Declan Bennett: Living the Dream

One of the many beautiful things about New York City is at any given moment you may cross paths with the most intriguing, delightful person. Such was the case recently at Rockwood Music Hall, where I had the pleasure of being introduced to Declan Bennett, a British singer-songwriter whose envious resume covers all facets of the music industry. A warm reception and honest enthusiasm for conversation simply adds to the enormous talent that resides humbly in this distinctly exceptional artist.

At age 16 Declan Bennett left school and moved to London to pursue music, a dream that took a wild turn two years later when Warner Music signed him to the pop/rock group "Point Break." The band released five Top 20 Singles, produced an album, toured the world for two years, and appeared on the hit British TV show "Top of the Pops," a regular Friday night program that showcased a countdown of the Top 50 songs of the week. Wrapped in this whirlwind life, Declan found solace writing his own music while on the road, exploring songs more personal and conversational, so when the time came for a second album he declined. "I just thought, 'I'm done, I've got nothing left in me,'" Declan said, a look of truth dashing through his eyes. "I had my time and I enjoyed it but I have to go and do my own thing."

Transitioning from a pop star with screaming fans to working in a dingy cafe was humbling for Bennett, but did not stop this focused young musician. Continuing to write and play out London's acoustic scene, Declan built a fan base from scratch and has kept it growing since age 20. Fortune fell once again soon after, getting discovered by Boy George and cast in the London hit "Taboo" at the historic West End Theatre. Establishing a positive relationship with the icon proved beneficial, as Declan became the opening act on several gigs and was often promoted by George himself on TV appearances.

Bennett's stand-out performance in "Taboo" caught the eye of a casting director from RENT in New York, finally bringing this gorgeous talent to our city streets. Joining the cast of RENT as Roger, the struggling singer-songwriter, Declan went on tour with the show first before starring on Broadway from September 2007-May 2008.

Undeterred by an exploding career and well-deserved recognition, Bennett chose not to abandon his singer-songwriter roots. "I never stopped doing my music," Declan explains, "Despite diverting at times into theatre it was always really important to me to not just do [theatre] and forget my music. It was a vehicle for me to expose myself to a new audience."

That attitude is precisely why Declan has transitioned so well into the New York scene, a city he finds both stimulating and accepting in ways London can't compare. Shifting from RENT to the singer-songwriter scene was a challenge in overcoming the music industry's pre-conceived notion of Broadway stars and solo albums, but Bennett succeeded and did so with integrity. Crediting the cast of RENT as a strong support system, it was these friends who filled Googie's Lounge at Declan's first NY acoustic show to cheer him on. "You guys are so vocal here," he laughs, revealing why New York is his favorite city to play. "If you enjoy something you just let a big whoomp out!"

Now preparing to head out west for a role in Green Day's brand new punk-rock opera, based on the "American Idiot" album, Declan is kissing the city goodbye for a few months to take on rehearsals and performances. Previews start September 4 for the innovative debut, which Bennett describes as a "crazy, abstract, physical opera."

Fear not however, the smooth, sensual songwriter will be back on NY turf in no time, bursting out new tunes and exploring unique and cutting-edge sounds. In previous songwriting, Bennett always produced the lyrics first, tending to the instruments after to pull out a melody. More recently, Declan found himself artistically gravitating towards the instrumental side of the process, searching for new sources of inspiration.

Growing up it was strong powerful females who drew emotion out of Declan; songwriters like Ani DiFranco, Alanis Morrissette, Jewel and the Indigo Girls. "I should have been a lesbian!" laughter erupted, then turned serious. "It was their lyrics, their honesty that blew me away more than anything." Lately Bennett finds himself listening to an incredibly eclectic range of music that encompasses everything from house music to electric-rock.

The worldly musician reveals, "Music to me is a very emotional experience. It doesn't matter if it's some crazy track in the middle of the club at 4 AM and this insane baseline kicks in, or if I'm sitting in a tiny little acoustic cafe and there's a girl on a guitar and I'm falling in love with her lyrics."

Planning to return to the New York scene at the end of the Green Day run, Declan has grown to feel at home in the condensed community. The summer following RENT Bennett truly immersed himself in the singer-songwriter circles, playing more gigs and meeting fellow artists like Brent Shuttleworth, exposing him to additional networking opportunities. By making music the main focus, Declan finally felt able to penetrate the scene and meet others with similar talents and goals.

While it may only be a few years since Declan Bennett first arrived on US soil, the extraordinary depth and diversity in his music, a piercingly beautiful voice and a giving heart will ensure his place in the New York scene for decades to come. If you have not had the pleasure of experiencing a Declan Bennett performance make sure you seek it out. It's one of the finest gifts England has ever given America.

Declan Bennett will be performing this Sunday, June 21 as part of the Time Out Make Music New York Festival:

OUTSIDE 'JOE THE ART OF COFFEE'

1PM - 405 W 23RD ST (BETWEEN 9TH AND 10TH)
2PM - 9 E 13TH ST (just below union square)
3PM - 141 Waverly Place

4PM - 6PM Extended set at ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL! With Stephanie Nilles and Brent Shuttleworth

For more information on Declan visit www.declanbennett.co.uk, www.myspace.com/declanbennett, or become a fan at www.facebook.com.

To read about the new Green Day rock opera Declan is starring in, check out this link to Rolling Stone.

Martin Rivas: For the Love of Music

Sitting in a quaint coffee shop in Greenwich Village, my ears were treated to the delightful new Martin Rivas track "Heckuva Day," a bright infusion of music bursting with sunshine, and a windows down, beach-bound sensation. The latest mastery off Rivas' not-yet-released album, "Sea of Clouds," gives listeners the ultimate taste of what happens when a soulful voice, genuine heart, ambitious mind, and natural talent spontaneously combust into a single person.

A native New Yorker, Martin Rivas comes from a diversely musical family; with a mother and grandfather who both sang, and cousins that range from classical composers to up-and-coming musicians. "There's always been instruments in our house, there's always been singing, and there's always been music," Martin divulges. At the age of 11, his uncle showed him a few chords on a guitar but the rest has been self-taught, mimicking favorite records by artists like The Police to learn style and composition. After playing gigs at CBGB's, The Bitter End, and Kenny's Castaways with his band "Serious Pilgrim" in the early nineties, the group parted ways and Martin took time off from the music business, only resuming recording, writing, and self-producing CDs "Bottleneck" and "Glorious" within the past eight years.

In 2005, Martin met drummer Craig Meyer, and the duo created a force called "Campfire" that has spread throughout the New York music scene. Playing approximately 1,000 shows over the past four years, "Campfire" began as a favor to the owner of the Red Lion. "Craig and I were playing with Jessie Gage, and sometimes on Sundays we would go to Washington Square Park and play under the arch, and then head to the Red Lion afterwards," Martin explains. One Sunday, the owner asked Martin and Craig to fill a three-hour time slot because someone had cancelled. The duo gladly accepted, entertaining the audience with a variety of rhythm and blues songs from the likes of Stevie Wonder and Otis Redding, amongst others, and received such a fabulous response it became a weekly gig.

"Campfire" grew to be a Friday and Sunday night staple at Red Lion, as well as part of Tuesday nights at Slane Public House and Wednesdays at Prohibition. The concept is simple: Martin and Craig play a variety of covers and original songs, mostly chosen by the audience. "It's all about what the folks want to hear," says Rivas. "They write their requests down and bring them up [to the stage]." The duo randomly pick and play what is written- no rehearsal, no warning-resulting in an entertaining show that gets the audience singing, dancing, clapping, and coming back for more.

Another example of brilliance that recently developed out of the Martin and Craig brain trust is "Backscratch Sessions," which debuted at the Red Lion in April. "Backscratch," an idea a year and half in the making, dances with the concept of artists getting together to play each other's songs: each playing an original, a cover, and a cover of a fellow artist (which is a surprise). "There are so many fabulously talented artists playing around here that we said let's make it happen now," Rivas enthusiastically proclaimed. With a line-up that included Dave Pittenger, Kailin Garrity, Rachel Platten, Dan Torres, Nick Howard, Robbie Gil, and Amy Regan, to name a few, the night was a huge success and is becoming a regular event. "I was pleasantly surprised because we left there feeling like family," Martin beamed, "it was such a great vibe."

Not only incredibly gifted in exploring other people's songs, Martin also writes beautiful and infectious music and lyrics of his own, as seen in 2005's "Pride of the Valley" and the brand new "Sea of Clouds," currently being mixed and mastered with Dave Pittenger. "Pride of the Valley" was a therapeutic process for Rivas, as many songs deal directly and indirectly with the loss of his stepbrother on 9/11, who worked for Cantor Fitzgerald in the North Tower. Despite the song's upbeat demeanor, the lyrics for the crowd favorite "North," actually came from a dream that they found his stepbrother's body- visions of comfort, sorrow, and joy fill the listener and demonstrate Martin's unbelievable ability to bring a smile and foster hope through music.

A mainstay of the New York singer/songwriter community, Rivas has had the pleasure of watching this current scene evolve and transform over the past few years. With so many talented singer/songwriters and musicians to choose from Martin claims, "I can't imagine a greater concentration of talent at any time other than what's taking place right now in New York. It's a different industry now; every artist has immediate and instant global reach. And you can do with it whatever you want, the question is, it there someone out there to pick up on what you're doing."

"I'm floored everytime I come into the city to play," Rivas declares, observing the honest and heartfelt friendships between artists. "There are so many genuine people in this 'scene.' "

Now on a steady rotation of Campfire gigs and playing out original music at The Bitter End and Rockwood Music Hall, Martin Rivas is gearing up to release "Sea of Clouds," a record whose theme deals with messages of surviving and thriving in the face of turmoil. Working with several musicians and friends on the album inspired trust and provided comfort throughout the process. "I know that when its finished its something I'm going to be immensely proud of for the process for as much as it sounds," Rivas affirms.

A campfire is the perfect image for a Martin Rivas performance- it's warming, comfortable, social and endearing. New York is a vast city, difficult at times to make your way around, easy to get lost in... so if you haven't been to a Campfire, Backscratch, or Martin Rivas show, venture over one evening. I promise, you will feel like you just found home.

For more information on Martin and to listen to tracks, please visit www.martinrivas.net or www.myspace.com/martinrivas. Martin Rivas and Craig Meyer play every Sunday and Friday at The Red Lion- www.redlionnyc.com, every Wednesday at Prohibition- www.prohibition.net, and every Tuesday at Slane Public House- www.slanenyc.com.

The next Backscratch Sessions will be held at The Red Lion on Monday, June 29 at 10:00pm, featuring: Live Society, Jill Stevenson, Greg Mayo, Rebecca Haviland, Martin Rivas, Casey Shea, Bess Rogers, and Brent Shuttleworth.

Dave Pittenger: Jack of All Trades

Few people in this world understand the lost art of a mix tape, and Dave Pittenger is one of them.  A classically trained saxophonist since fourth grade, Dave made his first multi-track recordings just one year later using a simple formula: "I would record the open strings on a guitar on one cassette, playing it over a boom box while recording on another cassette deck with the saxophone, and maybe some singing."  The initiative Dave took at a young age would eventually steer him down a path paved for success; this well-rounded jack of all music trades is not only proficient in saxophone, piano, and guitar, but also in the art of music production and songwriting.

Recently re-emerging into the performing scene about two years ago after a brief hiatus, the Dave Pittenger Band can be seen at venues throughout New York and New Jersey.  The instrumentally delightful band consists of lead singer Pittenger, who also plays guitar and piano, bassist Jon Price or Brian Killeen, and drummer/percussionist Ryan Vaughn.  Offering a sundry of styles and sounds, a set encompasses everything from jazz/rock/pop to an alternative country, "rootsy" vibe.  Songs from the 2007 release "Simple Things" range from dramatic, powerful storytelling to soft, sweet ballads, fulfilling all the listening needs of the captivated audience.  Currently plugging away at his latest material, Pittenger reveals, "My album goes a lot of different places.  I take it on a song by song basis."  

A musician who has kept his career as varied as his music, Dave is also no stranger to the road.  For a period of time Pittenger was booking three-month loops- a month on the road, a month off, and then another month back out again, and did not play New York City.  While touring can be daunting for any emerging artist, due to the unpredictability of the venues and the difficult task of booking and coordinating, Dave stepped up to the challenge.  Typically, a six-week tour is a huge undertaking, between booking, promoting, driving, playing shows, and finding a place to sleep.  However, the aggressive optimist lays out a well-thought plan to make the most of these travels, including avoiding hotel and restaurant costs, and touring with band mates or fellow solo artists.

Now trading road life for a place in the New York scene, Dave is expanding further into music production.  Working as the producer behind colleagues album's such as Dan Torres and Martin Rivas, Dave is in the process of developing an in-house music production company named "Mint."  

"In college I started recording demos.  When it came time to make a record, to save some money I decided to track it myself.  I didn't really have a budget so I also mixed it myself.  It grew from there." Pittenger explains.  "I feel comfortable on the other side of the glass."

If working as a singer, songwriter, musician, and producer wasn't enough, a seemingly minor networking change opened up yet another lucrative opportunity for Dave's extremely balanced career.  After moving from Philadelphia to Belmar a few years ago, Dave revisited an old account on the Garageband site and changed the location to New York City.  The very next day Pittenger received an e-mail from a man looking for New York bands.  "He was putting together a project for Prentice Hall," Dave explained. "They wanted to place rock and pop songs with the 6-10 grade literature books that go along with the lessons." This assignment led to even more favorable situations, from writing Optimum Online and Ambien commercials to a strong working relationship with the Creative Director for Alias Arts. "It's all about getting the opportunity.  It's tough to do everything on your own," Dave explains, "But once you get in a situation you have to produce."

Speaking with Dave Pittenger is a breath of fresh air, filling you with motivation and expanding your mind to look far beyond the horizon.  Never placing limitations, Dave has no pre-conceived notion of where he should end up.  For this humble yet contagiously friendly musician the world is filled with endless possibilities; a strong attitude and a commitment to challenging his own talents will only ensure that success is at every corner.  "I don't have all my eggs in one basket," Pittenger says with a warm smile, "If I didn't do the music thing I would have gone to law school.  Maybe run for public office."

Well Dave Pittenger, you have my vote.

To hear Dave's music, contact him about production, and check out tour dates visit www.thedpband.com or www.myspace.com/davepittenger.

Happening This Week!

After a brief hiatus NYC Artists Scene is back in full swing!  This is a busy week for some of our featured artists, if you are in the area definitely be sure to check out the following shows:

Tuesday, May 26- Canal Room Presents Artists You Should Know: Brent Shuttleworth with Miranda Lee Richards and Trey Lockerbie, 8:00pm. www.canalroom.com.

Friday, May 29- Caleb Hawley with Full Band at The Living Room, 9:00pm.  www.livingroomny.com

Next artist in the line-up is Dave Pittenger, who will be playing a show at the Bitter End this Thursday, May 28, 9:00pm.  www.bitterend.com.

All of these guys are FANTASTIC, don't miss these shows!

Brent Shuttleworth: Finding Home

Brent Shuttleworth's guitar teacher at Bates College informed him he was so far behind in terms of understanding music that he wouldn't have a chance making a career out of it.  "I received a D+ at the end of the year," Shuttleworth said with a laugh.  While owning a guitar since age 10, Brent received no formal training until college, in a guitar class and a music theory course, investing a great deal of time and hard work to catch up.

Graduating from Bates with a B.A. in both Philosophy and Political Science, Shuttleworth wanted to be a public defender.  Despite loving music and wanting to play, sing, and write songs, it was a strong desire to help people and be of service to those in need that led to the path of law and justice.  "I guess there was a period of time that I felt like [music] didn't provide practical use for people," Shuttleworth explains.  The realization came in moving to New York and starting a full-time job with a non-profit company, a career choice that opened Brent's eyes in defining what helps the less fortunate.  In discovering the way audiences responded to and were moved by art, it was easier to understand that music was equally significant in day to day existence.

This honest, genuine, compassionate attitude not only comes across in Shuttleworth's personality, but also in the truthful lyrics set gracefully amongst the soothing, warm melodies of his songs.  "The artistic side of me is a cross between arrogance and foolishness," claims Brent, a musician who strives for deeper, more purposeful words but understands technical limitations.  A major component of achieving success as an artist is bringing out the best in yourself and those around you, a concept Shuttleworth has mastered over time: "I surround myself with very technical, talented people.  I can hear things, I know what sounds good, and I know what I like."

Turning to early David Gray for musical and lyrical influence, Brent began to explore songwriting as a freshman in college.  Finding Gray's work to be bold, creative and inspiring, it was the balance of "abstract yet beautifully specific" wording that grabbed Shuttleworth, guiding the path to more powerful work.  In listening to "Witness," Brent's current album, that equilibrium is evident- "Nothing flashy, words that cut you, speak the truth, and convey what I'm feeling."

Moving every year and a half for most of his youth, Shuttleworth grew up experiencing the hardships of trying to fit in.  From eating alone at the lunch table to struggling to make friends and feel accepted, those memories left their scent well into adulthood.  Then, during a seven month stay in South Africa, studying at a Masters program at University of Cape Town, Brent felt an awe-inspiring sense of acceptance and belonging.  Being in a place where poverty and struggle were part of daily life, it was moving to attend services and see thousands of people so warm, open, and extending themselves.  The title track "Witness" was born through this experience, a concept that Brent explains: "The idea of acknowledging our existence, validated through saying hello and introducing ourselves.  It was overwhelming, I didn't know what to make of it."

Perhaps that's why the actual song lyrics did not come to Shuttleworth until some time later.  "I did not write it there," Brent divulged. "I sit down sometimes and a song will come out.  Other times I'll have an experience and the song won't come out for months, or even years.  Which is beautiful because seeds are planted at all these different points... sometimes they come to fruition and other times they don't.  They're just memories."

After the program in South Africa, Shuttleworth moved to New York City, a place called home since 2004.  The NYC scene has evolved greatly for Brent, whose first gig was at the Bowery Poetry Club.  Starting out as a regular at spoken word poetry venues such as Bar 13 and Poet's Cafe, it's been within the past two years that a following was cultivated. Shuttleworth's talent has graced the stage of most of the downtown scene, including Rockwood, The Cutting Room, The Bitter End, Arlene's Grocery, The Living Room, and Piano's to name a few.  Rockwood Music Hall has become a venue of it's own strengths, constantly exposing Brent and colleagues to people coming for the scene.

"Rockwood is like my home," states Brent, singing the praises of owner Ken Rockwood. "There's something inspiring when you meet people that are really about the music.  Ken is one of the sweetest, most genuine, authentic people.  He's doing sound until two in the morning every night just because he loves it.  There is nothing else attached to that.  It's about the purpose of providing a space where real things can happen."

Real things are happening every day for Brent Shuttleworth, a musician who understands the difference between great artists and everyone else.  "It comes to the point when it's not about them.  It's about the purpose behind what you do," Brent declares.  Focused, determined and insightful, Shuttleworth lists simply being happy as a main goal in life.  Being a career artist, having a family, writing songs well into old age, continuing to tour and expand the audience are all part of sustaining this goal.  Paraphrasing a quote once read, Brent reveals, "The main block in any transformation is being unhappy with where you are now."

Beautiful words to live by.

To hear Brent's music or check out a show visit www.myspace.com/brentshuttleworth or join the group Brent Shuttleworth Live on Facebook, www.facebook.com.

Emily Hope Price: Letting Go

The warmth that radiates from Emily Hope Price fills the room with a sense of calm and comfort. A genuine smile welcomes, lively eyes sparkle, and a breath of fresh air swirls around as the talent of this classically trained cellist grabs your attention. Observing the variety of ways Price uses the cello to make original sound, it's easy to forget there is a soothing yet powerful voice to match the music.

First starting cello lessons in fourth grade, Price trained for over 12 years, receiving a M.A. in Cello Performance from Carnegie Mellon, and an Artists Certificate from SUNY Purchase. This impressive education fine-tuned her exquisite mastering of the cello, but left Price wanting more. Moving back to Utah upon the Artist Certificate completion, Emily toyed more with the idea of songwriting and improvising. "I had a secret desire to sing," she said slyly, but found it difficult to break out of the "classical" stereotype. "When people know you as one thing you have to talk them into believing you can do something else."

Price first began to explore songwriting while in the Masters program at Carnegie Mellon. Despite spending most of her teenage years pouring out thoughts and feelings into a journal, Emily did not transcribe them into a musical outlet until collaborating with friend and opera student Anna Vogelzang, composing and performing a song called "At Last," in which Anna sang and Emily played cello. During her post-graduation period in Utah, Price continued to play with sounds and songs, using previously composed music to create experimental tracks. Having spent years being classically educated, Emily struggled with the question, "What do you do with your life when you're a trained cellist?"

The answer came upon moving to New York City and finding her niche in the ever-growing music scene. Playing out as both a solo artist and a member of "Pearl and the Beard," Emily has flawlessly crossed the line from the classical audience to the indie/rock/pop crowd. As a classical cellist, "You have to practice hours to get nearer to perfection. I move my hand millimeters and it changes the sound. You have to do it all from muscle memory, intonation must be spot on... if I move my finger it will create a different note, or a different color of the same note," Price explained. The subtle intensity of this training made the transition into the singer/songwriter scene slightly easier, with the rock/indie audience less attentive to the perfect details and more interested in the overall quality and pleasure of the music. "I want to be a better musician. I want to play better and be more proficient on my instrument then I am. That's why I came here," claims Emily, who has called New York home for the past two years.

Still, being a "singing cellist" is rare to find in a scene inundated with piano players and guitarists belting their music at the hottest venues. Emily continues to push through with her music, believing in the expanding scene and performing solo and accompanying sets with fellow colleagues. "Things are starting to break through where you wouldn't normally expect it... little niches are starting to come into play," Price believes. "I hope some of the things I'm doing will change the expectation about what a cello can do."

Citing early Barbra Streisand as a guilty pleasure and Radiohead and Bjork as two favorite artists, Emily keeps as much of an assortment as possible in her music collection. An artist who enjoys soundtracks for their variety, loves watching movies, and whose instrument repertoire is expanding to learn accordion, Price is one of the most down-to-earth, humble, and genuine people to represent the scene.

While still feeling the struggles of the dampening economy and dealing with financial stress, as most artists do, Emily is able to truly treasure the small moments that have added to her blossoming career. A few years ago while living in Salt Lake City, Utah, Emily was approached by a friend who was working as a music therapist who asked her to play for a patient at a hospice. This particular patient had a career as a professional cellist prior to falling ill, and had not touched a cello in close to 25 years. After she played for him and was packing up to leave he asked her, "Can I play that?"

"He played my cello for the first time in years and was so happy," Emily revealed with joy. "I ran into the girl about a year later and when I asked how he was doing found out he passed away two weeks after I played for him." Knowing that the music and time with this former artist had filled one of his dying wishes, she described the experience as "one of the coolest things that has ever happened to me."

There is a quality about Emily Hope Price that reaches out and soothes your aura. Creating sound that is "sensual, warm, and thick" it is not difficult to understand why her presence is so easily accepted and appreciated in a diverse city like New York. Pearl and the Beard, the band that Price plays in, began from simply showing up at an open mic and connecting with Jocelyn Mackenzie and Jeremy Styles. My personal connection to Emily came from seeing her performance at Rockwood Music Hall a few weeks ago with Dan Torres, another featured artist. Everyone has a chance to intertwine, mingle, feed off of and inspire one another. These chance encounters have made the New York scene a place that continuously amazes Price. "I could not have had the experiences I have had here anywhere else. You can be drenched in music here. It's unbelievable," Emily stated emphatically. "It's amazing the way music can bring people together."

It has not always been an easy road though, as any fellow artist will concur. Shifting gears from one style of training to another is difficult, and causes more of an internal struggle than anything else. Emily's best advice? "Just love what you do. I love classical music. I would feel so intensely about the pieces I would play because I thought they were so beautiful," Price declares. "At the same time I felt it wasn't me. I didn't trust myself enough to let go. It's hard to let go. Change is really hard. I'm still in that transition."

Even though Price's laid back, carefree attitude can be infectious at times, it would be impossible to say this musician is anything but motivated. With numerous goals and plans for the future, it's important for Emily to open up her ability to communicate, because "the more you communicate the more you can move people." A person who truly speaks from the heart, Price enthusiastically described another secret goal: "My dad has been watching David Letterman for the past twenty-seven years. Anytime a musical guest would come on if there was a cellist he would yell downstairs for me to come and see it. I just want to perform on David Letterman and wear a t-shirt that says 'Hi Dad.'"

So David Letterman, if you're reading, please contact Emily Hope Price. It's for her dad.

For more information and tour dates for Emily Hope Price check out www.myspace.com/emilyhopeprice.

What's To Come!

It's been awhile since my last post, so I wanted to keep everyone updated on what to look forward to in the upcoming weeks.  I have an interview tomorrow with the incredibly talented singer/songwriter/cellist Emily Hope Price and another on Wednesday with singer/songwriter Brent Shuttleworth, so you can look for those articles in the next week.

If you are in the New York City area there are some great shows happening over the next couple of days-

Tonight, Monday 4/20 at The Red Lion on Bleecker St, 10 different singer/songwriters from NYC Artists Scene will be performing the "Backscratch Sessions."  Here's a description:

The Inaugural Incarnation of The Back Scratch Sessions... 10 songwriters come together and play each others' songs via a random drawing done in advance.  Each artist will play 3 songs: one of their own, a favorite cover (or another original of theirs if they so choose)... and finally the Back Scratch: their interpretation of a song written by the artist whose name they drew.

My last featured artist, Dan Torres, will be participating in the evening.  Check it out!

Also, featured artist Caleb Hawley will be playing tomorrow night, Tuesday 4/21 at Ars Nova on W. 54th St.  This will be a fantastic show and he's playing with a full band, including percussionist Ryan Vaughn.  Tickets can be purchased at https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/645095/prm/CALEBFAN .

Get out there and support our artists!