NYS Music 202​2

Category: News

  • Beau Fleuve Music & Arts Celebration Announces Lineup

    The Beau Fleuve Music & Arts Celebration returns to Buffalo for its sixth annual event at the Buffalo Central Terminal on August 28. The event includes a diverse set of musical performances, art exhibits, a silent disco, speaker panels, and much more.

    The one-day celebration, previously described as “WNY-Buffalo’s Most Diverse Festival,” will welcome national and international musical acts, including performances by Stove God Cooks, DNTWATCHTV, Q Brock, Lindsay Niccs, and Grace Greenan among others. 

    In addition to giving space to many musical acts, the festival will also host art exhibitors kidwitthewings, Deja Marie, xoJOITA, Peter Ponce, and more. Attendees can also get a chance to see Burchfield-Penny Arts live painting, and numerous wearable and street art installations. 

    The Beau Fleuve Music & Arts Celebration also includes curated talks, hosted by mind + body + soul, CannaBiz, Seat at the Table, and Toneyboi. There will also be food trucks, a beer and wine garden, a family fun area, and more.

    Founded by Buffalo native Lindsey Taylor, the festival has provided audiences with a wide array of exciting content since 2017 and aims to offer the community a way to connect through the arts. The annual event has continued to grow throughout the years, starting with an audience of 700 during its debut and now boasting over 2,000 attendees.

    This year’s celebration will be held from 2:00pm to 9:00pm and is a ticketed event. Single and group general admission tickets can be purchased are now available on the festival’s website.

    Leading up to the big event, Beau Fleuve will host entertainment from August 25 and end with their celebration on August 28. The events will include a comedy show on the 25th, a happy hour on the 26th, a field day and softball game on the 27th, and finally, finish on the 28th with the music and arts festival.

    Beau Fleuve Music & Arts Festival Lineup – August 28

    Notable Music Performances will be by National Recording & Touring Artist STOVE GOD COOKS, DNTWATCHTV, Q BROCK, LINDSAY NICCS, GRACE GREENAN, JOHNNY HART & THE MESS, CHUCKIE CAMPBELL, IMYOUNGWORLD, MC TAE, STRESS DOLLS & MORE 

    Notable Art Exhibitors include KIDWITTHEWINGS, DEJA MARIE, XOJOITA, PETER PONCE, JIMMY KELLER & MORE. 

    Notable Art Installation/Activation Areas include BURCHFIELD-PENNY ARTS LIVE PAINTING, STREET-ART, WEARABLE ART, SIT & THINK CHAIRS & MORE 

    Curated Talks will include MIND + BODY + SOUL, CANNABIZ, SEAT AT THE TABLE & TONEYBOI

  • Troy Music Hall’s Barker Park Kids Series to Begin on July 7

    Starting on July 7, every Thursday morning at 11 am, Troy Music Hall will host a free outdoor concert series in Barker Park, located at the corner of 3rd and State streets in Troy.

    The summer series will go through August 25 and feature the talents of 8 musicians over the course of the summer. Read more about each of the featured acts below.

    July 7: ANDY THE MUSIC MAN 

    Andy “The Music Man” will open the Barker Park Kid’s series on Thursday, July 7.  A popular children’s music artist known for connecting with his audience he mixes traditional and original songs. There will be sing-a-longs, dancing, play-acting, and storytelling.

    July 14: HEARD 

    HEARD, a collective of musicians who have a passion for world music, improvisation, and jazz, will be the next featured group in the series. Their sound includes influences from West Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean, and beyond.

    July 21: WATCH REGGIE RUN 

    Watch Reggie Run consists of father Dave and his son, Luke, who has autism. The two formed their group in 2017 and named the band for how they spend their time together when they are not making music: watching Luke’s sister Reggie run in sporting events. The duo loves music and finds it is a great way to connect despite Luke’s limited communication skills. All of the original songs are inspired by Luke and are for all ages.

    July 28: TERRI ROBEN

    Terri Roben has worked in children’s music and movement for over 30 years. Over that time, she has performed in schools, festivals, coffeehouses, and taught classes for preschoolers to 5th graders.  Her music CD, Riverwalk & Other Songs can be found online. She previously owned her business, Music Together, and taught for 11 years.

    August 4: TROY PUBLIC LIBRARY 

    The Troy Public Library will be presenting Under The Sea Story Hour on August 4.

    August 11: JORDAN TAYLOR HILL 

    Jordan Taylor Hill’s music is rooted in the traditional West African music and the diaspora which he combines with the sounds of today. As a songwriter and performer, he inspires and entertains all of his audiences. 

    August 18: ELLEN SINOPOLI DANCE COMPANY 

    Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company is a not-for-profit art organization and is committed to creating, collaborating, educating, and partnering as they share their work with all audiences.  The 31-year-old dance company holds concerts, showcases, residencies, workshops, and educational and community outreach. 

    August 25: THE RAGTIME WIND JAMMERS 

    The Ragtime Wind Jammers consist of Dave Lambert, Woody Strobeck, Steve Lambert, Mike Lawrence, and Ron Bill. The local jazz group encourages audience participation as they visually show acoustic ideas in their performance. Their use of banjo, trumpet, guitar, clarinet, trombone, bass, and drums will make for an exciting soundscape.

    In case of inclement weather, the event will not be rescheduled, so be sure to check Troy Music Hall’s website for the latest details.

  • The Albany Symphony’s TrailBlaze NY Continues into July

    During the first weekend in July, The Albany Symphony will continue a series of free outdoor concerts in celebration of the newly completed Empire State Trail. The series, TrailBlaze NY, debuted in Troy and Cohoes and will include stops in Schenectady, Albany, and Amsterdam.

    Photo Courtesy of ASO

    The Albany Symphony debuted the festival in order to recognize the completion of the expansive Empire State Trail. The trail offers the people of NY 750 miles of cycling, hiking, and walking paths along the state’s most significant waterways. 

    At each stop along the weekend, the Albany Symphony, led by Maestro David Alan Miller, will perform at 7:30 pm featuring a program of new music, a folk-song sing-a-long, and more.  Flame The Band will open for the Symphony at the Schenectady stop, with Barbara Howard and Jordan Taylor Hill opening in the Albany and Amsterdam events respectively.

    Photo Courtesy of ASO

    Audiences can also enjoy local food and drinks, health and wellness events, activities for kids, music, and more alongside the beautiful scenery. Each stop along the weekend is tailored to showcase the unique offerings of each of these communities.

    TrailBlaze NY is a unique opportunity for people from all over the Northeastern US and Canada to discover some of the most extraordinary towns in New York State and the glorious nature that surrounds them … I hope all our friends and supporters will also join us to celebrate New York State in all its wonder and natural beauty, as well as our resilient communities and the things that connect us and bring us together, all the trails we explore, real and imagined.

    Maestro David Alan Miller

    The previous weekends of the festival in Troy and Cohoes were a big hit and audiences saw performances from the Symphony as well as Dogs of Desire among other musical guests. Dogs of Desire premiered five new pieces inspired by the Empire State Trail, and both groups were led by Miller.

    For the schedule of activities for the weekend, see below. For more information on the Albany Symphony click here.

    July 1 – Mohawk Harbor – Schenectady

    All Day – Lots of Activities 

    5:00pm – Music/Food/Fun

    6:00pm – Opening Act – Flame The Band

    7:30pm – Albany Symphony Performs

    9:30pm – Fireworks 

    July 2 – Jennings Landing – Albany 

    All Day – Lots of Activities 

    5:00pm – Music/Food/Fun

    6:00pm – Opening Act – Barbara Howard

    7:30pm – Albany Symphony Performs

    9:30pm – Fireworks

    July 3 – Riverlink Park – Amsterdam 

    All Day – Lots of Activities 

    5:00pm – Music/Food/Fun

    6:45pm – Opening Act – Jordan Taylor Hill

    7:30pm – Albany Symphony Performs

    9:30pm – Fireworks

  • Musicians React to Supreme Court Decision Overturning Roe v. Wade

    The Supreme Court overturned the landmark case Roe v. Wade this month, which deals a shattering blow to healthcare and reproductive rights, notably ending the constitutional right to an abortion. This passes it back to the states who will each decide what healthcare women can receive, instead of making the decision themselves.

    Supreme Court protest
    Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

    The troubling decision comes as SCOTUS Judge Clarence Thomas adds that the Supreme Court “should reconsider” previous cases such as “Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell,” which protect contraception, same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage, respectively.

    New York is one of the many states who are going to allow abortions to continue. Gov. Kathy Hochul said it was a “dark day for women across this nation” who have “long fought for the right to have control over their own lives.” The ruling means that women will be forced to have “government-mandated pregnancies,” she added.

    A lot of musicians took to different social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram to show their outrage and frustration at the decision.

    Manhattan-born influential singer Carole King took to Twitter to say “taking a right away from more than half the population affects every member of the family.”

    More artists born in NYS, like Mariah Carey express their disappointment in the decision, Carey saying “It is truly unfathomable and disheartening to have to try to explain to my 11 year old daughter why we live in a world where women’s rights are disintegrating in front of our eyes.” Cyndi Lauper is rereleasing her song “Sally’s Pigeon” due to the decision.

    Maggie Rogers tweeted “abortion is healthcare. bodily autonomy is a human right.” Phoebe Bridgers tweeted “fucking evil.” She also talked about the decision at Glastonbury Festival, while leading an anti-SCOTUS chant.

    Olivia Rodrigo did something similar at the festival as well, name dropping each Supreme Court member who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, while also bringing out singer Lilly Allen to sing her song “Fuck You.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpc40dmPlVM

    Artists who are not from the United States have also shared their thoughts. Pop-rock musician Yungblud spoke on Twitter, saying “The Supreme Court just ended a constitutional right to obtain an abortion, saying it should be left to each state to decide, this is horrible!” Swedish singer Zara Larsson also tweeted, in all caps, “MAKING ABORTIONS ILLEGAL WONT STOP PEOPLE FROM HAVING THEM, IT STOPS THEM FROM HAVING SAFE ONES.”

    There are many many more musicians and celebrities who have shared their disappointment about the decision. Although things look bleak at the moment, hopefully the talk never stops and people keep going out and protesting to promote some real change the country desperately needs.

  • Attending Festivals Can Have Lasting Positive Impacts, New Study Finds

    Attending festivals can have lasting positive impacts, a new study found, conducted by the University of Pennsylvania, University of California Los Angeles, University of Denver, and the University of Bath in the UK.

    gov ball festival
    Post Malone at Gov Ball 2021. Photo by David Reichmann

    New York State has a lot of festivals going on throughout the year for people to attend, including The New York State Fair, Gov Ball, ADK Fest, and dozens more. All of these festivals bring in thousands of people each year, and this new study shows that going to these mass gatherings are benefital to a person’s life.

    Researchers found that people had higher rates of transformative experiences the longer they were at the festival, and these transformative experiences persisted for at least six months following the event. These transformative experiences let people feel more connected to humanity, and be more willing to help strangers, something called moral expansion.

    On average, 63.2 percent of participants reported being at least “somewhat” transformed by an event, and 19.5 percent indicated that they felt “absolutely” transformed.

    gpointstudio / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

    Daniel Yudkin, a postdoctoral researcher and first author of the paper spoke about the findings of the study in a statement.

    We’ve long known that festivals, pilgrimages, and ceremonies make people feel more bonded with their own group. Here we show that experiences at secular mass gatherings also have the potential to expand the boundaries of moral concern beyond one’s own group.

    New York is fortunate enough to have plenty of opportunities to go to festivals and concerts due to the many different cities and the size of the state, therefore people can have more transformative experience going to different mass gatherings around the state.

  • The Park Theater Launches New “The Park Presents” Podcast

    On Monday, June 20, The Park Theater in Glens Falls introduced their new podcast, The Park Presents, now available on Anchor and Spotify.

    Photo Credit: Peter Herrick

    The Park Presents, hosted by The Park Theater Foundation’s Executive Director, Chris Ristau, will introduce audiences to the artists in the theater’s upcoming free Summer Concert Series.  The series held its first season in 2021 and returns this year in the Crandall Park Bandshell each Friday evening in July.

    The podcast will let audiences get to know the artists coming to Crandall Park ahead of their anticipated performances.  Listeners will get a chance to hear about music inspirations, future plans, and more. Over the course of June and July, the episodes will welcome 5 local acts: Let’s Be Dead, Dylan Perrillo Orchestra, Josh Morris Band, Hartley’s Encore, and Chestnut Grove.

    The newest episode out on June 27 invites Let’s Be Dead (formerly Let’s Be Leonard) onto the show. The band is set to play a Grateful Dead set in the upcoming concert series. The podcast features also introduction music from Trevor Tunison & Nyna Nelson of Fort Vine. Audiences can catch their music at The Park Theater’s 2022-2023 Live and Local series.

    Established in 2021, The Park Theater Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to enriching the community with quality and affordable entertainment and educational opportunities with their programming. With concerts, movies, comedy shows, and more, the new podcast is the latest in The Park Theater’s range of entertainment.

    Located in downtown Glens Falls, The Park Theater hosts various events including their Sept. to May season that sees many local and international artists take the spotlight. The episode schedule for this new podcast can be found below:

    6/20 – Introduction

    6/27 – Let’s Be Dead 

    7/04 – Dylan Perrillo Orchestra 

    7/11 – Josh Morris Band 

    7/18 – Hartley’s Encore

    7/25 – Chestnut Grove

    For more information on events, membership or volunteer opportunities, visit www.parktheatergf.com. 

  • Yankees Announce Upcoming Jerry Garcia Bobblehead Night

    Count the New York Yankees as one of the many entities lined up to celebrate the late Jerry Garcia’s upcoming birthday. August 1 will mark what would have been the legendary artist’s 80th birthday and to celebrate, the Yankees are breaking out the bobbleheads. The first 1,000 fans to purchase a special event ticket for that night’s game against the Seattle Mariners will receive the collectible Garcia bobblehead figurine, adorned in a Yankees jersey, pinstripes and all. Portions of the ticket sales will also benefit the Grateful Dead’s longtime non-profit, Rex Foundation.

    Garcia Bobblehead

    The Yankees’ Garcia Bobblehead Night is just one of the events that are slated to celebrate his birthday that day. The Jerry Garcia Foundation, in partnership with Starchive, will also host a benefit concert on August 1 at Blue Note Napa in Sonoma County, CA with music performed by Garcia’s fellow New Rider of the Purple Sage in David Nelson and his band. The event will benefit the Jerry Garcia Foundation who, along with its technology partner in Starchive, have announced an upcoming archival project to help preserve the historical and artistic contributions of Jerry Garcia.

    Like the Garcia bobblehead, tickets for this show are limited and can be purchased here. Yankees tickets can be purchased directly though mlb.com.

  • Bronx Street to be Erected in Late Onaje Allan Gumbs’ Honor

    On Tuesday, July 5, at 4 pm, the late Onaje Allan Gumbs will have a street sign co-named in his honor in the Bronx.

    Gumbs passed away in April 2020, but the late artist influenced jazz music for nearly five decades as a pianist, composer, arranger, and educator. To remember that legacy, “Onaje Allan Gumbs Way” will be erected in his honor at the intersection of De Kruif Place & Dreiser Loop located in section one in Co-op City Bronx NY, where Gumbs lived.

    Born in Sept. 1949, Gumbs had a life-long passion for music, starting piano lessons in Queens at the age of 7. Some of his favorite musicians around that time included Henry Mancini and the jazz great Horace Silver, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, and McCoy Tyner.

    After graduating from LaGuardia High School Of Music & Arts and the Performing Arts, and the State University of New York at Fredonia, one of Gumbs’ first commissions was a composition for The David Frost Show, where Billy Taylor was the Music Director.

    Since that moment, the musician continued to work with talented jazz artists, including Woody Shaw, Nat Adderley, Betty Carter, and Lenny White. In the seventies, Gumbs adopted the name “Onaje,” meaning “the sensitive one,” from the book of African names by Amiri Baraka. His seven albums as a leader include Onaje (Steeplechase), That Special Part of Me (Zebra/MCA), Sack Full of Dreams (18th & Vine), and Two, the Top, Featuring Nem Mahadr (Commercial Free Jazz).

    Gumbs’ legacy did not stop with his life as a musician. As an educator at The New School in NYC and at the Litchfield Jazz Camp in Connecticut, Gumbs became a role model for many. He told Down Beat’s Eric Harabadian, “It’s important to talk to students about why we do this … our mission is to heal.”

    The foundation is happy to announce the street co-naming of Onaje Allan Gumbs … We are all the better for Onaje’s contribution to music. His music will live on forever.

    – The Onaje Allan Gumbs and Sandra Gumbs
    Community JazzArts Foundation

    The Onaje Allan Gumbs and Sandra Gumbs Community JazzArts Foundation preserves Gumbs’ legacy through an arts education program and collaborates with multiple art-based institutions to extend his memory.

    City Councilman Kevin C. Riley, District 12, along with the foundation, will officiate the ceremony on July 5. Many guest speakers and notable musicians will be in attendance in order to honor the memory of the jazz great.

  • DJ Atlas.B Releases “First Launch EP” on June 24

    Capital District electronic music producer and DJ, Atlas.B, has released First Launch EP today, Friday, June 24. Heavily inspired by ‘60s/’70s funk, soul, and blues music, the 15-minute EP brings a lot of character over the course of the 5 tracks. The EP relies all on the high creativity of the instrumentation and layering of beats, with the occasional sampled phrase here or there.

    Atlas B

    Originally from Albany, Atlas.B worked on the EP over the course of a few months, with the final project finished with 5 tracks full of addictive rhythms. For his first EP, Atlas.B sampled dozens of vinyl records, overlaying drums, synths, keys, and other instruments which he recorded live from his own studio.

    Atlas B

    The track “Someday Soon” offers a mix of soul and electronic beats, alongside sampled music, which blends seamlessly together. “Midnight Run” begins with a bass track underlying most of the piece, incorporating keys and building with electronic synthesis as it continues.

    Atlas.B first released music in October 2021 and has since played at shows and festivals across the capital region. With performances including Empire Live, Photo City Music Hall, Bowery Ballroom, and Funk N Waffles, the DJ’s live sets embody all of the music that influences and inspires him.

    Fans of artists like Pretty Lights, Griz, Gramatik, Manic Focus, and Marvel Years may find their next favorite artist with Atlas.B’s First Launch EP out on June 24.

  • Radio Free Brooklyn Releases First-Ever Compilation

    Radio Free Brooklyn, NYC’s globally-reaching freeform streaming radio network, is releasing its first-ever compilation album featuring previously unreleased tracks from some of the station’s favorite acts.

    Radio Free Brooklyn

    Titled Sonic Resource Kit, the 17-track compilation is designed to support a new fundraising effort by the listener-supported station. The tracks were compiled and curated by music director Rachel Cleary after an extensive search and represent international acts including SUSS (US), Mikal Amin (US), Bodoni (Italy), Early Remains (UK), Pallbearer Industry (CA) and Suns of Southern Ulster (Ireland). The breadth of artist contributions attests to the international following of this “hometown” streaming freeform radio network. 

    Founded in 2015 by NYC underground performance scene veterans Tom Tenney and Robert Prichard, Radio Free Brooklyn provides a platform for independent musicians and activists of all stripes. It has grown from a small Internet radio station operating from the basement of a Bushwick bike shop into a community organization with over 75 shows, streaming 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    Radio Free Brooklyn also functions as a community organization providing a radio platform for the diverse cultures that comprise the borough of Brooklyn, with a focus on music, local politics, LGBT rights, gentrification, gender issues, food, and more. As their motto says, “It’s what Brooklyn Sounds like!” 

    The bands have graciously donated their tracks and time to support this effort and all proceeds from the sale of the Sonic Resource Kit album will go to directly support the ongoing operations of Radio Free Brooklyn. The cover art was created by Kosmo Vinyl with additional graphics by Lisa Levy. 

    Hip-hop artist Mikal Amin opens the compilation with his track “Icon,” a hard-hitting stomper that asks the question –“Do you have what it takes to be an icon?”  Grunge-era fuzz and distortion highlight “Sala Must Be A Great Place to Visit” from Italy’s Bodini, while “Shadow” by Lovehoney is an update on the bluesy psychedelia of Hendrix.  The band Death Trap provides an exciting live track called “Stole Your Rock and Roll,” while “Cheyenne” by SUSS provides a taste of their critically-acclaimed fusion of ambient and country.

    To purchase a copy of the album, head to radiofreebrooklyn.org or the link at their Bandcamp page.