The Sembrich in Bolton Landing will close its summer festival with a performance by the New York Crimean Tatar Ensemble. The performance will celebrate Ukraine and the Crimean Peninsula. New York Crimean Tatar Ensemble will be the only U.S.-based group performing the traditional music of their heritage.
The New York Crimean Tatar Ensemble members serve as ambassadors for their culture. The Crimean Tatar Ensemble members are an Islamic, ethnically Turkic people. They have performed at notorious venues such as Lincoln Center and the United Nations.
Crimean Tatars’ vibrant music and dance traditions share similarities with other cultures around the Black Sea. But, what sets them apart from the others is their unique 7/8 dance rhythms and polymetric songs, with complex athletic dance steps that will liven any venue.
The performance will take place at the Sembrich on Wednesday, August 30 at 2 PM. The Crimean Tatars will be the final performance in the popular World Music Wednesday Series. This series is held every summer as part of the Sembrich’s annual summer festival.
The Sembrich features museum exhibitions and an annual summer festival with world-class musicians, notable musical scholars, a free film series, all surrounded by the breathtaking Lake George. Visitors will also find stories detailing the lives of famous musicians such as Marcella Sembrich in the museum, as well as performance series and numerous nature trails to explore.
While “Trailblazers,” The Sembrich’s 2023 summer festival concludes with the Crimean Tatars’ performance, The Sembrich’s museum and grounds will remain open through mid-October. Guided tours are available for all visitors. Visit TheSembrich.org for more information.
Purchase tickets online at The Sembrich.org/festival or by calling (518) 644-2431.
World Music Institute recently announced that Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, and Shahzad Ismaily will be stopping at The Town Hall in Manhattan on September 14. The event will be a performance of the group’s self-titled 2023 album titled Love In Exile. Together, the trio concoct mesmerizing music by incorporating sonic elements from around the world.
Brooklyn-based vocalist Arooj Aftab burst onto the scene with her captivating debut project Bird Under Water in 2015. Since then, the Pakistan-born artist has been making waves for her alluring voice and varied musical range. With Love In Exile, Aftab partnered with esteemed pianist Vijay Iyer and instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily to create a project unlike many others.
Jazz and South Asian traditions help to influence the sound of Love In Exile. Despite the album’s footing, it is a swirling and genreless piece of music. The project is as eerie as it is entrancing, and is truly a unique listening experience. As a group Love In Exile aims to deliver a spellbinding live show. The trio dips into the improvisatory soul of jazz and the Urdu poetic tradition to create a performance full of “timeless beauty and sudden surprise”.
What Is World Music Institute?
World Music Institute was founded in 1985 and has long stood as one of the pillars of American music and dance. The non-profit looks to bring the best music from around the world to venues throughout New York City. WMI attempts to foster awareness and appreciation for the cultural traditions of people across the globe through performances and conversations. The New York State Council on the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs partially support the program.
Kalia Vandever, a Brooklyn trombonist and composer, will open the show. Vanderver’s nuanced approach to the trombone is distinctive and defined by her resounding tone and lyrical improvisational voice. We Fell In Turn, her debut solo album, released back in March and featured works for trombone, voice, and electronics.
Here for tickets and more information about Love in Exile.
Mexican music icon Alejandro Fernández has pledged support for the New York Immigration Coalition, announcing that he will donate portions of proceeds from his upcoming performance at Hulu Theater at MSG to the organization.
“To our Latino community and families in New York, my heart is with you…you are a part of all of us. I can only imagine how hard these times are as you seek a safe place for you and your families in a foreign land. You have my support wherever you are.” says Fernández.
New York has seen the arrival of over a 100,000 asylum seekers and migrants in search of safety and opportunity in 2023. While some have been able to start their lives, many more are struggling with housing shelter challenges that include inadequate facilities or food, and the difficulties of working. The New York Immigration Coalition has been chosen as the recipient of these funds given their long-standing role advocating on behalf of immigrant New Yorkers and their response efforts to help welcome these families.
Alejandro Fernández, son of the legendary Vicente Fernández, rose to global fame with his unique take on Mexican music. He is known for his records that speak of hard emotional truths. surprising his fanbase with his musical versatility in different genres. He is a 2x Latin GRAMMY winner and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has a long history of helping others through his music and shows. In 2023, he pledged his support for the “Friends of the Latino Museum” and their efforts to secure a spot on the National Mall in Washington D.C. for the planned National Museum of the American Latino. His 2021 US tour raised over $100,000 for “Families Belong Together” to unite immigrant parents and children separated at the US border.
In 2020, he launched (along with a coalition of artists) the “Vota Por Nosotros” (Vote For Us) get-out-the-vote campaign, encouraging Latino voters to vote. The same year, he joined Mana’s Fher Olvera as the face of the “We Are Home” campaign calling for a fair and dignified immigration policy for the millions of Latino immigrants living in the US and again with Dr. Anthony Fauci in a call for the US Latino population to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.
Photo credit Chino Lemus.
Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition said, “We are immensely grateful to Alejandro Fernández for his generosity in uplifting the needs of New York’s newest arrivals to a global audience. His humanitarian action unites Latinos across continents, as well as recognizes the challenges faced by all those fleeing violence and persecution in search of safety. His support and the matching contribution from Live Nation will ensure that the New York Immigration Coalition can continue to advocate for and serve the needs of asylum seekers and all immigrants in New York City and across the state.”
Live Nation will matchFernández’s donation when he performs at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 14, 2023 on his Amor y Patria tour. Tickets are available here.
The Sembrich in Bolton Landing will be holding its annual gala on Aug. 26, featuring renowned tenor Leonardo Sánchez. This year’s event is titled “Mi México Querido” and is set to honor traditional Mexican music. Along with Sánchez, the performance will also incorporate instruments like the guitar, guitarrón, vihuela, and accordion.
Leonardo Sánchez rose to prominence after becoming the youngest tenor to win the “Carlo Morelli” National Singing Competition in Mexico. Highly regarded as the most important award in Latin America, Sánchez now hones his craft as part of the Chanteurs Solistes program in Switzerland. He trains under soprano Jeanne-Michelle Charbonnet and is an ambassador for “Opera for Peace”. After five years of performing in Europe, “Mi México Querido” marks the vocalist’s return to the sounds and traditions of Mexico.
The evening’s featured performer Leonardo Sánchez has shared the stage with great artists such as Rolando Villazón, Ramón Vargas, Susana Zavaleta, María José, Anastasiya Petryshak, Thomas Hampson, and Placido Domingo, and has performed on some of the most prominent stages in Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, the United States, and Mexico.
Artistic Director Richard Wargo
Sánchez will be accompanied by outstanding musicians, including Humberto Flores of the Villa Lobos brother. Flores is the producer of the program which he plans to present at other venues around the world.
I am delighted to return to Bolton Landing with “Mi México Querido”, a project which represents the beauty of Mexican culture in an authentic and elevated way.
Humberto Flores
The Marcella Sembrich Memorial Association commemorates opera singer Marcella Sembrich at her former teaching studio and woodland retreat. Programming at the site includes a film series, musical performances, and discussions with scholars. The Sembrich also features an 80-year-old museum and an annual summer festival. The Association is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts.
Tickets are $150 for regular admission or $250 for the honorary committee. Tickets can be purchased here or by calling (518) 644-2431.
Bryant Park Picnic’s free, live performances presented by Bank of America, continue on Friday, Aug. 25 at 7 pm with Accordions Around the World. The performance promises a wide range of notable performers, featuring Diana Burco, Suistamon Sähkö, and Ragini Ensemble.
This year’s festival, curated by Ariana Hellerman, includes the Latin Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Diana Burco, one of Colombia’s biggest stars, performing in the regional vallento style from the Atlantic Coast, Suistamon Sähkö, an innovative electronic quartet, blending Finnish traditional elements with techno, promising an exhilarating dance party, and the Ragini Ensemble, an all-women subgroup within the Brooklyn Raga Massive. They will enchant listeners with their rendition of traditional matrilineal music from the South Asian diaspora.
Attendees to Bryant Park Picnic Performances are welcome to bring their own food, or purchase on-site food and beverages from venders near the Lawn. All performances promise exciting new dishes and classics from the five boroughs, with a rotating line-up of local artisanal venders curated by Hester Street Fair. Stout NYC offers giant pretzels, gourmet popcorn, amongst other snacks. Additionally, a selection of beet, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.
About the Performers
Diana Burco, a singer, songwriter, and accordion player, is rising to the forefront of the explosive, multidimensional Colombian music scene. Burco has long held a passion for Colombia’s traditional music, playing and investigating the genre since childhood. Since then, she has taken her exploration to the next level, traveling throughout Colombia in search of the country’s varied forms and expressions, and has studied and collaborated with the masters that interpret them.
Burco’s deep cultural fluency and wide-ranging contemporary explorations truly mark her as a 21st century troubadour – charting an original path rooted in Colombia’s deep heritage. She has participated in programs and platforms around the world including One Beat Colombia, Ethno World, and MAPAS (Artes Performativas del Atlantico Sur).
The Arctic Etnotekno act Suistamon Sähkö from Finland gains momentum gig by gig and cheerfully moves through ethno techno and smoke shack sounds to the world of hip-hop. The group favors a boisterous rave atmosphere, synthesizer buzz, rap declarations, and a Soviet-made accordion, making the audience jiggle and the cottage floor shake. The Suistamon Sähkö rhythm universe is a rambunctious mix of primitive primordial force and experimental dance music. In addition to Finnish stages, the Suistamon Sähkö spark has also flown to international arenas in Germany, France, and Russia.
During their short existence, the group has published three albums and a dozen music videos which have attracted attention. Suistamon Sähkö was selected as the opening act of the notable World Music Expo Womex Tampere 2019 and as the showcase act of the Folk Alliance International in New Orleans in early 2020. In 2022 the band performed as part of globalFest meets TinyDesk.
Exploring a merging of diasporic songs, matrilineal folk songs, and beat-driven celebratory chutney anthems, the Ragini Ensemble, in partnership with Brooklyn Raga Massive, gathers songs born out of the South Asian diaspora spread wide, fragmented, and reforged in Reunion Island, Guyana and Trinidad.
Speaking, or rather singing into the aesthetic body of work defined by the “Coolitude” movement, this set is inspired by the legacy of post-indentureship collective memory, nostalgia, and reclamation of joy in the gathering to sing, itself a cultural practice known as “baithak gana.” Tabla player/Electronic artist, Roshni Samlal, violinist/looper Natie, harmonium player/singer Pratima Doobay, and dholak player/singer Kajol Ji re-envision the sounds of their homeland and history.
Bryant Park Picnic Performances Remaining Schedule
Rochester’s acclaimed music chamber ensemble fivebyfive recently unveiled its 2023-2024 season. The theme for this year’s round of programming is “Dichotomies” and is aimed at pushing artistic boundaries. As part of “Dichotomies” the ensemble will be releasing an album, holding collaborative concerts, hosting discussions, and much more.
Created in 2015, fivebyfive has earned a reputation for its ambitious performances and creative programming. The outfit is devoted to commissioning, developing, and performing the works of living artists. Boasting an incredible roster of musicians, fivebyfive takes pride in trying to highlight underrepresented and overlooked creators in the field. “Dichotomy” serves as another impressive artistic challenge for the ensemble. In honor of the theme, the group has curated an extraordinary lineup of visual and auditory experiences based on juxtaposition and contrast.
Fivebyfive is comprised of world-class artists, including Laura Lentz (Artistic Director & flute), Marcy Bacon (clarinet), Ken Luk (electric guitar), Eric Polenik (bass), Haeyeun Jeun (piano) and Marc Webster (Executive Director & audio/video engineer).
The upcoming season is designed to captivate and engage audiences through a range of complex feelings from primordial expression to celestial wonderment. We cannot wait to share these transformative musical experiences with the world.
Laura Lentz
Laura Lentz
Release of fivebyfive’s Third Album
“breath & fire”
Release date: Oct. 15, 2023
The project is inspired by the explosive and intense nature of fire balanced with the steady and tranquil essence of breath. Pieces on the album strongly invoke stillness or motion, and the recording process of matching spaces to the mood or pace in the music seeks to further draw out these energies as you listen.
Oct. 21, 2023 (Syracuse) and Oct. 22, 2023 (Rochester).
Musicians from Pegasus Early Music/NYS Baroque and fivebyfive will perform back-to-back concerts in Syracuse and Rochester. The concerts will feature both traditional and newly arranged versions of Sephardic music. Based in Jewish culture from medieval Spain and Portugal, the traditional performance will include instruments such as the lute, recorder, duduk, shawm, harp, and percussion. The new renditions will be performed in chamber style by fivebyfive featuring flute, clarinet, bass, piano and electric guitar. Additionally, artist Lynne Feldman will display several tapestries depicting Jewish life and discuss Judaic art.
Concert Featuring Medieval and Renaissance-Inspired Music
“Reflections: Music of Then & Now”
Nov. 15, 2023.
As part of a Jewish Music Series, fivebyfive will travel to Buffalo to present a program that reflects back in time to explore medieval and renaissance-inspired music. The performances will also incorporate other pieces that connect us to this present moment. This concert will feature Sephardic music, pieces from the Of and Between album, and Pale as Centuries, composed by Sarah Kirkland Snider.
Meet the Composer: Special Public Discussion with Roberto Sierra
Zoom presentation: Nov. 19, 2023
Grammy-nominated and Latin Grammy winning composer Roberto Sierra will be part of an online Zoom discussion. Through a grant provided by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), fivebyfive commissioned Sierra to create a new work for the ensemble. In Sonidos de Tlön, Sierra explores the dichotomy of fantasy vs. reality using inspiration from 20th-century Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges. During the 2024-2025 season, fivebyfive will showcase his piece in a concert of music and poetry from Latin America.
Multimedia Presentation with Eclipse-Inspired Music and Immersive Video
“Light & Dark: Eclipse Music”
Jan. 20, 2024 & Jan. 21, 2024.
To celebrate the 2024 total solar eclipse, fivebyfive has created a multi-media concert experience with original music by five composers. Jessica Meyer, Marc Mellits, Glenn McClure,Julie Herndon, and Kamala Sankaram were all invited to create work for the celebration. The Strasenburgh Planetarium at the Rochester Museum and Science Center will also present an immersive to go along with the event. The program combines art, science, music, and audience engagement activities to mark this unforgettable event.
Fivebyfive visits Minnesota’s Carleton College in 3-day Residency
In February of 2024, fivebyfive will travel to Carleton College in Minnesota for a three-day residency. The ensemble will present a concert, lead a reading session of student works, and participate in several workshops.. Composition professor and frequent fivebyfive collaborator, Andrea Mazzariello has previously produced works for fivebyfive including Of and Between which was featured on Performance Today several times.
On Sunday, July 30 at The Brooklyn Boardwalk, The Day Party and Empire Club NYC presented some of the most iconic names in hip-hop and R&B, with the lineup including Ashanti, Jadakiss and the Lox, and Tina (Hoodcelebrityy). Music was provided by Funk Flex and Nick Scalici, along with special guests. The event featured an afternoon and evening filled with pop-ups, food vendors, and other installations.
All originating from New York, Ashanti originally from Glen Cove and Jadakiss and The Lox representing Yonkers, all played in their home state and city within Coney Island at the Brooklyn Boardwalk.
Concertgoers enjoyed the music from five different DJs, few local artists, Tina (Hoodcelebrityy), Jadakiss and The Lox followed by the grand finale, Ashanti. Tina (Hoodcelebrityy) is a Jamaican born dancehall singer and songwriter, who moved the Bronx at a young age.
The Lox, including Jadakiss, Sheek Louch and Styles P is an hip hop group formed in 1994 in Yonkers, NY. They were under a few labels until finally they launched their own label, D-Block.
Ashanti is an well-known R&B American singer, songwriter and actress who grew up in New York and was signed to a label in 2002
With lots of Empire Club vendors, everyone enjoyed themselves as Funk Flex DJ’d and had everyone dancing. Nems, a New York based rapper, opened the evening with a few of his songs, which was then followed by a long DJ set of dance music and partying. Hookahs and joints filled the air with smoke and laughter, as everyone was grooving and dancing to the beat.
As the sun slowly went down, the the main three acts followed as the crowd continued to keep the energy and applause.
The Day Party and Empire Club NYC hosted some of New York’s biggest artists and performers at The Brooklyn Boardwalk. The stacked lineup brought people from all boroughs filled with pride and joy for some of the biggest names in R&B and Hip Hop.
Cannastock, the largest consumption-friendly cannabis festival in New York, will be returning to the Capital Region at Milton near Poughkeepsie on Oct. 7 from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. Live music will be headlined by Andy Frasco & the U.N., with additional performances by the reggae group SunDub. Over 100 exhibitors will be present on the fields outside the Hudson Valley Sportsdome.
Guests will interact with the industry pioneers bringing recreational cannabis to the Hudson Valley, including cannabis brands, growers, and manufacturers. In addition to cannabis products available at the new Green Market, festival-goers will be able to enjoy games, gourmet food trucks, and a craft beer and wine garden.
This year will also feature the announcement of the winners for the Excelsior Cup, a competition for the best cannabis products in NYS.
After two sold out Cannastock festivals, we are excited to produce the biggest and best one ever; this time in a spacious grassland with the Catskill Mountains as our backdrop. There will be more exhibitors, games, and chill out areas, along with a larger variety of food trucks and craft beers and wine. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and enjoy live reggae music all day followed by a performance by our favorite party band, Andy Frasco & The U.N.
Cannastock Co-Founder Gary Chetkof
Andy Frasco & The U.N., a blues and rock band, are loved for their kaleidoscopic musical fusion and one-of-a-kind onstage audacity. They will soon release their new album, L’Optimist, their sixth studio album. The new album charts a path of self-exploration and personal discovery through introspective lyrics and music.
SunDub released their debut album, Burden of Love in 2019 to millions of views. The reggae group rallies around the idea that people are the strongest when they work together with those from different backgrounds to create positive change. The core quintet of the group includes guitarist Finn Singer; bassist Josh T Carter; vocalist and keyboardist Eric “The General” Toussaint; and the brother-sister team of Joanna Teters as lead vocalist and Ben Teters as a vocalist and drummer.
An after-show party will be held at the Falcon in Marlboro, NY, featuring Cool Cool Cool.
Tickets will increase in price as it grows closer to the Cannastock Festival. For more information and for tickets, visit here.
The show was opened by Dr. Jah and the Love Prophets. For over 30 years, Dr. Jah has been bringing peace, love, and positivity to the Capital Region. With the Love Prophets by his side, they performed for what may have been their second Alive at 5. The vibes were kept peaceful for the most part, but their set ended on a more political note. Guitarist Dave Geoghegan expressed his frustration with the recent decision to strike down Roe v. Wade. They finished the set with a song he said they hadn’t thought about being relevant again in over 30 years.
Dr. Jah was followed up by The Skatalites. Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, the band has a history that dates back to 1964. They were founded on the popular Jamaican genre, “Ska,” and have since grown and incorporated Reggae, Rocksteady, Ska-Jazz, and a few other sub-genres into their sound. Doreen Schaffer is the only original member of the band that still plays with them today. Though she was not there for the performance in Albany, she may make an appearance for the band’s 60th anniversary next year.
Ska music tends to generate a lot of dancing because of its rhythms and horns. There were few lyrics, as the crowd mostly vibed out for an hour and a half. They did bring out a singer to perform a cover of “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley. A group of high schoolers raising funds for a sports trip formed a conga line that helped those who were moving to get up a go. This was probably one of the most mellow Alive at 5’s for the year before things turn up to close out the series.
The Skatalites perform at The Music Room in West Yarmouth, MA on Aug. 12.
Early 2000’s band Dirty Heads made a stop in Buffalo for their Island Glow Tour on Thursday, July 13 for a sold-out show. The West-Coast rockers brought their Southern California roots to Buffalo Riverworks and completely blew fans away.
The event was stacked with openers including G. Love & Special Sauce, Tropidelic, and Lupe Fiasco. Lupe Fiasco absolutely wooed the crowd when performing his hit records “Battle Scars,” and “The Show Goes On.”
Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
Dirty Heads have created a unique sound by mixing hip-hop, reggae, and rock. This dynamic band consists of Jared “Dirty J” Watson, Dustin “Daddy B” Bushnell, Jon Olazabal, Matt Ochoa, David Foral, and Shawn Gonzalez. All the members help establish a layered sound with trumpets, horns, drums, guitar, and keys. Despite the amount of people on stage they still keep large empty space for those with solos to come up front and interact with fans.
Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
Up Late With Dirty Heads
Once the clock hit 10:10 the band took over the stage and opened with “Heavy Water” off of their latest album Midnight. Fans ranging from young kids and older folk all showed their dedication not missing a single lyric. This proved to be especially true when Dirty Heads performed a throwback song of theirs “Lay Me Down,” off of their 2012 album Any Port in a Storm.
Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
Halfway into the night the lead members even took a pause from their show because the crowd wouldn’t stop cheering. A moment of gratitude was taken in as fans went crazy for a solid 2 minutes. The band acknowledged how special this Buffalo show was. A huge marker in their music career.
Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
Nothing got fans rowdier as when Dirty Heads played their track “Vacation” which has gained serious traction over the past few years. The song garnered over 6 billion views and streams across social media platforms making everyone in Riverworks incredibly hyped up. They closed out the night with “Island Glow” in honor of this special tour. Fans were left awaiting for another Dirty Heads show.
Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
If you missed Dirty Heads in Buffalo, no worries! Catch their other shows coming nearby at Patchogue and Pittsburgh. The Riverworks venue in the summer is unmatched. Upcoming events there include Sunset Sundays and a Murder Mystery. Get your tickets here.
Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
Setlist: Heavy Water, Medusa, Bum Bum, Franco Eyed, Silence, That’s All I Need, Life’s Been Good, Vacation, My Sweet Summer, El Dorado, Your Love / Garland / Lay Me Down, John Linen, Burn Slow, Rage, Rescue Me, Oxygen, Moon Tower
