Abena Koomson News

North to Shore Music Festival presents An Evening with NATALIE MERCHANT as she brings her Keep Your Courage Tour to New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Sunday, June 25 at 7:00 p.m. 

The track features arrangements by trombone player Steve Davis, and follows the first single and video, “Come On, Aphrodite”—featuring Abena Koomson-Davis—from Merchant’s forthcoming album Keep Your Courage. Produced by Merchant, Keep Your Courage is the artist’s ninth solo studio album, and the latest new material since 2014’s self-titled record.

Natalie Merchant unveils a new video for her latest single “Come On, Aphrodite”—watch here. Filmed in Brooklyn, New York, the new video is directed by Matthew Shattuck (Foo Fighters, John Legend) and edited by Andrew Pulaski (Joey Bada$$, A$AP Ferg). Watch the new music video now!

It is the first track released from Merchant’s forthcoming album, Keep Your Courage, and establishes the record’s themes of love and passion as essential to the human experience. Merchant’s ninth solo studio album, and the latest new material since 2014’s self-titled record, Keep Your Courage will be released in April.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces that tickets are on sale for Natalie Merchant's concert on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at the Byham Theater, 101 6th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.  This event is presented by National Artists. 

Natalie Merchant is coming to Hershey Theatre on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at 8 p.m. with the “Keep Your Courage Tour.”

THE DJANGO will bring another month of stellar jazz by some of the field’s heroes alongside young, emerging artists.

Jacob’s Pillow has announced eight artist residencies this winter and spring at the Pillow Lab, its year-round incubator of new work. The annual season of customizable residencies supports U.S.-based and international dance artists during crucial development, research, and technical stages of choreography-driven projects.

An audio adaptation of the musical FELA!, written and directed by filmmaker Funa Maduka, will premiere on Clubhouse, the popular drop-in audio chat platform, on Saturday, May 15 and Sunday, May 16.

National Sawdust presents conversation series, Fire This Time, launching April 20th. The host, poet Lynne Procope, will sit down with musicians, critics, stick fighters, DJs, academics, curators, poets & music lovers at the ley lines of organizing, activism, and the legacy of perhaps the most influential writer of the last century, James Baldwin.

The Resistance Revival Chorus have released a video for their powerful recording of 'Ella's Song' in honor of Juneteenth and celebrating Ella Baker.

It's been over a decade since Fela! first took Broadway by storm, and still, in 2020, its cast is united and making a difference. Oneika Phillips, who starred in the 2012 return engagement, put out a call to her cast mates to come together for the #DontRush Challenge. 'It evolved into an even more meaningful project with layers of celebration such as aligning with the ten-year anniversary of the show's 11 Tony nominations, including Sahr as Fela and Lillias White as Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. A decade ago, we were at the height of breaking ceilings and blowing minds on Broadway,' writes Phillips.

Resistance Revival Chorus has revealed details of their debut album, This Joy to be released on Ani DiFranco's Righteous Babe Records. The Chorus is a collective of more than 60 women, and non-binary singers, who join together to breathe joy and song into the resistance, and to uplift and center women's voices. Members are touring musicians, film and television actors, Broadway performers, solo recording artists, gospel singers, political activists, educators, filmmakers, artists, and more, representing a multitude of identities, professions, creative backgrounds, and activist causes. The album features original compositions along with protest classics and was recorded in New York City with GRAMMY-nominated producer Tiffany Gouché. The album is 100% created by women and non-binary artists. Righteous Babe's Ani DiFranco says of the Chorus: “The RRC is like an antidote to silence and submission. In this age of division and hopelessness, let us listen to their collective voice and get lifted. Let us remember who we really are.”

The Public Theater in collaboration with the Resistance Revival Chorus announced today that a special free one-night-only Public Forum event, WE RISE: A CELEBRATION OF RESISTANCE, will take place on Monday, August 13 at 8:00 p.m. at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.

Everyone needs a little love. Good thing Joe's Pub has got a ton of it going on in the next couple of weeks. This weekend - Cathy Cervenka and Corn Mo host their annual Valentine's Day duet bonanza - Love Bites - on the 12th. Afterward, Xavier is back with his Ladies of Soul tribute, featuring Martha Redbone, Bright Light Bright Light, Anastacia McCleskey (of Waitress The Musical on Broadway), Toshi Reagon, Justin Johnston and Abena Koomson!

As part of Poetic License 2016: A Kind of Now, Poetic Theater Productions presents TAPROOT -- world premieres and re-imaginations of short poetic plays that explore growth and humanity in the context of social justice. 

As part of Poetic License 2016: A Kind of Now, Poetic Theater Productions presents TAPROOT -- world premieres and re-imaginations of short poetic plays that explore growth and humanity in the context of social justice. 

Poetic Theater Productions announces the line up for their 5th annual festival of new poetic theater. POETIC LICENSE 2016: A KIND OF NOW begins on Thursday, March 17 and runs through Friday, April 8.  Ticket prices range from $15 - $20; the Bedlam event is free. POETIC LICENSE 2016: A KIND OF NOW takes place at the wild project (195 E. 3rd Street, between Avenues A & B). Tickets can be purchased from OvationTix on 212.352.3101 or online at www.poetictheater.com. Group Sales available for groups of 10 or more by emailing: tickets@poetictheater.com

Poetic Theater Productions presents the second annual CONSCIOUS LANGAUAGE: Workshops, Conversations and Performances on the Power of Language. CONSCIOUS LANGAUAGE is a 5-day generative workshop designed for poets interested in writing poetic theater (by invitation only), which culminates in four evenings of performances and conversation with leaders in the field (open to the public).

VAN DAVIS, the NYC based rock-funk group, announces COME WITH ME, available for purchase today, June 19. In celebration, the band will host a CD launch event at INC Lounge (224 West 49th Street, 2nd Floor, above Time Hotel) tonight, June 19. Doors open at 8PM for cocktails and three 45-minute sets will be performed at 9PM, 10:15PM and 11:30PM. There is no cover for the event and there will be drink specials at the bar.