The Village of Green Island, located just north of Albany and located on (and in) the Hudson River will once again hold its annual free summer concert series at the Green Island Gazebo, or GIG.
Located in River Park on the north end of Hudson Avenue, GIG is mainly known for the free summer concert series, although GIG also hosts the annual Festival of Trees in December.
Summer concerts are held each Wednesday night from 6pm-8pm and made possible by generous sponsors and the GIG-a-bite crew who cook up and serve delicious weekly treats along with a group of volunteer bakers who donate desserts.
No taxpayer dollars are used to fund the GIG summer concert series, with profits from GIG used to make improvements in River Park and Paine Street Park, and to support other groups such as the GI Senior Citizens.
Concerts are held at the River Park Gazebo on Hudson Ave. In the event of rain, concerts iwll be held under the Collar City Bridge on Hudson Avenue. Smoking and alcohol are not permitted in the park.
Green Island GIG 2022 Schedule (with food specials)
July 6 – The Accents (fried chicken basket, strawberry shortcake)
July 13 – Lustre Kings (steak sandwich, banana split ambrosia)
July 20 – Get up Jack (Irish Night) (Corned beef sandwich, mint chocolate chip ice cream)
July 27 – New York Players (Mac-n-cheese, Rice pudding)
August 3 – Swing Docs (Sausage and Peppers, Watermelon)
August 10 – Capt. Squeeze and the Zydeco Moshers (Foot Long Hot Dogs, S’more bars)
August 17 – Big Fez and the Surfmatics (Hawaiian Chicken Sandwich, Cookies and Cream Ice Cream)
August 24 – The Oldiest Show (Sock Hop Night) (Pulled Pork Sliders, Peach Pie with Ice Cream)
The Riverboat Bar in Alexandria Bay returns with their Summer Live Music Series for 2022. Running from June through the end of August, the series will feature over 30 bands performing over a three month period.
Riverboat Bar focuses primarily on promoting original music, hosting nationally touring bands from throughout the Northeast and beyond, with additional shows to be added in September. Most shows are free to attend.
Alexandria Bay and the 1000 Islands Region are a destination for a wide variety of tourists from America and Canada alike. While not located on a super highway, Alex Bay and the surrounding areas have maintained their original quaint personality with a bevy of activities, including family activities, world class fishing, romantic evenings, top-notch dive sites, live music or just relaxation.
Riverboat Bar is a long-running local tavern with comfort eats and bar bites with space for live music and a covered patio. Featuring live music on weekends with regional and nationally touring bands. Riverboat Bar also features a large selection of craft beer, wine and cocktails, a full service kitchen with extensive bar menu.
Riverboat Bar in Alexandria Bay
In the month of June you’ll find highly anticipated performances from Rochester based snarky pop and soul band The Sideways, Albany heavy blues rockers Sly Fox and the Hustlers and a two-night stand from Buffalo party rockers Tiny Music.
The month of July is loaded with 12 nights of live music, kicking off the month will be four nights of live music during the 4th of July holiday weekend. Syracuse indie/art rock group All Poets & Heroes get things going on Friday, July 1 with Burlington based reggae act The Reflexions playing on Saturday, July 2 while July 3 will feature a Quantum Cosmic Super Jam featuring members of Annie in the Water, Raisinhead and The Reflexions. Finally, Atlanta funk and soul powerhouse Funk You will close out the weekend on July 4 with a special performance after the Alexandria Bay holiday fireworks over Boldt Castle.
Also performing throughout the month of July will be Philadelphia rockers Chestnut Grove, the hot and buzz worthy Long Island progressive rock and funk trio Baked Shrimp and Connecticut power rock duo Balkun Brothers. Also in July will be performances by Upstate staples Ampevene, Vaporeyes, The Old Main, Roots Collider and fast rising new Buffalo band Eberwine, who will be performing a special Dead/Phish set.
The party continues in the month of August, highlighted by a return appearance by Boston roots reggae star Mighty Mystic on Friday, August 5. NYS Music March Madness winners HANZOLO will be at The Riverboat for a free show on Saturday, August 6. The famous Alex Bay Pirate Days festival will feature live performances by Connecticut jam funkers One Time Weekend and Maryland funktronica legends LITZ. Annie in the Water returns on Friday August 19 for their annual hometown throwdown. Also in the month of August, you can catch Sun Dub, Gentleman Brawlers and The Pickle Mafia.
More shows will be added in September including the annual Alex Bay Summer Send Off Party at the end of the month, which will feature multiple acts over two days.
Check out the full lineup below. Please visit the Riverboat Bar website for more information.
The relaxed, picturesque community of Henderson lies on the Eastern shore of Lake Ontario, founded in 1806 and channeling the town’s history and culture more than two centuries later through the Henderson Harbor Performing Arts Association (HHPAA).
The area was long occupied by the Onondaga of the Iroquois Confederacy, and later named after William Henderson, the original European-American land owner. The property upon which the HHPAA resides dates back to 1813, when it was owned by Mark Hopkins, later a treasurer of the Central Pacific Railroad. The building which the HHPAA resides in is named for him.
Henderson Harbor Performing Arts Association provides a relaxing environment for music, theater, art, local performers as well as national touring acts in a small town venue.
Henderson Harbor Performing Arts Association is located at the western end of the Harbor on County Route 123, aka Harbor Road, and features 18 acres of open grounds and woodlands. The Town of Henderson donated the property to be developed for this purpose in 1986, and the HHPAA have diligently pursued this dream.
This summer, HHPAA feature performances and events that include Shakespeare plays, wine tasting events, art shows, classic car shows, corn hole tournaments, and bands in conjunction with the local Summer Recreation Program.
The goal of the HHPAA is to build an open-air stage as well as a year-round event center. The HHPAA is also the recipient of two grants from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, which support the 2022 Summer Concert Series and the 2022 Summer Theatre Series.
The mission of the HHPAA is to provide opportunities to learn about, and become actively engaged with, the performing and visual arts, with both summer and year-round residents of Henderson, NY and Jefferson County regardless of their socioeconomic, age or educational status.
Since its’ inception, the organization has striven to provide the community and surrounding areas of the north country with a series of summer concerts, an annual Oktoberfest, and in 2002 the establishment of the Lila Bull Arts Academy. The Syracuse Symphony, the 10th Mtn. Division Band from Ft. Drum, and the George Colligan, Jr. jazz group have presented programs with HHPAA.
HHPAA 2022 Calendar of Events
July 9, Sat. – Corn Hole Tournament (details TBA) July 23. Sat. – 7PM Concert – Antwerp Drum and Bugle, The Original Yanks July 25, Mon, 1 Pm – REV Children’s’ Theater presents “The Fisherman and His Wife” July 30 , Sat. 12-4 “Christmas in July” & CAR SHOW, Music by FFOG , Food and beverage available August 6 , Sat. – 7 PM “RAJAH” See our very own Tom Contino with his talented partners. August 7 , Sun – 7PM – “The Butler did it Players” Presents “While Shakespeare Slept” (comedy) August 20,Sat. 7PM – “Bad Husbands Club WITH Triple Shot Horns” September 4 , Sun – 1 PM -10th Mountain Division Band
Cell phones have changed the dynamic of concerts and festivals in the past 20 years. Whereas in the early part of the 21st century, holding up your cell phone so your friend at home can (sort of) hear a song was fairly common, now in 2022 you can stream the concert direct to them with clear sound and visual quality.
It doesn’t have to be like this. When you’re at a show, naturally you want to take a photo or post to social media, but that can distract from your enjoyment of a show, as well as the enjoyment of those around you.
Enter Yondr. Since 2014, the company has partnered with comedians, musicians and even schools to provide pouches that seal phones inside so they cannot be used during performances or instructional time.
If you haven’t heard of Over Yondr Festival via social media, there’s a reason for that – the company does not have any social media accounts and does little advertising. “People are bombarded with so many notifications and advertisements, it’s not something we need,” said Yondr founder and CEO Graham Dugoni. “People don’t need to be hit up for new things. We practice less is more. Social media isn’t going away but its presence in daily life is going to change.”
The lack of social media hasn’t prevented Yondr from partnering with big names like Dave Chappelle, Alicia Keys, John Mulaney and more to keep events completely phone-free using Yondr’s patented sealable pouch.
The use of these pouches at shows is so that patrons are not distracted by their phones and unable to use them, all while holding onto them during the performance in a sealed pouch. Returning to the intimacy of a distraction-free environment is one thing that drove Dugoni to build the brand in the past 8 years.
At a show when someone photo or text, their attention leaves the space for a moment, making it harder to re-engage. You miss what a great show can be. Spaces need to be carved out for things, like music festivals and live entertainment, that are negatively affected by the presence of phones and digital media.
Yondr founder and CEO Graham Dugoni
Considering the impact phones have on young people, and the next generation of festival attendees, live music and performance patrons will need to keep the phone at bay so they can enjoy the full scope of the event, not what is limited to glances at screens.
Dugoni notes the factors that go into the artist’s decision to insist on a no-phone policy. “When there is privacy, perhaps an artist wants to try out new material and not have the music show up the next day. You need a degree of privacy to make that happen. If you pull a phone out often it can have a negative impact.”
By entering the venue, locking your phone in a pouch and carrying it with you, possession is maintained if access is not. There is of course a smokers-section style area to check your phone just in case, while creating a simple gorund rule for all to get along with.
“After 5-10 min people will forget about their phones. You get out of the rhythm of responding to texts and pings,” noted Dugoni.
Dugoni and his team first came up with the plan for a phone-free festival when the company was founded, he notes how “there is big community of people paying attention to their phones and social media who want to get together without that. Society is looking for spaces where they can unplug.”
aerial view of the festival grounds
Scheduled to take place from June 24-26 on private farmland at 5143 Route 81 in the town of Greenville, the Over Yondr Festival will bring more than a dozen eclectic musical acts and hundreds of music fans to Greenville.
map of the Over Yondr Festival grounds
Greenville was chosen for the location of the festival after the Yondr team took a trip to the area several years ago. They stopped in Rensselaerville and also looked for sites in California but they felt built up. Given how Yondr sees the world now, it seemed like a natural fit. “The locals have been great and it just seemed right. You still have the feel of counterculture and with this generation we are ready for one, pushing back on technology and aiming for simplicity in life. And I think it’s already beginning. Coming out of college, grads don’t want to stare at a screen all day, and a lot of political and social division can arise from that.”
We are trying to put the technology in its right place. The next generation has to learn to treat the physical world as real and their interactions online as different. If you don’t disaggregate those two, a lot of negative things tend to happen. Phone free spaces are helpful and unique places to see 20-30,000 interacting and talking in concession line. It takes only a little to remove this social impediment.
Yondr founder and CEO Graham Dugoni
As for that eclectic lineup? Dugani and his team assembled the artists, looking for a diversity of sounds among the more than 15 performers, a lineup that felt right for the atmosphere, per Dugani.
Tickets are on sale now for Over Yondr Festival. and get 15% off by entering code NYSMUSIC.
Over Yondr Festival Daily Lineup
Friday, June 24
Topaz Jones Kaleta & The Super Yamba Band Black Mountain Symphony Anna Fox Rochinski Nas Leber SVB
Saturday, June 25
!!! (chk chk chk) Sheer Mag Bones of JR Jones Kississippi Jadeisdxpe Artz
The Village of Lake George plays host to a number of music series throughout the summer, starting with Memorial Meltdown in May, ending with ADK Independence Fest in September, and free music series filling in the months between.
Free to the public in Lake George is the Fridays on Summer Concert Series at Shepard Park, starting on Friday, June 10. Eleven performances in all will be held, leading up to the finale on September 2.
The final Friday at the Lake of the season comes to Shepard Park on Friday, September 2, featuring two of the Northeast’s premier party bands: Kick (7:30-9:30) and The Schmooze (6:00-7:10). The Hartford Current newspaper music critic calls Kick “by far the best modern rock cover band I’ve ever seen.” Formed in 1996, Kick has a broad repertoire of over 400 songs covering many genres. This has allowed them to open in concert for such diverse national acts as Duran Duran, Staind (grunge rock), Reel Big Fish (ska) and Biz Markie (rap). They have played on the Las Vegas strip, the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Rentschler Stadium (University of Connecticut football games) and Madison Square Garden for the Stanley Cub Playoffs. They have played in casinos, arenas, stadiums and resorts nationwide.
Opening the show will be one of the region’s premier party bands for the past 15 years, The Schmooze. They will get the party rocking with their versions of rock, pop, dance and country cover tunes that will have the crowd dancing and singing along.
Kicking off the series on June 10 is an evening of classic rock, headlined by legendary regional favorites E.B. Jeb. The band is celebrating more than 40 years together and is the northeast’s “go to “ band for the Southern Rock genre. The eight piece band features two drummers, similar to the Allman Brothers’ configuration. E.B. Jeb has opened for many national acts, including Charlie Daniels, The Outlaws, Molly Hatchet and Blackfoot.
Opening on Friday, June 10 is The Blue Moon Band, a premier classic rock band from the Lake George region. Their music includes covers by Santana, Bob Dylan and classic/southern rock hits and will perform from 6:00-7:10, with E.B. Jeb playing from 7:30-9:30.
All shows are free to the public, and there will be vendors selling food and beverages.
Saturday, June 11 will feature a special night of music for Saturday on the Lake A special Saturday concert at Shepard Park will feature a night of classic rock as The Trilogy Tribute will take the audience on a musical journey to the 60s and 70s with tributes to Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, Jim Morrison of The Doors and Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane. The Trilogy performers recreate the persona of each icon while performing the hit songs that enshrined these legends into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Classic Rock Productions concerts like the Trilogy Tribute have headlined shows at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City for the past ten years, including “The Deckstock Festival” tribute to Woodstock.
Opening act Bluz House Rockers are celebrating their 26th year as a seven piece configuration that includes two keyboard players and six members singing lead vocals and harmonies. They have been inducted into the New York State Blues Hall of Fame, and Trish Anderson’s “Three Dollar Bill” went to #2 on the Top 100 charts in Denmark. They are well known in the Glens Falls/Lake George region, having played Summer Jam, Taste of the North Country, Balloon Fest and Save the Lake.
On July 1, Soul Session is the headline act for Friday at the Lake at Shepard Park in Lake George. Soul Session, featuring band leader and lead vocalist, Garland Nelson, has presented high energy junk and R&B renditions of your favorite hit songs. In 2019, Garland won Eddies Award for “Best R&B Vocalist” and Soul Session won “Best Band in the Capital Region.” Garland connects with the audience and creates an atmosphere of Live and Celebration at his shows. He just performed on SPAC’s main stage as part of the annual Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival, and will perform at Friday at the Lake 7:30-9:30 pm.
Opening the show from 6:00-7:10 is the dynamic duo Yellow Dog. John Repko and Jason Young have been rockin the Capital District for 29 years and have the biggest sound of any duo and play a variety of classic hits that will have the audience singing along.
On Friday, July 15, the New York Players will perform from 7:30-9:30 pm at Shepard Park. The Players are widely recognized over the past many years as being the #1 dance band in the region. They have several vocalists who sing lead and harmonies and an awesome horn section. They have performed at many galas and corporate events and are sure to bring a non-stop party to Fridays at the Lake.
Opening the show from 6:00-7:10 are Tumblin Dice, a Rolling Stones tribute band led by Lake George favorite, Jonathan Newell. Get there by 6:00 pm to catch your favorite Rolling Stones songs. All Fridays at the Lake are free to the public, and there are food, beer and wine vendors on site.
Carmen and Life’s Guilty Pleasures headline Friday at the Lake at Shepard Park in Lake George on Friday, July 22 from 7:30-9:30. Carmen is making a name for herself throughout the region for her stunning vocals and unforgettable stage presence. She has been lead singer with Grand Central Station, the Silver Arrow Band and Band of Gold. Their mix of dance hits from the 50s to today will energize the crowd, and a few musical surprises will be part of the mix as well.
The Ultimates will open the show, performing from 6:00-7:10. While they are a fairly new band from Saratoga, they consist of musicians well known in the region (two from Bad Chaperones and one from Dealt the Blues). Singer/guitarist Travis Rockenstire leads the band, singing amazing covers from John Cougar to Ed Sheeran, Springsteen to Harry Styles.
Over August 5-7, the three day Rockin for Ronald Benefit Concerts will support Ronald McDonald House Charities who have served families whose children are fighting serious illnesses in area hospitals for decades. The three-day, eight band festival on August 5, 6 and 7 is designed to raise money and awareness about the role Krantz Cottage serves as a Ronald McDonald house for families. The festival raises funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities’ Krantz Cottage in Lake George, a beautiful four bedroom home that offers a beautiful, natural setting where families can stay free of charge while their child is receiving medical care for serious illnesses in nearby hospitals.
Friday at the Lake on August 5th kicks off the three day festival with two of the region’s most popular and acclaimed bands. Skeeter Creek has not only been the undisputed #1 country band our region; they are arguably the number one band in the region regardless of genre. In the Metroland readers poll, they won Country Band of the Year eight different years; were recognized by the Northeast country Music Association in various categories, including vocal group of the year; won the Colgate Country Showdown in the Albany region; won Froggy 100.7’s Country Shootout multiple times; won the Times Union’s Readers Poll six times and was named the Best Local Band three times in the Daily Gazette’s Readers Poll. Skeeter Creek will perform from 7:30-9:30.
Opening act, the Bluz House Rockers, are celebrating their 27th year in 2022. While they are honored to be members of the New York State Blues Hall of Fame, the Rockers have a varied repertoire, covering everyone from Frank Sinatra to the Allman Brothers. The fact that six of their seven members sing lead and/or harmony results in their ability to present a wide variety musical styles.
Headlining on Saturday is a fantastic tribute to the music of Steely Dan comprised of an all-star lineup of musicians, Reelin in the Years, a Woodstock based band led by drummer Jerry Marotta who has recorded and toured with Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Hall & Oates, Sarah McLachlan and the Indigo Girls. Guitarist Jesse Gress works with Todd Rundgren and Tony Levin and was former music editor of “Guitar Player.” Guitarist Matt Finck worked with Randy Brecker and John Medeski. Jennifer Maidman on bass performed with Boy George and Loudon Wainwright. David Jameson will be on keyboards. Vocalist Lindsey Skeye’s band “Skeye” has received over 12 million views on YouTube. Her cover of Radiohead’s “Karma Police” was included in HBO’s “Girls” and Fox’s “9-1-1.” The four-piece horn section includes Bill Harris (worked with Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen) and Don Mikkelsen, who worked with Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Peter Gabriel. This is a huge treat for music fans of all ages.
Saturday’s schedule
3:00-4:30 The Dirty Harri’s
5:00-7:00 The Newells
7:30-9:30 Reelin in the Years
Sunday’s Schedule
1:30-3:30 Jacquelin Mignot and the Family Band
4:00-6:00 Last Band Left
6:30-8:30 New York Players
The Newells are a family affair. Jonathan and Jennifer Newell are joined by teenage sons Brandon and Evan plus a rhythm section of Tommy Ryzuck on bass and Rye Wylie on drums. They will perform songs from the 60’-80’s by groups as diverse as Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Janis Joplin, Bruce Hornsby and 10,000 Maniacs.
The Dirty Harri’s start the festivities. They are a tribute to the music of George Harrison. Songs include Harrison’s hits with the Beatles, including “Here Comes the Sun,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Taxman.” The seven piece band also performs hits from George’s solo career, including “My Sweet Lord,” “What is Life” and “All Those Years Ago” as well as “Handle with Care” from his time with the Traveling Wilburys.
On Sunday, August 7, Rockin for Ronald is proud to bring New York Players back to Shepard Park. The Players are widely recognized over the past many years as being the #1 dance band in the region. They have four incredible vocalists who sign leads and harmonies and an awesome horn section. They have performed an many galas and corporate events and present a broad repertoire of your favorite hits.
Last Left is a cover band from Central New York. Their repertoire includes hits by Prince, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty as well as more current groups Maroon 5, Bruno Mars, Chris Stapleton, Kings of Leon and the Killers. Their high energy set is guaranteed to have the audience dancing and singing along.
Opening the show on Sunday is Jacquelin Mignot and the Family Band. They opened for Ten Most Wanted earlier this summer at Friday at the Lake, and their R&B covers were well received. Her band is truly a family affair, featuring Jacquelin’s father Tony on drums and her brother Jaydon on bass. Jonathan Newell is on guitar and keyboards.
Admission to Rockin for Ronald is free all three days, and there will be food and beverage vendors on site.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNSEj5eo6FU
On Friday, August 12, TS ENSEMBLE will perform from 730-930pm. A fixture in our region for more than 40 years, this eight piece band is known for their high energy performances, great male and female vocals and a strong Brass Section. Their music covers the Motown Era to today’s dance hits. They have presented memorable performances at many galas, corporate parties and clubs and have opened for many national acts.
THE ULTIMATES will open the show, performing from 6:00-7:10. While they are a fairly new band, they performed an outstanding opening set at Shepard Park on July 22. Saratoga-based, they consist of well known musicians in the region (two from Bad Chaperones and one from Dealt the Blues). Singer/ guitarist Travis Rockenstire is young and impressive, singing amazing covers from John Cougar to Ed Sheeran.
Fridays at the Lake – Shepard Park, Lake George – 2022 Summer Schedule
Music begins at 6pm and ends by 930pm.
June 10 Blue Moon with opener EB JEB
June 17 Stony Creek Band with opener Alex Torrez Latin Kings
June 24 Jacquelin Mignot and Ten Most Wanted with opener the Family Band
July 1 Yellow Dog with opener Soul Session
July 8 Jett Screamer with opener The Refrigerators
July 15 Tumblin Dice with opener New York Players
July 22 The Ultimates with opener Grand Central Station
July 29 Dirt Cheap with opener The Accents
August 5 Bluz House Rockers with opener Skeeter Creek
August 12 The Ultimates with opener TS Ensemble
August 26 Jonathan Newell with opener Band Vivid (from Connecticut)
The rich music history of the Capital Region was celebrated on Tuesday, June 7 with the Eddies Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Held at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs. The eight honorees included folk, ambient, rock, and acoustic artists, as well as a promoter, writer/musicians, and an independent radio station founder.
Paul Rapp, a musician and entertainment rights lawyer, as well as a 2020 Eddies Hall of Fame inductee knew them all and gave opening remarks noting such. Rapp, drummer for renowned Albany act Blotto, weighed in on each musician, offering heartfelt thoughts and a few laughs as he discussed his connection and the impact each of the eight left on the Capital Region scene.
Paul Rapp – photo by Erin Reid Coker
Honorees included Joel Ross, a 7-time Grammy Award winner who engineered songs for Broadway musicals and TV shows, and worked with Ray Charles and Tony Bennett among many others.
Joel Ross – photo by Joe Putrock
Brooks Brown, founder of WEQX, an independent radio station, was referred to by Rapp as having “saved the Albany Music scene” by creating a radio station that played local bands that couldn’t be heard elsewhere. Rapp noted that Brown took great joy in telling corporations looking to buy his station to “go fuck themselves.”
Jason Keller and Mimi Brown – photo by Erin Reid Coker
Super 400 from Troy has had an impact felt as far away as Spain, which led to Spanish band Red Apple sharing via prerecorded video how they were looking for bands that were real and similar to them. In discovering Super 400, they found a band on the same wavelength, as well as future friends. Red Apple then performed “Green Grass End” in tribute to Super 400.
Super 400 – photo by Erin Reid Coker
Greg Bell, the promoter who made Albany a jam band mecca and must hit tour stop, has run Guthrie/Bell Productions since the early 1990s. His presence in the Capital District will be profiled in the upcoming documentary from Mirth Films, Grapplin’ Greg. Rapp noted that no one has done more to support local bands than Bell, adding, “Music promoters are like adding kindling to a fire. The good ones make it burn bright.”
Greg Bell – photo by Erin Reid Coker
Rich Ortiz, the “fishin’ musician,” comes from a family rich in music history and plays more than 300 gigs a year and has been featured on the cover of numerous fishing magazines.. If night fishing were a thing, we may not have this legend from the Lake George region. Saratoga Springs guitarist from 80’s band The Morons, Steve Candlen, later performed Ortiz’ “I Love You Everyone.”
Rich Ortiz – photo by Erin Reid Coker
Michael Eck is many things – a painter, arts writer, Caffe Lena board member, and Ramblin Jug Stompers spoke with great emotion in receiving the Eddies Hall of Fame honor. Candlen later performed an Eck original “You’re a Mountain,” with the fitting lyrics “you’re a mountain, you’re a legend, you’re a king.”
Michael Eck – photo by Erin Reid Coker
Sara Ayers, with an eclectic career that includes folk, punk, bubblegum, rock, electronica and especially ambient music, was a crowd favorite as she was honored for her contributions to the scene.
Sara Ayers – photo by Erin Reid Coker
Greg Haymes, a man who did so much for local bands, venues and aspiring writers and photographers, was the final honoree of the night. The late “Sarge” Blotto has a varied career in multiple genres and styles, and in founding local music website Nippertown, he had a connection to nearly the entire room of musicians, journalists and fans. Rapp pointed to one of the many quirks of Haymes, was his mentions in reviews of a musician’s shoes, considering those with good shoes to have ‘made it’, and with that, Rapp pulled out a ruby slipper. The unofficial Jug Stompers theme song, “Jug Band Music,” by the Memphis Jug Band, and performed by Tom Lindsay to honor Haymes.
A young Greg Haymes. Photo by Amy Modesti
While Haymes passed away in 2019, he was fêted by his fellow inductees in a slideshow retrospective. Ayers accepted on behalf of her late husband, noting that he lived an artistic life as a musician, a writer and a website publisher, and it was a life he was proud of. His not too serious approach to preparing himself for a performance on stage (whether with a customized washboard, or a typewriter for a percussion instrument), his experience as a musician made him want to share the passion of local musicians in the Capital District through his writing. In doing so, Haymes gave many writers and photographers a chance to, a tradition we continue at NYS Music.
This month, Le Poisson Rouge celebrates 14 years as an underground live music sanctuary in the heart of Greenwich Village. To celebrate, LPR will hold a pair of 14th anniversary shows featuring Blonde Redhead, over June 14-15.
Shoegaze/art-rock trio Blonde Redhead serves as the perfect band for the occasion, with two uniquely curated shows planned, planned to be unlike any performances they have done before, and reportedly a welcome challenge to the band as they celebrate Le Poisson Rouge.
June 14th will feature a career-spanning “Best Of Blonde Redhead” setlist, highlighting the greatest of the band’s 25 year discography and even premiering some unreleased music. June 15th will have a “Choose Your Own Adventure” setlist will be determined by fans, who will be given the chance to vote on what they’d love to hear. This is a great chance for fans to hear B-sides and rarities Blonde Redhead rarely plays.
Medeski, Martin and Wood at Le Poisson Rouge – photo by Brian Ferguson
Originally known as the Village Gate, where artists like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and more performed, Le Poisson Rouge was founded by musicians in 2008. The location in historic Greenwich Village highlights indie rock, contemporary classical, electronica, metal, jazz, world music, and everything in-between. Late shows at LPR transform the cutting-edge music venue into a premier nightlife destination. An eclectic independent venue, Le Poisson Rouge includes Gallery Bar, which hosts art exhibitions, stand-up comedy, and drag queen bingo.
Sign for The Village Gate on the wall of 160 Bleecker Street, at the corner of Thompson Street.
In 2015, LPR Presents transformed the venue into a full-fledged events production company expanding into rooms such as Town Hall, Brooklyn Bazaar, Warsaw, Baby’s All Right, Murmrr Theatre, with a footprint that now spans three boroughs.
SPAGA at Le Poisson Rouge – photo by Jamie Huenefeld
Additional residencies coming up at Le Poisson Rouge include Kamaal Williams (June 26, July 10, July 30, August 14), Jawbox (July 20, July 21, July 22), and William Basinski (September 18 and 19). Tickets for Blonde Redhead are available here. 7:00PM Doors, 8:00PM Show
Each Sunday evening from 7-9pm 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, Ian Nichols, Doctor Baker and many more.
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.
Ian Nichols – “Cool and Cumbersome”
Albany based Nichols says of his latest track “Cool and Cumbersome”: retrofitting alt country vapor wAVE sounds within the confines of an attic that is in dire need of spray foam insulation. This song was an overhaul of bandages and anti-bacterial nothingness over the last two months in Upstate NY, tales of getting tied up in knots, stomach pangs theology and lust. The lo-fidelity, cheap vinyl siding, mandolins, and tepid crown moulding are desirable. To add, the flanged synthesizers give budget island vibes and provide 6 ounces of room temperature Sunday school apple juice that a child must imbibe to their advantage when hammering down a second rate bi-colored Oreo cookie.
Doctor Baker started out as an acoustic duo featuring singer-songwriter Ed Schwarzschild and guitarist Iggy Calabria, two wayward Philadelphians who met in Albany. After adding Danny Goodwin on drums and Chris Gockley on bass, Doctor Baker sounds a lot louder, and the band’s strong, sound medicine has begun to heal audiences in the Capital Region and beyond.
On Sunday night, EQXposure will play a fresh new unreleased track from Doctor Baker, “Trespassers”
Coming this June to Albany’s Lark Hall is the first annual Capital District Digital Listen Up Awards. Sponsored by Mirth Films and RadioRadioX, the awards shows aim to give the fans a chance to vote for their favorites among a wide selection of categories – some typical, some unique to the Listen Up Awards.
With voting now closed, Mirth Films’ Frankie Cavone looks ahead to the awards show, to be held at Lark Hall on Friday, June 17th, starting at 7pm.
Discussing the genesis of the event, Cavone said “We started the Listen Up Awards to give fans a chance to pick who their favorite band is in the Capital Region throughout numerous categories. We thought this was a great way to see who the music fanatics in the Capital Region are going to see live, listening and following.” Cavone stressed the people’s choice style to the event, emphasizing, “Your Vote, Your Choice.”
Fans should not expect a traditional award ceremony, with superlative awards given out and a show-casual attire, meaning wear your favorite band shirt and a pair of blue jeans.
We want the Listen Up Awards to be a fun experience not only for the fans, but the bands and artists as well. There will be live music performances and much more that you will have to find out by coming to Lark Hall on June 17th
Frankie Cavone – Mirth Films
With the continually strong Capital District music scene having a diverse music scene, Cavone feels “We couldn’t have a better array of bands and artists across all genres. It has been great to get to know a lot of them over the years and watching their careers flourish just puts a smile on your face. It makes you love being part of the community that much more and coming back night after night. There is nothing I would change about it.”
“For us at Mirth Films, we as members of this community embrace and do our best to contribute to what exists. But most importantly remain a fan first, always. We at Mirth Films are just happy to be able to help assist them in anyway possible,”
The Listen Up Awards will be held at Lark Hall in Albany on June 17th starting at 7pm. See what bands/artists made the cut below.
Venturing to the Village of Lake George is a typical Memorial Day Weekend activity for many in the greater 518 region, as the picture-perfect gateway to the Adirondacks offers a taste of summer up and down Canada Street. For those looking to start their summer with live music, the first annual Memorial Meltdown provided a fresh start to a season of live music in Lake George, with a lineup of regional favorites, highlighted by four sets of Twiddle.
Saturday began with The Whiskey Dicks, featuring Ryan Dempsey & Joe Cirotti, a self-described flaccid rock band from Burlington. Cirotti is a multi-instrumentalist from in Hackettstown, NJ who performs solo and with his rock band, Only Living Boy.
With the threat of rain passing the region, Marble Eyes filled in the late afternoon with rock and roll for the soul. Born in 2020 from the pandemic, Marble Eyes features a collection of New Hampshire Seacoast musicians, Eric Gould (Pink Talking Fish, Bass/Vocals), Mike Carter (Guitar/Vocals), Adrian Tramontano (Kung Fu, The Breakfast, Drums) and Max Chase (Keyboards/Vocals).
North Country legends Lucid brought the party into the early evening, with percussionist Lowell Wurster welcoming his father, George, to the stage to play harmonica on “Backwoods” and sang on The Doors’ “Roadhouse Blues,” joining Ryan “Rippy” Trumbull (drums), Kevin Sabourin (guitar and vocals), Jamie Armstrong (saxophones, clarinet and vocals), Chris Shacklett (bass, trombone and vocals), and Andrew Dellar (keyboards, accordion and vocals).
Jack Brown (Sophistafunk) and Lowell Wurster (Lucid) – photo by Laura Carbone
Twiddle played their first two sets of the weekend with Adrian Tramontano filling in for Brook Jordan. If you’ve caught Twiddle in the past few months, you know the shift in their sound is apparent with the energetic Tramontano elevating the playing of his three on-stage counterparts. The second set closed with the newest single, the radio friendly “Beautiful,” off Twiddle’s upcoming studio album.
Set 1: Earth Mama, Stroganoff, Daydream Farmer, White Light, The Devil, Jamflowman [1]
Set 2: Enter -> [2] Orlando’s -> Apples -> Mamunes the Faun -> Dr. Remidis Melodium -> Orlando’s, Breakadidown, Beautiful [3]
Encore: Beethoven & Greene -> Frankenfoote
[1] – Contained Layla teases [2] – Contained I Dreamed a Dream teases [3] – First time played
Another gorgeous day in Lake George was accompanied by five sets of music, starting with Long Island’s Baked Shrimp. The group is on the heels of their recent release, Pork Etiquette, and just about to embark on a 50 show summer tour, capped off in September with their second annual LonCon Music Festival, held in Bethel at Yasgur’s Farm.
Sophistafunk, fresh from a trip to Los Angeles where the Syracuse funk group recorded an appearance for an upcoming TV show, dropped a funk filled set. Roots of Creation followed, opening up their set with a pair of Grateful Dead covers, “They Love Each Other” and “Scarlet Begonias,” a rousing response coming from the late afternoon crowd.
photo by Laura Carbone
For Twiddle’s first set of the evening, the upbeat opener “Collective Pulse” (which has a distinct ring of Warren Zevon’s “Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead,” prior to the refrain) was followed by “Hattiebagen McRat” and Lowell Wurster joining the band on washboard. When he was introduced, Mihali was sure to give a nod to the many years Twiddle played at Backwoods Pondfest in Peru, NY, a festival favorite for many that elicited cheers from across the commons.
Following “Lost in the Cold” a jazzy segue into “Doinkinbonk!!!” evolved into a keys/drums segment that channeled Umphrey’s McGee with its velocity and new wave tone. The energy that Tramontano brought to the stage added greatly to the night, and was on display in a cover of Primus’ “Too Many Puppies.”
The final set of Memorial Meltdown began with “Milk” and was highlighted by “Wasabi Eruption” -> “The Box” and “Latin Tang” seguing into Led Zeppelin’s “Fool In The Rain.” An encore of Radiohead’s “Creep” -and the perennial crowd sing-along “When It Rains It Pours” closed out the evening at 11pm, the crowd dispersing into the night.
Promoter Dave Ehmann made the first Memorial Meltdown a rousing success, channeling the energy of the summer into two music-filled days. With ADK Fest over Labor Day weekend in Lake George, make plans to be visit the Queen of American Lakes later this summer.
Set 1: Collective Pulse, Hattibagen McRat [1], Lost In The Cold -> Doinkinbonk!!! -> Too Many Puppies -> [2] Doinkinbonk!!!, Zazu’s Flight, Frends Theme [3]
Set 2: Milk, Syncopated Healing, Wasabi Eruption -> The Box, Latin Tang -> Fool In The Rain -> [4][5] Latin Tang [5], Slippin’ In The Kitchen
Encore: Creep -> [6] When It Rains It Pours [7]
[1] Lowell Wurster (Lucid) on washboard [2] Primus [3] w/ Scott Hannay on keytar [4] Led Zeppelin [5] w/ Scott Hannay on guitar [6] Radiohead [7] Contained ‘My Heart Will Go On’ and ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ teases
