Category: Regions

  • Utica Preps For 5th Annual Downtown Getdown Music And Arts Fest On September 18

    On Saturday, September 18 Handshake.City will host the 5th Annual Downtown Getdown Music and Arts Fest in Downtown Utica. This festival made its debut in 2016 and continues to bring people together to celebrate Utica’s music and creativity. 

    Downtown Getdown

    Be there by 10am for the ‘Getdown to the Mat,’ that is an all-levels yoga class with In Bloom Yoga. Of course, free of charge and no registration required. 

    After lowering your heart rate and blood pressure, Handshake.City brings live music, art and a vendor fair from noon to 6pm. Who will be performing you ask? None other than Utica’s finest local talent. Ashleigh DeCarr will open at 12pm with an acoustic Americana-contemporary background. Then we’ll hear from The Lower Tolpa, Deeplex, Vada March, and the recently reunited The Reuben James at 4:30pm. That’ll be a complete circle of rock, dub reggae, acoustic pop and folk rock. Please welcome these guests for their first time on this stage.

    If that’s not enough there will also be live glass blowing and wood carving demonstrations. The vendor fair will have food and beer for sale along with homemade and vintage goods. 

    Take your best shot at the Server Sprint at 2pm. Servers will race through Handshake.City with a loaded tray for the chance to win prizes and cash, and now you can too! Register just before the race starts and get ready for the races.

    Street hockey with Utica College Pioneers Men’s Hockey team will be at 3pm with other family friendly events as well.

    Downtown Getdown is free, with more information available here.

  • Allman Family Revival Announces late Fall Tour Honoring Gregg Allman

    On December 8, 2017, Devon Allman invited a couple dozen of his closest musical compadres onto the hallowed stage of The Fillmore in San Francisco to perform a three-hour, multi-set concert in tribute to Allman’s late father, Gregg, on what would have been his 70th birthday. The loss of his father, and his mother a few months prior, made music Devon’s medicine, and gave birth to The Allman Family Revival.

    Now in its fifth year, The Allman Family Revival has evolved into a full-fledged, coast-to-coast tour. As curator, host, and performer, Allman remains true to the painstaking mission of providing an epic event worthy of its inspiration. 

    I want to make sure there’s some ‘sonic ginger,’ to cleanse the palette amidst all those guitars. I really enjoy working with the guests individually on setlists to make each show a very special night. It’s a daunting task, for sure, but a labor of love every time.

    Devon Allman

    Now an annual tradition, Allman Family Revival has grown from an annual celebration in San Francisco to a full fledged coast to coast tour. Based on the format of “The Last Waltz” concert with The Allman Betts Band as the house band, and featuring up to a dozen marquee names in music

    This year the touring lineup will include The Allman Betts Band, Robert Randolph, Donavon Frankenreiter, Lilly Hiatt, Cody and Luther Dickinson, Eric Gales, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Jimmy Hall, Lamar Williams Jr. plus many more to be announced. 

    The Allman Family Revival will also feature Kenny Wayne Shepherd, G. Love, Samantha Fish, Alex Orbison, and Kenny Aronoff in select markets. 

    Public on-sale begins 9/17. For tickets and all up to date information, visit allmanfamilyrevival.com.

    2021 Allman Family Revival Tour dates

    11/27 @ The Factory | St. Louis, MO

    11/29 @ Majestic Theater | Dallas, TX

    12/1 @ Saenger Theater | New Orleans, LA

    11/30 @ ACL Live at The Moody Theater | Austin, TX

    12/2 @ Coca-Cola Roxy | Atlanta, GA

    12/3 @ Van Wezel PAC | Sarasota, FL

    12/5 @ The Paramount | Huntington, NY

    12/7 @ Orpheum Theater | Boston, MA

    12/8 @ Beacon Theatre | New York, NY

    12/9 @ The Met | Philadelphia, PA 

    12/10 @ Fillmore | Silver Springs, MD

    12/11 @ Michigan Theater | Ann Arbor, MI 

    12/12 @ Chicago Theater | Chicago, IL 

    12/14 @ Brady Theater | Tulsa, OK

    12/16 @ Arizona Federal Theatre | Phoenix, AZ

    12/17 @ Theater at Virgin Hotels | Las Vegas, NV

    12/18 @ The Fillmore | San Francisco, CA

    12/19 @ The Wiltern | Los Angeles, CA

    allman family revival
  • Hispanic Heritage Month Brings Flamenco Dancing to UAlbany PAC

    Kicking off Hispanic Heritage month, The UAlbany Performing Arts Center will be presenting two programs the weekend of Friday, October 1.

    Hispanic Heritage Month

    On October 1, an Evening of Flamenco Music and Film featuring a solo set from Flamenco guitarist Maria Zemantauski will be followed by a screening of Flamenco Vivo’s 6Hilos (6Threads) focusing on the Golden Age of flamenco. Several artists will perform live alongside Flamenco Vivo. Saturday, October 2 will feature a presentation of Tablao Flamenco, with both performances starting at 7:30pm

    Founded in 1983, Flamenco Vivo uses flamenco as a power to build bridges between people all over the world. With bases in New York City and Durham, NC it is one of America’s premier flamenco companies. While performing high quality dance works for Hispanic Heritage Month, Flamenco Vivo also provides arts education promoting the next generations of Spanish dance artists and educators. 

    Guitarist and composer Maria Zemantauski is based in Upstate New York where she is a teacher, lecturer and performer, and performs across Europe and the continental U.S.  Zematauski is on the faculty in the Department of Fine Arts, Theater Arts & Digital Media at Hudson Valley Community College where she has also been the Coordinator of Cultural Affairs since 2004.

    6Hilos (6 Threads) recently premiered in New York City three months ago to show city goers how artists are forced to persevere during this pandemic. Flamenco Vivo’s work pays homage to singers of the “Golden Generation” who have left a legacy of more than 50 years and marked the golden age of flamenco.   

    Tablao Flamenco pays homage to Spain’s flamenco cafes. Tablaos are popular places to see flamenco. These performances involve lots of improvisation, the call and response dance offers a neat look into the intersection of music and dancing.Admission to An Evening of Flamenco Music and Film is free. However tickets to the Flamenco Vivo’s performance are $15. Find more information about tickets here

  • Organ Fairchild Release Long-Awaited Debut Album “Brewed In Buffalo”

    New York jam/groove trio Organ Fairchild today release their debut album Brewed In Buffalo. The trio consists of Joe Bellanti on keys, Corey Kertzie on drums and Dave Ruch on guitar. The three lifelong musicians have played together in cover band Wild Knights since 1983, but only began writing and performing originals in 2019. 

    organ fairchild Brewed In Buffalo

    The album offers a classic jam sound, begging to be heard at an outdoor venue with plenty of space to dance. The trio operates like a well-oiled machine, maintaining steady grooves while deferring to each other with communicative solos. On opening track “Amateur Night at the Apollo,” Bellanti’s organ and Ruch’s guitar quite literally feel in conversation with each other, steadied by Kertzie’s masterful rhythms. Although none of the tracks have lyrics, in its best moments, this album speaks. 

    What stands out most about Organ Fairchild is their fascination with building a melody from the ground up. Building melodies with this in mind creates an immersive experience; Organ Fairchild’s music is as easy to fall into as it is to snap out of. The thick, whirring hum of Bellanti’s organ is essential in building Organ Fairchild’s musical environment, and especially hypnotic on longer tracks. 

    The album mainly follows traditional jam/groove patterns, displaying the trio’s mastery of their craft. But tracks like album highlight “Bailar” step outside of the mold, proving Organ Fairchild best find their footing in experimentation. “Bailar,” anchored by a breathless Latin percussion line, is pure fun and movement.The beginning of the track boasts a guitar solo from Ruch that would drop Santana’s jaw; the climactic end brings the maniacal riffs of Funkadelic to mind. The extensive influences that come from the trio’s years of cover experience convalesce here into a beautiful crescendo. The song runs through your body like a shock. 

    Album closer “Dylan St. James” takes a lighter approach, employing the eye-on-the-sky warmth of Tom Petty’s music. Of all the tracks, Dylan St. James feels the most listenable in daily life; on a long car ride at sunset, or a particularly introspective moment where headphones drown out the rest. If the album speaks without words, this track represents a central mantra; keep moving, keep trying, keep finding joy in the little moments. Uplifting, mournful and downright fun in equal measures, Organ Fairchild leaves the listener with their head held high, looking onwards and upwards.  

    Organ Fairchild also won this year’s NYS Music March Madness, voted #1 out of 64 bands in the annual friendly competition.

    Organ Fairchild will perform songs from Brewed In Buffalo live at upstate New York’s Borderlands Festival, to be held September 18th and 19th. Watch a live performance of album single “Get The Scotch Out” below:

  • Steve Vai Announces 2022 Tour with Multiple stops in New York

    Steve Vai has announced a tour with multiple stops in New York starting in January of 2022. The tour will have 54 stops across the country. 

    Steve Vai Tour 2022

    Steve Vai is an american guitarist, composer, singer, songwriter, and producer who is known for his solo work that has earned him 3 Grammy’s and for his work with Frank Zappa. Steve Vai grew up in Carle Place, New York and has released 8 solo albums throughout his time as a musician. Some of his most well known songs include “For The Love Of God,” “Tender Surrender,” and “The Attitude Song.” 

    The tour will start at the House Of Blues in Las Vegas, NV on January 27, 2022 and will wrap up at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles, CA on April 2, 2022. The tour will include four dates in New York. The first date in NY will be in Huntington on February 25 at The Paramount. The second in Port Chester on February 26 at The Capitol Theatre. The third stop will be in Albany on March 3 at The Egg. The fourth and last stop in NY will be in Rochester on March 4 at the Kodak Center. Vai will be joined by his long-tenured ensemble members Dave Weiner on guitar / keys, Philip Bynoe on bass, and Jeremy Colson on drums.  

    Steve Vai explained the motivation behind this tour saying, “A performer thrives on performing.  It’s been my life for the past 49 years, with the exception of the last two years, so we are chomping at the bit to get out there and play for people. A music concert has the ability to dissolve the many challenges we face, and celebrate one of the good things in life, live music.” 

    The general on-sale will go live on September 17, 2021, with a VIP pre-sale available on September 15, 2021. For tickets visit here. For more information on Steve Vai’s 2022 tour visit his website.

    Steve Vai 2022 Tour Dates

    1/27     Las Vegas, NV                                               House Of Blues

    1/28     El Cajon, CA                                                  The Magnolia 

    1/29     Riverside, CA                                                 Fox Performing Arts Center

    1/30     Phoenix, AZ                                                    Celebrity Theatre

    2/01     Salt Lake City, UT                                         The Rockwell at The Complex

    2/02     Boulder, CO                                                   Boulder Theater

    2/04     Oklahoma City, OK                                        Tower Theatre

    2/05     Austin, TX                                                      Paramount Theatre

    2/06     Dallas, TX                                                      House Of Blues

    2/08     Houston, TX                                                   House Of Blues

    2/09     San Antonio, TX                                             The Aztec Theatre

    2/11     Birmingham, AL                                            Lyric Theatre

    2/12     Macon, GA                                                     Hargray Capitol Theatre

    2/14     Atlanta, GA                                                    The Eastern

    2/15     Clearwater, FL                                                Bilheimer Capitol Theatre

    2/16     Orlando, FL                                                    The Plaza Live

    2/17     Ft. Lauderdale, FL                                          The Parker

    2/18     Ponte Vedra Beach, FL                                  Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

    2/19     Charlotte, NC                                                 The Fillmore Charlotte

    2/21     Charleston, SC                                                Charleston Music Hall

    2/22     Alexandria, VA                                              The Birchmere

    2/23     Glenside, PA                                                   Keswick Theatre

    2/24     Red Bank, NJ                                                 Count Basie Theatre

    2/25     Huntington, NY                                              The Paramount 

    2/26     Port Chester, NY                                            The Capitol Theatre

    2/27     Providence, RI                                                The Strand

    3/01     New Haven, CT                                              College Street Music Hall

    3/02     Boston, MA                                                    The Wilbur 

    3/03     Albany, NY                                                    The Egg

    3/04     Rochester, NY                                                Kodak Center

    3/05     Harrisburg, PA                                               Sunoco Theatre

    3/06     Greensburg, PA                                              Palace Theatre

    3/08     Warren, OH                                                    Packard Music Hall

    3/09     Detroit, MI                                                      Masonic Cathedral Theatre 

    3/10     Morgantown, WV                                           Metropolitan Theatre

    3/11     Louisville, KY                                                Old Forester’s Paristown Hall

    3/12     Nashville, TN                                                 CMA Theater

    3/13     St. Louis, MO                                                 The Pageant

    3/15     Chicago, IL                                                     Copernicus Center

    3/16     Milwaukee, WI                                               Pabst Theater

    3/17     St. Paul, MN                                                   The Fitzgerald Theater

    3/18     Kansas City, MO                                            The Uptown Theater

    3/19     Lincoln, NE                                                    Bourbon Theatre

    3/20     Des Moines, IA                                              Hoyt Sherman Place

    3/22     Sioux Falls, SD                                               The District

    3/23     Fargo, ND                                                       Fargo Theatre

    3/25     Billings, MT                                                   Alberta Bair Theater

    3/26     Bozeman, MT                                                 The ELM

    3/27     Missoula, MT                                                 The Wilma 

    3/28     Seattle, WA                                                    Moore Theatre

    3/29     Portland, OR                                                   Roseland Theater

    3/31     Turlock, CA                                                    Turlock Community Theatre

    4/01     Napa, CA                                                        Uptown Theatre Napa

    4/02     Los Angeles, CA                                            The Theatre at Ace Hotel

  • In Focus: Blackberry Smoke “Spirit of the South” Tour rolls into Stone Pony Summer Stage

    For many bands it is a struggle to make it past a few years. However, when they do, it requires something special. To commemorate their 20th anniversary, Georgia’s Blackberry Smoke spun up the “Spirit of the South Tour: A Celebration of Southern Rock N Roll.” 

    To help support this momentous adventure, Blackberry Smoke brought along The Allman Betts Band and The Wild Feathers, as well as having special guests sit in at various stops along the way.  As luck would have it in the year 2021, midway through the tour a member of Blackberry Smoke tested positive for Covid.  With proper protocols in place, the band isolated for enough time to enabled them to finish out the run and reschedule dates where possible.  NYSMUSIC caught one of the rebooked shows at The Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park, N.J.

    With a light breeze flowing in from the Atlantic Ocean, The Wild Feathers opened the late Sunday afternoon show.  Fired up and raring to go, this five-piece from Nashville shared songs from their 2013 debut album, The Wild Feathers, and the soon to be released Alvarado.  Per the band’s website, they “have been through the wringer” in the music biz, but you wouldn’t have known it as they strutted the stage, kicked up their heels, played their hearts out and found Ricky Young and Joel King climbing out on speakers to take in all the house had to offer.

    Blackberry Smoke Spirit South
    The Wild Feathers

    The Allman Betts Band faced logistic issues due to the rescheduled date and surprised the crowd with a three-piece acoustic version of ABB comprised of Devon Allman, Duane Betts, and R. Scott Bryon.  Devon set the expectations for the afternoon calling it a BBQ backyard show, with the band writing the set list as they went along. Being in Jersey, the trio shared their take on Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire” to the delight of the Asbury crowd. Drew Smithers sat in mid set with his slide guitar prowess and later Jimmy Hall, founding member of Wet Willie, joined in contributing vocals and harmonica. In the spirit of paying homage to their musical forefathers, the collective finished with Sonny Boy Williamson’s “One Way Out.”

    Blackberry Smoke Spirit South
    The Allman Betts Band

    As the sun was setting, Blackberry Smoke launched into a 16-song set covering their multi-decade existence.  Front man Charles Starr thanked those in attendance for their support over the years and attendance at the rescheduled show. The night featured songs from their latest, You Hear Georgia, in addition to “Good One Comin’ On”, “Medicate My Mind”, and “One Horse Town. The band closed with “Ain’t Much Left of Me.” BBS’s performance let everyone know they were not calling it quits at 20 years.

    Blackberry Smoke Spirit South
    Blackberry Smoke

    After these three acts finished, one could have gone home satisfied. But then the magic took over. After a short break, Blackberry Smoke hit the stage again bringing with them a variety of players to salute those who paved the musical way. Joined by The Wild Feathers, they started in with Charlie Daniel’s “Long Haired Country Boy” followed by Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Tuesday’s Gone.” 

    Larkin Poe guested on Marshall Tuckers “Can’t You See” and Jimmy Hall fronted the jam with Wet Willies “Country Side of Life.” Not to remain on the side of the stage, The Allman Betts Band led a special tribute to Charlie Watts with “Honky Tonk Woman.” Throwing in a few more southern classics for good measure, Blackberry Smoke brought it all together as everyone joined in on “Midnight Rider.”

    The New Jersey shore, known for its boardwalk, games of chance, and salty air was transformed this night by Blackberry Smoke and friends into simply “Southern” Jersey.

    The Wild Feathers

    The Allman Betts Band

    Blackberry Smoke

  • Gogol Bordello Arrive in Albany on September 14 – then onto Burlington

    Punk rock collective Gogol Bordello will perform two New York regional shows this week, at Empire Live in Albany on Tuesday, September 14 and Higher Ground in Burlington, Vermont on Wednesday, September 15 The Burlington show replaces a Montreal date, which was previously postponed due to new COVID-19 protocols. 

    gogol bordello

    Formed on the Lower East Side in 1999, Gogol Bordello’s boundary-breaking combination of punk-rock, cabaret and Romani musical traditions is truly unlike anything out there. Anchored by Ukranian frontman Eugene Hutz, members of the always-evolving collective hail from around the world. In a handwritten mission statement on their website, Hutz writes: “From where we stand, it is clear that world’s cultures contain material for endless art-possibilities, and new mind-stretching combinations, raw joy and survival energy.” This mission has led them to receive critical acclaim and fans across the world, with former Village Voice Chief Music Critic Robert Christgau calling them “The world’s most visionary band.” 

    Gogol Bordello are known for their dramatic performances, which they describe as a mix of “music, theatre, chaos and sorcery.” Although they have not released a new album since 2017s Seekers and Finders, Gogol Bordello have remained a consistent touring act. The band averages 200+ shows a year, and has supported diverse bands from Flogging Molly to Cake. Their most recent single, an Adrian Sherwood remix of their song “Lifers,” dropped back in April. Sherwood offers clean, electronic production, grounding the maniacal rawness that has become Gogol Bordello’s hallmark.  They are currently recording the album’s follow-up. 

    The new Burlington date will complete the Northeastern leg of Gogol Bordello’s Lifers 2021 tour. The band is no stranger to Higher Ground, where they most recently played in 2020, describing it as an “all time fav.” Attendees will have to provide proof of full vaccination, or a negative COVID test from the past 72 hours paired with a photo ID, aligning with Higher Ground’s policy. To purchase tickets, visit here.

  • Warsaw Brooklyn Reopens its Doors For Sold Out Shows With Andy Shauf

    With live music having returned to New York, Warsaw Brooklyn finally reopened its doors to fully vaccinated crowds for Andy Shauf’s sold-out two night run on September 9 and 10, 2021. Tomberlin opened both nights with lighthearted stage banter and mellow acoustic tunes, lending to the venue’s naturally intimate atmosphere.

    warsaw brooklyn
    Andy Shauf at Warsaw Brooklyn, photographed by David Reichmann

    After closing its doors during 2020 for the pandemic, Warsaw Brooklyn finally brought back their famous pierogis and reopened their stage for the starting leg of Andy Shauf’s North American tour. Shauf’s latest album, The Neon Skyline, had only come out in January of 2020 when their scheduled tour had to be postponed due to the pandemic.

    warsaw brooklyn
    Tomberlin Opening for Andy Shauf, photographed by David Reichmann

    Tomberlin opened for Shauf on both nights at Warsaw, playing some of her hits, including the sorrowful but sweet song, “Seventeen.” She also invited the crowd to sing along during her performance, which went over well as she smiled and sang along with her captive audience.

    Andy Shauf at Warsaw Brooklyn, photographed by David Reichmann

    Shauf’s latest album gained some extra attention when the title track of his latest album, The Neon Skyline, was featured in Barack Obama’s Summer 2020 Playlist. Shauf’s setlist included several tracks from The Neon Skyline as well as highlights from the preceding album, The Party.

    warsaw brooklyn
    Andy Shauf at Warsaw Brooklyn, photographed by David Reichmann

    Andy Shauf’s North American Tour continues through the Fall, and you can check out his music here.

  • Fringe On: Rochester Fringe Festival Live events return

    Keybank Rochester Fringe Festival is back in swing this year, with more than 400 in-person and online performances between September 14 and September 25. The 10th anniversary features the return of fan favorites such as the Silent Disco, Cirque Du Fringe, Fringe Street Beat dance off, and Pedestrian Drive-In.

    For the first time, organizers have curated a mini music festival, called Smokestacks, to mark the finale. The free outdoor event takes place starting at 4pm on September 25 at Parcel 5 on Main Street, and features live performances by Cammy Enaharo, Mikaela Davis, Kopps, Spencer, Cannons, and Joywave.

    rochester fringe

    For safety, COVID protocols are in place. All indoor events require masking and proof of vaccination. Attendees ages 12 and up who are unvaccinated must be masked at all times, even for outdoor events. Protocols may be subject to change. Prior to attending, check for updates online.

    “After 18 months of closure that have devestated the performing arts, we’re thrilled to play our part in getting them back on their feet. Nearly 90% of our shows are live and in person, which wouldn’t be possible without our absolute commitment to keeping performers and attendees safe.”

    – Erica Fee, Founding Festival Producer

    A plethora of entertainment is available – from theater and dance to spoken word and comedy. And of course, music. Some Ska Band will heat things up with irresistible ska and reggae beats at the JCC canalside (outdoor) stage on opening night, September 14 at 7:30pm (get your tickets here). Gospel Sunday takes place on September 19 at 2pm, led by Reverend Rickey Harvey of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church at One Fringe Place (free). And the Taiko Japanese Drumming Performance makes a reprise at The Little on September 25 at 3:15pm (also free). And don’t forget about Smokestacks on September 25 at Parcel 5, where you can catch rising singer/songwriter Cammy Enaharo, the eclectic talent of Mikaela Davis, and of course Rochester’s own Joywave.

    The complete lineup of events at Rochester Fringe is available online at RochesterFringe.com.

  • Folkfaces Fest V Announces Daily Lineup for Darien Center

    Folkfaces have announced the lineup for their fifth annual edition of Folkfaces Fest V. 2021: A Folkface Odyssey will celebrate roots music, community, and culture in Western New York and beyond.

    This year’s festival features a space/alien theme “2021: a Folkface Odyssey,” riffing on Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Held over September 30 – October 3 at Cherry Hill Campground in Darien Center, NY, located in between Rochester and Buffalo, the event features camping, raffles, a film tent, bonfires, yoga, open jams and much more.

    folkfaces fest

    The lineup for Folkfaces Fest V includes Scott H Biram, JD Wilkes, Bruce Molsky, Folkfaces, Andy Cohen, Mike Gantzer, Subsoil, Dirty Blanket, The Ditrani Brothers, and many more!

    The venue for Folkfaces Fest V, Cherry Hill Campground, is a beautiful location with well-manicured grounds, including a fire ring and picnic table at each campsite. On-site, there is a bathhouse with flush toilets and showers, as well as multiple spigots with potable water throughout the grounds. Firewood, snacks, blankets, soft drinks, coffee, and many other supplies are available for sale at the Cherry Hill Campsite.

    The daily lineups can be found below. Tickets are available for purchase here for only $95. Kids under 12 are free and puppy passes are available for just $25. You’re in for a treat full of endless music, camping, workshops, raffles, food vendors, artists, dancing, beer, artists, and more! Stay up on all new information via the Facebook Event here, and get out to Darien Center for the kickoff on September 30th.

    Thursday

    Friday

    folkfaces fest

    Saturday

    Sunday