NYS Music 2023

Category: News Desk

  • moe. announce 3-night run in May at Brooklyn Bowl

    With their eyes set on the State Theatre in Portland, Maine, moe. has just announced they will hold a special 3-night run at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg over May 18-20, wrapping up their winter/spring tour.

    moe brooklyn bowl

    Presented by Relix, the run of shows follows the return of guitarist Chuck Garvey to the road full-time following his stroke in 2021, and the more recent announcement that keyboardist Nate Wilson, who first sat in with the band during Garvey’s recovery last year, is now an official member of the band and will perform at all of moe.’s performances, going forward.

    A special artist pre-sale for Brooklyn Bowl is currently underway using password WINDITUP – click here for moe information. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, February 17th at 10amET. For ticketing and show info, visit moe.org/tour

    moe.’s Winter 2023 Tour will resume with their 2-night run at the State Theatre this weekend, as well as an additional 2-night run at the Palace Theater in Albany, NY on 2/24-25, coinciding with “moe.day” in Albany on 2/24. Select February performances will include an opening set by Karina Rykman.

    moe. 2023 Winter Tour Dates
    Friday, February 17th – State Theatre – Portland, ME*
    Saturday, February 18th – State Theatre – Portland, ME*
    Friday, February 24th – Palace Theater – Albany, NY*
    Saturday, February 25th – Palace Theater – Albany, NY
    Thursday, March 9th – Brooklyn Bowl – Nashville, TN
    Friday, March 10th – Mars Music Hall – Huntsville, AL
    Saturday, March 11th – Minglewood Hall – Memphis, TN
    Sunday, March 12th – Vinyl Music Hall – Pensacola, FL
    Wednesday, March 15th – Music Hall – Charleston, SC
    Thursday, March 16th – The Plaza Live – Orlando, FL
    Friday, March 17th – Culture Room – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
    Saturday, March 18th – Jannus Live – St. Petersburg, FL
    Sunday, March 19th – PV Concert Hall – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
    Tuesday, March 21st – Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC
    Wednesday, March 22nd – Jefferson Theatre – Charlottesville, VA
    Thursday, March 23rd – The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC
    Friday, March 24th – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA
    Saturday, March 25th – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA
    Friday, April 14th – Higher Ground – Burlington, VT
    Saturday, April 15th – Higher Ground – Burlington, VT
    Wednesday, April 26th – Cain’s Ballroom – Tulsa, OK
    Thursday, April 27th – The Echo Lounge – Dallas, TX
    Friday, April 28th – Paramount Theatre – Austin, TX
    Saturday, April 29th – Tipitina’s – New Orleans, LA
    Sunday, April 30th – Tipitina’s – New Orleans, LA
    Tuesday, May 2nd – JJ’s Live – Fayetteville, AR
    Wednesday, May 3rd – The Truman – Kansas City, MO
    Thursday, May 18th – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY
    Friday, May 19th – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY
    Saturday, May 20th – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY
    Thursday, May 25th-Sunday, May 28th – Summer Camp Music Festival – Chillicothe, IL
    Friday, June 16th – Red Rock Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO^
    Saturday, June 17th – Red Rock Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO^
    Thursday, July 13th-Saturday, July 15th – 4848 Festival – Snowshoe, WV
     
    * with Karina Rykman
    ^ supporting Umphrey’s McGee

  • UAlbany Music Program Announces Three Concerts in Four Days this March

    University at Albany’s Department of Music and Theatre has announced three concerts, featuring the UAlbany Percussion Ensemble, throughout the first week of March. 

    On March 3rd, at 7pm you can enjoy special guests from the Empire State Youth, Repertory & Chamber Percussion Ensembles, the Festival of Contemporary Music accompanying the ensemble. March 8 showcases The UAlbany Concert Band presenting a Concert in the Round. Lastly, The UAlbany Symphony Orchestra will perform the final concert on March 9th.

    All events for the three-day concert will be located at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center. The center can be found on the uptown University at Albany campus at 1400 Washington Avenue.

    The Festival of Contemporary Music program premieres The Empire State Youth Percussion Ensemble performing Joseph Ott’s landmark work, Quartet for Percussion. Under the direction of Christopher David Neubert, the ensemble will also perform a program of three works: Felix Mendelssohn’s Fingal’s Cave Overture, Gabriel Faure’s Pelleas et Melisande and James Barnes’s Heatherwood Portrait.

    Audience members can count on hearing works by Nathan Daughtrey, Elliot Del Borgo, Daniel Montoya and the enigmatic Rainforest Journey of Charlie Sivils, in addition to the second set of Chick Corea’s magical and haunting Children’s Songs and three of composer-educator Ney Rosauro’s Brazilian Myths. The Myths include recounting legends of a deadly Brazilian mermaid, the mystical protector of the avian wildlife of the Amazon Forest, and the evil headless horsewoman spreading fear and pestilence throughout the villages and towns. 

    A Concert in the Round will feature the UAlbany Concert Band performing eight selections such as Charles Parker Peters’s American Legion, Robert Sheldon’s Beyond the Higher Skies, Arthur Benjamin’s Jamaican Rumba, Tyler Arcari’s Beacons (Guiding Lights), Scott Joplin’s The Entertainer and Claude T. Smith’s Serenade and Dance. Band director Kevin R. Champagne’s Octopercussiocity along with selections from the musical Rent will also encompass the concert. 

    Concert tickets are $5 for the general public and $3 for students, seniors and UAlbany faculty-staff. Tickets purchased on the day of performances are $10 for the general public and $8 for students, seniors and UAlbany faculty-staff. All tickets must be purchased on-line from the UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s site.

  • Renowned Guitarist Tab Benoit to Perform at Hangar Theatre on Feb. 19

    The illustrious guitarist, Tab Benoit announced his Winter/Spring 2023 Tour at the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca. Enjoy songwriter, producer and guitarist, JD Simo open for Benoit on February 19th.

    The Chicago born Benoit has produced with artists such as Jack White, Tommy Emmanuel, Luther Dickinson, Dave Cobb and Blackberry Smoke. Additionally, Simo’s latest album, Mind Control was released in 2021.  

    tab benoit

    Louisiana Bayou blues guitarist Tab Benoit is renowned for his passionate environmental activism.  Benoit is a powerhouse that you won’t want to miss. He is treasured for his distinctive guitar tone and fiery playing. In 2020, Benoit was inducted into the Louisiana Folklife Center Hall of Master Folk Artists. In a recent review of Tab Benoit’s show in Salem, Blues Rock Revue reported, “The final song of the night was “Night Train” from 2005’s Fever on the Bayou which Benoit jammed on for over ten minutes with explosive guitar licks. It was a bring down the house conclusion”

    You also might’ve seen him in the documentary Hurricane on the Bayou. The documentary describes the effects of Hurricane Katrina, calls to protect and restore the Wetlands, and produced a CD to help restore the state’s Coastal Wetlands. Benoit has also been featured in the Sony Picture Classics 2022 movie JazzFest: A New Orleans Story. 

    “From his set opening “Why Are People Like That” to his encore “Medicine”, Benoit had the delighted crowd swinging, singing, and swaying. Benoit’s set was the perfect culmination of three fabulous days of extraordinary music at an extraordinary venue in an idyllic location”

    -Rick Witt

    Tickets for the tour can be purchased here.

    Feb 17 (Fri) – Cleveland OH@House of Blues*

    Feb 18 (Sat) – Niagara Falls NY@Private Event*

    Feb 19 (Sun) – Ithaca NY@Hangar Theater*

    Feb 21 (Tue) – Nashville IN@Brown County Playhouse*

    Feb 23 (Thur) – Kalamazoo MI@Kalamazoo State Theatre*

    Feb 24 (Fri) – Grayslake IL@James Lumbar Center for Performing Arts*

    Feb 25 (Sat) – Skokie IL@North Shore Center for the Performing Arts*

    Feb 26 (Sun) – Madison WI@Barrymore Theater*

    Feb 27 (Mon) – Mankato MN@Hooligans*

    March 1 (Wed) – Milwaukee WI@Turner Ballroom*

    March 2 (Thur) – Viroqua WI@Historic Temple Theater of Viroqua*

    March 3 (Fri) – Iowa City IA@Englert Theatre*

    March 4 (Sat) – Bloomington IL@The Castle Theatre*

    March 6 (Mon) – Memphis TN@Lafayettes Music Room*

    March 7 (Tue) – Memphis TN@Lafayettes Music Room*

    March 8 (Wed) – Memphis TN@Lafayettes Music Room*

    March 10 (Fri) – Jackson MS@Martin’s*

    March 11 (Sat) – New Orleans LA@Tipitina’s*

    March 31 (Fri) – Cedar Park TX@The Haute Spot**

    April 1 (Sat) – Houston TX@Heights Theatre**

    April 2 (Sun) – Dallas TX@The Kessler**

    April 11 (Tue) – Birmingham AL@Saturn

    April 12 (Wed) – Murfreesboro TN@Hop Springs Beer Park

    April 15 (Sat) – St Petersburg FL@Tampa Bay Blues Festival

    April 20 (Thur) – Raleigh NC@Lincoln Theatre

    April 22 (Sat) – Newberry SC@Newberry Opera House

    May 7 (Sun) – New Orleans LA@New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

    June 3 (Sat) – Greeley CO@Greeley Blues Jam

    June 30 (Fri) – Kansas City MO@Knuckleheads Saloon

    July 6 (Thur) – Dayton OH@Levitt Pavilion

    July 8 (Sat) – Johnstown PA@Flood City Music Fest

    Sept 7/8/10 (Thur/Fri/Sun) – Las Vegas NV@Big Blues Bender

    Nov 7/8/9/10/11 (Tue/Wed/Thur/Fri/Sat) – Ft Lauderdale FL@The Big Easy Cruise

  • Pete Beat Takes Fans to ‘Another Galaxy’

    English musician Pete Beat is opening up to fans about his mental health struggles with his new single “Another Galaxy.” The single is in support of his upcoming fourth album, The Strange Museum, due for release this April. The Strange Museum explores his involuntary stay in a psychiatric hospital, during which he was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

    pete beat
    Photo Credit: Victoria Wai

    Pete Beat can be argued as the “lost member” of The Beatles, having been dismissed from the group before they achieved mainstream success. Since then, Pete has focused on his solo career. He has written and recorded 500 songs over the last 13 years, including “Another Galaxy.”

    Pete’s newest single can be rather deceptive, as it starts with an upbeat tune. It’s not entirely clear to listeners that they are about to learn about some of the singer’s deepest struggles and emotions. For a debut track, it works perfectly. The Strange Museum details Pete’s journey with his mental health, so it’s natural that the opening track starts out calm and upbeat. Throughout the album, listeners will get a closer glimpse of the dark place Pete was once in, and how he came out of it.

    “Another Galaxy” is more than just a matter of being a good or bad song. Whether Pete’s work is the type of music you’re into is subjective. No one can argue against how much courage it took for Pete to talk about his personal struggles so openly. Pete hopes his album will reduce the stigma surrounding schizophrenia, and show fans that the disease doesn’t have to talk over your life. In Pete’s case, he has been symptom-free since 2010, with the help of medication.

    Of the stigma, Pete says “this adds more of a reason to do it, and the time seems right, and I feel happy and confident in my life, so I’m going to talk about it.”

    “Another Galaxy” from Pete Beat is out now. available for purchase now. For more information on Pete Beat’s newest album, visit here.

  • MSG Announces U2 ‘Achtung Baby’ Residency to open The Sphere

    During Super Bowl LVII on Sunday night, U2 dropped a brief look at their upcoming residency at the new MSG Sphere at The Venetian, coming this fall in Las Vegas. The venue has been in the works for years as a state-of-the-art venue, and one of the biggest bands in the world will be the first to christen it.

    MSG Sphere U2 Las Vegas

    ‘U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At The Sphere’ marks a special run of shows and the band’s first live outing in four years, following the massive success of their acclaimed Joshua Tree 30th anniversary stadium tour, and their 2018 eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE indoor tour which played to a combined audience of 1 million across Europe and North America.

    The full-length trailer is intended to show the global U2 community, featuring a select group of new and longtime U2 fans (along with a few band doppelgangers) coming together for a futuristic Achtung Baby adventure in a unique desert landscape.

    The announcement comes with confirmation that Larry Mullen Jr. will take time out to undergo and recuperate from surgery in 2023. These Las Vegas shows will see Larry and the band welcome drummer Bram van den Berg who will be sitting in to join Bono, The Edge and Adam Clayton onstage at MSG Sphere. Bono, The Edge and Adam said in a statement:

    It’s going to take all we’ve got to approach the Sphere without our bandmate in the drum seat, but Larry has joined us in welcoming Bram van den Berg who is a force in his own right.

    The Sphere show has been in the works for a long time. We don’t want to let people down, least of all our audience… the truth is we miss them as much as they appear to miss us… our audience was always the fifth member of the band. Bottom line, U2 hasn’t played live since December 2019 and we need to get back on stage and see the faces of our fans again. And what a unique stage they’re building for us out there in the desert… We’re the right band, ACHTUNG BABY the right album, and the Sphere the right venue to take the live experience of music to the next level… That’s what U2’s been trying to do all along with our satellite stages and video installations, most memorably on the ZOO TV Tour, which ended in Tokyo 30 years ago this Fall.  

    The Sphere is more than just a venue, it’s a gallery and U2’s music is going to be all over the walls.

    The Edge added separately “The beauty of the Sphere is not only the ground-breaking technology that will make it so unique, with the world’s most advanced audio system, integrated into a structure which is designed with sound quality as a priority; it’s also the possibilities around immersive experience in real and imaginary landscapes. In short, it’s a canvas of an unparalleled scale and image resolution and a once-in-a-generation opportunity. We all thought about it and decided we’d be mad not to accept the invitation.”

    MSG Sphere U2 Las Vegas

    U2 is acknowledged as one of the best live acts in the world. Formed in Dublin in 1978, the band were marked out by their drive and ambition from the beginning. U2 has toured the globe countless times, released 14 studio albums, sold over 170 million albums and won numerous awards, including 22 Grammys and Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience award. U2 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.

    The band has also released “One” from their new album Songs Of Surrender – a collection of 40 seminal U2 songs from across the band’s catalog, re-recorded and reimagined for 2023 in sessions spanning the last two years which sees the band revisit some of the most celebrated songs of their 40+ year career, to be released in full on Friday March 17th. A special world premiere of “One” could be heard during the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Super Bowl feature.

    MSG Sphere will introduce a new medium of entertainment, where fans will feel the impact of bands inside the world’s most experiential venue. MSG Sphere will introduce the first 16K screen that wraps up, around, and behind the audience. Sphere Immersive Sound will deliver pitch perfect audio to every seat in the house, with 4D technologies letting the audience feel the wind on their face, the heat on their skin and the rumble of thunder. The ‘U2 UV Achtung Baby Live At The Sphere’ opening series of shows will tap into this exclusive technology, allowing fans to experience something completely new. 

    With approximately 17,500 seats and a scalable capacity up to 20,000 guests, MSG Sphere at The Venetian will become the venue of choice for a wide variety of content, including Sphere experiences, concert residencies, product launches, and marquee events. In addition to the world’s highest resolution LED screen, MSG Entertainment has developed a multi-layered audio system – Sphere Immersive Sound – equipped with thousands of speakers that utilize beamforming technology to deliver targeted, crystal-clear and consistent audio to every seat in the house.

    Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. Executive Chairman and CEO James L. Dolan said, “MSG Sphere’s advanced technology allows a legendary band like U2 to bring its music to life in entirely new ways. The Sphere is a new medium that will redefine entertainment.”

    The venue will also feature 4D multi-sensory technologies such as immersive seating, evocative scents and changing temperatures, to take experiential storytelling to an entirely new level. The impactful exosphere, exterior screen features a fully programmable display, the largest LED screen on Earth. MSG Sphere at the Venetian is scheduled to open Fall 2023.

    Fans around the globe can register now to receive more information regarding U2 at the MSG Sphere show dates and on sale details once they are announced.

  • New York State Blues Festival Announces Headliners, Including Blues Legend Buddy Guy

    The New York State Blues Festival has announced the headlining acts for the 2023 edition of the event, happening June 15-17 at Chevy Court at the NYS Fairgrounds.

    New York State Blues Festival
    Buddy Guy is headlining the New York State Blues Festival.

    The New York State Blues Festival, one of the largest free blues events in the Northeast, has announced the headlining acts for the 2023 year. The festival is an annual three-day event that showcases a collection of regional and national artists from multiple genres, with roots saturated in tradition and vision. Their mission statement is to preserve, protect and promote blues music and culture, educating on the role of the blues in the development of popular music in the US and around the world.

    Healing night one of the festival is the blues rock guitar duo Blood Brothers featuring Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia. The second night features the Memphis-based group, Southern Avenue, bringing bring their deeply soulful funky grooves. The last night always features the biggest names, with blues legend Buddy Guy, who has influenced generations of guitarists including Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, and more. Samantha Fish plays the support spot just prior to him.

    A variety of food vendors will be onsite and wine & beer will be sold. The New York State Blues Festival is free to attend, with all ages welcome. Parking in the Fairground’s Brown Lot is available for $10 per car and $5 per motorcycle. If you would like to enhance your experience, ProAct Blues Club VIP passes are currently available, and early bird pricing is in effect until 11 a.m. Friday, April 7.

    Main Stage

    Thursday, June 15

    4 pm – GATE OPENS

    5:30 pm – 6:45 – Fillmore Blues Band

    7:15 pm – 8:30 pm – Brandon Santini

    9:00 pm – 11 pm – Blood Brothers ft. Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia

    Friday, June 16

    3 pm – GATE OPENS***

    4 pm – 4:45 pm – Neil Minet Band

    5 pm – 5:45 pm – Terry Mulhauser & Friends

    6:15pm – 7:15pm – Los Blancos

    7:45pm – 9pm – Annika Chambers & Paul DesLauriers

    9:30 pm – Southern Avenue

    Saturday, June 17

    12 pm – GATE OPENS

    1 pm – 1:40 – Blues Ignition

    2:10 pm – 3:05 pm – Nate Gross Band

    3:30 pm – 4:25 pm – Brownskin Band

    4:50 pm – 5:45 pm – Earl Slick & the Ripcords

    6:10 pm – 7:15 pm – Jason Ricci & the Bad Kind

    7:45 pm – 9 pm – Samantha Fish ft. Jesse Dayton

    9:30 pm – 11 pm – Buddy Guy

    Side Stage

    Thursday, June 15

    6:45 pm & 8:30 pm – DAMDOG Duo

    Friday, June 16

    5:50 pm & 7:20 pm – Midnite Mike

    Saturday, June 17

    1:45 pm & 3:05 pm – Paul LeClair

    4:25 pm, 5:45 pm, & 7:20 pm – Raedwald Howland-Bolton

  • Jack Kleinsinger Presents Highlights in Jazz at BMCC Tribeca PAC

    The Highlights in Jazz concert series celebrates its 50th anniversary on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 8 p.m. at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center.

    Founded and produced by Jack Kleinsinger, Highlights in Jazz is New York’s longest-running Jazz concert series. NEA Jazz Master Sheila Jordan, guitarist Russell Malone, and bassist Jay Leonhart will accompany the anniversary show, along with surprise guests.

    Photo credit: Highlights in Jazz

    The milestone 50th anniversary of Jack Kleinsinger’s Highlights in Jazz has experienced delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, he never lost hope. “I was sure I’d celebrate this anniversary, though I wasn’t sure it would happen in 2023,” says producer Kleinsinger. “I was determined to do a 50th concert somehow. And here I am, at it again,” he notes with a laugh.

    The Highlights in Jazz concert series has attracted the attention of not only audiences but musicians as well. “I must be there,” declared Sheila Jordan, as soon as she heard the golden anniversary concert was in the works. The anniversary concert marks a return after a short absence for Jordan, last performing at the March 22, 2022 show.

    The singer is a force to reckon with, still performing at the age of 94. “Sheila lives by Sheila’s laws, she blows my mind,” declares fellow musician Art Baron. Baron and Jordan have known each other since the ’80s, and have performed together alongside Roswell Rudd, George Gruntz, and others.

    Unlike previous years, the 50th-anniversary show for Highlights in Jazz will not feature a “living legends” concert, due to this year’s abbreviated schedule. “Since the start, we saluted a living jazz artist every year. I believe in doing it while they’re alive and it means something, that’s part of our tradition. Lionel Hampton was the first living legend we saluted and it became an annual tradition,” Kleinsinger said. However, two previous living legend honorees, bassist Jay Leonhart, and guitarist Russell Malone are part of the 50th-anniversary lineup.

    This year’s Tribeca performance comes as Kleinsinger does some serious reflection on his career. “This may be the last concert I ever do. “It’s bittersweet because there have been so many losses to covid. I’m ready to pack it in. I’m doing one concert, I’m not ready to do a whole season, that’s a lot of work,” Kleinsinger said.

    Whether the Highlights in Jazz 50th anniversary will mark Kleinsinger’s last hurrah is still to be determined, but fans can always count on Kleinsinger to continue supporting the music and the musicians so dear to him.

    Tickets for the Highlights in Jazz 50th Anniversary Gala are available here.

  • Jay-Z named Greatest Rapper of All-Time by Billboard

    In the culmination to their countdown of hip hop’s best ever rappers, — as part of a collaborative effort to celebrate Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary — Billboard and Vibe have named Jay-Z the number 1 rapper in the history of hip hop. The rollout began with a January 11 reveal of the rappers ranked 50-41. Each week since, the two publications have revealed 10 more rappers, with the top 10 released on Wednesday.

    This latest designation caps off an eventful week for Hov who was not only nominated for 5 Grammys, but also returned to the music award show’s stage as performer after an 8-year absence. The 24-time Grammmy winner performed alongside hip hop heavyweights DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, John Legend, and relative newcomer Fridayy on their thrice nominated hit-record “God Did” at the 65th annual Grammy Awards. The Brooklynite also extended his lead as the rapper to receive the most-ever Grammy nominations with 88.

    Impact of Rankings

    While Jay-Z’s coronation caused plenty of social media stir, the rest of the top 10 created many talking points itself. Filling out spots 2-10 are Kendrick Lamar, Nas, 2Pac, Eminem, The Notorious B.I.G., Lil Wayne, Drake, Snoop Dogg and Nicki Minaj. Notably, Kendrick Lamar–fresh off his 2023 Grammy win for Best Rap Album — was a point of contention. The Compton bred rapper leapfrogged the likes of 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G. and Eminem. The formers have long held a spot on hip hop’s Mount Rushmore, while the latter is the highest selling rapper of all-time. Similarly, Nas’ ranking is a well-deserved honor for someone who hasn’t always gotten his due. Although, he’ll have to settle for third behind his once-rival, Jay-Z.

    Meanwhile, Queens native Nicki Minaj was the highest-charting woman on the list. Others cracking the top 50 include, Missy Elliot (19), Lauryn Hill (30), Lil Kim (31), Queen Latifah (44) and MC Lyte (47).

  • Proctors Collaborative Announces Global Music Passport Series

    Proctors Collaborative and Universal Preservation Hall have announced The Passport Series in collaboration with Music Haven, which will bring global music styles to Upstate audiences this spring.

    Proctors Passport Series

    For 30 years, Music Haven has presented an amazing array of global sounds in Schenectady’s Central Park transporting summer seekers to locales like Yemen, Ukraine, Louisiana, Ireland and Peru without ever having to leave their seats. The Passport Series takes the same beloved world music that patrons of the park series have come to cherish and brings it to Proctors in Schenectady and Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs so the party can continue all year!

    “Music Haven is thrilled to expand its partnership with Proctors Collaborative to include UPH as well as the GE Theatre at Proctors,” said series curator Mona Golub. “Our winter/spring Passport Series itinerary boasts exquisite artistry from four distinct locales – two familiar favorites in Ireland and Cuba and two dynamic new destinations in Turkey and Korea. Come travel the world with us one concert at a time!”

    Dervish

    Passport Series

    The first in the 2023 Passport Series is Dervish at Proctors, Schenectady 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 3. Dervish, the 2019 BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Lifetime Achievement Award winner, has been bringing traditional Irish music to the world for more than 30 years. The line-up includes some of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians, fronted by one of the country’s best-known singers, Cathy Jordan.

    Tiempo Libre Proctors Passport Series

    Up next in the Passport Series, get transported to Cuba with the 3x Grammy®-nominated Tiempo Libre. “Salsa Night with Tiempo Libre” will be at UPH 8 p.m. Friday, March 24. Tiempo Libre are true modern heirs to the rich musical tradition with its sophisticated performances of timba music, an irresistible, dance-inducing mix of Latin jazz and Cuban song. Dancing is strongly encouraged! When those feet start tapping, that’s the time to get up and dance!

    Aynur Proctors Passport Series

    The Passport Series returns to Proctors 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 4 with Aynur. Her vocal style and her albums are praised in both Turkish media and internationally. Aynur has become one of the most well-known musicians from Turkey and a representative of the Kurdish people. She will be following her performance at Proctors by performing at Carnegie Hall.

    ADG7

    Lastly, join ADG7 (Ak Dan Gwang Chil) at UPH 8 p.m. Friday, May 5. ADG7 is a multi-award-winning group featuring a rich repertoire inspired by Korea’s sacred, shamanic ritual music (gut) and beloved folk songs (minyo) of Hwanghae Province in the northern reaches of the Peninsula. ADG7 made their first big U.S. splash at globalFEST in 2019, an annual cultural celebration that features the most dynamic music globally.

    The Passport Series pass includes a ticket to each of the four winter/spring 2023 shows in the series for $100. Single tickets to each show are also available at the Box Office at Proctors, in person or via phone at (518) 346-6204 Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or online at proctorscollaborative.org/passport-series.

  • Burt Bacharach, Famed Pop Composer, Dies at 94

    Burt Bacharach, one of the most accomplished pop composers of the 20th century, having created 52 top 40 hits, passed away at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 94.

    Burt Bacharach
    Burt Bacharach, photo courtesy of CNN.

    Burt Bacharach was a Grammy, Oscar, and Tony-winning composer who grew up in Queens‘ Kew Gardens neighborhood and graduated from Forest Hills High School in 1946. In his early years, he showed a keen interest in jazz and often used his fake ID to get into 52nd Street nightclubs where he would see bebop musicians like Dizzy Gillespie and Count Basie, whose styles influenced his songwriting.

    He was a major figure in 20th-century pop music, but also scored major hits in a variety of genres like Top 40, country, rhythm and blues, and even film scores, writing the theme song for the movie Arthur and “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head,” for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Later in his career, he even appeared as himself in all three Austin Powers movies.

    History was made in 1957 when Bacharach and lyricist Hal David met at the Brill Building in New York City. The pair wrote dozens of popular songs, folding everything from pop to jazz to Brazilian grooves and rock, writing in non-standard time signatures; instead of the typical 4/4, they often bounded in 5/4 or 7/8. Dionne Warwick popularized many of these songs, with her recordings selling over 12 million copies, and 38 singles making the charts. Among the hits were “Walk On By,” “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” “Alfie,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” and “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?”

    Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick
    Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick in 1971. Photo by Gilles Petard/Redferns/Getty Images.

    Over his career, he also wrote other massive hits including “That’s What Friends Are For,” the charity collaboration between Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder in 1986, raising millions for AIDs research. He wrote the Shirelles’ “Baby It’s You,” and Tom Jones’ “What’s New Pussycat?” Perry Como’s “Magic Moments,” the Patti Labelle-Michael McDonald duet “On My Own,” and the Grammy award-winning Elvis Costello record Painted from Memory. Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and Frank Sinatra were among the countless artists who covered his songs, and more recently White Stripes, Twista, and Ashanti.

    Later in his career, in 2012, he was presented the Gershwin Prize by Barack Obama, performed at the 2015 Glastonbury Festival in the UK, played with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra in March 2016, and other high-profile performances. His final released composition was a joint 2020 EP with songwriter and performer Daniel Tashian, Blue Umbrella, which earned them a Grammy nomination for the best traditional pop vocal album.

    Bacharach had high-profile marriages to actress Angie Dickinson and later to lyricist Carole Bayer Sager, with whom he wrote “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do).” He was married to his first wife, Paula Stewart, from 1953-58, and he married a fourth time to Jane Hansen in 1993.

    Dionne Warwick spoke about his passing in a statement to CNN saying, “Burt’s transition is like losing a family member. These words I’ve been asked to write are being written with sadness over the loss of my Dear Friend and my Musical Partner. On the lighter side, we laughed a lot and had our run-ins but always found a way to let each other know our family-like roots were the most important part of our relationship.”

    Burt Bacharach is survived by his adopted son, Christopher, as well as two children with his fourth wife, Jane Hansen, Oliver, and daughter Raleigh.