NYS Music 20​19

Category: North Country

  • Annie in the Water and Hayley Jane Teaming Up for ‘Rumors’ Tour

    Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors is one of rock’s iconic albums. Annie in the Water and Hayley Jane will be joining forces this winter to pay tribute to this classic album.

    The Hayley in the Water Spread Rumors Tour begins Feb. 5 at the Waterhole in Saranac Lake and wraps in Burlington at Higher Ground. The tour will visit cities throughout the Northeast from Buffalo to Hartford, CT. Stops include Flour City Station in Rochester, the Buffalo Iron Works, Stone Church in Brattleboro, VT and the Disruption Network‘s third-anniversary party in Utica.

    The full-set tribute to Rumors will be sandwiched between sets of original music from both acts, beginning with an acoustic solo set from Burlington’s Hayley Jane. Annie in the Water closes each show with Hayley Jane sitting in.

    Hayley Jane has recently collaborated with Ryan Montbleau in the duo Yes Darling, a project that presents a whimsical take on relationships with a Vaudevillian vibe. Her solo set draws from folk, blues, musical theater, and ’60s and ’70s pop and rock. Her performance of “The Chain” with Montbleau and moe. at the 2017 moe.down was one of the highlights of that weekend.

    Annie in the Water released its latest album Time to Play in June of this year. This is the band’s second album overall and first since the 2011 debut Destination. They’re riding a wave of tremendous success in 2019 which saw them performing at several festivals, including headlining Woods Fest in Westernville, NY this past August and the Shakori Hills Festival of Music and Dance in Pittsboro, NC in October.

    Prior to the February Hayley in the Water tour, Annie in the Water will finish the year with a two-date New Year’s run that has them performing at the official moe. post-party, the Hometown Throwdown Dec. 30 at The Sanctuary in Utica with special guests. They’ll ring in the new year with Raisinhead at the High Peaks Resort Ballroom in Lake Placid. Tickets for both shows are available now.

    Hayley in the Water Spreading Rumors Tour Dates:

    Feb. 5 – The Waterhole – Saranac Lake, NY

    Feb. 7 – Frog Alley Brewing Company – Schenectady, NY

    Feb. 8 – Disruption Network’s 3rd Anniversary – Jewish Community Center – Utica, NY

    Feb. 12 – Buffalo Iron Works – Buffalo, NY

    Feb. 13 – Flour City Station – Rochester, NY

    Feb. 15 – Stowe Cider – Stowe, VT

    Feb. 19 – Stone Church – Brattleboro, VT

    Feb. 20 – Arch Street Tavern – Hartford, CT

    Feb. 21 – Electric Haze – Worcester, MA

    Feb. 22 – Higher Ground – Burlington, VT

    https://www.facebook.com/annieinthewater/videos/1384318288403727/

  • More than a dozen Jam for Tots shows planned across New York State this holiday season

    NYS Music is proud to announce 15 Jam for Tots shows around the Empire State this holiday season. Kicking off on November 27, each show will have a Toys for Tots box set up for patrons to donate gifts to kids in need.

    With a wide variety of artists, including Consider the Source, Runaway Gin, Annie in the Water, Tim Herron Corporation, Strange Machines, and Swedish metal guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, this annual series will connect live music fans with those most in need in their local communities.

    jam for tots

    Support kids in need this holiday season by bringing an unwrapped toy to any of the following shows. Jam for Tots is brought to you by NYS Music.

    Regional shows include:

    Mid-Hudson Valley

    Nov 27 Open Jam – Main Street Public House, Philmont

    Dec 5 Open Jam – The Stewart House, Athens

    Dec 7 Yngwie Malmsteen – The Chance, Poughkeepsie

    Dec 14 IS – Hilltop Bar and Tavern, Tannersville

    Westchester

    Dec 4 The Spadtastics – Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester

    North Country

    Dec 6 Hunter – The Monopole, Plattsburgh

    Western New York

    Dec 14 Strange Machines w/s/g Haewa- Flour City Station, Rochester

    Dec 20 PA Line “Chrismukkah Show” w/ Special Guests – Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo

    Capital Region

    Dec 14 Annie In The Water, The Deadbeats – Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs

    Dec 14 Consider the Source w/s/g Swimmer – The Hollow, Albany

    Central New York

    Dec 8 The Old Main – Woods Valley, Rome

    Dec 19 The Action! – Copper City Brewing Company, Rome

    Dec 28 Tim Herron Corporation – Funk n Waffles, Syracuse

    New York City

    Dec 26 Runaway Gin – Knitting Factory, Brooklyn

    Massachusetts

    Nov 30 Fennario – Electric Haze, Worcester, MA

  • Squirrel Nut Zippers will Inevitably Celebrate 25 Years

    American neo-jazz band Squirrel Nut Zippers has announced that they will be going on tour in 2020 for “The Inevitable 25th Anniversary  Shows.” The entire The Inevitable album will be performed along with a series of hits and misses.

    The Squirrel Nut Zippers will also begin their third annual Holiday Caravan tour on Dec. 5 in Plattsburgh at the Strand Center Theatre.  Prior to the anniversary shows 2020 they will tour with The Dirty Dozen Brass Band making stops in New York City on March 6 at Symphony Space and Tilles PAC in Brookvale on March 7.

    Band leader Jimbo Mathus had this to say about the upcoming dates: â€œI got a call this summer from our lawyer Shorty Brown who informed me that in the original contract we signed with Mammoth Records we were contractually obligated to do a 25th anniversary tour for our debut album The Inevitable. That just goes to show you kiddos, always read the fine print.”

     Tickets for all shows are on sale now and can be purchased here.

    Holiday Caravan Tour Dates:

    Dec. 5 – Strand Center Theatre – Plattsburgh, NY                        

    Dec. 6 – Tupelo Music Hall – Derry, NH                                 

    Dec. 7 – Narrows Center – Fall River, MA     

    Dec. 8 – Musikfest Cafe – Bethlehem, PA                         

    Dec. 10 – Rams Head On Stage – Annapolis, MD                          

    Dec. 11 – The Broadberry – Richmond, VA                          

    Dec. 12 – Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC                             

    Dec. 13 – The Ramkat –  Winston-Salem, NC                   

    Dec. 14 – Salvage Station – Asheville, NC                            

    Dec. 15 – City Winery – Atlanta, GA                             

    Co-Headling Dates with Dirty Dozen Brass Band:

    Jan. 25 – Weidner Center –  Green Bay, WI                          

    Jan. 26 – The Arcada Theatre – St Charles, IL                            

    Jan. 30 – PAC – Omaha, NE                              

    Jan. 31 – PAC – Manhattan, KS                              

    Feb. 1 – Kauffman Center – Kansas City, MO                      

    March 4 – Jefferson Center – Roanoke, VA                           

    March 6 – Symphony Space – New York, NY                           

    March 7 – Tilles PAC – Brookvale, NY                          

    The Inevitable 25th Anniversary Shows

    March 5 – Birchmere – Alexandria, VA                                 

    March 8 – World Cafe Live – Philadelphia, PA                       

    March 10 – Jergel’s –  Warrendale, PA                        

    March 11 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH                          

    March 12 – Magic Bag – Ferndale, MI                            

    March 13 – City Winery – Chicago, IL                             

    March 14 – Hopkins PAC – Hopkins, MN                              

    March 25 – Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ                                

    March 26 – Rialto – Tucson, AZ                                

    March 27 – Music Box – San Diego, CA                          

    March 28 – Teragram Ballroom – Los Angeles, CA                       

    March 29 – Freight & Salvage – Berkeley, CA                            

    March 30 – Mystic Theatre –  Petaluma, CA                           

    April 1 – Jaqua Concert Hall – Eugene, OR                             

    April 2 – Aladdin Theater – Portland, OR                            

  • ‘I Can’t Drive 55’ was Inspired by The Northway

    According to a clip from a recently shared interview, former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar tells the interviewer that a drive on I-87 North was the inspiration behind “I Can’t Drive 55.” What many New Yorkers know as ‘The Northway,‘ Hagar was inspired to write the song after he was pulled over for speeding on a drive from Albany to Lake Placid.

    In the clip above, Hagar said he had returned from a family safari vacation and was headed north when a cop pulled him over. Hagar thought he was driving under the speed limit.

    “You get tickets for 62 around here. I’m like wait a minute, the speed limit is 65 and he’s like, ‘No, it’s 55.’ I didn’t know they changed it and I wrote the story right on the spot. This guy’s writing the ticket and I’m writing the lyrics.”

    Hagar, Pulled Over on I-87 N

    Even though Hagar does not mention the Northway or Interstate 87 by name, the only road you could go 55mph, let alone 65mph in the area would be The Northway.

    I can't drive 55

    So, if you’re ever had to drive north between 4 and 6pm during the week, you know what it’s like to not be able to drive 55. Plus, you and Sammy Hagar now have something in common.

  • Upper Jay Arts Center welcomes Roost and The Mountain Carol this October

    Roost and The Mountain Carol will warm up the Adirondacks this fall with a performance on Friday, Oct. 11 in the Recovery Lounge at the Upper Jay Arts Center. The all-ages show starts at 8 p.m. with a suggested donation of $5.

    Roost, a five-piece dance punk band from Burlington, with three members hailing from the 518, released their debut EP in January 2019, with a follow up EP due out in November. This summer the group hosted a new event in Vermont, the Alder Brook Campout, which they hope to be an annual tradition. They’ve performed alongside The Mountain Carol before and have gone on to play The Monopole in Plattsburgh together a few times.

    The Mountain Carol, a synth-pop group from Plattsburgh, initially took form via two reclusive childhood friends from the backwater town of Saranac, New York. Guitarist Austin Petrashune returned home from Hong Kong where he had spent years playing the fiddle, while, in the middle of the woods down the road, songwriter Charles Wilson had forsaken drums in favor of channeling his imagination through the piano and a broken Casio keyboard. Once reconnected, the band found its ideal balance when they reached out to local impresario Matt Hall, a multi-talented Syracuse-cum-Plattsburgh fixture known for his many independent musical releases. The Mountain Carol seems intent on expanding the conventional role of a band, releasing music as well as video and mixed media art projects in conjunction with their mysterious fan club/utopian life cult “The Divine Council.” Don’t miss their show at Upper Jay Arts Center on December 10.

  • Riverboat Bar Hosts Inaugural ‘Alex Bay Summer Send-Off’

    On Saturday, Sept. 28, Riverboat Bar will host the first annual ‘Alex Bay Summer Send-Off,’ a full day of live music, with doors opening at 2:00 p.m., to close out the summer season. The headlining performance will be funky reggae-jam fusion band, Annie in the Water. Other scheduled acts throughout the day include Root Shock, Eggy, The Old Main, Big Sexy and the Scrambled Eggs, and Trampoline Jetstream. In between sets, there will be DJ sets provided by D.C. area’s Schwa and Proper Philth.

    The night is capped off with an All-Star Super Jam featuring musicians from throughout the day. On top of all that, Ben Carrey of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong will be the artist-at-large for the day.

    Annie in the Water has played a significant role in shaping the original music scene in Upstate New York and their shows are always high energy and filled with positive vibes. A couple of bands will be making their Riverboat debut on Sept. 28 including Root Shock, a Syracuse-based soulful roots-reggae based act, and Eggy, a 4-piece improvisational rock band from New Haven, CT. Utica’s The Old Main returns to Riverboat with its original Americana folk jams. Commemorating the amazing summer season, Trampoline Jetstream and Big Sexy and the Scrambled Eggs will both return to the Riverboat after making their debuts earlier in the summer.

    The music starts at 3:00 p.m. and continues all day long. Click here for more ticketing and event information.

  • Twiddle Delights With Surprises at 4th Annual Tumble Down

    Twiddle held its 4th annual Tumble Down Festival in Burlington, VT at Waterfront Park this past weekend. The beautiful park, right on Lake Champlain, hosted Twiddle for five sets along with: The Kitchen Dwellers, Stephen Marley, Turkuaz, Ghost Light, Jaden Carlson Band, Owl and Crow, The Big Sip, Nina’s Brew and The Jauntee. The festival, a family reunion for Twiddle fans, brought all ages together to celebrate music. The festival also brought fans and partners together to raise money for the White Light Foundation, a non-profit that raises money to help spread love, healing and kindness. 

    Twiddle kicked off the festival with a special acoustic set with fan favorites including “Hatties Jam” and “When it Rains It Pours,” and a special sit in by David Grippo. Their second and third sets closed out the first night and included a prerecorded message from “Colonel Norco,” which helped set the tone for two packed sets, and a special sit in by Todd Stoops. The second set included a new verse to “Jamflowman” that brought his tale home and an additional sit in by David Grippo on the beautiful, “Lost in the Cold.” 

    4th Annual Tumble Down

    Acoustic Set: Glycerine Medley, Earth Mama, Five, Wildfire, Fat Country Baby, Hattiebagan Mcrat, Hattie’s Jam-> When it Rains it Pours
    Set 2: Enter, Orlando’s, Amydst the Myst, Doinkinbonk, Grandpa Fox -> Apples -> Mamunes the Faun -> Every Soul
    Set 3: Jamflowman -> Subconscious Prelude -> Nicodemus Portulay -> Milk, Lost in the Cold

    Encore: River Drift

    4th Annual Tumble Down

    The second day started with a bit of deja vu as The Big Sip had their set shortened by a weather evacuation, that thankfully didn’t last too long, or turn into anything more than threatening clouds and some high winds. The Kitchen Dwellers began their set as masses of fans were still in line to re-enter the festival, music to the ears of those eager to get back to the party. They also welcomed members of Cabinet to sit in for a few songs, much to the audience’s enjoyment.

    Nina’s Brew, a trio from Burlington, played with a sound influenced by blues, soul, rock and R&B. They’re currently working on their first studio album and are anticipating a fall release. 

    Turkuaz, the nine piece funk juggernaut from Brooklyn, NY, played as the sun was setting over the water. Their brightly colored outfits seemed to glow in the “golden hour” of light, and highlighted their energy. 

    Twiddle’s final two sets to close out the fantastic weekend contained many treats for fans. The origin of “Ricky Snickle” and an additional verse,  another message from “Colonel Norco,” and a new verse to “Frankenfoote.” There were also many sit-ins over the final two sets. Jayden Carlson, The Kitchen Dwellers, Zach Nugent and Todd Stoops all helped Twiddle close out the festival. 

    4th Annual Tumble Down

    Set 4: Ricky Snickle Origin, Ricky Snickle, Syncopated Healing, Machine, Visions of Mohr, Latin Tang, Beethoven and Green
    Set 5: Polluted Beauty, Gatsby the Great -> Pond -> Zazu’s Flight -> Pond -> Grandpa Fox, Be There
    Encore: Frankenfoote Origin -> Frankenfoote

  • moe.down 17: Bringing it Back Home

    moe.down 17 took place at its original home July 4-6, 2019, at Snow Ridge in the Tug Hill Plateau town, Turin, following a one-year hiatus. The Independence Day weekend featured steamy temperatures and equally scorching sets.

    The host band performed seven sets over the course of three days, as well as stints with side projects and sit-ins throughout. This festival has always been a family-oriented affair and this year’s moe.down proved no different — from guest spots from moe. bassist Rob Derhak‘s kids to drummer Vinnie Amico’s dedication of a cover of the Allman Brothers’ “Blue Sky,” to his daughter, who was celebrating her 19th birthday over the weekend. moe.down XVII was the family affair it has always set out to be.

    moe.down 17

    The moePods reunited at moe.down for a Friday afternoon set. Comprised of members of Ominous Seapods and moe., the band first got together at a sold out show at Cohoes Music Hall in January of this year and reconvened at moe.down. A true Wetlands reunion took place during this set when Lo Faber of God Street Wine, another of this year’s moe.down bands, joined the moePods onstage. All three bands came up through the second wave jamband scene of the early ’90s together and the mutual love was obvious onstage.

    Highlights of the weekend included an amped-up set from Cory Wong of Vulfpek with his band, all in matching outfits. The guitarist displayed his fret skills while the band funked up the main stage to kick off the music Saturday afternoon.

    Drive By Truckers brought a little bit of southern grind to the Tug Hill Saturday, delivering a blistering late afternoon set on the main stage that attracted more and more festival-goers throughout the set.

    The weekend was filled with a lot of positivity and small-town vibes one can only find at Snow Ridge this time of year. moe.’s seven sets over the weekend proved that they’re not standing still. Several new songs made it into the setlists and the accompanying light show was on point throughout.

    Cory Wong
    Karina Rykman
    Drive-By Truckers
    Mike Cooley
    Kat Wright
    Al Schnier
    Rob Derhak

  • Inaugural Northern Current Festival Announces Lineup

    Saranac Lake‘s Riverside Park is set to host the inaugural North Current Festival on Sunday, Sept 1. The festival replaces Hobofest, a music festival held in Saranac Lake from 2009 to 2018 on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Organizers retired it last year and a new committee of local residents has formed to create a new festival, based on the Hobofest model while making it their own. The lineup announcement features local and regional acts across several genres.

    Burlington-based songstress Kat Wright will headline the event, bringing her sultry, dynamic, delicate yet powerful – gritty but highly emotive sound to the Saranac Lake stage. Also joining the lineup is House of Waters, a Brooklyn-based trio that plays world music rooted in the hammered dulcimer, Rochester-based Mosaic Foundation bringing in the roots, ska, dub, dance-hall grooves, Chestnut Grove, a group from Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania, who plays high-energy rock and roll, and also, Mal Maiz, an Afro-Latino orchestra based in Burlington headed up by Costa Rican “Brujo,” Maiz Vargas Sandoval that features both traditional and modern flair with cumbia, latin, reggae and afro-carribean sounds. 

    Rounding out the eclectic schedule is Saranac Lake’s own Arthur Buezo from The Blind Owl Band, and Soma Beats, an African dance troupe out of Lake Placid lead by Johnna MacDougall.  This lineup is still being finalized. Organizers expect to announce a handful of additions soon. 

    Northern Current is a nonprofit festival under the umbrella of Saranac Lake Rotary, family friendly and free of charge. More information can be found on their website.

  • Newly Renovated Riverboat Bar Announces Live Summer Series in A-Bay

    For the fifth consecutive year, the Riverboat Bar in Alexandria Bay (A-Bay) will host a summer series of live music running from mid-June through the end of September. In all, more than 30 bands will be gracing the newly renovated stage over the course of the summer.

    The series opens this weekend with Pennsylvania funk-reggae band, Kluster Phunk. They’ll be performing on Saturday, June 15 and will be joined by special guest Ben Carrey of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong.

    The weekend of June 21-22 turns back the clock to the ’90s with Buffalo’s Tiny Music doing a tribute to the Stone Temple Pilots on June 21 and fellow Nickel City alt-rockers Stalking Jenna playing a reunion show on June 22.

    June wraps with Toronto party machine After Funk on June 28 and two bands on June 29 when Saratoga’s Let’s Be Leonard will perform with local favorites, Adapter.

    Fourth of July weekend is packed with music at the bay. Three shows dot the weekend beginning on Thursday, July 4. Utica psychedelic rockers Trampoline Jetstream make their debut at the Riverboat on Thursday followed by the funktronica of Tweed on Friday the 5th and the resurgent Annie in the Water on Saturday the 6th.

    Visit the Riverboat Bar in A-Bay this summer and don’t miss the great music offerings they have in store!

    Riverboat Bar A Bay