Closer Than You Think

A cornucopia of events will take place at venues across Greenwich Village, the East Village and the Lower East Side, from September 14 through 28. The curtain goes up, though, on Framing the Village on September 5—a visual prelude to the festival as a whole. If you’re an artist and want to be part of the exhibition, you can submit work right now here. The theme this year is Identity.

The opening of the festival proper will be heralded by a block party on West 4th Street, “New York’s Left Bank,” on September 14. The afternoon event will be centered around the historic Music Inn, a Village fixture for more than half a century and a regular stop for the likes of Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and George Harrison. Back then, jam sessions would include musicians hanging out at Allan Block’s Sandal Shop next door. Allan was a keen fiddler, and his daughter Rory, who played at our 2019 festival, is an award-winning blues guitarist. Our afternoon-long event will be built around Village Trip Artist Emeritus David Amram and will draw on Music Inn’s regular roster of performers who still gather in the store for weekly sessions.

The festival will close as usual with The Village Trip’s signature free concert in Washington Square Park, which this year features Tish and Snooky, Janie Barnett, and BETTY, Gloria Steinem’s favorite band, who were due to perform last year but stormy weather forced us to cancel the concert. It’s an all-female line-up and includes two sister acts! Girl Power! Wouldn’t all those pioneering Village women be thrilled!

Janie Barnett, who will perform in Washington Square Park

Janie Barnett, who will play in Washington Square Park

In between, we will be presenting a rich and varied program of free and low-priced family-friendly, rainbow-colored events – folk, rock, jazz and classical music; walks and talks; and a children’s program, details of which are to follow.

Joint Artist Directors Liz Thomson and Cliff Pearson said:

“This year's Village Trip is going to rock the Village--both East and West. We’re thrilled to be adding the Blue Note to our roster of partner venues, and starting a relationship with The Clemente, which extends our reach in the Lower East Side and the Latino communities there.

“We are honored to be working with the Lead Belly family for the New York City premiere of the documentary Lead Belly: The Man Who Invented Rock ‘n’ Roll, and with Gail Papp, who will join us once more when David Amram presents an evening of music he composed for Joe Papp’s Shakespeare in the Park.”

There’s much more to come, including details of James Baldwin 100, a series of events which will look both backward and forward, using new music by contemporary composers and Baldwin's own words to celebrate his centennial. Chiming with that, Professor Ruth Feldstein’s Village Trip Lecture will reflect on Black women entertainers and their role in the Civil Rights movement.

Willie Nile

Diane Garisto who will bring Stoned Soul Picnic – The Laura Nyro Project to the Bitter End

Willie Nile rocks on at the Bitter End

Yaron Gershovsky will join Janis Siegel at the Blue Note

Diane Garisto will bring Stoned Soul Picnic – The Laura Nyro Project to the Bitter End

Yaron Gershovsky will accompany Janis Siegel at the Blue Note

William Anderson and Joan Forsyth, who preside over the festival’s Classical and New Music program, added:

“Downtown’s history of classical music is rich and vibrant. The Academy of Music and the first Steinway Hall were on 14th Street, near where Dvorak began his New World symphony. Gershwin grew up on the Lower East Side. And Astor Piazzola birthed modern tango on East 9th Street and in Little Italy. The scene is no less vibrant today, with four flourishing music schools and hosts of young musicians following in the footsteps of the many who went before them.

“Once again, our Classical and New Music Program will connect past and present, exploring and celebrating the Village, East and West, as an artistic gathering place where musical forms and ideas collide in languages as varied as those spoken on its crooked streets. As always it will be an exhilarating ride.”

Mark your calendars, tell your friends! The Village Trip 2024 will soon be upon us – bookings will open in early July.

And please consider a donation. The Village Trip is a 501c3 organization, so your contributions are tax-deductible. Whatever you can give, it is much appreciated.