Tag: News/Announcements

News/Announcements by William Ruben Helms

13 years ago, I started my life’s work — this site. And honestly, when I started this site, I couldn’t have imagined three-quarters of the things I’ve done and experienced over JOVM’s history to ever happen. 

  • I’ve covered roughly 1,100-1,200 shows in NYC, with a handful of shows in Chicago, Baltimore and Philadelphia. (I’ve lost count. Seriously.)
  • I’ve covered about a dozen or more festivals, including traveling to Montreal for M for Montreal in 2019 and last year.
  • I’ve been a panelist at Mondo.NYC Festival and at New Colossus Festival, speaking about PR, promotion and press for indie artists, giving my perspective as a indie blogger. 
  • Several years ago, I made a cameo in a JOVM mainstay’s music video. It’s a very noticeable spot towards the end of the video. It was a lot of fun. But no one has called me about acting or dancing gigs. So maybe, I need to stick to writing and photography? 
  • I’ve photographed George Clinton, Patti LaBelle, Snoop Dogg, Blondie, Nile Rodgers, Roky Erickson, Philip Bailey, Blind Boys of Alabama, and a growing list of legendary and beloved artists, as well as this site’s growing list of mainstays. 
  • I wouldn’t have met the countless colleagues and musicians, who have become supporters and friends.  

While we’ve managed to claw our way back to an even greater degree of normalcy, being an independent working and touring musician has become more difficult than ever before. Touring has almost always been a financial risk for most artists, but adding COVID-related rescheduling, Live Nation/Ticketmaster being unfathomably greedy and evil, inflation, streaming and host of other factors, planning a tour is incredibly daunting — and perhaps more now than ever before. 

Touring involves a complex web of professionals to make it happen — including artist managers; publicists to help promote the artist, their material and their tour; journalists and photographers covering the releases and the live shows to support it; bookers, promoters, bouncers, sound engineers, lighting people, bartenders, cleaning staff and on and on. Everyone is trying to maneuver and thrive in a confusing and uncertain landscape as best as they can, including fans. It’s a weird, stressful time. 

__

With this site, I’ve managed to carve out a unique path for myself — and in the blogosphere. Because music media — and generally the media world — is an incredibly homogeneous space, the coverage that you see as a consumer and fan tends to come from a similar perspective. If you don’t believe me, look at the editorial staff at your favorite music magazine or website. It explains why certain artists, genres and styles are covered over others. But it also explains why you see the exact same coverage of the same artists, genres and styles, too. 

I’ve always felt as though I wasn’t going to get a chance to break through that world, no matter how hard I tried. But there was this need to create the sort of space I grew up immersed in as a Black boy from Queens, that I didn’t see whenever I read my favorite sites and magazines — wildly eclectic, dynamic, and always connected to a larger, global perspective. Someone has to do it, right? That focus has kept me going, even in the most difficult periods of my personal and professional life. 

__

Of course, all work — including creative work — is impossible without money. After all, time is money. Effort is money. Then add all the expenses it takes to actually work. This site and my work is impossible without money. It’s a fact of life. So, as I do every month, I wanted to take the time out to thank the following folks and organizations. Without them, the past few years of JOVM would be impossible. 

Sash

Alice Northover

Bella Fox

Jenny MacRostie

Janene Otten 

All of those folks have been generous Patreon patrons. Of course, feel free to check out the Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement. And if you’re able to support, your support will be greatly appreciated and continuously shouted out. Any amount really helps. 

I have to thank the folks at Creatives Rebuild New York. I’m relieved, proud and humbled to be included in their Guaranteed Income for Artists program. The money I’ve received over the course of the past nine months or so have been put to good use — keeping this dream of mine going. I don’t think there’s enough words to thank them — or to show how grateful I am. (I’ll keep trying, of course!) 

There are other ways you can support. 

You can also support by checking the JOVM shop: https://www.joyofviolentmovement.com/shop 

You can also support my following me on the following platforms:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/william_ruben_helms 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/yankee32879 and https://www.twitter.com/joyofviolent 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement

And you can hire me for headshots, portraits and events. Seriously, I’m available for that, too. You can click here: https://www.photobooker.com/photographer/ny/new-york/william-h?duration=1?duration=1# or you can contact me directly.

News/Announcements by William Ruben Helms

Summer Festival season is coming — and it’ll be here sooner than you know it. And of course, that means all kinds of festival announcements.

So let’s get to it, right?

Taking place annually in San Francisco‘s Golden Gate Park, Outside Lands is one of the most popular summer vents in the region for both music fans and foodies. The three-day festival showcases world-class music programming, from legendary acts to emerging artists plus some of the region’s best restaurants, wineries and breweries, as well as Outsider Art, Cocktail Magic — and the return of Grass Lands, the first curated cannabis experience at a major American music festival. It’s the very best that the Bay Area has to offer!

The 15th anniversary edition will take place August 11, 2023 – August 13, 2023 and will feature an incredibly stacked music lineup that will include Kendrick Lamar, Zedd, Janelle Monáe, J.I.D., Interpol, aespa, and WILLOW on Friday; Foo Fighters, Lana Del Rey, Maggie Rogers, FISHER, Father John Misty, Orville Peck, and L’Imperatice on Saturday; and ODESZA, The 1975, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Yachty, Noah Kahan, Cigarettes After Sex, and Tobe Nwigwe on Sunday — with much more across the festivals’ run.

Fan favorite electronic music haven, SOMA Tent will return for a third year and promises club beats with top-level sounds and lights throughout the festivals’ run. Friday features Claptone, BLOND:ISH and Justin Jay; Saturday includes sets from Daniel Avery, Sama’ Abdulhadi and Denis Sulta; and Sunday concludes with Âme b2b Trikk, WhoMadeWho, Tinlicker; and many more each day. 

Additionally, festival organizers announced the daily chef and restaurant lineups Golden Gate Club, Outside Lands’ premiere luxury experience: Friday will feature Golden Gate Club, Outside Lands’ premiere luxury ​experience. Friday ​will ​feature​ Food & Wine’s Best New Chef 2016 winner​ ​Ravi Kapur ​from​ the James Beard Award-nominated restaurant Liholiho Yacht Club​,​ ​who​ will serve South and East Asian inspired heritage cuisine. Saturday features two-time James Beard Award-nominated ​​chef Tyler Florence with Miller & Lux ​offering innovative renditions of American steakhouse classics. Sunday closes out the elevated experience with Michelin Star and James Beard Award-winner for Best Restaurant, Boulevard, ​led by chef duo Nancy Oakes & Dana Younkin​ who will serve New American staples from their iconic Embarcadero location.

Festival organizers recently announced that Single-Day tickets are currently on sale — now. Organizers are encouraging fans to purchase tickets quickly as they’re expected to sell out quickly. Single day ticket prices start at: Single Day GA ($199), Single Day GA+ ($299), Single Day VIP ($449) and Single Day Golden Gate Club ($2,199). A limited number of 3-Day GA and Golden Gate Club passes are still available. Taxes and fees apply to all ticket types. Tickets are all available exclusively at www.sfoutsidelands.com. 



News/Announcements by William Ruben Helms

Generally speaking, the music festival experience is pretty much the same — whether you’ve been to one or dozens of them, like myself. Reinvented last year, Pickathon redefines the music festival experience as an immersive choose-your-own-adventure experience, where attendees can discover music, arts and culture perfectly integrated into the natural wonders of Happy Valley, Oregon‘s Pendarvis Farm, located 16 miles outside of Portland.

Late last month, festival organizes announced that the 2023 edition will take place August 3, 2023-August 6, 2023, along with the festival’s music lineup. This year’s edition will continue the festival’s reputation for eclecticism and its ability to spot the next breakout band across a variety of genres while featuring: indie roots outfit Watchhouse, the legendary Lee Fields, alt-glam band Dehd, rising singer/songwriter Madison Cunningham, Zambian psych rockers W.I.T.C.H., Thee Sinseers, The Altons, the acclaimed Mailian artist Vieux Farka Touré, desert blues outfit Imarhan, rising bluegrass banjo and Venezuelan harp duo Larry & Joe, Bay Area African psych rock outfit Orchestra Gold, post-internet jazz project MonoNeon, the Native American powwow-meets-electroinc music-meets-Bon Ives-like soundscapes of Joe Rainey, Yot Club, Columbian psychedelic cumbia outfit Meridian Brothers, Peruvian electro pop group Novalima, Mexican punk rockers Sgt. Papers, acclaimed Canadian rapper TOBi, Tampa-based experimentalists They Hate Change and jazz funk outfit Butcher Brown.

As always country and honky tonk still holds a strong presence with acts like Nick Shoulders, The Kernal and Courtney Marie Andrews on the bill. Rising indie rock artists Wednesday, MJ Lenderman and Florist are also on the bill. The full lineup and festival playlist are below.

Pickathon 2023 Full Lineup

  • Watchouse
  • Lee Fields
  • Dehd
  • Madison Cunningham
  • Vieux Farka Touré
  • Florist
  • W.I.T.C.H.
  • Wednesday
  • MonoNeon
  • Ocie Elliott
  • Butcher Brown
  • Yot Club
  • Courtney Marie Andrews
  • Imarhan
  • Say She She
  • MJ Lenderman
  • Madison McFerrin
  • The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys
  • They Hate Change
    Andrew Marlin
  • Pachyman
  • Wine Lips 
  • Nikki Nair
  • GA-20
  • Nick Shoulders
  • Wayne Graham
  • Mike Dillon’s Punkadelic!
  • Rich Ruth
  • The Altons
  • Thee Sinseers
  • Novalima
  • Logan Ledger
  • Meridian Brothers
  • TOBi
  • Emily Nenni
  • Mikaela Davis 
  • Joe Rainey
  • Riddy Arman
  • The Mountain Grass Unit
  • The Kernal
  • Larry & Joe
  • Hooveriii
  • Gel
  • Jackie Venson
  • Nat Myers 
  • Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves
  • Sgt. Papers
  • Orchestra Gold
  • WHIMZ
  • Sprig of That
  • The Shivas
  • MØTRIK

“Reinventing Pickathon last year around the concept of integrating music, arts, and culture into the natural settings of Pendarvis Farm was an incredible endeavor,” Pickathon founder Dale Schoenborn says. “2023 not only presents our best lineup ever, but now we understand the new Pickathon Neighborhoods even better, and we’re excited to refine all the details to make this year our most immersive experience to date. I can’t wait for everyone to join us at Pendarvis Farm!”

Early bird tickets end today. Camping, parking, shuttles and everything else you need to get to the farm is on sale now, too. That information can be found here.


News/Announcements by William Ruben Helms

13 years ago, I started my life’s work — this site. And honestly, when I started this site, I couldn’t have imagined three-quarters of the things I’ve done and experienced over JOVM’s history to ever happen. 

  • I’ve covered roughly 1,100-1,200 shows in NYC, with a handful of shows in Chicago, Baltimore and Philadelphia. 
  • I’ve covered about a dozen or more festivals, including traveling to Montreal for M for Montreal in 2019 and last year.
  • I’ve been a panelist at Mondo.NYC Festival and at New Colossus Festival, speaking about PR, promotion and press for indie artists, giving my perspective as a indie blogger. 
  • Several years ago, I made a cameo in a JOVM mainstay’s music video. It’s a very noticeable spot towards the end of the video. It was a lot of fun. But no one has called me about acting or dancing gigs. So maybe, I need to stick to writing and photography? 
  • I’ve photographed George Clinton, Patti LaBelle, Snoop Dogg, Blondie, Nile Rodgers, Roky Erickson, Philip Bailey, Blind Boys of Alabama, and a growing list of legendary and beloved artists, as well as this site’s growing list of mainstays.
  • I wouldn’t have met the countless colleagues and musicians, who have become supporters and friends.  

While we’ve managed to claw our way back to an even greater degree of normalcy, being an independent working and touring musician has become more difficult than ever before. Touring has almost always been a financial risk for most artists, but adding COVID-related rescheduling, Live Nation/Ticketmaster being unfathomably greedy and evil, inflation, streaming and host of other factors, planning a tour is incredibly daunting — and perhaps more now than ever before. 

Touring involves a complex web of professionals to make it happen — including artist managers; publicists to help promote the artist, their material and their tour; journalists and photographers covering the releases and the live shows to support it; bookers, promoters, bouncers, sound engineers, lighting people, bartenders, cleaning staff and on and on. Everyone is trying to maneuver and thrive in a confusing and uncertain landscape as best as they can, including fans. It’s a weird, stressful time.

__

With this site, I’ve managed to carve out a unique path for myself — and in the blogosphere. Because music media — and generally the media world — is an incredibly homogeneous space, the coverage that you see as a consumer and fan tends to come from a similar perspective. If you don’t believe me, look at the editorial staff at your favorite music magazine or website. It explains why certain artists, genres and styles are covered over others. But it also explains why you see the exact same coverage of the same artists, genres and styles, too.

I’ve always felt as though I wasn’t going to get a chance to break through that world, no matter how hard I tried. But there was this need to create the sort of space I grew up immersed in as a Black boy from Queens, that I didn’t see whenever I read my favorite sites and magazines — wildly eclectic, dynamic, and always connected to a larger, global perspective. Someone has to do it, right? That focus has kept me going, even in the most difficult periods of my personal and professional life.

__

Of course, all work — including creative work — is impossible without money. After all, time is money. Effort is money. Then add all the expenses it takes to actually work. This site and my work is impossible without money. It’s a fact of life. So, as I do every month, I wanted to take the time out to thank the following folks and organizations. Without them, the past few years of JOVM would be impossible.

Sash

Alice Northover

Bella Fox

Jenny MacRostie

Janene Otten 

All of those folks have been generous Patreon patrons. Of course, feel free to check out the Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement. And if you’re able to support, your support will be greatly appreciated and continuously shouted out. Any amount really helps. 

I have to thank the folks at Creatives Rebuild New York. I’m relieved, proud and humbled to be included in their Guaranteed Income for Artists program. The money I’ve received over the course of the past nine months or so have been put to good use — keeping this dream of mine going. I don’t think there’s enough words to thank them — or to show how grateful I am. (I’ll keep trying, of course!) 

There are other ways you can support. 

You can also support by checking the JOVM shop: https://www.joyofviolentmovement.com/shop 

You can also support my following me on the following platforms:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/william_ruben_helms 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/yankee32879 and https://www.twitter.com/joyofviolent 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement

And you can hire me for headshots, portraits and events. Seriously, I’m available for that, too. You can click here: https://www.photobooker.com/photographer/ny/new-york/william-h?duration=1?duration=1# or you can contact me directly.

News/Announcements by William Ruben Helms
Image

Summer Festival season is coming, y’all! And that means festival announcements.

So let’s get to it, right?

Newport Jazz Festival will be returning to Rhode Island’s Fort Adams State Park for its 69th edition. This year’s edition will continue the festival’s long-held tradition of hosting once in a lifetime performances that can only come as a result of Newport’s unique alchemy of intimacy and artistic community.

The 69th Edition will take place August 4, 2023 – August 6, 2023 and will feature an eclectic and acclaimed lineup of artists including the legendary Herbie Hancock, Diana Krall, Charles Lloyd, Vijay Iyer, Jon Batiste, and Kamasi Washington, as well as a collection of Grammy-nominated and-winning artists including Samara Joy, DOMi and JD Beck. The lineup also includes Big Freedia, Thundercat, DJ Pee .Wee (a.k.a. Anderson .Paak), Big Gigantic, Alfa Mist, Cautious Clay, Durand Jones, and The War and Treaty.

It’s an annual tradition for the festival to host special ensembles. And this year’s festival will include Newport Jazz artistic director Christian McBride’s annual Jam Dawn, MoodSwing, Scary Goldings featuring John Scofield, Superblue, Orrin Evans Quintet and the Bill Charlap Trio.

Specially priced 3-day tickets went on yesterday through DICE. Special pricing will be available for 24 hours ending today at 1:00pm EST. All full-prince 3-day, 2-day and single-day tickets will go on sale today at 1:00pm

Full pricing is listed below. Children under 10 are free with a maximum of 2 children attending per ticketed adult. Children 10 and over will need to purchase a full priced admission ticket. Current students aged 10-25 are eligible for student tickets. College students are required to show a student photo ID. Middle and high school students are not required to show ID. All students must enter through the student gate only. For more information go to https://dice.fm/promoters/3gng

TICKET PRICING

3-Day Limited Special Priced General Admission: $239.99 (includes fees)

3-Day Full Price General Admission: $281.19 (includes fees)

3-Day Student Admission – $142.14 (includes fees)

2-Day Saturday & Sunday General Admission: $193.64 (includes fees)

2-Day Saturday & Sunday Student Admission: $91.67 (includes fees)

Single-Day General Admission: $100.94 (includes fees)

Single-Day Student Admission: $47.38 (includes fees)

3-Day Parking: $69.01 (includes fees)

2-Day Parking: $46.35 (includes fees)

Single-Day Parking: $25.75 (includes fees)

NEWPORT JAZZ 2023 LINEUP

Friday

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead with Kamasi Washington

Kamasi Washington 

DJ Pee .Wee (Anderson .Paak)

Soulive  

DOMi & JD Beck

Immanuel Wilkins Quartet 

Big Freedia 

Alfa Mist 

Butcher Brown 

Endea Owens & The Cookout 

Lakecia Benjamin and Phoenix 

Julius Rodriguez 

Saturday 

Jon Batiste 

Thundercat 

Big Gigantic Does Jazz 

Christian McBride’s Jam Jawn 

Charles Lloyd New Quartet 

Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily 

Julian Lage

Superblue: Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter with Nate Smith & Huntertones Horns 

Orrin Evans Quintet

The War and Treaty 

Keyon Harrold 

James Brandon Lewis 

Sunday 

Herbie Hancock 

Diana Krall 

Samara Joy 

Redman, Mehldau, McBride, Blade: A Moodswing Reunion 

Scary Goldings featuring John Scofield 

Cimafunk

Cautious Clay 

Somi 

Pedrito Martinez 

Bill Charlap Trio

Charles McPherson Quintet

More artists will be announced in the future. But in the meantime, ticket information is available here.

News/Announcements by William Ruben Helms

Summer Festival season is coming y’all. And naturally, that means a boatload of festival-related announcements over the next handful of months.

So let’s get to it, eh?

Founded in 1968, Festival d’été de Québec is a massive 11-day musical festival that hosts over 150 shows featuring internationally renowned and beloved headlining artists and emerging artists from all over the world in all genres playing on multiple stages in the heart of historic Québec City, Québec’s capital and one of the oldest cities in North America.

Festival d’été de Québec’s main stage is located on one of the most notable historical sites in Canada: The Plains of Abraham, where the British and French fought a decisive battle in the Seven Years’ War. The battle not only decided the fate of New France, but also led to the formation of Canada.

From what I’ve been told, FEQ is the closest North American analog to European city festivals like Wireless Festival, Primavera Sound or Roskilde. And because of its location, Québec City is arguably the closet thing to a European city within driving distance across the Northeastern US. And if you don’t feel like road tripping, you can take one of 21 direct flights to Jean Lesange/Québec City International Airport.

The 55th edition of the festival will take place from July 6, 2023 – July 16, 2023. Featuring over 200 artists, this year’s FEQ continues the festival’s long-held reputation for being a smorgasbord for any kind of music lover. Fans of stadium/arena rock can catch Foo Fighters, Green Day, Imagine Dragons, Quebecois icons Les Cowboys Fringants and Les Trois Accords. If you want something harder and more punk, you can catch Lamb of God and Bad Religion. The indie crowd could catch Lana Del Rey, The Smile, Feist, The War On Drugs, Alvvays and Saskatchewan-based singer/songwriter Andy Shauf. Hip-hop heads can catch rising stars Lil Durk and GloRilla, the legendary Cypress Hill and Canadian emcees bbno$ and Killy. Rising country artist Zach Bryan leads a group of country artists that include Megan Moroney and Québec’s Quebec Redneck Bluegrass Project. Pitbull and Illenium will provide dance floor bangers. French outfit Christine & The Queens will offer Francophone pop tunes. Additional artists on the bill include Heart’s legendary Ann Wilson, Quebec’s Robert Charlebois, Sudan Archives and Meet Me @ The Altar.

So pass for FEQ are available. The passes are fully transferrable — fans can share with friends and family if they’re unable to attend any of the 11-days. The passes start at$140 CAD (about $103 USD) or about $12.72 CAD per day (about $9.27 per day). Passes and information is available HERE.

. 


s

hip-hop by William Ruben Helms
bnposter81Download

Since its founding back in 1981, the Blue Note Jazz Club is recognized as being one of the premiere venues in the world. The club strives to preserve the history of jazz while simultaneously encouraging and practicing innovation on a nightly basis. In addition to iconic appearances from the likes of Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner, John Scofield, Ron Carter, Chris Botti, Joe Lovano and a lengthy list of others, the Blue Note regularly showcases up-and-coming jazz, soul. hip-hop, R&B and funk artists.

The Blue Note Entertainment Group is a multi-faceted entertainment company, which owns and operates New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club, Sony Hall and Arthur’s Tavern, Washington, D.C.’s The Howard Theatre, and Blue Note Jazz Clubs Worldwide (Milan, Honolulu, Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan, Napa, CA, Rio de Janeiro and Sāo Paulo).

Subsidiaries of Blue Note Entertainment Group include the legendary, record label Blue Note Records, whose catalog includes over 50 titles recorded live at New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club, as well as Blue Note Travel, Management Group and Media Group.

Established back in 2011, The Blue Note Jazz Festival has become the largest jazz festival in New York City — with performances at some of the city’s most beloved venues. The festival expanded to Napa Valley last year, presenting a three-day, multi-stage event that takes place in July. Blue Note also partners on the Oxbow RiverStage, an annual outdoor festival-style summer series in downtown Napa.

Now that I’ve got the background info out of the way, let’s get to the announcement portion of the post: Earlier today, Blue Note announced the lineup, dates and locations of their much-anticipated 12th Annual Blue Note Jazz Festival. Slated to take place between May 31, 2023 – July 2, 2023, the 12th Edition of the festival will feature a diverse lineup of iconic and beloved artists including Grace Jones (!), Pat Metheny, NxWories (Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge), Robert Glasper, BJ The Chicago Kid and Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers, as well as a stop on the legendary Buddy Guy‘s Damn Right Farewell tour. Full lineup and dates are below — as always.

Shows will take place at a number of beloved venues across New York, including the Beacon Theatre, Sony Hall, The Town Hall, Central Park SummerStage, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! at the Prospect Park Bandshell, and of course, the Blue Note Jazz Club. The iconic and incomparable Grace Jones will be opening the festival at Hammerstein Ballroom on May 31, 2023.

“The Blue Note Jazz Festival is celebrating the pulse and culture of New York City, and there is no better way to do that than by experiencing iconic artists throughout iconic venues this summer,” Blue Note Director of Programming Alex Kurland says. “We’re proud to spotlight multi-generational, legendary artists who have had an extraordinary impact and influence on music and culture.” 

BLUE NOTE JAZZ FESTIVAL LINEUP

May 31—Grace Jones—Hammerstein Ballroom
June 1—Ghost-Note—Blue Note
June 1—Mashina—Beacon Theatre
June 2—Ghost-Note—Blue Note
June 2—Ms. Lisa Fischer—Sony Hall 
June 3—Ghost-Note—Blue Note
June 3—Avery Sunshine—Sony Hall
June 3—Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers + John Scofield, Kenny Garrett, 
Christian McBride—Town Hall
June 4—Ghost-Note—Blue Note
June 4—Harlem Blues Project—Blue Note Brunch
June 5—Talib Kweli and The Whiskey Boys—Blue Note
June 6—Talib Kweli and The Whiskey Boys—Blue Note
June 7—Talib Kweli and The Whiskey Boys—Blue Note
June 8—Lettuce & Friends—Blue Note
June 9—Lettuce & Friends—Blue Note
June 9—Manhattan Transfer—Sony Hall
June 10—Lettuce & Friends—Blue Note
June 10—Cortex—Sony Hall
June 10—Chucho Valdés & Paquito D’Rivera—Town Hall
June 11—Lettuce & Friends—Blue Note
June 11—Harlem Gospel Choir—Blue Note Brunch
June 12—Talib Kweli and The Whiskey Boys—Blue Note
June 13—Talib Kweli and The Whiskey Boys—Blue Note
June 14—Talib Kweli and The Whiskey Boys—Blue Note
June 15—Soulive—Blue Note
June 16—Soulive—Blue Note
June 17— Soulive—Blue Note
June 18—Soulive—Blue Note
June 18—Buddy Guy—SummerStage
June 18—Harlem Gospel Choir—Blue Note Brunch
June 19—TAUK—Blue Note
June 20—The Motet—Blue Note
June 21—The Motet—Blue Note
June 21—Meshell Ndegeocello—Sony Hall
June 22—Ron Carter—Blue Note
June 22—Omara Portuondo—Sony Hall
June 23—Ron Carter—Blue Note
June 23—Sergio Mendes—Sony Hall
June 24—Ron Carter—Blue Note
June 24—Pat Metheny Side-Eye—Beacon Theatre
June 24—NxWorries, Robert Glasper with Lalah Hathaway & Bilal, BJ The Chicago Kid—Celebrate Brooklyn
June 25—Ron Carter—Blue Note
June 25—Harlem Gospel Choir—Blue Note Brunch
June 26—Julius Rodriquez—Blue Note
June 27—Ron Carter—Blue Note
June 28—Ron Carter—Blue Note
June 28—Harlem Gospel Choir Sings Nina Simone—Sony Hall
June 29—Soulive—Blue Note
June 30—Soulive—Blue Note
July 1—Soulive—Blue Note
July 2—Soulive—Blue Note

Tickets and further festival information can be found here.

News/Announcements by William Ruben Helms

Co-founded in 2019 by three New York music industry veterans and longtime friends, former Lorimer Beacon head Mike Bell, Kanine Records‘ founder and label head Lio Kanine and Kepler Events‘ founder and Dedstrange Records co-founder Steven Matrick, The New Colossus Festival has featured an eclectic collection of several hundred handpicked, emerging and buzz-worthy indie bands and artists from the US, Canada, the UK, the European Union, Australia, and elsewhere.

New Colossus by design has taken place about a week or so before SXSW with the idea that the festival would serve as a pre-SXSW stopover that would give the acts in each year’s lineup an opportunity to get exposure in the influential New York market, while filling a void in the city’s festival calendar.

The festival’s fourth edition will take place March 8, 2023 – March 12, 2023. And much like the preceding editions, showcases will take place in some of the Lower East Side’s most renowned independent venues, including Mercury Lounge, Berlin Under A, Arlene’s Grocery, Bowery Ballroom, The Bowery Electric, Heaven Can Wait, Piano’s, and a few others.

A couple of weeks ago, the festival made a couple of announcements: The last batch of acts added to the lineup, including JOVM favorite Absolutely Free (CA), ARADIA (US), Big Mountain County (IT), English Teacher (UK), LUMBEROB (US), Pleasure Pill, (US), Pure Adult (US), Sorry Mom (US), and Telescreens (US). Along with those bands, they shared the complete lineup for the festival which you’ll see with the flyer below:

They also announced the festival’s schedule, which you can check out here: https://www.newcolossusfestival.com/schedule?utm_campaign=c2e5b084-de3f-4e9d-a3fb-d62daf1a06b0&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail&cid=ac466ae2-d0c6-4e01-845f-c3b1ed63bbda

New Colossus Festival also shared a playlist featuring a curated collection of songs from this year’s lineup. For attendees — and possible attendees — the playlist will be helpful in planning your festival experience in a sensible fashion.

You can check out the full schedule here.

The full festival lineup listing is here, which coincidentally features each act’s schedule can be found here.

Lastly, organizers announced that they’ve partnered with global music distributor Ditto Music. Ditto Music will bring Ditto X: NYC23 music conference to the festival this year. Taking place on March 9, 2023 at Piano’s from 12:00pm-7:00pm, Ditto Music will provide a full day of panels, discussions and networking opportunities with industry professionals and artists. The event will offer insights and advice for independent artists and labels, covering key topics including:

– Unlocking new music revenue

– Landing bigger and better shows

– Growing your fanbase

– Building a sustainable career in music

Festival badges are still available through Dice y’all. You can purchase here: https://dice.fm/event/ee7n6-new-colossus-festival-2023-all-access-badge-8th-mar-various-venues-nyc-new-york-tickets

News/Announcements by William Ruben Helms

13 years ago, I started what has been for me, my life’s work — this site. And honestly, when I started this site, I couldn’t have imagined three-quarters of the things I’ve done and experienced over JOVM’s history to ever happen. 

  • I’ve covered roughly 1,100-1,200 shows in NYC, with a handful of shows in Chicago, Baltimore and Philadelphia. 
  • I’ve covered about a dozen or more festivals, including traveling to Montreal for M for Montreal in 2019 and last year.
  • I’ve been a panelist at Mondo.NYC Festival and at New Colossus Festival, speaking about PR, promotion and press for indie artists, giving my perspective as a indie blogger. 
  • Several years ago, I made a cameo in a JOVM mainstay’s music video. It’s a very noticeable spot towards the end of the video. It was a lot of fun. But no one has called me about acting or dancing gigs. So maybe, I need to stick to writing and photography?
  • I couldn’t have imagined photographing George Clinton, Patti LaBelle, Snoop Dogg, Blondie, Nile Rodgers, Roky Erickson, Philip Bailey, Blind Boys of Alabama and so many others, as well as this site’s countless mainstays.
  • I wouldn’t have met the countless colleagues and musicians, who have become supporters and friends.  

While we’ve managed to claw our way back to great degree of normalcy, being an independent working and touring musician has become more difficult than ever before. Touring has almost always been a financial risk for most artists, but adding COVID-related rescheduling, Live Nation/Ticketmaster being unfathomably greedy and evil, inflation, streaming and host of other factors, planning a tour is daunting — perhaps more now than ever before.

Touring involves a complex web of professionals to make it happen — including artist managers, publicists to help promote the artist, their material and their tour, journalists and photographers covering the new releases and the live shows to support it, bookers, promoters, bouncers, sound engineers, lighting people, bartenders, cleaning staff and on and on. Everyone, including fans are all trying to maneuver in this confusing and uncertain landscape.

In the 13 years since I started the site, I’ve managed to carve out a unique path for myself — and in the blogosphere. Because music media — and media in general — are often incredibly homogenous, the coverage you as a reader and as a fan see and read comes from a similar perspective. I’ve always wanted to do things differently and on my own terms. Thankfully, my work here has allowed me do that.

As I do every month, I want to thank the following folks and organizations. Without them this past few years wouldn’t have been remotely possible: 

Sash

Alice Northover

Bella Fox

Jenny MacRostie

Janene Otten 

All of those folks have been generous Patreon patrons. Of course, feel free to check out the Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement. And if you’re able to support, your support will be greatly appreciated and continuously shouted out. Any amount really helps. 

I have to thank the folks at Creatives Rebuild New York. I’m relieved, proud and humbled to be included in their Guaranteed Income for Artists program. The money I’ve received over the course of the past nine months or so have been put to good use — keeping this dream of mine going. I don’t think there’s enough words to thank them — or to show how grateful I am. (I’ll keep trying, of course!) 

There are other ways you can support. 

You can also support by checking the JOVM shop: https://www.joyofviolentmovement.com/shop 

You can also support my following me on the following platforms:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/william_ruben_helms 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/yankee32879 and https://www.twitter.com/joyofviolent 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement

And you can hire me for headshots, portraits and events. Seriously, I’m available for that, too. You can click here: https://www.photobooker.com/photographer/ny/new-york/william-h?duration=1?duration=1# or you can contact me directly.

News/Announcements by William Ruben Helms

13 years ago, I started what has been for me, my life’s work — this site. And honestly, when I started this site, I couldn’t have imagined three-quarters of the things I’ve done and experienced over JOVM’s history to ever happen. 

  • I’ve covered roughly 1,100-1,200 shows in NYC, with a handful of shows in Chicago, Baltimore and Philadelphia. 
  • I’ve covered about a dozen or more festivals, including traveling to Montreal for M for Montreal in 2019 and again earlier this month. 
  • I’ve been a panelist at Mondo.NYC Festival and at New Colossus Festival, speaking about PR, promotion and press for indie artists, giving my perspective as a indie blogger. 
  • A few years ago, I made a cameo in a JOVM mainstay’s music video. It’s a very noticeable spot towards the end of the video. It was a fun experience, but so far no one has called me about acting or dancing gigs. Maybe I need to stick to the writing and photography? 
  • I couldn’t have imagined photographing George Clinton, Patti LaBelle, Snoop Dogg, Blondie, Nile Rodgers, Roky Erickson, Philip Bailey, Blind Boys of Alabama and so many others, as well as this site’s countless mainstays.
  • I wouldn’t have met the countless colleagues and musicians, who have become supporters and friends.  

During the very worst of the pandemic almost three years ago, things seemed — understandably — bleak. And although we’ve slowly managed to claw our way back to even greater degree of normalcy, being a working and touring musician has become exceedingly difficult. Touring has almost always been a financial risk, in which most musicians wind up deeply in the red but if you add COVID and inflation, touring for many seems more daunting than ever. 

Musicians, publicists, journalists, music venues and everyone else in the industry are all trying to maneuver in a new, confusing and uncertain landscape that we all hope will end but seems as though will be with us for some time. At this point, things may be weird and unusual, but my intention is to stubbornly keep on keeping on. 

I strongly believe that I’ve managed to carve out a unique spot in the blogosphere, a place that I feel is desperately necessary because both the music and media worlds are often so incredibly homogenous. Someone out there has to do something different. And representation in every aspect matters. So JOVM and my work with it has to continue. 

As I do every month, I want to thank the following folks and organizations. Without them this past few years — and especially this year — wouldn’t have been remotely possible: 

Sash

Alice Northover

Bella Fox

Jenny MacRostie

Janene Otten 

All of those folks have been generous Patreon patrons. Of course, feel free to check out the Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement. And if you’re able to support, your support will be greatly appreciated and continuously shouted out. Any amount really helps. 

I have to thank the folks at Creatives Rebuild New York. I’m relieved, proud and humbled to be included in their Guaranteed Income for Artists program. The money I’ll receive over the next 13 months or so will be put to good use — keeping this little dream of mine going. I don’t think there’s enough words to thank them — or to show how grateful I am. (I’ll keep trying, of course!) 

There are other ways you can support. 

You can also support by checking the JOVM shop: https://www.joyofviolentmovement.com/shop 

You can also support my following me on the following platforms:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/william_ruben_helms 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/yankee32879 and https://www.twitter.com/joyofviolent 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement

And you can hire me for headshots, portraits and events. Seriously, I’m available for that, too. You can click here: https://www.photobooker.com/photographer/ny/new-york/william-h?duration=1?duration=1# or you can contact me directly.

News/Announcements by William Ruben Helms

Since I’ve started sending monthly shout outs to those kind folks, who have supported me and my work through Patreon, it’s been a tradition of sorts that when it comes to December that I send my shoutouts a day or so early.

Just about 13 years ago, I started what has been for me, my life’s work — this site. And honestly, when I started this site, I couldn’t have imagined three-quarters of the things I’ve done and experienced over JOVM’s history to ever happen. 

  • I’ve covered roughly 1,100-1,200 shows in NYC, with a handful of shows in Chicago, Baltimore and Philadelphia. 
  • I’ve covered about a dozen or more festivals, including traveling to Montreal for M for Montreal in 2019 and again earlier this month. 
  • I’ve been a panelist at Mondo.NYC Festival and at New Colossus Festival, speaking about PR, promotion and press for indie artists, giving my perspective as a indie blogger. 
  • A few years ago, I made a cameo in a JOVM mainstay’s music video. It’s a very noticeable spot towards the end of the video. It was a fun experience, but so far no one has called me about acting or dancing gigs. Maybe I need to stick to the writing and photography? 
  • I couldn’t have imagined photographing George Clinton, Patti LaBelle, Snoop Dogg, Blondie, Nile Rodgers, Roky Erickson, Philip Bailey, Blind Boys of Alabama and so many others, as well as this site’s countless mainstays.
  • I wouldn’t have met the countless colleagues and musicians, who have become supporters and friends.  

During the very worst of the pandemic almost three years ago, things seemed — understandably — bleak. And although we’ve slowly managed to claw our way back to even greater degree of normalcy, being a working and touring musician has become exceedingly difficult. Touring has almost always been a financial risk, in which most musicians wind up deeply in the red but if you add COVID and inflation, touring for many seems more daunting than ever.

Musicians, publicists, journalists, music venues and everyone else in the industry are all trying to maneuver in a new, confusing and uncertain landscape that we all hope will end but seems as though will be with us for some time. At this point, things may be weird and unusual, but my intention is to stubbornly keep on keeping on.

I strongly believe that I’ve managed to carve out a unique spot in the blogosphere, a place that I feel is desperately necessary because both the music and media worlds are often so incredibly homogenous. Someone out there has to do something different. And representation in every aspect matters. So JOVM and my work with it has to continue. 

As I do every month, I want to thank the following folks and organizations. Without them this past few years — and especially this year — wouldn’t have been remotely possible: 

Sash

Alice Northover

Bella Fox

Jenny MacRostie

Janene Otten 

All of those folks have been generous Patreon patrons. Of course, feel free to check out the Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement. And if you’re able to support, your support will be greatly appreciated and continuously shouted out. Any amount really helps. 

I have to thank the folks at Creatives Rebuild New York. I’m relieved, proud and humbled to be included in their Guaranteed Income for Artists program. The money I’ll receive over the next 13 months or so will be put to good use — keeping this little dream of mine going. I don’t think there’s enough words to thank them — or to show how grateful I am. (I’ll keep trying, of course!) 

There are other ways you can support. 

You can also support by checking the JOVM shop: https://www.joyofviolentmovement.com/shop 

You can also support my following me on the following platforms:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/william_ruben_helms 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/yankee32879 and https://www.twitter.com/joyofviolent 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement

And you can hire me for headshots, portraits and events. Seriously, I’m available for that, too. You can click here: https://www.photobooker.com/photographer/ny/new-york/william-h?duration=1?duration=1# or you can contact me directly.

News/Announcements by William Ruben Helms

Co-founded back in 2018 by three New York music industry vets and longtime friends, former Lorimer Beacon founder and head Mike Bell, Kanine Records‘ founder and label head Lio Kanine and Kepler Events‘ and Dedstrange Records co-founder Steven Matrick, The New Colossus Festival over the course of the past couple of years has featured several hundred handpicked, emerging indie bands and artists from Canada, the UK, the European Union, Singapore, Hong Kong and of course, the US. 

By design the festival has taken place about a week or so before SXSW with the idea that New Colossus would be a pre-SXSW stopover that will give the acts in each year’s lineup an opportunity to organically gain exposure while filling a critical void in the city’s festival calendar. 

New Colossus Festival’s third edition will take place March 8, 2023-March 12, 2023 and will take place in some of the Lower East Side’s best and renowned independent venues including Mercury Lounge, Berlin Under A, Arlene’s Grocery, Bowery Ballroom, The Bowery Electric, Heaven Can Wait, Pianos, and more.  New Colossus Festival closes out the calendar year with the announcement of its second wave of artists that will be playing at showcases across the Lower East Side. And much like the first wave of artists, it’s a highly curated collection of artists who hail from the US, Canada, the UK and elsewhere.

Some of the new additions including Bilk (UK), Demob Happy (UK), Grand Sun (Portugal), Low Island (UK), Yndling (Norway), Kamikaze Nurse (Canada) and A Place to Bury Strangers, who are returning to headline their Dedstrange label party after not being able to perform at the 2020 edition. Additionally, Beverly (US), Eternal Summers (US) and The Depreciation Guild (US) will be playing reunion shows for Kanine Records’ 20th Anniversary Party.

Of course, more details are coming.

SECOND WAVE ADDITIONS:

A Place to Bury Strangers (US)

Beverly (US)

BLACK MARACAS (ES)

Bloomsday (US)

Borito (IL)

Closebye (CA)

Demob Happy (UK)

Emmrose (US)

Eternal Summers (US)

First Crush (US)

GHUM (UK)

Gold Lake (ES)

Gossamer Blue (CA)

Grand Sun (PT)

HNRY FLWR (US)

jackie (CA)

Kacey Fifield (US)

Kamikaze Nurse (CA)

Kryxis (US)

layzi (US)

Low Island (UK)

MAUVEY (CA)

Miesha and The Spanks (CA)

Noah And The Loners (UK)

Nutrients (CA)

Paper Lady (US)

Percocet (US)

S.C.A.B. (US)

The Chairs (TW)

The Depreciation Guild (US)

The Down & Outs (US)

The Silver Lines (UK)

The Vices (NL)

to the wedding (US)

Totalement Sublime (CA)

VLURE (Scotland)

Yndling (NO)

Yo Diablo (ES)
 

Full list of showcasing artists and bands can be found here: https://www.newcolossusfestival.com/artists2023?utm_campaign=7965f0f8-b1ca-4719-96c9-c158666e5210&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail_lp&cid=ac466ae2-d0c6-4e01-845f-c3b1ed63bbda. Actual schedules and set times are forthcoming, so be on the lookout,

You can purchase a badge here: https://dice.fm/event/ee7n6-new-colossus-festival-2023-8th-mar-various-venues-nyc-new-york-tickets

News/Announcements by William Ruben Helms

Just about 13 years ago, I started what has been for me, my life’s work — this site. And honestly, when I started this site, I couldn’t have imagined three-quarters of the things I’ve done and experienced over JOVM’s history to ever happen. 

  • I’ve covered roughly 1,100-1,200 shows in NYC, with a handful of shows in Chicago, Baltimore and Philadelphia. 
  • I’ve covered about a dozen or more festivals, including traveling to Montreal for M for Montreal in 2019 and again earlier this month.
  • I’ve been a panelist at Mondo.NYC Festival and at New Colossus Festival, speaking about PR, promotion and press for indie artists, giving my perspective as a indie blogger. 
  • A few years ago, I made a cameo in a JOVM mainstay’s music video. It’s a very noticeable spot towards the end of the video. It was a fun experience, but so far no one has called me about acting or dancing gigs. Maybe I need to stick to the writing and photography? 
  • I couldn’t have imagined photographing George Clinton, Patti LaBelle, Snoop Dogg, Blondie, Nile Rodgers, Roky Erickson, Philip Bailey, Blind Boys of Alabama and so many others, as well as this site’s countless mainstays.
  • I wouldn’t have met the countless colleagues and musicians, who have become supporters and friends.  

Now you’ll remember that during the very worst of the pandemic, things seemed — understandably — bleak. And although we’ve slowly managed to claw our way back to even greater degree of normalcy, being a working and touring musician has remained extremely bleak. Financially touring has always been a financial risk but rising inflation and COVID-19 has made touring much more daunting and complicated. 

We’re all trying to figure out how to maneuver in a new, confusing and uncertain landscape that may well be with us for an indefinite period of time. But with these past 12+ years under my belt, I have no intentions of going anywhere. 

I strongly believe that I’ve managed to carve out a unique spot in the blogosphere, a place that I feel is desperately necessary because both the music and media worlds are often so incredibly homogenous. Someone out there has to do something different. And representation in every aspect matters. So JOVM and my work with it has to continue. 

As I do every month, I want to thank the following folks and organizations. Without them this past few years — and especially this year — wouldn’t have been remotely possible: 

Sash

Alice Northover

Bella Fox

Jenny MacRostie

Janene Otten 

All of those folks have been generous Patreon patrons. Of course, feel free to check out the Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement. And if you’re able to support, your support will be greatly appreciated and continuously shouted out. Any amount really helps. 

I have to thank the folks at Creatives Rebuild New York. I’m relieved, proud and humbled to be included in their Guaranteed Income for Artists program. The money I’ll receive over the next 13 months or so will be put to good use — keeping this little dream of mine going. I don’t think there’s enough words to thank them — or to show how grateful I am. (I’ll keep trying, of course!) 

There are other ways you can support. 

You can also support by checking the JOVM shop: https://www.joyofviolentmovement.com/shop 

You can also support my following me on the following platforms:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/william_ruben_helms 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/yankee32879 and https://www.twitter.com/joyofviolent 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement

And you can hire me for headshots, portraits and events. Seriously, I’m available for that, too. You can click here: https://www.photobooker.com/photographer/ny/new-york/william-h?duration=1?duration=1# or you can contact me directly.

News/Announcements by William Ruben Helms

Co-founded back in 2018 by three New York music industry vets and longtime friends, former Lorimer Beacon founder and head Mike Bell, Kanine Records‘ founder and label head Lio Kanine and Kepler Events‘ and Dedstrange Records co-founder Steven Matrick, The New Colossus Festival over the course of the past couple of years has featured several hundred handpicked, emerging indie bands and artists from Canada, the UK, the European Union, Singapore, Hong Kong and of course, the US.

By design the festival has taken place about a week or so before SXSW with the idea that New Colossus would be a pre-SXSW stopover that will give the acts in each year’s lineup an opportunity to organically gain exposure while filling a critical void in the city’s festival calendar.

New Colossus Festival’s third edition will take place March 8, 2023-March 12, 2023 and will take place in some of the Lower East Side’s best and renowned independent venues including Mercury Lounge, Berlin Under A, Arlene’s Grocery, Bowery Ballroom, The Bowery Electric, Heaven Can Wait, Pianos, and more.   The festival’s organizers announced the first wave of artists that will be playing at next year’s festival, a highly curated collection of artists and bands from across the world — and the first wave bands and artists are below:

36? (CA)

802 (CA)

Adwaith (UK)

Anthony OKS (CA)

Arverne (US) 

Astronomies (NO)

Ava Vegas (DE)

BIG SEA (IT)

Bloomsday (US)

Blushing (US)

Bonnie Trash (CA) 

Boy With Apple (SE)  

boy wonder (CA)

Buff Ginger (US) 

Bummer Camp (US) 

CHARMAINE (CA) 

Claudia Bouvette (CA) 

Clea Anaïs (CA) 

Colatura (US) 

church crush (US)

Data Animal (DE) 

Day & Dream (US) 

Dead Tooth (US) 

Deep Sea Peach Tree (US) 

Diary (US) 

Dirty Freud (UK) 

Father Koi (US) 

Fears (UK) 

French Cassettes (US) 

Gäy (DK) 

GIUNGLA (IT) 

Hang Him to the Scales (US)

Heaven For Real (CA)

Helen Ganya (UK) 

Her Dark Heaven (US) 

Her Skin (IT) 

High. (US) 

His His (CA) 

Hoorsees (FR) 

Hope (DE)

InCircles (US)

J. Pastel (US) 

Jane Inc. (CA) 

Jeanines (US) 

Jolé (UK) 

Julia Logan (SE) 

Kali Horse (CA) 

Keegan Powell (CA)

Keeper E. (CA) 

knitting (CA) 

KOKO (IT)

Lahnah (US)

Lauren Lakis (US) 

Laveda (US) 

Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys (DE)

Lukka (US) 

LUNACY (US) 

MANE (AU)

Marci (CA) 

Mary Shelley (US) 

Monsoon (US) 

My Son The Doctor (US) 

Nat Vazer (AU) 

Naya Ali (CA) 

NEVVA (US) 

O. Wake (US) 

Oh Imanuela (UK) 

Pale Dīan (US) 

Phillip Jon Taylor (UK) 

Picture Show (US)

Plàsi (SE)

Pons (US) 

Poster Paints (US) 

Public Body (UK)  

Pulsr (US)

Punchlove (US) 

Ringing (US) 

Robber Robber  (US)

Roost.World (US) 

Saloon Dion  (UK) 

Secret American (US) 

Shallow Waves (CA) 

Shanghai Qiutian (CN) 

Shred Flintstone (US) 

Sid Simons  (US)

Silverbacks (IE) 

Slow Fiction (US) 

Slut Magic (US) 

Snotty Nose Rez Kids (CA)

Sobs (SG) 

Spirits of Leo (US) 

stranger waves (US)

Teenage Halloween (US) 

Ten Minute Detour (CA) 

The After Hours (US) 

The Garrys (CA) 

The Pleasure Majenta (DE)

The Tarrys (US)

The Vices (NL)

THUS LOVE (US)

Two-Man Giant Squid (US) 

Web Hex (US) 

Windier (US) 

Work Wife (US)

Wynona Bleach (UK)
 

New Colossus also shared a curated playlist of the first wave artists and bands below. It’s 98 songs and over 5 hours — but it features some incredibly buzz-worthy acts, some emerging artists and bands that might break out next year, JOVM mainstays, and more, including Thus Love, Blushing, Dead Tooth, Shallow Waves, Spirits of Leo, Shred Flintstone, Pale Dian, Monsoon and more.

The full lineup will drop sometime in February but I’m looking forward to catching another edition of New Colossus.

Festival badges are on sale right now. You can purchase yours here https://dice.fm/event/ee7n6-new-colossus-festival-2023-8th-mar-various-venues-nyc-new-york-tickets

  

News/Announcements by William Ruben Helms

Almost 13 years ago, I started what has been for me, my life’s work — this site. And honestly, when I started this site, I couldn’t have imagined three-quarters of the things I’ve done and experienced over JOVM’s history to ever happen. 

  • I’ve covered roughly 1,100-1,200 shows in NYC, with a handful of shows in Chicago, Baltimore and Philadelphia. 
  • I’ve covered about a dozen or more festivals, including traveling to Montreal for M for Montreal back in 2019. (I’ll be returning to Montreal to cover this year’s M for Montreal, marking my first international trip in three years.)
  • I’ve been a panelist at Mondo.NYC Festival and at New Colossus Festival, speaking about PR, promotion and press for indie artists, giving my perspective as a indie blogger. 
  • A few years ago, I made a cameo in a JOVM mainstay’s music video. It’s a very noticeable spot towards the end of the video. It was a fun experience, but so far no one has called me about acting or dancing gigs. Maybe I need to stick to the writing and photography? 
  • I couldn’t have imagined photographing George Clinton, Patti LaBelle, Snoop Dogg, Blondie, Nile Rodgers, Roky Erickson, Philip Bailey, Blind Boys of Alabama and so many others, as well as this site’s countless mainstays.
  • I wouldn’t have met the countless colleagues and musicians, who have become supporters and friends.  

Now you’ll remember that during the very worst of the pandemic, things seemed — understandably — bleak. And although we’ve slowly managed to claw our way back to even greater degree of normalcy, being a working and touring musician has remained extremely bleak. Financially touring has always been a financial risk but rising inflation and COVID-19 has made touring much more daunting and complicated.

We’re all trying to figure out how to maneuver in a new, confusing and uncertain landscape that may well be with us for an indefinite period of time. But with these past 12+ years under my belt, I have no intentions of going anywhere. 

I strongly believe that I’ve managed to carve out a unique spot in the blogosphere, a place that I feel is desperately necessary because both the music and media worlds are often so incredibly homogenous. Someone out there has to do something different. And representation in every aspect matters. So JOVM and my work with it has to continue. 

As I do every month, I want to thank the following folks and organizations. Without them this past few years — and especially this year — wouldn’t have been remotely possible: 

Sash

Alice Northover

Bella Fox

Jenny MacRostie

Janene Otten 

All of those folks have been generous Patreon patrons. Of course, feel free to check out the Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement. And if you’re able to support, your support will be greatly appreciated and continuously shouted out. Any amount really helps. 

I have to thank the folks at Creatives Rebuild New York. I’m relieved, proud and humbled to be included in their Guaranteed Income for Artists program. The money I’ll receive over the next 13 months or so will be put to good use — keeping this little dream of mine going. I don’t think there’s enough words to thank them — or to show how grateful I am. (I’ll keep trying, of course!) 

There are other ways you can support. 

You can also support by checking the JOVM shop: https://www.joyofviolentmovement.com/shop 

You can also support my following me on the following platforms:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/william_ruben_helms 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/yankee32879 and https://www.twitter.com/joyofviolent 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement

And you can hire me for headshots, portraits and events. Seriously, I’m available for that, too. You can click here: https://www.photobooker.com/photographer/ny/new-york/william-h?duration=1?duration=1# or you can contact me directly.