NYS Music 202​2

Category: News

  • SNL Returns For Season 48 with Musical Guests Kendrick Lamar, Willow and Megan Thee Stallion

    SNL returns for season 48 on October 1st with the announcement of the first three hosts and musical guests, which include Kendrick Lamar, Willow, and Megan Thee Stallion. Four new cast members also join the cast as featured players.

    SNL Season 48
    New cast members. From left to right, Marcello Hernandez, Molly Kearney, Michael Longfellow, and Devon Walker.

    This marks the first non-COVID Saturday Night Live season since Season 45 in Fall 2019. Four new cast members are being welcomed, including Marcello Hernandez, Molly Kearney, Michael Longfellow, and Devon Walker. Hernandez is a Cuban/Dominican stand-up comedian, actor, and writer who has opened for comedians like Jim Breuer and Gilbert Gottfried.

    Kearney is the first non-binary cast member in the show’s history. They recently had a part in Amazon Prime Video’s “A League of Their Own” TV series. Longfellow was recently featured in the “Netflix Is a Joke: The Festival,” as a notable up-and-comer. Finally, Walker has writing credits that include Netflix’s “Big Mouth” and Phoebe Robinson’s “Everything’s Trash.”

    This season saw the departure of multiple SNL veterans, including Staten Island native Pete Davidson and cast member Kate McKinnon. Recently, Chris Redd announced his departure from the show. During his time on the series, Redd scored a Primetime Emmy for outstanding original music and lyrics in 2018 for the song “Come Back Barack.”

    SNL Season 48
    Chris Redd, photo by Jeff Kravitz.

    In a statement, Redd said “Being a part of SNL has been the experience of a lifetime. Five years ago, I walked into 30 Rock knowing that this was an amazing opportunity for growth.”

    The season premieres on Oct 1 with host Miles Teller, and musical guest Kendrick Lamar. Teller makes his hosting debut, after a successful summer staring in the blockbuster sequel Top Gun: Maverick. Lamar has been a musical guest twice before, and is supporting his recent album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, which came out in May.

    Miles Teller and Kendrick Lamar kick off the season.

    On the Oct. 8 episode, renowned Irish actor Brendan Gleeson, star of The Banshees of Inisherin, will also make his hosting debut. The musical guest is Willow, daughter of Will Smith, who has amassed a large following with her hit songs “Wait a Minute!” “Meet Me At Our Spot,” and “emo girl” with Machine Gun Kelly.

    The final announcement is for the Oct. 15 episode, where Megan Thee Stallion will pull double duty as the host and musical guest. This isn’t her first time on the show, but her first time doing double duty. She will be supporting her new album Traumazine which came out Aug. 12.

    Lorne Michaels, creator of SNL, spoke about the new season at the Primetime Emmy Awards saying that season 48 is “a transition year, and the change years are always difficult. There are new people, and things are changing, and a different generation comes into the show.” The show won its sixth straight Emmy in the Variety Sketch Series category.

  • Billy Joel Announces 87th Monthly Show At Madison Square Garden

    Madison Square Garden Entertainment have announced that legendary musician and MSG’s first-ever music franchise, Billy Joel, has added another show as part of his record-breaking residency at the world’s most famous arena. Set for Friday, January 13, 2023, the show will mark 133rd lifetime concert at the Garden.

    Billy Joel had turned the garden into his personal residency

    In December 2013, Billy Joel was named the historic venue’s first-ever music franchise. In doing so, he joined the ranks of other monumental MSG franchises, the New York Knicks and New York Rangers. The record-breaking residency began in January 2014 with Joel playing one show every month at the Garden, “as long as the demand continues.”

    Fittingly, Billy Joel is one of the world’s biggest draw, having sold out arenas and stadiums across the globe. The grammy-winning musician is the sixth best-selling recording artist of all time and the third best-selling solo artist. Having sold over 150 million records and scoring 33 consecutive Top 40 hits. In 2016, the Library of Congress selected his debut North American single “Piano Man” for preservation in the National Recording Registry for its “cultural, historic, and artistic significance.”

    Billy Joel has been mesmerizing the Garden for decades.

    All in all, Billy Joe’s residency at the Garden is no accident. Joel brings prestige to an already prestigious venue. Fans of the “piano man” have watched him ascend to legendary status. Joel has been inducted into the Songwriter’s and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Mr. Long Island also received a TONY award for “Movin’ Out,” a Broadway musical based on Joel’s music.

    Ticketing Information

    Citi cardmembers will have first access to presale tickets. Beginning Monday, September 19 at 10:00 a.m. through Thursday, September 22 at 10:00 p.m. via www.citientertainment.com.

    Tickets will be available for purchase by the general public beginning at 10:00 a.m. (east) on Friday, September 23 via www.ticketmaster.com. Due to congestion and high-demand, it can be difficult to purchase tickets right away, so continue to check Ticketmaster throughout the day.

  • Utica Music Series Receives $90K Grant For 3 More Years

    Recently announced by the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation, Utica Music Series (Monday Nite in Utica) has been awarded a multi-year Levitt AMP Grant Award of $90K. Thus, in matching funds to present a free outdoor music series in 2023, 2024, and 2025.  

    Utica Music Series $90K Grant 3 More Years of Levitt AMP

    Since 2016, the Levitt AMP Utica Music Series has activated Kopernik Park in Oneida Square. By transforming it into a welcoming, inclusive destination and a venue where diversity is abounded from the stage to audience. 

    Utica Music Series $90K Grant 3 More Years of Levitt AMP

    The Levitt AMP Grant Awards is an exciting, multi-year matching grant opportunity bringing the joy of free, live music to towns and cities with a population of up to 250,000 people. The Levitt Foundation has expanded the program from an annual matching grant of $25K, into a three-year matching grant of $30K per year for a total grant award of $90K.  

    Utica Music Series $90K Grant 3 More Years of Levitt AMP

    “Emerging from the pandemic, we have all witnessed the importance of community and connection on our well-being, and free, live music in public spaces is a powerful way to bring people together of all ages and backgrounds. Expanding the Levitt AMP [Your City] Grant Awards into a multi-year, $90K grant and inviting additional towns and cities into the program was inspired in part by the positive impact Utica Monday Nite is having on the local community,” says Sharon Yazowski, Executive Director of the Levitt Foundation.  

    “We look forward to the continued impact of the Levitt AMP Utica Music Series, which has transformed Kopernik Park into a community destination beyond the free concerts, creating a joyful and welcoming space for the entire community, from new to lifelong residents alike.” 

    Sharon Yazowski, Executive Director of the Levitt Foundation

    From Main Street communities to rural towns in the heart of Appalachia to historic state capitals, the 18 returning Levitt AMP grant recipients hail from across the country including rural towns with populations of less than 10,000 like Whitesburg, Ky.; Galva, Ill.; Earlham, Iowa; Shenandoah Junction, W.Va.; Soldotna, Alaska; St. Johnsbury, Vt.; and Middlesboro, Ky.*; to mid-sized cities like Berea, Ky.; Carson City, Nev.; Gallup, N.M.; Ocala, Fla.; Sheboygan, Wis.*; Stevens Point, Wis.; Utica, N.Y.; and Woonsocket, R.I.; to larger cities spanning the country including Fort Smith, Ark.; Springfield, Ill.; and Trenton, N.J.* 

    Utica Music Series $90K Grant 3 More Years of Levitt AMP

    Berea, Kentucky (population: 15,773) 

    Carson City, Nevada (population: 55,244) 

    Earlham, Iowa (population: 1,382) 

    Fort Smith, Arkansas (population: 87,788) 

    Gallup, New Mexico (population: 21,637) 

    Galva, Illinois (population: 2,539) 

    Middlesboro, Kentucky (population: 9,242)* 

    Ocala, Florida (population: 60,021) 

    Sheboygan, Wisconsin (population: 48,153)* 

    Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia (population: 1,382) 

    Soldotna, Alaska (population: 4,705) 

    Springfield, Illinois (population: 167,601) 

    St. Johnsbury, Vermont (population: 5,815) 

    Stevens Point, Wisconsin (population: 26,144) 

    Trenton, New Jersey (population: 83,387)* 

    Utica, New York (population: 59,984) 

    Whitesburg, Kentucky (population: 2,215 

    Woonsocket, Rhode Island (population: 41,616) 

  • Tedeschi Trucks Band To Resume Residency At The Beacon In Support Of New Album

    Tedeschi Trucks Band will make its annual return to New York City’s Beacon Theatre with a seven-show residency slated to begin Thursday, September 29. This run will not only include the band’s 50th performance at the iconic theater with the show on October 3, but also feature extensive material from the band’s recent I Am The Moon release, an epic, 4-album project released last month on Fantasy Records.

    Tedeschi Trucks Band
    Photo: David McClister

    For Tedeschi Trucks Band, this upcoming multi-night run at The Beacon will mark their eleventh one here in total. This one will introduce the public to live performances from their most recent album, which began as a pandemic-related writing exercise suggested by TTB vocalist Mike Mattison in May 2020, and transformed into a career-defining artistic statement with a reimagined mythic tale of star-crossed lovers through a modern-day lens. “We’ve had an incredible amount of new material come out this year with I Am The Moon,” says Derek Trucks, “The Beacon shows will be some of the first where we’ll be able to draw from all of it and have the space to really dig in.”

    Susan Tedeschi adds, “I Am The Moon is a creative milestone for us – and we’ve got our 50th show at The Beacon, another milestone. We’re looking forward to celebrating both and all the hard work that went into getting here.” The full deluxe version of this new release also includes four album-length companion films to accompany 24 new original songs that features a blend of soul, rock, blues, funk, roots and Eastern influences.

    Remaining tickets for these shows, which are listed below with start times, are limited but still available online at Ticketmaster.com, and in person at the Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Beacon Theatre box offices. 

    TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND  – BEACON THEATRE 2022
    Thu Sept 29  Amy Helm opens, showtime 7:30pm
    Fri Sept 30    Two sets, no opener showtime 8pm
    Sat Oct 1      Two sets, no opener showtime 8pm
    Mon Oct 3    Surprise opening set, showtime 7:30pm
    Thu Oct 6      Ruthie Foster opens, showtime 7:30pm
    Fri Oct 7       Two sets, no opener showtime 8pm
    Sat Oct 8      Two sets, no opener showtime 8pm

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

  • Dio Documentary “Dreamers Never Die” Hitting Select Theaters Sept 28 and Oct 3

    “Dio: Dreamers Never Die,” a documentary about the life and career of heavy metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio is getting one time showings at select theaters across the tri-state area on September 28 and October 2.

    The movie about the late singer of Black Sabbath, Rainbow, his eponymous band Dio and more follows up the July release of his posthumous autobiography Rainbow in the Dark, co-written by British journalist Mick Wall and edited by the vocalist’s widow and longtime manager Wendy Dio.

    Movie poster for “Dio: Dreamers Never Die”

    This special showing series of “Dreamers Never Die” is far from Ronnie James Dio’s first connection to New York State. Having lived in Portsmouth, NH until age five, his family moved back to his parents’ hometown of Cortland, where Dio grew up, graduated from high school, and became a musician.

    Information regarding tickets and more can be found on the “Dreamers Never Die” website. See below for all theaters in New York State as well as New Jersey and Connecticut where you can see “Dreamers Never Die.”

    Alamo Drafthouse Manhattan        28 Liberty St  NEW YORK

    Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Brooklyn   445 Gold St. 4th Floor         BROOKLYN

    AMC Empire 25         234 W 42nd St  NYC

    AMC Clifton Commons  16  405 ROUTE 3 E       CLIFTON, NJ                       

    AMC Danbury 16      4 INTERNATIONAL DR      DANBURY, CT                    

    AMC Garden State 16          1 GARDEN STATE PLAZA (RT 4 & 17)  PARAMUS, NJ        

    AMC Monmouth Mall 15      180 STATE ROUTE 35       EATONTOWN, NJ              

    Reading Manville 12            180 N. Main St.         MANVILLE, NJ    

    Village East Cinema             181-189 2nd Avenue          NEW YORK

    Cinemark        Hazlet 12       2821 Highway 35     HAZLET, NJ

    Cinepolis Chelsea    260 W 23rd St , NYC               

    Nitehawk Cinema     136 Metropolitan Ave   BROOKLYN

    Showcase City Centre  City Center 15  WHITE PLAINS

    Showcase Farmingdale       1001 Broad Hollow Road   FARMINGDALE

    Showcase Island 16   185 Morris Avenue  HOLTSVILLE

    Showcase Broadway           Broadway Mall, HICKSVILLE

    US Regal        Ithaca Mall Stm 14   40 Catherwood Road  ITHACA

    US Regal Union Square Stm  17 850 Broadway NEW YORK

    US Regal Crossgates Stm 18 & IMAX          120 B Washington Avenue Extension ALBANY

    US Regal Destiny USA Stm 19 IMAX & RPX   9586 Destiny USA Drive SYRACUSE          

    US Regal Staten Island Stm 16 & RPX.   2474 Forest Avenue STATEN ISLAND

    US Regal Kaufman Astoria Stm 14 & RPX 35-30 38th St LONG ISLAND CITY

    US Regal Transit Center Stm 18 & IMAX      6707 Transit Road   WILLIAMSVILLE

    US Regal Walden Galleria Stm 16 & RPX     Walden Galleria    BUFFALO

    Cinemark Tinseltown 16 + IMAX    2291 Buffalo Rd       ROCHESTER

  • ‘The Phantom Of The Opera’ on Broadway Closes After 35 Years

    Broadway’s beloved The Phantom Of The Opera will close after 35 years on stage due to the ongoing crisis the pandemic has had on the theatre business, with fewer people going to shows over the past two years.

    the phantom of the opera
    Emilie Kouatchou and Ben Crawford lead the current cast of “The Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway.

    The show is the longest-running show in Broadway history and will commemorate its 35 anniversary in January, and then will play its final performance on Broadway on Feb. 18, according to a spokesman. The show 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.

    The musical made almost $900,000 for the week ending Sept. 11, but it is making less than half the money that shows like Hamilton, The Lion King, and Wicked are making. Tickets are also significantly cheaper than other shows, with “Phantom” costing around $80 a ticket, and others costing well over $100 because the demand to see the show is less.

    “Phantom” is a symbol of 1980s Broadway, created by three of the most legendary figures in musical theater history: the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, the director Hal Prince and the producer Cameron Mackintosh. The show is about a mask-wearing opera singer who frequents the Paris Opera House and falls for a young soprano. It is famous for the 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 will still have 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 will go on sale shortly for the final productions, and for information on when those will be and how to purchase them, go here.

  • Live Nation Announces Fans Can Easily Get Tickets to Irving Plaza and Gramercy Theatre with Club Pass

    Live Nation announces the new Club Pass, where fans can have a fast and seamless experience getting general admission tickets to venues like Irving Plaza and Gramercy Theatre in New York City.

    live nation

    The Club Pass will be available starting at $79, giving fans access to shows at one venue of their choice. They will be able to go to shows from Oct. 1 to Dec. 3 in hopes of maybe exploring new music genres, and finding up-and-coming artists in music venues across the country.

    For fans who want to go on a road trip across the country, there will also be a Multi-Club Pass available for $299 that allows them to enjoy shows at all participating Live Nation clubs. There are thousands of shows in well-known venues like Irving Plaza in New York City, The Fillmore in San Francisco, and the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.

    Fans can enjoy shows from different artists like Måneskin, Marcus King, Mother Mother, Noah Cyrus, Dayglow, and many more. The Live Nation Club Pass will be on sale from Sept. 19 through Sept. 30 here. Each venue will have a limited number of Club Passes available. All members will be added to the club’s membership list. On the day of the show, fans will show their Photo ID to receive a ticket at the Club’s box office.

    Venues participating in Club Pass include

     713 Music Hall (Houston, TX

    Ace of Spades (Sacramento, CA)

    The Aztec Theater (San Antonio, TX)

    Bayou Music Center (Houston, TX)

    Belasco (Los Angeles, CA)

    Bogarts (Cincinnati, OH)

    Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom (Chicago, IL)

    Coca-Cola Roxy (Atlanta, GA)

    The Depot (Salt Lake City, UT)

    The Echo Lounge & Music Hall (Dallas, TX)

    Echoplex and The Echo (Los Angeles, CA)

    Emo’s (Austin, TX)

    Egyptian Room and Deluxe at Old National Centre (Indianapolis, IN)

    The Fillmore (San Francisco, CA)

    The Fillmore Detroit (Detroit, MI)

    The Fillmore Minneapolis (Minneapolis, MN)

    The Fillmore New Orleans (New Orleans, LA)

    The Fillmore Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA)

    The Fillmore Silver Spring (Silver Spring, MD)

    The Fillmore Charlotte and The Underground (Charlotte, NC)

    Fillmore Auditorium (Denver, CO)

    The Foundry (Philadelphia, PA) 

    The Gramercy Theatre (New York, NY)

    GLC Live At 20 Monroe (Grand Rapids, MI)

    Hollywood Palladium (Los Angeles, CA)

    House of Blues Anaheim (Anaheim, CA)

    House of Blues Chicago (Chicago, IL)

    House of Blues Cleveland (Cleveland, OH)

    House of Blues Dallas (Dallas, TX)

    House of Blues Lake Buena Vista (Lake Buena Vista, FL)

    House of Blues Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV)

    House of Blues New Orleans (New Orleans, LA)

    House of Blues North Myrtle Beach (North Myrtle Beach, SC)

    House of Blues San Diego (San Diego, CA)

    Irving Plaza (New York, NY)

    Marquis Theater (Denver, CO)

    Mercury Ballroom (Louisville, KY)

    Observatory OC (Santa Ana, CA)

    Observatory SD (San Diego, CA)

    Roxian Theatre (Pittsburgh, PA)

    The Ritz (Raleigh, NC)

    Riverside Municipal Auditorium (Riverside, CA)

    St. Andrew’s Hall (Detroit, MI)

    Summit (Denver, CO)

    Scoot Inn (Austin, TX)

    The Wiltern (Los Angeles, CA)

    Tabernacle (Atlanta, GA)

    Theatre of the Living Arts (Philadelphia, PA)

    Varsity Theater (Minneapolis, MN)

    The Van Buren (Phoenix, AZ) 

  • Mike Doughty with Ghost of Vroom Announce Brooklyn Residency in Nov.

    Mike Doughty announced his first solo tour in two years, as well as an exclusive Brooklyn residency with his band, Ghost of Vroom at Union Pool in Nov.

    Mike Doughty
    Photo Credit: Jamie Harmon

    Mike Doughty hasn’t had a solo show in over two years because of the pandemic. He is known for his over two-decade career full of solo work, and his band Ghost of Vroom, which he created with his longtime musical collaborator, bassist Andrew “Scrap” Livingston. They have two albums, praised by American Songwriter for their “urgency and relevance…a beyond-perfect union, centered around a solid rhythm section, that elaborates on the hip-hop influences Doughty picked up as a young kid when he had just moved to New York in the late eighties.”

    They change their sound up a lot, mashing up weird jazz, psychedelic trances, and Doughty’s blend of his signature art pop. The band will be having a residency in Brooklyn at Union Pool, every Sunday in Nov., starting the 6, with Doughty doing a set of his solo music. Surprise guests will be announced soon, some including Billy Martin (Medeski Martin & Wood), Michael Wilbur (Moon Hooch), and Jamie Saft (John Zorn, Wadada Leo Smith).

    For more information and to buy tickets to Mike Doughty’s tour and Brooklyn residency, go here.

    OCTOBER

    26 – St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway *

    27 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi *

    28 – Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall *

    29 – Evanston, IL – Space *

    NOVEMBER

    6 – Brooklyn, NY – Union Pool (Two Sets) 

    13 – Brooklyn, NY – Union Pool (Two Sets)

    20 – Brooklyn, NY – Union Pool (Two Sets)

    27 – Brooklyn, NY – Union Pool (Two Sets)

    * Mike Doughty Solo Performance

  • Flamenco Rhythms Performance to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at UAlbany PAC

    In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, which starts on Thursday, September 15th, the UAlbany Performing Arts Center presents Flamenco Rhythms. The show will be held on Wednesday, September 28th, at 7:30pm on the UAlbany campus located at 1400 Washington Avenue. The program features virtuoso guitarist Maria Zemantauski, percussionist Brian Melick, and dancer La Nina. 

    musician with guitar, dancer with shawl, musician with drum

    Guitarist and composer Maria Zemantauski is one of the world’s few heralded female flamenco-style guitarists and one of even fewer female flamenco composers. She is a nylon-string guitarist and composer whose style is influenced by a variety of musical genres, most notably, Spanish classical and flamenco.

    Flamenco Rhythms Performance at UAlbany Performing Arts Center for Hispanic Heritage Month 9/15

    She has performed Flamenco Rhythms in Spain, Italy and across the continental United States to great acclaim. By embracing the classical and traditional flamenco repertoire for her foundation, she takes her audience on a musical journey inspired by her flair for experimentation and pure love of the instrument. Zemantauski’s relationship with the UAlbany Performing Arts Center goes back to 2012 when she was involved in the first residency by NYC-based Flamenco Vivo at the venue. 

    Flamenco Rhythms Performance at UAlbany Performing Arts Center for Hispanic Heritage Month 9/15

    Musician, educator, author and designer Brian Melick has been professionally involved in music since the early age of 13. He is a featured recording artist on over 400 commercially released recordings on independent as well as major labels in addition to his seven solo projects. Melick is a highly active drummer performing locally as well as around the United States and Canada.

    Lastly, La Nina is a native of Colombia who studied flamenco in Spain at the Academia de Flamenco de Mariquilla and in New York City with master teachers Jose Molina, Jorge Navarro and Mariano Parra.

    Admission to the Flamenco Rhythms performance is free. No reservations or tickets are required.  For further information, contact the UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s main office at (518) 442-3995 or click the link here. 

  • Cuartetango Music & Dance Brings Chamber Music to Roosevelt Island

    Leonardo Suarez Paz presents PIAZZOLLA 100: Cuartetango Music & Dance on Sept. 18, at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park on Roosevelt Island.

    Cuartetango Music & Dance
    Cuartetango Music & Dance

    This theatrical chamber concert will feature a string quartet Cuartetango, comprised of two violins, a viola, a cello, and dancers and the bandoneon. A Q&A with the artists will follow the performance. The event is free for all those who attend, but register for it here.

    Led by Artistic Director Leonardo Suarez Paz, Cuartetango is one of the only quartets of its kind to perform Nuevo Tango, a musical style that infuses elements of Jazz and Classical music with traditional Tango music.

    Cuartetango will offer attendees the unique experience to hear Nuevo Tango, a style that may sound familiar to many but in a new way. Nuevo Tango was created in New York City and I am very excited to present this music at the Four Freedoms State Park underneath the beautiful backdrop of the city Nuevo Tango calls home.

    Leonardo Suarez Paz

    Leonardo Suarez Paz has been hailed as the “torchbearer of Argentine Tango and the legacy of its greatest composer, Astor Piazzolla” (All About Jazz, UK). He creates across cultures and genres, continuing a family legacy of over 100 years. At age 16 he became the youngest member of the Orquesta Estable del Teatro Colon, and his work as a soloist includes the most distinguished tango orchestras.

    Cuartetango Music & Dance

    The production features songs from Cuartetango’s two-time Latin Grammy nominated album Masters of
    Bandoneon    . Performers include director, violinist, vocalist and dancer Leonardo Suarez Paz; violinist Omar Falcon; violaist Ron Lawrence; cellist Danny Miller; bandoneonist Rodolfo Zanetti; and dancers Olga Suarez Paz, Carolina aurena and Juan de Argentina.

    The Cuartetango Music & Dance event is on Sept. 18 at 4:00 P.M. within “The Room” at 1 FDR Four Freedoms State Park, Roosevelt Island, and is free for everyone attending.