 16, 2008 (CRED)

Despite things starting off a bit slow at PS1 on Saturday, I had a great weekend. I caught about an hour of Metro Area's first set. It was pretty fun and disco-ey, nothing mind-blowing though. Afterward Kelley Polar went on with a full band. The first song started off beautifully with some violins, then a dope bassline was dropped. Something went off in my head. I became instantly happy and thought I had just discovered another great live disco band along the lines of Escort. Unfortunately things wound down from there. The energy from the bassline was lost and the rest of the performance didn't really go anywhere memorable. After that I called it quits in the interest of resting up for the Beach Party at Water Taxi Beach later that night.

The atmosphere and vibe at the beach is really great. The crowd is a mixed bag, but the view of the Manhattan skyline at night is beautiful. There's sand under your feet. It reminds me that New York City is a bunch of islands. I felt like I was on vacation. On top of all that, the music was excellent. Unfortunately I have no idea who (out of Justin Carter, Probus, Todd Makinen, and My Cousin Roy) was deejaying then, but what I do know is that most of the people I was with brought up how great the music was multiple times. It was definitely one of the most laidback, yet intensely fun nights I've had in a while.

Sunday morning my Saturday night caught up with me and I arrived at Summerstage later than planned resulting in a less than ideal spot. Luckily Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings were in top form and gave one of the soulful, energetic performances for which they are known. My distance from the stage became unimportant.

All too quickly it was Monday again. Thankfully we're headed to yet another dance-filled weekend in New York. Here's what's going on starting with Thursday night:

Continue reading "the Thursday night in Dance w/ Showtrotta (LA Riots)"

DOWNLOAD: The Glass May DJ Mix (zSHARE MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Star Eyes - Strobe Attack mix (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: NROTB - Mixtape 1 (zSHARE MP3)
DOWNLOAD: B. Rich - Live WERS 88.9fm (zSHARE MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Eine Kleine Nacht Musik - German only mixtape (MP3)

"Break Dance", Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY (bok bok)

I have been totally slacking on the going out front. Luckily this week there is plenty of really exciting dancing to be done (both when I'm here and when I'm going to be away - more on that later). On to this week:

Continue reading "July 4th weekend in Dance w/ Showtrotta (MP3s included)"

DOWNLOAD: Drop the Lime - I Love NY (MP3)

The Field @ Studio B, Brooklyn, NY - 6/6/08 (J Russell)

Hopefully your week in dance is off to a good start. I haven't gone to a thing since M83 on Tuesday, but tonight (Saturday, June 7th) that is definitely changing. There are two great options you should not miss out on:

Continue reading "the weekend in Dance (& Monday) w/ Showtrotta (Fixed, etc)"