Night of 1000 Stevies (2009) @ Highline Ballroom, NYC - pics

words & photos by Kevin Tachman

NIGHT OF 1000 STEVIES, New York City’s legendary STEVIE NICKS homage, returned for its nineteenth annual edition on May 1 at THE HIGHLINE BALLROOM. NOTS 19: SONGS OF RHIANNON was a May Day marathon of twirling and enchantment, attended by over a thousand fans. This year’s theme – and the centerpiece of the show – were the ten “SONGS OF RHIANNON” penned by STEVIE NICKS in her BUCKINGHAM NICKS days. In stage decor, visuals and costuming, NOTS 19 paid homage to the Celtic white witch RHIANNON – fitting for a date that was both MAY DAY and BELTANE. As always, “The Night” climaxed with the heart-stopping BATTLE OF A THOUSAND STEVIES, as all the show’s performers and costumed fans took the stage for a final dose of “Total Stevie Realness”.

NIGHT OF A THOUSAND STEVIES is the biggest and best-loved STEVIE NICKS fan event in the world, one of those great New York City spectacles that sparks travel from all around the globe. Born in 1990 at the tiny performance venue MOTHER at the weekly JACKIE 60 party, “The Night” has run for nineteen years, even inspiring the 2001 film GYPSY 83. Neither a contest nor a karaoke show, NOTS is the Stevie celebration plus ultra – a riot of shawls, lace, baby’s breath, twirling, tambourines and great performance.

The real Stevie has a show coming up at Madison Square Garden. More pictures from Highline Ballroom below…