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About the 7 Train Sessions

The 7 Train Sessions was a series of guerrilla-style concerts in living rooms, in trains, and on rooftops, showcasing some of New York's finest bands and singer-songwriters for a community of friends and capturing unique archival footage. The series was created and produced by three friends: Amy Merrill, James Rickman and Juan Miguel Marin.

The 7 Train Sessions began with a simple format: 10 bands playing two songs each in a townhouse under the Court Square 7 Train station. The first show was commissioned by The Work Office, a multidisciplinary art project disguised as an employment agency and informed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) of the Great Depression. By the end of its third year, over 100 acts had participated: breakout Brooklyn bands, Broadway and film composers, visiting musicians from Melbourne and Madrid, a one-man band, and a long list of side-musicians taking their turns center stage (full archive below).

Bakers sold their goods, artists hung their work, local liquor brands donated product, and nonprofits raised funds from the audience. Performers often end up collaborating, either on the spot or out in the world, having met at the 7 Train Sessions.

Shows were free and privately promoted through a mailing list.

7 Train Sessions show posters

For every session we commissioned an original show poster, from artist friends or our team.