Venue Address (Get Directions)

Date and Time

Sunday, April 10th, 2011

4:30pm

Add to my Calendar

Outlook Calendar

Google Calendar

Yahoo Calendar

iCal Calendar

Age Limit

21+

Details

WBAI 99.5FM-NYC and Arlene's Grocery bring a new kind of battle to the Lower East Side with the WBAI Artsy Fartsy Battle of the Bands hosted by radio personalities Spencer Howard and Jack Dourakos of The Artsy Fartsy Show (airs Tuesdays at 2pm on WBAI 99.5FM and www.wbai.org). Eight bands to compete in this competition and fundraiser for WBAI at Arlene’s Grocery (95 Stanton Street, NYC) on Sunday, April 10th at 5pm. The Battle of the Bands also brings a artistic element with performance acts in-between sets and audience prizes with an artistic angle.

In the tradition of The Artsy Fartsy Show, a beneficences to the emerging artist community on the airwaves, the competition offers prizes that will help further the participating bands’ endeavours. The bands will be judged by music consultant, Rick Goetz; legendary WBAI DJ J Smooth of I'll Doctrine and The Underground Railroad (airs fridays at 10pm on WBAI); and Arlene's Grocery for prizes that include: a weekend opening concert at Arlene's Grocery, recording studio time at Boogie Island Productions, live performance spots on WBAI’s Artsy Fartsy Show and weekday music block shows (such as Underground Railroad, Thump and Growl, Mala Vida) and gift certificates to Sam Ash Music Stores.

Over 80 bands applied for the competition and 8 were selected and announced during 4- hour tweeting show on Twitter last Friday, April 1st, 2011 through @artsyfartsyshow and @wbai_radio.

Audience members will hear over three hours of music representing the eclectic sound of the NYC music scene. Bands performing include the positive charged hip-hop of C-4 Movement; the dramatic indie rock of Cosmos Says Hello; the guitar driven sound of Witness A Downfall; the cultural flavor and avant-garde grooves of Ganhdi; the modern rock and introspective lyrics of Will Hanza; the bluesy garage band style of Stately Ghosts; TreZure Empire’s mix of a soul sounds with afrobeat and the lounge-y swing band style of The Pendulum Swings featuring vocalist Jason Trachtenburg of the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players.

The WBAI Artsy Fartsy Battle of the Bands has something for everyone with raffle prizes to Broadway shows, How To Suceed in Business without Really Trying, starring Daniel Radcliffe; and Catch Me If You Can. Dinners for two to Molly’s Pub and Restaurant, serving authentic Irish faire; and Madiba, serving traditional South African dishes in Brooklyn. In addition to artsy restaurants and Broadway shows, audience members can win gift certificates to the Unoppressive Non-Imperialist Bargain Books and Sam Ash Music Stores; and much more that will be announced through twitter.com/artsyfartsyshow.

Tickets can be purchased for $20 through BrownPaperTickets.com or by calling 1-800-838-3006, a limited number of ticket will be available at the door. Arlene’s Grocery is at 95 Stanton Street, between Orchard and Ludlow Streets, on Lower East Side in New York City.

###

About Arlene’s Grocery
Arlene's Grocery (yes, it was a grocery) opened it's doors in 1995 - breaking ground in the then treacherous Lower East Side. Upcoming bands flocked to the seedy neighborhood to experience the sonic beauty of the smaller 150-capacity room which played host to garage rock, punk, and bohemian newcomers, such as Jeff Buckley.

In the late 1990's the club branched into the butcher shop next door and became two rooms under one roof. As the neighborhood gentrified around them, the Lower East Side became the hub of NYC rock. The club hired a Live Rock N Roll Karaoke band who became an instant hit in the city, attracting New Yorkers and tourists from all over the globe to catch a glimpse of celebrities, such as Moby, belting out AC/DC. Shortly after, Arlene's garnered more attention - becoming home to The Strokes, and then booking a residency by The Bravery, which would land the band a deal, and propel them to fame.

As a handful of live music clubs pop up (and down) around the area, Arlene's holds fast to its intention of nurturing unsigned bands; its attention to the highest quality sound; and remaining an institution in the NYC rock scene.

About Artsy Fartsy Show
Artsy Fartsy Show is WBAI 99.5FM’s new hip arts magazine airing weekly, Tuesdays at 2pm EST, and streams live on www.wbai.org. The Artsy Fartsy Show covers all that is new and relevant in the performing, visual and culinary art worlds. Hosted by Executive Producer, Barika Taheer Edwards and Spencer Howard, the radio program also features segments regarding art politics, artists’ rights and highlights the cultures that make up New York City. Contributors on the show include, Hollis Witherspoon (Spot of Culture), Peter Gleason (Politico Art), Jon Braman (Resident Songwriter), Melissa Silver (Visual Art), Nikki Dinki (Food), Jack Dourakos (Music) and Philip Seidman (Theatre). You can follow the Artsy Fartsy Show on twitter.com/artsyfartsy and the program’s website is www.artsyfartsyshow.com

About WBAI 99.5FM-NY
For more than 50 years, WBAI 99.5FM has been the legendary leader in listener-sponsored, non-commercial community radio, serving the New York tri-state area. The station is home to Democracy Now! and radio luminaries such as Polk Award winner, Robert Knight, host of Five O'clock Shadow; Hugh Hamilton (Talkback!) and Earl Caldwell (The Caldwell Chronicles). WBAI was the first radio station to air Bob Dylan and with an eclectic legacy of arts programs such as Bob Fass’ Radio Unameable, Cat Radio Cafe, and The Artsy Fartsy Show. WBAI is the only carrier of Al Jazeera-English in the tri-State area. Operating from its 50,000-watt broadcast tower atop the Empire State Building and studios at 120 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, WBAI 99.5FM delivers an eclectic range of cutting-edge programming to audiences across the five boroughs and into parts of upstate New York, as well as neighboring Connecticut, New Jersey and as far south as Delaware. In addition, WBAI streams and archives on www.wbai.org. Follow us on twitter.com/wbai_radio and facebook.com/WBAIRadio.