Raisinhead have been playing music together for over 15 years, and on New Year’s Eve, the beloved Upstate band will play in Saranac Lake at the Waterhole Music Lounge. This is the perfect North Country spot for music lovers to ring in 2023 together.
Raisinhead was formed by Rob Beaulieu in 2001, who wanted to play improvisational music in a live setting. Each band member Ted Grey (guitar), Brian Mangini (keys), Tom Pirozzi (bass) and Jeff Prescott, Chadd Ploss and Scott Apicelli (drums) has been involved in other musical projects and still manages to get together and play the music of The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, The Allman Brothers and many original tunes. The band consists of former members of The Ominous Seapods, Harvest, The Deadbeats, & Fat Albatross, to name a few.
Raisinhead is three-singer band, which gives the audience a constantly changing vocal perspective, tune by tune. The diverse background, joy of performing, and decades of experience between the members is what gives the band its high energy sound. The band has built a strong following in Upstate New York that promises audiences an interactive evening of sound, energy, and pure fun.
Raisinhead is always at its best on stage, under the lights, doing their thing, and creating an experience you won’t forget any time soon.
Doors open at 730pm on December 31, with the Joshua West Quartet kicking the night off at 830pm. Advanced Price Tickets are $10, Day of Show Tickets are $12. Tickets can be purchased here or at the downstairs bar.
The Waterhole in Saranac Lake will bring 12 different musical acts to the Upstairs Music Lounge from across the Northeast, keeping Winter Carnival-goers movin’ & groovin’, as the town celebrates the 126th annual Saranac Lake Winter Carnival.
The 2023 musical lineup at The Waterhole features fan favorites and pairs them up with unbelievably talented opening acts, a perfect compliment to the fun and activities during Winter Carnival.
The Waterhole Winter Carnival 2023 lineup
Annie in the Water will kick things off Friday February 3rd with high energy jams, funky tones, and chill vibes. The Reflexions will open the night with their blend of Reggae and Funk vibes with world music grooves.
With a larger-than-life stage presence, Saturday February 4th headliner, Underground System is a show not to be missed. This six-piece act hails from New York City, mixes dance club vibes with Afrobeat, Latin-style tunes and other musical themes from around the world. The group started in 2018 with a reimagining of Fela Kuti’s work, and grew into an internationally touring indie dance band. Expect flute, congas, sampling, and hypnotic, infectious grooves.
Midweek will feature a solo performance from Ryan Montbleu on Tuesday February 7th. Ryan will fill the music hall with his eloquent and soulful songwriting for which he is known for. Haley Jane will open the night with a solo performance of her own. Expect raw intensity and linguistic prowess. She has a deeply emotive and highly magnetizing presence that combines a diverse sound with Vaudevillian style story telling.
Wednesday Feb 8thDavid Sommerstein of NCPR will host a Beat Authority Dance Party! Listeners can expect a fresh, eclectic choice of dance music from all over the world. You may hear cumbia or bluegrass, afrobeat or jazz, it’ll keep your head a-noddin’ and your spirits up! Join in the groove and enjoy.
Thursday Feb 9th, The Frank White Experience brings things to a new level. Bringing the sounds of Notorious B.I.G with live instrumentation to your ears in a way never head before! FWE brings listeners on a journey back through the beloved soundscape of 1990’s hip hop.
Friday February 10th The Mallett Brothers Band will return from the deep woods of Maine on Friday 2/11. You can expect alternative country, grunge, with a side of beards and flannels. Partnered with them is Saints + Liars a Vermont-based Americana group, blending variants of honky-tonk, folk, bluegrass, and rock n’ roll.
Saturday the 11this sure to be the biggest dance party of the week! The post-parade party is free and will be led by Rose + The Bros. This 6-piece ensemble made their Saranac Lake debut in September 2022 at Northern Current: A Community Music Festival. Hailing from Ithaca, NY the band is rooted in southern dance tradition, with the addition of crooning vocal harmonies, and country music influence; listeners can expect distinctive rhythmic patterns based in a Louisiana sound, with additional reggae and melodic drum tones.
Later that same Saturday night, West End Blend will bring the FUNK + SOUL! Fronted by vocalist Erica Tracy Sullivan, WEB plays homage to classic throwback sounds while adding their own distinct vibe and flair. Behind her, the blend packs a four-piece horn section, two guitars bass, keyboards, and drums.
Party goers will not want to miss Chestnut Grove opening the night! The Pennsylvania-grown quintet has continued seeing its efforts bear fruit since it formed in Perkiomenville, Pa. in 2011, growing a dedicated fan base and a songbook filled with truly heartfelt, groove-worthy original work. And when it comes to their abilities to groove within the canon of classic rock greats, well, they ain’t slouches there, either.
And on Saturday the 12th, DiTrani Brothers will wrap things up with one final party! They hail from the woods of Vermont and play original songs from and about the dystopic present, ragtime and jazz tunes, the perfect complement to Bloody Mary Sunday.
The street level bar will be open every day of the week & boasts the largest selection of craft beer in the Blue Line. As you travel upstairs, you will find The Upstairs Music Lounge: a destination music venue. On the 2nd story there is a magnificent dance floor and a fully stocked bar. Make sure to keep going up and check out the 3rd story balcony. There you will find additional seating for when your dancing feet are tired, and a truly unbeatable birds-eye view of the stage & dance hall. Concert tickets are available for purchase on the Waterhole website www.saranaclakewaterhole.com and in person by stopping into the venue. Winter Carnival Week Passes will be offered for $82. This pass guarantees access to every single show. As always, the Waterhole is a 21+ venue.
The Waterhole Music Lounge in Saranac Lake has announced its Fall 2022 live entertainment schedule, featuring an irresistible lineup of music.
The Waterhole Music Lounge is located on Main Street in Saranac Lake and serves as a spot for locals and tourists to gather together and enjoy all types of music.
To kick off the schedule of fall and winter events on Oct. 15 is Lucid, a rock act emerging from the Champlain Valley and the greater Adirondack Mountains. They are known for their live shows where they play a whirlwind of genres and tones.
The Waterhole is family to our band. And there’s something just so unique about that place and that stage, this collective consciousness in that space. Everybody knows that The Waterhole is special and is so for a million different reasons. You get there, you start playing, and everyone is involved in what’s unfolding on stage. Everybody is tuned in; it’s an incredible experience.
Lowell Wurster, singer of Lucid
On Oct. 22, The Sideways return for their fourth performance. From Rochester, the eight-piece band plays disco pop with heavy jazz influences. The annual Halloween bash will take place on Oct. 29 and will include a costume contest and music by town-wide favorites Chestnut Grove. The quintet has grown a dedicated fanbase since forming in 2011. Muddy Ruckus is opening, making their Waterhole debut.
November brings more talent to the Waterhole Music Lounge. On Nov. 4 Gratefully Yours, a Grateful Dead tribute band, will perform. On Nov. 9, Matt Heckler will perform. He is a solo multi-instrumentalist that doesn’t fit into any ordinary category. Donna The Buffalo, known for touring the country while remaining independent, and as one of the industry’s most diverse roots-music bands will perform on Dec. 2.
December will bring more iconic acts, like the intoxicating band Sophistafunk, who has been described as “Rage Against the Machine meets The Roots, dipped in P-Funk.” They will perform on Dec. 9. The last show scheduled is local favorites Raisinhead. They have been playing music for twenty years, and will perform on New Year’s Eve at the Waterhole.
Tickets for all Fall 2022 concerts at The Waterhole can be purchased here. Doors open at 7:30 and shows begin at 8:30 p.m. As always, the Waterhole is a 21+ venue.
The long running concert series Saturday Night at the Waterhole returns to Saranac Lake this month. Starting March 19 and running until May 14, the Upstairs Music Lounge in Saranac Lake will hold special performances every Saturday night (except on 4/16).
photo by Neil Sedlak
Several notable acts will be making their Saturday Night at the Waterhole performances.
Toubab Krewe w/s/g The Pickle Mafia – March 26th
Toubab Krewe, a band from North Carolina that mixes jam band rock and international folk music, will perform on March 26. They are joined by The Pickle Mafia, featuring Charlie Lindner (Keys), Ben Chilbert (Bass), and Marco Cirigliano (Drums) performing original, cutting edge, high energy jazz music, with influences from modern and latin jazz as well. To truly experience the Mafia, you MUST attend a live show, where they will create a unique, interactive show, and leave you with a one of a kind Pickle Mafia experience! Get tickets here.
The Asheville, NC based group Toubab Krewe is known for fusing rock and world music.
Blue Star Radiation – April 2
Later on in the series, newly formed group Blue Star Radiation will perform. The group consists of Vinnie Amico on drums (Moe.), Rob Derhak (Moe.) on bass, Tim Palmieri on guitar (Lotus, Kung Fu) and Nate Wilson (Assembly of Dust) on B3 Hammond keys and flute. Blue Star Radiation’s show will feature both original compositions and covers.
The newly formed super group is comprised of Vinnie Amico on drums (Moe.), Rob Derhak (Moe.) on bass, Tim Palmieri on guitar (Lotus, Kung Fu, The Breakfast) and Nate Wilson (Assembly of Dust, Percy Hill, Ghosts of Jupiter) on B3 Hammond keys and flute.
The show will feature songs from all of the members’ primary projects in addition to original compositions and select covers.
When renowned keyboardist Nate Wilson came to Rob Derhak with the idea to form a band on those principles, the band Blue Star took its first breath. Enlisting the drumming prowess of Vinnie Amico, and legendary guitarist/vocalist Tim Palmieri, the genesis of Blue Star came to be.
A band of improvisational, jam band musicians that all share an affinity for the classic rock we all love and know. The ditties, the anthems, and the deep cuts that remind us of a different time. They simply write the songs and play the covers that give the audience goosebumps.
Pretend Collective – April 9
One of the more admirable newcomers is Pretend Collective. The band recently released a self-titled LP with indie label The Giving Groove, which donates half of all album proceeds to Nuci’s Space, an organization that helps musicians struggling with mental health.
Tickets for each show can be found at the Waterhole’s website.
Series Schedule
March 19 – Raisinhead
March 26 – Toubab Krewe and Pickle Mafia
April 2 – Blue Star Radiation featuring members of Moe, Lotus, Kung Fu and Assembly of Dust
April 9 – Pretend Collective and Sean Hoots
April 23 – Bella’s Bartok and Organ Transplant featuring Bella’s Horns
Saranac Lake Winter Carnival 2022 kicks off on Friday, February 4 for the 125th anniversary event. With events outdoors, the Ice Castle and Parade on Saturday, February 12, the event bounces back with a theme of Totally 80s.
Poster by Saranac Lake native, Garry Trudeau
Saranac Lake Winter Carnival dates back to 1897, when the logging community in the Adirondacks, established already as a healing and rejuvenation location for sufferers of tuberculosis, sought to snap the winter chill and promote outdoor games and activities. The Pontiac Club initially sponsored a one day fancy dress carnival in the inaugural year, and has been held on and off until 1947-48 when the event was resurrected and been held annually ever since.
For full details, visit the Winter Carnival website, and check out the schedule of events below.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022
5:30 pm 21th Annual Past Royalty Mixer and Dinner – Open to Past Royalty Only (Red Fox Restaurant, 5034 Route 3, contact Marilyn Bigelow, 518-891-1286, $)
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm NEW Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop–Learn about Winter Carnival, Shop for Official Merchandise (Winter Carnival History Hut near the Ice Palace)
7:30 pm *Women’s Civic Chamber Coronation of Winter Carnival Royalty–By Invitation Only this Year (Harrietstown Town Hall, 39 Main St)
8:30 pm *Waterhole Presents Annie in the Water wsg Chestnut Grove (48 Main St, $, Doors open at 7:30pm)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2022
10:00 am – 6:00 pm NEW Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop–Learn about Winter Carnival, Shop for Official Merchandise (Winter Carnival History Hut near the Ice Palace)
1:00 pmNEW *Women’s Civic “Corn-A-Ment” Cornhole Tournament, registration forms found here (On the ice in front of Saranac Waterfront Lodge, $40 registration fee per 2-Player team, contact Deb Reilly at debreilly6@gmail.com for information)
** NO Annual Winter Carnival Spaghetti Dinner presented by Catholic Daughters of America — check back next year **
8:30 pm *Waterhole Presents High & Mighty Brass wsg The Reflexions (48 Main St, $, Doors open at 7:30pm)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2022
10:00 am – 6:00 pm NEW Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop–Learn about Winter Carnival, Shop for Official Merchandise (Winter Carnival History Hut near the Ice Palace)
5:00 pm *80’s Trivia at the Elk’s Lodge – Relive the decade of big hair and Ferris Bueller, Kids welcome (Elk’s Lodge #1508, 30 Bloomingdale Ave, Food available, Donation requested)
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2022
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm NEW Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop–Learn about Winter Carnival, Shop for Official Merchandise (Winter Carnival History Hut near the Ice Palace)
7:00 pm *Community Celebration Service (St. Luke’s Church, 136 Main St)
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2022
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm NEW Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop–Learn about Winter Carnival, Shop for Official Merchandise (Winter Carnival History Hut near the Ice Palace)
3:30 pm *Scavenger Hunt for Middle School Students (Saranac Lake Youth Center, 29 Woodruff St)
5:00 pm Winter Carnival Grand Marshall Reception (Saranac Waterfront Lodge, 250 Lake Flower Ave, Cash Bar)
6:00 pm Winter Carnival Royalty Dinner (Saranac Waterfront Lodge, 250 Lake Flower Ave, $, RSVP required by 2/1, call 518-891-4367)
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2022
11:00 am – 5:00 pm *”Totally 80s” Art Exhibit–Featuring Artwork Produced in the 80s plus More (Adirondack Artists’ Guild, 52 Main St.)
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm NEW Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop–Learn about Winter Carnival, Shop for Official Merchandise (Winter Carnival History Hut near the Ice Palace)
8:00 pm *Waterhole Presents Kat Wright wsg Giovanina Bucci (48 Main St, $, Doors open at 7:00pm)
THURSDAY, February 10, 2022
11:00 am – 5:00 pm *”Totally 80s” Art Exhibit–Featuring Artwork Produced in the 80s plus More (Adirondack Artists’ Guild, 52 Main St.)
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm NEW Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop–Learn about Winter Carnival, Shop for Official Merchandise (Winter Carnival History Hut near the Ice Palace)
1:00 pm – 6:00 pm NEW Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop–Learn about Winter Carnival, Shop for Official Merchandise (Winter Carnival History Hut near the Ice Palace)
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm NEW Coakley Home and Hardware Open Skate with Free Hot Chocolate (Right after the Skating Races, Saranac Lake Civic Center, 213 Ampersand Ave)
TBD Firefighter’s Broom Ball (Saranac Lake Civic Center, 213 Ampersand Ave)
6:00 pm NEW Saranac Waterfront Lodge Snow Ball — Return of the classic formal dinner and dance (Saranac Waterfront Lodge, 250 Lake Flower Ave, $, Details to come)
8:30 pm *Waterhole Presents The Mallett Brothers Band wsg Folkfaces (48 Main St, $, Doors open at 7:30pm)
SATURDAY, February 12, 2022
10:00 am – 6:00 pm NEW Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop–Learn about Winter Carnival, Shop for Official Merchandise (Winter Carnival History Hut near the Ice Palace)
10:00 am *CanAm Snow Rugby (Saranac Lake High School Track Field, 79 Canaras Ave, Call 518-524-5841)
11:00 am – 5:00 pm *”Totally 80s” Art Exhibit–Featuring Artwork Produced in the 80s plus More (Adirondack Artists’ Guild, 52 Main St.)
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm NEW Winter Carnival History Hut and Gift Shop–Learn about Winter Carnival, Shop for Official Merchandise (Winter Carnival History Hut near the Ice Palace)
1:00 pm *The Village Mercantile Winter Carnival Shoebox Float Judging and Prizes (The Village Mercantile, 97 Main St, drop off your Shoebox Floats anytime February 4-12, call 518-354-7183 for more information)
North Carolina group Toubab Krewe are back and have announced their Spring 2022 tour. Over 18 dates, the band will showcase their full potential and bring fans more of the sound they love.
The Asheville natives have made a name for themselves by mixing traditional West African music with rock, jam and Appalachian elements, resulting in a unique sound that could capture anyone’s attention. Inspiration for their music is drawn from African greats like Ali Farka Toure, Orchestra Baobab and Salif Keita, while still maintaining their own identity.
Formed in 2005, they group has spent more than ten years together, perfecting their craft and going on trips to learn more about their main source of inspiration, Africa. They have journeyed to places like Guinea, the Ivory Coast and Mali.
The group has made appearances at a number of festivals including Bonnaroo, Rothbury and even Mali’s Festival In The Desert. They also continued to make music throughout the pandemic and have filmed a PBS ‘Echo Sessions’ special which is due to air later this year.
Tickets are available on their website. All shows require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test.
Annie in the Water have announced a slate of winter tour dates, ahead of the release of their forthcoming studio album, Sun at Dawn, set to be released Friday, March 4th.
Artwork by Tony Campono, based on a photograph taken by Matt Richards at dawn on Going To The Sun Road at Glacier National Park.
Recorded directly to tape at Artfarm Recording in the heart of the Hudson Valley and mixed by Corey Hayward, Sun at Dawn represents the band’s time spent independently at home, together in the Adirondacks, and on the road again with their fans.
Our forthcoming album Sun at Dawn represents the paths we took in life as individuals and how it brought us together in the band. The album consists of songs that were written along these separate life experiences and are joined by songs that were written together as a band. The sun at dawn illustrates that this is just the beginning of our adventures musically and as friends.
We have a lot planned for 2022. Beyond releasing our newest album we are lining up bigger tours than we have had in recent years. Not only that, but we have also began writing more new material after the recording process of the upcoming album ended. We are fully prepared to hit the ground running when the music scene begins to boom again and we can’t wait to show everyone everything we have been working on!…
Matt Richards, Annie in the Water keys
Annie in the Water’s sound has a groove filled combo of reggae, funk, rock, blues and jam, written with a conscious dose of positive vibes, unique melodies and intelligent lyrics. The group has the ability to fill an entire night with original music and also render well-known covers in their signature style, giving fans extraordinary experiences to share that can’t be seen anywhere else.
Comprised of members Brad Hester (Lead Vocals/Rhythm), Michael Lashomb (Lead Guitar/Vocals), Ryan Trumbull (Drums/Vocals), Chris Meier (Bass/Vocals), Matt Richards (Keys/Vocals) and Brock Kuca (Percussion/Vocals), each performance is another adventure, both exhilarating and everlasting. The group creates a blend of music and entertainment that is inspired by the audience and the moment; the fan-base grows with every single performance in large part due to the indisputable fact that Annie in the Water will make people dance and feel happier no matter their age.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKxG7B35Btg
Annie in the Water Winter Tour 2022 Dates
1.26 Buffalo Iron Works // Buffalo, NY ^ 1.27 Parish Public House // Albany, NY ^ ! 1.28 Sonia // Cambridge, MA ^ 1.29 Nectar’s // Burlington, VT ^ ! 1.30 Portland House of Music // Portland, ME ^ 2.4 Waterhole // Saranac Lake, NY * ! 2.6 Mercury Lounge // New York, NY ^ 2.10 Funk ‘n Waffles // Syracuse, NY 2.11 Froggy Daze // Kerhonkson, NY
^ w/ Eminence Ensemble ! Annie in the Water Headlining show
It’s almost time for an annual North Country tradition as Saranac Lake Winter Carnival gets ready for the 2022 edition. The Upstate winter fest has been held since 1897, making 2022 the 125th annual celebration, with a theme of “Totally ’80s.”
Saranac Lake Winter Carnival features a great deal of events, including a Royal Court, arctic golf, ski and snowshoe races, curling and woodsman exhibitions, parades, fireworks and the annual highlight, the Ice Palace.
As always, the Waterhole will be the center for live music during Saranac Lake’s Winter Carnival 2022. Appearing over seven nights are 14 bands from both national and regional touring artists.
Full week VIP passes for Winter Carnival at the Waterhole are available for $80, which grants entrance to every show of Winter Carnival from Feb 4th to Feb. 13th, 2022. The lineup can be found below, with tickets available here.
