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

85thHip 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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