NYS Music 202​1

Category: News Desk

  • Moldovan metalcore Band Infected Rain To Begin U.S. Tour, Multiple NY Stops

    Here’s some news sure to excite New York metalheads! Infected Rain are just three weeks away from kicking off their extensive fall tour around the country. The tour features over 30 dates, including stops across the Empire State in Buffalo, NYC, and Poughkeepsie. Infected Rain will be performing alongside headliners Butcher Babies on their “Butcher Babies vs. Goliath” tour. Other supporting bands include Stitched Up Heart and Kaleido.

    infected rain

    Infected Rain’s newest album is expected soon. The five piece band from Moldova most recently dropped their full length album Endorphins in 2019. Endorphins brought fans favorite tracks like “The Earth Mantra”, “Passerby”, “Lure”, “Storm”, and “Black Gold” and definitely brought a head banging energy with booming instrumentation, heavy riffs and intense vocals.

    Formed back in 2008, Infected Rain have established themselves as one of modern metal’s most iconic acts. Over the years, they’ve toured extensively around Europe and signed a deal with Napalm Records. The band is thrilled to be back on the road, especially with some of their contemporaries. Their three New York stops include Buffalo Iron Works in Buffalo, the Gramercy Theatre in NYC, and the Chance Theatre in Poughkeepsie.

    infected rain

    Here we come America – to all of you that have been patiently waiting, we are coming for you with the amazing Butcher Babies, Stitched Up Heart and Kaleido.

    Lena Scissorhands, vocalist, Infected Rain

    All tour dates are listed below. Connect with Infected Rain on their website, Instagram, and Facebook for updates.

    INFECTED RAIN U.S. Tour Dateswith Butcher Babies, Stitched Up Heart and Kaleido:

    Aug 29 – Jacksonville, FL @ Hooligans Music Hall

    Aug 30 – Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre

    Aug 31 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade

    Sept 1 – New Orleans, LA @ Southport Hall

    Sept 3 – Sauget, IL @ Pop’s

    Sept 5 – Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre

    Sept 6 – Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep

    Sept 7 – Denver, CO @ The Oriental Theater

    Sept 9 – Chippewa Falls, WI @ Every Buddy’s Bar^+

    Sept 10 – Ashwaubenon, WI @ Epic Event Center^+

    Sept 11 – Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s Rock Club

    Sept 12 – Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop^+

    Sept 14 – Lakewood, OH @ Winchester Music Tavern

    Sept 15 – Warrendale, PA @ Jergels

    Sept 17 – Buffalo, NY @ Buffalo Iron Works

    Sept 18 – Cambridge, MA @ Middle East (Downstairs)

    Sept 19 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre

    Sept 20 – Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance Theatre

    Sept 21 – Harrisburg, PA @ HMAC

    Sept 23 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Scandals Live

    Sept 28 – Dallas, TX @ Trees

    Sept 29 – Houston, TX @ Scout Bar

    Sept 30 – San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger

    Oct 1 – Austin, TX @ Empire Control Room

    Oct 2 – Lubbock, TX @ Jake’s Backroom

    Oct 4 – El Paso, TX @ Rockhouse Bar & Grill

    Oct 5 – Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole

    Oct 6 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge

    Oct 7 – Los Angeles @ 1720


    ^No Stitched Up Heart

    +Kaleido playing 

  • Steely Dan to play Capitol Theatre on “Absolutely Normal” Tour

    Steely Dan are ready to rock the East Coast this fall with their new “Absolutely Normal” tour. The tour starts in Miami Beach as the band works their way up to Boston. They will play a two-night stint at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester on November 9 and 10. Tickets for the Cap shows are available for purchase here.

    steely dan Absolutely Normal

    Along with their extensive tour, Steely Dan is releasing two new live albums. The first is a live recording of Donald Fagen’s acclaimed solo album The Nightfly, complete with instrumentation by the Steely Dan Band. The other, Northeast Corridor: Steely Dan Live!, is the first live album by the band in 25 years and was recorded at various venues like the Beacon Theatre in NYC and the Met in Philadelphia. Both live albums will release September 1, with vinyl releases October 1.

    Steely Dan’s New York roots run deep. Founded by Fagen and the late Walter Becker when they were students at Bard College in Annendale-on-Hudson, the duo later moved to Brooklyn before settling for many years in Los Angeles. The hit “My Old School” is inspired by Fagen and Becker’s Bard days, chronicling their arrest for marijuana possession with tounge-in-cheek lyrics. Steely Dan have performed at countless iconic New York venues beyond the Cap and the Beacon, including SPAC, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, and Madison Square Garden.

    steely dan Absolutely Normal
    Becker and Fagen in their Bard College days, photo credit unknown.

    Fagen and the band will play through Northeast Corridor: Steely Dan Live! along with additional hits at the first Cap show (Nov. 9), and through the entirety of their iconic fifth studio album The Royal Scam on Nov. 10. Fagen most recently played the Cap in 2017, supporting his solo project, Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers. All tour dates are listed below.

    Steely Dan: Absolutely Normal Tour Dates

    Oct. 5 – Miami Beach, FL – The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater

    Oct. 6 – Miami Beach, FL – The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater

    Oct. 8 – Miami Beach, FL – The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater

    Oct. 9 – Miami Beach, FL – The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater

    Oct. 12 – Orlando, FL – Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

    Oct. 13 – Orlando, FL – Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

    Oct. 15 – St. Petersburg, FL – Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater

    Oct. 16 –  St. Petersburg, FL – Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater

    Oct. 19 – Jacksonville, FL – Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts – Moran Theater

    Oct. 20 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Performing Arts Center

    Oct. 22 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium

    Oct. 23 – Richmond, VA – Altria Theater

    Oct. 25 – Baltimore, MD – Hippodrome Theatre at France-Merrick Performing Arts

    Oct. 27 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia

    Oct. 29 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia

    Oct. 30 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia

    Nov. 1 – Red Bank, NJ – Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre at the Count Basie Center

    Nov. 3 – Morristown, NJ – Mayo Performing Arts Center

    Nov. 4 – Morristown, NJ – Mayo Performing Arts Center

    Nov. 6 – Morristown, NJ – Mayo Performing Arts Center

    Nov. 7 – Morristown, NJ – Mayo Performing Arts Center

    Nov. 9 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre

    Nov. 10 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre

    Nov. 13 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre

    Nov. 14 – Bethlehem, PA – The Wind Creek Event Center

    Nov. 17 – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theatre 

    Nov. 19 – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theatre 

    Nov. 20 – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theatre

  • Binghamton Hosts Enticing Musical Events To Wrap Up Summer 2021

    Binghamton is bringing the heat this summer with several live concerts and other events planned. This summer’s lineup includes Wheelhouse, Wreckless Marci, and much more!

    Binghamton
    Otsiningo Park in Binghamton, NY, which will host several concerts this summer.

    The city of Binghamton is jam-packed with fun musical events this summer, most importantly their Broome Bands Together concert series that began in July. Upcoming concerts include Wheelhouse on August 10, and Wreckless Marci on August 17. The events will be held at Otsiningo Park in the Town of Dickenson from 6pm – 8pm and all those attending are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket.

    In addition to the Broome Bands Together series, Binghamton will host the Harper Stantz Rec Park Music Fest on Sunday, August 8. The festival features local and regional musical acts and is a great event for music lovers of all ages. The event takes place in the historic recreation park in Binghamton and offers many fun activities besides music, making it a fabulous way for families to enjoy a Sunday afternoon. This year’s performances will be mostly bluegrass and Americana, with some reggae mixed in as well.

    Binghamton
    Binghamton Recreation Park

    The Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra also has some exciting performances coming up. On August 14, Trio Pastoral will be performing as a part of the Summer Chamber Music series. On August 21, BPO’s Summer Chamber Music series will conclude with a lively performance featuring Unanimous Four, a greatly admired mixed ensemble.

    The action continues in Binghamton with Porch Fest, one of the community’s most highly anticipated events, on August 29. Porch Fest is a collaborative celebration of cultures, combined with nonstop dancing and live music.

    Binghamton Porch Fest

    You surely do not want to miss out on all that Binghamton has to offer this summer. The lineup of events is as follows:

    August 8th: Harper Stantz Rec Park Music Fest, 1-9pm, Recreation Park

    August 10th: Wheelhouse, 6-8pm, Otsiningo Park

    August 14th: BPO with Trio Pastoral, 5pm, Salvation Temple

    August 17th: Wreckless Marci, 6-8pm, Otsiningo Park

    August 21st: BPO with Unanimous Four, 5pm, Centenary-Chenango United Methodist Church

    August 27th: Porch Fest

  • Alice Cooper and Ace Frehley to Bring Rock n Roll back to the Stanley Theatre this September

    Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Alice Cooper will perform at The Stanley Theater in Utica on September 22, 2021. The shock-rocker, who is touring with former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley as his opening act, will mark Utica as his one and only gig in New York for his “Ol’ Black Eyes is Back” 2021-22 tour.

    alice cooper the stanley

    Alice Cooper pioneered a grandly theatrical brand of hard rock that was designed to shock audiences. Drawing equally from horror movies, vaudeville and garage rock, the group created a stage show that featured electric chairs, guillotines, fake blood and boa constrictors. He continues to tour regularly, performing shows worldwide with the dark and horror-themed theatrics that he is best known for.

    With a schedule that has included six months year in and year out on the road, Alice Cooper brings his own brand of rock psycho-drama to fans both old and new, enjoying it as much as the audience does. Known as the architect of shock-rock, Cooper (in both the original Alice Cooper band and as a solo artist) has rattled the cages and undermined the authority of generations of guardians of the status quo, continuing to surprise fans and exude danger at every turn.

    Released in Feb. 2021, his latest album Detroit Stories, produced by Bob Ezrin, is inspired by the garage rock music of Detroit in the late 1960’s. The album includes several classic covers of Detroit-hits from that era and was recorded in Detroit featuring all Detroit musicians. On top of that, “Nights With Alice Cooper,” Cooper’s nightly radio show, continues to air in nearly 100 cities in the U.S., Canada, Australia and the U.K.

    alice cooper

    Though his 2020 worldwide concert tour was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic,  Cooper looks forward to continuing to bring his iconic brand of rock & roll to fans on five continents now in 2021, 2022 and beyond. With his influence on rock & roll and pop culture long since acknowledged, there is little that Alice Cooper hasn’t achieved in his remarkable career, including platinum albums, sold-out tours and any number of honors and career achievement awards.   

    For nearly a century, The Stanley Theatre has brought the community together with live concerts, Broadway shows, musicals, ballets, movies, graduations and recitals. Today, The Stanley Theatre operates as a not-for-profit organization run by the Central New York Community Arts Council. Originally built as a movie theatre, The Stanley opened its doors in 1928 with 2,963 seats, a grand entry staircase that resembles the main staircase of the Titanic, a gold leaf interior and terra cotta and tiled mosaic exterior. Stanley Theatre was designed by renowned architect Thomas Lamb, whose remaining creations include The Stanley Theatre, Proctor’s Theatre and The Landmark Theatre.

    A pre-show dinner is also available, for the cost of $52 per person. The 3-course meal will be hosted in The Red Room of The Stanley Theatre on September 22, 2021 at 5:00pm. For tickets, call The Stanley Theatre Box Office at (315) 724-4000.

    The menu includes Hors D’oeuvres (Blue Cheese stuffed Figs wrapped in Bacon, Roasted Tomato & Pesto Bruschetta with Mozzarella, Belgian Endive with Mandarin Orange Vegetable Relish with Goat Cheese) a Mixed Berry Salad, Dinner Buffet (Carved Tenderloin of Beef, Chicken Poulet a l’Estragon, Vegetable Lasagna Roulade, Green Bean Almandine, Rosemary Roasted Red Potatoes) and Dessert (Miniature Mixed Berry Tacos, Fresh Fruit Plate)

    Fans are also able to enter to win this beautiful, one-of-a-kind painting created by local Utica artist Stephen Fletcher. For just $5 a ticket (or 6 tickets for $25), one lucky winner will be able to take home this priceless painting.

    Tickets can be purchased either in-person at The Stanley Theatre Box Office (10:30am-6pm) OR by calling 315-724-4000. The raffle will end after the Alice Cooper concert on Sept. 22. The lucky winner will be announced via social media the following day. That gives you plenty of time to throw your name into the hat to win this amazing piece of artwork!

    While you are getting your raffle tickets, make sure you get yourself a ticket to see Alice Cooper and Ace Frehley on Sept. 22 at 7:30pm. Tickets are going fast! Test your luck and enter to win this beautiful painting, courtesy of Stephen Fletcher.

    Please Note: Raffle tickets will be unavailable for purchase on Sept. 15 and 16, as The Stanley Theatre will be closed those two days. In addition, the winner will be responsible for proper shipping and insurance costs, depending on where they live, or arrange for pick up at the theatre. No international shipping.

  • Lecco Morris and Friends Announce Live Premiere of “We The Nighthawks”

    Schenectady native and artistic producer Lecco Morris along with fellow New Yorkers, singer Kimberly Hawkey and lyricist Justin K. Rivers, have announced the live premiere of their thirteen-track album We the Nighthawks. Occurring on August 17 at The Linda in Albany at 8 p.m., the audience will be treated to performances that pull many genres including art song, jazz, musical theatre, and America.

    lecco morris

    Released earlier this year in May, the album captures within Hawkey’s crystalline and sometimes haunting voice what makes us all human – “life, love, and loss”. Recorded at Dreamland Studios in upstate New York with an impressive full orchestra of twenty musicians, the album has a solid foundation behind it. Despite covid putting the album on a brief hold, each musician showed up on recording day after receiving the required negative COVID test to enter the studio. Bringing a plethora of experience to the team is Grammy-nominated Assaf Gleizner as musical director, and seven-time Grammy-winning producer, Joel Moss. Moss’s impressive client list includes the late Ray Charles, Stephen Sondheim, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tony Bennett, Johnny Cash, and many more during a career in the music industry that has spanned over fifty years.

    Moss was at first skeptical about undertaking the indie record at first saying, “My first listening of these Morris/Rivers compositions was a simple piano/vocal recording.  The fact that its simplicity featured the brilliant playing of Assaf Gleizner and the angelic voice of Kimberly Hawkey was not wasted on my ready-to-be-unexcited ears. I was immediately captivated, and rather than quickly scanning, tune to tune, I listened intently, top to bottom…twice.”  

    While We the Nighthawks might be Morris’s first full-length studio album that he composed, it is only a small fraction of musical experience this pianist has under his belt. Growing up in western New York, Morris was “born in the theater” due to his father Philip Morris’s positions at the Arts Council for Chautauqua County and The Reg Lenna Center for the Arts in Jamestown. While Morris did not participate in the theater directly, it was the springboard for future artistic endeavors. Since the tender age of 3, Lecco Morris has been perfecting his piano skills before turning to create music in his early teens.

    During Morris’s senior year is when his music career took off. While entering his senior year of high school, Morris was given special permission to attend college-level classes at SUNY Schenectady School of Music. The stellar programming prepared Morris for a heavy curriculum that he later took renowned NYU Steinhardt where he obtained his degree in Music Theory and Composition. Morris also credits SUNY Schenectady School of Music for the ability to overcome the creative challenges faced trying to compose an album during the midst of a pandemic.

    “The program’s music fundamentals – particularly theory and aural skills – were so thorough that I tested out of an entire year and a half of required credits at NYU’s music theory and composition program, affording me space in my schedule to explore more advanced musical coursework.”

    Morris has since participated in many different art forms including acting, improv poetry, touring theater pieces but never straying far from his love for music. Fans can stay tuned for more stunning creative alchemy from Morris, Rivers, and Hawkey for their upcoming holiday album “A New Noel”, set to be released November this year, and a sophomore studio album.

    Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.

  • The Egg Adds Kaki King and Milk Carton Kids to 2021-22 Concert Series

    Finally, nearly a year and a half after the theatres closed due to COVID-19, The Egg is ready to reopen in August for a new extraordinary season of music, dance, and family performances. Performances were recently added to The Egg’s 2021-22 concert series including Kaki King on September 18, The Milk Carton Kids on September 24, and Bruce Cockburn on February 25.

    The Egg

    Saturday, September 18 at 8 PM – Kaki King

    Considered one of the most unique guitarists of our time, Kaki King combines virtuoso technique, insatiable imagination, and boundless humanity as heard on her most recent recording “Modern Yesterdays” where she continues to deconstruct and redefine the boundaries of the guitar through technique, imagination, and boundless humanity. Tickets for the show cost $29.50.

    Friday, September 24 at 7:30 PM –  The Milk Carton Kids 

    The Milk Carton Kids – Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan – combine ethereal harmonies and intricate musicianship into a uniquely powerful brand of contemporary songcraft becoming one of today’s foremost folk duos. Tickets for the show cost $36.


    Friday, October 15 at 8 PM     – Jake Shimabukuro

    Jake Shimabukuro is without a doubt the world’s foremost ukulele virtuoso.  Renowned for lightning-fast fingers and revolutionary playing techniques, Jake will perform his eclectic repertoire of jazz, blues, funk, classical, bluegrass, folk, flamenco, rock, and traditional Hawaiian music.

    Saturday, December 18 at 8 PM – The McKrells Holiday Show

    Fusing Celtic sounds with American folk and bluegrass for over 40 years, singer/songwriter Kevin McKrell leads a revamped band featuring Frank Orsini on fiddle, Scott Hopkins on banjo, Arlin Greene on bass and Brian Melick on percussion for an evening of original and traditional acoustic music – along with some holiday favorites.

    Saturday, February 5 at 11 AM – The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favorites by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia

    Three beloved stories by Eric Carle, award-winning children’s book illustrator and author, are retold on stage through the magic of black light and fanciful puppets by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia. The Very Hungry Caterpillar follows the wonderful adventures of a caterpillar as he eats his way through an amazing variety of foods on his path to becoming a beautiful butterfly. Little Cloud playfully transforms himself into various creatures, including a sheep, and an airplane, a shark and more. The Mixed-Up Chameleon takes an adventurous trip to the zoo, where he attempts to emulate the beautiful animals he sees before coming to the conclusion that there is value in his own unique self.

    Friday, February 25 at 7:30 PM – Bruce Cockburn 

    Bruce Cockburn’s music explores urban, political, and social issues in a poetically and rhythmically unique style that has produced classic songs such as “Wonderin’ Where the Lions Are”, “Lovers in a Dangerous Time” and “If I Had A Rocket Launcher.” Bruce performs his prized songbook solo and acoustic. Tickets for the show range from $39.50 to $49.50.

    For safety purposes, The Egg will be following the current guidelines set by the State of New York and CDC for each performance. As these guidelines are subject to change, please check the event on their website a week in advance to see what restrictions are expected to be in place on the date of the performance. Cooperation in abiding by the guidelines to ensure the safety of everyone attending the show is appreciated.

    Updated Schedule for The Egg 2021-22 Concert Series:

    August

    7: Swan Lake

    13: Tanya Tucker

    17: Ann Wilson

    September

    2: Melissa Etheridge

    9: Joan Osborne & Madeleine Peyroux

    15: Todd Snider

    16: Molly Tuttle

    17: Bernstein-Goldings-Stewart Jazz Organ Trio

    18: Kaki King

    23-24: Jo Koy

    24: The Milk Carton Kids

    25: Five for Fighting

    26: Los Lobos

    30: Mersey Beatles

    October

    1: Stephen Lynch

    18: Indigo Girls

    21: Kyle Kinane

    24: Three Dog Night

    24: Robyn Hitchcock

    30: Enter the Haggis

    A full calendar of The Egg 2021-22 events can be viewed by clicking here.

    A virtual visit to The Egg can be viewed by clicking here.

    Tickets are currently on sale online at theegg.org, by telephone at 518-473-1845, or in person at The Egg Box Office Monday – Friday from 11 AM – 3 PM.

  • Nas Releases “King’s Disease II”, featuring Lauryn Hill, A Boogie, YG and more

    King’s Disease II, the sequel to Nas’ Grammy-winning King’s Disease has officially been released through Mass Appeal Records. The predecessor – produced exclusively by renowned producer, Hit-Boy — obtained Nas the only Grammy award of his illustrious career. As such, the sequel has garnered a fair share of hype, especially after Nas revealed the track list through his official Instagram page. 

    King's Disease II Nas

    The project has a varying guest-list, fluctuating between contemporary acts and established legends. The earliest contributions come from Eminem and East Coast hip hop legends, EPMD, consisting of Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith. As fans anticipate how the contrasting lyrical abilities of Eminem and Nas will co-exist on a record, an appearance from EPMD is sure to be Nostalgic and be reminiscent of a classic hip hop posse cut. 

    King’s Disease II will also see the reappearance of Ms. Lauryn Hill to the mainstream hip-hop scene. While she still tours and drops the occasional record, an album cut of this magnitude has eluded, the Grammy-winning rapper/singer for quite some time. In turn, her presence on the album has raised hopes that the duo can create more magic together.  

    Apart from old collaborators, the Queensbridge native has also enlisted the likes of A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, YG, Los Angeles rapper Blxst and Charlie Wilson (who also featured on King’s Disease). 

    Unlike the prequel, is seems as though the production will vary on King’s Disease II, with only one record featuring Hit-Boy. The Grammy-winning producer will still earn executive producer credits, along with Nas. 

    Accompanying the album will also be the official music video for “Rare.” King’s Disease II is Nas’ 14th studio album.

  • Concerts Announced in all Five Boroughs for NYC Homecoming Week

    Concerts have been announced in all five boroughs of New York City taking place August 14-22, 2021. The stacked lineups will help create New York City’s “Homecoming Week” to celebrate the return of NYC over one year into the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

    homecoming week

    Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the lines earlier this week including the mega show being held on Central Park’s Great Lawn which is the centerpiece of the celebration. Outside of the centerpiece event, the theme for the shows will be “It’s Time for Hip Hop in NYC,” with hip-hop, Latin freestyle, dance, freestyle, techno, and funk artists dominating the lineups. 

    homecoming week

    The concerts will take place at Orchard Beach in The Bronx on, August 16 from 3 to 9:30 PM, Midland Beach on Staten Island on August 17 from 4 to 9:30 PM , Brooklyn Army Terminal in Brooklyn August 19 from 4 to 9:30 PM, Forest Hills Stadium in Queens on 20 from 4 to 9:30 PM, and wrapping up at the Central Park’s Great Lawn in Manhattan on August 21, 5 PM. 

    For more information on New York City’s “Homecoming Week” visit their website and check out the full lineup below: 

    Orchard Beach in The Bronx – Monday, August 16th from 3 to 9:30 p.m.

    • KRS One (Headliner)
    • Slick Rick (Headliner)
    • Remy Ma (Headliner)
    • Busy Bee
    • CL Smooth
    • DJ Hollywood
    • DJ Jazzy Joyce
    • DJ Kevie Kev
    • Fantastic Five
    • Furious 5 featuring Grandmaster Melle Mel and Scorpio
    • Grand Wizard Theodore
    • Joeski Love
    • Kid Capri
    • Nice & Smooth
    • PopMaster Fabel
    • Soul Sonic Force
    • T La Rock
    • Ultra Magnetic MC’s

    Midland Beach on Staten Island – Tuesday, August 17th from 4 to 9:30 p.m.

    • Raekwon (Headliner)
    • Ghostface Killah (Headliner)
    • Crystal Waters
    • DJ Chuck Chillout
    • EMPD
    • Force MDs
    • Hakim Green
    • HeeSun Lee
    • Kool Keith
    • Lizzy Ashliegh
    • Pharoahe Monch
    • Rikki
    • Rob Base
    homecoming week

    Brooklyn Army Terminal in Brooklyn – Thursday, August 19th from 4 to 9:30 p.m.

    • Big Daddy Kane (Headliner)
    • Desiigner (Headliner)
    • C&C Music Factory
    • DJ Mr. Cee
    • Elle Varner
    • Judy Torres
    • Lizzy Ashliegh
    • Maino
    • Obasi Jackson
    • Papoose
    • PopMaster Fabel
    • Special Ed
    • Stetsasonic
    • Sweet Sensation
    • Young Devyn

    Forest Hills Stadium in Queens – Friday, August 20th from 4 to 9:30 p.m.

    • George Clinton + The P-Funk All Stars with Special Guests (Headliner)
    • Too $hort (Headliner)
    • DJ Hurricane
    • DJ Wiz
    • EPMD
    • Mobb Deep
    • Yo-Yo

    HOW TO GET IN: All attendees must present proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter the “It’s Time for Hip Hop in NYC” concerts. Reasonable accommodation will be provided for persons unable to get vaccinated because of a disability. Free tickets for all four concerts will be released to the public in batches at nyc.gov/HomecomingWeek starting on Monday, August 2 at 10 a.m. EDT. Additional free ticket release dates and times are as follows:

    • Tuesday, August 3 at 7 a.m. EDT
    • Wednesday, August 4 at 9 p.m. EDT
    • Thursday, August 5 at 7 a.m. EDT
    • Friday, August 6 at 10 a.m. EDT
    • Saturday, August 7 at 9 p.m. EDT

    And once again, here’s the lineup so far for the Homecoming Concert in Central Park, produced in part by Clive Davis and will air on CNN. You can get more details on this show here.

    Central Park’s Great Lawn in Manhattan – Saturday, August 21st, 5 p.m.

    • Jon Batiste
    • Andrea Bocelli
    • Kane Brown
    • LL COOL J
    • Elvis Costello
    • Lucky Daye
    • Earth, Wind & Fire
    • Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds
    • Cynthia Erivo
    • Jimmy Fallon
    • Jennifer Hudson
    • Wyclef Jean
    • Journey
    • The Killers
    • Gayle King
    • Don Lemon
    • Barry Manilow
    • The New York Philharmonic
    • Polo G
    • Carlos Santana
    • Paul Simon
    • Patti Smith
    • Bruce Springsteen
    • Rob Thomas  

    HOW TO GET IN: Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale VIP tickets beginning Thursday, July 29th at 10 a.m. EDT until Sunday, August 1st at 10 p.m. EDT. For all presale details, visit citientertainment.com. Additionally, Citi will be giving away 1,000 general admission tickets to Citi cardmembers on a first-come, first-served basis beginning on Monday, August 2nd at 10 a.m. EDT. Free tickets, as well as VIP tickets for purchase, will be released to the public in batches at nyc.gov/HomecomingWeek starting on Monday, August 2nd at 10 a.m. EDT. Additional free and VIP ticket release dates and times are as follows:

    • Tuesday, August 3 at 7 a.m. EDT
    • Wednesday, August 4 at 9 p.m. EDT
    • Thursday, August 5 at 7 a.m. EDT
    • Friday, August 6 at 10 a.m. EDT
    • Saturday, August 7 at 9 p.m. EDT

  • Jake Huffman to Debut solo Project at Mercury Lounge on August 10

    Two years after finding his new sound, producer and multi-instrumentalist Jake Huffman will debut his solo project at Lower East Side venue Mercury Lounge on Tuesday, August 10th. The performance follows the release of his new single “Just a Little More,” due out on August 6th. The performance will not only be Huffman’s solo debut, but also his first post-pandemic show, following a period of songwriting and refocusing over 2020-21.

    Jake Huffman is best known as the drummer and lead singer for McLovins, a role he started at the age of 14, when a video of he and his bandmates performing Phish’s “You Enjoy Myself” went viral. The group would continue to play for nearly 10 years, garnering a strong fan base and leading Huffman to work as a composer and lyricist for Sesame Street, as well as performances with Blink-182, Jack White and Post Malone, and written dozens of songs for artist likes Ed Sheeran and Leon Bridges.

    When COVID-19 hit and the music industry shut down, Huffman hunkered down in his studio and went back to college, getting a Certificate in Music Producation from Berkelee School of Music in Boston. Taking time to dive into his studio work, Huffman wrote about 50 tunes over 2020-21 because he was locked in, both physically (not being able to go outside) and mentally (focused on writing 6-7 hours a day), in addition to teaching music lessons remotely four days a week.

    jake huffman

    Huffman’s writing flows into an Indie rock/Indie pop mindset, with influence from early 2000’s alt-rock, combined with deeply personal lyrics reflecting on specific moments, with some left open to interpretation. The needs of a band can change from month to month, making it a journey for individual and group personalities. That’s where his head has been since McLovins called it a day.

    It’s hard to be in a band for a long time, especially for Jason (Ott, bassist) and me, who were playing together in bands for 10 years. Then a lot of shit hit at the right time, and broke everything. All of us are probably better people because of it. I loved all the time and music and the people I met through McLovins. That’s what I’ve been writing about. At times I wasn’t sure what to write about, so some is ambiguous and some relates to that. The new music relates to the journey with McLovins.

    Jake Huffman

    When Jake got the call for the Mercury Lounge show on August 10, he was overcome with joy. Planning for an Indie rock vibe, he’ll bring a new set up – Huffman cites the influence of Milky Chance in the stage set up – so as to avoid feeling too stiff for the performance. Jake will be behind the kit, playing guitar, and singing throughout, offering a fresh look at a musician who had been cast into the spotlight since his sophomore year of high school. With his single releasing on August 6, expect to hear “Just a Little More” as well as more debuts of future singles that tell a story for an eventual EP.

    Currently working as a producer and living in central Connecticut, Huffman will aim for more shows this fall, and notes how much he loved playing with McLovins, with reflections on how to move forward having learned lessons.

    We were so young and booked these long runs of shows, promoted the tour and not the individual shows. I wish we did one show at a time and just blown out that one show. I don’t want to take for granted any of the shows played, just take it one show at a time until I can get to see who’s listening.

    Jake Huffman

    Get tickets for the Mercury Lounge show on August 10 here. Show time is 6pm.

  • Inaugural Jam on the Lift Festival comes to Western NY

    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.

    jam on the lift

    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.”

    Witty Tarbox

    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.