Each Sunday evening from 7-9pm you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up and coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music from Belle-Skinner, grape juice! and many more!
WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.
Belle-Skinner
Just in time for Halloween, singer-songwriter Belle-Skinner has released her love magic-themed EP, Love Spell. Each song is equal parts spooky and seductive, with siren-esque vocals and lyrics that charm and bewitch. Skinner created the concept after hearing similar songs written by her friends, and penned her own to accompany the covers. “Spellbound” follows Skinner as the target of a love spell, while the psychedelic “Love Witch” sees her as the perpetrator. Instruments like the organ and theremin set the mood perfectly, creating a haunting atmosphere.
grape juice!
Albany alternative rock band grape juice! released their newest single “sad songs” in July. Despite the title and some of its lyrics like “Disappointment is my forte,” it’s an upbeat power pop song in the vein of Weezer and Fountains of Wayne.
Dark Star Orchestra will ring in the New Year in Albany. The Palace Theater announced today the band will play two shows, on December 31st and January 1st, at the venue. The band have a warm relationship with the Palace, previously celebrating their 20th anniversary there in 2017.
Dark Star Orchestra have performed their rendition of the live Grateful Dead experience to rapt audiences for over 20 years. Basing their performances on the Dead’s lengthy and singular live catalog, DSO draws from historic set lists while offering their own interpretations.
Cosmic New Year's Run kicks off Saturday! ⚡🎊⚡
Two nights in Albany at @palacealbany & a 1977 show recreation on Sunday! Two nights at @WellmontTheater 12/30 & 12/31 round out the year and ring in 2020!
“Even for Deadheads who say they’ve been to a hundred shows in the 90s, we offer something they never got to see live,” said keyboardist and vocalist Rob Barraco.
After over 3000 shows, DSO’s performances have expanded into their own universe. DSO host an annual music festival and gathering, “Dark Star Jubilee,” in Thornville, Ohio. DSO headlines all three nights of the Jubilee, joined by a variety of acts. The band has even brought their experience to Jamaica, hosting the “Jam in the Sand” event at an oceanside stage. Unfortunately, both events were canceled in 2021 due to COVID-19. But “Jam in the Sand” will return January 11-14, while the next “Dark Star Jubilee” is expected for summer 2022.
Six members of the original Dead have also made appearances at DSO shows. Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Vince Welnick, and Tom Constanten have all shared the stage with them before. DSO also previously toured with the Dead’s longtime soundman, Dan Healy.
Before landing in Albany, DSO will make other stops around New York. DSO will spend two nights at the Capitol Theatre in Portchester on November 12th and 13th. After that, they’ll play two shows at the Paramount in Huntington on December 29th and 30th.
Tickets for both shows will go on sale Friday, October 29th at 10:00 A.M. Tickets are available for purchase via ticketmaster.com and the Palace Theater Box Office.
Alongside the New Year’s shows, the Palace Theater also announced upcoming performances from The Wood Brothers on January 28th and comedian Bert Kreischer on April 3rd. Tickets for these shows will also be available Friday at 10:00 A.M.
Waterhole announced their annual Halloween Bash featuring performers The Outcrops and Organ FairChild. The Halloween bash will take place on October 31, 2021 at 7:30 PM in Saranac Lake, NY.
The Waterhole is an upstairs venue located in Saranac Lake in New York. The venue is a 21+ establishment with a full bar and is open 7 days a week. The Waterhole Halloween Bash and costume party is an annual affair and has become a Halloween night staple.
The Outcrops is the headlining band and they are from Northern New Jersey. They are a blues-infused rock n’ roll & soul style. The band is fronted by Cassidy Rain’s, Bryan Schroeder is the guitarist, Jason Casanovas is on bass, Dave Moore is on drums.
Special guests to the bash is Organ FairChild who are from Buffalo, NY . They will be acting as the openers. The band is made up of a trio of friends who have been playing music together since the early 1980’s. They took their stab at writing original music together a few short years ago. They are an old-school organ trio, with dance-heavy grooves.
Tickets for the show can be purchased online here or at the door for $10. Doors open at 7:30PM, music starts at 8:30PM. As always, all Waterhole events are for those 21+ as well.
For more information on the Waterhole Halloween Bash visit the Waterhole’s website.
Critically acclaimed Tom Petty documentary will premiere on YouTube on November 11, 2021 on Tom Petty’s channel. The feature-length documentary is titled Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers.
The documentary will offer a unique look into the creative mastery and turbulent personal life of the legendary rock star. The film will be capturing the period between 1993-1995 when Tom Petty worked with legendary producer Rick Rubin. The film will feature never-before-seen footage drawn from a newly discovered archive of 16mm film, in addition to new interviews with album co-producer and Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell, Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench, and many more.
The film runs for 89-minutes and was directed by award-winning filmmaker Mary Wharton who is known for her work on Jimmy Carter: Rock and Roll President, Sam Cooke: Legend, Elvis Lives!, The Beatles Revolution. It first debuted in March as an Official SXSW 2021 Selection, winning the festival’s Audience Award. The film went on to win Best Documentary Film at the Boulder Film Festival and received widespread critical acclaim throughout the film festival season. The picture digs deeper into 2020’s critically acclaimed certified gold reissue, Wildflowers & All The Rest collection (Warner Records) which revealed the long anticipated second half of Tom’s autobiographical masterpiece. Ahead of its November 11 worldwide release on YouTube, Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers will see its theatrical release on October 20, 2021, which is Tom Petty’s birthday, for a one-night global celebration via Trafalgar Releasing, with encore screenings in select cinemas on October 21, 2021.
Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers was Produced by Peter Afterman with executive producers Dan Braun, Mary Wharton and Adria Petty and presented by Inaudible Films, Warner Music Entertainment (Warner Music Group’s TV and Film division) and Warner Records.
For more information on the feature-length documentary, Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free: The Making of Wildflowers, visit Tom Petty’s YouTube Channel.
Flushing Town Hall announced 15 Years of NEA Jazz Masters concerts celebration on November 12, 2021 at 8 PM, in-person and virtual audiences. The celebration is being called NEA Jazz Masters: The Music of Thelonious Monk and Horace Silver.
Ellen Kodadek, Executive and Artistic Director at Flushing Town Hall spoke on the upcoming celebration saying, “We are elated to present this historic concert with such an incredible lineup of America’s most honored jazz musicians. It is sure to be a one-of-a-kind night to remember.”
The celebration of 15 Years of NEA Jazz Masters Concerts will host five distinguished NEA Jazz Masters: Jimmy Owens, Kenny Barron, Sheila Jordan, Billy Hart, and Donald Harrison. They will be joined by American bassist Kenny Davis and a special, surprise guest artist to perform live, all together on one stage for the first time.
The very first NEA Jazz Masters concert took place at Flushing Town Hall back on November 17, 2006. The performance featured three NEA Jazz Masters, Jimmy Heath (saxophone), Clark Terry (trumpet), and Dr. Billy Taylor (piano)—as well as the talented jazz veterans Earl May, Benny Powell, and Albert “Tootie” Heath, who was later awarded the NEA Jazz Masters title in 2021. Sadly, all but one—Albert “Tootie” Heath—have since passed on.
This year’s NEA Jazz Masters concert is taking place on November 12, 2021 at 8 PM, in-person and virtual audiences at Flushing Town Hall. In-person tickets are $45/$35 Members/$20 Students. Those unable to attend in person can still join the livestream and tune in virtually. Virtual tickets are $15/$10 Members. Tickets can be purchased online here or by calling (718) 463-7700 x222.
For more information on NEA Jazz Masters concert or on Flushing Town Hall in general visit their website.
For the better part of three decades Grammy-winning musician, Wyclef Jean, has made it his responsibility to not only promote, but bring aid to his embattled homeland of Haiti. Hence, it came as no surprise that ‘Clef was once again up to bringing awareness to Haiti’s latest misfortunes.
Following his performance at Barlclays Center’s “Trillerverz” concert series — where Big Daddy Kane and Krs-One faced off in a Verzuz battle — the Fugees rapper celebrated with a good luck charm to his homeland. Given his history of wearing his flag on his sleeve, it was only fitting that the “Maria Maria” composer — unknowingly — jumpstarted the chain-of-events towards the current philanthropic efforts for Haiti.
It all began a few months ago when, Diane Jean — cousin of Wyclef – purchased “New York Intense” and “New York 5th Avenue” from luxury perfume house, Fragrance Du Bois, to gift ‘Clef. Unbeknownst to them, the high-priced fragrances were stolen from their South Orange, New Jersey location. On the same day of the theft, Diane Jean promptly hopped on a call with Nicola Parker, VP of Sales at Fragrance Du Bois, to secure another shipment of the luxury fragrance. The conversation led to the two discussing the devastating earthquake in Haiti, which prompted the Fragrance Du Bois team to go into action with a pledge to help Haiti.
They aligned with television personality and philanthropist, Bethenny Frankel, the founder of BStrong — a disaster relief initiative that provides real time emergency assistance to individuals and their families in crisis — and chose to raise funds for her charity because of its stellar reputation as a hands-on charity delivering immediate assistance.
So, from October 15 to November 15, 25% of sales from Fragrance Du Bois’ “New York Intense” and “New York 5thAvenue’s” online purchases will be donated to help Haiti.
We are a globally conscious company- our giving personifies the brand’s identity of being for all people. Real luxury is all about giving.
Nicola Parker, VP of Sales at Fragrance Du Bois
Thus, donning a Haitian flag and top hat, Wyclef Jean doused himself in “New York Intense” in front of a packed Barclays Center as a good luck charm to his beloved Haiti and a show of good faith to Fragrance Du Bois, as they embrace the cause that ‘Clef has held dearly to his heart for so long.
DJ Super Cat then doused the stage with “New York Intense” and yelled to the audience: “help Haiti!”
To purchase “New York Intense” or “New York 5th Avenue” online, click here.
Cassandra Kubinski announced show at Caffe Lena in celebration of her recently dropped #1MillionHearts EP. The celebration will take place on October 31, 2021 at 7PM at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs.
Cassandra Kubinski is an up and coming singer/songwriter who has hit the billboards multiple times. She has had music on TV, from Lifetime to ESPN to ABC and has collaborated with big names like the Goo Goo Dolls (including their collaborative release of her Autism anthem Not So Different), Chris Botti, 10,000 Maniacs, DJ Taz Rashid, and even her personal music hero, Billy Joel. You may have heard her songs that have supported important causes, such as “Not So Different” for Autism and “You Get Me” for pet rescue. She was also the composer and bandleader of Emmy-winning new media TV Show “The Never Settle Show” hosted by Mario Armstrong, and she serves as the Global Co-Chair of Membership for international non-profit Women in Music.
Her #1MillionHearts EP was officially released to all digital platforms on October 1, 2021. The Caffe Lena show follows up Kubinski’s NYC Release Show at The Cutting Room which took place on October 3, 2021 and the global virtual launch concert featuring multi platinum artists Ryan Cabrera, Jeff Timmons (98 Degrees), and Brad Fischetti (LFO) which took place on October 1, 2021.
Saratoga Springs holds a special place in Kubinski’s heart though which is why she’s going back there for a show at Caffe Lena. Kubinski’s previous Capital Region appearances includes multiple shows at Caffe Lena before she became a full time Saratoga Springs resident in 2020, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation Virtual Holiday Homes Tour, airplay on WEXT and WEQS, and both artist workshops and performances at Wildwood School in Schenectady.
“I’m excited to bring my band back to Saratoga. #1MillionHearts is all about connection, community, and finding freedom after a time of darkness or constriction,” Said Kubinski. “I think many of us can relate to that in society and in ourselves at this time. We’re excited to give the audience an incredible, elevating show, and to support arts education and the upstate community as well.”
Tickets for both in-person seats and online viewing options are available here.
For more information on Cassandra Kubinski and her upcoming shows visit her website.
Soul Train has announced plans to host their annual Awards Show at The Apollo Theater in Harlem. The awards show will take place on November 28 at 8 PM EST on BET and BET Her.
This year marks the 50th Anniversary of Soul Train from when it aired in 1971 and the 33rd year of the Soul Train Awards so this year’s awards show will be in commemoration of both of these milestones. The show aired for 35 years and was created by Don Cornelius. It brought African American culture to a nationwide audience.
The award show showcases Soul Train’s impact on the genre of music and dance. The Soul Train Awards will feature performances from some of the most talented musicians in the industry. The awards show has aired on BET since 2009 being taped in Las Vegas in recent years.The annual awards ceremony is being held for the first time at the Apollo Theater in New York City. The awards show will honor the 2021’s best in soul, hip-hop and R&B.
“The Apollo is thrilled to partner with BET to host the ‘Soul Train Awards,’ bringing together three iconic brands that represent Black culture and excellence under one roof,” Kamilah Forbes, Apollo executive producer, said in a press release.
Catch the awards on November 28 at 8 PM EST on BET and BET Her for more information visit the ABC Newsarticle on the event.
The Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards or more commonly known as the Eddies Music Awards announced their 2021 nominees and ceremony date. The awards ceremony will be held at 7PM on Sunday, November 14, 2021 at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs.
This is the second installment of the Eddies Music Awards in 2021. This group of nominees represents works done by musicians in 2020. The first installment represented works done by musicians done in 2019 and were recognized during a live broadcast from UPH this May after two postponements due to the pandemic made them unable to host the awards ceremony in 2020 as planned.
This year’s categories will be a little different than in previous years. Sal Prizio, Eddies co-founder and co-producer explained this saying, “About half of the categories we presented in previous years were scuttled when looking at 2020. We took a poll of judges and there was near unanimous agreement that the genre categories such as best folk artist and best hard rock artist didn’t make sense, as so much of the assessment in those categories was based on live performance.”
The categories this year are: Arts Publication of the Year, Arts Journalist of the Year, Radio DJ of the Year, Radio Station of the Year, Music Recording Studio of the Year, Label of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Best Presenter of Virtual Live Music Shows, and Best Live Virtual Performance(s) by an Artist – Show or Series – Covers.
Tickets for the Eddies Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on October 27, 2021 and the Eddies Music Awards on November 14, 2021 are now on sale here.
For more information the 2021 Eddies Music Awards visit their website.
Full list of nominations listed bellow:
Arts Publication of the Year
NYS Music
Preview /Times Union
Spot 518
The Xperience Monthly
Ticket/Daily Gazette
Arts Journalist of the Year
Steve Barnes
Jim Gilbert
Michael Hallisey
Indiana Nash
Jim Shahen Jr.
Liam Sweeney
Radio DJ of the Year
Wanda Fisher
Art Fredette
Andy Gregory
Bill McCann
Jeff Morad
Sonny Speed
Chris Wienk
Radio Station of the Year
RadioRadioX
WCDB 90.9
WEQX 102.7
WEXT 97.7, 106.1
WSPN 91.1
WVCR 88.3
Music Recording Studio of the Year
Albany Audio Associates (AAA Recording Studio C)
Blue Sky Recording/Mixing Studio
Millstone Recording Studio
NRS Studios Catskill
The Recording Company
Starling Studios
Label of the Year
Albany Records
Cacophone Records
Equal Vision Records
Flipped Out Records
Magnetic Eye Records
Upstate Records
Music Video of the Year
“Everyone’s Gone Home” – Joel Brown
“Moon” – Novus Cantus
“Skin Disease” – Craig Hamilton
“Ain’t Going Anywhere” – Buggy Jive
“Modernist” – El Modernist
“Sellout” – Joe Mansman and The Midnight Revival Band
“415” – Sydney Worthley
“Alone” – Zan & The Winter Folk
Record of the Year
“Hold Me” – Julia Alsarraf
“Everyone’s Gone Home” – Joel Brown
“Moz Disco” – Coupons
“Better off Alone” – Moriah Formica
“Quentin” – Gordon St.
“Roll Over You” – Sean Rowe
“Andy Warhol” – Annie Scherer
“A Thousand Years” – The Sea The Sea
“415” – Sydney Worthley
Album of the Year
“Somethin’ Comes Along” – Bright Dog Red
“Ain’t Going Anywhere” – Buggy Jive
“Back Pocket” – Dominick Campana
“Going Places” – Dylan Canterbury
“Rougher Stuff” – Dark Honey
“Flowers for You” – Sawyer Fredericks
“What Happens After” – Laveda
“Northeast” – Sara Milonovich & Daisycutter
“Stumbling Home” – The Sea The Sea
Songwriter of the Year
Julia Alsarraf
Dan Berggren
Buggy Jive
Jim Gaudet
Girl Blue
Michael Jerling
Kate McDonnell
Kim Cirillio Wickham
Best Presenter of Virtual Live Music Shows
Caffe Lena – “Stay Home Sessions”
Frank Cavone / Mirth Films
Freedom Park Quarantune Series
Mark Gamsjager / The Lustre Kings weekly Saturday night virtual shows
High Peaks Event Productions
The Linda: Open for Take-Out Virtual Concert Series
Best Live Virtual Performance(s) by an Artist – Show or Series – Covers
Béla Fleck has announced the My Bluegrass Heart album celebration show at Carnegie Hall in NYC. The show will take place on January 9, 2022 and will feature big names in Chris Thile and Billy Strings, Jerry Douglas, and many more.
My Bluegrass Heart is the third album in Béla Fleck’s trilogy that began with 1988’s Drive and continued in 1999 with The Bluegrass Sessions. Produced and written by Fleck, My Bluegrass Heart continues the tradition of sharing music between generations. The album debuted at number one on the Bluegrass Album Chart and number three on the American / Folk Album Chart.
Béla Fleck who was born and raised in New York City spoke on the upcoming concert saying, “Calling something the ‘concert of a lifetime’ sure sounds like hype, and in many cases it would be. But not this time! At least for my world and my music, this is an unprecedented opportunity to bring some of the brightest instrumental lights in bluegrass—or any other music for that matter—to the incredible Carnegie Hall stage.”
The show will feature artists like Chris Thile and Billy Strings, the legendary Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Edgar Meyer and Stuart Duncan, as well as members of the next wave of virtuoso players, Sierra Hull, Molly Tuttle and Michael Cleveland.
The show is part of the Béla Fleck: My Bluegrass Heart Tour. Tickets are on sale now for the show and can be purchased here.
For more information on Béla Fleck and his new album My Bluegrass Heart celebration show at Carnegie Hall, visit his website.
Full Béla Fleck: My Bluegrass Heart Tour Lineup bellow:
11.27 Grand Rapids, MI // DeVos Performance Hall
11.28 Fort Wayne, IN // Clyde Theatre
11.29 Milwaukee, WI // Riverside Theater
12.01 St. Louis, MO // The Sheldon Concert Hall
12.02 Des Moines, IA // Hoyt Sherman Place
12.03 Salina, KS // The Stiefel Theatre
12.04 Denver, CO // Paramount Theatre*
12.05 Jackson, WY // Center For The Arts
12.07 Portland, OR // Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
12.08 Seattle, WA // Paramount Theatre*
12.09 Eugene, OR // Jaqua Concert Hall – 2 shows!
12.10 Redding, CA // The Cascade Theatre*
12.11 Reno, NV // Silver Legacy Resort Casino
12.12 Berkeley, CA // The UC Theatre
12.13 Carmel, CA // Sunset Cultural Center
12.14 Costa Mesa, CA // Segerstrom Center for the Arts
12.16 San Diego, CA // Balboa Theatre
12.17 Los Angeles, CA // Theater at the ACE Hotel
12.18 Tempe, AZ // Tempe Center for the Arts
12.19 Tucson, AZ // Fox Tucson Theatre
1.7.22 Ryman Auditorium // Nashville, TN – SOLD OUT
1.9.22 Carnegie Hall, NYC
Featuring Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, & Bryan Sutton
* = Béla Fleck, Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, Bryan Sutton
