The sixth annual Red Bull Music Academy Festival is returning to New York this May, with it’s special brand of cutting edge performances, talks and screenings and diverse artist lineup.
The month-long festival first launched in 2013 for the New York installment of the Red Bull Music Academy, featuring public conversations with D’Angelo, Erykah Badu,and Werner Herzog; world premieres of live shows including Anohni’s Hopelessness, FKA twigs’ Congregata and Solange’s An Ode To at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum; and the Larry Levan Street Party which brought out more than 20,000 New Yorkers.
2017’s event was just as eclectic, featuring LA Latinx metal band Todo Es Metal, rapper Ice-T,the world’s largest synth orchestra by Japanese artist Ryoji Ikeda and conversations with film directors Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead , Baby Driver) and Floria Sigismondi (The Handmaid’s Tale).
For 2018, several large scale pieces of performance art will take center stage. The Park Avenue Armory will host composer and electronic avant-gardist Oneohtrix Point Never for a multi-level, immersive experience called MYRIAD. Modern composer Tristan Perich will premiere the sweeping Drift Multiply, a piece taking place at one of the largest churches in the world. Synth-pop performer John Maus will bring a new live experience to Coney Island. Also on deck are a special performance by serpentwithfeet, an art exhibit dedicated to the work of RAMMΣLLZΣΣ and a documentary screening on funk singer Betty Davis.
The music lineup is a strong mix of genres and cultures that reflect their intrinsic ties to the city. Celebrating the deep ties of Caribbean and Latin communities in New York City,reggaeton pioneers The Noise will be getting together for a rare union. Also featured, is one of the most successful Jamaican-American artists in history, musician, actor, social activist and icon Harry Belafonte. Belafonte will hold a conversation reflecting on his life and career through his life growing up in New York.
Also sitting down for an in-depth conversation is Swedish singer, songwriter, label owner and producer Robyn with her friend and fellow musician Kindness.
An exciting, robust lineup of artists is planned for the festivities and the program is also set to include: Swedish experimental electronic artist Fever Ray, multi-instrumentalist/composer Dave Harrington (Darkside), Moroccan Sufi trance ensemble The Master Musicians of Jajouka, British cellist Oliver Coates and harpist Zeena Parkins; and Teeth & Nails will feature a horror movie-inspired rap group, including Bali Baby, Asian Doll, Lil Wop and Rico Nasty.
Tickets go on sale Thursday, March 22 at 10am at the festival website.
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