Posts Tagged ‘arts brookfield’

NewSong Winners perform in Arts Brookfields ‘Notes of Pride’ Concert Series this summer in New York City

Friday, May 19th, 2023

Arts Brookfield is pleased to announce ‘Notes of Pride,’ a New York City-based concert series celebrating Pride Month and the ​​LGBTQIA+ community The series will take place throughout June. Performances will be held during lunchtime, 12:30-1:30 p.m., at Zuccotti Park (One Liberty Plaza) each Wednesday and at Grace Plaza in midtown Manhattan(1114 Avenue of the Americas) each Thursday. All performances are free to attend.

NewSong Music is proud to present 2019 NewSong Grand Prize Winner Jobi Riccio and 2022 NewSong Grand Prize Winner AC Sapphire as part of this series.

 

SCHEDULE:

AC SAPPHIRE + CALIKO

  • Wed, June 7, 12:30 – 1:30PM @Zuccotti Park
  • Thurs, June 8, 12:30 – 1:30PM @Grace Plaza

JOBI RICCIO

  • Wed, June 28, 12:30 – 1:30PM @Zuccotti Park
  • Thurs, June 29, 12:30 – 1:30PM @Grace Plaza

 

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

AC Sapphire + Caliko — Regularly championing other women and non-binary folks in the music industry, AC Sapphire attracts instant fans with her powerful voice and songwriting chops. Her music offers stunning, shimmering collections of electric rock songs, served as nostalgic souvenirs. Always in motion, AC also has a duo project called Caliko with long-time singing partner Kendall Lujan.

Jobi Riccio — An active member of the burgeoning queer country scene, Nashville-based Jobi Riccio writes songs that meld classic country sounds with modern sensibilities, aiming to turn classic tropes of genre on their head.

 

ABOUT NEWSONG MUSIC

Now in its 22nd year, NewSong Music is an independent artist development organization and independent record label. Its mission is to identify and celebrate truly exceptional artists, and to build and support a community of performers and songwriters across all genres of music.

ABOUT ARTS BROOKFIELD

Arts Brookfield supports innovation in music, dance, theater, film, and visual art by pushing boundaries to create unique works of art and cultural experiences presented for free. Thriving for over three decades, the program gathers communities around creativity by animating Brookfield Properties’ public spaces.

SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN FOR THE 2022 NEWSONG MUSIC PERFORMANCE & SONGWRITING COMPETITION

Thursday, June 16th, 2022

NewSong Music is now accepting original song entries for its 21st annual performance and songwriting competition, presented by Citizen Vinyl. The program’s curated showcases have been a fixture in the national music scene since 2001. The competition finals, formerly staged in New York City at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, relocated to Asheville, N.C. in 2017.

2018 NewSong grand prize winner Mel Bryant recording at Echo Mountain Studios

Eight finalists, selected from advance online submissions from across North America and beyond, will bring their musical magic to Asheville where they will perform, compete, and connect with one another. A panel of music industry judges will select one grand prize winner to  receive a fully funded six-song EP, recorded and mixed at Citizen Studios, plus 300 vinyl records pressed at Citizen Vinyl, and a featured, paid performance at Arts Brookfield’s Summer Concert Series in New York City in the summer of 2023.

Past NewSong winners and standouts include Ingrid Michaelson, Meghan Trainor, Max Hatt/Edda Glass, Grace Potter, and Crys Matthews.

Discounted ‘Early Bird’ entries are now open (1 song: $40; 2 songs: $70; additional songs: $25 each). Entry prices increase after Sunday, July 24, with the final deadline for submissions on Sunday, September 18, 2022. To submit your original music, visit newsong-music.com/contest. Finalists will be notified via email and announced through NewSong Music’s website and social media channels on Monday, October 18, 2022.

Mark your calendar for the 2022 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition finale, which will take place on Saturday, December 2, 2022 at Citizen Vinyl in downtown Asheville.

NewSong Music is an independent music organization that aims to build a supportive community of performers and songwriters across various genres of music and skill levels, while identifying truly exceptional artists and introducing their music to a broader international audience.

Citizen Vinyl was established by NewSong Music director and co-founder Gar Ragland. It opened October 2020 as Asheville’s first vinyl manufacturing facility. Citizen Vinyl boasts a variety of amenities including a full-scale recording studio, a vinyl-themed craft cocktail and coffee lounge, a record and art store, and more.

For up-to-date information on the 2022 NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition, visit newsong-music.com. To learn more about Citizen Vinyl, visit citizenvinyl.com

 

NewSong Artist Roundup: Mel Bryant, My One & Only, and more

Tuesday, July 16th, 2019

There are so many talented artists who are part of the NewSong family — it can sometimes be difficult to keep up! That’s why each week, we compile a list of new releases, shows, and videos from past NewSong artists who we think deserve your attention. 

Mel Bryant & the Mercy Makers— FREE shows in NYC

2018 NewSong Grand Prize Winner, Mel Bryant, is returning to her New York City roots with a four-show run this summer. Mel and her Nashville-based, indie rock band will play at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Syracuse on July 27; Grace Plaza on July 31, a SoFar Sounds show on July 31; and Brookfield Place on August 1. All performances are free to the public. Learn more about Mel Bryant and the Mercy Makers on the band’s website

 

Suzie Brown — ‘Under the Surface’ Tour

Suzie Brown, Nashville-based songwriter and finalist in our 2018 competition, will be on tour this summer supporting her new album, Under the Surface. Parade Magazine calls the album an “honest record that finds her fronting a full-sized band, with layers of Telecaster twang, Southern soul and swirling keyboards.” For full list of tour dates and locations, check out Suzie’s website

 

Slowpacker — Summer Tour

Slowpacker — the stage name of Asheville, NC-based musician Jack Victor — will be touring this summer across the Southeast, plus two shows in New York City. His Aug. 15 show in NYC at Brookfield Place is part of NewSong Music’s free summer concert series.

“Songs are made from starts and stops, periods of fullness followed by periods of emptiness,” says Victor. “I’ve been around this cycle many times in the last few years. Each time, there is one song that is the inspiration for many others to come. This initial song becomes like a mission statement – a set of ideals and values – to expand upon.” Learn more about Slowpacker at slowpacker.bandcamp.com

 

My One & Only — August Shows

Americana duo and past NewSong LEAF finalists My One & Only are on the road this August. The Nashville-based band will team up with fellow LEAF finalist Alexa Rose for a show in Asheville, NC on August 18. Kassie and Benjamin meld old-school country, singer-songwriter, and alternative folk-rock into a sound that can only be described as “Southern-Soul and Curious-Grit.” Learn more about the band on My One & Only’s website

 

Submissions for 2019 NewSong Singer Songwriting Competition are open! 

This year’s grand prize winner will receive an all-expense paid six-song EP, recorded and mixed at Asheville, NC’s Echo Mountain Recording Studios and released on the NewSong Recordings label. 

The grand prize winner will also receive a performance showcase at the esteemed 2019 ASCAP Music Café at the Sundance Film Festival (January 23 – February 3, 2020) in Park City, Utah, and a be booked for a paid, featured main stage performance at this summer’s Arts Brookfield Summer Plaza Series in New York City.

Submit your music here.

‘Come Together’ Summer Concert Series begins July 10

Tuesday, July 9th, 2019

NewSong Music & Arts Brookfield present

‘Come Together’ Summer Concert Series

Arts Brookfield and NewSong Music are proud to announce the New York City summer outdoor concert series ‘Come Together: New original music inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ last studio album, Abbey Road.’ The series is presented by Arts Brookfield and curated by NewSong Music.

‘Come Together’ features four free outdoor lunchtime concerts taking place every Wednesday, July 10-31 in and select Thursdays in July and August at Brookfield Place. Each Wednesday concert begins at 12:30 PM at One New York Plaza, located at 1 New York Plaza in New York City’s Financial District. Each Thursday night concert takes place 7-8:30 PM at Brookfield Place in the Battery Park City neighborhood of Manhattan. The lineup features some of North America’s most talented performing songwriters, and represents an eclectic array of styles and genres.

Come Together: Summer Music Series 

July 10: Kaiti Jones @ 1 NY Plaza
July 17: Crys Matthews @ 1 NY Plaza
July 18: Crys Matthews @ Brookfield Place 
July 24: Suzie Brown @ 1 NY Plaza
July 31: Mel Bryant & the Mercy Makers @ 1 NY Plaza
Aug. 1: Mel Bryant & the Mercy Makers @ Brookfield Place
Aug. 15: Slow Packer & For Def @ Brookfield Place 

All of the performers featured in the ‘Come Together’ series are members of the NewSong artist community:

Kaiti Jones (7/10 @ 1 NY Plaza)
(2018 NewSong Music Finalist)

A native of Portland, Maine, Kaiti Jones spent four years in Nashville, forming her sound in the backyard of Bob Dylan’s ballads and Flannery O’Connor’s southern gothic storytelling before returning north. Jones’ voice is simultaneously earthy and ethereal, carrying the listener a few feet off the ground on a cloud of rich, sophisticated melodies while whispering truth and contemplating the human condition through good old-fashioned storytelling.
kaitijonesmusic.com

 

Crys Matthews  (7/17 @ 1 NY Plaza & 7/18 at Brookfield Place)
(2017 NewSong Music Grand Prize Winner)

A southeastern North Carolina native who now calls Herndon, Virginia home, Crys Matthews blends Americana, folk, jazz, blues, bluegrass and funk into a bold, complex performance steeped in traditional melodies and punctuated by honest, original lyrics. Having been compared to everyone from Toshi Reagon to Tracy Chapman to Ruthie Foster, Matthews’ eclectic infusion of genres won her the grand prize in 2017 of the international NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition finals at New York City’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
www.crysmatthews.com

Suzie Brown  (7/24 @ 1 NY Plaza)
(2018 NewSong Finalist)

A 1970s-inspired folk-pop songwriter, Suzie Brown has chased her unique muse for a decade, making modern-day roots music that nods to the soul singers, heartland rockers, and blues artists who came before her. Gluing the sound together is the unforced voice and honest, autobiographical songwriting of a Renaissance woman who’s not only an acclaimed musician, but also a part-time cardiologist and full-time mother. She dives into her personal life and subjects such as mortality, money, and motherhood on her sixth album, Under the Surface, which includes songs that have been named as finalists in the NewSong Music Competition, the Great American Songwriting Competition, and the International Acoustic Music Awards. www.suziebrownsongs.com.
 

Mel Bryant & the Mercy Makers  (7/31 @ 1 NY Plaza & 8/1 @ Brookfield Place)
(2018 NewSong Music Grand Prize Winner)

Mel Bryant & the Mercy Makers are a Nashville based indie rock band comprised of lovers and friends. Led by bassist and songwriter Mel Bryant, their screaming guitars are met with a unique feminine energy that is equal parts powerful and sensitive, groovy and grungy, memorable and true. Mel uses the gift of rock music to promote thoughtfulness, respect, justice and love throughout the human community. 
www.melbryantmusic.com

Slow Packer & For Def  (8/15 @ Brookfield Place)

Slow Packer is a musical project formed by songwriter and producer, Jack Victor. The project also includes collaborations with several other singers and instrumentalists. After the break-up of his band Midnight Snack in 2017, Victor continued to write songs and make recordings. In 2019 he decided to adopt the moniker Slow Packer to release this new music. A quote from Slow Packer: “Songs are made from starts and stops, periods of fullness followed by periods of emptiness. I’ve been around this cycle many times in the last few years. Each time, there is one song that is the inspiration for many others to come. This initial song becomes like a mission statement – a set of ideals and values – to expand upon.”

For Def is the “for fun” band of Jack, Maddie, and Mike of Slow Packer. It started as a weekly jam and has turned into a “real band” because they are working on a tape now. So far, a lot of the music has been improvised live but For Def is currently working towards through-composed tunes that are low-key contemplative and emotional and only go high-key a few times. Overall, you will probably think “nice, this is actually pretty chill. I could listen to this on a pleasant drive, maybe on the way to a hike or something like that.” There is electric guitar (Maddie), bass (Mike), drum set (Jack), and sometimes – on the demos they are working on – there is a lush synth pad in there too.

slowpacker.bandcamp.com.

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About Arts Brookfield

Arts Brookfield presents exciting, world-class cultural experiences to thousands of people for free each year in both indoor and outdoor public spaces at Brookfield’s premier buildings in Denver, New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Toronto, Perth and Sydney. From concerts, theater and dance to film screenings and art exhibitions, Arts Brookfield brings public spaces to life through art.
ArtsBrookfield.com

 

About NewSong Music

NewSong Music is an independent artist development and music production company headquartered at Asheville, NC’s Echo Mountain Recording Studios. NewSong’s mission is to build and support a community of performers and songwriters across all genres and levels of skill, and to identify the truly exceptional artists to introduce their music to a broader, international audience. Its programs include a record label (NewSong Recordings), artist management services, concert production and the annual, international NewSong performance and songwriting competition.
newsong-music.com

Ana Egge performs as part of ‘Come Together’ Series in NYC May 22

Tuesday, May 21st, 2019

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 22, we are excited to welcome past NewSong finalist Ana Egge 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 Ana Egge 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?

 
I remember when my family moved to New Mexico I got a cassette of Abbey Road for my 10th birthday, and I listen to it pretty much nonstop.
 

What is your favorite Abbey Road song? 

 
It’s hard to pick one, but I’d have to say “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” because of the impression it made on me when I was young and still the quality of the song and the actual track and how it sounds. It was just so amazing.
 

What life and music news would you like to share? 

 
Years ago, I had the opportunity to record in Abbey Road Studios with my friend Joel Plaskett. That was a highlight! That was the same year we opened for Sir Paul in Halifax. I’m in the studio now mixing my new record Is It the Kiss, produced by Alec Spiegelman, which is coming out this September on StorySound Records. 
 

What are you most looking forward to about the upcoming show in NYC? 

 
I love playing NYC! And I love playing free outdoor shows in NYC! Plus my band is going to be pretty smokin’. 

 

 

To learn more about Ana Egge, visit her website

To Join our ‘Come Together’ Facebook event, click here

Crys Matthews performs as part of ‘Come Together’ Series in NYC May 15

Tuesday, May 14th, 2019

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. We are excited to welcome 2017 NewSong finalist Crys Matthews to perform this Wednesday, May 15. 

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 Crys to learn more about her songwriting and how she has been influenced by the the well-loved album. 

 

How has Abbey Road influenced you?

Abbey Road is such an iconic album and has influenced so many artists across so many genres. I remember listening to Musiq Soulchild’s version of “Something” back in college and being so obsessed with it. It’s such a simple song, but it is a textbook example of less being so much more. I hope to master that art some day.

 

What is your favorite Abbey Road song? 

“Something.”
 
 

 

What life and music news would you like to share? 

The Singing OUT Tour 2.0 — a social justice-centered LGBTQ-supergroup composed of meHeather MaeJoe Stevens (formerly of Coyote Grace) and JJ Jones (formerly of Girlyman) — is hitting the road in a couple of weeks to celebrate Pride month. All are welcome in our house!
 
WHAT IS THE SINGING OUT TOUR: Ask anyone in the know about the new generation of social justice music-makers and they’ll mention Heather Mae or Crys Matthews. Mae, a powerhouse performer and earthshaking vocalist, has turned her personal struggle with mental health and body image into an empowering message of self-love, a universal light force that shines for every audience member. Matthews is a powerful lyricist whose songs of compassionate dissent reflect her lived experience as what she lightheartedly calls “the poster-child for intersectionality”. These two singer-songwriters have joined forces with JJ Jones (Girlyman) and Joe Stevens (Coyote Grace) for The Singing OUT Tour. With Jones’s “kinetically charged” percussion and Stevens’s multi-instrumentalist brilliance, the music will be a powerful as their collective message — stand up and sing out. 

Kaiti Jones performs as part of ‘Come Together’ Series in NYC May 8

Wednesday, May 8th, 2019

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 8,we are thrilled to welcome 2018 NewSong finalist Kaiti Jones to the stage.

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 2018 NewSong Competition finalist and ‘Come Together’ performer Kaiti Jones 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 songwriter?

The Beatles were the first band I was introduced to as a kid. Even at a young age, I was struck by the band’s ability to tell stories, both melodically and lyrically, that burrowed into me and undoubtedly impacted the way I began to tell my own stories. I grew up studying classical violin and spent years playing in orchestras, and when I heard Abbey Road, I was struck by the symphonic nature of the album. It never goes where you think it’s going, and the arrangements are just masterful.

 

What is your favorite Abbey Road song?

So hard to choose! I think my earliest memory of the album was hearing “Here Comes the Sun,” so that song summons a nostalgic fondness. But “Something” really unravels me. It’s such a melodic and emotional powerhouse, and I love that it, like so many songs on the album, is so complex in its arrangements and takes the listener on a journey.

 

What are you excited to share about your own music career?

I’ve spent the last several months working on working a bunch of new material, and I’m looking forward to starting my next studio project later this year. Stay tuned!

 

To learn more about Kaiti Jones, visit her website

To Join our ‘Come Together’ Facebook event, click here

 

 

NewSong Music & Arts Brookfield present ‘Come Together’ outdoor spring concert series in New York City

Monday, April 29th, 2019

 

New York, NY (Tuesday, April 30, 2019) — Arts Brookfield and NewSong Music are proud to announce the New York City spring outdoor concert series ‘Come Together: New original music inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ last studio album, Abbey Road.’ The series is presented by Arts Brookfield, and curated by NewSong Music.

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 . The lineup features some of North America’s most talented performing songwriters who represent an eclectic array of styles and genres.

 

“NewSong is delighted to be partnering once again with Arts Brookfield to curate this springs ‘Come Together’ series in New York,” says NewSong music founder Gar Ragland. “The opportunity to invite this group of talented songwriters and performers to celebrate – through their own original material –  the enduring legacy of the Beatles and their iconic last studio album is something we’re honored and excited to help bring to life with our friends at Arts Brookfield.”

All of the performers featured in the ‘Come Together’ series are members of the NewSong artist community. 

 

Ordinary Elephant (5/1) 
(2017 LEAF Festival Finalists)

Ordinary Elephant (Austin, TX) captivates audiences with their emotionally powerful and vulnerable songs, letting the listener know that they are not alone in this world. The collaboration of husband and wife Pete and Crystal Damore, their connection, and their influences (such as Gillian Welch, Guy Clark, Anais Mitchell) all meet on stage. 
www.ordinaryelephant.net

 

Kaiti Jones (5/8)
(2018 NewSong Music Finalist)

A native of Portland, Maine, Kaiti Jones spent four years in Nashville, forming her sound in the backyard of Bob Dylan’s ballads and Flannery O’Connor’s southern gothic storytelling before returning north. Jones’ voice is simultaneously earthy and ethereal, carrying the listener a few feet off the ground on a cloud of rich, sophisticated melodies while whispering truth and contemplating the human condition through good old-fashioned storytelling.
kaitijonesmusic.com

 

Crys Matthews  (5/15)
(2017 NewSong Music Grand Prize Winner)

A southeastern North Carolina native who now calls Herndon, Virginia home, Crys Matthews blends Americana, folk, jazz, blues, bluegrass and funk into a bold, complex performance steeped in traditional melodies and punctuated by honest, original lyrics. Having been compared to everyone from Toshi Reagon to Tracy Chapman to Ruthie Foster, Matthews’ eclectic infusion of genres won her the grand prize in 2017 of the international NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition finals at New York City’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
www.crysmatthews.com

 

Ana Egge  (5/22)
(2010 NewSong Music Finalist)

When Ana Egge (Brooklyn, NY) got bit by the music bug as a teenager, she took matters into her own hands, building her own guitar, and moving to Austin, TX to observe, absorb and take musical risks. The striking depth and unusual maturity of her singing, playing, and songwriting got her noticed, and she recorded her first album, River Under the Road (1997) with the legendary western swing band, Asleep At The Wheel.
www.anaegge.com

 

Mel Bryant & the Mercy Makers  (5/29)
(2018 NewSong Music Grand Prize Winner)

Mel Bryant & the Mercy Makers are a Nashville based indie rock band comprised of lovers and friends. Led by bassist and songwriter Mel Bryant, their screaming guitars are met with a unique feminine energy that is equal parts powerful and sensitive, groovy and grungy, memorable and true. Mel uses the gift of rock music to promote thoughtfulness, respect, justice and love throughout the human community. 
www.melbryantmusic.com

———————————–

About Arts Brookfield

Arts Brookfield presents exciting, world-class cultural experiences to thousands of people for free each year in both indoor and outdoor public spaces at Brookfield’s premier buildings in Denver, New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Toronto, Perth and Sydney. From concerts, theater and dance to film screenings and art exhibitions, Arts Brookfield brings public spaces to life through art. ArtsBrookfield.com

 

About NewSong Music

NewSong Music is an independent artist development and music production company headquartered at Asheville, NC’s Echo Mountain Recording Studios. NewSong’s mission is to build and support a community of performers and songwriters across all genres and levels of skill, and to identify the truly exceptional artists to introduce their music to a broader, international audience. Its programs include a record label (NewSong Recordings), artist management services, concert production and the annual, international NewSong performance and songwriting competition.
newsong-music.com

Meet ‘Southern Accents’ performer Michaela Anne

Wednesday, June 20th, 2018

Michaela Anne will perform as part of the ‘Southern Accents’ series, a free outdoor concert series honoring the music of Tom Petty.

 
Michaela Anne is our next featured performer in the free summer outdoor concert series ‘Southern Accents: New original music inspired by the songwriting legend Tom Petty’ in New York City. The lineup features some of North America’s best up-and-coming acts playing original music inspired by the well-loved troubadour Tom Petty.
 
Upon releasing her 2014 album, Ease My Mind (Kingswood Records), singer-songwriter Michaela Anne garnered considerable acclaim for her introspective songwriting. The New York Times praised the “plain-spoken songs of romantic regret and small-town longing” and the Village Voice listed it among its Top 5 Country Albums of the year. The Nashville, TN based artist just finished recording her next album in California, and we can’t wait for what comes next for this rising indie country star. 
 
We asked Michaela Anne three questions in advance of her ‘Southern Accents’ performances Tuesday, June 26 at One New York Plaza and Wednesday June 27 at Grace Plaza. Both shows take place 12:30-1:30 pm and are free and open to the public.
 
 
1. How does Tom Petty influence your own music?
Tom petty greatly influences my music, as I’m sure he does most songwriters, with his to-the-point, feel-good songwriting. His songs are the anthems to so many of our experiences, and I strive to write simple, to-the-heart songs. He had a unique way of capturing universal feelings in the most perfect way.
 

2. What is your songwriting process like?
My songwriting process is kind of all over the place. I’m not a very disciplined songwriter. I go through phases of sitting down to write pretty consistently, then go through times where nothing comes out and then, out of nowhere, a song will appear. I often play and sing at the same time until an idea starts to form, trying to channel it until I have enough to go back to. I’ll then approach it in a more academic way, with editing and pushing myself to find the most fitting way to say things.
 
3. What’s coming up for you that you would like readers to know about?
I just finished recording a new album out in California produced by Sam Outlaw and Kelly Winrich (Delta Spirit), which I’m really excited about. Until that comes out — hopefully early next year — I’ll be touring pretty sparingly, so I’m excited to be playing shows in New York now! But new music is definitely on its way, and lots of touring is on the horizon. 
 
Stay up-to-date with Michaela Anne’s album release and show schedule on her website, www.michaelaanne.com.

WHAT: ‘Southern Accents’: Michaela Anne

WHERE: One New York Plaza (6/26) // Grace Plaza (6/27)

WHEN: 6/26 & 6/27 // 12:30-1:30 pm

FREE SHOW

Meet ‘Southern Accents’ performer Farewell Milwaukee

Tuesday, June 19th, 2018

Farewell Milwaukee performs as part of the ‘Southern Accents’ series, a free outdoor concert series celebrating the late songwriter Tom Petty.

Farewell Milwaukee is our next featured band in the free summer outdoor concert series ‘Southern Accents: New original music inspired by the songwriting legend Tom Petty’ in New York City. The lineup features some of North America’s best up-and-coming acts playing original music inspired by the well-loved troubadour Tom Petty.

Mainstays of the Minneapolis music scene since 2008, Farewell Milwaukee embraces the role that Midwestern towns have played in shaping the band artistically, garnering them fans through their authentic lyrics, lush vocal harmonies, and an honest sincerity at live shows. They have gathered accolades from local and national press, landed a song placement on major-network TV, opened for the Lumineers (among others), and are featured on compilations alongside Mumford & Sons, Adele and Amos Lee.

We asked Farewell Milkwaukee three questions in advance of the band’s ‘Southern Accents’ performances Tuesday, June 19 at One New York Plaza and Wednesday June 20 at Grace Plaza. Both shows take place 12:30-1:30 pm and are free and open to the public.

1. How does Tom Petty influence your own music?

I bought the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers greatest hits tape when I was in middle school, and by early high school had worn it out. I logged so many hours on the lawn mower listening to those songs. I also saw him in 1999 at Summerfest in Milwaukee on the 4th of July and he closed with “American Girl.” It was magic. He wrote perfect rock and roll music and all of us in Farewell Milwaukee have similar experiences in which his music shaped important moments in our lives. Tom’s like the cool, unassuming uncle that was always there for you on the radio. 

2. What is your songwriting process like?

On our most recent album, “FM” I came into the studio with a batch of songs and our producer friend Jason Orris said, “These are great songs, but you have one more in you! Try writing something that’s three chords and happier, like something Tom Petty would write!” I was up for the challenge and wrote a song called “Hurt No More” for my daughter, which became the lead track on that album. It’s one of my favorite songs I’ve written, and it’s super fun to play live. 

3. What’s coming up for you that you would like readers to know about?

We’re starting to enter a writing season. We have a ton of fun outdoor shows throughout the Midwest this summer, following our visit to New York, but after that, we’re hoping to focus on writing songs for a new record. 

Stay up-to-date with Farewell Milwaukee’s news and schedule on the band’s website, farewellmilwaukee.com.

WHAT: ‘Southern Accents’: Farewell Milwaukee

WHERE: One New York Plaza (6/19) // Grace Plaza (6/20)

WHEN: 6/19 & 6/20 // 12:30-1:30 pm

FREE SHOW