Category: Upcoming Shows

  • Drom NYC Hosting Earthquake Relief Concerts On February 18 And February 19

    Two earthquake relief concerts for Turkey and Syria will be presented in New York venue Drom. Over thirty Turkish, Syrian, and local musicians will perform on February 18th and 19th. The tickets will be used for funding for supporting Syria and Turkey.
     

    Earthquake Relief Concerts For Turkey and Syria

    In light of the 7.8 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes which South- Eastern Turkey and Syria, Drom is hosting two earthquake relief concerts, gathering nearly 40 musicians from Turkey, Syria, Tunisia, Macedonia, Armenia, Palestine, Greece, Israel, Venezuela and many more countries to help raise funds for those effected by this tragedy.

    It has received supports from the artist community and raised over $10,000 in ticket sales in less than three days since launching the campaign. The organizers hope to double it by the time of the fundraiser.
     

    “All of us at Drom are devastated by the unimaginable and heartbreaking pictures we see on TV and online. Even if we are thousands miles apart we wanted people in need to know we are here to help during this difficult time.”  

    Serdar Ilhan

    All of Ticket Proceeds benefit Turkish Philanthropy Funds and Basmeh Zeitooneh, a registered non- governmental organization working in Syria and Turkey. Presence and donation could be great help with multiplying the numbers and raising more for those in need. With over 30,000 lives claimed and more under the rubble, the people in Turkey and Syria are need help and support from communities across the world.

    For more information about the earthquake relief concerts, please check their website.

  • Cohoes Music Hall Announces Four New Events

    The historic Cohoes Music Hall has announced the addition of four new events to their events calendar. Comedians, magicians and musicians will add to Cohoes Music Hall’s already diverse schedule, with something for audiences of all ages.

    Cohoes Music Hall originally opened in 1874 where it served as the regions premier music and entertainment hall. Acts like Buffalo Bill Cody, John Philip Sousa, P.T. Barnum, and General Tom Thumb passed through the hall until its closure in 1905. After a million dollar restoration, the Hall reopened in 1975, 100 years after its original opening. Since the reopening, it has been the home to various theater groups, comedy shows, and live concerts and it remains the 4th oldest operational music hall in the United States.

    New Events

    The Great Van Alden ft. Eric Mead – Friday March 3rd

    A one-of-a-kind experience takes the stage, promising its audience a peek behind the curtain at the magic of filmmaking (literally). When world-class magician Eric Mead offered to play the titular role of the famous illusionist in their new film “Anomaly”, local filmmakers Spencer Sherry (Stephen King’s The Monkey) and Rahn Jenkins immediately thought of The Cohoes Music Hall as the perfect theatre location to shoot in. The filmmakers then saw an opportunity to forgo the traditional crowdfunding structure in favor of a unique and singular event that helps to fund the film, while also inviting the community to portray much-needed audience extras.

    Ticket holders will be directed from stage as the Emmy-winning members of the production team will film Eric Mead in character engaging with the audience in character. Other entertainers will weave seamlessly between the takes, performing mentalism, illusions, and comedy. All the while, local artist Lexi Hannah will be creating a live painting of the event, which will be auctioned off upon its completion. Overall, the experience has been designed as a non-stop variety show of different art forms, all in support of a truly magical opportunity for the local arts scene. All proceeds will go towards completing the film and paying the local cast and crew for their work on the production.

    Melvin Seals & JGB – Saturday April 8th

    Melvin Seals has been a powerful presence in the music industry for over 30 years with a long-established reputation as a performer, recording artist and producer. Melvin is most revered for his powerful, high-spirited, Hammond B-3 organ, and keyboards in the Jerry Garcia Band. Melvin spun his B-3 magic with the Jerry Garcia Band for 18 years and in doing so helped pioneer and define what has now become “Jam Band Music”. From blues to funk to rock to jazz, Melvin Seals serves up a tasty mix with a little R&B and gospel thrown in to spice things up.

    Jimmy Dore – Saturday June 10th

    The Jimmy Dore Show is a comedy lifeline for people on the left and right (but definitely NOT the center) who are sick of bought politicians and gaslighting corporate journalists manufacturing consent for wars. A certified YouTube sensation, The Jimmy Dore Show boasts over 530 million views and over 1 million subscribers.

    Don’t Iron While The Strike Is Hot – Saturday June 17th

    The musical Don’t Iron While the Strike is Hot! tells the fascinating story of how a group of courageous and mostly Irish young women won the strike by their determination and the support of the local Iron Molders Union.  Through storytelling enhanced with traditional Irish music and dance, the show demonstrates how they set the example for thousands of women workers who would form unions in the following years across America in order to improve their wages and working conditions.

    For a full schedule of events, and to purchase tickets, visit Cohoes Music Hall’s website.

  • Opera Saratoga Names Mary Birnbaum Artistic and General Director

    On Feb. 9, Opera Saratoga’s board of directors named Mary Birnbaum their new general and artistic director. Birnbaum succeeds Lawrence Edelson, whose eight-year tenure concluded at the end of the 2022 season. The 10th general director in Opera Saratoga’s history, Birnbaum’s hiring comes ahead of the summer 2023 season.

    Credit: http://www.marybirnbaum.com/about

    “We are incredibly excited and honored to have Mary Birnbaum join Opera Saratoga. She was selected after an extensive nationwide search, in which we interviewed many highly qualified candidates. Mary’s level of enthusiasm and love of opera are infectious and I am certain she will be an inspirational leader for the company as well as an integral part of the Saratoga Springs community,” said Board President Steve Rosenblum.

    Other than her hiring at Opera Saratoga, Birnbaum teaches acting for singers as the Dramatic Advisor to the Masters of Music and Graduate Diploma Program at Juilliard. Birnhaum will main her position at Juilliard in addition to her role at Opera Saratoga. Birnbaum has worked both internationally, from Taiwan (Otello) to Australia and Israel, and across the U.S.

    “I am thrilled to accept the position of General and Artistic Director of Opera Saratoga and look forward to collaborating with the talented staff and superior board of directors to bring exceptional music theater to Saratoga Springs and the surrounding communities,” Birnbaum said.

    Fans can meet Birnbaum this summer, during the 2023 festival season. Her introduction to the public will happen on Thursday, June 8, 2023, at the Saratoga National Golf Club.

    Opera Saratoga started under the name Lake George Opera Festival on July 5, 1962. Its first production was Die Fledermaus at the Diamond Point Theatre. The company now calls Saratoga Springs home and has put on productions for more than 25,000 people annually.

    Shortly after Birnbaum’s introduction, Opera Saratoga’s summer festival will begin Friday, June 30, and continue until Sunday, July 9. Curated by Managing Director Amanda Robie, Don Pasquale, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, and The Selfish Giant, are among the acts set to perform. Tickets can be purchased through www.operasaratoga.org.

  • Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Announces Chamber Series Performance

    The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra has announced the launch of its Chamber Series on Sunday, Feb.
    26, as part of their 47th season.

    The Featured Performers

    The performance will include pieces by Beethoven and Brahms, a program featuring Concertmaster Christina Bouey, Principal Cellist Rosemary Elliott, violinist Anthony Bracewell and guest artist, pianist Vadim Serebryany. The program will feature Beethoven’s lush and lyrically expansive String Trio in E-flat
    and Brahms’ majestic and emotionally turbulent Piano Quartet No. 3.

    It is a privilege to be preparing the Brahms Piano Quartet for a performance with
    beloved colleagues and friends, Tina, Anthony and Vadim. The slow movement is
    a true gem. From the dark, brooding landscape of c minor Brahms transports us
    to e major and a world of serenity and beauty. As I prepare to perform this
    miraculous movement (which starts with a cello solo!) I am reminded of all that
    is good in life, even amidst the suffering of so many in the world.

    Principal Cellist Rosemary Elliott

    The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra’s mission lies in its professional excellence, vibrant performances, community education, and passion for transformation through music. The Orchestra is devoted to fostering artistic life in the Ithaca and Finger Lakes regions of New York State.

    The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra has a strong commitment to serving its community in a variety of ways. An annual Family Series of concerts (all free admission) was added in 2013. In 2015, the CCO received the national honor of a Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award for the comprehensive school program that reaches over 800 elementary students each year. In 2017, the CCO added a Youth Orchestra program for advanced student musicians that currently has 57 members. In 2019, the first Diversity Fellowships were established to create opportunities for college music majors from underrepresented minority communities. Through partnerships with Longview and Kendal, CCO musicians enjoy regular opportunities to perform for and interact with the senior communities in the Ithaca region.

    Tickets may be purchased by phone, at the door, or at the orchestra’s website

  • E.R.I.E. Share New Indie Single “World is on Fire” off upcoming “Suburban Mayhem” album

    Capital Region indie-rock quartet E.R.I.E. have announced their new full-length record, Suburban Mayhem, arriving April 7th. Alongside the announcement, the band has shared the evocative new single “World is On Fire.” featuring friend Sydney Worthley from their local scene. 

    E.R.I.E. Shares New Indie Single “World is on Fire” 

    Vocalist/guitarist TJ Foster says, “Having Sydney lend her talents to this track was simply incredible. The embellishments she added really took the song to the next level, and we’re so honored to call her a friend. The song itself is about watching ourselves slowly destroy our planet and ruminating on how much more we all could be doing just on a small scale. But at the end of the day, it’s sadly just so much easier to change nothing and assume someone else will swoop in and fix our problems instead.” 

    E.R.I.E. consists of guitarist Matt Delgado, drummer Chad Flewwelling and bassist Levi Jennes. The band spent most of 2022 self-recording their sophomore full-length, yielding 12 nostalgia-tinged songs in the distinct style that the band affectionately describes as Tom Petty cosplaying as blink-182. The band’s sound has a “crunching guitars, catchy choruses and a down-to-earth, working-class vibe that recalls modern heartland punk rock…” (Daily Gazette). 

    E.R.I.E. Shares New Indie Single “World is on Fire” 

    The lead single “Can’t Stop Runnin’’ showcases the band exploring these more Springsteen-esque elements perfectly, whereas album highlight ‘Bad Man’s World’ is a pop-rock anthem tailormade for dominating the airwaves.   

    All the while, the band has solidified themselves as one of the most reliable and entertaining live acts in the greater Albany music scene. Combined with the consistently strong Suburban Mayhem has E.R.I.E. poised to quickly become a suburban success story. 

    Sydney Worthley is a singer-songwriter at heart, pulling inspiration from Phoebe Bridgers and Taylor Swift. At the age of 17, she released “Rose Colored Glasses” amongst an unforeseen pandemic. Coming of age, long lost connections, and learning from past haunting mistakes are all themes of her 2020 project. Vito Ciccarelli, WVCR radio personality said she’s an “Amazing talent, wonderful songwriter, and an engaging young lady. Having worked with many young acts over the years, I see her achieving great things in the future.”

    Upcoming Tour Dates: 

    Feb 16 – New York, NY @ The Delancey 

    Feb 17 – Shelton, CT @ Black Barrel Records 

    Mar 18 – Albany, NY @ Lark Hall 

    Stream “World is On Fire” here.

    Pre-save Suburban Mayhem here.

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

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

    moe brooklyn bowl

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

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

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

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

  • Jack Kleinsinger Presents Highlights in Jazz at BMCC Tribeca PAC

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

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

    Photo credit: Highlights in Jazz

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Proctors Collaborative Announces Global Music Passport Series

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

    Proctors Passport Series

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

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

    Dervish

    Passport Series

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

    Tiempo Libre Proctors Passport Series

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

    Aynur Proctors Passport Series

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

    ADG7

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

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

  • Jones Beach and Bethel Woods Welcome Joe Bonamassa and Friends this Summer

    Three-time Grammy-nominated guitarist and 25x Billboard chart-topper Joe Bonamassa announced on February 6 that his tour will be coming to New York this summer, and is scheduled to perform at Jones Beach on August 12th and the Bethel Woods Center on August 13. The two-night performance is part of a concert series, Keeping the Blues Alive presents: Joe Bonamassa and Friends.”

    Also joining Bonamassa in concert are the rock band Styx, and former Eagles lead guitarist Don Felder. In line with its inaugural event last year, the concert series will feature individual performances from each act. The final act features a jaw-dropping encore with members from all three bands.

    On a related note, Bonamassa is currently preparing for his spring 2023 tour. The tour starts Feb. 15 in Charleston, West Virginia, and continues through the Midwest and East Coast. Bonamassa will conclude his tour with the sold-out Keeping The Blues Alive at Sea VIII, scheduled for March 13-17, departing from Miami, Florida to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

    Prior to his Jones Beach and Bethel Woods Center shows, Bonamassa is scheduled to perform at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre on Feb. 28

    Originating in Chicago, Styx is comprised of six members, James “JY” Young (lead vocals, guitars), Tommy Shaw (lead vocals, guitars), Chuck Panozzo (bass, vocals), Todd Sucherman (drums, percussion), Lawrence Gowan (lead vocals, keyboards), Ricky Phillips (bass, guitar, vocals), and ‘Crash Of The Crown’ producer and co-writer Will Evankovich (guitars.) Their career spans over 50 years, with their anonymous first album debuting in 1972. The band released its 17th album, Crash of the Crown, in June 2021 through their label Alpha Dog 2T/UMe.

    Born in Gainesville, Florida, Felder got his big break after the release of the Eagles’ third studio album, On the Border, in 1974. It was Felder’s first record with the Eagles, remaining with them until 2001. While he was still a member of the band, Felder released his debut solo record, Airbourne, in 1983. Further, in 1998, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Eagles. On his own, Felder was inaugurated into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville in 2016 and the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2017.

    joe bonamassa jones beach bethel woods
    Bonamassa in concert

    Born in New Hartford, NY, and raised in Utica, Bonamassa rose to fame in 2000 with the release of his debut record, A New Day Yesterday. In 2020, Bonamassa created his independent record label, Keeping the Blues Alive Records, which promotes and supports the talent of musicians. Similarly, he also runs the 501(c)(3) non-profit Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation.

    His fifteenth and most recent record, Time Clocks, was released in Oct. 2021 by J&R Adventures. In support of his latest album, Bonamassa recorded a live concert film, Tales Of Time, in Aug. 2022, scheduled for worldwide release on April 14, by Bonamassa’s J&R Adventures in CD/DVD, CD/BR, vinyl, and digital formats.

    Tickets for Joe Bonamassa at Jones Beach and Bethel Woods, and all other shows, go on sale Friday, Feb. 10, beginning at 10 a.m.

    Joe Bonamassa U.S. Tour 2023
    Feb. 15 – Clay Center – Charleston, WV
    Feb. 17 – Playhouse Square – Cleveland, OH           
    Feb. 18 – Riverside Theater – Milwaukee, WI
    Feb. 20 – The Orpheum Theater – Madison, WI
    Feb. 22 – Peoria Civic Center Theater – Peoria, IL
    Feb. 24 – DeVos Performance Hall – Grand Rapids, MI
    Feb. 25 – Morris Performing Arts Center – South Bend, IN          
    Feb. 28 – Shea’s Buffalo Theatre – Buffalo, NY                           
    March 1 – Benedum Center – Pittsburgh, PA
    March 3  – Ovens Auditorium – Charlotte, NC
    March 4 – Fox Theatre – Atlanta, GA
    March 5 – Soldiers And Sailors Memorial Auditorium – Chattanooga, TN                   
    March 7 – Montgomery Performing Arts Centre – Montgomery, AL
    March 8 – Saenger Theatre – New Orleans, LA
    March 10 – The King Center – Melbourne, FL
    March 11 – The St. Augustine Amphitheatre – St. Augustine, FL
    March 13-17 – Keeping The Blues Alive at Sea VIII – Miami, FL
    August 12 – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh, NY *
    August 13 – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts – Bethel, NY *

     
    * Keeping the Blues Alive presents: Joe Bonamassa & Friends: Styx and Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles

  • Garcia’s to Celebrate the Life of Music Legend Michael Winters with Tribute Concert

    On April 16, Garcia’s in Port Chester will celebrate the life of music legend, Michael Winters with a tribute concert.

    Michael Winters

    Winters, the former Operations & House Manager of The Capitol Theatre and a crucial figure of the New York live music scene, passed away 5 years ago on July 1, 2018. To commemorate his life and legacy, this tribute concert will be held on Sunday, April 16 at 4:20PM, on a day before what would have been his 57th birthday.

    Friends and staff of The Capitol Theatre have organized the event to celebrate the life of Mike rather than his departure. Mike, who was often referred to as “the heart and soul of The Cap,” had an invaluable impact on the theater, where he is credited with helping to name the lobby bar Garcia’s, before retiring after five years. Before his time at The Capitol Theatre, Mike and his brother, Brad, were partners in Manny’s Car Wash, a renowned blues club in Manhattan.

    Mike’s love for music began at the age of 12 when his brother and sister took him to see Frank Zappa on Halloween. His passion for music continued to be fueled by bands like the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers Band. The tribute concert, named “With the Gold of Sunshine” after his favorite Grateful Dead song, “Ripple,” will feature performances by local Grateful Dead-inspired bands Grateful BRO and Dead Meat. The proceeds from the event will be donated to Songcatchers, a charity dedicated to fostering the next generation of music fans by providing affordable music education.

    Songcatchers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has provided accessible, affordable, and high-quality music education and experiences to children and families for over 40 years. Programs bring music into children’s lives, fostering a lifelong appreciation of the arts. Leadership development is a hallmark of all Songcatchers programs; youth serve as aides, instructors and counselors, and are mentored by professional musicians and music educators. The goal of “Reaching for Peace Through Music” is realized with the belief that all children deserve the chance to learn music and to see the beauty of each other through the arts.

    “When Mike worked at the Cap, everyone was so kind, they were a tight knit crew and became the original Capitol Family. After his passing, they have continued to make me feel like part of the Cap Fam.” said his wife, Lara Winters. “It truly means the world to me that he had such a positive impact on the many he touched and that his memory will be honored with love in a meaningful way.”

    Join friends, staff and family for an evening of music, friendship, and giving back to the music community as we celebrate the life of Michael Winters. The event will also feature a charity auction and raffle including a collection of music memorabilia. Friends are encouraged to bring a photograph of Mike for the memorial display board.

    Tickets can be purchased online here.