April is finally here, and as Upstate New York finally begins to thaw, the live music scene across the state is certainly heating up. If you are looking for live music to keep you entertained throughout the entire upcoming month, look no further. Just like every other month, NYS is here to give you a run-down on every can’t-miss show in New York State.
Syracuse – Funk N’ Waffles
April 5th – For Americana sounds that will transport you to a scorching hot desert while sitting in the always so sunny Syracuse, come experience Steel Guapo. Complementing their performance will be the bluegrass and newgrass sound of the Dirty Grass Players. Event link.
April 7th – Freekbass’s funky sound grew from his pure love for artists like Zapp, Midnight Star, Sly Stone, and Stevie Wonder that he had while growing up in Cincinnati. Make sure you catch him on his Funky Winter Tour as he stops in Syracuse with special guest and fusion rock band, Haewa. Event link.
April 14th – Come see what the growing buzz about The Blind Spots is all about as they play Funk ‘N Waffles with Kurt Riley. The five piece rock, pop and indie band has a killer rhythm section, mesmerizing guitar stylings and an incredibly strong vocal delivery from front woman Maddy Walsh to tie it all together that is sure to leave you wanting more. Event link.
April 18th – It’s exactly what it sounds like – Perpetual Groove will be sure to have you rocking and rolling all night with their “anthemic arena rock” filled sets. If you can’t make it out to this show, no need to worry. They will be hitting Rochester and Saratoga Springs the night before and after this show. Keep reading for more details on those shows and click the link to secure your ticket for this stop on the tour. Event link.
April 19th – With just a guitar, drums, and a B-3 organ, the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio will wow you with their 60’s-inspired jazz and R&B style. The chemistry within this band has manifested itself in the best of ways and the trio wants you to feel it at this show. They will be performing with special guest Tanksley. Event link.
April 20th – Starting at 10 PM, Syracuse-native and local favorite group Skunk City will be performing with Vanishing Suns. Catch their funky rock and pop music before they head out play more shows in the Northeast. Event link.
April 21st – There’s nothing like a strong horn section to really start your Saturday night off with a bang. Starting at 10 PM, six-piece soul and jazz group, Gretchen & The Pickpockets, will be making that their mission, as they always do in their shows. Joined by JJ Murphy Trio, it is sure to be a high energy and quality show. Event link.
April 26th – Award-winning and highly-acclaimed bluegrass band, Kitchen Dwellers, will be treating Syracuse to one of their unforgettable performances. They will be joined by a truly treasured favorite of folk music lovers, Dirty Blanket. Event link.
April 27th – As Mike Powell makes his way around New York State for shows this month, he will be stopping in at Funk ‘N Waffles with The Black River. His soulful folk songwriting will be sure to make you want to follow him around the state for the rest of his tour. Event link.
Rochester – Funk N’ Waffles 
April 5th – Prior to their Syracuse show on the 7th, Freekbass along with Haewa will be bringing funk and fusion to Rochester. Do not miss out on this golden opportunity to see these artists who are known for oozing talent. Event link.
April 6th – Another band who will be playing Syracuse as well, is Dirty Grass Players and Steel Guapo. Following their show in Syracuse on the 5th, it is a fact that you will want more. Here are the details on how to see them again. Event link.
April 12th – The trio that makes up The Last Revel has somehow found the magic combination that produces natural and delicate folk music but still delivers rocking “bombastic” performances. Special guest Max & Richie from Dirty Blanket, the Finger Lakes native bluegrass band, will be opening for them. Event link.
April 13th – At the Music Hall at Funk ‘N Waffles, Martin Sexton will be doing a special performance sure to draw emotions from the crowd with the use of his tenor voice or flawless displays of his falsetto, as well as an energetic response through his raspy and blues-inspired vocalization. He will be joined by Joan Osborne who will be treating the crowd to a selection of her favorite Bob Dylan songs as her latest album, “Songs of Bob Dylan”, was released in September. Event link.
April 17th – Before they take on Syracuse, Perpetual Groove and special guest Ocular Panther will be at Rochester’s Funk ‘N Waffles. Perpetual Groove is known for putting on performances that are highly polished but uniquely different from all their other shows, so this is definitely one act you are going to want to see more than once. Click the link for information on just how to do so. Event link.
April 20th – It is sure to be a fully packed night of entertainment at The Music Hall. The “communal music force” and inspiring force is bringing their “life music” to the lucky city of Rochester. As a collective, Arrested Development has won two Grammy awards and are a four time platinum selling hip-hop group that has also mastered the genres of R&B, funk and folk just to name a few. Joining them on this night will be Sophistafunk, Level 7 Experience, and DJ Whiz. Event link.
April 21st – Bringing you another jam-packed night at Funk ‘N Waffles, there will be sets happening at both The Music Hall, as well as the club side. Electronic rock artist, Max Creek, will be in The Music Hall, playing two sets while funky jazz band, The English Project, as well as Old Deer Ensemble will be playing sets on the club side. There is sure to be amazing music everywhere you turn on the 21st in Funk ‘N Waffles. Event link.
April 27th – From the platinum selling and Grammy award winning group Living Colour, Corey Glover is coming to deliver a healthy mix of hard rock and soul. Along with him will be the soulful, reggae hip-hop group the Alchemystics, alternative folk and rock group, the Dave Diprimo Band and finally alternative rock artist, Ponder. Event link.
April 28th – If you missed them in Syracuse, or more likely, just cannot get enough of them, Kitchen Dwellers will be in Rochester on the 28th with special guest The Ditch Diggers. The show starts at 9:30 PM. Click the link for more details and ticket information. Event link.
Saratoga – Putnam Place
April 13th – Critically-acclaimed and leading Celtic Rock band, Enter the Haggis, will be giving an unforgettable performance along with the lyrical stylings of Jon and Matt Wagar, better know as The Wagar Brothers who with the help of the rest of their band, always leave the crowd wanting more of their Americana Folk sound. Event link.
April 19th – The highly original sound of Perpetual Groove is something you do not want to miss. Coming all the way from Georgia, the group bends genres with their sound that mixes jazz-rock, neo-psychedlia, R&B, electronica, and progressive rock among others. They want to show you just how good their critically acclaimed sound is with the help of JoyFunk band CBDB. Find details about tickets and more in the link. Event link.
April 20th – Guthrie Bell Productions is bringing Greenwich, NY natives, Eastbound Jesus, and their Northern Rock, Bluegrass and Americana style sound to Saratoga with the Mallett Brothers featuring Jon Fishman, the drummer from Phish. Don’t miss this one of a kind show. Event link.
April 21st – For a night full of covers from everyone’s favorite three bands – Pink Floyd, The Talking Heads, and Phish – come out to Pink Talking Fish as they bring yet another unforgettable performance to Putnam Place. The opener is TBD – stay tuned on updates and find out more about the show by clicking the link. Event link.
Buffalo – Nietzche’s
April 8th – For a movingly beautiful performance, do not miss singer/songwriter Christopher Paul Stelling and his virtuoso guitar-picking at Nietzche’s at 4 PM. Critically acclaimed and timelessly enjoyable, his performance is sure to be an evening to remember. Event link.
April 18th – Nathan Kalish and The Lastcallers have been touring for the majority of the last decade and are bringing their knee-slapping, country-Americana sound with a healthy dose of psychedelic funk, to Buffalo. Coming along with them is American folk group The Brothers Blue with their acoustic and old-time folk sound. Event link.
April 28th – Witty Tarbox, will be releasing their EP The Adventures of Schmitty Issue #1 v RARE and celebrating the occasion at this “night of wild circus shenanigans” with special guests and fellow Buffalo natives, Handsome Jack and Mosswalk. The first 25 people through the door get a hard copy of the band’s first EP, and copies will be on sale at the show. Event link.
Albany
April 8th, 15th, and 22nd – Presented by Guthrie Bell Productions, Amy Helm will be doing her 2nd annual Woodshed Residency Tour and will be performing every Sunday, starting on the 8th, at the Hollow Bar + Kitchen. Don’t miss this golden opportunity to see some amazing Americana rock music. Event link.
April 12th – Another fantastic upcoming show presented by Guthrie Bell Productions is The Magic Beans with Let’s Be Leonard at the Hollow Bar + Kitchen. Colorado natives, but Saratoga-local favorites, The Magic Beans not only combine genres, but do an incredible job of blending their original songwriting with inspired improvisation, all tied together in one big dance party at each of their shows. Click the link for more details and prices for their Early Bird Special. Event link.
Cohoes – Cohoes Music Hall
April 22nd – For the best Zappa tribute band live music has to offer, come see Project/Object on the 22nd at 8 PM. With the longest continuous touring record, as well as having been able to play with 20 members of Zappa’s band from multiple eras, this band is sure to bring an unforgettable show. This particular reunion tour will feature band members Napoleon Murphy Brock and Denny Walley and will bring setlists packed with classics from their time with Frank Zappa. Event link.
Plattsburgh
April 13th – The Plattsburgh Blues and Jazz presents the two-time Grammy-nominated artist who is defining the sound of Chicago blues today, John Primer and the Real Deal Blues band will be treating Plattsburgh to a show at Olive Ridleys at 8 PM. Tickets are $18 in advance and will be $20 at the door. Click the link to grab tickets to see this legendary musician as he comes through New York State. Event link.
Saranac Lake
April 14th – If you miss him at Olive Ridleys, here’s your second chance! Live at the BluSeed Studios in Saranac Lake, John Primer and the Real Deal Blues Band will be performing again. Doors will be at 7 PM with music starting at 7:30 PM. Event link.
More than midway through their show, lead vocalist and guitar slinger Marty O’Reilly apologized that they weren’t playing straightforward folk music. Of course, no apology was necessary. The crowd had already been moved to multiple standing ovations and were visibly having a hard time containing their gyrations to the confines of their seats. No apology was necessary, regardless, because their music was their music and no one in the room was there to judge its purity. While the promoter’s name may be Honest Folk, the ‘folk’ could just as well refer to the people, not the genre. That is, the people who book the shows, the people who support the shows, the people who attend the shows and the people who play the shows, honest folk one and all.
The band is touring behind their recently released album Stereoscope, a labor of love that was years in the making, featuring songs conceived of from a cabin in picturesque Santa Cruz, California. O’Reilly’s emotional and weathered voice could evoke those landscapes on new ones like “Stereoscope,” “Ghost” and “Let the Wind In,” though they were being played on a drearily rainy and cold day in Rochester, New York. The cozy and dimly lit brick confines of Good Luck made for just as perfect a setting for the rich tapestries being constructed between the finger picked guitars and vibrantly ethereal fiddle. Goff’s drums, which meandered between intricately understated and invigoratingly punctuated, and Berry’s bass boomed and moaned at all the right junctures. They weren’t afraid to let the music take control of the band. The reins were loose and the tunes stretched their legs, arriving at some rather brilliant moments, delighting the band and audience alike.
