Author: Pete Mason

Grey Fox Bluegrass, a Truly Family Friendly Festival

Looking for a family-friendly music festival this summer with a focus on the family aspect? The Catskills has your answer with Grey Fox Bluegrass Music Festival.

Photo courtesy of the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival press release.

First being held in 1984 (and with roots going back to the 1976 Berkshire Mountain Bluegrass Festival) Grey Fox Bluegrass has been held on the Walsh Farm in Oak Hill, NY, on the banks of the Catskill Creek, since 2008. The festival has enjoyed great longevity with host band Dry Branch Fire Squad welcoming major bluegrass names including Del McCoury, Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, Tony Rice, Peter Rowan, Abigail Washburn, the Gibson Brothers and hundreds more.

Grey Fox has a bright future especially thanks to the welcoming nature of families and children to the festival, as well as with the Grey Fox Bluegrass Academy for Kids introducing children to bluegrass music and bringing everyone together for a final performance on the last day of the festival.

North Carolinian Lynda Dawson shares with NYS Music her experience at Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival 2022, with a first-hand account of how her family spent the weekend, Bluegrass Academy for Kids and an attestation at the family-friendlyness of this long running festival in the Catskills.

It’s a 700-mile drive from our home in Raleigh, NC to the Walsh Family Farm in Upstate NY, where the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival takes place every July, yet my husband and I knew it would be worth the trek. We had made this pilgrimage pre-children, and Grey Fox instantly became one of our top favorite music events, so as soon as the youngest of our two daughters turned eight, we booked our Festival + Camping tickets and their spots in the 2022 Grey Fox Bluegrass Academy for Kids (BGA for short).

BGA at Grey Fox is a four-day group lesson environment where children ages 8–17 gather for instruction from top notch musicians each day, spending a couple hours before lunch, a couple hours after lunch, and culminating in a Sunday afternoon performance on the main stage. My 11-year-old daughter was psyched to know she’d get to be part of the final act of the festival. My 8-year-old, prone to hiding rather than play in front of others, wasn’t so sure.

The first evening we walked from our campsite up to the big tent where the Academy would be taking place. We were welcomed by other kids, the instructors and Academy Director, Mark Panfil, who enthusiastically kicked things off by sharing his passion for bluegrass and teaching young musicians, “I especially love working with young people who are willing to work and try new things. These are exceptional kids. Any teacher with experience knows these kids are special!”

The next morning, feeling proud and encouraged, our girls rode their bicycles up Smiley Street towards the Academy tent with fiddles on their backs. The Grey Fox site team builds a pop-up “city” on a farmer’s field every summer, complete with bluegrass-themed street names, and neighborhood camping sections like Picker’s Paradise and Generatorville. Our children quickly figured out the lay of the land and were independently navigating their way between our campsite and the BGA tent. My husband and I smiled, then we opened our own guitar and mandolin cases, relaxed in our camping chairs, and relished in the joy of playing songs together outside on a beautiful summer morning. We hoped our kids were having as much fun as we were.

“Yes!” says our oldest when we picked them up for the lunch break, “The people are awesome, and it is super fun!” Mark Panfil agrees, “The BGA is special to me because of the people involved. From the teachers to the parents to the students. People who believe in the future of Bluegrass music are all around this festival. This experience stands out because this festival stands out, open to innovative programs and maintaining a family friendly space.”

And so the festival fun continued. In the evenings we enjoyed sitting together as a family on the hillside listening to music from the High Meadow main stage, then dancing until the kids were practically falling asleep in the Catskill Stage dance tent. During the day while our girls were playing and learning bluegrass songs with new friends, my husband and I would play music with our neighbors, or shop along vendor row, or discover new bands at the Creekside Stage.

Our youngest was even overcoming her fear of playing in public. When she got back to the campsite late Saturday afternoon she asked if she could join in the jam happening across the street from us. “Sure!” we said, trying not to sound too excited, and watched her walk over, unpack her fiddle, and start playing along with a dozen welcoming musicians.

On Sunday morning the kids met at the BGA tent to run through their songs for the big performance, then they headed backstage as the parents joined the audience. To our delight, Jerry Douglas took the stage with them and kicked off, “Long Journey Home” on his Dobro, grinning ear to ear as he sang along on the chorus, “Lost all my money but a two-dollar bill…” During the set he addressed the audience and said, “Man, I wish I had something like this when I was a kid!” It was joyous.

When the show and festival were over, we met up with the girls amidst families giving hugs and high-fives. As soon as they saw us they both rushed over and asked with excitement, “We’re coming back again next year, right?!?” “Absolutely,” we said. Absolutely.

As Lynda Dawson detailed above, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival is an ideal destination for families looking to get their children a healthy dose of music and the outdoors this summer, with opportunities for fun abounding and a lifetime of memories to be gained.

Check out the daily schedule below and get more info on the weekend here.

July 2, 2023
A Deep Dive into Goth: John Robb’s “The Art Of Darkness: The History Of Goth”

For those looking to dive deep into the darkness that is inherent in the Goth scene, “The Art Of Darkness: The History Of Goth” was released on May 16th (Manchester University Press). Author John Robb takes an in-depth look at all that makes up the Goth music scene – the music, the culture, and the history.

A book that took eight years to be published, “The Art of Darkness: The History of Goth” has received rave reviews across Europe, the nexus for Goth. The Irish Independent said of the tome, “Gloriously knowledgeable…stuffed with stories about the bands who changed your life as a teenager.”

John Robb is a veteran of the global alternative music scene, coining the term “Britpop” in the 1990s, was the first UK writer to interview Nirvana back in 1989, and has written on popular music for The Times, The Guardian, NME, and founded the UK music website, Louder Than War. John has previously written the best-selling books “Punk Rock: An Oral History” and “The North Will Rise Again: Manchester Music City 1976-1996”.

John Robb: Photo by John Middleham

This 546 page book takes the reader into a Goth club, before expanding to take a look at the wider culture and history of the times. Examining the subculture that rose in underground UK clubs, spread thrrough word of mouth at pubs or via posters and handbills, the early scene included hippies, scenesters, dominatrices, and gives a breakdown of what went down in the club scene.

Taking a look at the social conditions at the time that led to the rise of Goth in the post-punk period, Robb finds history influencing art, shifting gears as he looks upon the fall of Rome, folk tales from Europe, the occult, Gothic architecture and more to tie present-day Goth to these continental roots.

Examined is the Goth connection to the punk club scene and how it shifted from punk to goth over time, plus that which makes up various goth sub-groups: mall, traditional, romantic, vampire, etc… all the way to Glam Rock and how Goth arrives at present day, and even how certain genres of music (heavy metal, indie) correlate to the Goth culture.

The book is built mostly around the 80s post-punk Goth period and features interviews with Andrew Eldritch, Killing Joke, Bauhaus, The Cult, The Banshees, The Damned, Einstürzende Neubauten, Johnny Marr, Trent Reznor, Adam Ant, Laibach, The Cure, Nick Cave and many others.

An enjoyable read, one of the biggest takeaways, especially for the uninitiated, are the origins of Goth in the club scene of the 1960s, and the evolution of the beatnik/mod era through punk and post-punk, with goth borrowing as it arose during the time period.

Order a copy of the definitive deep-dive into Goth here!

Ed. note: Thanks to Lola for her insight into goth culture.

June 30, 2023
So Good, the Neil Diamond Experience, Turns on the Heartlight at The Egg’s Swyer Theater

On Friday evenings in late June, the Empire State Plaza hosts numerous high school graduations. Tucked away between South Colonie and RCS graduates and their families on June 23 was the entrance to The Egg, where So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience performed to an enthusiastic crowd who knew all the words to the deep cuts and all the hits from Diamond’s decades-spanning catalog.

Following a run of sold out shows throughout Long Island and New Jersey over the past three years, So Good! is an all-Long Island band that began a run of 40 shows over the next 10 months with their performance at the Swyer Theatre at The Egg. Fronted by Broadway, TV and film star Robert Neary, the show was truly impressive and hit all the right notes from start to finish. His tribute to Neil Diamond in appearance, on stage mannerisms and voice made the evening truly unforgettable, with The Mystics backing him up and never missing a beat.

With a crowd – median age: retired – nestled into their seats before the 8pm show time, the band slowly took the stage, with Neary outside the doors singing the opening lines to “America” before appearing on stage with the band for the crescendo of the song. Hits that most everyone in the audience knew the words to – “Cracklin’ Rosie”, “Blue Jeans” and “Song Sung Blue” – would follow, with the band jumping from tune to tune until after “Longfellow Serenade” where Neary spoke about E.T. and how it had a profound influence on Diamond, which led him to write the next song, “Heartlight.”

More banter about Diamond’s scant film career discussed a movie he did not land a part in, but affected him profoundly, Bob Fosse’s Lenny. This led to an identity crisis for Diamond, and amid this and moving he and his family to Los Angeles, he penned “I Am… I Said.” Another film song, “Hello” from Diamond’s most memorable film, The Jazz Singer, would follow, before the horns rejoined the rest of the Mystics for “Solitary Man,” “Holly Holy” and the deep cut “Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show” that got the crowd up and moving. If that didn’t do it, “Cherry, Cherry” capped off the show, with a noncore of “Sweet Caroline” and “Soolaimon” to close it out.

So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience is on tour this summer and fall, with an incredible stage show and songs you’ll be singing along to all night and on the way home. Check out their website for more details.

So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience 2023 Tour Dates

June 28 145 Park Avenue NYC

July 5 Newbridge Road Park, Bellmore, NY

July 9 Sieminski Theatre, Basking Ridge, NJ

July 14 Seaside Pavillion, Old Orchard Beach, ME

July 15 Ellsworth Allen Park, Farmingdale, NY

August 17 Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre – Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, NY

August 19 The Murphy Theatre, Wilmington, OH

September 9 Infinity Music Hall, Hartford, CT

October 8 The Argyle Theatre, Babylon, NY

October 13 The Argyle Theatre, Babylon, NY

So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience – The Swyer Theater at The Egg – Albany, June 23, 2023

Set 1: America, Cracklin’ Rosie, Blue jeans, Song sung blue, Longfellow Serenade, Heartlight, I am… I Said, Hello, Love on the Rocks, September Moon, I’m a Believer

Set 2: You are the Sun, Shilo, Kentucky Moon, Girl, You’ll be a Woman Soon, Solitary Man, Holly Holy, Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show, Cherry, Cherry, Sweet Caroline, Soolaimon

June 27, 2023
In Focus: The Quebe Sisters at Caffe Lena

Texas-style folk music made a stop at Caffe Lena on Thursday, June 22, with the swing revival sounds of The Quebe Sisters. The Dallas group played to a sold out crowd this evening, emanating progressive western swing with jazz and blues influences peppered throughout, as well as a healthy dose of comedy and the history behind the music.

These sisters first appeared on my radar thanks to Col. Bruce Hampton, a legend among jam band fans, who had a keen eye for identifying and fostering talent throughout his career. Only mentioned in passing in a 2016 interview, the sisters shared with NYS Music that their connection to Col. Bruce was thanks to his fellow Aquarium Rescue Unit member (and current Widespread Panic guitarist), Jimmy Herring. It was he who saw them perform at a local fair in Georgia, met them following the show (all parties were humbled), and Herring later put the band on Col. Bruce’s radar. From Hampton’s lips to my ears, Caffe Lena was the perfect venue this evening.

As the performance began promptly at 7pm, standing on stage left to right were sisters Hulda, Grace and Sophia, who have each been playing fiddle for more than two decades. Joining them were Simon Stipp on guitar and Daniel Parr on bass, and at times, Grace would play snare drum ever so lightly, stirring with a brush in one hand, and a light tap of the stick with the other. An evening of old-timey folk music, with some songs more than a century old, began with “Avalon” by Al Jolson. If T. Bone Burnett were tasked to produce a soundtrack in the style of O Brother, Where Are Thou?, the sounds of the Quebe Sisters would be a centerpiece of the album.

With folk songs of trails, cowboys and traveling, tunes of pioneers were played, a history lesson in the form of stories handed down as song. A dive into 19th century poetry yielded “My Love, My Life, My Friend, influenced by the Emily Dickinson poem “That it will never come again.” A duet of “Lullaby of Birdland” was followed by The Mills Brothers’ arrangement of a 1942 song, “Cow Cow Boogie” and the medley “Speed the Plow” which closed a set that had the style of music you’d expect to hear in a Quentin Tarantino film.

The all fiddle family returned for a second set with “Lonesome Road” and the wonderful “Shame on You,” which hit all the right spots, reminiscent of Patsy Montana’s “I Want To Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart.”

Set to the tune “Home on the Range,” the prescient and eerily humorous “Drone on the Range” sang of the perils of technology and the neighbors who misuse it. The Bob Wales instrumental “Roly Poly” would follow, along with Ray Charles’ “Georgia on my Mind” and the instrumental “Load in at 7 (leave at 8) likewise was a tongue in cheek take on life on the road.

“Lullaby of Leaves” saw the three sisters fiddling together, before diving into the extensive catalog of fellow Texan Willie Nelson on “Summer of Roses, follows by a unique as ever “Merch Jingle” to encourage fans to meet and greet them after the show and pick up merchandise before heading out. “It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie” would close the set, and the original familial song “Texas” served as the lone encore.

The Quebe Sisters have one of the most unique harmonies and a sound that bridges generations of country and western music, influenced by time and the fiddle prowess of a trio of 20 years strong, just getting started.

The Quebe Sisters – Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs – June 22, 2023

Set 1: Avalon, Please Don’t Talk > Going Away Party, Teardrops, Pierce the Blue > Twin Guitar, Timber Trail > Trouble in Mind, My Love, My Life, My Friend, Lullaby of Birdland, Cow Cow Boogie, Twilight > Speed the Plow

Set 2: Lonesome Road > Shame on You, Distraction, Drone on the Range, Roly Poly, Georgia on my Mind, Load in at 7 (Leave at 8), Day People, Lullaby of the Leaves, Swingin’ the Bow, intros > Summer of Roses, Merch Jingle > It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie

Encore: Texas

photos by Derek Java

June 26, 2023
Flashback: The Who warm up for Reunion Tour at Glens Falls Civic Center – June 21, 1989

The Who had bid farewell to fans in 1982 after nearly 20 years together as a band, and after seven years had passed, it was time for a music industry tradition – the Reunion Tour. And where else to warm up for a major comeback tour than with a show at Glens Falls Civic Center, on June 21, 1989

Returning to the stage after seven years was no simple feat. Personalities and egos had clashed, drug use became endemic within the band, and members were itching to quit. Guitarist Pete Townshend had fallen into a depression, wanted to do more than play the hits on the road, leading him to eventually quit the band in 1983. Bassist John Entwistle nearly quit as well, but he hoped to stay on the road. Singer/guitarist Roger Daltrey shed some light on this time period, telling Record Collector,

I think Pete knew he’d made a mistake around 1980. He was going downhill with substance abuse and all that kind of stuff. And I decided at the beginning of that (1982) tour to pull the plug on the band and for it to be our last, because I was really frightened at the time of finding him dead on the bathroom floor, or dead in bed in the hotel room. It was one of those situations. I thought the only way to stop this is to come off the road. It was a difficult decision, but I felt it was the only way forward. We’d gone backwards.
Roger Daltrey, on The Who breaking up in 1982

Coinciding with their 25th Anniversary Tour, the 1989 The Who tour was also the 20th anniversary of the rock opera Tommy. On March 24th, Townshend, Daltrey and Entwistle appeared together at a press conference at Radio City Music Hall to announce they would once again tour as The Who that summer. Townshend, who had announced in 1987 he suffered from tinnitus, told the press that he still experiences hearing problems, garnering a laugh, saying “we will play very, very quietly.”

Skip ahead to June, and The Who were bound for Upstate New York, to perform a warm up show for the tour at Glens Falls Civic Center on June 21, 1989. The Kids Are Alright Tour: 1964-1989 kicked off with a career overview of their work and an unusual connection of songs that led the shows to lasting nearly three and a half hours at some venues. With a variety of songs from across a quarter century, including a great deal of new ones from Townshend’s Iron Man soundtrack (released earlier that year), some songs would be cut from the show, making this performance in Glens Falls full of rarities and popular tracks, side-by-side. Audiences in New York and Los Angeles featured full-scale presentations of Tommy.

The first half of the show featured a great deal of songs from Tommy, including an extended “Overture” which was uplinked to the BBC to be broadcast live in England, as well as aired locally, and uninterrupted, on WTEN in Albany.

Beyond Tommy songs, a fair amount of Townshend’s solo work appeared in the show, including “I Won’t Run Anymore,” “All Shall Be Well” and “A Friend Is a Friend” from Iron Man, a rarity “Trick of the Light” that had not been played since 1979, “A Little Is Enough” and “Give Blood.” Townshend would play acoustic guitar during Tommy and his solo songs, then switched to electric guitar for the second act.

The solo Entwistle song, “Too Late the Hero” stands out as well, in addition to covers of “Hey Joe” (The Leaves), “Summertime Blues” (Eddie Cochran), “Love Hurts” (The Everly Brothers) and a show stopping “Twist and Shout.”

Joining Daltrey, Townshend and Entwistle was Simon Philips on drums, filling the void left by the untimely passing of Keith Moon in 1978. The Who also brought in a large number of musicians to accompany them for each performance, including Steve ‘Boltz’ Bolton (Guitar), John Bundrick (Piano, Keyboards), Chyna (Backing Vocals), Simon Clarke (Brass Section), Simon Gardner (Brass Section), Jody Linscott (Percussion), Roddy Lorimer (Brass Section), Billy Nicholls (Backing Vocals), Tim Saunders (Brass Section), Neil Sidwell (Brass Section) and Cleveland Watkiss (Backing Vocals). When asked why such a large number of musicians, Townshend replied on Good Morning America, “The more musicians you have, the quieter you can play. It’s a bit difficult to make a big sound with an electric guitar unless it’s quite loud. I’m paying the price now for playing too much loud guitar.”

While their record breaking performance in Buffalo in 1982 with The Clash was a sign fans were still hungry for punk in all its forms (godfathers optional), The Who of 1989 were looking for something a bit more dialed back. Speaking to David Gates of Newsweek, Townshend said, remarking on what audiences expect of The Who at this point of their career.

They expect us to be present. We’re just supposed to be there. It’s not that it’s unimportened what we play or how we play, but it’s importent that we’re present and that we want to be present. You don’t invite people to celebrate your work and then look like you don’t want to be at the party.
Pete Townshend

Fans of The Who were certainly enjoying this first chance to see a band that had bid farewell seven years prior. Daltrey, at age 45, still swung his microphone on its cord like it was a lasso, and Townshend (44), continued to leap in the air on cue, in addition to his trademark guitar windmill, which was now adorning t-shirts for sale at the show. Newsweek would say the night was “a hell of a show for the money.”

The Kids Are Alright Tour: 1964-1989 would first be seen in Glens Falls, but the official start was in Toronto on June 23 and 24, the city where the band played their final show in 1982.

Rehearsal Setlist: Sister Disco, You Better You Bet, Who Are You, Baba O’Riley, Behind Blue Eyes, Won’t Get Fooled Again, Hey Joe

Setlist: Overture, 1921, Amazing Journey, Sparks, The Acid Queen, Pinball Wizard, Do You Think It’s Alright, Fiddle About, I’m Free, Tommy’s Holiday Camp, We’re Not Gonna Take It, I Won’t Run Any More, All Shall Be Well, A Friend Is A Friend, I Can’t Explain, Substitute, I Can See For Miles, Trick Of The Light, Boris The Spider, Hey Joe, Who Are You, Naked Eye, Summertime Blues, Too Much Of Anything, Baba O’Riley, My Generation, A Little Is Enough, 5.15, Love Reign O’er Me, Love Hurts, Too Late The Hero, My Wife, Sister Disco, Give Blood, Join Together, You Better You Bet, Behind Blue Eyes, Won’t Get Fooled Again

Encore: Pictures Of Lily, Twist And Shout

Watch videos and recordings from June 21, 1989 at Glens Falls Civic Center below.

June 21, 2023
Space Carnival Releases 2017 Brooklyn Bowl Archive Recording

On October 24, 2017, Space Carnival performed their one and only show at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg, packing the house with fans from across the Northeast. Opening the night were two little known bands at the time, Goose and The Southern Belles.

photo by Tom Fucillo

Earlier in 2017, Space Carnival went on their first Midwest tour, linking up with bands across the country for memorable shows and performances. Returning to the Northeast for their first Brooklyn Bowl show. Guitarist Jeremy Kraus recalls the evening:

Being a Tuesday in October, we weren’t sure what to expect as it was our first Brooklyn Bowl show, headlining nonetheless. But we packed the room and had fans travel from all over the Northeast!
Jeremy Kraus

Tom Petty had passed away a few weeks prior, leading Space Carnival to give a nod to the fallen Wilbury with “American Girl.” Following this was two newer tunes, “Pleasure in Sin” and had then-Goose percussionist Aaron Hagele join us for “Queen of Cups.” (Watch below)

After a two song jam-fest, the vibe shifted with a heavier pair of songs, “Mooshbah” -> “Sirius Rising,” and went into a classic pairing of “Rango” -> “Regal Krad”, with an appropriate “All Night Long” encore to celebrate the successful show.

Photo by Amanda Sanwich Photography

Space Carnival took a break in late 2018, parting ways amicably after a strong five year run as a band. The Oneonta group made waves with their disco-funk and prog rock sound and energetic live shows. Prior to this, the group (Jeremy Kraus on Guitar, Cameron Fitch on Keys and Vocals, Chris Meier on Bass, and Nick Tassinari on drums) performed across the Northeast and Midwest at clubs, concert series and music festivals. Listen to the recording here.

If you’re in Albany on July 6, don’t miss Space Carnival as they reunite for their first show in New York in nearly five years, with a show at Lark Hall. Get more info and tickets here.

Space Carnival – Brooklyn Bowl, Williamsburg, NY – October 24, 2017

Setlist: American Girl, Pleasure in Sin-> Queen of Cups, Mooshbah-> Sirius Rising, Yish, Rango->Regal Krad
Encore: All Night Long

June 20, 2023
Space Carnival Reunites at Lark Hall on July 6

Oneonta’s Space Carnival will perform their first show in New York State in nearly 5 years, with a special performance on Thursday, July 6 at Lark Hall in Albany.

Space Carnival grew from the Mohawk Valley, playing music festivals and venues across New York State, before the band agreed to part ways, amicably. You may have even seen Chris Meier playing bass with Annie in the Water.

Blending high-energy disco funk and progressive rock, Space Carnival features Jeremy Kraus on Guitar, Cameron Fitch on Keys and Vocals, Chris Meier on Bass, with Josh West (Annie in the Water, Lucid) joining on drums.

Originating in Oneonta in Fall 2013, the group has honed their live sound while accumulating a solid following across the Northeast and as far as Colorado, with crowds drawn by shows full of fresh energy, working through a catalog of confident originals and rotating covers. The four piece returns in 2023, inviting fans to get down to their loose funk and slippery disco vibe.

Space Carnival

Opening the night will be Albany native, SM Ink.

From Jam Band to DJ, Albany native, SM Ink, has continued blazing his trail in the jam scene he has loved so dearly. Furthermore, SM has progressed into a must see artist at clubs and festivals.Taking his love for Bass lines and grooves, SM delivers high energy sets through a wide range of Funky, Minimal, Deep/tech house flavors, which are great for any time, day or night.

Doors open on July 6 at 7pm for an evening of celebration at Lark Hall in Albany, with SM Ink starting shortly after and Space Carnival at 8pm.. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

June 14, 2023
The Quebe Sisters bring Texas Swing to Caffe Lena on June 22

The late Col. Bruce Hampton once referred to The Quebe Sisters as “un-bee-leivable” with a Texas swing sound, that he remarked was a bright light in music, where he saw “the music of today as horrifying.” With that simple recommendation in 2016, I discovered the sound of The Quebe Sisters, who will make their Caffe Lena return on June 22 in Saratoga Springs.

This trailblazing trio offer a modern day take on country and Western Swing, doing so steadfastly and free of frivolous fanfare. Siblings Grace, Sophia, and Hulda are hardly newcomers, but rather harnass sensibilities coalesced as seasoned performers. The Dallas-based trio have spent the last 17 years merging three-part harmony and triple fiddles to put a youthful, jubilant spin on Bob Wills’ classic genre.

The sisters’ four studio albums – 2003’s Texas Fiddlers, 2007’s Timeless, 2014’s Every Which-A-Way, and 2019’s The Quebe Sisters – serve as sonic proof that these ladies are fearless interpreters and innovators.
There’s certainly no boxing the Quebe Sisters. Grace, Sophia, and Hulda Quebe see western swing as an ocean of possibilities.

Bob Wills was all about experimentation – melding just about every style he heard. He hired the best musicians playing regionally traditional instruments, as well as players interested in experimenting on what were the cutting-edge instruments of the day. This spirit formed what we today call western swing, and it needs to be an ingredient in current iterations of western swing to keep the style fresh and vibrant for the present and future. So, for us it’s authentic to the style to introduce our own originals.
Grace Quebe

For these trailblazing women, performing before enthusiastic crowds means the deep, connected roots of country and western swing will be in full display. The Quebe siblings grew up in Texas surrounded by fiddles, bows, microphones, stages, and western swing tunes. Texas is the very reason Grace, Sophia, and Hulda Quebe ended up playing triple fiddle, Grace says. But in true trailblazing fashion, Texas couldn’t contain such immense talent and dedication. The Quebe Sisters took their sound beyond the boundaries of the Lone Star state into North America, Europe, and even Russia.

I think our central ambition in playing music is to touch people’s hearts and souls—to make them feel beauty, to make them hear colors, to make them forget worries and have fun, to make them think about God. There is no time in history or culture that doesn’t need music in this way!
Hulda Quebe

Grace sees nothing odd about their progressive brand of western swing connecting with foreign audiences. “Nostalgia and curiosity play some role,” she says, “but particularly the syncopation and dance elements of the music we love and play make it timeless and universal. Everyone resonates with music that has a good feel. If it uplifts you and makes you want to dance, then we are doing our job right.”

The trio’s current tour, dubbed “Bye, For Now,” wraps up at the end of 2023. After that? Well, as Sophia says, it is, “much-needed R&R and time off the road. For now, we are taking an undetermined hiatus. This isn’t retirement for us, just a nice break.”

It is certainly a well-earned respite. The Dallas-based Quebe Sisters have steadfastly, completely free of frivolous fanfare, elevated the country and western swing genres for more than two decades. The Quebe Sisters stretched the boundaries of an old-timey style and made it newly relevant for fans of all generations.

There is still plenty of time to bask in those Quebe originals onstage. Grace, Sophia, and Hulda have dates in the books through October 2023. More dates will be announced soon. For a detailed list of concert performances, check out their website. Do these ladies wish fans would come out in droves to catch them onstage before they take a little downtime?

“Yes! We hope our fans will have a chance to come out and see us as we wrap up our touring through the end of 2023.”
Hulda Quebe

Modern, creative, and talented women that stretch the boundaries of country and western swing music become beacons. They light the path taking audiences on a trip to the past while keeping them firmly in the present and giving them a glimpse into the future.

Doors will open at 6:30pm for a 7pm show on Thursday, June 22. Tickets cost $5-$28 for this all ages shows. Tickets can be purchased here.

The Quebe Sisters “Bye, For Now” Tour

6/15: Murfreesboro, TN @ Hop Springs
6/17: Floyd, VA @ Floyd Country Store
6/20: New York, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 2)
6/22: Saratoga Springs, NY @ Caffe Lena
6/23: Portsmouth, NH @ The Music Hall Lounge
6/24: Brownfield, ME @ Stone Mountain Arts Center
6/25: Shirley, MA @ Bull Run Restaurant
7/22: Denton, TX @ Dan’s Silverleaf
7/23: Dallas, TX @ Cafe Momentum
7/24: Tomball, TX @ Main Street Crossing
8/22: Berwyn, IL @ Fitzgerald’s
8/23: Milwaukee, WI @ The Back Room at Colectivo
8/24 & 8/25: Minneapolis, MN @ Minnesota State Fair
8/27: Berthoud, CO @ Newell Farm Concert
9/9: Decatur, GA @ Eddie’s Attic
9/10: Bristol, TN @ Bristol Rhythm & Roots
9/11: Nashville, TN @ City Winery
9/12: St. Louis, MO @ City Winery
10/21: Greenville, TN @ Greenville Municipal Auditorium
10/28: Mountain City, TN @ Heritage Hall Theatre

June 14, 2023
Schleigho Celebrates 30th Anniversary in Albany, Finger Lakes, Buffalo and Erie this Summer

Celebrating 30 years as a band, the original quartet of Schleigho will hit the road for select shows in New York and Pennsylvania in June and August.

Schleigho (pronounced shlay-ho) is a NYC four-piece that came together while attending Boston’s Berklee School of Music in the early 1990s. Drummer Erik Egol, flutist/guitarist Suke Cerulo, jazz pianist Jesse Gibbon, and bassist Drew McCabe became entranced with jazz early on and molded a sound similar to the likes of Bela Fleck and Medeski, Martin, & Wood.

Traveling the Northeast college circuit in the 90s led to them being regulars at the Knitting Factory in NYC and played with jazz aficionados Fleck, Maceo Parker, and Galactic. Schleigho will take you on a musical journey through edgy improv, hypnotic vibey grooves, and intricately composed and heady, progressive originals spanning three decades.

It’s a great feeling to enter a fresh creative cycle as we enter a fourth decade of playing together. We have so much new material and so many new ideas as a result of individual growth as musicians and humans that we can’t work on it all at once. It’s a blessing and we’re really excited about sharing our new Schleigho songs and sounds.

It’s also great to play songs we wrote in a basement in 1993 which makes the whole current Schleigho experience feel like past, present and future all at once. It’s surreal at times and pretty damn cool. We are grateful for our fans and families for the love and support for all these years and we are grateful and excited to share some special nights with you
– Drew McCabe

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see one of the best of the early 90’s jam band scene as they debut new material and reflect on three decades of making music together.

Schleigho 30th Anniversary Tour Dates

Friday, June 9 – Parish Public House, Albany, NY
Saturday, June 10 – Upstate Boogie Fest, Hemlock, NY
Friday, August 4 – TBA, Buffalo, NY
Saturday, August 5 – Erie’s Blues and Jazz Fest, Erie, PA

June 7, 2023
Upstate Boogie features Schleigho, Herbal Tonic, GRUB and more at Hemlock Fairground June 9-11

Historic Hemlock Fairground located in the town of Hemlock, just 40 minutes south of Rochester, will host the annual Upstate Boogie Festival over June 9-11, 2023. The three day and night live music and art festival includes camping, regional and local live bands on two stages, plus vendors from the Finger Lakes and beyond.

Livingston Country’s Hemlock Fairground is a national historic district and fairground, a notable landmark thanks to the racetrack and covered grandstand constructed in 1870. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. Hemlock Fair has been held for over 150 years.

Tent and car camping available to Upstate Boogie ticket-holders, and for family camping, LITTLEVILLE will provide plenty of room for kids to play, right in the center of it all. Re-entry is available for those who are local and purchase a non-camping weekend pass. RV Camping is available at limited electric sites, for an extra charge. Indoor bathrooms are open 24 hours throughout the event with showers open dawn to dusk

Local Artisans & Craftsmen will be selling their wares in the Vending Village, with a Food Court featuring fair and festival favorites.

Upstate Boogie Live Music schedule

FRIDAY JUNE 9
DIGGIN’ ROOTS BAND (7pm)
HIGH PINES (9pm)
HERBAL TONIC (11pm)
NICK LEDUC (12:30am)

SATURDAY JUNE 10
THE MIDNIGHT SCONCE (1pm)
ADAM BROOKS BAND (3pm)
ST. VITH (5pm)
DRUM CIRCLE (7pm)
GRUB (8pm)
SCHLEIGHO (10pm)
NIGEL FELONY (12:30am)

SUNDAY JUNE 11
JUDAH (11am)
THE KIND BROTHERS BAND (1pm)

Tickets are on sale now. A 3-day weekend pass is $60 in advance, and $80 at the gate, with children 18 & under are FREE with parents also attending. Single day tickets are $50 for Friday, $60 for Saturday, and $10 for Sunday. Cash only is accepted at the gate. Parking costs $20 for the weekend and $10 for a day pass.

Get to know the artists of Upstate Boogies

Schleigho has been a nationally touring jazz-fusion band since the early 1990’s and have released 5 CD’s, playing regularly at clubs and theaters up and down the east-coast, mid- west and west coast over the mid ’90’s and early 2000’s. Instrumental, energetic, raw and at times down-right sinister. Down from roughly 200 shows a year at the turn of the millennium, don’t miss Schleigho if they are in your neck of the woods. This is one of their few scheduled dates so far for their 30th anniversary in 2023.

Herbal Tonic is a WNY feel good jam band, infused with island reggae, blues, and funk, and will surely have you out on the dancefloor craving for more!

St. Vith is a Finger Lakes eclectic indie rock band whose sound is a mural of psychedelic jam, art rock and time honored American styles.

Grub is a Psych Rock group based out of Niagara Falls. This multi-genre trio is capable of delivering funk-driven madness, improvisational bliss, and shoe-gazing glitch-o-matic electronic soundscapes. A live Grub performance showcases their original tunes as well as their improvisational chops, while captivating the crowd by teasing dancable and nostalgic covers from past decades.

High Pines is a union of smooth grooves, contemporary funk, and neo-psychedelic explorations that evolve with each performance. A fusion of jazz appreciation and rock spirit, complimented by enchanting harmonies, creates music for your mind, body and soul.

Diggin Roots Band plays an eclectic mix of music inspired by the various forms of American Roots Music including Blues, Funk, Rock n Roll, Soul, R&B, Bluegrass, and Gospel. Some songs may blend multiple genres together into a coherent sound while others might hang on firmly to a specific style.

Nick LeDuc is an original artist hailing from Ogdensburg NY, playing a unique style of Refined Rock-groove to tantalize your ears and tickle your fancy. Combining classic guitar styles and intoxicating rhthyms, accented by his unique vocal style, Nick is one of the freshest sounds heard on the music scene in a very long time. From funk to blues, and rock to folk there’s a little something in between all of it that comes to make up the sound Nick LeDuc projects live or in studio.

Judah is a four piece rock band from Rochester that has turned heads since their outset as high schoolers a few years back. Blending a soulful mix of rock and blues, Judah has expanded their touring around WNY and the Finger Lakes.

The Midnight Sconce are Rochester’s next jamband that you will soon hear more about. These guys catch the groove and delivery, expect high energy jams and plenty of fun!

For more info email, contact hemlockevents@gmail.com

June 6, 2023