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*
Spoon orchestrated a six show, eight-day “min tour” to prepare for their “Back to Life” live stream from Los Angles at the end of October. The tour, isolated to the Northeast, included a stop at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY.
Spoon’s set began with the somewhat dark “The Beast and Dragon, Adored.” The song afforded the band the opportunity to pull the audience in close before engaging them in a full on rock offensive. Lead singer and founding member Britt Daniel took his position guiding the charge. But at times during the set, Daniel could be seen dropping to his knees or catapulting into full flight as if the songs were giving the commands.
Spoon
Stage right Alex Fischel was no shy puppy. Oscillating between guitar and keyboards (and occasional percussion), Fischel would at times be hidden away in the crux of his set up and then erupting into full on guitar assaults with a maladroit style all his own. Jim Eno, the other founding member of Spoon, set the pulse for the band with his drumming, enabling the band to take music in the direction it wanted to go in.
Since starting in 1993, Spoon has amassed a trove of songs in their gig bag. The set was comprised of fifteen songs including: “Don’t You Evah,” “Do You,” and “I Turn My Camera On.” The encore found Daniel and Fischel alone on stage isolated in spotlights as they harmonized on John Lennon’s “Isolation.” The band joined mid way and performed three additional songs, closing with “Rent I Pay.”
Spoon at The Capitol Theatre
Supporting Spoon on this whiplash of a tour is Nicole Atkins. Her brassy rock and roll swagger makes her a perfect opening act. Sporting a blond wig, Nicole strapped on a guitar for most of her time on stage. Rocking through her catalog she was backed by an ad hock band created for this tour. Currently living in Nashville, Atkins is Jersey born and bred. She cut her teeth in the Asbury music scene and her take no prisoner demeanor confirmed that. Giving acknowledgement to her rock and roll mentors, Nicole and band finished out with Led Zeppelin’s “What is and What Should Never Be.”
Nicole Atkins
Being such a short tour, those that had the opportunity to catch this combination of acts are much the richer. Better yet, being a precursor to the live stream from L.A., Spoon fans have much to look forward to.
Indie rock sensation Japanese Breakfast played four sold out shows at Brooklyn Steel last week (October 14-17, 2021), continuing their North American Fall 2021 Tour.
Japanese Breakfast at Brooklyn Steel, photography by David Reichmann
Luna Li opened for Japanese Breakfast the first three nights, her last involvement after having also opened for them throughout the first leg of the tour. Bringing a lot of warmth and enthusiasm, Li performed several of her biggest hits including “Alone But Not Lonely“, “Cherry Pit“, and a few energizing instrumentals from her Jams EP.
Luna Li remarked on how deeply thankful she was for the fans and for the huge opportunity to go on tour. She also mentioned how seeing Japanese Breakfast in concert several years ago had inspired her, stating,
as a Korean . . . seeing Michelle, another Korean, on stage meant so much to me.
Luna Li
Japanese Breakfast started their set with “Paprika,” the opening track from their latest album, Jubilee. Each time Michelle smashed the gong, the crowd screamed and cheered. They went immediately into the second track of the album “Be Sweet,” which lifted the crowd to an even louder chorus of cheers.
Apart from their successful run of performances, Japanese Breakfast front-woman and songwriter, Michelle Zauner, not only released an all-new soundtrack to accompany the video-game,Sable, last month, but had also launched her memoir Crying in H-Mart earlier this year as well.
You can listen to their music and follow the rest of their North American Tour here.
Show-stopping, astounding, and phenomenal are just a handful of words you can use to describe The Struts, whose ‘Strange Days Are Over’ tour hit Rochester at the Main Street Armory on October 15th and the glam rock band brought the house down.
Luke Spiller of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Lead singer, Luke Spiller, is an electrifying showman. Luke nailed every single note of every single song as the energy kept up. He ran back and forth and eventually had to remove his shirt, which naturally sent the fans into a frenzy. Accompanying Spiller was Adam Slack on the Jed Elliott on the bass, and Gethin Davies on the drums.
Fans of The Struts packed the Main Street Armory. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Each musician brought their own personality. This mixed with a killer performance and the die-hard fans that knew every word created an atmosphere that was intoxicating in the best way possible.
If you ever have the chance to see this band, don’t walk, strut.
Setlist: Primadonna Like Me, Body Talks, Kiss This, I Hate How Much I Love You, Fire, One Night Only, Dirty Sexy Money, Low Key In Love, Mary Go Round, Medley, Am I Talking To The Champagne (Or Am I Talking To You), Wild Child, I Do It So Well.
Encore: Strange Days, It Could’ve Been Me
Luke Spiller of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Adam Slack of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Jed Elliott of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Gethin Davies of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Luke Spiller of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Adam Slack of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Jed Elliott of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Luke Spiller of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Adam Slack of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
Luke Spiller of The Struts. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki
While I was driving up Route 17 to attend the Chris Stapleton “All American Road Show” at Bethel Woods, the rain was coming down like cats and dogs and squirrels and rabbits. With my windshield wipers on high, I started thinking of August 1969. Back then the heavens had opened up on a little music event at this same location. Maybe this was a good sign.
Chris Stapleton
The “Road Show “, which started in July, has been fluid with its opening acts. On this night Kendal Marvel, a gray bearded Honky Tonker, greeted the early attendees. He and his band delivered a short and driving set. “Low Down and Lonesome” had you moving your feet while “Gypsy Woman” took it down a notch reflecting on a transient love.
Kendal Marvel
Grammy nominated Margo Price followed. Price reached out to all in the house and took control of the stage. As she moved seamlessly between vocals, guitar, and percussion, Margo maneuvered from one end of the stage to the other in her knee-high black suede boots. Price’s set included “Tennessee Song” from Midwest Farmer’s Daughter and a cover of Leslie Gore’s “You Don’t Own Me.” Backed by a full band, including a three-guitar army and pedal steel, her execution was top notch reinforcing her well-deserved musical status.
Margo Price
Stepping out from the wings with a flashlight directing his path, Chris Stapleton centered himself on a dark stage. A man and his guitar. Then, a single spotlight illuminated him from behind setting the tone for his set. This was not about him, but about the music.
Stapleton opened with “Whiskey and You,” a raw look at the struggles of the heart. His full band then joined him on an elaborately constructed stage, which was not pretentious but built to enhance the journey. To his left and lending vocals, was Stapleton’s wife, Morgane. Randomly through the show, she would snuggle up close to Chris and caress the tall Kentuckian’s beard bringing about a joyful glow.
No BS. No fireworks. Just Chris Stapleton and his songs.
The two-hour set maneuvered through Stapleton’s catalog, and included songs from his 2020 Starting Over album.There was not a lot of banter from the singer songwriter enabling each song to resonate fully before the next began. Throughout the night a continuous flow of guitar changes and band configurations afforded each song the opportunity to shine brightly.
You could feel the depth of Chris’s deep, raspy timbre as he shared the challenges of the common man. With Stapleton’s encouragement, the house joined in on “Starting Over” giving this audience of sixteen thousand the opportunity to be one with the artist. At one point, Chris teased the crowd with a snippet of Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” before breaking into “The Devil Named Music.” Taking creative license with the iconic “Tennessee Whiskey”, Stapleton melodically introduced his band and brought the set to a close.
Chris Stapleton
The night concluded with a two-song encore. Beginning with the title cut from his debut album Traveler, citing “this was where it all began.” To close Stapleton chose “Outlaw State of Mind.” The song built up in intensity while performed. As it concluded, each musician with their instruments feeding back put them down on the stage floor and walked off. Sending the music into the ethos.
The deluge leading up to the show did not deter the sold-out audience. What they experienced was a well-constructed night of musical purpose. No BS. No fireworks. Just Chris Stapleton and his songs. Unadulterated for all to consume.
Update – September 17, 2021: Elton John is postponing his 2021 European dates on his world tour until 2023 so that he can have an operation on an injured hip. Elton John said of the injury and postponement:
Despite intensive physio and specialist treatment, the pain has continued to get worse and is leading to increasing difficulties moving. I have been advised to have an operation as soon as possible to get me back to full fitness and make sure there are no long-term complications.
With great sadness and a heavy heart that I am forced to reschedule the 2021 dates of my Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in Europe and the UK to 2023.
Elton John
Elton has promised fans that “the shows will return to the road next year and I will make sure they are more than worth the wait.”
REcently, Lil Nas X and Elton John have teamed up for “One of Me,” the pair’s first collaboration, appearing Lil Nas X’s debut album, Montero, which released on Friday, September 17.
Original article follows below
The final dates for Elton John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour have been announced. This final tour for Elton John will take him around Europe, America and New Zealand, with dates into 2023.
Elton John released a statement regarding his new tour dates, and the return to his ‘final’ tour:
Hello, all you wonderful fans out there. I’m coming to you today with an announcement I’ve been working towards for, well, all my life: the shows that I announce today will be my final tour dates ever in North America and Europe. I’m going to go out in the biggest possible way, performing at my very best, with the most spectacular production I’ve ever had, playing in places that have meant so much to me throughout my career.
Elton John
photo by JTGPhoto
Elton John made his way through New York in February 2019 with a stop at the Times Union Center. Check out photos and our review of the evening for a taste of what’s in store when The Rocket Man returns to the road.
Elton John ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road” World Tour
2021 (European dates postponed until 2023)
Sept. 01 – Berlin, DE – Mercedes Benz Arena Sept. 03 – Berlin, DE – Mercedes Benz Arena Sept. 04 – Berlin, DE 2 Mercedes Benz Arena Sept. 07 – Cologne, DE – Lanxness Arena Sept. 08 – Cologne, DE – Lanxness Arena Sept. 11 – Hamburg, DE – Barclaycard Arena Sept. 12 – Hamburg, DE – Barclaycard Arena Sept. 14 – Hamburg, DE – Barclaycard Arena Sept. 17 – Stockholm, SE – Tele2 Arena Sept. 18 – Stockholm, SE – Tele2 Arena Sept. 21 – Helsinki, FI – Hartwell Arena Sept. 22 – Helsinki, FI – Hartwell Arena Sept. 25 – Oslo, NO – Telenor Arena Sept. 26 – Oslo, NO – Telenor Arena Sept. 30 – Cologne, DE – Lanxness Arena Oct. 05 – Zurich, CH – Hallenstadion Oct. 06 – Zurich, CH – Hallenstadion Oct. 10 – Paris, FR – Accor Hotels Arena Oct. 12 – Paris, FR – Accor Hotels Arena Oct. 13 – Paris, FR – Accor Hotels Arena Oct. 16 – Antwerp, BE – Sportpaleis Oct. 17 – Antwerp, BE – Sportpaleis Oct. 22 – Barcelona, ES – Palau Sant Jordi Oct. 23 – Barcelona, ES – Palau Sant Joride Oct. 30 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Arena Nov. 02 – London, UK – O2 Arena Nov. 03 – London, UK – O2 Arena Nov. 05 – Leeds, UK – First Direct Arena Nov. 07 – London, UK – O2 Arena Nov. 09 – London, UK – O2 Arena Nov. 10 – London, UK – O2 Arena Nov. 12 – London, UK – O2 Arena Nov. 14 – London, UK – O2 Arena Nov. 16 – London, UK – O2 Arena Nov. 17 – London, UK – O2 Arena Nov. 19 – Manchester, UK – Arena Nov. 21 – Birmingham, UK – Resorts World Arena Nov. 23 – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena Nov. 24 – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena Nov. 27 – Liverpool, UK – M&S Bank Arena Nov. 28 – Liverpool, UK – M&S Bank Arena Dec. 01 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Arena Dec. 03 – Dublin, UK – 3Arena Dec. 04 – Dublin, UK – 3Arena Dec. 06 – Belfast, UK – SSE Arena Belfast Dec. 09 – Aberdeen, UK – P&J Live Dec. 10 – Aberdeen, UK – P&J Live Dec. 13 – Glasgow, UK – SSE Hydro Dec. 14 – Glasgow, UK – SSE Hydro
2022
Jan. 19 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center Jan. 21 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center Jan. 22 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center Jan. 25 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center Jan. 26 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center Jan. 29 – N. Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena Jan. 30 – Oklahoma City, OK – Chesapeake Energy Arena Feb. 01 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center Feb. 04 – Chicago, IL – United Center Feb. 05 – Chicago, IL – United Center Feb. 08 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena Feb. 09 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena Feb. 14 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena Feb. 15 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena Feb. 18 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre Feb. 19 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre Feb. 22 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden Feb. 23 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden Feb. 25 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center March 01 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center March 02 – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center March 05 – Long Island, NY – Nassau Coliseum March 06 – Long Island, NY – Nassau Coliseum March 19 – Fargo, ND – FARGODOME March 22 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center March 23 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center March 26 – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Center March 27 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena March 30 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center April 01 – Indianapolis, IN – Bankers Life Fieldhouse April 02 – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum April 05 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena April 08 – Knoxville, TN – Thompson-Boling Arena April 09 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena April 12 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center April 13 – Hershey, PA – Giant Center April 16 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center April 19 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum April 20 – Columbia, SC – Colonial Life Arena April 23 – Jacksonville, FL – Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena April 24 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena April 27 – Orlando, FL – Amway Arena April 28 – Miami, FL – American Airlines Arena May 22 – Frankfurt, DE – Deutsche Bank Park May 29 – Leipzig, DE – Red Bull Arena June 04 – Milan, IT – San Siro Stadium June 07 – Horsens, DK – CASA Arena Horsens June 09 – Arnhem, NL – GelreDome June 11 – Paris, FR – La Defense Arena June 15 – Norwich, UK – Carrow Road June 17 – Liverpool, UK – Anfield June 19 – Sunderland, UK – Stadium of Light June 22 – Bristol, UK – Ashton Gate Stadium June 29 – Swansea, UK – Liberty Stadium July 15 – Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park July 18 – Detroit, MI – Comerica Park July 23 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium July 28 – Foxboro, MA – Gillette Stadium July 30 – Cleveland, OH – Progressive Field Aug. 5 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field Sept. 7 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre Sept. 10 – Syracuse, NY – Carrier Dome Sept. 16 – Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park Sept. 18 – Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium Sept. 22 – Atlanta, GA – Mercedes-Benz Stadium Sept. 24 – Washington, DC – Nationals Park Sept. 30 – Arlington, TX – Globe Life Field Oct. 2 – Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium Oct. 21 – Vancouver, BC – BC Place Oct. 29 – San Antonio, TX – Alamodome Nov. 4 – Houston, TX – Minute Maid Park Nov. 12 – Phoenix, AZ – Chase Field Nov. 19 – Los Angeles, CA – Dodgers Stadium Nov. 20 – Los Angeles, CA – Dodgers Stadium
Brooklyn’s Creek and Kills will put out their new EP “Unstitching” on Friday, August 20, 2021. Recorded in their homes from May 2020 to April 2021, with mixing and mastering from Danielle DePalma, “Unstitching” includes remixed, rerecorded, and/or remastered versions of the band’s pandemic singles plus three new tracks. These are wild siren songs from far reaches of an urban estuary. Creek and Kills rock out like a mermaid party in a Superfund site…a little dirty, a little dangerous, a little sexy, luring you to sink in the dark water.
The band’s first full-length eponymous album (released 2019) was praised for its “unadulterated filthy Rock rhythms,” “artful alchemy,” and the “striking strength” of vocals from singer-bassist, Kate Bell (A&R Factory). Bell comes from a background in jazz. Her octet, the Poma-swank, was hailed as “one of the best offerings from the New York jazz underground” by music writer Mark Kirby, and All About Jazz described Bell as “oozing sass . . . her instrument is not only her voice, but her total self . . . and the person who is singing is someone you’d most definitely want to meet.” Since Bell’s switch to rock, she’s worked on projects with members of the Julie Ruin, Bush Tetras, and Groovy Ghoulies. Guitarist Marc Montgomery began collaborating with Bell in late 2017, and “Unstitching” features his heartbreaking song, “Sunshine Hotel.” Drummer and vocalist Erin Harney joined Creek in Kills in late 2019, previously of the bands The Shook Ones and Femmepire.
Creek and Kills’s music has been heard on the “I Art NY” podcast, in the short film Skin the Wire (NY Shorts Festival), on WPRB (Princeton, NJ), BVEW (Brattleboro, VT), and on the greatest freeform radio station in the world, Jersey City’s WFMU. Creek and Kills will celebrate the release of the “Unstitching” EP with special guests, Groupie and Rest Ashore, at 18th Ward in Brooklyn on Friday, August 20, 2021, open to all, music starting at 8 p.m.
The Great New York State Fair has released lineup of concerts and music performances for 2021 to be held in Syracuse at the State Fairgrounds from August 20th through September 6th.
The Fair was founded in 1832 by a group of farmers for agricultural improvement and local fairs. It wasn’t until the 1950s-1960s the fair was used for entertainment where singers came to perform.
Artists performing at the 2021 edition of the Great New York State Fair include the following national and local artists:
Radio & TV personality Bobby Bones brings his musical comedy band Bobby Bones & The Raging Idiots to the Great New York State Fair on opening day, Friday, August 20. The New York Times bestselling author and host and executive producer of his own breakout television series Breaking Bobby Bones on National Geographic will perform at 2 p.m. on the Chevy Park stage in the New York Experience festival grounds. All Chevrolet Music Festival concerts are free with $3 Fair admission.
Hart-topping country duoLOCASH will open what will be the largest slate of national touring band concerts ever presented at the Great New York State Fair on the Chevy Park Stage Friday, August 20. The band behind hits such as “I Know Somebody” and “I Love This Life” will perform as part of the Chevrolet Music Festival. All concerts are free with Fair admission.
Hard-rockin’ California band Ratt will take the Chevy Park audience “Round And Round” Saturday, August 21 at the Great New York State Fair as part of the Chevrolet Music Festival. The band, known for its steady stream of rock hits as well as its appearance in a funny commercial for GEICO insurance, will perform at a time to be announced. All concerts are free with Fair admission.
The men of R&B pop supergroup 98 Degrees will bring their hits, including “Give Me Just One Night” and more to the Chevy Park stage Saturday, August 21 at 8 p.m. during the 2021 Great New York State Fair. It’s the group’s second appearance, following a concert in 2001. All concerts are free with $3 Fair admission.
Brothers Osborne bring their hard-driving, good-time country to the 2021 Great New York State Fair’s Chevy Park stage Sunday, August 22 at 8 p.m. as part of the Chevrolet Music Festival. TJ and John Osborne have had big hits with “Stay A Little Longer” and “It Ain’t My Fault,” as well as a hit collaboration with Dierks Bentley, “Burning Man.”
Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra August 23, 2021 at 2p.m.
Grammy-winning group Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra will bring an afternoon of high-energy polka music to the 2021 Great New York State Fair at 2 p.m. Monday, August 23. Sturr and his band won the Grammy for Best Polka Music 18 of the 24 times the prize was awarded.
Bishop Briggs will perform on the Chevy Park stage at the Chevrolet Music Festival at the 2021 Great New York State Fair Monday, August 23. The Scottish-born, Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter hit the alternative and rock charts with songs such as “Wild Horses” and “River.”
One of the most popular rock bands of all time, Foreigner, will perform on the Chevy Park stage at the Chevrolet Music Festival at the 2021 Great New York State Fair Monday, August 23 at 8 p.m. Founding member Mick Jones leads the band that scored nine Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts, including “I Want To Know What Love Is,” “Feels Like The First Time” and “Cold As Ice.” It will be the fourth appearance for Foreigner at the Fair, following shows in 1994, 2006 and 2011.
The Spinners, the legendary soul group behind unforgettable hits such as “I’ll Be Around,” “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love?” and “Rubberband Man,” will return to the Great New York State Fair with a 2 p.m. performance Tuesday, August 24 at a venue to be announced. It will be the seventh appearance for The Spinners, stretching back to 1985.
DSL* Dire Straits Legacy, which features musicians who performed and recorded with the band during its days atop the world’s music charts plus top class musicians such as Trevor Horn, will perform at the 2021 Great New York State Fair as part of the Chevrolet Music Festival.
Train, the San Francisco-based band behind the hits “Meet Virginia,” “Drops of Jupiter” and “Hey, Soul Sister,” returns to the Great New York State Fair with an 8 p.m. performance Tuesday, August 24 at the Chevy Park stage as part of the Chevrolet Music Festival.
Jameson Rodgers takes the Chevy Park stage at the 2021 Great New York State Fair’ Wednesday, August 25 at 2 p.m. as part of the Chevrolet Music Festival.
Country music star Russell Dickerson will make his Great New York State Fair debut on the Chevy Park stage at the Chevrolet Music Festival Wednesday, August 25. Dickerson owns four #1 singles: “Yours,” “Blue Tacoma,” “Every Little Thing” and “Love You Like I Used To” as well as a handful of awards nominations from the Academy of Country Music, CMT and iHeart.
Arena rock superstars REO Speedwagon return to the Great New York State Fair’s Chevrolet Music Festival with an 8 p.m. show Wednesday, August 25. The band behind classic hits such as “Ridin’ The Storm Out,” “Keep On Loving You” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling” will make its sixth appearance at the Fair.
In the years 1969 through 1974, no other group achieved more top 10 hits, moved more records or sold more concert tickets than Three Dog Night. Their hits wind through the fabric of pop culture today, whether on the radio where they are heard day in and day out, in TV commercials or in major motion pictures — songs like “Mama Told Me (Not To Come)”, “Joy to the World”, “Black and White”, “Shambala” and “One” serve to heighten our emotions and crystallize their continuing popularity.
Additional New York State Fair concerts later in August and early September 2021
Updated on August 17, 2021: The NYS Fair announced on August 12, 2021 southern rock band Jackyl will be replacing Dire Straits Legacy in the line up at the Chevy Court Stage on August 24 at 7 PM.
Danger Ken! released their 10 track debut album, Up is Down, on May 7th. Aside from a few guest appearances on certain tracks, drums, keys, guitar, bass and vocals are a product of the album’s creator. A multi-talented instrumentalist and composer local to New York, it appears Dan Gerken’s musical alias, a play on his own name, is just as clever and catchy as his new music.
The opening song, Lagoon (Intro), creates an air of mystery as we unravel what’s to come. Free of lyrics, the song invites the listener to relish in the evolving peaceful synthesizers in the background. By contrast, the intro is followed by Jubilate which pushes back our preconceived notions about the album as a whole. Expanding instrumentation, Jubilate, accompanied by guest Andrew Chamberlaine (Mister F,Timbre Coup) brings a punchy retro-sounding electric guitar and pumping drums to get you moving.
Once lyrics emerge in the third track of the album, Astral Traveler, accompanied by guest instrumentalist Dave Berger (Groovestick), its evident no track is alike on this album that keeps you on your toes, switching from tracelike to groovy all in a matter of seconds. Through the diverse discography, there are staples to the album the listener can count on: catchy electric guitar lines, experimental ethereal synthesizer backgrounds, and unique layered vocals.
The psychedelic cover embodies the range of emotions the lister is drawn to feel while listening to this ever-changing musical soundscape. My ears were constantly attuned to the minute changes in instrumentation. While seemingly minimalistic standing on their own, individual loops placed over top one another allowed for a repetitive yet diverse music range across songs.
My personal favorite track, Time to Go, had notes parallel to 80s synthesizer and electric guitar parts with contrasting rock-like vocals bringing a 90s element. The cross-generational track’s beautiful smooth evolution of instrumentation, experimenting with both tempo and timbre, was both catchy and peaceful. The perfect song for a cross-country solo road trip or backyard concert, I was completely entranced, particularly by the thread of electric guitar that wove in and out of the piece.
A self proclaimed “byproduct of being home a lot the last year and having the studio here for the first time in my life,” Gerken’s vocals are passionate and personal, inviting experimental rock into an intimate atmosphere. I highly recommend giving it a listen, and feel confident in saying between the diverse genre shifts within the album, there is bound to be a favorite for everyone.
Streaming on Bandcamp and Spotify, the album is just waiting to be checked out!
Today, talented singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT+ activist, and pioneer in music Cynthia (Cyndi) Ann Stephanie Lauper celebrates her 69th birthday. From her residence in New York’s Upper West Side to childhood in Ozone Park, Cyndi Lauper is a true New Yorker through and through.
The perpetually campy orange haired princess of pop like her image in “Girls Just Want to Have Fun“, Lauper is underrated as a master across genres. With one of the greatest rock voices of her generation, she described her struggle even to emerge as the pop artist she was labeled as.
Cyndi Lauper in Girls Just Wanna Have Fun/ credit: MEDIAPUNCH
Despite misogynistic barriers that initially barred her from entry into the industry, Lauper’s album She’s So Unusual was the first debut album by a female artist to achieve four top-five hits on the Billboard Top 100s, earning her a Best New Artist Grammy award in 1985.
Iconoclast who revolutionized the role of women in rock and roll
Songwriters Hall of Fame
Lauper’s discography spans across genres, movie soundtracks like The Goonies, and even Broadway numbers like Kinky Boots, earning her Grammys, Emmys, Tonys, MTV Video Music Awards, Billboard Awards, and American Music Awards. She’s one of the few singers to have earned 3 out of the 4 EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Throughout her entire career, Lauper has consistently taken on serious topics including racism, homophobia, spousal abuse and AIDS. Her sincere advocacy for gay and transgender rights even earned her an invitation as a special guest to attend President Barack Obama’s second-term inauguration. As the co-founder of True Colorshttp://Nysmusic.com/tag/LGBTQ United, Lauper sought to eliminate youth homelessness among LGBTQ+ young people and even uses her iconic song True Colors to raise awareness for issues among the gay community. A true humanitarian, she was even presented the High Note Global Prize in 2019 by United Nations Human Rights.
As we all wish Cyndi Lauper a happy birthday, let us not forget all her contributions to the music industry and human rights alike!
