Judson Memorial Church was built in 1890 with the vision of aiding Lower Manhattan’s growing immigrant population through social services in addition to religious ones, but it was in the mid-1960s that Judson earned its national reputation as a progressive church – both by organizing politically around social justice issues and opening the church to experimental, avant-garde artists from many genres (dance, painting, theatre). The Artists Den hosted an intimate performance in the famous Lombardo-Romanesque building by multi-platinum songstress Alanis Morissette, who gave a taste of her new album, Flavors of Entanglement, on the eve of its release.
Prolific producer and performer Raphael Saadiq warmed up a cold winter night in Boston with a nine-piece band performing the soulful songs from The Way I See It, his masterful new album that reflects his deep love for 1960s rhythm and blues. The special show took place at the Harvard Club, in the Main Clubhouse on Commonwealth Avenue built in 1912, and showcased the rich blend of funky grooves and smooth balladry that is Saadiq's calling card.
In through the 19th-century archway, across the ivy-covered courtyard, and up worn stone steps sits the Refectory of the Desmond Tutu Center, located on the campus of the oldest operating seminary in America, in the heart of New York’s vibrant Chelsea neighborhood. The wooden Gothic architecture of the hall provided the backdrop for a special performance by Jakob Dylan and his band, the Gold Mountain Rebels, in celebration of his first solo release, Seeing Things.
Off “Old King’s Highway” on Cape Cod, looking like a cross between a cow barn and a Congregational Church, sits the Cape Cinema. On a hot summer night, underneath Kent Rockwell’s art deco swirl of heavenly bodies (once the largest mural in the world) and in front of the movie screen that premiered The Wizard of Oz in 1939, the Artists Den cast the cinema in a new light with a performance by indie-pop darling Ingrid Michaelson.
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia – the first art museum in America – displayed the work of a different kind of artist on a warm spring night when Ani DiFranco played the Artists Den stage. Before a packed gallery in the Academy’s Historic Landmark Building, which opened in 1876 for the nation’s Centennial Exposition and World’s Fair, the prolific, fiercely independent folk singer-songwriter gave a special performance of both fan favorites and new songs from her upcoming album, Red Letter Year.
At the base of the Brooklyn Bridge, indie rock sensation the Hold Steady worked a packed crowd into a frenzy in downtown New York at the Old Emigrant Savings Bank Building, built in 1908 and designated a city landmark after ceasing operations in 1965. From the richly decorated banking hall’s marble floors to its stained-glass skylights, the building was brought to life again by the classic anthemic melodies of Stay Positive, the group’s acclaimed breakthrough album.
On the bitterly cold winter night of Patty Griffin’s new record release – the acclaimed Children Running Through (ATO Records) – devoted fans huddled together outside the Angel Orensanz Center for a chance to see Griffin perform songs from the album for the first time. The historic converted synagogue’s neo-gothic arches were lit with the warm glow of candlelight as Griffin’s singular voice filled the room, accompanied by new band members and longtime players alike. A special treat on some songs was the addition of legendary keyboardist Ian McLagan (Small Faces, The Rolling Stones) – who appeared for this night only – and a 5-piece string section.
Built in 1906 as a shelter for young wayward or orphaned girls, the Good Shepherd Center Chapel in Seattle provided a new sort of haven for two hundred Artists Den guests on a crisp autumn night. Now a Historic Seattle landmark and performance space, the intimate chapel is framed by high wooden arches, which were lit by candlelight while the latest incarnation of the Swell Season – led by Glen Hansard and backed by Marketa Irglova on piano and two of Hansard’s band mates from the Frames on bass and violin – gave a special performance of their melodic, original songs, several of which were featured in the Academy Award-winning film Once.
In the heart of the revitalized Downtown Los Angeles district, fans packed into the breathtaking former Archdiocese cathedral Vibiana for a rare intimate set by Aimee Mann in a stripped-down, trio line-up. Built in 1876, the historic building’s Baroque white hall provided a stately setting for this special benefit concert, as Aimee treated Artists Den guests to favorites such as “Save Me” and “Goodbye Caroline” – and a first look at her forthcoming album, Smilers.
The magnificent Masonic Hall Grand Lodge was the dramatic setting for a dramatic event: the first Crowded House concert in New York since the legendary band reformed after more than a decade apart. The hall’s enormous, brightly painted pipe organ opened this special show celebrating the release of the band’s new album, Time on Earth (ATO Records), for a crowd of long-time fans who traveled from as far as New Zealand to attend.
Under the sculpted, neo-Renaissance ceiling of the Prince George Ballroom in Manhattan, KT Tunstall performed before an intimate Artists Den audience, revisiting her hits and giving a sneak peek of her upcoming sophomore album, Drastic Fantastic (Virgin/EMI), a follow-up to the massively successful Eye to the Telescope. Tunstall's dynamic sound found full expression with a five-piece band, filling the ornate, colorful ballroom with equally lavish music.
At first glance, Josh Ritter’s Artists Den performance might have taken place in his native Idaho, against a landscape of rolling green hills and grazing bison. The enormous animals behind the band were, however, stuffed: the show’s venue was actually in the North American Mammal Hall of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, in the spirit of Ritter’s new album, The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter (Sony BMG/Victor). Surrounded by grizzly bears and wolves, hundreds of die-hard fans packed the diorama-filled hall as Ritter delivered a full-on rock concert – complete with a 5-piece horn section – that kept the room dancing all night.
Fifty thousand fans dancing in the sunshine of Manchester, Tennessee cheered on funk/folk superstar Ben Harper during his main-stage performance at the 2007 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. The largest featured in Season One of “Live from the Artists Den,” the concert took place on the 700-acre farm that for four days each year becomes the home of what is widely considered to be the premier American music festival.
The Veterans Room of New York City's Park Avenue Armory set the stage for a private concert by Tori Amos for 100 lucky fans. Described as "Greek, Moresque, and Celtic with a dash of the Egyptian, the Persian, and the Japanese," the room provided a fitting setting for one of the most eclectic and culturally curious artists in music today. Amos performed a career-spanning set featuring classics from her debut Little Earthquakes through to Abnormally Attracted to Sin.
David Gray brought his signature mix of acoustic instrumentation and electronic samples to Wall Street for an intimate performance at the Broad Street Ballroom, housed in a 1920s building renowned for its austere Classical Revival style. The breathtaking hall of the former Lee-Higginson Bank (now part of the first-ever private elementary school below Canal Street) provided a colorful setting for the multi-platinum singer-songwriter as he played songs from the eagerly anticipated Draw the Line and his hits.
Beneath New York City's Maritime Hotel, under the paper lanterns and vaulted ceilings of the Japanese-themed Hiro Ballroom, British neo-soul star Corinne Bailey Rae gave her fans a special treat: an intimate performance showcasing her new hit album, The Sea, seven weeks before its release.
The Black Crowes -- a rock band Billboard coined an "Allmans-to-Zappa synthesis of influences" -- broke onto the scene with their multiplatinum 1990 debut, Shake Your Moneymaker. The Georgia band has since released seven studio albums, which have racked up worldwide sales exceeding 19 million. The Crowes's 2008 LP Warpaint includes, according to Rolling Stone, "some of the best range and craft of the band's career" -- not a small feat for a group that's been on the scene for two full decades. After an extensive renovation, The Lyric Oxford re-opened its doors in the summer of 2008 on "The Sqare" in Oxford, Mississippi. The Lyric originally opened as a silent movie theatre in 1913 and played home to a variety of films and events over the years -- including the world premiere of native Oxfordian William Faulker's "Intruder in the Dust" in 1949.
The Ravenswood Billboard Factory in Chicago, which now serves as a home for one of the nation's premier collections of vintage sports cars, provided a colorful venue for a secret concert by multiplatinum country singer Dierks Bentley on a cool April night. Built in 1920, the former paper warehouse and billboard photography studio's high vaulted ceilings gave plenty of room for the rousing sound of Bentley's free 'n easy brand of country.
The 19th-century Patrick F. Taylor Library at The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, University of New Orleans, is currently closed to the public while being restored to its original grandeur. But its doors were opened to a select few on a warm April night for a concert as unique as the setting: Booker T. and the Drive-by Truckers with special guest Bettye LaVette. Under the sculpted oak beams of the library's vaulted ceiling, rich soul music kept the crowd on its feet late into the night.
On the day he released his album National Ransom Elvis Costello gave a private concert for lucky fans within the ornate and awe-inspiring Celeste Bartos Forum in The New York Public Library’s world-famous Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. Costello – along with The Sugarcanes and Pete Thomas on drums – performed songs from the album as well as hits spanning his three-decades-and-counting career.
The historic Don Strange Ranch in Boerne, Texas provided a fitting setting for folk troubadour Ray LaMontagne and his band, the Pariah Dogs, on a cool autumn night. Culminating the tour celebrating their album, God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise, the group performed in the ranch’s beautiful Kendall Creek Barn before a crowd of four-hundred fans who came from all corners of the country to attend.
As one of the last days of summer winded down in New York’s Bryant Park, Vermont rockers Grace Potter and The Nocturnals sent the season out in style with a night of funk, rock, and soul. The band treated fans to stand-outs from their self-titled album including “Paris (Ooh La La),” “Medicine,” and of course, “Hot Summer Night.”
A rare snowy day in Nashville, Tennessee, set the stage for an even rarer event – an intimate concert by rock icon Robert Plant, at the War Memorial Auditorium. Performing with his Grammy-nominated group – aptly titled the Band of Joy – Plant played both Led Zeppelin classics and new songs that continue to have an impact on the music scene today.
Bryant Park provided a picturesque setting for a secret performance by UK pop legends Squeeze on a warm summer night. The groundbreaking band played hits spanning their career, including “Is That Love,” “Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)”, and “Tempted” in celebration of their album, Spot the Difference, which features new recordings of Squeeze classics.
This compilation episode features three standout emerging artists performing in three remarkable locations: R&B singer-songwriter Daniel Merriweather at the famed art auction house Sotheby’s in New York City; folk singer-songwriter Lisa Hannigan at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Montclair, New Jersey; and alternative pop songstress A Fine Frenzy at the John Drew Theater at Guild Hall in the Hamptons.
Just days after the release of her record-breaking sophomore album, 21, British sensation Adele performed for a small group of lucky fans at the Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club in Santa Monica, CA. Her powerful voice filled the elegant ballroom with hits like “Rolling in the Deep” and “Someone Like You” from 21 and “Chasing Pavements” from her Grammy-winning debut album, 19, as well as a cover of the soul classic “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”
The Fray at the Angel Orensanz Foundation on New York's Lower East Side
Death Cab for Cutie at the Brooklyn Museum in Brooklyn, NY
The Kid met The King on a snowy night in Memphis, when Kid Rock delivered an epic performance at Graceland. Following a historic, acoustic jam session with his band, Twisted Brown Trucker, in the Jungle Room at Elvis Presley’s mansion, Rock performed in the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum. From breakthrough hits like “Cowboy” and “Bawitdaba” to his anthems “Born Free” and “Care” (tossing in a bit of Elvis’s “Burning Love” for good measure), the Detroit rocker gave the audience a definitive look at a remarkable career – from inside the walls of rock and roll’s greatest landmark.
Amos Lee made a triumphant return to Tucson on a sweltering night in the desert with an epic performance at the historic Fox Theatre. The acclaimed singer-songwriter came back to the city where he recorded his Mission Bell album and invited a number of his friends to join the show, including local heroes Calexico. The set ranged from solo showcases to arrangements for a dozen musicians, and featured some of the finest songs from his catalogue.
On a chilly fall night, Atlanta’s historic Buckhead Theatre hosted an unforgettable, marathon performance by Iron & Wine. The show was a sort of homecoming for frontman Sam Beam, who grew up a few hours from Atlanta, and he delivered a two-hour, 24-song set for the crowd. The eleven-piece band played virtually all of Iron & Wine’s fourth album, Kiss Each Other Clean, plus favorites like “Naked as We Came” and “Boy with a Coin,” before Beam closed the remarkable night with a luminous solo version of “Flightless Bird, American Mouth,” from the Twilight: Breaking Dawn soundtrack.
Brooklyn resident Norah Jones didn’t have to travel far from home to film her episode of Live from the Artists Den. The rough-hewn beauty of the the historic Green Building, a former brass foundry in Brooklyn’s Carroll Gardens neighborhood, was a spectacular backdrop the 20-song retrospective, including her breakthrough hit “Don’t Know Why,” and concluding with an encore that saw her and her band gathered around an old-time microphone, offering sweet harmonies to send a delighted audience into the night.
The Wallflowers were back in full force during their performance at Bimbo’s 365 Club, a Bay Area institution for more than 80 years. Surrounded by the club’s Art Deco glamour, frontman Jakob Dylan led the Wallflowers through a riveting 12-song set, including classics such as “One Headlight” and “6th Avenue Heartache.”
“Candles” is the closing song on Rufus Wainwright’s Out of the Game, but it was the perfect opener at his performance at the magnificent Church of the Ascension, on Manhattan’s lower Fifth Ave. The church was a breathtaking backdrop for his tale of searching for a place to light a memorial for his late mother, singer Kate McGarrigle. Resplendent in tails and gold sequined pants, Wainwright paid additional tribute to McGarrigle with an emotional, solo rendition of her “On My Way to Town” before bringing out super-producer Mark Ronson and closing the evening with the rousing, disco-flavored “Bitter Tears.”
“This is a secret show, right?” said Mayer Hawthorne at the start of his performance at the opulent Grand Ballroom of the Park Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. “Well, tonight, the secret word is fun.” He kept his word as he and his nimble band, The County, blazed through two dozen songs in his updated classic soul style, infused with everything from doo-wop to hip-hop. Over the course of the evening, Hawthorne and his band thrilled the crowd with a set featuring selections from Hawthorne’s acclaimed album, How Do You Do, plus such fan favorites as “Green Eyed Love.”
The 1920s glamor of the Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles provided a stunning setting for a triumphant performance by Mumford & Sons for an episode of Live from the Artists Den. The band delivered songs from its Number One album, Babel, along with such hits as “Little Lion Man” and “I Will Wait,” before closing the evening with a blistering rendition of “The Cave” from the classic, multi-platinum debut Sigh No More.
On a warm February night in Los Angeles, the legendary Seattle rock band Soundgarden concluded a sold-out winter tour in support of King Animal, their first studio album in over 16 years. The Artists Den was there to document this unforgettable night within the historic art deco setting of The Wiltern. In front of a rapturous crowd, Soundgarden interwove brand new songs with classics, radio hits with rarities never before performed for a live audience. Over a varied set, they showcased their history, dazzled with their musicianship, and captured the imaginations of everyone in the room.
The Killers played an unforgettable show in New York City at an iconic old bank in the heart of Chinatown for a taping of Live from the Artists Den. Opening with the propulsive single, “Runaways,” the Las Vegas-based band drew on material from across their multi-platinum catalogue, including such smash hits as “Mr. Brightside,” “When You Were Young,” and “Human.” The performance took place in front of 600 invited guests at the magnificent Chinatown landmark Capitale, designed in the 19th Century by influential architect Stanford White as the home of the Bowery Savings Bank.
At the historic meeting house of the New York Society for Ethical Culture on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Ed Sheeran needed little more than his voice and a guitar to whip a crowd of 700 fervent fans into a frenzy of mass sing-a-longs or hush them into enraptured silence. The British superstar bounded effortlessly from the hip-hop infused pop of “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You”, to the traditional folk of the Irish traditional “The Parting Glass” and Grammy-nominated hit single, “The A Team.”
The soaring, majestic Drill Hall in New York’s historic Park Avenue Armory provided an awe-inspiring setting for the National’s taping for Live from the Artists Den. The massive space, designed to resemble a classic European train station, hosted 900 invited guests, who witnessed the debut of numerous songs from the Brooklyn-based band’s album, Trouble Will Find Me, along with blistering versions of such favorites as “Fake Empire,” “Bloodbuzz Ohio,” and “Terrible Love.”
The historic Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles hosted an explosive performance by Imagine Dragons for an explosive episode of Live from the Artists Den. Powered by the intense and athletic stage presence of lead singer Dan Reynolds, the Las Vegas-based band tore through a set full of its dance-inflected, percussion-heavy rock anthems, including the smash singles “It’s Time” and “Radioactive.”
It was a school night to remember when international superstars Phoenix performed a spectacular show in the gym at L.C. Anderson High School in Austin, TX. Following a main-stage set at the Austin City Limits Festival the day before, the French band played for 800 invited guests – including several hundred students – for their episode Live from the Artists Den. They blasted through such hits as “Lisztomania” and “If I Ever Feel Better” and selections from Bankrupt!, before singer Thomas Mars invited the audience to join them on stage at the home of the Trojans for thrilling, chaotic renditions of “1901” and “Rome.”
On the eve of the release of her album, Feels Like Home, nine-time Grammy winner Sheryl Crow delivered a powerhouse performance in the ornate Grand Ballroom of The Plaza. In a taping for an episode of Live from the Artists Den, Crow tore through eighteen songs at the New York City landmark, leading her six-piece band in a career-spanning including her breakthrough hit, “All I Wanna Do.” Whether seated for a three-song acoustic set or blowing an electrifying, rocked-up harmonica solo, Crow thrilled the invited audience of 600.
Los Angeles’ historic Orpheum Theatre hosted a dynamic performance from musician Sara Bareilles one late October evening. One-thousand guests filled the downtown theater, built in 1926, to witness the singer-songwriter’s soaring set. Bareilles performed several songs off The Blessed Unrest, her Album of the Year-nominated fourth studio album, including the hit single “Brave,” a song that champions gay rights. The singer showcased her powerful, evocative vocals on fan favorites like “Love Song” and “King of Anything,” ending the set with an emotionally compelling rendition of her breakout song “Gravity.”
Vampire Weekend hit the ground running, opening their performance at New York’s General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen with “Diane Young,” the first single from the Grammy-winning album Modern Vampires of the City. The set featured such hits as “Cousins,” “A-Punk,” and (especially fitting on a snowy winter’s eve) “Holiday.” With an audience of just 400 guests, this triumphant return to the city where the band was formed was the most intimate show Vampire Weekend has played in years.
It was a sensation both familiar and brand new when Fitz & The Tantrums filmed their episode of Live from the Artists Den. The show marked a return to their home base for the beloved Los Angeles band, in a truly incredible venue—the breathtaking Spanish Gothic-style Theatre at Ace Hotel, formerly the United Artists movie palace, built in downtown LA in the 1920s under the hands-on direction of Mary Pickford. Fitz & The Tantrums played its signature dance grooves — blending classic soul and ’80s pop on such songs – and, as always, refused to let the audience even think about sitting down.
Highlights from the series include Ringo Starr's concert at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Adele's acoustic performance in Santa Monica, Calif.
Country superstar Tim McGraw performed for an intimate audience at The Corinthian in downtown Houston for his episode of Live from the Artists Den, tearing through a dozen songs, including hits “Southern Girl,” “One of Those Nights,” and “Lookin’ For That Girl.” Set among the neo-classical columns of the century-old former bank building, McGraw also performed a number of songs from his album Sundown Heaven Town for the first time. Over the course of his career, McGraw has garnered 35 Number One songs, over 40 million album sales as well as multiple GRAMMY, CMA and ACM awards.
On the eve of the release of their album, 9 Dead Alive, the incomparable Mexican guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela performed at Upper Manhattan’s Hispanic Society of America for their episode of Live from the Artists Den. The virtuoso musicians played a dazzling set in the century-old museum’s Bancaja Gallery, surrounded by the fourteen paintings that make up Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida’s masterwork “Vision of Spain.” It was a breathtaking setting for Rodrigo y Gabriela’s unique fusion of genres, a mix of melodic beauty and percussive fury which drove the crowd into clapping, stomping glee.
On a stormy New York City night, the always-cheeky, always-entertaining Lily Allen thrilled the crowd at the Manhattan Center’s stunning Grand Ballroom with a typically irresistible spectacle featuring multiple costume changes and a battery of back-up dancers. The set focused on Sheezus — her return to recording after a five-year hiatus—and included the singles, “Hard Out Here” and “Air Balloon,” which were simultaneous Top Ten hits in the UK. She closed the night with two of her signature smashes, “The Fear” and “Not Fair.”
Historic Los Angeles theater Royce Hall, located on the UCLA campus, provided a spectacular backdrop for Jason Mraz’s taping of Live from the Artists Den. Accompanied by the four members of Raining Jane, Mraz breathed new life into old favorites like “I Won’t Give Up” and performed material from his collaborations with the LA folk-rock group, from the album Yes!. The set was punctuated by classic Mraz hit, “I’m Yours,” which earned a full-throated singalong from the rapt crowd.
On a warm summer evening, the Grammy award-winning Zac Brown Band brought music back to the historic Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills, NY with a hit-filled performance for the sold out stadium crowd under the stars. Zac Brown Band, one of the most successful and critically-acclaimed acts of its generation, incorporated a mix of country, bluegrass, reggae, Southern rock, and jam music into its performance which included such fan favorites as the Caribbean-inspired “Jump Right In,” lush ballad “Colder Weather,” and free spirited anthem “Free.”
Alabama Shakes delivered a crushingly electric set at the rustic-chic Loveless Barn outside of Nashville, behind the famous Loveless Cafe. The six-piece band dashed through blistering rockabilly boogies, eruptive country-soul ballads, and plenty else from both their breakout debut album, Boys & Girls, and their Album of the Year-nominated sophomore effort, Sound & Color. Front woman Brittany Howard testified to the deeply felt truths of the songs with ferocious flamboyance, and her bandmates were with her all the way—gutsy, dynamic, and altogether riveting.
Cage the Elephant brought their funky, soulfully psychedelic sound to the stage at the Santa Barbara Art Foundry for its episode of Live from the Artists Den. Thriving off the energy of the crowd, frontman Matt Shultz delivered an epic performance in an intimate setting, hurling himself around the small space like a man possessed, while the rest of the band equaled his intensity. The set, drawn mostly from the band’s Grammy-nominated album, Melophobia, ended with a shirtless Shultz held aloft by the cheering crowd, a triumphant exclamation point to an unforgettable night.
Damien Rice delivered an unforgettable performance at the Greenpoint Loft for his episode of Live from the Artists Den. The Irish singer-songwriter concentrated largely on material from his acclaimed album, My Favorite Faded Fantasy. While the concert — in an intimate, in-the-round setting on the top floor of a 19th century warehouse on the Brooklyn waterfront, with a dazzling view of the Manhattan skyline — was mostly played solo, Rice thrilled the fans with a surprise full choir backing him on “Trusty and True.”
Grammy-nominated musician Hozier brings his soulful blues, rock, and folk sounds to the historic stage at The Theater at Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Hozier, along with six accompanying band members, offers a poignant 15-song set to. He performs mostly songs off his self-titled album, as well as a rhythmic, stripped down reimagining of Paul McCartney’s “Blackbird.” Hozier punctuates the performance with an evocative rendition of his hit single “Take Me To Church” before unfurling a three-song encore that includes emotional standout “Cherry Wine.”
U.K. rockers alt-J perform an intense, moody set at Los Angeles’s Hollywood American Legion. The group offered up 18 songs veering between the band’s eclectic Grammy-nominated album, This Is All Yours, and their 2012 debut, An Awesome Wave. The surging, boisterous set included hit singles “Hunger of the Pine,” “Fitzpleasure” and “Left Hand Free,” as well as a re-imagined cover of Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day.” The Hollywood American Legion, with its grand vaulted ceilings, made for a historic and dramatic setting that lent itself well to alt-J’s edgy, dynamic rock songs.
Marina Diamandis, known as her stage name Marina And The Diamonds, puts on an electric performance of 15 songs in the famous Great Hall in the New York Hall of Science in Corona, NY. Just 350 fans were able to see this intimate performance which included a selection of songs from her album FROOT as well as such hits as “How to be a Heartbreaker,” “Primadonna,” “Hollywood” and more.
Grammy winner Gary Clark Jr. plays an emotional homecoming in the club he legitimately calls “home” – Austin’s legendary “Home Of The Blues,” Antone’s Nightclub. His 20-song set features songs from his 2012 breakthrough Blak And Blu as well as the genre-bending The Story Of Sonny Boy Slim. His set is filled with fiery, jaw-dropping guitar heroism and soulful tenor with bright flashes of a gorgeous falsetto, a loud, muscular take on “Bright Lights” and a supremely funky meditation on the impact of music, “The Healing.”
Downtown Los Angeles’ historic Mayan Theater provided a spectacular backdrop for Panic! At The Disco’s taping of Live from the Artists Den. The LA-based band, led by frontman Brendon Urie, offered a boisterous performance highlighting material from their critically acclaimed album Death of a Bachelor. Urie and crew revisited favorites like “Time To Dance” and “Nine In The Afternoon” as well “Victorious” and “Hallelujah.” Five hundred of the band’s fans filled the ornate theater, which was originally built in 1927, and lent their voices to the night’s closing song and fan favorite “I Write Sins Not Tragedies.”
The celebrated El Rey Theatre in the Miracle Mile neighborhood of Los Angeles hosted an intimate hometown show by alt-rockers Young the Giant. Lucky fans filled the former movie theater turned music venue originally built in 1936. The band opened their delightful 15-song set with their exhilarating single “Something to Believe In,” which ascended to the Top 10 at Alternative radio. Fans were thrilled to hear older favorites such as “My Body,” “Cough Syrup,” and “Mind Over Matter,” and were treated to two songs, “Jungle Youth” and “Titus Was Born,” being played for the first time live.
The Broad Street Ballroom, an architectural landmark in New York’s Wall Street district, provided the perfect backdrop for a riveting performance by country music visionary Sturgill Simpson. A massive mural depicting the history of seafaring wraps around the entire room, echoing the central concept of Simpson’s Grammy-winning A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, which he played in full for an ecstatic New York City crowd. Backed by a powerful horn section, Simpson also reconfigured the arrangements for songs from his breakthrough Grammy-nominated album, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music.
Americana superstars The Lumineers returned to their former neighborhood of Brooklyn for an unforgettable taping of Live from the Artists Den at the majestic Kings Theatre. The band performed an 18-song set split evenly between songs from their Grammy-nominated self-titled 2012 debut and their No. 1-charting follow-up, Cleopatra (plus a riveting unreleased song, “Long Way From Home,” played solo by lead singer Wesley Schultz). The ornate, magnificent theater—built in 1929 and recently restored to its initial glory—provided a breathtaking setting for a night full of unforgettable moments.
John Legend celebrated the release of his new album, DARKNESS AND LIGHT, with an unforgettable performance at Manhattan’s historic Riverside Church for his Artists Den episode. From the same pulpit where, fifty years earlier, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered an electrifying “A Time To Break Silence” speech, Legend presented a magnificent set of brand new songs (many being played for the first time ever onstage) alongside such classics as “All Of Me” and “Glory,” offering messages of love and hope in a spectacular setting that has been associated with progressive activism for almost a century.
OneRepublic descends on the Artists Den stage for an epic show of their greatest hits, as well as new music from their latest release, Oh My My, at Park City Live in Utah. Their set includes fan favorites “Apologize,” “Good Life,” “Counting Stars,” and an electric closing with “If I Lose Myself.” OneRepublic’s lead singer Ryan Tedder reflects on his love of film and the special significance of performing during Sundance Film Festival during the set. “Things like Sundance, they’re necessary to foster great ideas,” Tedder explained. “You need to have venues where you have the ability to grow.”
After a two-year hiatus from music, the seven-time Grammy Award-winning group Lady Antebellum brings Nashville to Uptown Manhattan for an unforgettable evening. Surrounded by the rococo detail of the vaudeville theater turned church and cultural center, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, and Dave Haywood keep the crowd on their feet for their entire set that covers both their catalog of smash singles (“Need You Now,” “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore”) and songs from their new album, HEART BREAK, even adding a horn section for their funky single “You Look Good.”.
Following a six-year hiatus, Grammy-nominated Fleet Foxes returned to the stage just days before the release of their highly anticipated third album, Crack-Up, with a special performance at the Knockdown Center, a magnificent former glass-blowing facility and door factory, in Queens, New York. The mesmerizing concert highlights material from the widely celebrated new record while also looking back to such favorites as “Blue Ridge Mountains” and “Mykonos.”
Singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes performs hits including ``Lost in Japan'' and ``In My Blood'' at 99 Scott, an industrial space in Brooklyn.
British singer-songwriter James Bay performs for more than 700 fans to celebrate the reopening of Webster Hall in New York; songs include `"Let It Go" and `"Hold Back the River."
Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy performs a private concert at the Sunset Center in California during Monterey Car Week; the 17-song set includes "Georgia" and "Riptide."
Taped on the waterfront plaza in front of Brookfield Place. The exclusive concert event, presented by Brookfield Properties, featured Echosmith debuting new music off their new studio album Lonely Generation. Echosmith captivated the crowd with their alternative pop anthems upheld by lush guitars and analog synths.
