Julie Slick, a virtuoso bassist and composer known for her wide array of unique tones and substantial melodic invention will arrive in Hudson Falls on August 13 for a performance at the historic Strand Theater.
Throughout her career, Slick has developed a distinctive voice through international performances and recordings with acclaimed first class musicians in both the progressive rock and jazz communities. Julie currently tours and makes albums with the Adrian Belew Power Trio and her own bass duo-fronted band, EchoTest.
She has also collaborated/appeared on stage with: the Crimson ProjeKct (featuring Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto), Les Claypool, Danny Carey, Victor Wooten, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Robert Fripp, Stewart Copeland, Alice Cooper, Ann Wilson, Jon Anderson, Mike Keneally, Marco Minnemann, Petra Haden, Kris Myers, and more.
Tickets for Julie Slick at the Strand Theater in Hudson Falls on Saturday, August 13 are only $20.
The Strand Theater in Hudson Falls was first opened in 1923, and the renovated building, which features an extensive schedule of shows, is celebrating a restored facade and new marquee. A great deal of history is found within the walls of the Strand Theater, and as we approach the centennial celebration of the venue, NYS Music will bring more history of the venue and a look ahead to what’s in store for the next 100 years.
On Sunday, August 14, the Beacon Sloop Club will hold their Annual Corn Festival from 12-5pm at Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park in Beacon. The family friendly event on the shores of the Hudson River is free to attend and will have plenty of fresh-picked, sweet Hudson Valley corn served with butter and special toppings.
In addition, treats such as chilled watermelon and ice cold fresh squeezed lemonade will be available to quench your thirst on this August day.
The Beacon Sloop Club is an all volunteer and non-profit organization. The Beacon Sloop Club’s Corn Festival raises money for the public sailing program on the Woody Guthrie and other environmental education programs, for which there is never a charge for sailing. The Beacon Sloop Club meets the first Friday of each month at the clubhouse in Beacon for a potluck dinner, business meeting and live music. The clubhouse is located on the banks of the Hudson River near the Metro-North train station. Everyone is always welcome.
Held rain or shine, the Beacon Sloop Club Corn Festival features two solar powered music stages, one dedicated for young folks (children) to enjoy, will provide live music throughout the day. Numerous food and craft vendors will be on hand. Environmental non-profits will feature displays of local river history and the environment including information about their organization. Families can enjoy many free activities for children in addition to the dedicated children’s stage.
The music line up includes Noga Cabo, Lydia Adams Davis, Mighty Girl, Spook Handy, Ken Miller, Sharleen Leahey, Ernie Sites, Double Trouble, and Howland Wolves.
Guests can enjoy the day surrounded by the majestic Hudson River. and visit the Beacon Sloop Club’s boat, the Woody Guthrie, where guests can take free sails from the Beacon Harbor, weather permitting. The public may sign up for an afternoon sail to relax and experience the beauty, power and grandeur of the Hudson. Sign up at the Beacon Sloop Club table starting at noon.
Phish continued their 2022 Summer Tour as they performed their first shows since 2013 at Northwell Health at Jones Beach in Wantagh. The pair of shows were heaters and displayed no lack of jamming prowess or song selection, as fans got a healthy dose of deep jams and surprises over the two days.
The parking lots and beaches were full of fans, with a Lot scene that brought our vendors of food, clothing, art, merchandise, fresh coconuts with rum, and everything else you’d expect to find at a Phish show under the Long Island summer sun.
Night one began with “The Curtain” and featured a deep “Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan” well worth seeking out on LivePhish.com. “Roggae” as the sun set behind the venue hit the spot and gave way to fan favorite “Pebbles and Marbles.” The fiery “Maze” led into a set closing “Squirming Coil,” in perfect time for the sun to completely set and envelop the crowd in darkness (save for Chris Kuroda’s ever-impressive light show).
The second set provided an enormous opening segment with pandemic tune “I Never Needed You Like This Before” leading the way and giving space for “Leaves,” which to some may look like the energy was sapped out of the room but instead developed into the jam of the run, with a beautiful, ethereal mediation ensuing. The segue from “Everything’s Right” into “The Mango Song” was as smooth as they come, and a trio of high energy songs closed the set with “Most Events Aren’t Planned” > “Chalk Dust Torture” > “Julius.” An encore of “Harry Hood” was as fitting as it gets, the band extending the third section of Hood as Fishman hit his ‘Moo’ samples to drive the peak of the jam home.
Night two brought a show-encompassing “Mike’s Groove” that featured an set 1 opener of “Mike’s Song” and a show closing “Weekapaug Groove.” A hefty “Wolfman’s Brother” stood out as the highlight of the first set, along with the second ever performance of the Sci-Fi Soldiers tune “Something Living Here.”
Set 2 never seemed to let up as the energy flowed from “No Men In No Man’s Land” into “Down with Disease” for 25 minutes of fist-pumping, head-nodding grooves. Another Sci-Fi Soldiers tune, “Don’t Doubt Me” was performed for two fans in the front row wearing ‘Genuine Asshole,’ a reference to the song’s lyrics. After “Golden Age” jumped into the mix, the softest landing possible came in the form of the ever rare “Lifeboy”. Before getting back into the “Weekapaug Groove,” “Fluff(head)” came to New York, and an encore of “Slave to the Traffic Light” paid fans safe travels as they headed to the next stops in Raleigh, NC and Columbia, MD.
For those heading to Atlantic City for Phish, Anchor Rock Club has added two free, interactive daytime events to its weekend programming during Phish’s three-night Atlantic City run on Sat. Aug. 6 and Sun. Aug. 7 from 2-4 p.m. The Helping Friendly Podcast (HFPod) is hosting The Disco Biscuits’ Jon Barber on Saturday and Phish lyricist Tom Marshall on Sunday. Fans can catch it streaming live, or register for free with the venue to attend in-person.
Phish – Northwell Health Jones Beach – Tuesday, July 26, 2022
Soundcheck: All of These Dreams, Don’t Doubt Me -> Billie Jean, My Soul
Set 1: The Curtain > Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S. > Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan -> NICU, Roggae, Pebbles and Marbles, Bathtub Gin > Maze, The Squirming Coil
Set 2: I Never Needed You Like This Before > Leaves > Everything’s Right -> The Mango Song, Most Events Aren’t Planned > Chalk Dust Torture > Julius
Encore: Harry Hood
Phish – Northwell Health at Jones Beach – Wednesday, July 27, 2022
Soundcheck: My Soul (incomplete)
Set 1: Mike’s Song > Wolfman’s Brother > Ya Mar, 46 Days > It’s Ice > All of These Dreams, Something Living Here > Axilla (Part II) > When the Circus Comes > Run Like an Antelope
Set 2: No Men In No Man’s Land > Down with Disease > Don’t Doubt Me -> Golden Age > Lifeboy > Fluffhead > Weekapaug Groove
Phish tour rolled on from Bethel to Hartford on Sunday, July 24, as thousands of fans flocked to Central CT with the mantra ‘Never Miss a Sunday Show’ proving true once again.
The first set began with “Cars Trucks Buses,’ a nod to the Traffic that surrounded the former Meadows Music Theatre. A surprise Big Boat track ‘Breath and Burning’ followed in the two-slot, taking more of a stroll that fans may have expected. The sustained energy from the next four tunes – “The Final Hurrah,” “Free,” “Yarmouth Road,” and “Plasma” – made way for thr highlight of the set, a 17 minute-plus “Sigma Oasis” that before closing with “Limb x Limb” and “Sand.”
Set two was a tale of two halves. The first half of “A Wave of Hope” > “A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing” > “Blaze On” clocked in at a combined 55 minutes, with the first two songs blasting off with heavy Type II improvisation and magnificent drumming from Jon Fishman who propelled the band through the jam. The second half of the set kept the energy going with “The Wedge,” “Farmhouse,” “Backwards Down the Number Line” all of which on paper may seem like a snoozfest but when the heat is set so high, a cool down is in order. Yet the heat was ramped up again to close the set with “Character Zero” and a rare “Tube” > “First Tube” encore.
Phish rolls into Jones Beach on Tuesday and Wednesday for the first time since 2013
The 32nd annual Adirondack Folk Festival takes place on Sunday, August 14, from 12pm to 5 p.m. at the Schroon Lake Town Park, featuring the best in classic Adirondack roots music.
The idea for the Folk Festival recalls a time when folk legends Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie and Cisco Houston would regularly play for tourists at the Schroon Crest Resort. This summer, Schroon Arts is pleased to present Three Quarter North, Dana and Susan Robinson, Sara Milonovich and Daisycutter, Lyndsay Stone and headliner The Bob Amos Band, featuring the best in modern country and bluegrass.
Locals and those passing through are invited to come and enjoy the sounds of these great musicians. Bring your lawn chair or a blanket and some good friends. The Adirondack Folk Festival is free and open to the public. For more information, please call (518) 532-9259.
The Adirondack Folk Festival is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrnat program of the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and administered by the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts.
Art, in all its forms, is intended to inspire, challenge and broaden our minds. Whether a song, a painting, a NFT, or an interpretive dance, art is not intended to be comfortable, and if it is, it’s not doing its job. So when Roger Waters, co-founder and former member of Pink Floyd, arrived in Albany this week, he brought with him a performance that reaffirmed his status as an artist, while confronting the views of the audience in the process, sometimes to their discomfort but to great acclamation.
photo by Dave Decrescente
Appearing at a hazy MVP Arena on Wednesday, July 20 for a show two years in the planning – and more than half a century in the making – Waters performed a career-spanning show, featuring Pink Floyd classics, solo and new material amid an odyssey for the senses.
Those two years were such a span of time, that from when the This is Not a Drill Tour was announced in January 2020, the name of the Albany venue has changed from the Times Union Center to MVP Arena. The anticipation for fans – who represented a wide age-range as grandparents joined grandkids to see a legend perform – grew steadily as they awaited the show to go on, nearly two years to the date of the original show (July 25, 2020).
With announcements on the screen read aloud by a calming British voice, the audience was given 15, 10 and 5 minute warnings for when the show would begin. There was this courtesy to all in attendance, as well as a request to silence your cell phone, that were met with agreement from the crowd. Rousing applause and cheers overshadowed those rumblings when those in the crowd who were not interested in hearing Roger’s politics were advised to ‘fuck off to the bar right now,’ as the audience prepared themselves for a spectacle of the audio, visual and political varieties.
photo by Dave Decrescente
For this performance, the cross-shaped stage featured four quadrants of video screens displaying animation and early band images, so that every seat was a great seat and you could see the full show from any vantage point, amid a haze that hung in the air like London fog. Opening with “Comfortably Numb” as a video played across the screens with a dark, dystopian future city scape, the song reaching an emotional peak and the screens ascending, revealing the full band and offering Albany a rare performance in the round.
Performing this evening with Waters were Jon Carin (keys, guitar, vocals), Robert Walter (organ), Jonathan Wilson – (guitar, vocals), Gus Seyffert (bass, guitar), Dave Kilminster (guitar, vocals), Joey Waronker (drums, percussion), Seamus Blake (saxophone), Amanda Belair (vocals) and Shanay Johnson (vocals).
As the band was revealed, the 78 year old Waters showed off his vocal ability and on-stage agility as he moved from side to side and end to end of the arena, making sure no one was left out of seeing Roger close up. A trio of songs from The Wall were the first songs in full view of the audience – “Happiest Days of Our Lives,” “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)” and “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 3).” “Powers That Be” followed as the first solo work of Waters, a track off his 1987 concept album, Radio K.A.O.S.
photo by Dave Decrescente
This is when, as if you hadn’t been given fair warning, Roger’s politics become their own feature of the show. If you somehow weren’t aware of where Roger stood on world issues beforehand, well, you were in for an education into the mind of the former Pink Floyd frontman.
Imagery included BIPOC victims of police violence – not just in America, but in England, Africa, Turkey, and around the world. During “The Bravery of Being Out of Range,” the voice and floating head of Ronald Reagan appeared on the screen, giving his farewell address to the nation in 1989, with the words WAR CRIMINAL beneath his image along with 30,000 Guatamalans killed referring to those of Mayan descent who were killed during his presidency through efforts to expand democracy in Latin America. By now, Roger had shifted to the piano as Reagan’s head was burned into the minds of those in attendance, and rightly so given his hatred for Reagan and Margaret Thatcher and whose policies the song criticizes. Not to leave the Gipper alone, Presidents Bush (both), Clinton, Obama and Trump are all featured as well with WAR CRIMINAL below their image for various military action and drone strikes taken during each presidency. Biden was featured last and while his presidency is just one and a half years old, WAR CRIMINAL appeared again, with ‘just getting started’ below, which was met with an uneasy applause from the audience.
https://youtu.be/C6bNEPF9EKU?t=1223
Roger spoke to the audience as he sat at the piano, thanking everyone who kept their tickets from the initial date in 2020. The first portion of “The Bar,” an unreleased song that was written during the pandemic followed, with a similar sound to “Nobody Home” from The Wall. Here, imagery was displayed of the Lakota Indian tribe and their protest against a uranium mine in the Black Hills of North Dakota. These were not light images to see, yet showing the resolve of the Lakota people in the face of overwhelming odds and power, both remarkable and inspiring.
Nothing, however, prepares you for the sheer amount of reading involved in a full Roger Waters concert experience. Instead of a professor giving you a pre-reading assignment before class, Waters puts the text on the screen, leading your eyes to dart from the screen to the band, and back again, knowing that this captive audience is laser focused on the center of the room. All of the text is no doubt informative and sheds some light into the mind of Roger Waters, yet at times feels like being stuck in a car with a podcast where you can’t change the channel.
The second side of Wish You Were Here took center stage as the set moved into its second half, starting with “Have a Cigar,” as early Pink Floyd photos were displayed on the screens; “Wish you Were Here,” as Roger spoke of Syd Barrett stories and images appeared above, and the finally, the latter portions of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.” As sheep, pigs and dogs appeared on the screen, the show entered the Animals era, including Tweets featuring the recent opinions of the US Supreme Court while the band performed “Sheep” to the loudest cheers of the set thus far.
photo by Dave Decrescente
After a 20-minute intermission, a flying pig was released – roughly the size of a compact car and soaring over the crowd – circling the arena and drawing attention away from Roger and the band as they took the stage and moved into The Wall’s “In the Flesh (Part 2)” and bringing along the full experience of The Wall, short of the actual wall being torn down. Banners dropped down featuring marching hammers, a red hue about the stage and Waters in a full dictator-tilt as he tore through Pink’s speech from the film, before moving into “Run Like Hell” as the pig continued to circle the stage above the crowd.
Two tracks from 2017’s Is This the Life We Really Want?, “Déjà Vu” and the title track followed, with a theme of human rights flashing on screen, along with specific rights for Yeminis, Palestinians, women and those without equal rights in the world.
The coins of “Money” could be heard next as the Dark Side of the Moon era was given center stage.. With screens showing faces of humanity and scenes from global protests, “Us and Them” felt more like “Us versus Them,” particularly those most vulnerable among the ‘Us,’ indiginous peoples from around the world. “Brain Damage” and “Eclipse” would follow, with a rainbow forming on the screens while a triangular prism of lasers surrounded the stage end to end, providing a full Dark Side of the Moon album cover effect.
photo by Dave Decrescente
Waters’ encore began with one of his last songs for Pink Floyd, “Two Suns in the Sunset,” which references nuclear holocaust, and was connected to the Doomsday Clock. A second portion of “The Bar” followed, with the band crowding around Waters at the piano, as they brought acoustic instruments in preparation for a walk around the perimeter of the stage as “Outside the Wall,” the final track on The Wall closed the show. With Waters standing on the stage at the end to a standing ovation, his bid farewell with a simple message: Peace.
When taken together, Roger Waters’ live performance coupled with the knowledge he seeks to impart on his audience is a vivid spectacle of the highest order. Taken separately, both fall on deaf ears and the message is lost. Waters continues to examine the uncomfortable realities of life through his music, one for the benefit of his audiences for the past 54 years and counting.
Roger Waters’ “This is Not a Drill” Tour arrives at Long Island’s UBS Arena at Belmont Park on August 13, followed by two nights at Madison Square Garden on August 30 & 31. All tour dates can be found here.
Roger Waters – MVP Arena – Albany, NY – July 20, 2022
Set 1: Comfortably Numb, The Happiest Days of Our Lives > Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 > Another Brick in the Wall, Part 3, The Powers That Be, The Bravery of Being Out of Range, The Bar, Have a Cigar, Wish You Were Here > Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts VI-IX), Sheep
Set 2: In the Flesh > Run Like Hell, Déjà Vu, Is This the Life We Really Want?, Money > Us and Them > Any Colour You Like > Brain Damage > Eclipse
Encore: Two Suns in the Sunset, The Bar (Reprise), Outside the Wall
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD) will make their Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) debut on Thursday, August 25.
The Grateful Dead tribute band has been performing since January 2013, when guitarist Scott Metzger, bassist Dave Dreiwitz, keyboardist Marco Benevento and guitarist Tom Hamilton joined forces with drummer Joe Russo at Freak’s Ball, held at Brooklyn Bowl. The result was a band that has toured the country and amassed a dedicated following thanks to their improv-heavy interpretations of the Grateful Dead catalog, in addition to unique covers.
Tickets for all three concerts go on sale to the general public this Friday, March 18 at 10 a.m. ET. Passwords for a band presale, which Tuesday, March 15 at 12 p.m. ET, and can be found posted on JRAD’s Facebook Page.
Lawn tickets have just gone on sale as of July 19, with a special offer on lawn tickets for just $20.00 plus fees while supplies last. Tickets are available at livenation.com or through Ticketmaster.
Live After 5 is the local Friday night Summer music series in the Finger Lakes town of Geneva. On select Fridays, listen to music while sitting in a lawn chair on the beautiful waterfront at the Geneva Wyndham.
Geneva has been settled by Americans since the late 18th century, being inhabited previously by the Algonquin, Senaca Nation who were members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The shores of Seneca Lake served as a military outpost for British Loyalists, with settlers moving in after 1792, bringing in others from New England, Maryland, Virginia, eastern New York and Pennsylvania for farming. Geneva itself was incorporated as a village in 1806 and a city in 1897.
One of the largest music events in the Finger Lakes, music for Live After 5 begins at 5:30pm and ends at 9:30pm, with performances held rain or shine.
There are two things you can find a great deal of in Upstate New York – music venues in nearly every town, and Stewart’s Shops. There are more than 345 Stewart’s in New York and Vermont, and if you’ve been to a show or gone camping Upstate, you’ve probably stopped at a Stewart’s for provisions. With newly remodeled shops, Stewart’s is a staple for locals and visitors alike.
One of Stewart’s best sellers is their ice cream. Made from milk from New York farms, the variety of flavors goes well beyond the basic Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry. The variety of music venues Upstate is equally varied, and gives music lovers an opportunity to see their favorite bands and new artists in unique settings.
We’ve partnered with Stewart’s Shops to look at their ice cream flavors and compared them to Upstate music venues. Below you’ll find 15 flavors paired with their appropriate venue, a small sampling of the more than 30 flavors Stewart’s Shops offer. Get the scoop before you get a scoop heading to your next show!
Brownie Cookie Sundae // Ulster Performing Arts Center, Kingston
This venue and flavor have each got it all. UPAC features one of the widest arrays of musical selections in the state. From Meatloaf to Willie Nelson, the HV Philharmonic to plays and musicals, UPAC has it all. Likewise, Brownie Cookie Sundae comes loaded with vanilla ice cream, chewy brownie bites, soft cookie dough pieces and a rich fudge swirl. Available in a cone or half-gallon.
Star Gazer // Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), Saratoga Springs
Where can you see the most stars? Head north on I-87 and get off at exit 13 for Saratoga Performing Arts Center, where you’ll see the biggest artists and national touring bands at SPAC each summer! Originally the home of the NYC Ballet, SPAC has been bringing concerts to the edge of the Adirondacks since the 1960s, making this the perfect venue for seeing stars. Stargazer has Malt flavored ice cream with a rich caramel swirl and pieces of Milky Way candy bars mixed in. Available in a half-gallon.
Chocolate Sea Turtle // Snug’s Harbor, New Paltz
Turtles are found throughout the state, but they’ll always need a snug harbor somewhere to rest their shell. Snug Harbor provides a comfortable space for bands to play in the college town of New Paltz, with a variety of music and cold beer on tap. Stewart’s Chocolate Sea Turtle features chocolate ice cream with a sea salt caramel swirl and chocolate fudge pecans. Available in a cone for a limited time.
Fireworks // Empire State Plaza, Albany
One of the best spots for fireworks in Upstate New York is the Empire State Plaza in downtown Albany. Capable of hosting more than 10,000 people and room for even more nearby, the Fireworks every 4th of July and for select events are a must see event, as well as the bands that perform on the plaza during the summer months. Pop Rocks encased in vanilla ice cream with a tart cherry swirl helps this flavor live up to its name! Available in a cone.
Blueberry Pie in the Sky // Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel
Summer and blueberry pie are synonymous. The summer of love lives on through Bethel Woods. Grab a cone of Blueberry in the Sky, with blueberry ice cream with shortbread and a Maine blueberry swirl, on the way to your next show and imagine the roads filled with cars headed to Yasgur’s Farm. Available in a pint.
Happy Camper // Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Oak Hill
When the music on the stage is done for the day, head to your campsite anywhere at Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival’s campgrounds for pickin’ parties, where you can hear classic bluegrass songs and singalongs, just like at camp enjoy s’mores! With graham cracker flavored ice cream with a graham cracker pieces, a marshmallow swirl and peanut butter pieces, enjoy a cone of Stewart’s Happy Camper while friends old and new sit around and pluck away. Available in a cone.
Campfire S’Moreo // Levon Helm’s Barn, Woodstock
Located just a few miles from Mount Marion near Saugerties, Levon Helm’s Barn is the perfect pairing for this summer time treat. Living in Woodstock at Big Pink with The Band and backing Bob Dylan for years, Levon Helm made a second home in Woodstock, establishing Midnight Rambles that continue to be a thing of legend. Outside Levon’s Barn, you’ll find small campfires before and after shows – year round – making the Campfire S’Moreo a perfect pairing to this classic venue. Available in a cone for a limited time.
Mint Cookie Crumble // The Bardavon, Poughkeepsie
Two classics, presented in a new way. The Bardavon is the oldest continually operating music venue in New York State, offering various performing arts, cinema, theater, vaudeville, and performers ranging from David Byrne to Chick Corea, Dr. John to Gladys Knight, and Joan Baez to Natalie Merchant. Bardavon is also the home of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, making the classic venue fresh for a new generation of music lovers. Mint Cookie Crumble is a spin on mint chocolate chip, but with a chocolate cookie crumble fudge swirl mixed in smooth cool mint ice cream. A classic, presented in a fresh new way. Available in a cone, pint or half-gallon, and now available in a non-dairy pint!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup // The Egg, Albany
One of Stewart’s tastiest ice creams has a swirl of peanut butter inside, ready to surprise you with each bite. Inside The Egg in Albany, you’ll find not one but two music venues – The Hart Theatre and The Swyer Theatre, both offering an array of musical offerings, not to mention surprisingly incredible acoustics! Available in a cone, pint or half-gallon.
Chocolate Caramel Tornado// The Falcon, Marlboro
Combining chocolate and sea salt caramel ice creams with chocolate covered honeycomb pieces and a chocolate/caramel swirl makes for unique yet delicious treat. Similarly unique and offering delicious music is The Falcon, where you can find jazz in an intimate and rustic Hudson Valley setting. Available in a cone for a VERY limited time.
Crumbs along the Mohawk // Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes
Located 500 feet from the Mohawk River, Cohoes Music Hall, opened in 1874, has been home for live music performances, high school musicals and plays, theater performances and much more. With a name synonymous with music, Cohoes is a great small town to stop in for an evening. The perfect ice cream to go with such a classic venue is Crumbs Along the Mohawk, inspired by the 1939 film “Drums Along the Mohawk,” with graham cracker flavored ice cream holding together graham cracker pieces with a caramel swirl. Available in a pint or half-gallon.
Brew Ha Ha // Saranac Brewery, Utica; Ommegang Brewery, Cooperstown
Where in New York can you get brewery fresh beer and live music? Two places come to mind – Saranac Brewery in Utica, and Ommegang Brewery in Cooperstown. With their own wide selections of beers and other beverages, these breweries offer two things that New York is known for – great beer and great music – Brew Ha Ha takes Stewart’s richer roast coffee ice cream with espresso bean flavored chocolate flakes, a nice combination as well! Available in a cone or half-gallon.
Adirondack Bear Paw // The Waterhole, Saranac Lake
The northernmost venue on our list is The Waterhole, home to music year round, with Party on the Patio on Thursdays each summer, Winter Carnival music performances in February, and the heart of this Adirondack town. Vanilla ice cream mixed with sweet praline cashews and caramel swirls make a rich combination in this tasty northern delight. Available in a half-gallon.
The classic creamsicle flavor is a throwback to summers spent in Saratoga Springs, with a twist. A classic Saratoga venue, Caffe Lena, has been a fixture in the Spa City since the 1960s, and new renovations in the building put a twist on the original! Available in a half-gallon at your local Stewart’s Shops!
Colombian Coffee // Club Helsinki, Hudson
Like coffee, Club Helsinki has something for everyone, serving as a music venue, bar and restaurant. Open mic nights, both virtual and in person, welcome all people and talents. The many flavors of coffee can be found in this Columbia County venue that welcomes a variety of artists to the east shore of the Hudson River. Available in a cone or half-gallon.
A variety of music is presented by the Schroon Lake Arts Council this summer, with “Schroon Lake Live — a World of Music on Schroon Lake.”
Located near the historic 1874 Boathouse Theater overlooking Schroon Lake, “The Pearl of the Adirondacks,” the Schroon Lake Arts Council brings affordable events for all residents and visitors in the North Country, and as such, all concerts and programs are free this summer.
The concert series, which began back in the 1970’s, has long featured the best in traditional folk, bluegrass and Adirondack roots music, most often performed in the intimate and acoustically wonderful 1874 Boathouse Theater.
After there were no concerts in the summer of 2020 due to Covid, we were one of the few series that returned to live music during summer 2021. That said, we had a wonderful season last year, featuring 5 concerts as well as our Adirondack Folk Festival.
Forging a unique affiliation with the Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce, the Arts Council can now reduce costs and share marketing with the Chamber, allowing for greater collaboration on all arts programs. “The businesses and residents of Schroon Lake have stepped up to the plate with increased donations and sponsorships”, said Dr. Namerow.
On Wednesday nights, the local Chamber of Commerce sponsors their popular Twilight Dance and music programs from 7 to 9 pm outdoors and FREE for all. “We are very proud of our musical history and want people to know that if you want Live music in the summer, Schroon Lake is your destination.”, said Dr. Namerow.
A special family and children’s concert will be held on Saturday morning, July 16, at 11 am in the Boathouse, featuring Mark Rust, a wonderful instrumentalist and singer who promises to have all kids and families singing and playing along.
The jewel of the summer is the 32nd Adirondack Folk Festival on Sunday, August 14 from 12 pm to 5 pm, featuring the best in classic Adirondack roots music.
In addition, the Schroon Lake Arts Council sponsors Monday night Jam Sessions all summer long from 7- 10 p.m. in the Boathouse, featuring guitarists, banjo folks, singers or just listeners who enjoy an evening of FREE music. This series is overseen by Dave Insull, who amazes all with the variety of songs and stories he knows.
July 2: Feinberg Brothers July 5: Get Up Jack July 12: Hot Club of Saratoga July 19: Jamcrackers July 26: The Kennedys Aug. 2: Meadowmount Music Camp Aug. 9: Cold Chocolate Aug. 14: Adirondack Folk Festival
The Boathouse Theater is located at 20 Dock St. View photos of past events and a little history below.
