JUNE BLOOMS AND BOOMS
15TH STREET (INCLUDING YOURS TRULY, BASSIST NATE FENLON AND LEAD VOCALIST KRISTEN MEADE) PERFORMING AT THE CUTTING ROOM IN MAY!
ATTENTION! READ MORE BELOW!
THIS NEW BAND WILL BE MAKING ITS DEBUT ON SAT, JUNE 28TH!
So, the weather is warming up and the world continues to heat up! We all like to talk about those long, hot summers … and this is likely to be one of them for many reasons!
The 15TH STREET band performing at Connolly’s Klub 45 in May! (L-R: Doug Murphy, Mike Hiller, Warren Shaw, Kristen Meade, Chris Oledude, Nate Fenlon. Not pictured: Justin Tinker on sax.)
On the upside, I am happy to report that my work with the 15TH STREET band has been going well and getting more enjoyable each day. We have had a string of gigs, as you know, with the next double set coming up on Saturday, June 28th at Connolly’s Klub 45 near Times Square. That performance starts at 9:00 PM. Our shows are hot, so be there!
Here is a flashback to 2010, when brother Geoff decided to help out brother Chris during a political campaign! On June 28th, it will be a band, not a duo, so be there!
HOWEVER, I am also happy to report that a new band, FALSTAFF’S FOLLY, featuring my brother Geoffrey and me, will be performing at the same place on the same night but at 8:00 PM! In other words, for one ticket price you get to see at least two bands with me in them! Geoff and I will be sharing the stage with some stellar musicians, so there is a treat waiting for you.
I will be on stage for almost three hours. (Am I too old for this? Nah!) I hope you will join us as we have some fun (and we will) and as we celebrate what would have been our Dad’s 89th Birthday! (That’s right! Congressman Major Owens would have entered his 90th year of life this coming June 28th …)
FALSTAFF’S FOLLY is Geoffrey and my attempt to focus on some music we really enjoy sharing with people. There will be two NEW original songs presented, one by each of us, as well as one of my vintage songs, and some classic covers — including a parody piece! It’s a one-set show, so come at 7 to drink and dine and take in the shows.
Last and definitely not least, if you are a New York City resident, please vote in this month’s primary elections! Our nation is a Cat-5 Twister right now and our City needs to build some political shelters to weather these storms. The November General Election will be the final act, but we get to use my favorite selection method — ranked choice voting — to select our primary winners.
For Mayor, I recommend that you select the candidates you LIKE AND TRUST the most and vote for all of those. However, if you do not LIKE AND TRUST someone, then DO NOT VOTE FOR THEM AT ALL! That means nowhere on your ballot!
Running a City is hard work, and government experience does count for something! We’ve seen the bad movie in Washington! We are fortunate that there are multiple candidates for citywide offices, in particular, who have some of that valuable training. If you would like to know my personal preferences, feel free to send an email to chris@oledude.rocks and I will respond. Early Voting begins on June 14th and there are plenty of different offices to vote for. The future is a bit scary, which is why I create “empowerment music”. So, let us enjoy democracy — while we can!
And while we are preparing to vote early here in The Big Apple (starting June 14), we will also continue celebrating PRIDE month — we all need to be supporting each other through these difficult days. June 14th is Brooklyn PRIDE, it’s FLAG DAY — so we can celebrate who are nation is supposed to be — and that day is also a NEW NATIONAL holiday — NO KINGS DAY!!!
Look out for some new music from me right around then!!!
Nothing like a great song to make one smile! Nothing like a good groove to make one dance!! :)
Looking for an “artivist us” experience? Consider joining the People’s Music Network for Songs of Freedom and Struggle! It’s a great group with a bold and positive mission! Our members write, perform and collect all genres of music. We just had a wonderful “convergence” in central Massachusetts over the Memorial Day Weekend. If you create music or if you simply love music, PMN may be a great place to hear good stuff and meet good people!
This weekend there are two musical happenings of possible interest to you!
First is the June FIRST FRIDAY gathering of the New York City Chapter of the People’s Music Network for Songs of Freedom and Struggle. That’s right! The artivists unite to keep up the fight! Please join us this Friday, June 6th for a FREE evening of great music, socializing and activism! Where? Saint Paul and Saint Andrew’s Church, 263 W. 86th Street @ West End Avenue in Manhattan. CLICK HERE FOR THE FACEBOOK EVENT LISTING.
Second, on Saturday, June 7th, the Half Moon Theatre Company presents its 2025 SPRING INTO SUMMER ART-MAP CONCERT at the Church of the Village, 201 W. 13th Street @ 7th Avenue in Manhattan. Please see the flyer below. We salute the work of my friend, Lisa Roma, and her colleagues. Along with my buddy Barry Kornhauser, I will be doing percussion duties in support of the great JUDY GORMAN during her performance at this event! There are numerous other wonderful performers, as well!
Judy Gorman and Chris “Oledude” Owens will be performing on Saturday, June 7th!
We had a great time at our debut gig at The Cutting Room!
I will soon be releasing my first “real” album: PREACHER MAN - VOLUME 1. This will be a stunning collection of old and new songs with social justice themes that you will listen to over and over. You can also help make that happen on time with a direct donation at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-chris-oledude-make-music-for-you or by becoming a monthly supporter on my my Patreon!
By the way, Alyssa Dann has done it again! After more than a year of work and some 2,000 photos, the stop-motion animated video “Orange Blues 24” is also on a roll with film festivals around the world!
Find out the exciting and impressive details by visiting https://oledudesongs.com/ .
Anyway, the best places to see updates on Oledude World will be my website, Facebook and through one of my blast emails or texts. If you are not currently on my contact list, please sign up now at https://www.oledude.rocks/contact . We want to be totally ready to explode the new albums as they are released and YOU (and everyone you know) are such an important part of our hopes and dreams!
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THE PEOPLES’ VOICE CAFE 2024-2025 SEASON is over. The 2025-2026 season starts on Saturday, September 6th! Stay tuned. In the meantime, the big PORCHSTOMP event will be taking place on Saturday, June 21st at Governor’s Island. PORCHSTOMP is a collection of stages filled with performers. There is music all over, all day, all at once in this historic setting. A number of Peoples’ Voice Cafe performers will be live and singin’ out there. Enjoy the day! CHECK OUT THE DETAILS HERE!