“New York’s festivities will kick off the night of April 19 with performances by the New Riders of the Purple Sage at the Canal Room and the Benevento/Russo Duo at downtown avant-garde womb Tonic. Weekend highlights include a free Earth Day concert by Laurie Berkner on the Great Hill in Central Park, a performance by American Idol winner Taylor Hicks at the Beacon Theater, appearances by folk legends Tom Paxton and Richard Shindell at The Society for Ethical Culture, an intimate show by New Orleans veterans The Radiators at the Lion’s Den, and a spot by seminal blue-rock group John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers at BB Kings Blues Club. In addition, Jerry Joseph will support Particle at the Bowery Ballroom on April 20, while Jon Fishman and Touchpants will support RAQ at the same venue on April 21. Phish cover band Phix brings its farewell tour to BB Kings Blues Club on April 21, a day before seminal jazz-electronic collective Fat Mama reunites for the first time since 2001 to close out the festival at the Knitting Factory. Fittingly, Fat Mama’s last performance took place at Wetlands and featured an early collaboration between Fat Mama drummer Joe Russo and his high-school friend Marco Benevento (who played keyboards on that night). Other New York performances include Junior Brown, Edwin McCain, Assembly of Dust, Mahavishnu Project, Over the Rhine, State Radio, Zero, Jake Shimabukuro, Avishai Cohen, Hiromi, Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, Cosmic Jibaros, The Bomb Squad, Mike Dillon’s Go-Go Jungle, The Bridge, Jonny Lives, and Brady Rymer, among others.
Chicago’s lineup will be similarly eclectic. Indie sensations the Decemberists will kick off the weekend’s festivities at The Riviera on April 19. Umphrey’s McGee and the Disco Biscuits will co-headline a free show Earth Day show at Lincoln Park Zoo, while the Kaiser Chiefs and The Walkmen perform at The Vic and renowned Dub producer Mad Professor appears at The Double Door. Bluegrass legend Del McCoury will bring his acoustic styling to the School of Folk Music, while Andrew Bird will headline the Riviera. Other standout shows includes spots by Paul Green’s School of Rock, Brothers Past, JJ Grey and Mofro, Hoyle Brothers, New Monsoon, Juice and the Machine, The Lost Trailers and Mono.
San Francisco hero Bob Weir will headline a free performance on Earth Day at Golden Gate Park’s Speedway Meadow featuring his band RatDog, The Greyboy Allstars and Martin Sexton. The Fillmore will host Stephen Marley and his brother Junior Gong, San Francisco hometown heroes Tea Leaf Green and leaders of the “newgrass” movement Yonder Mountain String Band. Brit-funk band the New Mastersounds will appear at 12 Galaxies, while indie rockers Electric Six are slated for the Independent, the synth-pop collective Trans Am is scheduled at Bottom of The Hill and acoustic folk-rock act Girlyman is confirmed for the Swedish American Hall. Additional participating venues include Bimbo’s 365 Club, Bottom of the Hill, Café Du Nord, Club Six, DeYoung Museum, Great American Music Hall, Make Out Room, Mezzanine, and Three Parkside.
- Previously on Hidden Track: The Duo Goes Green, Russo Bookends
- Check out my Green Apple Festival Blog from last year’s festival
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Color me a little underwhelmed by the NYC lineup… although I’m psyched for acoustic Duo, and my 4th Berkner show!
SUPER weak. Looks like Pete Shapiro’s Wetlands juice has finally run dry.
I hate to say it, because it’s hard to bite the hand that feeds you such heady tunes around NYC on such a constant basis, but there’s nobody stunning on the list that makes me say, “Wow, that’s a great get.” Someone can correct me if I’m wrong.
Still, as I said in the post itself, are we gonna be entertained for three days? Oh fuckin’ yeah. Gratuitous “fuckin'” in there, but it worked.
looks pretty lame