This year’s Seedstock Fest lineup is stacked with some of Central Region’s best musical talent over the span of three days from August 4-6, 2017, the festival will feature performances by 27 acts, including Sophistafunk, Digger Jones, Floodwood, and Root Shock.
Now in it’s 9th year, Seedstock Festival brings together a crowd of 1000 music enthusiasts to Reed’s Farm in Cortland. While day passes are available, many attendees take advantage of the camping on the picturesque site. This family-friendly festival also includes activities for kids.
Friday, August 4: Sophistafunk, Root Shock, Mosaic Foundation, Quona Hudson, Next to Kin, Horizon Wireless and Red Brunette.
Saturday, August 5: Digger Jones, The Unknown Woodsmen, and Molly and the Badly Bent Bluegrass Boys, The Blind Spots, Chris Eves and the New Normal, The New Daze, Dapper Dan, Tanksley, and Adam Ate the Apple. The late-night silent disco will feature sets by DJ Tech and Weasel Dust.
Sunday, August 6: Floodwood, Analogue Sons, Milkweed, The Local Farmer’s Union, Bea, Austin MacRae and Rachel Beverly.
Tickets are available at the Seedstock website.Follow Seedstock Festival on Facebook for updates.
Lakeshore Record Exchange announced that it will be closing the doors of its retail shop this summer. This cornerstone of the Rochester music community specialized in alternative music, especially rare and imported items. Starting next week on Monday, they will begin liquidating their inventory. The store will close once it’s empty. A farewell event is scheduled for September 20, with a live performance from Australia’s Severed Heads.
Time, technology and the ways in which people consume music have have changed, and in doing so have brought the Lakeshore Record Exchange’s purpose for being to its natural conclusion. – Andrew Chinnici, President
While the store at 307 Park Avenue is closing, the ancillary activities will continue. AlternativeMusic.com will continue to deliver alternative music online and through streaming apps. The Alternative Music Film Society will also live on with monthly screenings at the Memorial Art Gallery, located at 500 University Avenue. This month’s offering, Garbage One Mile High Live, will take place on Thursday, July 20 at 6:45 p.m. Admission is free.
The farewell show will also take place at the Memorial Art Gallery. This is one of a handful of U.S. shows Severed Heads will be playing this fall. The event starts at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 20. Tickets are on sale for $20 in advance at Lakeshore Record Exchange or Memorial Art Gallery, or online with a small delivery fee. Tickets will be $25 on the day of the event.
Follow Lakeshore Record Exchange on Facebook for more information and updates.
Dust, blood, sweat and smiles don’t begin to describe a typical day at summer’s largest traveling music festival. Currently in its twenty-third year, the Vans Warped Tour returned for fans of all genres to enjoy their best day of the year on July 9 in Hartford, CT.
Originally created by founder Kevin Lyman as a festival for alternative rock music, the tour has adapted in it’s over 20 years of activity to cater towards a variety of music genres. This year, the tour made an effort to reign in metal and hardcore fans by featuring bands such as GWAR, CKY, Hatebreed, The Acacia Strain, Municipal Waste, Anti-Flag and Carnifex.
Besides showcasing bands and musicians such as the popular Andy Black, Never Shout Never, Beartooth and Dance Gavin Dance, the festival also had a knack for highlighting up-and-coming bands and bringing them into the spotlight. With this year’s Full Sail Stage, Knocked Loose, Trophy Eyes, Movements and Boston Manor are a few of the bands on the rise that were able to give everything they had to their performances.
Although the main stage bands tend to bring in the largest crowds at the festival, this year fans should focus their attention on the Mutant Party Zone, the set of two stages side-by-side labeled Mutant North and Mutant South. The two stages which focus more on heavy music, held hidden treasure performances by some bands that shouldn’t be missed.
Blessthefall, the five-piece metal band from Arizona, put on a genuine performance that kept fans entertained from start to finish. Whether it’s frontman Beau Boken jumping into the crowd to sing with his fans, or guitarist Elliot Gruenberg jumping and getting in fans’ faces with his guitar, Blessthefall were a highlight of the Vans Warped Tour lineup this year for many reasons.
Even for Warped Tour attendees who don’t enjoy heavier music, Blessthefall are a must-see band on this year’s tour. The consistent energy from every member of the band make watching Blessthefall a genuine pleasure. Besides the fact that they don’t miss a beat, there is not a moment of silence during their set. They will go out of their way to make sure everyone in the audience is noticed, and thoroughly entertained. Where some musicians may get on stage and play their instruments, Blessthefall showcase what a performance really means.
Another band that knows how to perform for their fans is Gwar. Fans will find themselves in a sea of fake blood while watching the legendary rock band takeover Warped Tour. Opening sets with a decapitation and then blood spewing onto the audience leaves nothing but smiles on fans faces as their white clothes turn into light shades of red.
The crowd became filled with smiles as fans chanted, “God what an awful racket,” and went out of their way to have their white t-shirts they bought for the show covered with blood. For the sake of the experience, make sure to watch Gwar on the Vans Warped Tour. Depending on where you stand, you will leave with minimal blood on your clothes, and an understanding of why Gwar are a once in a lifetime rock group to see.
Whether you’re a fan of pop, rock, heavy metal or rap, the Vans Warped Tour has you covered for a good time. For fans that attend to see multiple bands they adore, they will get their money’s worth for an entire day of meeting and watching their favorite bands they may not get the chance to see elsewhere. Although it’s difficult to get the entire Warped Tour experience in one day, you’ll understand why it continues to be the longest running music festival in the country, and continues to dominate the music scene as the must-see music festival of the summer.
It’s time to make the donuts. Whether you like your songs sprinkled with bluegrass or deep-fried in funk, the Baker’s Dozen run is sure to be filled with surprises and innovative decoration. The colossally ambitious 13 shows in 17 days will bring Phish back to the “World’s Most Famous Arena” for the first time this year. Soft rock pianists like Billy Joel wouldn’t be able to handle the New York state of mind for this many shows in such a short period of time, but die-hard Phish junkies lucky enough to scoop up the full Baker’s package are foaming at the mouth!
Hard to believe that Phish had only played Madison Square Garden a total of 13 times prior to the 3.0 era. The 90’s saw the band transform from small venue jam band to arena-filling rock stars, and their initial visit to MSG in December of 1994 marked a significant new chapter in the band’s trajectory.
Phish had outgrown their tank by the mid-90’s and iconic Manhattan venues like The Wetlands Preserve were now reserved for bands following in their footsteps. That same winter night in 1994 saw New York’s own Moe. play the first ever post-Phish Wetlands after party (Moe. plans on reprising their role as keepers of the party for the first night of the Baker’s Dozen run at the Playstation Theater on July 21st).
The original New Year’s Eve show at The Garden in 1995 is regarded as one of the best performances in Phistory and started the tradition of theatrically pranking the New York City crowd at each of the three 90’s New Year’s Eve gatherings (1995, 1997, and 1998). In the era where “cowfunk” reigned supreme Phish reintroduced “Sneakin’ Sally” and busted out Eric Clapton’s “Crossroads” to a capacity crowd during their 1997 NYE Run. On their final MSG show of the 1.0 era, Phish opened up with Prince’s “1999” to close out the year 1998 and the room swung back and forth as the band used “The Hose” to water The Garden in glorious fashion.
After a dozen epic MSG performances in the 90’s, Phish returned to their home away from Nectar’s for their first show after hiatus on New Year’s Eve, 2002. The boys surprised followers by only playing one night instead of their usual multi-night Garden run, which created one of the most desperate ticket searches for their dedicated fan base. The tipsy, groggy and short lived 2.0 era created a buzz reminiscent of their New Year’s Eve festival just three years earlier in South Florida, but they did not live up to the incredible Phish that phans had come to expect and only played one measly show at the Garden before their unfortunate “breakup.”
Just when everyone thought they would never get to swing from the rafters at an MSG Phish show again, the sky divided and the good Lord shined a light back on the midtown arena in December of 2009. Phish 3.0 was ready to knock three early December shows out of the park and although those years did not produce many jam heavy second sets, the energy in the venue was well worth the ticket price. Since rising from the dead in 2009, the band has played 26 times at The Garden (that’s two baker’s dozens for those keeping count). We have seen them ride in on a giant “Meatstick” to ring in 2011 and host a wonderful “Garden Party” on New Year’s Eve 2012. They created a “Steam” dream in 2011, plunged below the waterline full of cats and dogs in 2016 and jammed an incredible “No Men In No Man’s Land” between beams behind a funnel-shaped screen in 2015. Throughout each and every performance at the Garden, the band and the crowd give “IT” 110%. The 39 shows have created memories that will last a lifetime, but seeing that they are about to embark on 13 more, it appears that we are just getting started.
“The city that never sleeps” may or may not be prepared for the amount of Phishery about to take place at the end of July into August, but there are a bunch of venues that are ready. The official Baker’s Dozen Headquarters, American Beauty NYC, will be hosting unique events for phans on each of the 17 nights, including the nights that Phish has off. Rest assured that your trip is short from Madison Square Garden to American Beauty, located only one block away on W. 30th Street and 8th Ave. The venue plans to recreate one of the best parts of Summer Tour, the Phish lot, on the second floor which they have entitled “The Jerry Lounge.” If you have post or pre-show munchies, American Beauty also offers free personal pizzas with every beer purchased, and their craft list is impeccable. If you want to keep your mind fresh after nights of partying, the bar will be hosting Grateful Dead and Phish trivia nights (Monday 7/24 & 7/31) for out-of-towners and locals alike. Lastly, check out the venue’s event calendar to stay on top of all the late-night parties, including a birthday celebration for Jerry Garcia on August 1st. Doors open for all pre-parties at 3pm and at 11:30pm for post-parties.
American Beauty is the same place that Jon Fishman used dildos as drumsticks during his side-project late night performance with Touchpants a few years back, so you know this place knows how to party. Phish’s ever-growing artist community, PhanArt, is also coming to your town to help you party down. With the unique blend of artists selling everything from pins and prints to socks and hoodies, they are hoping when you get to your next show, you’ll be better dressed. PhanArt will be setting up one of their popular art shows at American Beauty on July 29th starting at 3pm with pre-Phish help from Space Carnival. If you are unable to pick up PhanArt work on the 29th, stop by Hotel Pennsylvania on July 22nd or August 5th, starting at noon.
If a Baker’s Dozen isn’t enough and you need more Phish in your summer diet, the tour starts this week at Northerly Island in the Chicago and runs through Dayton and Pittsburgh before hitting the Big Apple. The Vermonters are finally going down to the central part of midtown Manhattan and excitement meters are about to reach 2009 Hampton “Fluffhead” levels. Jaded tour veterans can sit back and reminisce about wearing their patchwork pants and mushroom cuts to all those insane 90’s shows, but let’s face it folks, there’s a golden age coming around and it begins on Friday, July 21st. Glaze on.
Thursday’s Alive at 5 brought funk legends The Funky Meters to Albany on July 13. The highly anticipated show was moved to the Corning Preserve Boat Launch, Alive at 5’s designated rain location.
Wurliday started the night off with their own signature sound of funk. The Albany native band brings together soul and funk creating an exciting blend of music. The group of dynamic musicians released their album Bedtime Blazer which was recorded by Soulive’s Alan Evans at Iron Wax Studio in Miller Falls, MA.
Next Week’s Alive at 5 is country night bringing Lindsay Ell along with Anthony Fallacaro. Music starts right at 5pm and goes until 8pm.
A Pennsylvanian both by nature and at heart, rapper Benn Rymon and his beats are now based out of Plattsburgh, where he continues to record and perform just as he’s been doing since the 90s. This time, his ideas were carefully crafted into his solo debut album, A Long Time.
Normally, he’d be found lending an instrumental helping hand to an array of friends and artists to help complete their passion projects. Never releasing one of his own, A Long Time, dropped on July 7 as his very first release. It chronicles a lifetime of friendships found and foraged through the gift of music, which led to Rymon joining forces with fellow rappers in the Plattsburgh community, eventually becoming the founding member of the Plattsburgh Home Team. Each song tells its own story, whether that includes hard-knock times, unexpected adventures and at times, dangerous happenings. Prominently using an “in-your-face” style of rap, paired with his blunt character and unwavering confidence on stage, Rymon brings an eclectic gathering of genres, featured artists and a branded style of hip-hop all his own.
The odyssey of an album explores Rymon’s long-time background in the scene, how he’s been brought up by others and how he’s in turn, doing the same and inspiring those to find their own musical passage. Making a musical cocktail combining obvious elements of rap and hip hop with some dance tunes stirred in, Rymon introduces a number of artists and their respective flavors.
Unraveling the story, Rymon kicks things off on “Out of Control” with Ms Adventure before jumping into the fun, high tempo track “Sensational,” making a number of references to dancer/actor/singer Gregory Hines. Word play follows with “Pass or Pull,” and “Hot Box Gondola” featuring Phen Yaqeen, which takes on a more rap-centered approach with traded verses and a simple beat layered behind it. “On the One” stands out as the hardest hitting rap track on the release with a spooky, perfectly fitting tune paralleling its equally eerie lyrics. “Town Center” shines with its tropical touch making it perfect for a summertime drive.
The second half of the album introduces record scratching on “W.I.S.” and sees help from a number of collaborators like Epick, Craig Holmes, Lucid Lowell, Trixx, Phonix Dark and Symfonyi. A Long Time gets put to bed with the hypnotizing “Sleepers” before closing out with “Dedications,” with blaring horns and appropriate fade out lyrics “thats all, people.”
A Long Time was produced, recorded, arranged, & mixed by Benn Rymon and Mastered by Adrian Carr for AC Mastering. Order the album here.
Folks looking for something to do in the middle of the week can head to Sharon Springs for their free summer 2017 concert series. The music takes place at the pavilion in Chalybeate Spring Park on Main Street.
The series continues next Wednesday, July 19 with Steal Your Peach, a tribute to the Allman Brothers Band and the Grateful Dead. The music runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. each Wednesday through Aug. 16. The “concert” on Aug. 2 is a karaoke contest with a $100 cash prize for the winner.
July 19 – Steal Your Peach
July 26 – Becca Frame and the Tall Boys
Aug. 2 – Karaoke Contest
Aug. 9 – Robanic Reggae
Aug. 16 – The Lustre Kings
Syracuse’s west side will be bustling this weekend with the 18th Annual PPG Syracuse Nationals classic car show at the New York State Fairgrounds (July 14 -16) and back-to-back concerts at the Lakeview Amphitheater (July 14-16), and here are some parking tips for you.
The Syracuse Nationals Classic Car Show will be open the following hours this weekend:
July 14th – 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.
July 15th – 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
July 16th – 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
The Lakeview Amphitheater will host the following shows this weekend:
Below are parking details for the weekend. Amphitheater concert attendees for shows Friday – Sunday are recommended to avoid State Fair Blvd. For easier entry to parking, concert attendees should approach the amphitheater from the East (690W) and drive directly into the Orange Lot to avoid parkers for the Syracuse Nationals. If traveling in from the West (690E) – continue past Exit 7 to Hiawatha Blvd to turn around and approach the venue from the East (690W).
Friday, July 14
Kidz Bop (Lakeview Amphitheater) and Syracuse Nationals (NYS Fairgrounds)
Kidz Bop Parking:
* ONLY the Orange Lot will be utilized for guests attending the Kidz Bop concert. Lots open at 5:30 p.m.
* Free parking will be available at The Oncenter (800 S. State Street | Syracuse, NY 13202) for concert attendees who are interested in taking the Downtown Shuttle to the amphitheater from the Centro Hub on Warren Street in Downtown Syracuse. This service begins at 4 p.m. and costs $4 round trip.
* Drop off/Pick Up will be located in the Orange Lot for this show. Signage and parking staff will be in place to direct guests to this area.
Syracuse Nationals Parking:
* All NYS Fairgrounds Parking Lots will be utilized for Syracuse Nationals attendees throughout the day.
Saturday, July 15
* Incubus (Lakeview Amphitheater) and Syracuse Nationals (NYS Fairgrounds)
Incubus Parking:
* ONLY the Orange Lot will be utilized for guests attending the Incubus concert. Lots open at 5:30 p.m.
* Free parking will be available at The Oncenter (800 S. State Street | Syracuse, NY 13202) for concert attendees who are interested in taking the Downtown Shuttle to the amphitheater from the Centro Hub on Warren Street in Downtown Syracuse. This service begins at 6 p.m. and costs $4 round trip.
* Drop off/Pick Up will be located in the Orange Lot for this show. Signage and Parking Staff will be in place to direct guests to this area.
Syracuse Nationals Parking:
* All NYS Fairgrounds Parking Lots will be utilized for Syracuse Nationals attendees throughout the day.
Sunday, July 16
* Outlaw Music Festival (Lakeview Amphitheater) and Syracuse Nationals (NYS Fairgrounds)
Outlaw Music Festival Parking:
* ONLY the Orange Lot will be utilized for guests attending the Outlaw Music Festival. Lots open at 1 p.m.
* Free parking will be available at The Oncenter (800 S. State Street | Syracuse, NY 13202) for
concert attendees who are interested in taking the Downtown Shuttle to the amphitheater from the Centro Hub on Warren Street in Downtown Syracuse. This service begins at 2 p.m. and costs $4 round trip.
* Drop off/pick up will be located in the Orange Lot for this show. Signage and parking staff will be in place to direct guests to this area.
Syracuse Nationals Parking:
* All NYS Fairgrounds Parking Lots will be utilized for Syracuse Nationals attendees throughout the day.
For additional information, attendees can visit Lakeview Amphitheater’s website and the Syracuse Nationals website.
Doctor Pocket will celebrate their 15 year reunion show at Funk n Waffles in Syracuse on July 22, joined by James Adamo and Band of Heroes. In their 90s heyday, Doctor Pocket was one of the loudest and tightest rock bands in Central New York, with a solid following and the timeless live release Live at the Legendary Hungry Charley’s.
Doctor Pocket draws on a variety of influences, including Zeppelin, Steely Dan, Queen, The Allman Brothers, The Black Crowes and many more, and with these influences they melded together a deep sound with layered melodies that engage the audience fully; when they get into a pocket, they stay dialed in and keep rocking.
Guitarists Jim Adamo and Tom Binasco are rock guitarists in sync as they create grooves and have the powerful rhythm section of drummer Matt Belardinelli and bassist Brett Hobin (Syracuse bass veteran Steve Winston served as original bassist for DP). Combined, they are a mature rock band with Josh Farrell leading the charge on vocals with an inviting, resonating voice that brings the listener on a rock trip. The July 22 reunion show at Funk n Waffles starts at 9pm (doors at 8) and admission is $10 or $15 under 21. Don’t miss this show Syracuse!
Multi-platinum artist 311 rolled into Western New York for the first time in fifteen years on Monday July 10. Known for their high energy shows and polished sound, 311 didn’t disappoint with a well-produced stage show and a setlist that was as diverse as the band’s 27 year career span.
Despite scattered rain showers, music fans across Western New York poured into the venue for a night of high energy music. UK rock/reggae fusion outfit the Skints’ opened the evening with up-tempo rock roots infused tunes that immediately connected with attendees. Despite scattered rain showers and gray skies, the Skints energized the crowd with a mix of reggae style beats layered with hints of London punk.
Danish Rock New Politics took the stage to showcase their Euro style of edgy, gritty rock. Lead vocalist and Frontman David Boyd mesmerized the growing crowds with raw energy and enthusiasm. The band performed a mix of songs from their three studio albums including “Everywhere I Go (Kings & Queens),” “Dignity” and “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.” The band’s cover of the Beastie Boys classic “Sabotage” was also a crowd favorite.
311 took to the stage before sunset, opening with “Perfect Mistake” from their latest release Mosaic. Early in the set, 311 established the tone of the evening with instant energy as they launched into two of the band’s most well-known early singles “Come Original” and “All Mixed Up.”
Other evening highlights included “Homebrew,” the opening track from the band’s 1994 album Grassroots as well as “Amber” from the band’s 2002 From Chaos. As dusk settled in, 311’s neatly placed “Sunset in July” provided the perfect transition into the second half of the band’s performance.
The evening’s sunset performance provided a diverse glimpse into 311’s two distinct performance styles. Designs by longtime lighting designer Joe Paradise were perfectly executed by the band’s production team and as night fell 311 transitioned from providing high energy nostalgia to showcasing high end production. A mix of traditional stage lighting and LED programming created the perfect backdrop for new songs like “Too Late” yet was perfectly crafted for the band’s entire catalog like “Don’t Stay Home” or the first set closer “Creatures (For A While).”
311 returned to the stage to close the night with a three-song encore. “Beyond the Gray Sky” from the band’s 2003 album Evolver was a soft but stunning example of the 311’s ability to create mesmerizing moments. The night concluded with the band’s first #1 single “Down.”
Throughout the evening, 311 performed with polish and precision. Yet, their distinctly produced sound translates well into their live performance. Vocalist/guitarist Nick Hexum and vocalist Doug “SA” Martinez exchange vocal passing with amazing quickness, energy and accuracy. Martinez performs with an intense energy that is simply stated- fun to watch. Guitarist Tim Mahoney, Bassist P-Nut and Drummer Chad Saxton nail musical execution at its highest level on stage.
311’s Summer Tour continues Friday July 14 as the band makes a festival appearance at the Great South Bay Music Festival in Long Island. Although the band has no more upcoming dates after that in New York State, fans can catch 311 in nearby in Asbury, NJ on July 15 and Hartford, CT on July 22. The band will conclude their 8-week summer tour on August 20 in San Diego.
311’s return to the greater Buffalo area was hosted by 103.3 The Edge and was part of the Artpark Coors Light Music Series
Setlist: Perfect Mistake, Come Original, All Mixed Up, Homebrew, Hey Yo, Beautiful Disaster, Sunset in July, Wildfire, Too Much Too Think, Bass Solo, Sick Tight, Amber, One in the Same, Applied Science, Til the City’s on Fire, Freeze Time, Extension, Don’t Stay Home, Too Late, Creatures (For A While)
The location is a perfect second option due to the stage and crowd space being located under a bridge. The Funky Meters formed at the 1989 
Wurliday started the night off with their own signature sound of funk. The Albany native band brings together soul and funk creating an exciting blend of music. The group of dynamic musicians released their album Bedtime Blazer which was recorded by 
Next Week’s Alive at 5 is country night bringing 
July 19 – Steal Your Peach
The Lakeview Amphitheater will host the following shows this weekend:
