New Year’s Eve Concerts at Kennedy Center Are Canceled

[squistion 2,676]

From NYT subscriber content:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/arts/kennedy-center-new-years-eve-concerts-canceled.html?campaign_id=190&emc=edit_ufn_20251230&instance_id=168625&nl=from-the-times&regi_id=125207237&segment_id=212918&user_id=14502a7228c5a9b835a15627514bfe28

New Year’s Eve Concerts at Kennedy Center Are Canceled

A veteran jazz ensemble and a New York dance company have canceled events at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, intensifying the fallout at one of the nation’s pre-eminent arts centers after it was renamed to include President Trump.

The center had previously promoted two New Year’s Eve performances by the Cookers as an “all-star jazz septet that will ignite the Terrace Theater stage with fire and soul.” But those performances, like an annual Christmas Eve jazz concert hosted by Chuck Redd, are now canceled.

The Cookers did not give a reason for the decision in a statement on Monday that said, “Jazz was born from struggle and from a relentless insistence on freedom: freedom of thought, of expression, and of the full human voice.”

But the band’s drummer, Billy Hart, told The New York Times that the center’s name change had “evidently” played a role. He acknowledged that the group was concerned about possible reprisals.

Doug Varone and Dancers, a New York dance company, also said on Monday that it was canceling two performances in April that had been intended to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Mr. Varone, the head of the company, said it would lose $40,000 by pulling out.

“It is financially devastating but morally exhilarating,” he said in an email.

Richard Grenell, the Kennedy Center’s chairman, said in a statement on Monday night that the artists canceling shows were “far-left political activists” and that they had been booked by previous leadership. “Boycotting the arts to show you support the arts is a form of derangement syndrome,” he said.

After Mr. Redd canceled the Christmas Eve concert, Mr. Grenell called it “classic intolerance” and threatened a $1 million lawsuit.

An earlier set of withdrawals and resignations, including the Pulitzer winner Rhiannon Giddens, the soprano Renée Fleming and the singer-songwriter Ben Folds, took place in February after the president pushed out members of the board of directors and replaced them with his supporters.

The artists who have protested in recent weeks include Kristy Lee, a folk singer from Alabama, who announced she was pulling out from a free concert on Jan. 14. “I won’t lie to you, canceling shows hurts,” she said in a social media post. “This is how I keep the lights on. But losing my integrity would cost me more than any paycheck.” 

[MDC 8,141]

Don has the opposite of the Midas touch. 

Everything he touches turns to  

[SUXBNME 1,632]

Good

[thegeneral 3,729]

To be replaced with a candlelight rendition of Bawitdaba by Kid Rock and a special rendition of God Bless America by the Jan 6th choir, at least the ones who haven’t been re-incarcerated for DUI, domestic abuse, etc.

[SUXBNME 1,632]

2 minutes ago, thegeneral said:

To be replaced with a candlelight rendition of Bawitdaba by Kid Rock and a special rendition of God Bless America by the Jan 6th choir, at least the ones who haven’t been re-incarcerated for DUI, domestic abuse, etc.

Better

[thegeneral 3,729]

They will serve Brawndo The Thirst Mutilator!

[Strike 6,049]

4 minutes ago, thegeneral said:

They will serve Brawndo The Thirst Mutilator!

It's got Electrolytes!!!

[Fnord 2,663]

22 minutes ago, thegeneral said:

To be replaced with a candlelight rendition of Bawitdaba by Kid Rock and a special rendition of God Bless America by the Jan 6th choir, at least the ones who haven’t been re-incarcerated for DUI, domestic abuse, etc.

I was thinking Cowboy would be the song choice here.

[Maximum Overkill 2,649]

They should tear that Woke Libtarded Pedocrat Kennedy Center down to the ground and put up a Bass Pro Shop 

[thegeneral 3,729]

3 minutes ago, Fnord said:

I was thinking Cowboy would be the song choice here.

Ever since Donald commented that he found Cowboy to be a glossy exercise in emptiness: overproduced, underimagined, and curiously proud of its own blandness that tune has fallen from favor. 

 

[Tree of Knowledge 2,278]

Drag shows are going back to the local libraries?

[seafoam1 3,535]

So they are getting rid of two groups of nobodies, and replacing them with professionals.

Sounds like the smart thing to do. 

Winning!! 

[thegeneral 3,729]

1 minute ago, Tree of Knowledge said:

Drag shows are going back to the local libraries?

Maybe Donald can learn how to blend his makeup from Fonda LaQueef. He looks like a clown!

[Fnord 2,663]

8 minutes ago, thegeneral said:

Ever since Donald commented that he found Cowboy to be a glossy exercise in emptiness: overproduced, underimagined, and curiously proud of its own blandness that tune has fallen from favor. 

 

Odd, as that is a perfect descriptor of the Don himself.

[Tree of Knowledge 2,278]

Many people are saying Nicki Minaj is going to do a residency at the Trump Center. 

[Fnord 2,663]

1 minute ago, Tree of Knowledge said:

Many people are saying Nicki Minaj is going to do a residency at the Trump Center. 

Seems unlikely given the "element" it would draw. JMHO, of course.

[Tree of Knowledge 2,278]

Just now, Fnord said:

Seems unlikely given the "element" it would draw. JMHO, of course.

Dudes that like big breasted women?  That’s Trump’s wheelhouse.  

[thegeneral 3,729]

1 minute ago, Tree of Knowledge said:

Dudes that like big breasted women?  That’s Trump’s wheelhouse.  

Their cup size must be at least 1 letter larger than his. Yamtits

[Fnord 2,663]

2 minutes ago, Tree of Knowledge said:

Dudes that like big breasted women?  That’s Trump’s wheelhouse.  

Even libs like the big knockers, ToK.

[Hardcore troubadour 16,087]

Jazz sucks. It’s a natural fact. 

[FrancieFootball 295]

So much winning.

[thegeneral 3,729]

I saw Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) play some tiny shithole basement bar in NYC in late 90’s with jazz people. Not sure what they were playing but it was bad ass. 

[weepaws 3,451]

That’s a real stupid reason to cancel.  

[Tree of Knowledge 2,278]

30 minutes ago, Fnord said:

Even libs like the big knockers, ToK.

But on men….

[Tree of Knowledge 2,278]

31 minutes ago, thegeneral said:

Their cup size must be at least 1 letter larger than his. Yamtits

6’3”. 225

[Hardcore troubadour 16,087]

21 minutes ago, thegeneral said:

I saw Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) play some tiny shithole basement bar in NYC in late 90’s with jazz people. Not sure what they were playing but it was bad ass. 

Sure you did. Liberals are always there. 

[thegeneral 3,729]

Just now, Tree of Knowledge said:

6’3”. 225

Of all the lies this one might be my favorite

[Maximum Overkill 2,649]

22 minutes ago, thegeneral said:

I saw Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) play some tiny shithole basement bar in NYC in late 90’s with jazz people. Not sure what they were playing but it was bad ass. 

Now I like you again 

[thegeneral 3,729]

Just now, Hardcore troubadour said:

Sure you did. Liberals are always there. 

You were probably busy playing D&D.

[Tree of Knowledge 2,278]

1 minute ago, thegeneral said:

Of all the lies this one might be my favorite

Where you been?

[Hardcore troubadour 16,087]

You can say anything and a liberal will chime in with their personal experiences. Chicago has a lot of crime. Liberal- I was there last week. It was great! Jazz sucks. LIB- I saw a jazz band. It was great ! Always 

[dogcows 1,317]

7 minutes ago, Tree of Knowledge said:

6’3”. 225

If you’re gonna post your girlfriend’s measurements, please include can size.

[thegeneral 3,729]

7 minutes ago, Tree of Knowledge said:

Where you been?

I was on sabbatical!

[Maximum Overkill 2,649]

3 minutes ago, thegeneral said:

I was on sabbatical!

You good now?? 

[thegeneral 3,729]

7 minutes ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

You can say anything and a liberal will chime in with their personal experiences. Chicago has a lot of crime. Liberal- I was there last week. It was great! Jazz sucks. LIB- I saw a jazz band. It was great ! Always 

I can’t speak for all your interactions but It’s a contextual practice of relating to others via personal experience and offering differing perspective. 

 

[thegeneral 3,729]

3 minutes ago, Maximum Overkill said:

You good now?? 

Always good!

[Fnord 2,663]

2 minutes ago, thegeneral said:

I can’t speak for all your interactions but It’s a contextual practice of relating to others via personal experience and offering differing perspective. 

 

This is the crux of his inability to understand. He cannot relate to humans and only wants to offer a differing perspective; it doesn't matter whether he's speaking from a place of knowledge (a unicorn-like rarity) or complete ignorance (his SOP).

[Hardcore troubadour 16,087]

I was in San Fran. Saw poop on the sidewalk. Lib- when I was there it was great and clean! 

[edjr 7,055]

52 minutes ago, FrancieFootball said:

So much winning.

you misspelled whining

[Tree of Knowledge 2,278]

19 minutes ago, thegeneral said:

I was on sabbatical!

A weepaws type sabbatical?