NYS Music 2023

Category: News Desk

  • F.I.R.E., The All-Woman Festival, Returns to Oswego Music Hall

    Musician and festival curator Jess Novak has announced the F.I.R.E. (Females Inspire, Rock, Empower) Festival will return to the Oswego Music Hall on Oct. 15 from 1-5 p.m.

    The idea of the F.I.R.E. Festival is to promote women in music, art, and business. While many festivals boast all-male lineups with cover-centric headliners, F.I.R.E. will feature women playing original music. Vendors and artists include Unremorseful Art, AzureEyes Photography, Foxxy Bones (who creates art and jewelry from animal bones), and more. Musicians include local performers Amanda Rogers, Caitlin Barry, Ella Drotar, Novak, Buffalo-based artist Stress Dolls, and more. This year’s event will also include an open mic portion. This will allow female attendees to share on stage even if they aren’t regularly performing musicians, encouraging artists of all ages and talents the opportunity to be brave and perform.

    “This was originally planned for March 2020,” Novak explains. “That didn’t happen because of COVID, but last October we brought it to life at Oswego Music Hall. It was so successful we started planning the next festival right away.”

    Novak continues “When I was a kid, I never attended a musical event where women were as well-represented as men. This provides an opportunity for young people to see that anything they dream of – they can do.”

    The event is part of the Oswego Music Hall guest curator series where people from the community pitch event ideas to utilize the space. The festival was created by Jess Novak who performs alongside the Jess Novak Band. She has performed over all over the country, recorded multiple albums, and is an award-winning journalist.

    Just a few years ago, I was too afraid to sing on a microphone. I dreamed to be on stage but wasn’t brave enough to try it. I hope the open mic part of the festival will reach a few people who are just like I was: eager to perform, but too afraid to try. Now is your chance.

    Jess Novak

    Novak also plans to bring the festival to The Center for the Arts of Homer on Friday, March 8, 2024, International Women’s Day, hoping to establish northern and southern CNY versions of the event. All ages are welcome and admittance is $10 at the door (children under 12 are free). 50/50 raffles will be held and goods and art will be available for sale.

    For more information on the F.I.R.E. Festival, visit here.

    Lineup

    Jess Novak

    Starting Off Red
    Ella Drotar
    Caitlin Barry
    Brynn Race
    Jennifer Horstman
    Gina Holsopple
    Amanda Rogers
    Stress Dolls
    Unremorseful Art
    Golden Age Reiki
    Jamie Santos
    Wildebeest Publishing Co. 
    Foxxy Bones
    Azure Eyes Photography

    Lake Effect Stained Glass

    Deborah Chalone

    Laura Dobrota

  • Cold War Kids Share Emotional Single, Announce Headline Tour Coming to Webster Hall

    Cold War Kids have announced their new single “Another Name” off of their upcoming record Cold War Kids, their tenth record. The group also announced a headline tour in support of the record, with two nights at NYC’s Webster Hall.

    Cold War Kids from California is made up of Nathan Willett (vocals, piano, guitar), Matt Maust (bass guitar), David Quon (guitar, backing vocals), Matthew Schwartz (keyboards, backing vocals, guitar, percussion), and Joe Plummer (drums, percussion). Since its inception nearly two decades ago, the group has garnered over one billion streams, adding to its eclectic catalog with its newest endeavor Cold War Kids.

    “The band started out with four guys who have very specific tastes and styles, and now it’s mostly me making the records in a way I love and have always envisioned,” Willett says. “The sound of Cold War Kids has always been there, and I wanted this record to be the ideal, best version of all those things we’ve always been.” Instead of just releasing a five-song EP or an entirely different record, Willett took a breather and contemplated how the record should sound, infusing it with meaningful discourse about his life, and the state of the world.

    The aptly self-titled result is perhaps the strongest and most well-rounded record Cold War Kids has ever produced. They previously shared their current single “Run Away With Me” which debuted at #33 on the AltRock charts. With its funky groove and huge chorus, the track sets the tone for the LP as a whole, featuring 12 high-minded, stylistically diverse songs referencing everything from Curtis Mayfield to the Pretenders and Elton John to Happy Mondays and Gang Of Four. They also released “Double Life,” which American Songwriter called “an energetic, shoulder-shaking new single.” 

    The album draws inspiration from the band’s blues-and-soul-driven past as well as fresh dance beats and 80s pop/rock. The themes of the record speak about Willett’s introspective state of mind and his reality. The newest single “Another Name” is an emotionally driven track, slow and melodic, speaking of heartbreak in a tear-jerking way.

    This summer Cold War Kids were on the road as the direct support for Tears For Fears. Now, they are excited to announce a North American headline tour in support of Cold War Kids with dates kicking off in January. They will play at New York City’s Webster Hall on March 1 and 2. Tickets are on sale Friday, Sept 15th at 10 AM local time.

    Cold War Kids tour dates

    1/31 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore^

    2/01 – Portland, OR – McMenamins Crystal Ballroom^

    2/02 – Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre^

    2/03 – Seattle, WA – Moore Theatre^

    2/05 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory^

    2/06 – Bozeman, MT – The ELM^

    2/08 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up Aspen^

    2/09 – Denver, CO – Gothic Theatre^

    2/10 – Denver, CO – Gothic Theatre^

    2/13 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom^

    2/15 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues^

    2/16 – Houston, TX – House of Blues^

    2/17 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater^

    2/23 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed#

    2/24 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue#

    2/26 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues#

    2/27 – Toronto, ON – The Phoenix Concert Theatre#

    2/28 – Boston, MA – House of Blues#

    3/01 – New York, NY – Webster Hall#

    3/02 – New York, NY – Webster Hall#

    3/03 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore#

    3/05 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club#

    3/08 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz#

    3/09 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre#

    03/15 – Roseville, CA – Goldfield Trading Post*

    03/16 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Catalyst*

    03/18 – San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park*

    03/20 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre*

    03/21 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre*

    03/23 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy + Harriet’s*

    ^ – Hovvdy support 

    # – Joe P support 

    * – TBA support

  • Discover the New Fall Music Lineup at the Waterhole Music Lounge

    The Waterhole Music Lounge in Saranac Lake has filled their calendar with live music offering top touring acts starting this September all the way through to New Year’s Eve this fall season.

    Music enthusiasts can expect a wide range of genres from folk music Fridays, a collection of tribute acts and a handful of side projects from big name acts including String Cheese Incident, EOTO, and Turkuaz The Brazilian Girls. Waterhole Lounge indulges attendees to parties on the patio a venue bar and an incredible scene perfect for live music.

    To kick off the start to the fall music season, The Seapods and Raisinhead plan to perform September 9th following will feature triple header Mal Maiz on Thursday for Party on the Patio. The fall lineup also includes many talented tribute acts including The Dave Matthews Tribute Band a 5 member ensemble who match the excitement, intimacy and intensity of a live DMB show. Another highlight during the season is the annual Halloween Bash with funky music and costume contest where hip-hop jam band Sophistafunk from Syracuse plan to shake things up with opening act Chestnut Grove known for their rock n’ roll.

    To close out the season The New Year’s Eve Bash will be headlined by The Mallet Brothers Band, a well admired alternative rock country band from the woods of Maine. New York looks forward to what Waterhole Lounge has in store this season that will bring audiences talented acts nationwide that they won’t get enough of. For more information visit The Waterhole Website.

  • Olivia Rodrigo Announces MSG Shows on GUTS World Tour

    Grammy Award-winner Olivia Rodrigo announced her highly anticipated GUTS World Tour in support of her recently released sophomore studio album GUTS. Including four stops at New York’s Madison Square Garden on April 5, 6, 8, and 9, the tour spans 57 dates across Europe and North America from February through August 2024.

    Following the critical success of her 2022 debut SOUR Tour, the GUTS World Tour will be Rodrigo’s first arena run, including notable iconic venues such as London’s The O2, The Kia Forum, and New York’s own Madison Square Garden. Supporting acts on select dates include The Breeders, PinkPantheress, Chappell Roan, and Remi Wolf. 

    Olivia Rodrigo's GUTS

    As one of the most anticipated albums of the year, GUTS arrived as the follow-up to Rodrigo’s 4x Platinum 2021 debut SOUR. GUTS features her two most recent hits “vampire” and “bad idea, right?,” both critically acclaimed since their single releases earlier this year. The music video for “bad idea, right?” was also released last month, drawing rave reviews for its clever storyline and 2000s inspiration.

    In conjunction with the GUTS World Tour, Olivia Rodrigo is launching “Olivia Rodrigo’s Fund 4 Good,” a global initiative committed to building an equitable and just future for all women and girls. “Fund 4 Good” will directly support community-based non-profits that champion girls’ education, support reproductive rights, and prevent gender-based violence. A portion of the proceeds from all ticket and VIP sales from the GUTS World Tour will go to the organization.

    Verified Fan Presale for the GUTS Tour begins on September 20 and 21. American Express Early Access presale begins on September 20 at 3 p.m. Fans can register up until September 17 for a chance to win presale access for the North American tour here and the European tour here.

    Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour will also be featuring Silver Star Tickets, a program releasing select seats at $20 each (or equivalent local currency). Silver Star Tickets will be available in pairs of two for pickup at the local box office and will be available at a later date, with fans not knowing what seats they will receive. Rodrigo began the program to increase accessibility and affordability for fans on her upcoming tour.

    More information and updates are available here.

    GUTS WORLD TOUR 2024 DATES:

    Fri Feb 23 – Palm Springs, CA – Acrisure Arena ~

    Sat Feb 24 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center ~

    Tue Feb 27 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center ~

    Wed Feb 28 – Austin, TX – Moody Center ~

    Fri Mar 01 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center ~

    Sat Mar 02 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center ~

    Tue Mar 05 – Orlando, FL – Amway Center ~

    Wed Mar 06 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center ~

    Fri Mar 08 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center ~

    Sat Mar 09 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena ~

    Tue Mar 12 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center ~

    Wed Mar 13 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center ~

    Fri Mar 15 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center ~

    Sat Mar 16 – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum ~

    Tue Mar 19 – Chicago, IL – United Center ~

    Fri Mar 22 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena ~

    Sat Mar 23 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena ~

    Tue Mar 26 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre ~

    Fri Mar 29 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena ~

    Mon Apr 01 – Boston, MA – TD Garden ~

    Fri Apr 05 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +

    Sat Apr 06 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +

    Sun. Apr. 08- New York, NY- Madison Square Garden +

    Mon. Apr. 09- New York, NY- Madison Square Garden +

    Tue Apr 30 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena =

    Fri May 03 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live =

    Tue May 07 – Glasgow, Scotland – OVO Hydro =

    Fri May 10 – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena =

    Tue May 14 – London, UK – The O2 =

    Wed May 15 – London, UK – The O2 =

    Wed May 22 – Antwerp, Belgium – Sportpaleis =

    Fri May 24 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome =

    Tue May 28 – Oslo, Norway – Spektrum =

    Thu May 30 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena =

    Sat Jun 01 – Berlin, Germany – Mercedes-Benz Arena =

    Tue Jun 04 – Hamburg, Germany – Barclays Arena =

    Wed Jun 05 – Frankfurt, Germany – Festhalle =

    Fri Jun 07 – Munich, Germany – Olympiahalle =

    Sun Jun 09 – Bologna, Italy – Unipol Arena =

    Tue Jun 11 – Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion =

    Wed Jun 12 – Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena =

    Fri Jun 14 – Paris, France – Accor Arena =

    Tue Jun 18 – Barcelona, Spain – Palau Sant Jordi =

    Thu Jun 20 – Madrid, Spain – WizInk Center =

    Sat Jun 22 – Lisbon, Portugal – Altice Arena =

    Fri Jul 19 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center ^

    Sat Jul 20 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena ^

    Tue Jul 23 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena ^

    Wed Jul 24 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena ^

    Fri Jul 26 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center ^

    Sat Jul 27 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center ^

    Tue Jul 30 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena ^

    Wed Jul 31 – Salt Lake City, UT – Delta Center ^

    Fri Aug 02 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center ^

    Tue Aug 06 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena ^

    Fri Aug 09 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena ^

    Sat Aug 10 – Portland, OR – Moda Center ^

    Tue Aug 13 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum +

    Wed Aug 14 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum +

    Support Key

    + The Breeders

    ^ PinkPantheress

    ~ Chappell Roan

    = Remi Wolf

  • North Beach Music Festival Returns to Miami, Features Disco Biscuits, Eggy, Heavy Pets, And More

    Miami-based concert promoter and event producer GMP Live is thrilled to announce the return of the North Beach Music Festival, happening from Dec. 1-3, featuring headliners The Disco Biscuits, Eggy, Heavy Pets, and many more.

    Taking place at the Miami Beach Bandshell and the adjacent Bandshell Park, NBMF 2023 returns for its third year, and pledges to donate $1 per ticket sold to Backline. Live For Live Music stated that “NBMF combined the convenience of a city show, the immersive experience of a ‘farm’ festival, and the breezy inclinations of a beach vacation into one thoroughly enticing live music getaway,” in its inaugural year.

    Reflecting on the return of the North Beach Music Festival, Gideon Plotnicki of GMP Live shares, “It’s been amazing to watch this event and the community around it grow over the past few years. We’re so excited to bring North Beach Music Festival back to South Florida this December with our biggest lineup yet!” Regarding this year’s lineup, Plotnicki states, “We’re thrilled to have The Disco Biscuits and Cory Wong as headliners. It’s exciting to have such talented bands from opposite ends of the musical spectrum at the top of our lineup, and we’re looking forward to showcasing just how musically diverse this scene is. We’ll see you at the Bandshell in a few months!”

    The lineup welcomes headliners The Disco Biscuits for three sets over the weekend, with two sets scheduled on Friday, Dec. 1, and one set on Saturday, Dec. 2, in addition to Sunday’s headliner, Cory Wong. The festival’s third-year lineup also welcomes the likes of SunSquabi, George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners, Eggy, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Mark Farina, Say She She, The Heavy Pets, Adam Deitch for both a quartet performance as well as a producer set, Electric Kif, Erica Falls & Vintage Soul, Ajeva, Twyn, and Brad Miller Trio feat. Oz Noy & Thomas Pridgen. 

    Photo by Slightly Skewed Photography.

    Friday night’s festivities will take place exclusively in the Miami Beach Bandshell. While the Park will be open on Friday night, attendees can expect full food and craft vending, additional programming on the Park Stage, and the Park Stage’s immersive light show experience over Saturday and Sunday.

    General on sale for the 2023 addition of NBMF starts this Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at 12:00 PM EST here. This year, the festival will once again offer two- and three-day ticketing options, as well as a new ticket type, GA+, and three different levels of VIP. 

  • Mary Gauthier’s Career Retrospective Show Coming to Edwards Opera House

    Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Mary Gauthier has accomplished a lot over her past 25-year career. Celebrating her milestones and her new record Dark Enough to See the Stars, she is bringing ‘An Evening with Mary Gauthier: A Career Retrospective Show’ to the Edwards Opera House on Sept. 16.

    Photo by Chad Cochran.

    Her eleventh album, Dark Enough To See The Stars, follows her celebrated debut book, Saved by a Song: The Art and Healing Power of Songwriting, and Rifles & Rosary Beads, her 2018 album that earned a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album and an Album of the Year nomination from the Americana Music Association. The record follows Gauthier as she navigates the world of dealing with trauma after losing people close to her, reflecting both love and loss over ten songs.

    Mary Gauthier’s early work, which began at 35, reflected her newfound sobriety and delved into events from a troubled life, which persisted after she became a renowned chef in Boston. Over the course of her discography, she has never shied away from difficult topics such as self-reflection and exploration, telling her life story to eager ears. She has earned deep respect and admiration for her thoughtful and introspective songwriting and storytelling amongst fans and fellow artists.

    Photo by Alexa King Stone.

    Blake Shelton’s cover of “I Drink” and Jimmy Buffet’s take on “Wheel Inside the Wheel” are just a few examples of the artists who have recorded her songs. She has multiple lifetimes worth of experiences that inform her music and her deep understanding of human emotions. Although recovery, healing, and self-acceptance are never-ending, Gauthier has gone from being the wounded to being the healer, using her music to help others through their own hard times.

    She has proven to be one of the most sincere and poignant voices in music. In recent years, she has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Associated Press, NPR Music, Rolling Stone Country, CBS This Morning, Fresh Air with Terry Gross, and so much more. The Americana Music Association UK named her International Artist of the Year in 2019.

    Tickets for ‘An Evening with Mary Gauthier: A Career Retrospective Show’ at the Edwards Opera House are on sale now.

  • Damn Sam Productions Looks Ahead to Year 26 of Harvest Festival and Freedom Fair

    For more than a quarter century, Damn Sam Productions has held Harvest Festival and Freedom Fair in locations throughout Eastern New York and the Catskills. Now, the festival has found a home in Trumansburg, just outside of Ithaca, giving solid ground for the October 6-9 celebration of music and cannabis culture.

    The 2023 lineup features Skeleton Keys, Dogs in a Pile (2 sets Friday), Immortal Technique, The Garcia Project, and Sophistafunk, but as promoter Rob Robinson notes, “The headliner of Harvest Fest has always been cannabis.”

    harvest festival freedom fair

    Add to the music lineup plenty of pro-cannabis speakers and vendors – among them, Tim Tyler, sentenced to life in prison for possession/distribution of LSD under a federal three-strikes law, and later saw his life sentence commuted by President Obama.

    Also speaking at this year’s Harvest Fest and Freedom Fair is Donnie Greenthumb, who has been growing medical marijuana for decades, starting out working in a greenhouse at 13 years old, where he learned organic tricks, compost teas, and the importance of soil ph. At 20 years old he wrote for High Times Magazine with John Holmstrom and from the years 1989-2015, he assisted with writing 187 articles about basic questions, problems with growing, and how to get started in the great outdoors. He also wrote about pests and diseases in the Horticulture Medical Growers Bible by Jorge Cervantes. Donnie has had various discussions with many different cultivators throughout the region and brings a great deal of knowledge to a state that is now allows citizens to grow their own.

    With these speakers, Harvest Festival and Freedom Fair continues a legacy of music and activism that is now more than a quarter century strong.

    History of Harvest Fest

    Starting out in Beacon, Damn Sam Productions held an initial event in 1991 dubbed ‘HempSplash’ at Arrowhead Ranch in the Catskills, and after four years, an offshoot festival, Harvest Fest, was held in Modena, NY at an apple orchard.

    harvest festival freedom fair

    The festival would move around over the last two decades, holding the event in the small towns of Earlton, Warrensburg, Afton, Bainbridge, hill towns near Oneonta, Camp Minglewood (which would later host Catskill Chill for five years), Monticello, New Berlin, the Washington County Fairgrounds in Saratoga Springs, and finally, Trumansburg, at the home of Grassroots Festival. 

    Being that this was the 1990s, a drug culture festival being held at a time when cannabis was not nearly as prevalent as it is today, nor legal anywhere in America, was a risky move, but this was part of founder Rob Robinson’s vision – to rally cannabis allies together for a ‘protestival.’

    At these early festivals, the speakers now amount to a ‘who’s who’ of cannabis culture – Jack Herer, Ask Ed Rosenthal, “Saint” Steven and Ida May Gaskin (the modern day mother of midwifery in America, also ran a commune in Tennessee), and Pete Seeger all took part in Harvest Festival and Freedom Fairs over the last 25 years. Seeger in particular was a tough sell to play the event – Robinson knew him from growing up in Beacon, and Pete always declined. But after 16 years, Pete said to Rob “You don’t belong in jail, I’ll play your event.” And with that, the legend who wrote “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” and “Which Side Are You On?” took his well worn voice and shared it at Harvest Fest.

    Harvest Festival even attracted national attention with Peter Jennings from ABC news arriving at the second annual event to film a segment that would be aired as “Pot of Gold.” Featuring footage from Cannabis Cup, you could see scenes from Harvest Fest, yet there were no interviews or faces seen in the episode. When Robinson and his team reached out to ask why the footage wasn’t used, they said simply that they didn’t want to be the reason they went to jail. The mid-1990s were a time when New York State still held cannabis as a criminalized drug and Rockefeller Drug Laws were in effect, meaning Robinson and others could have faced 15-25 years in prison. 

    All over the use of a plant that has killed no one.

    The Musical Legacy of Harvest Fest

    The last 25 years of Harvest Fest has seen an amazing number of musicians make their way to the event: Cabinet, Pete Seeger, Richie Havens, Melvin Seals and the Persuasions, Ghostface Killah, George Clinton & the 420 Funk Mob, Hamilton Morris, Immortal Technique, dead prez, Alex & Alison Grey, The Wailers, Bluestar Radiation, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Dead Milkmen, Levon Helm, Particle, High Times Cannabis Cup Band, Col. Bruce Hampton, Fishbone, John Kadlecik, Ike Willis, Ed Mann, Napoleon Murphy Brock, DJ Logic, The Real Radio Rahim, Frankie Bones, DANK, Queen Mother (wife of Baba Olatunji), Max Creek, ecoustic hookah, Moonalice, The David Nelson Band, Tony Vacca & World Rhythms with Massamba Diop, Garth Hudson & The Dharma Bums, Vassar Clements, Buddy Cage, Steve Hagar, Dogs in a Pile, Deep Banana Blackout and many, many more.

    Add to the list this year’s headliner, Skeleton Keys, the keyboard centric electronic exploration of the Grateful Dead, will feature founder Alex Mazur (Gratefully Yours), Aron Magner (Disco Biscuits, Billy and the Kids), Chris J. English (Sam Grisman Project, FUNKNUT) and Tom Pirozzi (Ominous Seapods, Lo Faber), plus sets by Immortal Technique, The Garcia Project, Sophistafunk and many more, and the full music festival aspect is locked down and continuing to deliver memorable sets and join a pantheon of past performers. 

    Never Straying from the Original Mission

    The original goal of Harvest Festival was to raise money for lobbying in favor of hemp and cannabis legalization. This being in the 1990s, the pitch to legalize cannabis, let alone hemp, was a tough sell and would lead to decades of activism by the New York Cannabis Action Network, later renamed the New York Cannabis Alliance. This continual activism led Rob Robinson to serve as NORML state chair for 5 years in the 1990s, and being twice named High Times Freedom Fighter of the Year.

    With legalization, the mission of the festival has evolved. For an event that was started under prohibition and continued to be run that way, Robinson admits “it’s not the best way to judge cannabis, but it is the funnest way to judge cannabis.” Over the years, production value has risen as the event has evolved into being a true festival, putting the focus on the music and celebration, and not just legalization and activism, although the latter still exist in this American cultural event.

    Every person wants to change their conscientiousness – some do it through religion, some through exercise, some through substances, some through all three.

    Rob Robinson

    With prohibition ending in many states (24 have fully legalized), and the medical value becoming clear (38 states allow medical use) the mission encourages folks to explore and embrace the benefits of cannabis.Yet lobbying wise, there is still a black market and mis-management of the dispensary license process has held back progress for the cannabis industry in New York. The new focus is on other drugs being decriminalized, with a focus on this being a land of the free.

    The 26th year of Harvest Fest and beyond 

    One of the only festivals in 2020 to be held during Covid, Robinson notes there were no infections and the festival held like a ‘Drive In’ event, which helped the festival sustain that year and led to continued growth, unabated. 

    The 2022 location, the Washington County Fairgrounds, was looking to have Harvest Fest return, but with Cannabis being illegal federally, the location had some issues that led to the event needing to be moved to Trumansburg, out of necessity. 

    “The Ithaca scene is totally different, and a part of NY Harvest Fest has not visited yet. The cannabis part of the Finger Lakes is huge and always has been (likewise the Catskill Mountains), so we’re bringing Harvest Fest to cannabis activists and growers who have been ‘in the closet’ for 30 years.”

    Cannacup at Camp Minglewood

    Harvest Fest will take place in Trumansburg, NY over October 6-9, 2023, offering a way for people to commune over a shared love of cannabis and all it has to offer. As Robinson puts it, cannabis is the “non-lethal alternative to alcohol and tobacco,” and when joined by the music lined up for the festival, a momentous celebration of freedom is on tap this fall in the Finger Lakes. 

    Tickets and more info can be found here.

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

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

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

    See schedule and ticket information below.

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Taper’s Choice Fall Tour Arrives at Union Pool this weekend, Woodsist Fest in Accord

    Taper’s Choice, the Los Angeles jamband super group have announced fall tour dates, kicking off with a pair of shows at Union Pool in Brooklyn over September 15-16. They’ll also make a stop at Woodsist Fest, held in Accord, NY on September 22.

    Taper’s Choice – Alex Bleeker (Real Estate), Dave Harrington (Darkside), Zach Tenorio-Miller (Arc Iris) and Chris Tomson (Vampire Weekend) – will make stops in Montague, Mass for a show at Big Brown, then head up to Burlington for a show at the famed Nectar’s. They’ll then head back down toward the Hudson Valley for their appearance at Woodsist Festival, which will also see performances by Kevin Morby, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Avery Tare, Woods, Cass McCombs, Bombino, Natural Information Society, Scientist, MJ Lenderman, Water from Your Eyes and more.

    As Aquarium Drunkard notes in their interview with Taper’s Choice, the band took the stage to a sold out crowd at Gold Diggers in East Hollywood, CA, without having played a note together. The crowd was in agreement as the musicianship on display thrust the band into conversations among jamband aficionados, quickly becoming a sought after ticket at clubs around the country.

    Information for tickets can be found here.

  • The Brooklyn Blues Society Announces 13th Annual Big Eyed Blues Festival

    The Brooklyn Blues Society presents its 13th annual Big Eyed Blues Festival, a two-day event filled with nothing but blues from September 21-22.

    The Big Eyed Blues Festival is made possible by The Brooklyn Blues Society, founded by Bereather Reddy, a long-time blues listener and singer. The BBS mission is to preserve Blues music and culture by presenting it underserved youth and communities through performances, workshops, and lectures. Various artists will be attending this year’s Big Eyed Blues Festival, such as Adjua Ajamu, the NU GYPSIES, and other highly anticipated events and artists listed below.

    Thursday, September 21

    (7-10PM) Blues Dance Party – 275 Park Ave, Brooklyn, NY

    The Madame Pat Tandy Band. A legend in the NYC jazz scene, widely known as the First Lady of New Jersey Jazz.

    Bearather & The Brown Liquor Sounds. Words fail to describe their artistic aura: visit this link to see what they can do.

    Blues People. A NY/NJ band exploring the effects of blues on current American culture.

    Friday, September 22

    “Blues for All Seasons and Reason” – Jalopy Theatre, 315 Columbia St. Brooklyn, NY

    Adjua Ajamu. Combines relaxing modern sounds with the old-fashioned vibes of blues.

    Keith “The Captain” Gamble & NU GYPSIES. Completed a three-nation European tour, showing the world what he can do–which is a lot. Keith is a singer/songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player, doused in everything blues music can offer.

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