Category: Saratoga Springs

Saratoga New Year’s Fest Lineup Features Joan Osborne, Robert Randolph, Gibson Brothers and many more

The city of Saratoga Springs announced the Saratoga New Year’s Fest lineup, including Joan Osborne, Robert Randolph, Gibson Brothers, Dogs In A Pile, and more.

What used to be called First Night Saratoga, the rebrand to Saratoga New Year’s Fest happened in 2022 as pandemic restrictions loosened. Festivities are planned from December 29, 2023, to January 1, 2024. This year’s events will feature more than 30 performers on nearly two dozen stages. In addition, there will be a 5K run, a fireworks show, a family-friendly pre-fireworks block party, and other events.

“This is a joint presentation: the city the Chamber, Discover Saratoga, the City Center, and myself,” said producer Robert Millis of the 398Group, during this week’s festival announcement. “We put this idea together last year to bring back First Night – and it worked. We met our milestones. It’s all part of a three-year plan to make this thing get bigger and bigger.”

For more information about the Saratoga New Year’s Fest and to purchase, visit here.

Saratoga New Year’s Fest Lineup

Friday, December 29

DJ Logic, 10 p.m. at Putnam Place

Saturday, December 30

The Nth Power, 7 p.m. at Universal Preservation Hall

The Weight Band, 8 p.m. at Universal Preservation Hall

Sunday, December 31

Afternoon

Kids Music Show, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Caffe Lena

TBA Band, 3 p.m. at the City Center “Jazz Room”

Will Pedicone, 2:30 p.m. at Impressions of Saratoga

Maurizzio & Kaos, 2:30 p.m. at Franklin Square Market

Pete Pashoukas, 3 p.m. at Sixth Generation Strings

Erin Powers, 3 p.m. at Overland on Broadway

Late Afternoon

Swing Docs, 4 p.m. at the City Center “Jazz Room”

Gibson Brothers, 4 p.m. at Universal Preservation Hall

Toss The Feathers, 4:45 p.m. at The Parting Glass Irish Pub

Jeff Brisbin, 4:30 p.m. at The Holiday Inn

Erin Powers, 4:30 p.m. at The Coat Room

New Year’s Eve

Halfstep, 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at The City Center “Dead & Groove Room”

Country Kickers Line Dancing, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at The City Center “Country Room”

Chris O’Leary with Tia Comedy Show, 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.at The Inn at Saratoga

Erin Powers, 5 p.m. at The Coat Room

Kristian Montgomery, 5 p.m. at Tap & Barrel

Shine On, 5 p.m. at Embassy Suites

Family Tree, 5 p.m. at Ellsworth Jones Place (outside of the City Center)

Tracy Bonham, 6:30 p.m. at Universal Preservation Hall

Triskele, 7 p.m. at The Parting Glass Irish Pub

Robert Randolph, 7 p.m. at The City Center Main Hall

Double Barrel, 7 p.m. at Nashville of Saratoga

Ragged Company, 7 p.m. at Quarters

Toubab Krewe, 7:30 p.m. at Universal Preservation Hall

Classic Rock Tent, 8 p.m. at The Ice House

Patrick Wisdom Stewart, 8 p.m. at Baileys

Organ Fairchild, 8:30 p.m. at The City Center “Dead/Groove Room”

Ward Hayden & The Outliers, 8:30 p.m. at The City Center “Country Room”

GA-20, 8:30 p.m. at Universal Preservation Hall

Maggie’s Clan, 8:30 p.m. at The Parting Glass Irish Pub

Joan Osborne & Band, 9 p.m. at The City Center Main Hall

Dogs in a Pile, 10 p.m. at Putnam Place

December 22, 2023
Eddies Music Awards Hall of Fame Announces Sixth Class

The sixth class of inductees for the Capital Region Thomas Edison (Eddies) Music Hall of Fame has been announced. Inductees include artists from a variety of genres like classical, folk, jazz, and electronic music, a pioneering hip-hop songwriter, and two individuals who chronicled the local music scene as journalists.

The late Jackie Alper, the late Nick Brignola, George Guarino, David Alan Miller, the late Pauline Oliveros, Margie Rosenkranz, Billy Waring, and Don Wilcock will be inducted into the Eddies Music Hall of Fame on Monday, March 25, 2024 at Universal Preservation Hall.

The Eddies ceremony is open to the public and includes musical performances, a social hour, videos on the musical career of each inductee, and acceptance speeches. This class brings the total number of inductees to 40 since 2019. An aluminum engraved plaque honoring each recipient is permanently hung at UPH. The 2024 slate was chosen by an advisory council made up of professionals in the local music field.

The induction ceremony precedes the annual Eddies Music Awards, which will be held on Sunday, April 21 at Proctors in Schenectady.

About the Eddies Inductees

Jackie Alper sang with the Almanac Singers, which included Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Burl Ives. After, she helped found the Weavers, introducing a 16-year-old Ronnie Gilbert to Pete, Lee, and Freddie Hellerman, taking part in the “Great Folk Music Scare of the 1950s and 60s.” Alper hosted WRPI’s “Mostly Folk for Mostly Folks” radio show for at least 25 years starting in 1971. She also turned her husband Joe Alper’s 30,000 music photographs into one of the folk revival’s most meticulously documented archives. Together, they played a key role in supporting Caffè Lena in its early years, often housing musicians including Bob Dylan at their Schenectady home. She passed away in 2007.

Troy native Nick Brignola was a well-respected baritone sax player in jazz, as well as a band leader. During his career, he shared the stage with jazz greats including Phil Woods, Woody Herman, Chet Baker, and Pepper Adams, and recorded 20 albums of his own. His 1981 album L.A. Bound was nominated for a GRAMMY, and has topped many annual DownBeat and JazzTimes critic and reader polls as “Best Baritone Saxophonist.” He taught jazz theory and history at several local colleges and helped start a jazz education program at the College of Saint Rose. He passed away in 2002.

George Guarino created Albany’s music television show Real George’s Backroom (1981-91) and Buzz magazine (1985-95). He was passionate about spotlighting original music bands of that era while introducing the dance floor to 80’s new wave, punk, industrial, and indie music as a featured DJ at Albany’s infamous 288 Lark (1981-87) and QE2 (1987-90) clubs. He was also a DJ at WRPI. Guarino has developed a reputation since 2005 as one of the area’s prominent clinical hypnosis practitioners. 

Seven-time GRAMMY nominee David Alan Miller has been music director and conductor of the Albany Symphony Orchestra since 1992. During his tenure, the ASO has released more than 30 albums, with two winning GRAMMYs. In 1994, he founded Dogs of Desire, an 18-member ensemble that has commissioned over 150 new works from emerging American composers. He has guest conducted with most major U.S orchestras, as well as many in Europe, Australia, and the Far East, and serves as artistic advisor to the Little Orchestra Society (NYC) and the Sarasota Orchestra (Fl.).

Pauline Oliveros was an American composer, accordionist and central figure in the development of post-World War II experimental and electronic music. A Houston native, she relocated to Upstate NY in 1981 after many years teaching and performing in California. She developed a ground-breaking music theory called “Sonic Meditations” and founded the term Deep Listening, a practice of profound sonic awareness that came from her childhood fascination with sounds. Known for her works in composition, improvisation, and electro-acoustics, she was a Distinguished Professor of Music at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where she founded the Center for Deep Listening. She passed away in 2016.

Margie Rosenkranz has been the executive artistic director of the Eighth Step Coffee House since 1987. Founded in 1967 in the basement of the historic First Presbyterian Church in Albany, the organization is renowned nationally for its presentation of top contemporary singer-songwriters, as well as social justice work, now seen at Proctors. The Schenectady native, born into a musical family, is an accomplished vocalist and has also served as artistic director of the Great Hudson River Revival, a long-standing music and environmental summer festival.

An unsung hero of hip-hop, Harlem native William “Billy Bill” Waring began his musical career as a b-boy with longtime friends Kurtis Walker and producer Danny Harris. He got his first taste of hip-hop music at DJ Kool Herc parties and from 1980-84 he penned the classic songs “Hard Times,” “Basketball,” “You Gotta Believe” and “Games People Play,” and co-wrote much of the Fat Boys’ first album. His music has been used in films and television shows such as Krush Groove, Empire, Black Monday, Hip Hop Uncovered, and more.

Finally, Don Wilcock has spent a career elevating the New York Capital Region arts scene into international recognition. Founder and president of the Northeast Blues Society, he helped boost the careers of local artists Albert Cummings and Tas Cru to worldwide touring success and produced the Fleet Blues Festival, a three-stage event featuring the world’s hottest blues stars. He founded “Kite,” the area’s first arts weekly, in 1970. His biography of Buddy Guy, Damn Right I’ve Got The Blues, helped propel Guy from a club act to the biggest living star in the genre.

Tickets for the Eddies Music Awards are on sale now through the Box Office at Proctors in-person, via phone at (518) 346-6204 Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., or online.

December 16, 2023
47th Annual Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival Announces 2024 Lineup

The 47^th Annual Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival will return for a full two-day and two-stage exhilarating festival experience this summer at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

Saratoga.com

Founded in 1978 by jazz impresario George Wein, Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival is the fifth longest-consecutive-running jazz festival in North America. Initially founded as “the Newport Jazz Festival at Saratoga,” the weekend event was renamed Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival in 1998. With an inside seating capacity of 5,200, and lawn seating of 20,000, the two-day, two-stage festival continues to be one of the largest jazz music events in North America, beloved by audiences for both the remarkable annual line-up of international jazz talent and the spectacular setting at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in the idyllic Saratoga Spa State Park.

Featuring a roster of twenty-two musical groups and ten festival debuts, the 47th Annual Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival line-up is co-headlined by four premier contemporary artists: Lake Street Dive, Norah Jones, Laufey, and Samara Joy; alongside jazz and blues legends Stanley Clarke with his band N*4Ever, Terence Blanchard Sextet and Coco Montoya. Also highlighting the line-up is the next generation of jazz stars Yussef Dayes, Joey Alexander, Miguel Zenon, Tia Fuller, Theo Crocker, Helen Sung and Sara Caswell, and today’s most electrifying Afro-Cuban and funk bands Cory Henry, Cimafunk, The New Orleans Groove Masters and Pedrito Martinez Group.

From jazz to roots, funk, blues, pop, indie and beyond, the festival will bring its signature blend of world-class artists and ensembles, solidifying its place as an international destination and a ‘must-stop’ on the 2024 festival trail.

Fantasy

Headliner Lake Street Dive will make their highly anticipated festival debut on Saturday with their spirited eclecticism and joyously soulful music. As heard on their critically acclaimed album Obviously, the Boston-bred band possesses a keen talent for combining sociopolitical commentary with immediately catchy pop gems.

Returning following her triumphant festival debut in 2023 is “Silky-voiced rising jazz star” (New York Times) Samara Joy, a two-time GRAMMY winner and the second jazz performer in history to win the award for best new artist.

WAMU

Returning by popular demand to headline the festival on Sunday is multi-GRAMMY winning singer and pianist Norah Jones, who played the festival in 2019. Named the top jazz artist of the 2000-2009 decade by Billboard, Norah has won nine GRAMMY Awards, including five for her 2002 solo debut, Away with Me. “The one to watch” on Sunday’s line-up for her festival debut is Laufey, a 24-year-old Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter whose modern jazz sound has won her both a GRAMMY nomination and millions of fans on TikTok. Her new album Bewitched reached more than 5.7 million streams on its first day and set a Spotify record as the biggest debut for a jazz album. Most recently, Norah and Laufey collaborated on a new two-track single Christmas With You, which was released on November 10.

Stanley Clarke’s website

Music icons returning to the festival include jazz and blues legends Stanley Clarke with his exciting new band N*4Ever, which is a celebration of his long-time collaborator Chick Corea and their time together in Return to Forever; seven-time GRAMMY winner, two-time Oscar nominee and Opera composer Terence Blanchard with his Sextet, performing the music from his 2005 GRAMMY nominated album Flow, and blues guitar virtuoso and vocalist Coco Montoya. Representing the next generation of jazz talent on the stage is captivating composer and drummer Yussef Dayes, fan-favorite jazz pianist Joey Alexander who will celebrate his 21st birthday at the festival, 2021 Guggenheim Fellow and jazz pianist and composer Helen Sung, and GRAMMY-nominated jazz violinist Sara Caswell.

Cory Henry’s website

Highlighting the weekend is also today’s most electrifying Afro-Cuban and funk bands including progressive R&B artist Cory Henry, GRAMMY-nominated Afro-Cuban rockstar Cimafunk for his festival debut, The New Orleans Groove Masters featuring Herlin Riley, Jason Marsalis & Shannon Powell, GRAMMY-nominated Cuban percussionist Pedrito Martinez with his band for his fifth festival appearance,and hard-grooving, soulful crowd-pleaser Olatuja!, which reunites Alicia and Michael Olatuja in music.

2024 FREIHOFER’S SARATOGA JAZZ FESTIVAL LINE-UP

SATURDAY, JUNE 29

Amphitheater:

Lake Street Dive*

Samara Joy

Yussef Dayes*

Joey Alexander Trio with special guest Theo Croker

Cimafunk* with special guest Pedrito Martinez

The New Orleans Groove Masters* featuring Herlin Riley, Jason Marsalis &

Shannon Powell

Charles R. Wood “Jazz Discovery” Stage:

Tia Fuller

Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory Orchestra*

Theo Croker

Coco Montoya*

Harold Lopez-Nussa*

Sara Caswell Quartet*

SUNDAY, JUNE 30

Amphitheater:

Norah Jones

Laufey*

Stanley Clarke N*4Ever

Terence Blanchard Sextet

Cory Henry

Charles R. Wood “Jazz Discovery” Stage:

Pedrito Martinez Group

Miguel Zenon Quartet

Olatuja!

Helen Sung presents Quartet+*

Skidmore Jazz Institute Faculty All-Stars Centennial Celebration of Max Roach, Bud Powell & J.J. Johnson featuring Clay Jenkins, Steve Wilson, Steve Davis, Mike Moreno, Bill Cunliffe, Todd Coolman & Dennis Mackrel

In addition to two non-stop days of great music on two stages, fans can also enjoy a host of amenities including a new craft beer tasting village, in partnership with New York State Brewers Association, new and diverse food offerings, a fine arts and crafts fair, and artist CD signings. Guests are welcome to bring in their own food and beverages, as well as blankets, tents and lawn umbrellas. Parking for the event is free. Performances will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 29 and at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 30.

Tickets for the festival start at $80 and will be available online here beginning January 5 at 10am to the general public and starting on December 14 at 10am to SPAC members (tiered by level). Members will also receive a discount of 15-20% (depending on level) on their ticket purchase. Two-day passes are also available for a savings of $20 off per pass (offer ends 6/15 and can’t be combined with other discounts). Children 12 and under receive 50% off tickets in the amphitheater and are free on the lawn. Full-time students with a school issued ID receive 25% off tickets in the amphitheater, or $28 on the lawn (student ID must be presented at will call).

For more information, visit this website.

December 14, 2023
In Focus: Karina Rykman Makes Saratoga Springs Debut at Putnam Place

Karina Rykman made her debut appearance in Saratoga Springs with a show at Putnam Place on Thursday, November 30. With a strong crowd in attendance – and some fans making the trek up to Burlington on December 1 and 2 – Rykman’s first show in the Spa City will certainly not be her last.

Opening the night was Coyote Island, a reggae/pop group from Maine, on tour with Rykman this fall.

Throughout her single set, Karina would play a variety of songs from her debut album, Joyride, released this past August. Beginning the show with some of the most familiar tracks on the album, from “Beacon” through “Plants,” each was played with slow building energy and focus from the band, loosening up as the set progressed.

“City Kids” would mark a frenzied shift of the set’s vivacity, with Rykman running around in circles, pumping the already engaged crowd up even more. Guitarist Adam November dropped rapid fire guitar, the kind you’d hear in “The Great Curve,” with just the proper amount of distortion incorporated – never too heavy and present in the right spots. Rykman dropped a few bars of “The National Anthem” by Radiohead, per usual turning ears to the stage when this ear worm of a bass line makes its appearance.

“Run of the Mill” brought with it venue-shaking bass bombs, and slowly seeped into Butthole Surfers’ “Pepper,” which had more energy than the 1996 song. Rykman and drummer Chris Corsico put a grungy feel to the debut of “Canary in a Colemine,” a tinge of Mary J. Blige’s “Family Affair” slipping in amid the final songs of the set.

For an encore, Rykman chose to debut “Song 2” from Blur, a great addition to their setlist arsenal, and a performance that assures her return to the Capital Region in the future.

Karina Rykman – Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs – Thursday, November 30, 2023

Setlist: Beacon, Skylark/Slowlark, Joyride > All That You Wanted > Plants > Arbitrary > Dirty South, City Kids, Run of the Mill > Pepper, Reboot, No Occasion > Canary in a Colemine > The Hardest Button to Button, Atom Dance, Elevator
Encore: Song 2

Up next for Rykman is a performance at Warren Haynes’ XMas Jam in Asheville, NC on Saturday, December 9, then at Mohegan Sun on December 30. Check out her full tour dates here.

December 3, 2023
Saratoga Group The Zorbas Trio Releases Debut Single, “Still I Breathe”

Sibling group The Zorbas Trio released their debut single, “Still I Breathe,” ahead of their Hudson Falls show at the Strand Theater on December 4. Composed of siblings Callista, Demetra, and John Zorbas, the group plays original folk rock tunes, as well as covers ranging across genres.

The group’s first single, “Still I Breathe,” is a dark folk-rock track with strong vocals, as well as evident piano and guitar skills. The sibling trio shows strong collaborative skill, which will prove to be important in their upcoming album.

The Zorbas Trio is currently based out of Saratoga, as Upstate NY natives. Pianist and composer John Zorbas is the youngest of the three, specializing in classical and jazz. Demetra, the second oldest of the Trio, brings lead vocals and bass, and is also an actor, fine artist, and trap shooter. Finally, Callista, the eldest sibling, also lends lead vocals as well as her guitar skills. She is also an actor, writer, and fine artist, in addition to her musical skills.

The Zorbas Trio will play a show at The Strand Theater in Hudson Falls on December 4 at 7PM. The event is free. More information is available here.

Listen to “Still I Breathe” from Zorbas Trio below.

November 29, 2023
Dogs In A Pile Announce Winter Tour, Woodstock Show

Dogs In A Pile, a jam quintet, has announced their 2024 “Cross Country Winter Tour” starting in February, with one stop in Woodstock.

Forming in 2019 and hailing from Asbury Park, NJ – Dogs In A Pile is comprised of Berklee alumni and Billy Joel scholarship recipient Jeremy Kaplan (keyboardist), Berklee alumnus Brian Murray (guitarist) and Sam Lucid (bassist), and long-time Jersey Shore musicians Jimmy Law (guitarist) and Joey Babick (drums). Law and Babick have both been playing together since the young age of 11.

Upstate New York has been particularly special to this band in its formative year. This year, they’v sold out headlining nights and Rochester and Ithaca, as well as several festivals in the surrounding area. On top of their stop in Woodstock, they’ll also be celebrating New Year’s Eve in Saratoga Springs at Putnam Place.

Dogs In A Pile (DIAP) will start 2024 off in Texas. February 1 -3 will mark a trio of Texas firsts – with inaugural headlining stops in Houston at Last Concert Cafe, Austin at Antone’s and Dallas at Deep Ellum Art Co.

Following their run deep in the heart of the US, the Dogs and Andy Frasco & The U.N. will add to their recent string of collaborations with six shows together. The bands have meshed well on stage – elevating each other’s already high level of creativity, energy and fun-filled atmospheres that fans have come to expect from both groups. Among the stretch will come DIAP’s first time playing in the state of Oklahoma (on February 9 at Beer City Music Hall in Oklahoma City).

Winter Tour will also include a two-night run at the historic Bluebird Theater in Denver, CO on February 16 and 17. The band and the “Mile High City” have gotten to know each other well in 2023, with the Dogs netting four consecutive sellouts at Lost Lake Lounge back in March and April. Around that same time, the band played all across “The Centennial State” during a formative tour dubbed “The Winter Rescue Tour.” More recently, when opening for Pigeons Playing Ping Pong in November, they played in front of their largest indoor crowd to date – 2,000 people at The Mission Ballroom.

The newly announced 20 dates will culminate on St. Patrick’s Day weekend. The four-day affair features a pair of two-night runs in Pembroke, MA and Burlington, VT. After selling out their last Boston-area gig at The Sinclair, they’ll return to Soundcheck Studios on March 14 and 15. The tour then concludes at the much-lauded Nectar’s – the site of 47 Phish shows from 1984-1989. The Dogs will play their first two at the fabled Vermont spot on March 16 and 17.

The five-piece are rounding out an extensive fall tour that will end on December 8 in Raleigh, NC. They’ll close out the calendar year with a pair of holiday gigs at the legendary Stone Pony on December 15 and 16, a Phish after-party at Sony Hall on December 28, and their first headlining New Year’s Eve run in Saratoga Springs on December 30 and 31.

DOGS IN A PILE 2024 TOUR DATES

12/15 – Stone Pony, Asbury, NJ

12/28 – Sony Hall, NYC

12/30-31 – Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs

2/1 – Houston, TX – Last Concert Cafe

2/2 – Austin, TX – Antone’s

2/3 – Dallas, TX – Deep Ellum Art. Co

2/8 – Springfield, MO – Regency Live%

2/9 – Oklahoma City, OK – Beer City Music Hall%

2/10 – Kansas City, MO – The Truman%

2/13 – Peoria, IL – Revival Music Hall%

2/14 – Des Moines, IA – xBk Live%

2/15 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown%

2/16 & 2/17 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater

3/1 & 3/2 – Woodstock, NY – The Colony

3/8 – Millersville, PA – Phantom Power

3/9 – Stroudsburg, PA – Sherman Theater

3/14 & 3/15 – Pembroke, MA – Soundcheck Studios

3/16 & 3/17 – Burlington, VA – Nectar’s

% w/ Andy Frasco & The U.N.

Follow Dogs In A Pile on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube, and stream their music via Apple Music or Spotify.

November 21, 2023
Saratoga Arts Announces “Tis The Season,” Featuring Cassandra Kubinski and More

Saratoga Arts and local singer/songwriters have teamed up to present “Tis the Season”, a concert event featuring holiday classic songs, original songs, and a VIP reception in the Saratoga Arts gallery and atrium.

Saratoga Arts’ mission is to enrich the region by cultivating a vibrant arts community and ensuring the arts are accessible to all. It is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, relying on the support of members, friends, and community. In its 30+ years, Saratoga Arts has brought the arts to over one million people through its programs and provided performing and visual artists the opportunity to earn over $3,000,000 in art sales and performance fees.

The concert features Billboard-charting artist Cassandra Kubinski, who recently released her piano-driven EP, The Saratoga Sessions, with a sold-out show at Caffe Lena. She was described as “very similar to the singer/songwriters of the late 70’s…proves that the genre (singer/songwriter) can still be transcendent,” by Billy Joel. Previous performances include opening slots for the Goo Goo Dolls, 10,000 Maniacs, Dickie Betts, Anna Nalick, and others. Expect song selections from the EP, as well as songs from her Billboard-charting holiday album Holiday Magic.

“Tis The Season” also features Marcus Ruggiero. With his deep gravelly voice and insistent acoustic guitar playing, he writes thematic songs about love, tragedy, spirit, and redemption. Notable performances include Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie, opening for national bands in Albany, Caffé Lena, the famous Bluebird Café in Nashville, and more. He also has an award-winning song in the movie The New Weapon on Netflix and is currently the lead in The Johnny Cash Express.

The final performers are Ria Curley with special guest Chuck Lamb, her talented music partner, and her cherished husband. Her music has been described as a “retro-hip mix of poignant, melodic rock and sultry, romantic R&B.” She has 22 of her original songs signed to publishing giant Warner Chappell Music, Int’l, released the critically acclaimed album Take Me, and has airplay in cities such as NYC, Albany, Denver, and LA. She also has appeared on multiple soap operas and taught the legendary actor Jimmy Stewart the finale dance routine for the Night of 100 Stars TV special at Radio City Music Hall.

Chuck Lamb has been the pianist for the renowned Brubeck Brothers Quartet for two decades and has composed for and played with the Quartet all over the world, including at the Newport Jazz Festival, Lincoln Center, and more. Since 2017, he has been the artist-in-residence for the popular monthly “Jazz at Caffe Lena” series in Saratoga Springs, where he has hosted and performed with jazz greats such as Joe Locke, Chico Freeman, Dick Oatts, and many others.

Ria Curley and Chuck Lamb.

Tickets are $35 VIP and $25 General Admission, available here.

November 21, 2023
Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire 2024 “Heart and Soul” Tour – Jones Beach and SPAC dates

In an extraordinary musical alliance, the legendary Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago, two of the most celebrated and successful bands in music history, are set to reignite the stage with their iconic co-headlining tour across North America, the Heart & Soul 2024 Tour.

This tour promises an unforgettable night of music that brings together the timeless melodies of Chicago and the iconic repertoire of Earth, Wind & Fire. The tour, spanning 30 cities, kicks off in St. Louis, MO, on July 10, and features a special stop at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, NY, on Sunday, July 28, followed by an electrifying performance at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ, on Saturday, August 3, 2024.

Earth, Wind & Fire

This tour is still proof of the timeless appeal and extraordinary talent of two of the most recognizable musical groups in America, having sold over 200 million albums, earned 11 GRAMMY® awards, and received nearly 30 nominations between them. Billboard describes Chicago as “one of the most successful American rock bands of all time, in terms of both albums and singles,” having consistently filled arenas with satisfied fans. Earth, Wind & Fire, a funk-fusion powerhouse, has left an indelible mark on the sound and history of popular music, according to Rolling Stone. Both bands have received the highest honor with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with Chicago in 2016 and Earth, Wind & Fire in 2000.

HEART AND SOUL 2024 TOUR DATES

– Wed Jul 10 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

– Fri Jul 12 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena

– Sat Jul 13 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center

– Tue Jul 16 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center

– Wed Jul 17 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre

– Fri Jul 19 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center

– Sat Jul 20 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center

– Tue Jul 23 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage

– Wed Jul 24 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC

– Sat Jul 27 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center

– Sun Jul 28 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

– Tue Jul 30 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater

– Wed Jul 31 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion

– Fri Aug 02 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live

– Sat Aug 03 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center

– Mon Aug 12 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

– Tue Aug 13 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion

– Fri Aug 16 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

– Sat Aug 17 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

– Mon Aug 19 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre

– Tue Aug 20 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena

– Fri Aug 23 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena

– Sat Aug 24 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

– Mon Aug 26 – North Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena

– Thu Aug 29 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center

– Sat Aug 31 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

– Sun Sep 01 – Concord, CA – Toyota Pavilion at Concord

– Tue Sep 03 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena

– Fri Sep 06 – Los Angeles, CA – The Kia Forum

– Sat Sep 07 – Palm Desert, CA – Acrisure Arena

Ticket sales kick off with a Citi presale beginning on Tuesday, November 14. Additional presales will run throughout the week leading up to the general on-sale starting on Friday, November 17 at 10 am at EarthWindAndFire.com and ChicagoTheBand.com

From the infectious beats of “Let’s Groove” to the timeless rock anthems of Chicago, this tour is a celebration of musical history, cultural impact, and the shared memories that these iconic bands have created over the years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lzgNh9qXdA

November 16, 2023
Sammy Hagar will Drive 55 to SPAC with “The Best of All Worlds” Tour

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Sammy Hagar today announced the long-awaited “The Best of All Worlds” 2024 tour, where Hagar will be joined by rock heavyweights and longtime bandmates Michael Anthony (bass, backing vocals), Jason Bonham (drums) and Joe Satriani (guitar). In addition to Sammy Hagar, the tour will also feature special guests Loverboy, the 28-date tour will feature a stop at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) on July 22, performing on the Broadview Stage.

Hagar has some history near Saratoga Springs, one that is captured in “I Can’t Drive 55.” The former Van Halen front man shared in 2019 how a drive on I-87 North was the inspiration behind the song after he was pulled over for speeding on a drive from Albany to Lake Placid.

The tour follows on the heels of the chart-topping success of THE COLLECTION II, the box set released October 6 featuring newly remastered versions of the four consecutive #1 albums released during the Hagar era of Van Halen: 5150 (1986), OU812 (1988), FOR UNLAWFUL CARNAL KNOWLEDGE (1991), and BALANCE (1995). A reminder to fans of the arsenal of hits, many which haven’t been played live since the band’s 2004 reunion tour.

Collectively, Anthony, Satriani and Bonham have played together in nearly every phase of Hagar’s career including Van Halen, Chickenfoot and The Circle, so fans can expect a setlist which draws from some of the biggest rock anthems of the last 4-decades, including, Finish What Ya Started, 5150, Your Love is Driving Me Crazy, Best of Both Worlds, Poundcake, Sexy Little Thing, One Way To Rock, Right Now, Good Enough, Eagles Fly and more. They’ve also enlisted legendary Australian musician, Rai Thistlethwayte on keyboard and backing vocals. The tour represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this band of brothers deliver one of the most legendary hits-packed live shows of their career.

It’s crazy to think that it’ll be 20 years since Mikey and I played these songs with Van Halen on the 04’ Best of Both Worlds Tour. With Joe on board, we can take a deeper dive into those years. We’re going to touch on some hits from my entire career but seeing fans old and new really embrace the new collection set off something in Mikey and I. We were at my Birthday Bash in Cabo for my 76^th and looked at each other and high fived, like ‘let’s do it.’ We pulled out a couple of them and it was an instant lovefest with the fans from our first riffs. The music we created is going to outlive us all. They deserve to be heard so it’s time we go out and serve the fans that music, while we still can.
Sammy Hagar

Pre-sales begin Wednesday, November 15 at 10 am. General on-sale begins on Friday, November 17 at 10 am. For tickets and more details, go to RedRocker.com.

Sammy Hagar The Best of All Worlds 2024 Tour Dates

July 13 West Palm Beach, FL               iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

July 14 Tampa, FL                                MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

July 16 Alpharetta, GA                         Ameris Bank Amphitheatre

July 19 Charlotte, NC                           PNC Music Pavilion

July 20 Bristow, VA                              Jiffy Lube Live

July 22 Saratoga Springs, NY               Saratoga Performing Arts Center

July 24 Bridgeport, CT                         Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater

July 26, Mansfield, MA                        Xfinity Center

July 27 Holmdel, NJ                              PNC Bank Arts Center

July 29 Cuyahoga Falls, OH                  Blossom Music Center

July 31 Toronto, ON                               Budweiser Stage

August 2 Clarkston, MI                          Pine Knob Music Theatre

August 3 Tinley Park, IL                        Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre

August 9 Las Vegas, NV                        MGM Grand Garden Arena

August 11 Morrison, CO                         Red Rocks Amphitheatre

August 13 Spokane, WA                         Airway Heights, WA BECU Live at Northern Quest

August 14 Ridgefield, WA                      RV Inn Style Resort Amphitheater

August 16 Wheatland, CA                      Toyota Amphitheatre

August 17 Concord, CA                         Toyota Pavilion at Concord

August 19 Los Angeles, CA                    Kia Forum

August 20 Phoenix, AZ                           Talking Stick Resorts Amphitheatre

August 22 Dallas, TX                              Dos Equis Pavilion

August 23 Houston, TX                            Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

August 25 Rogers, AR                              Walmart AMP

August 27 Cincinnati, OH                         Riverbend Music Center

August 28 Nashville, TN                           Bridgestone Arena

August 30 Noblesville, IN                         Ruoff Music Center

August 31 St. Louis, MO                          Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

November 14, 2023
Catch Putnam Place’s Exciting November Lineup

Saratoga Springs’ Putnam Place has an exciting lineup for this month, featuring a number of jam bands, indie pop, folk, and more. The venue will continue weekly open mics, game nights, and local artist spotlights with the Family Tree series.

Consider The Source

Beloved NY sci-fi fusion group Consider The Source will play at Putnam Place alongside Bella’s Bartok, a Massachusetts-based folk group. The two extraordinary music groups are known for exciting performances, and are sure to impress Saratoga on November 9.

On November 10, Putnam Place will host Bearly Dead, a Grateful Dead tribute band. The group boasts over 230 songs in their repertoire, and constantly rotate them for a unique concert experience for each crowd.

Bearly Dead

Blue Star Radiation will play Putnam Place on November 16 alongside Al Schnier and Rob Derhak of moe. The collaboration between the musicians will feature classic rock covers, band originals, and more for an exciting performance.

Putnam Place will continue to offer their weekly events this fall. Every Monday, the venue will host Family Tree, a performance featuring Steve Candlen, Kenny Hohman, Lori Friday, Chris Carey and Chad Ploss, joined each week by a special guest from the regional music scene. In addition, Mondays will be Sly Fox’s Open Mic Night, immediately following the Family Tree performance. In addition, Wednesdays will see Game Night and Karaoke with Eric C.

Tickets and more information for shows at Putnam Place are available at putnamplace.com.

November Shows at Putnam Place

11/9 – Consider The Source + Bella’s Bartok

11/10 – Bearly Dead

11/12 – Ripe w/ Hoko

11/16 – Blue Star Radiation w/ Al & Rob moe.stly acoustic

11/17 – Eggy w/ Funky Dawgz

11/24 – Formula 5 w/ Hilltop

11/30 – Karina Ryman w/ Coyote Island

November 8, 2023