New-age music group Mannheim Steamroller will return to the Stanley Theatre in Utica for a great holiday tradition in December.
The group, founded by Chip Davis, will celebrate more than 35 years of its annual Christmas concert tour. Audiences can expect Mannheim Steamroller to play their popular renditions of classic hits to ring in the holiday season. The show at the Stanley Theatre will begin at 7 p.m. on December 7.
With multimedia effects, live music, and joyous songs, the concert is sure to put all listeners in the perfect mood to lead up to the holiday season. The Grammy award-winning group is a favorite holiday tradition for many and released its first Christmas album in 1984.
I remember when I came out with my first Christmas album in 1984 followed by our first tour. Back then, many in the music industry said focusing on Christmas just wouldn’t work. Now, over 35 years later, we are still going strong. I want to thank our fans for making us part of their holiday tradition, especially after the hardships of the last few years. Today we often see multi-generational families join us during the holidays each year.
-Chip Davis, founder and creator of Mannheim Steamroller
Mannheim Steamroller’s holiday tour begins on November 15 and ends on December 30. The group will also stop in Syracuse and Poughkeepsie on December 8 and 14, respectively. Tickets for the upcoming holiday show at the Stanley Theatre are available now via Ticketmaster.
Another gorgeous evening in the hills of Lafayette, nestled into the apple orchards at Beak and Skiff. Another night filled with sweet sounds by another incredible lineup brought in by Dan Smalls Presents. Tonight it was Andrew Bird and Iron & Wine providing music fans from Syracuse, and beyond, with good reason to be out on a Tuesday. The bands came through on the back end of their Outside Problems tour, a tour two years in the waiting. It was first planned for 2020, but then, you know…
Amongst his wacky banter, Sam Beam, aka Iron & Wine, summed up the evening’s offerings quite well. “You guys just hanging out in an orchard all day listening to some music?”
Of opener Meshell Ndegeocello, “If you don’t like that, I don’t know what’s wrong with you.” Indeed, Ndegeocello and her quartet, in a quick 30 minutes, blended reggae grooves, folk-tinged psychedelia, soul, rhythm and blues and a touch of jazz. Echoey fuzzed out guitar, cosmic keys, charging beats all swirling around her mesmerizing bass lines. What’s not to like?
About his own set, Beam remarked, “I’ve got a lot of long, incredibly sad songs for you.” Moments later he backed off, saying his songs aren’t all the sad, they’re just not that happy. Sad or not, he had the crowd in stitches with his bizarre banter and in-song ramblings and riffing. In the set opening “Such Great Heights,” he cut-in to the beauty to talk about warming up by covering ourselves in applesauce and tears. “Rabbit Will Run” began with a story about Syracuse native Tom Cruise drifting off to sleep and dreaming about another Syracuse native, Grace Jones, whispering in his ear, singing the ensuing song, with harmonies by yet another Syracuse native, Richard Gere. Just your normal run-of-the-mill folk singer chitchat.
He played 45 minutes, solo, amongst a neighborhood of small white houses. In the tour’s original intent, he had just completed a new album with Calexico and they would have been on with him as well. He played just one song from the album, “Father Mountain” and filled the rest of the set with some of his most recognizable tunes from throughout his career. Contrasting starkly with his playful mood, his performance of “Flightless Bird, American Mouth” went nearly acapella. His hands worked the frets of the guitar but never strummed until the final verse, quite beautiful and moving. Elsewhere and particularly on “Woman King” he worked the lower register of his guitar masterfully with a mix of picking and strumming.
Continuing his narration of the evening, Beam previewed Andrew Bird’s closing set with, “Bird is going to whistle his way into your heart.” The set opened with a flourish of Bird’s signature fiddle and whistling looping and building to a one man orchestra briefly before his quartet broke through into “Make a Picture.” Bird was joined on stage by an incredible band, with Ted Poor on drums, Tyler Chester on keys and guitar, and Anna Butterss, on bass.
Unlike Iron & Wine, the timing of the tour worked a bit better for Bird, with his excellent new album, Inside Problems hot off the press. He played heavily from it throughout the set. Poor impressed with complex rhythms on “Atomized” and Bird added in plucked fiddle, looped that and then added in fiddling and some whistling syncopated with more plucking. Anyone who has seen Bird solo knows him for his incredible use of layering loop upon loop to provide a unique richness of sound. But with the extra hands in his band, the richness reached another level.
The excellence was exemplified perfectly in a mid-set “Underlands.” The lyrics and the backdrop synced up, a moon, the stars, the story was laid out for the ears and eyes. Butterss set the scene musically with an infectiously slinky bass line. Poor again was shining with some very tasty rhythms and fills while Chester worked in some nice keys. And this was just the base for Bird to work his magic. Butterss incredible harmonizing with Bird’s whistling sent the whole affair straight up to the moon for real. It was wonder to see this band present Bird’s fantastic new album from the stage.
Midway through the set Beam came back on stage to play some duets with Bird. A perfect pair, it’s a shame it hasn’t happened sooner. On each of their own songs, like “Orpheo” and “Muddy Hymnal” their voices and instruments blended very well. The band came back to back the pair for a few more songs, mostly acoustically. They crowded to the right side of the stage for a more intimate setting, continuing with “Left-Handed Kisses”, “Lion’s Mane” and “Lusitania.” Before ceding the stage back Beam injected a bit more of his humor playing a snippet of the Golden Girls theme, “Thank You For Being a Friend.” We can only hope this friendship bears more fruit in the coming years.
During the entire month of August, there will be numerous summer concerts held in Otsego County, from areas like Cooperstown to Richfield Springs and even Edmeston.
Otsego County is located in Central New York with a population of about 60,000. The county seat is Cooperstown, and the name Otsego is from a Mohawk or Oneida word meaning “place of the rock.” August brings a lot of music to the area, with different artists and bands featured all over the county.
Richfield Springs will continue its Wednesday evening “Concerts in the Park” series with free performances beginning at 7 P.M. in Spring Park on U.S. Route 20.
Cooperstown has many concerts coming up in August, in different locations. The Lakefront Concert Series begins Tuesday evenings at 6:30 P.M. at the bandstand in Lakefront Park.
Delhi will be hosting the Honest Brook Music Festival, which was founded in 1989 by Michael Cannon and the late Christopher Desler and has become a popular fixture of the classical music scene in Delaware County and the surrounding area. Performances are held in a converted dairy barn, with warm, resonant acoustics. To reserve a seat, go here.
Edmeston will be hosting Saturday afternoon concerts at the Pathfinder Pavilion. Pathfinder Village celebrates its 24 annual series of summer concerts with free, live performances starting at 2 P.M. The series is made possible from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the governor and the New York state Legislature.
Saturday afternoons at the Pathfinder Pavilion
August 6: Double Barrel (classic rock and country duo)
Otsego County is hosting many different summer concerts throughout the county. For more information about the county and more events happening in the area, go here.
Hailing from the Finger Lakes region, rock & roll band the Sweats is set to release their upcoming single, “Whiskey Thursday,” out on streaming services on July 28. The single is the first off of their album, Summer Nights Begin, which will drop later this year.
“Whiskey Thursday” is built on the foundation of dynamic drums, a great bass line, wonderful guitars, and synths, with a relatable storyline lyrically. Similar in sound to the Foo Fighters, Ted Leo, or Deer Tick, the track is the perfect hint at what to expect for the rest of the album.
The song deals with the struggles of untruthful relationships and confronting dark times. Vocalist Travis Durfee sings passionately on the track, describing the confusion of a relationship as backing vocals and engaging beats carry you through the five-minute song. The rhythm, lyrics, and catchy beats keep you hooked and wanting more.
Sweats, consisting of Travis Durfee (vocals, guitar), JM Sincock (drums), Rob Kurcoba (bass), Tony DeLuca (keys), and Nick D’Aloisio (guitar), released their first full-length album, Caught in Wave, in 2020. The album was well-received, but the band is looking forward to continuing to expand their live performances with this upcoming album, Summer Nights Begin.
Audiences can find Sweats often playing at the wineries and breweries outside of Ithaca where they are committed to playing original music for fans to enjoy. Creating art and making their own tunes is how Sweats rolls, and “Whiskey Thursday,” is a prime example of this.
It is like an underground network of sorts, this rural collective of DIY festivals and promoters. There are groups like Uncle Uku and the Guise and Technicolor Trailer Park and indie rockers like Jesse Bloodgood, punks like The Rooster, all supporting each other, playing shows together, and trying to make it work, pulling together festivals, such as Togetherness and Wonderland, bringing people out into the woods to hear the heartbeat of original music in rural Upstate New York. It takes a minute to find that heartbeat, but we’re on the pulse and the beat is pretty steady.
-Travis Durfee on the Ithaca music scene
Be sure to be on the lookout for when “Whiskey Thursday” drops on July 28. The single will not disappoint and stay tuned for the upcoming album, Summer Nights Begin, which was mixed by sound engineer Mike Capporizzo. Take a listen to more of Sweats’ music available below.
CRT just presented their revival of Kiss Me, Kate for their 50 Anniversary Season, but now all mainstage shows are canceled as the ongoing situation with the COVID pandemic is evolving. The Bright Star Touring Company’s children’s productions of The Little Mermaid on July 28 at 10 A.M. and Upcycled Cinderella on July 29 at 10 A.M. will continue as scheduled.
In Cortland county, there are 84 active cases, and the new BA.5 subvariant is responsible for 125,000 new cases and more than 400 deaths each day in the United States, according to seven-day averages on The Washington Post’s covid tracker. The subvariant is causing 80% of infections and is more contagious than other variants by far.
In order to stay safe during this unstable time, people need to get vaccinated, wash their hands, social distance, and wear masks, especially as the fall and winter approach. The Cortland Repertory Theatre has a special filtration system to help suppress airborne and surface microorganisms and pathogens including viruses (COVID and others), bacteria, and mold, and is encouraging people to wear masks and not attend shows if sick.
The CRT Box Office staff will be contacting ticket holders to discuss options for refunds or ticket donations. For more information about the upcoming shows, and to buy tickets, go here.
The Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown will return indoors to its theater after presenting this past summer’s performances outdoors in “Glimmerglass on the Grass.” The 2022 season will run from July 8 to August 21 in the Alice Busch Opera Theater.
Artistic & General Director Francesca Zambello has announced the 2022 Festival will be her 12th and final season with the company.
My years with The Glimmerglass Festival have been the best of my life. I got married and built a home here with Faith and our son, Jackson, and the Cooperstown community has become an integral part of our lives. I am so proud of this company and all we have accomplished over the last decade. This is not goodbye; it is a time of transition and excitement for this company I adore. I am excited to witness and support the beginning for the next era of the ever-evolving Glimmerglass Festival/
Francesca Zambello
She has done a lot during her time at the company. She initiated the annual appointment of Artists in Residence, including internationally-renowned stars Bill Burden, Christine Goerke, and more. During her tenure, the Festival added original youth operas to the summer season, established an Attica Correctional Facility initiative, and introduced second-stage events with adaptations of classics, cabarets, gospel and klezmer concerts, and more.
Francesca Zambello.
Zambello will remain in her position through the conclusion of the 2022 Festival and will continue her role as Artistic Director at Washington National Opera and as an independent opera and theater director.
The 2022 Festival will feature productions of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music, as well as Bizet’s Carmen, directed by 2022 Artist in Residence Denyce Graves. In August, she will also reprise her role in an extended version of The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson in a two-night-only presentation.
Following the festival will be the releases of the Festival’s first two commissioned works on film: The Knock, by Aleksandra Vrebalov and Deborah Brevoort, which is about military wives; and On Trac I<, a dance piece, composed by Nicolas Lell Benavides and choreographed and performed by Amanda Castro, which looks at the intersection of human and machine in rural America.
The 2022 festival is happening right now, and tickets are on sale here.
The Tom Hovey Summer Music Festival began on July 11 at the Meadow Links Golf Pavilion and will continue to host live musical performances every Monday evening at 7:00 pm with the last show on August 29.
President of American Federation of Musicians Local 443, and talented cellist, Ruth Berry, founded the concert series alongside fellow AFM member, the late Richard Daley, in the spring of 2021. It is in part to Richard Daley’s vision and commitment that the music festival is held for the community to enjoy.
The Tom Hovey Summer Music Festival allows professional musicians to share their craft with the community and honors the legacy of athlete and Richfield Springs resident, Tom Hovey. The festival supports the immense talents of these musicians alongside a unique atmosphere.
On July 11, classic rock duo Brian Murphy and Jeff Ruzich opened the festival among the scenic grounds of Meadow Links. The Dan Sales Jazz Trio performed on July 18, and the Hartwick College Jazz Trio will grace audiences with more fantastic jazz pieces on July 25. Other musical acts include Glimmerglass Trombone Trio, Aaron Brask and The Old Masters, and many more.
All performances for the Tom Hovey Summer Music Festival are free and open to the public, in part due to funding from the not-for-profit, 443 Concerted Works Inc. Guests are more than welcome to bring lawn chairs, blankets, or with the ample parking available, listen in the car with the windows rolled down. In the event of bad weather, performances will still take place in a well-ventilated pavilion. For the full lineup of the performances, see below.
July 11: Brian Murphy and Jeff Ruzich: Classic Rock
July 18: Dan Sales Jazz Trio
July 25: Hartwick College Jazz Trio
August 1: Glimmerglass Trombone Trio
August 8 John O’ Connor; original songs and ballads
August 15: Aaron Brask and The Old Masters; classic and original jazz
August 22: Bill Scranton and Jeff Ruzich; jazz/pop
August 29: Lauren Mettler: classic and original folk
Salt City Summerfest will blanket downtown Syracuse for Artsweek, the last week of July, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. from Tuesday July 26th through Saturday July 30th, a great opportunity for those seeking dining and culture in Central New York.
This year, due to popular demand, the second “Salt City Summerfest” will join Artsweek with pop up performances of all kinds. Every downtown sidewalk and patio dining area will be visited by performers of all kinds as an element of Artsweek, which also includes the Arts and Crafts Festival, the Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival.
The pop-up festival is made possible for its second year due to the title sponsorship of Countryside Federal Credit Union as well as public support from Senator Rachel May, Assembly Member Al Stirpe, and other downtown stakeholders.
“We’re excited to support the 2022 Salt City Summerfest this year in support of downtown’s outdoor dining areas during Artsweek. Countryside is committed to Central New York, its rich culture, downtown businesses, and residents that have been impacted by the pandemic the past two years.”
Ken Jardin
Salt City Summerfest brings a national act in residence for the first time. Ricky Alexander, a New York City neo-swing musician, brings his quintet to perform at noon on Wednesday July 27th in Perseverance Park, then follows that with a 5:30 p.m. show on the Marriot Downtown patio. They will stroll through downtown the next evening. Other festival artists include groups playing in diverse styles, modern dance by Syracuse Ballet, and the Acappella Fellas. The two patio locations, at the Marriott and Salt City Market, will allow for stationary, continuous concerts with dining available.
Ricky Alexander
“The master plan here is to get people out and about to enjoy our urban landscape. Explore a festival or two, have a great meal, expect the unexpected if you dine outdoors, maybe catch some jazz at the Marriott patio, then stroll up to Clinton Square for some great music on three stages at the Northeast Jazz & Wine Fest. What could be more fun? It’s all downtown for the taking.”
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.
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.
