NYS Music 2023

Author: Tori Baker

  • Noah Kahan Announces North American Dates For “We’ll All Be Here Forever” Tour

    After his successful, sold-out 2022 and 2023 Stick Season Tour runs, Noah Kahan has announced his 2024 We’ll All Be Here Forever Tour North America dates. The 32-date leg kicks off in Vancouver, BC, and stops at Madison Square Garden in July.

    Noah Kahan creates impactful music through vulnerable lyrics and an unfiltered yet reliable honesty, with songs straight from the heart– lightened by his self-deprecating sense of humor. Across his three albums and an EP, Kahan has generated global renown for his singular mix of Folk and Americana, landing more than two billion streams.

    In July, Kahan teamed up with GRAMMY Award-nominated global superstar Post Malone for a new version of his latest single, “Dial Drunk,” which peaked at #1 on both the Alternative and AAA Radio Charts, and is featured on his new album Stick Season (We’ll Be Here Forever). Stick Season was just recently Certified Gold, and the breakout title track was Certified Platinum. It debuted at #3 on Billboard 200 Chart, and at #1 on Billboard Top Alternative Albumbs Chart, Top Americans/Folk Albums Chart, as well as Top Rock Albums Chart, and more. Especially impressive, Noah became the 5th artist in history with 18 songs on Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Charts in one week, alongside David Bowie and Taylor Swift.

    Additionally, just last week Noah was featured on the cover of Pollstar’s September issue and spoke about his incredible rise in fame over this past year. He was also named on the 2023 TIME100 Next list.

    Kahan has been on his sold-out Stick Season Tour across North America since the album’s release last year, selling half-a-million tickets to date and performing with large crowds ahead of him, and larger ones to come.

    WE’LL ALL BE HERE FOREVER TOUR 2024 NORTH AMERICA DATES:

    Tue Mar 26     Vancouver, BC           Rogers Arena

    Thu Mar 28     Calgary, AB                 Scotiabank Saddledome

    Fri Mar 29       Edmonton, AB             Rogers Place

    Sat Mar 30      Saskatoon, SK            SaskTel Centre

    Tue Apr 02      Winnipeg, MB             Canada Life Centre

    Sat Apr 06       Toronto, ON                Scotiabank Arena

    Sun Apr 07      London, ON                Budweiser Gardens

    Tue Apr 09      Ottawa, ON                 Canadian Tire Centre

    Wed Apr 10     Quebec City, QC        Videotron Centre

    Sat Apr 13       Montreal, QC              Bell Centre 

    Wed May 22    Asheville, NC              ExploreAsheville.com Arena

    Sat May 25      Nashville, TN              Bridgestone Arena 

    Tue May 28     Cuyahoga Falls, OH   Blossom Music Center

    Wed May 29    Burgettstown, PA        The Pavilion at Star Lake

    Tue Jun 04      St. Louis, MO              Hollywood Casino Amphitheater

    Wed Jun 05    Kansas City, MO        Azura Amphitheatre

    Fri Jun 07        St. Paul, MN               Xcel Energy Center

    Tue Jun 11      Dallas, TX                   Dos Equis Pavilion

    Wed Jun 13     Houston, TX                The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

    Fri Jun 14        Austin, TX                   Moody Center

    Tue Jun 18      Chula Vista, CA          North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

    Fri Jun 21        Los Angeles, CA         Hollywood Bowl

    Tue Jun 25      Denver, CO                Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre

    Sat Jun 29       George, WA                The Gorge

    Mon Jul 01      Ridgefield, WA            RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater

    Wed Jul 03      Wheatland, CA           Toyota Amphitheatre

    Fri Jul 05         Berkeley, CA               The Greek Theatre

    Sat Jul 06        Berkeley, CA               The Greek Theatre

    Tue Jul 09       Salt Lake City, UT      USANA Amphitheatre

    Sat Jul 13        East Troy, WI              Alpine Valley Music Theatre

    Tue Jul 15       New York, NY             Madison Square Garden

    Tue Jul 16       New York, NY             Madison Square Garden

    Fri Jul 19         Boston, MA                 Fenway Park ^

    ^ With Mt. Joy

    Because of his success, he’s asking fans planning to attend his North America tour dates to register ahead of tickets going on sale to help block bots, reduce resale, and get more tickets directly into the hands of fans who want to attend the show.

    Fans can sign up now until Sunday, September 24 at 10PM PT for the Advance Registration Presale in North America. Once registration closes, fans will be randomly selected to receive a code that grants them access to the Registration Presale on Wednesday, September 27. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale.

    General onsale starts Friday, September 29 at 10am at ticketmaster.com while supplies last.

    For more information about Noah Kahan, as well as his other global tour dates, visit his website, Instagram, or Facebook. For tickets presale, click this link. For tickets general onsale, click this link.

  • Croce Plays Croce Coming to Troy, NYC and Rochester

    Multi-faceted singer/songwriter A.J. Croce is hitting the road again– visiting New York City, Rochester and Troy — in celebration of two more of his father Jim Croce’s legendary albums, 1973’s Life and Times and his final release, I Got A Name, in addition to songs from You Don’t Mess Around With Jim.

    The Croce Plays Croce 50th Anniversary show features a legendary band (including drummer Gary Mallaber, bassist David Barard, guitar/violin James Pennebaker) and a moving multi-media presentation accompanying Jim’s songs (which on the previous tour included memorable hits, “Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels)”, “Time in a Bottle,” and others).

    Over the past three decades, A.J. Croce has established his reputation as a piano player and vocal stylist who pulls from a host of musical traditions and anti-heroes — part New Orleans, part juke joint, part soul. From his 10 studio albums, it’s clear that he holds a love for all types of musical genres: blues, soul, pop, jazz, and rock n’ roll. A.J. toured with B.B. King and Ray Charles before reaching the age of 21, and over his career, he has performed with a wide range of legendary musicians, from Willie Nelson to the Neville Brothers, to Béla Fleck and Ry Cooder. His albums have all charted on an impressive array of charts: Top 40, blues, Americana, jazz, college, and Radio 1.

    A.J. felt a camaraderie with the audience at past shows and with the connection to his father’s timeless music, he was inspired to embark on a 50th anniversary tour. “The audience reaction has been so great,” says A.J. “The shows we did last year were not only met with a huge response, but I learned so much about what works and what resonates, we knew we had to keep going.”

    The gifted multi-instrumentalist says, besides the two albums Life and Times and I Got A Name, tracks from the popular You Don’t Mess Around With Jim – which fueled last year’s run – will also be part of the new show.

    “We’ll be playing songs representative from all three albums, and also some songs the audience might not know from more obscure artists that I realized connected me and my father. It was those songs that eventually led me to do this show in the first place.”

    A.J. Croce

    During last year’s performances, A.J. shared intimate aspects of his dad’s career. He also drew praise for his own style and musicianship (he’s known for one of the most unique keyboard styles in music) as well as his sensitive insight into Jim Croce’s enduring musical canon. While Jim Croce’s music catalog still resonates on classic radio, streaming platforms, and more recently on hit films and TV shows like Django Unchained and Stranger Things, it is A.J.’s unique showmanship that has helped enliven Jim’s amazing legacy. One reviewer aptly noted: ‘…A.J. Croce invites the sold-out crowds into his father’s worldview and work mindset, culminating in the playing of Jim Croce tunes…making for an intimate experience riddled with wryness and humor…’

    Fans and critics who attended last year’s 50th Anniversary Celebration shows are thrilled that A.J. is readying another affectionate interpretation of his father’s enduring legacy. The shows have renewed interest in Jim Croce and garnered praise for A.J: “I think they come as a Jim Croce fan but also leave as fans of mine. That’s something that has also made this whole experience really amazing.”  

    CROCE PLAYS CROCE 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

    Oct 27 / Aria Ballroom @MGM Springfield / Springfield, MA

    Oct 28 /The Wilbur / Boston, MA

    Oct 30 / Count Basie Center for the Arts / Red Bank, NJ

    Nov 1 / Santander Performing Arts Center / Reading, PA

    Nov 2 / Sandler Center for the Performing Arts / Virginia Beach, VA

    Nov 4 / The Town Hall / New York City, NY

    Nov 5 / Keswick Theatre / Glenside, PA (SOLD OUT)

    Nov 7 / Kodak Center / Rochester, NY

    Nov 8 / Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall / Munhall, PA

    Nov 9 / Taft Theatre / Cincinnati, OH

    Nov 11/ Goodyear Theatre / Akron, OH

    Nov 12 / Royal Oak Music Theatre / Royal Oak, MI

    Nov 15 / Hoyt Sherman Place / Des Moines, IA

    Nov 16 / Grand Theater / Wausau, WI

    Nov 17 / Pantages Theatre / Minneapolis, MN

    Nov 25 / Florida Theatre / Jacksonville, FL

    Nov 26 / Parker Playhouse / Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Nov 28 / Capitol Theatre / Clearwater, FL

    Nov 29 / King Center for the Performing Arts / Melbourne, FL

    Nov 30 /The Savannah Center / The Villages, FL

    Dec 2 / Mars Music Hall / Huntsville, AL

    Dec 3 / The Factory / St. Louis, MO

    Dec 5 / Rose State College Hudiburg Chevrolet Center / Oklahoma City, OK

    Dec 6 / Cotillion / Wichita, KS

    Dec 8 / The Paramount / Austin, TX

    Dec 10/ Bayou Music Center / Houston, TX

    Dec 11 / Majestic Theatre / Dallas, TX

    Dec 12 / Tobin Center for the Performing Arts / San Antonio, TX

    Dec 14 / Buddy Holly Hall / Lubbock, TX

    Feb 10 / Troy Savings Bank Music Hall / Troy, NY

    For a complete schedule of 2023 dates, visit ajcrocemusic.com

    For tickets, visit this link.

  • moe. to Return to Capitol Theatre This December

    After a brief break this fall, moe. will return to the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, for a 2-night run December 9-10 to finish out their tour.

    moe. is a one-of-a-kind band that has never been easily categorized. Their sonic adventurousness and tongue-in-cheek humor are distinctly and undeniably their own. Praised by American Songwriter for their “mind-bending musicality,” moe. is treasured for their mesmerizing musical synergy, unfettered showmanship, and smart, resonant songcraft.

    The genre-blurring band, moe. is what it is today because of Al Schnier (guitar/vocals), Chuck Garvey (guitar/vocals), Rob Derhak (bass/vocals), Jim Loughlin (percussion/vibes), Vinnie Amico (drums), and Nate Wilson (keys).

    This powerful group of musicians leads to positive reviews, especially after Chuck’s recovery from a stroke, and the addition of Nate Wilson on the keys, moe.’s resurgence has been remarkable for all fans to watch.

    On top of their live performances, moe. also recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of Tin Cans and Car Tires with a special 2x Sky Blue vinyl reissue. On top of the original album tracks, the collector’s item also features live renditions of beloved songs including “Stranger Than Fiction,” “Nebraska,” and “Letter Home.”

    Tickets for moe. at the Capitol Theatre are now on sale at moe.org

    moe. tour dates

    Wednesday, September 20th – Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH
    Thursday, September 21st – Madison Theater – Covington, KY
    Friday, September 22nd – Vic Theatre – Chicago, IL
    Saturday, September 23rd – Headliners Music Hall – Louisville, KY
    Tuesday, September 26th – Turner Hall Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI
    Thursday, September 28th – Peoria Riverfront – Peoria, IL
    Friday, September 29th – Barrymore Theatre – Madison, WI
    Saturday, September 30th – First Ave – Minneapolis, MN
    Sunday, October 1st – Wooly’s – Des Moines, IA
    Wednesday, October 4th – The Pageant – St. Louis, MO
    Thursday, October 5th – Bourbon Theatre – Lincoln, NE
    Friday, October 6th – Hillberry Fest – Eureka Springs, AR
    Saturday, October 7th – Liberty Hall – Lawrence, KS
    Friday, October 20th – Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO
    Saturday, October 21st – Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO
    Friday, December 8th – Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY
    Saturday, December 9th – Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY

    For more information, visit moe.org, or follow their Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

  • Listen to Ghost Prom’s Haunting New Single “5am”

    New York-based husband and wife musical duo, Ghost Prom, made up of Cameron and Eden Crosby, has released their latest single, “5am,” a song preceding their upcoming full-length album set for release on November 17.

    Ghost Prom began one rainy morning in Vancouver, where creativity boomed over a shared cup of coffee and a weathered guitar. It began as an effortless investigation of melodies, but became a musical partnership that would encapsulate their journey as partners both lovingly and musically.

    Their first song, “Swamp Eyes,” was born on that morning, and set the tone for their future endeavors– raw, authentic, and unapologetically honest. Now based in Upstate New York, the duo’s music is an intricate genre woven from diverse influences like Elliot Smith, Sam Shepard, and even early Johnny Depp movies. Through lyrics that explore the vulnerability that circles humanity, as well as the triumph that comes with it, Ghost Prom invites listeners into their world to share their struggles and triumphs as a source of both solace and connection.

    Ghost Prom’s single, “5am,” was recorded in a barn studio just up the street from Cameron and Eden’s Hudson Valley home. The single discusses a deeply personal and haunting exploration through the struggles of addiction, with a hopeful portrayal of redemption by way of “telling the truth.”

    The inspiration to Cameron comes from the late, intimate poet Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse), with Aaron Mones in recording, production, and lead guitar, helped the duo create their distinctive blend of small room indie rock with neo-noir folk known as “5am.” This single launches listeners into the refreshing new sound of Ghost Prom: impactful, yet pumping.

    “5am” comes out today, September 22, and their full-length album comes out on November 17.

    Follow Ghost Prom on Instagram, Spotify, and Bandcamp for more information on all-things Ghost Prom, such as future releases and music videos.

  • Bruce Brubaker Has Announced Upcoming Album, “Eno Piano” Coming This Fall

    Bruce Brubaker has announced his upcoming album, Eno Piano, coming out November 10, where he explores the complex genre of ambient music with the goal of creating an album full of songs that make airport music desirable, with inspiration from Brian Eno’s Music for Airports.

    bruce brubaker brian eno

    Brubaker’s album, Eno Piano, started in 2017 with the question: “With all those sustained notes in the music– can Brian Eno’s Music for Airports be played on a piano?” Brubaker heard jazz pianist Evan Allen experiment with an EBow inside a piano (an EBow is an electromagnetic device used to make long notes by vibrating a string on an electric guitar). Then, Bruce met Florent Colautti, the French inventor who was developing electro-magnetic devices suspended over the strings inside a piano to make long musical tones. 

    Bruce Brubaker makes connections to music old and new through his explorations of minimalism. In his album Codex, there was a dialogue between open-form music by Terry Riley and very early keyboard pieces written by anonymous scribes in the 15th century. Brubaker’s performances of music by Philip Glass glorified by his album Glass Piano on InFiné, caused critic Roland Duclos to write: “Brubaker is to Glass what Glenn Gould is to Bach.”

    Brian Eno’s “Ambient 1: Music for Airports” is known as the greatest ambient composition of all time. Within the guidelines of Bruce Brubaker’s Eno Piano, the album’s definitive track “Airport 2.1” is recontextualized as a piece created for a single instrument. 

    Brian Eno’s music is a significant part of the repetition-based musical minimalism practiced by Philip Glass, Terry Riley, and others in the 20th century. In 1971, Philip Glass performed at the Royal College of Art in London. In the audience were two 23-year-olds: David Bowie and Brian Eno. Glass’s music was a formative influence on Eno. Later, Philip Glass wrote three symphonies based on the three albums of Eno and Bowie’s Berlin Trilogy. Eno Piano, from which the new track is taken, acknowledges a deep artistic bond.

    Brian Eno defined the new genre of ‘ambient music.’ Spending hours waiting for a flight at the Cologne-Bonn Airport, Eno became frustrated with the airport’s uninspiring atmosphere. At that moment, Eno conceived an album of music “designed for airports.”

    Whereas conventional background music is produced by stripping away all sense of doubt and uncertainty (and thus all genuine interest) from the music, Ambient Music retains these qualities. And whereas their intention is to ‘brighten’ the environment by adding stimulus to it (thus supposedly alleviating the tedium of routine tasks and leveling out the natural ups and downs of the body rhythms) Ambient Music is intended to induce calm and a space to think. Ambient Music must be able to accommodate many levels of listening attention without enforcing one in particular; it must be as ignorable as it is interesting. 

    Brian Eno, in his original 1978 liner notes

    Eno Piano is the music of Eno, with the contributions of Rhett Davies, Robert Wyatt, Dieter Moebius, Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Harold Budd, Jon Hopkins, and Leo Abrahams.

    Eno Piano will be released on November 10, 2023. Pre-order the album here. 

  • FIIZ Release Emotional Single “Phantom Limb”

    Brooklyn-based electropop duo, FIIZ, released their newest single “Phantom Limb” on September 14. “Phantom Limb” skillfully captures the torment of an emotional rupture that is often overlooked, and faced by everyone in today’s society.

    This new track forces listeners to contemplate a deeply personal sentiment: the odd feeling of missing someone even if they are physically present. While songs, movies, and literature prepare us for the heartache of romantic love, few artists offer solace for the experience of losing a platonic friend. “Phantom Limb” invites listeners to face these feelings head-on, and normalize this sensation. 

    “We wanted to write about the aftermath when time has passed and healing has begun, but maybe there will never be closure.”

    Isabelle, FIIZ

    The band FIIZ is comprised of Fiona (Fi) and Isabelle (Iz). The band sprouted from their profound friendship that grew during the quarantine of the COVID-19 pandemic. As artists, they aim to defy norms as they both fearlessly represent the LGBTQ+ community, and champion the queer community proudly through their music. They continue to break the heteronormative pop culture that’s deeply engraved in the music industry, shattering barriers with their unapologetic artistic expression and empowering presence.

    FIIZ’s sound is a canvas where both band members blend their influences, resulting in an electronic-pop sound that incorporates elements of hyperpop and EDM. Their previous single, “Lungs,” stands as a celebration of queer sensuality, capturing the emotions experienced during a woman’s first encounter with another woman. 

    In an era where music tends to romanticize and idealize heteronormative relationships, FIIZ’s “Phantom Limb” stands as a testament to the complexity of human connections, reaching their listeners on a deeper, more personal level.

    Listen to their single on Spotify and follow them on Instagram for future updates.

  • The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra 2023-24 Season Begins with Beethoven

    The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra will launch its 2023-24 Season, “Beethoven and Beyond,” with Beethoven’s Sixth; a program led by Music Director Finalist Jeffrey Meyer and featuring Pianist Xak Bjerken.

    The September 23 concert opens with Carlos Simon’s “Fate Now Conquers,” followed by Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G, and finally with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 to finish the evening. There is also a free pre-concert chat at 6:30 pm for anyone who wishes to attend. 

    Jeffrey Meyer (left) and Xak Bjerken (right) pictured.

    Jeffrey Meyer has captivated audiences throughout North America, Europe, Russia, and Asia, with his passion for championing contemporary orchestral music and groundbreaking collaborations. His programming has been awarded multiple prizes including three ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming and two Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Awards in Orchestral Programming. Artistic Director of the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic for two decades, his work with the orchestra was noted for its breadth and innovation.

    Praised as “one of the most interesting and creatively productive conductors working in St. Petersburg” by Sergei Slonimsky, the orchestra’s American debut with three performances at Symphony Space’s Wall-to-Wall Festival in New York City was described by The New York Times as “impressive,” “powerful,” “splendid,” and “blazing.” He also led the acclaimed conducting program at Ithaca College for ten years. 

    Pianist Bjerken has appeared as a soloist with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and has performed at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Glinka Hall in St. Petersburg, the Konzerthaus in Berlin, and St. Cecilia in Rome. He was for many years a member of the Los Angeles Piano Quartet, and has held chamber music residencies at the Tanglewood Music Center, the Spoleto Festival and the Olympic Music Festival. Bjerken is a Professor of Music at Cornell University where he co-directs the international chamber music festival Mayfest with his wife, pianist Miri Yampolsky.

    For more information and subscriptions, or for tickets, visit this link or contact the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Box Office at 607-272-8981 or info@CCOithaca.org. 

  • The Blues Project to Perform at Caffe Lena This October

    The Blues Project, a band first formed in the mid 60s, will be performing in Saratoga Springs on Oct 8 at Caffe Lena. With the eclectic experiences of each band member, all with different backgrounds and history, it’s sure to be an experience audience members won’t forget.

    The Blues Project poster

    The Blues Project was formed in the mid-’60s in Greenwich Village by guitarists Danny Kalb and Steve Katz, flutist/bassist Andy Kulberg, drummer Roy Blumenfeld, and singer Tommy Flanders. Al Kooper joined later in his early twenties after sitting in on the band’s Columbia Records audition (though they ended up signing to Verve).

    The eclectic résumés of the musicians– folk, jazz, blues, and rock backgrounds– reflected their choice of material. While they did sing covers, they also sang the group’s own originals. These original songs were typically penned by Kooper, who had already built songwriting credentials as the co-writer of Gary Lewis’ huge smash hit “The Diamond Ring,” as well as his contributions to Bob Dylan‘s mid-’60s records.

    After the release of their debut live album, they recorded their second album Projections in the fall of 1966. Projections is a good reflection of their eclectic group, as the album combines blues, R&B, jazz, psychedelia, and folk-rock.

    …we’re not reviving the blues, we’re looking to interpret what’s happening today.

    Danny Kalb (guitarist), 1966

    Soon after Projections‘ release, Kooper and Katz left the band, and in 1968 they joined forces to form their own: Blood, Sweat & Tears. Kooper led the band on its first album Child Is Father to the Man, but he did not take part in any releases after that. Later, Kooper– then a producer for Columbia Records– recorded with Blumenfield, Stephen Stills, and Harvey Brooks for the album entitled Super Session. Katz remained with Blood, Sweat & Tears until the 1970s, and went on to produce Lou Reed’s best-selling and still-influential live LP Rock ‘n’ Roll Animal.

    The Blues Project reformed briefly in the early ’70s with a modified lineup, releasing three further albums: Lazarus, Blues Project, The Original Blues Project Reunion in Central Park. Once they were again disbanded, Blumenfeld formed Seatrain and in the 2000s performed with former Country Joe & the FIsh member, Barry Melton.

    The original Blues Project disbanded one final time in the 90s, but realizing they still had a passionate fan base who cared about the band and its music, Katz and Blumenfeld decided to give it another go in 2021.

    Fast forward to 2023, and The Blues Project is alive and well, with Blumenfeld leading a powerful new lineup including three new talented members: Chris Morrison (lead guitar), Scott Petito (bass), and Ken Clark (keyboards/vocals).

    Catch them at Caffè Lena on October 8, from 7-9PM. Doors open promptly at 6:30pm.

    For more information on The Blues Project, visit their website and follow their FaceBook.

  • Broadway Musicians Equity Partnership Launched Its Pilot Program

    Broadway Musicians Equity Partnership (BMEP) announced the launch of its pilot program. BMEP’s innovative program aims to provide access and learning opportunities for musicians who have historically been underrepresented on Broadway to learn about being in the musical theater industry.

    BMEP’s program kicked off September 13 at the inaugural meet & greet of Local 802’s DECIBAL (Diversity, Equity, Community, Inclusion, Belonging, Access, Leadership) Collective, Local 802’s diversity collective that counts BMEP as one of its members.

    We set out to create a program that would respectfully and responsibly open doors to the Broadway scene for multiple communities that have been historically underrepresented and excluded, including people of color, people with disabilities, and transgender or nonbinary individuals.

    Anja Wood, co-chair of the BMEP committee

    The inaugural cohort of BMEP includes 19 visiting partner musicians matched with current Broadway chair holders.

    BMEP is funded via a grant from the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment says they are proud to support this innovative program and is committed to supporting NYC’s workers.

    BMEP was developed in August 2021 by a group of Broadway musicians, music directors, and former Local 802 Executive members, with the specific goal of fostering collaboration, growth, inclusion, and equity within the Broadway community.

    Every musician in a Broadway orchestra pit got their start thanks to someone who gave them a change and gave them a hand to work their way up. This program aims to provide that same opportunity to talented musicians who might not otherwise have a chance.

    Alvin Hough Jr., co-chair of BMEP committee

    The BMEP is a program that’s stretched over three months of one-on-one partnerships, offering:

    • Shadowing and Pit Visits: visiting partners get the chance to learn by shadowing their chairholder partner in the Broadway orchestra pit.
    • Facilitated Workshops: visiting partners get access to in-person workshops with various guest speakers ranging from Broadway music directors to chairholders. These workshops provide a greater context to the complex working environment on Broadway and also offer critical networking opportunities.
    • Final Project: a hands-on playing experience between Broadway chair holders and visiting musicians to demonstrate their playing skills after learning a Broadway book.

    The program is open to all professional musicians in the New York City area from groups which have been historically underrepresented in musical theater. For more information about BMEP, visit their website.

  • Caffè Lena School of Music Presents ‘Fiddles and Foliage’ This September

    The Caffè Lena School of Music will present a special fundraiser at Saratoga Springs‘ beautiful High Rock Park: Fiddles and Foliage. This is a festival like no other, styled after an old-time carnival, showcasing Caffè Lena’s School of Music.

    Caffè Lena’s School of Music has been serving the community with classes for children, adults, and seniors, both in person and online. Swing by High Rock Park (112 High Rock Ave Saratoga Springs, NY 12866) to support Caffè Lena’s programming, and for fun games, songs, and food by PJ’s BAR-B-QSA, that’s fitting for the whole family. The event will run from 12-4PM on September 24, rain or shine.

    See schedule and ticket information below.

    12:00PM – Opening Welcome & Land Blessing with Joe Bruchac

    12:10-1:00PM – Oona Grady, James Gascoyne, Matt Griffin, and Folk Ensemble students

    2:00-2:45PM – The Adirondack Song Dogs

    3:00-4:00PM – Open Mic/Band Scramble

    Tickets are $10/adult and $8/kid under 14. For more information, visit their website. For questions and inquiries, call 518-583-0022, or email musicschool@caffelena.org.

    Swing by to enjoy an afternoon of music, food, and community, with all proceeds benefiting the programming of Caffè Lena’s School of Music.