PREVIEW: Albany’s Own Taìna Asili joins a star-studded lineup for National First Amendment Concert
06/14 @ The Town Hall, New York City
“I'm honored to join social justice song leaders of New York City and so many other incredible artists in uplifting our right to speak out, organize, create and build a better future together.”
Taína Asili has spent years dedicating herself to her craft, her community and the causes she stands for unapologetically. Whether as a singer, composer, educator or activist, her work has always circled the belief that music can bring people together, spark conversation and inspire change.
Now, in a moment that feels incredibly well-earned, Asili is preparing to share a stage with Jane Fonda, Bette Midler, Patti Smith, and many more acclaimed artists, activists, and cultural figures during Rise Up, Sing Out: A Concert for the First Amendment, a nationally livestreamed event taking place June 14 at New York City's Town Hall.
For years, Asili has occupied a space all her own within the Capital Region arts community. You might find her at a concert one night, a community gathering the next, and a rally the week after that. Her music has never existed in isolation from the world around it. It lives among people and for people, asking them to sing along, show up, and imagine something better.
“I'm honored to join social justice song leaders of New York City and so many other incredible artists in uplifting our right to speak out, organize, create and build a better future together,”Asili said.
The Capital Region itself has never been short on artists or activists, and more often than not, the two share the same spaces, and fight for the same causes that aim to make our community even stronger. For Asili, blurring the line between the artistry and advocacy has always remained central to her identity as a creative. Whether through albums, performances or community initiatives, she has always approached music as a means of connection and inspiration.
Her work has earned recognition from outlets including NPR, Billboard and Rolling Stone, and her performances have brought her to major gatherings and mobilizations across the country.
Even beyond the stage, Asili continues to play an active role in organizing efforts through her work with One Billion Rising, a global movement dedicated to ending violence against women and girls.
Asili’s inclusion in Sunday’s event serves as a reminder that the work matters; none of it is in vain. The songs matter, the conversations matter, and the countless hours spent showing up for others matter. This is a celebration of a career built with intention, compassion and purpose.
And for The Capital Region, it is a chance to watch one of its own carry those values onto a national stage.
Though the performance may not be local, it will be live-streamed, so if you can’t make it out to the city, there’s still an opportunity to view an event centered around great causes, and to celebrate and cheer on an Albany legend.
Free livestream available nationwide. Register to watch: riseupsingout.com