Venezualachian music duo Larry & Joe are headed to Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs on Wednesday, January 25 as part of their first ever tour to the Northeast.
Duo Larry & Joe
Larry & Joe is the latest project of Joe Troop, founder and bandleader of former GRAMMY-nominated Latingrass ensemble Che Apalache, and Larry Bellorín, a powerhouse of Llanera music who’s also an asylum-seeking migrant.
Currently based in the Triangle of North Carolina, both men are versatile multi-instrumentalists and singer-songwriters on a mission to show that music has no borders. These two will bring their unique fusion of Venezuelan and Appalachian folk music to the Capital Region, with an electric show that is sure to be a treat for all ages. The duo fuse their respective Venezuelan and Appalachian folk traditions (hence, Venezualachian) on the harp, banjo, cuatro, fiddle, upright bass, guitar, and maracas. Their bilingual program will include storytelling, humor, and singalongs. This show will feature both distinct blend of their musical traditions as well as storytelling about the ways that music and social movements coalesce.
Fusion Duo Larry & Joe
Tickets are $20 for general admission, $18 for members, $10 for students and children, and $5 for livestream. Tickets available on Eventbrite and at the door. Doors for seating open at 7 pm, show begins at 7:30 pm. All ages encouraged to attend. For more information, visit www.larryandjoe.com
On Sunday, January 29, The Schenectady Symphony Orchestra will return to the main stage at Proctors with Philip Edward Fisher joining.
The performance will encompass illustrious pianist Philip Edward Fisher in Mozart’s “Piano Concerto in D Minor, along with Rossini’s “Overture to the Barber of Seville,” Salieri’s Sinfonia in D Major and Brahms “Variations on a Theme by Haydn.” Fisher’s first collaboration with SSO was during their 20-21 virtual concert season, which resulted in him being featured by the “Back to Basics” program.
Philip Edward Fisher began his music journey at the age of nine and made his first public appearance a year later. At age twelve, he performed “Shostakovich’s Second Concerto at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall”. Years later Fisher acquired degrees from the Royal Academy of Music and the Juilliard School, studying with Christopher Elton, Joseph Kalichstein, and Jerome Lowenthal.
When questioned about what audience members can expect from the upcoming concert, Fisher stated “This is a wonderful program and, although it is centered around the ‘great classicists,’ the audience will get a true taste of the move towards romanticism and the way in which each of these great composers influenced the music that would follow them.” Regarding his opinion about reuniting with The Schenectady Symphony Orchestra, Fisher said, “My first appearance with the orchestra was actually one of my very first performances during the COVID crisis… so I am particularly excited to return and play for a live audience. As enjoyable and fulfilling as the virtual concert was, there is simply nothing that can replace the thrill of making music for a live audience!”
Philip is globally acknowledged as a unique performer of urbane style and exceptional versatility. Touring as a prolific soloist and ensemble musician has allowed Fisher to travel from his home in the United Kingdom to Italy, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Switzerland, Norway, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Japan, Ukraine, and the United States.
Tickets are on sale and available through the Box Office at Proctors, or via phone at 518-346-6204. Tickets are also available online at www.proctors.org.
Legendary musician Bruce Hornsby will perform at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on Thursday, March 23rd.
Originally from Williamsburg, VA, Hornsby first rose to national prominence with “The Way It Is”, his 1986 Grammy-winning debut album with The Range. The title track became the most-played song on American radio in 1987 while Tupac Shakur’s timeless song “Changes” builds on “The Way It Is” and set the stage for many subsequent versions of the track.
In 1991 Hornsby collaborated with Bonnie Raitt, playing on her iconic hit “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” Additionally, Hornsby was a part-time member of the Grateful Dead from September 1990 to March 1992, performing over 100 concerts in America and Europe.
The 13-time Grammy nominee has also solidified his status as a highly sought-after collaborator. Hornsby’s own 23 albums have sold over 11 million copies worldwide, and he has appeared on over 100 records including releases. His most recent studio album, ‘Flicted, was released this past May.
Read our review of Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers at Beak and Skiff Orchards in Lafayette, NY on June 16, 2021.
CNY Jazz will bring the 2023 Black History Month Cabaret with Althea Rene and Jeanette Harris to Syracuse on Sunday February 26th.
The roof of the Marriott Syracuse Downtown’s Finger Lakes Ballroom will host a 5:00 p.m. concert performance. This event will also include honoring the 2023 Pioneer Public Service Award to George Kilpatrick, media pioneer and community affairs activist.
Althea Rene and Jeanette Harris
Established in 1998, CNY Jazz Central provides scholastic and public jazz programs for the Upstate New York. Their annual performances are more than 150 to a total annual audience of 50,000. Besides their shows of all kinds at their Jazz Central theater in downtown Syracuse, they present handful festivals and concerts including the Northeast Jazz & Wine Fest and Jazz in the City; the CNY Jazz Cabaret Series, a busy arts-in-education service, the SummerJazz Workshop, the Jazz at Timber Banks and Jazz On Tap Series, and other events in summer.
Detroit-born flutist Althea Rene, is known as a Motown music legacy, daughter of Dezie McCullers of the original Funk Brothers. She gained musical inspiration from her father and released her hit CD titled “In the Flow” in May 2013 collaborating with Grammy award-winning producer Michael Broening.
California-native saxophonist Jeanette Harris is an instrumentalist and songwriter who played saxophone and piano from grade school to high schoo. She won numerous awards and accolades, which led to her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Performance in Berklee College of Music in Boston. Furthermore, she has co-written hits with Norman Brown and Gerald Albright, with international touring experience with the legendary Teena Marie. Both artists log many thousands of miles annually, appearing in festivals and clubs worldwide.
Dubbed the “Queens of Soul Jazz”, the combination of Althea Rene and Jeanette Harris is a rare all-female smooth jazz double bill. They are a different take on collaboration and do not only perform together as artist. It is not their first collaboration and they have performed “We Are One” in 2019.
“This by far the most groundbreaking duo we’ve ever presented to honor Black History Month and the powerful legacy of Black America’s music. Rene and Harris are pioneers in every way as jazz instrumentalists, singers, and songwriters, inspiring a new generation who thought it couldn’t be done. They’re already stars, and will become superstars in soul jazz for the 21st century. Come see history in the making for yourself.”
Larry Luttinger
The other event is the awarding this year’s Pioneer Public Service Award to George Kilpatrick who is the radio and television host for iHeart Radio and WCNY. He is widely known across Upstate New York as the “progressive voice” of regional media, tireless community advocate, spokesperson for Syracuse Community Health Jazz in the City public health concert series, and founder of Syracuse’s Juneteenth celebration.
CNY Jazz supporters Bill and Nancy Byrne have again graciously underwritten the buffet for the event, offered at no extra cost to all attendees.
The concert will be hold at Marriott Syracuse Downtown, 100 E Onondaga St, Syracuse on Sunday February 26th. Doors open at 4:00 p.m. and the show starts at 5:00 p.m. $35 advance sale tickets include a free buffet and are now available, $40 at the door at here. Parking is available in the garage directly to the southeast of the hotel. Patrons are cautioned that the former Hotel Syracuse garage no longer connects to the hotel via the overhead walkway.
Tannery Pond Center, located in the southern Adirondack town of North Creek, will host American Rootsenanny on Sunday, January 15, featuring three exciting American Newgrass bands: Ragged Company, Keanan Stark & Orion Stark, and Sugar & The Tree.
Ragged Company is a Saratoga Springs based trio is a viola, and two guitar group with all three artists on vocals performing in a folk, rock and roots style music. Keanan Stark & Orion Kribs are an Adirondack duo have brought their blend of modern yet classically old-timey sounds to many appreciative audiences in the Northeast and beyond.
Keanen Stark plays guitar, harmonica, and banjo and Orion Kribs plays mandolin and guitar. Each a capable lead vocalist, Stark and Kribs swap old-timey folk, blues, bluegrass, and classic americana tunes, and dabble at entertaining endless other influences and flights of fancy. Sugar & The Tree is a Roots, Americana duo featuring the songs of Heather Richards & Marc Clayton. The duo will be joined by a 5-piece band.
Underwritten by the Glenn and Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foundation, “Dedicated to improving the quality of life for year-round residents of the Adirondack Park”.
Tannery Pond Center features a full schedule of arts programming, including exhibits of original art, musical concerts and performances, as well as workshops and children’s programs. TPC is dedicated to enriching lives with quality arts programming and a welcoming community center, the result of dedicated benefactors, Elise and Woody Widlund, who purchased the property, erected the building and donated it to the care of the Town of Johnsburg with an official ribbon cutting and dedication in 2002.
Tickets for Americana Rootsenanny are $15 in advance, $20 Day of Concert, and free for Youth 18 and younger. For advance price tickets, please visit the TPC box office, or call (518) 251-2505, or purchase online thru Eventbrite. Some “Day of Event” tickets are reserved for purchase at the box office.
And don’t miss the Tannery Pond Center Winter Coffee House Series, starting January 29. For more info visit Tannery Pond. Sunday, Jan. 29 | 3 PM Sunday, Feb.| 3 PM Sunday, Feb. | 3 PM Sunday. March | 3PM Sunday March | 3 PM
Tannery Pond Community Center is located at 228 Main Street, North Creek, NY. Previously this winter, Tannery Pond Center hosted The North Country Jazz Project.
The North Country Jazz Project is an 18 piece big band that plays various types of music including jazz, standards, Latin and funk music is a unique way. The group consists of many Glens Falls and southern Adirondack musicians who have extensive musical backgrounds in teaching and performing on many stages throughout the country. Self-described as a “Big Band with a Purpose,” the group is ready to play music for the audience’s enjoyment and to promote the love of all forms of music through their unique renditions and style.
With tunes ranging from holiday favorites to toe-tapping standards and high-energy jazz, you’ll enjoy a memorable evening of top-notch music. The night honors Glenn Pearsall for his generous donation to TPC.
Infamous rock singer/songwriter Rod Stewart is bringing his North American tour to Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, an iconic site in the history of New York, the 1969 Woodstock festival. As if this news wasn’t exciting enough, rock band Cheap Trick will be joining Stewart on stage for this unforgettable night.
Following the incredible success and rave reviews for his 2022 US tour, Rod Stewart has added a concert at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel on Friday, September 1st to his 2023 North American tour list. The legendary two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted singer-songwriter will also be playing with special guest Cheap Trick.
Critics say that this unforgettable tour is “a magical moment that only rock and roll can provide.” As well, Rod Stewart’s tour promises an unprecedented night of iconic hit songs from one of the best-selling artists of all time.
Rod Stewart is one of the best-selling artists in the history of recorded music with more than 250 million records and singles sold worldwide. With his signature voice, style, and songwriting abilities, he has transcended all genres of popular music, including rock, folk, soul, R&B. With the Great American Songbook, Rod Stewart is one of the few stars to enjoy chart-topping albums throughout every decade of his career.
Rod Stewart 2023 Tour Dates
Feb 10 8:30 PM – Coliseo de Puerto Rico – San Juan, PR
Feb 13 8:00 PM – Hard Rock Live – Hollywood – Hollywood, FL
Feb 14 8:00 PM – Hard Rock Live – Hollywood – Hollywood, FL
Feb 16 8:00 PM – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino – Tampa – Tampa, FL
May 3 7:30 PM – Caesars Palace – Las Vegas, NV
May 5 7:30 PM – Caesars Palace – Las Vegas, NV
May 6 7:30 PM – Caesars Palace – Las Vegas, NV
May 10 7:30 PM – Caesars Palace – Las Vegas, NV
May 12 – 7:30 PM – Caesars Palace – Las Vegas, NV
May 13 7:30 PM – Caesars Palace – Las Vegas, NV
May 15 7:30 PM – Caesars Palace – Las Vegas, NV
Jul 29 8:00 PM – Nugget Event Center – Sparks, NV
Aug 1 7:30 PM (Rescheduled from 6/26/2022) – Ball Arena – Denver, CO
Aug 4 7:30 PM (Rescheduled from 6/24/2022) – Footprint Center – Phoenix, AZ
Aug 5 7:30 PM (Rescheduled from 6/21/2022) – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre – Chula Vista, CA
Aug 8 7:30 PM (Rescheduled from 6/17/2022) – Shoreline Amphitheatre – CA – Mountain View, CA
Aug 11 7:30 PM – (Rescheduled from 6/11/2022) – Climate Pledge Arena – Seattle, WA
Aug 12 7:30 PM – (Rescheduled from 6/10/2022) – Rogers Arena – Vancouver, BC
Aug 15 7:30 PM – (Rescheduled from 9/17/2022) – Rogers Place – Edmonton, AB
Aug 17 7:30 PM – (Rescheduled from 9/16/2022) – Scotiabank Saddledome – Calgary, AB
Aug 19 7:30 PM – (Rescheduled from 9/14/2022) – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Aug 23 7:30 PM – (Rescheduled from 9/10/2022) – Canadian Tire Centre – Ottawa, ON
Aug 24 7:30 PM – (Rescheduled from 9/9/2022) – Bell Centre – Montreal, QC
Aug 26 7:30 PM – (Rescheduled from 9/7/2022) – PPG Paints Arena – Pittsburgh, PA
Aug 28 7:30 PM – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion – Gilford, NH
Joe Louis Walker has been active in the blues scene since the 60s, and in February Walker’s releasing more music — his upcoming album, Weight of the World, is set for release on February 17. To celebrate this release, Joe Louis Walker will perform at the Towne Crier Cafe in Beacon.
Walker broke onto the scene with a debut album called Cold Is The Night, but Joe Louis Walker had been on the scene for long before that. Growing up in the Bay Area amongst some of the greats, Walker is one of the last living connections to the forefathers of the blues; he learned first hand and played with the likes of B.B. King and James Cotton, and was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in his own right. Known for his additions to the electric blues genre, Walker plays searing guitar and sings from the heart. His sound draws from more than just blues — it leans into rock and roll, draws from funk’s keyboards. Walker isn’t afraid to employ instruments from across cultures and genres. Despite his varying styles, his lyrics stay true to blues traditions, switching between mournful whines, spitting vengeance and earnest passion.
Weight of the World is releasing under Forty Below Records. If Walker’s last release, Blues Comin’ On, is any indication, listeners can expect instant blues classics and perhaps some unconventional features — Hot Tuna’s Jorma Kaukonen and punk rocker Charlie Harper both made appearances on his 2020 release.
The Towne Crier Cafe hosts live music almost every night, and tickets to see Walker are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. He’s set to take the stage on February 24, tickets are for sale here.
With comedy finding a regular home in Central New York at Funk n Waffles, comedian and host Brian Enck is bringing a twist on roasts to Syracuse on January 15.
The Triple Roast Comedy Roast Battle is the first of its kind, with competing comedians not just roasting each other, but they’ll have three rounds to show the audience who the best of the night truly is.
The first round is a Roast battle where anything goes. Second round will be a celebrity Roast where we see what the comics have to say about notable individuals we all know and want to see burned. And finally, a volunteer audience member roast will welcome only the bravest of the night to come on stage, sit in the hot seat and take the abuse from of Syracuse’s best comedians.
Enck is a nationally touring comedian who’s been in dozens of comedy fests, hosted award shows, podcasts and anything else you can think of. Now living in Syracuse, his new favorite show is the monthly at Funk & Waffles.
Opening the night is Pat Tato, a traveling solo act. Pat is one of the most talented local musicians in New York State right now, with a fun folk pop indie variety that makes him a real fun act to see live.
Comedians joining the roast include:
Ellen Doyle, an L.A. comedian with both TV and radio credits, an unapologetic comedian ready to show off at the Roast.
Josh Wilbert is a rising Central New York comic, with the energy of the jokester at the plant, with smart cuts and a laid back demeanor.
Josh “Heathan” Lafaver, the winner of the Clash of Comics at Syracuse Funny Bone, Heathan has earned his name and tittle. The most Roast ready of out the lineup, there will be zero apologies for the jabs and jokes he delivers Sunday night.
Anthony Walker is the newest in the lineup, as this touring comic makes jokes and observations so far out of the box, it’s in a circle. He’s got chops and delivery that makes this rookie something to not sleep on.
Tickets are $15, or $30 for the show, with dinner included. Get tickets and more info here.
Esteemed punk band Bayside has announced they are hitting the road next month for their “Just Like Home Tour.” Joining them will be I Am The Avalanche and Koyo, making a stop at NYC’s Le Poisson Rouge on March 8th and 9th.
In addition to the new EP, Bayside have announced that they will be hitting the road this winter for the Just Like Home Tour. The lineup pays homage to the band’s local scene, with fellow New Yorkers I Am The Avalanche and Koyo providing support on the month long run. The Just Like Home Tour kicks off on February 10th in Houston, with stops to follow in Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Toronto, Boston, New York City, and more.
Last year Bayside shocked their fans with The Red EP, as well as their cover of Kacey Musgraves’”Rainbow.” They then closed out 2022 with their latest single “Go To Hell”. With The Red EP, fans see Bayside refining their unique brand of punk rock even further. The EP’s three songs offer powerful, hard-hitting melodies that draw upon the band’s heavier influences. You can be sure that they are just getting started, with more music to come soon.
“We wanted to go out and do some places that are a little smaller than what we’ve been doing the last few years. We really cut our teeth in a lot of these venues and we can’t wait to get back to some of them for the first time in ages,” shares the band.
Bayside has deep roots in New York (they are named after the Queens neighborhood where they formed), so it is not out of place that they wrote a song dedicated to one of the state’s most famous vacation getaways. When most people think of Montauk they often have wonderful memories of their time on the beach, eating lobster with their families, or visiting the Montauk lighthouse. However, when Bayside wrote “Montauk,” they made a conscious decision to avoid all of the pleasant memories they might have had and took a more negative, yet humbling, approach to writing about the seaside town. They wanted to remind people that unfortunate circumstances can occur in amazing places, and sometimes saying goodbye is the hardest part of life.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
2/10 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
2/11 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
2/12 – Austin, TX @ Empire Control Room & Garage
2/14 – Mesa, AZ @ The Nile Theater
2/15 – Garden Grove, CA @ Garden AMP
2/16 – Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
2/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco
2/18 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
2/20 – Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
2/21 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
2/23 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
2/24 – Denver, CO @ The Gothic Theatre
2/25 – Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre
2/26 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
2/28 – Milwaukee, WI @ Th Rave
3/1 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s
3/3 – Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrew’s Hall
3/4 – Toronto, ON @ The Opera House
3/5 – Montreal, QC @ Corona Theatre
3/7 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
3/8 + 3/9 – New York, NY @ LPR
3/10 – Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage
3/11 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
3/12 – Jersey City, NJ @ White Eagle Hall
To check out more by Bayside and to purchase tickets for their upcoming shows, click the link here.
The Specialists, a New York City-based funk collective, will hold an album release party at Brooklyn Made on Friday, Janaury 13 featuring Will Leet and Bentley Robles.
Founded by guitarist Will Harden and bassist Mikey Rotunno, Specialists have a sound that is cultivated by Harden’s powerful vocal and compositional style and Rotunno’s masterful production laced with frequent harmonies and hip-hop verses. The duo began with a tradition deemed Funky Friday, releasing new music on consecutive Fridays, leading to a polished, funk-rock listener experience.
Specialists’ most recent EP, Glass, is the precedent to their upcoming album, Hole in the Wall. Music fans will appreciate the subtle, jazz-influenced intricacies of their playing and listeners will be taken away into the sonic spectrum, with ease, thanks to their devotion to listener accessibility and pop influence.
Hole ln The Wall has come to define the sound that the funk-rock band has always been seeking. With changes to their recording process from the help of legendary recording studio Sabella Studios their sound has taken on a new edge and polish while retaining their signature mix.
After Specialists’ winter tour in January 2022, the band began writing with influences from the cities they performed in and the artists they met. For example, “Why Do You?” offers a country-rock swing track influenced by the classic sound and culture of Nashville, TN. Touring more frequently, Specialists have catered their songwriting to the reception of their newly gained fans. Having such a dance-oriented crowd on tour, the band wrote “Birdseye” and “Hole in the Wall” just for the occasion. Their latest single, “Glass,” covers more ground as well, pleasing the ears of R&B and pop music fans, creating a well-rounded, attention grabbing and energetic album the band have put their hearts and souls into.
Joining Specialists will be Will Leet, a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter, known as the lead guitarist of international touring act, Sammy Rae & The Friends. Will’s music is an eclectic mix of rock, folk, country and baroque pop, with influences ranging from Kacey Musgraves to the Grateful Dead. In September 2022, Leet released his debut full length record, Come Back Roses, a community-sourced, crowdfunded project that was the product of 7 years of songwriting with his co-writer, Chris Burns. When life was put on hold in 2020, Will had nothing left to do but pour every ounce of himself into these songs.
Also joining Specialists will be an artist hailed as “the future of pop” by Monster Children, Bentley Robles. One of the defining voices of the New York underground, Robles is boisterous, impassioned and unapologetically queer, a Chicano synthpop artist born and raised in Los Angeles and now thriving in Brooklyn. His singles “kim kardashian” and “don’t listen to this song” (a collaboration with Gregory Dillon) also debuted with acclaim by METAL, Pride.com and more.
Tickets for Specialists with Will Leet and Bentley Robles are available here.
