Howl Festival: A New York City Event Honoring Allen Ginsberg

As far as the art scene goes, what can one really say about the city of New York.  Artists have been drawn to this American town for decades, be they young folk singers such Bob Dylan, avant garde visual artists such as Andy Warhol, dance choreographers that pushed the boundaries such as Merce Cunningham, popular movie directors and actors such as Martin Scorsese and Robert Deniro, and any number of visual artists and painters throughout US history.

The East Village was, has always been, and continues to be the most thriving of artistic hubs in the country.  Movements happen on the streets of this city that have changed generations, cultures and the world of the arts.  One such movement was the during the began in the late 1940′s, and is none other that of the Beat Generation of poets.  One of the many influential members of this group was Allen Ginsberg, and each year a festival of art and poetry and music is held in his honor.

This is the Howl Festival, the name taken from his 1956 poem of the same name “Howl”.  In this work Ginsberg credits his fellow writers with standing up to the destructive forces of conformity and materialism that they were noticing during the times.  Something that writers, poets, film makers, musicians and artists of today are still addressing.  The festival this year took place over three days in September, the 4th, 5th and 6th.

The best New York City hotel and restaurants surrounding Greenwich Village were booked, as many tourist travel here in order to participate in the festival.  This is a grand scale event with muses being illustrated through music, dancing, divas and poetry.  The opening ritual each year is the reading of the poem, which kicks of the three days of artistic ranting and expression of the need for the aspects of society that must change.

Hip Hop Howl and and Chi Chi Valenti were just a couple of the musicians that performed.  And this vibe did not stop on the 6th, as events were scheduled in the Village throughout the entire month of September.  The event coordinators also used this time to promote a health service that has started, HOWL!HELP which will provide care for artists who are need.  This was a great time to be in the East Village, but if you missed, don’t fret, it will be back next year, same time, same place.