The Apollo Theater announced the highly anticipated line-up for the third season of its groundbreaking Apollo Music Café series showcasing creative underground artists in a series of diverse performances across genres, including R&B, hip hop, soul, jazz, pop, funk and rock.
Presented in the Theater’s intimate Soundstage, the series continues the Apollo’s longstanding commitment to presenting innovative artistic voices. Since its debut, in February 2011, the series has become a favorite destination for music lovers of all kinds – from Harlem tastemakers to tourists to the downtown hipster set. This season Apollo Music Café audiences will experience innovative performances by vocalists, spoken word artists and masterful DJs.
The opening weekend features a three-night event beginning with Tre Williams and the Revelations on Oct. 12, Mateo on Oct. 13 and The New Class featuring Cuz I’m Dope, PJay Johnson, Sene, Mike Hurtt, Justine Sky, The Cranberry Show and Rich P with host Amanda Seales, on Oct. 15. Apollo Music Café will run monthly through June 2013.
“The response to the first season of Apollo Music Café was so overwhelmingly enthusiastic and demonstrated that, as the Harlem community continues to grow, so does the need for diverse artistic offerings in the neighborhood,” said Apollo Executive Producer Mikki Shepard. “All of the artists featured in the series are at the top of the underground music scene. Each has a very distinctive style and pushes the envelope to produce a sound that is uniquely their own,”
“Music Café takes a creative approach in connecting with the pulse of the underground music scene and is designed to spotlight emerging artists while cultivating unique experiences for audiences.”
“Since its inception, the Apollo has been a catalyst for artistic brilliance, acting as a platform for diverse talents to develop their craft and connect with audiences. Music Café is a natural extension of the legendary Apollo Experience,” said Apollo President and CEO Jonelle Procope.
Kicking off the new season in October is Tre Williams and the Revelations. This Brooklyn based band made a name for themselves in both traditional and progressive soul circles with The Bleeding Edge, their full-length debut album released in 2009. Tre Williams and the Revelations represent a renewed dawning in soul music, one that marries the concrete jungle grit of the streets with the midnight blues of the rural South. The seven-man band, lead by vocalist Tre Williams, recently released their second full length album, Concrete Blues.
With an out-of-this-world sound, inspiring lyrics and an authentic voice, Mateo is definitely one of those rare breeds of artists that have it all. The talented singer-songwriter coined the term “Urban Mod” to describe his unique sound. “It’s R&B music but, it’s like a lot of urban music right now; influenced by so many different genres.
Already having shared the stage with artists such as J. Holiday, Day26, Mario, and Erykah Badu and releasing the acclaimed Underneath The Sky Mixtape series, Mateo has proven he has the “it” factor. With Grammy Award winning producer Kerry “Krucial” Brothers at the helm of Mateo’s major debut, it is only a matter of time before the world sings his praises.
Closing out Music Café opening weekend , Lillie Pop will present The New Class, a special edition showcase featuring groundbreaking performances from a cadre of energetic voices ranging from alternative hip hop to soulful R&B. The line-up includes spoken word duo Cuz I’m Dope, R&B new comer Justine Skye, cutting edge rapper Sene, one of the nation’s top female emcees LiKWUiD, talented singer/songwriter PJay Johnson, innovative artist Mike Hurtt, rap group and show stoppers The Cranberry Show and Harlem rap sensation Rich P. Tickets for Apollo Music Café are available at The Apollo Theater Box Office: (212) 531-5305, 253 West 125th Street and Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are $20 and $15 in advance for the Apollo’s A-List (Sign up at www.apollotheater.org). All Shows – Doors: 9:00 p.m. Showtime: 10:00 p.m.
