NYS Music 202​1

Category: News Desk

  • Virgin Islands Shakedown Brings The Dead and Friends Complimented WIth Beautiful Beachfront Views

    Get ready for an amazing 3 day concert in one of the most beautiful islands around. The Virgin Islands Shakedown will take place November 7 through the 9th, 2021 and will bring even more heat to St. Croix, USV. This festival will bring music that will bring out The Dead literally. The Dead consists of a supergroup with Al Schnier and Vinnie Amico of moe. Jason Hann of String Cheese Incident, Mark Joseph of The Big Wu, Hash of Thievery Corporation, and Steve Molitz of Particle / Phil Lesh.

    Virgin Islands Shakedown

    The Dire Wolves will of course be headlining the evenings. Thankfully US citizens can travel to this destination with ease. There is no need to have a passport or pay customs fees seeing as though St. Croix is a constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI). When you’re not enjoying the amazing music from critically acclaimed artists, feel free to explore the island filled with snorkeling, diving, hiking, paddle boarding, boating and more. St. Croix is a friendly and polite island that invites you to have the perfect getaway and enjoy your time in the sun. 

    To make things even simpler Virgin Islands Shakedown is offering VIP and General Admission packages. Of course you already know the band will play November 7th, 8th, and 9th, but some of the travel packages are November 7th through 10th, and others are November 7th through 11th, giving you a couple extra days to enjoy the Island. Not only will you have some more time for a perfect tan but the VIP package offers a private party with the band, and the opportunity to purchase up to two additional VIP tickets.

    More information on The Fred can be found here. From the beachfront, boutique resort, restaurant, bar to a spa, there is not much not to like. The resort’s amenities can be found  It’s the only beach front resort that’s also

    located in town and the first new hotel to open on St. Croix since 1986. With awards like “Best New Boutique Resort” by Caribbean Journal and “Best New Business/Spa” by the readers of the VI Daily News, The Fred is destined to show you a good time and The Dead and friends will have you needing more.

  • Umphrey’s McGee 2022 Winter tour Starts with 5 Dates Across NYS

    Umphrey’s McGee 2022 winter tour will start with 5 tour dates across New York State. The world tour will have 26 stops and will start on January 14, 2022 in New York City.

    Umphrey’s McGee winter tour

    Umphrey’s McGee is an American Jam band that is originally from South Bend, Indiana. The band started back in 1997 and are known for their experiments with many musical styles, including rock, metal, funk, jazz, blues, reggae, electronic, folk and more. Some of their most well known songs include “Ocean Billy,” “Puppet String,” and “Nothing too Fancy.” 

    The band’s winter tour will start on January 14, 2022 at Terminal 5 in NYC and will Wrap up on May 27, 2022 at the Rockjavik in Reykjavik, Iceland. The band’s second stop will also be at Terminal 5 in NYC on January 15, 2022. The third stop will be at Town Ballroom in Buffalo on January 20, 2022. The fourth stop will be at the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse on January 21, 2022. The last stop in New York will be at Palace Theatre in Albany on January 22, 2022. 

    People can snag presale tickets for all shows and umVIP packages for select dates starting on Wednesday, November 3rd at 12PM EST. General on sale will begin Friday, November 5th at 12PM EST. 

    For more information on Umphrey’s McGee 2022 Winter tour visit their website.

  • 8 Turkuaz Members Departing Group

    8 members of Turkuaz have announced their “difficult decision” to leave the band. The Brooklyn funk group shared the announcement via their social media. Just days ago they released a new single “Shakin In My Sheets,” ahead of upcoming Fall Tour dates. 

    Greg Sanderson and Chris Brouwers perform at Resonance Festival in West Virginia. Photo by Em Walis.

    In a jointly signed message addressed to “fans, family, and friends,” nearly the entire band announced their departure after over a decade. Craig Brodhead, Chris Brouwers, Michael Carubba, Shira Elias, Sammi Garett, Greg Sanderson, Josh Schwartz, and Zach Fichter all left. Only frontman/guitarist Dave Brandwein and bassist Taylor Shell did not sign the message. Sound engineer Zach Fichter is also departing. The band formed at Berklee College of Music in 2008, eventually moving to New York City together to pursue music. 

    “We have spent the last several years traveling the world together with the intention of spreading love and joy through our music,” the statement read. “During that time, we have grown together as a family, and we’ve learned how to love and support each other through the best and worst of times.” 

    The statement also thanked fans for their dedication and support. “We are eternally grateful to have had the opportunity to perform for all of you, and even more grateful to have become close friends with so many of you along the way,” it read. 

    Turkuaz Losing Eight Members

    Dave Brandwein shared this statement as well:

    Dave here:
    With a heavy heart, we regret to say that the future of Turkuaz is uncertain. Today’s news is probably a shock to many of you. And unfortunately, this means any upcoming Turkuaz dates will not be happening as planned.
    Taylor and I respect the decision of our former bandmates to pursue their individual artistic endeavors.
    We love and appreciate all of our fans so much. Because of the positive moments, we enjoyed many years on the road playing the music we love to our fans across the country, and even globally.
    This is not the end of our artistic journeys. There is more to come. In the meantime, thank you for your support and the respect of our privacy as we navigate this new phase of our lives.

    The reasoning behind the decision remains unclear, and the departing members requested their privacy be respected in this matter. However, their fall has been turbulent. Though last week Turkuaz performed two dates at NYC’s Webster Hall, they canceled much of their fall tour earlier this month, citing health and safety risks. 

    In response to the announcement, fans expressed sadness, especially over the cancellation of the remaining fall tour dates. The Brooklyn Bowl’s Instagram account wished them the best, commenting “Thank you for so many great nights.” 

    Turkuaz at the Brooklyn Bowl in 2016. Photo by Thomas McKenna

    Though Turkuaz as we knew it may be over, the departing members said they are each hard at work on their own projects. 

    “There are some truly amazing things to come,” the message concluded. “We love you and thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.”

  • The Strokes Announce NYE Show At Barclays Center

    Indie rock favorites, The Strokes, have confirmed a New Year’s Eve show at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center along with IDLES and Hinds. This will be their first New Years show in two years with this one coming on the heels of they latest Grammy-award. Tickets will be available and

    The concert will be produced by leading touring entityLive Nation, the world’s preeminant live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship.

    At this time, under a current New York City mandate, ticket holders are required to have at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose to attend an event at Barclays Center. Concertgoers can visit the arena’s health and safety page for any updates to this mandate, along with a list of other safety measures and protocols.

    The Strokes released news of their upcoming NYE concert after recently headlining at Miami music festival, III Points and Atlanta’s Shaky Knees as well as their highly anticipated sold out show at The Forum in Los Angeles. Most recently, they made an appearance this past Halloween weekend at Outside Lands in San Francisco. Those that won’t be able to catch the NYE performance can rest easy, as the group have released numerous dates performing at festivals and select stadium dates along with Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2022.

    After releasing, The New Abnormal, their first album in seven years, the anticipation skyrocketed the album to chart topping status in 2020. Their latest Grammy is one in a long list of achievements as 2021 marks the twentieth anniversary of their record-shattering and universally beloved debut album, Is This It.

    THE STROKES LIVE

    2021

    December 31 Barclays Center Brooklyn, NY

    2022

    May 21 Corona Capital Guadalajara, Mexico

    June 3 Primavera Sound Sant Adrià de Besòs, Spain

    June 10 Primavera Sound Sant Adria de Besos, Spain

    June 12 Tempelhof Sounds Berlin, Germany

    July 6 NOS Alive Lisbon, Portugal

    July 8 Lytham Festival Lytham, U.K.

    July 9 TRNSMT Glasgow, Scotland

    July 22 Splendour in the Grass Yelgun, Australia

    August 3 T-Mobile Park Seattle, WA*

    August 6 Allegiant Stadium Las Vegas, NV*

    August 10 Suntrust Park Atlanta, GA*

    August 12 Nissan Stadium Nashville, TN*

    August 14 Comerica Park Detroit, MI*

    August 17 MetLife Stadium East Rutherford, NJ*

    August 19 Soldier Field Chicago, IL*

    August 21 Rogers Centre Toronto, ON*

    August 30 Hard Rock Stadium Miami, FL*

    September 1 Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, NC*

    September 3 Citizens Bank Park Philadelphia, PA*

    September 8 Nationals Park Washington, D.C.*

    September 15 Camping World Stadium Orlando, FL*

    September 18 Globe Life Field Arlington, TX*

    *with Red Hot Chili Peppers

  • MasterVoices Announces its 2021-22 Season

    MasterVoices has announced its 2021-22 season celebrating the chorus’ 80th season. The 2021-22 season opens on December 6, 2021 and will wrap up in June of 2022. 

    The First event will take place on December 6, 2021 at Carnegie Hall with A Joyful Noise, a return to performing before an audience after a two-year absence, featuring music to mark the holiday season as well as the perseverance of the human spirit after a long hiatus. Featured works include Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Thomas A. Dorsey’s If We Ever Needed the Lord Before (We Sure Do Need Him Now), traditional songs, and music by Adam Guettel, John Rutter and Randall Thompson. Joining MasterVoices are soprano Mikaela Bennett, the Northwell Health Nurse Choir and Take 6. MasterVoices will also provide some free tickets to a few hundred essential and frontline workers to this concert to thank them for their personal sacrifices during the Covid-19 pandemic during this event. 

    The second concert of the season will take place on March 10, 2022 at Carnegie Hall. The performance will be a semi-staged production of the cult-favorite musical, Stephen Sondheim’s and Arthur Laurents’ Anyone Can Whistle, starring Vanessa Williams. Written in 1964, the ahead-of-its-time satire shows early signs of Sondheim’s rebel genius as it skewers many targets, revealing what can happen when a community puts its faith in an unreliable leader. It has not been seen in New York since 2010, when it was presented by the Encores! series at City Center. 

    The season will wrap up in June with an outdoor concert, Songs for a Summer Night. The exact date and venue of the event haven’t been determined yet.  All of the pieces chosen for this program evoke the sounds, smells and emotions of summer, in their own fashion. It will feature several new arrangements conceived for the program. The concert includes the world premiere of a newly commissioned piece by Tariq Al-Sabir, inspired by the sounds of a New York City summer, as well as music by Barber, Berlioz, Gordon, Mendelssohn, Schwartz and Sondheim, among others. Joining MasterVoices are guests Shereen Pimentel, Tariq Al-Sabir, and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. 

    The central project of MasterVoices’ 2020-2021 season was the virtual rollout of award-winning composer Adam Guettel’s 1998 theatrical song cycle, Myths and Hymns, in an online staging conceived by Ted Sperling. The concert will be reprised this fall in a full-length broadcast version distributed by ALL ARTS, which will premiere nationwide on November 10 at 8 PM EST on the free ALL ARTS app and allarts.org, and in the New York metro area on the ALL ARTS TV channel. The ALL ARTS special will include an introduction by Ted Sperling.

    For more information on the upcoming season on MasterVoices’s website.

  • Marco Benevento Releases Single “At The End Or The Beginning”

    “At The End Or The Beginning” was released by Marco Benevento October 27, 2021 just before playing a two night run at Levon Helm Studio in Woodstock. The track opens with a satisfying bass hook and at first listen felt anthemic, yet atmospheric; much like stepping into the sun after a week of rain.

    Single cover for Marco Benevento’s “At The End Or The Beginning”


    It was only natural to want to listen to the song again and again. Repeatability is where the magic happened somewhere between the end or the beginning. After a few listens, the depth of the song began to present itself. While it would have been easy to write about all of the pain and suffering human kind has endured together, Marco chose a path less travelled.

    Link to In Depth Interview below


    “At The End Or The Beginning” presented an optimistic mindset for how to approach the world we are in today without ever touching a level of toxicity. It could be asserted that listening to a song like this could have real benefits to the mindset for anyone struggling to see tomorrow. The catchy groove that does not bombard could easily be on for quite a few cycles without noticing. 


    Marco Benevento has continuously demonstrated what it means to be an artist, not just a musician. His music, though seemingly fun, and out there, has never consisted of one layer in meaning. Zen master? Could be…

    Does a photograph mark the end or the begining?


    For more on Marco Benevento’s creative process, studio tour and thoughts on the Hudson Valley, check out NYSMusic exclusive in-depth interview by clicking here!

    marco benevento

    Marco Benevento Upcoming Tour Dates

    November 11 – Portsmouth, NH – The Press Room (Sold Out)
    November 12 – Portsmouth, NH – The Press Room (Sold Out)
    November 13 – Portsmouth, NH – The Press Room (Sold Out)
    November 27 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl
    December 11 – Miami, FL – North Beach Music Festival
    February 25 – Ardmore, PA – Ardmore Music Hall
    February 26 – Washington, DC – Union Stage
    April 7 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair
    April 8 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
    April 9 – Fairfield, CT – Stage One

  • This Week’s EQXposure Features Belle-Skinner, grape juice! And More

    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.

  • Tony Falco, Impresario Behind Hudson Valley’s Long-Running Falcon, Passes Away

    Hudson Valley lost one of its most tireless champions of music with the passing of Tony Falco, the face behind one of its most vital and varied performance venues, The Falcon. Falco passed away after a six-month battle with complications from Covid-19, he was 65 years old.

    A loving husband, father and an engaged community leader with many passions and skills, Tony founded The Falcon in the early 2000s in Marlboro, N.Y. 

    The venue became a mecca for jazz, blues, world, folk, and Americana musicians, while becoming one of Hudson Valley’s most prominent and diverse music clubs and well as its most beautiful. Called “The Village Vanguard of the Hudson Valley,” Tony imagined the Falcon as a community-focused, multi-art and musician-centric institution. At its pre-pandemic peak, the Falcon featured music on two stages nightly, rotating art exhibits — the Avalon Archives Museum — two restaurants and a network of trails and decks overlooking Marlboro Falls. 

    Born on September 12, 1956, Ferdinand and Margaret Falco in Staten Island, NY, where he was raised along with his six siblings. His journey began in 1979, while attending SUNY New Paltz, he met the love of his life — his wife of 37 years — Julie Farrell. They were married in 1984 and had four children; Adrianne, Svetlana, Lee, and Julian. In 1983, Tony graduated from New Paltz with a degree in Environmental Science. Over his scientific career, he operated and designed several wastewater treatment facilities throughout the Hudson Valley and owned Environmental Labworks, a water testing laboratory located in the same building as The Falcon.

    Rita Ryan, host of WVRK’s weekly radio show, Local Motion, featured Tony as a frequent guest.  

    Every time we did the show together I would tell him I thought he was the ‘richest man in town’ like Jimmy Stewart in It’s A Wonderful Live. For this particular interview he met me in the parking lot of the radio station and brought me pastries from a local bakery. Said he just couldn’t show up empty handed. He loved and was loved by everyone he touched. There will never be another like him.

    Ed Palermo, who played the club frequently with his Zappa and prog rock tribute big band, said:

    Tony Falco changed my life over ten years ago when he convinced me and my band to make the trek up north to his beautiful club, The Falcon. Tony never once asked me to “dial it down a tad” or keep my mouth shut about politics or anything that ruffled so many feathers the past few years. The club continues to be the best venue for my band to play and be weird. God bless you and your family, Tony. Rest in Peace, my eternal friend.

    A versatile renaissance man, Falco worked as an artist, entrepreneur, scientist, engineer, architect, builder, pilot, teacher and environmental conservationist. He was known for his generosity and adventurous mindset, as he loved to travel the world. During the pandemic, he designed and built the Marlboro Nature Trail and had recently took up horseback riding, serving as the proud owner of two horses, Houdini and Cinch.

    Tony is survived by his wife and kids; his mother; his six siblings (Gennaro, Julia Ruffo, Eddie, Tommy, Freddy, and Christopher); his lifelong best friend Cliff ‘Sonny’ Benson; his adopted children Suong Huynh and Javier Osorio; his children’s partners, Conor Shea, Alex Neckles, Jessica Brush, and Kaitlyn VanOrman; and his extended family of Falcon friends.

    Public celebrations of his life will be held the weekend of November 6. More details will be determined and posted at www.liveatthefalcon.com. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Amnesty International.

  • Dark Star Orchestra Announce New Years Run

    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. 

    “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.

  • The Wood Brothers Announce 2022 Tour Dates, Tour Begins at Kodak Center

    The Wood Brothers have announced their first shows in 2022. The Grammy Award-nominated, Nashville-based trio will head out on 19-date tour that begins January 25 at The Kodak Center in Rochester. They’ll also make stops in Albany, Plattsburgh and NYC before heading out west.

    wood brothers 2022
    ©Jay Blakesberg

    The first leg of dates—featuring support from singer/songwriter Steve Poltz—extends into February and stretches across the Northeast. Highlights include performances at 9:30 Club in Washington, DC, The Fillmore in Philadelphia, House of Blues in Boston and a return to Webster Hall in New York City to close out the run. After a brief pause, the second leg picks up on February 22 at The Rialto Theatre in Tucson and proceeds to blanket the Mountain states into March, including appearances at The Mission Ballroom in Denver, Center For The Arts in Jackson and Knitting Factory in Boise before concluding with two nights in Montana. Rounder Records’ recording artist Katie Pruitt performs an opening set each evening. 

    The Wood Brothers most recent album, Kingdom In My Mind, was released in January 2020. The pandemic forced the band to cut short touring plans in support of the collection thus many of the upcoming dates represent the first time fans will have an opportunity to witness the band performing material from the recording.While on hiatus in 2020, The Wood Brothers remained active, reissuing their landmark 2013 album The Muse on 2-LP vinyl and playing a series of livestreams. Additionally, Oliver Wood would record his first solo album, Always Smilin’. Released in May 2021 on The Wood Brothers’ imprint Honey Jar Records, the 12-track collection was warmly received by critics and fans alike.

    wood brothers 2022

    Tickets for the upcoming tour go on-sale on Friday, October 29 at 10am local. All shows will be available for purchase at thewoodbros.com

    The Wood Brothers Winter/Spring 2022 Tour

    1/25 – Rochester, NY – Kodak Center *
    1/26 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club *
    1/28 – Albany, NY – Palace Theater *
    1/29 – Portland, ME – State Theatre *
    1/30 – Plattsburgh, NY – Strand Center for the Arts * 
    1/31 – Providence, RI – The Strand *
    2/2 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall *
    2/3 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore *
    2/4 – Boston, MA – House of Blues *
    2/5 – New York, NY – Webster Hall *
    2/22 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre **
    2/23 – Scottsdale, AZ – Virginia G. Piper Theater **
    2/25 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom **
    2/26 – Crested Butte, CO – Center for the Arts **
    2/28 – Jackson, WY – Center for the Arts **
    3/1 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Commonwealth Room **
    3/ 3 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory **
    3/ 4 – Bozeman, MT – The ELM **
    3/ 5 – Missoula, MT – The Wilma **

    * w/ Steve Poltz
    ** w/ Katie Pruitt