Category: Niagara Falls

STEMM Reunite with TJ Frost for First Time in 20 Years at The Rapids Theater

The night of Saturday, November 12 was a bitter and cold, and at The Rapids Theater in Niagara Falls, The Thom Conde Project, Buffalo’s newest hard rock band, opening the night’s show. Next up, was Buffalo’s Red Letter, followed by Sirens & Sailors from Rochester taking the stage. And among the crowd was unreal anticipation for STEMM to the start their set. Even Rob Arnold, guitarist from the band Chimaira made the trip to see this show from Ohio.

By showtime, the building had filled up and it didn’t feel like a bitter cold night anymore. STEMM has been working for over a year to bring back their old vocalist TJ Frost to play their album Songs for the Incurable Heart in its entirety. TJ flew in from Boise, Idaho for two weeks of constant rehearsals – and let me tell you, it surely paid off. They started with original STEMM songs before TJ was brought out on stage. At this point, the entire vibe in the building was through the roof – it was hot, It was humid and it felt like a jungle inside the venue.

This is where things got fun. Having personally known the guys in STEMM for 25 years and shared the stage with them with my band countless times (before I traded in my gear and became a photographer.) When you add STEMM and TJ Frost – the roof was blown off the building by the crowd. There were multiple people crowd surfing including a 10 year old kid who was witnessed crowd surfing at least 5 different times, like it was his favorite theme park ride. When you think you’ve seen it all, you see a security guard crowd surf, and you know you’re at an amazing show, with all the incredible vibes at this point.

STEMM is Joe Cafarella- Vocals/Guitar; Danny Nelligan – Drums; Alex Scouten- Guitar; TJ Frost- Vocals; Louis Penque – Vocals; Fred Blackwell- Guitar, and Joe Scouten- Bass Guitar. With seven members on stage during STEMM’s set, including their original vocalist Louis Penque from the beginning of their days, to TJ Frost himself, both vocalists were boucing all over the building. On the speakers and on the security gate they were both reaching out as far as they could in the crowd just to give a fan a high five. This is personally the most amazing performance I have seen STEMM perform in more than 20 years. Yet the band is not done – they plan on one-upping this show in the future.

Not only has STEMM became a staple of the music scene in Niagara Falls for the past 25 years, their songs have been used by the UFC, including “Face the Pain” being the UFC’s main theme song from 2002-2018. The UFC has used 25 different STEMM songs as background music over their history. This is saying A LOT from a little band from a the second largest city in NYS, Niagara Falls, NY. And Recently heard at Buffalo Sabre’s and Buffalo Bills games; more STEMM songs.

STEMM – The Rapids Theater, Niagara Falls, NY – Saturday, November 12

Setlist: Wish, Dead Inside, House of Cards, Don’t Act Surprised, Inside, Casualty for Prayer, The Memory Remains, A Song for the Incurable Heart, Till I Die, MONSTER, Pandemic, Numb, On the Surface, 13 Years, Incomplete, Holding On, Between now and Forever, The day the Earth Stood Still, Face the Pain

November 17, 2022
20th Annual Native American Music Awards to be Held at Seneca Casino

The 20th annual Native American Music awards will be held on November 19 at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls. The event is back after the pandemic’s devastating impact on Indigenous communities across America.

Robert Mesa

The Native American Music Awards will be commemorating National Native American Heritage month. The host this year will be actor Robert Mesa (Navajo/ Soboba) who most recently played the character James Chee, the first Indigenous doctor on Grey’s Anatomy.

Rodney Grant will be the host emcee, for the fourth time in his career. He has had an outstanding career in film, motion pictures, and television. He is best known for his memorable role as ”Wind In His Hair” in the 1990 film Dances With Wolves. Rodney Grant will also be inducting artist Micki Free into the Native American Music Awards Hall of Fame.

The awards were originally formed in 1998 as a national organization committed to traditional and contemporary Native American music. This year’s nominees have embraced many issues facing tribal communities today including; Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, land back, climate crisis, and the devastating pandemic.

The awards will proudly recognize and honor Oren Lyons as a Living Legend. He is an artist, speaker, author and environmental activist for Indigenous peoples worldwide and holds the title of Wisdom Keeper. He has advocated at the United Nations to recognize Indigenous rights, and is the Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan, Onondaga Nation.

Oren Lyons

This year’s Hall of Fame inductee is Micki Free, a Grammy Award winner and multiple Native American Music Award winner of Comanche and Cherokee descent. He is currently on tour supporting his latest album, Turquoise Blue, which features members of The Santana Band, Steve Stevens of Billy Idol and Gary Clark Jr..

The Lifetime Achievement Award recipients are Paul LaRoche and Robert Tree Cody. LaRoche is the founding member of Brulé, the epic Native American rock show. Brule’ has won eight Native American Music Awards, released 20 CDs, and sold over one million CDs worldwide. Robert Tree Cody is a five-time award winner, and a multi-talented flutist, singer, dancer, actor, and educator.

Featured performers this year include Antoine Edwards Jr, Cody Blackbird, Earl Slick and the Fabulous Ripcords, Fawn Wood, Gunner Jules, Spur Pourier, Sten Joddi, and The Halluci Nation.

The Native American Music Awards has teamed up with SiriusXM for a special curated music mix celebrating the musical contributions of Native American artists. “Native American Voices,” an exclusive mix highlighting artists from the awards Hall of Fame, is hosted by the organization’s president, Ellen Bello. The content will be available on SiriusXM beginning Oct. 31, on the SXM App for the month of Nov.

Tickets for the awards show are on sale now here, and voting for the award ceremony remains open until Nov. 18.

November 2, 2022
GWAR and Friends Tear The Crowd Up at Rapids Theater in Niagara Falls

For many, GWAR has been one of the most consistent heavy metal bands in their lives. On October 22nd, they brought their bloodbath to the Rapids Theatre in Niagara Falls.

GWAR brings a bloody great time to the Rapids Theater in Niagara Falls. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki

If you search the name GWAR, it’s easy to see just on the outside what this band brings when they put on a performance. Big costumes, heavy metal, blood and guts. When you go to see them, however, there is something so much more.

But before we go into the main event, let’s talk about the other groups that GWAR brought along.

The opener was a band from Pottsville, PA named Crobot. With a name like that, I wasn’t too sure what to expect. However, as soon as lead singer Brandon Yeagley popped out of a foam egg, the crowd was immediately enthralled with this group. With groove mixed with a lot of Rock ‘n Roll, you couldn’t help but dance/scream/head bang. The energy they brought was incredible and they are certainly a group to keep your eyes out for.

Brandon Yeagley of Crobot flies high while band mates Chris Bishop, on guitar, and Tim Peugh, on bass, rock out. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki

Immediately following Crobot, we have the melodic death-metal group Nekrogoblikon. They. Killed. It. The audience was absolutely in love with this group, and with John Goblikon. Their sound was totally unique and they definitely rocked the house down.

Nicky Calonne and John Goblikon jamming out together. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki

And finally, we have GWAR. Formed in 1984, this group has been non-stop for more than three decades. Fans of GWAR at Rapids Theater were some of the most dedicated people to a group I’ve ever seen. Normally when you go to a rock show, there is a unspoken dress code of all black all the time. But for this one, fans were dressed in white, in hopes to be part of the carnage that this band brought. Of course there were crowd surfers and mosh pits. What else can you expect? Blothar the Berserker’s vocals are out of this world and the rest of the band are a recipe for success.

This being said, there was also plenty of the blood spewing that the band is known for. From the dismemberment of a ‘GWAR fan’ and a soldier, to the ‘pissing match’ between Blothar’s alter-ego from another universe (which he said was a manifestation of everything that he hates about himself). There was a certain political undertone that was hard to miss and the crowd ate up with the infamous presidential decapitation of Joe Biden, Putin’s demise and even the destruction of Amy Coney Barrett.

Blothar’s alter-ego from another dimension. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki

The ‘so much more’ piece mentioned before about this group? The fans of the GWAR are die-hards, they are all connected in a way that is so much more than just the costumes, guts and gore.

If you ever have the chance to see this band perform, do not miss your opportunity. And if you’re too scared to get a little dirty, stay in the back or stay home. This is not for the lighthearted.

GWAR at Rapids Theater
Setlist: The Cutter ft. Lzzy Hale, The Issue of Tissue (Spacecake), Bring Back the Bomb, New Dark Age, Mother Fucking Liar, Rise Again, Bored to Death, Saddam a Go-Go, Ratcatcher, Womb With a View, Black and Huge, Venom of the Platypus, Berserker Mode, U Ain’t Shit, None but the Brave
Encore: Sick of You, Fuck This Place.

Gwar decapitates a “fan”. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki

Pustulus Maximus of GWAR. Photo By Samantha Rychlicki

Blothar the Berserker enjoying a cup of a soldier’s blood. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki

Putin’s destruction. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki

Bonesnapper surveys the area to make sure there’s no trouble (that they aren’t causing). Photo by Samantha Rychlicki

Beefcake the Mighty on Bass. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki

Fans of all types enjoy the bloodbath that GWAR brings to their show. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki

Blothar the Berserker. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki

Balsac the Jaws O Death on lead guitar. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki

The aftermath of the gore. Photo by Samantha Rychlicki

October 25, 2022
Lynyrd Skynyrd rocks the house at Seneca Niagara Casino

Saturday, August 27th brought the legendary southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd to Seneca Niagara Casino In Niagara Falls. To note, the only original member of the band is Gary Rossington who plays guitar, but he was recovering from heart surgery so he was unable to play.

Lynyrd Skynyrd is a rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1969. The band rose to fame in the 70s with five studio albums and one live album but their career was abruptly halted in 1977 when their chartered airplane crashed, killing three band members and seriously injuring the rest. They reformed in 1987 with their former singer’s brother Johnny Van Zant as singer. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 and have sold more than 28 million records in the USA.

photo credit- Mike Miller

The show started off with AC/DC’s thunderstruck with a video montage of the band on the large stage screens. Once the whole band walked on the stage the fans went screaming loudly and all stood from their seats with applause. Lynyrd Skynyrd opened their set with “Workin for MCA”. They usually open most shows with this song so fans kind of expect it now.

photo credit- Mike Miller

Some other notable songs in their set (all the fan favorites) were “What’s Your Name,” “That Smell,” “Mississippi Kid”, “Sweet Home Alabama” and of course, “Free Bird” as their encore. This is the only band that you can yell out “Free Bird” and be guaranteed that they will play it and not look at you crazy as it is their most famous song.

photo credit- Mike Miller

Setlist: Workin’ for MCA, What’s Your Name, You Got That Right, The Needle and the Spoon, Whiskey Rock-a-Roller, That Smell, Cry for the Bad Man, Saturday Night Special, Tuesday’s Gone, Mississippi Kid, Red White & Blue, Simple Man, Gimme Three Steps, Call Me the Breeze, Sweet Home Alabama, Free Bird

August 31, 2022
Lionel Richie Performs First Show in Buffalo area in 22 years

It’s that time of year for the Seneca Niagara Casino to host their annual outdoor concert series in Niagara Falls. On Friday August 26th, they hosted their first of two this year with Lionel Richie headlining. Richie of course is the American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer who rose to fame in the 1970s as a songwriter and the co-lead singer of funk band the Commodores.

Photo Credit- Mike Miller

There was no opening act, just Lionel Richie performing. The casino had announced this was their largest attended event ever since they started doing these outdoor concerts many years ago. Almost every seat was filled and the general admission section in the back of the lot was packed as well.

Photo Credit- Mike Miller

It had been a very long time since Lionel Richie has played a show in our area. The last time he played Buffalo was in 2000. The show was scheduled to begin at 8pm but due to a flight delay due to weather in NYC, Lionel was about 80 minutes late arriving. Fans were very eager for the show to start as once they saw his police escort arrive behind the fence, the atmosphere changed and the crowd got louder.

Photo Credit- Mike Miller

Before Lionel took to the stage the band started with “Overture”, it had many older photos of Lionel throughout his history on the large video display wall panel on the stage. He played all of his top hits along with some Commodores tunes. After the second song “Running With The Night”, Lionel told the crowd a story why he was late tonight. He mentioned that the mayor of NYC was behind him at the airport and if he isn’t going anywhere due to the weather, neither is he.

Photo Credit- Mike Miller

Lionel and his band were on fire all night, getting the crowd to sing along to every word. Some other memorable songs in his setlist were “Three Times a Lady”, “Hello” and “Brickhouse”. He closed the night with “All Night Long” as his encore.

Fans in the crowd

Fans in the crowd

August 30, 2022
Silverstein Embarks On Co-Headlining Tour With The Amity Affliction, Stops in Niagara Falls and Huntington

The rock band Silverstein embarks on their tour with co-headliners, The Amity Affliction on Aug. 25 and will wrap up in Toronto on Oct. 2. The band will be visiting over 25 cities across North America including Niagara Falls on Sept. 27 and Huntington on Sept. 28.

Silverstein Tour

Silverstein is a Canadian rock band formed in 2000 whose name is a reference to the famous children’s author Shel Silverstein. It has included members Shane Told (vocals), Paul Marc Rousseau (guitar), Josh Bradford (guitar), Billy Hamilton (bass), and Paul Koehler (drums) since 2001.

Silverstein released their latest studio album, Misery Made Me this May via UNFD. Inspired by the pandemic life in the past two years, the album reflected the collective turmoil, frustration, and anxiety of Silverstein and the world. Its topics of loneliness, anxiety, and isolation recorded in this album are still eternal human struggles.

Silverstein confirmed their unique ability to adapt and connect in all career cycles through their active attempts in new technologies like TikTok, Discord, the metaverse, and Twitch. They are also inspiring as they continue to dig deep and find the inspiration to reach people in meaningful new ways. Misery Made Me is a campaign hinged on Silverstein’s reflection and gratitude for their roots, their honoring of their earliest fans, and their relentless desire to explore forward-thinking and adventurous ways to connect with new ones.

Tour Dates

Aug. 25 – Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
Aug. 26 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
Aug. 27 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
Aug. 28 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
Aug. 30 – Portland, OR @ Roseland
Aug. 31 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox
Sept. 2 – Boise, ID @ Revolution
Sept. 3 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Depot
Sept. 4 – Denver, CO @ Mission
Sept. 6 – Minneapolis, MN @ Skyway Theatre
Sept. 7 – Chicago, IL @ Concord Music Hall
Sept. 8 – Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Theatre
Sept. 9 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Four Chord Music Festival
Sept. 10 – Cincinnati, OH @ Ohio is For Lovers Festival
Sept. 11 – Alton, VA @ Blue Ridge Rock Festival
Sept. 13 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
Sept. 14 – Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
Sept. 16 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
Sept. 17 – San Antonio, TX @ Vibes Event Center
Sept. 18 – Dallas, TX @ Amplify Live
Sept. 20 – St Louis, MO @ Red Flag
Sept. 21 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl
Sept. 23 – Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live
Sept. 24 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Sept. 25 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore
Sept. 27 – Niagara Falls, NY @ Rapids Theatre
Sept. 28 – Huntington, NY @ Paramount
Sept. 30 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
Oct. 1 – Montreal, QC @ Olympia
Oct. 2 – Toronto, ON @ History

August 18, 2022
Youngstown Village Music Festival hosts The Trews

Saturday August 6th, brought Canadian rock band The Trews to Youngstown NY. They headlined the “Village Music Festival” which featured 11 bands in total. The weather made it a great day to enjoy live music outside at veterans park. There were food vendors, drinks, and local crafts for sale as well. A list of all the bands that played were as follows: Scott Celani, Moon Dogg, Phroendly Phoes, Dave Thurman, Tonemah, Busted in Eden, Rick Zachary, No Vacancy, Grub, Element and The Trews.

Band – “Element”

The Trews are a Canadian rock band from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, consisting of vocalist Colin MacDonald, guitarist John-Angus MacDonald, bassist Jack Syperek, and drummer Chris Gormley. The band is currently based in Hamilton, Ontario. From their formation in 1997 to 2016, The Trews were among the top 150 best-selling Canadian artists in Canada and among the top 40 selling Canadian bands in Canada.

Bass drum head

When The Trews took the stage, there were some technically problems with the sound. The PA was not turned on for the first two songs. But once that was fixed and the feedback issue they had fixed, the fans started to enjoy the music. The band handled any issues professionally and continued on with the show. There was a VIP section closer to the stage and a general admission section behind that. It was mostly filled with fans singing every word and drinking a cold beer.

The Trews guitarist

The Trews played for about an hour and a half as the sun was setting. The fanbase was a mix from old to the very young. This music festival is a yearly event in Youngstown NY and seemed to be a success this year. The setlist was as follows: “Permission”, “Not Ready to Go”, “So She’s Leaving”, “Can’t Afford to Be Lonely”, “Paranoid Freak”, “Hope & Ruin”, “I Wanna Play”, “Enemy”, “Highway of Heroes”, “God Speed Rebel”, “Can’t Stop Laughing”, “Poor Ol Broken Hearted Me”, “Tired of Waiting”, “Hold Me in Your Arms”.

Photo Gallery

August 9, 2022
Earth Wind and Fire bring soldout show to Artpark

Earth Wind and Fire played in Lewiston at Artpark on Sunday July 31st. Earth, Wind & Fire is an American R&B band formed in Chicago, in 1969 and led by founder Maurice White. Also known as EWF, or the Elements of the Universe, the band has won seven Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards.

They have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.They have sold over 90 million albums worldwide earning them a place on the list of best-selling music artists where they are ranked as the seventh best selling American band of all time. Earth Wind and Fire are currently on tour with Santana and touring all over the states this summer.

Sunset at Artpark.

The show was a near sellout with a capacity at Artpark near 10,000 people. With that said, some fans had a good experience and others, not so much, but it really depends when you arrived at the show. Prior to the show, the venue posted online many times to arrive early and expect heavy traffic and they were 100% correct. Those fans that arrived early, just as the gates opened, found parking and got in the venue prior to showtime. But those that did not heed the advice of the venue were waiting at the entrance for awhile after the show started.

The start of the show was delayed 15 minutes due to the amount of people still in line. There were various sections for fans to watch the show from. Front of stage area, marked seats by the soundboard, lower bowl and general admission seats. Fans were allowed to bring in lawn chairs to sit and watch the whole show. That helped a-lot as the average age in attendance seemed to be around 60 years old.

Gates opened at 6pm and the opener went on at around 6:30pm. This was not a typical opening band. The Brass Machine wondered their way around the crowd instead of playing on the stage. Fans seemed to enjoy this as they could directly interact with the band. The Brass Machine (formerly the Buffalo Brass Machine) is the one of the premiere touring acts on the live music circuit today, laying down funky New Orleans-style street beats across the United States and Canada. Formed in 2014 at the University at Buffalo, The Brass Machine provides a unique blend of hip hop, funk, and R&B, all in an infectious and energetic package.

Three original members of Earth Wind and Fire. photo credit- Mike Miller

Earth Wind and Fire took the stage at 8:15pm and played for about an hour and 45 minutes. There are only three original members left in the band. Phillip Bailey on lead vocals, Verdine White on bas and Ralph Johnson on percussion and backup vocals. They have been making music since 1972, celebrating 50 years in 2022. The rest of the band is comprised of Myron McKinley on keyboard, John Paris on drums, Phillip Bailey Jr. doing backup vocals and percussion, Morris O’Connor on lead guitar, Serg Dimitrjevic on rhythm guitar and B. David Whitworth on percussion and backup vocals.

photo credit- Mike Miller

They played all of their hits and then some, including “Shining Star,” “Boogie Wonderland,” “Let’s Groove” and “September.” You could not ask for better weather for an outdoor concert. The sun setting over Artpark gave fans a great backdrop to the concert with the Niagara River and lower gorge behind the stage. Many fans of the band were seen outside of the venue sitting in their chairs along the road into the Village of Lewiston as the concert could be heard from that far away. Beside the normal heavy concert traffic for an event like this, many fans enjoyed the show.

photo credit- Mike Miller

Earth Wind and Fire – Artpark, Lewiston, NY – Sunday, July 31, 2022

Setlist: Shining Star, Let Your Feelings Show, Mighty Mighty/Celebrate, Gataway, Saturday Night, Serpentine Fire, Sing a Song, Got to Get You Into My Life, Sing a Message to You, Keep Your Head to the Sky, Devotion, Reasons, That’s the Way of the World, After the Love Has Gone, Rock That, Fantasy, Boogie Wonderland, Let’s Groove, September, In the Stone

August 2, 2022
GWAR Announced “The Black Death Rager World Tour” with Halloween at Irving Plaza

American heavy metal band GWAR are pleased to announce the fall leg of “The Black Death Rager World Tour,” in support of their new album “The New Dark Ages”. The tour starts off September 10th in Alton, VA and runs through November 3rd in Baltimore, MD.

The band will vist Niagara Falls at Rapids Theater on October 22nd and New York City at Irving Plaza on October 31st.

The Black Death Rager World Tour

Prior to the Fall tour, GWAR are headed overseas on the European leg of “The Black Death Rager World Tour.” This run kicks off July 29th in Tilburg, NL and runs through August 18th in London, UK.

The new album The New Dark Ages chronicles GWAR’s adventures in the Duoverse, which will be out on CD and digital. The album and the show concepts are tied to a companion graphic novel, “GWAR In the Duoverse of Absurdity” released by Z2 Comics which depict the battle of the band with their evil twins and the specter of rogue technology as they were sucked off into an alternate univers.

“Long ago, GWAR broke the frame of what a rock concert can be. We’ve pushed the envelope of live performance for decades, but this time around, we wanted to do something different. This is the first GWAR show conceived to go along with a graphic novel and an album, all working together as one massive hunk of hot steaming shock rock performance ART! A can’t-miss cavalcade of chaos, a trash culture trilogy, a shocking extravaganza that will leave you utterly spent, soaking wet, and bawling uncontrollably. We’ve got the coolest storyline, unbelievable new characters, more blood, gore, and gags than ever before. Come, unload your worries, human scum, and let GWAR transport you to the Duoverse of absurdity just in time for the NEW DARK AGE!”
Berserker Blothar

“The Black Death Rager World Tour” With Light The Torch, Nekrogoblikon and Crobot

9/10 – Alton, VA @ Blue Ridge Rock Fest*
9/11 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl
9/13 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
9/14 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue
9/15 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
9/16 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr Smalls
9/17 – Chicago, IL @ Riot Fest*
9/19 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
9/20 – Little Rock, AR @ The Music Hall
9/21 – Columbia, MO @ Blue Note
9/23 – Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life
9/25 – Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre
9/26 – Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater
9/27 – Casper, WY @ Gaslight Social Outdoors
9/28 – Billings, MT @ Pub Station Outdoors
9/30 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
10/1 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
10/3 – Vancouver, BC @ The Vogue#
10/4 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
10/6 – Boise, ID @ Revolution Concert House
10/7 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock*
10/8 – Ventura, CA @ Ventura Theater
10/9 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco
10/10 – Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl
10/11 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
10/12 – Flagstaff, AZ @ Pepsi Amphitheater
10/14 – Dallas, TX @ Amplify
10/15 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
10/16 – Austin, TX @ Empire Live
10/18 – Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl
10/19 – Orlando, FL @ The Beachum
10/20 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
10/22 – Niagara Falls, NY @ Rapids Theater
10/23 – Detroit, MI @ The Crofoot
10/26 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
10/28 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
10/29 – Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall
10/30 – Richmond, VA @ The National
10/31 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
11/2 – Toronto, ON @ The Phoenix
11/3 – Baltimore, MD @ Soundstage
*Festival
#Without Light the Torch

For more information click here.

July 21, 2022
Northwest Jazz Festival Returns In 2022 With Exciting Lineup

After a two-year hiatus, Northwest Jazz Festival returns celebrating 20 years in Historic Lewiston. This year the festival will highlight local, international, and North American jazz artists including Sally Terrell, John di Martino, Stacey Kent, and more.

Northwest Jazz Festival in Historic Lewiston, NY returns after a two-year hiatus celebrating 20 years.

The last Northwest Jazz Festival took place in 2019 with a two-year break due to NYS (New York State) COVID-19 restrictions. In 2021 there was not a full festival, however, local musicians were hired to perform in Lewiston. This year’s event brings live music to Center Street with a selection of the region’s finest food and beverage vendors including local wineries, distilleries, and breweries.

Jazz Vocalist / Pianist Sally Terrell with acclaimed jazz pianist/arranger John di Martino

“The headliners this year are all incredibly shining stars in the jazz world who have demonstrated creative resourcefulness in overcoming the pandemic. We are excited to have Grammy® Nominees and a Juno Award winner on the Main Stage this year,”
states Tony Zambito.

“This year we will celebrate the festival’s 20th anniversary and we could not be happier to welcome Joey DeFrancesco back to the Niagara Falls region where his father, Papa John, cemented the DeFrancesco legacy. In addition, we welcome back jazz vocalist Sally Terrell, who is also from this area and has a fabulous new album being released with jazz pianist extraordinaire John di Martino. We are excited to share that we will have a rare appearance and debut performance by Grammy® Nominee and jazz vocalist Stacy Kent. If anyone embodied perseverance during the pandemic, it was Emmet Cohen, and we are excited to have him, and the trio perform. Having Juno Award winner, the Allison Au Quartet from Canada is a chance to welcome our Canadian fans back to the festival. We are also delighted to have the opportunity to showcase an up-and-coming jazz vocalist, Corinne Mammana.”

2019 American Pianist Award Winner and “Live from Emmet’s Place”, Emmet Cohen Trio

Each year, the festival relies on the support of donors and sponsors to remain the largest free jazz festival in the region alongside hosting an annual fundraiser in the Spring.

“We are grateful for the overwhelming support we have already received from the generosity of sponsors to make sure a 2022 event takes place. We are hard at work on the anniversary celebration and plan to give you another two days of spectacular entertainment featuring international stars as well as some of our own local super talents. It is clear that everyone loves and misses the jazz festival and wants it to continue to be a success” says Carol Calato, the Chairwoman of the Jazz Festival Board of Directors.

5-Time Grammy® Nominee and Downbeat Critic’s Poll #1 Jazz Organist, Joey DeFrancesco.

The Jazz Fundraiser will be held on Sunday, May 1 from 1 pm to 5 pm at the Brickyard Brewery in Lewiston, NY. The event will feature music by the Stu Weissman Trio, Saranaide, and the Buffalo Dolls.

Tickets for the Fundraiser are available at the festival website linked here.

For more information about the fundraiser and the festival, as well as, to sign up for alerts on the jazz festival news, please visit the link here.

July 3, 2022