Charity Concert to be performed before a live audience and livestreamed.
Are you ready for live music again? Ready to see Sara Bareilles, Jon Bon Jovi, Gary Clark, Jr. and Yola all appearing on the same stage on the same night?
Wait no longer: On June 3, the legendary Beacon theater on New York’s Upper West Side will be home to LOVE ROCKS NYC 2021 the fifth anniversary benefit concert for God’s Love We Deliver, the charity organization born of the AIDS crisis which delivers medically tailored meals to those living with severe illness. For fans everywhere the concert will be livestreamed. Live music is back in NYC!
But first let me rewind the clock a bit: More than a year ago, on March 12, 2020, I was very much looking forward to attending the fourth annual Love Rocks NYC benefit concert. Executive produced by fashion designer John Varvatos with the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation as the lead sponsors, prominent benefit concert producers Greg Williamson and Nicole Rechter had assembled a diverse roster of talent that included the great and the soon-to-be-famous talents including Dave Matthews, Jackson Browne, Chris and Rich Robinson among many others along with a special appearance by David Letterman.
However, although the producers and artists all hung in until the last possible minute, that same day New York City shut down indoor public performances and theater attendance. LOVE ROCKS NYC did the impossible, pivoting to a livestreamed performance. As such, LOVE ROCKS NYC 2020 was the last performance at the Beacon before we all entered isolation and lockdown.
Since 2017, the annual LOVE ROCKS NYC concerts have helped raise more than $13 Million dollars, underwriting the delivery of some 1.3 million meals to New Yorkers in need. The star-studded roster of artists who have appeared at past LOVE ROCKS NYC concerts includes Keith Richards, Dave Matthews, Mavis Staples, Robert Plant, Jackson Browne, Warren Haynes, Emmylou Harris, Buddy Guy, Andra Day, Ziggy Marley, Ann Wilson and Sheryl Crow as well as rising stars such as Leon Bridges, Marcus King, Allen Stone, Larkin Poe, Hozier and The War and Treaty (You can watch past LOVE ROCKS NYC highlights here).
Now, back to the future: LOVE ROCKS NYC 2021, once again presented by the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation, and executive produced by John Varvatos, Greg Williamson and Nicole Rechter, will this year be hosted by Jeff Garlin, Michael Imperioli and Bernie Williams with a special appearance by Tina Fey. In addition to Barreilles, Bon Jovi and Gary Clark, Jr, the lineup includes Billy F Gibbons (of ZZ Top), Warren Haynes, Emily King, Ledisi, Pedrito Martinez, Tash Neal, Fantastic Negrito, Ivan Neville, Robert Randolph, and Nathaniel Rateliff, as well others to be announced. The house band will be led by Will Lee (of the CBS Orchestra) and includes among others, such veteran sidemen as Steve Gadd, Eric Krasno, Larry Campbell, Jeff Young, Shawn Pelton and Ricky Peterson.
In addition to supporting God’s Love We Deliver, this year’s concert event will also pay tribute to the NYC Frontline workers who have played a critical role in supporting the city during the pandemic.
The evening’s sponsors are, was mentioned earlier, the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, as well as Bloomberg Philanthropies, RJKB Family Charitable Foundation and Secunda Family Foundation. Additional sponsors include CAA-GBG, The Campbell/Ribbecke Family, Condé Nast, DK Display Corp., Gramercy Tavern, On This Day, Shake Shack, Villa One Tequila and official media sponsors The Wall Street Journal, iHeartMedia, Q104.3 Radio and Fans.Live.
Sign up at loverocksnyc.com to receive a free livestream link, and also consider supporting God’s Love We Deliver through a special $20 = 2 Meals suggested donation option on the website.
I feel as I’ve been waiting all year for this event – hold on, I have! I’m betting this year’s performances will be all the more special given how we’ve all spent the last year. The artists will be as excited to play before a live audience as the fans will be to hear them. Having a great time for a great cause hearing great live music is how LOVE ROCKS the pandemic recovery in NYC in 2021.
