​Click Here For a Full List of bands, artists, and venues that support Sweet Relief

The Best Fest

Ten years after celebrating Bob Dylan’s 60th birthday by jamming with a few friends in a tiny Lower East side bar, The Best Fests—Dylan Fest, Petty Fest and Stones Fest—has become a New York tradition with sold-out celebrations at Bowery Ballroom, Music Hall of Williamsburg, Webster Hall and Irving Plaza. The New York Times described The Fest as “one the most jubilant events of the year,” and Rolling Stone touted it as “an experience that is equal parts concert and celebration.”

Who We Are

Alex Levy is a fifteen-year music industry veteran. He has served as V.P. of Promotion for Epic Records and, subsequently, as Artist Relations Director for Rolling Stone magazine. He lives in the heart of New York’s East Village.
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Austin Scaggs is a Contributing Editor at Rolling Stone magazine, where he has served as a writer for fourteen years. He travels the world to cover rock & roll, and has written more than a dozen cover stories on artists including Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Coldplay and Kings of Leon.

Filling in on drums for The Strokes on their first ever European Tour after band member Fabrizio Moretti broke his hand, Matt Romano has remained a key member of The Strokes team and family. He co-produced two albums and toured the world playing drums with The Albert Hammond Jr. Band and Little Joy. He is a partner and founder of the legendary East Village Rock & Roll bar The Cabin Down Below.

Our History

We have been putting on events for years, but most recently, we have produced Dylan Fest and Petty Fest and just recently announced a Stones Fest. We have welcomed guests like Norah Jones, Patrick Carney of The Black Keys, Jason Isbell, Butch Walker, Delta Spirit, Cory Chisel & Adriel Denae, Johnny T, Adam Green, Jesse Malin, Ruby Amanfu, Petter of Alberta Cross, Nicole Atkins, Justin Long, Jack Dishel of Only Son, Seth Herzog, Sammy James Jr. of The Mooney Suzuki, Danny Clinch & The Tangiers Blues Band, Steve Schiltz of Hurricane Bells, Har Mar Superstar, Josh Lattanzi of The Candles, The Uptown Horns, Jamie Burke & Mikki James, and many, many more.

Our Efforts

Thanks to Jameson’s support and involvement, we are able to take these shows to new markets and ensure that all proceeds go directly to The Jameson Neighborhood Fund. To find out more, visit us at TheBestFest.com.

Jameson Neighborhood Fund

100% of ticket proceeds go to Sweet Relief via The Jameson Neighborhood Fund. We here at The Best Fest are musicians ourselves and simply love and respect the craft. Because The Jameson Neighborhood Fund supports the local music, craft & bartending communities in order to keep the spirit of the neighborhood alive and well, it is a natural fit for our events. Visit JamesonFund.org to learn more.

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Past Events

George Fest- Los Angeles, CA. September 28, 2014
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Petty Fest- Chicago, IL. April 23, 2014
Damon Ranger Interview here
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Petty Fest- Seattle, WA. April 9, 2014
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Petty Fest- Los Angeles, CA. April 3, 2014
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Dylan Fest- San Francisco, November 20, 2013
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Dylan Fest- New York City, NY. November 11 & 12
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Petty Fest- Austin, TX. September 25, 2013
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Stones Fest- New York City, NY. May 22 & 23, 2013
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Stones Fest- Los Angeles, CA. May 30, 2013
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Petty Fest- San Francisco, CA. February 27, 2013
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Petty Fest-Los Angeles, CA. November 14 & 15, 2013
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Petty Fest- New York City, NY. October 24,2012
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Dylan Fest-New York City, NY. May 24 & 25, 2012
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Nights for Sweet Relief

We are so grateful to all of our participating venues, please click here to see how your venue can participate in our program.

Nights for Sweet Relief is a $.50 cent per-ticket add-on program to raise money for musicians, crews, venue workers and their families, who are struggling to pay their expenses due to injury, illness or disability. 

• Marketing – Sweet Relief provides supplemental marketing for the show calendar via our website, e-blasts and social media outlets.
• Charitable Tax Receipts – Sweet Relief provides Charitable Tax Receipts for the amount of money raised through this initiative for tax deduction purposes.
• Philanthropic Equity – Participation in this program engenders goodwill from the music community of fans and performing artists. Each venue receives a special wall plaque, denoting participation in the program and showcasing their support of musicians and Sweet Relief.
  
  

The contribution from the ticket buyer is nearly beneath notice, but its impact is quite large. Every ticket purchased ensures that their favorite artists will be able access help when needed, and will be able to continue to create and perform music.
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Thanks to the participation of these venues, Sweet Relief is able to provide financial assistance to a much broader scope of career musicians, crews, venue workers and their families in need. 

Knitting Factory Brooklyn
We have created a playlist featuring songs from the many fantastic and diverse artists playing at the Knitting Factory Brooklyn in the coming months. Please take a listen and don’t forget to visit the Knitting Factory Brooklyn’s upcoming events and support this venue that is doing so much to give back to artists in need.

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Sweetwater Music Hall