Category: News Desk

Singer-Songwriter John Moreland Performs in Woodstock and Buffalo this Weekend

Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter John Moreland will grace audiences with his mesmerizing country sound this July. On July 23, the Oklahoma singer will promote his upcoming album, Birds in the Ceiling, at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock before traveling to Buffalo Iron Works on the 24. The Dead Tongues will join Moreland for both performances.

The singer’s upcoming album will be released on July 22, just a day before the show at Levon Helm Studios. Bird’s in the Ceiling is John Moreland’s sixth studio album, and some of his previous works, including LP5, and High on Tulsa Heat, garnered much positive attention from fans and critics alike. The pandemic prevented Moreland from touring for LP5, so his live performances are highly-anticipated and a long time coming.

The imminent Birds in the Ceiling album, via Old Omens/Thirty Tigers, combines folk, retro-pop, rock, and roots with the foundations of Moreland’s strong sense of lyrical story-telling. The nine-track album gives listeners a glimpse into Moreland’s most recent thoughts and experiences. Singles off of the upcoming album were released earlier this year, including “Ugly Faces,” “Claim Your Prize,” and “Cheap Idols Dressed in Expensive Garbage,” all of which you can listen to below.

An artist known for his lyrics, much of Moreland’s music cuts deep. The reflective lyrics “does it even matter? does it ever last? / I didn’t want the answer to the question that I asked / Can I kill a monster? can I be a man? / I can’t afford to give a damn if you don’t understand” off of “Ugly Faces” lend a lonesome and introspective perspective.

With Moreland’s talented and accomplished guitar playing, emotional vocals, and combination of instrumentation, the live performances in NY this summer are sure to be memorable and captivating. For the Levon Helm Studio performance, tickets cost $30 or $45, and gates open at 6:30. The Buffalo Iron Works show begins at 8:00 pm with doors open at 7:00 pm and tickets cost $25.

Tickets for the upcoming shows at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock and Iron Works in Buffalo can be found with the link available here. To listen to some more of John Moreland’s work, see below.

July 20, 2022
Peekskill Music Festival Will Kick off on July 23

Peekskill Music Festival will kick off on Saturday, July 23, 2022 in Downtown Peekskill, from 4pm to 10pm. Seven Bands will perform live on two stages which is free and open to the public. In addition, there will be kids activities, food trucks, indoor and outdoor dining options at participating restaurants, arts, crafts and community vendors, and a wide selection of cold draft beer for purchase.

Peekskill Music Festival

Downtown Peekskill today is Westchester’s most vibrant downtown community, unique in its mixture of historic architecture, ethnic diversity, bustling nightlife, foodie hot-spots, and community of artists, craftsmen and entrepreneurs. Peekskill Music Festival is sponsored by The Peekskill Business Improvement District: The Peekskill Business Improvement District, which was founded in 1996 and works to promote the growth and development of downtown Peekskill as an attractive place to live and do business.

“We are so excited to have such an amazing music line-up and that we can invite such world class performers to Downtown Peekskill. It will be great to see residents and visitors dancing in the streets again and supporting our local business community.”
Bill Powers

Peekskill Music Festival Lineup

Days of Wild at 4pm

Days of Wild is a combination of friends from different bands from around the tristate/New York City music scene. With an ever-changing lineup of musicians from around the world, DOW is renowned worldwide, and members are known for their skill, positivity, and dedication to funk.

Anthem Reggae Band at 5:15pm

Anthem Reggae Band comprised of talented musicians who all sing lead as well. Since uniting their efforts in 2000, the members of the group have captivated fans with their signature sound that has taken the music scene by storm. They has played with international reggae artists and has also been featured with Sister Carol on the Conan O’Brian show.

Alex Smith at 6:30pm

Alex Smith is a four-time Grammy-winning pianist, organist, composer, arranger, and educator. She is the keyboardist and arranger for Lady Gaga’s jazz quintet. He will join a band on Hammond Organ, with Tony Jefferson on drums, Vanessa Perea on vocals, and Ron Affif on guitar.

Chico Alvarez and RAN KAN KAN at 7:45pm

Chico Alvarez will perform with his Latin dance band, Ran Kan Kan. Chico Alvarez is a multi-talented Afro-Cuban musician, radio host, and Latin Jazz USA lifetime achievement awardee. Born in Brooklyn, grew up in Cuba, and has performed as a singer throughout the New York tristate area for the last four decades. He has directed several bands and orchestras including his 10-piece conjunto, Mafímba.

Soul Synergy at 9pm

The Soul Synergy Collective is a five – eight member ensemble comprised of artists from unique bands from the Tri-State area. The ensemble has performed at the Inaugural Ball for President Barack Obama with Hugh Masekela and more. The music of Prince, Chaka, and Luther comes to life with the sounds of real R&B.

Soul Synegy

Ahlfabet Swing Band at 4:30pm on Esther Street

The Ahlfabet Jazz Band plays traditional swing jazz in the various stylings of artists. Their music is rooted in the Jazz tradition taking elements from Ragtime, Blues, Swing, Dixieland, and Be-Bop to get a unique blend of sounds.

Premik’s World Music Ensemble at 6pm on Esther Street

Premik, a composer, recording artist, instructor and accomplished multi-instrumentalist performs on various flutes, soprano, alto and tenor saxophones, wind synthesizer and lap steel guitar. For the Peekskill Music Festival, the band will feature styles from classical to jazz to East/West fusion and lots in-between. Premik’s World Music Ensemble consists of: Premik on axohones, flutes, wind synth; Steve Sandbergon piano; Anupam Shobakar on guitar; Michael O’Bria on bass, Patrick Carmichael on drums.

Premik Russell Tubbs

Parking is free at on-street meters and at metered spaces in surface lots and garages. And for more information about Peekskill Music Festival please visit www.discoverpeekskill.com.

July 20, 2022
Paper Mill Island Amphitheater Announces Summer Concert Series

The Paper Mill Island Amphitheater will host a series of summer concerts this season in Baldwinsville, located just outside of Syracuse.

On July 23, Badfish returns to the amphitheater for a Sublime tribute. Badfish expertly replicates Sublime’s unique sound and captivates any audience. Special guest The Frank White Experience, a hip-hop tribute band, will be joining the band during the show.

A few days after Badfish comes to the Paper Mill Island Amphitheater, Almost Queen will arrive on July 30. The Queen tribute band will transport attendees into an intricate performance worthy of any Queen super-fan. With authentic costumes, real spirit, and signature four-part harmonies, Almost Queen does the band much justice.

Bruce in the USA – a Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band tribute – will grace audiences with a great performance on August 5. The band began back in 2004 along the Las Vegas Strip, where they were met with critical acclaim and a great atmosphere which they continue on to this day.

On August 11, Philadelphia-based band, Get the Led Out, will celebrate the music of Led Zeppelin like never heard before. Get the Led Out features six musicians, who deliver earlier Zed tracks, deeper songs seldom heard in concert, and an energy few bands can replicate. The act includes Paul Sinclair (vocals/harmonica), Paul Hammond (guitar), Tommy Zamp (guitar), Eddie Kurek (keyboards, guitar, vocals, percussion), Adam Ferraioli (drums/percussion), and Phil D’Agostino on bass and vocals.

https://youtu.be/8qmSuDl40Lc

Later in the season on September 2, Twiddle with special guest Annie in the Water will join the impressive Paper Mill series lineup. The Vermont quartet Twiddle will promote their fifth full-length studio album, Every Last Leaf. Featuring Mihali Savoulidis (vocals, guitar), Ryan Dempsey (keys, organ, synth), Brook Jordan (drums), and Zdenek Gubb (bass) the band has toured for 18 years and is sure not to disappoint. The group has previously performed in festivals such as Bonnaroo and Electric Forest.

For tickets to the upcoming shows at Paper Mill Island, and for more information, visit the link available here.

July 20, 2022
Tony Trischka Premieres New Show On July 20 At Joe’s Pub

On Wednesday, July 20 at Joe’s Pub in New York City, Tony Trischka will pay tribute to the music of Earl Scruggs. Earl Scruggs, pioneer of the three-finger banjo style and one of the two most important musicians in bluegrass.

Tony Trischka credit to ArtistWorks

Born in Syracuse in 1949 and raised in a home filled with music, Tony Trischka is now a renowned musician. Trischka fell in love with the banjo by way of the Kingston Trio’s 1959 recording of “M.T.A.,” and was able to experience the New York-centered folk revival by trekking to the Newport Folk Festival in the early to mid-’60s. His latest album Shall We Hope is an exploration of the Civil War, and features Michael Daves, Maura O’Connell, the Violent Femmes, Catherine Russell, Guy Davis and John Lithgow.

Joe’s Pub, a program of the Public Theater, is an independent, non-profit music venue, dedicated to supporting performing artists at every stage of their careers. They fulfilled the Public’s mission to serve audiences and artists alike, as an active member of New York City’s creative community while they pair vibrant culture with genuine hospitality every evening.

“Earl is my North Star, a lifetime pathway. And I’m not alone. Through his music, this shy kid from Flint Hill, North Carolina went on to enrich countless thousands of lives. At the age of 13, when I first heard 16 notes of Scruggs style banjo playing, I put down my folk guitar and mercilessly pestered my parents to buy me a banjo. Once in my hands, that 5-string became my obsession and has been for close to 60 years. The depth of his genius becomes ever more apparent when I transcribe his solos, which I’ve been doing my entire musical life and with renewed vigor. Discovering new twists and turns in his playing is pure joy and in fact the inspiration for this tribute show.”
Tony Trischka

Together with his band—Michael Daves on vocals and guitar, bassist Jared Engel, fiddler Alex Hargreaves (from Billy Strings’ band), and mandolinist Maddie Witler— Tony Trischka will trace the story of Scruggs from his childhood to his final years. He is recently possessed with the recordings of jam sessions with Scruggs and John Hartford, some of which will be debuted at Joe’s Pub.

The show will start at 7:00pm.

July 19, 2022
JRAD to make SPAC Debut in August, Lawn Tickets now on Sale

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD) will make their Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) debut on Thursday, August 25.

The Grateful Dead tribute band has been performing since January 2013, when guitarist Scott Metzger, bassist Dave Dreiwitz, keyboardist Marco Benevento and guitarist Tom Hamilton joined forces with drummer Joe Russo at Freak’s Ball, held at Brooklyn Bowl. The result was a band that has toured the country and amassed a dedicated following thanks to their improv-heavy interpretations of the Grateful Dead catalog, in addition to unique covers.

Tickets for all three concerts go on sale to the general public this Friday, March 18 at 10 a.m. ET. Passwords for a band presale, which Tuesday, March 15 at 12 p.m. ET, and can be found posted on JRAD’s Facebook Page.

Lawn tickets have just gone on sale as of July 19, with a special offer on lawn tickets for just $20.00 plus fees while supplies last. Tickets are available at livenation.com or through Ticketmaster.

On April 7, JRAD announced they will make stops in Pittsburgh, PA at Stage AE on July 8, in Bonner, MT at KettleHouse Amphitheater on July 21, and in Stanford, CA at Frost Amphitheater on August 13.

JRAD will follow up their SPAC debut with a a two night run at Leader Bank Pavilion August 26-27 in Boston.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead’s Facebook presale starts Tuesday, April 12 at 1 p.m. EST.

July 19, 2022
Dip into Finger Lakes Music with Geneva’s Live After 5 series

Live After 5 is the local Friday night Summer music series in the Finger Lakes town of Geneva. On select Fridays, listen to music while sitting in a lawn chair on the beautiful waterfront at the Geneva Wyndham.

Geneva has been settled by Americans since the late 18th century, being inhabited previously by the Algonquin, Senaca Nation who were members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The shores of Seneca Lake served as a military outpost for British Loyalists, with settlers moving in after 1792, bringing in others from New England, Maryland, Virginia, eastern New York and Pennsylvania for farming. Geneva itself was incorporated as a village in 1806 and a city in 1897.

One of the largest music events in the Finger Lakes, music for Live After 5 begins at 5:30pm and ends at 9:30pm, with performances held rain or shine.

Live After 5 Lineup

July 8th Ruby Shooz

July 22nd Jon Lamanna

August 12th Flint Creek

August 26th Prime Time Funk

July 19, 2022
“Beastie Boys Square” Approved For NYC Intersection

The New York City Council approved a measure to name a Lowe East Side Manhattan intersection “Beastie Boys Square” made famous by The Beastie Boys’ album Paul’s Boutique.

The Beastie Boys, pictured in 2009.

The Beastie Boys were an American rap group from New York City, formed in 1981. The group was composed of Michael “Mike D” Diamond, Adam “MCA” Yauch, and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz. Beastie Boys have sold 20 million records in the United States and had seven platinum-selling albums from 1986 to 2004. They are the biggest-selling rap group since Billboard began recording sales in 1991.

The corner of Ludlow and Rivington streets is seen on the cover of their 1989 masterpiece, and the vote on Thursday marked an end to a nearly decade-long grassroots campaign by fans. In 2014, the city council voted against “Beastie Boys Square” by a vote of 24-to-1.

Cultural advocate LeRoy McCartney spearheaded similar landmark-naming campaigns, like the Wu-Tang Clan (Wu-Tang District in Staten Island) and The Notorious B.I.G. (Brooklyn’s Christopher Wallace Way), and credits Council Member Chris Marte with helping to push the renaming.

As many of us know, once the Beastie Boys hit the scene, it really changed the hip-hop game. I see it as a celebration. A celebration for the Lower East Side, a celebration for hip-hop and especially a celebration for our community who has been organizing for a really long time to make this happen.
Chris Marte

Marte also gave credit to the group themselves for paving the way in the genre of hip-hop and thanked the local residents, businesses, politicians, and more who supported the fight for the street name.

McCarthy also spoke about the decision in a statement.

It has been a long road to get Beastie Boys Square accomplished, but I am happy to see New York government formally embracing the indigenous arts and culture of hip hop, and the street sign is very appropriate because hip hop is from the NYC streets.
LeRoy McCarthy

Mayor Eric Adams will have to sign off on the measure before it can be scheduled to get dedicated.

July 19, 2022
Nyack Jazz Week in Full Swing

The Nyack Jazz Week presented by The Rockland County Jazz & Blues Society will take place July 17-23 in Nyack, NY.

The Rockland County Jazz & Blues Society is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is to promote the heritage, performance, appreciation, and vitality of jazz, blues, and related music forms in Rockland County, NY, and surrounding regions. For the first time, the week will open with an all-day, outdoor, free festival featuring local jazz artists.

We support musicians and audiences by creating opportunities for performances and educational events, identifying sources of funding to support the creation of new musical works, and by facilitating communications between musicians and their audiences. We foster the development of musicians and audiences of the future through educational programs and mentoring, so music remains a vital and relevant cultural force in the region.
Rockland County Jazz & Blues Society

Nyack Jazz Week Lineup

Opening Jazz Fest-July 17 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.

The opening day jazz fest will take place July 17 from 1-5 P.M. outside on Broadway in Nyack featuring local jazz artists.

Vanessa Day & Yasu – 1:00-1:25 P.M.
Ahlfabet Swing Band – 1:35-2:20 P.M.
Coby Petricone Berg Quartet – 2:30-3:15 P.M.
Mr. Gone – 3:25-4:10 P.M.
Ron Affif/David Budway Quartet – 4:20-5:00 P.M.

July 17- Scott Reeves Jazz Orchestra

The Scott Reeves Jazz Orchestra will be playing at the Turning Point Café in Piermont at 8 P.M, tickets are $25.

July 18- John Richmond with special guest Ralph Lalama

John Richmond and Ralph Lalama will be performing from 8-9 P.M. at the Turning Point Café in Piermont, tickets are $15.

July 21- Anita Brown Jazz Orchestra

The Anita Brown Orchestra will be performing from 7:30-9:30 P.M. at The Garden in Nyack, tickets are a $15 suggested donation.

July 21- Arturo O’Farrill Quintet playing Afro-Latin Jazz

First Showing: 7:30 P.M.

Second Showing: 9:30 P.M.
Arturo O’Farrill-piano, Adam O’Farrill-trumpet, Zack O’Farrill-drums,
Liany Mateo-bass, Carlos Maldonado-percussion

Arturo O’Farrill, pianist, composer, and educator, was born in Mexico and grew up in New York City. A technically virtuosic pianist, Arturo’s professional career began with the Carla Bley Band and continued as a solo performer with a wide spectrum of artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Bowie, Wynton Marsalis, and Harry Belafonte. Arturo is the internationally acclaimed leader for Afro-Latin Jazz and has won an impressive 7 Grammy awards for his recordings. He will be performing at Maureen’s Jazz Cellar in Nyack, tickets are $30.

Arturo O’Farrill

July 23- Vincent Herring Quartet

First Showing: 7:30 P.M.

Second Showing: 9:30 P.M.

Vincent Herring-alto sax, Mike LeDonne-piano, Jason Clotter-bass,
Joe Farnsworth-drums

Alto Saxophonist Vincent Herring’s intense, soulful, multi-noted style and ebullient swing have excited audiences worldwide. With his sound strongly influenced by Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, Vincent’s virtuosity and promise led to a nine-year relationship with Nat Adderley. After Nat’s death, Louis Hayes collaborated with Vincent to form the Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band. Vincent worked and recorded with Cedar Walton for more than 20 years. He has also performed and/or recorded with Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Horace Silver, Kenny Barron, and Nancy Wilson among many others. He will be performing at Maureen’s Jazz Cellar in Nyack, tickets are $30.

Vincent Herring

For more information about Nyack Jazz Week and to purchase tickets, go here.

July 19, 2022
iMatter Festival Returns to Horseheads Following Two Year Hiatus

After having a two year hiatus, shows and festivals of all sizes are coming back and coming back strong. One such festival that has been a staple for many years which brought people from all over the state and out, this festival, is iMatter. If you ever been to Warped Tour, you may get a similar vibe, with multiple vendors, bands with merch tents, two stages(way less than Warped Tour).

IMatter’s home is located in Horseheads at The L, and while not big in comparison to the other cities like Rochester or Buffalo, many flock to this area every year for it. One thing that shocks many, is the fact that this festival is free, which seems impossible and has been since the start. There is a lot more to talk about but who better to explain than the current organizer Adam Bunce.

Joe Booth: So, how would you describe iMatter Festival to someone who’s never been?

Adam Bunce: The iMatter Festival is a free annual festival featuring hard rock, metal, and alternative bands from local to national acts. The festival counter suicide, self-harm and self-doubt by promoting unearthed value, unveiled purpose and defiant hope to this generation.

JB: What was your inspiration for the festival and the name?

AB: The iMatter Festival is a free concert hosted by the iMatter Foundation promoting life, hope and value to our communities. Its message is simple: every life matters. The festival began in 2007 because the founder, Scott Lowmaster, wanted to give everyone in attendance something for free, and ask nothing in return from them for attending.

JB: What makes iMatter special for you?

AB: iMatter is special to me because it’s truly something unique and one of a kind. A festival like this would normally run upwards of $50-$500 to attend, yet we have found a way to make it free for those that choose to join us each year.

JB: What has been your favorite iMatter or memory?

AB: For me personally it was probably the year that Underoath headlined the festival. Underoath has always been one of the most influential bands for me over the last 20 years. It was always a dream of mine to book them and we had that opportunity in 2018.

JB: After being on hiatus for two years, were there any challenges to bringing back the festival?

AB: We’ve had a lot of issues this year, issues are always a thing when it comes to booking a festival. Unfortunately, we weren’t granted our mass gathering permit from the county. This is the main reason we had to move the location of the festival to The L. The L is an iMatter run venue that we opened up in September of 2021. As much as the festival is what helped us birth the venue, the venue just isn’t large enough to give iMatter the “feel” that an open field provides. We hope that in 2023 we’ll be able to get this all back up and running as an outdoor festival, it was either move to The L in 2022 or not run for a 3rd straight summer.

JB: I’m sure with the festival almost here, you still have lots of planning going on but do you have any goals for next year and beyond?

AB: Yes, we are always trying to make sure that we are offering something unique to those who attend. Its always our mission to keep the festival free, and we will continue to follow that model. But we love what some of the VIP packages have allowed us to offer those that are willing to pay for an enhanced experience on the day of the festival.

JB: Thank you for your time, would like to add any final thoughts?

AB: We are just ecstatic that we can bring iMatter Festival back after having a 2 year hiatus. Even if it’s just a smaller version of what iMatter has been historically, it’s a step towards what it was originally intended to be.

In case you haven’t seen it, this is the lineup for this year and even though this is a free event, the capacity is limited and all free tickets have been claimed but there’s still plenty of VIP packages you can buy. We will see you July 30th at The L for iMatter Festival Reset.

Take a look back at iMatter Festival in 2018 and 2019.

July 18, 2022
Open Sky Arts Festival Returns in Lake Placid this August

Open Sky Arts Festival returns for its second year at The Lake Placid Center for the Arts with a series of outdoor concerts running from August 11 to 14.

This year’s festival is a celebration with eight musical acts ready to bring audiences the best entertainment. Over the course of four days, attendees can enjoy the beautiful Lake Placid atmosphere, live music, food, and more.

Open Sky Arts Festival brings a great lineup to its audiences this year – including various genres such as bluegrass, rock, pop, blues, and even a performance specifically intended for families. Just recently added to the lineup, The Hillbenders will kick off the festival on August 11 at 8:00 pm with tickets starting at $15.

The Hillbenders

On Friday, August 12 at 7:00 pm, grammy-nominated artists Paula Cole and Sophie B. Hawkins will take the stage. The two acts are known for their ‘90s hits such as “I Don’t Want to Wait” (Cole) and “As I Lay Me Down” (Hawkins).

Saturday, August 13 brings four acts to The Lake Placid Center for the Arts. The lineup includes the family show The Secret Agency, The Larry Stephenson Band, Emmylou Harris, and finally The Spin Doctors at 8:00 pm. On August 14, Martin Sexton will close out the festival beginning at 2:00 pm.

Emmylou Harris Photo Credit: Kat Villacorta

Situated right in the historic Olympic village of Lake Placid, the LPCA provides programming, performances, exhibitions, and educational opportunities for all visitors and residents of the area to enjoy. The LPCA was founded in 1972 and continues to this day to enrich, inspire, entertain, and educate the greater community.

Festivalgoers can purchase passes or individual tickets to the performances. Individual tickets range, starting from $15 to $75 and passes are $200 or $175 for LPCA members. For tickets and more information, visit the LPCA website, here.

https://youtu.be/puQLvCwdHn0

July 18, 2022