NYS Music 202​2

Category: News Desk

  • Accessible Festivals launch Dan Grover Memorial Ticket Grant Program

    Accessible Festivals officially launched its Dan Grover Memorial Ticket Grant Program this week, providing a limited number of free access tickets to recreational experiences like concerts, festivals, and conventions for disabled music fans and their loved ones. This marks a huge step forward towards accessibility for all throughout major events across the U.S.  

    Accessible Festivals launch Dan Grover Memorial Ticket Grant Program
    Pictured: Past recipient Cindy Navarro at Escape Festival 

    Accessible Festivals is partnering with the largest festivals in the country, such as Austin City Limits Music Festival, BottleRock Napa Valley, Electric Daisy Carnival, Lollapalooza, Rolling Loud NY, Stagecoach and more. The idea was born out of the organization’s founder, Austin Whitney’s own personal experience. In 2007, Whitney was injured in a car accident that severed his spinal cord and paralyzed him from the waist down. He became consumed with depression and anxiety about his new life living with a disability. 

    Accessible Festivals launch Dan Grover Memorial Ticket Grant Program
    Photo credit: Abbey Madrid Stagecoach

    After some time, Whitney attended his first music festival, Coachella. For the first time since his injury, he was able to simply enjoy life. With the realization of the importance of festival accessibility, he decided to devote his life to ensuring people of all abilities can have an equal opportunity to experience live music and recreational activities to the fullest extent possible.  

    Photo credit: TJ Hayes Lollapalooza

    Dan Grover was born on December 6, 1962, in rural New Jersey. At an early age, he was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic condition that deteriorates muscular strength over time, and began using a wheelchair for mobility at the age of 21. 

    Dan was responsible for implementing and improving ADA operations at some of the nation’s largest music festivals including Electric Forest, Outside Lands, Life is Beautiful, and many more. He helped ensure thousands of disabled guests were able to see the show safely and comfortably and was a fierce advocate for greater inclusion and accessibility for all.

    In an unfortunate turn of events, Dan passed away on July 27, 2022. This program is intended to keep Dan’s legacy alive and honor him by sharing his passion for music and continuing to help other people with disabilities see the show. 

    Photo credit: Kimy Churchhill HARD Summer

    Accessible Festival’s Ticket Grant Program currently has two dozen events this Fall which are currently accepting applications for complimentary admission. Upcoming events include Electric Daisy Carnival Orlando, Firefly Festival, Made in America Festival, Rolling Loud NY, and many others.  

    Find more information and apply for admission at the link here.

  • Pras Michel The Reason Behind Fugees Reunion Tour Cancellation Due to Money Laundering Charges

    In September, 2021 The Fugees and Pras Michel made headlines with a performance at Pier 17. It was their first show as a group in 15 years. With the trio later announcing a world tour of very selective dates and venues. In Fugees fashion, the tour was later canceled to the chagrin of fans. Lauryn Hill broke the news in January of 2022 with a statement.

    Embed from Getty Images

    Although a disappointment, Covid-19 complications seemed reasonable given the major cities the tour was due to hit. The addition of international stops in France, UK, Nigeria, Ghana along with their varied covid regulations made things more arduous. Rather, the Fugees, who each have gone through legal troubles, find another one of their own entangled with the law.

    This time it seems as if Pras Michel’s legal hardships are what is holding up the much-anticipated reunion tour. In 2019, Michel and Malaysian financier, Low Taek Jho (known as “Jho Low”), were charged  in a four-count indictment. The duo were accused of illegally funnelling (money laundering) foreign campaign contributions into the 2012 U.S. presidential election. After pleading not guilty and rejecting a plea deal in 2019, Michel was once again charged by the federal government. In 2021, Michel and Jho Low were accused of running a back-channel campaign to get the Trump administration to drop the investigation and getting a billionaire dissident returned to China.

    Pras Michel served as the group’s business mind. Executive producing their hit-album, The Score.

    Michel’s primary charges stem from the misuse and money laundering of Malaysia’s 1MDB slush-fund, run by Jho Low. According to the indictment, between June and November 2012, Low directed the transfer of approximately $21,600,000 to Michel. Michel’s role includes the disbursement of the money in $865,000 increments to about 20 different straw donors, whose jobs were to make the donations in their own name, in order to hide the source of the funds. Michel was reportedly paid at least $8 million and up to $40 million in his role assisting Low.

    Where Does Michel Now Stand?

    Despite his previous and latest charges, Michel performed alongside Hill at and Jean at the September, 2021 Pier 17 show and was scheduled to partake in the reunion tour.

    However, according to Puck, it was the Justice Department that would not allow Michel to leave on an international tour, which included performances in Paris and London. Michel’s trial will take place in Washington D.C. on November 4. Always considered the third Fugees, Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean reunited at this summer’s Essence Festival in New Orleans. The duo performed a medley of hits without Michel.

    Embed from Getty Images

  • Sara Bareilles to Play Benefit Concert at The Capitol Theatre

    On Thursday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m., Sara Bareilles will play a full-length benefit concert at The Capitol Theatre in support of Pace Women’s Justice Center. The Raising the Bar Benefit Concert with Bareilles marks PWJC’s 30th year of protecting thousands of women and children.

    Sara Bareilles headshot next to poster for the benefit concert.

    Pace Women’s Justice Center is a nonprofit legal center located at Pace University. The self-funded center provides legal services to over 3,500 victims and survivors of domestic abuse. PWJC offers services, community partnerships, education, and awareness.

    A Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, Bareilles recently finished an engagement of “Into The Woods” on Broadway. Known in music for her powerful lyrics and piano-based pop sound, Bareilles has also had an impressive career as a singer, actress, and author. 

    It is thrilling to have Sara Bareilles collaborate on our benefit concert to raise awareness for victims of domestic violence … at a time when the rights of so many are being challenged, it is imperative to continue our work, protecting the rights of women and victims of abuse.

    Cindy Kanusher, Executive Director for PWJC

    The Raising the Bar Benefit Concert honors PWJC’s commitment to increasing access to justice and providing free legal services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The monies raised from the event at The Capitol Theatre will allow the PWJC to continue helping those who need it.

    During the concert, the center will also honor Pam Kaufman, President and CEO of International Markets, Global Consumer Products &  Experiences at Paramount Global with their Making a Difference Award. PWJC gives the award each October to an individual who dedicates support to the PWJC mission and its clients. 

    For more information about the benefit concert, and for tickets, visit The Capitol Theatre’s website, here.

  • Sophistafunk Will Be Guy Fieri’s House Band for Guy’s Ultimate Game Night

    Syracuse funk band Sophistafunk has announced some exciting news as they will be 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.

    Sophistafunk

    Sophistafunk is comprised of Adam Gold (keyboardist), Jack Brown (frontman), Tommy Weeks (saxophonist), and Emmanuel Washington(drummer and vocalist). Gold spoke about how excited and surprised the band was, and how it all came together.

    He told us many years ago at a Super Bowl party we were playing for him with Kid Rock that when he gets a late-night show he’ll ask us to be the house band.  We remember him saying that, and now he’s following through! When he (Guy Fieri) first came to Funk ’n Waffles 10 years ago we performed on the episode of DDD that they filmed and we handed him a bunch of CDs and t-shirts.  At the next location he was filming that day he called me on my cell phone and said he loved the music and wants us to perform at his birthday party.  We have been friends ever since!

    Adam Gold

    They will be playing the theme song and providing music throughout the game show and signed on for the first ten shows, with the first five airing on Sept. 7, 14, 21, and 28 on The Food Network, and streaming on the Discovery+ platform.

  • Folkfaces Fest 6 Returns to Darien Center this Fall

    Darien Center will host Folkfaces Fest 6 from September 29th through October 2nd at Cherry Hill Campground, a perfect fall music festival in Western New York.

    Folkfaces Fest is an emerging grassroots-style music festival hosted by Tyler Westcott & his band Folkfaces. Situated 40 minutes from Buffalo and less than an hour from Rochester, Folkfaces Fest welcomes a variety of bands and vendors with activities for kids of all ages.

    The festival has three areas for performances – The Greystone Stage (main stage), The Gage Stage (side woods stage), and the Slyboots Tent (a large circus tent for performance, workshops, activities and more). 

    Folkfaces Fest curates unique national and regional acts mostly of the roots music or world music variety. Over the last half a decade the festival has hosted many notable performers including Grammy award winning co-founder of the Carolina Chocolate Drops Dom Flemons “the American Songster,” champion fiddler & ragtime banjoist Aaron Jonah Lewis, Viral YouTube sensation Abby the Spoon Lady, folk hero Bruce Molsky, ragtime blues guitarist Andy Cohen, Kentucky Colonel and front man of the Legendary Shack Shakers – JD Wilkes, Texas one man band, Scott H. Biram, Innovative folk duo Richie Stearns & Rosie Newton, freak folk legend Baby Gramps, and many many others… 

    Food vendors will be on hand with healthy options as well as standard fair fare. Don’t miss art and craft vendors in the artist village, where there will be held the yearly film fest, square dance, art installations, a paint wall, mycology foray, & workshops with artists. This years theme has been announced as “Denim & Dogs” so dress up in your best Canadian Tuxedo and bring your pup to the fest.

    The festival will be accepting donations of lightly worn winter coats, unopened packages of socks and underwear, canned good and non-perishables at the gate to benefit Friends of Night People! 

    In a slight change from years past, camping is now a separate fee. Once you purchase your festival pass, visit cherryhillcamp.com to book your campsite. While RVs sites and Cabins are sold out, plenty of tent sites remain.

    Cherry Hill Camp is a well manicured campground with 50 campsites scattered through out its 63 acres. Each with their own picnic table and fire ring. A few unfurnished barebones cabins. A bathhouse with 6 flush toilets and two showers, laundry and vending machines. There are numerous spigots with potable water spread throughout the festival grounds. A camp store with all your camping supply needs, snacks, drinks and more. Cherry Hill Campground is located at 1516 Sumner Road, Darien Center NY 14040

    Folkfaces Fest 6 is sponsored by Sportsmens Americana Music Foundation, Jack Rabbit, Rigidized Metals, The Big Easy In Buffalo, The Fretted Buffalo, Bernunzio’s Uptown Music, The Hotel Crittenden, Allentown Music, 42 North Brewing Company, ANIAH, Slyboots School of Music, Art & Dance, Lavender Haze Collective and Meier’s Creek Brewing.

    Tickets are on sale now and be sure to book your site at Cherry Hill Campground here.

    Folkfaces Fest 6 Lineup

    Folkfaces x2 

    Rose & The Bros

    The Resonant Rogues

    Ever-Lovin’ Jug Band

    Cristina Vane

    DiTrani Brothers

    Temple Cabin Band

    Archer

    Jason Dea West

    FERD

    Andy Cohen

    Annie and the Fur Trappers

    Hunter Burgamy

    Feral Foster 

    The Crybabies

    The Henrie Brothers

    The Slyboots School of Music, Art & Dance

    Mo’ Mojo Music trio 

    The Honey Smugglers

    Public Water Supply

    Raedwald Howland-Bolton

    12/8 Path Band

    The Skiffle Minstrels

    Crikwater

    The Hot Club of Buffalo

    Well Worn Boot

    The Stinky Boots String Band

    Square dance with Buffalo Bluegrass Allstars

    Bellwether Breaks

    Dr. Jazz & the Jazzbugs

    Ellen Pieroni & the Encyclopedia of Soul

    Jackson Cavalier & the Big Dead Waltz

    The Forest Dwellers

    Kathryn Koch Band 

    Ribbit Exhibit

    Moon Hollow

    Bosko Baker

    Pastel Panties

    The Lowlies

    Henry’s Summer Kitchen

    Alyssa Rodriguez

    Comienzos

    Archimedes 

    Adam the Traveling Pianist

    Sunday songwriter circle:

    Austin Stambaugh 

    Katie Alyssandra 

    Mikee Strongmen

    Jim Watkins

    tuesday nite

    Artist at large Ellen Pieroni

    Folkfaces Fest 6 Activities

    Friday night film fest with Matt Wisniewski

    Midnight movies in the Slyboots Tent

    Hot dog eating contest/Glizzy games 

    Square dance

    Art installations 

    Paint wall

    Workshops (fiddle,banjo,singing saw, songwriting, African drumming)

    Old time jam

    Live painting 

    Dance lessons 

    Costume contest

    Artist village 

    Food court

    Raffles

    Mycology foray with Shae

    Yoga with Holly

    Ticket prices:

    Kids 12 and under – free

    Puppy Pass (for well behaved, non-aggressive, cleaned up after, leashed dogs) – Presale $20, Gate $25 

    Thursday Day Pass: Presale $25, Gate $30

    Fri & Sat Day Pass: Presale $50, Gate $55 

    Sunday Day Pass: Presale $40, Gate $45

    In Folkfaces We Trust: $85 6/25-7/16

    Early bird weekend pass: $95 7/17-7/31

    Presale weekend pass: $110 8/1-9/28

    Gate weekend pass: $130 

    VIP pass: $150 

  • Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival Announces 2022 Lineup

    The Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival will return for its 20th annual celebration on Saturday, September 10 at Jennings Landing. First run in 2002, the free-to-the-public event starts at noon and closes at 8pm, with the five-act day being wrapped up by a fireworks display.

    Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival
    Albany Riverfront Jazz Promotional Poster.

    Opening up the day’s music will be the Teresa Broadwell Quintet from 12:30pm to 1:30. Led by fiddler Teresa Broadwell, the Albany swing and jazz collective also includes saxophonist Leon Russo, guitarist Mike Novakowski, bassist Peter Toigo, and drummer Cliff Brucker.

    Following is Charged Particles, performing from 2 to 3. The Latin-jazz oriented group is comprised of keyboardist Murray Low, bassist Aaron Germain, and drummer Jon Krosnick.

    Next on the schedule is Black Tie Brass from 3:30 to 4:30, a NYC-based horn driven jazz/funk group. Founded in 2013, the band draws on genres such as pop, R&B, hip-hop, and more in guiding their sound.

    Act number four is Samara Joy, a 22-year-old singer from the Bronx on stage from 5 to 6. A Verve Records artist, her young career has already been impressively marked by multiple appearances on the TODAY show and a TikTok page with over 100 thousand followers.

    To close out the night will be the headlining Soul Rebels, performing from 6:30 until the festival’s end. Big name collaborations of theirs include Katy Perry, Nas, Metallica, Big Freedia, G-Eazy, and the Wu-Tang Clan.

    Food and beverage vendors will be available on site, and more information can be found on albanyevents.org

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smyisrV4Kks

  • GottaGetGon Festival to Return Labor Day Weekend

    The GottaGetGon Folk Music Festival is set to return to Saratoga Springs for the first time since 2019 this weekend from Friday, September 2 to Sunday, September 4.

    GottaGetGon festival poster.

    The festival, which since 1970 has been run as a public function of the Pickin’ & Singin’ Gatherin’, an Albany folk music club, is promoting the weekend as their 50th anniversary celebration, with the festival being put on ice during 2020 & 2021. It will feature concerts and a number of other festivities each day at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds in Ballston Spa.

    Performers of the weekend include Saro Lynch-Thomason, a ballad singer, folklorist, illustrator, author and social activist from Asheville, NC, Alex Cumming, an English singer, accordionist, pianist and dance caller based in Vermont, Coracree, a folk four-piece that mixes various European and American styles, and the Piedmont Blūz, a husband-wife acoustic duo that specializes in country blues.

    Other GottaGetGon festival events include a potluck dinner on Friday evening, a Saturday night family dance, musical workshops on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and an open mic event on Sunday.

    Food will be provided at the festival, and information regarding tickets, camping and more can be found on the Pickin’ & Singin’ Gatherin’ website.

  • Arctic Monkeys Release New Single “There’d Better Be A Mirrorball”

    Arctic Monkeys seventh studio album, The Car, arrives on October 21st and today the band shared the lead single “There’d Better Be A Mirrorball.” Check out the video for the song below; directed and (mostly) shot by frontman Alex Turner, the video features clips of the band writing and recording the song shot in a retro-film style.

    “There’d Better Be A Mirrorball” by Arctic Monkeys. Via YouTube

    Arctic Monkeys rockers took a turn away from their driving rock style with their last record, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino in 2018. Lead single and album opener “There’d Better Be A Mirrorball” follows in that direction with vocalist Alex Turner crooning over a shimmering, retro jazz instrumental. The Car features 10 tracks and is out October 21st on Domino Records. Stay tuned for new about a potential Arctic Monkeys North America tour.

    Arctic Monkeys Upcoming Tour Dates

    August

    25  Rock En Seine, Paris, France
    27  Reading Festival, UK
    28  Leeds Festival, UK

    September

    1  Cala Mijas Festival, Malaga, Spain
    2   Kalorama, Lisbon, Portugal
    4   Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Ireland
    16   Life Is Beautiful Festival, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
    18   Primavera Sound, Los Angeles, California, US

    November

    4   Jeunesse Arena, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    5   Primavera Sound, São Paulo, Brazil
    8   Pedreira Paulo Leminsk, Curitiba, Brazil
    10   Kilk Fest, Asunción, Paraguay
    12   Primavera Sound, Santiago de Chile, Chile
    13   Primavera Sound, Buenos Aires, Argentina
    15   Arena 1, Lima, Peru
    17  Coliseo Live, Bogota, Colombia
    19  Corona Capital Festival, Mexico City, Mexico

    December
    29  Lost Paradise, Sydney, Australia
    31  Falls Festival VIC, Murron (Victoria), Australia

    January
    2   Falls Festival NSW, Yelgun, Australia
    4   Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, Australia
    5   Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, Australia
    6   Heaps Good Festival, Adelaide, Australia
    8   Falls Festival WA, Perth, Australia
    11  Riverstage, Brisbane, Australia
    14   The Domain, Sydney, Australia

  • Twiddle Announce Jam Packed Tour, with Shows in Port Chester

    Vermont-based jam band Twiddle announced a fall tour, with a lineup of artists including Of Good Nature, Dogs In A Pile, and Neighbor. There are multiple dates in Port Chester at the Capitol Theatre.

    twiddle tour

    The band includes Mihali Savoulidis [vocals, guitar], Ryan Dempsey [keys, organ, synth], Brook Jordan [drums], and Zdenek Gubb [bass]. They have 18 years of touring under their belt and are celebrating their fifth full-length album Every Last Leaf on this tour.

    The Twiddle tour features 23 shows in 19 cities, with two shows in Port Chester, with one show being their annual Frendsgiving celebration on Nov. 25 with support from Dogs In A Pile. The next day, they will have another show at the Capitol Theatre with support from Neighbor.

    Tickets for Twiddle’s Fall Tour are on sale now.

    Twiddle Fall 2022 Tour

    Oct. 25- Charlottesville, VA @ The Jefferson Theater *

    Oct. 26- Charlotte, NC @ The Underground

    Oct. 27- Live Oak, FL @ Suwannee Hulaween

    Oct. 28- New Orleans, LA @ Tipitina’s #

    Oct. 29- Tuscaloosa, AL @ Druid City Music Hall #

    Nov. 2- Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic Lounge #

    Nov. 3- Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Art Co. #

    Nov. 4- Houston, TX @ Last Concert Cafe #

    Nov. 5- Austin, TX @ Mohawk Austin #

    Nov. 8- Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room Lounge #

    Nov. 9- Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater #

    Nov. 10- Chicago, IL @ Park West #

    Nov. 11- Covington, KY @ Madison Theater #

    Nov. 12- St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall #

    Nov. 25- Port Chester, NY @ The Capitol Theatre #

    Nov. 26- Port Chester, NY @ The Capitol Theatre =

    Dec. 6- Grand Rapids, MI @ Elevation =

    Dec. 7- Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue Theatre =

    Dec. 8- Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl =

    Dec. 9- Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse =

    Dec. 10- Asheville, NC @ Salvage Station *

    Dec. 16- Burlington, Vt @ Higher Ground

    Dec. 17- Burlington, Vt @ Higher Ground

    *Of Good Nature

    # Dog In A Pile

    = Neighbor

  • ADK Independence Music Festival Releases Schedule for Labor Day Weekend

    The Adirondack (ADK) Independence Music Festival is set to return for its seventh year this weekend from Friday, September 2 to Sunday, September 4.

    ADK independence music festival

    Taking place at the Charles R. Wood Festival Commons in Lake George, the event is headlined by moe., a Buffalo jam rock band whose 30+ year career includes spots opening for The Allman Brothers and The Who, as well as Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, a Maryland funk group. Pigeons Playing Ping Pong will close out Friday night with a two set performance and moe. will close out Saturday and Sunday night with a pair of two set performances of their own.

    Other noteworthy performers at ADK Independence Music Festival include the Ryan Montbleau Band, Austin rock group White Denim, and Boston jam band Dopapod. Singer-songwriter Hayley Jane will perform as an “artist at large,” appearing on stage with a number of different bands throughout the weekend.

    ADK independence music festival
    Performance schedule for the Adirondack Independence Music Festival.

    Gates at the Festival Commons will open at noon on Friday with music beginning at 1 p.m., while gates open at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday with music beginning at noon.

    Along with music, the event will feature a variety of food and craft vendors for those attending. Information regarding tickets and more can be found on the Adirondack Independence Music Festival website.