NYS Music 2023

Category: Upcoming Shows

  • Symphony Space Announces 2023-24 Season

    Symphony Space announced its 2023-2024 season, bringing artists, writers, and myriad communities together for one-night-only, only-at-Symphony Space events that celebrate the magic and sanctuary found only in the arts.

    Musicians will explore new sides of their work and their influences, and many will also pay tribute to other legendary performers. Additionally, other events will bridge the worlds of literature and performance with artists and authors propelling words from the page onto the stage. In this new season, Symphony Space gives audiences opportunities to experience bespoke events with leading artists in an intimate, one-of-a-kind venue.

    Symphony Space

    Symphony Space is a multi-disciplinary performing arts center where bold programming, presented in a uniquely warm and welcoming environment, forges indelible relationships between artists and audiences.

    Their fundamental mission is to connect art, ideas, and community through their performances and their commitment to literacy and education through the arts. Known for an array of ground-breaking programs, including Selected Shorts, their immersive Wall to Wall concerts, and their innovative Global Arts education initiative, Symphony Space presents a full slate of original, affordable (and free) programming within New York City and in communities throughout the country through tours, public radio broadcasts, podcasts, and virtual events.

     One of the most beautiful things about Symphony Space is we offer performance, literature, and music and embrace our identity as an organization of broad communities. That has been the DNA of who we are since the very beginning, when we were founded on marathon, day-long programming: ‘throw open the doors and invite the community in.’ This season, we’re excited for so many captivating artists in so many disciplines to bring their worlds into Symphony Space.

    Executive Director Kathy Landau

    Events held at Symphony Space typically fall under one of three main categories: music, literature onstage, and film.

    Music

    This season’s musical offerings traverse a spectrum of genres in thrilling and unique live performances. One example in the upcoming season is Black Opry, a home for Black artists working in country, Americana, blues, and folk music. The groundbreaking collective will be in residence from Nov. 9-11. Spring 2024’s resident musician is the legendary Nona Hendryx, whose performances span genres and disciplines, mirroring her multifaceted and ever-evolving six-decade career. Her residency concludes with a special celebration of Betty Davis on May 16, initially explored by Nona at Symphony Space’s Wall to Wall Women of Soul in April 2023.

    The season also features two major events celebrating vibrant, world-changing musical legacies. Symphony Space will host a special celebration of the 85th Anniversary of the influential, music history-making record label Blue Note Records, featuring The Blue Note Quintet, led by six-time GRAMMY Award-nominee Gerald Clayton, with Joel Ross, Immanuel Wilkins, Kendrick Scott, and Matt Brewer. Later in the season, Prince gets Symphony Space’s Wall-to-Wall treatment in a free all-day marathon celebration of his electrifying artistry.

    In numerous concerts throughout the season, audiences can witness both rip-roaring and intimate live acts. They will also have the opportunity to see multiple Grammy Award winners, including Sam Bush and the band Cha Wa. Additionally, Symphony Space’s dynamic concert series Revelry returns after a pandemic hiatus. The Revelry series features local, national, and international artists across musical genres in an intimate venue where interactions between artists and audiences are part of the fun.

    Literature Onstage

    Selected Shorts is Symphony Space’s best-known series. It was conceived over 35 years ago with a simple premise: take great stories by well-known and emerging writers and have exceptional actors perform them live. It continues in Fall 2023, beginning with a sesquicentennial celebration of Willa Cather, hosted by influential documentarian Ken Burns, a longtime Cather fan. Another event includes acclaimed author Min Jin Lee, editor of The Best American Short Stories 2023, hosting a Selected Shorts event curated from the much-anticipated anthology. One of the most groundbreaking and beloved contemporary genre-crossing authors, Neil Gaiman, will also host an evening celebrating Ray Bradbury.

    While Selected Shorts brings literature into the sphere of performance, special literary events this season celebrate beloved performers who have turned to the page to tell their stories. This programming features evenings with five accomplished performers introducing their new memoirs, including Leslie Jones and Seth Meyers discussing Leslie F*cking Jones and icon of the stage and screen Sir Patrick Stewart on Making It So: a Memoir.

    Another exciting event is comedy legend Keegan-Michael Key and writer and producer Elle Key discussing their book The History of Sketch Comedy, which stems from their Webby Award-winning podcast.

    Film

    Symphony Space transports theater and art lovers to some of the most talked-about plays and exhibitions from around the world through its film programming. The NT Live presentations feature exquisitely recorded performances from London’s prestigious National Theatre. NT Live productions scheduled to screen this season include the Chichester Festival Theatre’s production of King Lear starring Sir Ian McKellen.

    The Exhibition on Screen film series takes audiences behind the scenes at the most acclaimed museums and galleries to see how the blockbuster exhibitions come together, with curator interviews, close-ups, and context that goes far beyond the wall text of a typical art gallery. Exhibitions on Screen will include Leonardo: The Works, which details every single attributed painting from the 500th anniversary of his death.

    Additionally, other films at Symphony Space further reflect the institution’s passion for Broadway, music, and literature. During the fall, Symphony Space invites audiences to join the fun for sing-along screenings of 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody, 1982’s Annie, and 1954’s White Christmas. As part of the Thalia Film series, Symphony Space will screen François Truffaut’s adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s classic Fahrenheit 451, a complement to the Selected Shorts event dedicated to the author earlier in the fall.

    Comedy fans will also delight in the return of Symphony Space’s comedy series that promises to incite heated debate among A-list performers, Uptown Showdown.

    See the list of Fall 2023-Spring 2024 programming to date below. Many programs offer livestreaming options, and discounted tickets for those under 30. Visit here for further details on tickets, programs, and accessibility options, and stay tuned for additional program announcements as the season unfolds.

    Symphony Space Fall 2023-2024 Programming

    September 2023

    NT Live – The Best of Enemies | Tuesday, September 5, 1 pm

    Maria Bamford, Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult | Tuesday, September 5, 7pm

    Sing Along – Bohemian Rhapsody | Tuesday, September 12, 7pm

    Exhibition On Screen – Degas: Passion for Perfection | Wednesday, September 13, 1pm

    Siddhartha Mukherjee, The Song of the Cell | Thursday, September 14, 7pm

    Leslie Jones, Leslie F*cking Jones | Tuesday, September 19, 7pm

    NT Live – Life of Pi | Wednesday, September 20, 7pm

    Thalia Book Club – Ann Patchett, Tom Lake | Thursday, September 21, 7pm

    Amanda Gorman, Something Someday | Tuesday, September 26, 5pm

    Selected Shorts – Ken Burns Presents Willa Cather’s America | Wednesday, September 27, 7pm

    October 2023

    Patrick Stewart, Making It So | Monday, October 2, 8pm

    Keegan-Michael Key & Elle Key, The History of Sketch Comedy | Tuesday, October 3, 8pm

    Exhibition On Screen – Leonardo: The Works | Thursday, October 5, 1pm

    Sarah Cooper, Foolish: Tales of Assimilation, Determination, and Humiliation | Thursday, October 5, 7pm

    Roxane Gay, Opinions | Tuesday, October 10, 7pm

    Uptown Showdown – A Comedy Debate Series: Humans vs. AI | Thursday, October 12, 7pm

    Selected Shorts – The Best American Short Stories 2023 with Host Min Jin Lee | Wednesday, October 18, 7pm

    Sing-Along – Annie | Saturday, October 21, 11am

    Sam Bush | Friday, October 27, 8pm

    NT Live – King Lear | Tuesday, October 31, 1pm

    NT Live – Frankenstein | Tuesday, October 31, 7pm

    November 2023

    Selected Shorts – A Celebration of Ray Bradbury with Host Neil Gaiman | Wednesday, November 1, 7pm

    Thalia Book Club – James McBride, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store | Thursday, November 2, 7pm

    Andrew Rannells, Uncle of the Year | Monday, November 6, 8pm

    Black Opry in Residence

    • Chris Pierce | Thursday, November 9, 7:30pm
    • Kaia Kater | Friday, November 10, 7:30pm
    • Elizabeth Lubin | Saturday, November 11, 7:30pm

    Exhibition On Screen – Munch | Tuesday, November 14, 1pm

    Thalia Book Club – Sigrid Nunez, The Vulnerables | Tuesday, November 14, 7pm

    Revelry – Jerron ‘Blind Boy’ Paxton & Dennis Lichtman | Friday, November 17, 7:30pm

    Thalia Film – Fahrenheit 451 | Tuesday, November 21, 7pm

    Uptown Showdown – A Comedy Debate Series: Brains vs. Brawn | Thursday, November 30, 7pm

    December 2023

    Revelry – Soule Monde | Friday, December 1, 7:30pm

    Selected Shorts – Roz Chast, While You Were Sleeping | Wednesday, December 6, 7pm

    Revelry – Mile Twelve | Friday, December 8, 7:30pm

    Exhibition On Screen – Manet | Tuesday, December 12, 1pm

    Sing-Along – White Christmas | Tuesday, December 12, 7pm

    Revelry – Stephane Wrembel | Thursday, December 14, 7:30pm

    2024 Schedule

    Thalia Book Club – E.M. Forster’s A Passage to India 100th Anniversary | Tuesday, January 16, 7pm

    Revelry – Cillian Vallely & Kevin Crawford | Friday, January 19, 7:30pm

    Revelry – Queen Esther | Thursday, January 25, 7:30pm

    Revelry – Hazmat Modine | Friday, January 26, 7:30pm

    Blue Note 85th Anniversary Celebration | Friday, February 23, 8pm

    Revelry – JigJam | Thursday, March 21, 7:30pm

    Wall to Wall Prince | Saturday, May 4, 3-11pm

    Nona Hendryx in Residence

    • A Celebration of Betty Davis Music | Thursday, May 16, 8pm

    Additional Nona Hendryx Residency Shows:

    • Thursday, March 14, 7:30pm
    • Thursday, April 18, 7:30pm
    • Thursday, May 9, 7:30pm

    Cha Wa | Friday, June 21, 8pm

  • Rock Band Hairball Joins Suburban Park Stage Lineup at NY State Fair

    Rock and roll group Hairball is getting ready to take the New York State Fair Suburban Park Stage alongside 20 other acts. Performing on the fair’s final day, the six-member band hits Syracuse on Sept. 4, 2023, at 1:00 pm.

    Highlighted by vocalists Kris Vox, Dave Moody, and Drew Hart, and the additional help of HBK, Billy, and Happy on instrumentals, the group will cover hits from Van Halen, KISS, Motley Crue, Queen, Journey, Aerosmith, and more.

    Interim Fair Director Sean Hennessey anticipates Hairball’s performance to be one of the best of the Summer, stating that they aren’t your ordinary 80’s rock band and are ready to deliver “20 concerts in one.”

    These guys bring it and they play every show as if it’s their last. While they’re known for recreating iconic songs and moments in Rock history, they’re also constantly innovating and evolving, introducing their own style and flair.

    – Sean Hennessey

    Celebrating their 23rd year as a group, Hairball guarantees to bring the energy, props, and flair for a one-of-a-kind experience at the New York State Fair, unlike any performer from past years.

    The band rounds out Labor Day weekend and the end of the New York State Fair in a Sept. 4 lineup that also includes Foghat and Skid Row, with Foghat at 4:00 pm on the Chevy Court and Skid Row following Hairball’s show at 6:00 pm on the Suburban Park Stage.

    Additionally, over the 13-day fair, 20 other acts will hit the Suburban Park Stage ranging from hip-hop to country to Hairball’s rock and roll showcase. The full lineup for the New York State Fair is available now.

    Suburban Park Stage Lineup & Ticket Information

    All performances are free and are a part of the admission ticket price. Fair admission tickets are on sale now at NYSFair.NY.Gov and are $6 for adults. Those 12 years old and younger, and 65 years old and older, get in for free.

    Wednesday, Aug. 23 at 2 pm – Steven Page

    Wednesday, Aug. 23 at 8 pm – Lainey Wilson

    Thursday, Aug. 24 at 2 pm – Tonic

    Thursday, Aug. 24 at 8 pm – Theory of a Deadman

    Friday, Aug. 25 at 2 pm – Rebecca Black

    Friday, Aug. 25 at 8 pm – GAYLE

    Saturday, Aug. 26 at 2 pm – Slick Rick

    Saturday, Aug. 26 at 8 pm – George Thorogood and the Destroyers

    Sunday, Aug. 27 at 2 pm – Boys World

    Monday, Aug. 28 at 8 pm – REO Speedwagon

    Tuesday, Aug. 29 at 8 pm – Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line

    Wednesday, Aug. 30 at 8 pm – Ann Wilson of Heart

    Thursday, Aug. 31 at 8 pm – Ludacris

    Friday, Sept. 1 at 2 pm – Danielle Bradberry

    Friday, Sept. 1 at 8 pm – J.I.D

    Saturday, Sept. 2 at 2 pm – Claire Rosinkranz

    Saturday, Sept. 2 at 8 pm – Quinn XCII

    Sunday, Sept. 3 at 2 pm – Elvie Shane

    Sunday, Sept. 3 at 8 pm – Yung Gravy & bbno$

    Monday, Sept. 4 at 1 pm – Hairball

    Monday, Sept. 4 at 6 pm – Skid Row

  • Today’s Outfit To Promote Nostalgic New Single With Capitol Theatre Performance

    The anthemic rock musical trio Today’s Outfit has dropped a brand new single titled “Best Seats in the House” with a five-minute long music video to accompany the release. The band will be rocking their nostalgic sound on Saturday, August 12th at Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester!

    Since debuting two years ago at the Toonerville festival, the pandemic-formed band has opened for hard rock legends Living Colour, released an inaugural EP, and has built up an impressive reputation by frequently performing in New York City and throughout the greater New York region. The band is comprised of bassist Mark Garufi, drummer Grant Zacharias, and lead singer and keyboardist Andrew Wood, whose previously active band Bridges and Powerlines experienced runs on the CMJ top 200 radio charts.

    Although the band’s name may lead audiences to believe Today’s Outfit is all about using music to express ideas and sounds of the modern day, their inspiration and melodies work to contradict that. With their ’80s New Wave influenced keyboard instrumentals along with a ten-string bass bringing back the ’70s classic rock era, Today’s Outfit proves to be a trio that accepts how the past influences the present.

    Their new single, “Best Seats in the House,” comes from the band’s unreleased first full-length record titled It’s AlgoRhythmic!, set to be released this fall. The song itself has energetic vocals and instrumentals that transport listeners to the time of The Outfield and classics such as “Your Love” while the lyrics tell a familiar story about our ever-shrinking attention spans and the switch-cost effect. Although the video that accompanies the single is more or less underwhelming, showing the band play their music with various scenes at a theater, the impressive melodies including a rocking Moog solo along with the mix of past and present influences screams that Today’s Outfit deserves attention and their single is worth another listen.

    To be able to see them perform their new single live, get your tickets now for their upcoming show this Saturday, here. The doors of Garcia’s open at 7:00 PM and the toe tapping and head banging will begin at 8:00 PM!

  • The Orchestra Now at Bard College Announces 2023-2024 Season

    The Orchestra Now (TŌN) the far-sighted orchestra and master’s degree program founded by Bard College president, conductor, educator, and music historian Leon Botstein, announced its ninth season performances, happening from Sept. 16, 2023, through May 19, 2024.

    The Orchestra Now
    Conductor Leon Botstein and The Orchestra Now at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater on Sun 11-6-16. Photo by David DeNee.

    The Orchestra Now is a group of 59 vibrant young musicians from 13 different countries across the globe, including the United States, Austria, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, and more. The main mission of the orchestra is to make orchestral music relevant to 21st-century audiences by sharing unique personal insights in a welcoming environment. Hand-picked from the world’s leading conservatories—including the Yale School of Music, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Royal Academy of Music, and the New England Conservatory of Music—the members of TŌN give on-stage introductions and demonstrations, write concert notes from the musicians’ perspective, and have one-on-one discussions with patrons during intermissions.

    Conductor, educator, and music historian Leon Botstein founded TŌN in 2015 as a graduate program at Bard College, where he is also president. TŌN offers both a three-year master’s degree in Curatorial, Critical, and Performance Studies and a two-year advanced certificate in Orchestra Studies. The Orchestra’s home is the Frank Gehry-designed Fisher Center at Bard, where it performs multiple concerts each season and takes part in the annual Bard Music Festival. Dubbed by the HuffPost as “dramatic and intense,” TŌN performs regularly at venues like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and others across NYC and beyond.

    The Orchestra Now musicians-Zhenyuan Yao, Milad Daniari, Paul Nemeth, Michael Franz, and Jonathan Wisner. Photo by David DeNee.

    The Orchestra Now has also performed with many distinguished guest conductors and soloists, including Leonard Slatkin, Neeme Järvi, Gil Shaham, Fabio Luisi, Vadim Repin, Hans Graf, Peter Serkin, Gerard Schwarz, Tan Dun, and JoAnn Falletta. They are featured on several recordings, including Buried Alive with
    baritone Michael Nagy, released on Bridge Records in August 2020, which includes the first recording in almost 60 years, and only the second recording ever, of Othmar Schoeck’s song cycle Lebendig begraben.

    For the 2023-2024 season, TŌN offers 20 programs and a total of 27 concerts, including two at Carnegie Hall, three at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, one at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater, three free concerts at Manhattan’s Peter Norton Symphony Space and Bard College at Simon’s Rock, and six at the Orchestra’s home at Bard College’s Fisher Center. This year marks the seventh season of The Orchestra Now’s popular broadcast series on WMHT-FM, the classical music radio station of New York’s Capital Region. TŌN’s performances are also heard regularly on American Public Media’s Performance Today.

    As we approach the ninth successful season of TŌN, I am exceedingly proud of all we have accomplished since the Orchestra was launched in 2015. Since then, TŌN has performed a remarkable 668 works by 304 composers in 36 venues for more than 88,000 live and virtual concertgoers, with 320 soloists and 33 conductors. I am delighted to continue that impressive record in the 2023-24 season with three U.S premieres, an exploration of numerous undiscovered masterworks, and a roster of guest artists that range from Metropolitan Opera star Stephanie Blythe—Artistic Director of Bard Conservatory’s Vocal Arts Program—to rising young winners of Bard Conservatory Concerto Competitions.

    Leon Botstein.

    For more information about The Orchestra Now and to purchase tickets to the upcoming 2023-2024 season, visit here.

    Carnegie Hall Series

    Exodus: Jewish Composers in Exile
    Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023 at 7 p.m.
    The Orchestra’s Carnegie Hall series opens with Leon Botstein and the orchestra performing rarely heard works by Jewish composers written while they were in exile from their homelands during World War II. The program comprises Alexandre Tansman’s rhythmic Polish Rhapsody, inspired by the invasion of his homeland, the NYC premiere of Josef Tal’s dramatic Exodus, based on the Passover Haggadah, Walter Kaufmann’s Indian Symphony, written while in exile in Bombay, and Marcel Rubin’s melancholy Symphony No. 4, Dies irae, reflecting his experiences during the Second World War.

    The Orchestra Now
    Photo by David DeNee – Conductor Leon Botstein and The Orchestra Now at Carnegie Hall on Fri 5-13-16.

    Violinist as Composer
    Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 7 p.m.
    Leon Botstein spotlights four European virtuoso violinists who were also major composers in their respective countries but are not household names elsewhere today. The program includes Polish composer Grażyna Bacewicz’s contemplative Partita for Orchestra, Hungarian composer Joseph Joachim’s Variations for Violin and Orchestra, the New York City premiere of a recently discovered concerto by famed Belgian violinist and composer Eugène Ysaÿe, and the energetic and passionate Second Symphony of Romanian composer George Enescu.

    Rose Theatre

    Debussy’s Afternoon of a Faun

    Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 3 p.m.

    TŌN welcomes rising French conductor Chloé van Soeterstède, who has conducted orchestras around the globe, including the London and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras. Her program begins with one of Debussy’s most popular works, Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, inspired by a poem about the mythical creature and nymphs. Principal trombonist of the London Symphony Orchestra, Peter Moore, joins the orchestra for Dani Howard’s Trombone Concerto. The afternoon concludes with Rachmaninoff’s vibrant Symphonic Dances, the last piece he ever wrote, and his only work that was fully composed in the United States.

    Chloe van Soeterstede by Olivia da Costa.

    Sight & Sound series at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

    In the popular series Sight & Sound, Leon Botstein explores the parallels between orchestral music and the visual arts. Each program is accompanied by on-screen artworks and musical excerpts performed by The Orchestra Now, followed by a full performance and audience Q&A.

    Copland, Culture & Politics in the 1930s
    Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023 at 2 p.m.

    The 1930s were a time of political and social turmoil in the United States. Through the Dust Bowl and Great Depression, art and music aided the struggling nation’s search for identity and hope, depicting and publicizing the struggle of the era’s masses. Aaron Copland mixed everyday Americana tunes with classical music in an unprecedented way. His strict orchestral Statements for Orchestra, written at a time when the composer was becoming more politically active, and Wild-West ballet Billy the Kid both quote popular folk music of the day, earning him a reputation as the United States “populist” composer.

    The exhibition Art for the Millions: American Culture and Politics in the 1930s will be on view at The Met Fifth Avenue from Sept. 7–Dec. 10, 2023 in galleries 691–693.

    Debussy & Matisse: Creating New Colors

    Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 2 p.m.

    Artist Henri Matisse helped to revolutionize the visual arts in the first decades of the 20th century with experiments in a technicolor style that changed the course of French painting. In the same era Claude Debussy was rejecting classical German musical tradition, developing his own style of harmony and orchestral coloring that would strongly influence a wide range of composers for years to come. His expressive Images for Orchestra, which evokes English, Spanish, and French cultures, exemplifies the composer’s explorations in color and texture.

    Still, Johnson & the Harlem Renaissance
    Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 2 p.m.

    With the rise of new, urban Black communities both in NYC and abroad, the Harlem Renaissance became the first African-American-led movement of international modern art. With that art came developments in visual art, poetry, jazz, and concert music. William Grant Still’s dramatic Lenox Avenue, which was commissioned by CBS for a 1937 radio broadcast, was inspired by street scenes in Harlem. Meanwhile, his orchestration of James P. Johnson’s Yamekraw, A Negro Rhapsody, was a response to Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, capturing what the composer felt was a more “authentic” rhapsody about a black neighborhood in Savannah, Georgia.

    The exhibition Harlem Renaissance will be on view at The Met Fifth Avenue from Feb. 20–July 28, 2024, in Gallery 999.

    The Fisher Center Series at Bard

    The Orchestra Now, Bard’s orchestral masters, presents its ninth season of six different programs and 11 concerts. All performances will be livestreamed on TŌNtube.

    Two Sides of Vienna

    Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023 at 7 p.m.

    Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 at 2 p.m.

    Music Director Leon Botstein opens TŌN’s ninth season with a concert juxtaposing two distinct styles of Viennese music from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These include the vibrant and festive melodies of Franz Lehár and the Strauss brothers, and Mahler’s beautifully tragic Sixth Symphony. The concert opens with music from Lehár’s well-known 1905 operetta The Merry Widow, written in 1940 to celebrate the composer’s 70th birthday. This is followed by two dance pieces: Eduard Strauss’ train-themed polka Bahn frei!, and his brother Johann Jr.’s majestic Emperor Waltz. The program closes with a contrasting style from the same era, Mahler’s deeply personal Symphony No. 6.

    Leon Botstein by Matt-Dine.

    Jean-Marie Zeitouni Conducts

    Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 at 7 p.m.

    Celebrated Canadian conductor Jean-Marie Zeitouni makes his debut with TŌN in an all-French program, beginning with Saint-Saëns’ exuberant Bacchanale from his opera Samson et Dalila. Then mezzo-soprano Megan Moore, a co-founder of the Lynx Project who has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, performs Berlioz’s song cycle The Summer Nights. The program also includes Fauré’s music for the play Pelléas et Mélisande, and d’Indy’s soaring and lyrical Symphony on a French Mountain Air, featuring Bard College Conservatory faculty pianist Ryan MacEvoy McCullough.

    Stephanie Blythe Sings Brahms

    Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 at 7 p.m.

    Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024 at 3 p.m.

    Award-winning mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe, artistic director of Bard Conservatory’s Graduate Vocal Arts Program, joins TŌN for an all-Brahms concert. She performs his profound and dramatic Alto Rhapsody. The program also includes the sweeping cantata, Rinaldo, concluding with Brahms’ masterful First Symphony, which the composer toiled over for 14 years before its debut performance.

    Stephanie Blythe.

    Beethoven’s 6th & The Rite of Spring

    Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 7 p.m.

    Sunday, April 7, 2024 at 2 p.m.

    TŌN welcomes spring with three musical tributes to the vernal equinox. These include Egon Wellesz’s 1911 The Dawn of Spring, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, performed alongside members of the Bard College Conservatory Orchestra, and Beethoven’s lush Pastoral Sixth Symphony, echoing the composer’s love of nature.

    Free Concert Series

    These concerts are free, no tickets necessary, advance RSVP suggested. Check here for RSVP information.

    Schumann & Strauss

    Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023 at 4 p.m.

    Peter Norton Symphony Space

    TŌN Resident Conductor Zachary Schwartzman returns with the orchestra to Symphony Space for another free concert. The program comprises Barber’s overture The School for Scandal, Strauss’ powerfully evocative tone poem Death and Transfiguration, and Schumann’s intense and emotional Symphony No. 4.

    Zachary Schwartzman, photo by Jito Lee.

    Mendelssohn & Sibelius

    Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024 at 4 p.m.

    Peter Norton Symphony Space

    Zachary Schwartzman returns with the orchestra to Symphony Space for another free concert. The program comprises Mendelssohn’s fiery Ruy Blas Overture, Prokofiev’s masterful Violin Concerto No. 2 with soloist Yangxin Song, a winner of the 2022 Bard Conservatory Concerto Competition, and Sibelius’ voluptuous Symphony No. 1.

    Schumann’s Piano Concerto

    Sunday, March 3, 2024 at 3 p.m.

    Bard College at Simon’s Rock

    TŌN Assistant Conductor Andrés Rivas returns to Simon’s Rock for a free concert that includes Species of Motion by retiring music department chair Larry Wallach. The program also includes a performance of Schumann’s symphonic Piano Concerto, performed with Yilin Li, a winner of the 2022 Bard Conservatory Concerto Competition. 

  • Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros Confirm September Tour Dates

    Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros have recently confirmed that they will be performing select shows in Charlottesville, South Burlington, Columbus, Philadelphia and Baltimore this September. The group, led by Weir alongside Don Was, Jay Lane and Jeff Chimenti, will also be joining Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival 2023, making stops at venues throughout New York State, including Queens and Saratoga Springs.

    The band will once again be joined by The Wolfpack, a string and brass quintet featuring Alex Kelly, Brian Switzer, Adam Theis, Mads Tolling and Sheldon Brown, along with Barry Sless on pedal steel performing the expansive catalogue of Grateful Dead, Bobby’s solo albums and more.

    They will be joining Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival 2023 for seven shows this September, including Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, NY, Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs and more. They’ll also make their debut performance at the legendary Farm Aid in Noblesville, IN at Ruoff Music Center on September 23.

    About Bobby Weir & Wold Bros

    Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros have released two notable live albums, Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros: Live in Colorado followed by Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros: Live in Colorado Vol. 2. Both volumes feature songs recorded live at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in June 2021.

    Notably, the second volume received praise from Pitchfork who raved, “he stages some of the most beloved material in the Grateful Dead’s catalog with the passion and reverence of a couple spending their 50th anniversary looking back on their wedding day,” while American Songwriter said, “Weir and the Wolfs manage to stay true to the template while also taking the music beyond any original incarnation by reinventing them in ways that find imagination and intrigue well stirred in a contemporary context.”

    Weir also released Ace: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, an album which features one of the band’s most notable performances, a show at Radio City Music Hall in celebration of his debut solo album, Ace. The band played the entire album live and welcomed a number of special guests, including Tyler Childers and Brittney Spencer.

    The band debuted orchestral performances alongside the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, as well as three nights with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at the Atlanta Symphony Hall. Each night the ensemble performed a completely unique set featuring hits from the expansive Grateful Dead catalogue, Bobby’s solo albums and more. Stanford professor and composer Dr. Giancarlo Aquilanti provided original orchestration.

    The Members

    Bobby Weir, one of the original members of the iconic Grateful Dead, honored with a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007, stands out as one of the rock genre’s most exceptional and unique rhythm guitarists. The Grateful Dead is still one of the highest-grossing concert attractions in the U.S. and their final tally of 2,318 total concerts remains a world record. 

    Weir has been honored with the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Les Paul Spirit Award, as well as a Goodwill Ambassadorship for the United Nations Development Program. His first solo album in more than ten years, Blue Mountain (2016), was critically praised upon release.  Weir has been member of Dead & Company since its formation in 2015. Dead & Company has completed 10 tours and has performed to more than 4 million fans across 235 shows since the band’s debut.  Weir is also a member of Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros, who were formed in 2018.  The band set out performing the expansive catalogue of Grateful Dead, Bobby’s solo albums and more and has toured extensively throughout the U.S.

    Don Was is a GRAMMY-winning producer and founder of the ’80s funk-rock band Was (Not Was), known for hits such as “Walk The Dinosaur” and “Spy In The House Of Love.” As an in-demand, highly acclaimed producer, Was has been honored with four GRAMMY Awards for his production work in each of the past three decades, including Best Album honors for work with the Rolling Stones and Bonnie Raitt. Production credits include the Rolling Stones, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Gregg Allman, John Mayer and Neil Young.

    Albums produced by Was have achieved dozens of multi-Platinum, Platinum and Gold certifications and have sold more than 90 million copies worldwide. As one of music’s top bass players, Was has collaborated with countless musicians throughout his storied career, spanning a multitude of genres.

    Jay Lane is a longtime Weir collaborator and drummer who played with Weir’s RatDog for more than 16 years. He was also one of Primus’ first drummers and has recently performed with Phil Lesh and Friends as well as Dead & Company.

    Acclaimed keyboardist Jeff Chimenti has a long history of working with former members of the Grateful Dead having performed with Bob Weir & RatDog, The Dead and Furthur. He has been a member of Dead & Company since the band’s formation in 2015. In 2020, Jeff Chimenti joined the Wolf Bros.

    Tour Dates

    September 8—Park City Song Summit Festival—Park City, UT
    September 10—FirstBank Amphitheater—Franklin, TN*
    September 12—CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park—Simpsonville, SC*
    September 13—Ting Pavilion—Charlottesville, VA
    September 15—Saratoga Performing Arts Center—Saratoga Springs, NY*
    September 16—Xfinity Center—Mansfield, MA*
    September 17—Forest Hills—Queens, NY*
    September 19—The Green At Shelburne Museum—South Burlington, VT
    September 20—Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater—Bridgeport, CT*
    September 22—Pine Knob Music Theatre—Clarkston, MI*
    September 23—Farm Aid—Noblesville, IN
    September 26—Mershon Auditorium—Columbus, OH
    September 27—The Met Philadelphia—Philadelphia, PA
    September 28—Pier Six Pavilion—Baltimore, MD

    *Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival 2023

    Tickets and More Information

    Ticket sales began on July 21, and are currently available for purchase here. VIP packages will be available for the headline dates as well.

    For more information, please contact Samantha Tillman, Kate Rakvic or
    Carla Sacks at Sacks & Co., 212.741.1000, samantha.tillman@sacksco.com, kate.rakvic@sacksco.com or carla@sacksco.com.

  • Rochester’s Fivebyfive Unveils Its 2023-24 Slate Of Programming

    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.  

    1. Dreadlocked: Marc Mellits (6:58)

    2. Öldurót: Ólafur Arnalds (4:40)

    3. Pale as Centuries: Sarah Kirkland Snider (6:14)

    4. Lead Me Home: Brittany J. Green (5:56)

    5. Heavy: Evan Williams (9:42)

    6. Dreams of Glass and Water: Kari Telstad Sundet (6:56)

    7. …of breath and fire: Amy Nam (10:57)

    8. Tamboreño: Miguel del Aguila (7:10)

     Concerts with Pegasus Early Music/NYSBaroque

    “Old & New: Reflections of Sephardic Music”

    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.    

  • Stress Dolls Release New Single Ahead of Live Performance

    Buffalo artist Stress Dolls released a new single, “Body,” preceding a performance at Funk ‘N Waffles in Syracuse.

    Stress Dolls is the moniker of Chelsea O’Donnell, an alt/pop/rock artist from Buffalo. Originally the name of a band, O’Donnell adopted the Stress Dolls title for herself and decided to move to Nashville after the group split up in 2017.

    However, chronic health issues led to O’Donnell’s hospitalization less than a year later. After undergoing a feeding tube procedure, O’Donnell moved back to Buffalo, and after a period of recovery, began writing, performing, and recording again. Largely due to the tentative nature of her health, O’Donnell established Stress Dolls as a solo act in order to decrease stress and go at her own pace.

    During this time, O’Donnell wrote “Body.” The song is a reflection of O’Donnell’s complicated relationship with her body in the face of ongoing health concerns, including Crohn’s disease and gastroparesis.

    “I’m working on not pitting blame, or shame, on my body anymore, and through that practice I’ve realized that, really, the body is amazing.” O’Donnell said. “Mine withstood all of that anger, angst, stress, and physical anguish, and with some help, it found ways to heal. I’m learning to be a friend to my body instead of an opponent, and that’s making all the difference.”

    O’Donnell released “Body” as Stress Dolls on June 2. Stream the song on Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube, Soundcloud, or Tidal.

    Stress Dolls will also be performing at Funk ‘n Waffles in Syracuse on Sept. 2 with special guests Mimicking Mars and Amphette. Purchase tickets here.

  • SPAC Announces 2023-24 Spa Little Theatre Season

    Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) announced its 2023-24 Spa Little Theatre season. It will feature a robust slate of global, jazz, classical, and pop offerings. The announcement marks the continuation of SPAC’s year-round programming in the Spa Little Theatre.

    Spa Little Theatre New Season

    Highlighting the series are the SPAC debuts of Grammy-nominated mandolinist Avi Avital alongside accordionist Hanzhi Wang. Also featured is the all-female jazz ensemble säje. Moreover, other performances include contemporary world music virtuosos TISRA: Zakir Hussain With Debopriya Chatterjee and Sabir Kahn. Additionally, there will be appearances by the recently announced modern dance troupes Pilobolus and BalletX. The year-round residency by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will also continue with three special performances.

    The “Sounds of the Season” series will also return this December. It will feature a capella group Kings Return, trio Time for Three, and vocalist Kat Edmonson.

    BalletX.

    “While we have continued to expand our programming outside of the summer months in recent years, being able to inhabit the Spa Little Theatre year-round has opened up new possibilities for our year-round line-up of programming. Our 2023-24 season is a diverse and rich mix of incredible artistry offering everything from jazz to global to classical music along with full modern dance productions,” said SPAC President and CEO Elizabeth Sobol.

    Tickets for the 2023-24 Spa Little Theatre season will be available to purchase on Aug. 7 at 10 a.m. for members and Aug. 10 at 10 a.m. for the general public. Multi-ticket packages will also be available in selections of three or five programs (excluding Sounds of the Season) for a discount of 15% or 20%, respectively. Visit spac.org for details.

    2023 Fall Season

    Pilobolus- Sunday, October 8, 2023, | 2 PM & 7 PM

    Pilobolus’s show reminds us that play and creativity are fundamental to the human experience and that stories are alive and breathing. Stories can also teach, comfort, and connect us to ourselves and each other. Building on the success of their critically acclaimed Big Five-OH! Anniversary tour, Pilobolus moves confidently into the next half-century of creation and performance. Alongside groundbreaking new pieces, the company breathes new life into beloved works from the past to create an experience both timely and timeless.

    Avi Avital & Hanzhi Wang– Thursday, October 19, 2023, | 7 PM

    GRAMMY-nominated mandolinist Avi Avital will make his SPAC debut alongside star accordionist Hanzhi Wang, in a truly unique program that will showcase each artist’s incredible virtuosity. Avital is the first mandolin soloist ever nominated for a Grammy and has been heralded by The New York Times for his electrifying performances. Wang is a rising talent in the classical world, recently winning a roster spot with Young Concert Artists (YCA), the first accordionist ever to do so.

    Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: American Panorama– Saturday, October 28 | 7 PM

    Led by CMS Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han, this program will feature a roster of 13 musicians in a special performance of Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring along with works by Dvořák and American Composers Arthur Foote and Harry Burleigh.

    säje– Saturday, November 11 | 7 PM

    The GRAMMY® nominated vocal supergroup, säje, is the brainchild of vocalist/composers Sara Gazarek, Amanda Taylor, Johnaye Kendrick, and Erin Bentlage. Traversing a vast array of compelling original material, beloved jazz standards, and contemporary re-imaginings of artists such as The Bad Plus, YEBBA, and Björk, the all-female collective has demonstrated their devotion to thoughtful, sophisticated original compositions and heartfelt covers. Their highly anticipated debut album is expected to be released in the summer of 2023. It will feature new original work and compelling covers, highlighting collaborations with artists Jacob Collier, Ambrose Akinmusire, and more. 

    2023 Sounds of the Season

    Kings Return: We 4 Kings– Saturday, December 2 | 7 PM

    The Grammy-nominated Kings Return is back by popular demand following their SPAC debut last spring. The unique, harmonizing group turned internet sensation captures the essence of an old-school a cappella quartet with sounds inspired by gospel and R&B. Kings Return features tenor Vaughn Faison, bass Gabe Kunda, tenor JE McKissic, and baritone Jamall Williams. Their We 4 Kings program features pop, classical, and religious holiday classics. It also reinterprets modern and classic pop, soul, R&B, gospel, jazz, and sacred music.

    Time for Three: Home for the Holidays– Saturday, December 9 | 7 PM

    Defying convention and boundaries, Time For Three stands at the busy intersection of Americana, modern pop, and classical music. The trio featuring Charles Yang, Nicolas Kendall, and Ranaan Meyer, will present arrangements of Joni Mitchell, Led Zeppelin, and more. Additionally, they will also present special arrangements of holiday favorites.

    Kat Edmonson: Holiday Swingin’!– Sunday, December 17 | 4 PM

    Kat Edmonson is an award-winning songwriter and singer “with an equal foothold in jazz, cabaret, and vintage cosmopolitanism pop” (The New York Times). The songwriter and her band will perform Yuletide favorites along with Kat’s originals for a magical holiday evening celebration.

    2024 Spring Season

    Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: Instrumental Array– Saturday, March 9 | 7 PM

    In a celebration of instrumental odd couples, three duo teams highlight the extremes of possibility for their ensembles. Maurice Duruflé’s post-Romantic trio augments the duo format. All join for the concluding Septet by virtuoso pianist Johann Hummel, who was a pupil of Mozart and Haydn and was admired by Beethoven.

    BalletX– Saturday, March 16 | 7 PM and Sunday, March 17 | 2 PM

    Led by Artistic and Executive Director Christine Cox, BalletX creates extraordinary dance experiences that inspire human connection through live performances, dance education in Philadelphia public schools, free community pop-ups, and more. The company also offers free community pop-ups, dance classes, artist Q&As, open rehearsals, and in-school dance education.

    TISRA: Zakir Hussain With Debopriya Chatterjee and Sabir Kahn– Saturday, March 23 | 7 PM

    The pre-eminent classical tabla virtuoso of our time, Zakir Hussain is appreciated both in the field of percussion and in the music world at large as an international phenomenon. Hussain will lead his ensemble TISRA (three) with two of India’s finest young musicians, Sabir Khan and Debopriya Chatterjee. Showcasing rich folk and classical traditions, this unique trio is comprised of tabla, sarangi, and bansuri (bamboo flute). This colorful mix, combined with Indian classical music and the rich rhythm repertoire of Punjab, makes for a compelling program.

    Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: Wu Han, David Finckel, and Chad Hoopes– Saturday, May 11 | 7 PM 

    Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Artistic Directors Wu Han and David Finckel return to end the season with guest violinist Chad Hoopes.

  • Jazz Is Dead To Visit Patchogue Theatre in November

    Jazz Is Dead is set to continue its 25th Anniversary Tour with the “Darkness Falls & Seasons Change” Tour which includes a stop at Patchogue Theatre on Nov. 29. Renowned for creative and intricate jazz interpretations of Grateful Dead songs, Jazz is Dead will also finish off its commemoration of Wake of the Flood with several shows in August. 

    Created in 1998 by former Santana and Weather Report bassist Alphonso Johnson, the group has released four albums throughout its lifespan. Johnson is joined by Steve Kimock (guitar), Pete Lavezzoli (drums), and Bobby Lee Rodgers (guitar). Together, the group not only expertly honors the artistic tradition of The Dead, but also reinvents classic tracks to provide an unparalleled listening experience. 

    In familiar Dead fashion, Jazz Is Dead looks to put together varied, unique, and diverse set lists for each performance as part of Wake of the Flood. The tour will feature two performances at each venue, with shows starting back up on August 1 in San Francisco, California. 

    The “Darkness Falls and Season Change” Tour is set to feature 13 shows, opening on Nov. 29 in Patchogue and closing on Dec. 15 in Columbia, South Carolina. Visit here for more details and information.

    Upcoming Shows

    ’The Days Between’ and Beyond….

    8.1 & 8.2  Great American Music Hall – San Francisco CA

    8.4 & 8.5 The Hamilton – Washington DC

    8.6   Big Top – St Louis MO

    8.8. & 8.9  WOW Hall – Eugene OR

    8.11 & 8.12 Alberta Rose Theatre – Portland OR

    8.13.23  The Crocodile – Seattle WA

     ‘Darkness Falls & Seasons Change’ Tour…

    11.29  Patchogue Theatre – Patchogue NY

    11.30  Newton Theater – Newton NJ

    12.1   XL Live – Harrisburg PA

    12.2  Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall – Pittsburgh PA

    12.3  House of Blues – Cleveland OH

    12.5  Memorial Hall – Cincinnati OH

    12.6  Mercury Ballroom – Louisville KY

    12.7  Egyptian Room at Old National Centre – Indianapolis IN

    12.8  Copernicus Center – Chicago IL

    12.10 Queen Elizabeth Theatre (QET) – Toronto (CAN)

    12.13  Minglewood Hall – Memphis TN

    12.14  Iron City Bham – Birmingham AL

    12.15  The Senate – Columbia SC

  • Rockin For Ronald Benefit Concert Comes to Shepard Park, With Skeeter Creek, The Accents, and More

    Seven great bands will perform for free from Aug. 3-5 at Shepard Park in Lake George for the Rockin For Ronald Benefit Concert supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities.

    The benefit shows will help Krantz Cottage, the Ronald McDonald Family Retreat location. It is for families whose children are experiencing serious illnesses and can house up to two families at a time for stays as long as five days.

    Two bands will perform on Thursday and Friday and three on Saturday. Admission to all shows is free, and vendors will be on hand with beverages and food for sale. Kicking off the event on Aug. 3 from 6-7:10 p.m. is Across the Pond, who has been performing the music of The Beatles in the Northeast since 2008. Also performing from 7:30-9:30 are The Accents, a high-energy dance band that has been a staple in the Capital Region for many years. Featuring three powerhouse vocalists, a dynamic rhythm section, and powerful horns, they cover all your favorite Motown, dance, pop, and classic rock songs. They are also one of the first groups to be inducted into the Capital Region Thomas Edison Music
    Hall of Fame and to be nominated for top dance band. Following the music is a spectacular fireworks show.

    The next day, Aug. 4, starts from 6-7:10 p.m. with The Newells, a family band that includes well-known keyboard/guitar player and vocalist Jonathan Newell, his wife Jennifer, their teenage sons Brandon and Evan, and a great rhythm section. They cover music from the 60s-80s, including music by Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Hornsby, and 10,000 Maniacs. Ending the night from 7:30-9:30 p.m. is Skeeter Creek, a five-piece Americana band blending their variants of country, folk, bluegrass, and rock, ranked among the best of the new and upcoming alternative artists. They have each toured with some of the biggest names in the industry and won several awards.

    Skeeter Creek.

    The final day, Aug. 5, has three acts, starting from 4-5:40 p.m. with The Schmooze. The band has been one of the region’s premier party bands for the past two decades, getting the party rocking with their versions of rock, pop, dance, and country hits that will have the crowd dancing and singing along. The Ultimates, a fairly new band from Saratoga, plays from 6-7:10 p.m., featuring members from Bad Cheaperones and Dealt the Blues.

    Ending the Rockin For Ronald benefit concert is Classic Rock Legends Live in Concert from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Formed by Albany native Gary Weinlein, the performance includes him as the Doors’ Jim Morrison, as well as recreates the music, the look, and the energy of the British Invasion (Eric Clapton) and American rock legends (Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks and Ann Wilson of Heart).