Tag: Music News

518 Songfest at the Egg

The 518 Songfest, a local singer/songwriter showcase, will take place at the Egg in Albany on Saturday, Feb. 27.

The 518 Songfest is part concert and part panel discussion that will showcase four local up-and-coming musicians along with songwriter Tim Moore, who wrote hit songs “Second Avenue” and “Rock and Roll Love Letter.” The other musicians include Bryan Thomas, Ashley Sophia, Benjamin John and Rhiannon’s Lark (featuring Alyssa Yeager). Sandy McKnight, co-producer of this event and producer of the Indie Fest at the Egg, will also take part in the panel discussion. The discussion will be led by the other co-producer, Andy Gregory, and Exit 97.7 WEXT’s Dave Michaels, who will be fielding questions from the audience.

Attendees will want to arrive as close as possible to 6 p.m., when the doors open, as performers and sponsors will have booths setup in the Swyer Theater lobby and be available for questions and to autograph merchandise. Meet-and-greet sessions will also take place during intermission. Seating will begin at 6:30.

Tickets for the show are available for $10 at the box office or online. Buyers are encouraged to purchase tickets early, as seating will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, with the best seats going to the earliest buyers. Proceeds from the event will benefit Columbia Arts Team, WEXT and the Egg, all 501(c)3 non-profit organizations.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWbZ4iWWAAQ[/embedyt]

February 20, 2016
Madison House, AEG Live Nears Approval for Big Music Festival

This summer a brand-new music event could be hitting the festival circuit — although New Yorkers will have to travel west to Colorado. Madison House Presents and AEG Live announced plans for a four-day event with the possibility to host 20,000 people on a ranch near Buena Vista, Colorado. The expected run for the weekend event is Aug. 4 through 7.

According to the Denver Post, commissioners in Chaffee County, Colorado, seem likely to approve the proposal for the annual festival at a meeting in early March. “I don’t see having challenges we could not overcome. I have faith in Madison House that is well earned that they can do what needs to be done,” said Chaffee County Commissioner Dave Potts, as reported Tuesday in the Denver Post.

Photo from Facebook

Last August, the Boulder-based Madison House Presents organized a two-day Mumford and Sons Gentlemen of the Road festival in neighboring Salida, Colorado; other artists included the Flaming Lips, Dawes, Jenny Lewis and Blake Mills. Madison House is known for putting on such music festivals as Electric Forest Festival and Rothbury Festival and managing bands like the String Cheese Incident and JJ Grey and MOFRO, while AEG Live produces the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, among others, and Goldenvoice, a Southern California-based regional division of the company, organizes Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach Country Music Festival.

For this new event, the organizers hope to schedule performances until 1 a.m. on Thursday and Sunday, and 2:30 a.m. on the other two days. The festival’s headliners and lineup will not be released until early spring, but Madison House Presents and AEG Live promise a diverse group of acts to attract a wide range of ages. Stay tuned for updates as this story further develops.

H/T Jambase

February 19, 2016
Barry Manilow to Play Turning Stone Despite Emergency Surgery

It looks like Barry Manilow will be able to play his scheduled performance at Turning Stone after all.

The 72-year old singer/songwriter made a surprise return performance Sunday night at Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. He underwent emergency oral surgery on back-to-back days on Feb. 8 and 9 and, after performing in Memphis, Tennessee on Feb. 11, Manilow was rushed to a Los Angeles-area hospital for a third procedure due to complications from the first two surgeries.

ET Canada reports that Manilow’s third surgery was a success. Manilow was instructed by doctors not to talk, sing or rap for 48 hours after the surgery. According to ET, music producer David Foster said the recent hospitalization isn’t as scary as it sounded and Manilow will be fine, but it was something that he just had to deal with.

At Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party, Manilow performed his 1974 hit “Mandy.” Manilow told the audience, “I am glad to be here tonight. What a week.” Manilow then performed a duet, “Zing Went the Strings of My Heart,” with the late Judy Garland who appeared on the video screen behind Manilow.

Days later, Manilow resumed his One Last Time-One Last Tour Wednesday night at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Two dates in Tennessee were postponed due to the hospitalization. Central New Yorkers can catch their last glimpse of this music icon when he hits the stage at the Turning Stone Events Center at the Turning Stone Casino on Friday, March 18, in Verona, outside Syracuse.

From 2008-2011, Manilow held residency in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Hilton performing over 400 shows. Manilow has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide with several Billboard hits to go along with various multi-platinum selling albums.

Manilow has won various awards in his career including a Grammy for Best Pop Male Performance for the song “Copacabana,” EMMY awards in 1977 for Outstanding Special (Comedy, Variety or Music) – The Barry Manilow Special and 2006 for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program – Barry Manilow: Music And Passion, a Tony award in 1977 for Barry Manilow on Broadway and several American Music Awards.

February 19, 2016
Funk Yes: Lettuce Set to Groove University of Rochester

Although you won’t find it listed on their current roster of dates, Lettuce will make a third appearance in New York state during this spring/summer tour. According to the University of Rochester’s event ticketing website, the funk-fueled jazz band is booked for a Feb. 26 show on the River Campus. The New York City group will also return to their home state for performances at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester on April 8 and Hunter Mountain Jam Festival this June.

Known for soulful super jams, Lettuce debuted their fourth studio album, Crush, last year. Jeremiah Shea said in his NYS Music review that this album “is the convergence of road tested and polished material, musical exploration, deep pockets of groove, and a band that is simply on top of their game.” Brian Ferguson was on hand to catch the two-night Crush release party at the Playstation Theater last November, where Marco Benevento opened the show and Lettuce encored with a new tune titled “Phyllis” (hear the song below).

Eric Krasno

The band, featuring Adam Deitch (drummer), Adam Smirnoff and Eric Krasno (guitarists), Erick “Jesus” Coomes (bassist), Neal Evans (keyboardist), Ryan Zoidis (saxophonist) and Eric Bloom (trumpet player), last played in Rochester June 2015 for the city’s Party in the Park (after Taj Mahal cancelled) and made a stop at Water Street Music Hall October 2014.

Doors will open at 8:30 p.m. with show time of 9 p.m. Tickets are available online through the University, or at the Common Market in Wilson Commons. The concert is open to the public; special ticket pricing applies for students and faculty. If you’re nearby the Finger Lakes area next Friday, pencil in this performance as it’s guaranteed to be one energetic soul shakedown party.

February 19, 2016
Florida Georgia Line to Play Dick’s Sporting Goods Open

Florida Georgia Line will play at the 2016 Dick’s Sporting Goods Open at the En-Joie Golf Course in Endicott.

The Dick’s Sporting Goods Open, held July 6 to 10, has become a staple in the area, attracting business to Endicott and the surrounding towns. In celebration of their 10th anniversary, Florida Georgia Line will perform at the Friday Night Concert on July 8. The concert takes place greenside once the golfers have finished swinging their woods and pulled their balls from the hole.

Florida Georgia Line, the duo of Brian Kelly from Florida and Tyler Hubbard from Georgia, are one of the most successful country acts of the current decade, having won several music awards including Favorite Country Duo and Favorite Country Album, for their album Anything Goes, at the 2015 American Music Awards.

They are gearing up for their Dig Your Roots 2016 tour, which begins next month in Australia and goes through mid-October in Atlanta. The tour brings them back to New York on July 17 at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, along with a handful of other stops in the Northeast.

Visions Federal Credit Union is partnering with Dick’s Sporting Goods as a sponsor of the golf tournament. In celebration of their 50th year, all credit union members will have special priority pre-sale access to tickets to the open. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, Feb. 19 at 9 a.m. The $60 ticket provides access to the First Round of Champions Tour Gold and to the Friday Night Concert on the McIntosh Soundstage.

February 17, 2016
Update: Twiddle Finalizes ‘TumbleDown’ Lineup

In a video posted to their Facebook page, Twiddle announced the lineup for their Tumble Down taking place July 29 and 30 at Burlington, Vermont’s Waterfront Park.

In addition to Twiddle’s four sets over the weekend, they’ll be joined by New York funk favorites Turkuaz, Montana-based bluegrass act the Kitchen Dwellers, and special guest Holly Bowling on July 29. July 30 will see them joined by Cabinet and Nahko and Medicine for the People, along with Holly Bowling.

Tickets are on sale now. Both single-day and two-day passes are available.

Original Post:

Vermont-based quartet Twiddle and Higher Ground have announced two nights of Twiddle at Burlington’s Waterfront Park this summer. The weekend will be known as Tumble Down and will be held July 29 and 30.

The weekend will continue as part of a tradition started last year at the Lake Champlain Maritime Festival that included alternating sets with moe. This year, Twiddle will headline the event with two full sets each night. Several supporting acts will be announced.

In addition to live music, the weekend will include various activities including a charity disc golf tournament supporting Twiddle’s fan-founded charity, The White Light Foundation. Late night sets will also be announced around Burlington featuring members of Twiddle.

A limited number of early bird passes will be available at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 19 for $54 through Ticketfly.

The announcement of Tumble Down adds a punch to Twiddle’s already packed summer including dates at Red Rocks and multiple festival appearances including the Frendly Gathering, Lockn’ Festival and the Werk Out.

Twiddle hits the road in support of their latest release, Plump – Chapter One, on Thursday for a sold-out show at the Port City Music Hall in Portland, Maine.

February 17, 2016
Hollywood Vampires Kicking Off Tour in Verona

The supergroup that had Bruno Mars wondering what he was witnessing at Monday’s Grammy Awards has announced a set of dates. The first stop for Hollywood Vampires tour is set for Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona May 24.

https://twitter.com/MaggieCoughlan/status/699444152963067904

Hollywood Vampires is fronted by Alice Cooper, also includes Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, actor Johnny Depp and Guns N’ Roses rhythm section of Matt Sorum and Duff McKagan. The Vampires are a loose collective of rock royalty, with roots in the 1970s LA scene. Artists such as John Lennon, Elton John, Keith Moon and Ringo Starr have been associated with the group.

Cooper told Rolling Stone:

We have to carefully schedule the Vampires. That’s because you have Johnny’s movie schedule; you’ve got Aerosmith; you’ve got Guns N’ Roses and you’ve got me! It’s five entities going in five different directions. To get those guys all at one time when we’re not working is really unique. So everybody looks at their calendar, and you have to find that two weeks where everybody’s off.

The band performed a tribute to Lemmy Kilmister at Monday’s Grammy Awards, lighting the stage aflame with Motorhead’s “Ace of Spades” as well as their first single “Bad as I Am” from their eponymous album, available now through the usual outlets.

Tickets for the Turning Stone show are $74, $69 and $64 and go on sale Tuesday, Feb. 23, according to a Facebook post from Turning Stone.

February 16, 2016
Cannibal Corpse Thrashes Through North America, Vinyl Reissue

This week death metal legends Cannibal Corpse kicked off a quick run through the United States, including stops in New York City and their hometown of Buffalo, before they’ll head off to Europe in April.

Joining the group as supporting acts this tour will be fellow Floridians Obituary, as well as Cryptopsy and Abysmal Dawn.

Cannibal Corpse is still touring in support of 2014’s A Skeletal Domain; however, in conjunction with the tour, the classic releases Butchered At Birth, Eaten Back To Life, The Bleeding, Vile and Tomb Of The Mutilated are to be commemorated on vinyl. Limited quantities are available as part of the Metal Blade Classics series. Each LP includes an exclusive poster.

Tampa death metal vets Obituary will join the headliners throughout the full United States tour. The band’s last release was 2014’s Inked in Blood, which in his review for NYS Music, Jay Saint G noted that, “overall, fantastic album that really takes the listener back into the nasty swamps of Tampa and showcases what true death metal is all about.” Most recently, 3 Floyds Brewing co-created a session pilsner with the band called Hopped in Half. (3 Floyds crafted Amber Smashed Face with Cannibal Corpse last year.) Crytopsy, an extreme metal band from Montreal, released a series of EPs entitled The Book of Suffering October 2015, and Los Angeles-based black metal group Abysmal Dawn debuted their fourth studio album Obsolescence in 2014.

Presented by the Noise, the 33-date tour got started last night in Atlanta and will cap off at Revolution Live in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on March 20. The five-piece band originally from Buffalo makes two stops in New York State, including a hometown gig at the Town Ballroom on Feb. 19 after performing at New York City’s Irving Plaza on Feb. 16. Tickets for the Cannibal Corpse 2016 U.S. spring tour can be purchased through the band’s website.

2016 Tour Cannibal Corpse w/Obituary, Cryptopsy, Abysmal Dawn:
2/13 The Sea – Wilmington, NC
2/14 Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD
2/15 Theatre Of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA
2/16 Irving Plaza – New York, NY
2/18 Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA
2/19 Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY
2/20 Opera House – Toronto, ON
2/21 St. Andrews Hall – Detroit, MI
2/23 Turner Hall Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI
2/24 The Ready Room – St. Louis, MO
2/25 The Granada Theater – Lawrence, KS
2/26 Cabooze – Minneapolis, MN
2/27 Metro – Chicago, IL
2/29 The Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO
3/1 The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
3/2 Revolution Center – Boise, ID
3/3 Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR
3/4 Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC
3/5 El Corazon – Seattle, WA
3/7 The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
3/8 Avalon Hollywood – Los Angeles, CA
3/9 The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA
3/10 House Of Blues – San Diego, CA
3/11 Club Red – Phoenix, AZ
3/12 Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM
3/14 The Aztec Theatre – San Antonio, TX
3/15 Gas Monkey Live! – Dallas, TX
3/16 House Of Blues – Houston, TX
3/17 Varsity Theatre – Baton Rouge, LA
3/18 The Side Bar Theatre – Tallahassee, FL
3/19 The Ritz Ybor – Tampa, FL *no Obituary
3/20 Revolution Live – Ft. Lauderdale, FL

February 15, 2016
‘In The Mood’ Swings Into Syracuse

In celebration of 22 years on tour, the live musical revue of In The Mood is coming to Syracuse this March.

With a cast of 19 and a 13-piece big band orchestra (the String of Pearls), the fully staged show features more than 50 popular 1940s numbers, including “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Well Get It,” “Sing, Sing Sing,” “On The Sunny Side of the Street,” “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” “Tuxedo Junction” and “Moonlight Serenade.”

Fans of American big band music will appreciate the show’s brassy singing and dancing in tribute to Swing Era icons like Glenn Miller, the Andrews Sisters, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Harry James, Erskine Hawkins, Benny Goodman and Frank Sinatra and many others.

According to the official press release, In The Mood “pays homage to America’s greatest generation who fought WWII. It was a time when Americans listened and boogie woogied to up-tempo Big Band rhythms and danced cheek-to-cheek to intimate ballads. Experience the swing, the rhythm and the jazzy, sentimental and patriotic music of this pivotal time in America’s history.”

Created by Bud Forrest, the ever-evolving production was selected by the National Archives in Washington, D.C., as part of the 50th anniversary commemoration of WWII; the cast was also chosen to perform at the 53rd Presidential Inauguration Ball.

In The Mood – A 1940s Big Band Music Revue returns to the Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater March 30 for performances at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The touring musical will make an additional stop in New York State on March 31 at Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo. Tickets are on sale now.

2016 In The Mood Tour:

3/30 – The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater, Syracuse, NY
3/31 – Shea’s Performing Arts Center, Buffalo, NY
4/12 – Coronado Performing Arts Center, Rockford, IL
4/14 – Victory Theatre, Evansville, IN
4/17 – Lexington Opera House, Lexington, KY
5/3-8 – Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope, PA

February 15, 2016
Albany Symphony Orchestra 2016-2017 Season Features Yo Yo Ma

The Albany Symphony Orchestra announced their 2016-2017 season, and it’s a big one with special guests Yo Yo Ma and anniversary celebrations.

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Grammy Award-winning musical director David Alan Miller, the Albany Symphony Orchestra has a big season lined up for their 87th year, including a performance with special guest cellist Yo Yo Ma and six world premiers. Miller’s strong devotion to music education, dynamic presence on the podium and dedication to the music of our time have brought a new level of success to the orchestra. The new season is designed to celebrate the collaboration between Miller and the musicians.

The 2016-2017 season will also feature a number of special guest musicians in addition to Yo Yo Ma’s visit on Dec. 8. From the press release:

The gala opening concert will feature soprano Saili Oak and pianist Natasha Paremski. In January, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1 will be performed by the great Russian virtuoso, Ilya Rashkovskiy. Other artists making their first appearance with the Albany Symphony include oboist Kathleen Needleman, violist Richard O’Neill, and guest conductor Karina Canellakis. In addition, there will be soloists from the Bard College Conservatory for the Mozart & Bach weekend. Several outstanding guest artists will participate in the American Music Festival in May, including the radiant violinist Chee-Yun and legendary Indian Folk-Clarinetist Shankar Tucker.

The season runs from October through June, with an opening night gala on Sept. 24. Season subscriptions are available, though they do not include the Evening with Yo Yo Ma. However, subscribers will have early access to purchase those tickets.

2016-2017 Season:
Opening Night Gala- Ravel & Sibelius
Saturday, September 24, 2016: 7:30PM
Palace Theatre
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Saili Oak, Soprano
Natasha Paremski, Piano
Reena Esmail: “Aria” for Soprano and Orchestra
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G
Sibelius: Symphony No. 5

Peer Gynt
Saturday, October 22, 2016: 7:30PM
Sunday, October 23, 2016: 3:00PM
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Katherine Needleman, Oboe
Reznicek: Donna Diana Overture
Leroy Anderson: Three Pieces
Rouse: Oboe Concerto
Grieg: Peer Gynt, Suite No. 1
Tchaikovsky: Francesca da Rimini

Water Music & Schumann
Saturday, November 19, 2016: 7:30PM
Sunday November 20, 2016: 3:00PM
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Richard O’Neill, Viola
Handel: Selections from “The Water Music”
Theofanidis: Viola Concerto
Bermel: “A Shout, A Whisper, and a Trace”
Schumann: Symphony No. 4

An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma
(Non-Subscription Series, but first access to season subscribers)
Thursday, December 8, 2016: 7:30PM
Palace Theatre
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Yo-Yo Ma, Cello
Wagner: Prelude to “Die Meistersinger”
Dvorak: Serenade for Strings
Conor Brown: New Work (World Premiere)
Elgar: Cello Concerto

Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto
Saturday, January 7, 2017: 7:30PM
Palace Theatre
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Ilya Rashkovskiy, Piano
Barber: The School for Scandal Overture
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1
Corigliano: Symphony No. 1, “Of Rage and Remembrance”

Brahms’ Fourth
Saturday, February 18, 2017: 7:30PM
Palace Theatre
Karina Canellakis, Guest Conductor
Higdon: Dance Cards
Beethoven: Triple Concerto
Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor

Mozart & Bach
Saturday, March 4, 2017: 7:30PM
Sunday, March 5, 2017: 3:00PM
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Soloists from the Vocal Division of Bard College-Conservatory
Mozart: Symphony No, 40 in G minor
Torke: Three Concertinos for Solo Instruments and Orchestra (World Premiere)
Bach: Cantata No. 78 “Jesu, der du meine Seele”

Beethoven’s 9th
Saturday, April 8, 2017: 7:30PM
Palace Theatre
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Albany Pro Musica Tower: Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman, No. 6
Tsontakis: 25th Anniversary Commission (World Premiere)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor (“Choral”)

American Music Festival
Saturday, May 21, 2017: 7:30PM
EMPAC
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Chee-Yun, Violin
Shankar Tucker, Clarinet
Harbison: Partita for Orchestra
Theofanidis: Violin Concerto
Reena Esmail: Clarinet Concerto (World Premiere)
Mellon Young Composer: New Work (World Premiere)

Additional Subscriber Specials:
Roscoe: An American Grand Opera, by Evan Mack (Concert Premiere)
Saturday, October 15, 2016: 7:30PM
Palace Theatre
David Alan Miller, Conductor
A new opera composed by Capital Region resident and Skidmore College Professor Evan Mack, based on the novel of the same name by Pulitzer Prize winning author William Kennedy.

Magic of Christmas
December 4, 2016: 3:00PM
Palace Theatre
David Alan Miller, Conductor

American Music Festival
May 18-21, 2017
A weekend of innovative new works by living American composers, artistic happenings, and special events across Troy, including performances by the Albany Symphony and the Dogs of Desire.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbspIl7-5V8[/embedyt]

February 15, 2016