FreshGrass 2021 will be hitting Mass MoCa’s multiple stages despite the delta variant of COVID-19 raging on. The festival will take place September 24-26, 2021 for it’s 10th anniversary.
The 2021 FreshGrass festival takes place annually at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art or more commonly known as Mass MoCa in North Adams, MA. The festival is a three-day bundle of fun that highlights bluegrass and progressive roots music. The festival is dispersed across the 16 acres sized museum which has 4 stages.
This year is featuring: Dispatch (acoustic), Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Béla Fleck My Bluegrass Heart (featuring Michael Cleveland, Sierra Hull, Justin Moses, Mark Schatz, and Bryan Sutton), Watchhouse (formerly Mandolin Orange), Sam Bush, Steep Canyon Rangers (FreshGrass Artist-in-Residence), Sarah Jarosz, Aiofe O’Donovan, Watkins Family Hour, Noam Pikelny, Bonny Light Horseman, Alison Brown, Amythyst Kiah, Darol Anger, Hawktail, Dedicated Men of Zion, A Tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe featuring Felicia Collins, Willi Carlisle, CJ Field, and more.
FreshGrass is also hosting other programming apart from the live concerts including: FreshScores (a silent film with original live music), FreshGrass commissions and world premieres, instrument and industry workshops, pop-up performances and retail, and local Berkshire food and spirits vendors.
Tickets are on sale now. 3 Day pass general admission weekend passes and single-day general admission day passes are available. A full COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID-19 test will be required to attend the FreshGrass festival this year due to the ongoing pandemic. Tickets can be purchased here.
For more information on the 10th annual FreshGrass festival visit their website here.
In a year light on music festivals, the season has been extended into October in Upstate NY. Over October 8-9, Magic Forest Farm in Coeymans Hollow – just 30 minutes south of Albany – will play host to the first annual Diggin Roots Festival.
Diggin Roots features an amazing lineup of bands, kid friendly activities, food vendors, local craftsman and more. Magic Forest Farm also has multiple hiking and walking trails to explore and animals to meet.
The great minds behind the Festival, Koryn Shear and Sugar Productions, bring a fantastic lineup over two days, featuring Yam Yam, Wild Adriatic, Baked Shrimp, and many more.
Diggin Roots came to fruition from Shear’s longtime family friend Joan Mahony and her partner Jason Ball. Mahony’s family has owned the 200 acre property since the 1970s, in an effort to have an escape from their home in Brooklyn. The idea for a music festival came together in the last few years, with Jason building the stage. Jason and Joan brought Koryn to the farm and she fell in love with the space and vision to bring music and people to the venue.
The Schedule for Diggin’ Roots Festival
Shear used her connections in the Albany music scene to find those who would be able to bring her vision to life. Among those was Shane Spillinger of Sugar Productions, and once he saw the property and potential for a late fall event, he was on board. Kirk Lyons of Lyons Den Productions will handle lights and sound at Diggin Roots.
In its first year, Shear hopes to connect the community to the location, have a successful event and make this the beginning of something that can grow over time, bringing music and people together. Over time, larger acts are on the horizon, making this an annual gathering with long term potential, especially given the location of the space in Coeymans Hollow, which has its own deep history.
The name for the festival came as Shear and Spillinger discussed names along with Joan, the property owner. Given the festival is slated for October, and there is a good deal of harvesting at that time, Diggin Roots was decided upon, especially as they aim to dig in and make this a regular community event.
Over two fall nights in October, live music lovers will capture the last flicker of festival season with Diggin Roots, which also has camping and limited RV passes. Tickets are available here and are $90 for the weekend. Day passes will also be available. Check out exclusive photos of the grounds of the farm via Shear, and stay tuned for updates on this inaugural event.
This Labor Day Weekend, the first annual BriteVibes Festival will take place on Saturday at Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown. This unique event celebrates NY craft beer, “Gastrow” of NY food trucks, musicians playing all day, artisan vendors, experiential exhibits, and more.
In addition to 30+ breweries representing every corner of NYS (the majority of which are award winners from the NYS Craft Beer Competition), there will be live performances from local musicians taking place throughout the day. Like craft beer, music brings people together. Daytime shows include performances by Dirty Blanket, The Old Main, Los Blancos and Big Time Kitty.
The evening concert for BriteVibes, included in general admission or available as a separate concert-only ticket, opens with Oxymorons, followed by Delta Spirit, an indie rock band from California playing other major festivals throughout the U.S., in their first east coast show of the year. More information about the lineup is available here.
Tickets for Britevibes Festival helps to support the 400+ craft breweries across New York State. Attendees can purchase a General Admission ticket for access to the beer sampling and all-day concerts, VIP ticket which includes access to a VIP pavilion with private bar, access to private bathrooms and access to a private food truck, or the evening-only concert ticket. Attendees can also purchase an on-site camping reservation on the festival grounds, a former hop farm, which includes yoga on the green the following morning. Get your ticket while you still can, and enjoy a wonderful day filled with beer and music!
This year’s PearlPalooza is in person once again. Presented by SEFCU, the downtown Albany festival will enjoy its 12th year on Saturday, September 18. The all-star lineup includes Slothrust, Jocelyn & Chris, Glass Pony and Timbre Coup, with a streetwide mass yoga event presented by MVP Health Care. Like its virtual rendition last year, PearlPalooza is free to attend.
PearlPalooza kicks off with MVP Health Care’s YogaPalooza event at 12:00 PM, which requires pre-registration on the Hot Yoga Spot’s website. Be sure to bring a mat, water and mask. After that, Timbre Coupe takes the stage at 1:00 PM, with Glass Pony at 2:15 PM and Jocelyn & Chris at 3:30 PM. Headliner Slothrust closes out the festival from 4:45 to 6:00 PM.
Three of the lineup’s four bands have Albany ties: Jocelyn & Chris, Glass Pony and Timbre Coupe. Jocelyn & Chris are a blues-rock sibling duo who have made their long-awaited return to touring after taking 2020 off for obvious reasons. They’ve already played in 16 states, and have performed with Foreigner and Grand Funk Railroad.
Pearlpalooza is going to be amazing this year. We’re so honored to be on the bill! It’s our first hometown show since the summer of 2019, and we can’t wait for it. We’ve been playing all over the country this summer, but there’s nothing like a homecoming!
All performances will be on the Remarkable Liquids Stage at North Pearl Street and Sheridan Avenue, with $5 event parking available at ParkAlbany’s Riverfront Garage and Quackenbush Garage. One of the event’s sponsors, WEQX, will spin music between each set. Other sponsors include the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District, Sugar Productions and The Hollow Bar + Kitchen.
We are super grateful to be able to work with such amazing partners at The Downtown Albany BID and the area businesses who put a lot of thought and effort into this year’s event. We cannot thank the sponsors enough for making PearlPalooza possible. The one-stage approach will allow for more space not only for attendees but also for vendors who have really taken a hit over the past year-plus. We are thrilled to be able to spotlight three incredible Capital Region-based bands who also took a hit in an already difficult world to live…the world of being a band. Slothrust as headliner is a dream come true for the entire staff here at EQX and we hope it is for you too!
Program Director Jeff Morad
For more information on PearlPalooza 2021, visit the Downtown Albany website.
New York’s largest free outdoor performing arts festival is making a comeback to live performances after last year’s hiatus due to the pandemic. Since its inception 35 years ago, more than six million people from New York City and around the world have enjoyed SummerStage. In 2020, “Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage Anywhere” was launched in response to the global pandemic, presenting 80 free digital performances, spanning all genres, available to all around the world.
Now, back in full swing, Capital One City Parks Foundation Summerstage will be hosting the annual celebration for esteemed jazz saxophonist, Charlie Parker. Recognized as one of the vanguards of jazz music’s evolution into the modern era, Parker is acknowledged for his advancement of Bebop, a subsidiary of Jazz known for its fast tempos. A highly regarded soloist, the celebration of Parker’s life and accomplishments will be comprised of his contemporizes as well as young jazz musicians who continue to push the art form forward. This year’s festivals will be held from August 27-29 at Harlem’s historic Marcus Garvey Park in addition to other partnered jazz events around the city that will run from the August 23-27.
All free performances will be open to the public and will be first come, first served and in accordance with venue capacity limits. In response to the increasing spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant, all guests of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival SummerStage events at Marcus Garvey Park will be required to show either proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative PCR test within the last 72 hours in order to enter. Children under the age of 12 will be allowed to accompany their parent or guardian who provides proof of full vaccination or negative COVID test.
All information regarding vaccination/testing/mask guidelines as well as an itinerary of events for all Summerstage 2021 Season events can be found on the City Parks Foundation website.
The new Howl In The Hills Festival will be coming to Western New York. The festival was originally supposed to take place on September 4, 2021 but has been postponed until 2022 due to rising COVID-19 cases. The festival will be taking place at the Holland Speedway in Holland, NY and will include multiple acts and activities.
The festival will host a full day of music and outdoor adventure with Pure Prairie League headlining the festivities. The band will be performing many of their iconic hits, including “Aimee.” Now in their 5th decade, Pure Prairie League continues to influence the new generation of country rockers, including Keith Urban, Counting Crows, and Wilco.
The rest of the lineup includes: Driftwood, Cody Webb, Fuzzy and The Rustbelts, and Two Hills Reloaded. The festival will take advantage of its open green space to feature vendors and outdoor recreation activities as well. From axe throwing to wood carving, there will be plenty of activities and entertainment for the whole family at the Howl In The Hills Festival, which will be located at 11586 Holland-Glenwood Road, Holland, NY.
Early-bird tickets are on sale now and start at $45 for a full-day of music and entertainment. There will also be tickets available on the day of the festival but as the day approaches the price will gradually raise with time. Children under ten do not need a ticket themselves and can get in with an adult who has a ticket. There is also a limited number of VIP tickets available for $85 and includes preferred parking, front-of-stage viewing, and a private VIP lounge. General Admission and VIP Tickets need to be purchased separately. Tickets for the festival can be found here.
For more information on the festival visit their website here.
Updated on August 25, 2021: On August 25, 2021 the owners of the festival announced the festivals postponement until 2022 due to rising COVID-19 case from the delta variant. People that have purchased tickets can hold their tickets for the 2022 Festival or receive a full refund by emailing events@twenty6productions.com.
In a statement from the festival owners, “The enthusiasm and interest in the Howl in the HIlls Festival was fabulous. Fans were really excited about a new, country music themed festival in Western, NY. However, due to the growing concerns and changing rules for large scale events, we have decided to reschedule the festival to the summer of 2022. We thank everyone for their support and look forward to the Howl in the Hills Festival and other music events at the Holland Speedway in 2022.”
The Seventh Annual Brooklyn Americana Music Festival takes place September 16th -19th, 2021. Fifty live music events at seven iconic locations including the DUMBO Archway Plaza under the Manhattan Bridge and Pier 6 Plaza in Brooklyn Bridge Park on September 17th, 18th, and 19th. Nightly concerts will be held at Jalopy Theatre and Sunny’s Bar in Red Hook; and Superfine and 68 Jay St Bar in Dumbo.
The annual festival is a beloved celebration of folk, roots, country blues, bluegrass, and jazz and attendees of all ages can enjoy banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and three part harmony renditions of original and traditional songs performed by a majority of women-identified artists. Ticketed concerts include the festival kickoff on September 16th at Jalopy Theatre, and September 17th in the Dumbo Archway Plaza, and are followed by thirty free live music events for all ages.
The 7th Annual Brooklyn Americana Music Festivalis made possible by public funds from the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and from the Decentralization Program of the New York State Council on the Arts, both administered in Kings County by Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC). The Festival is made possible in part by generous sponsors and the office of Councilman Stephen Levin.
The first ever Jam on the Lift festival is coming to the Kissing Bridge Snow Sports center in Glenwood, NY, 30 miles south of Buffalo, on August 28. The festival, presented by Kissing Bridge and Twenty6 Productions, will feature national artists, local vendors, artisans, CBD vending, craft beer, food vendors and more.
Glenwood is a small hamlet located in Erie County, around 40 minutes south of downtown Buffalo. Kissing Bridge is one of Western NY’s premier ski resorts, with a whopping 39 slopes and over 700 acres of land. Festival goers will trade their skis for summer sandals as they experience entertaining live performances and, of course, plenty of art and good eats.
Long Beach Dub Allstars
Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh met in childhood and later started their first garage punk band, consisting of drums, bass and vocals. They later formed Sublime with Bradley Nowell. The Long Beach Dub Allstars (LBDAS for short) were founded after Nowell died in 1996 of a heroin overdose (frequent contributors to Sublime including Michael “Miguel” Happoldt, Todd Forman, and “Field” Marshall Goodman are also members of the band). Eric Wilson says, “We will never replace the greatness that Sublime did or what Bradley has done.” The band was originally a 10-piece and they recorded their debut recording called Right Back, which shortly after completion in 1999 saw the departure of three members. Their second album, Wonders of the World was recorded and released in 2001. “Sunny Hours”, featuring will.i.am from The Black Eyed Peas, was also used as the theme song for the Friends spin-off Joey.
Tropidelic
The six-piece band from Cleveland, Ohio may be far from any tropical islands, but that doesn’t stop them from dishing out an interesting mix of reggae, hip-hop, and high energy funk for audiences across the country. Unapologetically original, Tropidelic has a deep and widespread appreciation for music that can be heard in each note. Some of the members are hip-hop heads, while others are into metal, funk or reggae. Each of these genres lends something to their collective sound. “We pride ourselves in being original in our musicality and personality as a band,” says frontman Matthew Roads, “but also in not taking ourselves so seriously that it ruins the fun.”
Moon Hooch
If any band is a poster child for turning the power of positive thoughts and intentions into reality, it’s the explosive horn-and-percussion trio Moon Hooch. In just a few short years, the group—horn player Mike Wilbur, fellow horn player Wenzl McGowen—has gone from playing on New York City subway platforms to touring with the likes of Beats Antique, They Might Be Giants, and Lotus, as well as selling out their own headline shows in major venues around the country. “I‘m realizing more and more every day that you can make anything happen for yourself if you really want to,” says Wilbur. “You can change your existence by just going out and doing it, by taking simple actions every day.”
Surf riffs and indie melodies over a rhythmic funk foundation fond of improvisation.
The Abruptors
Punk/SKA band out of Buffalo, NY.
Tickets are currently available for purchase here. Options include traditional GA tickets ($35 ADV/$50 day of show) as well as VIP ($85 ADV/$100 DOS). VIP tickets include front of stage access, private bathrooms, a VIP lounge area, VIP bar, complimentary food and snacks, and a festival poster. Gates open at 1PM and music runs from 2PM-11PM. The lineup includes:
To learn more about Twenty6 Productions, visit their website and follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
The Great New York State Fair has released lineup of concerts and music performances for 2021 to be held in Syracuse at the State Fairgrounds from August 20th through September 6th.
The Fair was founded in 1832 by a group of farmers for agricultural improvement and local fairs. It wasn’t until the 1950s-1960s the fair was used for entertainment where singers came to perform.
Artists performing at the 2021 edition of the Great New York State Fair include the following national and local artists:
Radio & TV personality Bobby Bones brings his musical comedy band Bobby Bones & The Raging Idiots to the Great New York State Fair on opening day, Friday, August 20. The New York Times bestselling author and host and executive producer of his own breakout television series Breaking Bobby Bones on National Geographic will perform at 2 p.m. on the Chevy Park stage in the New York Experience festival grounds. All Chevrolet Music Festival concerts are free with $3 Fair admission.
Hart-topping country duoLOCASH will open what will be the largest slate of national touring band concerts ever presented at the Great New York State Fair on the Chevy Park Stage Friday, August 20. The band behind hits such as “I Know Somebody” and “I Love This Life” will perform as part of the Chevrolet Music Festival. All concerts are free with Fair admission.
Hard-rockin’ California band Ratt will take the Chevy Park audience “Round And Round” Saturday, August 21 at the Great New York State Fair as part of the Chevrolet Music Festival. The band, known for its steady stream of rock hits as well as its appearance in a funny commercial for GEICO insurance, will perform at a time to be announced. All concerts are free with Fair admission.
The men of R&B pop supergroup 98 Degrees will bring their hits, including “Give Me Just One Night” and more to the Chevy Park stage Saturday, August 21 at 8 p.m. during the 2021 Great New York State Fair. It’s the group’s second appearance, following a concert in 2001. All concerts are free with $3 Fair admission.
Brothers Osborne bring their hard-driving, good-time country to the 2021 Great New York State Fair’s Chevy Park stage Sunday, August 22 at 8 p.m. as part of the Chevrolet Music Festival. TJ and John Osborne have had big hits with “Stay A Little Longer” and “It Ain’t My Fault,” as well as a hit collaboration with Dierks Bentley, “Burning Man.”
Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra August 23, 2021 at 2p.m.
Grammy-winning group Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra will bring an afternoon of high-energy polka music to the 2021 Great New York State Fair at 2 p.m. Monday, August 23. Sturr and his band won the Grammy for Best Polka Music 18 of the 24 times the prize was awarded.
Bishop Briggs will perform on the Chevy Park stage at the Chevrolet Music Festival at the 2021 Great New York State Fair Monday, August 23. The Scottish-born, Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter hit the alternative and rock charts with songs such as “Wild Horses” and “River.”
One of the most popular rock bands of all time, Foreigner, will perform on the Chevy Park stage at the Chevrolet Music Festival at the 2021 Great New York State Fair Monday, August 23 at 8 p.m. Founding member Mick Jones leads the band that scored nine Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts, including “I Want To Know What Love Is,” “Feels Like The First Time” and “Cold As Ice.” It will be the fourth appearance for Foreigner at the Fair, following shows in 1994, 2006 and 2011.
The Spinners, the legendary soul group behind unforgettable hits such as “I’ll Be Around,” “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love?” and “Rubberband Man,” will return to the Great New York State Fair with a 2 p.m. performance Tuesday, August 24 at a venue to be announced. It will be the seventh appearance for The Spinners, stretching back to 1985.
DSL* Dire Straits Legacy, which features musicians who performed and recorded with the band during its days atop the world’s music charts plus top class musicians such as Trevor Horn, will perform at the 2021 Great New York State Fair as part of the Chevrolet Music Festival.
Train, the San Francisco-based band behind the hits “Meet Virginia,” “Drops of Jupiter” and “Hey, Soul Sister,” returns to the Great New York State Fair with an 8 p.m. performance Tuesday, August 24 at the Chevy Park stage as part of the Chevrolet Music Festival.
Jameson Rodgers takes the Chevy Park stage at the 2021 Great New York State Fair’ Wednesday, August 25 at 2 p.m. as part of the Chevrolet Music Festival.
Country music star Russell Dickerson will make his Great New York State Fair debut on the Chevy Park stage at the Chevrolet Music Festival Wednesday, August 25. Dickerson owns four #1 singles: “Yours,” “Blue Tacoma,” “Every Little Thing” and “Love You Like I Used To” as well as a handful of awards nominations from the Academy of Country Music, CMT and iHeart.
Arena rock superstars REO Speedwagon return to the Great New York State Fair’s Chevrolet Music Festival with an 8 p.m. show Wednesday, August 25. The band behind classic hits such as “Ridin’ The Storm Out,” “Keep On Loving You” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling” will make its sixth appearance at the Fair.
In the years 1969 through 1974, no other group achieved more top 10 hits, moved more records or sold more concert tickets than Three Dog Night. Their hits wind through the fabric of pop culture today, whether on the radio where they are heard day in and day out, in TV commercials or in major motion pictures — songs like “Mama Told Me (Not To Come)”, “Joy to the World”, “Black and White”, “Shambala” and “One” serve to heighten our emotions and crystallize their continuing popularity.
Additional New York State Fair concerts later in August and early September 2021
Updated on August 17, 2021: The NYS Fair announced on August 12, 2021 southern rock band Jackyl will be replacing Dire Straits Legacy in the line up at the Chevy Court Stage on August 24 at 7 PM.
Chenango Blues Festival announced the 2021 lineup including Jimmie Vaughan who will be headlining. The festival will be taking place on August 20 and 21 in Norwich, New York.
This will be the 28th annual installment of the Chenango Blues Festival. The festival takes place at the Chenango County Fairgrounds. The festival has multiple stages including Norwich Rehab Infield Stage, Nelson & Flanagan/Southern Tier Pet Nutrition Tent Stage, and the New York Central Mutual Stage.
The lineup includes Jimmie Vaughan, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Crystal Thomas and the Eastside Kings with the Texas Horns, Horojo Trio, Albert Castiglia, Zac Harmon, Doug MacLeod, Kevin Burt, Castro Coleman aka Mr. Sipp, Vanessa Collier, and Soul Box.
Jimmie Vaughan curtsy of the Chenango Blues Festival’s website.
Although the festivities are taking place on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 the pre festival fun will take place on Thursday, August 19th in East Park Norwich, NY with a performance by Shemekia Copeland who was the 2021 winner of B.B. King Entertainer, Contemporary Blues Album, and Contemporary Blues Female Artist.
Tickets are on sale now with advanced sale tickets for $40 for adults 18 and over and there will be no group discounts this year for Saturday’s show. No tickets will be available this year by mail or at the gate. Friday’s show is Free to all but unvaccinated individuals should wear a mask and social distance to protect themselves and their families. Children 17 years old and under are Free. Children 16 and under must attend with an adult. Parking gate opens at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 20th. Festival entry gate opens at 5:00 p.m. Parking gate opens at 10:00 a.m on Saturday, August 21st. Festival entry gate opens at 11:00 a.m.
https://youtu.be/BXtvXamPAmk
There is also onsite camping available for $60 per person in advance. Prices include festival admission and tent camping with 17 and under camping is free when accompanied by an adult 21+. There are also basic RV Sites available for an additional $25, no services available or enhanced RV Sites available for an additional $50 and include electric hookups. Shared water is available.
For more information on the Chenango Blues Festival visit their website here.
