NY1 interview

Stacy and Shanelle of BR and Timebomb were interviewed yesterday about the festival. Check it out here:

http://ny1.com/content/top_stories/101880/forest-park-to-hold-international-music-festival/Default.aspx?ap=1&Flash
Of course, we assume no rights for this content and do not own it in any way.

As Promised, the Newest Addition

That's right, folks. She had to leave, but we're so happy she's back: Christina Lee! Fresh off a triumphant tour in the Southeast, Christina Lee will be part of the Forest Park International Music Festival, along with her three-piece band and 6-person choir.

Line-Up Change

JoBlack Sekou is no longer participating in the Festival. We're sorry to see him go, as we enjoy his music. But we expect to be able to announce a replacement for him in the next few days. Stay tuned!

New Sponsors!

We are extremely grateful and fortunate to have picked up a few more sponsors for the event: Sound Frontier and Roslyn Briggs. Sound Frontier is a dynamic blues/rock band out of Brooklyn and Harlem. Roslyn Briggs is an artist who creates gift baskets and designs and implements the setpieces, color schemes, etc. for weddings, corporate conferences, and more! You can learn more about both Sound Frontier and Roslyn Briggs here:

http://www.myspace.com/sureshotbaskets

http://www.myspace.com/soundfrontiermusic

Ganessa James: The Newest Addition to the show

Ganessa James is a songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist, bassist, producer, all-around music acolyte. Her solo project is kin to Onliest, her band with her twin sister, Tiffany "Zelle" James. Ganessa's music includes irresistible earnest delivery, harmonies, and lyrics that implore you to listen and be moved. She is a self-taught singer with influences that include Take 6, En Vogue, Boyz II Men, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor and Joan Armatrading. Ganessa has performed at innumerable New York City venues both as a solo artist, part of Onliest and with other independent artists such as the Soulfolk Experience and Shelley Nicole's blakbushe.

The hits keep coming!

After a successful show last night with 3 of our festival acts at Bowery Poetry Club, Timebomb Productions is pleased to announce the newest sponsor for the International Music Festival: Panera Bread. They recently opened a new franchise near Forest Park at 7325 Woodhaven Boulevard in Glendale, Queens.

Learn more about them here:

http://www.panerabread.com

The Sponsors of The Forest Park International Music Festival

New Sponsor!

We are proud to welcome Peeq Media as the newest sponsor of the Forest Park International Music Festival. You can learn more about them at

http://www.peeqmedia.com

Thanks to all of our sponsors for their support!

Want to See Some of the Talent Before July?

JoBlack Sekou, Illard Scott, and BR and TIMEBOMB will be performing as part of the latest installation of "BR and TIMEBOMB Presents..." on Thursday, May 21 at Bowery Poetry Club. The show starts at 10pm, and also features Bill Popp and the Tapes, Learnz, Core Rhythm and DJ Eddie Nocentelli. For more information, check out:

www.brandtimebomb.com
brandtimebomb.blogspot.com
www.bowerypoetry.com

Why Forest Park?

One of the things we've neglected to mention so far in this blog is why we chose to do this event in Forest Park. Forest Park is one of the flagship parks of New York City, and their management was kind enough to offer BR and Timebomb the time and space to perform for the last two summers. This year, we want to return the favor. Provided we raise enough money to cover our expenses, Timebomb Productions and the other organizers of the International Music Festival plan to make a donation to the Forest Park Trust.

You can learn more about Forest Park and its positive impact on the lives of Queens residents in a few other places on the web:

http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/forestpark
http://10000birds.com/a-forest-in-the-city-forest-park-queens-ny.htm
http://www.richmondhillhistory.org/forestpark.html

New Sponsors

We are fortunate to have picked up a few new sponsors: Ruthie's Dine-In Restaurant, located in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn; BeattyBoy Productions, also located in Brooklyn; and Paul Reinitz, Esq.

full steam ahead

BR and I had a great meeting this afternoon with a friend who is now a new sponsor for the event and legal advisor. He had tons of great ideas and people to follow up with to help this event be even better. This is our first International Music Festival, but it won't be our last. And every show that any of our bands puts on before July 11 is only helping get our collective names out there. So, this past weekend was a great one for all of us.

More about iLLard ScoTT

About iLLard ScoTT
Born September 18th 1980 in Queens NY, a true 80’s baby ILL found his love of music at the age of 14 when his folks brought home his first set of keys. With a long history of musical presence in the home front ILL has been influenced by music genres ranging from all sides of the spectrum. By day, his father sang along to the sounds of American Standards and by night his brother put the needle to the groove, spinning Hip Hop classics in the basement. What was once a child hood hobby soon evolved into a dream to do what he loves for a living. “Some work to live, others live for their work” As a Hip Hop producer lyrist and an engineer ILL invokes every essence of the musical realm limiting him to no one style. ILL considers the lyrics to be the final instrument to the beat thus making or breaking any musical piece. Ill’s style is the medium ground between mainstream rap and grass roots hip hop. The content is positive, the flow is intricate and the topics are based on true life experiences that any one can relate to.

More about L’una Soul

L’una Soul was founded in 2005 in Queens, NY as an artistic collaboration between Ariadne and José Martínez-Elías, representing various styles and musical influences within the genre of rock; creating a fusion with Funk, R&B, Soul, Hip-Hop, and Latin music. Music unites all people as one. For that reason, the group was named L’una Soul- “One Soul through music.”
Expressing their talent, the members of L’una Soul have captivated audiences and have broken the barriers of race, age, language and ethnicity. Ariadne, with her subtle and velvety voice and vast musical background, José Martínez-Elías, with his electrifying riffs remind us of a young Carlos Santana, Yvans Jean-Michel, fills the air with his soulful bass grooves, and Sheldon Clay, one of New York City’s youngest and most talented drummers, with a solid Gospel background, is the backbone to this fresh and invigorating sound that together makes up L’una Soul.

More about BR and TIMEBOMB

BR is a hip-hop artist from Brooklyn, New York. BR (Beyond Recognition) has developed a cool, energetic and focused style over his years working both with other groups and on his own. BR put together TIMEBOMB, a seven-piece band, in 2002. For the past six years BR and TIMEBOMB have performed at a number of venues in and around New York City, including Studio 54, Webster Hall, Union Square Park, NAMA (New Amsterdam Musical Association), the National Black Theater and The Apollo Theater; and have ventured out of NYC to Hofstra University on Long Island and Oberlin College in Ohio.

TIMEBOMB features Olivia Martinez (violin/viola), Jibrail Nor (drums), Shanelle D. Jenkins (trumpet), Kyle Eaddy (lead Guitar) and Stacy Beatty, Jr. (bass). These talented musicians have experience with a wide range of musical styles. Timebomb combines R&B, rock, reggae, funk, Soul, jazz, classical and pop to create music that is strictly hip-hop. Fans of the band have compared BR and Timebomb to OutKast, The Roots, the Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West and Earth, Wind & Fire. BR and Timebomb is a unique combination of their greatest influences.

BR and TIMEBOMB recently released their first three singles on Itunes, Cdbaby and several other websites. They are working on completing the rest of their album, as well as touring throughout New York City and along the East Coast.

More about Christina Lee

Christina Lee has a sound that's unique yet universal, blending a variety of influences and talents to create a fresh new Christian / Gospel musical style. Of Korean descent, at the young age of 22 Christina already has an extensive background in music education and live performances.

At the age of four her journey began with piano lessons that eventually led to Christina being accepted at the Purchase College Music Conservatory. While there she had the opportunity to perform with numerous classical ensembles and chamber orchestras.In spite of her love for classical music, Christina knew that her true calling was in gospel. Her talent, commitment and faith attracted the attention of Donnie McClurkin, who was so impressed that he invited Christina to perform at his 2006 "Youth Explosion". Now the world will get the opportunity to experience her distinctive musical ministry. Christina's debut recording has been released in stores nationwide, challenging expectations with its blend of Classical, Christian / Gospel.