Kate Van Dorn at Jetty Bar and Grill, December 23

Modern English, The Veldt at Rough Trade NYC, November 22

Pixies, Sunflower Bean, Shock Radar at The Space, September 22

U.K.’s Uncle Frank Bringing “Love Lion” to the Masses

Having released their highly anticipated “Love Lion” album this past March, it seems the U.K.’s favorite Funk/Pop/Hip-Hop/Rock outfit Uncle Frank is only just getting started! Having played a number of UK dates recently and releasing hard copies of the album, the band will also soon drop another brand new video for the single “Your Man”!

Uncle Frank makes the best kind of music.... music with soul, funk, rage and love! The band, made up of multi-instrumentalists and producers Frank Benbini (also one third of The Fun Lovin' Criminals) & Naim Cortazzi, the band has garnered National Radio plays from Huey Morgan on BBC6 Music and BBC Radio 2 and A-listed on Regional Radio throughout the UK. Already having made waves in 2016 with features in The Sun, Spindle Magazine, Music-News.com and The Daily Star, Uncle Frank took the last ever CMJ Music Festival by storm in October 2015 at Fat Baby in New York described as 'The best Band at CMJ without a doubt' by Spindle Magazine.

Touring with the legendary UB40 in America, Frank and Naim duetted with Ali Campbell and UB40 at New Jersey's Performing Arts Centre singing a reggae version Prince's 'Purple Rain' which is on the Radio Riddler album 'Purple Reggae' (produced by Frank and Fast from FLC) and featuring vocals from Ali Campbell, Sinead O'Connor, Suggs from Madness, Citizen Cope and Beverley Knight.

The band’s label debut album ‘SMILES FOR MILES’ released in May 2104 was Best described by Penny Black Music- 'It is proving impossible to keep this out of my CD player at the moment. A fantastic album'. The pair’s love of music has led them to create an album that is an eclectic mix of soul, pop, jazz, funk, old-school hip hop and easy listening. Taking three-months to record ‘Smiles for Miles’ in their home studio, Benbini and Cortazzi arranged, played the majority of instruments themselves, and engineered the whole album.

Uncle Frank were signed to an unprecedented 3 album deal in 2013 by MITA Records, and their first single 'STEP INTO MY ROOM' was supported by an innovative tour of fans houses, performing concerts in their living rooms. This was featured by BBC 1 Television Evening News which reached an audience of 600,000 viewers. The band’s second single 'SOMETHIN' SOMETHIN' accompanied by a robot animation video was featured by The Daily Express, saying "Frank Benbini and Naim Cortazzi, have spent years making music and their remarkable output ranges from soul to funk and old-school hip hop". They then embarked upon a lengthy acoustic tour of universities in The Coffee House Sessions picking up new fans and playlists on the way. The Gay Times even premiered the Flashdance inspired video for ‘DANCE INSTRUCTOR’, which hit over 100,000 views on YouTube.

Shock Radar at Jones Beach, July 12

CHASING TRANE: THE JOHN COLTRANE DOCUMENTARY AT IFC, APRIL 14-25

CHASING TRANE: THE JOHN COLTRANE DOCUMENTARY is a thought-provoking, uplifting, powerful and passionate film about an outside-the-box thinker whose boundary-shattering music continues to impact and influence people around the world.

This rich, textured and compelling portrait of a remarkable artist reveals the critical events, passions, experiences and challenges that shaped the life of John Coltrane and his revolutionary sounds. It is a story of demons and darkness, of persistence and redemption. But, above all else, it is the incredible journey of a spiritual warrior who found himself, found God, and in the process, created an extraordinary body of work that transcends all barriers of race, religion, age and geography. It is a film for anyone who appreciates the power of music to entertain, inspire and transform.

The beauty, poignancy, energy, pain, joy and inspiration heard in nearly 50 Coltrane recordings from throughout his career brings alive the artist and the times in which he lived. Even those familiar with his music will be able to hear and appreciate the music of John Coltrane in a new and exciting way.

Although Coltrane never participated in any television interviews (and only a handful for radio) during his lifetime, he has an active and vibrant presence in the film through his print interviews. These words—spoken by Academy Award winner Denzel Washington–illuminate what John Coltrane was thinking and feeling at critical moments throughout his life and career.

Beatles-Inspired “IMAGINE” One Night Theatrical Tribute Comes to The Cutting Room Sunday, April 30th

On Sunday, April 30th at 8:00 P.M., one of NYC’s premiere entertainment venues--The Cutting Room--will present a unique spin on the songs written by one of the most defining bands in rock history as “IMAGINE” comes to life.

 Written by Claude Solnik and directed by Thom O'Connor, “IMAGINE” is a non-musical theatrical tribute for fans of the Fab Four and anyone who imagines a world where “all you need is love.

 In the show, a cast of 14 performers bring Beatles songs and characters to life such as Eleanor Rigby in scenes inspired by songs by the Beatles – when they were in the band and after.

 O’Connor decided to set the entire show in a re-creation of Strawberry Fields, with its inspirational word “Imagine” on the stage beside park benches, used as the setting for scenes taking place in apartments, homes and stores.
The director’s own story is an equally a remarkable journey through reality and a refusal to let go of imagination,  a heartfelt voyage from home to homelessness and back. He chased a dream and has brought inspiration and positivity to his and other's' lives through theater and film.

“We talked and Thom had all sorts of ideas,” Solnik said. “I took Imagine, gave it to him to direct.  He came up with ideas for the setting, added quotes from the Beatles, helped shape  scenes. He knows what he’s doing.”

A journalist, playwright and Beatles fan, Solnik started with the idea that songs themselves can inspire other works of art.

"What excited me about this show was the varied tones and themes of the scenes," O'Connor said. "The scenes that comprise IMAGINE could stand on their own, regardless of one's knowledge of the songs or the band that inspired them."

Enjoy this spectacular re-IMAGINE-ing in a one-night event Sunday, April 30th at 8:00 P.M. (Doors open at 7:30 P.M.) at The Cutting Room (44 East 32nd St. between Park and Madison Aves.) New York, NY.

PURCHASE TICKETS

Shock Radar performed "Vitamin C" by CAN, Live in New York last night