Category: News Desk

Umphrey’s McGee 2021 Tour to make stops in Lafayette, Woodstock, Port Chester

Chicago prog/jam stalwarts Umphrey’s McGee will make a few stops in the Empire State this June on their 2021 Summer and Fall Tour. Apple Valley Park in Lafayette will host the group on Friday, June 25th and Saturday, June 26th, while Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock will have a special one night show on Sunday, June 27th.

Later this year, they’ll make a two-night stop at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, bringing with them their unique fan-engagement experience, UMBowl.

Like previous events at Apple Valley Park, events will be socially distanced, with fans being able to purchase tickets in roped-off PODS for parties of 2, 4 or 6. In an effort to create a safe experience for guests, a carefully throughout site plan has been developed allowing for temperature screenings and surveys to be conducted upon entering the event grounds. To adhere to social distancing guidelines, all PODS are spaced a minimum of six feet apart. A variety of food and beverage options will be available for purchase. Site map and FAQ for the venue can be found here.

Tickets for Apple Valley go on sale to the general public this Friday, May 21st at 12pm at applevalleypark.com

At Levon Helm Studios, proof of completion of a full COVID-19 vaccination (+2 weeks) is required for entry, and masks are required. The gates will open at 6:30pm on Sunday, June 27, with doors at 7:30pm and show at 8:00pm. Reserved Seating tickets are $100 and standing room are $75 each.

Tickets to the Levon Helm Studios performance are available here, and are non-refundable and non-transferrable.

June 27th will mark UM’s first appearance at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, New York. The iconic studio and performance space has played a starring role in many legendary nights of music. Home to the famous Midnight Rambles, the Barn has a “if these walls could talk” quality that has inspired musicians for nearly 50 years, all of us included.

To honor the legacy of community and camaraderie that Levon fostered, Umphrey’s McGee will present Rambling On, an evening of mostly true tales live from Helm Studios. Interspersed throughout the show, the band will share recollections from the road, stories of the studio, tales of tunes, and other alliterative shenanigans.

If fans have a question or (likely untrue) rumored story that you’re curious about, try them out here.

Umphrey’s McGee Summer-Fall Tour

June 18-20 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO

June 25-26 – Apple Valley Park – Lafayette, NY

June 27 – Levon Helm Studios – Woodstock, NY

June 29-30 – Showtime At The Drive-In – Frederick, MD

July 1-4 – The Peach Music Festival – Scranton, PA

July 9-10 – The Caverns Outdoor Amphitheater – Pelham, TN

July 23-24 – Northlands – Swanzey, NH

Aug. 5 – Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre – Wilmington, NC

Aug. 6-7 – Beech Mountain Summer Series – Beech Mountain, NC

Aug. 8 – Avondale Brewing Company – Birmingham, AL

Aug. 13 – Riverside Theater – Milwaukee, WI

Aug. 14 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN

Aug. 15 – Lauridsen Amphitheater At Water Works Park – Des Moine, IA

Aug. 19-22 – Summer Camp Music Festival – Chillicothe, IL

Sept. 2 – Terrapin Crossroads – San Rafael, CA

Sept. 3 – Fox Theater – Oakland, CA

Sept. 4 – The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA

Sept. 5 – The Observatory North Park – San Diego, CA

Sept. 9 – Stubbs Bar-B-Q Outdoors – Austin, TX

Sept. 10 – House of Blues – Houston, TX

Sept. 11 – House of Blues – Dallas, TX

Sept. 12 – Cain’s Ballroom – Tulsa, OK

Sept. 16-17 – Resonance Music And Arts Festival – Masontown, WV

Sept. 18 – TCU Amphitheater At White River State Park – Indianapolis, IN

Oct. 8-9 – UMBowl At The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY

Nov. 12-13 – The Pageant – St. Louis, MO

Nov. 14 – Morris Performing Arts Center – South Bend, IN

Nov. 18-19 – The National – Richmond, VA

Nov. 20 – The Norva – Norfolk, VA

June 12, 2021
Deadmau5 Announces Summer Tour, Brooklyn Mirage shows

Electronic music star Deadmau5 will be playing across the country this July on an exciting summer tour.

Deadmau5, also known as Joel Zimmerman, has been an iconic figure in the electronic music and production song for over fifteen years. He has seven critically acclaimed albums as well as multiple Juno awards and Grammy nominations.

Deadmau5 will be making 12 stops on this tour, including two nights at the Brooklyn Mirage on July 10 and 11. He will be showcasing his latest popular track releases at each show, including “Hypnocurrency” with REZZ, “Channel 43” with Wolfgang Gartner, “Bridged By A Lightwave” with Kiesza and “Pomegranate” with The Neptunes. He will, of course, also perform more fan favorites from his extensive catalogue.

All tour dates are listed on the poster above. Tickets are currently on sale and can be accessed here.

June 11, 2021
Multilingual Funk Collagists Khruangbin Announce Two Shows at Radio City Music Hall

Khruangbin just announced an exciting back-to-back night showing at New York City’s legendary Radio City Music Hall on March 9 and March 10 of 2022. Venue veteran Khruangbin has previously opened for Leon Bridges here in 2018, in addition to their previous showings. However, these upcoming concert dates will mark their first time ever headlining Radio City.

The Houston-based band is known for their hazy instrumentals that combine Persian Funk, Middle Eastern soul, Jamaican dub, and surf-rock. They recently sold out the first night of Red Rocks, and have added another performance upon high demand. Additionally, the trio has a three-date run at Atlanta’s Eastern and will play three shows live at Los Angeles’ iconic Greek Theatre this coming fall.

Before the pandemic, Khruangbin had a packed schedule. The band played at almost every major global festival in the world including Coachella, Glastonbury, Austin City Limits, SXSW, and more. Khruangbin had also been on the road non-stop prior to the pandemic, and are now taking advantage of the rising demand for in-person concert showings amid the lessening effects of COVID-19.

Khruangbin Making Their Capitol Theatre Debut (Pre-pandemic)

Tickets for the New York City shows will go on sale this Friday, June 11th at 10:00 AM ET. The show will also feature English jazz musician and saxophonist Nubya Garcia. Interested in learning more about what Khruangbin has in store for 2021? For more information regarding price and ticket availability, visit their website HERE

Listen to some of Khruangbin’s top hits below:

June 11, 2021
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Will Open Fall Tour in Port Chester

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, the Baltimore-based funk quartet, just announced their Fall 2021 tour. There are fourteen stops planned, the first two of which are at the historic Capitol Theater in Port Chester, NY. From there, they will travel to various cities across the country to leave fans in awe of their funky sound.

The band cannot wait to get back on stage: “I think one of the silver linings of this pandemic is all of our renewed appreciation for live music,” says singer/guitarist “Scrambled Greg” Ormont. “The bands, the fans, the venues, we’re all rejuvenated and ready to unleash this energy. Honestly, as fired up as I am to get back on stage, I’m almost more excited to see how the crowd reacts to being back in our collective element. It’s going to be a tour for the ages.”

After kicking off the tour in Port Chester on October 14th and 15th, P4 will continue on to the mid-atlantic region with an exciting trio of Halloween themed shows. They will then perform in Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis. After stopping in Des Moines, they will end the tour in Denver on November 13th. Supporting acts include Sunsquabi (October 29th to the 31st) and Neighbor (October 16th). Magic Beans will join Pigeons for the remaining tour dates.

Fall tour tickets will be available via Artist Presale running Wednesday June 16th at 10am through Thursday June 17th at 10pm local time using the password FLOCK. General onsale will begin Friday June 18th at 10am local time, with the exception of Denver’s Mission Ballroom which will go on sale Friday at 12pm MT.

For more information, click here.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Fall 2021 Tour:

10/15 Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre

10/16 Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre

10/29 Washington, DC – The Anthem

10/30 Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE

10/31 Columbus, OH – Express Live

11/3 Detroit, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre

11/4 Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room

11/5 St. Louis, MO – The Pageant

11/6 Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater

11/7 Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater

11/9 Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s

11/10 Kansas City, MO – The Truman

11/12 Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre

11/13 Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom

June 11, 2021
Z2 Comics Announces Anthrax-inspired Graphic Novel “Among the Living”

Z2 Comics announced that the graphic novel, Among the Living which was inspired by Anthrax, and the titans of thrash metal’s landmark 1987 album of the same name, to be released in stores on July 6. In an effort to support the comic book specialty market, which had been hardest hit by the COVID-19 health crisis of the past year, Anthrax and Z2 shipped a surprise limited number of copies early that stores could make available for sale this week.

L-R: Jon Donias, Frank Bello, Charlie Benante, Scott Ian, Joey Belladonna
Photo Credit: Jimmy Hubbard

2021 marks Anthrax’s 40th anniversary, during which time the band has released 11 studio albums, been awarded multiple Gold and Platinum certifications, six Grammy nominations, and a host of other accolades from the media, the music industry, and fans. In 1991, the band helped break down race and genre barriers when they collaborated with Public Enemy on the track “Bring The Noise,” and was the first metal band to have its music heard on Mars when NASA played “Got The Time” to wake up the Mars Rover in 2012.

I grew up with Marvel and DC, and they were part of my life from the time I was four or five years old. My mom worked at Primrose Bakery on Tremont Avenue in New York, and when I’d go to work with her, I’d sit in the back with the bakers. I’d read and draw the superheroes from the comics she would buy for me from this little shop just a couple of doors down. I’ve loved everything about comic books and the neighborhood comic book stores ever since.
-Anthrax’s Charlie Benante

Anthrax and their landmark 1987 album Among the Living influenced an entire generation of metalheads, cementing the New York band’s place in the Big 4 of Thrash alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer. The book pulls together a “who’s who” of names from the worlds of comics and music who created “bubble dialogue” and original artwork to express what the songs meant to them. Taking advantage of COVID-19’s prohibition of concert touring, the band has been hard at work writing the next Anthrax album. Check with your local comic shop for the availability of the standard TPB edition, with all editions available to order directly from Z2’s website now, with Charlie Benante’s Judge Dredd variant exclusive to preorders.

June 10, 2021
Joe Bonamassa Announces Fall 2021 Tour

Acclaimed Utica-based guitarist and songwriter Joe Bonamassa has announced an extensive 33 tour dates for fall 2021. Bonamassa’s latest project, a live album entitled Now Serving: Royal Tea Live From The Ryman, comes out Friday, June 11.

Photo by Robert Sutton

Bonamassa will stop in New York twice on his fall tour. He is set to play the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester on November 22 and the Rochester Auditorium Theatre in Rochester on November 24. The full list of tour dates is listed below.

Bonamassa is one of the biggest modern names in blues-rock and was even named “the world’s biggest blues guitarist” by Guitar World Magazine. He, like other live musicians, is marking his return to the stage in over a year. The fall tour kicks off October 8 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, where Bonamassa recorded his latest live album.

Throughout the pandemic and during the pause of live music, Bonamassa focused on raising money for his non-profit Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation through the Fueling Musicians Program. The nonprofit centers on providing financial assistance to touring musicians who had their income streams cut off in this tumultuous time.

Now Serving: Royal Tea Live From The Ryman comes out Friday and tickets for the fall tour will be available on the same day. Links for purchase can be found here.

TOUR DATES

October 8-9: Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium

October 11: Little Rock, AR – Robinson Performance Hall

October 13: Shreveport, LA – Shreveport Municipal Auditorium

October 15: San Antonio, TX – Majestic Theatre

October 16: Sugar Land, TX – Smart Financial Centre

October 17: Grand Prairie, TX – Texas Trust CU Theatre

October 19: Fayetteville, AR – Walton Arts Center

October 21: Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Theater

October 22: Memphis, TN – Cannon Center for the Performing Arts

October 23: Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace

October 25: Evansville, IN – Old National Events Center

October 27: Fort Wayne, IN – Embassy Theatre

October 29: Indianapolis, IN – Murat Theatre at Old National Centre

October 30: St. Louis, MO – Stifel Theatre

October 31: Cincinatti, OH – Taft Theatre

November 19: Springfield, MA – Symphony Hall

November 20: Providence, RI – Providence Performing Arts Center

November 22: Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre

November 24: Rochester, NY – Rochester Auditorium Theatre

November 26: Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre

November 27: Youngstown, OH – Covelli Centre

November 28: Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre

November 30: Easton, PA – State Theatre

December 1: Reading, PA – Santander Performing Arts Center

December 3: Roanoke, VA – Berglund Performing Arts Theatre

December 4: Baltimore, MD – The Lyric

December 5: Richmond, VA – Dominion Energy Center

December 7: Savannah, GA – Johnny Mercer Theater

December 8: Sarasota, FL – Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

December 10: St. Augustine, FL – The St. Augustine Ampitheatre

December 11: Estero, FL – Hertz Arena

December 12: Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live

June 10, 2021
Tanglewood Increases Capacity for 2021 Season

Tanglewood, the home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, has announced a significant increase in capacity from the previously announced attendance cap of 25% to 50% for the 2021 Tanglewood Season this July 9 – Aug 16.

The decision is in response to recent health and safety issuances by the Centers for Disease Control, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and Berkshires’ Tri-Town Health Department, as well as feedback from the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s own team of experts – including 9Foundations.

In support of regulations set by the Tri-Town Health Department and the Lenox and Stockbridge health boards, Tanglewood will limit attendance capacity to 9,000—50% of its usual capacity of 18,000. With this significant increase in capacity, they will now be able to welcome up to 2,400 patrons inside the Shed and 6,600 patrons on the lawn. While physical distancing will no longer be enforced on the lawn, the approximate 50% capacity will ensure ample space for voluntary physical distancing should patrons choose that option.

Tanglewood will now maintain three-feet physical distancing between patron parties seated in the Koussevitzky music shed for all Boston Symphony Orchestra related performances, from July 9 through Aug 16. In addition, they will no longer require patrons to wear masks, though it is recommend masking and physical distancing for people who are unvaccinated based on Center for Disease Control guidelines.

The new 9,000 overall capacity limit also applies to the new 2021 Popular Artists schedule, though there will be no capacity restrictions in the Koussevitzky Music Shed. Performances that have been rescheduled for later this summer include:

Brandi Carlile, with opening artist Mavis Staples, originally scheduled for July 27, will now perform on Aug 21, with ticket sales resuming on Monday, June 21.

Judy Collins, Richard Thompson, and Jesse Colin Young, originally scheduled for June 20, will now perform on Aug 22, with ticket sales resuming on Monday, June 21.

Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me will take place on the originally scheduled date of Aug 26, with tickets on sale now.

Performances by James Taylor, Ringo Starr, and The Mavericks & Los Lobos, originally scheduled to take place on June 17, June 27 and Aug 31, respectively, have been rescheduled for the 2022 Tanglewood Season. The Trey Anastasio concert Scheduled on June 19 and the John Legend concert on August 28 have been canceled.

Additional tickets affected by the 50% capacity change will go on sale to the public on Monday, June 21. Existing ticket inventory remains on sale now. To stay up to date on shows, see highlights from the season, and acquire tickets visit the BSO website.

For more information about safety guidelines and protocol visit the Safe and Sound section on the BSO website.

June 10, 2021
“Springsteen On Broadway” Returns For Limited Summer Run At The St. James Theatre

Bruce Springsteen will return to Broadway this summer for a limited run of “Springsteen on Broadway” performances at Jujamcyn’s St. James Theatre (246 W 44th Street). Shows begin Saturday June 26, with additional performances taking place through September 4.

Credit: Rob DeMartin

Based on his worldwide best-selling autobiography ‘Born to Run,’ “Springsteen on Broadway” is a unique evening with Bruce, his guitar, a piano, and his very personal stories. The show’s original run included 236 sold-out performances at Jujamcyn’s Walter Kerr Theatre, beginning in October 2017 and concluding in December 2018. Springsteen earned a Special Tony Award for the performances, which were later adapted into a film and a soundtrack album.

Proceeds from Opening Night of the show at the St. James Theatre will be donated to a group of local New York and New Jersey charities including the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Food Bank for New York City, Fulfill (Monmouth & Ocean Counties Foodbank), Long Island Cares, NJ Pandemic Relief Fund and The Actor’s Fund.

Anyone planning on seeing this show will be required to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination in order to enter the theater. Tickets for “Springsteen on Broadway” will go on sale Thursday, June 10 at 12 pm ET through the show’s official ticketing provider SeatGeek.

June 10, 2021
Opera Saratoga Presents a Juneteenth Celebration on June 19

Opera Saratoga has announced the concert series America Sings will return to Caffè Lena this month on June 19th for A Juneteenth Celebration, celebrating the end of slavery in the United States.

The program was curated by bass-baritone Carl DuPont, a distinguished alumnus of Opera Saratoga’s Young Artist Program who is now on faculty at Peabody Conservatory where he teaches voice and a survey course on Art Song by African American Composers.

Carl DuPont is a highly accomplished bass-baritone and vocalist equally engaged in performing, teaching, and research. Major operatic credits include productions at Opera Columbus, The InSeries, The Glimmerglass Festival, Opera Carolina, Toledo Opera, Opera Saratoga, Sarasota Opera, Cedar Rapids Opera, El Palacio de Bellas Artes, Opera Company of Brooklyn, and Leipzig Opera. His world premieres include the title character in Dennis Rodman in North Korea as well as Why Peace is Always a Good Idea at Carnegie Hall under the baton of composer Jacqueline Hairston.

In putting together the concert program, DuPont has included prose and poetry – along with an extraordinary selection of music by African American composers – to create a more comprehensive texture of why we celebrate Juneteenth. Musical selections include songs by H. Leslie Adams, Tim Amukele, Margaret Bonds, Uzee Brown, Moses Hogan, Betty Jackson King, Rosephanye Powell, Florence Price, and Hale Smith. Spoken word selections include excerpts from The Declaration of Independence, The Emancipation Proclamation, and The General Orders which actually notified the enslaved people that they were free. The program will also include first-hand diary accounts and poetry from formerly enslaved people, as well as newspaper copy of the observation of the first Juneteenth celebrations.

The program will be performed by Festival Artists from Opera Saratoga’s Young Artist Program, who include notable emerging Black singers alongside artists who come from a wide range of other racial backgrounds, many of whom are learning more about Juneteenth through the experience of putting together this program.

I am glad that the performers at this concert represent a wide variety of racial backgrounds. Some of whom might be performing art songs by Black composers for the first time. Many of the members of the concert-going public will also be hearing these wonderful songs for the first time. That will be a special moment, and I hope the singers feel inspired to continue to advocate for Black composers as well as other marginalized composers, themes, or causes in their careers. And, I hope the audience gains a window into the faith, hope, joy, dreams, suffering, consolation, and frustration of the Black American experience and of our shared history as a nation.
-Carl Dupont

For more information, visit www.operasaratoga.org

June 9, 2021
Patty Griffin & Gregory Alan Isakov will stop in Troy and Ithaca this October

The two-time Grammy award-winning artist Patty Griffin and Grammy award-nominated singer-songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov have announced plans for the co-headline tour “An Evening with Patty Griffin and Gregory Alan Isakov.”

Marking the first live, in-person concert performances for both artists since early 2020, Patty Griffin and Gregory Alan Isakov will be kicking off their tour on October 5th. On the 14-date tour, they’ll make stops at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and the State Theatre of Ithaca.

Patty Griffin and Gregory Alan Isakov

Patty Griffin is among the most consequential singer-songwriters of her generation, a quintessentially American artist whose wide-ranging canon incisively explores the intimate moments and universal emotions that bind us together.

Gregory Alan Isakov is a singer, songwriter, and performer, beloved by his devoted community of fans and critics alike. Since his debut, Isakov has released five full-length albums including his most recent, 2019’s Evening Machines, which was nominated for Best Folk Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards.

Tickets for all announced dates went on sale Friday, June 4 at 11 am ET. For tickets go to pattygriffin.com/tour and gregoryalanisakov.com/tour

OCTOBER
5 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre
6 – Chattanooga, TN – Tivoli Theatre
8 – Charlotte, NC – Knight Theater
9 – Saxapahaw, NC – Haw River Ballroom
11&12 – Alexandria, VA – Birchmere
13 – Charlottesville, VA – Paramount Theatre
15 – Troy, NY – Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
16 – New Haven, CT – Shubert Theatre
17 – Ithaca, NY – State Theatre
19 – Northampton, MA – Academy of Music
21 – Concord, NH – Capitol Center for the Arts
22 – Beverly, MA – The Cabot
23 – Portland, ME – State Theatre

June 9, 2021