Astoria Music & Arts

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CLICK ON THE INS&OUTS MAGAZINE COVER TO READ THE FEATURE ON ASTORIA MUSIC & ARTS IN THE LATEST ISSUE! (click on MUSIC on the left-hand side)

COMING UP NEXT:

** CHECK OUT 2 NEW AM&A MUSIC SERIES! **

* Manic Monday @ The Quays!
* Sounds of the Scene @ The Quays & Shillelagh!

** NEW FALL 2009 UPDATE FROM AM&A! **

Following a successful Summer, Astoria Music & Arts continues their programming in Fall 2009!

Astoria Music & Arts (AM&A) is thrilled to announce the next phase of their 2009 event programming, including a brand new music series called “Sounds of the Scene” at Shillelagh and The Quays in Astoria, a Zombie Stomp Social on Halloween, and a fall festival at beautiful Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City.

Astoria Music & Arts recently launched the “Sounds of the Scene” music performance series at Shillelagh (47-22 30th Ave) and The Quays (45-02 30th Ave) in Astoria. Indie/alternative band Stone Robot and edgy songstress Doris Cellar kicked off the series at Shillelagh, and AM&A will continue to host Sounds of the Scene on Friday and Saturday nights at these standout venues. The Quays has been a particularly important staple in the growth of the local scene, with bartender Gerald Donnelly playing in legendary Queens band Lancaster Country Prison, Little Creatures’ Jimmy Artache running the open mic on Thursdays, and Shane McGowan of The Pogues popping in for some drinks whenever he’s in New York City. In addition, The Quays is home to another AM&A series, the Monday night music showcase “Manic Mondays at The Quays.” Shillelagh is also aiming to become a haven for local music in Astoria: the venue offers drink specials on show nights and is ready to rock with a brand new sound system.

Both venues are easily accessible and located on the very same avenue in Astoria, and will also be presenting a wild holiday weekend for local ghosts and ghouls! There will be two shows on October 30th at The Quays, and Shillelagh will be hosting the return of the Zombie Stomp Social on Halloween night, October 31st, complete with a costume contest!

But even before the Halloween shows, AM&A is bringing a special celebration to Long Island City. Astoria Music & Arts has been invited by LIC’s Gantry Plaza State Park to help them celebrate the fall season with a music and arts festival on Saturday, October 17th, 2009. AM&A and Gantry Plaza State Park will present a day of music, arts, and activities featuring music by Astoria’s own Little Creatures, Bliminal, Jamie Stellini, and Plasma! Gantry Plaza State Park is not only a beautiful location with unparalleled views of the Manhattan skyline from the LIC shore, but it has also become a burgeoning spot for emerging musicians and artists to perform, as evidenced by the past two years of free Summer music on Tuesday evenings as part of Live at the Gantries, presented by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation; Queens Council on the Arts; and Queens Theatre in the Park.

Astoria Music & Arts is pleased to continue what has been a very exciting and successful year of traditionally thematic yearly programming. Beginning in the Spring with “AMandA in Wonderland” at Astoria’s Wonderland Collective and extending through the recent months, AM&A has made its mark with events like the Athens Triangle Block Party as part of Make Music New York (that continued even despite the pouring rain, culminating with triumphant dancing in the street to headliner Panonian Wave!), 5 night in a row “Rock n’ Crawl” events kicking off and closing out the Summer, and the unforgettable second year of music, art, and blaring sunshine at “Astoria Music Now!” in Astoria Park. Looking forward, AM&A will also be producing a second annual “Cornucopia of Consciousness” music event in November 2009.