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MiA Announces Music Is Art Festival 2009!

The annual Music Is Art Festival, a free community event that draws thousands of participants, will be held Saturday, September 12 on the grounds of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery.

Themed "Monster Mashup," MiA Fest 2009 will showcase the talents of over 30 bands, 50 artists, photographers, DJs, dancers and other local not-for-profits, making this event  the largest "mashup" of local culture in Western New York. Online submission forms are now available for bands, artists, photographers, dancers and Not-For Profits who wish to participate in this year's event.


MiA Music Weekend June 11-14!

Starting June 11th with Papa Grows Funk as part of the Big Easy in Buffalo series, and wrapping up June 14th, as the last of 12 bands closes out our 12-band concert collaboration with the Theatre of Youth, Music Is Art presents our first ever MiA Music Weekend.

First, Music Is Art (MiA) brings the New Orleans jam band Papa Grows Funk back to Buffalo as part of the Big Easy in Buffalo series, a music education program that gives local students the opportunity to learn directly from internationally touring musicians. Papa Grows Funk will host a private question and answer session with a local high school band before the concert.

This concert will be the 11th in MiA's Big Easy in Buffalo series, and marks the first time that Papa Grows Funk will appear as the only act in a Big Easy in Buffalo show. The band previously closed out MiA's Mardi Gras Jam events where they appeared with other internationally known New Orleans-based bands.

Then, we move on the the Theatre of Youth, where we'll present 12 bands over two days during the Allentown Art Festival. The bands playing are: IMAGE Urban Arts, Wenzday Atemz, 6 phoot 12, Myron & the Id, Abominable Killer Snowmen, The Steam Donkeys, Sleepless City, Inlite, Skiffle Minstrels, Infinity Blues Project, Dali's Ghost, and Type Relevant. 

Thanks to Type Relevant for hosting the MiA Fundraiser
at the Irish Center

On May 8 bands performed at the Irish Center in South Buffalo in a benefit for Music is Art - all thanks to Type Relevant, who organized, hosted, and performed at the event.

Thanks too to the other bands who performed that night - Free Henry!, Shameflute, Subsoil, Reece Q, and the John Hunter Trio - to Imperial Pizza, and of course to everyone who came out to support local music and Music is Art!

Abominable Killer Snowmen win Battle of the Bands!

Congratulations to Abominable Killer Snowmen from Niagara Wheatfield, the winner of the 2009 Music is Art Student Battle of the Bands! 

AKS will perform on the main stage at the 7th Annual MiA Festival on September 12, get to record and release a single courtesty of Robby's Trackmaster Recording Studio, and get a photo shoot from professional concert photographer and MiA Board of Directors member Bob Mussell. 

Thanks to all the finalists for a great competition, to all the bands that applied for being committed to keeping the music alive, to the Buffalo Sabres and Uncle Bob's Self Storage for sponsoring the event, to the judges for their time and expertise, and to everyone who came to HSBC to witness the competition.


Battle of the Bands finalists chosen
Will perform live at Scotty Bowman Cup event at HSBC Arena

The six finalists for the 2009 Music is Art Student Battle of the Bands have been chosen.  They'll compete live at the Scotty Bowman Cup at HSBC Arena on Thursday, April 9.

The finalists are:

Abominable Killer Snowmen - Niagara Wheatfield 
Inlite - Grand Island 
Run Don't Walk - Kenmore East 
Single File Riot - West Seneca West 
Soulmen - Kenmore East 
Taken By Force - Kenmore West 

The bands will be judged by a panel of industry experts: 

Anthony Cassuccio - President & Chief Engineer, XTream Audio / Instructor, Villa Maria College  
Tod Kniazuk - Executive Director, Music is Art / Host, The Big Easy in Buffalo radio show 
Jim Kurdziel -  Program Director, 103.3 The Edge 
Ryan McCrohan - Promotions Director, 103.3 The Edge / Lead Vocals & Guitar, Agent ME 
Justin Rose - Engineer, Trackmaster Recording Studio 

Thanks to the Buffalo Sabres for the opportunity to pair student athletic and music competition at the Scotty Bowman Cup!


Hard Rock Niagara Falls Rusted Root show to benefit MiA
Limited edition Hard Rock / Music is Art pin to be unveiled at March on Stage concert

Hard Rock Niagara Falls (NY) is hosting a March on Stage concert on March 27 to benefit Music is Art.  The concert will feature headliner Rusted Root, as well as 2008 MiA Battle of the Bands winner Inlite and MiA Music in Action graduate Grace Stumberg. 

The brand new, limited edition Hard Rock / Music is Art pin will also be unveiled at the show.  While the concert is sold out, the pin will be available at the Hard Rock gift shop (but not for long!). 

Thanks to Dom and all the fine folks at Hard Rock Niagara Falls for their support!


JED': 30 Years of Paintings by Jed Jackson opens at Castellani

Music is Art Founder & President Robby Takac reunited with former teacher and mentor Jed Jackson at the opening of Jed's exhibit at Niagara University's Castellani Art Museum on March 15.  The exhibit, which runs until September 20, is part of the partnership between MiA and Niagara University.

The two met while Jed was a teacher, and Robby a student, at Medaille College.  Robby and the Goo Goo Dolls later used painting "Arkansas Sunset" as the cover art for their aptly titled album "Jed". 

That work is one of the pieces on display at the Castellani, as is "Midtown", a painting Jed has generously donated to MiA to auction as a fundraiser for our programs at the conclusion of the exhibit. 

Stay tuned for details on this very special auction, and thanks again to Jed and to NU! 


MiA @ NU Rocks the Kiernan Center

On March 13 Music is Art brought 15 great local bands to Niagara University's Kiernan Center for MiA @ NU.  Niagara University is a proud sponsor of Music is Art, and we thank them for their support and for hosting this very cool event.

Thanks to the bands that played MiA @ NU:
Peanut Brittle Sattelite 
Bear Hunter 
Johnny Nobody 
Type Relevant 
Zak Ward 
American Sunseekers 
united by unicorns 
Vision Serpents 
Amungus 
Dalis Ghost 
Inlite 
Abominable Killer Snowmen 
Crooked Letta 
Shapes of States 

Thanks also to our live artists Don Keller, Conn Keogh, and Karl Kotas, and to all who volunteered to make this event a success. 


Big Easy in Buffalo Artists work with 150 students

On February 19 and 20 the New Orleans bands that were part of the Music is Art Big Easy in Buffalo Mardi Gras Jam worked with about 150 students as part of the program.

Headliner Marcia Ball conducted a seminar with our Big Easy Battle of the Bands winner the Infinity Blues Project from Jamestown.  Ms. Ball talked with the band about her career and influences, and answered questions from the band members.  She also suggested several blues artists for the students to listen to, and even burned them a compilation cd of those bands.

Papa Grows Funk performed in front of over 81 students at the Buffalo Academy for the Visual & Performing Arts and talked about life as professional touring musicians.  They then broke off into three master classes (horns, drums & bass, guitar & keys) and taught 16 advanced music students a traditional New Orleans Mardi Gras song, which they all collectively played for the gathered students.

Big Sam Williams (leader of Big Sam's Funky Nation) came to Buffalo's Grover Cleveland High School to speak and perform in front of close to 50 students - including Grover's own New Orelans style brass band.  Sam instructed the band on the finer points of New Orleans rhythm and arrangements, and played his trombone alongside the student musicians (not to mention showed them a little NOLA second line dancing).

All three bands, joined by the Infinity Blues Project and local favorites Leeron Zydeco with Eric Crittenden were part of the Music is Art Big Easy in Buffalo Mardi Gras Jam on February 20 at the Town Ballroom.


Music is Art Big Easy in Buffalo Battle of the Bands winner chosen!

Congratulations to the Infinity Blues Project of Jamestown for winning the Music is Art Big Easy in Buffalo Battle of the Bands!

For being selected as the winners, Infinity will get an opening slot at the 2nd Annual Mardi Gras Jam on February 20 and a private session with Jam headliner Marcia Ball.  They'll also get a spot at the 7th Annual Music is Art Festival on September 12 on the grounds of the Albright Knox Art Gallery.

Thanks to all the great student bands that entered the battle - keep doing what you're doing!


Music is Art Announces 2nd Annual
Big Easy in Buffalo Mardi Gras Jam on Feb. 20, 2009 
Marcia Ball, Papa Grows Funk & more to perform & conduct music education

 
Music is Art (MiA) founder and president Robby Takac today announced the 2nd Annual Music is Art Big Easy in Buffalo Mardi Gras Jam.  The concert will take place on Friday February 20, 2009 (the Friday before Mardi Gras) at 6 p.m. at the Town Ballroom and will feature over six hours of music from New Orleans artists Marcia Ball, Papa Grows Funk, and Big Sam’s Funky Nation, as well as local opener Eric Crittenden & Ron Davis (Leeron Zydeco) and a student battle of the bands winner.  Tickets are $25 advance ($28 at the door) and are available at the Town Ballroom box office, at 716-852-3900, and through tickets.com.  Proceeds will benefit Music is Art’s programming.

 
“Buffalo and New Orleans are a lot alike,” Takac said.  “They’re both great cities that keep going no matter what’s thrown at them, and both cities have incredible local music scenes.  I’m happy we can give our community the chance to hear these great musicians.  Anyone who comes to our annual Music is Art festival knows we showcase great music, so The Big Easy in Buffalo series fits perfectly with our mission.”

 
In addition to the concert, all the bands will take part in music education programs during the day at area high schools.  “A big part of what Music is Art is about is getting students involved,” Takac explained.  “The fact that these national artists will be providing instruction and sharing their experiences with the kids is just incredible.”

 
The Mardi Gras Jam is the latest event in The Big Easy in Buffalo series, which now also includes a radio show every other Tuesday at 8 p.m. – hosted by Music is Art Executive Coordinator Tod Kniazuk – as part of the WBFO 88.7 On The Border program.  Past artists include Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Ellis Marsalis, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Grammy Award winner Terrance Simien, and Eric Lindell.  The quality and diversity of the bands have gotten audiences buzzing about the series.

“The ’08 Mardi Gras Jam went for close to seven hours, and ended with about 20 musicians from all the bands on stage together performing traditional Mardi Gras music and jamming into the night,” Takac said.  “This year’s lineup is just as strong and we know people are going to love it.”


Eat some chocolate, help Music is Art!

Thanks to the fine folks at Choco Logo Confectionary Design, you can help Music is Art in a very cool way.
 
They're currently selling Music is Art branded candy bars, nutcorn, and a special limited run concoction called "Pezzy Up The Bark" in honor of MiA founder Robby Takac and his love of all things Pez.
 
A portion of the proceeds on this MiA-branded product will be donated to us, so shop away!
 
Choco-Logo Confectionery Design is located at 141 Broadway between Elm and Michigan.
They're open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
 
Always open online at www.chocologo.com!
 
You can get your MiA-branded product any time, but an especially good time to get it is this Saturday, December 13, which is Music is Art Day at Choco Logo, part of their "Chocolate is for Giving" week.  That day only, a portion of ALL sales will be donated to us!
 
So whether it's Saturday or any day, get some good chocolate and help Music is Art!


Niagara University Named Featured Education Sponsor
of Music is Art Initiative
 
Niagara University has entered into a partnership with Music is Art (MiA) to be the featured educational sponsor for the 2008-2009 academic year.  Founded by Robby Takac, bass guitarist of the Goo Goo Dolls, MiA seeks to enlighten and ignite a personal connection to the artistic merit and acceptance of all forms of music.
  
 "Having Niagara University as a partner highlights the educational aspect of our mission,” said Takac.  “The arts are a key to a fully realized education, and it’s great that Niagara University is teaming with us to bring music and the arts to our community.”
 
Niagara University will host several events on its Lewiston campus to benefit Music is Art. Among them are the February 13, 2009, Live Music Series show featuring the Beatles tribute band, BeatleMagic.  Two other events involving Music is Art will be held on campus. That weekend that is being slated is Friday- Sunday, March 13, 14 and 15, 2009.  All shows in the Live Music Series are from 8 to 11 p.m. in the "Under the Taps" club, Lower Level Gallagher Center. Admission is $5.00 at the door and includes free pizza and wings. 

"We are very excited to be partnering with Music is Art," said Fred Heuer, assistant vice president for marketing at NU. "The program is a perfect fit with Niagara's mission in developing the whole person."      
 

Music is Art Festival ’08 Announced for Saturday September 13
at Albright Knox Art Gallery
All day event to feature music, dance, art, dj performance and more