George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic embarked on their One Nation Under A Groove tour on Wednesday, June 15 in Central Park’s Summerstage. Bands including Dopapod, The Motet, & Pimps of Joytime performed ahead of the legendary funk band, a part of Blue Note Jazz festival.
Dopapod played an incredible yet much shorter set than the excited fans were used to, but regardless it was a super tight set and the band all seemed hyped for their stacked summer tour.
Shira Elias stole the show when she joined in with The Motet and The Horn Section, all of them former members of Turkuaz, with Elias’ vocals and stage presence nothing short of amazing. As the show went on, the funk meter increased until it was finally time for P Funk who brought an intensely funky, fun, and freaky time.
On Friday, June 24 at 4:00 pm and 7:15 pm, Grammy-nominated Latin singer Sonia De Los Santos will perform her bilingual songs at Flushing Town Hall, as part of the Hall’s month-long Queens Rising celebration which highlights the borough’s cultural and creative diversity.
Photo Courtesy of Hyphen Photography
The performance will feature Sonia De Los Santos (vocals, guitar, jarana), Sinuhé Padilla-Isunza (leona, jarana), Elena Moon Park (violin, trumpet), Erica Kika Parra (drums), Berta Moreno (sax, clarinet), Fernando Brindis (bass), and Argelia Arreola (zapateado, jarana).
Both performances are family-friendly, and the group shares uplifting messages with Latin rhythms, body percussion, and traditional, Mexican folk dance demonstrations. The concert will offer parents and children a chance to celebrate the end of a long school year, and all that they have accomplished.
Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, Sonia De Los Sonto’s music career took off when she began touring with Grammy-winning kids’ music troubadour Dan Zanes in 2007. In 2015, she released her first solo family music album, Mi Viaje: De Nuevo León to the New York Island to rave reviews. The album received the Parents’ Choice Foundation Gold Award and reflects on her experiences growing up and preserving her own heritage in a different country.
In 2019, Sonia De Los Santos was nominated for a Latin Grammy with her second family music album, ¡Alegría!. She and her band have since performed throughout the country, including at the Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, The Getty Museum, Smithsonian Folklife Festival, and many more.
Santos’ recently released third album, Esperanza,is a bilingual collection of songs about hope, cherishing home, being grateful, dreaming of a better future, marveling at nature, and finding the light within ourselves. The musician and band are sure to make audiences smile with their encouraging messages and community pride.
Flushing Town Hall is excited to welcome families to celebrate our city’s school children with this fun concert. We are all so proud of their resilience and accomplishments this past school year! It’s time to kick off summer with these amazing and engaging performers.
Flushing Town Hall Executive & Artistic Director Ellen Kodadek
Flushing Town Hall has advocated for arts equity since 1979 and supports local, immigrant, national, and international artists with their programming. The Hall is also a proud member of the Cultural Institutions Group which is a collective of 34 non-profits committed to serving all New Yorkers.
Flushing Town Hall is accessible by car, bus, train, and foot. Access for wheelchair users and individuals with limited mobility is also available.
Capital Region punk/metal industrial rock legends The Clay People busted out of the underground over the weekend, playing their first hometown gig in years on Friday, June 17th at Albany’s Empire Live. The enduring icons not only gave fans a preview of their forthcoming studio album, Cult Hypnotica, but also used the occasion to debut their very own comic book.
The Clay People performing at Empire Underground on 6-17-22.
From modest beginnings in the underground Industrial Darkwave scene, to the breakout release of their self-titled major label debut, it has been a long, strange journey for these Albany rockers. Born from the unique creative bond of Daniel Dinsmore, Brian McGarvey and Daniel Neet, The Clay People first started making music together in 1989. In the decades that followed, the band would add guitarist Jared Weed and bass player Eric Braymer and go on to share the stage with internationally known touring acts such as Stained, Static X, Clutch, Rob Zombie, Disturbed, Filter and Stabbing Westward to name a few. In 2020, the band seemingly rose from the dead and released Demon Hero and Other Extraordinary Phantasmagoric Anomalies & Fables, a bold and massive sounding album that sent a clear message: this band is far from finished.
Daniel Neet performing with The Clay People at Empire Underground on 6-17-22.
In fact, 2022 is shaping up to be one of The Clay People’s most prolific years in quite some time. Having spent the pandemic unleashing their trapped energy and recording a deep library of new tracks, the band just put the finishing touches on their latest studio album, the highly anticipated Cult Hypnotica, which is set to drop on July 1st with supporting dates expected to be announced shortly thereafter. To help get the hype train going a bit, The Clay People decided to treat some of their oldest and most dedicated fans to a taste of the new material during a hometown throwdown performance at the new, yet familiar Empire Underground in downtown Albany, a venue highly reminiscent of the former Northern Lights in Clifton Park where TCP played some of their most legendary shows.
The Clay People debut their very own comic book “Colossus”in Albany, NY 6/17/22.
Opening the performance with a bit of a mash-up cover of Lo Fidelity Allstars “Battle Flag,” it wasn’t long before the bedlam picked up proper with “Colossus,” the song that inspired the band’s new comic book of the same name. The comic, which was collaboratively produced by Top Cow Productions, Inc and Epitome Studios, was one sale for the first time at the bands merch table. After a squealing version of “NoW,” The Clay People then busted out a song everyone in attendance seemed to know, “Plug” off their 1998 breakthrough self-titled album.
You can’t give in Living in this guilt of sin Losing your grip What can you make of it? Are you a part of it? You can’t give in
Lyrics from “Plug”
Spending much of the show perched on top of the front row barricade, frontman Daniel Neet’s stage presence was powerful and commanding. Dressed all in black, wearing sunglasses and resembling the late Layne Staley (Alice in Chains) a bit, Neet’s unique voice effortlessly shifted from gravely baritone, to spoken word, to all out fits of shouting rage. Still sounding great after all these years, Neet poured everything he had into this performance and with enough vigor of a man half his age.
The Clay People performing at Empire Underground on 6-17-22.
After “Plug,” The Clay People would then debut a series of songs off their upcoming album, including “Turn Me On,”” Cult Hypnotic,” “Drugs,” She Loves,” and ” Destroy All Humans,” before returning to the TCP staples like “X-Ploding Head” and “Pariah” which had the whole crowd banging their heads in unison and shouting “I don’t want to die here.” After working their way through “Strange Day,” the band would then play the most commercially successful song in their catalog, 1998’s irresistible riff heavy classic anthem, “Awake” and finally bring the performance to a close with one of their oldest songs, “Stone.”
A little older and wiser, but just as intense. While their sound has evolved over the years, The Clay People have always stayed true to their heavy punk roots and despite the odds, have managed to stay relevant for more than thirty years. Outlasting most of the bands they came up with and with a new album right around the corner, it almost feels as if The Clay People have found the fountain of youth. With the type of physically demanding music they play and their equally demanding stage show, you have to wonder how long these guys can perform at this type of level. When contemplating that very question, vocalist Dan Neet simply grinned and said, “Like a cockroach. You can’t get rid of me. We’ll keep going until we’re dead.” Cult Hypnotica comes out on July 1st.
The Clay People | June 17, 2022 | Albany, NY | Empire Underground
Setlist: Battle Flag (intro), Colossus, NoW, Plug, Turn Me On, Cult Hypnotic, Drugs, She Loves, Destroy All Humans, X-ploding Head, Strange Day, Pariah, Awake, Stone
Check out the full gallery of photos from the show and fan recorded video of “X-ploding Head,” “Awake” and “Stone,” below from NYS Music Photographer Zak Radick
After nearly 18 years without a physical place to call their own, the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame announced they will finally have their first building location in Stony Brook. The grand opening for the space will be held in November.
Photo Credit: Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame
The non-profit signed a long-term lease with the Ward Melville Heritage Organization and will move into the educational and cultural center located in Stony Brook Village. With 8,800 square feet and two stories, the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame has ample space to make the building their own.
The Hall of Fame has existed since 2004 with no permanent building. With over 100 inductees including Billy Joel, Joan Jett, Lou Reed, LL Cool J, Twisted Sister, and more, the building will allow for a permanent “Hall of Fame” with plaques and exhibits to recognize these talents.
We’re looking forward to creating world-class displays that showcase Long Island’s rich and diverse musical and entertainment history in new and exciting ways. We will feature different and exciting exhibits, displays, videos, and education offerings that will make our center a dynamic place for people of all ages to visit on a regular basis.
LIMEHOF Chairman Ernie Canadeo
Photo Credit: Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame
The space will allow areas for a library, classrooms for educational programs and master classes, and even a theater. The main exhibit space will rotate through different themes to celebrate Long Island’s long musical history.
Designed by world-renowned visual designer Kevin O’Callaghan, the music hall’s first theme will be “Long Island’s Legendary Club Scene: 1960s-1980s.” According to the president of The Ward Melville Heritage Organization, Gloria D. Rocchio, the center was specifically constructed with performances and exhibits in mind.
Photo Credit: Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame
Our organization has grown and our wish has always been to have a physical facility to showcase our mission of celebrating Long Island’s musical history and supporting education … we can now achieve our dream.
LIMEHOF Co-founder Norm Prusslin
The official ribbon-cutting and public opening of the completed space is scheduled to take place this November. For more information and to see artist renderings of the exhibits, visit limehof.org
Platinum-certified Michigan rock powerhouse I Prevail have announced their first North American headline tour in support of their new album True Power. The tour will come to New York City with a show at The Rooftop at Pier 17 on October 2 and to Buffalo Riverworks on November 20.
Consisting of Brian Burkheiser (vocals), Eric Vanlerberghe (vocals), Steve Menoian (guitars/bass), Dylan Bowman (guitars), and Gabe Helguera (drums), I Prevail have racked up more than 1.5 billion streams in the United States, drawn upwards of 334 million YouTube views. Their new album, True Power, produced by Tyler Smith, features stadium-sized riffs and supremely catchy melodies and is unforgettable.
The band will embark on the “True Power” tour this fall with Pierce The Veil and Fit For a King supporting, as well as Yours Truly who will appear on the first leg, while Stand Atlantic will appear on the second leg. The first leg kicks off in Asbury Park, NJ, on September 9 and also includes an appearance at the Rooftop at Pier 17 in New York City on October 2. The second leg picks up in Las Vegas, NV, on October 22 with an appearance at the When We Were Young Festival.
All dates are below. Tickets go on sale on Friday, June 24 at 10 am. Get tickets from iprevailband.com/#tour.
I Prevail “True Power” Tour
LEG 1:
WITH PIERCE THE VEIL, FIT FOR A KING, + YOURS TRULY:
9/9 — Asbury Park, NJ — Stone Pony Summer Stage
9/10 — Danville, VA — Blue Ridge Rock Fest*#
9/11 — Pittsburgh, PA — UPMC Events Center
9/13 — Indianapolis, IN — Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
9/14 — Oshkosh, WI — Oshkosh Arena#
9/16 — St. Paul, MN — Myth Live
9/17 — Ralston, NE — Liberty First Credit Union Arena#
9/18 — Wichita, KS — Wave#
9/20 — Oklahoma City, OK — The Criterion
9/21 — San Antonio, TX — Tech Port Center#
9/23 — Lubbock, TX — Lonestar Amphitheater#
9/24 — Dallas, TX — South Side Ballroom
9/25 — Houston, TX — White Oak Music Hall#
9/27 — St. Petersburg, FL — Jannus Live
9/28 — Atlanta, GA — Tabernacle
9/29 — Lake Buena Vista, FL — House of Blues
10/1 — Silvers Spring, MD — The Fillmore Silver Spring
10/2 — New York, NY — The Rooftop at Pier 17
10/4 — Montreal, QC — L’Olympia#
10/5 — Toronto, ON — Rebel
10/7 — Ft. Wayne, IN — The Clyde Theatre
10/8 — Grand Rapids, MI — GLC Live at 20 Monroe
10/9 — Chicago, IL — Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
*I Prevail & Pierce The Veil Only // Festival Date
LEG 2:
WITH PIERCE THE VEIL, FIT FOR A KING, + STAND ATLANTIC:
10/22 — Las Vegas, NV — When We Were Young Fest*
10/23 — Las Vegas, NV — When We Were Young Fest*
10/24 — Los Angeles, CA — The Wiltern
10/26 — San Jose, CA — San Jose Civic
10/28 — Phoenix, AZ — The Van Buren
10/29 — Las Vegas, NV — When We Were Young Fest*
10/31 — Reno, NV — Grand Sierra Resort & Casino
11/1 — Boise, ID — Revolution Concert House and Event Center
11/2 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Complex
11/4 — Denver, CO — Fillmore Auditorium
11/6 — Kansas City, MO — Uptown Theater
11/8 — Milwaukee, WI — The Rave#
11/9 — St. Louis, MO — The Factory
11/11 — Cleveland, OH — Agora Theatre
11/12 — Cincinnati, OH — The Andrew J Brady Music Center
11/13 — Nashville, TN — Marathon Music Works
11/15 — Myrtle Beach, SC — House of Blues
11/18 — Philadelphia, PA — The Fillmore Philadelphia
11/19 — Cambridge, MA — MGM Music Hall at Fenway
11/20 — Buffalo, NY — Buffalo Riverworks#
11/22 — Detroit, MI — The Fillmore
*I Prevail & Pierce The Veil Only // Festival Date
Brooklyn-based indie-alternative artist Osaze Akerejah, also known as Butterfly Haus, is set to release his new record, Hold It Against Me on June 22 via Glass Bullet Sound Company.
The New-Jersey-born Nigerian-American artist came up with the project in 2019, and after three years, is ready to share it with the world. As an indie musician, the young artist’s production explores indie rock, alternative pop, hip-hop elements, and even snippets of the ’70s/’80’s new wave. Akerejah originally began making music in the late 2000s, and formerly went by the moniker SAZE.
With this upcoming record, Butterfly Haus becomes more introspective, exploring themes such as love, mental health, identity exploration, and more. The project was born out of intense personal struggles, including a recent heartbreak, cancer diagnosis, and other mental and physical health battles.
These last few years have been beyond transformative. I’m not nearly the same man or artist I initially set out to try to be. Making music under the SAZE moniker was a lovely cocoon that I existed within since 7th grade, and I guess all the trauma, growth and self discovery of the past three-four years especially was what finally cracked the cocoon, ya know?
Osaze Akerejah
Butterfly Haus wrote “Hold It Against Me” after an extended hospital stay and as he attempts to grapple with questions about life, the nature of the universe, and manifestation. The record is quite an emotional one, featuring hard-hitting lyrics, background vocals from Norwegian singer-songwriter Rosarii, and psychedelic electric guitar from Levi Wilkinson.
Stayed tuned for this record’s release on June 22, and see below to explore more of the impressive artist’s work.
Today we look back at perhaps the most memorable and influential music festival of the 21st century, the first Bonnaroo. Held June 21-23, 2002 in Manchester, TN, Bonnaroo has helped pave the way for the success of the modern day music festival. The original 2002 edition skewed jam band-heavy when compared to the contemporary version, but the communal vibes and appreciation for live music that the festival has fostered over the years have only gotten stronger. Discover how the first Bonnaroo Music and Art festival came to fruition, the memorable musical offerings that weekend, and how the festival laid the groundwork for successful music festivals in the years and decades that followed.
photo by Pete Mason
Origins
Bonnaroo, in name alone, is steeped in musical culture. The word derives from the French words “bonne,” meaning “good,” and “rue” which means “street.” This was done out of respect for the music tradition of New Orleans, a spirit the founders of Bonnaroo were looking to carry over into their next venture. And even more fittingly, “bonnaroo” also serves as Creole slang for a “really good time,” the very essence of any successful music festival.
Not only that, Angola Prison was located on Bonnaroo Avenue. To be on that street, and not in prison, was naturally, a good thing. The cajun expression “desitively bonnaroo” came to mean “better than the best,” originating among the inmates of the South Louisiana prison, for if you were on that street and not in the prison, it was “desitively bonnaroo.”
Not only that, Angola Prison was located on Bonnaroo Avenue. To be on that street, and not in prison, was naturally, a good thing. The cajun expression “desitively bonnaroo” came to mean “better than the best,” originating among the inmates of the South Louisiana prison, for if you were on that street and not in the prison, it was “desitively bonnaroo.”
The closing of Knoxville’s World’s Fair Park in 1999 unknowingly got the ball rolling for the creation of Bonnaroo. The park had been the yearly home of the Hot Summer Nights music festival until construction forced concerts to no longer be held there. Festival founders AC Entertainment were forced to pivot and look elsewhere and from there the seeds of Bonnaroo were hatched.
The closing of the World’s Fair Park for concerts precipitated getting creative and trying to find, ‘OK, if we can’t do this anymore, how can we still participate in the summer outdoor concert business,’ and it was from that that Bonnaroo was ultimately launched.
Ashley Capps, co-founder AC Entertainment
Bonnaroo seemed like a natural name for the massive new venture on a giant farm in Manchester, TN. Not only for the aforementioned translations, but the term itself wasn’t completely foreign either after being introduced to pop culture through Dr. John’s 1974 release Desitively Bonnaroo.
Superfly, who produced shows during New Orleans Jazz Fest in the late 90s, had experience in staging 28 shows over 8 nights at various New Orleans venues, typically late-night and catering to jam band fans. Superfly founders Kerry Black, Rick Farman, Richard Goodstone and Jonathan Mayers had attended Glastonbury and Coachella Festivals in years prior, and used these experiences to frame their vision for Bonnaroo Music and Art Festival.
The Superfly team brought in Coran Capshaw, who managed Phish and Dave Matthews Band, among others, to assist with financing, and worked with regional promoter Ashley Capps (AC Entertainment), based out of Knoxville. Working together, Superfly, Capshaw and AC Entertainment combined resources and dove in feet first, creating America’s most successful multi-day camping music festival since the original Woodstock.
Farman spoke to Relix in April 2002 noting that the first task was to establish bonafides to the fans:
The first thing that I think is important to let everybody know is that we have an extremely experienced and professional crew behind this event. I know many people know Superfly from the events we’ve done at Jazz Fest and other things. And I know people know AC for the events he’s done. But what I really wish to emphasize is that we have hired the best people in the camping festival business to help us put on this event. We have a lot of experience between AC and us in putting on concerts and concert promotion but we certainly understand that our experience is limited in putting on an event of this size.
Our basic plan has been to make the learning curve zero. Most of the people that we’ve hired were also key players in putting on the big Phish events- everything from our project manager, site coordinator, vending consultant, production manager, parking company, business manager, the head of security and the different security companies that were hiring. We’re going to have Clean Vibes out there, which I think people know through many events, including the big Phish events. So in terms of the quality of the people putting on the event and the quality of the facilities, its really going to be top notch.
The location the team would choose was found in Central Tennessee, in the small Coffee County town of Manchester. Located an hour drive southeast of Nashville, the town of less than 9,000 at the time had previously served as host to at least one previous music festival, Itchykoo.
Named for the Small Faces song “Itchykoo Park,” the festival was held only once, from August 12-15, 1999, featuring 40 bands over four days and nights. The event sold 20,000 tickets, but the event did not repeat, something apparent before the weekend concluded, with event staff reportedly departing mid-shift when it became clear their work would not be paid.
The classic rock-centric festival featured Dave Mason, Survivor, Rick Springfield, Blue Oyster Cult, Sammy Hagar, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Iron Butterfly, Leon Russell, Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz (performing separately), Starship and the Wilson sisters from Heart. The lineup, while ambitious, did not have a true headliner, but instead a list of classic rock bands with no clear connection between the artists.
Itchycoo not returning to Manchester for additional installments, coupled with World’s Fair Park closing for construction, made the perfect conditions for Bonnaroo to arrive in 2002. Of course, the two festivals would have a similar sounding name, and an ambitious first year endeavor like Bonnaroo needed to establish their brand as distinct from the predecessor, at least to all who were aware of Itchykoo. With a name that signified a ‘good time,’ was the name of a street in New Orleans as well as a Dr. John album, confusion with the 1999 festival was not a factor.
The location in Manchester, a 700-acre farm with access roads left over from Itchykoo gave it perfect location next to I-24, something that was a necessity for any major music festival to ensure easy access for arriving fans. The farm was purchased in 2007, and a permanent power source was added shortly after, so as not to use the TVA hookup that accounted for 70% of all power, with the rest coming from generators.
On March 13, 2002, with little advertising, tickets for Bonnaroo went on sale, at an initial cost of $100, eventually sold for as much as $170. Tickets were sold exclusively through the Bonnaroo website, with 10,000 tickets sold the first day. Within the first week, 70,000 tickets were sold, and the festival announced a sell out on March 24. Within 11 days, and mostly by word-of-mouth, Bonnaroo had sold out their first year with a lineup and vision that fans agreed with.
There was of course another failed festival in 1999 that also had an impact on Bonnaroo, and music festivals in general. Woodstock 99, which quite publicly showed Baby Boomer greed meeting Gen X angst, in full view on MTV. While Itchykoo failed due to lack of headlining acts and lack of funding, Woodstock tarnished a brand permanently, with founder Michael Lang unable to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Woodstock with a festival 20 years later.
Grammy-award-winning heavy metal band, Judas Priest, has announced their North American tour that will see them perform at Albany’s MVP Arena on October 15.
Photo by Brandon Nagy via Shutterstock
Beginning in Connecticut on October 13, the tour is in celebration of the iconic band’s 50th anniversary. Queensrÿche will join the group as openers for the 29-date tour over the course of October and November.
Other stops across North America include Boston, Detroit, Tucson, Baton Rouge, and Cincinnati among others.
‘50 Heavy Metal Years Tour’ comes off of Judas Priests’ highest-charting album, Firepower, which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200. The 14-track album was released in 2018 and produced by Andy Sneap and Tom Allom.
Originally forming as a band in Birmingham, England in 1970, Judas Priest helped form heavy metal, with records like “Sad Wings of Destiny” (1982), “Sin After Sin” (1977) and “Unleashed in the East (1979). The group has previously performed in some of the biggest concerts, including Monsters of Rock, US Festival, and Live Aid in the 1980s.
Over the course of the group’s long career, they have received and been nominated for a long list of awards, including receiving a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for “Dissident Aggressor” in 2010.
Photo by Debby Wong via Shutterstock
Judas Priest is celebrated for their heavy metal music and for embracing the iconic leather and stud fashion. In 2022, band members Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, Ian Hill, and Scott Travis are soon to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
After the horrific last few years of restrictions we’ve all had to endure, what better place to break free, than the land of the free – the USA!
– Ian Hill
Most dates for this legendary group’s upcoming tour are available on June 24, 10 a.m. local time via https://www.livenation.com.
FALL 2022 U.S Tour dates:
October 13 in Wallingford, CT @ Toyota Oakdale
October 15th in Albany, NY @ MVP Arena
October 16 in Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall Fenway
October 18 in Uniondale, NY at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
October 19 in Wikes Barre, PA @ Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
October 21 in Kalamazoo, MI at Wings Event Center
October 22 in Detroit, MI at Masonic Temple Theatre
October 24 in Cincinnati, OH @ The Andrew J Brady Music Center
October 25 in Waukegan, IL @ Genesee Theatre
October 27 in Green Bay, WI @ Resch Center Theater
October 29 in Moline, IL @ TaxSlayer Center Moline
October 30 in Mankato, MN @ Mayo Clinic Event Center
November 1 in Sioux City, IA @ Tyson Events Center
November 2 in Rapid City, SD @ The Monument
November 7 in Ontario, CA @ Toyota Center
November 8 in Tucson, AZ @ TCC Arena
November 10 in Loveland, CO @ Budweiser Events Center
November 12 in Park City (Wichita), KS @Hartman Arena
November 13 in St. Charles, MO @ The Family Arena
November 15 in Corbin, KY @ The Corbin Arena
November 17 in Southaven, MS @ Landers Center
November 18 in Baton Rouge, LA @ Raising Canes River Center
November 20 in Oklahoma City, OK @ Paycom Center
November 22 & 23 in San Antonio, TX @ Tech Port Center & Arena
November 25 in Dallas, TX @ The Factory in Deep Ellum
November 26 in Corpus Christi, TX @ Concrete Street
Buffalo-based band Fernway released their debut album Autocrave on June 17, and will hold an album release show on June 25 at Town Ballroom in Buffalo.
Photo Credit: Matt Sledziewski
Fernway formed as a band in 2017 and consists of RJ DeMarco (vocals/guitar), Brett Robertson and Jonah Wrest (guitar), Tanner DeMarco (drums), and Alec Dube (bass). The band has diverse influences, from Stand Atlanic, The Band Camino, COIN, and Bo Burnham, among others, no member of the band listens to exactly the same music.
The new album includes 29 minutes of new music across 9 tracks. Produced and engineered by lead singer RJ DeMarco, the album’s refreshing sound blends pop-rock, alternative emo, and elements of jazz.
Autocrave as an album acknowledges the immense impact technology has on our society as a whole. A large focus of the project is on mental health and regaining control over your own happiness.
Even the album artwork’s underlying messages focus on concepts of the addictive forms of technology and the way it can interrupt human connections. Created by Aaron Gordon and Quinn Gundel, the artwork was one of the most important parts of the album creation process.
The artwork of the record is a representation of how the advancement of technology has consumed each and everything around us. The red lips represent technological consumption and domination of all that is around us while the white represents the vast unknown.
Aaron Gordon and Quinn Gundel
Many of the tracks come from deeply personal experiences of the band, including the track “Compass Free” which was born out of guitarist Brett Robertson’s struggles and is now one of the band member’s favorites. Of the album, the band shares that they “hope these songs comfort you while you learn to navigate the ever-changing terrain of the world we live in.”
In the months leading up to the album release, Fernway has had 3 successful single releases and a great Spring tour across the Northeast region. In March, the band opened up for The Dangerous Summer and Cory Wells at Buffalo’s Rec Room.
Fernway will celebrate the recent release at the Town Ballroom’s new Oxford Pennant Stage. The stage was built with a specific focus to showcase local and up-and-coming touring acts. The tickets for the release show on June 25 can be found here, and Fernway will also be joined by close friends Marquee Grand, Ghostpool, and Amateur Hockey Club.
Following the celebration of the album, Fernway will be touring this summer with 10 shows across 6 different states. The Rock and roll band Imposters will join them on the road for 4 of the shows.
Listen to Autocrave, out now on streaming services. Fernway also updates their playlist, “Spread The Love”, every two weeks, which showcases artists they wish to bring more exposure to.
Fernway Summer Tour Dates
July 6 – Mercury Lounge – New York, New York
July 7 – Balmville Grange – Newburgh, New York*
July 8 – Soundbank – Phoenixville, Pennsylvania*
July 9 – House Of Independents – Asbury Park, New Jersey*
July 10 – Barca City – New Brunswick, New Jersey*
July 13 – Local 506 – Chapel Hill, North Carolina
July 14 -The Milestone – Charlotte, North Carolina
July 15 – House Space – Charlotte, North Carolina
July 16 -TBD – Nashville, Tennessee
July 17 – Legends Bar and Venue – Cincinnati, Ohio
Universal Preservation Hall has announced shows for the 2022 season, including an In the Round series, a silent disco, a few notable names sharing their talent, and holiday classics to bring in December.
A view of Universal Preservation Hall is seen during the media tour and ribbon cutting of the new concert hall in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union)
Universal Preservation Hall, “UPH”, is the performing arts, and community events venue located in Saratoga Springs. It was reconstructed from an 1871 former Methodist church and transformed from 19th century High Victorian Gothic church to state-of-the-art performance facility will be nothing short of amazing.
Silent Disco — 7 p.m. July 29
Silent Disco
A silent disco is in an activity where people dance to music listened to on wireless headphones. Rather than using a traditional speaker system, music is broadcast via a transmitter with the signal being picked up by wireless headphones worn by the participants. Grab your headphones, pick your music and make the Silent Disco your own as you tear up the dance floor.
An Evening You Can’t Refuse with Gianni Russo — 7:30 p.m. August 5
Gianni Russo, known for his iconic role in The Godfather, as well as other film and television credits. Join us as Gianni Russo inspires audiences with the legendary journey of his music, storytelling of his life and acting career.
Country Thunder: Country Legends Tribute — 7:30 p.m. August 20
Country Legends Tribute Tour is now firmly established as North Americas #1 Country Music Tribute show featuring the music of the biggest names on the American scene including Garth Brooks, Shania Twain and Keith Urban!
In the Round Series: KAINA and LI & The Little Idea — 7 p.m. October 1
KAINA has created generational music that surpasses borders, a unified expression of her native Chicago coupled with her Venezuelan and Guatemalan heritage. LI & the Little Idea is a true music lover’s dream band offering listeners an experiential journey across various regions and eras of American music. It’s lyrical, it’s “dancy,” it’s authentic and it’s real.
Cordâme – Da Vinci Inventions — 8 p.m. October 14
Composer Jean Félix Mailloux interprets music inspired by the Italian Renaissance. This show of music and jazz will make you experience a whole range of emotions with surprising music, transcending beauty and wonder.
Issac Mizrahi — 7:30 p.m. October 29
Isaac Mizrahi, an actor, host, writer, designer, and producer of 30 years, now brings his singing talent to UPH for the first time! A Cabaret style performance you can’t miss.
Justin Roberts (Not Ready for Naptime) — 6 p.m. November 10 / School Day Performance at 10:30 a.m.
For nearly 20 years, Justin Roberts has been creating the soundtrack to families’ lives, helping kids navigate the joys and sorrows of growing up while allowing parents to remember their own childhoods.
It’s a Jazzy Christmas — 7:30 p.m. December 16
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and It’s a Jazzy Christmas has all your favorite holiday songs!
Remembering the Fifties Holiday Show — 7:30 p.m. December 17
Celebrate the holidays with a salute to The Platters! This four-person tribute group brings their hits like “Only You” and “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” to life with a Motown live band!
The Queen’s Cartoonist — 7:30 p.m. December 22
The Queen’s Cartoonists play music from classic cartoons and contemporary animation. Performances are synched to videos of the original films while the band leads the audience through a world of multi-instrumental mayhem and comedy!
Samara Joy — 8 p.m. December 23
Samara Joy has dug deep to discover her jazz roots, without losing sight of the innate simplicity that makes her sound shine. With a voice as smooth as velvet, Joy’s star seems to rise with each performance!
Tickets are available through the Box Office at Proctors or online at proctors.org.
