Live Nation has announced a multi-year partnership with American Dream, a preeminent entertainment and retail center located in East Rutherford, NJ, including exclusive live events and concerts.
The main stage at American Dream will feature a series of concerts, as well as other unique experiences like fan-to-artist activations, pop-up shops, launch parties for new music releases and upcoming tours, and more. These will come to life throughout the venue, which has a theme park, the largest indoor one in the Western Hemisphere, Big SNOW, North America’s only indoor ski slope, The Rink, an NHL-regulation ice rink, and more.
American Dream first event
The first acts to perform in the concert series have been announced. Hip hop star Ludacris will perform on May 7, followed by rapper J.I. on June 17; DJs/producers Two Friends on June 18; rapper Lil Tjay on July 22; rapper Sheck Wes on August 13; and Japanese rock band Band-Maid on October 30.
CEO of the venue Don Ghermezian spoke about the partnership.
American Dream provides guests with experiences that can’t be found anywhere else, like the incredibly popular amusement park takeover concert series we’ve created. A partnership with Live Nation takes our property to a new level. The impact and value Live Nation brings as our content provider gives artists another unique platform to inspire their fans.
The venue will feature upcoming Live Nation shows in the New Jersey-New York metropolitan area, and create opportunities around events at the neighboring MetLife Stadium featuring live performances and other fan engagement.
WRAPS, a new tradeshow and art exhibition dedicated specifically to rock posters is coming to the Bearsville Center in Woodstock on May 14-15.
The popular San Francisco event, The Rock Poster Show (TRPS) is the model for WRAPS, which stands for Woodstock Rock Art and Poster Show. The event will feature exhibitors displaying their work, multi-media productions, art and design workshops, and live music.
The musical acts include Stella Blue’s Band, Soule Monde (members of the Trey Anastasio Band), and Woodstock’s own Misty Mountain Ramblers.
A poster for the Trey Anastasio Band designed by Zeb Love
Since the 1990s interest in rock posters has increased. Vintage posters from the classic rock era are considered collectibles. While more recently it has become an art form in its own right, with artists and designers dedicating their talents to creating original works. The event is open to both collectors and artists who would like to display their work.
Mike DuBois, one of the pioneers of rock poster art and Syracuse native, will produce WRAPS. His surrealist, psychedelic art has become a staple of rock music. More than likely, you’ve seen his work without knowing you have. In the past, high profile bands including the Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, and Pink Floyd have commissioned his work. Currently, he runs HappyLife Productions a design firm in Woodstock.
Artwork by Mike DuBois.
The Bearsville Theater was the brainchild of the famed music manager, Albert Grossman. He had the idea to build a creative oasis for his clients—which included Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, and the Band—in the Catskills. Unfortunately, due to his untimely death in 1986 Grossman never saw the theater open in 1989. The Bearsville Theater is considered “acoustically perfect”. It was designed by music producer Todd Lundgren along with the Utopia Sound Stage.
With all the rock history at Bearsville Theater it would make a fitting location for a tradeshow meant to celebrate rock music’s legacy.
Tickets and registration information are on the WRAPS website.
Serving the community through the arts, Proctors Collaborative has announced their next block of upcoming shows at the historic Proctors in Schenectady. Since 1926, this unique theatre and educational program has presented the very best in entertainment for the Capital Region.
Proctors Collaborative is an association of arts organizations located in three venues: Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga, Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany, and Proctors in Schenectady. Overall, being one of the most expansive arts education programs in Upstate New York with programming in Albany, Schenectady Saratoga, and in schools throughout the Capital Region.
Over the past few decade, Proctors has expanded their venues. Doing so made it possible to accommodate large Broadway productions, giant screen films, local performers, and ever-growing audiences from around the country. Today, Proctors Collaborative is known for being the Capital Region’s destination for upcoming major Broadway shows, cutting-edge film festivals, exciting special events, and everything in between.
April Shows at Proctors
Alton Brown Live: Beyond the Eats
7:30 p.m. Friday, April 8. MainStage at Proctors
Alton Brown is hitting the road with a new culinary variety show. Expect comedy, music, and potentially dangerous science. Prepare for an evening unlike any other and if Brown calls for volunteers… think twice.
Shen Yun 2022
7:30 p.m. Friday, April 15-16. 2 p.m. Saturday, April 16. MainStage at Proctors
Through breathtaking dance and music, Shen Yun’s artists tell of a time when divine beings walked upon the earth, leaving behind a culture that inspired generations.
GNA Secret Star
7 p.m. Wednesday, April 20. MainStage at Proctors
GNA’s Secret Star features four of country music’s biggest stars, on stage at the same time sharing their songs and stories. The lineup is not revealed until the show.
Gospel Jubilee
6 p.m. Saturday, April 23. MainStage at Proctors
Gospel Jubilee returns to the MainStage at Proctors with a special musical tribute in dedication to the Capital Region’s beloved, the late Regina “Gina” Parsons, and Antonia “Toni” Brown.
Suede with Fred Boyle, Piano & Rich Hill, Bass
7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23. GE Theatre at Proctors
From astounding a cappella, incredibly intimate ballads and smoking trumpet solos to “bring down the house” belting blues, Suede delivers it all with her own unique blend of warmth, high energy, wit, and pure musical artistry.
Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards – “The Eddies”
6 p.m. Sunday, April 24. MainStage at Proctors
This year, we honor 210 finalists in 36 categories for their work during 2021. Nominations and voting are determined by a group of judges representing the local music community. The musical line-up for the 4th annual Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards will be Buggy Jive, Nite Train w/ Thomasina Winslow, Hot Club of Saratoga, Rich Ortiz, the Erin Harkes Band and Super 400 with returning emcee Erin Harkes.
An Evening with Neil Gaiman
7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 28. MainStage at Proctors
Neil Gaiman is the bestselling author of Neverwhere, Anansi Boys, Good Omens (with Terry Pratchett), Smoke and Mirrors, Fragile Things, and so many more. Today, as one of the most celebrated writers of our time, his popular and critically acclaimed works bend genres while reaching audiences of all ages.
Golden Oldies Spectacular
7 p.m. Saturday, April 20. MainStage at Proctors
Headlining the show is The Brooklyn Bridge, highlighted by a tribute to the memory of their incredible lead singer Johnny Maestro who passed ten years ago. Hits include “The Worst That Could Happen,” “Blessed is the Rain,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” and “Welcome Me Love.”
Tickets are available online here, in person at the Box Office, or via phone at 518-346-6204 Monday-Friday 10am-6pm.
The Outlaw Music Festival returns for its 2022 tour, with a number of great artists and three NY stops. Festival goers will have the chance to see artists like Willie Nelson & Family, The Avett Brothers and Billy Strings, along with many others at the Bethel Woods Center, Darien Lake Amphitheater and SPAC.
Headed by Willie Nelson, the festival celebrates togetherness and provides a place for friends and family to come together. Starting 6/24, fans will have the opportunity to see performances from a different mix of artists every night including big names like Chris Stapleton and rising stars like Brittney Spencer.
Fans can expect more than just stellar performances, as there are also unique vendor villages where local foods and drinks can be bought. Mike’s Hard Lemonade Seltzer will join the festival tour as the “Official Hard Seltzer”, hosting pop up experiences, giveaways and more.
Outlaw Music Fest 2019
After originally debuting in Scranton, PA in 2016, Outlaw Music Festival has expanded into the national event that it is today. The festival has gained prestige due to the previous award winning acts that have performed such as Robert Plant, Neil Young and Bob Dylan.
Tickets, as well as the lineups for each date can be found here.
June 24, 2022 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
June 25, 2022 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
June 26, 2022 – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center
July 1, 2022 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
July 2, 2022 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
July 29, 2022 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center
July 30, 2022 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
July 31, 2022 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
August 12, 2022 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
August 13, 2022 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center
August 14, 2022 – Darien, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
September 9, 2022 – Atlanta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
September 10, 2022 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
September 11, 2022 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veteran’s United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
September 13, 2022 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
September 16, 2022 – Boston, MA – Xfinity Center
September 17, 2022 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
September 18, 2022 – Saratoga Springs, NY – SPAC
September 23, 2022 – Philadelphia, PA – Waterfront Music Pavilion
A new day-long celebration of Hip-Hop culture founded by LL Cool J called Rock The Bells Festival will be happening at Forest Hills Stadium in LL’s hometown of Queens on August 6.
The festival will feature live performances, art exhibits, food, fashion, interactive experiences, and more. Each performer was hand-picked for their culture-defining careers, undeniable talents, and contributions to Hip-Hop culture.
LL Cool J said in a statement that he is excited to bring all these artists together to celebrate Hip-Hop culture.
This festival is my way of showing love to the community of Hip-Hop and celebrating the incredible journey this culture has taken, going from DJ Kool Herc’s Sedgwick Avenue rec room, to the global phenomenon we all cherish today. Getting to bring some of the most iconic and influential Hip-Hop artists to the same stage, in my hometown and the city that started it all, is an honor and I can’t wait for everyone to see what we have in store for them.
For fans that cannot make it to the festival, they can tune into LL Cool J’s Rock The Bells Radio on SiriusXM (Ch. 43) for exclusive live coverage. Tickets go onsale April 4 for pre-sale, and April 8 for general sale, and tickets can be found here. For each ticket sale, Rock The Bells will be donating partial proceeds to the Universal Hip-Hop Museum in the Bronx.
Bob Mould, former member of Hüsker Dü, has announced his 2022 World tour with stops in Pawling, Albany and Woodstock. Mould will be joined by openers H.C McEntire, Vic Bondi and J. Robbins.
PC : James Richard IV
The Malone, NY native will spend a total of four months touring the world, from California all the way to the UK and Ireland. His journey will end back in the States, in North Carolina, on 10/23. His three NY dates include Daryl’s House in Pawling, Lark Hall in Albany and Levon Helm Studio in Woodstock.
Mould has recently announced the opening acts that would be joining him on different sections of the tour. H.C McEntire will join the California and Southern shows, Vic Bondi will join the Pacific Northwest shows and J. Robbins will join the Northeast shows.
Fans will be able to enjoy performances of Mould’s latest work, including songs from recent release The Ocean, as well as Hüsker Dü throwbacks and much more. The Ocean features special acoustic versions of songs from Mould’s 2020 album Blue Hearts and a rendition of Hüsker Dü’s, ‘Divide and Conquer’.
Juno Award-winning band VOIVOD announces their tour dates for this coming June, “Synchro Anarchy” Tour for North American shows. The tour will stop in NY on June 14th in Buffalo at the Rec Room, June 17th in Brooklyn at the Market Hotel, and June 18th in Liverpool at Sharkey’s.
The tour is in support of the band’s new album, “Synchro Anarchy” that hit the charts in multiple countries like #2 on Billboard Canada’s Hard Music Albums chart, #6 Current Hard Albums in the USA, #7 on the UK’s Rock & Metal chart and #7 in Germany along with others.
At last! After more than two years without touring, we are finally hitting the road in June 2022 in North America. We are thrilled to play the Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest, It will also be exciting for us to play songs from Synchro Anarchy for the first time live! We can’t wait to see our old Voïvodian friends again and meet some new ones. See you then!
-Michel “Away” Langevin (drums)
VOIVOD now has 15 studio album’s and continue with their creative freedom for nearly 40 years. During the early 80’s even as the thrash metal scene was on the rise, VOIVOD kept their distinct character as a band throughout.
Not many bands are able to survive for four decades after achieving legendary status, but VOIVOD continues the uphill climb as one of the most creative and passionate bands on the planet. VOIVOD consist of Daniel “Chewy” Mongrain (guitar), Denis “Snake” Belanger (vocals), Michel “Away” Langevin (drums), and Dominic “Rocky” Laroche (bass).
Caroga Arts in Caroga Lake, NY is one of two organizations receiving the $1 million grant from New York State Council for the Arts (NYSCA) that will be used to construct a new state-of-the-art amphitheater.
The Caroga Arts Amphitheater rendering plan.
Founder and artistic director Kyle Price spoke about the grant, and how exciting it is:
We are honored to receive this award and thrilled to be working with renowned historic preservation architect LTRW and Consigli Construction Co from the Capital district. The Amphitheater serves as the first phase of a larger master plan that includes the restoration and renovation of the existing Main Building, Carousel, Bumper Car Pavilion, and Ferris wheel. We look forward to sharing updated renderings and information about the capital campaign for the first phase of both Sherman’s and Myhill properties.
The Caroga Arts Collective plan to construct the amphitheater in Sherman Park, and it will be able to accommodate an 80-person orchestra and a stage house with backstage support, as well as having excellent acoustics. The construction is planned to have a warm, wood design that incorporates classical style elements.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the New York Sate Council on the Arts gave 116 Capital Grants out. These reflect the depth of New York State’s art sector and will help spur economic development, job growth, and better access to arts and culture experiences.
The 2022 Caroga Lake Music Festival summer season has also been announced, and will run from July 18 to August 21 and will feature over 30 performances by more than 120 artists. It will have a variety of genres, from pop to rock or folk to jazz.
Caroga Arts Music Festival 2022 poster.
Special guest performers include returning artists like Rushad Eggleston, along with new debuts and over 100 CLMF Resident Artists. The Caroga Arts Ensemble will present the iconic Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, the first major symphony to be performed in Caroga Lake, as well as other exciting orchestral and chamber works.
The 5th annual Caroga Arts Gala featuring renowned saxophonist Eddie Barbash will take place on July 22 at Sherman’s. The CLMF Lessons and Ensembles Program will take place every Monday during the festival, and will feature general music workshops and individual or small group lessons and is open to anyone.
Electronic duo ODESZA announced that they will tour through the United States this summer. This news comes following the release of three singles this year alone. Their new album, The Last Goodbye, is scheduled to drop on July 22nd.
ODESZA
The duo will perform at Forest Hills Stadium on Friday, August 26th. Located in Queens, the stadium can hold 13,000 people. ODESZA will join the likes of legendary acts Frank Sinatra and The Beatles, both of whom have played in this venue has hosted bands like The Who and Frank Sinatra.
ODESZA TOUR DATES
Fri, July 29 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena * > SOLD OUT
Sat, July 30 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena * > SOLD OUT
Sun, July 31 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena * > SOLD OUT
Wed, August 17 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion * ^ ~
Fri, August 19 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater * ^ ~
Sat, August 20 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion * ^ ~
Tue, August 23 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheater * + ~
Thu, August 25 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion * + ~
Fri, August 26 – New York, NY – Forest Hills Stadium * ^ ~
Tue, August 30 – Philadelphia, PA – TD Pavilion at the Mann * ^ ~
Thu, September 1 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage * # ~
The Greyboy Allstars are set to release their upcoming album Get A Job with music from the original broadcast series Soul Dream on April 1st. The first song off the album, ‘I’ve Got Reasons’, recently dropped along with accompanying video along with Spring Tour Dates where they’ll perform in Woodstock and Brooklyn this April.
The quintet jazz band, Karl Denson (saxophone, flute), Elgin Park (guitars), Aaron Redfield(drums), Chris Stillwell (bass) and Robert Walter (keys) turn up the notches with their new album consisting of 10 unique never-before-released covers that consistently captivated their famed live performances for nearly three decades. Gil Scott-Heron, Gene Ammons and Burt Bacharach are some of the artists who’s songs are showcased on the ‘Get A Job’ album.
The delivery of these covers shows the formative music that shaped the band while also adding a twist of their own funky imprint to the song’s arrangement and legacy.
The more we play together, the more I enjoy listening to the other guys. It seems like a simple idea but finding a place in the mix is what’s important: not the solo. Weave a thread inside the fabric.
-Elgin Park
A running list of around 70 tunes that became live favorites during shows and music that came out of Prestige Records are showcased with the Greyboy Allstars. The soul-jazz band from San Diego, California will be coming to the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock and the Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
The 21-date ‘Get A Job’ tour has 6 of the shows on-sale now and the remaining 15 shows go on-sale February 4th at greyboyallstars.com
The Greyboy Allstars “Get A Job” U.S. Spring Tour
3/9 – Asheville, NC – Salvage Station 3/10 – Charleston, SC – The Pour House 3/11 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse 3/12 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre 3/30 – St. Louis, MO – The Big Top 3/31 – Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall 4/1 – Chicago, IL – Park West 4/2 – Covington, KY – Madison Theater 4/3 – Columbus, OH – Woodlands Tavern 4/5 – Pembroke, MA – Soundcheck Studios 4/6 – Woodstock, NY – Bearsville Theater 4/7 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl 4/8 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl 4/9 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia 4/10 – Washington, DC – The Hamilton 4/15 – Crystal Bay, NV – Crystal Bay Club Casino 4/16 – Crystal Bay, NV – Crystal Bay Club Casino 4/21 – Venice, CA – Venice West 4/22 – Denver, CO – Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom 4/23 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater 4/30 – New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s
