“We can play a country church in Mississippi, or we can draw a crowd at a hipster club in Brooklyn. We connect with a wide-ranging audience,” says veteran musician Walter Parks, speaking of the music on his forthcoming album, The Unlawful Assembly (out Sept. 10 via Atomic Sound). “The joy, gratitude, pain and yearning in these songs is universally felt.”
 

Beyond the Thunderdome, if you weren’t Cheech & Chong'ing your way to the movie theatre to see Stripes, chances are good, you would have wanted to check out what TUT’s Chicago had playing in 1981. Among the 3.3 million businesses shut down due to COVID-19 and the staggering rate of loss for clubs & live music entertainment, we remember TUT'S Nightclub: 1979-1984. 

The year was 1969. Richard Nixon was in the White House. Neil Armstrong was on the Moon. And revolution was in the air. In that backdrop, 500,000 young people gathered on a mid-August weekend in upstate New York for the promise of three days of peace and music. What they experienced at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair was something far greater.

On Sunday, August 18th the ashes of music legend Richie Havens will be scattered across the field where the historic Woodstock Festival took place in 1969 - today the site of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

Memorial plans to celebrate the life of Richie Havens were announced today. This coming Monday, April 29 at City Winery New York the public is invited to gather in memory of the beloved folk icon.A post by Richie’s family on Richie’s official Facebook page reads:Heartfelt thanks for the worldwide showing of love and respect for Richie. This is a very difficult time for everyone and knowing you're all right here with us is tremendously moving.

Beloved folk icon Richie Havens died this morning in his home from a sudden heart attack. He was 72.Havens first became part of musical history during his impromptu opening performance at the 1969 Woodstock Festival. Best known for his distinctive intense, rhythmic guitar style and soulful covers of pop and folk songs, Havens toured and recorded music for over 40 years before retiring from the road 3 years ago.

I hope that you and I have something in common. I hope, like me, you have a few events in your life, maybe a handful even, that are unique. Not unique because they only happened to you, like that time your Aunt Rosemary pinched your ass as you walked by her at Easter Brunch. You can save that unique event for your therapist. No, I'm talking about the type of unique event where you didn't wonder if this was going to be a momentous occasion while you were experiencing it. You knew it was going to be important before it ever took place.

It has been since 2004 that Grace of the Sun was released. Now, Richie Havens is at it again, making finishing touches on his 27th album.  Recorded last month at Sear Sound Recording in NYC, Nobody Left to Crown will be released in Europe this fall on Polydor Records. The U.S. release date and label imprint will be announced soon.  Special guests on Nobody Left to Crown include Derek Trucks and Harry Manx. For more information regarding Richie's new album release, visit Brightcove.tv