We’ll be hearing more from the four-time GRAMMY winner Sarah Jarosz, as she has announced a series of live performances of the Blue Heron Suite this December. After becoming the recipient of the FreshGrass Composition Commission and premiered the song at the FreshGrass Festival in 2017, she knew that we need to hear more.
Her signature ember-smoky warble made an appearance in the latest recording of Blue Heron Suite was released May of this year featuring accompaniment by Jefferson Hamer and Jeff Picker. Performed on Mother’s Day for a special livestreamed concert event, the trio plans to reunite for the live shows along with other hits from her longtime award winning career.
Blue Heron Suite captures the feelings of transience that lurk around the edges of our lives and that come into the light in times when we face possible loss, but in these songs Jarosz demonstrates that we can be transported, momentarily at least, above our bodies and this earth on wings
Henry Carrigan of Folk Alley
Proclaimed as some of her best work yet from Atwood and receiving compliments of the most mature work of hers evoking rumination and deliberation, it would be an understatement to say that she has received glowing reviews. There may be something to learn for everyone; “it finds hope in spite of happenstance and wisdom in reflection”.
For a bit of a warm up Jarosz wrapped up a mini-tour of the east coast with shows in Boston, New York City, and Washington, DC. In early November, she will do a short run of dates with Shawn Colvin and Marc Cohn. She is planning an extensive tour of the United States, Europe, and the United Kingdom in 2022 that will focus on 2020’s GRAMMY-winning album World on the Ground as well as Blue Heron Suite.
An Evening with Shawn Colvin, Marc Cohn, and Sarah Jarosz, Together in Concert
Nov 4th – State Theatre – Minneapolis, MN
Nov 5th – Hoyt Sherman Place – Des Moines, IA
Nov 9th – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
Sarah Jarosz – Blue Heron Suite Tour
Dec 1st – Academy of Music – Northampton, MA
Dec 2nd – Stone Mountain Arts Center – Brownfield, ME
Dec 3rd – The Egg – Albany, NY
Dec 4th – Caramoor – Katonah, NY
Dec 5th – Levon Helm Studios – Woodstock, NY
Dec 7th – Center For The Arts – Homer, NY
Dec 8th – Higher Ground – Burlington, VT
Dec 9th – Narrows Center for the Arts – Fall River, MA
Early birds at this year’s tenth-annual Governors Ball Music Festival were treated to a high-energy performance to kick off the festival’s second day. That band, Brooklyn trio Nation of Language, deliver a fresh take on the synth-pop sounds that emerged in the late 1970s/early 1980s that is fun to listen to at home and even more of an experience to dance and groove to in a live show.
Tonight, November 4, Nation of Language are returning to their hometown for a show to celebrate the release of their second full-length album A Way Forward due out November 5. The show is taking place at Market Hotel starting at 8pm with special guest Cutouts. (Tickets and more information are here).
While NYS Music was at Governors Ball, we had an opportunity to talk to Ian Devaney (vocals), Aidan Noel (synths), and Michael Sui-Poi (guitar) of Nation of Language about their experience at GovBall and creating new music during the pandemic.
Steve Malinski: Starting off, how did you guys come together as a band and start making music in your current form?
Ian Devaney: I started kind of as like a, just like a personal writing experiment. I’ve been like making guitar music for a number of years and had this sort of like an epiphany moment when the song “Electricity” by OMD [Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark] came on. And I was like, it’s so simple, like, it’s synth music, but it’s so simple, and it’s direct and feels like urgent. And it was just like, very exciting. So I was like, let me switch and like, see how I could make synthesizer music. And then, Mike came on and, like, helps me record the first sort of demos that we put together. And then we got some friends together and started playing around, and then the lineup changed a couple of times. And when all of our synth players suddenly moved to Los Angeles, Aiden stepped up. And she learned to play since she never, she never played music before. So she heroically saved us from my doom and gloom.
Ian Devaney
MichaelSue-Poi: Yeah, Ian and I used to be in a band together. So it was a familiar experience to do demos together. Yeah.
SM: I want to talk a bit about your newer music and some new music you have coming out. So what was that like – releasing an album at the start of the pandemic?
Ian: We were initially quite pessimistic about it. Traditionally, it felt like the live show was really how we kind of, you know, like, really would get ourselves in front of people and kind of bring people on board with what we were trying to do. And so we were three days into a tour when everything closed down. And we were like, that’s it… see all these years of hard work and like, no one’s ever gonna hear it because we can’t play shows.
Aidan Noel: But thankfully that’s not how it turned out at all. We had people at blogs that were writing about it, and at radio stations that were playing the singles. And we ended up making so many new fans over the pandemic, people that were just stuck at home listening to music. And it meant a lot to learn of fans who found that was their soundtrack throughout those difficult times, and for us to know that it wasn’t all or nothing, and that it wasn’t the end of the road. Also in fact, you know, here we are, at GovBall, playing those songs. And even newer singles turned out ok!
Aidan Noell
SM: Was today at GovBall your first chance to play a lot of those songs out live?
AN: No, we’ve actually had a couple of shows leading up to [GovBall] locally. And we played a show in Boston and Philly. So this is our fifth show back in action.
ID: Yeah. Two New York shows and then this…
AN: …getting back into the groove of live shows, it’s been really fun.
ID: It’s also kind of crazy, because we’re getting back into kind of a different groove. Since so many of our fans basically found us during the pandemic, we haven’t met any of them, which is like a strange phenomenon. So going from kind of playing smaller rooms and not selling them out to playing like a sold out show at Bowery Ballroom I was like, isn’t there supposed to be something in between these two things? Just like with our set here at GovBall it’s like, it’s very bizarre.
SM: So how does it feel to play one of these big festivals in New York City’s backyard, your hometown?
MSP: I mean, it’s amazing to finally be playing at GovBall.
Mike Sue-Poi
AN: I’ve only come to GovBall once before and it was two years ago (as a fan) and got rained out. It was like a torrential storm. They had to evacuate the grounds… it was wild. So it’s cool to be here as an audience member and as a band playing this time. I would not have predicted that at that rainy show two years ago.
IN: Yeah. And like, it’s beautiful. And like yeah, we came yesterday to see Future Islands and Billie Eilish and there’s like a whole bunch of people that we’re really excited to see today. So, yeah, it’s crazy being on, like on that stage, knowing who else is gonna come on to it. And it’s like, super humbling, really awesome.
SM: Awesome. So your new album coming out this fall – did you write that in the middle of the pandemic? Or was it intended to be released earlier?
IN: Yeah, it’s kind of a mix. There are a few songs that have been around for a little longer. And then some songs were like, start to finish written in the pandemic. And other ones were, you know, finding old fragments of things and piecing them together. So it was a fun, kind of a fun way of bringing together ideas from right now and trying to curate them together.
NYC’s Japan Society has announced SHEEP #1, a unique new live performance from New-York based artist Sachiyo Takahashi. The four-show run will be live at Japan Society from November 4 through November 7.
SHEEP #1 follows the story of a lone sheep seeking out the meaning of life. Takahashi’s minimalist, unique performance employs a self-designed style she coined “Microscopic Live Cinema-Theatre.” Manipulating minuscule figurines in real-time, Takahashi magnifies their live movements onscreen alongside a live musical accompaniment. She has received multiple grants from The Jim Henson Foundation, including one this year, for her innovations in puppeteering.
The experimental performance combines live music, object theater, and storytelling inspired by the writings of Antoine de Saint-Exupery (Le Petit Prince). The performance’s text is a mixture of original words by Takahashi and quotes from Saint-Exupery himself.
Takashi’s has shown her inventive work at festivals and venues around the world. She founded her artistic collective, Nekaa Lab, in 2006, described as an “eternal playground for the curious mind.” The video, which highlights the figurines and puppets that make up the “lab members” of Nekaa Lab, is a prime example of the odd, haunting minimalism of Microscopic Live Cinema-Theatre.
In addition to puppetry, Takahashi also has master accreditation in Okamoto School Shinnai-bushi, a traditional form of song-storytelling from Japan. Her merging of unique and traditional styles creates a new form of avant-garde cinematic experience. In fact, she previously collaborated with Korean instrumentalist gamin to conceptualize a new music theatre, The Emotions, incorporated into the HERE Artist Residency Program in 2020.
In a note, Japan Society Artistic Director Yoko Shioya explained what called her to the piece. Shioya felt moved by Takahashi’s treatment of her figurines as members of her artistic company.
“Having the utmost reverence to a particular thing,” Shioya said, “is a meaningful gift that artists possess to create art.”
SHEEP #1’s run will incorporate two distinct programs. PROGRAM A, featuring Emile Blondel on piano, will be performed Thursday, November 4 at 7:30 P.M. and Sunday, November 7 at 2:30 P.M. PROGRAM B, featuring Kato Hideki on bass guitar, will be performed Friday, November 5 at 7:30 P.M. and Saturday, November 6 at 7:30 P.M.
Tickets to the event can be purchased online at japansociety.org, or by phone through the Box Office at (212)-715-1258.
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.
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.
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*
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.
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.
Albany’s The Late Shift have announced “The Last Shift,” a farewell concert celebrating the band’s 15th anniversary, to be held at The Hollow Bar + Kitchen on Saturday, November 27.
The celebration will occur in place of the bands annual Thanksgiving Eve performance at the same venue. 2020 excluded, this year’s concert will mark the group’s seventh consecutive Thanksgiving show at The Hollow Bar + Kitchen. The Late Shift will be performing two sets of music, with the first set a celebration of the group’s 15-year catalog, a greatest hits set, including songs like “Sweetness,” “Drink and Stone” and “Through It All.” This will be followed by a power packed second set, loaded with everyone’s favorite LateShift style covers to usher patrons into the evening. Both sets are sure to be full of surprises and special guests.
In addition to celebrating 15 years of The LateShift, this event will also serve as the official launch of Wooden Duck Entertainment, a brand-new Capital Region based music and events company owned by members of The Late Shift.
Tickets are on-sale now. Presale tickets are available for $12.50 until November 1. After that General Admission tickets will be available for $15. A limited number of VIP Packages are currently available for $30. For updates and additional information RSVP on Facebook.
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.
The festivities are almost upon us, and Darren Criss reminds us with his first-ever holiday album, A Very Darren Crissmas, from Decca Records. The Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild award-winner and singer-songwriter invited special guests like by Adam Lambert, Evan Rachel Wood, and Lainey Wilson. Listen to the album here.
You better watch out, as in just two months you’ll have the opportunity to hear Darren live on his A Very Darren Crissmas Tour. He’ll be coming to Indianapolis, on December 3rd at the Murat Theatre then he’ll be on his merry way to Beacon Theatre on December 20. Tickets will be on sale at 10 a.m. on October 15th with artist pre-sales October 12th and 13th.
To help perfect this album Ron Fair aided in producing this album as an established multi-Grammy® nominee and producer of numerous GRAMMY-winning hits. “A Very Darren Crissmas” will be a 12 song set of wildly eclectic collection of tunes. Recorded at Nashville’s Faircraft Studios, Darren brings a bit of country to his sound along with chart topping country icon Lainey Wilson on Drunk on Christmas. Other A-list musicians include Pop star Adam Lambert joins in on (Everybody’s Waitin’ For) The Man With the Bag,bringing a touch of jazz to the festivities. Not to mention multihyphenate Evan Rachel Wood on the classic“Somewhere in My Memory,”and on the album’s sole original,. Darren illustrates his elasticity as an artist blending his sound with jazz and country.
The result is a new entry into the holiday-music canon, both delightfully unpredictable and touched with a timeless sense of Christmas magic.
In an effort to keep everyone’s best interest in regards to health and safety, concert-goers must provide proof of full vaccination and/or negative COVID-19 test at least 72 hours prior to the show date and time.
A Very Darren Crissmas Tour Dates
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3: MURAT THEATRE – INDIANAPOLIS, IN TICKETS
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4: MICHIGAN THEATER – ANN ARBOR, MI TICKETS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 6: CYRUS NORTHROP MEMORIAL – MINNEAPOLIS, MN TICKETS
TUESDAY , DECEMBER 7: RIVERSIDE THEATER – MILWAUKEE, WI TICKETS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9: CHICAGO THEATRE – CHICAGO, IL TICKETS
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10: THE LOUISVILLE PALACE THEATER – LOUISVILLE, KY TICKETS
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11: THE GOODYEAR THEATER – AKRON, OH TICKETS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 13: CAPITAL ONE HALL – TYSONS, VA TICKETS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14: THE MET PHILADELPHIA – PHILADELPHIA, PA TICKETS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16: ORPHEUM THEATRE – BOSTON, MA TICKETS
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17: AUDITORIUM THEATRE – ROCHESTER, NY TICKETS
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18: MASSEY HALL – TORONTO, ON TICKETS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 20: BEACON THEATRE – NEW YORK, NYTICKETS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22: THE HERSHEY THEATRE – HERSHEY, PA TICKETS
