The Mars Volta have broken their 10 year hiatus today with the release of their new single and short film, “Blacklight Shine.” Over the weekend, the band began teasing this release with coordinates to Grand Park in Los Angeles, hinting at some kind of “pop-up” for June 19th-21st. This came in the form of a cube you can enter and experience the new song with an audio-visual experience. Today, June 21st, the single is officially released along with the bands first tour since 2012.
The Mars Volta, Photo by Fat Bob
“Blacklight Shine” highlights The Mars Volta’s fundamental strengths in their most accessible and Latin-rooted form. Vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala sings mostly in Spanish with his signature tones soaring over a mix of traditional drums and Caribbean bongos and percussions. Guitarist Omar Rodriguez-López presents a sunshine-laced psychedelic groove perfect for a release date on the summer solstice. When talking about the story of the song, Cedric says he is trying to shine a light on “a wave of rolling blackouts washing memories onto shore, a heartbeat that still remembers everything.” Watch the short film below, which takes place on a Caribbean beach and features a multi-generational dance sequence backed by driving percussions.
“Blacklight Shine” by The Mars Volta, via YouTube
The announcement is also coming with a short tour; a New York show is happening at NYC’s Terminal 5 on September 29th. Presale starts this Wednesday, June 22nd with a full general sale on Friday, June 24th. See the official tour poster below and head to the band’s website for ticket links. The Mars Volta has not yet announced any details on what would be their seventh LP, but stay tuned for more announcements to come.
Paul McCartney put on an epic show at Metlife Stadium on Thursday, June 16, just two days before his 80th birthday. The Beatles legend was joined by two New Jersey legends to help celebrate. First Bruce Springsteen joined Paul to sing his hit “Glory Days” as well as “I Wanna Be Your Man.” He also came out during the encore to trade guitar solos with Paul’s longtime touring guitar players Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray on “The End.” Jon Bon Jovi also made an appearance to wish Paul a happy 80th and lead the crowd in “Happy Birthday to You.”
Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney at Metlife Stadium
Another highlight, besides Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi unexpectedly showing up, was when Paul McCartney played a duet of “I’ve Got A Feeling” with footage of John Lennon isolated from the recent Get Back documentary. This show was the last stop on his Got Back Tour and it was a marathon. Paul played for 3 hours without leaving the stage and performed 40 songs. Other songs on the setlist included more Beatles hits like “Getting Better” and “Love Me Do” as well as “Blackbird” and “Get Back.”
Paul McCartney at Metlife Stadium
Paul sounded great and seemed to sound even better as the night went on. When asked on PaulMcCartney.com if he enjoyed being back out on the road after such a long break because of the pandemic, he said Yes! It’s always a bit of hard work trying to get back up to speed again, but the audiences make it so enjoyable that it doesn’t feel like work. So yeah, we’re all having a good time.
Before the show, some lucky fans got a glimpse of Paul as he arrived via police escort into Metlife Stadium. He passed by slowly with the window down waving to his fans, some waiting for hours just to see him for a few seconds, but it was totally worth it! It was amazing to see people of all ages, including kids from this generation, holding up signs to greet him and even getting emotional after he passed. V.I.P. ticket holders also got to attend a 13 song sound check that included many songs not on the actual setlist.
V.I.P. Soundcheck Setlist: Instrumental Jam, Matchbox, Honey Hush, Coming Up, I Wanna Be Your Man, Women and Wives, Let Em In, Every Night, Mrs. Vanderbilt, Ram On, Midnight Special, New, Lady Madonna
Setlist: Can’t Buy Me Love, Junior’s Farm, Letting Go, Got To Get You Into My Life, Come On to Me, Let Me Roll It, Getting Better, Let Em In, My Valentine, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five, Maybe I’m Amazed, I’ve Just Seen a Face, In Spite of All the Danger, Love Me Do, Dance Tonight, Blackbird, Here Today, New, Lady Madonna, Fuh You, Jet, Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite!, Something, Ob-La-Di,Ob-La-Da, You Never Give Me Your Money, She Came in Through the Bathroom Window, Get Back, Band on the Run, Glory Days (With Bruce), I Wanna Be Your Man (With Bruce), Let It Be, Live and Let Die, Hey Jude,
Encore: I’ve Got A Feeling, Happy Birthday to You With Bon Jovi), Birthday, Helter Skelter, Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight, The End
The Sackets Harbor Historical Society announced the lineup for their free upcoming summer concert series, Concerts on the Waterfront.
Held from 3:00 to 5:00 pm every Sunday from June 26 through September 4, the summer concert series is back for its 38th season. Last year, the theme represented the relief of the return of live music. The 2022 theme, “Let’s Celebrate!” is yet another joyous return for summer shows.
The spectacular waterfront views of Lake Ontario make for a perfect music venue, and Sackets Harbor also holds a deep historical significance. After the War of 1812 broke out between Great Britain and the United States, the harbor became the center point for American naval and military operations along Lake Ontario.
Each concert in the series will be held at the Sackets Harbor Battlefield, and the long-standing popular jazz group Sacci Band will open the series on June 26. Featuring American pop music from the WWII era and styles from the Golden Age of Swing, the band continues to honor traditions with the series’ first performance.
Other upcoming performances for the summer series include Tink Bennett and Taylor Made, ATLAS, The Dakotas, Oceans Below, and Maria DeSantis Orchestra, among others. With genres such as jazz, country, classic rock, Latin jazz, folk, classical and more, Concerts on the Waterfront certainly has something for everyone to enjoy throughout the summer season.
Over the course of the summer 11 talented, diverse groups will take the stage at the Sackets Harbor Battlefield. Guests are invited to bring chairs and blankets, and should the weather not permit an outdoor show, the rain site will be St. Andrews Parish Center on East Main St. & Woolsey St.
Below are the full summer series concert dates.
Concerts on the Waterfront 2022 – “Let’s Celebrate!”
June 26 Sacci Band (Big Band)
July 3 Tink Bennett and Taylor Made (Country)
July 10 Alex Torres and his Latin Orchestra (Latin)
July 17 Atlas (80’s party)
July 24 Dakotas (Alternative Blue Grass)
July 31 Son BoriKua* (Caribbean)
August 7 Oceans Below (Favorites)
August 14 Ruby Shooz* (50 – 60’s)
August 21 10th Mountain Division Army Band (Tentative)
August 28 Hot Jazz Jumpers (Jazz)
Sept. 4 Maria DeSantis Orchestra (Big Band)
*These concerts are made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the N. Y. S. Council on the Arts, with support of the Governor and State Legislature, and administered by the St. Lawrence County Arts Council.
Grammy-nominated artist Post Malone has announced a month-long, 33-city North American tour that will see him headline UBS Arena at Belmont Park on October, 9 and Madison Square Garden three nights later. The “Twelve Carat Tour” comes on the heels of Post Malone’s highly-anticipated fourth studio album, Twelve Carat Tootache.
Produced by LiveNation, the tour kicks-off on September, 10 in Omaha, NE and will see Post Malone perform throughout the Mid-West before heading East for a layover of performances. The “Sunflower” crooner will grace the stage at DC’s Capital One Arena, The Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, and Newark’s Prudential Center. The East-coast portion of the tour culminates in performances at UBS Arena at Belmont Park on October, 9 — where Roddy Rich will make a guest-apperance — and Madison Square Garden on the 12th. The Twelve Carat Tour continues down south before concluding on November, 15 at L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena.
Twelve Carat Tootache was released on June, 3 and debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200. The album was heavily anticipated with the high-charting singles “Cooped Up,” “One Right Now” and “I Like You (A Happier Song),” and an all-star cast of features which includes Doja Cat, Gunna, Roddy Rich and The Weeknd.
Since coming onto the scene with his breakthrough hit “White Iverson,” Post Malone has become one of the most successful pop-stars of the last decade with 66 entries in the Billboard Hot 100 — including 11 top 10 hits — and is a 9-time Grammy-nominee. In 2019, he became youngest artist in history to have a total of three diamond-certified singles with the records “Congratulations,” “Rockstar” and “Sunflower” reaching the 10 million sales plateau.
Tickets for the Twelve Carat Tour are live at livenation.com
TWELVE CARAT TOUR DATES: *With Roddy Ricch
Sat, Sep 10 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center Sun, Sep 11 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center* Wed, Sep 14 – Chicago, IL – United Center* Thu, Sep 15 – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum* Sat, Sep 17 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center* Sun, Sep 18 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena* Tue, Sep 20 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena Fri, Sep 23 – Boston, MA – TD Garden Tue, Sep 27 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Wed, Sep 28 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena Sat, Oct 01 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena Sun, Oct 02 – Indianapolis, IN – Gainbridge Fieldhouse Tue, Oct 04 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena* Thu, Oct 06 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
Fri, Oct 07 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center* Sun, Oct 09 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena* Wed, Oct 12 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden*
Thu, Oct 13 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden* Sat, Oct 15 – Columbia, SC – Colonial Life Arena* Sun, Oct 16 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena* Tue, Oct 18 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena* Fri, Oct 21 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center* Sat, Oct 22 – Austin, TX – Moody Center* Tue, Oct 25 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center* Wed, Oct 26 – Ft. Worth, TX – Dickies Arena* Fri, Oct 28 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center* Sun, Oct 30 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena* Tue, Nov 01 – Salt Lake City, UT – Vivint Arena* Thu, Nov 03 – Portland, OR – Moda Center* Sat, Nov 05 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena* Sun, Nov 06 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena* Thu, Nov 10 – Los Angeles, CA – The Kia Forum* Fri, Nov 11 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena* Tue, Nov 15 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena*
Tune-Yards made their way to Bushwick’s Brooklyn Steel last Wednesday, June 15th, in support of their excellent fifth LP, Sketchy. The album was released back in March of 2021 and like most bands today, this is the first opportunity for Tune-Yards to tour behind the record.
The band has released all five of their albums on 4AD records dating back to 2009. Singer and multi-instrumentalist Merrill Garbus took time at the end of the show to personally thank the label for being the backbone of their career.
Tune-Yards is the musical project of Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner and is an eclectic mix of art-pop, worldbeat, lo-fi, and vocal play. Garbus has a history as a puppeteer, and this method of visceral expression comes out in her performance style. Most of the songs have intricate vocal loops and patterns, all of which are recorded and performed live while Garbus bounces around the stage, engaging the fans. She also paraded various signs around stage, serving as introductions for her banter between songs.
Tune-Yards made it a point early in the show at Brooklyn Steel to remind the audience that we are all living on Native American land and that fact must be constantly acknowledged. There was also a long interlude later in the show (noted on the setlist as “extinction memorial”) where Garbus instructed the audience on the plight of the Bramble Cay melomys. The rodent, native to islands off the coast of Australia, is confirmed to be the first mammal to go extinct due to climate change. The rising sea level surrounding the low-lying islands destroyed their habitat and led to the rodent’s extinction.
The music of Tune-Yards is impossibly difficult to categorize. The band performs live as a trio, but with all the vocal and synth looping, once the songs are structured live they feel larger than life. Garbus’ vocal abilities are captivating and have always been a fundamental component of the music. Sketchy track “Hypnotized” is a prime example and has been a mainstay in this tour’s setlists. Garbus delivers a bit of vocal play over a sparse, but deliberate drum beat to open the track, before an array of art-pop synths and a chunky bass line fill in the groove. The band also featured the track “Gangsta” from their second LP, Whokill. The song has been one of Tune-Yards’ most succesful, appearing in TV shows Letterkenny, Orange Is The New Black, Weeds, and The Good Wife.
Tune-Yards’ tour concluded over the weekend, with a final show on Saturday, June 18th, at Union Transfer in Philadelphia. The band spent a lot of time throughout the show thanking the people that have been supporting and enabling them to create their music. Garbus is also a new mother, and she relished in that as her baby was off-stage sharing in the moment. Garbus lamented that she felt that Tune-Yards would never be able to tour again after the pandemic, admitting that these shows were also a celebration of their miniature victory over COVID. Head over to the band’s website to see a handful of one-off shows they have scheduled, and see NYS Music’s full photo gallery from Brooklyn Steel below.
This summer, Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist Chris St. Hilaire will join the Black Keys Touring Band as part of their ‘Dropout Boogie’ tour. The tour will kick off in Las Vegas on July 9th and wrap up in Dallas on Oct. 18, arriving in New York State at SPAC on July 20th and Jones Beach on July 22th.
The Black Keys Dropout Boogie
Born in Huntington to Trinidadian parents, music was a rich part of Chris St. Hilaire’s foundation and cultural upbringing. His father is also a toured guitarist and influenced his playing and songwriting. St. Hilaire started playing drums at thirteen and was influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson. His vocal, harmony structure, and songwriting style was mostly shaped by The Beatles.
Chris St. Hilaire
Besides the tour, Chris St. Hilaire will also complement the release of the band’s 11th studio album Dropout Boogie. This particular arrangement will give St. Hilaire an opportunity to offer his multi-instrumental capabilities onstage, and represents a unique inflection point in his career.
I think my instincts are going to be pretty compatible with everything that they are doing. The melodies are really strong, which is always fun, and their music is rooted in rhythmic music, so percussion-wise I’ll have a lot of room to play with space and work to keep the rhythm driving. I think this will be a really cool opportunity to tour in a highly efficient and dignified way.
Chris St. Hilaire
The Black Keys ‘Dropout Boogie’ Tour (Summer/Fall 2022)
July 9: Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena
July 11: Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre
July 13: Denver, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
July 15: St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre St. Louis
July 16: Indianapolis, IN @ Ruoff Music Center
July 17: Chicago, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Tinley Park
July 20: Saratoga Springs, NY @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center
July 22: Jones Beach, NY @ Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
July 23: Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
July 25: Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
July 27: Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
July 29: Boston, MA @ Xfinity Center
July 30: Philadelphia, PA @ Waterfront Music Pavilion (formerly BB&T Pavilion)
Aug. 24: West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Aug. 25: Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Aug. 27: Atlanta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Aug. 28: Huntsville, AL @ Orion Amphitheatre
Aug. 30: Charleston, SC @ Credit One Stadium
Sept. 1: Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Sept. 3: Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
Sept. 6: Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
Sept. 7: Detroit, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
Sept. 9: Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Music Center
Oct. 2: Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
Oct. 3: Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
Oct. 5: Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
Phoebe Bridgers played three nights in Brooklyn and Queens the week of June 14, 2022 to conclude the US leg of her Reunion Tour with support from Muna. The first two sold out shows at the Lena Horne Bandshell at Prospect Park in Brooklyn saw fans camping out overnight to grab a spot as close to the front as possible. The final show of her North American tour was at Forest Hill Stadium on June 16, which she called, “the biggest show I’ve ever played.”
Phoebe Bridgers playing Prospect Park, Photograph by David Reichmann
When the Prospect Park dates first went on sale earlier this year, the two shows sold out almost immediately. Phoebe quickly announced a third date at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, teasing a secret “special guest” to be announced the day of show. Fans speculated wildly for weeks leading up to the event, and it was finally revealed as Boygenius alum and friend of Phoebe, Lucy Dacus. Lucy and her band came out after opener Muna’s set.
Lucy Dacus playing Forest Hills Stadium, Photograph by David Reichmann
For the first two dates at Prospect Park, some fans lined up as early as 4:30AM and camped out overnight to secure their spot. Prospect Park was the perfect setting for a relaxing afternoon (or entire day, for some) in the park. The line wrapped around the block and wove its way through the park. The scene featured fans reading, eating lunches, and relaxing with friends on picnic blankets.
Fans waiting in line at Prospect Park, Photograph by David Reichmann
Phoebe Bridgers fans are known for their intense dedication to her music, with some of her most diehard of fans reportedly passing out at several points during her shows due to overwhelming excitement. Many in attendance adorned Phoebe Bridgers tees, tote bags, handmade signs, and tattoos, showing their devotion to the multiple Grammy Award nominated artist. Although waiting hours for an event can sometimes devolve into an impatient and tense scene, this queue featured only smiles and eager anticipation for what promised to be an unforgettable experience.
Fans waiting in line at Prospect Park, Photograph by David Reichmann
Having been only the second act signed to Phoebe’s label, Saddest Factory Records, in early 2019, Muna quickly rose in popularity before being announced as the supporting act for Phoebe’s 2022 Reunion Tour. Muna’s lyrics and public statements quickly led to their become a symbol of queer acceptance. The members of the band publicly identify as queer, and their songs explicitly handle themes of acceptanece and inclusiveness in the queer community. Both Muna and Phoebe have become strong and vocal allies for LGBTQ+ rights movements. The band wished fans a happy Pride Month several times. Fans waved rainbow flags and screamed every time she mentioned gay, trans, or queer rights issues.
Muna playing at Prospect Park, Photograph by David Reichmann
Muna opened each of the three nights with a powerhouse set, their signature uplifting beats, and an entranced audience who sang along with every track. Some fan favorites included, “Number One Fan” and “I Know a Place.” Katie mentioned Muna would be releasing a new album, releasing the week following the show, and they included a song from the album in their set.
Muna playing at Prospect Park, Photograph by David Reichmann
Throughout Muna’s set each night, Phoebe could be spotted beside the stage dancing and beaming as Muna worked the audience into an elated state. Each night they ended their set by inviting Phoebe onstage to join them for their single, “Silk Chiffon.” The audience seemed to have been waiting for this, and frontwoman Katie Gavin even joked, “I think you know what song this is.” The audience danced, sang, and screamed each word.
Muna and Phoebe Bridgers singing “Silk Chiffon” at Prospect Park, Photograph by David Reichmann
Phoebe had teased a secret special guest for the final night of her US tour at Forest Hills Stadium. Although rumors had spread regarding which artist would be featured, Lucy Dacus was announced as the guest on the day of the show. She and her full band came onstage after Muna’s set to play a packed setlist including top tracks, “Brando,” “Night Shift,” and “Hot & Heavy,” which was recently featured as a music video at Tribeca Film Festival.
Lucy Dacus playing at Forest Hills Stadium, Photograph by David Reichmann
Lucy shed some tears during her performance of “Thumbs,” a tragic and sorrowful song telling the story of observing a lover’s interaction with an estranged father. The song features difficult themes, and many in the audience wiped tears and sobbed as she played. The entire crowd screamed the lyric, “You don’t owe him shit” as the verse played. Lucy joked at the end of the song, “Wow, we’re crying already. It’s been a while since this has happened.” The crowd not only chuckled, but their cheers surged in loving support of Lucy. Phoebe observed Lucy’s set from the sidestage, smiling, crying, and laughing along with the audience.
Phoebe Bridgers observing from sidestage at Forest Hills Stadium, Photograph by David Reichmann
Lucy invited Phoebe and Muna onstage with their bandmates for a singalong rendition of “Going Going Gone.” Throughout the song, Phoebe held onto and danced with her pug Maxine. Some fans held handmade signs made out just for Maxine, and several pointed and cheered specifically for the dog. Maxine certainly had her day in the spotlight.
Lucy Dacus playing “Going Going Gone” with Phoebe Bridgers at Forest Hills Stadium, Photograph by David Reichmann
Phoebe took the stage each night to immense applause. The instant her silhouette began to shine through the backlight, the crowd starting cheering and screaming in delight. Phoebe’s staging, lighting, and set-lists for each of the three nights featured pristine production and popup-storybook-themed visuals to match the story and progression of each track.
Phoebe Bridgers taking the stage at Prospect Park, Photograph by David Reichmann
At a few points on the first and third nights, one or two crowd members experienced brief medical emergencies. Phoebe immediately paused the show, called for EMTs to assist, and waited until she got a thumbs up from those affected before continuing the show. She also paused several times each night between songs to instruct staff to pass out water bottles, asking, “Does anyone need water? Can we pass around a case of water for anyone who needs it?”
During her Forest Hills Stadium show Phoebe told the crowd, “this is officially the biggest show I’ve ever played.” Because this was the last show on her US tour, she thanked her crew from a printed list. She joked that the list was “arranged by astrological sign.” She went through each sign, occasionally joking about which signs were most common among her crew, and thanked every member of her crew by name, including her truck drivers, managers, techs, and her dog’s nanny.
Phoebe Bridgers thanking her crew at Forest Hills Stadium, Photograph by David Reichmann
She ended each night with an encore performance of a fan request. On the second night at Prospect Park, she ended the show with a solo acoustic rendition of Boygenius track, “Me and My Dog.”
Phoebe Bridgers at Prospect Park silhouetted by moon, Photograph by David Reichmann
At the Forest Hills Stadium show, Lucy joined Phoebe onstage to play “Graceland Too” and ”I Know the End.” During the latter song, Phoebe encouraged fans to “lose their voices” if they can, during the climax of the song. Phoebe, Lucy, and the entire stadium screamed at the top of their lungs to cap off Phoebe’s epic set. She thanked the crowd, Lucy, and Muna, and walked offstage to thunderous applause.
Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus playing “I Know the End” at Forest Hills Stadium, Photograph by David Reichmann
After a brief break, she came back onstage for her encore. Unaccompanied by her bandmates, Phoebe played a solo acoustic rendition of “Waiting Room.” She told the crowd, “I wrote this as a teenager. I used to think it was corny, but now I feel like it’s just sincere.” The crowd cheered and listened intently to what would be the final performance for Phoebe’s incredible US tour and three night run in New York.
Phoebe Bridgers playing at Prospect Park, Photograph by David Reichmann
Phoebe’s World tour is now underway, starting with dates in the UK and Europe. Her critically acclaimed full-length record, “Punisher,” celebrated two years since its release the following day of the Forest Hills show. You can listen to Phoebe Bridgers’ catalog here, as well as Lucy Dacus’s music here. Muna’s new album will be available to stream here upon its release on June 24, 2022. Check out our full gallery below.
Muna and Phoebe Bridgers singing “Silk Chiffon” at Prospect ParkLucy Dacus playing surprise set at Forest Hills Stadiu,Lucy Dacus singing Going Going Gone with Phoebe Bridgers and MunaPhoebe Bridgers with dog Maxine singing with Lucy DacusPhoebe Bridgers sidestage watching Lucy Dacus performFans waiting in line at Prospect ParkFans queueing up at Forest Hills StadiumPhoebe Bridgers MerchandiseFans holding signsFans dancing at sunsetFans interacting with artistPhoebe walking onstage at Prospect ParkPhotography by David Reichmann
The annual CFCU Cortland Main Street Music Series continues to grow with a 2022 line-up featuring the best local talent from CNY plus world-class bands. The series celebrates 19 years of bringing local, regional and national acts to Downtown Cortland with genres ranging from rock, Americana, folk, country, blues and many points in between. Doors open at 5pm for all shows and music begins at 6pm every Friday in July.
The City of Cortland, home of the Main Street Music Series, is centrally located in the scenic seven valleys of Central New York. Historically known as the Crown City, for its position as the highest elevation city in the state, Cortland is a gateway to the Finger Lakes Region and destination spot for live music and cultural events.
15 artists will grace the CFCU Community Credit Union stage over the course of five free concerts, all taking place at Rose Hall, at 19 Church Street Cortland.
The series kicks off with a triple billing on Friday, July 1st with headliners James Barker Band and supporting acts Taylor Made and Jon Rogalia. James Barker Band have fueled an incredible story over the last six years, largely on their own, from playing opening spots in small Ontario bars to charting multiple No. 1 singles, garnering hundreds of millions of global streams, and headlining some of Canada’s largest country music festivals. Now, with new music on the way, the four-piece is continuing their meteoric ascent in Nashville. In 2017, they sent their single “Chills” straight to the top of Billboard’s Canadian Hot 100 chart. The upbeat anthem also achieved Platinum status, alongside other songs from their introductory LP Game On, earning them numerous national awards. In addition, these best-friends have already amassed another six GOLD-certified and PLATINUM-certified tracks.
The second week of the series follows on July 8th with local roots rock band The Unknown Woodsmen and fellow area artists The Rollin’ Rust and Austin MacRae. Music fans across the Northeast are talking about CNY-based band The Unknown Woodsmen, who draw from the classic sounds of rock to create their own blues-reggae flavor of infectious rock grooves. Since its inception in 2011, the band has spent countless hours honing their signature sound and tirelessly performing throughout the Northeast. Whether it is their crafty hooks, old-school grooves, or energetic stage presence, The Unknown Woodsmen captivate crowd after crowd at show after show to a growing base of loyal fans in the Central New York region.
The series turns things up a notch in the third week, when The Rods headline the Friday, July 15th show at Rose Hall. They’ll be joined by supporting acts Sydney Irving and the Mojo and local singer songwriter Quona Hudson. The Rods are a series favorite and classic heavy metal band that rocked their way through the 80’s with a powerful, raw energy that led them on tours with some of today’s greatest metal bands—Judas Priest, Ozzy, Motorhead, and Metallica, to name just a few. Listeners will find that The Rods are still a force to be reckoned with today, as they continue on at full-throttle, with a new line-up and a forceful, vintage sound.
Friday, July 22nd, the CFCU Cortland Main Street Music Series will drench Rose Hall in the blues, when Joe Louis Walker brings his band to the Cortland stage, with opening sets by regional favorites Mike Powell and Raedwald Howland-Bolton. Joe Louis Walker, a Blues Hall of Fame inductee and four-time Blues Music Award winner celebrates a career that exceeds a half a century. A true powerhouse guitar virtuoso, unique singer and prolific songwriter, he has toured extensively throughout his career, performed at the world’s most renowned music festivals, and earned a legion of dedicated fans. Walker’s 1986 debut album Cold Is the Night on HighTone announced his arrival in stunning fashion, and his subsequent output has only served to further establish Walker as one of the leading bluesmen on the scene. NPR Music has called Walker “a legendary boundary-pushing icon of modern blues,” and he is already being referred to within the blues world as a living legend.
Rounding out the last show of the series on Friday, July 29th, Rose Hall will welcome headlining act Upstate along with opening artists Miss Tess Duo and Cloey Tierno.
The CFCU Cortland Main Street Music Series, presented by CFCU Community Credit Union, is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization with a mission to enrich Cortland’s culture and contribute to a vital downtown by providing an annual series of concerts by local, regional and national artists. Additional sponsorship is provided by the Cortland County Business Development Corporation and the Cortland County Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote “Crown City Rising,” a communications platform aiming to inform downtown stakeholders and the community at large about the ongoing Main Street reconstruction process.
More information can be found by visiting CrownCityRising.com and more information about the series can be found by following updates on Facebook and Instagram or by visiting their website at MainStreetMusicSeries.com.
The 1980s were the heydey of hair metal and hard rock, and as the genre found its audience, the Monsters of Rock concert tour was formed, bringing together the best international lineup of metal acts the world has ever seen. And for one day in June of 1988, five bands would put on a show for the ages in Western New York.
Originating in England in 1980, the first Monsters of Rock lineup and one-day festival was promoted by Paul Loasby and Maurice Jones, and included British and international bands for 35,000 fans at Donington Park race track in Leicestershire in the Midlands region of England. Originally conceived as a one-off event, the idea evolved into a touring festival in 1981 for 15 years in a row, only taking a break in 1989 and 1993. Loasby recalled the formation of that first year in England to The Guardian:
We hoped we would get 50,000 [people]. We wanted to break even at 30,000. However, because it was done the way it was we were not in control of some of the aspects – such as the cost of the police. But also, the “fuck factor” as you’d call it, is the miscellaneous. It rained and it rained and it rained [beforehand], so suddenly your trackway [temporary road] costs and your straw costs rise. We ended up with just under 36,000. A quick piece of maths showed that we’d lost money, but it wasn’t horrible.
Paul Loasby on the first Monsters of Rock show
Arriving at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park on June 19, the 1988 Monsters of Rock Tour featured Van Halen, Scorpions, Dokken, Metallica and Kingdom Come, marking the only time the epic international metal concert tour made its way through the Empire State.
Van Halen + Metallica = Vantallica
Headlining the show was Van Halen, who were hot on the heels of promoting their album OU812, and used the Monsters of Rock Tour to form the first section of their OU812 tour. Thus, the name of the festival this year was Van Halen’s Monsters of Rock.
Van Halen Summer ’88 Concert Shirt
The 23-city tour criss-crossed America over May, June and July of 1988, gaining the moniker “the most extravagent rock show ever” with the five bands performing over nine hours of music to more than 2 million fans who were expected across the North American tour.
“It’s like the NBA playoffs everynight, except we dont use balls, we use guitars,” said bassist Michael Anthony in talking to The Today Show. Sammy Hagar added “NBA playoffs, title fight, every night. there’s so much music its probably really tough on the people the next day,” mimicking the headache they might have the next day, then adding in “a week later, that was the greatest thing I ever did.”
Being a large scale event with multiple acts, there was a long gap between many dates while the band’s gear was transported and set up. A total of 50 tractor trailers carrying 75 tons of sound equiptment traveled between each venue, adding to tour dates that were spaced out as seen below.
May 27-29
East Troy, WI
Alpine Valley Music Theatre
June 4
Miami
Orange Bowl
June 5
Tampa
Tampa Stadium
June 10
Washington D.C.
RFK Stadium
June 11
Philadelphia
JFK Stadium
June 12
Boston
Sullivan Stadium
June 15
Pittsburgh
Three Rivers Stadium
June 17-18
Detroit
Pontaic Silverdome
June 19
Buffalo
Rich Stadium
June 22-23
Akron
Rubber Bowl
June 25
Portland
Oxford Plains Speedway
June 26-27
East Rutherford
Giants Stadium
July 2
Houston
Rice Stadium
July 3
Dallas
Cotton Bowl
July 6
Indianapolis
Hoosier Dome
July 9
Memphis
Memorial Stadium
July 10
Kansas City
Arrowhead Stadium
July 13
Minneapolis
Metrodome
July 16
San Francisco
Candlestick Park
July 20
Spokane
Joe Albi Stadium
July 23-24
Los Angeles
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
July 27
Seattle
Kingdome
July 30
Denver
Mile High Stadium
Monsters of Rock 1988 was the third time then up-and-coming heavy metal band Metallica would tour on the lineup, and the second year in a row. The 1988 shows gave early hype for their eventual classic album …And Justice For All, leading to “Harvester of Sorrow” making appearances in the setlist throughout the tour. This also marked the first tour since bass player Cliff Burton passed away in September 1986. Listen to Audio of their Buffalo set here.
Dokken was another notable band to join the show, although an attendee notes there were tensions between lead singer Don Dokken and guitarist George Lynch, leading to a short and uninspired set. Veteran German rock band Scorpions were a major European rock artist at the time, and their fans felt the love throughout the show.
Over time, the Monsters of Rock tour would decline, due in part to two fans dying during a Guns N’ Roses set later in 1988, with crowds that pushed 100,000 and muddy/wet conditions being contributing factors. This led to the festival being cancelled for 1989, with a two day festival, Moscow Music Peace Festival held in Russia, featuring Bon Jovi, Ozzy Osbourne, Mötley Crüe and Scorpions. When Monsters of Rock returns in 1990, the crowd size was limited to 75.000.
Kingdom Come setlist: Get It On, What Love Can Be
Metallica setlist: The Ecstasy of Gold, Creeping Death, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Welcome Home (Sanitarium), Harvester of Sorrow, Whiplash, Fade to Black, Seek & Destroy, Master of Puppets, Last Caress, Am I Evil?, Battery
Dokken setlist: Without Warning, Tooth and Nail, Just Got Lucky, Burning Like a Flame, Into the Fire, Heaven Sent, It’s Not Love, Guitar Solo, Mr. Scary, Dream Warriors, Alone Again, Turn on the Action
Scorpions setlist: Blackout, Big City Nights, Rhythm of Love, Bad Boys Running Wild, Make It Real, Coast to Coast, Still Loving You, Don’t Stop at the Top, Can’t Live Without You, Coming Home, The Zoo, No One Like You, Rock You Like a Hurricane, Dynamite
Van Halen setlist: A.F.U. (Naturally Wired), Summer Nights, There’s Only One Way to Rock, Panama, Bass Solo, Runnin’ With the Devil, Why Can’t This Be Love, Mine All Mine, Drum Solo, You Really Got Me, Sucker in a 3 Piece, When It’s Love, Eagles Fly, I Can’t Drive 55, Best of Both Worlds, Guitar Solo, Black and Blue, Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love, Superstition, Rock and Roll
Reggae icon Burning Spear will play at Capital One City Parks Foundation Summerstage in Central Park on August 25, their first NYC show in more than 10 years and final announced show of the summer.
A music-maker, community icon, educator and spiritual uplifter, Burning Spear has carried the torch of the political activist Marcus Garvey’s gospel, promoting self-determination and self-reliance for African descendants for over four decades, throughout 25 albums. Promoting messages of peace and love to all, through his complex lyricism and rhythms, Burning Spear is a lifelong touring musician and his return to the stage will be nothing short of monumental.
The reggae icon will perform in New York for his Fan Appreciation tour which sees the Grammy Award-winning artist return to the stage for the first time in more than five years, playing cities like San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, DC, and more.
Burning Spear’s latest single “Mommy,” pays homage to the bold, powerful, minor-key reggae style that the icon helped pioneer in the 1970s and is the first standalone single from his upcoming album No Destroyer (TBD release date).
The show is presented by Sony Hall and DayGlo and tickets are on sale now. The full list of this year’s SummerStage lineup can be found here.
BURNING SPEAR – 2022 TOUR DATES Jul 22 San Francisco, CA, US The Masonic Jul 23 San Diego, CA, US Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre at SDSU Jul 24 Inglewood, CA, US YouTube Theater Jul 26 Portland, OR, US Roseland Theater Jul 27 Seattle, WA, US Moore Theatre Jul 29 Silver Spring, MD, US The Fillmore Silver Spring Jul 30 Denver, CO, US Levitt Pavilion Aug 5 Boston, MA, US House of Blues – Boston Aug 6 Philadelphia, PA, US TD Pavilion at the Mann Aug 10 Vertheuil, France Domaine De Nodris Aug 13 Birmingham, UK Forum Birmingham Aug 14 London, UK O2 Academy Brixton Aug 25 NYC, SummerStage in Central Park