New York’s City Winery, which is located currently at Varick Street in Manhattan, is being forced to relocate by none other than Disney itself. The City Winery is known for putting on well-attended shows by a variety of artists. Disney has bought out the building where the winery has been located for the past decade and plans to make room for the company’s new NYC headquarters by demolishing it and the surrounding city block.
Photo of Radnor & Lee (Josh Radnor & Ben Lee) performing courtesy of City Winery’s social media taken by Ehud Lazin.
According to Gothamist, Disney signed a $650 million, 99-year lease with Trinity Church for the entire city block, with all the buildings to be demolished. “This is not unanticipated,” City Winery CEO Michael Dorf tells Gothamist. “When we signed our lease ten years ago there was a discussion and a clause about what would happen if they were to demolish the building. It foretold of the future. Trinity Church has been a good landlord and communicating with me about what was happening over the last couple of years. It was not a surprise at all. No one anticipated Disney to consummate the deal so quickly.”
The Winery hopes to be able to move on to “bigger, better and improved space,” according to their press release, in attempts to try to find the bright side in their forced relocation. Their hope is to reopen the new space on January 1, 2020 with a main venue with a 300 capacity and have a secondary venue with a 150- capacity performance space. They are also hoping to be able to update their kitchens and add a wine making facility.
Circles Around The Sun just announced five East Coast shows in August to support their upcoming double album, Let It Wander, available Aug. 17 on Rhino Records. The run begins in Asbury Park, NJ, followed by dates in Brooklyn, Ardmore, PA and Burlington, VT before concluding at Huichica East Festival in New York’s Hudson Valley.
Photo courtesy of Circles Around The Sun’s press release.
Circles Around the Sun (CATS) was originally only supposed to record a handful of Grateful Dead-influenced instrumentals to be played during the set breaks at the Dead’s “Fare Thee Well” concerts in 2015. But between the positive response to the tracks and the band’s enjoyment in making music together they decided to keep the band going.
Their new album, Let It Wander, is a new beginning for the band as they move beyond their original music which was trying to evoke the spirit of the Dead and allows them to fully embrace their own personality. The album’s first single is called “Immovable Object” and shows just how the band in moving away from their Dead inspired sound to music with filled with musical turns leaving the listener not knowing what to expect next.
Among the album’s highlights is “One For Chuck,” which features a surprise cameo by Chuck D himself. The leader of legendary hip-hop pioneers Public Enemy just happened to stop by the studio while the band was listening to a song they’d just recorded and ended up creating an intro for the track.
The band is comprised of guitarist Neal Casal and keyboardist Adam MacDougall (bandmates in the Chris Robinson Brotherhood) along with bassist Dan Horne (Jonathan Wilson, Grateful Shred) and drummer Mark Levy (We Dream Dawn, Bonfire Dub). Let It Wander will be released on limited edition vinyl, CD and digital formats. Pre-Order is available now.
For more information on Circles Around The Sun visit their website.
Shooter Jennings started his “Bound Ta Git Down Tour.” on July 4 but recently has added new dates which go all the way into November. The tour is partially in anticipation of his new album, SHOOTER, which arrives at all music retailers and streaming services via Low Country Sound and Elektra Records on Friday, August 10.
Shooter Jennings courtesy of Shooter Jennings’ social media.
“The Bound Ta Git Down Tour” includes not only headlining shows but also dates supporting Turnpike Troubadours. He’s also scheduled to do multiple festival performances, including Black Mountain, North Carolina’s Jam In The Trees, Tahlequah, Oklahoma’s Medicine Stone Festival, and Fort Worth, Texas’ KFWR Annual Ranch Bash.
There is also a very special SHOOTER release day celebration at the world famous Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown, CA, set for Friday, August 10. For updates and ticket information, please visit Shooter Jennings’ official tour page.
For more information on Shooter Jennings visit his website.
New tour dates listed below:
July 4 – The Beaumont – Wayne, NE
July 5 – The Royal Grove – Lincoln, NE
July 6 – The Shrine – Tulsa, OK
July 7 – Will Rogers Riders Rodeo – Amarillo, TX
July 12 – Shank Hall – Milwaukee, WI
July 13 – Cavalier Theater – La Crosse, WI
July 14 – Vetter Stone Amphitheater – Mankato, MN*
July 27 – Lawn at White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX*
July 28 – Whitewater Amphitheater – New Braunfels, TX*
Aug. 2 – Sofia Tsakopoulos Center – Sacramento, CA
Aug. 3 – Slim’s – San Francisco, CA
Aug. 4 – Moe’s Alley -Santa Cruz, CA
Aug. 5 – Rebel Lounge – Phoenix, AZ
Aug. 8 – Belly Up Tavern – Solana Beach, CA
Aug. 10 – Pappy & Harriet’s – Pioneertown, CA
Aug. 11 -Troubadour – Hollywood, CA
Aug. 22 – City Winery – Washington, DC
Aug. 23 – Milton Performing Arts Center – Milton, WV
Aug. 24 – The Ramkat – Winston-Salem, NC
Aug. 25 – Jam In The Trees – Black Mountain, NC
Aug. 31 – 9th Street Summerfest – Columbia, MO*
Sept. 2 – Beaver Dam Amphitheater – Beaver Dam, KY*
Sept. 6 – The Burl – Lexington, KY
Sept. 7 – Maddie’s Hall – Bristol, TN
Sept. 8 – Harley Davidson of ATL – Atlanta, GA
Sept. 9 – The Senate – Columbia, SC
Sept. 12 – George’s Majestic Lounge – Fayetteville, AL
Sept. 13 – The HiFi – Indianapolis, IN
Sept. 14 – The Riff – Springfield, MO
Sept. 15 – Legacy Park Amphitheater – Lee’s Summit, MO
Sept. 22 – Medicine Stone Festival – Tahlequah, OK*
Sept. 27 – Turf Club – St Paul, MN
Sept. 28 – Kilbourn City Live – Wisconsin Dells, WI
Sept. 29 – Magic Bag – Ferndale, MI
Sept. 30 – Pyramid Scheme – Grand Rapids, MI
Oct. 2 – The Aquarium – Fargo, ND
Oct. 4 – Broadway Theatre – Saskatoon, SK
Oct. 5 – Cadillac Hall – Cadillac, SK
Oct. 6 – River Cree Casino – Edmonton, AB**
Oct. 13 – Ashland River Front – Ashland, KY
Oct. 18 – Heights Theater – Houston, TX
Oct. 20 – KFWR Annual Ranch Bash – Fort Worth, TX
Nov. 6 – Shakas Live – Virginia Beach, VA Nov. 8 – Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory Brooklyn Nov. 9 – Rec Room – Buffalo, NY Nov. 10 – Lost Horizon – Syracuse, NY
Nov. 11 – Port City Music Hall – Portland, ME
Calliope Musicals are hitting the road for their Stray Cats Tour and their first two stops are in Rochester on July 25 and Syracuse on July 26 at Funk ‘n Waffles locations.
Photo courtesy of Calliope Musicals website.
Calliope Musicals has a pop-rockesque vibe and can captivate an audience. The band is from Austin, TX and is made up of six members. Carrie Fussell on lead vocals and guitar, Craig Finkelstein on vibraphone and vocals, Josh Bickley on drums and vocals, Andrew Vizzone on bass and vocals, Jerry Sparkman on confetti cat, and Joe Cannariato on lead guitar and vocals.
For their Rochester show, they are joined by special guest Stationary Escape Pod and the show starts at 8:00 p.m. and is an 18 and up show with a $7 cover.
For their Syracuse show, they are joined by special guest Pet Cheetah. The show starts at 9:00 p.m. and is also an 18 and up show with a cover of $5 in advance or $7 at the door. Tickets for both shows can be purchased in advance through TicketWeb.
The collective will also perform in New York City at Bowery Electric on July 27.
For more information on Calliope Musicals be sure to check out their website.
Folkfaces started their Fried Chicken Dreams tour’s second leg on July 1. The tour will span over 14 states and two countries through July and August.
Photo courtesy of Press Release.
The Buffalo-based quartet specializes in “Rowdy Jazz & Bluesy Roots.” Folkfaces has an irresistibly danceable energy and a unique versatility, being able to engage a crowd. They are able to engage their audience no matter what from busking on the street, to playing in a small barroom, or putting on a full electric show at a large music venue. The band draws influence from a multitude of genres, including folk, jazz, blues, punk, Americana, jug band, and bluegrass.
Folkfaces Fried Chicken Dreams Tour includes 27 dates and will host series of special guests, including General B and the Whiz (Montreal, ON); Swimmer and Kendall Street Company (Burlington, VT); Jared Hamilton (Lexington, KY); The Ithaca Bottom Boys (Ithaca, NY).
For more information on Forkface visit their Website.
Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival runs July 19 through July 22 and is located on the Walsh Farm in Oak Hill, New York. New this year is the addition of Billy Strings as the festival’s first Artist-in-Residence.
Billy Strings courtesy of the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival press release.
Grey Fox is a welcomed mix of Grammy, AMA, and IBMA award winners, long-time fan favorites, exciting rising stars, and unique collaborations. Grey Fox is known for presenting the genre’s top artists, producer Mary Tyler Doub feels it’s as important to bring exciting up-and-coming young bands. These bands are from around the country and come to the festival as part of it’s emerging artist showcase where discerning bluegrass fans get to hear them for the first time. Festival organizers have put together an extensive Spotify playlist of this year’s Grey Fox performers. Check that out here.
Billy Strings is known for being a blazing young singer and multi-instrumentalist. He has been building a huge fanbase with his bluegrass in overdrive whenever he appears. Not only will he be performing with his red hot band he will also be sitting in with various artists, hosting hot jams, and meeting fans all weekend. He’s listed by Rolling Stone as one of the top ten new country artists you need to know, and have dubbed him the “Bluegrass Prodigy.”
Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival is known for its outstanding lineup, relaxed camping, friendly atmosphere, stellar jam sessions, flawless organization, and warm hospitality. It has six stages, hands-on workshops, demonstrations, beginner slow jams, dancing and dance lessons, tented and open-air venues, fresh ethnic and festive foods, top notch vendors, a very popular family stage, and a four-day Bluegrass Academy for Kids. Grey Fox is a haven for all ages from toddlers to teens; young singles and couples to older adults. Four-day passes (including camping) and day tickets are now on sale on their website.
For more information and updates as they happen, visit the Grey Fox website.
10,000 MANIACS will be rolling into Cohoes Music Hall in Cohoes on Saturday, July 14 at 8:00 p.m.
Photo courtesy of their website.
10,000 Maniacs started in Jamestown, and were founded in 1981. They are known from the early “alternative rock” movement, having released close to 20 albums, including 2015’s Twice Told Tales and 2016’s Playing Favorites. They consistently tour not only the U.S. but abroad as well.
This year marks three significant anniversaries in the band’s history. Their first full-length recording was released 35 years ago. Secrets of the I Ching, which caught the attention of BBC radio legend John Peel, who brought the band to the attention of millions of listeners worldwide. 25 years ago and the second significant event happened; Mary Ramsey began her tenure as lead singer for the band. It was in that same year the 3rd significant thing happened, which was that 10,000 Maniacs made their iconic performance on MTV’s “Unplugged”; the released recording would go on to sell millions of copies.
In celebration of these milestones on their 2018 tour, 10,000 Maniacs will play select acoustic sets including songs from Secrets of the I Ching and MTV Unplugged as well as their hit songs. 10,000 Maniacs is comprised of Mary Ramsey, lead vocals,viola; Steven Gustafson, bass guitar; Dennis Drew, keyboard; Jeff Erickson, guitar; John Lombardo, guitar; and Jerome Augustyniak, drums.
Tickets for the all-ages event are $35.00-$55.00.
For more information call 518-953-0630 or visit Cohoes Music Hall’s website.
For more information on 10,000 Maniacs visit their website.
Florence and the Machine released their newest album High as Hope on June 29 and it feels like a blast from the past, still holding that classic Florence and the Machine sound known and loved by fans. This fourth studio album by the them was released by Republic Records and Virgin EMI Records. Being a big Florence and the Machine fan, like many others, I waited to see what this new album would hold with a slightly skeptical eye. Not having been as impressed with their 2015 album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful as much as I would have hoped, I wasn’t sure how the new album would sound, but to my delight it didn’t disappoint in the slightest.
Florence Welch courtesy of Florence and the Machine’s Instagram.
The ten song album, which was produced by Welch herself along with Emile Haynie, had a very minimalistic feel to it that grounded it. The album started with the song, “June” which has these lines that say, “And you’re so high, you’re so high, you had to be an angel/ And I’m so high, I’m so high, I can see an angel” which immediately tells the listener what this album is about. It’s about struggle, it’s about belief or lack thereof, it’s about love, it’s about drugs. The song then moves on to one of its singles, “Hunger,” which focuses on all these points. It talks about Welch’s struggle with an eating disorder and has the lines saying, “We all have a hunger” over and over, showing that every person has some struggle in their life. For her, it was an eating disorder but it could it be something different for someone else. Her voice leaves the listener with this aching feeling of knowing that’s what pain suffered in solitude feels like. It’s a pain we all know but seldom talk about.
I could talk about each song in this much detail but then you would be left with a very long article so I’ll just talk about two more songs. The first song is “Big God” which was the other single off of the album and has the iconic lines, “You need a big god/ Big enough to hold your love/ You need a big god/ Big enough to fill you up.” This song really pulls into this minimal feeling of the album, having having the bass notes of a piano following it for half of the song before the rest of the ensemble comes in. But even this ensemble is a minimal one. This song, just like the others, has this continued theme of struggle and belief or lack thereof.
The other song which needs to given some proper attention is “No Choir” which is the last song on the album. It starts by saying, “And it’s hard to write about being happy/ ‘Cause the older I get/ I find that happiness is an extremely uneventful subject/ And there will be no grand choirs to sing/ No chorus will come in/ About two people sitting doing nothing,” which really stuck out to me as a listener. The song has this very melancholy emptiness to it which I believe is this acceptance that the whole album rounds back on. It’s an understanding that happiness doesn’t feel as great as sadness feels awful. That struggle, belief or lack thereof, love, drugs – they all make an impact on us and it’s what we do with that impact that matters.
Overall, I thought this was the best album Florence and the Machine has had since Between Two Lungs. It manages to keep an authentic Florence and the Machine sound with a more grown up set of topics. And it does this well, keeping itself well rounded between upbeat and mellow songs. The minimalist tracks throughout builds on this authenticity of the lyrics. It doesn’t need to be big and flashy to get it’s point across. In fact, being flashy would most likely only distract the listener from the main messages. You can listen to the entire album on Spotify.
For more information visit Florence and the Machine’s website.
The Hot Rize 40th Anniversary Bash album is a recording of Hot Rize’s live performance at the Boulder Theatre over the course of three sold out shows in January of this year. The album will include 19 tracks from these three sold out shows.
Hot Rize is known for being one of the most respected and influential bands in bluegrass music. The 40th Anniversary Bash shows Hot Rize’s broad appreciation for soulfulness and their conscientious balance between traditional and experimental bluegrass which is a hallmark of Hot Rize since their inception.
Hot Rize is made up of Nick Forster on bass, Pete Wernick on banjo, Tim O’Brien on mandolin and fiddle, and Bryan Sutton on guitar and they were joined during their Boulder three nights performance by longtime musical friends Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, and Sam Bush.
Hot Rize’s 40th Anniversary Bash will be available on CD and vinyl (double LP) and will be released via Ten in Hand Records and distributed through The Orchard. The band will play the Ryman Auditorium on July 12th as their Nashville CD release show, as part of the Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman series.
The celebration will also be making a stop in Oak Hill, NY for the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival as one of the Friday headliners on July 20. Their complete tour dates are listed below.
Check out the newly released video for “Colleen Malone” below the tour dates.
On tour:
July 12 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
July 20 – Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival – Oak Hill, NY
July 29 – Rockygrass – Lyons, CO
Aug. 31 – Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival – New Castle, DE
Sept. 1 – Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival – Brunswick, ME
Sept. 2 – Rhythm and Roots Festival – Charlestown, RI
Nov. 2 – The Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries – St. Louis, MO
Nov. 9 – Peoples Bank Theatre – Marietta, OH
For more information on Hot Rize visit their website.
The annual Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival Of Music & Dance takes place July 19th- 22, 2018 in Trumansburg and takes place on four stages with approximately 75 bands each year. This year has notable acts such as Patty Griffin, Toots and the Maytals, and Valerie June.
Patty Griffin courtesy of the Grassroots website.
The festival is held at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds in Trumansburg which is located about 10 miles north of Ithaca on the west side of Cayuga Lake in Finger Lakes region of Central New York. The festival is also a mission-based organization which basically means, besides the music, they also try to work to nurture local artists and talent while reaching around the globe to bring world music and culture to new audiences, creating environments that inspire creativity and foster community building. A big part of this fostering and inspiring can be found in their Culture Camp which takes place the four days before the festival.
Donna the Buffalo is known as the Grassroots host artist and will be performing as usual, closing out the festival on Sunday night. Some of the other notable artists performing are: Patty Griffin, a Grammy-Award winning artist; reggae legends, Toots & the Maytals, and Valerie June, a multi-instrumentalist encompassing a mixture of folk, blues, gospel, soul, country, Appalachian and bluegrass. The full lineup can be found here.
The festival is full of all kinds of music from local to national and international artists but the experience isn’t limited to just that. Other offerings include camping, local food and craft vendors, children’s activities, daily yoga, healing arts and instrument workshops, visual arts exhibits, and so much more.
For tickets and more information visit the festival’s website.
