NYS Music 20​18

Author: David Abadi

  • Winter WonderGrass Music Festival set to Make Northeast Debut in Vermont this December

    The WinterWonderGrass Music Festival has been an exciting treasure of Colorado and California for several years. Being an all-ages, community-centric event, with a variety of craft beer, cider, and local foods, it has earned the love and admiration of many who have attended. Not to mention that it features world-class bluegrass and roots artists who add musical entertainment to the mix. However, what was once thought to be an event almost entirely composed of local residents, WWG has made its first steps to expand its amazing winter lifestyle celebration to the east coast. After an impressive seven years in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and five years at Squaw Alpine Meadows in Lake Tahoe, Stratton, Vermont will be the first Northeast destination to experience this thrilling combination of high-quality artists and authentic partners/vendors from December 14-16.

    Founder of WinterWonderGrass, Scotty Stoughton wished to make his vision of community, family, philanthropy and leadership into a fantastic display of music, craft beer, and cuisine appreciation. When asked about what WWG truly stands for and the motivation to create such an immensely popular communal event, he responded:

    The inspiration behind WinterWonderGrass is to recreate the magic of ending your snow day at the base of the hill surrounded by family and friends, reminiscing about the days turns, while sipping a beer and listening to acoustic music. I learned to ski at Bromley, and those moments and memories are never far from my spirit. Living in the West, I have observed the expansion of ski towns and mountains, and I have a deep desire to recapture the true essence of the sport and communities that were built around mountain adventure!

    Out of the 20+ bands performing on four stages over the course of three days, Railroad Earth and The Infamous Stringdusters have already been announced to kick off the extravagant grassroots festival. The layout of the event itself is conveniently designed to accommodate all attendees, music lover or otherwise.

    The outdoor main stage is flanked by three heated beer halls, where side stage acts deliver inspired performances, often joined by guest musicians. The audience then has a variety of delightful options to move from the main stage, to the toasty beer halls, to the coffee bar, kids zone and to on-site sponsor activities. This journey of winter music and spectrum of drinks is shaping by the day to include more attractive performers and contributors to make it an event you do not want to miss.

    For further information on General Admission, VIP, and Ski Pass details, check out the WinterWonderGrass Music Festival website here and be set for the Northeast and Vermont’s very own December debut of this iconic celebration.

  • Billy Joel to ring in the new year at Nassau Coliseum

    Music legend Billy Joel will be kicking off the new year with a spectacular performance set for Dec.31 at the NYCB’s Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Back in his true home of Long Island, this event is Joel’s first performance at this particular venue in precisely 25 years and his 34th show at the venue overall. His 1993 New Year’s show was a sight to see as he performed a set list of 20 songs covering all his albums. Classics performed included “Piano Man,” “Vienna,” “New York State of Mind,” and many more.

    Brett Yormark, CEO of BSE Global and operator of the venue expressed his eagerness for Joel’s return: “We are thrilled to welcome Billy back home for what will be another momentous night in his four-decade-long history playing the Coliseum.” He also went on to mention that this performance is more than just a simple concert but also a celebration for Long Islanders to honor Billy Joel for his illustrious career. General ticket sale will start Friday, Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. In addition, Citi Cardmembers will have special access to pre-sale tickets on Wednesday Sept. at 10 a.m. local time.

    For more information on Joel’s return to Nassau, visit his website here.

  • The 2018 Borderland Music & Arts Festival lineup announced

    The 2018 Borderland Music & Arts Festival released an electrifying lineup this week in anticipation of its inaugural festival at Knox Farm State Park. Scheduled for Sept. 22 and 23, the event is known particularly for its appreciation of rich artisan history within the Buffalo-Niagara region and will be accompanied by sounds from a wide spectrum of bands.

    The headliners for the festival are just as incredible as the food, drinks, and services offered. Saturday’s lineup features major names such as the Revivalists, the Sam Roberts Band, Dr. Dog, Sam Bush Band, and Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds.  Additionally one of Buffalo’s favorite Canadian groups, the Barr Brothers will be crossing the border to share their high energy folk tracks. Sunday features blue-eyed Philly soul legend John Oates & the Good Road Band, Oteil & Friends, Margo Price, and the Infamous Stringdusters.

    Tickets are available now and vary in packages from two-day VIP to General Admission. The two-day VIP ticket is priced at $359 and includes VIP parking, prime viewing for both stages, a private bar with local fare, and a private Friday Night reception at the Knox Mansion. In addition, the festival is family friendly with free admission for children 10 and under when accompanied by a paying adult. Even the location of the event is breathtaking as it is fully surrounded by the Great White North and Great Lakes. For anyone looking to enjoy a fantastic weekend filled with delicious food, talented music, and excellent drinks, the 2018 Borderland Music & Arts festival is a fest to surely consider this fall.

    Check out the video for the Revivalists’ hit song, “Wish I Knew You” below:

  • Space Carnival Announces Final Show at the Black Oak on October 6

    In a sincere and heartfelt announcement, Space Carnival took to Facebook Tuesday to address their decision to disband and hold their final show after five exciting years. The quartet originally launched in the Oneonta music scene and earned loyal listeners all across the country. They went on to humbly dedicate their amazing memories to musicians they have shared the stage with, awesome fans, and that this experience has exceeded their wildest dreams.

    On a more personal note they mentioned that they have respectively been focused on individual paths for the past two years and despite every effort, they believe it is within the group’s best interests to go separate ways. Lead guitarist Jeremy Kraus stated that he will be following a dream and moving to Colorado in the following month to pursue a concert production career. The aspirations of other members remains to be seen but they explained: “We are still best friends and have zero hard feelings towards each other.”

    As they conclude their interplanetary disco career, the group also decided to perform an additional show at The Black Oak in Oneonta on Oct. 6. This venue in particular has been a welcoming home for the band as it is where they played their first show and several others during their maturity over the years. Pursuing music is undoubtedly a demanding but rewarding dedication for any individual or group. What Space Carnival has offered to their fans in their time is an inclusive community that can be enjoyed for what it truly is. Genuine and talented production that serves to “make people dance and go to outer space.” They would faithfully debut original content and allow their sound to resonate for people’s enjoyment. Nothing else. That rarity is something to be cherished in a world where we often fail to recognize the passion devoted musicians instill in their work.

    NYS Music would like to thank Space Carnival for the gift of music it has released throughout the course of its existence and encourage any support their incredible fans have to offer as the band wishes their final heartfelt goodbyes.

    See dates below:
    9/14: Private Festival Ithaca, NY
    9/15: Wormtown Festival Greenfield, MA
    10/5: The Range Ithaca, NY
    10/6: The Black Oak Oneonta, NY

  • Aqueous Announces Tour as New Album ‘Color Wheel’ Set to Release Soon

    The Buffalo quartet Aqueous has announced that their upcoming and long-awaited studio record; Color Wheel, will be dropping on October 12. Since their last 2014 release entitled Cycles, the group has felt a strong sense of progress and evolution in their sound that Aqueous guitarist/keyboardist David Loss describes as, “Color Wheel feels like a step forward for the band in every way. We tapped into a distinctly more emotional and purposeful space when writing it.” He also went on to say that the lyrics and themes that listeners will encounter in their journey throughout the album will have a sense of relatability which makes the project that much more special to them.

    The album boasts a 10-song track list which has been kept unheard with exceptions like “Second Sight” and “Weight of the Word.” The anticipation of the songs is even that much more intense since Aqueous will not be releasing it all at once. Considering that it is a concept album, it will be presented in waves with the first being available next week! The Aqueous guitarist explained this creative decision by stating, “There’s a certain continuity to this entire album, and it unfolds in a way that makes the track order important for the experience. We wanted to release the album in waves, ultimately, to give people a chance to settle into each section of the album and digest it thoroughly before diving into the next.”

    With such a thrilling project at hand, it only seems logical to accompany it with announcing a cross-country tour. However, this will be their most extensive one to date and will be filled with appearances by several other groups including moe., ELM, The Heavy Pets, and many more!

    See track list and tour dates below:

    Color Wheel

    Second Sight
    How High You Fly
    Realize Your Light
    Split The Difference
    Color Wheel
    Good Enough
    Half In, Half out
    Weight Of The Word (feat. Turkuaz Horns)
    Mandela Effect
    In It (For Me)

    AQUEOUS

    Upcoming Tour Dates:

    9/7 – Saranac Brewery – Utica, NY **

    9/20 – Resonance Music and Arts Festival – Thornville, OH

    9/21 – Rex Theater – Pittsburgh, PA *

    10/6 – Liberty Pumpkin Ball – Roaring Ranch, PA

    10/19 & 10/20 – The Palace Theater – St. Paul, MN >

    10/24 – Space Ballroom – Hamden, CT ^

    10/25 – Higher Ground Showcase Lounge – South Burlington, VT ^

    10/26 – The Sinclair – Cambridge, MA ^

    10/27 – The Hollow – Albany, NY ^

    10/31 – Knitting Factory – Brooklyn, NY ^

    11/1 – Wonder Bar – Asbury Park, NJ ^

    11/2 – Union Stage – Washington D.C. ^

    11/3 – The Foundry at The Fillmore – Philadelphia, PA ^

    11/4 – The Broadberry – Richmond, VA #

    11/6 – The Pour House Music Hall – Raleigh, NC #

    11/7 – Charleston Pour House – Charleston, SC #

    11/8 – The Social – Orlando, FL #

    11/9 – Jack Rabbits – Jacksonville, FL #

    11/10 – The Crowbar – Tampa, FL #

    11/14 – Zydeco – Birmingham, AL #

    11/15 – Atlanta, GA – Aisle 5 #

    11/16 – Asheville Music Hall – Asheville, NC #

    11/17 – Exit/In – Nashville, TN #

    11/28 –  Blind Pig – Ann Arbor, MI  +

    11/29 – Chop Shop – Chicago, IL

    11/30 – The Miramar Theatre – Milwaukee, WI +

    12/5 – Hodi’s Halfnote – Ft. Collins, CO ^

    12/6 – 10 Mile Music Hall – Frisco, CO ^

    12/7 – Old Town Pub – Steamboat Springs, CO ^

    12/8 -Fox Theatre – Boulder, CO ^

    12/11 – The Waiting Room – Omaha, NE $

    12/12 – The Bootleg at Atomic Cowboy – St. Louis, MO $

    12/13 – The Hi-Fi – Indianapolis, IN $

    ** w/ moe.

    * w/ ELM

    > w/ Umphrey’s McGee

    ^ w/ Mungion

    + w/ EGI

    # w/ The Heavy Pets

    $ w/ Goose

  • Syracuse’s Westcott Theater Announces Fall Performances From Turkuaz, Snails, and More

    In the coming months, the Westcott Theater in Syracuse will be hosting several exciting events with appearances from Turkuaz, Snails, Dubloadz, and the Ghost of Paul Revere and Charlie Parr. These are all ages shows, allowing for anyone to come and enjoy a great musical experience from any of these talented and entertaining performers.

    Turkuaz is a colorful Brooklyn based group that blends male and female harmonies into a unique sound that touches on funk, alternative, and R&B. Their show at the Westcott Theater is one of many on their new promotional tour for their album Life in the City available Sept. 28. They will be accompanied by Butcher Brown.

    DJ and producer SNAILS, who has earned tremendous praise from major dubstep stars such as Skrillex, Diplo, Datsik, and Excision, will also be taking over Syracuse for a night. With viral tracks under his belt like “Dirty Raxxx,” “KRMT” and “RUBBR,” the Montreal artist has built a wild bass-loving collection of fans who are always eager for more hardcore beats.

    Dave Nardolilli, otherwise known as Dubloadz, is yet another rising dubstep talent who dedicates himself to shocking crowds with his “Savage Wonk” musical style. 2014 was his breakout year as he toured around the globe at high demand shows and demonstrated the love he has for his craft. Ambitious and recognized in the industry, Dubloadz went on to say that: “I can only hopeto inspire people. I love what I do and I want people to realize they can make their dreams happen as well.”

    Finally, the Ghost of Paul Revere and Charlie Parr will be performing a beautifully chilling and harmonic set of classic folk music that has earned them a powerful reputation in the genre. With a multitude of influences from Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, the Beatles, and Radiohead, their melodies take listeners on a harmonic journey through deeply rooted emotion and the simplicity of letting instruments speak for themselves.

    For more information on these and other dates at the Wescott, visit their website here.

    Westcott Theater Show Dates:

    Turkuaz – Oct. 4

    Dubloadz – Oct. 20

    The Ghost of Paul Revere and Charlie Parr – Nov. 11

    SNAILS – Nov. 20

  • Two Hour Live ‘I’m Listening’ Broadcast to Feature Pearl Jam, Jared Leto, Mike Shinoda, and More

    In an incredible effort to promote mental health awareness and suicide prevention, American media, and entertainment company Entercom announced a two-hour live commercial-free broadcast “I’m Listening” led by dozens of artists/celebrities that will highlight their own personal stories. Several of the personalities participating in this event include: Celebrated Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, actor and lead singer of 30 Seconds to Mars, Jared Leto, Linkin Park, Charlie Puth, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, and many more. The broadcast will take place nationwide on Sunday, Sept. 9th 7:00 a.m.

    The event, while exciting as it may be, serves the purpose of enlightening the public that mental health issues are universal and a rising problem seen in the world today. A problem that while many seemed ashamed of, impacts people of all races and financial status and can be beaten with the right kind of help. Entercom has dedicated themselves to this cause with their own campaign called “I’m Listening” which Pat Paxton, President of Programming at Entercom, has described as: “one of our signature productions meant to save lives, while simultaneously creating awareness for this truly lethal silent threat.” Musicians hold this topic dearly to them as the industry has seen countless talented people lose their lives in their own battles with depression.

    Just this year, Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington shockingly committed suicide and left the world stunned but at the same time allowed the public to reflect on the condition of this individual. Someone so loved by millions of fans but still not immune from the burdens of unstable mental health. Shortly after this painful loss, bandmate Mike Shinoda opened up to fans on his solo album, “Post Traumatic” that Shinoda explained to be: “a journey out of grief and darkness – an album about healing…In most parts of the world, suicide claims more lives than war, murder and natural disasters combined. I hope that sharing my personal story, in music and conversation, helps open up the door to new discussions and awareness about mental health.” This beautiful event is yet again another example of musicians and celebrities alike understanding that as humans we all face the same challenges and that through uniting in the face of adversity, we will emerge resilient as ever.

  • Dickey Betts New York Shows Cancelled After Legendary Guitarist Suffers Mild Stroke

    In a recent and unfortunate announcement, Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts suffered what doctors believe is a mild stroke and will have to postpone several New York tour dates. These upcoming shows include the August 28th Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, NY; August 30th at the Toyota Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, CT; and August 31st at the Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach, NH. This decision was made under strong advisement from his physicians and this time away will allow him to properly heal for the rest of the tour.

    This tour was something of a spontaneous decision for Betts who decided to come out of retirement and jump right back into the musical spotlight. When asked about his retirement in a 2017 interview, Betts humbly responded: “I’ve had a great life and I don’t have any complaints.” This answer would soon change as the veteran guitarist reversed his retirement decision for reasons that involved public demand, devotion to his still dedicated fans, and simple boredom. He went on to say that he’s been a bit rusty playing and transitioning back into the artist mentality but more importantly is beyond enthusiastic by the energy and love he’s received from his listeners. This medical issue, although disheartening, will be met with the proper treatment and should only be a temporary challenge as Betts will continue these highly anticipated shows in due time.

  • New York Gypsy Music Festival Returns for 14th Captivating Performance

    In it’s 14th exciting return to the stage, the New York Gypsy Festival will once again be celebrating the stellar beauty of Gypsy music at the downtown venue DROM this fall. The event is a prideful display of universal love for music and also includes performers from Canada to Russia. Loved for its wide spectrum of genres and culturally rich showmanship, listeners will be exposed to “flamenco, southern Italian folk, turbo-punk, Indian, Balkan brass, funk, and more.”

    The festival’s continued appearance in NYC can only be considered fitting as it is a place of inclusiveness and appreciation for the arts. As any real music lover would agree, listening is only one part of experiencing the music. The New York Gypsy Festival prides itself on shocking its spectators with intricate dancing, authentic outfits, and demonstrating the emotional connection each performer has with their respective culture.

    See dates below:

    Sept. 6 – Dobranotch (Russia)
    Sept. 14 – Underground Horns (New York)
    Sept. 20 – Romashka (New York)
    Sept. 25 – Barbara Martinez (New York)
    Sept. 26 – Lemon Bucket Orchestra (Canada)
    Sept. 28 – Original Quartet by Javier Limon (Boston)
    Oct. 3 – NY Gypsy All-Stars (New York)
    October 5 – Newpoli (Boston)

  • Turkuaz New Album and Tour Announced with Several New York Appearances

    In a recent and major development from the Brooklyn-based funk band, Turkuaz, the nine member group announced they will be going on tour to promote their new album Life in the City expected to drop on Sept. 28. However, that is not all. For truly dedicated fans they have also released the massive “Lifetime in The City” giveaway which offers two album pre-order bundle options, each with its own benefit. For only one week, the options for the bundles include a limited edition colored vinyl LP, an album t-shirt, and a digital version of the album also gift wrapped in a limited edition Life in the City Nintendo Cartridge. The generosity of the giveaway does not end there as only one lucky fan will randomly receive a golden cartridge in their pre-order which guarantees free Turkuaz concert tickets for life.

    This colorful and sensational group also released a music video for one of the nine tracks set to appear on this album, also named “Life in the City,” which highlights the creativity and barrier-breaking spark of city funk that each of them shines out. For the duration of October and November, New York fans especially will have several opportunities to witness these electrifying performers as they have an impressive five dates locked in for this highly anticipated tour.

    See tour dates and tracklist below:

    Oct. 4 – Westcott Theater – Syracuse, NY
    Oct. 5 – The Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY
    Oct. 6 – Putnam Den – Saratoga, NY
    Oct. 11 – Songbirds – Chattanooga, TN
    Oct. 12 – The Moonshiner’s Ball – Mt. Vernon, KY
    Oct. 14 – The Blind Tiger – Greensboro, NC
    Oct. 17 – Pearl Street Nightclub – Northampton, MA
    Oct. 18 – Fete Music Hall – Providence, RI
    Oct. 19 – The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY
    Oct. 24 – The Firmament – Greenville, SC
    Oct. 25 – Exit/In – Nashville, TN
    Oct. 26 – Madison Theater – Covington, KY
    Oct. 28 – Suwannee Hulaween – Live Oak, FL
    Oct. 31 – Salvage Station – Asheville, NC
    Nov. 1 – State Theatre – Greenville, NC
    Nov. 2 – Fillmore Philadelphia – Philadelphia, PA
    Nov. 3 – The Anthem – Washington, DC
    Nov. 8 – Rex Theater – Pittsburgh, PA
    Nov. 9 – The Bluestone – Columbus, OH
    Nov. 10 – Vogue Theatre – Indianapolis, IN
    Nov. 11 – Elevation at The Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI
    Nov. 14 – The Waiting Room Lounge – Omaha, NB
    Nov. 15 – High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI
    Nov. 16 – Fine Line Music Cafe – Minneapolis, MN
    Nov. 17 – Park West – Chicago, IL
    Dec. 28 – TBA
    Dec. 29: Anthology – Rochester, NY
    Dec. 31 – The Palladium Downstairs – Worcester, MA

    Life in The City Tracks:
    1.) Life in The City
    2.) Superstatic
    3.) Make You Famous
    4.) The One and Lonely
    5.) The Questions
    6.) If I Ever Fall Asleep
    7.) Lady Lovely
    8.) Rule The World
    9.) Fight The Fire

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