NYS Music 202​0

Category: Bluegrass/Country

  • Billy Strings Announces Streaming Strings 2020 Tour

    Known for his flat-picking guitar technique and intense, confessional songwriting bluegrass musician Billy Strings has announced an ambitious live streaming/virtual touring project. The shows are set to kick off on July 16, 2020 in Billy’s adopted hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.

    The Streaming Strings 2020 Tour is an innovative approach to touring for post-shelter in place times. All nine shows on this livestream-only tour will be performed in crowdless venues throughout Nashville. Both audio and video will be streamed via various partners.  Digital “tickets” will go on sale June 16, 2020 at 12:00 pm EDT and can be purchased at Streamingstrings.com.

    Streaming Strings

    Nashville has long been a hub for innovation and creativity, from the earliest days of the Grand Ole Opry breaking ground by broadcasting their live show nationwide to the television era. Nashville is home to a plethora of record labels, music publishers, songwriters, and entertainment executives, all of which contribute to the ever-expanding creative community that initially established Nashville as “Music City.” And of course, Nashville is also known for its tight-knit, generous, and supportive community that places tremendous value on collaboration and shared experiences. Billy Strings aims to create a shared experience for fans around the world with the Streaming Strings 2020 Tour, and hopes that the joys of music, community, and connection will continue to thrive, even amid difficult times.

    A portion of all proceeds will be equally divided and donated to several charity partners: ACLU, Backline, and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Check out the dates of Billy String’s Streaming Strings 2020 Tour below.

    STREAMING STRINGS 2020 TOUR DATES

    Thu – 7/16/20 Brooklyn Bowl (Streamed live via FANS)

    Fri – 7/17/20 Brooklyn Bowl (Streamed live via FANS)

    Sat – 7/18/20 Station Inn (Streamed live via Station Inn TV)

    Sun – 7/19/20 Station Inn (Streamed live via Station Inn TV)

    Wed – 7/22/20 City Winery (Streamed live via Nugs TV)

    Thu – 7/23/20 City Winery (Streamed live via Nugs TV)

    Fri – 7/24/20 Exit/In (Streamed live via TourGigs)

    Sat – 7/25/20 Exit/In (Streamed live via TourGigs)

    Sun -7/26/20 3rd & Lindsley (Streamed live via Nugs TV)

    The dates listed may change based upon the status of the COVID-19 virus. Contingency plans (and dates) are in place three times over. For safety’s sake, all necessary precautions will be taken.

  • Smithsonian Folkways release LP ‘Doc Watson and Gaither Carlton’

    Smithsonian Folkways has released an album of recordings from legendary bluegrass musician Doc Watson and fiddle player Gaither Carlton. The recordings on Watson and Carlton come from two concerts in New York City in October 1962; one concert at the NYU School of Education and the other at Blind Lemon’s (a folk club in the West Village that was gone the next week).

    Doc Watson and Gaither Carlton

    In the early 1960s, Watson was playing rockabilly tunes on his electric guitar near his home in tiny Deep Gap, NC when he was discovered by folklorist Ralph Rinzler. Watson became known for his heartfelt, powerful singing and the distinctive sound of his acoustic guitar.  

    Ralph Rinzler set up the concerts as Watson’s debut in New York, but it was a young Peter Siegel, who recorded both concerts in New York. Siegel still lives in New York, and founded the Nonesuch Explorer Series. He went on to produce music with Watson, and other talented artists such as Paul Siebel, Tom Paxton, Roy Buchanan. Peter Siegel shared his thoughts on how Doc Watson influenced future guitarists: 

    Today there are all these great flatpicking guitarists we know about. Clarence White, Tony Rice, all kinds of people. Billy Strings too now. At that time, nobody had ever heard a folk guitar player play like that! In folk music, the guitar was an accompanying instrument, which was usually strummed in a specific way. So when Doc showed up, it blew my mind. It blew everyone’s mind!

    Doc Watson and Gaither Carlton

    The music that is played on these recordings is not the virtuosic guitar style Watson is known for. Throughout the album are songs like “Double File” and “He’s Coming to Us Dead” that are comprised of the fiddle, guitar, and banjo to demonstrate the roots of Scottish and Irish music.

    Key Tracks: Double File, He’s Coming to Us Dead

  • Hamilton Movie Theater Announces Hamilton Unity Concerts Part II

    Hamilton Movie Theater has announced that they will continue Hamilton Unity Concerts starting Sunday, May 31 and running through the end of June.

    Concerts will be live streamed at 7PM on their Facebook page.  Hamilton Unity Concerts Part II will support a variety of non-profit organizations. A link will be provided on their Facebook page for people to donate to the organizations and offer tips to the artists. 

    The concerts will kick off with Vermont-based indie-rock band Jesse Taylor on May 31. Other artists who will perform include: Liz Fiddle, Jeffrey Monty, Sam Herbert, and Blaine Holcolmb. Check out more details below.

    Hamilton Movie Theater

  • Bob Dylan Live-Stream Birthday Celebration at the State Theatre of Ithaca

    The State Theatre of Ithaca, in partnership with DSP has announced a free live-stream in honor of Bob Dylan’s birthday on Sunday, May 24 at 8 PM. The live-stream will feature a bunch of different artists from Central New York and even some largely well known artists. All proceeds from The Bob Dylan Birthday Salute will go to supporting the participating local and national touring artists that have lost their income and livelihood during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Bob Dylan’s birthday is on May 24 and he’ll be turning 79. Dylan is one of America’s top all time artists and is considered one of the most original and influential voices in music history. He is a legendary singer-songwriter that has won Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy awards, as well as the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Nobel Prize for Literature. Although he won’t be performing himself, the show will be in the spirit of Bob Dylan. 

    The birthday celebration will feature performances from Joan Baez, Sam Harris from the X Ambassadors, Billy Strings, Sarah Jarosz, Eilen Jewell, Aoife O’Donovan w/ Eric and Colin Jacobsen, Chris Smither, Tommy Siegel from Jukebox The Ghost, Steve Forbert, Miss Tess & Thomas Bryan Eaton from Miss Tess & The Talkbacks, Maddy Walsh & Mike Suave from Maddy Walsh & The Blindspots, Joe Crookston, and Jim Miller from Western Centuries. 

    The State Theater of Ithaca is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization who relies on donations from the community on top of it’s ticket sales to keep its doors open. Donations will go to the artists as well as covering the production expenses that go into creating the live-stream.  DSP Shows also known as Dan Smalls Productions, is a staple promoter who largely works out of central New York. Dan Smalls played a significant role earlier this month in organizing the John Prine live-stream tribute with The State Theatre.  

    People can view the live-stream on the State Theatre of Ithaca’s Facebook page as well as their YouTube channel starting at 8:00 PM EST on Sunday, May 24. For more information visit the State Theater’s website or DSP website.

  • Mipso Announces Spring Tour

    The progressive quartet Mipso has released dates for a 2020 spring tour shortly after ending a very successful Living Room Tour this past January. Canadian folk artist Taylor Ashton is set to join the group on select dates to support his debut album The Romantic that was released just last week.

    Out of the 14 stops across North America, Mipso is set to perform three nights in New York. First, with back to back shows at the Rockwood in New York City on April 13 and 14 where they will be joined both nights by special guests Taylor Ashton, Steph Coleman and Alec Spiegleman. Then they will continue the journey northwest to Ithaca were they are slated to play at The Haunt on April 18.

    Hailing from North Carolina, Mipso is said to be the new rising force in Americana music, combining historic roots with a new music edge. In addition to touring, Mipso announced they will be releasing a remixed follow up album to their 2018 release Edges Run. The album had put the group at the top of the bluegrass charts when released with the single “People Change,” receiving over 45 million streams on Spotify. Currently in the works is a new full length LP which will be released later in 2020 under Rounder Records.

    Tickets for all shows are now on sale and can be purchased here. Below is a list shows with additional spring/summer dates still to be announced.

    Mipso 2020 Tour

    Apr. 10 – Roy’s Hall – Blairstown, NJ*

    Apr. 11 – Arden Gild Hall – Arden, DE*

    Apr. 13&14 – Rockwood – New York, NY +

    Apr. 15 – The Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center – Old Saybrook, CT

    Apr. 16 – Shea Theatre Arts Center – Turner Falls, MA

    Apr. 17 – UVM – Burlington, VT

    Apr. 18 – The Haunt – Ithaca, NY

    Apr. 19 – Hopewell Theatre – Hopewell, NJ

    *with Taylor Ashton

    + with Taylor Ashton and guest Steph Coleman and Alec Spiegleman

  • Jessica Lynn to Present Benefit Concert For Women Veterans

    Westchester’s Jessica Lynn is asking you to take a stand with her behind our women veterans at a benefit concert at The Winery at Saint George in Mohegan Lake on March 11.

    Prior to her upcoming five month European/UK/USA tour, Jessica Lynn returns to the beautiful and historic Winery at Saint George where she filmed her first Public Television Special to raise funds for a good cause.

    Currently seen nationwide across America in her three full length PBS television specials, and with two Top 50 Country Radio singles under her belt along with years of international touring, Jessica has performed with some of the most recognizable names in country music such as Loretta Lynn, Keith Urban, Jo Dee Messina, and ZZ Top among others. Amidst all of her success, she has continually returned home to benefit her local community. A constant driving force behind charitable efforts for children, our military, and the arts at local schools, hospitals, and major venues, it’s important to Jessica to always stay true and close to her roots. Jessica is partnering with the incredible Barbara Giordano Foundation for this event whose mission is committed to the personal and professional growth of women veterans.

    Women who served in the US Military have unique needs for healthcare, housing, employment and childcare in addition to needs shared with their male colleagues. The foundation exists as a holistic resource bringing together business, education, wellness and military community members to provide women who serve with opportunities for long term economic independence and personal empowerment. Ticket Sales as well as all pre-show fundraising initiatives will go towards the cause. Prior to the concert at 8:00 p.m., The Winery will open its doors at 6:00 p.m. for silent auctions, raffles, wine grabs, and a special VIP option that includes a pre-show meet and greet in Jessica’s dressing room around 7:00 p.m., a free autographed CD from Jessica, front row seats, and a complimentary glass of wine.

    For more information on both Jessica Lynn and The Barbara Giordano Foundation, as well as to purchase tickets, please visit www.JessicaLynnMusic.org

  • Laid Back Festival Returns in 2020

    Laid Back Festival will be making its return this summer after a two-year hiatus, highlighted by an all-star slate of performers. Named after Greg Allman’s 1973 solo debut album, it was first held in 2015 in Wantagh, NY’s Nikon at Jones Beach Theater. The event continued in 2016 — expanding to five cities — and in 2017 saw the likes of Steve Winwood and Sheryl Crow headline. The festivities will return to Wantagh this year on Saturday, August 8 at the Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater and will be continuing the next day in Holmdel, NJ at the PNC Bank Arts Center.

     Presented in partnership by Gregg Allman’s longtime manager Michael Lehman and Live Nation, Laid Back will be headlined by Steve Miller Band and will feature the likes of Brian Wilson (with Al Jardine and Blonde Chaplin), Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Taj Mahal Quartet, Gary Mule Deer, and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe. 

    A celebration of American music and food, the Laid Back Festival serves as a showcase for all of the great cuisine and music upstate New York has to offer. It will feature regional restaurants, food tricks, breweries and wineries. 

    Live Nation presales begin Thursday, February 20 at 10 am ET; all remaining tickets go on sale Friday, February 21 at 10 a.m. eastern time. For complete information and details please visit, www.laidbackfestival.com.

  • Walkin’ in a Colorado WinterWonderGrass

    Music scenes are riddled with a lot of traditions, a lot of staples that go hand in hand with the community and culture that is created around every genre of music . The bluegrass/jamgrass scene has grown exponentially in the last few years and, with that, the traditions have grown as well. One of these is WinterWonderGrass, held this past weekend in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. In its eighth year, the tiny, homegrown festival boasted an amazing lineup for its 2020 edition and was a blessing for bluegrass & string music fans across the nation.

    This winter wonder festival takes place in the famous mountain town of Steamboat Springs. Nestled in the upper valley of the Yampa River, the picture-perfect, post card scenery overshadowed the fact that temperatures for the weekend didn’t surpass 30 degrees. Day one included intimate sets in each of the three tents from Buffalo Commons, John Stickley Trio, and an amazing new and rising artist, Molly Tuttle, with headlining sets from Grammy-nominated Nashville band Della Mae, the incomparable Keller and The Keels, and one of the hottest acts in music right now, Billy Strings. His first headlining set of the 2020 festival season included a fitting “Steamboat Whistle Blues,” “Highway Hypnosis,” and a “Train Train” encore that concluded an amazing first day of music, and reminded fans in attendance why Billy Strings is everything they love about this great event.

    The second day on the mountain started off with a new tradition, a set entitled WinterWonderWoman. A collaborative set of covers and some bluegrass and country classics was performed by a group of amazing female musicians who performed throughout the weekend. On the main stage Nikki Lane, the extremely gifted country rock songwriter, proved to a packed audience that her blues guitar and vintage ’60s country-pop swagger fit right in with the WinterWonderGrass family. Despite all the firsts on the second day of the festival, it was a headlining set by festival veterans Greensky Bluegrass that reminded fans what WinterWonderGrass is all about. With a chilling and emotional “Wish I Didn’t Know” to start it all off, Greensky filled the rest of their set with tracks like “Worried about the Weather” and “Old Barn” and, with Jennifer Hartswick as a special guest, they rocked the mountains with a debut cover of Pat Benatar’s smash hit “Heartbreaker”. There is a special bond between Greensky Bluegrass and WinterWonderGrass that proves year after year how special the bond is between their music and its fans.   

    As a festival in its eighth year, WinterWonderGrass is very in tune with how quickly things change in the music industry, and the only way to survive and attract new and old fans year after year is to adapt. Day 3 was a look into the future of the festival and how the recent rise of the proclaimed “Outlaw Country” genre has become a perfect companion to bluegrass, this blend of new blood, veterans, country, and bluegrass was the theme of the final day of the music event. With sets from bluegrass legends The Travelin’ McCourys, and another smoking hot set from Billy Strings, the strings element to this eclectic blend was complete. It was the Sunday headliner that added a new sound to this festival and a brand new flavor to this blend of great music. Margo Price has exploded into the country music scene since her debut in 2016 and she did nothing short of that to make her WinterWonderGrass debut. She debuted a new song “Twinkle Twinkle” and even welcomed Billy Strings for a special cover of Janis Joplin’s “Move Over.” She closed out her debut set by sparking a joint, sharing it with the crowd, and encoring with Dolly Parton’s “9 To 5,” a perfect way to close out an amazing weekend of music.

    The roving cold weather music festival will continue its 2020 run with stops in Squaw Valley, California from March 27-29 and Stratton, Vermont on April 10 and 11. It still remains one of the top festivals in the country after almost ten years, bringing together multiple genres of music, community, sustainability, and family in some of the most welcoming, majestic mountain communities in the country. 

  • The Great South Bay Music Festival Announces 2020 Lineup

    The Great South Bay Music Festival announced their 2020 lineup which will include performances from The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Rebelution, The Tedeschi Trucks Band, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, and many more. The festival will take place from July 16-19 across five stages and will include 75 performances. 

    The festival will be celebrating its 14th anniversary at Shorefront Park in Patchogue, NY and will consist of classic and contemporary rock, folk, blues, indy, jam-band, pop, prog, Americana, country, reggae, and funk music. The festival also has a new partnership with Blue Point Brewing Co. The new beverage sponsor will be serving up a wide assortment of their most popular brands, as well as some new “Exclusive Festival” brands to watch out for. 

    Both Friday and Saturday have a loose daily theme. Friday is the rock-reggae-ska day with headliner Rebelution, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones (who are returning for their second appearance at Great South Bay), Pepper, Sublime Tribute: Badfish, and Oogee Wawa. And Saturday is the jam band day with headliner one of The Grateful Dead’s most proud and popular tributes: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, moe. and Vulfpeck guitarist, composer and producer: Cory Wong. Great South Bay will close on Sunday with the highly anticipated Tedeschi Trucks Wheels of Soul Tour, featuring the full 13-piece band playing a rocking two hour set. There will also be performances by St. Paul & The Broken Bones, as well as Nashville-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Gabe Dixon.

    The festival opens on Thursday, July 16 at 3 pm and runs until 10 pm. On Friday, July 17, doors open at 3 pm and music will go until 11 pm. On Saturday, July 18, doors open at 1 pm and close at 11 pm. And the festival will wrap up on Sunday, July 19 with doors opening at 2 pm and finishing up at 10 pm. For more information and to purchase tickets visit The Great South Bay Music Festival’s website.

  • Grey Fox Festival Announces Initial 2020 Lineup

    Calling all bluegrass fans! On Valentine’s Day, Grey Fox gave us a gift — its preliminary lineup for the 2020 festival.

    From July 15 – 19, fans from 30+ states and a dozen countries across the globe will meet on the Walsh Farm in Oak Hill, NY — a hamlet in the Catskills — to enjoy this much anticipated, family-friendly event.

    Kicking off the lineup this year is Jerry Douglas — GRAMMY, CMA, and IBMA award winning artist, most notably known for his resonator and lap steel guitar skills. For three days (July 16-18) Douglas will perform alongside his own ensemble and various bluegrass icons.

    Photo courtesy of the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival press release.

    Other artists who will grace the stage this summer include The Del McCoury Band, The Infamous Stringdusters, Railroad Earth, Yonder Mountain String Band, Cape Breton favorites Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy, 2020 Grammy winner for best bluegrass album Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, and many more. The excitement doesn’t end here, though — additional headliners will be announced in the near future.

    On top of the five-star lineup, entertainment can be found through road stories told by traditional bluegrass bands or by attending a gospel show on Sunday morning. Whether artists are performing on main stages, delivering intimate workshops, or moving listeners to get up and dance, Grey Fox is an experience not-to-be-missed for every generation.

    Tickets for this much-loved event are on sale now; for performance dates, artist links and more festival information, visit www.GreyFoxBluegrass.com or call 888.946.8495 or 315.404.5738.