NYS Music 202​1

Author: Andie Chapman

  • Museum of Jewish Heritage presents ‘Music Of The Jewish Diaspora’ Concert Series this Summer

    The Summer Concert Series ‘Music of the Jewish Diaspora’ at the Museum of Jewish Heritage will move from Wagner Park to the museum’s indoor Edmond J. Safra Hall.

    Music Of The Jewish Diaspora
    Museum of Jewish Heritage

    The event, which starts at 6:30 PM ET has already sold out (due to limited capacity in the theatre) but will be presented via livestream on the Museum’s website and Facebook page for audiences unable to attend. You can stream it here.

    The series continues outdoors on Thursday, June 24, at 6:30 PM (ET) in Wagner Park with The Beary Brothers Featuring Psoy Korolenko, Zisl Slepovitch, And Ilya Shneyveys. The eclectic trio explore a diverse background of cultures, musical styles, and languages, from Russia to the Maghreb, as well as Renaissance music to modern.

    The next installment of the Music of the Jewish Diaspora takes place on Sunday, July 11, at 3:30 PM (ET) with The Noga Band Featuring Avram Pengas. New York musician Avram Pengas is a virtuoso guitarist and singer whose music is rooted in the Mediterranean tavernas of Athens. His career began in Athens performing in clubs, leading to his arrival in New York City in 1970. A popular performer in the local Greek, Sephardic, and Mizrachi communities, Pengas and his Noga Band bring a mixture of rhythms and modes spanning Greece, Turkey, Armenia, and more.

    Tickets to the Music of the Jewish Diaspora series are free with a suggested donation. Limited tickets for in-person attendance to Sarah Aroeste with Shai Bachar: Ladino Music from Yesterday to Today will be available for $20 for the public and $10 for museum members. Tickets to attend any event virtually are $10 for the public and free for museum members.

    To find out more information about the summer concert series, visit mjhnyc.org/current-events.

  • Beau Fleuve Music and Arts Announce 5-Year Anniversary Celebration

    Beau Fleuve Music & Arts has announced the date for its 5-year anniversary event, celebrating years of diverse musical and artistic talents, including performances, art installations, a silent disco, food vendors, and more.

    Beau Fleuve Music
    Beau Fleuve Logo

    Now that New York is opening up more, Beau Fleuve will hold their celebration event in person on Sunday, August 29th, 2021 at the historic landmark of the Buffalo Central Terminal. Beau Fleuve has held national touring acts in past years from Benny The Butcher, Eric Van Houten, Zuri Appleby, Venzella Joy, Jae Skeese and more. The 2021 lineup for the one-day festival-style event will be announced later in June.

    We are excited to return to in-person events and bring some excitement to our community but first and foremost ensuring that we provide a safe event for everyone to enjoy by following all guidelines.

    Lindsey Taylor, Director of Beau Fleuve Music & Arts

    The celebratory event will be following all New York State and Erie County COVID-19 Guidelines, rules, and regulations. It will be a limited capacity, social distancing event. You can find more information here.

  • Listen to the Frank Zappa-Inspired, Frenetic EP “Baby Kangaroo Baby Cow, Part II” from Joey Calfa

    Joey Calfa of Cousin Earth drops his exhilarating new solo EP, Baby Kangaroo Baby Cow, Part II, bringing spring into summer with his vibrant sound.

    joey calfa
    Baby Kangaroo Baby Cow Part II Album Artwork

    The EP opens with the track “Brain Lehrer” and is immediately funky with its building guitar grooves. This track can be easily imagined in a bar, feeding the room with its danceable beat. As a tribute to the legendary WNYC/NPR host, “Brian Lehrer” is an ebullient song that deserves a listen.

    The second track “Double Whammy” opens with harmonic, virtuosic guitar lines. The shredding and the funky bassline intertwine for a sublime groove. Inspired by video game music, its technical prowess is shared with an ensemble put together by Calfa, including Frankie Coda and Ryan Liatsis (SchwizZ).

    The third song on Baby Kangaroo Baby Cow Part II is “Small Hands,” which draws inspiration from Frank Zappa, as well as features an FDR snippet from 1941 that eerily parallels the politics of today. The guitar work is once again wildly funky, interspersed with 80s-inspired synths. Calfa’s vocals interacting with the vocal sample is creative and catchy.

    Baby Kangaroo Baby Cow Part II is a solid EP, full of songs that become earworms after the first listen. Members included throughout the EP range from members of his main band Cousin Earth, as well as long time high school friends of Joey Calfa. The quirky, funky release is out now! You can listen here and find more information about Cousin Earth here.

  • José González Announces US Live Solo Tour Dates

    Singer-songwriter and guitarist José González has announced plans for a U.S. co-headline tour alongside 2x GRAMMY® Award-nominated singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright.

    José González

    Tickets are now available to the public and can be purchased here. The long-awaited dates begin on September 20 at Kansas City, MO’s Uptown Theater and then travel through an October 1 performance at Glenside, PA’s historic Keswick Theatre.

    However, González has also confirmed two ticketed interactive online performances. The first, “Up Close & Personal” on June 10 will be live from the Botanical Garden in Gothenburg followed by an interactive Q&A. The second online show on September 12 will feature the first full Local Valley show with full production that will include pre and post-show interaction with González. 

    I am very much looking forward to performing for all my fans worldwide again. First with the up and close interactive online event on June 10, and later on with some summer shows and touring once my album is released. I am also especially excited to be able to present the world premiere of my new tour online for all the fans worldwide that won’t have the chance to catch any of my shows this fall and winter.

    José González

    The upcoming tour dates celebrate González’s fourth solo album Local Valley, set for release on September 17th. The single “Visions” is out now, and the rest of the album is up for pre-order.

    JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ X RUFUS WAINWRIGHT U.S. TOUR 2021

    JUNE

    10 – “Up Close & Personal” Livestream Performance* 

    SEPTEMBER

    12 – Livestream Performance*

    20 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater

    21 – Des Moines, IA – Hoyt Sherman Place

    23 – Minneapolis, MN – Northrop At UMN

    24 – Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre

    25 – Carmel, IN – The Palladium at The Center For The Performing Arts

    26 – Detroit, MI –Cathedral Theatre at The Masonic Temple

    28 – Washington, DC – The Anthem

    29 – Boston, MA – The Orpheum Theatre

    30 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17 

    OCTOBER

    1 – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre 

    * Not a Rufus Wainwright show 

  • Geneva Music Festival Returns to the Smith Center for the Arts

    The Smith Center for the Arts will be host to several Geneva Music Festival performances, beginning Sunday, May 23rd, including the celebration of a decade of the diverse, talented artists that have taken part in the festival for 10 years.

    geneva music festival

    The performance lineup includes classical acts Forgotten Melodies on Sunday May 23rd at 2PM, Interwoven Dialogues on Saturday May 29th at 7:30PM, and several more acts continuing into the summer. The performances are both in-person at the Smith Opera House or livestreamed. The summer dates will be performed outdoors.

    For the 2021 Season, the Geneva Music Festival celebrates its first 10 years, during which it has highlighted diverse influences on classical music such as jazz, Latin, African American, and women composers and musicians, and many others.

    The season opens on Thursday, May 20th, with “When the Flowers Bloom: ATLYS in the Sonnenberg Gardens.” This is the world premiere of the “Sonnenberg Suite,” composed by Ari Fisher and performed by ATLYS, the classically trained crossover string quartet. This is one of many delightful performances, and it is dedicated to the eclectic gardens of the Sonnnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park in Carandaigua, where the performance will take place. Each movement in the concert is for each of the nine gardens. Doors open at 6PM and the concert begins at 7PM.

    We have been truly fortunate over the course of our first decade to consistently present world-class musicians. Our programming once again highlights the diverse scope of contributions to classical music and demonstrates the universal nature of our art. We aim to give voice to the possibilities of our time, breaking through exclusionary barriers that, historically, have unfairly restricted composers and performers. The classical canon has traditionally denied audiences the opportunity to experience the range and depth that music offers.

    Geoffrey Herd, director Geneva Music festival

    All tickets to these in-person performances are $25.00, and FREE for individuals 18 years old & younger. Tickets can be purchased at genevamusicfestival.com.

    Additional acts of the Geneva Music Festival lineup include:

    Poets, Peace, and Power, with Dashon Burton and Michelle Cann on Friday, June 4th at 7:30pm

    La Voz de Tres on Sunday, June 6th at 2:00pm

    Hard Tango by JP Jofre on Thursday, June 10th at 7:30pm

    The Grand Finale on Saturday, June 12th at 7:30pm

    Come get back into the spirit of live music!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfzXwjQ6Fh8

  • Luke Bryan Announces Proud to be Right Here Tour

    Luke Bryan will kick off his ‘Proud to be Right Here’ Tour on July 8, 2021 in Syracuse. Special guests include Dylan Scott, Caylee Hammack and Runaway June along with DJ Rock.

    luke bryan tour
    Luke Bryan (lukebryan.com)

    Tickets are on sale now for the Proud to be Right Here Tour. Luke’s announcement comes a day after his Crash My Playa 2022 concert vacation event set for January 19-22, 2022 sold-out due to record-breaking demand from returning event alumni and Luke’s fans through pre-sale access. The sell-out is the event’s fastest in its seven-year history.

    “There is nothing more gratifying about writing and recording music than getting to play it live for the fans. There’s several songs off my new album that I’ve never performed live” shared Luke. “I can’t believe this moment is nearly here when we get to hop on the tour bus and roll into towns across America and get back to doing what we do best. What we live to do!”

    Luke Bryan is critically acclaimed with several #1 albums on the Hot Country Albums and Hot Country Songs Charts. He has won multiple awards, ranging from Billboard, American Music Awards, and the Country Music Association.

    Luke Bryan’s fanclub information can be found at here and tickets at lukebryan.com.

    2021 PROUD TO BE RIGHT HERE TOUR DATES:

    July 8   Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview

    July 9   Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium

    July 10 Boston, MA – Xfinity Center

    July 16 Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre *

    July 17 Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live

    July 18 Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center

    July 22 Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center *

    July 23 Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion

    July 24 Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

    July 30 Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena

    July 31 Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf *

    Aug 5   Bangor, ME – Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion

    Aug 6   Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion            

    Aug 7   Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion

    Aug 8   Philadelphia, PA – BB&T Pavilion

    Aug 12 Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion

    Aug 13 Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

    Aug 14 Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater *

    Aug 19 St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater

    Aug 20 Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center

    Aug 21 Chicago, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

    Aug 27 Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP

    Aug 28 Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion

    Aug 29 Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater *

    Sept 3   Welch, MN – Treasure Island Amphitheater

    Sept 23 San Diego, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

    Sept 24 Phoenix, AZ – AK-Chin Pavilion

    Sept 30 Bend, OR – Les Schwab Amphitheater              

    Oct 1    Bend, OR – Les Schwab Amphitheater

    Oct 2    Portland, OR – Sunlight Supply Amphitheater

    Oct 8    Los Angeles, CA – STAPLES Center *

    Oct 9    Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

    Oct 10  Sacramento, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre

    Oct 14  Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre

    Oct 15  Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center *

    Oct 16  San Bernardino, CA – Glen Helen Amphitheater *

    *indicates concerts that have been rescheduled to these dates
    Dylan Scott on all dates except July 8-18
    Caylee Hammack on all dates through August 14
    Runaway June on all dates beginning August 19
    DJ Rock on all dates

  • Marble Eyes Announce Summer Tour Dates

    After months of livestream shows, Marble Eyes announce their first series of tour dates, beginning Friday April 30th in Saratoga Springs.

    marble eyes tour dates
    Marble Eyes Tour Poster

    Marble Eyes is a fresh new band that formed during the pandemic, comprised of members from Pink Talking Fish, Kung Fu, The Indobox and more. Using downtime from tour, the band crafted over 40 songs, with a debut album out later this year. Several of these new songs have debuted over the past year during their free “Marble Eyes Mondays” livestreams, every other Monday. You can find these on the nugs.net Youtube page.

    The first show kicks off this Friday in Saratoga Springs NY at Putnam Place, followed by the band’s debut in Colorado for 2 nights in Denver at Knew Conscious. They will head back east for some more shows, hitting several states in New England.

    Marble Eyes’ 2021 tour dates
    4/30: Saratoga Springs NY at Putnam Place
    5/14: Denver CO at Knew Conscious
    5/15: Denver CO at Knew Conscious
    5/23: Wayne PA at 118 North
    6/03: Stowe VT at Stowe Cider w/ Zach Nugent
    6/04: Pembroke MA at Soundcheck Studios
    6/06: Portsmouth NH at The Music Hall “Live Under The Arch Series” – 2 Shows
    7/31: Mason NH at The Range supporting Melvin Seals & JGB
    8/12: Brunswick ME at The Grateful Campout

  • Watch the “West Side Story” Trailer, directed by Steven Spielberg

    The highly anticipated upcoming remake of West Side Story gives a glimpse in its trailer of the classic musical with a brand new cast. The trailer aired during the 2021 Academy Awards telecast on Sunday, April 25.

    After sixty years, the love story of Tony and Maria returns to theaters. The clip is a minute-and-a-half long, giving a quick look at the beloved romantic musical drama.

    The trailer begins with a New York City morning, the dawn sky and quickly shifting vignettes of the city. The town, divided in its gangs, ramps up into action with a beautiful orchestral drone in the background.

    The Jets and the Sharks, the indelible rivaling gangs, collide in small action sequences. Within the tumultuous community, the two star-crossed lovers find each other, their tragic love story illuminating the screen.

    west side story
    20th Century Studios / Youtube

    The leads in Spielberg’s production are Rachel Zegler as Maria and Ansel Elgort of The Fault in Our Stars as Tony. The film also features talented actors such as David Alvarez as Bernardo, Ana Isabelle as Rosalía, and Mike Faist as Riff.

    The film, as well as the original, was heavily based off of Romeo and Juliet, written by Arthur Laurents in 1957 as a Broadway musical. An interesting fact about the 2021 remake is that Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the original 1961 movie, returns as a shop owner named Valentina, who employs Tony.

    West Side Story, directed by Steven Spielberg, is set to hit theaters in December 2021.

  • Keeping Arts Education in Schools: TeachRock and CT Gov. Announce Partnership

    Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the State of Connecticut, through the State Department of Education, is partnering with TeachRock to launch an innovative, standards-aligned arts curriculum in schools statewide that empowers teachers to engage with students using the history of popular music and culture.

    little steven Arts education

    TeachRock works with participating school districts at no cost, fostering a classroom environment where lesson plans incorporate culture and music into history in a way that resonates with students. Presented by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Steve Van Zandt’s Rock and Roll Forever Foundation, TeachRock has worked directly with districts and schools in California, New Mexico, New Jersey, and New York over the past several years. This spring, Van Zandt has created “Little Steven’s Virtual Classroom Tour” that utilizes Zoom to provide classrooms with a visit, as well as fundraise for the foundation.

    Research has shown that knowledge of and participation in an arts education, especially during the formative years, can aid in the development of students as culturally responsive, compassionate, creative, and contributing members of society. TeachRock’s development was facilitated by experienced educators to weave arts and music history through core subjects such as English and Social Studies. The lesson plans go through the intersection of social, political, and economic forces within popular culture and how music has shaped and reflected those forces across the centuries.

    “When I was a teenager, school wasn’t reaching me,” TeachRock founder Steven Van Zandt said. “It didn’t speak to my needs or interests, and I saw no future in a society I was supposed to be a part of. Then the Beatles saved my life. Rock and roll and soul. The arts gave me the confidence to forge a path in the world… We need to reach the part of their brain that responds emotionally and instinctively, that uses imagination rather than facts and specifics. Something that makes them relax and feel more comfortable about the very process of education. And right now is when kids need us the most.” 

    “Especially during this time of a pandemic, we must give educators the tools they need to innovate from the inside out to engage students in creative ways,” Connecticut Education Deputy Commissioner of Education Desi Nesmith said. “TeachRock’s unique curriculum does that by connecting students to history, culture, and human experiences while positively impacting their social-emotional development.”

    Each year, districts can apply to participate in the TeachRock program. The number of TeachRock schools will expand annually across Connecticut, implementing the curricula into classes and online libraries.

    TeachRock was launched by Little Steven and the Founders Board of Bono, Jackson Browne, Martin Scorsese, and Bruce Springsteen, TeachRock.org has provided free, standards-aligned resources to help teachers, students, and families succeed for more than a decade. 

  • Thomas Rhett Announces 2021 Tour, Includes NY dates

    ACM Awards “Entertainer of the Year” Winner Thomas Rhett is kicking off his 2021 The Center Point Road Tour this summer, beginning August 13th in Orange Beach, AL.

    Thomas Rhett

    Thomas Rhett, the 17-time chart topper, will be hitting several New York venues, including the renowned Jones Beach Amphitheater in Wantagh on August 26th. The supporting acts will be Cole Swindell and Gabby Barrett, both critically acclaimed country artists making an indelible impact in the genre today.

    “I can’t even put into words what getting back out on the road means to me, my band and crew,” Thomas Rhett shared. “We’ve dreamt about this moment for a long time and I feel more rejuvenated and excited than ever to get back out there as safely as possible to connect in-person over live music again, especially with so much new material to share. There’s no feeling in the world like it. See y’all out there!”

    Tickets previously purchased will be honored accordingly for the rescheduled dates listed below, while tickets for newly announced dates go on sale on Friday, April 23 at 10AM local time at LiveNation.com. For any further previous ticket inquiries, fans are advised to reach out to point of purchase. For more information visit: https://www.thomasrhett.com/tour.

    Thomas Rhett 2021 Center Point Road Tour

    8/13/2021- Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater^

    8/14/2021- Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater^

    8/20/2021- Bangor, ME – Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion

    8/21/2021- Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre

    8/22/2021 – Canandaigua, NY – CMAC

    8/26/2021- Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

    8/27/2021- Philadelphia, PA – BB&T Pavilion

    8/28/2021- Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live

    8/29/2021- Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center*

    9/3/2021-  West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

    9/4/2021-  Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

    9/16/2021- Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview*

    9/17/2021- Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center*

    9/18/2021- Boston, MA – Xfinity Center

    9/23/2021 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center*

    9/24/2021- Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center*

    9/25/2021- Chicago, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater

    10/1/2021- Birmingham, AL – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre*

    10/2/2021- St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre*

    10/3/2021- Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP

    10/7/2021 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion

    10/8/2021- Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion*

    10/9/2021- Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek*

    * Indicates rescheduled tour date   

    ^ Indicates Openers Rhett Akins and Gabby Barrett