The 2022 PearlPalooza lineup for Sept. 17 has been announced, taking place on North Pearl Street in downtown Albany, and featuring a variety of artists.
Photo by Pete Mason.
WEQX Director Jeff Morad is excited to bring in a lot of new and old talent to the stage.
We are thrilled to be able to partner with the Downtown Albany BID and all of the incredible sponsors once again this year to bring some free live music to Pearl Street in downtown Albany! There is so much talent in this area, it’s tough to decide who to put on the stage, but we think our local picks for this year will blow you away, plus the national acts and the return of Phantogram to the PearlPalooza stage will be something very special.
The day starts out will YogaPalooza, the Capital Region’s only street-wide mass yoga gathering, at 11 A.M. After that, the music begins with BattleaXXX [battle ax], a hard-working trio of all-female rockers from Albany, starting at 12 P.M. At 1:30 P.M. comes Precious Metals, a solo project by Troy singer-songwriter J Lee White. The band’s sound pulls from the early 2000s emo explosion and 2010s indie rock revival.
At 3 P.M. Arizona newcomer The Kaleidoscope Kid is playing. He blends counter-culture music with his broad musical and personal appeal. At 4:30 P.M., Los Angeles band Whole Damn Mess is playing. Made up of Don Miggs, C. Todd Nielsen, Lawrence Katz, and Greg Hansen, they bring a new perspective on reality and an understanding of the challenges to maintain a piece of yourself in the face of mounting responsibilities.
The featured artist this year is Phantogram at 6 P.M. Comprised of lifelong friends Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel, they amassed over a billion streams, achieved one platinum-certified single, two gold-certified singles, and have played at top festivals with artists like Arcade Fire and Miley Cyrus.
The 2022 PearlPalooza will be happening on Sept. 17 from 11 A.M. to 7:30 P.M. on North Pearl Street in Albany. This free event will feature lots of local and national acts, as well as great food and beverage vendors.
On August 20 at River Fest Park in Buffalo, Buffalo Music Coalition will bring the Summer of Love from 1967 all the way to 2022 with “Summer of Love ’22 – A Buffalo Salute to the Monterey Pop Festival.”
Comprised of a group of music lovers and musicians, The Buffalo Music Coalition was organized in 2018 to produce unique shows they thought the public would like to see. Starting with East Aurora Music Festival, the following year they organized a Woodstock Celebration in 2019 at River Fest Park with local musicians from across the Buffalo area, with more than 1500 fans in attendance. Then in February 2022, the Coalition held “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” at Sportsmen’s Tavern, highlighting some of Buffalo’s best female performers.
For 2022, a celebration of the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival is on the table, once again held at River Fest Park with performances from local musicians, including some who took part in the Woodstock celebration, and plenty of new faces.
At River Fest park, there will be food trucks and vendors contributing to the fun, which kicks off at 4pm on Saturday, August 20 and runs until 11pm. This is a rain or shine event. Bring a lawn chair but no outside food or drink are allowed in the venue. Pick up your tickets here.
Singer-songwriter Denitia is set to release her imaginative new single, “Old Friend,” on August 12 and has announced four upcoming NY-area shows.
Originally from the Houston area, self-taught Denitia explored all types of music as a teenager, including rock, alt-grunge, traditional roots, and more. Growing up performing at praise and worship services shaped her confidence, and the artist recently transitioned from a pop/R&B sound to more of the folk and country realm.
Much of Denitia’s latest work centers around feelings of isolation during the time of the pandemic. That period gave her the space and ability to work on her storytelling. Denitia focused on the feelings of nostalgia and a need for human connection over this time, themes that largely inspire her heartfelt music.
“Old Friend” came out of this pandemic experience, where Denitia wonders about the realities of connecting with an old friend, singing, “Forgive me if I’m doing that thing, Where folks romance all that was / But my memory was dark and it cleared, and you were standing here.” The single is delicate and beautiful in its guitar instrumentation, with Denitia’s ethereal voice capturing the message perfectly.
When the track goes live on Aug. 12, listeners looking for something to sway with and pour over should be sure to play it on repeat. Fans can also expect more music and single releases from Denitia before her album, Highways, is expected on October 14.
Catch Denitia at shows this year as she joins The Black Opry Revue Tour this fall alongside some other amazing talents of the Black country music scene. The tour will play three shows in NY and Denitia will have a solo performance at Levon Helm Studios on Aug 26. For the full list of dates, see below.
Guitarist, composer, arranger, lyricist, writer, educator, and vocalist Joel Harrison has “created a new blueprint for jazz,” as said by the New Orleans Times-Picayune. He has released 23 CDs as a leader on seven different labels and is the founder and director of the Alternative Guitar Summit, a yearly festival devoted to new and unusual guitar music.
In collaboration with the Alternative Guitar Summit, Harrison will be sponsoring and hosting three different events in New York. The events are The Music of the Woodstock Festival, Jazz Guitar event of the decade, and Joel Harrison Quartet.
The Music of the Woodstock Festival
On the Woodstock festival anniversary, Harrison and his all-star team of improvisers, including NYC-based African American vocalists Everett Bradley, Nicki Richards, and Keith Fluitt, will be playing new takes on the music at the 1969 festival. They will be playing at The Colony in Woodstock on Aug. 12, at 8 P.M. and tickets are on sale here.
Joel Harrison Quartet
The Joel Harrison Quartet will be playing at Lydia’s Cafe in Stone Ridge in a laid-back, local affair on Aug. 20 from 7:30-10 P.M., and tickets are on sale now.
The Jazz Guitar Concert of the Decade!
The jazz guitar concert of the decade will feature Bill Frisell, John Scofield, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Mike Stern, who are the four pillars of the jazz/ funk/rock/alt guitar scene. The concert will be happening at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock at 8 P.M. on Aug. 26, and tickets are on sale here.
From Aug. 29-31, the Blue Note Jazz Club will honor and celebrate the life and music of legendary Rolling Stones’ drummer Charlie Watts. Each night will hold two shows, beginning at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. respectively.
The series of shows will feature members of The Rolling Stones Touring Band, Bernard Fowler, Darryl Jones, and Tim Ries, as well as special guests. Other features include David Gilmore, Gary Versace, and Jeff “Tain” Watts.
Charlie Watts became a member of the iconic rock ‘n’ roll band in 1963, and helped The Rolling Stones gain immense popularity with tracks such as “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” “Get Off My Cloud,” and “Paint It, Black.” With his subtle and reserved personality, but talent and inspired drums, the musician gave the band the beat it needed for over 50 years. During his music career, Watts also toured with his own group, the Charlie Watts Quintet.
The iconic drummer passed in 2021 but is often regarded as one of the best drummers of all time. A Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer, husband, father, and grandfather, Watts surely left behind a legacy few would soon forget. Blue Note Jazz Club’s concerts in Watts’ honor will begin on Aug. 29 with shows at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. with special guest Randy Brecker. On Aug. 30 and 31, the concert will feature guest John Patitucci.
Tickets for the celebration can be purchased on the Blue Note Jazz Club website. Attendees can enjoy a full bar and dinner menu, and there will be a required $5 minimum per person. All seating is first come first serve. Table seating for the event is for all ages, but bar area tickets are only for patrons over 21.
Symphony Space has announced its upcoming 2022-2023 season, bringing musicians, authors, actors, comedians, and other talents to NYC for a full list of events. The new season will be available in person as well as streamed in high definition to audiences worldwide.
Located at 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, Symphony Space is a multi-disciplinary performing arts center that aims to connect art, ideas, and community together through performances and programming. The upcoming season continues well-known programs at the center, including Selected Shorts, Wall to Wall concerts, and much more. Symphony Space has offered entertainment for over four decades, and this upcoming season is sure to shine.
The 2022-23 season is a testament to the joys of the shared experience. Reuniting in-person last year, after so much time apart, was exhilarating. As we continue to invite authors, actors, and musicians to convene and grow their own work and communities at Symphony Space, we are committed to celebrating both individual artists and the power of the arts as a whole. We know that each event can be a source of delight, hope, and connection to all.
– Executive Director Kathy Landau
Musical entertainment for the season includes Wall to Wall Stephen Sondheim on Oct. 15, which will honor one of the musical theater’s greatest composers/lyricists. The free celebration features music, dance, and conversation spanning Sondheim’s entire career at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater.
An artist-in-residence from bandleader, composer, drummer, and dhol player, Sunny Jain, will occur at the space on Jan. 28, Feb. 4, and Feb. 9, with music spanning multiple cultures and genres. Singer and legendary guitarist Richard Thompson will also grace the 2022-2023 season with a rare concert from Dec. 15 to Dec. 17. Audiences members are invited to submit song requests to Thompson which will remain unknown to him until the live performance onstage.
Other entertainment for the season features the expansive literature series, Selected Shorts, where renowned actors recreate well-known writers’ stories. The comedy series, Uptown Showdown, hosted by Matthew Love, will bring much laughter and energetic debate. For the full list of events and talents coming to the Symphony Space, visit the venue’s website.
Blues and soul singer Ali McGuirk has announced upcoming shows in promotion of her new album, Til It’s Gone, which is set for release on September 16 via Signature Sounds. The songwriter shared her single, “All Back,” on July 20 ahead of the album.
McGuirk grew up outside of Boston before calling Burlington, Vermont, home. The singer-songwriter always knew she wanted to become an artist and her inspirations include Lauryn Hill, Aretha Franklin, Sarah Vaughan, and Abbey Lincoln. McGuirk’s music has explored multiple genres, but the upcoming album leans into its blues foundation.
Celebrated folk-blues songwriter Jonah Tolchin helped produce Til It’s Gone alongside McGuirk, allowing for emotional tracks, guitar interludes, and delicate moments in the album. “All Back,” the first single off of the record, is an easy groove. McGuirk wrote the track about the end of the pandemic, and the track combines a vintage sound and a recent event into one.
Surviving the pandemic as an artist required some faith and this song felt like a little prayer of hope and resilience … we are faced with pandemics, climate chaos, ever-deepening inequality, and so much ignorance, but we learned a lot in March 2020 about our ability to adapt and I need to believe that it’s going to be alright, but we’ve got to do something right now.
– Ali McGuirk on “All Back”
McGuirk recorded much of the upcoming record in Los Angeles and included collaborations with an impressive lineup of artists. Legendary guitarist Fred Tackett of Little Feat, organist Larry Goldings, singer Valerie Pinkston, percussionist Lenny Castro, and more helped finalize the complete sounds of the album.
The nine-track album, with intimate introspections, and thoughts on oppression and justice, would not be the same without McGuirk’s signature, hypnotic vocals. Take a listen to the first track, “All Back,” and see the full list of tour dates for the upcoming record, below.
Ali McGuirk On Tour:
Sept. 16 – Nashville, TN – Five Spot (AMERICANAFEST)
Sept. 17 – Easthampton, MA – Arcadia Music Festival
Oct. 1 – Albany, NY – The Linda
Oct. 2 – Portsmouth, NH – The Press Room
Oct. 5 – Lancaster, PA – Tellus360
Oct. 6 – Brooklyn, NY – The Bell House
Oct. 7 – Somerville, MA – The Crystal Ballroom at the Somerville
From August 10-13, the Whirlybird Music & Arts Festival will return to downtown Jamestown for four days of shows and entertainment. The event will include over 40 bands and artists, live painting, comedy, dancing, and more.
Funk band and western NY’s Smackdab will headline the festival, alongside Chicago-based Mungion. Other artists and acts include electronic funk rockers LITZ, indie artist Mikaela Davis, a Grateful Dead tribute by Workingman’s Dead, eberwine, and many more. The festival is full of talent from various artists across multiple genres, including funk, rock, jazz, R&B, soul, electronic, blues, and folk. Attendees will truly find something to enjoy throughout the four-day festival.
The Whirlybird Arts & Music Festival will take place at various venues across downtown Jamestown such as The Beer Snob, Jamestown Wine Cellar, Pearl City Hops, 4 Below, Labyrinth Press Co, Brazil, and Crown Street Roasting. Free pop-up solo performances by Buffalo indie pop singer Marina Laurendi, Adam McKillip, Kyle Gustafson, SON, and more will occur throughout the festival.
Other free shows for all ages will occur at the Winter Garden Plaza with performances from Miller & the Other Sinners, Porcelain Busdrivers, St Vith, and many more. The event will also include vendors, food, and a beer garden.
For tickets and more information, visit the Whirlybird Music & Arts Festival’s website. For the full schedule of events, see below.
Winter Garden Plaza
313 N Main Street | 21+ | No Cover
5:50 – 6:30 Leopard Geckos
6:35 – 6:55 Kallie Williams
7:00 – 8:00 Emily Strong
8:10 – 9:30 The Assembly
The Beer Snob
318 N Washington Street | 21+ | No Cover
8:00 – 10:00 Comedy Open Mic, hosted by Karate Sleepover
Jamestown Wine Cellar
309 N Main Street | 21+ | No Cover
9:30 – 10:00 Kallie Williams
10:00 – 12:00 Open Mic, hosted by Sara, the Greatest!
THURSDAY – August 11, 2022
Crown Street Roasting Co.
16 W 3rd Street | All Ages | No Cover | Starts at 11:00AM
11:00 – 1:00 Songs of Sixpence
Labyrinth Press Co.
12 E 4th Street | All Ages | No Cover
4:00 – 6:00 SON
Winter Garden Plaza
313 N Main Street | All Ages | No Cover
6:00 – 7:30 St Vith
7:30 – 8:00 Thee Ukaladz
8:00 – 9:30 Mikaela Davis
The Beer Snob
318 N Washington Street | 21+ | No Cover
9:30 – 10:15 Hot At Bats
10:25 – 11:45 Feverhawk
Jamestown Wine Cellar
309 N Main Street | 21+ | Weekend Pass or $5 at the Door
10:15 – 11:00 Cindy Love
11:00 – 1:00 Surprise Guise
FRIDAY – August 12, 2022
Crown Street Roasting Co.
16 W 3rd Street | All Ages | No Cover | Starts at 11:00AM
11:00 – 1:00 Kyle Gustafson
Brazil
12 E 4th Street | 21+ | No Cover
5:00 – 7:00 Gavin Paterniti
Pearl City Hops at DoubleTree, Jamestown
150 W 4th St | 21+ | No Cover
5:00 – 7:00 Mike Brunacini
Jamestown Cruise-In
N Main Street & 3rd | All Ages | No Cover
5:00 – 8:00 In Crowd, Presented by the Jamestown Cruise-In
The Beer Snob
318 N Washington Street | 21+ | Whirlybird Pass or $20 at the Door
8:30 – 10:00 eberwine
10:00 – 10:30 LTTL
10:30 – 12:00 LITZ
12:00 – 12:30 LTTL vs DJ Jim Blomquist
12:30 – 1:45 The Audience
Jamestown Wine Cellar
309 N Main Street | 21+ | Whirlybird Pass or $10 at the Door
5:00 – 8:00 Bill Ward (FREE)
8:00 – 9:30 Deep Fried & Dipped in Honey
10:00 – 11:30 Cold Lazarus
12:00 – 1:30 Orange Corner
4 Below Haggy’s Bar and Grill
104 E 2nd St | 21+ | No Cover
10:00 – 1:00 Ryan Buzzetto
SATURDAY – August 13, 2022
Jamestown Public Market
16 W 3rd Street | All Ages | No Cover | Starts at 10:00AM
10:00 – 10:45 Miranda Wilcox
11:00 – 2:00 Marina Laurendi
Labyrinth Press Co.
12 E 4th Street | All Ages | No Cover | Starts at 10:45AM
10:00 – 10:40 Chase Johnson
10:40 – 11:20 Adam Gould
11:20 – 12:00 Harmony Dillingham
Winter Garden Plaza
313 N Main Street | All Ages | No Cover
2:30 – 4:00 Miller & the Other Sinners
4:00 – 4:30 Harmony Dillingham
4:30 – 6:00 Workingman’s Dead
6:00 – 6:30 DJ Jim Blomquist
6:30 – 7:30 Porcelain Busdrivers
7:30 – 8:00 DJ Jim Blomquist
8:00 – 9:45 Smackdab
The Beer Snob
318 N Washington Street | 21+ | Whirlybird Pass or $20 at the Door
9:00 – 10:00 Space Junk
10:30 – 12:15 Mungion
12:45 – 2:00 Solar Circuit
Jamestown Wine Cellar
309 N Main Street | 21+ | Whirlybird Pass or $10 at the Door
Devon Allman announced show dates for the sixth annual Allman Family Revival, which honors the life and music of his father, Gregg Allman. The tour will include multiple artists and bands such as Duane Betts, Donavan Frankenreiter, Maggie Rose, and many more.
The Allman Family Revival began out of a one-time concert in 2017 in San Francisco. Devon Allman brought together musical talent for a three-hour show in honor of his late father, who passed in May of 2017. Using music as medicine, the show has since expanded into a full tour with multiple dates and cities able to experience the celebration and legacy of Gregg Allman.
One of rock and roll’s most influential artists, Gregg Allman was known for his performances as a part of the Allman Brothers Band in addition to his successful solo career. Allman blazed the way for southern rock groups and continues to be an inspiration to this day.
Beginning in 1989, the Allmans began a long-lasting tradition of playing at the Beacon Theatre. The band would return to the venue almost every March, the perfect spring destination for fans to enjoy their music. The band’s last show at the iconic venue would occur in October of 2014, marking 238 sold-out shows at the theatre.
The Allman Family Revival Beacon Theatre show will feature the talents of Duane Betts, Jimmy Hall, Luther Dickinson, Ivan Neville, Ian Neville, Tony Hall, Maggie Rose, Larry McCray, River Kittens, Orbi Orbison, and Donovan Frankenreiter with the band Dumpstaphunk supporting.
We are in the sixth year of saluting my Dad’s music and life for the Allman Family Revival…but it’s reaching beyond that initial sentiment. It’s galvanizing relationships within our generation of musicians. It’s continuing a tradition of feel based music and it’s an honor to put these shows on. Because at the end of the day I feel it’s way more about perpetuating this art form than it is about leaving our mark. Our true mark is simply the continuance….making sure we inspire the next in line to take the stage.
– Devon Allman
The 18-date Allman Family Revival tour will begin in Georgia in November and end in California in December. Tickets for the show and more information can be found on the tour website, here.
ALLMAN FAMILY REVIVAL TOUR
Nov 26 | Macon City Auditorium | Macon, GA
Nov 27 | Ruth Eckerd Hall | Clearwater, FL
Nov 28 | Van Wezel Peforming Arts Hall| Sarasota, FL
Nov 29 | Pompano Beach Amphitheater | Pompano Beach, FL
Nov 30 | Florida Theater | Jacksonville, FL
Dec 2 | Beacon Theatre | New York, NY
Dec 3 | Shubert Theatre | Boston, MA
Dec 4 | The Warner | Torrington, CT
Dec 6 | Ovens Auditorium | Charlotte, NC
Dec 7 | DPAC | Durham, NC
Dec 8 | Montgomery PAC | Montgomery, AL
Dec 9 | The Ryman Auditorium | Nashville, TN
Dec 10 | The Factory | St. Louis, MO
Dec 12 | The Paramount | Denver, CO
Dec 14 | Celebrity Theater | Phoenix, AZ
Dec 15 | Westgate Resort and Casino | Las Vegas, NV
Legendary King Crimson founding member Robert Fripp and producer David Singleton announced their speaking tour this fall. They will present an “Evening of Conversation” at the Carrier Theater in Syracuse on September 19, the City Winery in New York on September 23, and the Swyer Room in Albany on September 24.
Robert Fripp and David Singleton
Likely topics that will be explored during their time on stage will include: Where does music come from? What does it take to survive the music business? When does the impossible become possible? Can music change the world? Why did Fripp put on a tutu and dance to Swan Lake at the end of his garden? Who is The Vicar?
Robert Fripp is a British musician, songwriter, and record producer, also known as a founding member of the progressive rock band King Crimson. He is also a session musician, contributor and collaborator with Brian Eno and other excellent people, and originating director of the Guitar Craft and Guitar Circle program.
David Singleton is an English record producer, audio engineer, record label director, musician, songwriter, author, and Internet entrepreneur. He established DGM with Robert Fripp in 1993 and has reluctantly managed King Crimson since 2018. David is King Crimson’s producer and author of The Vicar Chronicles.
Robert Fripp and David SingletonTour Dates:
Sept. 16 – Toronto, ON – Royal Sept. 17 – Montreal, QC – Club Soda Sept. 18 – Quebec City, QC – Imperial Bell Sept. 19 – Syracuse, NY – Carrier Theater Sept. 21 – Ridgefield, CT – Ridgefield Playhouse Sept. 22 – Boston, MA – City Winery Sept. 23 – New York, NY – City Winery Sept.24 – Albany, NY – Swyer Room Sept. 26 – Bethlehem, PA – Musikfest Cafe Sept. 27 – Red Bank, NJ – The Vogel Sept. 28 – Philadelphia, PA – City Winery Sept. 30 – Washington, DC – City Winery Oct. 1 – Annapolis, MD – Ram’s Head Live Oct. 2 – Oakmont, PA – Oaks Theater Oct. 4 – Ferndale, MI – The Magic Bag Oct. 5 – Cleveland, OH – Music Box Supper Club Oct. 8 – Milwaukee – Wilson Theater-Marcus Center Oct. 9 – Chicago, IL – City Winery
