Celebrate AMERI’KANA NYC Blends the Folkloric with the Cutting Edge on January 10, 2025 at Sony Hall
Purchase tickets HERE
[New York, NY | December 13, 2024] – On January 10, 2025, Sony Hall will host Celebrate AMERI’KANA NYC, a transformative evening-long festival showcasing the diverse and cross-pollinated nature of American music. Founded by the Latin Grammy-nominated band Making Movies, this traveling festival honors the vibrant intersections of culture, history, and sound that define the American musical experience.
“We started the AMERI’KANA project when we realized how many of our stories are left out of the traditional ‘American music’ narrative,” explains Enrique Chi, lead singer of Making Movies. “Our communities have been collaborating for hundreds of years, and this is an opportunity to celebrate that. This movement is a celebration of our shared musical lineage and a reminder, in this time of division, that music transcends all barriers and boundaries.”
The star-studded lineup for Celebrate AMERI’KANA NYC includes:
Rubén Albarrán – Frontman of Café Tacvba, activist, and multi-faceted musician known for his artistic eclecticism and support for diverse social causes.
Making Movies – Latin Grammy-nominated rock band rooted in the rich traditions of Panamá, blending diverse cultures into a unique and captivating sound.
Terrance Simien – Two-time Grammy Award-winning Louisiana Creole artist redefining Zydeco as a powerful Black American roots music.
The Sensational Barnes Brothers – Masters of gospel and soul, bridging the past and present.
John Forté – Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter famed for his work with The Fugees.
Max Gomez – Americana’s next voice, blending country blues with heartfelt songwriting.
Marcella Simien – Creole Zydeco torchbearer fusing Psychedelic Soul, Folk and Blues well known for her charismatic live performances and commanding vocals.
Binta – First-generation Senegalese and Gambian singer-songwriter blending Neo-soul with rich Senegalese melodies.
Special guests include:
La Lulu – Latin Grammy Award-winning violinist and cumbia innovator.
Jeremy Kittel – Grammy-nominated fiddler and composer with collaborations spanning from Zedd to Yo-Yo Ma.
Shannon McNally – Grammy-nominated troubadour whose soulful voice resonates deeply.
Celebrate AMERI’KANA NYC is proudly sponsored by One Nation/One Project (ONOP), a national arts and health initiative designed to activate the power of the arts to repair the social fabric of our nation and heal our communities. ONOP brings together Artists, Local Governments, and Community Health Providers to foster equitable recovery and improved health in communities across America. Earlier this year, Celebrate AMERI'KANA Music & Arts Festival in Kansas City was one of 18 events hosted in 18 cities across the United States as part of One Nation One Project's Arts For EveryBody campaign. This campaign aims to prove how the arts can lead to healthier people and healthier communities. Inspired by the 1936 Federal Theatre Project where 18 cities and towns presented their own interpretations of the anti-fascist play “It Can't Happen Here,” Arts For EveryBody brought together people and communities. Their support ensures that events like this festival can inspire and unite audiences across the country.
Don’t miss Celebrate AMERI’KANA NYC – a night where the blending of the folkloric with the cutting edge seeks to redefine the very essence of “Americana”.
About Celebrate AMERI’KANA
Celebrate AMERI’KANA is more than a festival; it’s a movement. Through live performances and storytelling, the festival examines how artists from diverse backgrounds have shaped American music, highlighting the cultural tapestry that defines its past and present.
The festival is the latest chapter in Making Movies’ mission to inspire and educate. In addition to their own acclaimed music, the band produces AMERI'KANA TV, a National Endowment for the Arts-funded documentary series highlighting the voices of the Black and Brown musicians who created and continue to carry the legacy of American music.
The AMERI’KANA project grew alongside the non profit organization Art as Mentorship and its reach has brought it into the national spotlight. Art as Mentorship is building an ecosystem for young artists working towards interpersonal, communal, and cultural empowerment. Supported by a network of acclaimed and GRAMMY recognized artists, AM is centered around the concepts of mentorship, social cohesion through the arts, and repositioning arts participation as a health behavior.
What: Celebrate AMERI’KANA NYC
When: Friday, January 10, 2025
Where: Sony Hall - 235 W. 46th Street, New York, NY 10036
Time: Doors at 5:30pm | Show at 6pm
Tickets: Available now HERE.
Media Contact:
McKenzii Webster
Marketing/PR, Art as Mentorship
mckenzii@artasmentorship.org
