On Saturday, December 10 at the Broome County Forum Theatre, Maestro Daniel Hege led the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra in “Winter Wonderland,” a holiday pops concert with a host of special guests.
Along with the big man himself (Santa Claus), the orchestra was joined by 11 year-old treble soloist Luca Thomas and a quartet of resident artists from Binghamton’s Tri-Cities Opera (Gina Moscato, soprano; Janine Dworin, mezzo-soprano; Felix Aguilar Tomlinson, tenor; Bernardo Medeiros, baritone). Nancy Wildoner’s charming pre-concert holiday bonbons, played on the Theatre’s 1922 Robert-Morton Pipe Organ, set the stage.
Winter Wonderland might have been a typical holiday pops concert, except that much of the program was focused on holiday film music. John Williams’ Home Alone II (with “Merry Christmas” sung by the opera guests), Alan Silvestri’s The Polar Express, and Danny Elfman’s Nightmare Before Christmas (a strange mashup of Klezmer music and Dies irae from the Requiem Mass) all led up to the afternoon’s highlight: Howard Blake’s The Snowman, complete with film screening and a stunning “Walking in the Air” by Luca Thomas.
The joyful concert concluded with some audience participation: a clapalong Radetzky March and a singalong set of Christmas carols.
The Binghamton Philharmonic’s season continues on January 28 with “Wallenberg Festival,” a concert celebrating Binghamton’s three orchestras: the Binghamton Youth Symphony, the Binghamton Community Orchestra, and the Binghamton Philharmonic. For more information, visit binghamtonphilharmonic.org.
After twenty-five years of anticipation, NYC indie-cult fan favorites the Van Pelt return with a new album titled “Artisans & Merchants” in 2023. The Van Pelt has returned to explore what was left behind with a new collection of hit songs, including the latest track, “Grid.”
For lovers of The Van Pelt, listening to “Artisans & Merchants” is like hearing the voice of a dear friend you haven’t seen in years. This is a stand-alone album, incredible vital songwriting regardless of the long history this band has. Pitchfork even stated that, “The lines between post-hardcore, indie rock, and emo blurred on the two mid-’90s full-lengths from the Van Pelt.”
The Van Pelt is an American indie rock band from New York City that were active from 1993 to 1997, but have reformed briefly several times since then including now. The band formed around 1993 at New York University, with Chris Leo on vocals and guitar, David Baum on guitar, Barry London on bass, and Neil O’Brien on drums. In a reunion show, soundchecks revealed that the band has a voice that was prematurely muted by their inability to see clearly in the thick of their rise.
“New York City’s The Van Pelt are an influential, but too often overlooked indie rock band — cult favorites for many an emo-inclined crate digger.”
– Consequence
The Van Pelt’s newer album can be viewed as “a friend you used to share countless beers with over banter that went nowhere other than delivering a solid night. Your friend is older, they’ve changed. In some ways you’re worried for them, looks like they might be teetering on the brink of something. In other ways it’s the same old them, a nugget of a soul too unique to ever be altered.”
The chores of the single “Image of Health” describes the beautiful desperation of the album best, “And you never felt more alive / Than when the priest came to read you your rites!”
Stream The Van Pelt and their newest album coming in Spring 2023 by clicking the link here.
Listen to the latest track from The Van Pelt, “Grid,” below.
On Thursday, Live Nation announced the return of Lawn Pass, a service which guarantees customers special access to concerts at select venues across the country.
Services of the Lawn Pass include guaranteed general admission lawn seating all summer long for 30+ shows at specific venues such as the SPAC for $199 in addition to a fee. General sale will begin online this Wednesday at 1 p.m., while previous Lawn Pass holders have had the chance to purchase again since Thursday.
Citi cardmembers will also have presale access from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesday through the Citi Entertainment program.
After purchase, Lawn Pass holders will receive a custom personalized credential that will serve as their ticket on each show day. These credentials will be shipped directly to customers this upcoming Spring.
Full list of venues participating in the Live Nation Lawn Pass program:
· Ak-Chin Pavilion (Phoenix, AZ)
· Blossom Music Center (Cuyahoga Falls, OH)
· Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek (Raleigh, NC)
· Concord Pavilion (Concord, CA)
· Darien Lake Amphitheater (Darien Center, NY)
· Dos Equis Pavilion (Dallas, TX)
· Freedom Mortgage Pavilion (Camden, NJ)
· Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Tinley Park (Tinley Park, IL)
· Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)
· Isleta Amphitheater (Albuquerque, NM)
· iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre (West Palm Beach, FL)
· Jiffy Lube Live (Bristow, VA)
· Lakewood Amphitheatre (Atlanta, GA)
· MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre (Tampa, FL)
· North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre (Chula Vista, CA)
· PNC Bank Arts Center (Holmdel, NJ)
· PNC Music Pavilion (Charlotte, NC)
· Ruoff Music Center (Noblesville, IN)
· RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater (Ridgefield, WA)
· Saratoga Performing Arts Center (Saratoga Springs, NY)
· Shoreline Amphitheatre (Mountain View, CA)
· St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview (Syracuse, NY)
· The Pavilion at Star Lake (Burgettstown, PA)
· Toyota Amphitheatre (Wheatland, CA)
· USANA Amphitheatre (West Valley City, UT)
· Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach (Virginia Beach, VA)
The world’s most iconic rock legends Def Leppard and Motley Crue are going global in 2023 with their co-headline “The World Tour.” Making a surprise appearing along some of the tour dates, special guest Alice Cooper will also be along for the ride. The U.S. leg of the world tour kicks off on August 5th in Syracuse.
With more than 110 million albums sold worldwide, the infamous Def Leppard continue to be one of the most important forces in all rock music. Over the course of their career, the band has produced a series of classic groundbreaking albums that set the bar for generations of music fans and artists alike. The group has some of the most legendary tracks such as “Rock of Ages,” “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Foolin.”
“After finally getting back on the road this past summer, we’re beyond thrilled to bring this massive tour to a global audience including some special dates in America!”
Joe Elliott of Def Leppard
Likewise, the infamous Mötley Crüe are known for their iconic crazy live performances. The band has sold-out countless tours across the globe in front of millions of fans with groundbreaking production highlights such as Tommy Lee’s drum-rollercoaster and Nikki Sixx’s flame-throwing-bass.
Mötley Crüe’s hit songs such as “Kickstart My Heart” and “Home Sweet Home” are frequently known throughout rock history. The band’s biography “The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band” became a New York Times best-seller in 2001 and has an amazing Netflix adaptation from 2019.
“We had an incredible time playing The Stadium Tour in North America this summer and we truly can’t wait to take the show around the globe with The WORLD Tour in 2023. Crüeheads get ready because we have a few amazing U.S. dates set for you!”
Mötley Crüe, in a joint statement
Lastly, Alice Cooper has also pioneered a brand of hard rock that was designed to shock audiences of all ages. Drawing his inspiration from horror movies, vaudeville, and garage rock, he created a stage show that featured electric chairs, guillotines, fake blood and boa constrictors. He continues to tour regularly, performing shows worldwide with the dark and horror-themed theatrics that he’s best known for.
You won’t want to miss the thrilling craziness of this tour, packed full of amazing rock music from Def Leppard and Motley Crue. These bands have consciousness rattled the cages and undermined the authority of generations of guardians of the status quo. They continue to surprise fans and exude danger at every turn, especially with this tour.
THE WORLD TOUR DATES:
Saturday, August 5 Syracuse, NY JMA Wireless Dome
Tuesday, August 8 Columbus, OH Ohio Stadium
Friday, August 11 Fargo, ND Fargodome
Sunday, August 13 Omaha, NE Charles Schwab Field Omaha
Wednesday, August 16 Tulsa, OK H.A. Chapman Stadium
Friday, August 18 El Paso, TX Sun Bowl
CURRENTLY ON-SALE DATES:
Fri, Feb 10, 2023 Atlantic City, NJ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena^
Sat, Feb 11, 2023 Atlantic City, NJ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena^
Sat, Feb 18, 2023 Mexico City, Mexico Foro Sol
Tue, Feb 21, 2023 Monterrey, Mexico Estadio Banorte
Sat, Feb 25, 2023 Bogota, Colombia Parque Simon Bolivar
Tue, Feb 28, 2023 Lima, Peru Estadio Nacional
Fri, Mar 3, 2023 Santiago, Chile Estadio Bicentenario de La Florida
Tue, Mar 7, 2023 Sao Paulo, Brazil Allianz Parque
Mon, May 22, 2023 Sheffield, UK Bramall Lane
Thu, May 25, 2023 Mönchengladbach, Germany SparkassenPark
Sat, May 27, 2023 Munich, Germany Koenigsplatz
Mon, May 29, 2023 Budapest, Hungary MVM Dome
Wed, May 31, 2023 Krakow, Poland TAURON Arena Kraków
Fri, Jun 2, 2023 Prague, Czech Republic Prague Rocks *
Sat, Jun 3, 2023 Hannover, Germany Expo Plaza
Wed, Jun 7, 2023 Solvesborg, Sweden Sweden Rock Festival *
Fri, Jun 9, 2023 Hyvinkää, Finland RockFest *
Sun, Jun 11, 2023 Trondheim, Norway Trondheim Rocks *
Wed, Jun 14, 2023 Copenhagen, Denmark COPENHELL *
Sun, Jun 18, 2023 Dessel, Belgium Graspop Metal Meeting *
Tue, Jun 20, 2023 Milan, Italy Ippodromo SNAI San Siro
Fri, Jun 23, 2023 Lisbon, Portugal Passeio Maritimo de Alges
Sat, Jun 24, 2023 Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Spain Auditorio Miguel Ríos
Tue, Jun 27, 2023 Thun, Switzerland Stockhorn Arena
Sat, Jul 1, 2023 London, UK Wembley Stadium
Sun, Jul 2, 2023 Lytham, UK Lytham Festival *
Tue, Jul 4, 2023 Dublin, Ireland Marlay Park
Thu, Jul 6, 2023 Glasgow, UK Hampden Park
^ no Alice Cooper
* Festival Date
Tickets go on sale Friday, December 16th at 10am. For more information, click the link here.
Infamous alt-J has just announced a tour celebrating the 10th anniversary of their Mercury Prize-winning debut album, An Awesome Wave. The tour will be starting in March 2023 at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, and each show on the tour will feature a full performance of the album for the first time ever in the US.
“It’s been such a great year promoting both The Dream and An Awesome Wave’s 10th anniversary that we have decided to extend the party into 2023. We are delighted to announce a run of AAW anniversary shows in the US in March where we will play the album in full for the first time in America. We hope you can join us,” the band said in a statement.
The award-winning debut was followed two years later by their GRAMMY and BRIT Award-nominated number one album, This Is All Yours. Then in 2017, “RELAXER” flew straight into the top 10 of the UK album charts and garnered the band their second Mercury Prize nomination.
Alt-J also celebrated the 10th anniversary of An Awesome Wave with a new podcast series presented by music journalist and radio host Jenny Eliscu. Things Will Get Better – An alt-J Podcast. The podcast sees the critically acclaimed, chart-topping British band discussing their early days as university students, delving into how they came together and more.
“We were asked so often how we felt about the ten year anniversary of An Awesome Wave,” say alt-J, “and how we planned to celebrate it, that we realized we didn’t exactly know. So we made a podcast to find out. ‘Things Will Get Better’ is a journey from the formation of the band to the release of our debut album, and features us exploring our old haunts in Leeds, listening to long-lost demos and chatting to Gwil Sainsbury and our producer Charlie Andrew. We loved reminiscing about those days, sharing our individual memories and taking some time to reflect with gratitude on the album that changed our lives more than any other.”
Presale for tickets begins next Wednesday, December 7th at 10am and is concluding on Thursday, December 8th with general on-sale beginning Friday. December 9th at 10am local time.
To sign up for early access to tickets, click the link here.
Fresh off the heels of a successful co-headlining tour with Trey Anastasio and his band, Goose has announced new dates for their 2023 Spring Tour. It’s one that will see the band tour 14 cities over a five-week span that literally crosses the country. After a five-night run at the legendary Capitol Theatre in NY in early March that’s already sold out, the tour is scheduled to begin in Boston on March 23 at Roadrunner.
The spring tour also features two-night stands at such iconic venues as Philadelphia, PA’s The Met (March 24-25), Nashville, TN’s Ryman Auditorium (March 31-April 1), Seattle, WA’s Paramount Theatre (April 22-23), and San Francisco, CA’s The Warfield (April 27-28).
A ticket request lottery for all these newly announced Goose Spring Tour 2023 shows is currently underway at the band’s website and will continue through Wednesday, December 7, at 5 pm (ET). Lottery winners will be notified via email before the start of venue presales, set to run Thursday, December 8 from 10 am-10 pm (local). All remaining tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, December 9 at 10 am (local). A variety of VIP packages and accommodation discounts will also be available.
This week also sees Goose marking yet another milestone in what has proven a momentous 2022 with their first-ever live performance on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, set for Wednesday, December 7 at 11:35 pm (ET)/10:35 pm (CT) (check local listings).
Goose Spring Tour 2023
MARCH
8-12 – Port Chester, NY – Capitol Theatre
23 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner
24 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met
25 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met
26 – Cleveland, OH – Agora
31 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
APRIL 2023
1 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
2 – Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewing Co.
13 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee
14 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed
15 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed
16 – St. Paul, MN – Palace Theatre
18 – Bozeman, MT – The Elm
19 – Bozeman, MT – The Elm
21 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
22 – Seattle, WA – The Paramount Theatre
23 – Seattle, WA – The Paramount Theatre
25 – Eugene, OR – The McDonald Theatre
27 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
28 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
29 – San Diego, CA – CalCoast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
LL Cool J founded media platform, Rock The Bells, have announced their latest venture, “Rock The Bells Cruise: A Hip-Hop Experience” in partnership with Sixthman. The hip hop culture platform will team with the industry leading theme cruise charter company to offer fans of hip hop a new way to experience their favorite era of hip hop and immerse themselves in the mystique of the genre’s golden era.
Rock The Bells began as music festival in Queens and will now be going abroad
What is Rock The Bells?
With this intention, the brand is bringing its annual Rock The Bells Festival – a day-long celebration of hip hop curated by founder LL Cool J in his hometown of Queens, NY. Setting sail from Miami to the Bahamas from November 13 – November 17, 2023, the cruise will feature live performances by iconic artists. Not to mention, “Rock The Bells Cruise: A Hip-Hop Experience” is the first of its kind, offering an all-inclusive four-day, four-night Hip-Hop experience aboard the Norwegian Pearl. The cruise is one of many announcements the company has planned to honor and celebrate Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary and salute its icons.
The Norwegian Pearl will play host to “Rock The Bells Cruise: A Hip-Hop Experience.”
Events
Thus, the expedition kicks-off with a special “Welcome to Miami” performance by Miami hip hop legends Trick Daddy and Trina on the ship’s pool deck. Attendees that purchase their cabin before January 18, 2023, will be able to hang out with Trick Daddy and Trina at a private cocktail happy hour prior to setting sail. Moreover, guests that purchase before January 18, 2023 can also start a free 3-month subscription to SiriusXM and tune into into LL Cool J’s Rock The Bells Radio on Channel 43 and on the SXM App.
At Rock The Bells, we believe classic and timeless Hip-Hop deserves to be served on a silver platter and we can’t wait for Hip-Hop lovers across the globe to be immersed in the culture for five days, on five stages. We’re excited to partner with Sixthman, who bridges the gap between artists and fans, creating unforgettable guest experiences.
– Rock The Bell’s President James Cuthbert
The full cruise lineup will be announced at the top of the new year, but attendees can expect dozens of performances and intimate experiences from some of Hip-Hop’s classic MCs, DJs and producers. In effect, Rock The Bells will be taking over every corner of the ship with pool deck parties presented by world renowned DJ Kid Capri. Other fun endeavors will include MC and DJ battles, rap karaoke, interactive graffiti, live podcasts, roller skating, open mic nights, movie screenings, masterclasses, art galleries, custom grillz, tattoos, basketball and The Trill Mealz Food Court.
More Information
Pricing ranges from $1,099 to $5,199. Attendees can book now for themselves or as a gift to others. More detailed information can be found on the Rock The Bells cruise website.
Broadway’s beloved Phantom of the Opera is delaying its closing show date after seeing a spike in sales, seeing capacities jumping to over 100 percent. The final performance date will now be April 16, 2023.
Ben Crawford as The Phantom on Jan. 26 in New York City.
The show is the longest-running show in Broadway history and will commemorate its 35 anniversary in January. Phantom has become a staple in Broadway history, however, due to the pandemic it has grossed a lot less money since the reopening of the theatre.
Producer Cameron Mackintosh said the show is delaying its closure due to a spike in sales sparked after the closing announcement. The Phantom of the Operahas grossed $1.78 million in the week ended Nov. 20, the most recent week of public grosses.
We are all thrilled that not only the show’s wonderful fans have been snapping up the remaining tickets, but also that a new, younger audience is equally eager to see this legendary production before it disappears. Such is the demand for tickets that we are delighted to announce that The Shubert Organization has been able to arrange a final eight-week extension of the run at The Majestic Theatre.
Cameron Mackintosh
Phantom is a symbol of 1980s Broadway, created by three of the most legendary figures in musical theater history: composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, director Hal Prince and producer Cameron Mackintosh. The show is about a mask-wearing opera singer who frequents the Paris Opera House and falls for a young soprano, famous for the phantom’s mask as well as the chandelier that crashes on stage every night. On Broadway, the show has been seen by 19.8 million people and has grossed $1.3 billion since opening.
The Phantom of the Opera‘s new final performance date will be on April 16, 2023. There will still be production in London, as well as a brand new one in Australia. The first Mandarin language production is set to open in China next year, and a Spanish-language version is in the works. Tickets to see the final United States showings are on sale here.
The New York Youth Symphony has appointed Andrew Jinhong Kim as its new Music Director beginning in the 2023-2024 season. He replaces Michael Repper, who will complete his tenure at the end of this season after six years. Kim is joining an illustrious roster of prior NYYS Music Directors, including Leonard Slatkin, David Alan Miller, Ryan McAdams, Joshua Gersen, and Miguel Harth-Bedoya.
This season, Mr. Kim was Assistant Conductor of the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra (DSSO) and Conductor of the Duluth Superior Symphony Youth Orchestra. In this joint role he appeared in pops and subscription concerts throughout the season with DSSO and led the top ensemble of its youth orchestra program.
The NYYS Music Director Search Committee, chaired by Slade Mills, conducted an international search. More than 85 candidates were reviewed and vetted by the Committee and NYYS staff. Live auditions were held in October with the orchestra which allowed for the students’ opinions to be heard as well.
“Working with passionate young musicians is one of the most meaningful aspects of my life,” said Kim, “so I’m thrilled and honored to be joining the distinguished New York Youth Symphony family. I am immensely looking forward to creating a memorable journey from the first rehearsal to the concert and to engaging the community with the love of music and pursuit of excellence that everyone in the organization shares.”
Kim received his master’s degree at Ithaca College under the mentorship of Octavio Mas-Arocas. In addition to assisting the IC Symphony and Chamber Orchestras he worked with the IC Siinfonietta and the Contemporary Ensemble and enjoyed frequent collaborations with friends for recital performances and composition premieres.
Park & Elm, a new Glens Falls eatery, is set to open its dining room on Friday, December 9. This will be in addition to Park & Elm’s food market and deli which both opened on November 19.
Presented by Park Street Hospitality, the restaurant will be curated by executive chef Matthew J. Delos. The dining room contains 85 seats complete with a full-service bar.
Artistic rendering of the Park & Elm dining room.
Their program will include a wine dispensing and preservation system, and the dining hall will feature a cocktail menu curated by lead bartender Ethan McKee. In the Spring, the restaurant will also open an enclosed patio area will allow for 60 additional seats and 3-season outdoor dining.
The restaurant at Park & Elm will be open Wednesday through Saturday starting at 5 p.m., while the market and deli will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations will be necessary to eat at the restaurant on opening night.
Its first event in coordination with the Park Theater will be on New Years Eve, will be a “Dinner and Comedy Show” with comedian Mike Lebovitz with a three course fixed-rate menu composed by Delos. The doors will open at 6 p.m. while dinner begins at 7 with the show starting at 8:15.
Park & Elm is located at 19 Park Street in Glens Falls. Information regarding tickets and more for the event can be found on the Park Theater website.
