Marc Maron to Lead The Soho Sessions’ Premiere Comedy Program, Featuring Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Jimmy Vivino, Nimesh Patel and More

“Marc Maron // Doug Loves Movies @ LA Pod Fest / Marc Maron” by CleftClips is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

On Thursday, Dec. 5, The Soho Sessions will close out a year of unparalleled live experiences by embracing a new kind of performance. For its 16th installment, the beloved New York series–which has made headlines for three years with its exclusive, close-quarters benefit concerts–will break from its formula to welcome iconic comedian, actor and writer Marc Maron, adding comedy to its mix of good music and good company. Live from a loft in downtown Manhattan, Maron will lead a lineup of top-tier comics and musicians to raise funds for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, continuing The Soho Sessions’ mission of mobilizing music and community for vital social causes.

Maron will be joined by rising stars Nimesh Patel, the first Indian American writer for Saturday Night Live, and New York comedy circuit regular Maddie Wiener, who recently wowed with a spot on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. The Soho Sessions’ first-ever comedy program will be complimented by a musical performance, with the acclaimed blues-rock guitar torchbearer Christone “Kingfish” Ingram closing out the evening alongside the multi-hyphenate music powerhouse Jimmy Vivino, well known for his stint as the bandleader for ​​The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien. Vivino previously led his Jimmy Vivino Band to headline volume four of The Soho Sessions, which Maron hosted.

The Soho Sessions are regularly organized by producers Greg Williamson and Nicole Rechter, the co-founders of RWE Partners who bring together stars from music, comedy and more for the annual Love Rocks NYC benefit concert. Since its inaugural engagement three years ago, the intimate series has raised north of $60 million for charities selected by the featured performers, including Susan Tedeschi, Steve Earle, Marcus King, Warren Haynes, Taj Mahal, Lucius and Lukas Nelson. NAMI, Maron’s chosen recipient, is the largest grassroots mental health organization in the country, working with more than 600 local affiliates to offer support and educational resources for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Learn more about the 40+ year organization at nami.org.

“Comedy and music have always had an amazing ability to move people, and bringing comedy to The Soho Sessions feels like a natural progression,” Williamson offered in a release. “Marc Maron is a genius and the perfect person to do this. We’ve got a night that’s not just entertaining, but meaningful, as we support the critical work of NAMI. It’s the perfect way to wrap up the year.”


For more information on The Soho Sessions, visit thesohosessions.com. Read about Paul Simon’s performance for the series’ star-studded 14th benefit event here.