New York’s music scene is broken.

Good venues are closing left and right; many of the existing ones are exploitative and treat artists like antagonists. The myth of radical self-sufficiency has us isolated, spending our time creating content for profit-driven corporations rather than collaborating with those around us and investing in our local scene.

But that's not the way it has to be.

In the '60s, folk musicians like Dylan, Joan Baez, and Dave Van Ronk gathered at cafés in the West Village, supporting one another, learning each other's songs, and growing together. In the '50s, jazz musicians like Charlie Parker, Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Monk would jam onstage together constantly at clubs on 52nd St. and in Harlem. Movements that originated in NYC have gone on to change the world.

If today’s musicians were to work together, depend upon one another to merge our scenes and grow our followings organically, we could create a community that is artist-led, sustainable, and independent from corporations and media networks.

Hidden City is a collective of DIY event organizers and artists intent on creating a scene in NYC that is artist-friendly, sustainable, and inclusive. We're hosting a summit at a warehouse in East Williamsburg on May 2nd from noon to 5pm for musicians and organizers to connect, discover what local movements are already underway, and join forces with fellow creatives to create a golden age of underground music in New York.

Schedule

12:00pm | Doors/mingle

1:00-1:05pm | Communal vocal warmup led by Voice Tapestry

1:05-1:45pm | Speeches from local experts in New York's music scene

1:45-2:00pm | Break/mingle

2:00-3:00pm | Community workshop

3:00-3:10pm | Break/mingle

3:10-3:45pm | Organizing musician power/speeches from local music unions and alliances

3:45-5:00pm | Mixer/open jam led by Pass the Aux conductor Thomas Woodward Davis