G Train Inspires Brooklyn Songwriters

by Kris Venezia
G subway.
bitchcakesny, flickr

Brooklyn Brewery will send one artist to perform at a musical festival in Sweden.

Duke Ellington made the song "Take the A Train" famous, and now a Brooklyn subway line is inspiring other songwriters.
The G train runs almost entirely in Brooklyn, and it's the focal point of a contest that has local musicians singing about the line. The winner will play their song at an all-Brooklyn festival in Stockholm, Sweden. Ben Hudson is the contest organizer. He says the G train goes hand in hand with Brooklyn music. 
"It [G subway] goes to a lot of great neighborhoods that have a lot of great musicians in them, and it just seems like rich subject matter," he said. 
The subway first transported Brooklyn residents on August 19, 1933, and recently the MTA permanently extended the line to Church Avenue. Marcia Ely is assistant director for the New York Transit Museum. She says the city's trains have always stimulated creativity. 
"People, artists, creative folks have used subways for music, for art, for written word, forever," she said.
To listen and vote, visit the Brooklyn Brewery's facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/thebrooklynbrewery/app_269343296512780. The winner will be announced on Thursday, and currently the band Teen Commandments is in the lead with 536 votes.  



WFUV News and Public Affairs

How are we doing? Take our WFUV News survey.