Photo Credit: Sasha B
For the first time in 42 years, the infamous Wollman Rink at Central Park was filled with music-lovers, artists, dancers, and the community for the inaugural event of Fare Forward, organized by the Robot Heart Foundation. Artists who’ve previously played the space include Carly Simon, The Beach Boys, Ray Charles, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, The Doors, The Eagles, Bob Marley, Aerosmith, and many more.
To kick off the month of May and festival season, Robot Heart welcomed the debut of the incredible four-person ensemble with a new name: Formerly! These talented artists are none other than Philipp Jung, formerly of M.A.N.D.Y., Holmar Filippson, formerly of Thugfucker, Anstascia, formerly of BLOND:ISH, and Kenny Glasgow, formerly of the duo Art Department. The crowd was inspired from the first track played for their sunset set atop the Robot Heart Bus, parked in Central Park. Their original theme song lyrics bellowed across the beautiful crowd that bounced along to … “we are FORMERLY” … in the tune of “we are Family!”
Throughout the set, each artist played back to back with the others and they truly showed the collaboration, technique, and groove of their “former” artist monikers that now is reflected in this new establishment of the most amazing vibes on stage.
These parties, organized by the Robot Heart Foundation, which is known as a “collective of dreamers and doers”, are generally focused on a communal, countercultural brand of fun, and are held in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert during Burning Man festivals. On this occasion, however, the foundation was celebrating its inaugural event in New York City, entitled ‘Fare Forward’. The event began at 2 p.m. on a Saturday and Sunday and ended promptly at 10 p.m with memorable closing sets by Acid Pauli and Be Svendsen. The full two-day lineup of artists was stacked with talent, including Francesca Lombardo, Carlita, Formerly, Cymande, Guy Laliberté, and others.
With a mission to bring love and music into the world, Robot Heart Collective brought their iconic Art Car to Central Park for this transcendent 2-day music festival. The event not only celebrated Robot Heart community’s 15-year anniversary and 50th birthday of the Robot Heart 1972 English bus, but also provided a memorial for Robot Heart founder George Mueller, known as ‘Geo’, who died unexpectedly last year. This festival was meaningful in the sense that so many friends and family members were able to honor him by attending this fundraiser for the Robot Heart Foundation.
The organizers have put on annual immersive music and art festivals between 2008-2016, drawing more than 4,000 people per festival. The collective of dreamers, artists, and entrepreneurs hosts events at Burning Man and around the globe as an “extension and celebration of that community, bound together by shared values of inclusion, giving, environmental responsibility and mutual respect.”
At every event, Robot Heart donates a portion of the proceeds to charitable organizations. This year, all proceeds from the Central Park event will be donated to the City Parks Foundation, among a scholarship to a music/arts school. It was a memorable weekend all around and the highlight, of course, was the debut of Formerly!
Video Credit: Teisbe
