Times Square Alliance and Playbill are proud to partner on the second annual Pride In Times Square celebration, full of free events centered around NYC Pride Weekend, from June 23-24, 2023. It promises to be an exciting addition to New York City’s celebration of Pride right at the Crossroads of the World.
Founded in 1992, the Times Square Alliance works to improve and promote Times Square, cultivating the creativity, energy, and edge that have made the area an icon of entertainment, culture, and urban life for over a century. It keeps the neighborhood safe and clean, promotes local businesses, manages area improvements, and produces major annual events, like Pride in Times Square. Founded in 1884, Playbill is an internationally known trademark synonymous with theatre and is a symbol of the arts. Playbill Magazine is distributed to every Broadway theatre, most Off-Broadway theaters, regional theaters, and fine arts institutions in over 24 cities across the country.
Pride in Times Square features top-stage and screen celebrities, Broadway/Off-Broadway productions, local Times Square business promotions, Pride Piano sessions, live DJ sets, a Trans and ENBY Pride celebration, a Drag Pride celebration, the return of last year’s Big Broadway Disco, and more. Pride in Times Square’s main stage will celebrate dynamic voices in the community, and support the continued fight for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all. Special guests, concerts, surprise performances, and more will take to the stage on Friday, June 23, and Saturday, June 24, with acts to be announced on June 1.
For the second year in a row, Playbill and Times Square will celebrate Pride like never before with The Big Broadway Disco, a large-scale street party that invites everyone to dance through Times Square to classic and contemporary Broadway songs and performances. The Playbill Pride Float acts as a focal point for the night, including DJs, performers, dancers, costumes, and more on Saturday, June 24, beginning at 5 p.m.
Other exciting things include the Pride Piano Bar, where audiences can take photos with the one-of-a-kind designed piano and piano sing-along performances and piano concerts, led by top-Broadway musicians and performers, and interactive pride installations, including Double Decker Buses, acting as anchor points for audiences to explore on Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24. Select buses will then become part of the NYC Pride March on Sunday, June 25 down 5th Avenue. Local businesses will also provide deals, discounts, giveaways, and special menu items all month long. Visit here to get a list of all the participating businesses, available in June.
For more information about the Times Square Alliance, and to find more Pride events happening around the city this June, visit here.
On Sunday, May 22, 2016, Dave Mustaine paused during Megadeth’s performance at Rock’N Derby, to pay tribute to former Megadeth drummer, Nick Menza.
Mustaine asked the crowd for a moment of silence and what can be heard is a crowd quiet as can be, a solid 30 seconds of silence, before a drum solo begins that lead into “Trust,” off Cryptic Writings.
Among other praise, Dave Mustaine said, “Nick went to heavy metal heaven last night.” When the band finished their final song and took their bows, Mustaine addressed the crowd, saying, “I usually say, ‘You’ve been great, we’ve been Megadeth.’ But Nick, you’ve been great. I love you, buddy.”
Megadeth was part of the incredible lineup at the 2016 festival Rock’N Derby, a multi-faceted entertainment festival held east of Troy, at the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds. The three-day event featured demolition derbies, wrestling, fair-style food, overnight camping and metal and rock bands including Five Fiver Death Punch, Lamb of God, Halestorm, A Day to Remember, Shinedown, Sevendust, Sixx A.M., Trivium, Coheed & Cambria, and of course, Megadeth.
Roughly 7,000 to 9,000 people attended Rock’N Derby each of the three days, coming from all over the country to see a stellar lineup like this.
Three stages hosted the bands on the Upstate Concert Hall Arena Stage (set up in one of the fair’s agricultural barns), and two larger stages, the Rock’N Stage and the Derby Stage, both outdoors and on opposite ends of the grounds.
Rising soul and R&B artist, Danielle Ponder, released her new song “Roll the Credits” on May 5th. Her single is accompanied by a cinematic music video directed by Broadway choreographer and dancer Hettie Barnhill. Originally from Rochester, the singer has left her mark on New York’s music scene for more than a decade.
“Roll the Credits” takes listeners into a passionate and pulsating world of spirituality. Filmed in the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico, the video allows listeners to connect the spiritual relationship that Ponder speaks of in her dynamic lyrics with culture, dance, music, and nature. Throughout the verses, the artist shows off her range and confidence in her weighty, graveling vocal style along with her clarity and evocation in her alternative gospel-like chorus.
After playing the song in various live shows, it has clearly become a crowd and fan favorite throughout North America as well as Europe. The video itself has reached over 16,000 views in the past two weeks and continues to rise.
Ponder’s new single is produced by Grammy nominated musician Gianluca Buccellati who has worked with artists ranging from Lana Del Ray to Paris Texas. The pair collaborated on Ponder’s debut album Some of Us Are Brave which was released last year.
When speaking about her biggest influences Ponder comments, “We couldn’t listen to secular music so, I was listening to a lot of gospel early on, like Shirley Caesar, John P. Kee, the Blind Boys of Alabama — a mix of old and new school stuff. However, the blues is where I really developed a desire to sing. Listening to Big Mama Thornton and Koko Taylor, I wanted to know how to do that.“
After taking the risk of leaving her career as a public defender behind in 2018, the artist has followed a path of expression and music all the way to the lime-light. She has unveiled her voice and passion with the world, landing her television appearances on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
In order to celebrate and share her new music, Ponder has set out on a twenty-four date tour. Her live show will be performed in select cities throughout North America and Europe.
Danielle Ponder Live Shows
May 12 – Miramar Beach, FL – Brandi Charlie’s Mothership Weekend
May 13—New Orleans, LA—Toulouse Theatre
May 16—Austin, TX—Antone’s Nightclub
May 18—Dallas, TX—Eric Nadel Birthday Benefit
May 19—Houston, TX—The Heights Theater
May 21—Phoenix, AZ—Valley Bar
May 22—San Diego, CA—Voodoo Room at House of Blues
May 24—West Hollywood, CA—Troubadour
May 26—San Francisco, CA—Cafe Du Nord
May 27—Napa, CA—BottleRock Napa Valley
June 2—Ogden, UT—Ogden Music Festival
June 17—Manchester, TN—Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
June 22—Rothbury, MI—Electric Forest Festival
June 29—Montreal, Québec—Montreal International Jazz Festival
July 1—Werchter, Belgium—Rock Werchter
July 5—Aix-les-Bains, France—Festival Musilac
July 7—Rotterdam, Netherlands—North Sea Jazz Festival
July 29—Newport, RI—Newport Folk Festival
August 5—Chicago, IL—Lollapalooza
August 18—North Adams, MA—MASS MoCA
August 29—Red Bank, NJ—Count Basie Center for the Arts
August 30—Syracuse, NY—Chevy Court Stage
September 14 – September 17—Louisville, KY—Bourbon & Beyond
September 29 – October 1—Dana Point, CA—Ohana Fest
Watch the official music video for Danielle Ponder “Roll the Credits” below.
Tanglewood, a music venue in the towns of Lenox and Stockbridge in the Berkshire Hills in Western Massachusetts, has announced the lineup for their 2023 summer series, celebrating 85 years as an operating venue.
Tanglewood exterior, photo by Aram Boghosian.
Tanglewood has been the famed summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1937, as well as the Tanglewood Music Center, and the Boston Pops. The venue welcomes more than 350,000 visitors to performances, recitals, and seminars across 500 acres. This summer, the venue is hosting a variety of events, including the Boston Pops and Film Night, Tanglewood on Parade, popular artists like Train, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, and the Steve Miller Band, along with Boston Symphony Orchestra guest conductors and performances, and more. Tanglewood welcomes all to its iconic grounds surrounded by the beautiful Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts.
Popular Artists Series
The Popular Artists Series at Tanglewood was founded in 1968 when the venue decided to expand its musical offerings with the creation of “Contemporary Trends” concerts. The purpose of the series was to present performances by popular groups representing important trends in contemporary music outside the sphere of Western “classical” music. The first few years included performances by The Association, Ravi Shankar, Chicago, and more. Over the years, the Koussevitzky Music Shed has welcomed artists such as The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, and more. “Tanglewood has long been renowned as a classical music venue; but since the 1960s, the Popular Artists Series has added to the breadth of musical offerings and the diversity of audiences visiting the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s summer home base in the Berkshires,” says Anthony Fogg, William I. Bernell Vice President, Artistic Planning. All concerts will take place in the Koussevitzky Music Shed this summer.
Thursday, June 22 at 8 p.m.- Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!
NPR’s oddly informative news quiz program returns to Tanglewood, now in its 25th year. The Peabody Award-winning series offers a fast-paced, irreverent look at the week’s news, hosted by Peter Sagal and Official Judge and Scorekeeper Bill Kurtis.
The Steve Miller Band is an American rock band formed in 1966, led by Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals releasing a string of mid-to-late-1970s hit singles that are staples of classic rock, including “Fly Like An Eagle,” “The Joker,” and more. Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers support.
Robert Plant is best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin for all of its existence from 1968 until 1980. He collaborated with bluegrass-country singer and fiddler Alison Krauss on Raising Sand in 2007 and promptly won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Their album Raise The Roof (2021) is available everywhere you can stream music. The support is JD McPherson known for his retro sound rooted in the rock and roll, rockabilly, and rhythm and blues music of the 1950s.
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, photo by David McClister.
Monday and Tuesday, July 3 and 4 at 8 p.m.- James Taylor
James Taylor is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 100 million records worldwide. He is a six-time Grammy award winner and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. James Taylor and his All-Star Band will celebrate the start of the Tanglewood season with two intimate and memorable performances, both sold out.
Thursday, August 24 at 7 p.m.- Train with Very Special Guest Parmalee
Since their formation in 1994, multi-GRAMMY Award-winning, diamond-selling band Train has had 14 songs on Billboard’s Hot 100, 12 albums on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and has sold more than ten million albums and 30 million tracks worldwide. Support is Parmalee, an American country music band consisting of brothers Matt Thomas and Scott Thomas, along with their cousin Barry Knox and best friend Josh McSwain.
Jackson Browne has written and performed some of the most literate and moving songs in popular music. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2007. Throughout his career, he has released fourteen studio albums, four collections of live performances, two “best of” compilations, two DVDs, and several single recordings. Browne’s newest studio album Downhill From Everywhere was released in July 2021 and received a GRAMMY nomination for Best Americana Album. Tickets for this show go on sale on June 1 here.
Jackson Browne.
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra, led by Andris Nelsons since 2014, will be doing its annual residency at Tanglewood this summer, at various places within the venue, including the Shed, Ozawa Hall, and the Linde Center. BSO gave its inaugural concert in 1881, and now reaches millions of listeners through performances in Boston and at Tanglewood, and also via streaming on BSO NOW, educational and community programs, radio, television, recordings, and tours.
Boston Symphony Orchestra in the Shed, including guest conductors
Friday, July 7 at 8 p.m.
The Boston Symphony Orchestra’s opening concert of the season begins with Wynton Marsalis’s Herald, Holler, and Hallelujah, followed by Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3, with soloist Daniil Trifonov, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, led by Andris Nelsons.
Sunday, July 9 at 2:30 p.m.
A world premiere of Iman Habibi’s Zhiân and Jessie Montgomery’s Freedom Songs, featuring vocalist Julia Bullock, make up the first half of this program. Hilary Hahn joins the BSO and Andris Nelsons for Brahms’s Violin Concerto to finish the night off.
Andris Nelsons, photo by Marco Borggreve.
Saturday, July 15 at 8 p.m.
A Nelsons-led BSO concert performance of Mozart’s opera Così fan tutte, with Nicole Cabell and Kate Lindsey in the lead female roles, with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, James Burton conductor. Will be sung in Italian with English supertitles.
Sunday, July 16 at 2:30 p.m.
The BSO and Andris Nelsons, joined by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and children’s choir, perform Orff’s Carmina burana. The program opens with Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3.
Guest Conductors
Friday, July 21 at 8 p.m.
In her BSO debut, Xian Zhang leads the BSO and performers of Nimbus Dance in Copland’s Appalachian Spring with Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, From the New World.
Xian Zhang, photo by Benjamin Ealovega.
Saturday, July 22 at 10:30 a.m.
Thomas Wilkins leads members of the BSO in a Family Program entitled May I Have Your Attention Please.
Saturday, July 22 at 8 p.m.
David Afkham conducts an all-Mozart program featuring pianist Martin Helmchen.
Sunday, July 23 at 2:30 p.m.
Thomas Wilkins returns the next day to lead a Boston Symphony Orchestra concert, with mandolin soloist Jeff Midkiff in his own concerto entitled From the Blue Ridge, along with the music of Coleridge-Taylor and Ellington.
Friday, July 28 at 8 p.m.
Giancarlo Guerrero leads the BSO and Lorelei Ensemble in Julia Wolfe’s Her Story (BSO co-commission). Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 finishes off the night.
Thomas Wilkins, photo courtesy of Omaha Symphony Orchestra.
Saturday, July 29 at 8 p.m.
Dima Slobodeniouk leads the BSO in a program that opens with Messiaen’s Les Offrandes oubliées and includes Agata Zubel’s In the Shade of an Unshed Tear and Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé, Suite No. 2.
Sunday, July 30, 2:30 p.m.
BSO Assistant Conductor Anna Rakitina leads the BSO and Joshua Bell in Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1, with Ellen Reid’s When the World as You’ve Known It Doesn’t Exist (featuring vocalists Eliza Bagg, Martha Cluver, and Sonja DuToit Tengblad) and a suite from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet.
Friday, August 4 at 8 p.m.
Emanuel Ax performs Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 with Dima Slobodeniouk and the BSO. The program opens with John Adams’ Shaker Loops.
Sunday, August 6 at 2:30 p.m.
Kazuki Yamada, in his BSO debut, is joined by Lucas and Arthur Jussen for Mendelssohn’s Concerto in E for two pianos and orchestra. The program also includes Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique.
Friday, August 11 at 8 p.m.- Guest
Anne-Sophie Mutter joins the BSO and Nelsons for John Williams’ Violin Concerto No. 2, on a program with works by Strauss and Ravel.
Saturday, August 12 at 8 p.m.
Susanna Mälkki leads the BSO and Seong-Jin Cho in Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat on a program with Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra.
Susanna Mälkki, photo by Marica Rosengard.
Sunday, August 13 at 2:30 p.m.
Julia Adolphe’s Makeshift Castle opens the program, followed by Yo-Yo Ma performing Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1. The program closes with Stravinsky’s Petrushka (1947 version).
Friday, August 18 at 8 p.m.
Andris Nelsons leads the BSO in Carlos Simon’s Four Black American Dances and Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 5, Egyptian, and Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, both with Jean-Yves Thibaudet as soloist.
Saturday, August 19 at 8 p.m.
Leonidas Kavakos performs Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto on a program with Prokofiev‘s Symphony No. 5.
Special Event
Friday, August 25 at 8 p.m.
Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos, and Yo-Yo Ma perform an all-Beethoven program in the Shed, with the Archduke Trio and a transcription by Shai Wosner of the Fourth Symphony.
Leonidas Kavakos, photo by Marco Borggreve.
Ozawa Hall: Chamber Music, Recitals, Operas, Dance, Jazz, and More
Wednesday June 28 at 8 p.m.
In its final appearance at Tanglewood, the Emerson String Quartet, joined by Emanuel Ax, performs a new work by Sarah Kirkland Snider and works by Purcell, Shostakovich, and Dvořák.
Thursday, June 29 at 8 p.m.
The Knights, with conductor Eric Jacobsen, perform a new work for voice and orchestra by Chris Thile, who will also be featured as vocal soloist, and Jessie Montgomery’s Source Code for strings, with works of Bartók and Enesco.
Thursday, July 13 at 8 p.m.
Vocalist Julia Bullock in recital.
Thursday, July 20 at 8 p.m.
Philharmonia Baroque, led by Richard Egarr, performs Handel’s Acis and Galatea with singers Nicholas Mulroy, Hera Hyesang Park, Dashon Burton, and Isaiah Bell.
Wednesday, July 26 at 8 p.m.
The Boston Symphony Chamber Players perform works of Yehudi Wyner, Sofia Gubaidulina, Shulamit Ran, and Schumann.
Wednesday, August 2 at 8 p.m.
The Danish String Quartet performs the works of Schubert and Bent Sørensen.
Danish String Quartet, photo credit by Caroline Bittencourt.
Sunday, August 6 at 8 p.m.
The Aaron Diehl Trio, consisting of pianist Aaron Diehl, drummer Aaron Kimmel, and bassist David Wong, presents a jazz program that includes Sir Roland Hanna’s 24 Preludes.
Wednesday, August 9 at 8 p.m.
Cellist Alisa Weilerstein presents FRAGMENTS 2, an immersive, multi-sensory audience experience combining music by contemporary composers with unaccompanied Bach.
Wednesday, August 16 at 8 p.m.
Pianist Bruce Liu presents a recital of works by Barber, Chopin, Kapustin, and Rameau.
Sunday, August 20 at 8 p.m.
TLI Presents the Gerald Clayton Trio.
Tuesday, August 22 at 8 p.m.
Vocalist Kelli O’Hara, joined by pianist Dan Lipton, performs Broadway favorites.
Kelli O’Hara.
Boston Pops and Film Night
The Boston Pops Orchestra, led by Keith Lockhart, performs the best music of the past and present with a broad spectrum of styles, from jazz to pop, indie rock to big band, film music to the great American songbook, and more. They appeal to the widest possible audience due to their variety and are perfect for people who may not even like orchestras. This summer, all shows will be performed at the Shed.
Saturday, July 8 at 8 p.m.
The Boston Pops, Keith Lockhart, and a cast of acclaimed Broadway singers perform a new symphonic arrangement of Ragtime: The Symphonic Concert, prepared by the original creators Terrence McNally, Lynn Ahrens, and Stephen Flaherty
Friday, July 14 at 8 p.m.
The Boston Pops and Keith Lockhart present an All-Gershwin program with artist Michael Feinstein and pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet joining forces for a celebration of the music of this iconic American composer.
Keith Lockhart, photo by Hilary Scott.
Saturday, August 5 at 8 p.m.
John Williams’ Film Night, with conductors John Williams and David Newman, features classic film clips and favorite film score themes from the silver screen.
Saturday, August 26 at 8 p.m.
Keith Lockhart leads Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone™ in Concert, with John Williams’ score performed by the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra while the film is presented on high-definition screens.
Sunday, August 27 at 2:30 p.m
Star Wars: The Story in Music features Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops performing the most memorable music from the sprawling saga of all nine Star Wars movies composed by John Williams.
Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra Concerts
The Tanglewood Music Center (TMC) offers an intensive schedule of study and performance for emerging professional instrumentalists, singers, conductors, librarians, and composers. Applications are now open to be a part of the TMC, for more information, visit here. Chamber music and recital programs presented by the young Fellows of the TMC are free of charge and take place throughout the summer
Xian Zhang conducts Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 6 on a program with works by Strauss and Gabriela Lena Frank led by TMC Conducting Fellows.
Monday, August 7 at 8 p.m. Ozawa Hall
Dima Slobodeniouk conducts Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 on a program with works by Rachmaninoff and Ravel led by TMC Conducting Fellows.
Monday, August 14 at 8 p.m. Ozawa Hall
Dame Jane Glover, in her Tanglewood debut, conducts Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 on a program with Britten and Dvořák led by TMC Conducting Fellows.
Sunday, August 20 at 2:30 p.m. Shed
Susanna Mälkki returns to the podium for the final orchestra program of the summer, leading the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and soloists Amanda Majeski, J’Nai Bridges, Stephen Costello, and Ryan Speedo Green in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and spirituals from Tippett’s A Child of Our Time.
Tanglewood Lawn with an audience, photo by Hilary Scott.
Festival of Contemporary Music Performances
The Festival of Contemporary Music (FCM) is one of the world’s premier showcases for works from the current musical landscape and landmark pieces from the new music vanguard of the 20th century. Recitals and many concerts are free of charge. FCM opens with “In Conversation: Curators of the Festival of Contemporary Music and Michael Gandolfi” on Thursday, July 27, at 1 p.m. in the Linde Center.
Thursday, July 27 at 8 p.m. Ozawa Hall
The music of FCM Co-curator Gabriela Lena Frank (Milagros, Sonata Serrana No. 1, and Las Sombras de los Apus) is included in FCM’s first musical program, which also includes Bartók’s Contrasts.
Friday, July 28 at 2:30 p.m. Ozawa Hall
Works by FCM Co-curator Anna Thorvaldsdottir (Spectra, Reminiscence I, II, III, IV, V, VI, and VII, Hrim, Aequilibria, and Ró) highlight this program. Kurtág’s 12 Microludes and Six Moments Musicaux also are performed.
Saturday, July 29 at 4 p.m. Linde Center
TLI Presents: A Curated Concert by Reena Esmail (FCM Co-curator), featuring Indian classical vocalist Saili Oak, in an all-Esmail program.
Saturday, July 29 at 6 p.m. Ozawa Hall
Prelude Concert with the Tanglewood Music Center
Ozawa Hall & Lawn, photo by Stu Rosner.
Sunday, July 30 at 10 a.m. Ozawa Hall
Interspersed with music by FCM Co-curator Tebogo Monnakgotla (It is the Lark that Sings, Five Pieces for String Trio, Le dormeur du val, Toys [or The Wonderful World of Clara], and Companion) are works by Malin Bång (Arching), Andile Khumalo (Schaufe[r]nster II), and Bent Sørensen (The Lady of Shalott).
Sunday, July 30 at 8 p.m. Linde Center
Experience a silent film screening of a score written by TMC Composition Fellows and performed live by TMC Fellows
Monday, July 31 at 8 p.m. Ozawa Hall
Works by all four curators are featured in the closing concert, with Stefan Asbury and TMC Conducting Fellows leading the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra in Esmail’s RE / Member, Thorvaldsdottir’s METACOSMOS, Monnakgotla’s Un Clin d’oeil, and Frank’s Walkabout: Concerto for Orchestra.
For more information about the Tanglewood 2023 season and to purchase tickets, visit here.
Multi-platinum, R&B icon John Legend will be bringing his talents to New York’s historic Beacon Theatre for a pair of live, mid-week performances dubbed, “An Evening With John Legend.” Scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday on November 7 and 8, this special solo performance will feature intimate reimagining’s of Legend’s greatest hits.
Since the release of his debut in 2004, John Legend has delivered some of music’s most soul-touching records and moments. His 2013 single “All of Me,” hit number 1 on the Billboard charts and the accompanying music video — featuring his wife Chrissy Teigen — has over 2 Billion views on Youtube. Other crowd pleasers will include his Grammy-nominated records “Ordinary People,” from his debut album Get Lifted, and “Tonight.” The latter which featured as the lead single from the soundtrack to the 2012 romantic-comedy film Think Like a Man.
Together with the medley of chart-topping hits, An Evening With John Legend will also include selections from his latest album Legend recently released via Republic Records. Not to mention, unexpected stories from the legendary musician’s life and career.
Ticket sales will begin with an artist presale on Wednesday, May 17 at 10 a.m. until Thursday, May 18 at 10 p.m. before the general on-sale on Friday, May 19 at 10 a.m. at LiveNation.com.
Fear of Strangers, originally known as The Units, is an Albany-based quartet that revolutionized the DIY era of the city during the 70s with its simple, melodic rock and clever lyrics. The band announced they will be doing a reunion show at Lark Hall on June 2.
Update – this show has been moved to November 4th. Read a message from the band below.
Dear devoted fans and FOS curious, we’re sorry to have to postpone our FOS/Units reunion show at Lark Hall. We’ve had a personal injury within the band. Everyone is fine and it’s not something too serious or life-threatening, but still it would hamper our performance. We want to put on the best show that we can, so we hope you’ll find it worth waiting for. The rescheduled date is Saturday, November 4, 2023 at Lark Hall. Check this page for updates as the date approaches and we hope everyone can still make it!
The Units came onto the Albany DIY scene with their fresh energy of punk and new wave, fusing the luster of Steely Dan, the thump of Parliament/Funkadelic, and the firm edge of the Talking Heads. They traded the name for the ferocious and catchier Fear of Strangers, going from doing covers of whatever was hot at the moment to creating their own fresh and catchy covers. The quartet is comprised of bassist Steve Cohen, vocalist ‘Lonesome’ Val Haynes, drummer Al Kash, and guitarist Todd Nelson.
Photos by Dave Suarez and Lynne Harty.
They released their debut single “Japan” b/w “I am Sorry” in December 1979 under the name The Units, and once they changed their name they released their only album in 1982 on the Faulty Products label. The band became one of the most prolific ones to come out of the late 70s DIY scene in Albany, eventually opening shows for like-minded pioneers including The Police, Squeeze, XTC, The Specials, B-52’s, and R.E.M. In 1983, the band called it quits, but Cohen, Haynes, Kash, and Nelson have all made music in other realms and in other cities.
The band will be hosting a Fear of Strangers/The Units Reunion Show on June 2 at Lark Hall, dedicated to the memory of Lin Brehmer, shining a light on the beginnings of the underground Albany scene, serving as a powerful reminder that the scene is still bright and beaming. Upstate New York’s premiere acoustic Americana trio, Lost Radio Rounders, will start the evening off at 8 p.m. For more information about the event and to purchase tickets, visit here.
The final Dead & Company tour, stopping in Saratoga Springs on June 17-18 and Citi Field June 21-22. will include a traveling charity auction featuring ten one-of-a-kind D’Angelico guitars designed by contemporary rock music artist AJ Masthay.
Each guitar features designs using images from Masthay’s Dead & Company poster art, creating an anthology of his work with the band, dating back to 2016.
The auction is part of the “Participation Row” activism village organized by HeadCount, a non-profit organization that promotes voter registration and civic participation, along with REVERB, which promotes environmental responsibility. Since 2015, Participation Row has raised more than $2.8 million dollars for nearly two dozen “Dead Family” charities through auctions and activity at over 180 concerts. Participation Row’s impact also includes over 25,000 fans registering to vote or signing up for election alerts, and over 100,000 single use water bottles being eliminated.
Masthay has this to say about his collaboration with HeadCount:
I’m a firm believer that if our democracy is going to function as intended, we all as citizens have an obligation to be informed and participate in said democracy, that’s why I am and will continue to be a supporter of HeadCount and their mission. My relationship with HeadCount started over a decade ago and out of our partnership has come some of the most cherished pieces in my portfolio.
Masthay is most well known for his unique style of reduction block printing in the concert art arena. His blend of traditional techniques and love of live music has made him one of the most prominent figures in the rock art industry. Masthay established his own letterpress studio in 2001 and is currently based out of Hartford, CT. He has also done work for Black Sabbath, Foo Fighters, South Park, Queens of the Stone Age, Umphrey’s McGee, Widespread Panic, and many more.
The Park Theater Foundation announced the return of its free Summer Series Concerts at the Crandall Park Bandshell taking place each Friday evening (7-8:30 p.m.) from June 30-July 28.
The Park Theater Foundation free Summer Series Concerts returns for its third annual installment at the Crandall Park Bandshell in Glens Falls (rain location is The Park Theater) from June 30-July 28. There are five performances, each running 90 minutes, featuring local and regional musicians. This free concert series will serve to enhance the accessibility of the arts within the local community. “What started out as an experiment during the pandemic has quickly become staple programming for our organization. I couldn’t be happier to be back at it again this summer and to be expanding the series with an additional concert in June. We look forward to seeing everyone back outside for some incredible live performances!” said Executive Director, Chris Ristau.
Summer Series Concerts Lineup
The Park Theater Foundation is thrilled to expand its 2023 Summer Series Concerts with an additional free performance hosted at The Barn at French Mountain in Lake George on June 16. Groups featured include Dr. Funke’s 100% Natural Good Time Family Band – A Superjam Event with members of Chestnut Grove, Let’s Be Leonard, and Wild Adriatic, plus special guests.
Friday, June 30 – The Ladles
The Ladles have three-part female harmony perfected, but their sound is more than that. They have sophisticated arrangements, creating a dreamy otherworldly atmosphere that draws audiences in and demands attention. The group consists of Katie Martucci, Caroline Kuhn, and Lucia Pontoniere.
Friday, July 7 – Hot Club of Saratoga
The Hot Club of Saratoga is a swing collective that plays music that reflects the style of The Quintet of the Hot Club of France that were prominent in the 1930s.
Friday, July 14 – Reese Fulmer & The Carriage House Band
Reese Fulmer & The Carriage House Band are quickly rising stars in the Capital Region, featuring over a dozen top regional players. Fulmer is a bit of an old soul, and his music is reminiscent of Justin Townes Earle, Jeffrey Foucault, John Prine, and Iron & Wine. The group won the 2023 Americana Artist of the Year at the Eddie Awards.
Reese Fulmer & The Carriage House Band.
Friday, July 21 – The Clements Brothers
The Clements Brothers, George and Charles, create music with roots, rock, bluegrass, jazz, and classical influences, showcasing their stunning vocal harmonies, instrumental virtuosity, and a genuine love of music. The brothers are former members of the internationally touring grass-roots band, The Lonely Heartstring Band.
Friday, July 28 – Girl Blue
Saratoga Springs native Girl Blue, or Arielle O’Keefe, writes deeply emotional songs with strong singable hooks, reminiscent of Alanis Morissette and Brandi Carlisle. She’s been featured on top Spotify playlists (New Music Friday) and charts (#2 on US Viral Charts), in national commercials, on top blogs like the Huffington Post, and has received seven Eddie Awards.
For more information about the Park Theater Foundation, visit here.
The American Classical Orchestra (ACO), New York City’s leading period instrument orchestra, announced its 2023-24 season of four orchestral concerts led by Founder and Artistic Director Thomas Crawford. The season opens November 16, 2023 and will conclude May 8, 2024. Additionally, there will be an exclusive preseason performance for its subscribers only.
Three out of the four performances will take place at Alice Tully Hall and one will be held at the Corpus Christi Church.
Featured soloists include award-winning violinist Augusta McKay Lodge; soprano Nola Richardson; Grammy-nominated Reginald Mobley; active Bach interpreter tenor; First Prize winner in the Oratorio Society of New York’s Lyndon Woodside Oratorio-Solo Competition, bass Steven Eddy; oboist, noted historical instrument expert, ASCAP Award-winner, and Juilliard faculty member Gonzalo Ruiz; and early music artist Adam Cockerham, a specialist in theorbo, lute and Baroque guitar.
“This season, the ACO programs three pillars of classical repertoire: Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, Mozart’s Jupiter, and the Bach B Minor Mass featuring our acclaimed ACO Chorus,” said Founder and Artistic Director Thomas Crawford. “Hearing 18th-century masterpieces played with passion, live in New York and on period instruments, is our greatest joy.”
Pre-season performance:La musica notturna di Madrid
Thursday, September 28, 2023, 7 pm at the Salmagundi Club, 47 Fifth Avenue
Adam Cockerham, Baroque guitar
Luigi Boccherini: Guitar Quintet in C Major, Op. 30, No. 6, G. 324, “La musica notturna delle strade di Madrid”
Antonio Vivaldi: Concerto for Strings in G Major, RV 151
Antonio Vivaldi: Concerto for Strings in G Minor, RV 157
This special pre-season chamber music performance for subscribers only presents an ACO string ensemble at the Salmagundi Club, a historic arts center on the National Register of Historic Places. The musicians are joined by Baroque guitar virtuoso Adam Cockerham,Associate Music Director of the Academy of SacredDrama. The program opens with Boccherini’s Guitar Quintet, initially written for strings, a work quite popular in Spain during the composer’s lifetime.
Season Opening: Premier coup d’archet
Thursday, November 16, 2023, 7:30 pm at Alice Tully Hall
Thomas Crawford, conductor
Augusta McKay Lodge, violin
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No. 31 in D Major, K. 297/300a “Paris”
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 “Pastorale”
Ludwig van Beethoven: Romance for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in G Major, Op. 40
The title of this program, premier coup d’archet (first stroke of the bow), refers to a device whereby all the instruments play together at the start of a symphony—a practice popular at the time and one that Mozart used to great success in his Symphony No. 31. The work, written while the 22-year-old composer was looking for work in Paris, received hearty applause at its 1778 premiere. Beethoven’s elegant Romance in G Major for Violin and Orchestra features young virtuoso Augusta McKay Lodge. The evening concludes with Beethoven’sPastoral Symphony, loved for its portrayals of sounds of nature, including birds, a brook, and a thunderstorm. The ACO offers an authentic look at Beethoven’s vision by the use of natural hunting horns, leather timpani, and 18th century Austrian woodwind instruments.
Gesù Nato
Thursday, December 14, 2023, 7 pm at Corpus Christi Church, W. 121 St. between Broadway & Amsterdam
Thomas Crawford, conductor
Antonio Bencini: Gesù Nato
Antonio Gianettini: Magnificat
Antonio Bencini’s Gesù Nato marks what is likely the modern premiere of the full work ofthis lost 1742 Christmas oratorio manuscript by the little-known composer who premiered it in Bologna before it was shelved at the Vatican Library for three centuries. The work features vocal soloists, a choir, and an orchestra of trumpets, oboes, and strings. Antonio Gianettini’s version of the Magnificat, also known as the Canticle of Mary, is a prayer of praise to God found in the Gospel of Luke. It has been used in the daily prayers of the Catholic Church, and set to music by many composers. Gianettini—an Italian organist, concertmaster and composer—was considered to be one of the most talented composers of his era.
This performance is a co-production of the ACO and The Academy of Sacred Drama, founded in 2013 by ACO violinist and scholar Jeremy Rhizor. The Organization is dedicated to Baroque oratorio that draws its stories from biblical tales and the lives of saints.
American Classical Orchestra 2023-24 season
B Minor Mass
Thursday, March 7, 2024, 7:30 pm at Alice Tully Hall
Thomas Crawford, conductor
Nola Richardson, soprano
Reginald Mobley, countertenor
Steven Soph, tenor
Steven Eddy, bass
ACO Chorus
Johann Sebastian Bach: Mass in B Minor, BWV 232
Bach’s Mass in B Minor was one of the composer’s last achievements, completed a year before his death in 1749. A musical setting of the complete Latin Mass, this monumental work presents nine arias and duets, 14 ensemble sections for vocal groups of various sizes, and a range of instrumental solos in numerous styles. Based largely on Bach’s earlier pieces, this mass is one of his best-loved vocal works. The orchestra is joined by the renowned ACO Chorus, comprised of professional vocalists from the New York metro area. Featured soloists will be soprano Nola Richardson, countertenor Reginald Mobley, tenor Steven Soph, and bass Steven Eddy.
Astronomical
Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 7:30 pm at Alice Tully Hall
Thomas Crawford, conductor
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 551 “Jupiter”
William Herschel: Oboe Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major
Johan Daniel Berlin: Concerto á 5 in A Major
C.P.E. Bach: Symphony in B Minor, H661 Wq182/5
Gonzalo Ruiz, oboe
The “astronomical” theme of this program is inspired by Mozart’s ”Jupiter” Symphony, Herschel’s telescopes, and Berlin’s meteorological observations/alias composer roles. The concert begins with Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony, his longest and final symphony. Widely considered to be his strongest work and perhaps his most popular symphony, it is notable for its deft weaving of Classical and Baroque musical forms. Before the 18th century composer William Herschel played oboe and violin, he was an accomplished astronomer who built his own telescope and discovered the planet Uranus in 1781.
His 1780 three-movement Oboe Concerto No. 1, written in the style of Corelli or Handel concerti grossi, features soloist Gonzalo Ruiz, a Juilliard faculty member and expert in historical reedmaking techniques, of which more than two dozen are on permanent display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Carl Philipp Emanuel (C.P.E.) Bach’s Symphony in B Minor follows next. Johann Sebastian Bach’s 5th child and one of the foremost clavier players in Europe, C.P.E. wrote the work during the German literature period of Sturm und Drang, when he created short pieces inspired by individualism.
Finally, the evening closes with German-born Rococo composer Johan Daniel Berlin’s Concerto á 5 in A Major. In 1737 Berlin became the town musician of Trondheim, Norway. In addition, he was a fire brigade captain, land surveyor, founding member of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters, and made a series of meteorological and astronomical observations. Today he is regarded as one of Norway’s first known composers, although few of his works remain.
For details and tickets for American Classical Orchestra 2023-24 season, click here.
Making their Saratoga Springs debut, the force was strong with Spafford on Thursday, May 4th. Delivering an awe-inspiring, booty shaking performance full of type-II improvisation, buttery smooth segues, spacey textures and more dynamic soloing than even Han could handle, the highly talented quartet proved once again that when it comes to pure jams, Spafford is light years ahead of the pack.
Putnam Place served as our cantina for the evening, and while you will surely find a more wretched hive elsewhere, on this evening there were no villains here, only friends with plenty of character. You see, despite it being Spafford’s first time in ‘Toga, the electro-funk jam band has been around for more than a decade now. Developing a strong following via old-fashioned word of mouth and fan interaction, frequently sharing high quality live streams and relentless touring, those that already know, know, and these so-called “Spaff-Nerds” will happily travel far and wide to see these jam band Jedis play. For many in attendance, it was a no-brainer making the trip to Putnum Place, a venue with an almost mythical status as being a “rite of passage” for improv acts.
Originally formed in a place far, far away in Arizona, Spafford is comprised of Brian Moss (Guitar), Jordan Fairless (Bass), Corey Schechtman (Keys), and Nick Tkachyk (Drums), and have actually orbited around the Capital Region numerous times, previously playing venues like the defunct Lucky Strikes in 2017, the Palace Theatre (supporting Umphrey’s McGee) and headlining “Jam Night” at Albany’s Alive at 5 concert series last summer, thus making their long awaited Putnum debut all the more surprising and overdue. Making up for lost time and determined to leave a lasting impression, the evening with Spafford kicked off with a spunky version of “Left on the Runway” from their latest album, 2022’s Simple Mysteries.
Acknowledging the familial vibe early and flowing straight into “All My Friends,” the collective buzz in the room immediately went up a notch. That’s because longtime Spafford fans know “All My Friends” is almost always paired up with “Bee Jam,” one of their most coveted improv vehicles. Sure enough, the Bee would take flight on this night, soaring through Saratoga with an absolutely stellar, 18 minute rendition that contained everything from head banging grooves, crunchy funk-drenched breakdowns, the first huge guitar solo from Brian Moss and sonic exploration that effortlessly dipped into a murky type-II atmosphere, only to emerge on the other end with “Mind’s Unchained.” Corey’s Schechtman’s tasteful piano textures really came through here, adding a layer of beauty that made you want to close your eyes and live in the moment for as long you could. Slowly building to the song’s blissful crescendo, the song would cap off an impressive 40 minutes of uninterrupted music to start the show. Little did anyone know the biggest jam of the first set was still yet to come.
As bassist Jordan Fairless slapped away at the intro of “Dog House,” his voice was in top form and so was his playing. Picking up the pace as the song shifted into “Part II,” we’d get another tasty organ solo from Corey, before the song would showcase some of the bands more jamtronic and improg influences with “the human metronome” Nick Tkachyk navigating the ship. Taking you along for a colorful, sonic journey into the musical unknown, the song would ultimately clock in at the 19 minute mark and bring the scorching first set to a close.
After a smoke-filled intermission, Spafford would stay on target and turn the heat up even higher for set two. Once again choosing a song from their latest studio album to kick things off, the band came out of the gates swinging for the fences with a 21 minute “Diesel Driver” that was, simply put, a home run. Despite being a relatively recent song, Spafford played the ever-loving snot out of it, showing a maturity and patience well beyond their peers. Then working their way through the Braveheart-esq sounding “Pursuit of Madness,” for me, it was all about the “Broken Wing” that would follow. An absolute showcase of what this band is capable of, if you were able to stand still during this song, sorry not sorry, but you might want to check your pulse.
Going with dank grooves for days and yielding an all-out dance party that reminded you of what the Putnum Place was like before the pandemic, the energy here was through the roof. Yet another 20 plus minute jam, it was around this time I realized, “holy smokes, they haven’t stopped playing this entire set!” Maybe that was their plan all along? Almost on que, as if they could hear my thoughts, “Broken Wing” then melted into “Plans” in the most buttery-smooth way. Giving guitarist Brian Moss and his custom Raven one last chance to shred, every time I get a chance to watch this man play is awe-inspiring. The entire second set alligatored together as one frame of music, I’ve been saying it for years, but if that didn’t make you a believer in this band, then I give up trying to convince you.
Thanking the audience for packing out the place despite it being their first time there, Moss would speak from the heart and address the crowd by saying, “What a blast we had this evening. What a beautiful town, great food, great people. Should we come back?” After a resounding cheer, minus the one guy who jokingly gave a thumbs down, Spafford would cure us all and send everyone home happy with a 13-minute encore of “The Remedy.” While it may have taken them several years to find their way to Saratoga Springs, east coast jam fans won’t need to wait nearly as long to see the guys again. With the promise of planning something spectacular and unique, up next the band is preparing for an intimate three-night run of shows at NYC’s famous Blue Note Jazz Club beginning May 29th. Later in June, you can catch Spafford performing at the picturesque Lincoln Hill Farms in Canandaigua, NY.
Spafford | May 4, 2023 | Putnum Place | Saratoga Springs Set 1: Left on the Runway, All My Friends > Bee Jam > Mind’s Unchained, Doghouse > Part II Set 2: Diesel Driver > Pursuit of Madness > Broken Wing > Plans Encore: The Remedy
