The Greene Space at WNYC and WQXR Announces the Fifth Annual “BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS”
The Greene Space at WNYC and WQXR Announces the Fifth Annual
“BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS”
Top Prize in Annual City-Wide Competition to Discover NYC’s Best Emerging Musical Talent Includes Guest Artist Appearance at Amateur Night at The Apollo
Series Kicks Off with the MANHATTAN BATTLE
on Friday, February 7 at 7pm
(New York, NY – January 13, 2014) – Now entering its fifth year, The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at WNYC and WQXR’s “Battle of the Boroughs” has been a platform for discovering and championing New York City’s hidden musical talents from every corner of the city.
This year’s contestants, announced today, drew from over 400 submissions that yielded a broad range of top performers from Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx and Manhattan. From Arabian-influenced metal and gypsy/cabaret to rock-reggae and an all-woman drum circle, the 60 musical acts that have been chosen as finalists span all genres and capture the energy of New York City’s music scene. These musicians represent their boroughs, their neighborhoods, and the distinctive cultures that make New York City what it is. (FULL LIST OF CONTESTANTS & SCHEDULE BELOW)
Beginning with the Manhattan Battle on Friday, February 7, followed by other borough-specific Battles throughout the spring, these musicians will compete at The Greene Space, WNYC and WQXR’s intimate and acoustically-superior street-level performance venue. The borough winners will go on to the final showdown, The Ultimate Battle, on Friday, June 27. The winners will be selected through votes from both the live studio audience and the online audience watching via live webcast. Voting will be available online at www.wnyc.org/thegreenespace and via mobile phone by texting vote codes to 69866. Every Battle will be emceed by award-winning WQXR host TERRANCE MCKNIGHT.
“It’s exciting that after five years, The Greene Space’s “Battle of the Boroughs” continues to attract such a high caliber of artists,” said McKnight. “In no other city is there such a high volume and range of undiscovered talent making great music in bars and basements, on the streets and in small clubs. Public radio has always been an avenue to finding new music. The Greene Space is thrilled to open its doors and showcase the best of the best live – in the space and online – giving these hardworking musicians a broader audience than they’ve often ever known.”
This year, insightful commentary will be provided by musicians, singers, industry executives, and WNYC and WQXR staffers, including:
- Helga Davis, Q2 Music contributing host, singer and featured performer in Philip Glass’ “Einstein on the Beach”
- Alicia Olatuja, Soloist with the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir since 2007, and has performed often with artists such as Christian McBride, Chaka Khan and Bebe Winans.
- Nick Sansano, Producer who has worked with Public Enemy, Ice Cube, and more
- Bob Power, Producer who has worked with Erykah Badu, India.Arie, Miles Davis, and more
- Tamar-Kali, Hardcore-Soul Queen
- Eren Cannata, Producer, Singer/Songwriter
- LaRonda Davis, President of The Black Rock Coalition
- Lindsey Cook, A&R Executive at RCA Records
The last act standing at the Ultimate Battle will win an exclusive concert at The Greene Space with live video webcast, a four-hour professional, multi-track recording session, a gift certificate to Tekserve for $2,500, a professional photo shoot, a produced music video and a guest artist appearance at Amateur Night at The Apollo.
Audiences can support their borough and hear an eclectic mix of innovative talent from all across NYC during the following Battles in The Greene Space:
Friday, February 7: MANHATTAN
Joe Stone—Country/Blues
Matt Panayides Group—Jazz
Preachermann and The Revival—Atomic Soul
AYoinotion—Hip-Hop/R&B/Neo-Soul/Jazz
Léla Sophia—Indie /Pop
Visions—World Music
TriBeCaStan—World Music/Jazz/Americana
5j Barrow – Folk/Indie Rock
Sun Looks Down—Dream-Pop and Psychedelic Indie Rock
Julie Hill and Element Ensemble – Chamber Pop
Jeremiah Birnbaum—Rock
MARTiNA—Singer/songwriter
Friday, March 7: QUEENS
Tati Ana--Electronic Rock
MONECO—Cumbia
Annika—Singer/songwriter
Born of Scars—Hard Rock
Nick Moran—Funky Blues
85th—Hip Hop
Tarantinos NYC—Instrumental Surf Rock
Jeneen Terrana—Folk Rock
Jim Wilson’s Ticket—Rock
Hypocrite and Slanderer—Rock
Jessica Rowboat—Singer/songwriter
Chris Shamkin—Singer/songwriter
Friday, April 4: THE BRONX
August Hill—Hip Hop
Flowfreequan—Hip Hop
Park After Dark—Rock
Nando Griffiths and Pure Fyah—Reggae
Boggie—Pop/Rock
Stef Lebaux—Electronic/Trip hop
Bob Gaulke—Pop
Angels in the Chamber—Folk Pop
Tatiana—R&B/Pop
Royal Khaoz—Reggae/Rock
The Brian Durieux Project—R&B/Soul
Yurby-- Alternative folk Rock/blues
Friday, May 2: STATEN ISLAND
Tom Cintula & The Buffalo 24—Acoustic Pop/Rock
Leila Hegazy—Singer/songwriter
Aerial Marie—Alternative Pop-Rock
Mike Fuego—Hip Hop
Giga Herbs--Mystical-Mythical-Indie-Space-Rock
Audiometry—Instrumental
Canvas Radio—Acoustic Folk Rock
Sara J—Pop/Folk
Polarity--Metalcore
Frank Schiazza—Soul Pop
Rising Sun All Stars—Soul/Hip Hop
Friday, June 6: BROOKLYN
The Debutante Hour—New Soul/Pop
Michelle Amador—Americana
Werewitch—Alternative
Heylady—Funk/Soul
Orphan Jane—Gypsy/Cabaret
The Hue-man Ethnic Movement—Hip Hop
Dear Comrade—Indie Rock
Batala NYC—Drum Circle
Pontus—Progressive Rock
Flying Home—Swing
Roberto De Parana—Bossa Nova
The Harmonica Lewinskies*--Blues Rock/Funk/Dad Rock
Aabaraki—Alt-Soul
Friday, June 27: THE ULTIMATE BATTLE
Winners from Each Borough Compete for the Grand Prize
ALL BATTLES
Where: The Greene Space at WNYC and WQXR
44 Charlton Street (at Varick Street)
New York, NY 10014
Tickets: Tickets for all events are on sale now at www.thegreenespace.org/battle2014
One Borough: $15 ticket; $30 ticket includes open wine and beer bar.
All Borough Badges: $125 for VIP admission to all six Battles with open bar.
Official Website: www.thegreenespace.org/battle2014
New York Public Radio is New York’s premier public radio franchise, comprising WNYC, WQXR, The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, and New Jersey Public Radio, as well as www.wnyc.org, www.wqxr.org, www.thegreenespace.org and www.njpublicradio.org. As America's most listened-to AM/FM news and talk public radio stations, reaching 1.1 million listeners every week, WNYC extends New York City's cultural riches to the entire country on-air and online, and presents the best national offerings from networks National Public Radio, Public Radio International, American Public Media, and the British Broadcasting Company. WQXR is New York City's sole 24-hour classical music station, presenting new and landmark classical recordings as well as live concerts from the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, among other New York City venues, immersing listeners in the city's rich musical life. In addition to its audio content, WNYC and WQXR produce content for live, radio and web audiences from The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, the station's street-level multipurpose, multiplatform broadcast studio and performance space. New Jersey Public Radio extends WNYC reach and service more deeply into New Jersey. For more information about New York Public Radio, visit www.nypublicradio.org.
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