Iconic New Orleans Music Venues Unite for Historic ‘NOLAxNOLA’ Live Events Series OCT 7 – 17

Maison is one of the venues participating in an unprecedented coalition of New Orleans’ iconic nightclubs and music venues, in partnership with New Orleans & Company, to create NOLAxNOLA, a branded series of live music events throughout the city during the dates of the city’s lost New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, October 7-17, 2021 © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

NEW ORLEANS – An unprecedented coalition of New Orleans’ iconic nightclubs and music venues, in partnership with New Orleans & Company, have proactively combined to create NOLAxNOLA, a branded series of live music events throughout the city during the dates of our lost New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, October 7-17, 2021. The goal of NOLAxNOLA is to keep New Orleans’ music venues, musicians and culture bearers strong and supported during this difficult time, while following all safety guidelines. 

NOLAxNOLA strives to illustrate that we can create a national model of promoting and supporting live music in a safe way that calls for proof of COVID vaccine or a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours for entrance into the venue. We are asking locals and visitors to join our musicians and employees in getting vaccinated and continuing our way of life. We want locals to have safe venues to attend shows and we will promote to travelers that they keep their travel plans, while following all vaccination and safety guidelines, because the shows must go on. 

NOLAxNOLA will feature over 170 events across over 20 music venues in 10 days. More shows are being added by the day. 

NOLAxNOLA Music Venues: 
– Buffa’s Bar 
– Café Istanbul 
– Café Negril 
– Carnaval Lounge 
– Civic Theatre 
– d.b.a. 
– Gasa Gasa 
– Hi-Ho Lounge 
– Howlin’ Wolf 
– Joy Theater 
– Mid City Lanes Rock ‘n’ Bowl 
– NOLA Brewing Company 
– Preservation Hall 
– Republic NOLA 
– Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro 
– The Broadside 
– The Maison 
– The Metropolitan 
– The Starlight 
– Three Keys 
– Tipitina’s 
– Voodoo Two Lounge 
– Zony Mash Beer Project 

NOLAxNOLA Supporters: 
– 7S Management 
– BackBeat / Hypersoul 
– Fandiem 
– Fox Pocket 
– Hotel St. Vincent 
– MaCCNO 
– New Orleans & Company 
– Red Light Management 
– Sigfest Events 
– Them People Productions 
– WWOZ 

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on New Orleans’ critical cultural economy for locals and visitors, despite months of optimism and a resurgence of leisure travelers earlier this year. Spring 2021 festivals rescheduled for the fall such as French Quarter Fest and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival have been cancelled due to the delta surge, as well as Buku Planet B, Beignet Fest, Fried Chicken Fest and Voodoo Music + Arts Experience. 

NOLAxNOLA, designed to safely and immediately support clubs, musicians and culture bearers in a time of financial peril, could become an annual tradition, created in 2021, but lasting and growing for many years beyond. 

New Orleans maintains the highest vaccination rate of any Louisiana parish with nearly 80 percent of eligible adults receiving at least their first vaccine. New Orleans & Company has been a strong advocate for COVID vaccines for the safety of all residents, employees and guests of the city. 

Sig Greenebaum, Co-Founder of NOLAxNOLA and President of Sigfest Events said, “New Orleans festival seasons mean so much to the city. It is essential that we all band together to support the city and our vibrant artistic community in our time of need. Shows will go on and we will turn this challenging moment into a historic celebration!” 

“We want to send a clear message to all travelers, regionals and locals who previously had planned to attend New Orleans music festivals or club concerts this fall: Visitors, please keep your travel plans and get vaccinated, locals…. get vaccinated and retain and buy other tickets to safe music venues this fall. Our live music shows and performances must survive, must go on and flourish,” said Stephen Perry, President and CEO of New Orleans & Company, the official destination sales and marketing organization for New Orleans’ tourism industry. “New Orleanians and our critical visitor economy deserve a rich array of music, delivered in wonderful safe club environments, instead of mass-attended festival events right now. Our music clubs are the lifeblood of the most authentic live music scene in America, and they and our musicians are in peril. This unprecedented coalition of venues, artists and New Orleans & Company has come together to plant a flag in the ground, book scores of concerts throughout venues and neighborhoods all over the city and drive the message that the music continues, and does so

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit neworleans.com/nolaxnola.

See also:

New Orleans: ‘It’s Not All About The Jazz,’ Guest at Destination Wedding in NOLA Discovers

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Open Call for Young Musicians to Enter Gold Coast Art Center’s 8th Annual Your Big Break Talent Contest

Last May, Your Big Break crowned the seventh winner, Arizona Lindsey. Since her YBB win, Arizona has been featured on radio stations across the East Coast such as Last-FM, Blast-FM, WUSB Homegrown Long Island, Granite Coast Entertainment Inc. and WHPC Rising Stars. The 8th Annual Your Big Break talent contest, presented by the Gold Coast Arts Center, is now underway © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Long Island, NY — A young musician’s dream of getting the attention of an important music executive who can pave the way to a career has for the last seven years come true for contestants in Your Big Break talent contest presented by the Gold Coast Arts Center, Love Revolution Org., and the Rick Eberle Agency. An open call is now underway for submissions from all musicians ages 15 to 25 living on Long Island and New York City who do not currently have a recording or publishing contract. Interested artists MUST be prepared to perform two original songs (with a band, or solo with an acoustic guitar/other instrument). Submissions are open now through February 23rd, 2020. There is no fee to submit.

The semifinals will be held on March 14 and April 25, with the finals taking place on June 6, 2020.

Those interested can email to yourbigbreakny@gmail.com: one MP3 song, one photo, and a short bio, or enter at Reverbnation here: https://www.reverbnation.com/submission/details?campaign_id=38532

Young artists are judged in categories including stage presence, overall musicianship, and fan reaction.

The annual Your Big Break showcase is held at the Gold Coast Arts Center’s Weinstein Playhouse. Accomplished veteran music business professionals donate their time and resources to help identify and assist the new wave of aspiring stars to take the next step in their musical journey.

Last May, YBB crowned the seventh winner, Arizona Lindsey. With her sweet-sounding voice, passionate vocal performance and heartfelt lyrics, Arizona has been captivating audiences attention worldwide. Since her YBB win, she has appeared in multiple live interviews and performances. Arizona has been featured on radio stations across the East Coast such as

Last-FM, Blast-FM, WUSB Homegrown Long Island, Granite Coast Entertainment Inc., and WHPC Rising Stars.

Past winners – All Types of Kinds, Paris Ray, Youth Be Told, Katie Zimmer, Annika and Matt Grabowski and finalists SEE and Zofolk – have gone on to work with major producers, managers and agents. Past artists who have performed in the headline slots have included: Brooke Moriber, Lem Payne Jr. Iridesense, John Hampson of Nine Days, The Brady Brothers, Sir Cadian Rhythm- all of whom are local musicians who have since enjoyed success in the business.

The Judges: Hosted at the Gold Coast Arts Center by founders Rick Eberle, Brian Viner and Eugenia Viner; judges take on a major role in the competition. Included have been some of the music industry’s elite such as: ReverbNation.com’s Lou Plaia, All Music Inc and Scatterbrain’s Guy Brogna, artist manager Randy Nichols, radio host and former pro wrestler Brimstone, songwriter and bassist Tara Drouin, producers David Caggiano and Donnie Klang, Good Times Magazine’s Rich Branciforte, musician Richy Petrello, club owner Pauline Damiani and label executives Stephen Marcuccio, Jill Morrison, Jerry Lembo, Linda Ingrisano, and Mark Ambrosino. Judges for 2020 will soon be announced.

The Mentors: Mentors will be assigned to the finalists. These mentors will work to help them hone their craft before performing in the finals. 2020 mentors are still TBD – while past years have included American Idol’s Robbie Rosen, Dream Recording Studio’s Jason Melker, Sojourn Records’ Mark Ambrosino, producer/songwriter and former VP of A&R at Atlantic Records Jimmy Bralower, singer/songwriters John Hampson of Nine Days, Ryan Star, Cass Dillon, and songwriter/producer Donnie Klang of MTV’s “Making the Band”, songwriter/producer Ido Zmishlany, among others.

Prizes include: Show at Revolution Bar & Music Hall (Pauline Damiani, Judge), Recording time at The Sound Cellar (Dave Alini, Judge), PR campaign with the Rick Eberle Agency (Host) including an interview and airplay on WHPC “Rising Stars” on 90.3 FM, Gift Certificate from All Music Inc (Guy Brogna, Judge), Equipment from ZOOM North America (Stephen Marcuccio, Judge), ReverbNation.com Discount (Lou Plaia, Judge), Article in Good Times Magazine (Rick Branciforte, Judge)

For more information on how to submit, contest rules, prizes and more, visit www.goldcoastarts.org,  goldcoastarts.org/your-big-break/ or call 516-829-2570.

The Gold Coast Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting the arts through education, exhibition, performance, and outreach. Located on the North Shore of Long Island, it has brought the arts to tens of thousands of people throughout the region for nearly 25 years. Among the Center’s offerings are its School for the Arts, which holds year-round classes in visual and performing arts for students of all ages and abilities; a free public art gallery; a concert and lecture series; film screenings and discussions; the annual Gold Coast International Film Festival; and initiatives that focus on senior citizens and underserved communities. These initiatives include artist residencies, after-school programs, school assemblies, teacher-training workshops, and parent-child workshops. The Gold Coast Arts Center is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Partners in Education program, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. More information can be found at www.goldcoastarts.org.

 

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5 Vie to Win 2018 ‘Your Big Break’ Talent Competition, April 21 at Gold Coast Arts Center, Long Island

Winners of Round 2 of “Your Big Break” Talent Competition at Gold Coast Arts Center with judges. The finals take place on April 21 © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

The Gold Coast Arts Center, Love Revolution Org, and the Rick Eberle Agency are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting final round of this year’s “Your Big Break Competition” on Saturday, April  21, at the Center’s Acoustic Café, 113 Middle Neck Road, Great Neck, Long Island.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with the first act taking the stage at 8:00 p.m. Advance tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students, and $20 at the door). To purchase tickets in advance visit: goldcoastarts.org/your-big-break-final/.

The top five remaining finalists, who survived the first two knockout rounds held earlier this years, will perform for judges in the music business that includes producers, radio and television personalities and music business executives. The winner will be chosen by the judges and audience members, as the performers vie to win prizes and recognition that can help boost their music careers. Among the prizes include the chance to open for national acts at major local venues like The Paramount; recording time at DCITY Studios; a feature on Reverbnation.com; musical equipment from All Music Inc. and ZOOM North America; and public relations and social media campaign, booking and label services consultation with the Rick Eberle Agency.

This years “Your Big Break Competition” finalists are singer/songwriters Kaylee Shahira and Lydia von Hof; and bands 37 Stripes, All Types of Kinds, and Psychopompus.

Kaylee Shahira performing in Knockout Round 2 of “Your Big Break” Talent Competition at Gold Coast Arts Center © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Kaylee Shahira is a young, passionate indie-pop artist with a killer sound who hails from northwest Indiana. Shahira loves writing about the questions nobody can answer — living with mental illness, personal life philosophies, and the intricacies of being a social animal. Shahira exudes promise as an emerging artist.

37 Stripes performing in Knockout Round 2 of “Your Big Break” Talent Competition at Gold Coast Arts Center © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

The band 37 Stripes formed in the fall of 2016. The members were introduced at the iSchool of Music and Art on Long Island and quickly connected with one another and settled on musical upheaval as an alternative expression. 37 Stripes have been writing their music and playing at festivals and venues around New York City. Band members are Manhasset residents Andrew Hahn, who plays Fender bass, sax, and keyboard; Oscar Cellura on Fender guitars, and keyboard; and percussionist Zach Levine, a resident of Syosset, who plays the drums. The band has played at the renowned “Bitter End” in Greenwich Village and Mulcahy’s in Wantagh, NY. 37 Stripes were also finalists in the Town of Oyster Bay’s Battle of the Bands and the Morgan Park (Glen Cove) Summer Music Festival.

Psychopompous, which boasts alumni of Great Neck South High School, performing in Knockout Round 2 of “Your Big Break” Talent Competition at Gold Coast Arts Center © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

First formed at Great Neck South High/Middle School in 2010, Psychopompous is the most recent nominal iteration of the musical project formed by singer and guitarist Justin Kelly, percussionist Beni Hahitti, and bassist Maximillian Nero. The three created  Psychopompous through a mutual interest primarily in progressive rock, and then expanded into an unending plethora of musical interests that continues to grow at an alarming, and often frustrating rate. Their music has taken notes from progressive rock, heavy metal, alternative, blues, funk, psychedelia, Gregorian chant, Tibetan throat singing, and occasionally whale songs. They have been known in the past for their sincere love of technical music, experimentation, improvisation, and their unbridled willingness to play music nobody wants to hear.

All types of Kinds performing in Knockout Round 2 of “Your Big Break” Talent Competition at Gold Coast Arts Center © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

All Types of Kinds is a New York City-based Alternative band consisting of guitarists Billy Conahan, Ray Rubio, and Rocco Stoker, along with percussionist Berk O. As a group, they have performed from folk to rap and other genres in between. Their music and shows reflect the band’s diverse background in helping them achieve success in the New York metropolitan area. Band members are all singer/songwriters with an extensive repertoire of songs. Having grown up performing in musical theater, stand-up comedy, and as actors, the group is skilled at crowd engagement, making their shows unique and upbeat. Their personal and group experiences give them the ability to read and play to any crowd, creating a show that is always changing and entertaining to diverse audiences. 

Lydia von Hof is a 16-year-old singer, piano player, and songwriter from Commack, New York. She performed as a soloist at Madison Square Garden at a New York Knicks halftime show and is the 2016 winner of Long Island’s Got Talent. Aside from singing pop, jazz, R&B, Broadway, and opera, Lydia is a classically trained pianist and has performed classical piano solos at both Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.  She has been a returning musical guest on PATV’s “The Brick Wall.”

Lydia von Hof and Annamaria from Round 1 of “Your Big Break” Talent Competition at Gold Coast Arts Center, Great Neck, Long Island. The finals take place on April 21 © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

The Gold Coast Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting the arts through education, exhibition, performance and outreach. Located on the North Shore of Long Island, it has brought the arts to tens of thousands of people throughout the region for over 20 years. Among the Center’s offerings are its School for the Arts, which holds year-round classes in visual and performing arts for students of all ages and abilities; a free public art gallery; a concert and lecture series; film screenings and discussions; the annual Gold Coast International Film Festival; and initiatives that focus on senior citizens and underserved communities. These initiatives include artist residencies, after-school programs, school assemblies, teacher-training workshops and parent-child workshops. The Gold Coast Arts Center is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Partners in Education program, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. More information can be found at www.goldcoastarts.org.

 

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Long Island’s ‘Greatest Folk Concert’ to Honor David Amram, Pete Seeger and Aid Gold Coast Arts Center

David Amram and Pete Seeger performing (courtesy of http://www.econosmith.com).

The greats of folk music including Peter Yarrow and Tom Chapin are gathering together on Nov. 20 at Tilles Center for a concert that both celebrates the eclectic American composer and performer David Amram on his 84th birthday, and pays tribute to the iconic Pete Seeger.

The concert, which is being billed as “the greatest folk concert Long Island has seen in decades,” is being organized by Great Neck resident Jason Samel of Movement Music Records in association with Love Revolution and the Gold Coast Arts Center to benefit the arts center, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the arts through education, exhibition, performance and outreach.

The performers include Amram – an American composer, conductor, multi-instrumentalist, and author a musician best known for classical and jazz music – as well as friends he shared with the late Pete Seeger including Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul, and Mary), Tom Chapin, Holly Near, Guy Davis, Garland Jeffreys, Kim and Reggie Harris, Joel Rafael, The Amigos, The Chapin Sisters, Bethany & Rufus and the Connecticut State Troubadour Kristen Graves.

As a classical composer and performer, Amam’s integration of jazz (including being one of the first to improvise jazz on the French horn), folkloric and world music has led him to work with the a virtual who’s who of music, film and literature.

Samel said he was decided to combined Amram’s 84th birthday celebration with a tribute for Pete Seeger because of the close relationship of the two men.

“David Amram was very close friends with Pete Seeger, which is the reason we wanted to tie this into his birthday concert,” Samel said.  “David has a long history in folk music, classical, jazz, blues, as well as music of the American Indians…. He is in fact one of the most respected folk musicians in the country, as well as in so many other genres of music.  Every artist on the bill has played with David and Pete, as it was a requirement for an artist to be able to play in this concert.  Also, much of Amram’s music will be played at the concert, as it is a tribute to both him, and Pete.”

Samel said the concert is also intended to recognize Seeger’s political activism.

The concert, which is called  “David Amram’s 84th Birthday Concert: Remembering Pete Seeger,” will begin at 7 p.m. on Nov. 20 at The Hillwood Recital Hall at Tilles Center on the LIU-CW Post Campus at 720 Northern Blvd. in Brookville. Concert tickets are $55 in advance and can be purchased at www.movementmusicrecords.com

There is also a VIP meet and greet with the performers available for an additional $45.

For more information about the Gold Coast Arts Center, visit www.goldcoastarts.org or call (516) 829-2570.