Celebrate AMERI’KANA NYC Festival Sponsored By Arts For Everybody

Music isn't simply that tune that makes you move and groove. Music is a signpost to our cultural past, and a glimpse into our possible futures. If any art form points to the inherent diversity of our culture, it's music. 

What are the roots of country music? Early country music was often based on the hymns and field songs of Southern enslaved people, as well as the work of professional Black musicians. The blues, which originated from Black spirituals, plantation songs, and folk music, is considered the foundation for many genres, including country.

Where did the Beatles gain their inspiration? The Fab Four combined their love of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard, with elements of skiffle and British music hall to form their early sound.

On that note, last month, Arts for EveryBody launched a new podcast No Place Like Home narrated by award-winning spoken word, performer, writer and librettist, Marc Bamuthi Joseph. 

 No Place Like Home is the story of one of the largest public art campaigns in American History: Arts For Everybody. On July 27th, 2024, 18 communities across the country staged simultaneous performances hoping to answer one big question: can art help heal our divided nation?

On January 10th, listeners can celebrate at the AMERI'KANA Music & Arts Festival, part of One Nation One Project's Arts For EveryBody campaign. 

  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 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.

No Place like Home is a documentary podcast goes inside these communities, speaking with artists, leaders, and public health experts to learn how they are using art to transform society, with surprising results. 

The first episode has been released and dives into Arts for EveryBody in Phillips County, Arkansas - check it out HERE or wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes will drop weekly on Wednesdays. 

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.