NYS Music 20​17

Category: Westchester

  • The Goon Squad: Ripe Make Their Debut at The Capitol Theatre

    They played moe.down this past summer, they opened for J.J Grey and Mofro at NYC’s PlayStation Theatre, they released an EP—Ripe, a relatively still new six-piece pop-funk outfit from the Boston Berkley scene, has had a year of accomplishments. This weekend was another notch, when they made a terrific debut at The Capitol Theatre on Saturday, December 16. With a couple of guest bands joining, it revealed itself over its course of the evening as a really special kind of show.

    One of these guests were Juice, a fellow Boston group of a similar musical flavor. The pairing of these two bands was perfect, as it made for a full night of uniformly bright personality and musical zest.

    Juice channeled the finessed pizazz of a Broadway production. But their material was a  mix of R&B and pop rock, that also radiated an extremely positive mood from the start. Among other strengths, like their charismatic electric violinist Christian Rose, Juice have a real vocal power going for them—something becoming less of a rarity for jam scene acts than it’s been in the past. Most of the material of their set featured at least a couple members either harmonizing or rapping improvised bars.

    If you can believe it,  the band’s banger for the night, and a topper for the entire evening, was a take on Kanye’s “Gold Digger.” It didn’t sound like such at first, but the band put a Little Feat-inspired, piano-touched funky groove behind the song that made it surprisingly heady and listenable. They finished out very strongly, with a song that they announced would be on an upcoming album: a tune that revolves around a great, gospel-inspired chorus of “Mercy, mercy.” It actually echoed the sound and feel of the more soaring section of Tedeschi Trucks Band number.

    As they started out, Ripe introduced a similar yet also unique brand of this positive-funk  Now it was something like a modern, more revamp of 80s dance pop. It also got slightly groovier in tandem with its building—as Ripe would reveal over the course of the night, they were good at taking things up from an already good level to an even higher one. By the third song into their set—which now was delivering a sound that fused The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Stevie Wonder, they’d tapped into a huge momentum already.

    Robbie Wulfsohn, Ripe’s almost dizzingly enthusiastic lead singer, had enough personality for everybody in the theatre, but there was the “it” kind of talent to back it up. To his band’s suave yet hard-pushing grooves, he stood out still as a strong point, with a far-reaching, soulful, youthful voice that didn’t let up as the night went on.

    “This is crazy,” he was panting to the crowd halfway through the set. He was no doubt addressing the surreality of the night, the fact that his still very much up and coming Boston band of friends was getting this golden opportunity to do their thing in the big, majestic space of The Capitol Theatre.

    For that golden opportunity, they were really doing it up right all night. Track after track, the components from Ripe, from the two-man horn section, to the two-man guitar team, to the dramatic builds, was combustible with energy, and radiating a concoction of confidence and gratitude. The amount of hype the entire band was clearly feeling thankfully fueled a set of more than solid playing, with strong solos from all around, and even some squaring-off-style improv sprinkled throughout.

    For the crowd that they managed to bring into the Capitol Theatre, they rocked them. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the Cap’s audience absolutely ate this show up. People jumped around, they danced like they were drunk, they screamed in the middle of songs, many sang along for the entirety of the show.

    The fun boiled over at some point. Ripe’s guitarist, Jon Becker, at one point snuck away from the stage, only to reappear in amusing fashion in the presidential box above everybody’s heads. Right after this, the band invited up Christian Rose from Juice to add a few short but shiny violin rips to one of their jams.

    At the tail end of what Wolfsohn called the “final stretch” of the night, Ripe laid down a pretty remarkable, multi-segmented version of The Lion King’s “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King.” Taken through a few different waves of funk, a couple builds, and even a quick section of jazzy space that preluded a big return to the chorus, if was a keen choice for rounding off a big night of music.

    Ripe and Juice might be some names to listen for in the coming times. For all the fun and musical radiance this Capitol Theatre show brought, it certainly also came across as a rock concert equivalent to stepping up to a big plate, and knocking it out of the park.

  • Best of NYS Music 2017: Staff and Reader Picks for Best Venue

    NYS Music is celebrating the end of 2017 by sharing our staff and reader picks in 10 categories, and today we are highlighting the winners of the Best Venue in New York State.

    Staff Picks

    Brooklyn Steel

    This new venue in the heart of the East Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn has been quite busy in its first year of existence.  Playing host to such acts as Ween, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Turkuaz and Yo La Tengo, this 1,800 person capacity room prides itself on open sight lines and great acoustics thanks to a roof specially designed to keep in sound.  The venue’s name is derived from the previous use for this building on the corner of Frost and Debevoise streets, steel fabrication, and patrons are constantly reminded of this with a minimalist decor furnished with scrap metal.

    Owned by Bowery Presents, the similarities between Brooklyn Steel and Terminal 5, another Bowery Presents-owned NYC music venue, are unmistakable.  Both rooms have an industrial feel to them, highlighted by the standing room only viewing areas that surround the stage on both sides.  With fairly easy access thanks to the L line Subway stop nearby and featuring a room with good sound and sight lines, it’s a pretty easy prediction that Brooklyn Steel will be a staple of the city music scene before long.

    Here’s an interesting time lapse video showing the remarkable transformation of an old steel factory into a first rate concert venue.

    The Capitol Theatre

    Located just a short drive outside the city is Port Chester, home to the historic Capitol Theatre which is constantly housing first rate bands and artists.  It was originally designed and used as a theater for cinema and Vaudeville acts when it first opened way back in 1926, but it’s since been redeveloped as a music venue and has seen a wealth of musical royalty pass through its doors.  Acts like Pink Floyd, Janis Joplin, Traffic and The Grateful Dead, who played 13 gigs there in a one year span from 1970-71, all drew large crowds there back in the day just as acts like moe., The Disco Biscuits, Twiddle and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead do now.

    Affectionately known as “The Cap,” this building has all the looks and feels of a classic music hall with modern day amenities. An open floor area generally has more than enough space for concert goers, even for shows that are sold out, while the expansive mezzanine offers seats as well as additional bars upstairs. And if that’s not enough, the adjoining establishment to The Cap was bought out and turned into a bar as well, appropriately named Garcia’s. Peter Shapiro, who also owns Brooklyn Bowl, has done a nice job of refurbishing and putting the Capitol Theatre back on the map as a first rate home for live music in New York State.

    Here’s a clip of moe.’s performance from last year that gives you a little idea of the views and the usage of the walls to double as projection screen of sorts at The Cap.

    The Egg

    The last of our staff picks for best music venue in NYS is that oddly shaped building you might have seen at Empire State Plaza in Albany.  Completed in 1978, this circular shaped performance venue actually holds two different theaters inside with the 982 seat Hart Theatre being the one mainly used for concerts. Although the smaller, 450 seat Swyer Theatre that resembles more of a lecture hall than a music hall recently played host to an acoustic evening of Keller Williams tunes.

    As you would expect from observing it from the outside, The Egg has no sharp angles or straight lines inside with almost everything having a gentle curve to it, even the walls as they meet a gently concave ceiling above them.  This results in not only a relaxed atmosphere for a show, but impeccable acoustics as well. Phish’s Mike Gordon even put out a live release that was recorded here simply called The Egg.  It may not host the large, national touring acts that can fill an arena, but for a pure musical experience with pristine sound in a sit down environment, it doesn’t get much better than The Egg.

    Here’s a clip of the aforementioned Keller Williams playing piano in the smaller Swyer Theatre that gives you a taste of the sound and intimate feel of the room.

    Readers’ Pick

    Bearsville Theater

    The NYSMusic.com readers have spoken and, in a bit of a surprise, the Bearsville Theater located in Woodstock came out on top when the polls closed.  This iconic, yet quaint, music hall is located on the outskirts of town and a perfect location for an intimate evening. Stop next door at Bear Cafe for fine New American dining options before the show, then saunter next door and enjoy the warm ambiance of the lounge and bar inside, before entering the venue and enjoying the incredible acoustics of a popular venue in one of New York’s most iconic towns for arts and music.

    Stay tuned all week for more of our series of the Best of NYS Music.

  • Get Brainwashed with ShwizZ’s Quirky video for “Listen To It”

    This past week, ShwiZz released their video for “Listen To It,” a satirical song with an equally odd video that bounces around similar to the jams ShwiZz performs. Watch below.

    “Listen To It” was conceptualized and written by Ryan Liatsis and brought to life in 2017 with the band ShwizZ. The self-referential tune encourages the listener to indeed “listen to it,” over and over again. Guitarist Ryan Liatsis shared some background on the video. “The original idea was to write more of a pop song to take the band in a different direction, but of course our love for Zappa shone through and we wound up adding quite a bit of humor and satire. The song is merely a mockery of the power mainstream media has over so many minds, “telling” them all what should be listened to, whether you like it or not! We are undoubtedly not the first people or group to shed light on this matter, but our hope is that people who view this video will consider giving a listen to small time bands, music you’ve perhaps never heard and non commercial radio and media. Or perhaps we just want to brainwash everyone as well.”

    shwizz at garcia's Shwizz Listen to it“Listen To It” was directed and produced by Paul Liatsis and Bridgeside Productions out of Bay Ridge in Brooklyn, NY, and was filmed at Bridgeside Productions Studio in Nyack, NY.

    Catch ShwiZz on December 9 at B.R.Y.A.C in Bridgeport, CT, December 15 at Casa Del Sol in Nyack, NY and on January 11 at 10pm they’ll be part of a live TV performance “Raw Music Sessions,” available for viewing on Channel 79 Time Warner Cable and Fios Staten Island

  • moe.’s Rob Derhak Cancer Free

    Rob Derhak, bassist and vocalist from moe., announced on Facebook through both his personal page and the band’s page that he is officially cancer free. He was originally diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer in July.

    It has been about two weeks since moe. announced their return with two shows at Port Chester’s Capitol Theatre on Feb. 2 and 3. On Wednesday, Derhak announced that, following a visit with his doctor, he was given a clean bill of health and declared cancer free. The cancer diagnosis in July had the band on an indefinite hiatus that began back in August.

    Derhak’s statement:

    Hi Friends,
    I have some good news to post today. After being scanned, poked, and prodded my Dr.’s have given me a green light. Did I kick cancers ass? No, it beat me up pretty good. But I just didn’t have the sense to go down, and eventually the cancer grew tired and hit the mat. So essentially, I rope-a-doped the dam thing. Although I’ll need to continue the Dr.’s visits for the next 5 years, they’ve given me a clean bill of health and declared me cancer free, with only a minimal chance that it will return. So thank you to everyone that was pulling for me, the support I received was instrumental in helping me get through this. I am truly looking forward to seeing everyone when I hit the stage again this February, with moe.
    Thanks from Your Pal,
    Rob

    In addition to the shows at the Capitol Theatre, moe. will return to host their Summer Camp Music Festival along with Umphrey’s McGee over Memorial Day weekend and they will be playing a show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado on July 12.

  • moe. Announces Return

    moe. went on indefinite hiatus in July of this year following bassist Rob Derhak’s cancer diagnosis. Derhak underwent treatments for nasopharyngeal cancer throughout the summer and is now fit to take the stage again. moe announced Tuesday that it will return to perform two dates at Port Chester’s Capitol Theatre Feb. 2 and 3.

    moe. was forced to cancel the remainder of their scheduled dates following Derhak’s diagnosis. His most recent performance with the band was at the Huckleberry Jam in Idaho on July 28. They will perform two sets each of the two nights at the Capitol. For the Feb. 2 show, they will be joined by Kung Fu. Feb. 3 will be “An Evening With moe.”

    A limited amount of pre-sale tickets will be available through Ticketfly beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15.  General on-sale begins Friday, Nov. 17 at 10:00 a.m., again through Ticketfly.

    No other dates were announced by the band. Derhak issued a statement with the announcement:

    It’s been a tough few months, and I couldn’t have done it without the overwhelming support of my family, and my famoe.ly.  And although it’s still not clear what the future brings, the positivity and love that I’m feeling for moe.’s and my next chapter is beyond exciting.  I feel like a kid counting down the days until Christmas, and our energy as a band, is like nothing I’ve experienced before.  Thank you all for the well wishes, prayers, and healing vibes.

  • Phil Lesh Given Key to the Village of Port Chester

    The meaning behind being given the key to a city has changed time and time again since it’s origins in medieval times. Back then, it granted peasants a freedom from serfdom; now it’s a symbol of thanks to any person, native or alien, who has had an positive impact on a community. Looking back on what Mr. Lesh has done for Port Chester, it’s a mystery why he wasn’t given this earlier.

    He has made over 70 appearances at the Capitol Theatre alone and was widely recognized for his streak of 17 shows within 11 months between 1970-71. One of the Grateful Dead’s most highly praised live albums was recorded during this time at The Cap in February of 1970. Three From the Vault is considered to be one of the most desirable and included the first live performances of the songs “Bird Song” and “Deal.”

    Lesh also is a strong advocate organ donation awareness, another reason why he was given this prestigious honor. He had a close call with Hepatitis C and was fortune enough to be given a liver by a random donor he only knew by the name of Cody. Due to this traumatic experience, Lesh, is always saying to his fans, “Save the life of someone you’ll never meet.” Lesh is a truly selfless person and is undoubtedly deserving of the key to the “Village of Port Chester.”

  • Interview: Catching Up with 311’s Tim Mahoney

    Next week, reggae rock giants 311 will be making their way through the northeast, in continuation of their currently underway 2017 fall tour. Tomorrow night, the band comes north to Pennsylvania to start at Sands Bethlehem Event Center, and then will hit Lupo’s in Providence on Friday and The Wellmont in New Jersey on Saturday. Sunday, October 30 will take them to none other than Port Chester’s The Capitol Theatre, before Halloween night sees the band play at Huntington’s The Paramount. Earlier this year, the band released their 12th studio album, Mosaic, which has been receiving high praise from longtime fans as one of their most creative albums yet. After a big summer tour (which makes eighteen summers in a row for the band), 311 is feeling more energized than ever. In anticipation of what should be a terrific run of shows next week, lead guitarist Tim Mahoney talked with NYS Music about the new album, practice time, Halloween costumes, and more.

    Miles Hurley: So 311 fall tour is underway with several shows so far. How are things feeling?

    Tim Mahoney: Good! We took a long enough break from summer until now, that you kind of get comfortable being at home. But once you get back out here, though, you realize it hasn’t been that long, so you just get back into it. No real dust or cobwebs, we’ve mostly been trying to get through some of these back catalogue album tracks that we did not play in the summer. You know, to just mix it up from there. This record, Mosaic, I think it was June it came out, we’re getting through a lot of that, too. Right before I called you I was just doing a little bit of homework, going over a handful of songs for soundcheck that we haven’t played for a minute. But it’s going good. Same crew and everything, so it’s like…knock on wood. Probably break both my knees or something tonight now (laughs).

    MH: Which tracks from Mosaic have been your favorite to play, or which ones have been sounding the best live to you so far?

    TM: Well, we’ve been working through most of them, I do like “Face in the Wind,” because there are a couple of guitar solos in there. You know, being the guitar guy (laughs). But they’ve all been fun to play, but it’s a challenge, because there’s a lot of material there. But it seems like most of the kinks are out of them. There’s one we have not played yet, but that might be farther down the pipeline.

    A song like “Too Late” we’ve been doing pretty much every night, and it seems to get people going. I kind of forget that there are some super metal parts, that come up in the songs all of a sudden, and if you’re not ready for them, well….(laughs) We’ve been trying to get a balance of them out there, some of the more mellow ones with the heavier ones. And when we come to the east coast, we’ll try to mix it up.

    MH: I think that’s what I like especially about the new record—it has a nice flow back and forth between the more laid back, groovier songs, and some really heavy stuff. When it comes to the heavier and the more laid back, where would say your taste, or your playing preference, lies these days?

    TM: Ooh, it’s hard for me…well both, definitely. Being a guitar player and listening to, when I was starting, punk rock and more aggressive stuff, I’ve always enjoyed that, the heaviness you can get with the electric guitar. But I also like the grooves, and funk and jam bands, I’m a Jerry Garcia fan. I’ve always enjoyed…you know like all the way back to the Bad Brains, who does reggae and punk rock together. It’s hard for me to choose one or the other, I’ve always enjoyed just playing reggae, and being a part of an ensemble playing reggae.

    But I like to kick it to the high side of the amp, too. It’s nice that on Mosaic, as you mentioned, a lot of the songs, even within the songs, are pretty bipolar, going from super clean to super heavy, I like the contrast of them. It’s fun to get to be able to play both sides with this band.

    MH: I’ve heard many fans feel this is some of the most mature stuff from 311 yet, in how many styles it weaves together.

    TM: That’s good to hear. That’s how we feel, everybody’s on the same page right now, in being inspired to play together, and to go at it like that. That makes me happy to hear that people would say that.

    MH: I also read that 311 has always been diligent when it comes to practice, and I’m sure that’s something the fans truly appreciate—the band nailing the parts in songs when the time calls for it. In terms of, on the one side, practice makes perfect, and on the other side, just going with the flow when things happen on stage, where would you say you are right now?

    TM: Aw man, yeah, that’s a hard thing because…you know, as much as you practice, you’ll never be perfect. You have to put in the time and the work, so that when you get into a situation on stage, you can let it flow, and be in the moment, and have the tools that you’ve worked on sitting there to keep you flowing. So I think it’s both, and you can only really do the work on stage on stage, basically, in front of people.

    We talk about this a lot, about the adjustments. You know, if we rehearse in the studio, it still can’t really prepare you for when you get on stage, in front of people. And there are all these other entities there, the energies and stuff, that come into play. So managing that energy and that excitement and being able to keep focused and have it flow with the music is a big part of it, too. And that just comes from time spent doing it. But to be able to survive and to be comfortable in the on stage situations, you have to spend time working. Even the greatest players that maybe don’t rehearse any more, there was a time when they did, and I still have to work at it, everyday.

    It’s so funny, because the most random things can happen up there, in different parts of the songs. So, you always try and do your best out there, but it’s different every night, and that’s what’s fun, that’s what’s exciting about it. Even the songs we play, they’ll be different from night to night.

    MH: So would you say you are still experiencing unexpected moments on stage from your band members?

    TM: Oh yeah! (Laughs) Just weird funny little things that might make you laugh. Whether it’s a new dance move from SA, or last night Chad had some light up drumsticks that were pretty cool. And as time goes on, I enjoy playing music more and more, and I think everybody in the band is on the same page there. We’re just very appreciative of the fact that we can go out there and play music.  

    MH: Have you ever considered either playing some kind of solo shows, or solo recording?

    TM: Well I’ve played with some friends bands and stuff, and recorded here and there with them, just little projects. I think eventually I will do something, because I have songs from over the years that aren’t quite right for 311. Like, although I enjoy singing, I’ve never really sang (laughs). So it’d probably be a collaborative thing, but eventually, yeah. When I get a little time to work on something like that, it’d be fun.

    MH: Something to bring the trombone in on, too.

    TM: Yes! That’s funny you bring that up, because I have been working on a little something there. I’ve been trying to figure out what song I might be able to whip it out on. My first instrument, you know, I do love it. The hardest thing, having to buzz your lips, and the wind control. That kind of stuff has been the hardest for me. But you know, I’ve got a pretty solid one octave there, so I figure I could chip away at one of these melodies, I just have to figure out what the proper one would be.

    But yea, trombone! I’m excited, I don’t know if you listen to much Phish or to Trey, but his solo band there has a really great trombone player…I’m a huge Trey fan, so it’s nice for me also being a trombone fan, that he’s got a trombonist in his band.

    MH: Yeah, Natalie. I’ve seen her in TAB and in some side stuff with other people, yeah she’s incredible.

    TM: Yeah, chainsaw! Wow, you’re lucky, see every time Trey Band comes to Los Angeles, I’m out of town, it’s been going on for years and years now. This year they’re doing Halloween out there, and we’ll be in New York. I’m such a huge Phish fan, and every couple of years their schedule and ours line up…but yeah, TAB, what a great band he’s got there.

    MH: And I also read that you’ve always been a big deadhead, too. Has 311 played the Capitol Theatre before, or will this be a debut there?

    TM: Aw yeah. I’m pretty sure this is our debut there. It’s exciting for me, just knowing so many people have played there, you know what I mean? I’m pretty sure I have some Jerry Garcia Band shows from The Capitol Theatre. It must be a stop for a lot of bands on the jamband circuit, too. I’m getting all the emails, it seems like a lot of people are going through there.

    MH: It’s a special place to see a show, for sure. Crowds tend to get really amped there.

    TM: Aw, good! Well I’m just excited to get to step foot in it. It sounds to me like a classic room, too…

    MH: You mentioned Halloween. The 31st you’ll go to The Paramount. Does 311 do any Halloween-type bashes?

    TM: Actually, it’s been so long since we’ve played on Halloween, so we’re trying to get it together. We have some ideas, but you know you’ve got five people, so things get vetoed and cut. What I thought were good ideas, I don’t want to say them, I don’t know if they have any traction anymore (laughs). But it’ll be fun, it has been a long time since we’ve played on Halloween. You know, we’re kind of procrastinators a bit, but we’ll get something good going that night. I still have to get my costume together, that’s my biggest thing right now (laughs).

    MH: You’ve got something good?

    TM: You know, I like going as guitar players, like back in the day when we were playing on Halloween all the time. I got through a lot of the obvious ones, like Slash, Garcia, Angus Young. So I’ve been toying with that, but I don’t know yet for sure…you know the thing is, everybody in the band dresses up and I go out there without a costume, I end up looking like a dilweed.

    MH: You’ve got a date coming in November with Karl Denson. Has there been any collaboration there before?

    TM: No, you know I’ve met him…because he’s played with Slightly Stoopid, right? That’s where I’ve gotten to meet up, and hear him play. And I’ve heard…Tiny Universe songs, just a couple of them. And he’s a great player, and in Slightly Stoopid, in that context, it’s great to hear him, his solos and stuff. So I’m looking forward to playing with him. But we’ve never collaborated before, that would be a fun collaboration, to have him sit in with us, if he would ever be into that. Looking forward to that. And I didn’t know he played with the Rolling Stones, too, shit. But that show should be fun, that’s a benefit show we’re doing down there. I haven’t heard much yet other than that we’re playing with him, and…I can only imagine that the band he gets together must be pretty fun to listen to.

  • Gogol Bordello Celebrate Release of ‘Seekers and Finders’ At The Capitol Theatre

    On August 29, Gogol Bordello stepped off from their hometown of the East Village of NYC to celebrate their just-released  Seekers and Finders album in Port Chester at The Capitol Theatre. Opening the show was Philadelphia-based punk artist Dave Hause and the Mermaids, with a similar sound to New Jersey’s Gaslight Anthem.

    Gogol Bordello’s set lived up to, and even exceeded, the expectations of their typical shows. With the energy of a club show such as the basement of Webster Hall, their sound filled the large room of The Cap as an added bonus. Gogol Bordello’s setlist included a few new tracks off of Seekers and Finders along with several of their better known songs as well as some B-sides.

    [singlepic id=15423 w= h= float=none]

    The mainstay of their show, which is consistent from night to night, was a non-stop energy from the first song until the end of the encore with plenty of audience interaction. To open up the encore, frontman Eugene Hutz and Sergey Ryabtsev (violin) performed two songs from the soundboard with the audience sandwiched between them and the rest of the band playing from the stage.

    To cap off the night a select bunch of friends and fans were treated to a late night afterparty DJ set next door at Garcia’s from Hutz and bandmate Pedro Erazo.

    [singlepic id=15430 w= h= float=none]

    Gogol Bordello returns to NYC for two pre-New Years Eve shows on Dec. 28 and 29 at Brooklyn Steel with some help from NYC brass band Lucky Chops.

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  • String Cheese Incident Announces Thanksgiving and New Years Eve Runs

    The String Cheese Incident is known to shake things up with its tours this Thanksgiving and New Years Eve. This is not the type of band to have an East-Coast, West-Coast, and Mid-West tour, evenly spaced throughout the year. This year alone they’ve played in Mexico with Dead and Company, Los Muertos Con Queso (Get it?), played a string of Mid-West intimate venue shows, a two night run in Atlanta, and are playing a sleuth of new festivals like Summer Meltdown, The Oregon Eclipse Festival, and Element Festival in Princeton, BC, (not to be confused with Elements Fest in Brooklyn).

    The only thing that seems normal this year is the annual three night run at Red Rocks Amphitheater that just took place July 21-23. After thanking the fans for a wonderful hometown throw down, the band announced that this year it will be playing a pair of Thanksgiving weekend shows in Chicago on November 24 and 25 at the Chicago Theater. SCI also announced it they will ring in the New Year with a three night stint at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester, NY.

    This comes as a huge surprise to fans, as this will be the first year not held at the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield Colorado since 2012. Cheese heads in the Northeast are rejoicing as they plan ahead for what will be a weekend to remember. This past New Year’s Eve, the band welcomed Big Gigantic for an entire set of the “Big Gigantic Incident” and The Floozies for their own set the following night. We can only guess what cheesy goodness they’ll serve up to us this year.

    Ticket info and details are expected to drop soon. And remember, Life is Gouda.

  • Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival Returns This Weekend Following 2016 Hiatus

    The Clearwater Festival, more formally known as Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival, is returning this weekend on June 17 and 18 to Croton Point Park in the lower Hudson Valley.

    Founded by the late Pete Seeger, the festival took a brief one-year hiatus in 2016 while the organization focused on fundraising efforts for repairs to sloop Clearwater. As they promised, the festival is back and this year features familiar faces and venerable musicians in the lineup.

    At the top of the bill are Arlo Guthrie, Lake Street Dive, Joan Osborne, Tommy Emmanuel, Los Lobos, Josh Ritter, Lucky Chops and many Clearwater favorites including Toshi Reagon & Big Lovely, Guy Davis, Tom Chapin, and many others. Check out the full list and stage schedule of performers here.

    Matt Turk

    Aside from a full lineup of music going from 11am until just after sunset the Clearwater Festival features many other attractions. Ranging from family activities, an artisanal farm & food market, craft fair to non-profit advocacy and more, the festival is well-rounded for an enriching experience that goes beyond the great lineup of music.

    Kim and Reggie Harris

    The festival site at Croton Point Park is a short shuttle ride or nice walk from the Croton-Harmon Metro North/Amtrak station. Single-day and two-day passes for the festival are available here along with options for camping at Croton Point Park. Special rail fair/festival admission packages are available for those traveling via Metro North.