On Thursday, July 10th, Mercury Lounge in New York City was filled with an incredible energy as it hosted day one of the Global Come Together Festival, presented by Kids Rock for Kids and Brooklyn Music Lab. This showcase involved artists from 18 different countries and 6 different bands. The immense talent of young musicians, both from all across the world.
Beyond the stage presence, the festival held a different purpose. Every merch and ticket sale contributed directly to NAMI-NYC, the National Alliance on Mental Illness of New York City. Kids Rock for Kids was dedicated to supporting teen mental health services. Advocacy shone brightly throughout the event, showcasing the power of music can break barriers in entertainment to create change. It was a stunning demonstration of young artists honing their skills and also using their voices to make a difference in the community.
Starting the night of performances at the Mercury Lounge was the band, Oceans Apart, featuring Ian Fernandez from the United Kingdom, Cica Moreia from Brazil, Olivier Hart-Vilain, and Yaffa Botier, both from New York. Originally an acoustic duo, Oceans Apart performed as a full band in the Global Come Together Festival. They performed multiple original songs, in English and Portuguese, starting the night with an electrifying performance.
Following the performance of Oceans Apart, Jet Lag took the stage. Jet Lag, A KRFK global collab band, is a musical group formed by Kids Rock for Kids, bringing talented young musicians from different countries for unique performances and projects. Uniting artists from the United Kingdom, the Philippines, and New York City. The band, composed of 5 members, performed multiple original songs featuring the talents of young artists across the world.
Another KRFK global collaboration band making waves is Pangea. Formed in 2024 for the 3rd annual KRFK Come Together Global Festival, Pangea unites young artists from across the globe, emphasizing the organization’s mission to connect talented musicians. This band features Oliva (New York, USA) on vocals, YOYOKA (Japan) on drums, Maximo (Chile) on bass, Bay (New York, USA) on guitar, Aanika (Gibraltar) on guitar, and Tommy (Texas, USA) on vocals. Pangea has performed both original songs and powerful covers, demonstrating the diverse talents and musical chemistry fostered by Kids Rock for Kids’ unique international collaborations.
Also joining the roster of Kids Rock for Kids’ bands is ZNORA, an Arizona-based band. They’ve been actively performing as part of their tour and the Kids Rock for Kids’ “Come Together Global Festival,”. Recent show dates include a performance in Tucson, AZ, on July 7, 2025. ZNORA also played with Zenith at Puck Live in Doylestown, PA, on July 11, 2025.
Another KRFK global band is North South East West. This band brings together talented young musicians from various corners of the globe to create unique performances. Their lineup featured Aarushi (vocals) from India (East), Olivia (keys + backing vocals) from Croatia (East), Ari (guitar) from Alaska, USA (West), Lotte (bass) from Belgium (East), and Josh (drums) from Atlanta, USA (South). This diverse group showcases the true spirit of the global Come Together Festival.
Finishing off the lineup of artists associated with Kids Rock for Kids is Ian Su and the Polynomials. Based in Queens, New York, Ian Su formed The Polynomials in early 2023 to perform his music. They made their debut show for Kids Rock for Kids at The Bitter End in Soho, New York (East), in May 2023. This band actively performs and contributes to the New York music scene, having played numerous shows across the city. Ian Su and the Polynomials are continuing their involvement with KRFK’s mission to support young musicians. Ending the night of teen music energy at the Mercury Lounge.
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