Category: Regions

NYS Music’s March Madness 2022: Round 1

Since 2015, New York State Music has crafted a March Madness competition that spans all the musical harbors of the Empire State. As fans and musicians, the NYS Music team aims to spotlight the great talent found across New York in a friendly contest, bringing broader attention to the next generation of artists and bands on the rise. March Madness 2022 highlights 64 bands and artists you might not know, but should know, as these homegrown talents are making waves through the New York State.

A little March madness may complement and contribute to sanity and help keep society on an even keel
Henry V. Porter, 1939

Porter coined the term “March Madness” that went dark for four decades. As we know it today, March Madness is commonplace in sports and bracketing, and NYS Music is here to put a musical namesake on March Madness 2022.

With the aide of our sponsors, NYS Music March Madness is a medium for these artists to be heard, grow and discovered. Go Listen. Go Vote. And let the Madness begin.

NYS Music has partnered with businesses across New York State to highlight these 64 up and coming bands. Regional sponsors include Funk n Waffles, a premiere music venue in Syracuse established in 2007 with a unique take on the culinary and entertainment industries, offering a wide variety of gourmet waffles and breakfast food, as well as offering live music every night! Bearsville Theater in Woodstock is where Americana was born – where Dylan took folk music and married it to Rock & Roll. where folk went electric, and where Janis took a breath and recuperated, before launching her hurricane energy and heart stopping songs out into the world. Renovated in 2019-2020, Bearsville Theater has an impressive calendar of shows for Hudson Valley music lovers.

DSP Shows based in Ithaca, NY and Northampton, MA, is one of the leading independent concert promoters in America, with shows at venues including State Theatre of Ithaca, Hangar Theatre, The Haunt, Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, Brewery Ommegang, Asbury Hall, The 9th Ward at Babeville, and Daryl’s House among others. The Helping Friendly Hemp Company offers a wide variety of industry leading products including tinctures, soft chews, and hemp flower, using only USA grown hemp extract.

The winners of each region will be rewarded with a collection of prizes worth $3000. Partners for NYS Music’s March Madness 2022 include Mirth Films from Albany, a music news/entertainment outlet that specializes in original video content and live streaming, with news coverage ranging across the whole country, who will provide a professional multi-camera recording session at a prestigious venue in Albany for the winning band, premiering exclusively on Mirth Films.

The XPerience Monthly is the greater Capital Region’s alt-monthly newspaper, bringing independent music and thought provoking articles to the area. The XPerience Monthly will feature the winning band in a newspaper profile and interview this summer.

Enter your email address, meet the bands and vote for your favorites on Page 2!

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March 1, 2022
Celebrate Women’s History Month at Flushing Town Hall

Women’s History Month this March at the Flushing Town Hall will showcase four unique artists with their performances that celebrate the music history of iconic women. The four shows will be on Friday March 4th, Thursday March 10th, Saturday March 19th, and Thursday March 31st at Flushing Town Hall.

Flushing Town Hall, educates the global communities of New York City and Queens which is celebrated as the home of Jazz due to their quality Jazz performances. Rosena Hill Jackson, Barbara Rosene, Akua Allrich, and Deborah Resto are the four women that will perform this March to celebrate the iconic women in music history.

The series showcases commemorating Jazz, Pop, and Latin music icons Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee, Nina Simone, Celia Cruz, and others.

“The month will be jam-packed with extraordinary women, past and present! There will be some truly powerhouse vocals on our stage, interpreting some of the most beloved songs of the last few decades,”
Ellen Kodadek, Flushing Town Hall’s Executive & Artistic Director.

Rosena Hill Jackson, Broadway veteran and vocalist kicks off Women’s History Month at Flushing Town Hall on Friday, March 4th at 7pm. Rosena Hill Jackson has performed with The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, with The New York Philharmonic for PBS, and with the Long Island Philharmonic which helped to create a large amount of vocal soloist performances throughout her career.

Vocalist Barbara Rosene takes the stage for the second performance for Women’s History Month with her tribute to The Peggy Lee Songbook who helped to redefine what it meant to be a female singer. The passionate vocalist has hit the stages internationally at Montreal Jazz Festival and Lake Como, Italy and many others. Barbara Rosene hits the stage on Thursday, March 10th at 7PM, where she’ll interpret the great music of the 1920s and 30s.

“We are overjoyed to be welcoming artists like Akua Allrich, whose original performance date in March 2020 was canceled due to the pandemic lockdown. This month’s celebration of women artists will inspire and delight our audiences!”

The distinct style of blues, soul, jazz, and panAfrican are seen throughout Akua Allrich music. Quickly making a name for herseslf, Akua Allrich tributes Nina Simone & Miriam Makeba on Saturday, March 19th at 8PM as the third artist to perform for Women’s History Month.

Closing out the month on Thursday, March 31st at 7PM is New York-born, Hispanic artist and musician, Deborah Reso. Deborah Reso has recorded as a background vocalist for artists like Christina Aguilera, Marc Anthony, Enrique Iglesias, Paul Simon, Ricky Martin, and more.

To purchase tickets to any event in this series or to register for the livestreams: www.flushingtownhall.org/women-history-month

In adherence with New York City’s Covid policy for performance venues, Flushing Town Hall will require all visitors, performers, and staff to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 with matching identification. Additionally, masks will be required at all times. For more details on Flushing Town Hall’s Covid-safety measures and vaccine requirements, please visit: www.flushingtownhall.org/covid-safety

March 1, 2022
Trombone Shorty Summer Tour Makes Stops in NYC and Lewiston, Shared first singles off “Lifted”

After five years, New Orleans musical icon Trombone Shorty has announced a new album Lifted, set to release on April 29th. Alongside this announcement, Trombone Shorty has announced that he will be on tour this summer in support of the album as well. The artist will play the SummerStage in New York City’s Central Park and in Lewiston as a part of Artpark’s Tuesdays in the Park Concert Series.

Trombone Shorty speaks on the album:

[My mother] passed recently, but she continued to inspire me right up until she transitioned, and that’s why I put a picture of her holding me up at a second line on the cover of this album. She lifted me up my whole life.

In this album, Trombone Shorty hopes to mimic the electrifying feel of a live performance.

I think Lifted is the closest we’ve ever gotten to bottling up the live show and putting it on a record. This time around I told everybody to really cut loose, to perform like they were onstage at a festival.
Trombone Shorty

Trombone Shorty’s lead single below exemplifies intoxicating vocals, beautiful instrumentation, and an unfathomable amount of personality.

For tour and album pre-order information visit tromboneshorty.com

Trombone Shorty 2022 Tour dates:

February 19, 2022 – Shorty Gras in New Orleans, LA

February 24, 2022 – Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale, FL

February 25, 2022 – Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale, FL

February 26, 2022 – Fort Mose Jazz and Blues Series in St. Augustine, FL

February 27, 2022 – Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, FL

April 23, 2022 – Double Decker Arts Festival in Oxford, MS

April 30, 2022 – Saenger Theatre in New Orleans, LA

May 8, 2022 – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans, LA

May 20, 2022 – Academy 2 in Birmingham, UK

May 21, 2022 – SWG3 Studio Warehouse in Glasgow, UK

May 23, 2022 – Roundhouse in London, UK

May 24, 2022 – O2 Ritz Manchester in Manchester, UK

May 26, 2022 – Mojo Club in Hamburg, Germany

May 27, 2022 – 013 Poppodium in Tilburg, The Netherlands

May 28, 2022 – Salle Pleyel in Paris, France

May 30, 2022 – Huxley’s in Berlin, Germany

May 31, 2022 – Muffathalle in Munich, Germany

June 1, 2022 – Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, Belgium

June 3, 2022 – Barcelona Guitar Festival in Barcelona, Spain

June 4, 2022 – Kapital in Madrid, Spain

June 10, 2022 – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in Hampton, NH

June 11, 2022 – Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston, MA

June 13, 2022 – SummerStage in Central Park in New York, NY

June 14, 2022 – Tuesdays in the Park Concert Series in Lewiston, NY

June 15, 2022 – Massey Hall in Toronto, ON

June 17, 2022 – Bold Point Park in East Providence, RI

June 18, 2022 – Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA

June 19, 2022 – Ting Pavilion in Charlottesville, VA

June 21, 2022 – Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, NC

June 22, 2022 – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park in Atlanta, GA

June 24, 2022 – Venue TBA in Grand Rapids, MI

June 25, 2022 – The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre in Detroit, MI

June 26, 2022 – Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL

June 28, 2022 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO

June 29, 2022 – Venue TBA in Salt Lake City, UT

July 1, 2022 – KettleHouse Amphitheatre in Bonner, MT

July 2, 2022 – Venue TBA in Seattle, WA

July 3, 2022 – Edgefield in Troutdale, OR

August 10, 2022 – Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA

August 11, 2022 – Mountain Winery in Saratoga, CA

August 12, 2022 – Oxbow River Stage Concert Series in Napa, CA

August 13, 2022 – Santa Barbara Bowl in Santa Barbara, CA

August 14, 2022 – The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park in San Diego, CA

March 1, 2022
Comedy finds a home in CNY at Funk n Waffles

Central New York Comedy has found a home at Funk n Waffles in Syracuse. For the past few months, NYC comedian Brian Enck has put together well-received and hilarious shows in Downtown Syracuse, in a music venue of all places.

Brian is a nationally touring comedian who’s been in dozens of comedy fests, hosted award shows, podcasts and anything else you can think of. But his new home is here in Syracuse and his new favorite show is the monthly at Funk & Waffles.

Honestly I didn’t think I’d be able to get them. To be real, Funk & Waffles was my target college and my grades were not good enough. They’re known for being this very cool music venue with amazing bands coming through and I walk up with my dumb face and go ‘Hey how about I bring you some comedians?’ We talked for a few weeks, tweaked out the details till we made it work. We’ve had two of the past three shows sold out, and the comics love the space, so it must’ve been the right call.
Brian Enck

Enck, originally from Webster, outside of Rochester, moved to NYC once he started getting paid gigs freshman year of college in 2010. For over a decade Brian made stand up not just his passion but his career drawing on his influences like Dave Chappelle, Monty Python, Lenny Bruce, Patton Oswalt, Maria Bamford and others. “I moved from Upstate because there wasn’t a scene around here, it was just angry recently divorced 50 year olds yelling about their ex wives and giving me a hard time because I was working out jokes.” Now the whole state has a great network of talented comics in well run rooms. From the clubs, to bar shows, to little pop up rooms, or monthlies in a place that had a heavy metal band the night before it’s like a renaissance for the New York comedy.” Brian also spent his last few years as a comedy producer for a TV Network. “I loved being able to work on scripts, talk out characters with actors, and making a budget work with the accountants, actually no that part sucked but the rest was fun.”

Brian’s shows have had the same outline grab the funniest people and turn on the microphone.

Because of COVID, he would take some time to work remotely and spend time with his family. That summer Brian met his now wife and made the move from Brooklyn to Syracuse and hasn’t looked back.

With a goal of drawing NYC comedians north, and Rochester, Buffalo and Albany each having ripe comedy centers, Syracuse fits right in the middle of that I-90 corridor and would benefit CNY comedy fans in need. Turning Syracuse into a city that is great for comedy is Enck’s plan, just as Madison, WI is great for comedy just because it decided to be; there is no reason Syracuse can’t be the same, given how close it is to NYC.

Though Brian thought choosing a music venue was going to be a long shot, it has worked out perfectly for a comedy series. Every comedian wants to be a musician and vice versa, to quote Seinfeld “Musicians and Comedians are like Chimps and Orangutans, we know we have something in common we just can’t place it.”

Working with the clubs, comedians, and other venues the next plan is for a Central New York comedy festival. With each city hosting comics from all over in the great rooms that already exist here and now.

Upcoming Comedy Nights at Funk n Waffles

March 10th

April 7th

May 11th

Summer dates to be announced soon.

March 1, 2022
Necronomicon Will Stop at Montage Music Hall During North American Tour

Canadian death metal group Necronomicon will arrive in North America for a tour this Spring. They will co-headline with a fellow metal group, The Convalescence between April and June.

This musical journey will embark on April 29 in Kalamazoo, MI at Papa Pete’s and will move throughout the states, making a stop in Rochester Montage Music Hall on June 1. Necronomicon will perform their latest album “UNUS”, which can be streamed or downloaded here.

I think I don’t need to mention how hard these last years have been for everyone, and it’s about time that we get back to a healthy music scene. We are more than happy to be back in the U.S. We really hope you guys will come and support us as we bring you ‘Vivus Verum’ on this run. Hail to all of you.
Rob The Witch

The music group was founded in 1988 by guitarist and singer Rob “The Witch”. Since their first full length album “Pharoah of Gods” dropped in 2002, Necronomicon has evolved over time. In 2019, they became the second band ever since VOIVOD to receive a certificate of honor for over 30 years of being in the music industry.

“UNUS” is a dark and black metal album that brings about darkness, brutality and elegance all in one. Along with machine like drums there is a special feature by Geirlioz (Dimmu Borgir) on Piano in ”From Ashes Into Flesh”. Necronomicon cannot wait to put on the performance of a lifetime for their American fans.

NECRONOMICON (w/ The Convalescence):
04/29: Kalamazoo, MI @ Papa Pete’s
04/30: Toledo, OH @ Main Street Bar & Grill
05/01: Chicago, IL @ WC Social Club
05/02: Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
05/03: St. Paul, MN @ Amsterdam Bar & Hall
05/04: Sioux Falls, SD @ Big’s Bar
05/05: Denver, CO @ The Venue
05/06: Salt Lake City, UT @ The Loading Dock
05/07: Boise, ID @ The Shredder
05/08: Spokane, WA @ The Big Dipper
05/09: Seattle, WA @ The Funhouse
05/10: Portland, OR @ Dante’s Theater
05/11: San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge
05/13: San Diego, CA @ Brick by Brick
05/14: Scottsdale, AZ @ Pub Rock Live
05/15: Gallup, NM @ Juggernaut Music
05/16: El Paso, TX @ Rockhouse Bar & Grill
05/17: Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live
05/18: Dallas, TX @ Amplified Live
05/20: San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger
05/21: Houston, TX @ Acadia Bar & Grill
05/22: Crestview, FL @ Jimmy’s Jukebox
05/24: Tampa, FL @ Brass Mug
05/25: Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits
05/26: Winter Park, FL @ The Haven Lounge
05/27: Jonesboro, GA @ Furnace 41
05/28: Knoxville, TN @ The Concourse
05/29: Wilmington, DE @ Bar XIII
05/30: Worcester, MA @ Ralph’s Rock Diner
05/31: Portland, ME @ Geno’s Rock Club
06/01: Rochester, NY @ Montage Music Hall
06/02: Mechanicsburg, PA @ Lovedraft’s Brewing Co.
06/03: Fort Wayne, IN @ Rockstar Lounge
06/04: Chesterfield, MI @ Diesel Concert Lounge

February 28, 2022
Spa City Guitar Festival Takes Over Universal Preservation Hall this March

The first Spa City Guitar Festival will be held Friday, March 18 to Sunday, March 20 at Universal Preservation Hall. This debut will become an annual event in Saratoga Springs and will provide audiences with a three day guitar extravaganza full of concerts, masterclasses, workshops, guitar displays and vendors.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, this event has been cancelled.

The Performers

The first in line to perform is none other than Brazilian guitarist Badi Assad, whose specialty is to mix her culture’s music with ethnic sounds from across the world. Therefore, she defies the idea of sticking to one genre of music. Her singing is known to be vibrant, while as a guitarist she is known to be innovative, inspiring, and breathtaking. Assad has moved the masses not only with her unique voice, but her fingers as well. She will perform at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 18.

Next up on the itinerary is Germán López, who is known internationally as one of the most notable and outstanding guitarists. He adheres to Canary folk music traditions, Spanish Flamenco, West African rhythms, the flourishing spirit of jazz, as well as his own original approach to “island music.” Having performed nearly 100 times while on tours globally, the Spa City Guitar Festival will only elevate his career. He will take part in a Spanish folk performance featuring Antonio Toledo at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 19.

The festivals third performance is by Grammy-nominated guitarist Mark Lettieri. He has experience not only professionally playing the guitar, but as a composer, producer, and instructor as well. Unlike many, Lettieri does not stick to one style of music, but rather a multitude of them, whether he works with an independent or a major label artist. As a composer and producer, he creates original music of his own. Additionally, he is highly known to play in Snarky Puppy since 2008, a music group that combines jazz, rock, world and funk. His work with the group has resulted in four Grammy Awards. Lettieri will perform at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 19.

Last but not least, is 21 album and chart-topping guitarist Gary Hoey, who will perform at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 20. With his hit for hit catalog, Hoey secured himself a spot as one of the top 100 guitarists of all time. He is known for his fiery vibe and amazing connection with his audience. Hoey was first discovered by Ozzy Osbourne in 1987 and has excelled ever since. He is known to perform thrilling solos that are comparable to Clapton or Stevie Ray at their peak.

Passes available consists of the $35 single day pass, $45 single day pass and masterclass, $75 festival pass, and the $150 VIP Pass. For more information about the passes, as well as to purchase them visit the Universal Preservation Hall website.

February 28, 2022
Illuminati Hotties Pool Hop at Bowery Ballroom

Los Angeles based rockers Illuminati Hotties made their way to Manhattan’s Bowery Ballroom on Thursday, February 24th as part of their co-headline tour with Fenne Lily. The band is touring behind their excellent sophomore LP, Let Me Do One More, released last October on Hopeless Records. The show on Thursday was opened by Texas native Katy Kirby, with Illuminati Hotties in the middle spot followed by Fenne Lily. Check out our full photo gallery below.

Photo by Buscar Photo

Illuminati Hotties is the brainchild of singer, producer, and guitarist Sarah Tudzin. Getting her start as a recording and mixing engineer, the music of became an extension of her work into more creative areas. Presenting a fun, upbeat, and incredibly catchy pop-punk, the band has made a huge splash with this latest record. Let Me Do One More highlight “Pool Hopping” is an essential jam for any summer playlist, reminiscing about hot summer days spent floating in the pool.

Sara Tudzin. Photo by Buscar Photo

The co-headline tour with Fenne Lily began at the beginning of February and continues through mid-March with stops to be made in Chicago, Canada, and Portland. After this run of shows, Illuminati Hotties head over to Europe for a lengthy headlining tour into May. Head over to the band’s Bandcamp page for the full tour schedule.

February 28, 2022
Zappa Tribute The Furious Bongos To Play In Buffalo and Albany

Live music is back and so are The Furious Bongos. In celebration, The Furious Bongos playing the music of Frank Zappa, is making its way through six different cities in April, two of those cities being Buffalo and Albany. The band will perform at The Linda in Albany on the 9th and Buffalo Iron Works on the 10th.

After working alongside great acts such as Oasis, Alice In Chains, REM, and a plethora of other bands, the band has built versatility and shown immaculate prestige in their career.

In honor of live music’s return, the band will be playing songs from Frank Zappa’s discography, regarded by the band as the mother of all musicians, a pun based on Zappa’s involvement with The Mothers of Invention. When it came to his music, Zappa was a pioneer of change and innovation. He allowed his band members to improvise and just have fun on stage. To honor Zappa’s legacy, The Furious Bongos will be doing the same. It will be a night to remember.

The Furious Bongos Tour Dates

4/8– Havre de Grace, MD @ State Theater

4/9– Albany, NY @ The Linda

4/10– Buffalo, NY @ Buffalo Iron Works

4/12– Cleveland, OH @ Music Box

4/13– Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s Rock Club

4/14– Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon

For more information, visit thefuriousbongos.com

February 28, 2022
In Focus: Twiddle and Midnight North at The Palace Theatre

Live music is just now making its comeback, and on Saturday, February 26 at the Palace Theatre in Albany, everyone was absolutely ready to get back to normal. Since their visit last fall in Lake George, Twiddle hasn’t really been back to the area, and not only was it a momentous occasion for everyone who was dying to see their favorite band again, the boys from Vermont absolutely brought the heat and brought the house down alongside Midnight North.

Midnight North

Midnight North kicked things off with an incredible opening set. Their unique mix of rock, Americana, and roots music was the perfect kickoff for the evening. One thing is absolutely certain — it’s impossible to tell that the members of this band have spent most of the past two years in completely different states. It’s like they haven’t missed a beat.

Twiddle

Everyone was extra excited about the main event and their excitement was not misplaced. Not only was last night a stupendous family reunion for everyone in the crowd, but the band also has never sounded better. It seems the bands we are going to see have missed playing together as much as we have missed seeing them.

Mihali Savoulidis (lead singer/guitar), Ryan Dempsey (keys, vocals), Zdeneck Gubb (bass, vocals) and Adrian Tramontano (drums) did not let up from the first note to the last. We got some classics, some of their new songs, Gubb dumps, drum solos, and epic sit-ins with some extra special friends.

Twiddle setlist:

Set 1: Enter>Orlando’s, Syncopated Healing, White LIght, Apples, Angel From Montgomery [1]%, Stroganoff

Set 2: Latin Tang, Mildew Man > Shakedown Street [2]$, The Box, Lost in the Cold

Encore: The Devil

[1] John Prine [2] Grateful Dead % – w/Joe Cirotti & Elliott Peck $ – Grahame Lesh

Twiddle and Midnight North gallery

February 28, 2022
Khruangbin’s Laura Lee to Host New Show On Radio Woodstock

Laura Lee Ochoa has officially joined the Radio Woodstock family with the upcoming debut of her show, “Leezy’s Certified Bangers : Grooves Beyond Borders”. The Saturday night program will premiere on March 5 at 10 PM.

The show will explore sounds from around the globe while also taking notes from Lee’s middle eastern, R&B and funk musical influences. Listeners will be able to bop their heads to the beats of her hidden gems as Lee showcases everything she’s learned during her travels around the world.

Lee is a singer-songwriter, best known for her role as one of Khruangbin’s founding members and its bass guitarist. The Texas trio have released a number of projects, with their most recent EP, Texas Moon being released on the 18th of this month. Texas Moon serves as their second collaboration with Leon Bridges. The group draws inspiration from several sources including Thai rock, 70’s funk and surf rock.

With the addition of Laura Lee to Radio Woodstock’s line up, it’s easy to say that the Hudson Valley will have even more great music to listen to while they’re out and about. The station has been operating for over 40 years and hosts a number of award winning programs. Radio Woodstock is also responsible for a number of concerts and festivals, including Mountain Jam Festival.

“Leezy’s Certified Bangers” will air on the first Saturday of every month, 10-11 PM on Radio Woodstock 100.1. Listeners can also tune in online or on the iHeartRADIO app.

February 28, 2022