Hi, I'm Martin Rivas, NYC-based singersongwriter.
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A songwriters round of four artists, all on stage together, taking turns playing songs, inspiring each other’s choices for the evening...with the final song for each artist being a surprise reinterpretation of a song by another artist sitting on stage.

Session 2 will take place on 17 June 2025, at The Bitter End in Greenwich Village, NYC... artists TBA. 

Artists have always seemed to come together and agitate the waters when they need agitating. To do the things that artists have always done to help people make this planet a more inspiring, more understanding, more inclusive, more tolerant, more habitable place.

2025 is no exception; in fact, 2025 may be the greatest time of need of all.

We hope you’ll join us.

Artists have always seemed to come together and agitate the waters. To do the things that artists have always done to help people make this planet a more understanding, more inclusive, more tolerant, more habitable place.

From 2009-2013, on stages in Greenwich Village and the Lower East Side, The Backscratch Sessions would bring eight artists together to play 3-Song sets each, and to surprise each other with re-interpretations of each other's songs, and in turn share ideas and inspire each other. The night's proceeds would be donated to various charities with a vision of social justice and defense of the marginalized.

The Backscratch Sessions returned with version 2.0 in March of 2017 with the format altered to a songwriters round of four artists, all on stage together, taking turns playing songs, inspiring each other’s choices for the evening...with the final song for each artist being a surprise reinterpretation of a song by another artist sitting on stage.

And now, the rock&roll support group returns. Backscratch v3.0, resuming in February 2025 at the historic Bitter End, in the heart of Greenwich Village in New York City.

Backscratch v3.0

Session One:

18 February 2025
The Bitter End, NYC

Robbie Gil
Zach Jones
Evan Watson
Martin Rivas


Proceeds to World Central Kitchen

Session Two:

17 June 2025
The Bitter End, NYC

Artists TBA

2017-2018: The Backscratch Sessions, v2.0

Session One

29 March 2017
Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3


Zach Jones
​
Taali
Bess Rogers
Martin Rivas

Session Two

27 June 2017
Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3


Robbie Gil
Jenna Nicholls
Chrissi Poland
​
Martin Rivas

Session Three

27 September 2017
Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3


BSki
Kate Ferber
Hannah Winkler
​
Martin Rivas


​Session Four

27 December 2017
Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3


Akie Bermiss
​Rebecca Haviland
Wes Hutchinson
​
Martin Rivas


​Session Five

28 March 2018
Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3


Toby Lightman
​
John Schmitt
Stolar
​
Martin Rivas
 


​Session Six

27 June 2018
Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3


Lara Ewen
Jason Spiewak
Ari Hest

​Martin Rivas 

2009-2011: The Backscratch Sessions, v1.0

The original Backscratch Sessions took place at The Red Lion on Bleecker Street, and at Rockwood Music Hall Stage One on Allen Street. Eight artists would participate, with their bands. Unlike Version 2.0, each artist would play a short set (rather than appearing on-stage simultaneously), and would play three songs each. Two of their own, and then their Backscratch: a song by one of the other artists on the bill, randomly assigned to them in advance. It made for some exciting moments, to be certain. Seventeen Backscratches took place in total, with all proceeds benefitting organizations such as Oxfam, One, WaterAid, Unicef, and many more. In all, the original Backscratch Sessions raised nearly $10,000 for these organizations.
Session One
​20 April 2009, The Red Lion

Josh Dion
Jesse Gage
Kailin Garrity
Robbie Gil

Nick Howard
Samuel Hope
Dave Pittenger
Rachel Platten
Amy Regan
Martin Rivas
Session Two
​29 June 2009, The Red Lion

​Rebecca Haviland
Live Society
Greg Mayo

Martin Rivas
Bess Rogers
Casey Shea
Brent Shuttleworth
​Jill Stevenson
 Session Three
​31 August 2009, The Red Lion

​Kailin Garrity
Wes Hutchinson
Patryk Larney

Martin Rivas
Mike Tait
Rachel Zamstein
Byron Zanos
​Emily Zuzik
Session Four
26 October 2009, The Red Lion

​Chris Abad
Michael Brunnock
Andy Clayburn
Abby Payne
Dave Pittenger

Rachel Platten
​Martin Rivas
Session Five
28 December 2009, The Red Lion

​Rebecca Correia
Shira Goldberg
Genevieve Labean

Live Society
Andy Mac
Julia Price

Amy Regan
Martin Rivas
​Jesse Rubenfeld
Session Six
​22 February 2010, The Red Lion

​Dallin Applebaum
Kate Branagh
Sarah Donner

Kailin Garrity
Martin Rivas
David Rogue
Stephanie White & The PhilthHarmonic
​Luke Wesley
Session Seven
26 April 2010, The Red Lion

​Mercy Bell
Nick Howard

Wes Hutchinson
Will Knox
Jeff Litman
Chrissi Poland

Martin Rivas
​Jill Stevenson
Session Eight
28 June 2010, The Red Lion

​Barnaby Bright
Josh Dion
Kate Ferber
Rebecca Haviland
Joyous Noise
Sam King

Dave Pittenger
Martin Rivas
​Craig Wilson
Session Nine
30 August 2010, The Red Lion

​Chris Ayer
Zach Hurd

Patryk Larney
Greg Mayo
Jack O'Hara of Eggs Over Easy
Abby Payne
Martin Rivas
​Dominic Sinesio
Session Ten
25 October 2010, The Red Lion

​Bri Arden
Lara Ewen
Mighty Kate
Chrissi Poland
Martin Rivas
John Schmitt
​Alexa Wilkinson
Session Eleven
27 December 2010, The Red Lion

​Kailin Garrity
Patrick Firth
Caleb Hawley

Martin Rivas
Bess Rogers
The Thang
​Evan Watson
Session Twelve
28 February 2011
Rockwood Music Hall

​​Dallin Applebaum
Bryan Dunn
Craig Greenberg

Greg Mayo
Martin Rivas
Casey Shea
Paul Tabachneck
​Alex Wong
Session Thirteen
25 April 2011
Rockwood Music Hall

​Chris Ayer
Scott Chasolen

Rebecca Haviland
Shwa Losben
Sierra Noble
Martin Rivas
Bess Rogers
Matt Simons
Alexa Wilkinson
Session Fourteen
​27 June 2011
Rockwood Music Hall

​Lara Ewen
Patrick Firth

Nick Howard
Jeff Litman
Live Society
Valerie Mize
John Schmitt
Jesse Terry
​Benjamin Wagner
Session Fifteen
​29 August 2011
Rockwood Music Hall

​Bri Arden
Kate Branagh
Sadie Hart
Caleb Hawley

Patryk Larney
​Martin Rivas
Session Sixteen
24 October 2011
Rockwood Music Hall

​Alex Berger
Josh Dion
Bryan Dunn
Will Knox
Abby Payne
​Martin Rivas
Session Seventeen
19 December 2011
Rockwood Music Hall

​Abby Ahmad
Derek James
Morgxn
Stephanie White & The PhilthHarmonic
Jay Stolar
​The Vanity Belles

Rock and roll will ruin your life if you let it... please, won't you let it.

​


  • Home
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  • shows
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  • The Backscratch Sessions
  • Discography
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  • Contact
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