Category: News Desk

New Work for Hootie & The Blowfish Possible?

When Darius Rucker was approached about the possible return to his roots, he didn’t blow off the question about Hootie & The Blowfish.

The rock artist turned country music sensation was originally the front man for Grammy Award winning Hootie & The Blowfish. Hootie formed in 1986 on the campus of The University of South Carolina at Columbia, where Rucker, Mark Bryan, Dean Felber and Jim Sonefeld attended. It was in 1994 that they came into popularity with the release of Cracked Rear View. The album charted four, Top 20 hits in the United States, ultimately going platinum 16 times, ultimately earning the distinction of best-selling album of 1995. It is considered one of the best selling debut albums of all time.

Rucker announced the launch of his solo career in 2008 and has since achieved accolades from Nashville as a country music artist. His second solo album Learn to Live reached platinum in 2009.

Hootie & The Blowfish never broke-up. In fact, the band still performs together at least four times a year for their charity endeavors. Rucker told Contactmusic.com in 2008 that he would consider bringing Hootie and the Blowfish back to the studio after he has recorded, “three or four country records.”

Rucker’s 2013 release True Believers is his fourth country music album.

July 22, 2014
Oak Mountain Second Annual Bluegrass and Arts Festival

Less than a month away, Adirondack bluegrass lovers are gearing up for the second annual Bluegrass & Arts Festival on August 16, 2014 at the beautiful Oak Mountain Ski Resort. With a full day and evening of festivities planned, attendees are in for a treat.

Oak Mountain Bluegrass & Arts Festival

Oak Mountain Ski Resort is situated in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains, in Speculator, NY. This lovely ski lodge is the hub of the Speculator community and surrounding area for seasonal visitors and locals, offering activities year round. Owners, Laura and Matt O’Brien, have outdone themselves in coordinating events for all those in the community from trail races, to skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling competitions and events, snow shoe racing, tubing, cardboard racing, mountain biking, bbq’s, movie nights, Halloween parties, winter carnivals, holiday fairs, fireworks, and live music every chance they can offer it. In addition, this spectacular location is a hub for private weddings and events of all sorts. So it is only fitting to offer to those in the surrounding area an opportunity to enjoy some backwoods music at the most picturesque local.

Oak Mountain Chair Lift Rides

Oak Mountain Bluegrass Festival 2013

With a highly successful first year event, they anticipate double the attendance as word has spread of how much fun, and how family friendly this event is for music lovers. Attendees can either purchase day passes for $15, or for $20 they can stay for overnight camping on the mountainside. In addition to a stellar lineup, there are activities planned for the children, and vendors will be on site selling their wares and edibles throughout the day. For those wishing a full meal, there is an on site full kitchen making some of the most delicious meals available in the area. With Saratoga Eagle sponsoring the beer and wine, patrons can choose between Bud Light, Davidson’s, Paradox, Widmer, or Shipyard- Pumpkinhead, as well as the fully stocked bar in the clubhouse.

Oak Mountain Cuisine

The lineup begins at 12:30pm with Swampcandy taking the stage, followed at 3:00pm with the Remsen Social Club who played last year’s event, then at 5:30pm The Old Main (aka The Birdseed Bandits) will take the stage, followed at 8pm by Sleepy Man Banjo Boys, and to finish out the night is crowd favorites Nick, Nigel, and Braids from Floodwood to cap off the amazing evening of music.

The Old Main

Nick & Braids

Tickets can be purchased online at http://oakmountainski.com/home/ or at the Oak Mountain Ski Resort. Do not wait till the last-minute to join us at Oak Mountain’s Second Annual Bluegrass & Arts Festival.

July 22, 2014
Umphrey’s McGee Releases 2014 Fall Tour Dates

Today, prog-rock jam heroes Umphrey’s McGee released their initial tour schedule for Fall 2014.

Upstate New York gets two visits in late October in Niagara Falls and in Binghamton.

UM’s yearly Halloween mash-up party will take place at The House of Blues in Boston. The red hot Dopapod will be supporting UM from 10/24 until 10/31.

New Year’s will see a four-day run at The Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA. All released dates are available below.

Umphrey’s McGee 2014 Fall Tour

10/22 Cleveland, OH – House of Blues

10/23 Niagara Falls, NY – Rapids Theatre

10/24 Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE

10/29 Binghamton, NY – The Forum Theatre

10/30 Wilkes Barre, PA – FM Kirby Center

10/31-11/01 Boston, MA – House of Blues w/ Dopapod

11/06 Kalamazoo, MI – State Theatre

11/14-11/15 Live Oak, FL – Bear Creek Music & Arts Festival

12/03-12/07 Dominican Holidaze

12/31-01/03 Atlanta, GA – The Tabernacle

July 21, 2014
moe. Auction For a Good Cause

Earlier this month Buffalo jam band, moe., is auctioned off Vinnie Amico’s Pooch Drumhead, to donate the proceeds to the family of one of the children featured in one of their recent videos.

Haley, a 12-year-old girl who was in the “Blond Hair, Blue Eye’s” music video, suffered a spinal stroke in May. The band reported that she was struggling but continuing to strive. She is partially paralyzed on her right side. She loves music and is an athlete and needs everyone’s help.

The drumhead is used and will be signed by the entire band during their July 2014 tour. You can read more about Haley’s story by visiting haleyshealing.org.

moe. recently announced additions to their fall tour, including stops in Montreal and Toronto September 14 and 16.

Pre-sale ticketing goes on sale 7/9 10am ET through moe.ticketing

FALL DATES

9-12- Orono, Maine- Collins Center for the Arts
9-13- Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada- Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival
9-14- Montreal, Quebec, Canada- Virgin Mobil Corona Theatre
9-16- Toronto, Quebec, Canada- The Mod Club
9-18- Peoria, Illinois- CEFCU Center Stage
9-19- Royal Oak, Michigan- Royal Oak Music Theatre
9-20- Cincinnati, Ohio- Moonlite Gardens

Support the moe auction!

July 21, 2014
Live Music at Frost Ridge This Summer?

Frost Ridge and other parties are embroiled in a legal battle over amplified music hosted at Le Roy campground are awaiting a decision to reverse a preliminary injunction levied by the State Supreme Court back in May.

State Supreme Court Justice Robert Noonan was expected to release a written decision last week, but reportedly needs more information.

No date for a follow-up hearing has been announced.

Attorneys for Frost Ridge Campgrounds asked the court to reverse the decision because the owners want to hold their annual concert series at the campground. Since the injunction, they have organized shows at alternative sites.

The injunction issued in May was in response to lawsuits from the Town of Le Roy. New information presented the court shows the Zoning Board of Appeals determined that Frost Ridge was being operated in 2013 within the bounds of its use.

Ownership of the grounds has changed hands the past several years. The Luetticke-Archbell family purchased the grounds in 2008. In doing so, there was no apparent confusion over how the land could be used, due in part to a 1998 decision by the town’s zoning board of appeals. As the land was being sold then the ZBA was asked to clarify how it was zoned. The board supposedly responded by viewing the activities on the grounds as “preexisting nonconforming”, as the nature of their business was established before the town devised a master plan in 1967.

Since 2012, Luetticke-Archbell have established a healthy summer music festival, luring music talents from across the country. According to the campground’s website, music has been played there since it was known primarily as a ski lodge. The campgrounds, according to the two brothers, were established in 1963.

The town, citing from their records, see only the ski lodge as being grandfathered into their zoning plans. Everything else, after 1967, would require a use variance, which would ultimately be granted through a review of the town board.

In addition to the on-going lawsuit, the Luetticke-Archbell family suffered the loss of their home by fire over the July 4th holiday weekend. The cause of the fire is reportedly undetermined.

Featured photo: The Farm, as they performed at the Frost Ridge Campgrounds in 2013. The picture was shared on the campgrounds’ Facebook page.

Sources: The Batavian, WBTA 1490

July 20, 2014
Drake vs Lil Wayne tour kicks off at Darien Lake

Once again Hip Hop superstars Drake and Lil Wayne will hit some of their usual spots this summer as they bring their “Vs” tour to New York State.

Drake performing at the Sound Academy in Toronto in 2011. (Shot by Drew: Drake (The Come Up Show))

The unique tour was named “Vs” because both artists will not only play their hits, but at different points of the show, the artist will join each other on stage and collaborate with one another.

Darien Lake Performing Arts Center in Darien Center, N.Y will get the first show of the tour on Friday August 8th. Other N.Y dates will include Tuesday, August 12th at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga, N.Y and Tuesday, August 19th at the Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills, N.Y.

July 17, 2014
Halestorm to Perform at Town Ballroom

Grammy award winners, Halestorm recently announced they would be playing at Buffalo’s Town Ballroom on November 24th.

Halestorm has toured with rock and metal’s biggest bands, Shinedown, Stone Sour, Disturbed, Megadeth, Papa Roach and Godsmack. This year, they have stretched out their sphere of influence, having played a few selected dates with country singer, Eric Church.

The band scored two Top 10 singles from their debut, self-titled album, “I Get Off” and “It’s Not You”.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, July 18 at noon at TicketFly and Town Ballroom box office.

Check out Halestorm on their 2014 North American Tour:

7/18 — Oshkosh, Wis. — Rock USA
8/1 — Clearfield, Pa. — Clearfield County Fair
8/2 — Syracuse, N.Y. — KRockathon
8/3 — Mescalero, N.M. — Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino
8/15 — Des Moines, Iowa — Iowa State Fair Grandstand
8/16 — Sedalia, Mo. — Missouri State Fair
8/28 — Comstock Park, Mich. — Fifth Third Ballpark (w/ Theory of a Deadman)
9/27 — Baltimore, Md. — Shindig Festival
9/29 — New York, N.Y. — Terminal 5
9/30 — Watertown, N.Y. — McVean Gymnasium @ Jefferson
11/11 — Chattanooga, Tenn. — Track 29
11/12 — Knoxville, Tenn. — The International
11/14 — St. Petersburg, Fla. — Mahaffey Theater
11/15 — Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. — Revolution
11/16 — Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — House of Blues Orlando
11/18 — Louisville, Ky. — Mercury Ballroom
11/20 — Green Bay, Wis. — Resch Center**
11/21 — Peoria, Ill. — Civic Center**
11/22 — Evansville, Ind. — Ford Center**
11/24 — Buffalo, N.Y. — Town Ballroom
11/25 — Westbury, N.Y. — The Space at Westbury
11/28 — Sayreville, N.J. — Starland Ballroom
11/29 — Worcester, Mass. — The Palladium
12/1 — Cincinnati, Ohio — Bogart’s
12/4 — Wichita, Kan. — INTRUST Bank Arena**
12/5 — Kansas City, Mo. — Sprint Center**
12/6 — Sioux Falls, S.D. — Denny Sanford Premier Center**
12/8 — Memphis, Tenn. — Minglewood Hall
12/9 — Baton Rouge, La. — Varsity Theatre
12/11 — Duluth, Ga. — Arena at Gwinnett Center**
12/12 — Greenville, S.C. — Bon Secours Wellness Arena**
12/13 — Birmingham, Ala. –BJCC Arena**

** supporting Eric Church

July 17, 2014
New Name for Albany’s Red Square

In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the gulf coast and uprooted Red Square proprietor Francis Verret, along with scores of Louisiana families, from his home.

Verret’s been a resident of the Capital Region for nearly a decade now, having been the proprietor of Red Square for the past nine years. And, last night, he announced another change: the popular downtown Albany venue on Broadway is changing its name to the Parish Public House.

“It has always been the plan to open our kitchen and expand the business beyond just our live music events,” says Verret. “That plan has finally come to fruition with the launch of Parish Public House, which combines the quality, original live music events that Red Square has been known for with a Cajun-inspired restaurant and bar.”

On July 24, at 8 p.m. Parish Public House will host its own grand opening, presenting live music from Eric Lindell & Co.

Originally from Lafayette, Louisiana, Verret eventually settled down and purchased the Red Square in 2006. As the years progressed, he said, so did the vision of transforming the live music club into a Cajun-themed restaurant and bar; serving up tried-and-true Cajun specialties and Louisiana’s favorite cocktails. The menu promises a wide range of dishes, from a simple Po Boy to a richly flavored Étouffée, Jambalaya and Gumbo.

Verret explains that the new name is also inspired by his old home. A parish is the Louisiana equivalent to New York’s county.

“We’re going to build our own little Louisiana parish right here in downtown Albany,” says Verret, adding that the new place will feature “the food, community, spirit, and, well – spirits – that embody the Cajun culture that is celebrated around the world.”

Eric Lindell first appeared at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2005, a fact that missed by Verret. He said, Lindell makes the perfect complement to kicking off the Louisiana-themed venue.

Located at 388 Broadway, Parish Public House will be open for lunch and dinner service from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. weekdays and 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Saturday, with later bar hours. Live music will continue at the venue most Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and an event menu will be available during shows.

Feature photo of Jeff Bujak performing at the Red Square last July.

July 17, 2014
Hop Aboard the Blues Express Train and Enjoy Music Under the Stars With Moon Boot Lover

The Cooperstown area has proven to be quite the stomping grounds for fun musical entertainment so far this year, so why not visit again for the unique experience of a blues cruise on land? Every Saturday night during the summer, the Cooperstown Blues Express Train provides a three-hour rocking blues party onboard a train that rolls you through the gorgeous countryside between Milford and Cooperstown. The bands perform on the rear car of the train, which is “open air” on nice evenings, allowing you to fully take in the scenery and the stars, but can be covered in the event of rain. Food and drinks are available as well throughout the ride in the bar car. There is a nice space set up in front of the stage to dance around, but if you do find yourself needing to sit down and grab a bite inside the train, the music can still be heard via speakers. Continuing its tradition of hosting both local and well-known national blues bands, the Cooperstown Blues Express Train is proud to be presenting Peter Prince and Moon Boot Lover on July 26!

Described by Peter Prince himself as “Rock-ET Soul” music, Moon Boot Lover can be thought of as rock ‘n’ roll at its finest, truly embodying the spirit and showmanship of the genre, influenced by such diverse musical acts as Al Green, Jimi Hendrix, Grand Funk Railroad, and Led Zeppelin. From their beginnings sometime in 1993 in New York City, Moon Boot Lover’s lineup is constantly rotating, but their sound is always awe-inspiring and invigorating, giving the audience a taste of music alternating between blues and rock with a good amount of jam mixed in for good measure. Seeing Moon Boot Lover live is a whole lot like going to the moon and back! The band will be bringing with them their lighting designer, Aaron Hunt, who is working on getting additional lights for this ride, making for an even more spacey and psychedelic experience. The band will be touring later this summer in support of Conehead Buddha, another great band who got their start in the ‘90s.

For those of you who have had their interests peaked, make sure to arrive at the Milford Train Depot at 6:30PM, as the train leaves the station at 7:00PM sharp, which gives riders the opportunity to see the countryside in the daylight for the first part of the ride. This event is open to those 21 and older, and be sure to have cash on hand, as this is a cash-only affair. Tickets cost $18, which is more than fair for the three-hour experience you are sure to enjoy on this blues cruise. Later on this summer, the Blues Express Train will be hosting Rhett Tyler and Early Warning on August 23, Blue Hand Luke on September 13, and the Hop City Hellcats on September 20, but be sure to check out schedule for a more complete lineup. Hope to see lots of you on the train!

July 16, 2014
Annual Tradition, Enter The Haggis Rocks Saranac Thursday, You In?

One of the most anticipated shows of the Saranac Thursday line up in Utica, NY is definitely the crowd favorites from Toronto, Canada – Enter The Haggis. This indie, roots rock, folk, celtic group blazes new trails for themselves each time they set out to create their music. This Thursday, July 17 at the Saranac Brewery in Utica, fans are hoping they may share a taste of what is to be material from the new album. Join us at 6pm, whether they share or not, their catalog of music is riveting enough and you definitely won’t be sorry you came.

With Brian Buchanan (vocals, fiddle, keyboards, acoustic guitar, and electric guitar), Craig Downie (vocals, highland bagpipes, trumpet, harmonica, whistle, acoustic guitar, and bells), Trevor Lewington (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, octave mandolin, and keyboards), Mark Abraham (bass guitar and vocals) and Bruce McCarthy (drums and percussion ) – you know the music will be top notch. How could it not? with the most impressive collection of talent on stage. Although their rousing sound never fails to get the toes tapping, the hands clapping, and the crowd screaming, it’s their songwriting that takes them over the top and sets them apart from all the others.

Enter The Haggis

It’s a gift, their creativity. Each album forges new trails for them and their audience, adoringly referred to as Haggis Heads. The last album, The Modest Revolution came about based on one day’s news publication. As they read through this news periodical, they found all the inspiration necessary to come up with a full album of music addressing topics from that day’s current events.

Enter The Haggis

As creative as that was, their new project, The Penny Black Project, is even more so. Over the years touring, they have heard some of the most interesting stories and tales from Haggis Heads all over the world. Putting out a request to all their fans to share their unique stories, there was only one catch. It had to be submitted the old fashioned way, with pen and paper and sent via the postal service. The anticipation to hear these stories and their interpretation of them is keeping their fans on the edge of their seats. As mixing has commenced, it’s only a matter of time for the final release date to be announced.

Enter The Haggis

Enter The Haggis

Enter The Haggis

July 15, 2014