MEL BRYANT PERFORMS AS PART OF ‘COME TOGETHER’ SERIES IN NYC MAY 29
There aren’t many albums that are more iconic or influential than the Beatles’ Abbey Road. Arts Brookfield and NewSong Music have come together to present the New York City spring outdoor concert series ‘Come Together: New original music inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ last studio album. This Wednesday, May 29, we are excited to welcome 2018 NewSong Grand Prize Winner, Mel Bryant and the Mercy Makers, to perform.
The ‘Come Together’ series features five free outdoor lunchtime concerts taking place every Wednesday in May. Each concert begins at 12:30 PM at the Grace Plaza, located at 1114 6th Avenue, just north of Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan.
We took some time to talk to 2007 NewSong Music Competition finalist and ‘Come Together’ performer Mel Bryant to learn more about her songwriting, and how she has been influenced by the the well-loved album.
HOW HAS ABBEY ROAD INFLUENCED YOU AS A MUSICIAN?
Abbey Road is one of those bodies of work that not only presents the listener with a bunch of amazing and timeless songs, but is a complete experience that takes the listener on a cohesive journey through sound. It has an arc, a storyline, and a groundbreaking style that sounds like nothing else that came before, but at the same time, it is self aware of the influences it draws from classic blues and soul music. In that way, the Beatles have consistently inspired me to ask myself: Is the music i’m making different from what came before? Am I aware of my influences and respectful of them?
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ABBEY ROAD SONG?
My favorite song on Abbey Road changes a lot, but right now it’s “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window.”
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO ABOUT THE UPCOMING SHOW IN NYC?
We are so looking forward to playing in a beautiful outdoor space, for a completely different crowd than who we normally play for. I’m from New York so it will be good to feel back at home, but every time I come back it also feels exciting and different from the last time i was there.
To learn more about Mel Bryant and the Mercy Makers, visit the band’s website.
To Join our ‘Come Together’ Facebook event, click here.
May 27th, 2019
