Category: Features

NBT Bank Summer Concert Series Kicks Off

The NBT Summer Concert Series is back in Norwich’s East Park, featuring artists hailing from all corners of the country, every Thursday night this summer.

Besides the fabulous music, East Park is the perfect place to set up some chairs and blankets, relax, and eat some good food.

The summer concert series kicked off July 7 with Fruition from Portland, Oregon. They fuse acoustic, bluegrass, and rock and roll music, and just released their newest album Broken at the Break of Day.

NBT Summer Concert Series Lineup

July 14- The Travelin’ McCourys

The McCoury brothers- Ronnie (mandolin) and Rob (banjo) -were born into the bluegrass tradition, with their father Del McCoury being one of the most successful musicians in the history of the genre. The group became the only group to have each member recognized with an International Bluegrass Music Association Award for their instrument at least once.

July 21- Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes first achieved prominence in the mid-1970s, emerging from the same New Jersey area as his friend Bruce Springsteen. Their song “I Don’t Want To Go Home” became their signature song, a mix of horn-based melodic riffs and sentimental lyrics. Rolling Stone voted their album Hearts of Stone among the top 100 albums of the 70s and 80s.

July 28- Shinyribs

Shinyribs is a band based out of Texas, that blends Texas blues, New Orleans R&B, Memphis soul, and more. The nine-piece supergroup is led by Kevin Russell, who continuously swaps out an electric guitar for a ukelele. They were named Best Austin Band at the Austin Chronicle’s Austin Music Awards (2017, 2018), awarded Album of the Year for I Got Your Medicine (2017), and Best 2020-Themed Song for “Stay Home” (2020).

Aug. 4- The Garcia Project with guest Maria Muldaur

The Garcia Project’s performances are recreations of full, classic Jerry Garcia Band set lists from 1976-1995, using thoughtful arrangements and proper instrumentation. Maria Muldaur is best known worldwide for her 1974 mega-hit “Midnight at the Oasis,” which received several Grammy nominations. She has worked closely with Jerry Garcia and joined the band officially from the fall of 1977 through 1978.

Aug. 11- Blair Crimmins & The Hookers

Blair Crimmins began his music career in Atlanta, Georgia, with the determination to bring Ragtime and 1920s-style Dixieland Jazz to new audiences. He has toured the country playing large venues and has opened for acts such as Mumford & Sons and Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Aug. 18- Mike Zito’s Big Band

Mike Zito is an American guitarist, singer, record producer, and songwriter from St. Louis, Missouri. He is regarded as one of the most lauded artists in the contemporary blues genre today, he has won BMAs in the categories of Blues Rock Artist as well as Blues Rock Album of the Year.

Aug. 25- Trigger Hippy

Trigger Hippy’s music has roots in country, Delta blues, R&B, gospel, and Southern rock. Made up of Steve Gorman and Nick Govrik, the group hit it off when they first met, and have been unstoppable since.

Also happening in the area is the 29th Norwich Rehab Chenango Blues Fest, held August 19 and 20 at the Chenango County Fairgrounds. Tickets for that are found here.

July 13, 2022
Live Music and Food Trucks Corral in Glens Falls Every Thursday at The Shirt Factory
Each week through mid-September, The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls hosts the Thursday Market and Food Truck Corral, bringing together local bands and the largest collection of food trucks between NYC and Montreal.

The Shirt Factory is located between Lawrence and Cooper Streets and is a cornerstone of the Glens Falls arts and health communities. In the 1930’s after purchasing the Troy Shirt Makers Guild label, they separated the shirt making from dressmaking side of the business; thus, The Shirt Factory is the name given to the property, within which numerous small businesses are housed.

The Shirt Factory, early 1900s, photo via Chapman Museum

Inside this more than century-old historic building you’ll find signage, posters, and items including old sewing machines throughout the hallways, as the building pays homage to its own rich history of dress-making that dates to the late 1890s. This effort by the owners preserves the building’s history and honors the local community where the shirt manufacturing business found great success in the early 20th century.

In 1902, a fire devastated the Joseph-Fowler Shirt Makers building on Glen Street in downtown Glens Falls. Owners Walter and JR each owned part of that business and after the fire they took their portion of the insurance and the shirt making side of the business, while their partner kept the detachable collar portion of the business. They purchased the empty lot where the current building stands in part because the railroad depot that just across the street and were able to get a dedicated railroad spur for deliveries.

The building was built in 1902, at that time the tavern across the street was a boarding house that was in the Shirt Factory yard, before moving across the street several years later. Consisting of two buildings, one was built in 1902 and the second added on in 1910, with two short hallways on each floor connecting the buildings. In addition, there is an annex that includes Rock Hill Bakehouse, Sweet Side Records, KFancillo Photography, Dakine Cuisine, Freedom Machines and Glens Falls Distilling.

Purchased in 1999 by the current owner, The Shirt Factory is now nearly 100 creative, talented, and passionate individuals call this building their second home. Among these are a variety of classes, shops offering a wide range of products, professional services, working artists, galleries, three bookstores, and other hidden gems you can find among the three floors. There is a wide range of goods in each shop, including salt lamps, loose leaf tea, pottery, trading cards, locally made food, reclaimed furniture and more.

The building today

The Shirt Factory hosts a number of events throughout the year, and summer 2022 sees the return of the Thursday Market & Food Truck Corral, taking place weekly each Thursday from May through September. The spacious property allows plenty of space for food trucks, picnic tables, seating areas, vendors, farmers, and kids activities.

Sample layout of Food Trucks on Thursdays

A sampling of the various food trucks that have attended Thursdays at The Shirt Factory include:
- Coach’s Corner: Sausage, Philly cheese steak, taco fries, quesadilla burger
- Glens Falls Distilling: Samples and sales, bourbon, whiskey, moonshine
- Bella Lynn’s Bakery : Cupcakes and baked goods
- Farmacy: Smoked/BBQ, sides, handmade ice cream
- Pies on Wheels: Wood-fired personal pizza made to order
- The Wrap Shak: Wraps, salads, quesadillas, fries, tots
- Koko’s Chariot: Frozen drinks, funnel cake, key lime pie or cheesecake on a stick
- Hungry Traveler: Gourmet burgers and fries
- Mac Factor: Gourmet mac & cheese
- Cooley’s Ice Cream: Novelty ice creams
- Vashti’s Kitchen Delights: Caribbean American food, also new items
- Mean Max: Craft beer
- Grandma Apple’s Cheesecakes: Mini cheesecakes
- Alaturco Gyro: Gyros, baklava, more
- Alchemy Bagel: Macrons
- Girl Scout Troop 3611: Girl Scout cookies
- Slavonian European Café: Pierogies, stuffed cabbage, moussaka, more
- Daily Fresh: Indian food, palak paneer, kadai mushroom, mutter paneer, aloo gobi, chole and more
- Adirondack Concessions: Kettle corn
- Yum Yumz: Italian ice and ice cream
- Smoothie Shoppe: Fresh fruit smoothies
- Creative Caterers: Hot dogs, sausage, taco salad, more
- Ty’s Tacoria: Tacos, chips with guac & salsa, iced tea
- Slyboro Cider (Hicks Orchard): Samples and sales of hard ciders
- Adirondack Olykoeks: Fresh hot mini-donuts
- Millers Backyard BBQ: Ribs, brisket, pulled pork, sides
- Screaming Eagle Concessions: Hot dogs, pulled pork, mac & cheese, lemonade
- Adirondack Mobile Hibachi: Hibachi, noodles, rice, chicken, shrimp, steak
- Euro Delicacies: Greek/Mediterranean, spanakopita, stuffed peppers, more
- Tres Mijas: Enchiladas, tacos, taquitos, burritos, tostadas
- Say Cheez: Grilled Sandwiches, tater tots, lemonade
The Shirt Factory is open to the public from 8am to 5pm daily. You can find a full list of events here and learn even more about the history of The Shirt Factory here.

Thursday Market and Food Truck Corral Music Lineup:

June 23

Lawrence Street Stage – Pete Moss
Rockhill Stage – Keanen Stark & Orion Kribs
Cooper Street Stage – Dan Mellon

June 30
Lawrence Street Stage – Tom Keller
Rockhill Stage – Drew Wardle & Brian Fitzgerald
Cooper Street Stage – Mark Rabin

July 7
Lawrence Street Stage – Jim Brown
Rockhill Stage – Terrallite
Cooper Street Stage – 42nd Draft

July 14
Lawrence Street Stage – Jason Irwin
Rockhill Stage – Chatterbox
Cooper Street Stage – Chris Cronin

July 21
Lawrence Street Stage – iRod+Aux
Rockhill Stage – Across the Pond
Cooper Street Stage – Zack Ryan

July 28
Lawrence Street Stage – Thom Powers
Rockhill Stage – Curious Comet
Cooper Street Stage – SoulSky Duo

August 4
Lawrence Street Stage – James Mullen
Rockhill Stage – Up the River
Cooper Street Stage – Kelly Rock

August 11
Lawrence Street Stage – Drew Wardle
Rockhill Stage – Kenny T & DC Steve
Cooper Street Stage – Mikki Bakken

August 18
Lawrence Street Stage – PR Project
Rockhill Stage – The Musicats Duo
Cooper Street Stage – Brian Fitzgerald

August 25
Lawrence Street Stage – Jim McArdle
Rockhill Stage – The Schmooze
Cooper Street Stage – Jason Irwin

September 1
Lawrence Street Stage – James Mullen
Rockhill Stage – Margo Macero Band
Cooper Street Stage – Alan Dunham & Elizabeth Winge

September 8
Lawrence Street Stage – Matthew Ames
Rockhill Stage – The Tradition
Cooper Street Stage – Mike Grosshander
July 13, 2022
In Focus: Michael Franti & Spearhead at MJN Convention Center

On June 30th, Radio Woodstock – WDST presented Michael Franti & Spearhead at the newly renovated MJN Convention Center in Poughkeepsie. Two-time Grammy Award winners Arrested Development were included on the bill.

Michael Franti & Spearhead

The tour, in support of Michael Franti & Spearhead’s latest release Follow Your Heart, will continue through the summer. The night included a short video sharing Michael Franti’s experiences at his home in Bali during the Covid years. Sharing what he encountered, discarded, and is now looking forward to in the future, offering an optimistic tone for evening.

Hip-hop pioneers Arrested Development opened the show. The band offered up a nonstop dance set including songs from the 2021 album For the Fkn Love. Formed as an alternative to gangsta rap, Arrested Development put positivity in the spotlight. They capped their set by reaching back to their beginnings with the iconic “Tennessee.”

Arrested Development

With “Stay Human” emblazoned on his guitar strap and “Don’t Give Up” on his t-shirt, Michael Franti backed by Spearhead took to the stage. Over the course of two- and one-half hours the night resembled a preacher with his flock, engaging everyone in a heartfelt love fest.

On multiple occasions, Franti stepped down from the stage, singing his way through the crowd to one of the two mini stages located in the house. Once there, Michael stood tall and spread his arms wide open, inviting people up to harmonize along with him.

Michael Franti

Spearhead’s four members, including Franti’s longtime collaborator Carl Young on bass, generated a powerful musical backdrop. Throughout the night, the band moved from electric to acoustic and back without missing a beat.

As the night concluded and after taking their bows, Michael and members of the band headed into the crowd to taking selfies and sign autographs. If there was ever a way to say thank you to an audience, this was it.

Michael Franti & Spearhead

Arrested Development

July 12, 2022
Karine Hannah Releases Music Video For “Hysteria”

On July 6, New York-based pop artist Karine Hannah released a new music video for her cover track, “Hysteria.” The music video is powerfully simple, relying on Hannah’s compelling vocals and the song’s captivating lyrics rather than overly complex visuals.

Hannah’s music video and cover of “Hysteria” gives new life to Def Leppard’s title track from their 1987 album. With bass, a higher-pitched piano riff, and reverberative piano chords, the end result of Hannah’s cover is ethereal. She revives the original song with wonderful vocals over top unique instrumentation and released the track earlier this summer.

Hannah has been in the pop-music genre for years, catching her big break when her performance on a Canadian television show caught the attention of the international star Celine Dion. Hannah would later go on to perform at Dion’s wedding. Most recently, Karine Hannah has made a name for herself reimagining classic songs, covering beloved tracks in her own style.

With vocal influences including Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Jennifer Holiday, and European artists she heard as a child, Hannah molded her inspirations into a sound that is entirely her own. It shows with this latest musical release and video.

After signing a new management deal with Heart Songs Music Group in 2022, Hannah is currently working on the relaunch of her successful Barbara Streisand tribute tour. Take a listen to Karine Hannah’s reimagined version of “Hysteria” and the accompanying music video below.

July 12, 2022
In Focus: As I Lay Dying Return from Hiatus to The L in Horseheads

On June 26, As I Lay Dying brought their Two Decades of Destruction Tour to a brand new venue in Horseheads, The L, which has been on a roll with shows since it opened.

This was a show to get to early as it nearly sold out and you had a bit of a walk from the parking lot. Brand Of Sacrifice opened up and came out swinging, the heavy metal band from Canada taking command of the stage.

Next up was Shadow Of Intent, hailing from Connecticut, who kept the energy going. Originally the band began as a two piece and started off with Halo-themed music, then transitioned to the deathcore sound they have now.

Shadow Of Intent

Rolling up after them was Whitechapel, a band that is a staple in the deathcore community and probably could be considered the heaviest on the tour. Finally, to close out the night was As I Lay Dying, who had been on hiatus since 2014, having formed in 2000 in San Diego, California.

There was a bit of a hiccup before the tour as a few band members stepped down but the show went on and the place was filled, with Ryan Neff from Miss May I stepping in; he’ll be back at The L in September with another stacked lineup.

There have been many great shows at this venue but this one was definitely one for the books and with no signs of slowing down with the lineups that have already been announced, The L is making itself well known in the Northeast music scene.

Brand Of Sacrifice

Shadow Of Intent

Whitechapel

As I Lay Dying

July 12, 2022
In and Out of the Orchard They Go: Phil & Friends at Beak & Skiff

Seeing the Grateful Dead on a hot summer night is a quintessential live music experience. That not being an option these days, seeing a founding member construct a crack team of musicians to recreate their music on a hot summer night will have to suffice. And at 82 years young, Phil Lesh is still trucking along doing just that.

Seeing a big summer show plopped right in the middle of an apple orchard might not be a quintessential live music experience, but for Central New Yorkers it is quickly becoming one. Beak and Skiff Orchards, booked by Dan Smalls Presents, is a hot destination for some of the areas biggest shows this summer and on this night, Phil Lesh and his Friends, among them his son Grahame Lesh, Stu Allen, Jason Crosby, Cody Dickinson and Amy Helm, brought their lowercase-f friends to the orchard to join in the communion of live Grateful Dead music. The apple trees immediately bordering the concert field were well fumigated at this show. Keep an eye out for a special THC-infused apple variety this fall.

It wasn’t even seven o’clock and the crowd was deep and grooving to “Reuben and Cherise” while the band was showing the tightness of a group that had been together for decades, not days. All 5 members were improvising at a high level and then reined it back in for a tight and tidy finish.

Amy Helm came on from her watching perch just behind the stage a few songs in to lead the band on Bob Dylan’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece.” She was a splash of color breaking through the grays and dark blues, slinking about among the statuesque guitarists. Such a beautiful voice, the only regret from the evening was that she was not utilized more fully. There was a great mix of vocals throughout the night with Stu, Phil, Grahame, Phil, and Amy all taking leads. Still, a bit more from Amy would have been welcome.

After a solid warmup set, the band came out of the gates for part two with a magnificent “Playing in the Band.” All five musicians playing circles in and around each other, listening and reacting, as they carried it through multiple distinct sections, rocking, groovy, spacey. Through it all, a highlight machine emerged from the back, Cody Dickinson on drums. Not typically seen anchoring such free form improvisation, he was a constant flurry of activity, holding the pieces together while maintaining a long leash with which to flourish himself.

“Cassidy” followed and was also an unexpected highlight, going where “Cassidy” is not typically known to go. Crosby moved to the electric piano which got it grooving with some late-70’s Dead energy and behind more stellar drumming and playing from everyone, it just launched into the stratosphere for one hell of a jam.

“Mountains of the Moon” similarly went atypically off the beaten path. Phil and Grahame had a nice father and son catch, passing the ball back and forth, guitar and bass lines playing off each other. Crosby grabbed his fiddle to mix it up further and the whole thing eventually dove into a deep oozing rumble. Phil hit on a nice dub groove and just sat with it for a few minutes and things got pretty groovy and interesting before fizzling right into a fun and bright “China Cat Sunflower”>”I Know You Rider” that had all the Friends on vocals, and friends too, in a big old singalong.

Prior to the “Eyes of the World”, “Brokedown Palace” encore that would send everyone back home with huge smiles, Phil came out to encourage everyone to become organ donors, as he’s been doing for 24 years. 24 extra years we’ve all had to enjoy his incredible music. “You give us the hope and the heart, and we give you the music,” he said.

Phil and Friends – Beak and Skiff, Lafayette, NY – July 8, 2022

Set 1: Dupree’s Diamond Blues, Rubin and Cherise, Minglewood Blues, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Dire Wolf, Casey Jones, Ripple

Set 2: Playing in the Band, Cassidy, St. Stephen > Born Cross-Eyed, Mountains of the Moon, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider

Encore: Eyes of the World, Brokedown Palace

July 12, 2022
moe. Returns To Its Roots In The Outer Harbor

New York jam icons moe. continued their recent revival on Thursday, July 7 with a headlining gig in their old hometown of Buffalo. As part of the Seneca Casinos Outer Harbor Concert Series, moe. played at the Lakeside Event Lawn in the outer harbor. With founding member Chuck Garvey still on the sidelines, Suke Cerulo filled in on guitar while Nate Wilson was also added on keys for this tour.

moe. kept it fairly old school this evening, in the community in which it grew up as a band. A “Kyle’s Song” > “Seat Of My Pants” got the evening started off right. The first set also offered up the newer composition “Prestige Worldwide” before “Time Ed” later closed out the set.

An even older tune “Johnny Lineup” opened up the second set, followed close behind by other legendary moe. tunes like “Timmy Tucker” and “Sensory Depravation Bank.” A powerhouse combination of “Recreational Chemistry” > “Meat” to close out the set preceded the all too fitting “Skitchin’ Buffalo” encore.

moe. Outer Harbor Drive – Buffalo, NY 7/7/22

Set 1: Kyle’s Song > Seat Of My Pants, Haze, Prestige Worldwide > Rickey Marten > Time Ed

Set 2: Johnny Lineup > Timmy Tucker, Sensory Depravation Bank, Meat > Recreational Chemistry > Meat

E: Skitchin’ Buffalo

July 11, 2022
Grassroots 30 Annual Festival Lineup Announced

The 30th annual Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival in Trumansburg is back with over 80 performers on five stages during July 21-24 at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds.

The festival is held at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds in Trumansburg which is located about 10 miles north of Ithaca on the west side of Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes region of Central New York. Since the birth of the festival, the guiding quote has always been “to create joy in the midst of crisis is a powerful thing and brings magic to the table.”

Grassroots was founded by Donna the Buffalo, and is a mission-based organization that focuses on nurturing local artists and talent while reaching around the globe to bring world music and culture to new audiences to inspire creativity and foster community building. Four days before the festival there is a Culture Camp, which helps community building by having attendees going to four days of music and dance workshops led by regional and national artists.

Grandstand of Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance.

Headliners for this year’s festival include Donna The Buffalo, The Infamous Stringdusters, Galactic, Cory Henry, Marty Stuart, John Brown’s Body, Dobet Gnahore, DakhaBrakha, and more. There is music from every genre, including bluegrass, country, old-time, Latin, world beat, and more.

For more information about the festival and to buy tickets, go here.

July 11, 2022
Hearing Aide: SUSS “Heat Haze”

I’ve been listening to the Heat Haze EP from NY-based ambient country trio SUSS for about a week. If you’re a fan of ambient music, this EP does not disappoint. It’s five songs of soothing pads articulated with a variety of instruments, mostly string instruments, often played in repetitive loops bringing about a sense of calm and focus. For me, the title track conjures less of an image of haze than that of an old shack overlooking a swamp surrounded by lush green and hanging vines.

SUSS is a NYC-based trio of Pat Irwin, Bob Holmes, and Jonathan Gregg integrate their NYC roots into their music, playing off the similarities and differences between the Southwestern landscape (which influenced Night Suite) and that of New York, and in doing so, stretching the definitions of both “ambient” and “country.”

Reviewing ambient music is a challenge in that it is quite different from most other music. Most musicians want you to focus on the music itself, and hear all the interesting things the artists behind them are doing to draw you in. Ambient music is meant to put you in such a state that you are completely relaxed, not focused on the music at all. Heat Haze pulls that off. I really had to force myself to pay attention to what SUSS was doing. And even then, I would find myself lost in thought and not paying proper attention.

SUSS is credited with creating the ambient country sound, and the one critique, if it is even that, is that I have had a hard time finding the country elements of their music. Sure, there’s some acoustic guitar and even some lap steel, but neither are employed in a particularly “country” fashion. Two songs, “Grace” and “Train” hint a bit at some country roots, the latter perhaps teasing it a bit more than the former, but ultimately, I would bin this squarely in ambient without the country category.

My favorite track is the final one, “Pine,” which I can hear being the backing track behind a Nick Cave spoken word song or possibly in the middle of a Nick Cave & Warren Ellis film soundtrack. The plucked strings of what sounds like a baritone guitar add a nice dynamic element contrasted against the droning and whirling tones that make up the bulk of the song. It’s a haunting track; one that will be part of my nighttime routine, and perhaps present on my hot yoga mix, for years to come.

July 11, 2022
In Focus: Talib Kweli at Alive at 5

Real hip-hop was on display at the latest Alive at 5 in Albany on Thursday, July 7. Talib Kweli, one-half of hip-hop duo Black Star, was greeted to a warm reception on Thursday. Kweli’s large audience consisted of many who probably grew up listening to 90s styled hip-hop/rap. Backed by the band, The Whiskey Boys, many were brought to the feet with the versatile range of music on stage.

Not only was hip-hop on the menu this evening, there was also a fair amount of R&B and jazz performed. Kweli made time to demonstrate the complexity of each instrument on stage with solo performances. He also interacted with the crowd by not only playing some of his hits, but in paying tribute to Biz Markie, Ol’ Dirty Bastard and DMX. The show brought a lot of nostalgia and history to a multi-generational audience.

Talib Kweli was preceded by DJ Siroc and DJ TGIF. DJ Siroc played a nice set of songs, ranging with many hits from the 90s and early 2000’s. DJ TGIF was introduced by Mayor Kathy Sheehan, as he is one of Albany’s own. He kept to the unofficial theme with a set consisting of hits from Jay-Z, A Tribe Called Quest, and DMX. A dance battle broke out during the end of DJ TGIF’s set that lead well into the excitement for Talib Kweli.

If you were not able to catch Talib Kweli, his next performance will be at the Blue Note in Manhattan on July 12th.

Alive at Five returns on July 14 with Cassadee Pope featuring Sydney Worthley opening the show.

July 11, 2022

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