NYS Music 202​2

Author: Faith Logue

  • Alternative Guitar Summit and Joel Harrison Announce Guitar Events for August

    The Alternative Guitar Summit in collaboration with Joel Harrison has announced three different guitar events happening all over New York in August.

    Joel Harrison and alternative guitar summit

    Guitarist, composer, arranger, lyricist, writer, educator, and vocalist Joel Harrison has “created a new blueprint for jazz,” as said by the New Orleans Times-Picayune. He has released 23 CDs as a leader on seven different labels and is the founder and director of the Alternative Guitar Summit, a yearly festival devoted to new and unusual guitar music.

    In collaboration with the Alternative Guitar Summit, Harrison will be sponsoring and hosting three different events in New York. The events are The Music of the Woodstock Festival, Jazz Guitar event of the decade, and Joel Harrison Quartet.

    The Music of the Woodstock Festival

    On the Woodstock festival anniversary, Harrison and his all-star team of improvisers, including NYC-based African American vocalists Everett Bradley, Nicki Richards, and Keith Fluitt, will be playing new takes on the music at the 1969 festival. They will be playing at The Colony in Woodstock on Aug. 12, at 8 P.M. and tickets are on sale here.

    Joel Harrison Quartet

    The Joel Harrison Quartet will be playing at Lydia’s Cafe in Stone Ridge in a laid-back, local affair on Aug. 20 from 7:30-10 P.M., and tickets are on sale now.

    The Jazz Guitar Concert of the Decade!

    The jazz guitar concert of the decade will feature Bill Frisell, John Scofield, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Mike Stern, who are the four pillars of the jazz/ funk/rock/alt guitar scene. The concert will be happening at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock at 8 P.M. on Aug. 26, and tickets are on sale here.

  • 2022 Green Soul Studios Series Announced in Forest Hills

    The 2022 Green Soul Studios lineup has been announced at the studio in Forest Hills, Queens, with many jazz artists.

    green soul studios lineup

    Pianist/vocalist Kelly Green and her partner, bassist Luca Soul Rosenfeld turned their living room into a top-notch intimate performing space where they have had performances, recording sessions, and more since 2020. It all started with the duo performing for neighbors and friends, and has expanded from where people from all over want to come and see them play.

    Green has performed at notable clubs and venues such as the Kennedy Center, Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Birdland Theater, and various well-known musicians. Rosenfeld is a native New Yorker, who has been studying and playing music since the age of 8. Since 2015, he has curated and produced an underground concert series in Manhattan at The Treehouse.

    green soul studios
    Green Soul Studios

    Green Soul Studios was a great release for the couple after the pandemic ruined the live music scene. The couple agreed that the studio “was and is a true blessing, and a worthy project to sustain.”

    2022 Green Soul Studios Lineup

    8/14 – KG & The Shades– featuring Kelly Green on piano and voice, Luca Soul on bass, Dierk Peters on vibraphone, and Kenny Wollesen on drums.

    8/28 – Green Soul + Rich Perry

    9/11 – Green Soul + Bill Mobley 

    9/25 – Green Soul + Art Baron

    10/9 – Green Soul + Elijah Thomas

    11/20 – Green Soul + Tim Armacost 

    12/4 – TK Blue

    12/18 – Green Soul + Bruce Williams

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkMKaLATiWk

  • This Week’s EQXposure On WEQX Features Wes Aldrich and Merci Van

    Each Sunday evening from 7-9 pm you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up-and-coming artists.

    Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music from Wes Aldrich and Merci Van on EQXposure.

    EQXposure

    WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.

    Wes Aldrich- “Petty Kind,” “Door Beneath the Water” “Ina field with Goats”

    Wes Aldrich writes from the heart with haunting melodies to upbeat pop rhythms. He is the lead guitarist, singer, and songwriter for his bands Hug the Dog and Ballroom Sofa. Three songs from his album Balance will be played on Sunday.

    Merci Van- “Awkward Conversation” and “Red Riding Hood”

    Merci Van is from Saratoga Springs and makes synth post-folk music. Members are Alicia Macier Van Scoy, Ed Cormac, and Katlyn Celentano. The new songs are off their Demos EP.

  • WEQX Creates “Free-QX” Library

    Alternative station WEQX will be creating a “Free-QX” library outside the station, allowing the community to borrow the many records the station gets in every day.

    eqx

    102.7 WEQX has been on air since November 14, 1984. The independently owned radio station broadcasts out of a house in Manchester, Vermont. At 50,000 watts, it is the strongest commercial FM radio signal in southern Vermont, and reaches well into Upstate New York, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

    The idea came from Jeff Morad, who is the program director, Morning Show host, and host of the Jam N’ Toast specialty show.

    Free-QX came to me when I was driving around, and saw one of those little free libraries where people can take and leave books. I thought that this would also be fun with records. We have a lot of music that comes through EQX, and we are always dreaming up ways to connect with the local community.

    The Free-QX structure is outside the radio station, which has been at 161 Elm Street in the Historic Depot District since 1984. The official unveiling will be at EQX’s Parking Lot Party, from 4-7 P.M. on August 4, which took a several-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

    The structure will also have an inventive solar-powered fan system to help maintain the records, tapes, CDs, and more that may be shared. EQX is all about sharing music, so it was a perfect idea to implement.

    Some cool thing the station does is every Sunday on EQXposure they share new music from a variety of local artists and beyond to an ever-expanding audience. Make sure to tune in every Sunday from 7-9 P.M. to listen!

  • Jazz is Dead Celebrate 25th Anniversary with Tour Stops in Tarrytown and NYC

    Jazz is Dead, the acclaimed All-Star instrumental ensemble, famous for interpretations of classic Grateful Dead songs, is celebrating its 25 anniversary with a fifteen show tour. They will also be performing Grateful Dead’s Wake of The Flood marking it’s 50 anniversary.

    jazz is dead

    The group was formed in 1998 by bassist Alphonso Johnson, who was in groups like Santana and The Other Ones. Joining Johnson are guitarists Steve Kimock and Bobby Lee Rodgers, and percussionist Pete Lavezzoli, who is known for his work with Oteil & Friends and the Jerry Garcia Band.

    The group recorded three acclaimed albums, and their album Laughing Water released in 1999 was an instrumental Wake of The Flood reinterpretation. That album has been described as “a superior remake of the Grateful Dead’s rather ordinary rock album Wake of the Flood” by Ed Kopp for All About Jazz.

    The 25 anniversary tour makes stop in Tarrytown on Jan. 26 and NYC on the 27. Tarrytown is located in Westchester county on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, approximately 25 miles north of Midtown Manhattan, with a small population of about 12,000. The town is rich with Revolutionary War history and known for the river views.

    For more information about Jazz is Dead, and to buy tickets to their upcoming tour, go here.

    Jazz is Dead Tour Dates

    Jan. 10 – The Coach House – Capistrano, Calif. 

    Jan. 11 – The Canyon – Montclair, Calif. 

    Jan. 12 – The Canyon – Agoura, Calif. 

    Jan. 13 – The Regency Ballroom – San Francisco

    Jan. 15 – The Paramount – Denver

    Jan. 17 – Celebrity Theatre – Phoenix 

    Jan. 19 – Barrymore Theatre – Madison, Wis. 

    Jan. 20 –  Des Plains Theatre – Des Plaines, Ill. 

    Jan. 21 – The Arcata – St. Charles, Ill. 

    Jan. 22 – The Agoura – Cleveland

    Jan. 24 – The Wilbur – Boston

    Jan. 25 – The Keswick Theatre – Glenside, Pa. 

    Jan. 26 – Tarrytown Music Hall – Tarrytown, N.Y. 

    Jan. 27 – The Palladium at Times Square – New York, N.Y. 

    Jan. 28 – Penns Peak – Jim Thorpe, Pa.

  • Northern Current in Saranac Lake Returns for Labor Day Weekend

    The Northern Current Music Festival in Saranac Lake returns for Labor Day weekend, featuring local and international artists representing contemporary music’s past, present, and future.

    northern current festival

    The festival’s mission is to enrich Saranac Lake’s cultural diversity by celebrating various musical heritages. The event is free, and family-friendly, with various activities for kids and adults. The daylong celebration will happen in Riverside Park in Saranac Lake on September 4.

    Northern Current Festival Lineup

    TEKE

    TEKE is a female-fronted Montreal-based Japanese psych-rock group that features traditional Japanese
    instruments, flute, and trombone alongside raging guitars and a pulsing rhythm section. They create a
    sound reminiscent of the 1960s and 1970s era psychedelic Japanese soundtracks.

    teke

    The Big Takeover

    Leading The Big Takeover is Jamaican-born singer and songwriter NeeNee Rushie, creating a horn-powered global blend of reggae and world music, with hints of soul and Motown, and their infectious brand of pop classicism.

    Photo by Katie Palatucci

    Ghost Funk Orchestra

    Hailing from Brooklyn, Ghost Funk Orchestra is the brainchild of producer and multi-instrumentalist Seth Applebaum. The band has evolved from a one-man band to a ten-piece powerhouse live band that draws heavy influence from the worlds of soul, psych rock, salsa, and beyond.

    Rose & The Bros

    Rooted in southern dance tradition and the addition of soft vocal harmonies, Rose & The Bros from Ithaca will serve with their Lousiana sound and reggae undertone.

    The Outcrops

    The Outcrops are from the woods of Northern New Jersey, presenting original blues-infused rock and roll. The four-piece was formed in 2016 by lead vocalist Cassidy Rain and lead guitarist Bryan Schroder.

    Crackin’ Foxy

    Crackin’ Foxy is a ukulele-driven ensemble, featuring tight instrumental arrangements and close vocal harmonies inspired by 30s swing, Hawaiian, and NOLA jazz.

    For more information about the Northern Current Music Festival happening in Saranac Lake on September 4, go here.

  • Otsego County has Numerous Summer Concerts in the Mohawk Valley

    During the entire month of August, there will be numerous summer concerts held in Otsego County, from areas like Cooperstown to Richfield Springs and even Edmeston.

    otsego county music

    Otsego County is located in Central New York with a population of about 60,000. The county seat is Cooperstown, and the name Otsego is from a Mohawk or Oneida word meaning “place of the rock.” August brings a lot of music to the area, with different artists and bands featured all over the county.

    Richfield Springs

    Richfield Springs will continue its Wednesday evening “Concerts in the Park” series with free performances beginning at 7 P.M. in Spring Park on U.S. Route 20.

    Wednesdays in Spring Park

     August 3: New Horizons Barbershop Chorus and quartets (a capella singing in the barbershop style).

     August 10: Double Chase, playing old, new, and classic music.

     August 17: Cincinnati Creek (bluegrass)

     August 24: Rylee Lum Band (country)

     August 31: Salt City Brass (variety show)

    Cooperstown

    Cooperstown has many concerts coming up in August, in different locations. The Lakefront Concert Series begins Tuesday evenings at 6:30 P.M. at the bandstand in Lakefront Park.

    The Lakefront Concert Series

    August 2: Cooperstown Community Band

    August 9: Stoddard Hollow String Band (Appalachian mountain music)

    August 16: Jerry Dee and the Dovetones (early jazz, swing, classic rock, early soul, and ska)

    August 23: Bourbon and Branch (indie and alternative rock)

    August 30: Barnyard Saints (outlaw country)

    Cooperstown Community Band

    The Cooperstown Community Band will be playing in other locations in Otsego County, all concerts beginning at 7 P.M.

    August 9: Glimmerglass State Park

    August 16: Schuyler Lake

    Delhi

    Delhi will be hosting the Honest Brook Music Festival, which was founded in 1989 by Michael Cannon and the late Christopher Desler and has become a popular fixture of the classical music scene in Delaware County and the surrounding area. Performances are held in a converted dairy barn, with warm, resonant acoustics. To reserve a seat, go here.

    Honest Brook Music Festival

    August 7: Zhu Wang (pianist) at 3 P.M.

    August 14: Lun Li (violinist) and Ying Li (pianist) at 3 P.M.

    Edmeston

    Edmeston will be hosting Saturday afternoon concerts at the Pathfinder Pavilion. Pathfinder Village celebrates its 24 annual series of summer concerts with free, live performances starting at 2 P.M. The series is made possible from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the governor and the New York state Legislature.

    Saturday afternoons at the Pathfinder Pavilion

    August 6: Double Barrel (classic rock and country duo)

    August 13: Panther Creek (Americana and zydeco)

    August 20: Dirt Road Express (classic country and early rock)

    August 27: Small Town Big Band (swing orchestra with the big band sound)

    Oneonta

    Oneonta’s free summer concert series features area bands performing at the bandstand stage area of Neawha Park.

    Thursdays in Neahwa Park

    August 4: Off the Record

    August 11: Country Express

    August 18: Lucia & Levi

    Otsego County is hosting many different summer concerts throughout the county. For more information about the county and more events happening in the area, go here.

  • This Week’s EQXposure On WEQX Features El Modernist, Jason Wolfman Martin, and More 

    Each Sunday evening from 7-9 pm you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up-and-coming artists.

    Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music from El Modernist, Jason Wolfman Martin, and Shane Guerrette.

    eqxposure on weqx

    WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience and showcases new music on EQXposure. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.

    El Modernist- “Something For The Weekend”

    El Modernist are an indie band from Albany, delivering new takes on what is considered indie rock. They mix genres and have a psychedelic sound with pulsating hooks and melodies.

    Jason Wolfman Martin -” Nobody Hears It”

    Jason Wolfman Martin is an artist/musician/curator, active from 1989 to now, with three decades of LPs, CDs, and tapes under his belt. He hasn’t made music in over seven years, and his brand new EP and single serve as a comeback.

    Shane Guerrette-“Lost Without”

  • David Loss of Aqueous Takes Time Off To Start a Family

    David Loss from the band Aqueous announced he is taking time away from the band to welcome his new baby into the world. Fans speculated a breakup but were met with a sweet and emotional announcement.

    david loss
    David Loss

    Aqueous is a Buffalo-based groove band with a loyal following who put on spectacular shows. David Loss is the guitarist and keyboardist who does vocals with the band and is gaining notoriety as one of the most skilled, actively touring guitarists in the industry. His sound is unmistakable and keeps fans coming back show after show.

    The band has been quiet lately and should have announced a fall tour, however, they proudly announced that Loss is welcoming a child with his wife. He is taking the rest of the year off to take care of his child. The pandemic has taught us life can be disrupted abruptly, and we take the little things for granted. Life is all about balance and being present, and Aqueous are taking this time to reevaluate the culture of the band by not touring as much to get back to their roots.

    David Loss spoke about the decision with me, and the band’s future.

    I knew it was the right decision for me to make. When my son is born it’s going to be such a life changing experience that I want to fully be there for all of it. I don’t want to miss a thing! A lot of first time things and time you just can’t get back later. I know my wife will be very happy to have me home more as well. She has always been so supportive of me in everything I’ve done, which makes me feel ever more that I need to be there with her as much as I can. The only hesitation that I had really was that I didn’t want to let anyone down. That includes all of our fans and friends as well as the rest of the band. Especially since the guys are some of my best friends. We’ve been doing this thing for a long time now! It’s tough to take that long of a break from playing shows, but again I knew it was what I had to do and I feel very lucky that everyone has been very supportive of my decision. I’m happy that the guys will be able to play a handful of shows without me too. So keep an eye out for those sets!

    David Loss

    It is beautiful to bring a child into the world, and even more complicated when you are a musician with a hectic touring schedule and music to make. Loss taking the time and being present for a while is something all father’s with hectic schedules should do. Fans may be sad they won’t be able to see Aqueous for a while, but the music is still there, and they also teased a new album for next year, as well as more tours.

  • Cortland Repertory Theatre Announces Cancellation of “Orient Express”

    The Cortland Repertory Theatre has announced the cancellation of the remainder of their 2022 mainstage performances, including the remaining shows of Murder on the Orient Express due to positive COVID cases within the CRT company.

    Cortland Repertory Theatre

    CRT just presented their revival of Kiss Me, Kate for their 50 Anniversary Season, but now all mainstage shows are canceled as the ongoing situation with the COVID pandemic is evolving. The Bright Star Touring Company’s children’s productions of The Little Mermaid on July 28 at 10 A.M. and Upcycled Cinderella on July 29 at 10 A.M. will continue as scheduled. 

    In Cortland county, there are 84 active cases, and the new BA.5 subvariant is responsible for 125,000 new cases and more than 400 deaths each day in the United States, according to seven-day averages on The Washington Post’s covid tracker. The subvariant is causing 80% of infections and is more contagious than other variants by far.

    In order to stay safe during this unstable time, people need to get vaccinated, wash their hands, social distance, and wear masks, especially as the fall and winter approach. The Cortland Repertory Theatre has a special filtration system to help suppress airborne and surface microorganisms and pathogens including viruses (COVID and others), bacteria, and mold, and is encouraging people to wear masks and not attend shows if sick.

    The CRT Box Office staff will be contacting ticket holders to discuss options for refunds or ticket donations. For more information about the upcoming shows, and to buy tickets, go here.