Category: High Peaks

  • 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/
  • 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.

  • The Big Takeover Announces New Single, Tour Dates

    By Maddi Annunziata, Contributing Writer

    New York seven-piece band, The Big Takeover, perfectly fuses big band Motown with Jamaican pop roots, making it nearly impossible not to dance along. In their new single “Shy.” they offer an upbeat, retro tune that stays with you,  keeping you bopping around all day. This is the first single released from the band’s upcoming fourth album, and it’s filled with powerful horns, a foot-stomping beat, and soulful vocals.


    Despite its cheery, optimistic sound, the single has a rather somber story. Powerhouse singer/songwriter, Nee Nee Rushie, tells us about a love triangle, and everyone involved is too shy to communicate with each other and see their own truth. “I was trying to tell a very specific story, because I’ve written many stories that are left up to interpretation,” she elaborates, “feeling shy is an inexplicable and intriguing human behavior that most humans should be able to relate to.” “Shy” has an incredibly rich, boppy, and sweet sound that flows through you in a way that you can’t help but dance across the room. Listen to the single below or check it out through your favorite streaming platform here.

    The Big Takeover has been making a name for itself recently, sharing the stage with major acts such as The Wailers, Sister Sparrow, Jefferson Starship, and Pete Seeger. In 2018 they completed a 12-state tour and performed at Omaha’s Jazz on the Green festival.

    In addition to writing their new album, which is set to release later this year, The Big Takeover is set to appear at a number of notable music festivals this summer, including  Strangecreek in Greenfield, MA this weekend, Mountain Jam, and Musikfest. Check out the dates below to see when they’re playing near you.

    The Big Takeover Tour Dates:

    May 24 – Strangecreek Festival –  Greenfield, MA

    May 25 – Cisco Brewers – Portsmouth, NH

    May 30 – Lukin’s – Utica, NY

    May 31 – Red Square – Burlington, VT

    June 1 – Newburyport Brewing Co. – Newburyport, MA

    June 2 – Strawberry Jam – Turin, NY

    June 7 – Waterhole – Saranac Lake, NY

    June 8 – Burlington Discover Jazz – Burlington, VT

    June 9 – Earth Sky Time – Bennington, VT

    June 14 – Mountain Jam – Bethel, NY

    June 15 – Clearwater Festival – Croton On Hudson, NY  

    June 23 – Unifier Festival – Tolland, MA

    June 30 – Cisco Brewers – Nantucket, MA

    July 3 – The Promenade at Sagemore – Marlton, NJ

    July 5 – First Fee Friday Eve – Shelburne, VT

    July 6 – Dockside Park – Cold Spring, NY

    Aug. 1 – CFCU Summer Concert Series – Ithaca, NY

    Aug. 3 – Reggae Festival – Woodstock, NY

    Aug. 8 – Musikfest – Bethlehem, PA

    Sept. 7 – Drum Boogie Festival – Woodstock, NY

    Sept. 14 – Gloucester, MA @ Gloucester Harvest Fest

    Sept. 21 – B-Side Ballroom – Oneonta, NY

    Sept 28 – Canjam Festival – Pottstown, PA

  • Warm up at the Waterhole during Saranac Lake Winter Carnival

    The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival is a legendary two-week party in the middle of winter, in the most northern part of New York State. This year’s edition, the 122nd, takes place from Feb. 1 – 10. The sometimes blustery elements of this idyllic mountain town take a backseat to celebrate the warmth of music, friends,food and fireworks. The Waterhole Music Lounge is Northern New York’s central hub for the best in live music. The venue historically has played host to a dynamic range of bands, across several genres over ten days. This year’s line up carries that tradition onward.

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    Over the past decade or so some of the best in hip hop, rock, and jam have played huge sets to rowdy crowds coming in off the streets after a day of parades. Some notable names include: The Ominous Seapods, Rubblebucket, Donna the Buffalo, Sophistafunk, Twiddle, Hot Day at the Zoo and so many more. This year’s lineup offers the return of Plattsburgh powerhouse and long standing Winter Carnival performers Lucid. Buffalo’s own and NYS Music 87/90 artist, Folkfaces open up the night on Feb. 2.

    The Waterhole in Saranac Lake has been a big part of what makes the music scene in Upstate New York amazing, a slice of rock and roll history nestled up the mountains. The venue is a three floor experience that has seen some big time names play the stage. Del McCoury, Colonel Bruce Hampton, Gov’t Mule, Bela Fleck, moe., Leftover Salmon, Soulive, and Turkauz have all performed memorable sets here. In continuing with the tradition of bringing quality acts, this year’s line up promises to offer up those “wish I were there” sets from the artists both established and on the rise.

    Other bands making the trip to grace the stage are West End Blend, Barika, Lady Moon and the Eclipse, The Gibson Brothers, The Melting Nomads, The Swampkids, Annie in the Water, Driftwood and Swampcandy. Look forward to special performances in the Downstairs bar of The Waterhole from Kevin Sabourin, Nina’s Brew and Dirty Blanket. There will be plenty of opportunities for entertainment after a day of snowshoe ultimate, skating or skiing. Grab a convenient week long pass for $65 for a discounted way to catch all the music. For more information about live music at The Waterhole check out their website.

    Check out the full schedule below:

    Feb. 1 – Driftwood w/s/g Swampcandy- 8:00 p.m. doors, 9:00 p.m. show; $10.00 advance / $12.00 door 

    Feb. 2 – Lucid wsg. Folkfaces – 8:00 p.m. doors, 9:00 p.m. show; $17.00 advance / $20.00 door  

    Feb. 3 – Kevin Sabourin (Of Lucid) – 2:00 p.m. Downstairs – free show

    Feb. 5 – Nina’s Brew – 9:00 p.m. Downstairs – free show

    Feb. 6 – Annie in the Water – 8 p.m. doors, 9:00 p.m. show – $10.00 

    Feb. 7 – The Gibson Brothers w/s/g Old Sky – 7:30 p.m. doors, 8:30 p.m. show; $18.00 advance / $22.00 door

    February 8th – Lady Moon & The Eclipse, Melting Nomads & Swamp Kids (Feat Members of Big Mean Sound Machine & Chris English) – 8:00 p.m. doors, 9:00 p.m. show; $10.00

    Feb. 9 – Post-Parade Party with The Big Takeover – 2:00 p.m. – Free Show

    Feb.9 – West End Blend w/s/g Barika – 8:00 p.m. doors, 9:00 p.m. show – $10.00 

    Feb. 10 – Dirty Blanket – 2:00 p.m. Downstairs – Free Show

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    written by Derick Borst