NYS Music 202​2

Author: Faith Logue

  • The Great New York State Fair 2022 Concert Lineup Announced

    The Great New York State Fair‘s 2022 lineup has been announced with a wide musical variety, taking place August 24 – September 5 at the Fairgrounds in Syracuse.

    Founded in 1832 by a group of local farmers for agriculture and local fairs, it did not become a musical showcase until until the 1950’s and 1960’s, when the fair began gearing towards entertainment.

    the great New York State Fair logo
    The Great New York State Fair Logo.

    Artists performing at the Great New York State Fair 2022 are some fan favorites, but also some new faces making their State Fair debuts.

    Chevy Court Stage- free with admission

    Jimmie Allen – August 24 at 6 P.M.

    Jimmie Allen is making his return to the State Fair after a 2019 performance that put him on the map. Now, Grammy-nominated for Best New Artist and nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist, this all after being named the Academy of Country Music’s New Male Artist of the Year and the Country Music Association’s New Artist of the Year in 2021. He takes the Chevy Court stage on opening day at 6 P.M.

    Jimmie Allen.

    Niko Moon – August 26 at 6 P.M.

    Fast-rising country star Niko Moon will be making his Fair debut on August 26 at 6 P.M. His song “Good Time” hit number one on the Billboard country charts and spent nearly half of 2021 on the top 40 pop charts. He has written for artists like Zac Brown Band, Dierks Bentley, and Rascall Flatts.

    Niko Moon

    Tai Verdes – September 2 at 1 P.M.

    Platinum-selling breakout singer-songwriter Tai Verdes will make his debut performance at the Fair on September 2 at 1 P.M. He is known for his chart-topping hits like “A-O-K,” and “Stuck In The Middle” and has performed on The TODAY Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Verdes has been hailed by the likes of TIME Magazine, Rolling Stone, New York Times, NPR, and more for his music.

    Tai Verdes.

    Also Returning

    September 2 at 6 P.M.- Gin Blossoms

    September 5 at 4 P.M.- Night Ranger

    Chevy Park Stage- free with admission

    Foreigner – August 28 at 8 P.M.

    Rock band Foreigner will return to the Fair stage and close out the first weekend of the Fair’s concert season on August 28 at 8 P.M. Foreigner has 16 Top 30 hits over their decades-long career, with nine Top 10 hits. Their catalog has sold over 80 million albums, and they held the longest number 1 on the Billboard charts with their album “4.” They are also looking for a junior high, high school, or college chorus to perform a 10-minute acappella set before their show, and they can apply here.

    Foreigner.

    Boyz II Men – August 29 at 8 P.M.

    Grammy-winning vocal soul powerhouse group Boyz II Men will return to the Fair for the first time since 2009 on August 29 at 8 P.M. They have a long catalog of top hits, which fans will be able to sing to all night long.

    Boyz II Men.

    24KGoldn – September 2 at 8 P.M.

    Rapper 24KGoldn is making his debut at the Fair on September 2 at 8 P.M. He made music chart records with his song “Mood” with Iann Dior as it became the first song ever to top four Billboard music charts at the same time. His mix of genres from rap, rock, and alt-rock will bring a wide variety of fans to the show.

    24KGoldn

    COIN – September 3 at 2 P.M.

    COIN will bring their bright indie-pop to their debut performance at the Fair on September 3 at 2 P.M. They are most known for their single “Talk Too Much” which hit high on the indie charts. They help diversify the lineup with their fresh sound, which will bring a lot of young fans to the Fair.

    COIN.

    City Girls – September 4 at 8 P.M.

    Rap duo City Girls are coming to the Fair and are making their debut on September 4 at 8 P.M. Miami-based Yung Miami and JT are known for their single “Act Up” which went platinum, and for their contribution to Drake’s song “In My Feelings.”

    City Girls.

    Also Playing

    August 24 at 8 P.M.- Chevelle

    August 25 at 8 P.M.- The Art of Rap Featuring Ice-T

    August 31 at 8 P.M.- Nelly

    September 1 at 8 P.M.- Riley Green

    September 3 at 8 P.M.- Dropkick Murphys

  • This Week’s EQXposure on WEQX Features Kendra McKinley, The Pine Boys 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 Kendra McKinley, The Pine Boys, Gozer, and many more.

    EQXposure logo 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. 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.

    Kendra McKinley – “Dirty Laundry”

    Kendra McKinley is a Hudson Valley singer-songwriter who blends pop, jazz, and soul using vibrant sensuality and wit. Her new single “Dirty Laundry” will be on EQXposure, and the music video is out now.

    The Pine Boys – “Lunatic”

    The Pine Boys is a three-piece band that resides in Albany, NY, and consists of members Andrew Cerone, Brett Maney, and Sam Lasky. The group brews together genres like Alternative Rock, Hip-Hop and Funk. Their song “Lunatic” off of their album Vacationland will be shown on EQXposure. The song is very funky, with muffled vocals and cool synths and an almost wolf’s howl in the background.

    Gozer – “Braindead”

    Gozer are a band also from Albany, NY. The members include Mykah Dillenger, Sean Murphy, Nick Kossor, and Seth Maset. They are an original hard rock band and music contributors to various podcasts/movies. Their single “Braindead” will also be shown on EQXposure. The song has a lot of heavy guitars and is reminicisent of an early 2000s rock song, with stellar vocals and lyrics.

  • The Rock and Roll Playhouse Announces Earth Day Activities With Grateful Dead For Kids

    The Rock and Roll Playhouse has announced that a national Earth Day weekend celebration on April 23 and 24 is coming to Port Chester, NY. The Playhouse is a family concert series where kids rock out to the classics, and this concert series will feature music by the Grateful Dead for Kids.

    rock and roll playhouse poster
    The Rock and Roll Playhouse Grateful Dead Earth Day celebration.

    Stephen Grybowski, Senior Director of the Playhouse, said they are excited to bring families together for this event.

    We’re excited to bring families together across the country to celebrate Earth Day Weekend. The Grateful Dead were not only a phenomenal band with classic songs, but they were environmentally aware—that’s a connection that makes these shows an even more special celebration for families as we inspire the next generation of young rockers.

    It provides kids with early music exposure and promotes creativity. It is introducing the new generation to music by artists including The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Phish, David Bowie, Prince, Aretha Franklin, Dave Matthews Band, and more. It was founded in 2013 at the Brooklyn Bowl by Peter Shapiro, co-owner of the Bowl and owner of The Capitol Theatre, and Amy Striem, a certified Early Childhood, and Elementary teacher.

    Proceeds from the shows will go to the Grateful Dead’s official non-profit Rex Foundation, which supports charitable organizations working to protect the Earth. Tickets are on sale now.

    Earth Day Weekend Schedule: 

    4/23: Garcia’s—Port Chester, NY

    4/23: Terminal West—Atlanta, GA

    4/24: White Eagle Hall—Jersey City, NJ*

    4/24: Brooklyn Bowl—Brooklyn, NY

    4/24: Mission Theater—Portland, OR (AM show)

    4/24: Mission Theater—Portland, OR (PM show)

    4/24: Sweetwater Music Hall—Mill Valley, CA

    4/24: Funky Biscuit—Boca Raton, FL

    4/24: Grey Eagle—Asheville, NC

    4/24: High Noon Saloon—Madison, WI

    4/24: The Vogel—Red Bank NJ

    4/24: Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia—Philadelphia, PA

    4/24: First Avenue—Minneapolis, MN

    4/24: Brooklyn Bowl Nashville—Nashville, TN

    4/24: Thalia Hall—Chicago, IL

    *Program is David Bowie for Kids

  • Lizzo Makes Her Hosting Debut On Saturday Night Live

    Lizzo hosted her first Saturday Night Live and returned as a musical guest for the second time, the first time in 2019 when she performed her hit songs “Truth Hurts” and “Good As Hell.” She just released her new single “About Damn Time” and is also prepping to release her next album Special, out July 15.

    Lizzo, photo by Mary Ellen Matthews.

    During the cold open, the Easter Bunny (Bowen Yang) made an appearance and introduced various figures in today’s media talking about Easter and cracking jokes about recent events they are involved in. Dr. Anthony Fauci (Kate McKinnon), Marjorie Taylor-Greene (Cecil Strong), NYC Mayor Eric Adams (Chris Reed), Britney Spears (Chloe Finemen), Jared Leto (Mikey Day), and Donald Trump (James Austin Johnson) all made an appearance.

    During her opening monologue, Lizzo joked about how she would break the record for the amount of times “bitch” is said on TV, and made a shoutout to her mother. She talked about how far she has come, from living in her car to hosting SNL.

    Lizzo appeared in the next sketch as “Guess That” contestant Nicole, who was sassy and fiery about not getting the questions right and kept hitting the answer button to be annoying to the host. She also crowned herself the Mayor of “Gametown” in the sketch.

    In another sketch, she is featured as a label executive, listening to The Black Eyed Peas and giving her ideas, with success. She is seen in another sketch as a girl bringing a date over, whose friends and family are all “Six Flags Guys.” She was also seen as an Egyptian princess, and then a flutist in an orchestra.

    On the SNL Youtube page in the Cut For Time sketch, she starred in a music video with cast members Chris Reed and Bowen Yang about eating food while watching Youtube. She had a rap at the end of the song and was starring as the Youtube Algorithm, and sang about how the algorithm knows what videos to recommend to you based on your watching habits.

    “Ladies and gentlemen me!” Lizzo exclaimed as she performed her new song “About Damn Time,” in a yellow neon sequined jumpsuit with neon lights shining in the back as she sings “Turn up the music, turn down the lights/I got a feelin’ I’m gon’ be alright/Okay (Okay), alright/It’s about damn time.” She even brought out her amazing flute playing skills.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agXlTImG6mQ

    SNL included an homage to the late Gilbert Gottfried, with a photo of the comedian/actor when he was a cast member on SNL in Season six. Gottfried died on April 12

    In her second performance, Lizzo’s mom introduced her. She performed her new song “Special” wearing a huge pink coat and sparkly dress. She sang with a lot of emotion as she sang “in case nobody told you today, you’re special/in case nobody made you believe you’re special/ I will always love you the same, you’re special.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR_xR0x35R4

  • Khruangbin Add Brooklyn and Lewiston Dates To National Tour

    Three-piece band Khruangbin from Houston, Texas, has added Brooklyn and Lewiston dates to their Space Walk Tour 2022, with supports including Toro Y Moi, Men I Trust, Vieux Farka Touré, Genesis Owusu, Pachyman.

    Khruangbin Space Walk Tour poster.

    Khruangbin was formed in 2009 with Laura Lee on bass, Mark Speer on guitar, and Donald Johnson on drums. They take their influence from 1960s Thai funk with their name translating to “Engine Fly” in Thai. The group has toured across the world, with praise from the NY Times, Billboard, and more. The trio recently joined Leon Bridges to create the EP Texas Moon, which landed in the Top 25 of the Billboard Top 200, as well as the Top 5 on Billboard’s Album Sales, Vinyl, Alternative Albums, and Rock Albums charts.

    The Space Walk Tour with Khruangbin is touring now, with a newly added Brooklyn date. Tickets are on sale now.

    KHRUANGBIN 2022 TOUR DATES:

    **notes newly added 

    Fri April 29th – Cincinnati, OH – Andrew J Brady Music Center w/ Toro y Moi

    Sat April 30th – Asheville, NC – ExploreAsheville.com Arena (fka Asheville Civic Center) w/ Toro y Moi

    Tue May 3rd – Charlotte, NC – Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheater w/ Toro y Moi

    Wed May 4th – Richmond, VA – Virginia Credit Union LIVE! w/ Toro y Moi

    Thur May 5th – North Charleston, SC – Firefly Distillery w/ Toro y Moi

    Sat May 7th – Miami Beach, FL – Fillmore Miami Beach At Jackie Gleason Theater w/ Toro y Moi

    Sun May 8th – Miami Beach, FL – Fillmore Miami Beach At Jackie Gleason Theater w/ Toro y Moi

    Wed May 11th – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall w/ Toro y Moi

    Thurs July 7th – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater w/ Men I Trust

    Fri July 8th – Vancouver, BC – PNE Amphitheater w/ Men I Trust

    Sat July 9th – Troutdale, OR – McMenamins Edgefield w/ Men I Trust

    Sun July 10th – Redmond, WA – Marymoor Park Concerts w/ Men I Trust

    Tues July 12th – Bonner, MT – Kettlehouse Amphitheater w/ Men I Trust

    Wed July 13th – Boise, ID – Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical Garden w/ Men I Trust

    Sat July 16th – Berkeley, CA – The Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley w/ Men I Trust

    Sun July 17th – Berkeley, CA – The Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley w/ Men I Trust

    Sat July 30th – Montreal, QC – Osheaga Festival

    Sun July 31st – Detroit, MI – Mo Pop Festival

    **Mon August 1st – Lewiston, NY – Artpark Amphitheater w/ Men I Trust

    **Tues August 2nd – Toronto, ON – RBC Echo Beach w/ Men I Trust

    **Thurs August 4th – Brooklyn, NY – BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! at Prospect Park w/ Vieux Farka Touré

    **Fri August 5th – Portland, ME – Thompson’s Point w/ Men I Trust

    **Sat August 6th – New Haven, CT – Westville Music Bowl w/ Men I Trust

    August 26th-August 28th – Vineyard Haven, MA – Beach Road Weekend

    August 26th-August 28th – Bridgeview, IL – Sacred Rose

    Sat September 17th – Los Angeles, CA – Primavera Sound LA

    **Thurs September 29th – Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl w/ Genesis Owusu

    **Sat October 1st – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Amphitheater w/ Genesis Owusu

    **Sun October 2nd – Santa Fe, NM – Santa Fe Opera w/ Genesis Owusu

    **Fri October 28th – Mexico City, MX – Pepsi Center WTC w/ Pachyman

  • LIMHOF Accepting 2022 Scholarship Applications

    The Long Island Music Hall of Fame (LIMHOF) is now accepting applications for their 2022 Student Scholarship and “Educator of Note” programs. Founded in 2004, the organization is dedicated to preserving Long Island’s musical heritage so that future generations can enjoy it.

    LIMHOF orchestra

    This year the LIMHOF will be awarding four $500 scholarships to graduating high school students from Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn, Queens, or Kings counties. Applicants must show interest in pursuing a career in music.

    Student scholarship applications are due May 13, and the application can be found here.

    The “Educator of Note” program recognizes music teachers and professors in college or high school who have demonstrated a commitment to music education. The winner will receive a grant that can be used within the school or district that they teach at.

    Applications for the “Educator of Note” program are due September 30, and the application can be found here.

    The LIMHOF was created as a place of community to inspire and explore Long Island music in all forms. The organization has elected 100 musicians and music industry executives to date. It also features traveling educational exhibits, including a mobile museum. You can learn more about the Long Island Music Hall of Fame here.

  • Brooklyn-Based Artist Max ZT Releases Inspiring Single “Daybreak”

    Brooklyn-based artist Max ZT shared his new performance video for his single “Daybreak,” off of his solo debut album Daybreak, released on April 8.

    Max ZT
    Max ZT

    Daybreak traces its roots to the darkest darks of the pandemic, with all the lockdowns. Max turned to music for healing and restoration at a time when society’s future was uncertain. He would send recorded improvisations to friends and family, who found them to be extraordinary sources of solace and relief.

    The reaction was shocking. I know music has always been a balm for me, but to see the effect it had on others, on such a direct, one-to-one level, was honestly incredible.

    Max ZT

    NPR has described him as the “Jimi Hendrix of dulcimer.” He has scored an Emmy-winning ESPN documentary, co-wrote the music for his wife Priya Darshini’s GRAMMY-nominated debut Periphery, and shared the stage with the likes of Ravi Shankar and more.

    His first lead single “In It” shows his unique ability to invite deep thought through his music as the track goes through different emotions to get to a resolution. The new single “Daybreak” is beautiful and heartbreaking as it takes you on a journey through deep melodies and strong conclusions.

    Max ZT’s new album Daybreak will be out on April 8 and will be available on all streaming services.

  • Lucy Kalantari Releases New Music Video “Art”

    Brooklyn-based two-time GRAMMY award winner Lucy Kalantari is an artist, composer, and producer passionate about creating children’s media. She is the frontwoman and bandleader for Lucy Kalantari & the Jazz Cats. She just released a new music video for her song “Art” off of her EP What Kind Of World?

    Lucy Kalantari.

    Her album All the Sounds won the Grammy Award for Best Children’s Album and in 2020, Kalantari produced, recorded and arranged the Grammy award-winning album All the Ladies, by Joanie Leeds. Her latest EP, What Kind of World?, had the title track named Biggest Songs of 2021 by SiriusXM Kids Place Live. Her music promotes joy, and inspires community while highlighting the power of resilience.

    She is a full time music creator and mother to an nine-year-old musician, and she still takes time to mentor, teaching high school and college students to pursue their passions.

    The video for her song “Art” features handdrawn art by by seven-year-old Hannah, and directed by Matt Mayers. The song is a mesmerizing and thought-provoking song that addresses the evolution of self, growth, and how things don’t last very long.

    To accompany the video, she created a worksheet for listeners to express themselves in response to the song’s message.

    The music video for “Art” is out now.

  • 2022 Old Songs Festival In Altamont Announced

    The 2022 Old Songs Festival at the Altamont Fairgrounds in Altamont, NY, has announced it will be hosting the festival in-person on June 24, 25 & 26.

    2022 Old Songs Festival Logo
    2022 Old Songs Festival Logo

    Old Songs celebrates music from all areas around the world, including Folk, Celtic, Quebecois, Roots, Americana, and World music. All these different kinds of music mesh together from the help of Contemporary musicians, singers, and songwriters.

    The festival encourages people of all ages to join jam sessions, take part in learning instruments, sing sacred harp, and move their feet to the many dance bands that come to the festival. School-age children who play an instrument can participate in the “Great Groove Band” and perform on stage on Sunday.

    The Great Groove Band.

    There are three main concert stages, each featuring multiple artists on Friday & Saturday from 6:30 -11 pm, and Sunday 3:30 – 7 pm. There are over 100 plus performances, dances, workshops, and jams in ten areas around the festival grounds.

    There are a lot of performers that represent many regions and countries. Some different performers going to the festival include É.T.É from Quebec, Beppe Gambetta from Italy, Copley Street from Ireland, Ustad Shafaat Khan from India, Hubby Jenkins, Reggie Harris, and a whole lot more.

    Tickets are available to purchase here.

  • Live Nation Announces Partnership With American Dream

    Live Nation has announced a multi-year partnership with American Dream, a preeminent entertainment and retail center located in East Rutherford, NJ, including exclusive live events and concerts.

    The main stage at American Dream will feature a series of concerts, as well as other unique experiences like fan-to-artist activations, pop-up shops, launch parties for new music releases and upcoming tours, and more. These will come to life throughout the venue, which has a theme park, the largest indoor one in the Western Hemisphere, Big SNOW, North America’s only indoor ski slope, The Rink, an NHL-regulation ice rink, and more.

    American Dream first event

    The first acts to perform in the concert series have been announced. Hip hop star Ludacris will perform on May 7, followed by rapper J.I. on June 17; DJs/producers Two Friends on June 18; rapper Lil Tjay on July 22; rapper Sheck Wes on August 13; and Japanese rock band Band-Maid on October 30.

    CEO of the venue Don Ghermezian spoke about the partnership.

    American Dream provides guests with experiences that can’t be found anywhere else, like the incredibly popular amusement park takeover concert series we’ve created. A partnership with Live Nation takes our property to a new level. The impact and value Live Nation brings as our content provider gives artists another unique platform to inspire their fans.

    The venue will feature upcoming Live Nation shows in the New Jersey-New York metropolitan area, and create opportunities around events at the neighboring MetLife Stadium featuring live performances and other fan engagement.