NYS Music 20​18

Category: Folk/Americana

  • Ani DiFranco adds Syracuse to Fall Tour

    Buffalo native and current New Orleans resident, Ani DiFranco will perform at Syracuse’s Westcott Theater on Sept. 16 on her fall tour, Creative Concerts announced Tuesday.

    Ani DiFranco

    The folk singer-songwriter, activist, poet and entrepreneur released her 20th album, Binary, last year and is touring with a renewed vigor. DiFranco described a breakthrough moment that hit during the writing of the pro-choice anthem “Play God” from her latest album:

    When I wrote the line ‘You don’t get to play God, man/I do,’ I paused and thought, ‘Can I say that?’ It’s not the first time I’ve thought that, but it’s been a while. And in that moment, I thought, ‘I’m back, mothafuckas!

    Tickets for the all ages show are $35 in advance and $40 the day of the show. They go on sale Friday, July 20 at 10:00 through the Westcott’s website.

    Peter Mulvey is the support act for this show. Mulvey wrote the song “Take Down Your Flag” following the shooting at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC in June 2015. After his first performance of the song opening for DiFranco in Northampton, MA, Mulvey put out an invitation to other artists to add verses. Mulvey’s introduction video is below, followed by DiFranco’s version, where she is accompanied by Ivan Neville and Terrance Higgins.

    Ani DiFranco Fall Tour:

    Sept. 15 – Grand Point North Festival – Burlington, VT
    Sept. 16 – Westcott Theater – Syracuse, NY
    Sept. 28 – Lyric Theatre – Birmingham, AL
    Sept. 29 – Center Stage Theater – Atlanta, GA
    Sept. 30 – The NorVa – Norfolk, VA
    Oct. 1 – The Keswick Theatre – Glenside, PA
    Oct. 3 – Le Poisson Rouge – New York, NY
    Oct. 5 – Somerville Theatre – Somerville, MA
    Oct. 6 – Bardavon 1869 Opera House – Poughkeepsie, NY
    Nov. 4 – Delta Hall at Eccles Theater – Salt Lake City, UT
    Nov. 6 – Vancouver Playhouse – Vancouver, BC
    Nov. 8 – The Neptune – Seattle, WA
    Nov. 9 – Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR
    Nov. 10 – McDonald Theatre – Eugene, OR
    Nov. 12 – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
    Nov. 14 – Palace Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
    Nov. 15 – The Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ
    Nov. 17 – Granada Theater – Dallas, TX
    Nov. 18 – Emo’s Austin – Austin, TX
    Nov. 19 – House of Blues – New Orleans, LA

    Check out DiFranco’s Tiny Desk Concert from last year below:

  • John Butler Trio: An Aussie Family Affair At The Egg

    The John Butler Trio and special guest Mama Kin Spender performed at Albany’s The Egg Performing Arts Center on Thursday, July 12 to a packed house of enthusiastic fans. The two Australian-based bands have a very special connection – their lead members are married to one another. JBT’s front man and namesake John Butler and Danielle Caruana, who performs as Mama Kin in the folk duo Mama Kin Spender, have been married since 1999.  The couple have two children together: a daughter, Banjo, and a son, Jahli,  who are currently joining their parents on the North American leg of their tour.John Butler TrioButler was born in Los Angeles, California and moved to Australia with his family when he was 16. He started his musical career as a “Busking” street musician and, with hard work and determination, has created 10 albums to date and started his own record label called Jarrah Records. The current lineup of JBT has been expanded to a quintet whose members include John Butler (guitar, banjo, lap steel,vocals), Byron Luiters (bass, vocals), Grant (G-Money) Gerathy (drums, vocals), Lozz Benson (percussion, vocals), and Ben Corbett (keyboard, vocals). The John Butler Trio has won multiple music industry awards in Australia since its creation back in 1998 and they have been successful in leveraging that success into serving the community by supporting a variety of non-profit causes that are close to the band.

    The night started out with Mama Kin Spender taking the stage and performing “Cold Roof Top” off of their 2017 release Golden Magnetic.  Tommy Spender played acoustic guitar while Mama Kin played drums as they performed the selection.  The song is a love cry from a forlorn lover who is calling out the name of the object of their desire off a snowy city rooftop. The raw and sparse performance was a great start to their performance. Next up was “Dotted Line,” a protest march anthem that supports the rights of people to have same sex marriages.  Spender explained that in Australia, much like in the US, the government was slow to make same sex marriages legal, but that it has now become a legal right to all of its citizens. They also commented on stage that the highly energetic number which needs to be forcefully belted out was a great way for the duo to get there “cardio” in during the show.  Next up was the rockabilly number “Bird In Your Tree” which could have been a hit cut at Memphis’ famed Sun Studios back in the ’50s and featured some great guitar work by Spender.


    A high point of the performance was when Mama Kin introduced the hypnotic tune “Underground.” Kin explained to the audience that the song was inspired by a special fungus named mycelium that acts as a caretaker of the forest by creating a “wood wide web” that interconnects the roots of a large number and variety of plants; something that Kin feels that as humans we need to work harder at emulating. The duo also performed a personal favorite of Spender’s, a cover of the country-western classic “Long Black Veil” that was executed superbly. The duo finished their opening set playing “Air Between Us” and priming the audience for the arrival of JBT.

    After a brief break it was time for the main event as The John Butler Trio started strong with “Wade In The Water.”  Benson and Corbett started off the number with percussion leading the band into the new number.  During the introduction of the tune, Butler explained to the audience that where they come from it is tradition, while visiting someone else’s territory, to acknowledge the traditional indigenous custodians of the land.  Wherever they travel the band shows them respect and to all of the ancestors whose shoulders we stand on.

    John Butler TrioButler then rocked the lap steel and along with the band, created a primal soundscape that set the mood for the remainder of the performance.  Next up, Butler switched over to the banjo and went into the pop friendly “Better Than That” off of 2007’s Grand National.  Songs like “Pick Apart,” off of 2012’s Tin Shed Tales, illustrate the cohesiveness of the band and featured first-class solos by both G-Money on drums and Luiters on bass.

    John Butler TrioButler is intimate with the audience on stage and describes his live performances as his own type of therapy.  Whether it is relating stories of his father’s personal struggles after being injured in a fire and then expressing those feelings into a newly crafted song “Coffee, Methadone, & Cigarettes” or the telling of the story of a chance meeting of a girl in western Australia during a road trip that ends up being the woman he would fall in love with and marry, while introducing JBT’s love song “Betterman“.  Butler lets the audience into his world creating an intimate bond with his fans that is palpable in the theater during the performance.

    John Butler TrioButler’s guitar work is also something to see showing a versatility in playing many different types of music like Celtic, Folk, Hard Rock and Reggae.  That musical prowess was on full display as, alone on stage, Butler strapped on his 11-string acoustic guitar and played the JBT classic “Oceans.” The intensity of the performance was electric and left the audience on their feet wanting more.
    John Butler TrioThe first encore brought Mama Kin back on stage joining Butler.  The couple sang “Losing You” as a duo, which was perhaps the cutest part of the night, with the spouses riffing off one another during the selection. The band closed the night with a shout out to their road crew and then went straight into a funkalicious version of “Zebra” that got the crowd dancing one more time before the house lights came up. The John Butler Trio will continue to tour throughout the summer with dates across North America.

    Setlists

    Mama Kin Spender: Cold Roof Top, Dotted Line, Bird In Your Tree, Underground, Long Black Veil, Dig Below, Air Between Us

    John Butler Trio: Wade In The Water, Better Than, Tahitian Blue, Betterman, Just Call, Blame It On Me, Coffee Methadone and Cigarettes, What You Want, Pickapart, Ocean, Ragged Mike, Miss Your Love, Don’t Wanna, Livin’ In The City,

    Encore: Losing You (Featuring Mama Kin), We Want More, Zebra

  • Hearing Aide: Allison Leah ‘Fly Home’

    In a time when music is being self-released by unsigned musicians at a breakneck pace, it can be hard to sift through the barrage of noise and hype. Finding something new and fresh with promise is akin to finding a needle in a haystack. For someone like myself who continuously samples new emerging artists, listening to Allison Leah was like getting a breath of fresh air.

    Leah has been making a name for herself across the state, from her New York City home to her stomping grounds in Rochester and Geneseo. The singer/songwriter even garnered some attention in Nashville when she spent a summer there cutting her teeth in the music industry. After years of honing her songwriting skills, she’s taken six of her songs and recorded them on her debut EP Fly Home.

    “A Love Song,” was the debut single from Fly Home. This pop ballad is a catchy number with its pulsing percussion, jangly guitar and layered vocals. However, the upbeat instrumentation masks the bittersweet lyrics about trying to hold onto a relationship that’s clearly long over. “Sometimes I wonder how we’ve made it this far. ‘Cause I see you with her and I don’t feel a spark. But keep pretending and keep me in the dark. That’s what we both agreed upon.”

    This song gives way to others which also have artful arrangements, catchy hooks, and relatable storytelling. There’s one about healing from heartache and another about venturing out into the world. Perhaps the most unexpected track on the album is “Black and White.” Leah addresses the issue of racism, appealing to people’s sense of humanity. “I met a man the other day and he recalls fighting hate for over decades. See? He wants his kids to learn to dream and play outside unafraid of the streets.” While the melody has a 90’s retro vibe (think Jewel or Lisa Loeb), the subject matter reveals a lot about Leah’s values and convictions about social justice.

    The EP ends with the title track “Fly Home.” Leah strips down the layers of instruments to just a piano and strings, baring her vocals and her soul. The straightforward melody creates a sincere backdrop perfect for the heart-rending tale about loving someone enough to let them go.

    Leah’s songs capture the joys and heartaches of coming of age, touching upon timeless themes of falling in love, heartbreak, self-doubt, empowerment, and rising above adversity. She has an indelible optimistic spark that permeates even the depths of sorrow in her songs. Fly Home is a harbinger of remarkable things to come from this promising young artist with a voice as sweet as honey and a heart of gold.

    Fly Home was produced by Jon Altschiller, and engineered and mixed at Chiller Sound NYC by Jon Altschiller and Danielle Warman. It was mastered by Scott Hull at Masterdisk. The Musical Director was Doug Derryberry, who also performed some of the instruments on the record. Additional instruments were played by John Hadfield (drums/percussion), John McFaul (bass), Eddie Martinez (synthesizer), and John Carroll (piano on “Fly Home”). All music and lyrics were written by Allison Leah, who sang all vocals as well as playing guitar and piano.

    Key Tracks: A Love Song, Black and White, Fly Home

  • Hochstein at High Falls Offers Free Lunchtime Concerts in Rochester

    Hochstein School of Music and Dance continues its tradition of afternoon concerts this summer. This summer’s lineup includes music by Watkins & The Rapiers, Hanna & The Blue Hearts, Mambo Kings, Hypnotic Clambake, Crooked North Duo, and Genesee Johnny.

    The free performances are held at Granite Mills Park in the High Falls District at noon on Thursdays through August 16. Food is available to purchase from a variety of vendors. Visit the Hochstein School of Music and Dance website for more information.

    2018 Hochstein at High Falls:
    July 12 – Watkins & the Rapiers
    July 19 – Hanna & the Blue Hearts
    July 26 – Mambo Kings
    August 2 – Hypnotic Clambake
    August 9 – Crooked North Duo
    August 16 – Genesee Johnny

  • Drive By Truckers Solo Show Rocks Woodstock

    Southern rockers Drive By Truckers took a free night amid their Summer tour with Tedeschi Trucks Band and The Wheels of Soul tour to play a rocking show in Woodstock, NY. The Colony, a beautifully restored building in the heart of Woodstock, hosted a full house of excited fans, braving the heat, to hear the five piece group play some of their time-tested favorites along with some new songs that will appear on their next album.

    Facing these turbulent times the only way they know how, The Drive By Truckers tackle today’s issues with straight forward and honest lyrics. Showing that they’re in the same boat as many of us, trying to make sense of a world that is making less and less sense.

  • Frendly Gathering Proves Less is More

    Frends from around the globe converged on Mt. Ellen this past weekend for the Frendly Gathering 2018.  The three-day event proved that the event’s foundation of music, camping, community and sustainability are viable cornerstones to a successful weekend.  Music started with a Frendly Gathering pre-party on Thursday June 28. In perfect syncopation, the weekend concluded just as new laws legalizing recreational marijuana in Vermont took effect.

    Despite minor rain showers as Frends arrived on Thursday afternoon, mother nature cooperated just as music started later in the evening.  The beautiful blue skies continued throughout the weekend and the green mountains of Vermont served as the perfect backdrop to a weekend of thoughtful music, community and frendship.

    Major highlights to the weekend included the events main headliners.  Thursday night, Twiddle frontman Mihali Savoulidis joined Nakho Bear for a rare Mihali & Nahko set. The duo highlighted not only a variety of their own solo music, but also played a variety of cover tunes.

    Savoulidis joined his Twiddle band mates on Friday evening where frends were treated to a two-hour set from the Vermont quartet.  Most of the weekend attendees agree that while they missed multiple sets from Twiddle, the Frendly Gathering staple was still their weekend favorite.  Andrew Chaney from Willsboro NY, who attended his third Frendly Gathering this year told NYS Music that Twiddle is always his favorite band to see with his frends. “The lyrics consume your mind, while the instruments consume your soul.”

    For many attendees, it was Friday night’s Nahko and Medicine for the People set at the Pacificio Stage that highlighted their weekend.  “There is something cleansing about Nahko’s music” said New Haven, CT native Jon Carlisle, “It’s the kind of music that makes you want to go out and put good into the world.  And we need more of that in the world right now.”

    On Friday evening, the Burton stage played host to both Kamasi Washington and Kat Wright, who both delighted frends with powerful and soulful sets.

    On Saturday, bluegrass reigned supreme as both the Devil Makes Three and Greensky Bluegrass packed the Pacifico Main Stage.  Just before midnight, Greensky Bluegrass Savoulidis joined the band for a cover of J.J. Cale’s “After Midnight” and Peter Tosh’s “Legalize It” in celebration of Vermont’s changing marijuana laws. Jamtronica fans enjoyed a powerhouse evening set from Emancipator while jam fans gathered early on Saturday evening for Spafford.  

    The weekend was highlighted by Frendly favorites Upstate (formerly Upstate Rubdown).  The Hudson Valley based Appalachian soul powerhouse delighted fans with two sets as well as a pop-up set in the Martin Guitar dome.  First year attendee Shane Smith from Manchester, New Hampshire was blow away by the band’s performance “Not just their music but their whole stage presence for both of their sets was perfect, “ he told NYS Music, “and wow can those girls sing!”

    Throughout the weekend, several other artists garnered praise from those in attendance.  Houston based Gulf soul outfit The Suffers weathered the heat Saturday afternoon with an even hotter set of rich, powerful tunes that pierced throughout the mountain side.  “We didn’t make it to the main stage because we just wanted to stay under the shade at our camp, but we could hear The Suffers clear as day back at camp,” noted Alyssa Monarch, a first time Frendly attendee from Rochester, NY. “Their music was so powerful and the vocals so heartfelt, it didn’t matter where we heard it from because it just filled our entire crew with joy.”

    Boston based electrofunk quartet Strange Machines kicked off Friday’s Burton stage with a high energy set.  On Friday afternoon, Satsung drew a huge crowd, despite toasty mid-day temperatures. Other weekend notables included singer songwriter Kevin Morby and Canadian based indie folk group The Relative.

    Beyond the music, the true star of the weekend was the Frendly Gathering’s volunteer team, most notably their massive sustainability crew.  Upon arrival, campers were offered colored trash bags to ensure ease of sorting. Volunteers wearing bright pink shirts marked “Frendly Crew” maintained the festival grounds all weekend long as they worked in pairs not only picking up trash, but also keeping labeled trash cans properly sorted.  According to Smith, these efforts help encourage him to also be a part of the clean-up process. “The volunteers I saw did an amazing job keeping the place clean,” he praised. “It made me happy and motivated to keep my site clean, too.”

    The festival’s commitment to sustainability shined with Kleen Kanteen providing cold, filtered water for attendees.  Food vendors provided quality food with little to no waste product. “Too many festivals offer basically only fried food,” said Smith, “but this place had a very good food selection and mostly healthy as well!” To help combat the heat, Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream offered free samples throughout the weekend.

    The Frendly Gathering also showcased a variety of vendors, crafts, workshops and products.  Twiddle fan funded 501c3 the White LIght Foundation was on site raising money for two local charities, Vermont Family Forest and LoveYourBrain.

    As the weekend concluded, many frends noted that it’s the festival’s pillars of music, community, camping and sustainability that makes Frendly Gathering more than just a typical event.  “Bigger festivals can be so overwhelming, and you leave feeling like you’ve really left a footprint”, noted Monarch. “I appreciate the fact that the organizers, volunteers and frends understand that sometimes, it should just be quality over quantity. It makes you feel warm to be a part of it.”

    Photography by Matt Shotwell (Strawberry Island Dweller)

  • A Friend in the Berkshires: James Taylor Doesn’t Disappoint Fans in Timeless Concert

    Berkshires resident and world-loved music legend James Taylor crooned to a sold-out crowd at Tanglewood July 3, the first night of his traditional two nights at the rural venue near his summer home. The crowd filled every inch of the manicured lawn with blankets, tables, chairs and fine dining accessories, clearly reflecting that this wasn’t the first JT concert attended by most fans. Inside seats were filled as the crowd sat in high humidity and heat, waiting with anticipation for the first set.

    James Taylor was the first artist to set foot on the stage a little after 8:00, and he was met by cheering fans who quickly forgave the brief tardiness. The 70-year-old star appeared in his long pants, dress shirt and cap, and after brief waves, he slung his guitar over his shoulder as he sang “Carolina on My Mind.”

    Photo by Jim ‘JT’ Gilbert

    Taylor transitioned through both well-known pieces and some lesser-known songs in the first set. The light show, coordinated with the chorus and highlights of “Country Road,” seemed intent to remind the audience that they are indeed at a rock concert, not a folk concert.

    It would be a bumpy first set, though, marked by amp problems, some pacing issues, and low energy from artist and crowd alike. At one point after “Frozen Man,” seasoned Taylor matched the key of the reverb from the amp and joked, “Do we have any songs in that key?” Using humor and his incredibly flexible vocals, Taylor kept the crowd engaged through some slower moments. He introduced band members throughout the first set, and indeed the band members, including 2 percussionists, a trumpet player, flute and saxophone player, three backup singers, pianist, fiddle and of course the customary guitar and bass, are an all-star band.  Taylor turned to look at each artist as he or she performed, and genuinely reflected an appreciation for sharing the music with the artists.

    Folksy and dancing little jigs, Taylor covered “(I’m a) Road Runner” and danced around the stage. This seemed to wake the audience back up, but there was a bit wrong with the rhythm section and the band seemed off the pace with one another. “Copperline” saved the set, though, with Taylor’s infallible voice finding its vertical pitches with beautiful ease. They rolled into “Handyman” and “Mexico,” bringing the crowd to it’s feet.

    Before breaking for intermission, Taylor looked at the setlist and joked with the audience, pacing them for the twenty-minute break and promising “a lot of hits” in the second set. In between, he was on stage, signing autographs and taking pictures with fans.

    The second set delivered on the hits, and more than compensated for any troubling moments from earlier in the night. Fans sang along to the most famous James Taylor tunes, swaying in the heat to “Something in the Way She Moves.” Taylor impossibly made himself even more human and relatable with a song about his dog, Sunny, and shared adorable pictures of the pug. Each song in the second set related to the human experience: loving someone, losing someone, having a dog, being a friend.

    Photo by Jim ‘JT’ Gilbert

    And that’s really why people go to see James Taylor – the articulation of their own very human experience. We go to be reminded that we aren’t alone in these hard emotions, and in fact everyone struggles with sadness, joy, and how to show love. “Shower the People You Love” brought the crowd to its feet, singing along and encouraging folks to do just that – show the love to those around you.

    From “Sunny Skies” and “Walking Man,”the set transitioned to the faster, more intense rock feel of “Steam Roller.” Playing on a baby blue electric guitar, Taylor’s only electric guitar song featured some impressive riffs by the pianist, bassist, and sax players. Taylor waved his cap over the instruments, and jumped on one leg like an old time rock star, bringing gasps of joy and screams of love from the audience.

    Filled with folks who had traveled long distances to get to Tanglewood, the crowd talked to each other with civility, gentleness, and a genuine interest in one another in the shed. Couples surrounding this reviewer came from New Haven, Rochester, and even Philadelphia. It had become an annual pilgrimage for many of them. When asked why the same smile crossed their lips, heads shook a bit in disbelief, and no one could really articulate a specific reason beyond loving the music. But with the encore of “You’ve Got a Friend,” fans were truly speaking their hearts. James Taylor is their friend, their company in easy and hard times alike.

    Photo by Jim ‘JT’ Gilbert

    During this time of low civility, isolation, and sad news of disparities in our country, the concert offered a quaint respite in songs lending empathy, kindness, and intelligence. As long as he’s performing at Tanglewood, clearly James Taylor has thousands of friends overjoyed to have him – and each other – on this American holiday weekend.

    Setlist

    Set One: Carolina in My Mind, Country Road, The Frozen Man, Never Die Young, Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Road Runner, Nothing Like a Hundred Miles, Raised Up Family, Copperline, Handyman, Mexico

    Set Two: Something in the Way She Moves, Sunny Skies, Walking Man, Up on the Roof, Steamroller, Sweet Baby James, Fire and Rain, Your Smiling Face, Shower the People, How Sweet it Is

    Encore: Shed a Little Light, In the Midnight Hour, You’ve Got a Friend

  • Small City of Sherrill Packs Big Names into its Summer Series

    Sherrill may be the smallest city in New York State, but its long-running summer concert series boasts some of the biggest music acts in the Central New York scene.

    Among those slated to perform at 6:30 p.m. each Tuesday from June 26 – Aug. 28 are country artist Eddie Arcuri, alt-folk band the Old Main, fan favorites and Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame inductees, Fritz’s Polka Band and Central New York’s premier party band, Showtime.

    Eddie Arcuri performs in the pavilion Tuesday, July 3. Arcuri has recently been recording in Nashville and performed at Frog Fest in June. You can check out his single for “Beer Goggles” here.

    (Photo: Anthony Owens)

    Cazenovia’s Oldfield 5 performs on July 10. The band’s name is derived from the old phone exchange for Cazenovia. Band member, Gary Powers is a Sherrill resident.

    Showtime takes the stage on July 17. This seasoned band has a proven track record of being able to perform just about anything. They’ve been on the CNY scene since the early ’90s and are one of the most high demand bands in the area.

    Fritz’s Polka Band, based in nearby Verona, has the claim of being the only Polka band to ever play at a Woodstock Festival, having performed at the ill-fated Rome version in 1999. FPB was inducted into the Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame in 2017 and have been nominated in several categories at the Cleveland awards ceremony over the years. The band has proven over the course of its career that Polka music can, in fact, rock, as exhibited in this fan-shot video of their version of “All Along the Watchtower” below.

    The Old Main brings their unique brand of Americana to Sherrill on July 31. The band has proven very popular on the upstate brewery circuit and also has a solid fan base at the ski resorts of the Adirondacks and Vermont.

    On Aug. 7, the jazz group E.S.P. This high energy group of seasoned jazz professionals is the recipient of three SAMMY Awards for Best Jazz Album (2009, 2011, 2017) and features Sherrill native, Evan Duchene on drums. Check out their video for “When Fortune Smiles” below.

    The PartyNuts perform oldies from the ’50s and ’60s at the gazebo on Aug. 14. Their performance will be followed by a movie under the starts. The movie will be announced at a later time.

    Central Winds is an all-star CNY wind ensemble comprised of more than 40 local music educators. They will be performing music spanning several genres at the park on Aug. 21. Aside from performing at such esteemed venues as the Eastman School of Music in Rochester and the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, the ensemble also conducts workshops throughout the year. Read more about this talented group of musicians here.

    The summer series concludes Aug. 28 with long-running country act, Matt Chase & Thunder Canyon.

    Sherrill Summer Series concerts are held in the gazebo of Reilly-Mumford Memorial Park, next door to Sherrill City Hall. For more information on this series, visit the City of Sherrill’s website here.

  • The Crossings of Colonie’s Summer Concert Series Lineup Unveiled

    Every Thursday this summer from July 5 – Aug. 30, The Crossings of Colonie brings its live concert series to the Capital Region from 6 – 8 p.m. rain or shine at the Crossings Park Gazebo.

    A wide variety of different music can be found each week during the series from some of the area’s top local artists, including the Audiostars, Skeeter Creek, and the Georgie Wonder’s Big Band.

    Fans are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic set ups to the show. All shows are free to the public. The Crossings is located at 580 Albany Shaker Road in Loudonville.

    Concerts at The Crossings Lineup:

    July 5 – Body and Soul
    July 12 – NY Players
    July 19 – Audiostars
    July 26 – Skeeter Creek
    Aug. 2 – Lustre Kings
    Aug. 9 – Georgie Wonders Big Band
    Aug. 16 – Hair of the Dog
    Aug. 23 – The Pipe Kings
    Aug 30 – Sorrow Estate/Rich Ortiz

  • NYS Music Presents: Live Shows to Fill Your July

    There’s nothing like a great concert to brighten summer days even more.  Here to make it all the more easy for you, NYS Music is bringing you our run down of all the can’t-miss action throughout New York State’s music scene throughout July.

    Rochester – Funk ‘N Waffles

     July 6th – You will not want to miss Andy Frasco’s “party blues with a touch of barefoot boogie,” style as him and his band bring feel good music to Funk ‘N Waffles with The UN.  Click the link for more event and ticket details. Event link.

    July 7th – The night following their Syracuse show, Victor Wainwright and The Train will be bringing another show sure to make you smile to Rochester. Event link.

    July 10th – Syracuse native, Funk ‘N Waffles house band, Pearly Baker’s Best, will be moving over to Rochester for the night to perform their tribute to the Grateful Dead with David Gans. Event link.

    July 12 – Adam Ezra Group, a personal favorite of mine, will be bringing their roots rock to Rochester and it is sure to be a show you do not want to miss! Event link.

    July 13th – The Gerry Jarcia String Band will be making a stop on their summer Powerwagon Tour and is bringing along some “post nuclear music” courtesy of the dynamic group, Electric Kif. Event link.

    July 18th – Reggae artist Alika will be playing at the Music Hall with M.A.K.U Soundsystem to celebrate of self discovery through music and, as always, bring the party with their punk, funk and rock sound. Event link.

    July 19th – Indie rock and R&B infused band, Little Bird, will be stopping by on their summer tour with the funk fusion quartet, The Phryg.  Event link.

    July 21st – It’s Cosmic Brownie’s 1 year anniversary and they want Rochester to join in on the celebration! To commemorate the occasion, the alternative hip-hop duo will be playing with electronic drummer and producer, Hybrid Beats, as well as Level 7. Event link.

    July 25th – Calliope Musicals will be making the long and treacherous trek from space (or Austin, Texas) with special guests Stationary Escape Pod for an energetic and alluring night of music. Event link.

    July 31st – Amoramora guarantees that every show is sure to, “blast you off into a cosmic dance party,” so don’t miss this golden opportunity to witness their rock ‘n’ roll with special guest Walrus Junction.  Event link.

    Syracuse – Funk ‘N Waffles

    July 6th – The award-winning blues, soul and rock songwriter, Victor Wainwright, will be stopping in Syracuse on the album release tour of his band Victor Wainwright and The Train accompanied by Doug Woolverton on Trumpet.  Event link.

    July 9th – Dead Nights are the best nights, especially when they are brought to you by Pearly Baker’s Best. Event link.

    July 11th – Before the always-traveling group hits Rochester, Adam Ezra Group will be performing with New York native group, The Sea the Sea.  This powerhouse pairing is sure to make for an incredible night of music you can’t miss. Event link.

    July 14th – Upstate New York has the privilege of being graced with another stop on Gerry Jarcia’s Powerwagon Tour.  Once again, the string band will be joined by Electric Kif. Event link.

    July 18th – The night before their Rochester show, Little Bird will be playing Funk ‘N Waffles with lively afro-beat and reggae group Akuma Roots.  Event link.

    July 19th – Chris Eves and the New Normal, rock, funk, blues and jam band, will be performing with special guest, The Melting Nomads, who will be supplying dirty funky fusion. Event link.

    July 21st – It’s sure to be a jam-packed night full of electrifying performances as the Barroom Philosophers, Ponder, General B and The Wiz take on Funk ‘N Waffles for the night.  Event link.

    July 26th – For all alternative music fans, Calliope Musicals with Philadelphia-native band, Pet Cheetah, is sure to be a show to remember. Event link.

    July 27th – Andy Frasco & The UN will be kicking off a vibrant month of music at Funk ‘N Waffles in Rochester and will be closing it out at Syracuse. Make sure to come out for the good vibes and great music. Event link.

    Lake George

    July 13th – A lot of exciting things are happening with one of our favorite Upstate New York-local bands, Formula 5, and included on this list is the fact that they will be hosting the second annual Rock the Dock Festival in Lake George.  The festival will be held on the dock of the Lake George Steamboat Company and will host a multitude of other great acts including Soule Monde, Strange Machines and Let’s Be Leonard.  On your way to the event, make sure you grab a Formula 5 flavored shake at Ben & Jerry’s! Event link.

    Saranac Lake – The Waterhole

    The historic Waterhole in Saranac Lake welcomes West End Blend for ‘The Blender’ – a two night affair with Bella’s Bartok as special guest on Friday, July 13, and a tribute to Prince with WEB on Saturday, July 14. Two day passes cost $24, or $15 each day at the door. On Saturday afternoon enjoy a FREE show with “Blender on the Patio” will go from 5pm to 10pm featuring Jiggawaltz, Adrian Aardvark and Arthur Buezo.

    Buffalo – Nietzsche’s 

    The Jazz Happy Hour that got you through every Monday in June is continuing on through July at Nietzche’s in Buffalo with another incredible lineup of artists.

    July 2nd – Frontstreet Men will be bringing a high energy set full of covers of some classics as well as their own bluesy, funky originals.  Event link.

    July 9th – No strangers to jazz at Nietzche’s, Jared Tinkham Trio will be taking over happy hour on the 9th.  Event link.

    July 16th – Buffalo-based and renowned jazz improvisation artist, Donny Frauenhofer, will be performing on the 16th. Event link.

    July 23rd – Head out on the 23rd to enjoy some smooth sounds from the Brendan Lonighan Octet. Event link.

    July 30th – To close out yet another month of the happiest hours in Upstate New York, Buffalo Infringement Festival Presents Curtis Lovell. Event link.