The Village Trip on West 4th Street

Presented with the West Village BID the festival’s traditional opening block party takes place this year on West 4th Street, “New York’s Left Bank,” centered around the historic Music Inn, a Village fixture for more than half a century, and a hangout for the many musicians who played down the street at Gerdes Folk City and the Bottom Line.

Bob Dylan and Suze Rotolo lived a few doors away, at 161 West 4th, a third-floor walk-up above what was then Bruno’s Spaghetti Parlour – the rent was $60 a month! The iconic cover of The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan was shot just around the corner on Jones Street on a freezing February morning in 1963.

Our glorious afternoon of music-making will be built around Village Trip Artist Emeritus David Amram, an old friend of Music Inn and its owner Jeffrey Slatnick, an instrument-maker and, like David, a multi-instrumentalist. It will include faces familiar from Music Inn’s roster of performers who gather in the store for its regular showcase sessions – just as they did 60 years ago, when the gatherings spilled over into Allan Block’s Sandal Shop next door, where just about every self-respecting musician went to be shod – among them Dylan, and Joan Baez, Richard and Mimi Fariña, and John Sebastian. Allan himself was a keen fiddler who needed no encouragement to put down his awl and pick up his violin. His daughter Rory Block, now an award-winning blues guitarist, would join in the fun after school.

David’s musicians will feature Adam Amram on percussion and Kevin Twigg on drums. Our Band, and legendary guitarist and bouzouki player Avram Pengas will be special guests – but expect lots of surprises!

Lovingly presented in the community spirit for which David is known all over the world, our very special opening party will celebrate the city’s musical melting pot, drawing on the traditions Asian, African, European and Middle Eastern music, as well as Appalachian, Cajun, Cuban, Nuyorican and Irish. As David puts it, “sincere roots music built to last that has been embraced by all jazz artists.”

Bring the family – and your dancing shoes!

• David Amram – keyboards, wind, percussion
• Adam Amram – percussion
• Avram Pengas – guitar, bouzouki
• Kevin Twigg – drums
• Rene Hart – bass
• Sasha Papernik & Justin Poindexter - Our Band

The concert is FREE, though the musicians and crew are paid. So if you are able to support The Village Trip, your donation will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

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