Nick Lowe, Brett Dennen, Chris Thile, Regina Spektor and Ingrid Michaelson Strike a Chord at Tribeca/ASCAP Music Lounge



The rain cleared. Festival-goers and filmmakers flowed in. The lights dimmed. Then legendary singer-songwriter Nick Lowe took the stage, hit his first chord and the magic began. The start of the 2008 Tribeca/ASCAP Music Lounge kicked off with a stellar group of songwriter-performers. After Lowe's set featuring a mix of songs throughout his prolific career, Brett Dennen followed with an intimate and electrifying performance of his literate songs. Mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile (The Punch Brothers & Nickel Creek) dazzled with a set of original material and a selection from Bach. Regina Spektor commanded the stage behind the grand piano, performing her dramatic and soulful songs. Then, breakout indie-sensation Ingrid Michaelson proved she has a deep collection of superb material that stretches beyond her hit song "The Way I Am." Backed by a tight and punchy band, she wrapped up the first day with with an energetic performance, leaving the crowd hungry for more great music in the days ahead.
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Jon Foreman of Switchfoot, Lizz Wright, The Punch Brothers' Chris Thile and Sondre Lerche Bring Virtuosity and Soul to Tribeca/ASCAP Music Lounge



Day two of the 2008 Tribeca/ASCAP Music Lounge, presented at Manhattan's Canal Room, featured a diverse group of some of today's most engaging songwriter-performers. Jon Foreman of the successful pop/rock band Switchfoot took a break from his tour playing loud concerts and stripped things down to perform acoustically, backed by violinist Ann Marie Calhoun and cellist Keith Tutt, II, to give the audience a taste of his songs that were layered with poignancy and insight. R&B wunderkind Lizz Wright was joined by acclaimed singer-songwriter Toshi Reagon, a collaborator on Wright's new album, The Orchard, to deliver a soulful and funky set of songs that mixed R&B, folk, soul and jazz in delightful ways. Chris Thile, formerly of Nickel Creek who now fronts a new group called The Punch Brothers, performed for the second time of the week, dazzling the Canal Room crowd yet again with his masterful mandolin playing, quirky songs and humorous banter. Pop/folk singer-songwriter Sondre Lerche, wrapped up the day's festivities with an entertaining collection of songs from his catalog as well as material he wrote for the recent film, Dan in Real Life.
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Tribeca/ASCAP Music Lounge Goes Global With Performances by Australian Singer-Songwriter Sia and Rock Band Small Mercies



The 2008 Tribeca/ASCAP Music Lounge presented an international flair on its third day with performances by Australian faves Small Mercies and Sia on May 1st. Sia, who is out on the road supporting her critically-acclaimed album, some people have REAL problems, delighted the audience with her powerful and quirky performance, backed by a pianist and cellist, that drew one of the largest audiences of the week. Fellow Aussies Small Mercies delivered a strong set of anthemic rock songs that showed why they are one of the most popular groups to have emerged from down under. Singer-songwriters Jack Savoretti and Jessie Baylin showed the Canal Room crowd why they are two of the most engaging and entertaining writer-performers on the scene today. Augustana, from San Diego, playing intensely emotional songs from their just-released new album Can't Love, Can't Hurt, revealed themselves to be a great rock band in the vein of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
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The 2008 Tribeca/ASCAP Music Lounge Wraps Up with Performances by Anya Marina, Meaghan Smith, Rachael Yamagata, Joseph Arthur and Sixpence None the Richer



The fourth and final day of this year's Tribeca/ASCAP music lounge - featured three very diverse female singer-songwriters: Anya Marina, Meaghan Smith and Rachael Yamagata as well as acclaimed songwriter and Grammy-nominated visual artist Joseph Arthur and the reunion after a four-year hiatus of folk/pop faves Sixpence None the Richer. The lounge, full to capacity to the very end, drew a wide-range of festival badge holders, filmmakers, and numerous special guests including music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas and Fountains of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger, who recently wrote the music to the new Broadway show Cry-Baby.
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Breaking the Band



After the close of the 2008 Tribeca/ASCAP Music Lounge, the music at the festival continued with Breaking The Band, a showcase curated by Grammy-nominated music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas, which took place at Webster Hall on May 2nd. ASCAP members Bad Veins were selected as the recipient of the first-ever Target Music Maker Award. Bad Veins were presented with the award, an unrestricted cash prize of $10,000 given to an unsigned musician or band, after their performance at Webster Hall. Also performing at Breaking The Band were The Hold Steady, The Virgins and Republic Tigers.
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