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 Shortwave RadioBand, Paul Moody, Hanzolo,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.
ShortWave RadioBand
Last week, ShortWave RadioBand released their newest single, “SomeDay.” An upbeat rock song about looking ahead to brighter days, the accompanying music video is on its way. “SomeDay” follows the Schuylerville trio’s debut single, “Don’t Care,” which previously featured on EQXposure in November 2021. Listeners can expect the band to release their first EP later this year.
Paul Moody
Continuing this week’s theme of positivity, singer-songwriter Paul Moody has released “Letting Light In.” The calming folk song is about being receptive to new connections and relationships, particularly with one special person: “I was king of the lonesome, but I gave up the throne / For what good is a kingdom, when you rule all alone?”. While its melody is simple, the song crescendos into a sweeping instrumental halfway, almost mimicking the blooming of sunflowers.
Hanzolo
“Goldmine,” the opening song on Hanzolo’s self-titled album, expertly blends soul, funk and pop. There’s rarely a dull moment on the four-minute track, which smoothly glides along and promises plenty of replay value. Hanzolo, a seven-piece alt-funk band, sounds current and clean while still drawing upon retro influences like Motown.
Pop-rock trio Hanson announced their Red Green Blue Tour to follow a release of their new album Red Green Blue, with stops at Empire Live and The Beacon Theatre.
The band of brothers is a three-time Grammy-nominated pop-rock trio, selling over 16 million albums, and performing for over three million fans.
Hanson, photo by Jonathan Weiner.
Created in 1992 in Tulsa, OK, Hanson established a regional following before getting international fame, with a string of top 40 singles.
The new album Red Green Blue will be released on May 20, and it will mark 30 years of the band being together. Speaking about the milestone, they said this.
Going into our 30th year as a band we felt like it was imperative we continue to tell our story like only we can, and telling stories in ways that will continue to challenge us to grow and give people new reasons to listen. Red Green Blue is about sharing what has made us a band that has been able to weather so many storms.
Hanson’s tour will be stopping all over the globe, with two NYS stops. One will be at Empire Live in Albany and the other at the Beacon Theatre in NYC.
The band plans to release singles to accompany the album, one on February 11, one on March 11, and one on April 15.
Hanson
Tickets to see the Red Green Blue tour can be found here, with tickets going on sale at 10 AM local on January 20.
Hanson 2022 Tour Dates
EUROPE: JUNE 8 – Helsinki FINLAND – House of Culture 10 – Stockholm SWEDEN – Berns 12 – Oslo NORWAY – Vulkan Arena 13 – Goteborg SWEDEN – Pustervik 14 – Kolding DENMARK – Godset 16 – Hamburg GERMANY – Mojo 17 – Koln GERMANY – Gloria 18 – Munich GERMANY – Strom 20 – Milan ITALY – Magazzini Generali 22 – Paris FRANCE – La Cigale 23 – Brussels BELGIUM – AB 24 – Amsterdam NETHERLANDS – Melkweg 26 – Nottingham UK – Rock City 28 – Glasgow UK – SWG3 Galvanisers 29 – Manchester UK – O2 Ritz 30 – London UK – Roundhouse
JULY 2 – Bristol UK – O2 Academy 3 – Leeds UK – University – Stylus
NORTH AMERICA
JULY 12 – Houston TX – House of Blues 14 – New Orleans LA – The Joy Theater 15 – Nashville TN – Ryman Auditorium 16 – Atlanta GA – The Eastern 17 – St Petersburg FL – Jannus Live 19 – Birmingham AL – Alabama Theater 20 – Raleigh NC – The Ritz 22 – Richmond VA – The National 23 – Silver Spring MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring 24 – Philadelphia PA – The Fillmore Philadelphia 26 – Pittsburgh PA – Palace Theatre 28 – Albany NY – Empire Live 29 – Boston MA – House of Blues 30 – Hampton Beach NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom 31 – New York NY – The Beacon Theatre
AUGUST 2 – Montreal QC – Corona Theatre 3 – Toronto ON – Danforth Music Hall 5 – Elizabeth IN – Ceasers Event Center 6 – Cleveland OH – Agora Theatre 7 – Detroit MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre 9 – Grand Rapids MI – 20 Monroe Live 10 – Indianapolis IN – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre 12 – St Louis MO – The Pageant 13 – Chicago IL – Aragon Ballroom 14 – Madison WI – The Sylvee 16 – Springfield MO – Gillioz Theatre 18 – Council Bluffs IA – Stir Cove at Harrah’s 19 – Minneapolis MN – The Fillmore Minneapolis 20 – Fargo ND – Fargo Brewing Company Outdoors 21 – Winnipeg, MB – Park Theater 23 – Calgary AB – The Palace Theatre 24 – Edmonton AB – Midway 26 – Vancouver BC – The Vogue Theatre 27 – Seattle WA – The Moore 28 – Portland OR – Crystal Ballroom 30 – San Francisco CA – The Fillmore 31 – Anaheim CA – House of Blues
SEPTEMBER 2 – Los Angeles CA – Ace Theatre 3 – San Diego CA – Humphrey’s Concerts By The Bay 4 – Phoenix AZ – The Van Buren 6 – Las Vegas NV – Brooklyn Bowl 7 – Salt Lake City UT – The Depot 9 – Denver CO – Paramount Theatre 10 – Kansas City MO – Uptown Theatre 11 – Wichita KS – Cotillion Ballroom 13 – Austin TX – Emo’s 14 – Dallas TX – House of Blues
LATIN AMERICA
SEPTEMBER 25 – Mexico City MEXICO – BlackBerry 27 – Guadalajara MEXICO – Teatro Diana 28 – Leon MEXICO – Foro de Lago 29 – Queretaro MEXICO – Teatro Metropolitan
OCTOBER 1 – Monterrey MEXICO – Pabellon M 4 – Santiago CHILE – Teatro Coliseo 6 – Buenos Aires ARGENTINA – Teatro Gran Rivadavia 8 – Montevideo URUGUAY – La Trastienda 11 – Porto Alegre BRAZIL – Teatro Bourbon Country 12 – Curitiba BRAZIL – Live Curitiba14 – Ribeirão Preto BRAZIL – Arena Eurobike 15 – Sao Paulo BRAZIL – Espaco Das Americas 16 – Uberlandia BRAZIL – Arena Sabiazinho 19 – Brasilia BRAZIL – Centro de Convencoes Ulyess Guimaraes 21 – Rio de Janeiro BRAZIL – Qualistage
Broadway announced new regulations requiring full COVID-19 vaccination for kids 5 and older on January 10, in the wake of the surging omicron strain sweeping across the country.
A poster on Times Square advertises West Side Story at the Broadway Theater on February 7, 2020 in New York City. – Westside Story is returning to Broadway for the first time in more than a decade, directed by Belgian Ivo Van Hove. (Photo by Johannes EISELE / AFP) (Photo by JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images)
The new regulations will begin on January 29, 2022 and will involve all 41 theaters of the Broadway League requiring full vaccinations for children ages 5 to 11 for all performances. To be fully vaccinated, the guest attending a performance must be at least 14 days after their second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or at least 14 days after their single dose of a one-dose vaccine. The owners and operators of all 41 Broadway theaters who are part of the Broadway League also have extended their mask and vaccine requirements through at least April 30, 2022.
Children under five years of age, who can not be vaccinated yet, must have a negative PCR test performed by a medical provider within 72 hours of the performance start time or a negative rapid antigen test taken within six hours of the performance start time to be allowed entry to the event. Also, the “Buy With Confidence” program has also been extended, allowing for flexible exchanges and refunds due to COVID-19 incidences.
Being vaccinated means on the date of the performance a guest is at least 14 days after their second dose of a two dose COVID-19 vaccine OR at least 14 days after their single dose of an approved single dose COVID-19 vaccine. Any guest whose last vaccine dose (excluding boosters) was fewer than 14 days before the date of performance must, in addition to meeting these requirements, also present proof of (a) a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of the performance time, or (b) a negative COVID-19 antigen test within 6 hours of performance time. Proof of vaccination must come directly from the healthcare provider that performed the vaccination. Guests may display proof on a smartphone or present a physical copy. New York State residents, or anyone who received a COVID-19 vaccine in New York State, may present proof through the use of the Excelsior Pass (for more details, visit epass.ny.gov) or any other digital app.
Currently the regulations through January 28, 2022 stand as guests 12 and older will need to be Vaccinated (as defined below) with an FDA or WHO authorized vaccine AND present a government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport. (Guests 12-18 may use a government-issued ID or school ID – no photo required.) Children ages 5-11 may enter the theatre only when (1) accompanied by an adult who complies with the theatre’s vaccination entry requirements, and (2) has proof of at least one dose of an FDA or WHO approved vaccine. For international guests two doses of any “mix and match” combination of an FDA or WHO approved COVID-19 vaccine are acceptable.
For more information on the new COVID-19 vaccination requirements for kids at Broadway shows visit their website.
New York-based songwriter and artist Kevin Devine announced his new album titled Nothing’s Real, So Nothing’s Wrong, as well as its first single “Albatross.”
Kevin Devine’s new single, “Albatross.”
Devine has been making music for a long time. In the early 2000s, he performed with Miracle Of 86, which moved him forward into his own solo career. In 2015, he started his Devinyl Splits 7″ series with a variety of artists. He has also been a touring musician with Frightened Rabbit, John K. Samson, Julien Baker, and more.
Kevin Devine, photo by Erik Tanner.
His new single “Albatross” is a symbolic set of what his new album will be. Heavy drums, synth, and bass accompany Devine as the chorus spews, “If you’re sinking, sing-along/Nothing’s real, so nothing’s wrong.”
Devine decided the album will be titled Nothing’s Real, So Nothing’s Wrong through this song, and speaking of the single itself, Devine had a few words to say.
‘Albatross’ is a hard reboot, a fragmented emptying-out for us strugglers whose life experience invalidates cookie-cutter solutions or miracle cures or 21st century coping mechanisms. Where do you turn for comfort when the generally-accepted value system and discourse is this degraded and grotesque?
Kevin Devine is releasing his tenth full-length record titled Nothing’s Real, So Nothing’s Wrong on March 25, and he invites listeners in to discover the journey or self-preservation and its meaning. The album is available for preorder here.
Update: New York City Winter Jazzfest has moved all virtual for this year’s event, and will be broadcasting January 14 – 22 featuring 30+ different groups and 150 musicians performing from cities all over the world including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Johannesburg, Miami, St. Louis, Rio de Janeiro, New Orleans, and more.
In line with this year’s theme, “The Feel Good,” we asked many of the musicians to perform “Feel Good” music, especially now during these challenging times, when we cannot all be together, we need the valuable musical medicine these musicians provide us. We are so grateful to all of the artists for moving mountains to make this happen.
NYCWJF founder Brice Rosenbloom
The events will start on January 14, starting with the first of four Virtual Marathon Nights More in-person events will be announced in the coming weeks. The full schedule of performers can be found here.
Performances can be accessed via winterjazzfest.com, on YouTube and Facebook. Select performances are also available on Qwest.TV and on WBGO channels.
2022 NYC Winter Jazzfest has announced its lineup running from January 13-22, 2022 presenting a full spectrum of jazz. The Artist-in-Residence will be Chicago composer and multi-instrumentalist Angel Bat Dawid.
This will be the 18th annual rendition of the NYC Winter Jazzfest. The festival was founded in 2005 and over the years has cemented a reputation as a hotbed of cultural discovery, supporting the rich growth and continued vitality of the jazz community.
This year’s festivities will include 10 nights of programming: marquee performances, including major world premieres, from artist-in-residence Angel Bat Dawid, Pino Palladino & Blake Mills, Ben LaMar Gay, Jaimie Branch, Fay Victor and Kate Gentile; a Summer of Soul screening/convo and “The Feel Good” Party with Questlove and guests; and once again our weekend multi-venue, multi-artist marathon, which has become recognized as one of New York’s most essential nightlife offerings, giving audiences full access to all participating venues and dozens of groups performing from early evening deep into the wee hours.
NYC Winter Jazzfest’s Artist-in-Residence is composer and multi-instrumentalist Angel Bat Dawid who is known in the world for the premiere of “Afro-Town Topics: A Mythological Afrofuturist Revue”. Inspired by Fats Waller, Bat Dawid presents a new original score using the traditional framework of a musical revue (a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches) as a compositional blueprint with the intention of creating and exploring the production of new Afro sonic realities and futures. Additionally, Bat Dawid will perform a DJ set at the opening night event at City Winery on January 13 and present her Sistazz of the Nitty Gritty on January 14 during the NYCWJF Marathon.
With the support of South Arts, Mutual Mentorship for Musicians will hold its inaugural residency under the auspices of NYCWJF. Supported by a consortium of public and private funders including the National Endowment for the Arts, the Andrew Mellon Foundation and nine state arts agencies, South Arts has, through its Jazz Road Creative Residency program, provided grants of up to $40,000 this year to 52 artists or groups including M3, in order to foster their artistic and professional growth while allowing them to engage in a wide range of artistic and community projects throughout the US.
M3 was cofounded by acclaimed musicians Jen Shyu and Sara Serpa in 2020 to address ongoing gender inequity and underrepresentation in the jazz and creative music worlds, and to foster partnerships among women and non-binary musicians around the world through new composer commissions, published writings, collective conversations and other programs. The M3 residency seeks to reverse the imbalance seen at many jazz festivals by presenting 21 women and non-binary bandleaders, showcasing them across 10 days as performers, composers, workshop leaders and facilitators.
Participants include Samantha Boshnack, Romarna Campbell, Caroline Davis, Miriam Elhajli, Ganavya, Eden Girma, Val Inc. AKA Val Jeanty, Maya Keren, Erica Lindsay, Lesley Mok, Camila Nebbia, Shanta Nurullah, Cleo Reed, Michele Rosewoman, Sara Serpa, Jen Shyu, Monnette Sudler, Anjna Swaminathan, Sumi Tonooka, Fay Victor and Malika Zarra.
The current lineup for NYC Winter Jazzfest includes: Angel Bat Dawid (Artist-in-Residence), Alan Braufman, Alicia Olatuja, Allison Miller, Anjna Swaminathan, Antonio Sánchez – A Bad Hombre Project, Ben LaMar Gay, Brianna Thomas, Camila Nebbia, Camille Thurman, Caroline Davis, Chien Chien Lu, Cleo Reed, Code-Switch with Nasheet Waits, JD Allen, Eric Revis, Connie Han Trio, Craig Taborn, Dave Harrington Pranksters East, Eden Girma, Erica Lindsay, Fay Victor, Ganavya, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Gilles Peterson (virtual), Greg Ward’s Rogue Parade, Harriet Tubman, In Common: Walter Smith III and Matt Stevens featuring Kris Davis/Harish Raghavan/Terri Lyne Carrington, Jaimie Branch, James “Blood” Ulmer, James Brandon Lewis, James Francies, Joel Ross, Blaque Dynamite, Jen Shyu, Joel Ross, Julian Lage, Julius Rodriguez, Kassa Overall, Kate Gentile, Lakecia Benjamin, Lesley Mok, Louis Hayes, Madison McFerrin, Mahogany Browne, Makaya McCraven, Malika Zarra, Marc Ribot Trio, Marshall Allen, Matthew Whitaker, Maurice Brown, Maya Keren, Melanie Charles, Michele Rosewoman, Miki Yamanaka, Miriam Elhajli, Monnette Sudler, Nate Mercereau, Nate Smith +KINFOLK, Nduduzo Makhathini, Pino Palladino and Blake Mills featuring Sam Gendel and Abraham Rounds, Questlove, Ray Angry, Romarna Campbell, Rudresh Mahanthappa Hero Trio, Sam Gendel, Samantha Boshnack, Samara Joy, Samir LanGus, Samora Pinderhughes GRIEF, Sana Nagano, Sara Serpa, Sarah Elizabeth Charles SCOPE, Shai Maestro Quartet, Shanta Nurullah, Sistazz of The Nitty Gritty, Steph Richards +Supersense, Sumi Tonooka, SuperBlue: Kurt Elling featuring Charlie Hunter, Takuya Kuroda, Terence Blanchard featuring The E-Collective and Turtle Island Quartet, Terri Lyne Carrington & Social Science, Thana Alexa, The Bad Plus, The Jazz Gallery All-Stars, Theo Croker, Tim Berne Duo with Gregg Belisle-Chi, Val Inc. AKA Val Jeanty, and Zoh Amba.
For more information on 2022 NYC Winter Jazzfest visit their website.
Celebrating Martin Luther King Day on January 17, the Harlem Gospel Choir will perform a matinee concert at Sony Hall.
The Harlem Gospel Choir perform contemporary gospel with a touch of jazz and blues, and have become synonymous with power vocals, glorious sound and infectious energy. For over two decades they have been America’s premier gospel choir and have toured the globe, sharing the inspirational power of black gospel music.
Deeply rooted in the history of the African-American slave trade, black gospel music can be traced back to the 1700s when African slaves brought their unique African musical heritage to America and combined it with their new faith – Christianity. Out of the hardship and the trials of slavery, this unique musical tradition came to be, and forever changed music as we know it. Blues, Soul, and Rock-and-Roll…they all have origins in black gospel music. Harlem Gospel Choir presents modern gospel classics as performed in the black churches of Harlem today.
Born out of an MLK Jr. day celebration in 1986, the world-famous Harlem Gospel Choir is an enchanting display of only the finest choir singers and musicians from Black churches around New York’s Harlem. With 40 members, the group has solidified themselves as one of the most prominent gospel choirs in the United States, having performed on Good Morning America, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and even for figures like Pope John Paul II and President Obama.
Join the Harlem Gospel Choir for a special matinee performance to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. at Sony Hall on January 17th, with doors at 11am and the show beginning at 12:30pm. Tickets are $25 Advance / $30 Day of Show. For more info, visit the event page.
Last winter, with the ongoing pandemic still raging, South African-born and American-raised guitarist Ari Joshua took a trip to the East Coast, specifically Burlington, VT, to work with Russ Lawton and Ray Paczkowski on a much-discussed organ trio collaboration. Now, this bicoastal musical endeavor has come to fruition in the form of the recently released, six-song EP RAAR, an acronym for the three musicians. With the assistance of Phish’s recording engineer Ben Collette, the trio churned out about 25 different tracks of Joshua-penned selections, mostly brand new compositions and concepts. The final product is a nifty little musical excursion that explores elements of jazz, rock, gospel, funk and everything in between.
The making of RAAR was both delayed and aided by Trey Anastasio Band’s eight-show residency at New York City’s Beacon Theatre the year before. While this would require the attention of bandmembers Lawton and Paczkowski, it also helped initiate the quarantine protocols that allowed Joshua to travel east and make this collaboration a reality. “I owe a great thank you to Trey Anastasio for opening the doors to a protocol to collaborate during his Beacon Theater run, and for sharing these great players with the world,” Joshua told Relix recently.
Russ Lawton, Ari Joshua, Ben Collette, Ray Paczkowski (l-r), photo courtesy of Ari Joshua
The EP is bookended with a couple of tributes to Joshua’s grandmothers. Fittingly, “Gramama” begins the musical journey. It’s a soul-fueled, uptempo number that has the feel of a Sunday celebration at church. Joshua mans the lead vocals with some heavenly female backup vocals added later while ebullient play on the Hammond organ from Paczkowski gives the opener a dash of zydeco flavor as well. “For Ray” sounds exactly how one would expect a Soule Monde “side project” to sound like. The steady, infectious shuffle drum beat from Lawton and aggressive organ and clav runs dominate this signature track while Joshua feathers in the occasional effect-laden guitar lick giving it a somewhat more psychedelic Medeski, Martin and Wood vibe. “Audio Bicycle Day” introduces some haunting background special effects behind motivated electric guitar play from Joshua whose Anastasio influences are omnipresent.
“The Bernie Meme” is a song named for exactly that, the viral meme of Bernie Sanders sitting cross-legged in the middle of winter. Joshua takes more of a lead with a beautifully simplistic guitar lick on another Soule Monde-ish number that hits on aspects of pop, soul and funk resulting in a delicious melting pot of sound. “Star Lord” is a fun romp from start to finish riddled with more psychedelic production and sees Paczkowski shifting nimbly back and forth between the clav and organ once more with Joshua delivering a slew of infectious jazz guitar fills. It’s one of the more cohesive and well-produced tracks on the EP. Lastly, “Rae of Life” serves as the other tribute for Joshua’s late grandmother and definitely evokes a celebration of life mantra, with its delicate guitar licks and soaring, inspirational organ fills atop choir-like backing vocals that gives the ending of RAAR a discernible feel-good quality to it.
From the first note of recording I could sense that Ray and Russ were a perfect musical fit, there was a shared respect and love for the music you don’t always find out there.
Ari Joshua
The band has no current tour plans but there is a vinyl release of RAAR expected later this year. For now, the album can be found at Ari Joshua’s website or on streaming platforms. Joshua is also the founder and owner of The Music Factory, an online music lessons portal which has been running for nearly 15 years, employing close to 100 musicians since its inception.
The latest release from Third Man Records is Carole King– Home Again, recorded live on the Great Lawn of Central Park on May 26, 1973. This special concert was released in conjunction with Ode Records and Sony Music, and showcases songs from multiple albums including Tapestry and Fantasy.
Many musicians have graced the stage within Central Park, from Simon and Garfunkel to Elton John, and on May 26, 1973, more than 100,000 fans gathered on the Great Lawn to enjoy Carole King’s homecoming concert. Actor Jack Nicholson was among the crowd of awe struck fans, quoted saying that King’s performance was “one of only two current events “proper” to be seen at in public.”
The first portion of the performance focuses on songs from Tapestry, produced by long time collaborator, Lou Alder. King glides her way through songs like ‘Beautiful’, ‘Smackwater Jack’ and “It’s Too Late” as fans enjoy their time in the park.
New York has given me such an awful lot – stimulus, ideas, feelings to write – the concert is just a small way of giving something back.
Carole King
The concert was further electrified by the appearance of King’s 11-piece band, highlighting songs from her album Fantasy and adding to the already lush feeling within the park.
King Performing on the Great Lawn
The historic event ended with a beautiful dedication to close friend, James Taylor, and a resounding sense of joy.
The vault package includes two LPs, a gatefold jacket with photos from the performance, the professionally filmed performance on DVD and two covers performed by long-time fan Lucy Dacus. Sign up ends January 31 at midnight.
Ronnie Spector, the lead singer of the Ronettes, has died at 78 after a battle with cancer.
Ronnie Spector (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Our beloved earth angel, Ronnie, peacefully left this world today. She was with family and in the arms of her husband, Jonathan. Ronnie lived her life with a twinkle in her eye, a spunky attitude, a wicked sense of humor and a smile on her face. She was filled with love and gratitude. Her joyful sound, playful nature and magical presence will live on in all who knew, heard or saw her.
Spector, along with her older sister Estelle Bennett and their cousin Nedra Talley, began performing in the late 1950s. In 1963, they attracted the attention of producer Phil Spector, who would become heavily involved with their music. Their song “Be My Baby” was a smash hit, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Today, many consider it one of the greatest pop songs ever, including Brian Wilson, who borrowed its Wall of Sound production technique for several of the Beach Boys’ records.
The Ronettes also have several songs on Phil Spector’s famous compilation album, A Christmas Gift for You. They would go on to open for the Beatles on their 1996 U.S. tour, and once the group broke up, Ronnie married Phil Spector in 1968. Their marriage was extremely abusive, with Spector forbidding Ronnie from performing, holding her against her will in their house, and repeatedly threatening her.
They divorced in 1974, and Spector scored another hit in 1986 by featuring on Eddie Money’s “Take Me Home Tonight.” When Money sings “Just like Ronnie sang…” on the chorus, she finishes the line with “Be my little baby,” a homage to the Ronettes’ 60s hit. As of 2020, actress Zendaya was in talks to portray Spector in a biopic.
Spector is survived by her second husband, Jonathan Greenfield, and her sons, Jason and Austin.
At 74 years old, New Hampshire folk musician Bill Staines died on Sunday, December 5, 2021. For more than 45 years, Bill Staines has been the classic folk songwriter, singing his songs at the country’s top festivals, concerts, clubs and coffee houses. Above all, Staines performed at Saratoga Springs coffeehouse Caffe Lena twice a year from 1968 to 2021, once in the winter and once in the summer.
Staines held a special role at Caffe Lena, having performed more than 100 times at the venue. In addition, Staines decided to play at Café Lena twice a year in 1968 and kept his promise. Across the world, many fans have been morning the loss of Staines.
Bill Staines has passed away from cancer and our hearts are breaking. He played Caffe Lena summer and winter every year since 1968. He’s our nearest and dearest and it won’t be the same without him.
Caffè Lena
On January 22nd, Caffe Lena will host “Crossing the Water,” a tribute concert celebrating the life and legacy of the beloved songwriter, Bill Staines. The tribute will take place on the date that would have been Staines’ winter show for 2022. It will feature Staines’ songs, passages from his autobiography, and video clips from his final concert at the venue on September 17, 2021. Furthermore, there will be additional performances by Dan Berggren, Kate McDonnell, Vivian Nesbitt and John Dillon, Wanda Fischer, Kevin McKrell and Arlin Greene, Jonny and Annie Rosen, and John Kirk and Trish Miller.
Staines had wonderful songs, charm and gentle humor, He was known for being an amazing musician and likable person. Along with his his kindness and gentle wisdom, he was said to have driven more than 65,000 miles every year to perform at music festivals, churches, concert halls and sometimes even in private homes.
For many years I have referred to him as an anchor to our heritage. So much has changed over the years. But Bill has remained a constant.
Executive Director Sarah Craig.
In-person attendees must present proof of vaccination and masks are required. For those unable to attend, a free live stream will be available on Caffe Lena’s YouTube channel. Tickets and streaming information are available at caffelena.org
