John Smith News

UK-based critically-acclaimed folk/Americana maestro John Smith, who has released five albums and toured the world for almost fifteen years playing as a session guitarist and singer for the likes of Joan Baez, Lisa Hannigan, and David Gray, will release his latest album Hummingbird in the US on March 22 via Commoner Records/Thirty Tigers. Smith became a folk devotee as a teenager after hearing artists like John Renbourn for the first time; Renbourn, a major inspiration and influence on Smith's art, has since dubbed the artist 'the future of folk music.' 'The six strings of my guitar have granted me access to a sacred space between things, the unconscious interweaving sensations that allow us that gentle buzz on hearing a good folk song,' Smith explains. 'I've been immeasurably fortunate to open for and even play with some of my heroes and influences in the folk world. Their work and their generosity of spirit have been a constant reminder that I must keep playing, recording and touring, no matter the cost. There is always work to be done in the service of good music.'

With a proliferation of pimps, drug dealers and muggers saturating Times Square, business on Broadway was struggling during much of the 1970s, with theatres frequently left empty for long stretches and shows that didn't receive enthusiastic praise from the critics usually shutting down quickly.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Executive Director), dedicated to the development of new musicals and rediscovery of musical gems from the past, will present a return engagement of the hit Off-Broadway musical, Enter Laughing: The Musical with book by Joseph Stein, music and lyrics by Stan Daniels, based on the play Enter Laughing by Joseph Stein from the novel by Carl Reiner, produced in association with Riki Kane Larimer and Alene Daniels. Enter Laughing: The Musical returns to kick off The York's year-long 50th Anniversary Celebration at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).

Opening the 2019 winter series is Carmelina, with music by Burton Lane, lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, additional lyrics by Barry Harman, and book by Joseph Stein and Alan Jay Lerner. Performances began Saturday afternoon, January 26, 2019 and continue for 11 performances only through February 3, 2019. The show officially opened last night and BroadwayWorld was there. Check out the photos below!

Celebrating the centennial of Alan Jay Lerner! The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Executive Director), dedicated to the development of new musicals and rediscovery of musical gems from the past, enters the new year with the 25th Anniversary of its acclaimed Musicals in Mufti series celebrating the work of the legendary librettist and lyricist Alan Jay Lerner,

Make It Write theatre producer Sharon Colpman, director Meg McFarlane and writer Helen Jones are treating Liverpool audiences to a unique Western drama, The Barn Swallows, premiering at The Hope Street Theatre from Wed 6 - Sat 9 March 2019.

Celebrating the centennial of Alan Jay Lerner! The York Theatre Company enters the new year with the 25th Anniversary of its acclaimed Musicals in Mufti series celebrating the work of the legendary librettist and lyricist Alan Jay Lerner,

With ethical dilemmas crowding the headlines, the time is right for Stories on Stage to present 'Intro to Ethics 101' on Sunday, February 10 at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204. Single tickets are $15-$28 and available online at www.storiesonstage.org or by calling 303-494-0523.

Celebrating the centennial of Alan Jay Lerner! The York Theatre Company enters the new year with the 25th Anniversary of its acclaimed Musicals in Mufti series celebrating the work of the legendary librettist and lyricist Alan Jay Lerner, whose hundredth birthday was August 31, 2018. The series honors one of the creators behind such classics as Brigadoon, Camelot, Love Life, and My Fair Lady.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and founder of the Lovin' Spoonful John Sebastian brings his timeless catalog and stories about seminal moments in music history to Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre in Malibu on Thursday, January 10 at 8 p.m. 

Described by the Los Angeles Times as “easily the year's most ambitious undertaking” The Wexford Carols reached #1 on both the Billboard and Amazon World Music charts in 2015. Heresy Records will re-release this significant and compelling album on November 15, 2018.

Lyric Hammersmith has announced additional festive events over Christmas.

NBC Olympics will showcase the UWW World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary, with nearly 30 hours of coverage, including more than 20 hours of live coverage on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA. Event coverage begins with men's freestyle finals this Sunday, Oct. 21, at 1 p.m. ET on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA. In addition, NBCSN will provide same-day encore coverage of most of the events throughout the tournament.

Folk Alliance International (FAI) is proud to announce the 2019 Official Showcase artists* representing 23 countries (*confirmed to date and subject to change) for the 31st annual conference taking place February 13-17, 2019, at Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth in Montréal, Québec, Canada.

The Hunterdon Hills Playhouse is presenting the outrageous adult comedy, Run For Your Wife by Ray Cooney, adapted and directed by Ken Schwarz. The Playhouse, well known for its entertainment and dining, is delighting audiences with this new American version of the play.

Award-winning superstar, Young Thug releases his On The Rvn EP. The 6-track project features appearances from the musical icon Elton John, 6LACK, and Jaden Smith.

New Jersey Repertory Company is proud to present When the Circus Comes to Town, a Festival of the Arts that includes: Theatre Brut (32 short plays), live music, an art show, a photography exhibit, poetry readings, and new this year - an afternoon of children's storytelling.  It's a fundraiser for NJ Rep's West End Arts Center, serving the Long Branch community, and it's taking place September 20 - 30, at 132 West End Ave, Long Branch. For tickets or additional information call 732-229-3166 or visit njrep.org.

New Jersey Repertory Company is proud to present When the Circus Comes to Town, a Festival of the Arts that includes: Theatre Brut (32 short plays), live music, an art show, a photography exhibit, poetry readings, and new this year - an afternoon of children's storytelling.  It's all taking place at NJ Rep's West End Arts Center, 132 West End Ave, Long Branch, September 20 - 30. For tickets or additional information call 732-229-3166 or visit njrep.org online.

On Friday, October 5, Amazon Prime Video will premiere season three of the Emmy Award-winning Prime Original series The Man in the High Castle. Prime Video has released the official trailer for the new season, which features up and coming Berlin-based artist Lxandra's reimagining of U2's hit song 'Pride (In the Name of Love).' This is the first time that U2 has allowed 'Pride (In the Name of Love)' to be covered and used commercially. Lxandra's cover will be available for purchase on Amazon Prime Music and other digital music services.

The Imperial Sound's blithe synthesis of 21st-century irony and bright, unselfconscious AM-radio pop is both brave and unique. And catchy as hell. The band's debut album, The New AMshowcases songwriter Frederick Mosher's hook-driven heritage – with influences from Todd Rundgren and Carole King to The Replacements and Elvis Costello – delivering infectious, shimmering songs that celebrate the craft and style of the best pop music. Pravda Records will release the new album on August 31st, and the band will celebrate at the Hideout September 1st with guest singers Renaldo Domino and Robert Cornelius.