NYS Music 202​2

Category: News Desk

  • Universal Preservation Hall Announces 2022 Season Shows

    Universal Preservation Hall has announced shows for the 2022 season, including an In the Round series, a silent disco, a few notable names sharing their talent, and holiday classics to bring in December.

    A view of Universal Preservation Hall is seen during the media tour and ribbon cutting of the new concert hall in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union)

    Universal Preservation Hall, “UPH”, is the performing arts, and community events venue located in Saratoga Springs. It was reconstructed from an 1871 former Methodist church and transformed from 19th century High Victorian Gothic church to state-of-the-art performance facility will be nothing short of amazing.

    Silent Disco — 7 p.m. July 29

    Silent Disco

    A silent disco is in an activity where people dance to music listened to on wireless headphones. Rather than using a traditional speaker system, music is broadcast via a transmitter with the signal being picked up by wireless headphones worn by the participants. Grab your headphones, pick your music and make the Silent Disco your own as you tear up the dance floor.

    An Evening You Can’t Refuse with Gianni Russo — 7:30 p.m. August 5

    Gianni Russo, known for his iconic role in The Godfather, as well as other film and television credits. Join us as Gianni Russo inspires audiences with the legendary journey of his music, storytelling of his life and acting career.

    Country Thunder: Country Legends Tribute — 7:30 p.m. August 20

    Country Legends Tribute Tour is now firmly established as North Americas #1 Country Music Tribute show featuring the music of the biggest names on the American scene including Garth Brooks, Shania Twain and Keith Urban!

    In the Round Series: KAINA and LI & The Little Idea — 7 p.m. October 1

    KAINA has created generational music that surpasses borders, a unified expression of her native Chicago coupled with her Venezuelan and Guatemalan heritage. LI & the Little Idea is a true music lover’s dream band offering listeners an experiential journey across various regions and eras of American music. It’s lyrical, it’s “dancy,” it’s authentic and it’s real.

    Cordâme – Da Vinci Inventions — 8 p.m. October 14

    Composer Jean Félix Mailloux interprets music inspired by the Italian Renaissance. This show of music and jazz will make you experience a whole range of emotions with surprising music, transcending beauty and wonder.

    Issac Mizrahi — 7:30 p.m. October 29

    Isaac Mizrahi, an actor, host, writer, designer, and producer of 30 years, now brings his singing talent to UPH for the first time! A Cabaret style performance you can’t miss.

    Justin Roberts (Not Ready for Naptime) — 6 p.m. November 10 / School Day Performance at 10:30 a.m.

    For nearly 20 years, Justin Roberts has been creating the soundtrack to families’ lives, helping kids navigate the joys and sorrows of growing up while allowing parents to remember their own childhoods.

    It’s a Jazzy Christmas — 7:30 p.m. December 16

    It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and It’s a Jazzy Christmas has all your favorite holiday songs!

    Remembering the Fifties Holiday Show — 7:30 p.m. December 17

    Celebrate the holidays with a salute to The Platters! This four-person tribute group brings their hits like “Only You” and “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” to life with a Motown live band!

    The Queen’s Cartoonist — 7:30 p.m. December 22

    The Queen’s Cartoonists play music from classic cartoons and contemporary animation. Performances are synched to videos of the original films while the band leads the audience through a world of multi-instrumental mayhem and comedy!

    Samara Joy — 8 p.m. December 23

    Samara Joy has dug deep to discover her jazz roots, without losing sight of the innate simplicity that makes her sound shine. With a voice as smooth as velvet, Joy’s star seems to rise with each performance!

    Tickets are available through the Box Office at Proctors or online at proctors.org.

  • The Mars Volta Release First New Music In Over 10 Years

    The Mars Volta have broken their 10 year hiatus today with the release of their new single and short film, “Blacklight Shine.” Over the weekend, the band began teasing this release with coordinates to Grand Park in Los Angeles, hinting at some kind of “pop-up” for June 19th-21st. This came in the form of a cube you can enter and experience the new song with an audio-visual experience. Today, June 21st, the single is officially released along with the bands first tour since 2012.

    the mars volta
    The Mars Volta, Photo by Fat Bob

    “Blacklight Shine” highlights The Mars Volta’s fundamental strengths in their most accessible and Latin-rooted form. Vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala sings mostly in Spanish with his signature tones soaring over a mix of traditional drums and Caribbean bongos and percussions. Guitarist Omar Rodriguez-López presents a sunshine-laced psychedelic groove perfect for a release date on the summer solstice. When talking about the story of the song, Cedric says he is trying to shine a light on “a wave of rolling blackouts washing memories onto shore, a heartbeat that still remembers everything.” Watch the short film below, which takes place on a Caribbean beach and features a multi-generational dance sequence backed by driving percussions.

    “Blacklight Shine” by The Mars Volta, via YouTube

    The announcement is also coming with a short tour; a New York show is happening at NYC’s Terminal 5 on September 29th. Presale starts this Wednesday, June 22nd with a full general sale on Friday, June 24th. See the official tour poster below and head to the band’s website for ticket links. The Mars Volta has not yet announced any details on what would be their seventh LP, but stay tuned for more announcements to come.

    the mars volta

  • Concerts on the Waterfront Return to Sackets Harbor Starting June 26

    The Sackets Harbor Historical Society announced the lineup for their free upcoming summer concert series, Concerts on the Waterfront.

    Held from 3:00 to 5:00 pm every Sunday from June 26 through September 4, the summer concert series is back for its 38th season.  Last year, the theme represented the relief of the return of live music.  The 2022 theme, “Let’s Celebrate!” is yet another joyous return for summer shows.

    The spectacular waterfront views of Lake Ontario make for a perfect music venue, and Sackets Harbor also holds a deep historical significance. After the War of 1812 broke out between Great Britain and the United States, the harbor became the center point for American naval and military operations along Lake Ontario.

    Each concert in the series will be held at the Sackets Harbor Battlefield, and the long-standing popular jazz group Sacci Band will open the series on June 26. Featuring American pop music from the WWII era and styles from the Golden Age of Swing, the band continues to honor traditions with the series’ first performance.

    Other upcoming performances for the summer series include Tink Bennett and Taylor Made, ATLAS, The Dakotas, Oceans Below, and Maria DeSantis Orchestra, among others. With genres such as jazz, country, classic rock, Latin jazz, folk, classical and more, Concerts on the Waterfront certainly has something for everyone to enjoy throughout the summer season.

    Over the course of the summer 11 talented, diverse groups will take the stage at the Sackets Harbor Battlefield. Guests are invited to bring chairs and blankets, and should the weather not permit an outdoor show, the rain site will be St. Andrews Parish Center on East Main St. & Woolsey St.

    Below are the full summer series concert dates.

    Concerts on the Waterfront 2022 – “Let’s Celebrate!”

    June 26 Sacci Band  (Big Band)

    July 3 Tink Bennett and Taylor Made  (Country)

    July 10 Alex Torres and his Latin Orchestra (Latin)

    July 17 Atlas   (80’s party)

    July 24 Dakotas  (Alternative Blue Grass)

    July 31 Son BoriKua*  (Caribbean)

    August 7 Oceans Below  (Favorites)

    August 14 Ruby Shooz*  (50 – 60’s)

    August 21 10th Mountain Division Army Band (Tentative) 

    August 28 Hot Jazz Jumpers  (Jazz)

    Sept. 4 Maria DeSantis Orchestra  (Big Band)

    *These concerts are made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the N. Y. S. Council on the Arts, with support of the Governor and State Legislature, and administered by the St. Lawrence County Arts Council.

  • Post Malone Announces ‘Twelve Carat Tour’ With Stops at UBS Arena and Madison Square Garden

    Grammy-nominated artist Post Malone has announced a month-long, 33-city North American tour that will see him headline UBS Arena at Belmont Park on October, 9 and Madison Square Garden three nights later. The “Twelve Carat Tour” comes on the heels of Post Malone’s highly-anticipated fourth studio album, Twelve Carat Tootache.

    Produced by LiveNation, the tour kicks-off on September, 10 in Omaha, NE and will see Post Malone perform throughout the Mid-West before heading East for a layover of performances. The “Sunflower” crooner will grace the stage at DC’s Capital One Arena, The Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, and Newark’s Prudential Center. The East-coast portion of the tour culminates in performances at UBS Arena at Belmont Park on October, 9 — where Roddy Rich will make a guest-apperance — and Madison Square Garden on the 12th. The Twelve Carat Tour continues down south before concluding on November, 15 at L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena.

    Twelve Carat Tootache was released on June, 3 and debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200. The album was heavily anticipated with the high-charting singles “Cooped Up,” “One Right Now” and “I Like You (A Happier Song),” and an all-star cast of features which includes Doja Cat, Gunna, Roddy Rich and The Weeknd.

    Since coming onto the scene with his breakthrough hit “White Iverson,” Post Malone has become one of the most successful pop-stars of the last decade with 66 entries in the Billboard Hot 100 — including 11 top 10 hits — and is a 9-time Grammy-nominee. In 2019, he became youngest artist in history to have a total of three diamond-certified singles with the records “Congratulations,” “Rockstar” and “Sunflower” reaching the 10 million sales plateau.

    Tickets for the Twelve Carat Tour are live at livenation.com

    TWELVE CARAT TOUR DATES:
    *With Roddy Ricch

    Sat, Sep 10 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center
    Sun, Sep 11 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center*
    Wed, Sep 14 – Chicago, IL – United Center*
    Thu, Sep 15 – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum*
    Sat, Sep 17 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center*
    Sun, Sep 18 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena*
    Tue, Sep 20 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
    Fri, Sep 23 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
    Tue, Sep 27 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
    Wed, Sep 28 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
    Sat, Oct 01 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
    Sun, Oct 02 – Indianapolis, IN – Gainbridge Fieldhouse
    Tue, Oct 04 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena*
    Thu, Oct 06 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center

    Fri, Oct 07 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center*
    Sun, Oct 09 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena*
    Wed, Oct 12 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden    *

    Thu, Oct 13 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden*
    Sat, Oct 15 – Columbia, SC – Colonial Life Arena*
    Sun, Oct 16 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena*
    Tue, Oct 18 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena*
    Fri, Oct 21 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center*
    Sat, Oct 22 – Austin, TX – Moody Center*
    Tue, Oct 25 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center*
    Wed, Oct 26 – Ft. Worth, TX – Dickies Arena*
    Fri, Oct 28 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center*
    Sun, Oct 30 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena*
    Tue, Nov 01 – Salt Lake City, UT – Vivint Arena*
    Thu, Nov 03 – Portland, OR – Moda Center*
    Sat, Nov 05 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena*
    Sun, Nov 06 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena*
    Thu, Nov 10 – Los Angeles, CA – The Kia Forum*
    Fri, Nov 11 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena*
    Tue, Nov 15 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena*

  • Brooklyn Instrumentalist Chris St. Hilaire Joins The Black Keys Touring Band This Summer

    This summer, Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist Chris St. Hilaire will join the Black Keys Touring Band as part of their ‘Dropout Boogie’ tour. The tour will kick off in Las Vegas on July 9th and wrap up in Dallas on Oct. 18, arriving in New York State at SPAC on July 20th and Jones Beach on July 22th.

    Chris St. Hilaire
    The Black Keys Dropout Boogie

    Born in Huntington to Trinidadian parents, music was a rich part of Chris St. Hilaire’s foundation and cultural upbringing. His father is also a toured guitarist and influenced his playing and songwriting. St. Hilaire started playing drums at thirteen and was influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson. His vocal, harmony structure, and songwriting style was mostly shaped by The Beatles.

    Chris St. Hilaire
    Chris St. Hilaire

    Besides the tour, Chris St. Hilaire will also complement the release of the band’s 11th studio album Dropout Boogie. This particular arrangement will give St. Hilaire an opportunity to offer his multi-instrumental capabilities onstage, and represents a unique inflection point in his career.

    I think my instincts are going to be pretty compatible with everything that they are doing. The melodies are really strong, which is always fun, and their music is rooted in rhythmic music, so percussion-wise I’ll have a lot of room to play with space and work to keep the rhythm driving. I think this will be a really cool opportunity to tour in a highly efficient and dignified way.

    Chris St. Hilaire

    The Black Keys ‘Dropout Boogie’ Tour (Summer/Fall 2022)

    July 9: Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena

    July 11: Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre

    July 13: Denver, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre

    July 15: St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre St. Louis

    July 16: Indianapolis, IN @ Ruoff Music Center

    July 17: Chicago, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Tinley Park

    July 20: Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center

    July 22: Jones Beach, NY @ Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

    July 23: Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center

    July 25: Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion

    July 27: Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion

    July 29: Boston, MA @ Xfinity Center

    July 30: Philadelphia, PA @ Waterfront Music Pavilion (formerly BB&T Pavilion)

    Aug. 24: West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

    Aug. 25: Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

    Aug. 27: Atlanta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre

    Aug. 28: Huntsville, AL @ Orion Amphitheatre

    Aug. 30: Charleston, SC @ Credit One Stadium

    Sept. 1: Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

    Sept. 3: Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center

    Sept. 6: Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage

    Sept. 7: Detroit, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre

    Sept. 9: Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Music Center

    Oct. 2: Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena

    Oct. 3: Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena

    Oct. 5: Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre

    Oct. 8: Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum

    Oct. 10: Phoenix, AZ @ Ak-Chin Pavilion

    Oct. 13: Rogers, AR @ Walmart AMP

    Oct. 15: Houston, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

    Oct. 17: Austin, TX – Moody Center ATX

    Oct. 18: Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion

    For more information visit www.chrissthilaire.com

  • CFCU Cortland Main Street Music Series expands for Summer 2022 

    The annual CFCU Cortland Main Street Music Series continues to grow with a 2022 line-up featuring the best local talent from CNY plus world-class bands. The series celebrates 19 years of bringing local, regional and national acts to Downtown Cortland with genres ranging from rock, Americana, folk, country, blues and many points in between. Doors open at 5pm for all shows and music begins at 6pm every Friday in July. 

    Cortland Main Street

    The City of Cortland, home of the Main Street Music Series, is centrally located in the scenic seven valleys of Central New York. Historically known as the Crown City, for its position as the highest elevation city in the state, Cortland is a gateway to the Finger Lakes Region and destination spot for live music and cultural events.

    15 artists will grace the CFCU Community Credit Union stage over the course of five free concerts, all taking place at Rose Hall, at 19 Church Street Cortland.

    Cortland Main Street

    The series kicks off with a triple billing on Friday, July 1st with headliners James Barker Band and supporting acts Taylor Made and Jon Rogalia. James Barker Band have fueled an incredible story over the last six years, largely on their own, from playing opening spots in small Ontario bars to charting multiple No. 1 singles, garnering hundreds of millions of global streams, and headlining some of Canada’s largest country music festivals. Now, with new music on the way, the four-piece is continuing their meteoric ascent in Nashville. In 2017, they sent their single “Chills” straight to the top of Billboard’s Canadian Hot 100 chart. The upbeat anthem also achieved Platinum status, alongside other songs from their introductory LP Game On, earning them numerous national awards. In addition, these best-friends have already amassed another six GOLD-certified and PLATINUM-certified tracks. 

    The second week of the series follows on July 8th with local roots rock band The Unknown Woodsmen and fellow area artists The Rollin’ Rust and Austin MacRae. Music fans across the Northeast are talking about CNY-based band The Unknown Woodsmen, who draw from the classic sounds of rock to create their own blues-reggae flavor of infectious rock grooves. Since its inception in 2011, the band has spent countless hours honing their signature sound and tirelessly performing throughout the Northeast. Whether it is their crafty hooks, old-school grooves, or energetic stage presence, The Unknown Woodsmen captivate crowd after crowd at show after show to a growing base of loyal fans in the Central New York region. 

    The series turns things up a notch in the third week, when The Rods headline the Friday, July 15th show at Rose Hall. They’ll be joined by supporting acts Sydney Irving and the Mojo and local singer songwriter Quona Hudson. The Rods are a series favorite and classic heavy metal band that rocked their way through the 80’s with a powerful, raw energy that led them on tours with some of today’s greatest metal bands—Judas Priest, Ozzy, Motorhead, and Metallica, to name just a few. Listeners will find that The Rods are still a force to be reckoned with today, as they continue on at full-throttle, with a new line-up and a forceful, vintage sound. 

    Friday, July 22nd, the CFCU Cortland Main Street Music Series will drench Rose Hall in the blues, when Joe Louis Walker brings his band to the Cortland stage, with opening sets by regional favorites Mike Powell and Raedwald Howland-Bolton. Joe Louis Walker, a Blues Hall of Fame inductee and four-time Blues Music Award winner celebrates a career that exceeds a half a century. A true powerhouse guitar virtuoso, unique singer and prolific songwriter, he has toured extensively throughout his career, performed at the world’s most renowned music festivals, and earned a legion of dedicated fans. Walker’s 1986 debut album Cold Is the Night on HighTone announced his arrival in stunning fashion, and his subsequent output has only served to further establish Walker as one of the leading bluesmen on the scene. NPR Music has called Walker “a legendary boundary-pushing icon of modern blues,” and he is already being referred to within the blues world as a living legend. 

    Rounding out the last show of the series on Friday, July 29th, Rose Hall will welcome headlining act Upstate along with opening artists Miss Tess Duo and Cloey Tierno.

    The CFCU Cortland Main Street Music Series, presented by CFCU Community Credit Union, is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization with a mission to enrich Cortland’s culture and contribute to a vital downtown by providing an annual series of concerts by local, regional and national artists. Additional sponsorship is provided by the Cortland County Business Development Corporation and the Cortland County Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote “Crown City Rising,” a communications platform aiming to inform downtown stakeholders and the community at large about the ongoing Main Street reconstruction process.

    More information can be found by visiting CrownCityRising.com and more information about the series can be found by following updates on Facebook and Instagram or by visiting their website at MainStreetMusicSeries.com.

  • Burning Spear Announces First NYC Show in More Than a Decade

    Reggae icon Burning Spear will play at Capital One City Parks Foundation Summerstage in Central Park on August 25, their first NYC show in more than 10 years and final announced show of the summer.

    A music-maker, community icon, educator and spiritual uplifter, Burning Spear has carried the torch of the political activist Marcus Garvey’s gospel, promoting self-determination and self-reliance for African descendants for over four decades, throughout 25 albums. Promoting messages of peace and love to all, through his complex lyricism and rhythms, Burning Spear is a lifelong touring musician and his return to the stage will be nothing short of monumental.

    The reggae icon will perform in New York for his Fan Appreciation tour which sees the Grammy Award-winning artist return to the stage for the first time in more than five years, playing cities like San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, DC, and more.

    Burning Spear’s latest single “Mommy,” pays homage to the bold, powerful, minor-key reggae style that the icon helped pioneer in the 1970s and is the first standalone single from his upcoming album No Destroyer (TBD release date).

    The show is presented by Sony Hall and DayGlo and tickets are on sale now. The full list of this year’s SummerStage lineup can be found here.

    BURNING SPEAR – 2022 TOUR DATES
    Jul 22 San Francisco, CA, US The Masonic
    Jul 23 San Diego, CA, US Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre at SDSU
    Jul 24 Inglewood, CA, US YouTube Theater
    Jul 26 Portland, OR, US Roseland Theater
    Jul 27 Seattle, WA, US Moore Theatre
    Jul 29 Silver Spring, MD, US The Fillmore Silver Spring
    Jul 30 Denver, CO, US Levitt Pavilion
    Aug 5 Boston, MA, US House of Blues – Boston
    Aug 6 Philadelphia, PA, US TD Pavilion at the Mann
    Aug 10 Vertheuil, France Domaine De Nodris
    Aug 13 Birmingham, UK Forum Birmingham
    Aug 14 London, UK O2 Academy Brixton
    Aug 25 NYC, SummerStage in Central Park

  • Alive at 5: Spafford and Annie in the Water Jam Out at Jennings Landing

    Making their first visit to Albany since October 2017, Spafford returned to the Capital Region with a vengeance on Thursday, June 16. Headlining week two of Albany’s beloved Alive at 5 concert series, organizers could not have booked a more appropriate act for “Jam Night” than the Arizona improv quartet; a band that’s bolstered their reputation in recent years by occasionally surprising audiences with unannounced single-song shows. 

    Despite a tornado warning in areas of Western New York, mother nature played nice and so did the band.  Indeed the jams at Jennings Landing on this night went long and strong and judging by the look on many of the first timers in the crowd, it was as if the music was hitting them over the head like a sonic sledgehammer, and they loved it. 

    spafford annie in the water

    Opening band and local legends Annie in the Water started the evening as only they know how. The whole band was delighted to be playing for Alive at Five and you could tell from the first note. Although it wasn’t the jam-heavy sets fans may be accustomed to, the Annie boys threw down a well-rounded set that had a large portion of people on their feet. They chose original songs as well as an excellent cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” that have brought their fans to fall in love with the band.

    Setlist: Time to Play, In the Sand, Lights up, River, Dreams (Fleetwood Mac), Seeds, Dancing the Night Away

    spafford annie in the water
    spafford annie in the water

    In an age where “jamming” is often viewed as a dirty word, Spafford makes no bones about what type of band they are.  Comprised of Brian Moss (guitar/vocals), Jordan Fairless (Bass), Andrew “Red” Johnson on keyboards and Nick Tkachyk on drums, their social media bio simply says “We Jam.”  But while the theme for this week was “Jam night,” this was anything but your typical Spafford show.  For one thing it was totally free, thus attracting a lot of curious and first-time listeners.  Second, due to the 8pm city curfew, there was only time for the band to play one set and no encore.   Another key component missing was the bands elaborate light show, which due to the time of day was an impossibility.  

    spafford annie in the water

    Well aware of these limitations, Spafford played it smart and went with an almost “festival-like” setlist.  With first time ears upon them, they decided to offer up a collection of some of their more well known and more accessible compositions.  Kicking things off with one of the songs that put them on the map, the opening riff of “Electric Taco Stand” made it clear that despite the constraints, these Arizona cats  came to Albany to boogie down. After a beautiful and contemplative version of the Andrew “Red” Johnson sung “Slip and Squander,” bassist Jordan Fairless had his chance to shine on what was perhaps the highlight of the night, “Leave the Light On.”  Shifting gears from its reggae style structure, this version would drift into a delicate and blissfully sublime space before Jordan would reel it in and lead fans through the call and response portion of the song, so catchy even first timers could be seen mouthing the words in unison. 

    spafford annie in the water

    Worth noting is that the guys appeared to be having an absolute blast on stage.  Smiles all around,  Jordan in particular seemed more jovial than his usual self, even making all kinds of “bass faces” and playing off Brian’s tasty licks by sticking out his tongue during an absolutely epic version of “Back Door Funk.”  Showcasing their versatility and flaunting their ability to blend various genres seamlessly into one, the evening had everything from filthy funk and up-tempo jamtronica, to rump-shaking reggae, introspective instrumentals and all out rock n’ roll shred fests courtesy of Mr. Brian Moss and his custom Thomas Milana guitar: The Raven.  In fact, if there was an actual way to keep track of such things, I’d be willing to bet Moss played more notes during this set than any other performer in Alive at 5 history. 

    After working their way through “Mind’s Unchained,” the show would come to a glorious end by way of the anthemic “Salamander Song” in which the audience was encouraged to “dance the whole way home.”   Judging by the look on some of the freshly melted faces of Albany’s first timers, that’s exactly what they may have done. While it may not have been your typical two-set Spafford show, there was still plenty to like about this performance. Savoring every minute of it, Albany fans can only hope it doesn’t take 5 more years for this very talented band to return.    

    spafford annie in the water

    6/16/22 | Alive at Five | Albany, NY

    Setlist: Electric Taco Stand, Slip and Squander, Leave the Light On, Backdoor Funk, Mind’s Unchained > Salamander Song

    Up next in the Alive at 5 concert series is Classic Rock night with Lita Ford headlining and up-and-coming New York band Candy Ambulance opening things up.  The event is scheduled to take place on June, 23 at Jennings Landing on Thursday, June 23, 2022 and as always, is completely free.

  • Sunset at the Stables Festival in East Aurora Announces Lineup

    Sunset at the Stables will return this summer to Knox Farms State Park in East Aurora, 20 miles southeast of Buffalo.

    sunset at the stables poster

    Sunset at the Stables will be host bands on July 1, 8, 15, and 22 and will feature some of the region’s most talented musicians, with Knox Farms as a backdrop. As well, there will local food and beverages from 42 North Brewing Company. Event producer and 42 North Brewery Founder, John Cimperman, spoke about how excited he is for the festival.

    We were thrilled with the response to the music series last summer. It proved to be the ideal venue for a night of music and relaxation. The Stables at Knox Park provides the ideal backdrop to highlight some of the great musical talent from our region.

    John Cimperman, Founder, 42 North Brewery

    Sunset at the Stables Lineup

    July 1 at 6 P.M.- Folkfaces

    Folkfaces is a Buffalo-based quartet who are known for their fusion of genres like Americana, folk, blues, and jazz. The band consists of Tyler Westcott (guitar, vocals), Ellen Pieroni (saxophones), Patrick Jackson (upright bass), and Dan Schwach (drums, washboard).

    Folkfaces.

    July 8 at 6 P.M- Miller and The Other Sinners

    Miller and The Other Sinners is a nationally touring Southern Soul band from Buffalo, NY. Since August of 2015, they have performed over 700 shows across 21 states and Canada from house parties to festivals. They are known for their unforgettable shows and their blend of memphis soul, gospel spirit, and funky rhythm and blues.

    Miller and The Other Sinners.

    July 15 at 6 P.M- Leroy Townes Band

    Leroy Townes Band is an original Buffalo Americana band performing vinyl-era inspired folk-rock with a shot of country.

    Juy 22 at 6 P.M- Farrow

    Farrow is a funk and soul Buffalo-based band led by producer/bass player André Pilette and singer/lyricist Michael Farrow, with Tim Webb on drums, Cory Clancy on guitar, and Michael Ruopoli on percussion. The band features a group of diverse musicians with an old school sound.

    Tickets are onsale now for $20, and some may be at the door for $25 as well, and they can be bought here.

  • Todd Snider American Troubadour Tour Arrives at The Egg in September

    Todd Snider has announced his “American Troubadour Tour” for September and October 2022. The dates will begin on the East Coast on September 7th at the Harvester Performance Center in Rocky Mount, VA. Then will kick off on Swyer Theatre at The Egg at 7:30pm, September 13.

    Singer-songwriter Lilly Winwood, daughter of British rock legend Steve Winwood, will support Snider’s tour with songs in her 2021 debut album Time Well Spent.

    Todd Snider American Troubadour Tour

    Along with Snider’s “American Troubadour Tour” his new record Live: Return Of The Storyteller will release at the same time. It was captured during his first shows back from the pandemic and follows up the 2011 concert album The Storyteller. Snider also recently shared a new single, “First Agnostic Church Of Hope And Wonder,” which was highly recommended by the Associated Press.

    Todd Snider

    Tickets for the “American Troubadour Tour” are on sale now at toddsnider.net.

    Todd Snider – American Troubadour Tour Dates

    September 7 – Harvester Performance Center – Rocky Mount, VA*

    September 9 – Infinity Hall Norfolk – Norfolk, CT*

    September 10 – Narrows Center for the Arts – Fall River, MA*

    September 11 – Infinity Hall Hartford – Hartford, CT*

    September 13 – Swyer Theatre at The Egg – Albany, NY*

    September 15 – StageOne – Fairfield, CT*

    September 16 – The Center for Arts in Natick – Natick, MA*

    September 17 – Sellersville Theater – Sellersville, PA*

    September 18 – The Queen – Wilmington, DE*

    September 29 – Paramount Theatre – Denver, CO+

    October 1 – The Wilma – Missoula, MT+

    October 2 – The ELM – Bozeman, MT+

    October 3 – Egyptian Theatre – Boise, ID@

    October 4 – Tower Theatre – Bend, OR@

    October 6 – Revolution Hall – Portland, OR@

    October 7 – Soreng Theater at Hult Center – Eugene, OR@

    October 8 – Neptune Theatre – Seattle, WA@

    October 9 – The Bing Crosby Theater – Spokane, WA@

    October 12 – Arcata Theater Lounge – Arcata, CA@

    October 13 – Raven Theatre – Healdsburg, CA@

    October 14 – Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA@

    October 16 – Rio Theatre – Santa Cruz, CA@

    October 18 – The Fremont Theater – San Luis Obispo, CA@

    October 19 – The Coach House – San Juan Capistrano, CA@

    October 21 – Paradise Performing Arts Center – Paradise, CA~

    October 22 – Bally’s Lake Tahoe Casino Resort – South Lake Tahoe, NV~

    October 24 – The State Room – Salt Lake City, UT~

    October 25 – The State Room – Salt Lake City, UT~

    October 26 – Washington’s – Fort Collins, CO

    October 28 – Knuckleheads – Kansas City, MO

    October 29 – Scottish Rite Hall – Omaha, NE

    October 30 – Wooly’s – Des Moines, IA

    October 31 – Jamf Theatre – Eau Claire, WI

    * with Lilly Winwood
    + with Nicki Bluhm
    @ with Ryan Montbleau
    ~ with Ray Wylie Hubbard