Category: Genres

Grammy’s 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients Announced – Isaac Hayes, Public Enemy and Others to Be Honored

The 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients have been announced by the Recording Academy and it features a heralded list of singers, songwriters, rappers and performers.

The recipients include, rock band Chicago, who is known for bringing jazz band-style horns into rock music, as well as numerous number one albums, one of which – Chicago Transit Authority – has been inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame.

Fourteen-time nominee, and four-time Grammy-winner, Roberta Flack, will also be a recipient. The songstress is known for number one records like “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” and “Killing Me Softly with His Song.”

Soul singer-songwriter Isaac Hayes, already a member of the Songwriters and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, will collect another nod to his legendary career.

Influential rocker, Iggy Pop, also known as the “Godfather of Punk,” is best known for his illustrious solo career, while also serving as the lead singer of proto-punk band, The Stooges. He will be on the receiving end of his very first Grammy-award, as a 2020 Special Merit recipient.

Folk singer/songwriter, John Prine, known for his humorous style of country music – will be collecting his third Grammy, the influential songwriter has also had his eponymous debut-album inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Hip-hop pioneers, Public Enemy, known for their hard-hitting politically conscious lyrics and social commentary – will be awarded their very first Grammy win. The legendary group is best known for its classic LP It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back in addition to the renowned protest anthem “Fight the Power,” which has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe, being awarded posthumously, was a gospel singer, with innate skills on the electric guitar. The singer-songwriter, somewhat under-appreciated, with only one Grammy nomination before her death in 1973, but not any less legendary, was also recognized as having the first gospel record to crossover on the R&B charts.

The Special Merit Award – also known as the Lifetime Achievement Award – is decided on by vote of the Recording Academy’s National Trustees, to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording, according to the official Grammys website, with past recipients including the likes of – Dianna Ross, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles and Miles Davis.

December 27, 2019
Multi-Sensory “Jerry Dance Party” returns after Phish at MSG

“The Jerry Dance Party,” a unique and immersive late-night audio/visual experience held at ZeroSpace in New York City will return to close out 2019, immediately following Phish at Madison Square Garden on December 28, 29, and 30. Fans can walk one convienent block to ZeroSpace.

“The three-night Jerry Dance Party at ZeroSpace is a chance for Deadheads and Phisheads alike to experience the mind-bending marriage of cutting-edge audio-visual technology with the timeless music of the Grateful Dead.” says concert promoter and Relix publisher Peter Shapiro.

The three-night art-tech event will feature “custom projections, interactive LED screens, projection mapped floors, synchronized illuminations, the largest augmented reality sandbox in the world and more, all tuned to the magical sounds of the Dead.” Additionally, ZeroSpace will feature a 3D mapped, 30-foot geodesic dome synchronized to “Drums & Space” all night long.

A successful inaugural edition of “Jerry Dance Party” was held following Dead and Company’s Halloween run at Madison Square Garden, leading to the three-night event being announced. Helming the events music will be DJ Jerrbrother.

“The shows we did around Dead & Company were over the top and we can’t wait to return to ZeroSpace,” says Stephen Grybowski, co-producer of The Jerry Dance Party. “We’re taking some of the most psychedelic art-tech available and pairing it with the most amazing song catalog known to man. Our goal is to bring the energy and vibe of the early events produced by The Merry Pranksters into 2019. I have a feeling they’d be very proud.”

And as if these three nights weren’t enough, the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, N.Y. is hosting a similar event, “A Very Jerry Holiday Dance Party,” on Dec. 27. “At the Dec. 27 ‘Very Jerry Holiday Dance Party’ you can experience The Capitol Theatre like never before, as the ghosts of Grateful Dead past come alive to our amazing, state-of-the-art sights and sounds,” adds Shapiro.

The Jerry Dance Party will feature concert-quality sound throughout each room so jam fans can dance to the Dead until dawn. Tickets are $30 per night.

December 27, 2019
Best of NYS Music 2019: Music Festivals

Our annual recap of the Best of 2019 has arrived at music festivals. Just like when fans arrive at these ever-popular weekend extravaganzas, we’re bright-eyed and bushy-tailed looking forward to what surprises lay around the corner. Our staff has been to dozens of festivals around the country, and of course, across New York State, where we have the most music festivals of any state! Whether it’s the original Woodstock, Summer Jam at Watkins, The Clifford Ball, Mountain Jam or Jazz Fests, New York is home to some of the most historic music festivals in American music history.

If you missed our earlier selections for 2019’s best “under the radar” bands, and our albums of the year, go here and catch up. What festivals had the kids dancing and shaking their bones? Let’s take a look at the best festivals in New York State.

Best New York State Festivals

Adirondack Music Festival

In only it’s fifth year, Adirondack (aka, ADK Fest) Music Festival has established itself as the Labor Day weekend event in Lake George, with fans pouring in from across the Northeast to see Twiddle, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Pink Talking Fish, Everyone Orchestra, G. Love and Special Sauce, and many more. For two days and two crazy late nights, Charles R. Wood Park, just a stones throw from the shores of Lake George attracted thousands of live music fans in one of the most intimate settings you’ll find for a music festival. Miles Hurley said of the festival:

All of this top-notch live music was met resolutely throughout the weekend with a positive and welcoming vibe, upheld via a sense of strong community and creativity. For mid-size festivals Adirondack Music Festival is one of the best you can experience in the ever-musically-fertile land of upstate NY—yet here’s to a steady growth from mid-size to who knows how big.

Here’s to another fantastic year of ADK Fest in 2020!

Governors Ball

Despite most of Sunday’s performances being cancelled due to intense storms in the area, Governors Ball was a rousing success, with performances by Tyler the Creator, Florence and The Machine, Nas, Lily Allen, Lil Wayne, and The 1975 among others. The 2020 edition will return to Randall’s Island June 5-7, although the festival has been looking into relocating to the Bronx for future installments.

CGI Rochester International Jazz Fest

Now in it’s 18th year, one of the most well known annual festivals in New York, CGI Rochester International Jazz Fest, brings together musicians and jazz luminaries from across the country and the world. The eight day-long festival will introduce you to new artists, hard to catch acts and significant musicians who should be on your radar.

Eli Stein profiled 10 artists that caught his eye (and ear) at the 2019 installment, including Girls in Airports, Enemy, Paris Monster and Spaga, to name a few. Read more about these acts and get ready for the 2020 edition, to be held July 19-27.

Night Lights Music Festival

A staple of Western New York, Night Lights Music Festival once again brought a diverse lineup to the Heron Farm and Event Center in Sherman, NY. Staples such as Aqueous, !!!, Big Something, and Girl Talk headlined the affair, but the visual thrill is a major draw year after year.

Kat Horton, Night Lights Marketing and Artist Relations specialist said to NYS Music, “While creating the lineup for the festival each year it is always a priority to make sure to share new music. We want to be your gateway festival, we want you to trust us and trust that we will blow your mind.” She also explained that while curating the lineup, the focus is to tell a story. “We try to create an ebb and flow to the layout of each daily schedule, we want the weekend to create a story.”

Check out some of the action from this year’s installment from Strawberry Island Dweller here.

Best Out of State Festival

Peach Fest was the runaway winner this year, and for good reason. The lineup for this year was stacked top to bottom with a who’s who of jambands, classic rock acts and up and coming groups, including Goose, who put on a memorable set that burst them out into as of the strongest and most exciting new acts. Writer Jared Lindquist said of the festival, “This weekend was full of great music and rarely ever had a lull in things to do. Spirits were high and the weather was great until the yearly rain on Sunday night. Peach is an event not to miss.” His detailed take on the festival, covering sets from Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Trey Anastasio Band, Mungion and more can be found here.

The 2020 edition of Peach already is a contender for lineup of the year, with Oysterhead, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, String Cheese Incident, moe., Umphrey’s McGee, Twiddle, Turkuaz, and dozens more. Find out more info on Peach Fest 2020 here.

December 26, 2019
Arlene’s Grocery brings Chameleonize and Nerd Salad to LES on December 29

Chameleonize, a six-piece acid-jazz / funk-fusion band based in New York City, will be joined by Nerd Salad for a Phish After-Party at Arlene’s Grocery on the Lower East Side on Sunday, December 29.

Doors are at 11:30pm, with Chameleonize at Midnight and Nerd Salad at 1:00am. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 day of show. More info can be found here.

Chameleonize draw influences from Erykah Badu, Snarky Puppy, and Hiatus Kaiyote. They combine complex musical sequences with attractive pop melodies and hip-hop grooves, and exhibit a unique twist on contemporary music. Current members include Gabi Feliciano on vocals and alto saxophone, Mo LaMastro on guitar, Brian Gipson on guitar, Mikey Rotunno on bass, and Jake Navarro on drums.

Nerd Salad’s music is the product of childhood friends combining their love for the melodies of alternative rock, with their appreciation for technical musicianship. Their debut album Your Father And I Aren’t Angry, We’re Just Disappointed showcases the wide range of styles Nerd Salad is capable of. In just under twenty minutes of music, they leap from the infectious melodies of indie rock, to the psychedelic grooves of funk rock, and even the crushing breakdowns of metal, all while keeping their lyrics witty and relatable. Nerd Salad is truly an act that offers a little something for everyone.

December 26, 2019
Aqueous announce themes for New Years shows at The Town Ballroom

Aqueous has revealed the themes for their New Years Run shows at The Town Ballroom in Buffalo to end 2019. The hometown band will present “Almost Dazed and Confused” on December 30, and “Fast Times at The BreAQfast Club” on New Year’s Eve.

The Buffalo-bred quartet has also asked fans to dress in their “funkiest 70’s gear” on the 30th and to “get your spandex ready, cause we’re headed straight to the 80’s” on New Year’s Eve. Tickets to both shows are on sale now.

December 26, 2019
ASAP Ferg ‘Floor Seats’ Tour Arrives at Terminal 5
ASAP Ferg paid a visit to Terminal 5 on Friday and brought with him an ensemble of artists for his second to last stop on the Floor Seats Tour. Prior to the show, the crowd’s anticipation came to a head, initiating a few mosh pits before the opening act. The openers arrived just in time to release the tension. Heater IV raved about glitter and glasses, MadeinTYO performed his biggest hits, and Mudra Beatz maxed out the energy with a DJ set.

ASAP Ferg then charged the stage to the tour’s title song “Floor Seats” and the room exploded with every color of the rainbow. Various other artists joined him on stage to perform their featured songs, including MadeinTYO, Murda Beatz, Brent Faiyaz, and Antha. It was all good vibes and love coming from ASAP Ferg, referring to his fans as family and reminding everyone to check up on their loved ones’ mental health.
December 26, 2019
PEAK announce Winter Tour 2020; perform at Mercury Lounge December 30 with Digital Frontier, Teddy Midnight

PEAK had a truly remarkable 2019, and they’re looking forward to winter tour 2020 with a slate of Northeast shows, as well as one big show to close out the year.

Combining the characteristic flair that a weathered live band brings to the table, PEAK has the instrumental prowess and focus that draws crowds in. The group’s music, described as psychedelic indie funk, is a mix of poetic, melodic songwriting, moody electrofunk, riffed-out blues-rock, and exploratory danceable improvisations. Some of their many influences include artists such as The Band, The Talking Heads, Phish, The Grateful Dead, Radiohead, James Brown, and Miles Davis, as well as modern songwriters such as Conor Oberst, Mac Demarco, Kurt Vile, and Jack White to name a few.

PEAK consists of singer-songwriter and guitarist Jeremy Hilliard, drummer Kito Bovenschulte (Particle), bassist Josh T. Carter (Hayley Jane and the Primates) and Johnny Young on keys.

Their latest album, Electric Bouquet, offers a staple sound that PEAK can use to differentiate themselves from an ever-growing list of funk/rock bands.

Joining PEAK on December 30 are Digital Frontier, who lay down robotic dance beats and driving bass lines, producing progressive, multi-dimensional, synth-laden soundscapes; Teddy Midnight, who mix house, disco, techno and breakbeat with drum and bass to bring high energy to the dance floor; and Up & Orange, who bring soaring melodies, chunky grooves, and drum and bass driven electronica. For more information visit here.

PEAK WINTER TOUR 2020

12/30 New York, NY Phish After Party**

2/1 Krogh’s, Sparta, NJ ^

2/7 Sarah Street, Stroudsburg, PA*

2/21 Stone Church, Newmarket, NH#

2/22 Riverstreet Jazz Cafe, Wilkes Barre, PA#

2/27 Thunder Road, Boston, MA#

2/28 The Acoustic, Bridgeport, CT#

*w/ Jabbawaukee

** w/ Digital Frontier

^ w/ Crow’s Wine

# w/ Space Kadet

December 26, 2019
Circles Around the Sun release first single off Neal Casal final album “Babyman”

Circles Around the Sun has unveiled the video for “Babyman,” the first single and lead track off the group’s upcoming self-titled studio album, to be released on March 13, 2020. The video was directed and animated by Steven Mertens (Regina Spektor, Dan Auerbach, Sheryl Crow).

“Babyman” was recorded just a week before guitarist and founding member Neal Casal tragically took his own life, and Circles Around the Sun marks the third studio album from the group. Casal left behind a note asking surviving members Adam MacDougall (keys), Dan Horne (bass) and Mark Levy (drums) to move forward with the band. Along with a rotation of guitarist, the three have been doing precisely that, with Scott Metzger (Wolf!, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead) filling in on guitar.

We love this music. The three of us—Dan, Mark, and myself—we really love it and really don’t want to stop playing it,” says MacDougall. “I don’t want our decision to come off in any other way than based on the fact we really, really love this band so much. We would always sit around and talk about the dream: the feeling of what it was like to be a teenager and start your own band. It’s your band, with everyone pulling their own weight, doing their part. This band felt like being in high school again.

Circles Around the Sun 2020 Tour Dates

12/29 – Fort Collins, CO – Aggie Theater
12/30 – Englewood, CO – The Gothic
12/31 – Crested Butte, CO – Crested Butte Public House
1/7-12 – Miami, FL – Jam Cruise
1/16-19 – Cancun, MX – Playing In The Sand
3/28 – Frisco, CO – 10 Mile Ride: A Deadhead Ski Trip
4/3-5 – Ventura, CA – Skull & Roses Festival

December 26, 2019
Fab Faux to perform 5 special shows in NYC in late December

Over five of the final days of December, The Fab Faux – featuring Jimmy Vivino, Will Lee, Rich Pagano, Frank Agnello and Jack Petruzzelli – will be bringing their versions of the Beatles songbook to the Cutting Room in NYC.

Each of the five gigs will have its own theme, including ‘Animal Songs,’ and favorites from Revolver and The White Album on the final two nights. Food and drinks will be served during the show. Check out themes and ticket links below:

Dec. 26 Beatles In The Wild – Animal Songs

Dec. 27 Beatles Opposites – Yin and Yang

Dec. 28 Beatles Hits and Rarities

Dec. 29 Revolver Favorites & more

Dec. 30 Beatles White Album Favorites

December 25, 2019
In Focus: Goosemas at Wall Street Theater
If one band is on the lips of live music fans around the Northeast, it’s Goose. And for good reason – the group has had a break out year, with an instantly memorable Peach Festival set, a Fall Tour that saw them sell out and upgrade venues left and right, and now have sold out the Wall Street Theater in Norwalk, CT for their sixth annual Goosemas year-end, hometown show.

In addition to bringing in over 300 pounds of food for Open Doors shelter in Norwalk, Goose performed two sets – The Ghost of Goosemas Past, and The Ghost of Goosemas Future. The ‘Past’ set featured The Band’s “Christmas Must Be” to open the night, original Goose guitarist Peter Castaldi joining for “Gringo,” Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Carol of the Bells” and a set closing “Linus and Lucy” seen below.

The ‘Future’ set was bookended by fan favorite “Wysteria Lane,” followed by a debut of Robert Johnson’s “Sweet Home Chicago,” made famous by The Blues Brothers. Debuts of “Arrow” and “Honey Bee” were surrounded by songs released earlier this year, “White Lights” and “Creatures.” An improv heavy jam on The Beatles “Tomorrow Never Knows” was dark and went deep, prompting a few nearby to ask “Is this still ‘Creatures’?” The venue had loyal fans packing every inch of the venue until past 1 AM, and energy flowing from eveyone touched by the magic of Goosemas.

Opening the night was TalkPeck Soundsystem, featuring a combination of covers of Talking Heads, Vulfpeck and LCD Soundsystem, all of which were knocked out of the park to warm up the crowd, and then some.

Goosemas, Wall Street Theater, Norwalk, CT

Set 1: Christmas Must Be, Tumble, Gringo, All I Need, Carol of the Bells, Rosewood Heart, Christmas Wrapping, Yeti, Linus and Lucy

Set 2: Wysteria Lane, Sweet Home Chicago*, Arrow*, White Lights, Honey Bee*, Slow Ready, Creatures, Tomorrow Never Knows Jam, Your Ocean, Wysteria Lane

*debut
December 25, 2019

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