The Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes will begin their 2023-24 concert season on October 14 at the historic Park Church in Elmira. The opening show will feature a piece by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, titled Overture to L’Amant Anonyme (The Anonymous Lover).
Dubbed the “Black Mozart,” Bologne was a Frenchman of Creole descent whose work has been long overlooked, despite comparisons to many classical figureheads in European history. Bologne is the subject of the feature film, Chevalier, released in April 2023 by Searchlight Pictures.
Prior to the concert, the Park Church will host a screening of Chevalier as part of the Meaningful Movies series. The screening will be on October 12 at 7PM. Guests can RSVP at OSFL.org to save a spot.
In everything we perform this season, we are prioritizing music education for all. Listeners get the most out of live concerts by being informed before arriving at the concert hall. We are offering pre-concert lectures, educational activity packets for all ages, and now a popular option of holding a movie night.
Karen Dusek, Managing Director of the OSFL
The second piece of the concert is an instrumental adaptation of Pulitzer Prize winner Caroline Shaw’s “and the swallow.” Originally a choral work based on Psalm 84, the piece has been adapted for orchestra. Finally, Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 will close the show.
The night’s soloist will be OSFL’s principal trumpet, Frank Gabriel Campos, performing the Trumpet Concerto by Hummel. Campos authored the Trumpet Technique method book, used at colleges and universities worldwide, and recently retired from tenure at Ithaca College.
Season ticket packages are still available and include the October 14th concert. Packages also include 3 full-orchestra concerts and 5 concerts in the Musicians’ Choice Chamber Series. Contact the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes office at 607-936-2873 or order online at OSFL.org.
Playhouse Stage Company has announced its 36th Season, presenting both professional and youth musical theatre to the Capital Region. The upcoming lineup features four shows to be presented at Cohoes Music Hall and Albany’s Park Playhouse, as well as productions for schools and young people in the community.
The season will kick off in time for the holidays with the musical adaptation of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, running from December 1-23 at Cohoes Music Hall. The classic story by Barbara Robinson follows the “horrible Herdmans,” the rowdy bunch who force their way into the annual Christmas pageant, and transform the story into an unexpected extravaganza.
The group will present Spring Awakening, running from April 12-28, 2024. Featuring a cast of advanced teen students alongside professional actors, Spring Awakening showcases a fearless approach to taboo topics. A winner of eight Tony Awards, the timeless musical is based on the 19th century German book of the same name.
Next summer will begin at Cohoes Music Hall with the musical The Marvelous Wonderettes. Running from June 28-July 24, 2024, this 1950s and 60s musical brings fabulous harmonies and fashions as four friends take the stage at their high school prom with a jukebox full of hits.
Finally, the company will return to Park Playhouse for the fan favorite Legally Blonde: The Musical. Based on the book and hit 2001 film, the musical follows Elle Woods, a fashion-forward, hard-working young woman as she embarks on a journey through Harvard Law. Legally Blonde will run from July 16-August 18, 2024.
With this season’s productions, our goal is to continue exceeding audience expectations with first-rate musical theatre that’s both entertaining and engaging. This season, we’re offering a lineup of shows that, each in their own way, invite audiences to reflect on, reconsider and redefine how they see the world around them. With a mix of the region’s most talented young performers from our Playhouse Stage Academy, local and regional professional actors and musicians, and a world-class design and creative team, we’ll once again work hard to prove to audiences why we were dubbed ‘Broadway in the Capital Region’s backyard’ when we were founded all the way back in 1989.
Playhouse Stage Co. Producing Artistic Director Owen Smith
In addition to the mainstage offerings, the Playhouse Stage Company will offer two shows geared towards children: Grace for President, and Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr. Both perfect for family audiences, Grace for President will run from February 26-March 22, 2024. Finding Nemo Jr. will run from August 21-25, 2024 at a new outdoor venue to be announced.
Four-ticket Flex Packs that can be used for any of the company’s mainstage productions will go on sale Saturday, September 30 online playhousestage.org and thecohoesmusichall.org, or by phone at (518) 434-0776. Tickets to individual productions will go on sale later in the season. For more information, audiences can visit www.playhousestage.org.
On Sept. 26, Live Nation announced a new program, “On The Road Again,” designed to combat unfair merch sales cuts and provide supplemental money for touring staff and artists. Although this program appears on the surface to be a step in the right direction, in practice it could negatively impact both independent promoters and venues, potentially diverting bands and fans away from smaller independent venues.
As a refresher, the new “On The Road Again” program, inspired by the Willie Nelson song, says that all acts playing Live Nation-owned and operated clubs, from headliners to support acts, will receive a $1,500 gas and travel cash stipend per show to all headliners and support acts, on top of nightly performance compensation. The company’s clubs will no longer charge merchandise selling fees, allowing artists to keep 100% of merch profits, which many artists rely on to generate cash for the band while they’re on the road.
However, this could have unrealized negative impacts on independent venues and promoters. The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) released a statement, saying “Temporary measures may appear to help artists in the short run but actually can squeeze out independent venues which provide the lifeblood of many artists on thin margins.”
The organization continued, saying “Instead, it appears to be a calculated attempt to use a publicly-traded conglomerate’s immeasurable resources to divert artists from independent venues and further consolidate control over the live entertainment sector. Such tactics threaten the vitality of small and medium-sized venues under 3000 capacity, many of which still struggle to keep their doors open.”
NIVA is not the only one to take note of this PR move. Gideon Plotnicki, from GMP Live, voiced his concerns about the program, citing it as “pretty scary for indie promoters.”
Independent promoters and venues are the lifeblood of the live music community. We invest in artists and provide crucial support and belief that helps them build their audience during the earliest phases of their career. How are independent promoters supposed to compete with a publicly traded company that uses its seemingly endless funds to entice artists to play their venues? How are we supposed to ask the artists to stick with us, rather than taking the bigger money elsewhere? It’s a question that a lot of independents will be asking themselves over the coming weeks and months.
Gideon Plotnicki- GMP Live
He also recognized that it is a pilot program, and may not “impact any specific market more than the other.” In turn, the “true impact will be felt if the program is successful and gets picked up for good. At that point, every Live Nation venue will hold an even more obvious financial advantage.”
Although the “On The Road Again” program may be beneficial to smaller acts touring right now, it could have negative impacts on independent venues, which are where artists get their start. An agreement between indie venues and Live Nation might need to be implemented, but for now, support the indie venues in your area by going to shows, buying merch, and supporting your local scene.
Billy Joel announced his 100th monthly and 146th lifetime show at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, March 28, 2024. This show is part of his record-breaking, sold-out residency, with his final show, and his 150th lifetime show at the venue, slated for July 2024.
Joel also announced two performances at the iconic venue on April 26, 2024, May 9, 2024, and June 8, 2024.
Billy Joel’s history with Madison Square Garden began with his first performance at The World’s Most Famous Arena on December 14, 1978. In 2006, with 12 consecutive performances, Joel set the record for “most consecutive performances by any artist,” commemorated with a banner stating “Joel – 12” in the venue’s rafters, making him the first entertainer in the venue’s history to accomplish this feat.
He is one of the world’s most iconic musicians, having received The Kennedy Center Honors, one of the United States’ top cultural awards, in December 2013. He is also the recipient of six GRAMMY Awards, including the prestigious Grammy Legend Award. He has sold 150 million records over the past 25 years with 33 Top 40 hits.
Joel received both The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song which honors living musical artists’ lifetime achievement in promoting the genre of song as a vehicle of cultural understanding; entertaining and informing audiences; and inspiring new generations, and the once-in-a-century ASCAP Centennial Award, which is presented to American music icons in recognition of their incomparable accomplishments in their respective music genres and beyond.
In December 2013, he was named Madison Square Garden’s first-ever music franchise, joining the ranks of the venue’s other original franchises – the New York Knicks and New York Rangers. The record-breaking residency began in January 2014 with Joel playing one show every month at The Garden for, as Joel said at the time, “as long as the demand continues.” In January 2015, Joel broke his own record of the “most consecutive performances by any artist” with the 13th show of the residency, and a new banner was raised to The Garden’s rafters.
In July 2015, with his 65th lifetime show, he broke another record for the “most lifetime performances by any artist,” for which another banner was raised. Both of Joel’s banners continue to hang at The Garden and are replaced each month with each performance. In July 2018, he performed his 100th lifetime performance at the venue, commemorated as “Billy Joel Day” in the state. His piano was put on display outside of Chase Square, and the performance saw Bruce Springsteen onstage with the Piano Man.
A multitude of other incredible surprise guests have joined him on stage throughout the course of the ten-year run including Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Fallon, John Fogerty, Billy Gibbons, Brian Johnson, John Mayer, John Mellencamp, Olivia Rodrigo, Paul Simon, and more. He also sold more than 1.6 million tickets from all 50 states and more than 120 countries.
Billy Joel speaking at his MSG Press Conference, June 2, 2023. Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil for NYS Music.
In addition to his ongoing residency run, Joel has also performed alongside other music greats at two of Madison Square Garden’s most extraordinary benefit concerts – “12-12-12, The Concert For Sandy Relief,” which raised awareness and money for those affected by Hurricane Sandy, and “The Concert for New York City,” which was held to help aid 9/11 victims and heroes.
Tickets for March 28, 2024, Billy Joel show at MSG will be available for purchase by the general public beginning at 10:00 AM (ET) on Friday, October 13. They will also be available at the Madison Square Garden box office on Saturday, October 14.
Tickets for his April 26, 2024, are on sale now. Tickets for the May 9 and June shows go on sale at 10 a.m. on Oct. 27.
Geddy Lee, the iconic Canadian musician and Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Famer, is set to electrify New York City on Monday, November 13 with a one-of-a-kind event, “My Effin’ Life” In Conversation.
This highly anticipated evening will take place at The Beacon Theatre, a legendary venue for music enthusiasts. Geddy Lee’s special appearance is not just a performance, it is a journey into the heart and soul of one of the most legendary figures in rock history.
The event will coincide with the release of Geddy Lee’s eagerly awaited memoir, “My Effin’ Life,” which hits the shelves on November 14, courtesy of Harper Collins. This intimate evening promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for fans to connect with Geddy Lee and delve into the stories that have shaped his extraordinary life and career.
As the curtain rises at The Beacon Theatre, Geddy Lee will offer a rare glimpse into the tapestry of his life, from heartfelt reflections on his family and childhood to a deep dive into the history of Rush alongside lifelong friends and bandmates, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart.
Joining Geddy Lee on stage will be a special guest interviewer who will guide the conversation, providing fans with an intimate and unfiltered look at the man behind the music. Geddy Lee will read select passages from “My Effin’ Life” and share insights and anecdotes from his incredible journey.
Furthermore, fans will have the unique opportunity to participate in a special Q&A session, where they can directly engage with Geddy Lee and have their burning questions answered.
“Being in a band all those years was reassuring because it was an ongoing thing. It felt like it was forever. There was always unfinished business: the next record, the next set design, the next tour. It’s been the theme of my life. But you need a lot more determination to proceed in the world of music without the comfort of your bandmates, and I can only hope that finishing this book will release me to return to what I do and love best.”
Geddy Lee
General ticket sales for this event begin on Friday, October 6, 2023, at 10 am, exclusively on Ticketmaster. Every ticket purchase includes a complimentary copy of Geddy Lee’s “My Effin’ Life,” which will be provided to ticket holders upon entry to the venue. Please note that there is a four-ticket limit per person.
In addition to the excitement surrounding the event, Geddy Lee’s “My Effin’ Life” tour is giving back. $1 from every ticket sold will contribute to the Neil Peart Memorial At Lakeside Park fund. The success of this project and its timeline depends on raising the $1 million fundraising goal set for the project. Fans and supporters can make donations of any size towards the memorial project online at www.stcatharines.ca/neilpeart. Geddy Lee’s “My Effin’ Life” tour will be a 14-city journey, beginning in New York City and spanning the United States and Canada.
Geddy Lee ‘My Effin Life’ Tour Dates:
Mon Nov 13 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
Wed Nov 15 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia
Fri Nov 17 – National Harbor, MD – The Theater at MGM National Harbor
Sat Nov 18 – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theatre presented by Citizens
Sun Nov 19 – Cleveland, OH – State Theatre at Playhouse Square
Tue Nov 21 – Montréal, QC – Théâtre Maisonneuve
Thu Nov 23 – Vancouver, BC – The Centre in Vancouver
Fast-rising jam band Dogs In A Pile (DIAP) will end their highly successful 2023 year playing two gigs at Putnam Place in Saratoga Springs on Dec. 30 and 31. The run will mark the Dogs’ first time playing headlining shows on New Year’s Eve. The band will also perform at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park on Dec. 15 and 16.
DIAP fittingly chose the Upstate New York region for this special occasion as it has become a second home to the band over its formative years. This year alone, they’ve sold out headlining nights in Rochester and Ithaca, have played several festivals in the area (Memorial Meltdown, Rye Bread, Catskill Mountain Jubilee, and ADK Fest), and will return to Putnam Place after selling out the 500-capacity space for one show back in March.
New Jersey-based jam band Dogs In A Pile will begin an extensive national tour in the fall. Starting on Sept. 6, the band will make their inaugural visit to Madison, WI to play at the High Noon Saloon. The next night will see them return to Chicago, IL to play Lincoln Hall following a sold-out show in the Windy City earlier in the year at Martyrs’. They will then support the rambunctious Andy Frasco & The U.N. on Sept. 8 at the Canopy Club in Urbana, IL.
The Dogs will follow up their Midwest shows with headlining gigs in Nashville, TN at The Basement East with support from talented pickers Airshow. They will round out the first leg of the tour with a High Point, NC date on Sept. 10 at COHAB.SPACE. Support for this show will feature five-piece rock band Tand and blues-groove locals The Wright Ave. The band will play Wormtown Music Festival in Greenfield, MA on Sept. 16 followed by a Sept. 22 slot at Tumble Down aside headliners Twiddle and Pigeons Playing Ping Pong.
The second leg of their headlining Fall Tour will continue in Columbus, OH on Sept. 27 at The Summit Music Hall. Grand Rapids, MI-based Desmond Jones will offer support to the Dogs the next night in Ferndale, MI at The Magic Bag with the following two shows being supported by the versatile Pittsburgh four-piece The Roof. Those dates will be played at Mr. Smalls in Pittsburgh, PA, and The State Theatre in State College, PA, respectively.
Dogs In A Pile will head east in October to play Higher Ground in South Burlington, VT followed by a headlining turn at the NY Harvest Festival in Trumansburg, NY. They will then make their third stop in Cambridge, MA at The Sinclair. Rounding out the weekend on Oct. 8, they’ll join The Del McCoury Band on The Ramble Festival’s lineup in Darlington, MD. The band will return to the Northeast for their biggest headlining shows in Brooklyn and Philadelphia, PA at The Music Hall of Williamsburg on Oct. 20 and Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia on Oct. 21.
The five-piece will then embark on a supporting run with jam-funk quartet Pigeons Playing Ping Pong across 16 dates in the South, Rocky Mountain region, Pacific Northwest, and West Coast before playing two dates (Nov. 29 and Dec. 2) to support Andy Frasco & The U.N.
photo by Nick Codina
The third and final stretch of headlining dates will see the Dogs return to Virginia for a first-time visit to Roanoke at the 5 Points Music Sanctuary on Dec. 7. The tour will continue on Dec. 8 at The Pour House Music Hall in Raleigh, NC once again with support by The Wright Ave. The band will end their 41-date Fall Tour on Dec. 9 at a to-be-announced city and venue.
To view all tour dates and learn more, visit here.
DOGS IN A PILE TOUR DATES
9/6 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
9/7 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
9/8 – Urbana, IL – Canopy Club%
9/9 -Nashville, TN – The Basement East
9/10 – High Point, NC – COHAB.SPACE
9/16 – Greenfield, MA -Wormtown Festival
9/22 – Lafayette, NY – Tumble Down
9/27 – Columbus, OH – The Summit Music Hall
9/28 – Ferndale, MI – The Magic Bag
9/29 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls Theatre
9/30 – State College, PA – The State Theatre
10/5 – South Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
10/6 – Trumansburg, NY – NY Harvest Festival
10/7 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair
10/8 – Darlington, MD – The Ramble Festival
10/12 – Virginia Beach, VA – Elevation 27
10/13 – Richmond, VA – The Broadberry
10/14 – Charlottesville, VA – The Southern Café and Music Hall
10/20 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
10/21 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia
10/29 – New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s**
10/31 – Austin, TX – Historic Scoot Inn**
11/1 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater**
11/2 -Fayetteville, AR -George’s Majestic Lounge**
The Park Theater Foundation has announced their upcoming fall programming for the month of October, continuing a few favorite concerts series. Programming includes The Park Presents, Third Thursday Jazz, Rewind at the Park, and Comedy After Dark as the key events series for this fall.
The Foundation continues the Third Thursday Jazz series, hosting The Matt Niedbalski Trio on October 5. The trio features some of the best jazz music in the Capital Region, with Matt Niedbalski, Eric Zolan, and Will Gorman performing.
Rewind At The Park will bring River of Dreams & American Elton on October 7, an authentic Billy Joel tribute. The show features classic rock performed live, with world-class costumes and Bill Connors uncanny resemblance to the iconic Sir Elton John.
The Park Presents will feature Americana group Humbird on October 13th. With roots in the midwest, Humbird moves between experimental folk and Americana influences to embrace explorative ballads, narrative folk songs, and more.
The Park Presents series will also bring Aztec Two-Step 2.0, featuring Rex Fowler, Dodie Pettit and friends live on October 14th. The performance will bring a reimagination of Aztec Two-Step with fantastic musicianship, songwriting, and harmonies not to be missed.
Finally, Atlanta-based comedian Andy Sandford will grace the stage on October 27. With performances on Conan and The Late Late Show With James Corden, Andy Sandford has made a name for himself in the world of comedy with his hour special, “Shameful Information,” currently featured on Amazon Prime.
Former Saturday Night Live cast member Pete Davidson will host the debut of Season 49 on Saturday, October 14, bringing along musical guest Ice Spice for a return to the airwaves.
Davidson, an eight year veteran cast member who departed the show in May 2022, was slated to host the finale of Season 48 this past May, but the episode was scratched due to strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).
The WGA has ended their strike after a tentative agreement on a new contract with Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), while SAG-AFTRA continue their strike.
Due to variety shows such as SNL working under a different contract than scripted television shows, production can begin on the 49th season without issue.
In addition to Pete Davidson being announced as host, Saturday Night Live has added a new cast member, featured player Chloe Troast. She will join current cast members Michael Che, Colin Jost, Bowen Yang, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, Punkie Johnson, Ego Nwodim and Kenan Thompson.
Bad Bunny will serve as both host and musical guest on Saturday, October 21.
MetaMoon Music Festival, a celebration of Asian music and culture, is announcing its return to NYC with MetaMoon Block Party, a special one-night concert taking place on Sunday, Dec. 3 at the famed Hammerstein Ballroom.
MetaMoon Music Festival was founded in 2022 as a platform for Asian artists to have a consistent and prominent stage in the U.S., and for fans to connect with their favorite artists while also discovering new music. It is an annual series of shows throughout the year that empowers Asian artists and connects them with fans, influencers, and prominent brands, celebrating their diverse culture.
With the MetaMoon Block Party and upcoming MetaMoon Presents tours, artists from Asia and music fans across the U.S. will be able to connect and share in ways they may not have had before.
The NYC line-up includes some of the most exciting names in Chinese Hip-Hop and R&B as well as other notable API artists. Attendees can look forward to feature performances from PSY.Pof Higher Brothers and special guest MC Jin as well as AK LIU ZHANG, KIRE, MARF @COLLAR, MISS KO, NENE, NINEONE, and SUNKIS, who will all be making their U.S. debut at MetaMoon.
MetaMoon was born in NYC last year with a talented lineup supported by their incredible fans and followers of Asian pop culture. We are so excited to be expanding upon that this year with MetaMoon Block Party. We started MetaMoon with the belief that music is a universal language that can foster stronger understanding between cultures. Bringing the festival back in this new format and being able to tour it next year allows us to continue our mission of providing a platform for creating a genuine connection between Asian artists and global music fans.
Grace Chen, founder of MetaMoon.
Additional dates and line-ups in various cities across the U.S. will be announced in the coming months as MetaMoon expands its footprint across the country and continues to spotlight the best of Asian talent and culture.
Presale for the MetaMoon Block Party starts Friday, Oct. 6 with general on-sale starting Monday, Oct. 9.
Tedeschi Trucks Band just headlined two sold-out shows at TD Garden and MSG, and are coming back to the Big Apple for their annual three-night residency at The Beacon Theatre from Feb. 29-March 2.
Tedeschi Trucks Band is a Grammy Award-winning 12-piece rock and soul powerhouse, led by the husband/wife duo of guitarist Derek Trucks and singer/guitarist Susan Tedeschi. They are known for their world-class musicianship and contemporary blend of a wide range of American musical influences. The band continues to tour in support of I Am The Moon, their acclaimed fifth studio project which “explodes with joyful, powerful and positive music” (Guitar Player). The album was made off the road during the pandemic and includes four albums released over the summer of 2022.
Since forming in 2010, the band has traveled countless miles to bring their music to fans all over the world, from sold-out multi-night residencies across America to tours through Europe and Japan, and their flagship annual summer amphitheater tours. Their extensive catalog isn’t geared towards one genre, spanning rock, blues, jazz, and even country, and no setlist is ever the same.
To get tickets to the Tedeschi Trucks Band annual Beacon Theatre residency, visit here.
