Antibalas will be the house band and twenty artists will perform the songs of Aretha Franklin on Monday, March 6th at Carnegie Hall in the 14th annual tribute concert to benefit music education programs. Here’s the lineup: Melissa Etheridge, Kenny Loggins, Ann Wilson, Todd Rundgren, Sarah Dash, Glen Hansard, Rhiannon Giddens, Taj Mahal with his daughter Deva Mahal, Living Colour, Allen Stone, Bettye Lavette, Ceelo Green, Naomi Shelton, G. Love, Richard Thompson, Ruthie Foster, Ron Pope, Don Bryant, Sam Moore, and Ledisi.
As is the tradition, a live rehearsal show will happen at City Winery the night before. The concert on Sunday night is sold out but you can add your name to a wait list.
The concert has produced some memorable moments in the past. David Byrne and Talking Heads, Paul Simon, Prince, The Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Simon and Garfunkel, The Who, REM, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Joni Mitchell have all been feted and a handful of the honorees have turned up at the shows. As Michael Dorf recalled while I was chatting with the Knitting Factory and City Winery founder last week, Elton John and Bernie Taupin enjoyed their songs while sitting together in a box overlooking the stage but did not perform. Bruce Springsteen not only made a cameo but did two songs for an encore after his music was presented in 2007. David Byrne showed his characteristic flair by appearing in a white tux leading a marching band down the center aisle before taking the stage to put a punctuation mark on the 2015 show. Last year’s concert for David Bowie expanded to two nights, with a second show at Radio City Music Hall, following the artist’s death in January. It was an emotional celebration of his legacy that gave artists and fans alike an opportunity to gather and share the loss while immersed in the music that endures.
Will Aretha put in an appearance? Who can tell! In any case, Carnegie Hall is the place to be next Monday and these music education programs will all benefit: Grammy in the Schools, Young Audiences New York, Church Street School of Music and Art, The Orchestra Now, The Center for Arts Education, Little Kids Rock, D’Addario Foundation, Sonic Arts For All, and Midori & Friends.
