NYS Music 202​2

Category: News Desk

  • 2nd Annual Rail Rider Jamboree Coming to Ellicottville

    The second annual Rail Rider Jamboree is coming to Ellicottville on March 18, 2023, at Holiday Valley Resort, with a stellar lineup comprised of new and old faces.

    Rail Rider Jamboree

    The Rail Rider Jamboree is a weekend filled with music, skiing, snowboarding competitions,
    brews and so much more. The promoters of Borderland Music + Arts Festival teamed up with the Holiday Valley Resort to bring this weekend to fans. The Jamboree is outdoors with music starting around 1 p.m. on March 18, with doors opening at 12 p.m. at the resort in the field on Rt. 219 across from the SnowPine chair.

    The Jamboree will kick off on March 17 with rail jam contests and live music, slopeside at the base of the mountain at the Rail Park, with some free music by a funk improv band from Buffalo, at the Holiday Valley Cabana Bar from 8 p.m.-10 p.m. The next day will bring some exciting music to the resort, like headliners Dark Star Orchestra. They have performed for over 25 years and at some 3,100 shows, performing a show based on a set list from the Grateful Dead’s 30 years of extensive touring.

    Also headlining the Rail Rider Jamboree is Eggy, improv rockers comprised of guitarist and vocalist Jake Brownstein, keyboardist Dani Battat, bassist Michael Goodman and drummer Alex Bailey. Another headliner includes Mike Gantzer, guitarist of groove rock band Aqueous, who is assembling a band just for Rail Rider. Also performing will be local bands Grub from Buffalo and the New Orleans style marching band Brass Machine.

    Lodging with options to add on lift tickets and other resort activities are available to book with
    the resort today, with package Jamboree tickets to be announced. The event is for all ages, and tickets are on sale now.

  • Dance In Albany Starts Off The New Year With Bay Area Company

    The performing arts centers at the University of Albany and The Egg present ODC/Dance in the 2023 Dance in Albany series. Having recently celebrated its 50-year anniversary, this San Francisco-based ensemble is scheduled to perform on Friday, January 27th at 7:30pm at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center. 

    The Paul Taylor Dance Company will perform March 4, 2023, at The Egg in Albany as part of the seventh Dance in Albany season, co-presented by The Egg and the University at Albany Performing Arts Center.  

    ODC/Dance was one of the first American companies to incorporate a post-modern sensibility into a virtuosic contemporary dance technique. Since founded in 1971 by Artistic Director Brenda Way, the company has performed for more than a million people in 32 states and 11 countries.   

    MOMIX will perform at The Egg in Albany on Oct. 6, 2022, as part of the seventh Dance in Albany season, co-presented by The Egg and the University at Albany Performing Arts Center.

    According to Dance Magazine, “…the major reason to celebrate ODC is its artistic achievements… Over the years, this body of work has become formally more sophisticated without losing its humanistic principals and questioning spirit…” 

    Savion Glover will perform April 22, 2023, at The Egg in Albany as part of the seventh Dance in Albany season, co-presented by The Egg and the University at Albany Performing Arts Center.
    Savion Glover will perform April 22, 2023, at The Egg in Albany as part of the seventh Dance in Albany season, co-presented by The Egg and the University at Albany Performing Arts Center.

    The company will perform three different works on the program. The first being Two if by Sea which is choregraphed by Associate Choreographer Kimi Okada. This dance set explores a couple’s secret language and signals which become increasingly imperative and urgent as their world changes. The dance is accompanied by music from Ijo Ito and Steve Riech. 

    The next show performed is called Unintended Consequences (A Meditation) and is choreography by Artistic Director Brenda Way. This dance originally premiered in 2008 and is set to music by renowned performance artist and musician Laurie Anderson. Commissioned by the Equal Justice Society, this work in particular “offers a cutting critique of human relationships, and of how easily we become isolated,” stated by The New York Times.  

    Originally created for Robert Moses’ Kin in 2014, the last show preformed in called Impulse. This show celebrates “individuality, physicality and ferocity of movement.” The piece was nominated for an Izzie award for outstanding choreography, along with featuring music by Someone Else & Miskate. Izzies are bestowed from the Isadora Duncan Dance Awards program which celebrates the unique richness, diversity, and excellence of Bay Area dance. 

    “We are thrilled to have this opportunity to collaborate with the UAlbany Performing Arts Center and ODC/Dance,” says Dance Department Chair Sarah DiPasquale. “To be a part of the creation of a new work with two prolific American choreographers as an undergraduate student is a once in a lifetime experience — And culminating in a public performance with a professional dance company is icing on the cake! We are so appreciative for the robust learning opportunities that this collaboration has produced for the Skidmore dancers.” 

    Remaining performances in the Dance in Albany series include: 

    New York Theatre Ballet with Bridgman|Packer Dance (February 17) 

    Paul Taylor Dance Company (March 4) 

    Dublin Irish Dance (March 18) 

    Savion Glover (April 22) 

    Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company (May 13). 

    Advance tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for students, seniors, and UAlbany faculty-staff.  Tickets purchased on the day of the show are $20 for the general public and $15 for students, seniors, and UAlbany faculty-staff.  Individual tickets can be purchased on the UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s by clicking the link here. 

  • Sophistafunk Announces Show at Stanley Theatre on February 18

    Syracuse natives Sophistafunk have announced a show at the Stanley Theatre on Feb. 18, 2023, starting at 7:30 p.m.

    Sophistafunk

    Sophistafunk is comprised of Adam Gold (keyboardist), Jack Brown (frontman), Tommy Weeks (saxophonist), and Emmanuel Washington (drummer and vocalist). After nearly ten years on the road, the group continues to connect with many audiences, from jazz fans to reggae. Their live shows are packed with passion with cutting-edge lyrics and heavy beats.

    Recently, they became the house band for the new game show hosted by Guy Fieri, Guy’s Ultimate Game Night, which will air on the Food Network on the Discovery+ streaming platform. They met Fieri in 2013 while performing on his show Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives at the restaurant/music venue Funk ‘n Waffles, which Gold owns.

    Sophistafunk will be bringing their high energy to the stage at the Stanley Theatre, an almost 3,000-capacity venue designed by famous architect Thomas Lamb in 1928. It remains one of the three Lamb theatres still in operation, including the Proctors Theatre and The Landmark Theatre. The show is on Feb. 18 and tickets are $30.50 in advance or $40.50 the day of the show. For more information about the band and to purchase tickets, go here.

  • Skaneateles CNY Jazz Club series extended through March

    Since 2015, Larry Luttinger has been curating Jazz On Tap, a weekly jazz club, offering some of the best jazz from across Central New York to the town of Skaneateles, just outside of Syracuse. This longest-running weekly jazz offering of CNY Jazz was to be discontinued by Thanksgiving, but will now extend into March 23, 2023, with a sling of new and returning musicians from the area now slated to perform in the spring.

    The “jazz club” is hosted in a historic 1880 building, which houses the 60-tap restaurant Finger Lakes on Tap. It’s a cozy, two-story venue with balcony seating available as well, which overlooks the stage. Though they sold the restaurant, which implied the closing of the Jazz Club series as well, the music, as always, prevailed, and will continue concerts in Skaneateles until the property’s lease expires in April.

    Skaneateles Jazz club

    On New Years’ the lakeside venue will throw down with Angelo Candela and his group, in what has become a traditional celebration of the New Year. Slated for performances in the spring are Stringdom, Mike Houston & Sam Wynn, Julie Howard, Jimmy Johns Trio, Carol Bryant Quartet, Dan Pugh Trio, Little Jazz Trio, Bob Piorun Quartet, Edgar Pagan’s GPL, Julie Falatico & Rick Montalbano, Steve Brown Duo, and Alex Becerra & Friends, and many more.

    Larry Lutinger said the concerts, which are every Sunday from 2-5 p.m. are an essential cultural offering to the region.

    “The various club series that we present around the area are important introductions to America’s music for many uninitiated music lovers, and folks who still don’t know all that CNY Jazz does. These afternoon sessions are easy listening, engaging, exciting, and eye opening for many new to the genre,” Luttinger said. 

    These sessions are free, but early arrival is recommended if you want a comfy seat. See the complete schedule of shows here.

  • New Notorious B.I.G. Interactive Statue in Brooklyn Pays Tribute to the Hip Hop Great

    The Notorious B.I.G.’s larger than life aura is being commemorated with an alluring statue of the hip hop legend. A nine-foot tall interactive build of the fabled rapper aptly tittled, “Sky’s the Limit in the County of Kings,” has been erected in Clumber Corner Park in DUMBO. The statue features Biggie in his trademark Coogi sweater and crown as he gazes down at the city.

    Notorious B.I.G.’s presence lives on through this new interactive sculpture

    The rock hall of fame inductee was born in BedStuy and is synonymous with the borough of Brooklyn. In turn, some of his lyrics have since taken life on their own and now serve as the borough’s mantra. The bronze, stainless steel sculpture includes speakers that play some of The Notorious B.I.G’s greatest hits. 

    The Notorious B.I.G. Sculpture up Close

    The sustainable and interactive statue is carefully curated with Bronze, Resin, Stainless Steel, Winterstone, and Wood with a a built in audio system powered by a solar energy. statue plays music on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Funded by the Downtown Brooklyn and DUMBO Public Art Fund, the statue was designed by NYC artist Sherwin Banfield — who cites Biggie as one of his early inspirations — for hip hop’s 50th anniversary in 2023. Henceforth, the statue will remain in place until October of 2023.

    One of his most famous positive lyrics is ‘Stay far from timid, only make moves when your heart’s in it, and live the phrase ‘the sky’s the limit’… he’s offering you his microphone, which is his throne, which is what helped him become the king of New York.I wanted to show that yes, you can be tough, but you can also show love, or spread love as he would say.

    – Designer, Sherwin Banfield
    NYC based artist, Sherwin Banfield, stands next to his 9-foot incarnation of the Notorious B.I.G.

    Moreover, a celebration of the Notorious B.I.G. life in the form of “Sky’s the Limit in the County of Kings” is a fitting way to commemorate one of hip hop’s greatest stars. A diverse individual, the sculpture challenges the traditions of western public sculptures. The larger than life figure represents Biggie’s African American artistry, lineage, and evolution as the “King of New York.” The crowned bust is traditionally sculpted, sitting atop an angular steel frame and supported by panels that highlight Wallace’s achievements. This reflective sculpture invites the viewer to experience the larger-than-life artistry of B.I.G.’s contributions to Brooklyn and Hip-Hop culture.

    Photo gallery by Chris De Cotis

  • Gov’t Mule Postpones New Year’s Eve run due to Medical Emergency

    Gov’t Mule announced that the group will postpone their Black ‘n’ Blue New Year’s Eve run of shows due to a medical emergency. The show was set to hit Philadelphia and New York City.

    Gov't Mule

    Gov’t Mule was supposed to stop at The Met in Philly on Dec. 29, with two stops then at The Beacon Theatre on Dec. 30-31. Warren Haynes, a former member of The Allman Brothers Band, leads the band and in a statement said “After waiting for so long, we were excited to be together and finally make these shows happen, the last thing we expected was to have to postpone again. Please hold on to those tix.”

    This isn’t the first time the jam band has had to postpone shows due to medical injuries (though in this case, the medical emergency hasn’t been released). At the beginning of the year, they announced their spring tour was postponed due to an injury Haynes sustained while in Costa Rica.

    In 2021, Gov’t Mule released their record Heavy Load Blues, which is nominated for a Grammy in the Best Traditional Blues Album category this year. The group is made up of Haynes, as well as New York native Danny Louis, a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, and keyboard, and does backing vocals for the group. Matt Abts is the drummer, drumming with the soul of jam-rock legends that came before him. Finally, Jorgen Carlsson’s bass guitar matches beautifully with the rest of the group.

    For more information about the postponement, and to check when new dates are announced, go here.

  • Zac Brown Band 2023 Tour Makes 4 Stops Across New York

    There are only three members of Fenway Park’s Fenway Music Hall of Fame: Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, and now, Zac Brown Band. That’s because they hold the record for most consecutive sold out shows at the huge stadium in Boston. Luckily, the country rock band is coming to four amphitheaters in New York this summer, playing five shows, and tickets are still on sale for all. 

    Zac Brown Band

    In 2022, Zac Brown Band released their album The Comeback, which featured re-recorded tracks with some of their most acclaimed peers including James Taylor, Jimmy Buffett and Blake Shelton. Their 2023 tour, the “From the Fire Tour,” marks the band’s tenth North American tour.

    The 2023 tour will take Zac Brown Band through over 30 shows across the country, as an ode to fans and to those who worked to pull the country back onto its feet from the crises of the past couple years, the band said.

    Zac Brown Band at Bethel Woods – photo by Mickey Deneher

    Performing with the band on tour are multiple renowned acts, such as Marcus King, Tennille Townes and King Calaway. Zac Brown Band will be coming to Syracuse, Bethel, Saratoga Springs and Wantagh. Tickets are available here, see the full tour schedule below.

    2023 TOUR TOUR DATES: 

    June 30, 2023 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena+

    July 1, 2023 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium+

    July 14, 2023 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage

    August 5, 2023 – Canton, OH – Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium

    August 6, 2023 – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center+

    August 11, 2023 – Syracuse, NY – St Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview^+

    August 12, 2023 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts^+

    August 13, 2023 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center^+

    August 19, 2023 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park+

    September 2, 2023 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion+

    September 3, 2023 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion+

    September 16, 2023 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater+

    September 17, 2023 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater+

    October 5, 2023 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek~+

    October 6, 2023 – Baltimore, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion~+

    October 7, 2023 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center~+

    October 12, 2023 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre+

    October 13, 2023 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre+

    October 14, 2023 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre+

    October 20, 2023 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre+

    October 21, 2023 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre+

    November 2, 2023 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre+

    November 3, 2023 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre+ 

    November 4, 2023 – Tampa, FL– MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre+

    ADDITIONAL 2023 PERFORMANCE DATES: 

    March 10, 2023 – Glasgow, UK – C2C: Country to Country*

    March 11, 2023 – Dublin, IE – C2C: Country to Country*

    March 12, 2023 – London, UK – C2C: Country to Country*

    March 17 – Tuesday, March 19, 2023 – Willowbank, Australia – CMC Rocks 2023*

    June 2, 2023 – Cincinnati, OH – Cincinnati Reds Post-Game Benefit Concert* 

    June 23, 2023 – Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest 2023^*

    June 24, 2023 – Cadott, WI – Country Fest 2023*

    July 16, 2023 – Chicago, IL – Windy City Smokeout*

    July 23, 2023 – Newton, IA – Hy-Vee INDY CAR Weekend*

    *Tickets on-sale now

    +Special Guest King Calaway

    ^Special Guest Marcus King

    ~Special Guest Tenille Townes

  • Cohoes Music Hall Receives State Grants for Building Upgrades

    Cohoes Music Hall will soon receive a major upgrade, thanks to funding awards recently received from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation.

    cohoes music hall

    As reported by WAMC, the city of Cohoes received the funding for an upgrade to Cohoes Music Hall and visitors center. A total of $1.88 million in funding through grants will help to restore and preserve the historic hall, the fourth oldest in the state still in use, having opened in 1874. The building will be transformed into one that is energy efficient, as well as carbon neutral, just in time for the sesquicentennial of the venue.

    The money is part of the Restore Historic Cohoes Initiative that began three years ago under Democratic Mayor Bill Keeler. The initiative is centered around the preservation and restoration of City Hall, the Public Library and Cohoes Music Hall.

    And about the same time, we began discussing what we dubbed our cleaner, greener Cohoes initiative, which described our efforts to use 21st century technology to create energy efficiencies and reduce carbon emissions. So we are very excited to learn to Cohoes will receive about 1.9 million in New York state grants to use towards the restoration of our musical building.

    The state funding will help us honor and preserve the architecture the beautiful 19th century Cohoes Music Hall building that was left was by our forebears while at the same time allow us to transform into an energy efficient, carbon neutral building that will be powered by European floating solar project and enjoyed by future generations for centuries to come.

    Cohoes Mayor Bill Keeler

    The grants and work on historic Cohoes are occuring in conjunction with the Albany County city’s Municipal Floating Solar installation on its water reservoir, as noted by City Director of Operations Theresa Bourgeois.

    The Cohoes Music Hall was first opened in 1874, and then in 1906, it was closed again for a long time, but it reopened 100 years later in 1974, after the community came together to restore it. So 2024 marked the 150th anniversary of its initial opening and 50th anniversary of its rebirth. So we have been focused on bringing it back to life again, when it’s an active theater, but it needs a lot of work.

    We call it a gem in need of a polish. So now with these two amazing grants, the NYSERDA grant and the Parks Preservation grant, we’re on track to ensure that it continues as a vital community and regional gathering space, another 50, 100, maybe 150 more years, which is very, very exciting. And it’s not just restoring its historic features, but it’s doing it in a way that makes it more energy efficient and clean energy. So it’s contributing not only to the past but to its future.

    City Director of Operations Theresa Bourgeois.

    State Assemblymember John McDonald, a Democrat from the 108th district and former Cohoes mayor, shared his excitement about the upcoming upgrade to Cohoes Music Hall.

    As a former mayor I know the building very well, And actually is really not only in the best interest of historic preservation, in the best interest of continuing to allow music quality to be a very strong contributor to the arts here in the Capital Region, but also saves the taxpayers on the city of halls, significant funding, so a true win win win. We thank the governor and the team at NYSERDA for their support. And I can’t wait for the improvements to come to bear.

    State Assemblymember John McDonald

    The grants were awarded to Cohoes as part of the 2022 Regional Economic Development Council Annual Consolidated Funding Application Process. Stay tuned for more info on the upgrades coming to Cohoes Music Hall.

  • Don’t miss these CEG Phish After Parties in NYC

    It’s that time of the year again – time for phans to congregate in Manhattan for four nights at Madison Square Garden with the Phish from Vermont. With this being the first four-night run at MSG in December since 2019, what better way to keep the party going after Phish than with after parties, all within walking distance of Madison Square Garden!

    phish after parties

    December 28

    Eggy will take the stage on Wednesday, December 28 at the Cutting Room just before midnight. At the same time, Marble Eyes will be taking the stage at Hill Country BBQ, featuring members of Pink Talking Fish and Twiddle. Eggy at Cutting Room tickets are available here and Marble Eyes at Hill Country BBQ is a FREE SHOW!

    December 29

    Before you head to MSG, stop by Hill Country BBQ on West 30th Street (between 6th and 5th) for a Waterwheel Foundation benefit, featuring The Dude of Life Band. This show is free with donations encouraged. All donations, regardless of amount, will earn a raffle ticket (one per person). Raffle prizes for awesome Phish and Dude of Life merch and memorabilia will be randomly chosen on stage during the show.

    After the show, swing by The Cutting Room for Prince/Bowie, featuring Eric Gould, Adrian Tramontano, Scott Chasolen, Cal Kehoe, Matt Wayne and former members of Turkuaz’s horn section. Tickets are available here.

    And over at Hill Country, get down with Jerry Dance Party, with sets spun by DJ Jerrbrother. Tickets are available here.

    December 30

    Before the show, stop by Hill Country for PhanArt from 1-6pm, featuring 20+ artists and vendors, making this the ONLY place in town to get Phish made goods from fans, for fans. Admission is free with music by Sweeping Views.

    phanart phish after parties

    After Phish, head towards Times Square for Neighbor, over to The Cutting Room for Dogs in a Pile at Cutting Room (tickets for both are available here) or back to Hill Country for Jerry Dance Party (tickets available here)

    December 31

    And if somehow Phish hasn’t satiated you on New Years Eve with whatever they have in store, you can keep things rolling with Pink Talking Fish at Gramercy Theatre. Tickets available here.

    Additionally, Volume.com is offering free live streams of three of CEG Presents’ annual Phish After-Party series shows featuring Eggy, Prince/Bowie, and Dogs in a Pile live from The Cutting Room in New York City. And on New Year’s Eve, Volume will share a re-broadcast of Dopapod’s performance at the recent North Beach Music Festival at 10 PM EST and again at 1:30 AM EST, also free.

    CEG Presents’ Howie Schnee, also a consultant to Volume, said

    We have been promoting this annual series for a long time, and I haven’t been this excited in many years to present shows with this next wave of bands in the jam scene that are about to break including Eggy, Dogs in a Pile, Neighbor, and more. This is the first time CEG has partnered with a live streaming platform for the Phish After-Party series, and we are excited to work with Volume given all the in-roads they’ve made in the last year with streams by artists such as String Cheese Incident, Galactic, Paul Cauthen, Marcus King, moe., Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Lotus, Lettuce, Twiddle and many more.

    Cutting Room is located at 44 East 32nd Street Between Madison & Park Avenues. 5 minute walk from MSG.

    Gramercy Theatre is located at 127 East 23rd Street Between Lexington & 3rd Avenues. 15 minutes from MSG by taking the NQRW train lines. 

    Hill Country is located at 30 W 26th St Between 5th and 6th Avenues. 5 minute walk from MSG.

    Sony Hall is located at 235 West 46th Street between 7th and 8th Avenue. A 10 minute walk from MSG or a quick Subway ride on the A-C-E line.

  • Hanzolo to Headline Lark Hall on January 15 with Canella and Jak Lizard

    On Sunday, January 15, Lark Hall will host Hanzolo, Canella and Jak Lizard, for a night of rising bands from across Upstate New York.

    hanzolo lark hall

    Hanzolo, who won the 2022 NYS Music March Madness, is a 7-piece band from Cooperstown, toting an explosive and emotional sound that mixes soul, jazz, rock, and funk. Their songs are dance-ably fun with thoughtful lyrics, backed up by a bright horn section. Not only have Hanzolo won NYS Music’s March Madness, but they also won the WEQX Battle of the Bands and opened Albany’s annual Pearlpalooza music festival in 2019. The first release from Hanzolo, Table Butter, was followed up with a self-title release in the fall of 2021.

    Hanzolo’s music has been compared to table butter; Soft enough to spread, yet hard enough to keep its shape. Watch the video for “Not Easy” below.

    Joining Hanzolo on January 15 is Canella, who have established an electric alt rock presence in the Capital Region and recently won WCDB’s ‘Song of the Year’ award for their debut single “Quiet Love”. Joining the Tulip Fest 2022 Lineup, Canella set a fire on stage that ignited female fronted rock nostalgia but with a refreshing DIY take. Their upcoming album is a revenge journal of songs pulled out of the classic ‘Burn Book’ of their personal lives. Their music is dedicated to former bandmate and best friend, Kyle Robinson who tragically passed away in a car accident in 2020.

    Rounding out the lineup of artists on the rise is Jak Lizard, a New York crooner and self-declared “poptimist”. His orange, pink, and yellow melodies with a penchant for two stepping with your best friend. 

    Tickets for Hanzolo, Canella and Jak Lizard at Lark Hall can be purchased here. Learn more about Lark Hall here.