An ‘Urban Campfire’ comes to Flushing

A giant jam session will rock Flushing Town Hall come February. Photo courtesy of Flushing Town Hall.

By Victoria Merlino

Flushing Town Hall will host the first-ever NYC Urban Campfire: QUEENS, a massive jam session where attendees are encouraged to bring guitars and singing voices and rock out with acclaimed performers.

The event, set to occur on Feb. 7, will be led by non-profit group Guitar Mash and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. Artists from across the music spectrum will lead the “mash,” including Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen guitarist Carlos Alomar, Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and producer Sofia Rei and pioneering Puerto Rican musician Fernandito Ferrer. Attendees will be able to tune up before the show, starting at 7 p.m., to perform with the night’s talent.

“This will be an extraordinary, interactive event that illustrates our core mission, to provide global arts to our global community,” said Ellen Kodadek, executive and artistic director at Flushing Town Hall. “We savor every opportunity to engage audiences of all ages, and I encourage everyone — from novices to professionals, and even those who just want to be surrounded by great music — to bring their guitars or other string instruments or just enjoy this communal experience. We are thrilled to welcome Guitar Mash to Queens!”

Guitar Mash’s Urban Campfire began in 2012, though this is the first time it’s made its way out to Flushing Town Hall. 

“Urban Campfire offers music enthusiasts throughout the five boroughs the opportunity to come together with professional musicians to play and enjoy music from a variety of backgrounds and genres,” said Commissioner of Media and Entertainment Anne del Castillo. “We are proud to support this interactive forum that gives New Yorkers direct access to the diverse talent pool of NYC’s thriving music community.”