Longtime Patti Smith Group guitarist, and newly minted solo artist, Lenny Kaye will take part in the Grammy Museum’s A New York Evening with… discussion series later this month. Moderated by Sopranos star and musician Michael Imperioli, the evening will be held at New York’s City Winery Loft on Tuesday, June 23, featuring a conversation between the two veteran New York personalities as well as a performance by Kaye.  

At the age of 79, Kaye will release his solo debut, Goin’ Local on July 17. Though the guitarist–who has a storied career as a sideman, producer and curator of the Nugs compilation–started working on the project in the 1990s, it wasn’t until two years ago that he decided to complete the LP. The sessions were co-produced by Patti Smith and Her Band bassist Tony Shanahan, whom he met at casual jam sessions in their shared home town of New Brunswick, NJ, and also feature contributions from pianist Matthew Shipp, Railroad Earth’s Tim Carbone, The Jayhawks’ John Jackson and multi-instrumentalist David Mansfield, who is known for his work with Bob Dylan, T-Bone Burnett and Lucinda Williams. 

Kaye also recently shared “The Things You Leave Behind,” the final advance offering from his forthcoming Yep Roc Records. “I see ‘The Things You Leave Behind’ as something that resonates with anyone who collects cultural objects and memorabilia,” he said in a statement. “It reflects that instinct to gather things and the question of what to do with them over time.

After the Grammy Museum event, Kaye will head to Carrboro, NC to play Dex Fest on June 26 and 27. Kaye will also kick off a run of shows with Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore at the Lobero Theater in Santa Barbara, CA on July 12. 

Here’s a look at Lenny Kaye’s upcoming dates 

June 26-27 – Dex Fest – Carrboro, NC

July 12 – Lobero Theater – Santa Barbara, CA*

July 14 – The Siren – Morro Bay, CA* 

July 15 – Moe’s Alley – Santa Cruz, CA* 

July 17 – Harlow’s – Sacramento, CA* 

July 18 – The Freight – Berkeley, CA* 

July 19 – Rancho Nicasio – Nicasio, CA* 

September 26 – CBGB Festival – New York, NY#

(*) with Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore

(#) as part of Patti Smith’s band