Events

Join the Shakti Community at Their New Location Come Celebrate the Divine Feminine in All of Us!

03/06/2019 by Susan von Seggern

Shakti Fest 2019: Yoga and Sacred Music Festival Mother’s Day Weekend May 9 – 13

Joshua Tree, CA – February 20, 2019 – The Shakti Fest community of yogis, meditators, conscious parents, and spiritual seekers comes back together for its ninth season, this year on Mother’s Day weekend – May 9 – 13. The 2019 Shakti Fest is at a new location, on the southern edge of the Mojave Desert – offering panoramic views of the North face of Joshua Tree National Park, exceptional desert vistas, and spectacular night skies at the Joshua Tree Lake RV & Campground, in Joshua Tree, CA.

Organized by Bhakti Fest, recently surpassing 10 years of producing conscious events, Shakti Fest is a unique springtime celebration. Driven by the divine feminine spirit, described in Eastern philosophy as the ‘dynamic force which moves the universe’ Shakti Fest features world famous yoga teachers, sacred music stars, spiritual and emotional growth workshops, sound baths, a healing sanctuary, and much, much more.

“We are so fortunate to be staying in the sacred vibration of Joshua Tree. Shakti and Bhakti Fest are all about heart centered community, a conscious and uplifting experience and the amazing line-up of artists, teachers and presenters in a family friendly drug and alcohol-free environment. We expect to offer the same amazing experience our events have always been known for” noted Sridhar Silberfein, founder of Bhakti Fest.

The Shakti Fest 2019 music lineup inspires attendees to sing, dance and open their hearts. This year’s line up once again includes the best Kirtan (a.k.a. chanting) artists on the sacred music scene: Jai Uttal, Donna De Lory, MC Yogi, Saul David Raye, Amritakripa, Gina Sala, Bhagavan Das, Larisa Stowe & the Shakti Tribe, Govind Das & Radha, Girish, Jaya Lakshmi and Ananda, Gina Sala, Fannah Fi Allah, Kavita Kat MacMillan, Krishna’s Kirtan, David Newman, Sirgun Kaur, and Wicked Hanging Chads, with more to be announced. The centuries-old practice of devotional chanting is considered to connect humans with themselves, the universe, and spirit. The entire Kirtan line-up is available here.

World-class yoga teachers are the heart of Shakti Fest, and spring in Joshua Tree is a beautiful time to practice in nature. With a multitude of yoga venues with classes from sun up to sundown, there really is something for everyone! 2019 Shakti Fest teachers include; Shiva Rea, Mark Whitwell, Mas Vidal, Kia Miller, Georgina Meister, Leeza Villagomez, Carmen Curtis, Hemalayaa Behl, Nubia Teixeira, Dr. Haridass Kaur Khalsa, Lisa Gniady, Dharma Shakti, Hannah Muse, Saul David Raye, Govind Das & Radha and local desert favorite Kristin Olson. Anyone can find their inner Shakti through energy invoking sessions in a wide variety of yoga styles. View the full yoga lineup here.

Shakti Fest 2019 Workshops will cover a plethora of wellness and conscious topics including Ayurveda, spiritual nutrition, tantric energy, breathwork, Sanskrit, conscious relationships, women’s sexuality, bhakti art, and hoop dance, with internationally known speakers such as Michael Brian Baker, Mirabai Devi, Dawn Cartwright, Siva Mohan, Zoë Kors, Lorin Roche and Camille Maurine, Manoj Chalam, Peace Guardians, Sharanam, Josie Keyes, Meghan Mahealani Morris, Rana Nader, Sarah Marshank, Syamarani, Zach Leary, and Dharma Devi. Shakti Fest also offers gender specific workshops for Women and Men, creating dedicated sacred spaces, which allow for a deeper connection and expression with sisters and brothers in a safe space. For further workshop details please go here.

In addition to the music, yoga, and workshops, Shakti Fest also supports a healing sanctuary offering a variety of bodywork and other wellness modalities (what’s a weekend exploring your divine feminine without a massage?!); a sound temple where attendees can meditate to the healing vibrations of top soundbath musicians; plus the younger set can play and explore in the expanded Bhakti Kids Land where families enjoy a huge array of special kids programming daily; a Chai Tea lounge with proceeds benefiting Food for Life Vrindavan; immersive Dome experiences; and Bhakti Kirtan School, where top artists share methods of creating Kirtan for a deeper experience of this increasingly popular genre.

There is no place like springtime in the high desert for a fully immersive, powerful conscious experience. Accommodation options include a huge area for car and tent camping under the amazing Joshua Tree stars. In addition, there are RV Sites with electric and water hook-ups, RV Sites with no hook-ups, Cozy Trailers, Bell Tents with an option to include cot & bedding, and fully styled out Yurt Tent Glamping (emphasis on the Glam in glamping!). There are also several hotels within a few miles of the property. Joshua Tree is also known for its variety of private homes to rent via sites like AirBnB including published modern masterpieces, rustic desert shacks, fancy Airstreams, and more. For info on accommodations please see https://bhaktifest.com/accommodations/.

The Shakti Fest Eco Artisan Village offers vegetarian and vegan food vendors, yoga clothing and gear, jewelry, art and unique collectibles. The organizers pride themselves on running a green event, offering free water and mindful recycling practices.

Early bird festival pricing is still available for Shakti Fest 2019, plus there are discounted tickets available for local residents, veterans, military, seniors, and students. Tickets are available at https://bhaktifest.com/buy-tickets/.

The Clark Hulings Fund Presents “Artists Taking Charge of Their Business,” a Panel at stARTup Art Fair, Saturday, February 16

02/06/2019 by Susan von Seggern

Los Angeles, CA – The Clark Hulings Fund (CHF), which helps professional visual artists compete in an increasingly complex marketplace by providing them with strategic business support and training, is bringing its message of artist empowerment to stARTup Art Fair Los Angeles with a panel on Saturday February 16, at 4pm, at the Kinney Venice Beach hotel, 737 Washington Blvd, Venice, CA 90292.

Entitled “Artists Taking Charge of their Business,” the panel will be moderated by LA Weekly Arts Editor Shana Nys Dambrot, and will feature Gregg Chadwick, artist and 2018 CHF Art-Business Accelerator Fellow, Steve Pruneau, an agile program manager, CHF board member, and founder of the management consulting firm Free Agent Source, and Pixels.com-featured artist Jabu.

CHF has organized this panel to discuss how artists can take charge of their business in today’s art market. With gallery disintermediation, social media, and other modern concerns, how can artists take advantage of new ways to reach collectors, show their work, and run their art business to maximize both their vision and their bottom line?

“We are excited to continue our partnership with the stARTup Art Fair,” notes Elizabeth Hulings, CHF’s founder and executive director. “We love that they are so aligned with our mission of helping artists become self-sustaining entrepreneurs.”

“CHF’s panel in LA last year was so informative,” says stARTup Art Fair Founder Ray Beldner, adding, “we’re thrilled that they are able to bring their unique message to our fair since our goal is also to empower artists’ success outside of the gallery system.”

The stARTup Art Fair takes place from February 15-17, concurrent with a number of other exciting art events in LA, including Frieze Los Angeles at Paramount Pictures Studios, and Art Los Angeles Contemporary at The Barker Hangar, at the Venice-adjacent Santa Monica Airport.

About The Clark Hulings Fund
The Clark Hulings Fund for Visual Artists (CHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that champions economic sustainability for working artists. CHF does this by delivering business education and entrepreneurial learning through a rigorous Art-Business Accelerator, a Digital Learning Portal, in-person education events in local communities, and a federation of artist-formed and artist-led networks of opportunity. All of this work achieves one aim: equip visual artists to thrive as self-sustaining entrepreneurs.

About stARTup Art Fair
stARTup Art Fair is a unique contemporary art fair for independent artists. This intimate boutique fair provides artists and art enthusiasts with direct access to the art world, fostering new relationships and creating a new exhibition platform for thought-provoking contemporary artwork.

Stephanie Carlin’s “Reclamation” EP Release Event set for January 25, 2019, at Jivamukti Yoga Center New York

01/14/2019 by Susan von Seggern

Stephanie will perform during Jessica Stickler’s popular Friday 6:30 pm live music yoga class, followed by a full band concert at 8 pm

New York City – December 17, 2018 – Noted New York City-based soulful rock Kirtan artist Stephanie Carlin will celebrate the release of her new EP “Reclamation” with a live music yoga class plus ecstatic trance dance concert at internationally acclaimed Jivamukti Yoga Center New York on January 25, 2019.

The event begins with Stephanie headlining an acoustic show during popular yogi Jessica Stickler’s weekly live music yoga class at 6:30 pm. Then, Stephanie and her band Transmorpheous celebrate that day’s EP release with an ecstatic trance dance concert at 8 pm. Presale tickets for the class/concert bundle are $35, and for the concert only it’s $25 ($40/$30 day of and at the door). A digital copy of Stephanie Carlin’s new EP “Reclamation: A Collection Of Mantras” is included in the price of entry.

“We have forgotten our power. And there’s nothing more important to me than people getting how powerful they are,” shares Stephanie. The musical sage presides over a multi-dimensional platform as a speaker and singer-songwriter, kids record label founder, and life coach for artists. She’s on a mission to empower people to shed self-doubt and discover their truth. And she happens to be an expert at it.

Noting, “I’m reclaiming my voice, my art and myself.” Stephanie is championing her message with a bold new EP titled “Reclamation.” The album is a stylistic mosaic infusing classic Kirtans with rock, jazz, and soul.

“Reclamation” fearlessly mixes ancient Sanskrit mantras with Stephanie’s rebellious nature that defies the typical new-age genres. “I am asking the questions ‘what does it take to be happy and truly free?’” she says. The 4-song EP with the full title: “Reclamation – A Collection of Mantras” boasts an in-the-moment electricity seldom experienced with devotional music. The single out now “Lokah Samastah” simmers with touches of Afro-beat, chiming guitars, dreamy harmony, and slow-burn soulful vocals. Here, set against traditional texts, Stephanie challenges what it takes to be an enlightened spirit.

Her rendition of “Hare Krishna” is like no other. Stephanie brings the otherworldly composition to street level with brawny rock guitars, and surging and passionate singing. Other tracks favor ambitious arrangements with mesmerizing ethereal touches, sweetly soulful vocals, and forays into majestic rock epic territory.

Stephanie’s vocals are richly dynamic, spanning woozy sensuality to soaring emotionality. Lyrically, Stephanie is unafraid to make traditional texts resonant in today’s world with her own insights and commentary. “I hear all these yogis and gurus and spiritual teachers saying, ‘Just be free! Just take a deep breath and let the day go, RIGHT NOW!’ What does that even mean?” She continues, “I’m really looking at our triggers, our resignation, our cynicism, to actually release what stops us from being free. That’s what I write about. The scary work of looking, acknowledging, and if we have the courage, transforming it all.”

Since 2012, Stephanie has fueled her music career as the founder of Free Spirits Music, an international songwriting school with thousands of students across 9 countries. Based in Brooklyn, Free Spirits Music trains artists to be leaders and emphasizes breakthroughs in self-expression and self-doubt through music. The school has blossomed to boasting sold-out semesters, presenting annual rock shows, and, in 2018, becoming a kids’ record label.

As a result of her flourishing program, Stephanie was commissioned to create the curriculum for the John Lennon Real Love Project, a songwriting program for children afflicted with cancer. The program has been endorsed by Yoko Ono since 2015. Stephanie was the Associate Producer of the Annual John Lennon Tribute for 8 years, and it is the only Lennon tribute in North America endorsed by Yoko Ono.

Given her valiant vulnerability, it may come as no surprise that Stephanie came up something like a punk with a mystical goth streak. She led a 10-piece band called Oliver Lankard at just 16 years old. By her senior year of high school, she had convinced her principal to give her a half-day schedule so she could catch an afternoon train from her hometown of Hampton Bays to New York City. She was commuting to record her debut EP, the Agony and Ecstasy of (2008). This is where her career truly began.

Stephanie went on to release her debut LP Tree Of Series (2012) under the band name Avidya And The Kleshas. She’s garnered accolades in such venerated press outlets as MTV, The Deli Magazine, and The Southampton Press, among others. Stephanie honed her craft at Long Island University in Brooklyn where she graduated with a degree in vocal jazz performance. “Even though my shows were packed, it felt like nobody was listening. I needed so much courage to wake up every day and keep writing music,” Stephanie explains.

In 2015, Stephanie had the honor of performing at an international United Nations Conference in South Korea with thousands of delegates in attendance, including the UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon. There she saw firsthand the power of music to transform lives at a global scale. She adds: “And while all these delegates wanted to change the world, they were struggling with changing themselves.”

Now, Stephanie performs exclusively in yoga studios and at yoga festivals. “It’s a whole ethereal experience. The listeners, the yogis, are in sync with the pulse I set. People are breathing with the music. It’s a shared experience in this whole other way than a conventional show.”

Stephanie Carlin is guiding a new generation of artists to deal with the conditions of their lives to self-actualize dreams — or at very least, start to discover them. “Reclamation” is a statement of rebirth. “It’s liberating and terrifying,” she acknowledges, “but it’s so much better than being chained down by fear.”

The Clark Hulings Fund for Visual Artists Announces Its Art-Business Conference in the Washington DC Metro Area, March 23-24, 2019

11/13/2018 by Susan von Seggern

Washington, DC – The Clark Hulings Fund for Visual Artists (CHF) is excited to announce its Art-Business Conference in the Washington DC metro area, an event that seeks to inspire visual artists to “Conquer the Changing Marketplace.” This weekend-long business- development workshop will give professional working artists the chance to take a deep dive into the business side of their art careers. Scheduled for March 23 and 24, 2019, the two-day conference is co-sponsored by Artists & Makers Studios, an art center complex dedicated to providing a supportive and vibrant environment for artists to realize their creative goals.

The event manifests CHF’s assertion that “Art is a business and artists should run it.” With the art market undergoing rapid and significant change—not only with regard to technology but also HOW art is marketed, bought, and sold—artists need to reclaim their rightful position at the center of the industry. The Art-Business Conference will help them to take charge of their careers, captivate their audience, maximize the extraordinary professional advantages they already possess and sell their art effectively and profitably.

Topics will include building an action plan, creating a brand story, rocking their portfolio, multiplying revenue streams, pricing for profit, selling art online effectively, building a strong support team, squashing resistance, sales strategies, and much more. All sessions are interactive, allowing artists to work together and engage conference leaders with their specific business questions.

The program will be led by Elizabeth Hulings, CHF director and co-founder; Carolyn Edlund, CHF sales director, and events manager; and Daniel DiGriz, CHF education director. “With a vibrant gallery scene, museums attracting visitors from around the globe, and unparalleled public art, we are thrilled to deliver tangible business skills and training in this exciting market, and to partner with Artists & Makers Studios.” says Hulings.

The event fee is $395, but CHF is offering an extra early-bird price of $295 until January 15, and an early-bird price of $345 until March 1, 2019, when the regular price of $395 starts. Tickets are available here. In addition to conference admission, ticket holders will receive one year of “Colleague”-level access to CHF’s Business Accelerator Portal, a comprehensive online learning and community resource for working artists.

About The Clark Hulings Fund
The Clark Hulings Fund for Visual Artists (CHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that champions economic sustainability for working artists. We do this by delivering business education and entrepreneurial learning through a rigorous Business Accelerator, a Digital Learning Portal, in-person education events in local communities, and a federation of artist-formed and artist-led networks of opportunity. All of this work achieves one aim: equip visual artists to thrive as self-sustaining entrepreneurs.

The Clark Hulings Fund for Visual Artists Announces Its Art-Business Conference in Fort Lauderdale, February 1-2, 2019

11/12/2018 by Susan von Seggern

October 25, 2018, Fort Lauderdale, Florida – The Clark Hulings Fund for Visual Artists (CHF) is excited to announce its Art-Business Conference in Fort Lauderdale, an event that seeks to inspire visual artists to “Conquer the Changing Marketplace.” This weekend-long business- development workshop will give professional working artists the chance to take a deep dive into the business side of their art careers. Scheduled for February 1 and 2, 2019, the event is funded in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners through the Broward Cultural Council. The two-day conference is co-sponsored by ArtServe, an active incubator for Broward County’s growing art community.

The program will be led by Elizabeth Hulings, CHF director and co-founder; Carolyn Edlund, CHF sales director, and events manager; and Daniel DiGriz, CHF education director. “South Florida has emerged as an important art hub,” says Hulings. “We are thrilled to be delivering tangible business skills and training in this exciting market.”

The event fee is $395, but CHF is offering an extra early-bird price of $295, until November 15, and an early-bird price of $345 until January 1, 2019, when the regular price of $395 starts. Tickets are available here. In addition to conference admission, ticket holders will receive one year of “Colleague”-level access to CHF’s Business Accelerator Portal, a comprehensive online learning resource for working artists.

About The Clark Hulings Fund
The Clark Hulings Fund for Visual Artists (CHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that champions economic sustainability for working artists. We do this by delivering business education and entrepreneurial learning through a rigorous Business Accelerator, a Digital Learning Portal, in-person education events in local communities, and a federation of artist-formed and artist-led networks of opportunity. All of this work achieves one aim: equip visual artists to thrive as self-sustaining entrepreneurs.

Steve Weisberg & his Orchestra Perform at Santa Monica’s Magicopolis November 14 with Special Guests Including Gaby Moreno, NRBQ’s Terry Adams and more

11/12/2018 by Susan von Seggern

October 17, 2018, Santa Monica, CA – Noted for his long and busy career as a producer and music director Steve Weisberg is bringing his orchestra, with a who’s who of LA’s top session musicians, together again for a variety show style concert at Magicopolis, 1418 4th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401, Wednesday November 14 at 8pm. Tickets are $30 and are available here.

Joining Weisberg’s amazing 17-piece orchestra will be NRBQ founder Terry Adams, noted indie Latina singer/songwriter Gaby Moreno, Billboard Jazz Charting Ghanian-American singer Abiah, noted father/son act The Cages, Suzy Williams – long known and loved as the songbird of Venice, and up and coming singer Clara Zimm, with more special guests to be announced.

Weisberg has extensive experience as an arranger and musical director on recordings and live events often for famed producer Hal Willner with artists including Sting, Elvis Costello, Marianne Faithful, K.D. Lang, Macy Gray, BØRNS, David Byrne, Lou Reed, Carla Bley, Michael McDonald, Kesha, Tony Clifton, Howard Tate, Shane McGowan, Jill Sobule, Jackson Browne, Bill Frisell. and many, many more.
Weisberg describes his orchestral aspirations to be “Lawrence Welk meets Spike Jones meets Frank Zappa.” Adding, “come on down and get ready to be amazed, surprised and thoroughly entertained!”

Past SWO shows included performances by BØRNS, Victoria Williams, Jill Sobule, Petra Haden, Sussan Deyhim, Mocean Worker, and Perla Batalla, so attendees never know what surprise guests might pop up!

Noted LA Yoga Teacher Alex Dawson Releases “Om Mani Padme Hum” EP October 5

10/04/2018 by Susan von Seggern

Release Event Kirtan Scheduled for 12 Noon Sunday October 7 at Wanderlust Hollywood

Alex Dawson EP cover Los Angeles, CA – September 17, 2018 – With a packed schedule of private lessons, teaching nine classes weekly at three Equinox locations and Wanderlust Hollywood, traveling to teach at the Wanderlust festivals, and hosting several retreats annually, it’s a wonder popular LA yoga teacher Alex Dawson has time to catch an in-breath, let alone record an EP, but the three song “Om Mani Padme Hum” is set for release on October 5 on Spotify, Apple Music and all other major online outlets.

The release event for the EP will be an hour long Kirtan session at 12 noon on Sunday October 7 at Wanderlust Hollywood,1357 Highland Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90028. The free event will take place immediately after she teaches Wanderlust’s popular Sunday morning “Soulscape” class.

Joining her on the gig are EP producer, bass player and beatsmith John von Seggern who is noted for his work with electronic jazz legend Jon Hassell and his Indian-style global hit remix of Nelly Furtado’s “Like a Bird,” and the EP’s guitarist Matt Piper, who is revered in the music business as a top expert on Propellerhead’s Reason software.

In addition to “Om Mani Padme Hum,” the other two Sanskrit mantras on the EP are “Gopala” and “Jai Hanuman.” Dawson notes, “when I started playing with John and Matt in 2016, I fell in love with the collaboration and how the mantras came to life. Putting out an EP is super scary and breeds resistance so I’m thrilled to set this one free. I hope listeners enjoy it, too!”

Event sponsors include Magic Dates and Guayaki Yerba Mate. Instead of hot tea, Guayaki will be providing some of Alex’s favorite new flavor – sparkling grapefruit ginseng.

Alex began teaching yoga in 2002 to Kathleen Turner, Lorraine Bracco, and the Broadway cast of ‘The Graduate.’ She did her 200-hour training at Sonic Yoga in Manhattan and studied many forms of meditation including Vedic with Thom Knoles, Vipassana as taught by S.K. Goenka and Mindfulness with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield. Alex is studying Sound Healing and has created for Wanderlust Festivals her signature “Get Woke” class which is a powerful vinyasa practice that lands savasana into a sound bath and wakes you up with a Bhakti hit of call and response chanting. “Bhakti is another form of sound healing. It creates unseen healing both in the body and the community and it penetrates deep. It is a natural compliment to vinyasa for me both as a student and teacher.”

Currently, Alex is based in Los Angeles and teaches at Wanderlust Hollywood and Equinox where she often brings her harmonium for a closing Bhakti hit. She is inspired by people who recover from anything. That moment of transformation is her deepest call of illumination and is why she was so drawn to “Om Mani Padme Hum” as her debut EP. She travels worldwide to lead yoga retreats. Next up is her New Year’s Retreat in Mexico toasting in 2019, and later…Bali.

Alex was also a lead in the critically acclaimed and New York Times featured web series ‘Namaste, Bitches,’ but she swears, it’s not like that. (At least not in her class).

Fusicology Celebrates its 15th Anniversary with GRAMMY®-Winner Louie Vega Sunday, October 21 at the Ford Theatres

09/11/2018 by Susan von Seggern

FUSICOLOGY flyer Los Angeles, CA – August 9, 2018 – GRAMMY® Award-winning bandleader Louie Vega is renowned the world over for helping to create and establish house music’s soulful Latin, gospel and jazz-influenced style. Based in New York City, Vega is a dance music legend both as a DJ and as a prolific music producer. Vega and his band, E.O.L. Soulfrito, will perform live at the Ford Theatres on Sunday, October 21 in a special celebratory concert commemorating Fusicology‘s 15th anniversary! Tickets are available at FordTheatres.org.

Vega, who last performed live in LA in 2009 at the House of Blues, is pleased to bring his new “Elements Of Life” (E.O.L.) show to Los Angeles for the 15th anniversary of his friend Asya Shein’s company Fusicology, noting, “I have seriously known Asya since she was a teenager! It’s wonderful to see her all grown up, operating a top online outlet for urban events, producing shows, and generally running the game in LA and nationally!”

With his latest album NYC Disco on Nervous Records topping the charts this summer, two GRAMMY® nominations (of his seven nominations) in the last two years, and a lifetime of adoration and success in the dance music community, Vega is certainly not slowing down!

ABOUT LOUIE VEGA
Active since the ‘90s as a DJ, producer, label operator and as one-half of Masters at Work, Vega is a permanent part of dance music history. Vega made a name for himself behind the decks in the New York City club circuit prior to branching out with studio work. Besides producing his own releases with an array of vocal and instrumental collaborators, he has produced and remixed tracks for commercial dance-pop vocalists and underground artists and producers alike.

Remarkably eclectic across four decades, Vega has been deeply immersed in an array of club music styles— house being foremost—and has all the while kept the genre’s connections to disco, freestyle, rap, Latin and jazz illuminated. Among his most notable career achievements are number one Billboard club hits such as “Ride on the Rhythm,” with Marc Anthony, in 1991; Saint Ettiene’s “Only Love Can Break Your Heart;” Chic’s “Chic Mystique” and “I Can’t Get No Sleep,” with Masters at Work featuring India, in 1993; and a GRAMMY® Award for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical for his remix of Curtis Mayfield’s “Superfly” in 2006.

His revered discography of mix albums and studio projects includes Louie Vega Starring…XXVIII, which was nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album GRAMMY® in 2016. Vega has never lost touch with his roots, epitomized by his new album NYC Disco on Nervous Records.

Born and raised in New York City’s Bronx borough, Vega grew up surrounded by music, as the son of Latin and jazz saxophonist Luis Vega, Sr. and a nephew of salsa legend Héctor Lavoe of the Fania All Stars. Vega began DJing as a teenager after he watched his neighborhood friend and hip-hop pioneer Jazzy Jay spin records. He was soon a regular at Bronx block parties and New York City events at the Roxy.

After a nine-month stint at his first club, Sal Abatiello’s Devil’s Nest in the Bronx, he began spinning at the infamous Hearthrob in New York City, where he met house producer Todd Terry, who regularly gave Vega his new tracks by Black Riot and Royal House to try out on the crowd. Vega’s own first remix commissions, in 1986 and 1987, included Information Society’s “Running,” Debbie Gibson’s “Only in My Dreams,” and Noel’s “Silent Morning.” By then, he was a fixture in the NYC club scene, within DJ booths of the Devil’s Nest, Heartthrob, Studio 54, and the Sound Factory Bar (Underground Network parties).

Vega debuted as a solo producer in 1989 with “Don’t Tell Me” for TVT and “Keep Pumpin’ It Up” for SBK One. Both singles were issued under the name Freestyle Orchestra, the first of Vega’s many aliases, though the majority of his subsequent solo output has been credited to his childhood nickname Little Louie Vega.

Additional early success came after Vega was commissioned to do songs for the movie East Side Story, which placed him in the path of singer Marc Anthony. Vega and Anthony signed to Atlantic as a duo and released the album When The Night Is Over and single “Ride on the Rhythm,” which featured Vega’s father on saxophone and topped Billboard’s club chart in 1991.

Shortly thereafter, he and Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez became established as Masters at Work (MAW). He met Gonzalez through fellow producer Todd Terry, who originally borrowed Kenny’s crew name Masters at Work for some late-’80s output “Dum Dum Cry” and “Alright Alright.” Since 1990, Vega and Gonzalez have issued hundreds of 12″ remixes and productions for major artists and some on their own MAW label. They’ve hit commercially with the chart-topping River Ocean Featuring India collaboration “Love & Happiness” (1993), and have remixed the likes of Jamiroquai, Madonna, Incognito, Janet Jackson, Aliyaah, and Michael Jackson, among tracks by dozens of other artists.

Working under the name Nuyorican Soul (in addition to MAW), the two worked with such jazz legends as Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri and George Benson for a self-titled 1997 album that reached top 40 in the UK. The success of Nuyorican Soul cut a path for Vega to lead another all-star affair, Elements Of Life, with help from fellow deep house heavyweights Josh Milan and Kevin Hedge of Blaze, along with top-tier vocalists Cyndi Mizelle, Lisa Fischer, Raul Midon, and Anané.

Another career highlight was composing a song for Cirque Du Soleil with Blaze, “One Dream,” recorded by Elements Of Life and featuring lead vocalist Anané. The song was performed by The Elements Of Life Band and Cirque Du Soleil live at the 2007 Superbowl in front of 70,000 people at Dolphin Stadium in Florida and seen by 145 million viewers on television worldwide.

The Elements Of Life’s activity culminated with the 2013 album Eclipse on Fania Records. The collaborative spirit continued through 2016’s Louie Vega Starring…XXVIII, on which he worked with material from Funkadelic, Jocelyn Brown, The Winans Brothers and The Clark Sisters, Lisa Fischer, Cindy Mizelle, and his long-term collaborators Anané and Josh Milan. That album was nominated for a Best Dance/Electronic Album GRAMMY® in 2016.

Across the decades, Vega has also continued to tour the world as a DJ with his unique blend of house, Afro house, disco classics, obscurities and dancefloor anthems old and new. His selecting and DJing skills have been showcased on over 20 commercially released DJ mixes, such as Little Louie Vega at the Underground Network NYC (1993), Back in the Box (2007), and Vega on King Street: A 20 Year Celebration (2013). NYC Disco (2018) on Nervous Records applied many of his skills with a selection of original productions, plus remixed, edited and reworked club classics of the late ’70s and early ’80s seminal label Sam Records.

Breaking down musical barriers and bringing people together through a love of music has always been Vega’s aim; after more than 20 years in the game, his contributions continue to positively influence global dance music.

ABOUT FUSICOLOGY
Fusicology was founded in 2003 by noted independent dance and urban music agent Asya Shein as a way to help promote her clients’ gigs. Fifteen years later, Fusicology is now one of the premier event guides for urban music fans in 25 cities across North America, with Shein as its CEO.

Joining Shein on the Fusicology team is CTO Michael Sherrill, a respected African American technology business and startup veteran. Business and legal affairs are run by Sapna Lal, with editorial and content provided by noted journalists from across the U.S. and Canada.

Fusicology’s premise and footprint consists of user generated event listings curated by niche promoters, artists, agencies, talent managers and venues. The site, newsletters and apps specialize in providing socially significant information for multicultural early-adopters, providing a rich connection between brands and a progressive cosmopolitan audience.

In addition to the site, Fusicology is an award-winning full service digital, experiential and strategic boutique agency that offers targeted marketing through its expansive national digital platform, along with in-market venue activations and a vast promotional force.

With an audience of over 200,000 users, Fusicology is unique in that it delivers a trend-setting young, multicultural audience. In addition to being the go-to site for notable live event purveyors like Goldenvoice, AEG Live, House of Blues, Live Nation and the LA Phil, brands that have utilized Fusicology include Red Bull, HBO, Puma, Diageo, Lions Gate Films, and many others.

In addition to the Louie Vega E.O.L. Soulfrito event at the Ford Theatres, Fusicology’s 15 Year celebration will kick off in August 2018 with a new interface that includes a website, mobile apps, newsletters, and with more special events taking place nationwide in the Fall.

Bhakti Fest Announces an Unprecedented 10th Anniversary Festival Lineup

08/03/2018 by Susan von Seggern

Festival Debuts by Deepak Chopra, and Radnor & Lee; New features include Mantra Dome and Kirtan Camp

Joshua Tree, CA – July 30, 2018 – Upon exiting the stage at 1969’s Woodstock Festival where Sri Swami Satchidananda gave the event’s invocation to over 400,000 attendees, the renowned spiritual leader gave Sridhar Silberfein his mission to create a festival where the focus was chanting the names of the divine and bringing higher consciousness to the masses. Forty years later in 2009 Sridhar actualized his mission, and in 2018 we are thrilled to celebrate 10 years of Bhakti Fest, September 12 – 17.

Pulling out all the stops for their 10th Annual Bhakti Fest event, attendees will be treated to a keynote speech from the world-renowned mindfulness leader, Dr. Deepak Chopra M.D., co-founder JIYO.com, in his yoga festival debut. Dr. Chopra will also lead a workshop on The Radiance Sutras, in conjunction with Dr. Lorin Roche; take part in the Spiritual Superstar panel featuring Jai Uttal, Shiva Rea and Prem Baba; and lead a Global Meditation with Grammy nominated artist Krishna Das.

While long known as a Kirtan (chanting) music festival, Bhakti Fest has branched out into Sacred Music in recent years, and for the 10th edition, are pleased to host the festival debut of Radnor & Lee. This new duo features television superstar Josh Radnor, the titular “I” in the Emmy winning nine season hit show “How I Met Your Mother,” along with noted Australian singer/songwriter Ben Lee. Friends for over a decade with a shared interest in philosophy and spirituality, they always said they should write a song together. One song turned into ten and Radnor & Lee was born. Their debut album “Radnor & Lee” came out in November, 2017, and they have amassed a growing and passionate fanbase globally, particularly in Brazil where they completed a sold-out tour in January. They are currently at work on their second album due out later this year. Alternately witty, hopeful, yearning, joyful, searching, meditative, and celebratory, Radnor & Lee make music for human beings who are ready to fall in love with being human again.

Other new artists on the various Bhakti Fest stages will include Sri Kala’s sacred hip hop; Andre Thierry’s big band creole of folk, blues, jazz, zydeco, and soul; and global folkie Mikey Pauker leading a Shabad performance Friday at Sunset.

Unique to Bhakti Fest, in addition to the music stages, the event’s 10th Anniversary will add a Mantra Dome, a dedicated 360° dome space where attendees can join their favorite artists in for an intimate gathering to chant sacred mantras; a visionary art exhibition; and a Kirtan Camp offering a unique and blessed learning journey of two-hour classes to expand singers’ and musicians’ knowledge of how to utilize instruments and chanting for a deeper Bhav experience.

“While we always bring in the world’s best yoga teachers, including Sri Dharma Mittra, Shiva Rae, Janet Stone, Kia Miller, Mark Whitwell, Sianna Sherman, Govind Das & Radha, Saul David Raye, Johanna Beekman, Sean Johnson, and Jaya Lakshmi & Ananda to name a few, we also are very much into curating up and coming talent.” explains Sridhar. “Yoga classes for all levels are offered at three different yoga halls, including kids’ yoga.” The complete listing of yoga instructors can be viewed here.

Bhakti Fest’s sacred music, runs from morning until well after midnight. This year’s special anniversary event brings together many acclaimed artists including Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, MC YOGI, Donna DeLory and many more. “Everyone knows that our line-up of sacred music is one of a kind!” explains Sridhar. “Unlike other festivals which book pop bands, we have immersive music in multiple genres which everyone can sing to. The audience is as much a part of the show as the bands on stage.” The list of artists can be viewed here.

Bhakti Fest also offers wellness and wisdom classes. “We have had over 100 submissions from all over the world for our workshops and have picked the most interesting and current lecturers anywhere including Deepak Chopra, Jeffrey Armstrong, Michael Brian Baker, Prem Baba teaching all 4 days, Krishna Das, Paul Mitchell, Parvathy Baul and more.” says Sridhar. As always, the annual festival will deliver an exclusive taped interview with Bhakti Fest elder, and spiritual icon, Ram Dass, whose book “Be Here Now” helped bring Eastern philosophy to the West in the ‘60s. More information on speakers and workshops is here.

In recent years the festival has added sacred spaces for gender specific workshops. Bhakti Kid’s Land, sponsored by Sun Warrior, will feature the Peace Guardians who are taking the children’s program to a whole new level with a packed line up of classes and performances every day from 10am-6pm.

The festival also features a Healing Sanctuary offering a multitude of bodywork options, and the best raw, vegetarian and vegan food options. The Artisan Marketplace offers a treasure trove of jewelry, clothing, art, yoga gear, crystals, incense, furnishings and books from all over the world. Bhakti Fest’s own Bhakti Shoppe will feature highly sought-after items from the bazaars of India.

The Sound Temple has become a new favorite at Bhakti Fest, with a variety of sound baths and sound healing experiences taking place in the evening in the center’s unique, Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Sanctuary. The Joshua Tree Retreat Center plays its own role in the fest, with a sublime high desert setting on 420 acres of sacred ground which includes a pool for aqua-yoga, a walking labyrinth, and traditional medicine wheel.

Bhakti Fest offers a family friendly, drug and alcohol-free environment. These elements combine to create an unprecedented high vibration heart opening experience for all who attend. Bhakti Fest is a non-profit that donates to a variety of charities in India and the US.

The international yoga community is coming together for this anniversary celebration of this truly devotional gathering which welcomes all. Sridhar says, “In reflecting on ten years, we wanted to build spiritual community where every family and attendee can feel safe and be honored on their path.”

Passes and intensive tickets are now available for Bhakti Fest 2018, with discounts offered to local residents, veterans, military, seniors and students, at https://bhaktifest.com/buy-tickets/.

For more details on the Bhakti Fest 2018 lineup and general festival information, please visit https://bhaktifest.com/.

Bhakti Fest Events would not be possible without the support of generous sponsors. Bhakti Fest sponsors are curated to enhance the Festival experience and be fully aligned with the energy of the event. This year’s sponsors include: Proud Source Water, Anu Alchemy, Banyan Botanicals, Brew Dr. Kombucha, Buddha Teas, Desert Essence, Elephant Journal, Jaipar Avenue Chai, Lesser Evil, La Croix, Namaste Light, Sun Warrior, White Swan, and Yoga Alliance.

About The Bhakti Fest Group:
Bhakti Fest is produced by The Bhakti Fest Group that hosts two festivals a year, Bhakti Fest in September and Shakti Fest in May, at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center outside of Los Angeles. The Bhakti Group is noted for creating gatherings that promote spiritual exploration through music, sound, yoga, and conscious and wellness workshops. Additionally, they bring groups of western pilgrims to India annually for Bhakti Tours, and host the Bhakti Speaks series of interviews with Ram Dass online.

It embraces ancient and modern sacred wisdom and traditional and non-traditional spiritual practices. At the events, the artists, presenters, and vendors embody, practice, and share the spirit of Bhakti. Bhakti Fest encourages the spirit of service and offers a work exchange program. The festival donates funds to a variety of non-profit organizations that provide food, education, and environmental beautification programs around the world.

The Clark Hulings Fund for Visual Artists Announces Its Art Business Summit in Dallas-Fort Worth, September 7-9

07/06/2018 by Susan von Seggern

Dallas, Texas – The Clark Hulings Fund for Visual Artists (CHF) is excited to announce its Art Business Summit in Dallas-Fort Worth, an event that seeks to inspire visual artists to “Conquer the Changing Marketplace.” This weekend-long business-development workshop will give professional working artists the chance to take a deep dive into the business side of their art careers. Scheduled for September 7th through 9th, the summit will take place at The Alexander Mansion (4607 Ross Avenue), just blocks from Dallas’ vibrant Arts District.

The event manifests CHF’s assertion that “Art is a business and artists should run it.” With the art market undergoing rapid and significant change—not only with regard to technology but also HOW art is marketed, bought, and sold—artists need to reclaim their rightful position at the center of the industry. The Art Business Summit will help them to take charge of their careers, captivate their audience, maximize the extraordinary professional advantages they already possess, and sell their art effectively and profitably.

Topics will include building an action plan, creating a brand story, rocking their portfolio, multiplying revenue streams, pricing for profit, selling art online effectively, building a strong support team, squashing resistance, sales strategies, and much more. They can also participate in interactive sessions where they get to ask summit leaders their specific business questions.

In addition to all of the fantastic learning opportunities, the summit kicks off on Friday, September 7th at 4pm with a reception and art business congress, an opportunity to meet informally with local organizations and individuals whose mission is to serve artists. The summit will close on Sunday, September 9th, with a 6pm soiree that offers participants the chance to decompress, have a glass of wine, and make plans to meet up with each other in the future to build on the connections they establish this weekend.

The program will be led by Elizabeth Hulings, CHF director and co-founder; Carolyn Edlund, CHF sales director and events manager; and Daniel DiGriz, CHF education director. “Texas is home to a remarkably large number of working artists,” says Hulings. “We are thrilled to be delivering tangible business skills and training in the Lone Star State.”

The event fee is $395, but CHF is offering an earlybird price of $245, until August 1st with the coupon code EARLYBIRD. Tickets are available here. In addition to summit admission, ticket holders will receive one year of “Colleague”-level access to CHF’s Business Accelerator Portal, a comprehensive online learning resource for working artists.

The location for this career-changing event is The Alexander Mansion. Since 1930, this stately structure has been home to The Dallas Woman’s Forum, which is now in its 111th year and still a force to be reckoned with in the city. The Forum is currently engaged in a full restoration of the historic mansion, one of the few remaining original homes on Ross Avenue and a remarkable example of its era. CHF welcomes the opportunity to call attention to this beautiful space, as well as to the Forum’s ongoing efforts to champion its community’s rich history, and its art and design.

CHF is also pleased to collaborate on this event with noted Dallas reputation management agency Morrow & Associates, Inc.

About The Clark Hulings Fund
The Clark Hulings Fund for Visual Artists (CHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that champions economic sustainability for working artists. We do this by delivering business education and entrepreneurial learning through a rigorous Business Accelerator, a Digital Learning Portal, in-person education events in local communities, and a federation of artist-formed and artist-led networks of opportunity. All of this work achieves one aim: equip visual artists to thrive as self-sustaining entrepreneurs.