Category: Ithaca

Spin Doctors, Jimkata and GPGDS at Grassroots Live
The energy was high in Trumansburg for the final weekend of Grassroots Live. The shows were switched to the Grandstand Stage at the fairgrounds due to damage to the infield stage but that didn’t keep the people or performers present from having a great time. Friday night brought two Grassroots Festival veterans, Jimkata and Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad and Saturday 90s rock group The Spin Doctors graced the stage.

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad opened Friday night with powerful and unifying reggae vibes. The band’s traditional sound was layered with extra horns, percussion, and vocals from local Ithaca talent. A couple of dancers joined in for a majority of the show who mirrored and increased the joyful atmosphere. Lead singer, Chris O’Brian spoke about the power of reggae music in spreading from Jamaica to corners of the world like Rochester and Ithaca and bringing people together. The whole set contained originals and covers weaved together seamlessly. A highlight of the show was a bouncy rendition of Bob Marley’s “Soul Shakedown Party” that seemed to kick the crowd into high gear.

The anticipation and excitement for Jimkata’s return to the stage was palpable. The Ithaca born band went on hiatus in 2016 after treating audiences to dynamic sets at festivals and opening for bands like Papadosio. There were many people talking about the last time they saw Jimkata and many were decked out in band merch that they had clearly had for a while. Lead vocalist and guitarist Evan Friedell walked out to the stage to adjust his pedals and was greeted at the front of the stage by what seemed like old friends.

On the heels of their new album Bonfires the band launched into a set full of synth and vocal melodies and washed the crowd in light and sound. Weaving between new songs and recognizable classics, the audience never seemed to stop moving. One would have found it hard to not dance around a bit during the sequences of dreamy rhythmic jams. Jimkata always brought a cerebral experience kept lively by clean locked in musicianship and an emotionally fueled light show. This set was no different and felt like a triumphant return.

Bred in NYC, The Spin Doctors had an extremely successful run in the 90s and have continued to put on one hell of a show. Lead singer Chris Barron charismatically introduced each song with anecdotes and banter that kept the audience engaged. The humorous interplay between bassist Mark White and Chris during the banter kept things light. Mark would roll his eyes, shoot rubber bands at Chris, and even took a seat and pretended to make a phone call during a particularly long story.

Musically, the band still holds up after all these years. The vocals sound honed in and each member of the band excels at their craft. Chris’s voice carries the familiar tunes, guitarist Aaron Comess brings clean classic rock tone and licks to the stage, Mark’s funky and energetic style is nestled perfectly in with the rest of the sound, and drummer Eric Schenkman carries the band on his hard hitting beats. The band played their hits such as “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” and “Two Princes” and even played some new material. The audience went nuts and sang along whenever the hits were played but both jammed out moments and new songs were equally as danceable and welcomed.

As the lights went down at the end of the show, the last attendees of the year at Grassroots left the fairgrounds smiling. It was clear in the smiles and stories of the past few weekends that Trumansburg was treated to some wonderful moments of light and sound in July.
August 3, 2021
X Ambassadors Release New Single, Announce Tour Dates

Ithaca-natives X Ambassadors have shared a new song called “Okay” in preparation for their third album, The Beautiful Liar, which is set for release on September 24. X Ambassadors have also announced their upcoming U.S./European Tour, including a stop at Webster Hall in October.

X Ambassadors made their full-length debut in 2015 with VHS, that transitioned the band from Ithaca alt-rockers and Brooklyn-indie-scene outsiders to Billboard chart-toppers. Now certified platinum, VHS delivered X Ambassadors’ popular hits “Unsteady” and “Renegades,” which launched them into mainstream success. Most recently, the band released EP Belong, inspired by ’60s and ’70s soul and R&B, in March 2020 as well as three-song project (Eg) in January 2021.

“Okay” follows the June release of their darkly cinematic track “My Own Monster” whose black-and-white visual finds lead vocalist Sam Harris performing a choreographed routine with his own shadow. Both songs will be featured on the band’s third studio album The Beautiful Liar.

“Okay” marks the start of a compelling new lyrical direction for X Ambassadors. With the same emotional intensity as 2015’s “Unsteady,” “Okay” adds deeper poeticism with verses like “We’ll make no mistake, whatever may come… We’ll rise up, it’s true and we go down this road…”

Written during a period of such uncertainty, “Okay” has the ability to connect with and validate the worries of today while sending the reassuring message that things will work out eventually.

Life is unpredictable… things happen that are out of control all the time. We all are living in a constant state of uncertainty. And yet… I say it all the time. ‘Everything’s gonna be okay.’
Sam Harris, lead vocalist

“Okay” is now available for streaming on all major platforms. Preorder The Beautiful Liar album here.

Tickets are on sale now for X Ambassadors’ “The Beautiful Liar” tour, which will hit New York’s Webster Hall on October 27. Scarypoolparty and Taylor Janzen will open the show on all North American dates. For ticket information, visit xambassadors.com/tour.

Check out their U.S. tour schedule below:

X Ambassadors 2021 “Beautiful Liar” Tour

Scarypoolparty direct support, Taylor Janzen will open.

October 15 – House of Blues / San Diego, CA

October 16 – Phoenix AZ / Marquee

October 18 – Tulsa, OK / Cain’s

October 19 – Austin, TX / Emo’s

October 22 – Nashville, TN / Brooklyn Bowl

October 23 – Louisville, KY / Mercury Ballroom

October 25 – Asheville, NC / Orange Peel

October 27 – New York, NY / Webster Hall

October 28 – Boston, MA / Big Night Live

October 29 – Philadelphia, PA / Theatre of the Living Arts

October 30 – Washington, DC / Lincoln Theater

November 1 – Toronto, ONT / Danforth

November 2 – Detroit, MI / St. Andrew’s

November 4 – Chicago, IL / Vic

November 5 – Indianapolis, IN / Deluxe

November 6 – Milwaukee, WI / Rave

November 8 – Kansas City, MO / Truman

November 9 – Minneapolis, MN / Varsity

November 11 – Denver, CO / Ogden

November 12 – Salt Lake City, UT / The Depot

November 13 – Boise, ID / Revolution Concert House

November 15 – Seattle, WA / Showbox

November 16 – Spokane, WA / Knitting Factory

November 17 – Portland, OR / Roseland

November 19 – Sacramento, CA / Ace of Spades

November 20 – Los Angeles, CA / Belasco

August 2, 2021
So MaNY Roads: The Grateful Dead in New York State

Few bands have a relationship with the state of New York like the Grateful Dead. Outside of California, the Grateful Dead have performed more shows in New York than any other state.

With 309 unique shows performed across the Empire State in a 28 year span, beginning at Tompkins Square Park on June 1, 1967, the Grateful Dead made New York a home away from home, with venues of all sizes welcoming them during their career.

Over the past few years, NYS Music has looked back on some of these shows, whether they be archival releases, or an iconic show worthy of a closer look. In 2020, we began to look intently at the history of the Grateful Dead in the Empire State, and in doing so, discovered some overlooked diamonds in the rough.

While performances at Madison Square Garden, The Knickerbocker Arena and Barton Hall garner the glory, there are shows that are equally compelling which we took a second look at. Whether the performance was in The Bronx, Alfred State, Oswego, Glens Falls, Lake Placid or Watkins Glen, each show gets a thorough analysis, with first-hand accounts and memorabilia, as well as audio and/or video of each performance.

We’ve taken all these articles that examine the long history of the Grateful Dead in New York State, as well as Jerry Garcia’s solo and JGB performances, and created an interactive Google Map that allows you to observe the history of the Grateful Dead in New York – So MaNY Roads. You can find info on each of these shows (were you there?), and dive into shows you may or may not have known about.

With more than 300 shows to include in this series, we so far have looked at more than 50 of these shows, all searchable in the map below. More will be added each month as we continue looking at the Grateful Dead and their history in NY.

We welcome Section 119 as a sponsor for So MaNY Roads, our Grateful Dead in New York series. Section 119 takes you from beachfront to stage front with the highest quality merchandise celebrating the Grateful Dead. Shop for a variety of officially licensed clothing and accessories including board shorts, polos, button-down shirts and more at Section119.com.

July 29, 2021
Cory Henry and The Funk Apostles Play Grassroots

The Historic Grassroots stage in Trumansburg, NY hosted Syracuse outfit Sophistafunk and Grammy Award winner Cory Henry and The Funk Apostles on Saturday, July 17.

The rainy weather pushed the performance to the site’s grandstands stage. The precipitation didn’t stop the grassroots audience from dancing to the grooves emanating from the bandstand. Don’t let the rain get the best of you and don’t let it saturate your brain, it comes as fast as it passes through so why fear the rain?

Sophistafunk hit at 7PM and immediately got the soaked masses moving. The original trio included a full three-piece horn section to add extra layers of funk. Drummer Emmanuel Washington’s neo soul beats resonated on the bodies in motion. They ended their set with a unique mash up of Sly and the Family Stone’s “If You Want Me To Stay” with a Notorious B.I.G. sample of “Juicy.”

Cory Henry and the Funk Apostles spoke with NYS Music about some influential shows they personally saw live in New York State before their set.

Cory Henry: I saw Stevie Wonder on his 2014 Songs In the Key of Life tour at Madison Square Garden. That completely changed my life. That’s what inspired me to play the harpejji instrument that he uses.

Isaiah Sharkey: I would say Joey DeFrancesco at the Blue Note in Manhattan.

Josh Easley: Cory (Henry) actually at Rockwood Music Hall in Manhattan.

The funk apostle ensemble that came through Trumansburg on Saturday consisted of Dave Wood on Drums, Joshua Easley on Bass, Isaiah Sharkey on Guitar, Denise Renee and Matia Washington on backing vocals and Cory Henry on lead B3 Hammond Organ and vocals.

This was Henry’s second show this July after splitting the bill with Lettuce in Lake Dillon, Colorado. The band hit at 8:30 and played till 11 PM with only one break before the encore.

Brooklyn native Cory Henry is a true front man. His stage presence was the lightning to the pouring rain that evening. A nod to the evening’s soul climate was expressed on Henry’s “Don’t Forget” with his lyrics, Sunshine don’t come without rain, and that’s ok, love ain’t magic without pain.

He had a dynamic interplay with all of the other musicians on stage that kept hitting the audience with waves of emotion. He visits the strain of love with a sassy groove during his tune “Switch” singing, I miss the way we were before you flipped the switch and never flipped back.

He celebrates the sunnier side of love during “GawtDamn.” His words show the delight of having the right one by your side. Cause when the girls see her they say Gawtdamn (gawtdamn) and when the boys see her they say “OOEE” they better know I keep her next to me, I never met a girl who made me wanna keep her near oh.

The other musicians on stage all had a chance to stretch out as well. Guitarist Isaiah Sharkey hit all of the ascending musical notes like a crashing wave. Some in the crowd recalled his performance with John Mayer two July’s prior at Albany’s Times Union Center.

Josh Easley truly came full circle on stage with Henry after seeing him from the audience at Rockwood Music Hall years ago. Drummer Dave Wood ended up shirtless, digging trenches of groove on stage. Denise Renne and Matia Washington helped keep the vocal section ablaze the whole performance.

During the encore, the band channeled the woman who can’t stand the rain, Miss Tina Turner. They performed their own improvised groove of “Rolling on the River.” The river beat trailed off of Henry’s words to the audience before closing, “So I encourage you, no matter what you’re going through, no matter what’s going on around us that life…keeps on rolling.” “Say that a life’s got to keep on rolling…” jam went on for eight minutes to end the encore.

Musically it got to a level where everyone on the bandstand was having fun and could hear each other with the audience locked in, launching the performance to a spiritual level. If you came to this show Saturday night, you were allowed to miss church the next day.

Cory Henry, Isaiah Sharkey, Matia Washington, Josh Easley, Denise Renee, Dave Wood

The Grassroots 30th anniversary music festival keeps rolling in Trumansburg this weekend July 22-24 with headlining sets from hometown heroes Donna The Buffalo and a slew of other acts. Isaiah Sharkey will be at The Blue Note on August 9 & 10, and Cory Henry will be part of a four-night residency at Manhattan’s Legendary Blue Note on September 23 through September 26.

Cory Henry and the Funk Apostles 7/17/21 Trumansburg, NY
Setlist: Testify, Trade it All, In the Water, Our Affairs, Gawtdamn, Don’t Forget, Switch, Rise
Encore: Rolling on the River/ Life’s got to Keep on Rolling

July 23, 2021
Chad Galactic Sparks Fundraising Efforts for Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca

As his quarantine beard grew, his anxieties and frustrations with stagnation also grew and Chad Galactic racked his brain to come up with ideas to raise funds for out-of-work artists. Feeling inspired, he started by designing stickers with artist and friend “PickleKing,” which created a stream of income for those in need.

Galactic kept the ball rolling and was motivated to assemble an all-star band that recorded a cover of the song “Shake Your Rump” by the Beastie Boys. Joining him from The Mother Hips, guitarist Greg Loiacono and bassist Brian Rashap, Tea Leaf Green drummer Scotty Rager, and Jack Johnson/ALO keyboardist Zach Gill. Even Beastie Boys’ own DJ/Producer DJ Hurricane participated on the track. And in true Galactic style, Chad took on all three of the Boys’ vocal parts.

To accompany the track, Galactic also created a YAUCH Love Merch Store where half of the proceeds are being donated to the Tibetan Monks that Adam “MCA” Yauch loved so dearly. Yauch’s life accomplishments have been so influential on Galactic that he felt very deeply to find a way to honor him.

Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca was established in 1992 as the North American seat of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s monastery in Dharamsala, India. Between 1992 and 2014 the monastery was housed in an old Victorian era house in downtown Ithaca, NY and today has since moved to a larger complex on 28 acres of land, three miles south of Ithaca. The monastery offers retreated, weekend intensives on a variety of subjects in Tibetan Buddhism, as well as evening classes in the fall and spring.

An upcoming live stream by The FoodRap Duo features Chad Galactic & Reed Mathis on Wednesday, June 23 at 6:23 PM PT on Facebook Live.

June 21, 2021
Tim Reynolds Performs in Ithaca and Saratoga Springs, Talks Tunes amid Solo Tour

June is ablaze in the Finger Lakes region for live music. Ithaca’s Lakewatch Inn offers 30 foot high wooden ceilings as part of a barn where acoustic performances shine. On Friday, June 11, London McDaniel and Tim Reynolds each performed solo in front of an intimate crowd in New York’s rolling hills.

Lakewatch Inn Ithaca NY

At 7:30 P.M, London McDaniel plugged in so we could tune out. London’s new record Anatural Aphrodisiaca just won a 2021 SAMMY Award for Best Jazz. Three songs in to sunset, a version of Led Zeppelins “Over the Hills” and far away let the crowd know he was locked in to the Southern Tier.

After his set McDaniel was recounting about a conversation with musician Mike Stern from Miles Davis Bitches Brew album. “This history of music is so great. The greats go out of their way to do it. Every lick I play I work hard for”

London McDaniel

Tim Reynolds treated the crowd to his acoustic set at 8:30 PM sharp. His Martin 6 and 12 strings were on deck. Ups, downs, ins and outs… hair raising. The new tune “If Everything Could be OK for Just One Moment” was inspired from a Tom Petty performance at Beacon Theater. Reynolds sported an old Tom Petty road crew tee for the show. He also debuted a self taught interpretation of a Bach composition while at home during “dark times.”

Tim Reynolds

The track “Summer Night in December” off That Way felt like a nod to Tim’s last Southern Tier performance at Homer Center for the Arts in Winter 2016. Reynolds left his loop on full blast ambient mode as he exited the stage at 10:00 PM. After an 18 song set, he visits the moon outside. Returning to encore the show with his classic composition “Stream.”

Tim is a chameleon of different acoustic genres with plenty of slide guitar accents reminiscent of Duane Allman at Muscle Shoals. Reynolds reflected on an experience of once playing Duane’s Gibson on loan for a show. “That was a big moment for me, the ryhthm pick up on it was kind of muddled but it didn’t matter. I remember Carter saying that guitar sounds nasty man.”

Ithaca Setlist

Reynolds spoke with NYS Music after the show about his past, present, and future experiences in the State.

Matthew Romano: Producer Daniel Lanois’ lyrics from “Beauty of Wynona”… “Where you been since last December?” come to mind tonight. You along with Brady Blade, Tony Hall, Ray Paczkowski, Trey and Dave all collaborated on his material.

Tim Reynolds: Did you hear his last album, Heavy Sun? He (Lanois) produced it. The vocals are like you’re in church but also has that skanky dub reggae sound. I love Tony. You know those guys when your playing a gig, he’ll look right at you? That’s him. He’s a bad ass. Tony and Brady just lock in some way that’s perfect.

TR: Daniel came to sit in with Dave and Friends for his song The Maker. Emmy Lou Harris was also there. So many people playing so I just did the melody while he sang it. He looked back smiling and I’m like its Daniel Lanois… WTF. He was so cool. During soundcheck in the empty arena he was playing this Brian Eno space funk.

MR: What was an arena act you saw from the audience for a live performance that you remember fondly?

TR: Peter Gabriel and Sting at Madison Square Garden a few years back. I’ve got the hoodie from it with me. The show was back and forth yet also a little competitive. They did each others songs. Peter Gabriel covered “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free” but like Al Green style! Every time the crowd sang the chorus back to them…they waited to pause.

TR: When Peter did “The Rhythm of the Heat” with both bands I screamed like a woman and I only have one vocal chord.

MR: Nights like those are truly an influence on your own sound. How much is composition compared to layers of improvisation?

TR: Most of it now is composition. For my recent streams I went in and really learned these songs. Especially if people are going to be tuning in to watch it. It took a lot of different phases to get to that.

MR: How does it feel playing your work in front of a live audience in a small room like this before returning back to big amphitheaters later this Summer?

TR: Oh, incredible. I think this year is wide open man.

As Reynolds wrapped a two-night run at Putnam Place in Saratoga Springs. he provided a great way to end his Empire State weekend ahead of sold out shows at Lakeview Amphitheatre in Syracuse and two night run at SPAC with Dave Matthews Band.

Spinning off Friday night’s conversation in Ithaca, Reynolds opened the show with an acoustic version of Daniel Lanois song “O Marie.” After the Dust settled, Reynolds covered another Lanois classic, “The Messenger.” The notes chosen to cover this work are a great blend of Tim’s originality mixed with Lanois’ influence.

Reynolds delivered the full two-part composition of Segovia I and II for all, keeping good intentions going as he told one of the first gathered crowds in Saratoga Springs for live music the relatable origins of “To Touch Yearning.”

Tim Reynolds was able to break the barrier and relate to being in the audience for a moving musical experience. During the encore for his acoustic version of Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes.” The seated crowd all stood to rise and applaud with the same energy Reynolds’ had seeing Gabriel perform live at Madison Square Garden. Just another live music spring seed growing into Summer.

Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds head back to Riviera Maya, Mexico in 2022 for a three night beach run at the Moon Palace Resort.

Saratoga Springs setlist

June 12, 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
Finger Lakes GrassRoots Live! Announces a Series of One Night Concerts

The Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance or more commonly known as just Grassroots announced the creation of the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Live!: a series of limited capacity one night concerts on the Infield Stage of the festival’s Trumansburg, NY Fairgrounds. The series will start on July 9, 2021 and run throughout the month of July each weekend.

The Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival generally takes place the third weekend of July every year in Trumansburg, NY starting back in 1991 apart from last year (2020) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to COVID-19 the official festival won’t be back until 2022 but these one night festivities will bring the Grassroots spirit back to upstate New York. Donna The Buffalo, who is one of the original founding bands of GrassRoots, will be hosting a Donna The Buffalo’s GrassRoots Festival Weekend, July 23-25.

Railroad Earth w/ Aaron Lipp & Max Flansburg will be performing on July 9. Galactic feat. Anjelika ‘Jelly’ Joseph w/ Danielle Ponder will be performing on July 10. Sam Bush Band w/ Driftwood will be performing on July 16. Cory Henry w/ Sophistafunk will be performing on July 17. Donna The Buffalo’s GrassRoots Weekend will be taking place on July 23-25. The Return of Jimkata & Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad will be taking place on July 30. Spin Doctors will be wrapping up the fun by performing on July 31.

Tickets will be sold as PODS capable of accommodating up to 4 people starting at $89 and an additional dance area in front of the stage and Dance Tent on GrassRoots Weekend will be available to those with a POD who are fully vaccinated and can prove it.

Donna The Buffalo’s GrassRoots Festival Weekend will host the Infield Stage, Dance Tent, Sunday’s All Star Revue and Camping at our Across The Way Campgrounds. The full lineup and more information about Donna The Buffalo’s GrassRoots Festival Weekend weekend can be found here.

In addition, camping will be available surrounding show weekends at our Across The Way Campgrounds. Details and reservations will be available soon. Previous 30th Annual GrassRoots Festival ticket holders and Dream Teamers may exchange their tickets to Finger Lakes GrassRoots Live! by emailing tickets@grassrootsfest.org.

For more information on the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Live! series visit the The Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival’s website.

June 4, 2021
Make Music Day returns In-Person on June 21

After a year of isolation and stress, Make Music Day is returning to in-person and outdoor events in hopes to reconnect communities. Musicians of all ages and skill levels from around the world will unite for a day of fun, collaboration and mentorship by participating in free music-making events on June 21.

Make Music is a celebration of music around the world on the Summer Solstice. First held in France as the Fête de la Musique in 1982, it is now held annually in more than 1,000 cities in 120 countries.

Fête de la Musique made its North American debut with Make Music NY. Starting as a grassroots initiative by a team of volunteers, the event quickly became a success. Today, over 5,000 New York musicians perform at free, outdoor concerts on June 21.

Within the New York area, Ithaca, Ossining-Briarcliff and New York City are hosting celebrations this year. They plan to hold in-person interactive events, like ukulele circles, live concerts, and even jam sessions on house porches. They will be continuing some virtual activities from last year, including a “sing together” over Zoom. Safety precautions, such as masks and social distancing, are still in place based on location guidelines.

A record 90+ U.S. cities have announced they are celebrating Make Music Day in person this year. New chapters have launched recently in Alabama, California, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin, bringing the holiday to even more of the country.

Make Music Day Introduction Video

To memorialize the loss of the past year, Make Music Day will include a project called This Moment In Time, a series of gong performances in public places around the world. Anyone with a large gong is invited to bring it out at noon on June 21 and play for one uninterrupted hour.

For the second year, the Make Music Alliance is offering a composition contest for composers aged 13-21 in commemoration of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The Tulsa Race Massacre took place on May 31 – June 1, when a mob of White residents attacked Black residents and businesses in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Young composers are invited to write a song for an overdubbed, a cappella baritone singer, using text from a first-hand account of the massacre by B.C. Franklin, a lawyer at the time. A panel of judges, including composers Hiroya Miura, Trevor Weston, composer/conductor Francisco Núñez, and soprano Talise Trevigne, will provide feedback and select three winning pieces.

The winning pieces will be professionally recorded by baritone Christopher Herbert and released online for Make Music Day. Winning composers will also receive a free copy of Finale music notation software.

The submission deadline for the composition contest is May 31, full details can be found on the contest webpage.

If competitions aren’t for you, the United Kingdom and Lagos are collaborating to create an international and interactive song project called “MixMash Studios.”

MixMash Studios invites people around the world to contribute audio samples between now and June 20. Anything from bass guitar lines, barking dogs, vocals, the grind of a coffee maker, or any other creative sound bites are accepted.

Then, music producers assembled by the Make Music Alliance, Make Music Day UK, and Make Music Lagos, will have 24 hours to create an original piece of music using only the samples, which will be presented on Make Music Day. Submit your sound files here.

The celebrations will continue with a second percussion project, the premiere of Flowerpot Music, written by Elliot Cole and directed by Peter Ferry. This piece uses various flowerpots as drums to make chime-like sounds. An interactive lesson will be held to teach participants how to play the unlikely instrument alongside the premiere. Flowerpot Music No. 1 was premiered virtually last year, but composer Elliot Cole has specially created a new version for this year’s Make Music Day.

Anyone can attend this event regardless of prior percussion experience. Mallets will be provided.

Last Year’s Premiere of Flowerpot Music No 1

For a full list of Make Music Day locations and how to register, check out the Make Music Day official website.

May 24, 2021
The FMs Release Two New Singles Highlighting Stigmas and Ignorance in Gender Experience

The FMs have released two new singles highlighting the stigmas and ignorance in society’s gender experience. The double feature of “Song X” and “Bad Girl” dropped on April 30, 2021.

The FMs are an up and coming duo hailing originally from Brooklyn and are now Ithaca based. The duo is made up of Matte Namer (they/them) and Frankie Rex (they/them, he/him) and started officially making music together back in 2017. The two have been friends since high school and their music tackles topics such as sexuality, gender, and politics.

The FMs are not making music just for entertainment’s sake, but to call on society to change its historical ignorance. Music can be used as a foghorn for their unwavering support of anyone who remains steadfast in their truth and identity. They embrace androgyny and amplify the voices of “the other” through their music and their very existence is a statement and they are not backing down.

The single “Song X” dropped with an accompanying video that featured both Namer and Rex. The song speaks to the confines of gender in society between it’s lyrics and visuals the release pulls the stereotypes and expectations of gender apart. The song stresses that gender should not be a box, but an act of self-expression.

“Bad Girl” was also released at the same time as “Song X” as a double-feature project. The track is funk-inspired with a sample beat from “It’s Raining Men” accompanied by the FMS signature brand of rock flare and covers similar topics about gender and gender expression that “Song X” does.

The duo also released merchandise that is available in conjunction with the release with all profits being donated to the Black Trans Travel Fund. For more information on The FMs visit their website.

May 17, 2021