On August 9, the inaugural Hudson Valley Music Summit (HVMS) will take place in Kingston, NY. The new boutique music conference is for ambitious music industry professionals looking to take the next step in their career. HVMS offers more than 50 speakers, catered networking sessions and multiple showcases throughout the day.
A wide variety of individuals, all from different facets of the music industry, will come and share their insights, strategies and experiences on how to create astounding music and the best ways to share it with the world. Speakers include experienced artist managers like Stefani Scamardo (Warren Haynes, Mountain Jam), professional touring & recording musicians such as Grammy nominee Tracy Bonham, and representatives of national and local record labels including Warner Records and Manic Cat Records. A banquet lunch will be provided featuring an interview between Dean Budnick of Relix Magazine and Pete Shapiro of the Capitol Theater and Brooklyn Bowl. You can even secure a 20 minute one-on-one mentoring session with Geordie Gillespie, the Co-Founder of The Overt Music Group. You can see the full agenda of events here.
John Fogerty will be playing the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts on Sunday, Aug. 18 with special guests Tedeschi Trucks Band and Grace Potter. The site of the original Woodstock Music & Arts Festival announced that the 50th anniversary of the famed festival will be celebrated with three separate events taking place August 16-18, with John Fogerty, Tedeschi Trucks Band and Grace Potter closing out the weekend. ‘My 50 Year Trip’ commemorates Fogerty’s time with Creedence Clearwater Revival and the evolutionary music created during 1969, recreating the Woodstock experience.
Tedeschi Trucks Band never fails to put on a phenomenal live performance with their outstanding musical chemistry. They have developed a distinguished reputation selling out multi-night runs at Red Rocks Amphitheater, Beacon Theatre, and Ryman Auditorium.
With her strong voice, Grace Potter captivates and moves her audiences. She has demonstrated her versatility performing with acts from Kenny Chesney to The Rolling Stones to Bob Weir.
Tickets for John Fogerty: My 50 Year Trip with Tedeschi Trucks Band and Grace Potter go on sale Friday June 7, for more information click here.
Tanglewood, the famed summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1937, launches the Tanglewood Learning Institute, and a dazzling array of concerts for their summer season, which runs from June 15 through Labor Day weekend. Tanglewood is located in the Berkshire Hills, between Stockbridge and Lenox, MA. This summer includes a lot of debuts, as well as returning acts for Tanglewood.
The season starts off with Popular Artist Series throughout the month of June, including performances from Postmodern Jukebox, Josh Groban, James Taylor and Earth, Wind & Fire. Then, starting on July 5, the Tanglewood will be home to BSO’s Music Director, Andris Nelsons, for 14 orchestra programs. The BSO and Andris Nelsons will open the orchestra’s summer season with Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 22, with Emanuel Ax as soloist.
Other highlights from the season include a one-night-only performance of Bach Cello Suites by Yo-Yo Ma and three performances from The Boston Pops celebrating the music of John Williams. One of these performances being Star Wars: A New Hope, which includes a showing of the classic 1977 film, with the Boston Pops Orchestra performing Mr. Williams’ iconic score. For a complete list of events this summer at the Tanglewood and ticket information click here.
Western New York natives, Cold Lazarus, released their second full length album, Colors and Lights, today. The quartet from Jamestown is composed of Jeremy Bunce (lead guitar/keys/synth), Adam Gould (guitar/keys/synth/vocals), Gavin Paterniti (bass/vocals) and Marc Scapelitte (drums/beats). The album features seven tracks that capture a critical moment in the band’s history as they undergo personnel changes and continue to explore their unique brand of rock fusion with a unique blend of progressive, psychedelic, indie and funk.
In late 2018, Cold Lazarus announced the departure of founding member/keyboardist, Drew Minton, who was replaced by Jeremy Bunce. However, the band had already started recording Colors and Lights, so they returned to the studio with Bunce to complete the album. This included three shorter musical interludes that have been woven in between the previously recorded tracks.
In the interlude tracks “Trepidation” and “Dimension Ascension”, the band explores elements of jamtronica, which was previously uncharted territory for them. “I think the album is a good indication of the huge strides we’ve made not only as musicians but as songwriters who are constantly striving to push into new creative territory,” says Paterniti, “Colors and Lights is a big step in the direction we want to be heading as artists.”
The famed Bonnaroo Arch has been demolished, confirmed directly from Bonaroo’s social media accounts,. After buzz was created from posts about the arch being ‘destroyed’ and ‘burned in a fire,’ the iconic landmark on The Farm was put into question. It was engulfed in flames – rightfully so – due to structural deficiencies.
Goodbye old friend! ❤️This incarnation of the Bonnaroo Arch had significant structural issues and needed to be removed. The Arch has changed throughout the years, and we're exited for it's newest incarnation – Stay tuned + share your favorite arch pic! (📷 j_kelty on Insta) pic.twitter.com/ynJjhY8Du9
Check out Part 1 and Part 2 of NYS Music’s Bonnaroo Coverage in 2018.
The Bonnaroo Arch has draped the festival’s skyline since its inception in 2002. Over the years, its changing face has remained a rite of passage for new and returning festival junkies – illuminating the night’s sky as late night jam-sessions and raves blare till dawn.
Something (the arch?) is on fire on the @Bonnaroo Farm.
We want to thank you for being a loyal Bonnaroovian, and we appreciate your patience as we navigate the best options to ensure we can be together on the Farm in 2021.
The dates we originally announced for Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival 2021 have changed. Bonnaroo will now take place on September 2-5, 2021. Information on lineup, camping and accommodations will be available at a later date.
We encourage you to rollover your tickets to the new dates, however, we will make refunds available for those who cannot attend.
NYC’s City Parks Foundation has announced its participation in PRS Foundation’s International Keychange pledge by presenting Summerstage 2019 lineup that features a 50:50 gender balance. The female-run festival has planned an informational panel on Aug. 4 entitled “Why Aren’t There More Women on Festival Stages?” before Grammy-winning jazz songstress Corinne Bailey Rae takes the newly-renovated stage at 7 p.m. in Central Park. Opening night for the city-wide festival includes a performance by singer-songwriter Emily King at Central Park on June 1.
In addition to a focus on gender balance, the festival celebrates diversity with two Central Park shows during Pride Month: bounce icon Big Freedia on June 13 and drag ballet troupe Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo on June 19.
The festival will also be honoring musical milestones, such as the 100th birthday of revered choreographer Merce Cunningham with a dance showcase on July 17 in Central Park and the 50th anniversary of the Harlem Cultural Festival – Black Woodstock – with a showcase of jazz and hip hop luminaries at the original festival site in Marcus Garvey Park on August 17.
Notable headliners this year also include The B-52’s, George Clinton, and The Wailers. For details on the full lineup, visit the SummerStage website.
Capitol Region Teen Madison VanDenburg had made it to the final three contestants on Season 17 of American Idol. The high school student from Cohoes tried out for the show last fall in Buffalo. At last Sunday’s Hero Tribute, VanDenburg performed Pink’s “What About Us,” Elton John’s “Your Song,” and Adele’s “Make You Feel My Love.”
Tune in to the Season Finale on Sunday, May 19 when VanDenburg faces off against Laine Hardy and Alejandro Aranda. The three-hour long event starts at 8 p.m. on ABC, and will include performances by legendary artists, as well as performances by the finalists.
The daunting Woodstock 50 – Back to the Garden – The Definitive 50th Anniversary Archive box set debuts August 2, exactly two weeks before the Woodstock festival revival was said to take place. Limited to 1969 units, the 38-disc box set is completely remastered, spanning the original festival top to bottom. All 433 tracks are catalogued between Friday’s opening set of Richie Havens to Jimi Hendrix, spilling into Monday morning.
More than half of the total runtime debuts unheard releases. The 267 song homage captures names like Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Sly and the Family Stone and many greats for the first time.
Each box comes loaded with a guitar strap, Director’s cut Blu-Ray, prints, writings and other memorabilia. A coffee table book, Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace & Music, fuses visuals with sound and are accompanied by Lang’s insights and memories to 1969.
The collection is a time-capsule weaved with personality; notably from a replica diary written by an inspired attendee. Stage-banter sucks you into different angles in time – retrospective in particular lights of the festival experience, and flat out rock and roll. The expansive archive captures festival blurbs from random attendees taped by sound recordist Charles Groesbeek, and backstage audio. Its mass will be organized neatly, day to day. From an analytical measure or for the pure Woodstock-junkie, this box set is remarkable. Experience it day by day as if it were 1969. Price of admission: $799.98
The Definitive 50th Anniversary Archive can be preordered here.
Horton, board certified audiologist at Rochester Hearing & Speech Center, will be offering an interactive workshop Ears & Beers at Three Heads Brewing. The free affair takes place on Sunday, May 19 at 1 p.m. Attendees can meet with Horton and his colleagues to obtain a free hearing screening, discounted earplugs, and ear mold impressions for ordering custom ear plugs.
“This is an important conversation to have,” says audiologist and musician Dr. Greg Horton. “Knowledge is power: educating and empowering musicians to take ownership of their hearing wellness and incorporate hearing into their annual health care routine.”
“This event is geared towards musicians and people who work in and around music industry – bartenders, security, photographers, and promoters. We’ll cover the science of sound, how prolonged noise exposure can affect our hearing, and how people can protect themselves.”
While most industries are regulated by oversight agencies which promote and enforce workplace safety, the music industry remains unregulated. What’s more, hearing conservation something that most people are uncomfortable talking about, or acting upon. Horton said that people often wait years after suspecting hearing loss to do something about it.
Compounding these barriers is the lack of expertise in audiology for those in the music industry. There are only a handful of audiologists in the country who work exclusively with musicians. Horton studied under a couple of these experts when he was earning his doctorate in audiology at Northwestern University.
“Working with musicians is different than garden-variety audiology,” Horton says. He adds that while most audiologists love working with musicians, when polled, the majority of them say they need more training in this area.
Professional musicians invest their time in practicing and their money in equipment, but few make the effort to protect their most valuable asset – their hearing. Horton draws a comparison to a professional athlete being assessed by doctors for peak performance. “Why as a musician, wouldn’t you do the same thing?” Asks Horton.
Few people in the music industry receive annual screenings to monitor changes in hearing. Hearing screenings are usually covered by health insurance, but those who are under-insured or uninsured can look for free screenings at places like health fairs and festivals.
“Most musicians experience just generic foam earplugs, which are not designed to sound good. People don’t realize there are plugs that can maintain the fidelity of the music, with the ability to keep you at safe exposure.” This is an area where the proverbial ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. “People don’t want to spend $200 on a pair of custom ear plugs, but it sure beats $6,000 on hearing aids.”
Protection goes beyond wearing hearing protection. It’s about awareness of dosage of noise exposure. That dosage can be reduced with things as simple as adjustments to stage plots and the position and distance from sound-emitting equipment.
“I’ll be dispelling some myths. Like ‘Oh, I don’t play in a metal band, so I don’t need to worry about hearing loss.’ Volume doesn’t discriminate. It all comes down to dosage,” Horton explains. “Think about the violin player that’s been classically trained, putting hundreds upon hundreds hours into playing. A violin by itself may not be loud, but it’s pretty close to your ear, and if you’re someone who’s practicing 6 to 8 hours a day, you’re at risk.”
As a life-long music lover and musician, hearing conservation is a subject Horton is passionate about. If you’ve ever seen Horton’s band Periodic Table of Elephants, you’ll recognize him as the one passing out complimentary ear plugs to members of the audience.
This event is made possible with sponsorship from Three Heads Brewing and Rochester Hearing & Speech.
Three Heads Brewing on Atlantic Avenue is a hot spot for live music and home to a popular Thursday night musician residency. You can find more details and RSVP for this free event here.
Rochester Hearing & Speech a non-profit organization serving the region for the past 97 years. Their offices are conveniently located throughout Monroe County in Brighton, Greece, and Webster. For more information about this event or to schedule an appointment, email ghorton@rhsc.org.
Following a successful season last year, Good Nature Farm Brewery and Creative Concerts announced the 2nd annual series of Summer concerts in Hamilton, NY.
The shows are set to take place outdoors in the Beer Garden; there is plenty of space for seating whether that be at one of the picnic tables that are provided or on a personal blanket or lawn chair. There is more seating inside at the Farm Brewery where two glass doors will be opened to view the performances as long as weather permits. In case of inclement weather, the series of concerts will take place indoors.
In addition to the music, food and drinks will be for sale. Wood fired pizzas, veggie and beef burgers,hot dogs, seasonal sides, and ice cream will be available for purchase alongside Good Natured Brews, wine, cider, and select spirits.
Non-alcoholic options and ice cream floats will also be available, as the shows are family friendly. Those under 21 will be admitted with a parent or guardian and children 12 and under do not need tickets. These Good Nature Farm Brewery and Creative Concerts event is even friendly for your furry family members- dogs are permitted as long as they are on a leash and well-behaved.
Doors open at 4 and shows will begin at 5 p.m. with one or two starting acts followed up by the headlining performance. The nights are set to conclude around 9 p.m. and are scheduled as followed:
June 2– Dark Hollow
June 9– The Englishtown Project
June 16– Max Creek
June 23– Driftwood
June 30– The Weight Band
July 7– Ghost of Paul Revere
July 14– Nate Gross Band
July 21– The Lizards- Phish Tribute
July 28– The Quebe Sisters
August 4– The Restless Age
August 11– Donna the Buffalo
August 18– Soule Monde
August 25– The Felice Brothers
September 1– Dark Hollow
September 8– The Blind Owl Band
Tickets are currently for sale online and will be for sale at the farm brewery starting next week.
