On May 8th, New York State confirmed an investment of $5 million for local arts organizations and centers. Alive Downtowns!, a coalition of 13 historic performance arts centers across Upstate New York, received the funding with open arms as they thanked New York legislators in various press releases.
Alive Downtowns! was formed in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on performing arts centers. Today, upstate theaters remain understaffed and are continuing the fight to reach the expanse of pre-pandemic audiences. Representatives from the coalition have been meeting with New York State legislators and the Governor’s office to discuss the importance of the performing arts and the theaters to urban education opportunities, economic viability, and a city’s attractiveness.
The 13 facilities welcome and serve over five million people annually and have an average age of nearly 100 years. Together, the theaters have a yearly economic impact of $900,000,000. Their goal has always been to receive capital support from the state and have now secured a place in this year’s state budget.
The members of the coalition ranging from Jamestown to Poughkeepsie, not only bring diverse performances and shows to their areas but are a beacon that brings together local communities with arts and education.
Members of Alive Downtowns!
Bardavon 1896 Opera House of Poughkeepsie
Clemens Center in Elmira
Palace Performing Arts Center in Albany
Proctors Collaborative of Schenectady, Albany, and Saratoga
The Upstate Theater Coalition for a Fairgame announced that it has received $165,000 in grant awards to non-profit arts and cultural organizations in the Capital, Catskills, and Southern Tier districts.
Formed in partnership with New York and four casinos in the three gaming regions previously listed: Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady, Resorts World Catskills, del Lago Resort & Casino (Waterloo), and Tioga Downs Casino Resort (Nichols).
11 additional theater/venue members also make up the Upstate Theater Coalition, with them being major local figures in the towns of Albany, Bethel, Binghamton, Elmira, Ithaca, Poughkeepsie, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, and Rochester.
27 counties were able to apply for $1,000-$5,000 dollar grants in order to help enrich the community and the respective shared spaces. Through its community engagement, the Coalition created Fairgame Arts Grants, a funding program published in 2019 to assist organizations in regions across New York State.
Since the 2019 mark, over 100 non-profit arts and cultural organizations have received grant awards, compiling a total of over $450,000 for these groups.
Jon Elbaum, Executive Director of the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and President of Fairgame, is looking forward to revitalizing local theaters and businesses that have had trouble rebounding since the pandemic.
“So many programs were delayed or even cancelled because of the pandemic shutdown; this type of support often represents the difference between a great idea and a fully realized and measurably beneficial initiative. We are thrilled to be able to offer this funding once again.”
-Jon Elbaum
Between the Catskills, Capital, and Southern Tier regions, almost 40 venues will receive grant awards.
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy
Award Recipients
Capital Region recipients: 440 State St. Inc., Albany Center Gallery, Contemporary Circus and Immersive Arts Center, Frank Chapman Memorial Institute, Home Made Theatre, LAKE GEORGE Opera Festival Association, Inc. (dba Opera Saratoga), Media Alliance, Inc., Millay Colony for the Arts, Music Haven, New York Folklore, Sand Lake Center for the Arts, Saratoga Chamber Players, Inc. and The Orchard Project.
Catskill Region recipients: Arm-of-the-Sea Productions, Inc., Arts Mid-Hudson, Athens Cultural Center, Bridge Street Theatre, Catskill Mountain Shakespeare, Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, DENIZEN Theatre, Forestburgh Playhouse, Gardiner Library, Hudson Opera House, Inc. dba Hudson Hall, Kingston Midtown Arts District, Nego Gato Inc., NYTOS, Pan American Dance Foundation, Inc. dba Woodstock Playhouse, Roxbury Arts Group, The Vanaver Caravan and Voice Theatre, Inc.
Southern Tier recipients: A Magical Journey Thru Stages, Inc., Binghamton Philharmonic, Inc. Binghamton Theater Organ Society, Circus Culture, Community Arts Partnership of Thompkins County, Corning-Elmira Musical Arts, Inc., Grupo Cultural Latinos En Rochester, Inc., Southern Finger Lakes Pride and The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes.
For the first time ever, Live Nation is expanding its annual Concert Week promotion to include festivals. Festival Weekend brings fans an unbeatable deal: $99 all-in 1-day tickets to a variety of 2023 festivals, including Gov. Ball, Catbird, and more.
Festival Weekend features over a dozen festivals across North America, with a variety of genres, for example, country rock, hip hop, afrobeat, and more. There is a limited amount of $99 all-in 1-day tickets available for purchase as part of Concert Week’s Festival Weekend, including Gov Ball in New York City (June 9-11) and Catbird Music Festival in Bethel (Aug. 19-20).
Tickets will be available starting Friday, May 19 at 10 a.m. ET through Monday, May 22 at 11:59 p.m. local time, or while inventory lasts. Festival Weekend tickets are all-in, meaning all fees are already included upfront in the $99 price. When the weekend ends, so does the sale, so fans are encouraged to act fast. To purchase tickets, visit here.
Participating Festivals
Adjacent Festival – Atlantic City, NJ – May 27-28
Afro Nation – Miami, FL – May 27-28
Broccoli City Festival – Washington, DC – July 15-16
Catbird Music Festival – Bethel, NY – Aug 19-20
FairWell Festival – Redmond, OR – July 21-23
FORMAT Festival – Bentonville, AR – Sep 22-24
Gov Ball – New York, NY – June 9-11
Greenville Country Music Fest – Greenville, SC – Oct 20-22
lavender wild – Toronto, ON – June 4
One Fine Day Festival – Philadelphia, PA – September 9
Roots Picnic – Philadelphia, PA – June 2-4
Sound on Sound Music Festival – Bridgeport, CT – Sept 30-Oct 1
TidalWave Music Festival – Atlantic City, NJ – Aug 11-13
The Spring Cannastock NY 2023 Festival was held at the MJN Convention Center in Poughkeepsie on Saturday May 13. This is year two for the festival which identifies itself as a cannabis consumption – friendly immersive experience for the industry, consumers and those who are canna-curious.
In New York State, recreational marijuana became legal in 2021 and available for sale in 2022. Last year’s inaugural festival was held at The Colony in Woodstock. The event sold out, prompting the move to the MJN Center to handle the capacity demand. A wise move by the promoters. With VIP and pre-event tickets selling out again, the increase in available space enabled day of event ticket sales. VIP attendees were given early access and treated to a swag bag with all the necessities a consumer would need, including a bud of flower grown in New York.
Once inside, attendees could view products and gather information from 50+ exhibitors from the NY area. From farmers, to dispensaries, to paraphernalia, if it pertained to cannabis, it was here. Throughout the day stilt walkers strutted through the convention center, hula hoopers performed, and an air hockey tournament was held adding to the festivities.
You could not purchase cannabis at the event, but the opportunity to sample some of NY’s finest was available. Being “consumption friendly”, a lounge was set up outside the building to offer that opportunity. Stepping into the lounge area, you were greeted by a table with multiple bongs for people to try. Farther in, sampling of flavored THC seltzers was offered. In the back, a covered space with chairs and tables encouraged you to roll one, smoke, and chill. The upstairs balcony had a Dab bar offering samples of the concentrated form of THC. You could even take a chance on a prize wheel to win a freshly rolled joint.
On the face of this it sounds like a stoner’s heaven. It was certainly all that. But this year’s festival also had its eye on the future. With legalization, this is now an industry. Speakers from the business side of cannabis spoke throughout the day. Topics included launching a brand, compliance, marketing, and design. Insights to the legal aspects of a regulated industry where shared. Jojo Simmons (son of rapper Reverend Run of Run DMC) spoke about the community surrounding and supporting cannabis sales and consumption. The Department of Labor even offered a session about creating a resume to work in the industry.
With two years in and no end in sight, Cannastock NY is setting it’s hopes high on an industry that has stepped out of the shadows and into the mainstream. So, pass the Dutchie.
Fusing the sounds of country and rock, Dutchess County-based Raquel & The Wildflowers will embark on a tour of the Midwest and South, bookended by shows in the Northeast and Hudson Valley.
Raquel and the Wildflowers are known for their energetic live performances and the breath of fresh air they bring into the country/rock genre.
Raquel & The Wildflowers have performed alongside country festival artists such as Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Thomas Rhett, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Granger Smith. The group has opened for multi-platinum artist Andy Grammer, award winning band The Big E Fair, and performed numerous at Summer Concert series and Music Festivals around the Northeast.
Raquels debut solo artist single “Run Towards the Highway” won a ReverbNation contest that was distributed for airplay. The song charted #32 on DRT Top 50 Country AirPlay charts (2018) alongside global country stars such as Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan.
Raquel & The Wildflowers were previously featured on NY’s Country 94.7 FM, Central NY #1 Country station Big Frog, MD Country Station 94.7WDSD, Freedom Park “QuaranTunes” Summer Series and iHeart Radio KISS FM.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le8Qx5eQ99M
Shows in New York State for Raquel & The Wildflowers include Hudson Valley cities Redhook, Pawling, New Paltz and Fishkill, as well as shows in the North Country in Akwesasne and Southern Tier in Nichols and Salamanca.
Raquel is currently recording her first album with the band that is scheduled to be released in 2023. For more information, visit Raquelwildflowers.com
The second annual Sullivan County Music Festival, presented by the Hurleyville Performing Arts Centre (HPAC) will be held on Sunday, June 4, from 12 pm to 8 pm. The event will be held on the lawn of Tango Café and Fireman’s Park, Main Street, Hurleyville.
Faith Kelly Performs at the 1st Annual Sullivan County Music Festival, June 4, 2022. Photo by Douglas Shindler. Image Courtesy Hurleyville Performing Arts Centre.
Sullivan County Music Festival is a free community event, with a suggested donation of $10 to support local musicians and vendors. A donation of $10 will get you three complimentary raffle tickets for a chance to win exciting door prizes. Raffle announcements will occur just before the final performance at 7:10 pm.
This year’s lineup includes 15 performances, all showcasing the incredible diversity of local talent in the the Southern Catskills. Sullivan County Music Festival will also highlight 15 non-profit organizations doing remarkable work within Sullivan County. Attendees can enjoy original music all day, along with an array of vendors, raffles, and door prizes generously provided by local businesses.
This festival provides a vital platform for the incredible diversity of talent we have right here in our region. It’s an honor to celebrate and support our local musicians, vendors, and non-profit organizations that contribute so much to our community.
Co-Executive Director of HPAC, Ellyane Hutchinson
Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair to relax on the grass in front of Tango Café. Several local businesses, including The Hurleyville General Store, Tango Café, Pickled Owl, La Salumina, and Casa Mia, will offer a variety of delicious food options. Additionally, door prizes and a 50/50 raffle will give guests the opportunity to win cash and prizes from local restaurants, vendors, and businesses.
The Sullivan County Music Festival is a family-friendly event, and will include a bouncy house and face painter. Ample parking is available in two large municipal lots on Main Street and Railroad Avenue in Hurleyville. The venue is wheelchair accessible, with restrooms available in HPAC and Tango Café.
WJFF Radio Catskill is the official local media sponsor, while NYS Music serves as the official NY state media sponsor. The Sullivan County Music Festival is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Artist fees for the festival are supported in part by STEAM Fund’s Mission One Gig At A Time (MOGAAT). Catskill Brewery is the official beverage sponsor and Upstate D Tours is the official transportation sponsor. Other event sponsors include Funky Hippy Chic Boutique, Liberty Fine Furnishings & Upholstery, DJ Gteaze, Savory Sweet Eatery, American Storage Buildings, and Zeke1r.
The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) announced that for the year 2024, the budget allocation is $110 million, as well as additional grants reaching $127 million to organizations and artists, and capital project funding.
Lake Placid Sinfonietta Photo: Lohr McKinstry.
The New York State Council on the Arts is dedicated to preserving and expanding the rich and diverse cultural resources that are and will become the heritage of New York’s citizens. This year the NYSCA awarded more than 3,600 direct grants, and $90 million to support the visual, performing, literary and media arts, arts education, and more. Governor Kathy Hochul just announced over $42 Million in awards for Small and Mid-Sized Capital Project grants.
Strengthening our creative sector increases tourism, boosts our economy, and enhances the rich heritage and cultural life of New York State. These record grants will support a wide range of diverse and innovative projects at our arts and cultural organizations across the state, helping ensure all who visit will continue to have wonderful experiences for years to come.
Governor Kathy Hochul
Among those who received a grant award for Small and Mid-Sized Capital Projects, Central New York, more specifically Oneida, had a generous amount given to them. The projects include $1.2 million towards the Artspace Utica Lofts, 41 affordable one and two-bedroom live/work artist units, along with a 3,000-square-foot community workspace located in the Commercial and Arts & Cultural Districts downtown, and $300,000 towards the Children’s Museum of History, Natural History, and Science for Final Construction and Capital Systems Components of Final Museum Construction Phase. A complete list of grantees is available here.
For the 2024 year, the NYSCA will allocate $110 million to support the sector as it is a very important year for the arts as the bounce back from the COVID pandemic continues every day. The total funding for grants is $127 million, $90 million in grantmaking to organizations and artists, and $37 million in capital project funding. For more information about the NYSCA and to prequalify for aid, visit here.
Maverick Concerts, the oldest continuous summer chamber music festival in America, located on Maverick Road in Woodstock along the serene Catskill Mountains, has announced its summer 2023 season, which begins July 1 and continues until Sept. 10.
The 2023 performance schedule includes recurring events like Maverick Family Saturdays, Maverick Saturday evenings, and Maverick Chamber Festival Sundays. In celebration of the summer 2023 season, Maverick will host a special open house on June 3 from noon to 5 p.m.
The Pablo Ziegler Jazz Tango Trio, from left to right: Hector Del Curto, Pablo Ziegler, and Claudio Ragazzi, will open the season on July 1. Credit: Maverick Concerts.
The Maverick Concert Series in Woodstock begins with Maverick Family Saturdays on July 1. Finishing out the night, Maverick welcomes the Grammy Award-winning Pablo Ziegler Jazz Tango Trio (Ziegler, Hector Del Curto, and Claudio Ragazzi.) The virtuoso pianist featured on Astor Piazzolla’s late masterpiece Tango: Zero Hour, Ziegler has forged on in the master’s Nuevo Tango vein, evolving its blend of Argentinian tango with jazz values and modern chamber music.
Finishing out the opening weekend on July 2, Cuarteto Latinoamericano returns to Maverick, performing string quartets from three great mid-century Latin American composers: the Brazilian master Heitor Villa-Lobos and his two great Mexican contemporaries, Silvestre Revueltas and Carlos Chavez.
The Maverick Concert Series in Woodstock concludes at the end of summer, shortly after labor day on Sept. 9 and 10. Saturday will welcome Happy Traum with Cindy Cashdollar and friends for a performance. Sunday celebrates the 80th birthday of Afro-Cuban American composer and conductor Tania Leon, who will participate in a pre-concert talk, and the final concert of the series welcomes the Cassatt String Quartet and the American pianist Ursula Oppens.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the uniquely charming rustic Maverick Concerts has superb acoustics and is the ideal venue for an intimate encounter with chamber music. Maverick presents concerts by internationally renowned classical, jazz, and contemporary music ensembles from July through early September. Its founder, Hervey White, built the historic concert hall in 1916 and opened his land and hospitality to artists, musicians, and the community, and his vision is still sustained today.
For tickets and additional information on the Maverick Concerts 2023 season, visit maverickconcerts.org.
Maverick Concerts in Woodstock full 2023 schedule:
Saturday, July 1:
Maverick Family Saturdays
Chief Baba Neil Clarke
Jazz at the Maverick
Pablo Ziegler Jazz Tango Trio
Sunday, July 2:
Cuarteto Latinoamericano
Saturday, July 8:
Maverick Family Saturdays
The Wayfinder Experience
Mak Grgic, guitar
Sunday, July 9:
Miro Quartet
Saturday, July 15:
Maverick Family Saturdays
The Blues and Beyond with Andy Stack
Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams
Sunday, July 16:
Escher String Quartet
Saturday, July 22:
Maverick Family Saturdays
Birds of Prey with Ravensbeard Wildlife Center
Steve Gorn, Vinay Desai, and Samir Chatterjee
Sunday, July 23:
Manhattan Chamber Players with David Fung
Saturday, July 29:
Maverick Family Saturdays
Tracy Bonham and Melodeon
Adam Tendler, piano with Alexander Platt
Sunday, July 30:
Danish String Quartet
Saturday, August 5:
Priscilla Navarro
Sunday, August 6:
Verona Quartet
Saturday, August 12:
Maverick Family Saturdays
Dali Quartet
Jazz at the Maverick – Arturo O’Farrill Quartet
Sunday, August 13:
Dali Quartet
Saturday, August 19:
Maverick Family Saturdays
Jason Vance Storyteller and One-Man Band
Jazz at the Maverick – Nilson Matta Brazilian Voyage
Sunday, August 20:
Catalyst Quartet with Gabriel Cabezas
Saturday, August 26:
20th Anniversary Chamber Music Concert – Canoga Arts Ensemble w/Simone Dinnerstein, piano
Sunday, August 27:
Borromeo String Quartet
Saturday, September 2:
Jazz at the Maverick – Bill Charlap Trio
Sunday, September 3:
Ames Piano Quartet
Saturday, September 9:
Happy Traum with Cindy Cashdollar and friends
Sunday, September 10:
Cassatt Quartet with Ursula Oppens, piano; Tania Leon composer
Open to the public for the first time, the Hudson Valley Meadowlark Festival is set to take place from Sept. 8-10 at Stone Ridge Orchard & Farmers Market in Stone Ridge, NY, featuring some of the most storied names in Americana, indie rock, and experimental music.
Meadowlark Festival is a curated three-day experience celebrating American roots and independent music. This year the festival is open to the public, last year it was an invite-open event, featuring Mississippi bluesman RL Boyce and NYC singer/songwriter Jeffrey Lewis, among others. The venue is the picturesque Stone Ridge Orchard, operating for the past 200 years as a productive, diversified farm, raising a wide variety of sustainably-grown gourmet fruits and vegetables on 115 scenic rolling acres. The performance site will be under the shade of the farm’s iconic nearly 400-year-old oak tree, the jewel of Stone Ridge, next to a stand of some of the oldest apple trees in the region.
Meadowlark producer Daniel Leslie, who hails from the Hudson Valley region, graduated from Vassar College, and now resides in Brooklyn, describes its inspiration, “This grew out of a vision shared with some of my musician friends about blending traditional and experimental music in a special, secluded setting,” he said. “The Hudson Valley is such an epicenter of music culture, it’s the perfect setting for this type of experience we wanted to create that blends traditional music with an edgier counterculture vibe.” Besides music, the festival will feature many food trucks and vendors, from fresh produce from farmers’ markets to homemade cider donuts.
Saturday, Sept. 8, features New York singer-songwriter, harpist, and guitarist Lizzie No, one of the most exciting new voices in contemporary Americana music. Her 2017 debut album Hard Won was hailed as “simultaneously understated and fervent” by Billboard Magazine, and her 2019 album Vanity was a hit at college radio stations across the country, cracking the NACC Top Adds Chart. She is currently working on her third studio album, and this summer she joins the Basic Folk podcast team as guest cohost. Also featured is Brooklyn-based indie pop artist beccs, hailed as one of NYLON Magazine’s “favorite cool girls,” and Massachusetts-based singer-songwriter Cloudbelly, aka Corey Laitman. Accompanied by a rotating cast of inspired instrumentalists and friends, Laitmain makes music that includes poetic lyricism, stirring vocals, and a disarming stage presence.
Lizzie No.
Saturday, Sept. 9 features a wide array of artists, including headliners Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. The band is led by Alec Ounsworth, described by Pitchfork as, “musically adventurous… melodic, exuberant indie rock…” After nearly two decades Ounsworth remains one of music’s most distinctive voices. Jolie Holland has knotted together a century of American song, from jazz to blues, to soul, to rock and roll, into an indescribable sound. Taking inspiration from the likes of Mavis Staples or Al Green, her voice is immediately booming and gritty.
Continuing, Saturday also includes Chris Staples, who has garnered over a million streams on Spotify, creating indie rock music for the past 25 years. Ending the day is Hudson Valley’s own Babehoven. Maya Bon, the singer-songwriter behind the band, writes about the confusing and jarring aspects of life with emotional vulnerability, collaborating with producer Ryan Albert.
Alec Ounsworth aka Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.
The final day of the festival on Sunday features Grammy-nominated quartet Devotchka, described by the NY Times as “striking… attention-grabbing.” Formed in Denver by multi-instrumentalists Nick Urata (vocals, guitar, trumpet), Tom Hagerman (violin, accordion), Jeanie Schroder (sousaphone, bass), and percussionist Shawn King, Devotchka infuses modern indie music with a global flavor. Also featured is Chris Smither, described by the Associated Press as one of the absolute best singer-songwriters in the world, filling concert venue after concert venue with eager fans waiting to hear his electrifying folk and blues tunes.
Other performers on the final day include genre-defying New Orleans hard rockers Quintron & Miss Pussycat, creating 14 full-length records over the past 15 years that have the psychedelic soul of traditional New Orleans party music. Finally, Boston-based blues guitarist Ryan Lee Crosby performs, described by Aquarium Drunkard as “sometimes light and free-flowing, sometimes intense and heavy.” Other acts are to be announced.
Rock duo Hot Tuna will kick off their final “Electric Hot Tuna” tour on July 20, opening the Great South Bay Music Festival at Shorefront Park in Patchogue. The duo will stop in Upstate New York in September before wrapping up their tour at the Beacon Theatre in NYC.
Jack Casady (left) and Jorma Kaukonen (right.) Credit: Erik Kabik.
The duo, which comprises Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen, originated in San Francisco and has been making music for more than 50 years. They released their self-titled debut studio in 1970, and have since their most recent studio album was 2011’s Steady as She Goes. While their last official album was released over a decade ago, Hot Tuna is still going strong, soon to begin a tour across the country this month.
Members of Hot Tuna have come and gone, but Casady and Kaukonen have been steady members since its inception, while also maintaining solo careers. Casady released a solo album, Dream Factor, in 2003, while Kaukonen begin his solo career early into Hot Tuna’s career, releasing a solo record, Quah, 1974.
Tickets are now available for Hot Tuna’s upcoming final tour.
