To close out 2023 and ring in 2024 in Saranac Lake, the annual New Year’s Eve Bash at the Waterhole Music Lounge will feature not one but two bands – both with sets of brothers who have a history of rowdy and raucous performances in the North Country music scene. This year, The Mallett Brothers Band will bring along special guests DiTrani Brothers, who will start the night off at The Waterhole on Sunday, December 31.
With a sound that comes from deep in Maine, The Mallett Brothers Band have a style that ranges from alt-country to Americana, country, jam and roots rock, a musical melting pot influenced equally by singer/songwriter tradition as harder rock, classic country and psychedelic sounds.
A busy tour schedule has helped Mallett Brothers Band build a dedicated fan base across the US – including The Waterhole – and beyond while still calling the state of Maine their home.
Formed in 2009 in Portland, Maine,The Mallet Brothers Bandis an independent, nationally touring country rock and roll band consisting of brothers Luke and Will Mallet (vocals, acoustic and electric guitar), Nick Leen (bass), Andrew Martelle (fiddle, mandolin, guitar), and Brian Higgins (drums).
Kicking off the New Year’s Bash will be The DiTrani Brothers. Hailing from Brattleboro, Vermont they are no strangers to the North Country music scene. Most recently they performed at the 2023 Northern Current Community Music Festival, Party on the Patio, and the 2022 Bloody Mary Sunday Party at the Waterhole.
The band bends melodies and driving rhythms, playing perilous tunes for the hopeful. Drawing influences from Western and Eastern-European folk music, Roa Swing, early American Jazz, Ragtime and Balkan music. The band delivers both wistful and raucous performances that allude to past traditions with a contemporary sentiment.
Doors for this performance will open at 7:30, music will begin at 8:30 pm. Tickets are $15 flat rate and can be purchased at the downstairs bar in person in Saranac Lake, or by visiting the Waterhole website.
SLC Arts has announced their second annual “A North Country Christmas” Holiday Music Tour, performed by Josh Barkley.
SLC Arts musician Josh Barkley will present a holiday music tour featuring organ and piano this December. Four performances during the week of December 18th will begin at 6:00 PM and take place at different churches in St. Lawrence County.
Josh Barkley was born and raised in Madrid, NY, and is a graduate of The Crane School of Music, holding his Bachelors in Music Business. He currently works with SLC Arts through the Creatives Rebuild New York Artist Employment Program. Performing in many local venues, Josh has years of experience behind the keys as well as organ and bass. He is a prolific solo performer, in addition to performing with many bands since high school. He supplies bands with sound equipment and often does live sound for the regional ensembles.
The tour is free to the public, and performances will not include a religious service.
A North Country Christmas Tour Schedule
Monday, December 18: Potsdam United Methodist Church. 26 Main St. Potsdam, NY
Tuesday, December 19: Waddington First Presbyterian Church. 13 Fenton St. Waddington, NY
Wednesday, December 20: Ogdensburg United Methodist Church. 627 Caroline St. Ogdensburg, NY
Thursday, December 21: Massena First United Methodist Church. 189 Main St. Massena, NY
SLC Arts is the administrator of the New York State Council on the Arts’ Statewide Community Regrants (SCR) Program in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties. Through this program, $160,000 in state funding is distributed to municipalities, libraries, 501(c)3 organizations, individual artists and collectives, for the purpose of arts programming. Initiatives may include (but are not limited to) concerts, exhibitions, theatrical performances, readings, screenings, art classes, public art and more. Grants are project-based, and support community-centered projects in any artistic discipline.
The Waterhole Music Lounge has announced the live music lineup for their most renowned concert series, Winter Carnival at the Waterhole.
Over the course of 10 days, The Waterhole will bring 13 live musical acts to the Upstairs Music Lounge to keep Carnival goers moving & grooving as our community celebrates the 127th annual Saranac Lake Winter Carnival.
The 2024 lineup features 13 different bands including a plethora of fan favorites, and pairs them up with unbelievably talented opening acts that are sure to entertain and excite.
Things kick off on Friday, February 2 with Annie in the Water, well known for excitable, high energy jams, funky tones, and chill vibes. Special guests Organ FairChild from Buffalo, NY will open up the evening. This old-school organ trio has dance-heavy grooves and adventurous jamming.
Joslyn & The Sweet Compression make their first Winter Carnival appearance on Saturday, February 3. This groove-hardy trip of soul music filtered through a vivacious, and sometimes lush, modern lens, a psychedelic soundscape that exemplifies truth in music’s ability to shake up the establishment. This band will make the journey to the North from their hometown in Lexington, Kentucky, a follow up appearance at The Waterhole after the crowd fell in love with their sound at a Party on the Patio performance in 2023.
Los Blancos are the perfect compliment to the Saturday night bill. This band has been playing the Waterhole since the creation of the Upstairs Music Lounge in 1991. They rip through blues, soul, zydeco, and with their bottomless bag of tricks they always get the party started.
Wednesday, February 7 Hayley Jane returns to the Waterhole with her new band. Known for her emotive and memorizing performances, her vocals have a delicacy that touches the heart and also a raw power that can drive one into a frenzy. Open and honest, she chooses words that are both brazen and playful as she spills secrets onto the stage, spinning them into a web of burred lines.
Giovanina Bucci, who was born and raised in Plattsburgh and a dear friend of Hayley Jane will open up the night. Her musical style is nothing short of eclectic. Rooted in blues, soul, and folk, she writes about the intimate experiences that have shaped her as a human and as a songstress showcasing her unique guitar style and sultry delivery.
Thursday, February 8 features The Strictly Hip: Masters of The Tragically Hip. The band takes an almost academic approach to performing the music of Canada’s most popular band, performing with reverence, respect and accuracy.
Friday, February 9 Bellas Bartok & Folkfaces partner up for an energetic and bedazzling co-bill that is sure to keep concert goers dancing the night away. Bella’s Bartok live shows are a theatrical mix of ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ and the ‘Rocky Horror Picture’ show with a mesmerizing mix of Eastern European, Americana, punk and pop music. Folkfaces are a rowdy, roots quartet that takes its influence from weird old American music, offering an energetic variety show and traveling music review. The band explores a wide range of genres including country, blues, traditional jazz, rock & roll, honkey tonk, western swing, bluegrass, old-time, jug band and more.
Saturday, February 10 features two different shows – the first being the Post Parade Party. This day time show takes place immediately after the parade ends, and is well known as the biggest dance party of the entire year, plus its a free show headlined by another fan favorite, The Big Takeover.
Led by the powerhouse, Jamaican-born singer and songwriter NeeNee Rushie, The Big Takeover’s horn-powered global blend reveals deep fluency in reggae and world music, hints of soul and Motown, and their own infectious brand of pop classicism. Saranac Lakers will recognize The Big Takeover from their late night performance at the 2022 Northern Current Community Music Festival.
Later that evening, another show awaits Carnival goers. Fan favorite, West End Blend returns with funk and SOUL. Fronted by vocalist Erica Tracy Sullivan, WEB plays homage to classic throwback sounds while adding their own distinct vibe and flair. Behind her, the blend packs a four-piece horn section, two guitars bass, keyboards, and drums onto stages every night. From humble beginnings in an epic sweaty funky basement dance party, the Blend’s goal has always been to bring that same atmosphere to every show ever since.
Opening up for WEB will be All Night Boogie Band – hailing form the Green Mountains of Vermont, this band closed out the 2023 Party on the Patio 2023 season with a bang, and were thus invited to play during Winter Carnival. Think massive soulful vocals, big horns; and a powerfully tight rhythm section that creates a powerful and emotional blues that will make you shake your hips.
And last but certainly not least, Jatoba returns to the Carnival Lineup on Bloody Mary Sunday, February 11. This free day time show happens in the downstairs bar and will mark the band’s first Waterhole show since 2014. Jatoba sounds like groove-grass with quick bluegrass tempos driven by thumping and rockabilly-like bass lines, accentuated with soaring three part vocal harmonies. On top of this, they add effect-driven guitar solos, heavy rhythmic improvisation, beat boxing and even the occasional sitar interlude.
If you don’t want to miss a single beat of Winter Carnival at The Waterhole, consider purchasing a Week Pass for $76. This pass guarantees access to every ticketed event and saves you $24. Tickets are available for purchase on the Waterhole website saranaclakewaterhole.com and in person by stopping into the bar. As always, the Waterhole is a 21+ venue.
Laura Carbone, a music photographer and promoter in Plattsburgh, who founded the popular Plattsburgh Blues and Jazz (PB&J) series, was announced recently as one of the recipients of The Blues Foundation “Keeping the Blues Alive” Award.
Founded in Memphis, Tennessee more than 40 years ago, The Blues Foundation has grown from a small base of Memphis supporters that presented the first National Blues Awards at the Orpheum Theatre on November 16, 1980, to an international membership of over 4,000 individuals and organizations. The Blues Music Awards are managed by The Blues Foundation staff, with close to 100 blues experts from across the blues industry acting as nominators to choose the final five nominees in each of 25 categories. Winners are determined by a vote of The Blues Foundation membership.
In 1984, The Blues Foundation began producing the National Blues Amateur Talent Contest, which has grown into what is now the largest blues competition in the world, renamed the International Blues Challenge in 1995. Hundreds of blues societies from around the world have affiliated with the Foundation, and many annually sponsor bands, solo/duo artists, and youth showcase participants as IBC competitors after hosting their own local live challenges. What began as a few local bands vying for recognition now attracts over 225 blues groups each year who are honored to perform on Beale Street and who look to win cash prizes, bookings, gear, recording deals, and that all-important recognition as a rising blues band or artist.
During IBC Week, The Blues Foundation also recognizes those members of the blues community who have spent a lifetime celebrating and promoting blues music with what are now known as the Keeping the Blues Alive Awards. The Blues Foundation began honoring these behind-the-scenes blues flame keepers in 1981, just one year after the organization was founded.
The awards are held to honor those who have made a significant “behind the scenes” contribution to blues music. Recipients are selected by a select panel of Blues professionals.
Laura Carbone is an accomplished Plattsburgh-based photographer known for her contributions to leading blues publications around the world. Her work spans regional publications in Upstate New York, national platforms covering blues music, and international magazines across Europe. Through her lens, Carbone magnificently captures the essence of the blues, in the process, supporting, promoting, and expanding awareness of the genre.
Beyond her photography skills, Carbone supports the blues community by wearing numerous other hats. As an event promoter, she brings regional, national, and international artists to upstate New York. Along with providing unique work opportunities for these artists, her events introduce blues to a region where its presence was previously non-existent.
Carbone goes the extra mile by organizing Blues in the School events, creating additional work for touring musicians, and actively supporting Kids Rock The Nation, a program that provides instruments and instruction to aspiring young music students. Moreover, Carbone has demonstrated her commitment to the genre through generous acts of philanthropy. She contributes her photos to fundraisers, financially supports worthwhile causes, and frequently opens her home as a rehearsal space. Similarly, the popular house concerts she hosts provide an intimate setting for music enthusiasts. Carbone engages in these charitable activities without seeking recognition or expecting any tangible rewards, showcasing a genuine dedication to the blues community. For all these reasons and more, The Blues Foundation has honored Carbone with a 2024 Keeping the Blues Alive Award.
I was blown away, quite an honor. This award has been given to giants in the industry. It is not only for my photography but also for all the work I do bringing in music to the North Country.
Laura Carbone
Also honored with the Keeping the Blues Alive Award for 2024 are Anne Marie & Jacques Garcia, who have contributed to blues events and preservation efforts in France; Fame Records and Ecko Records guitarist Larry Chambers; Boston Blues Society direction and WATD Music Director John Hall; Mark Stenzler of Radio Free Ithaca and host of Blues Zeppelin; renowned harmonica virtuoso and founder of Lee Oskar Harmonicas, Lee Oskar; the Columbus (Ohio) Blues Alliance, and Blues Association Turkey.
NYS Music congratulates Laura Carbone and all the recipients of the Keeping the Blues Award.
The Clayton Opera House, a year-round performance center for the Thousand Islands region, has announced the 2024 lineup of event. From rock and roll to Celtic musicals to comedians, everyone will find their niche at this historic opera house.
The Clayton Opera House, a historic brick building nestled in downtown Clayton, has been a staple in the area for music lovers and enthusiasts. The opera house has been a vital part of Clayton since it was completed in 1904, and had its first taste of music that same year with a quartet and an elocutionist. Though it currently stands as an opera house, it has taken many other shapes: from being a library, furniture store, funeral parlor, jewelry and clothing stores, a beauty salon, the Thousand Islands Museum, an antique boat museum, and a hand-weaving museum, to what it is today– an opera house.
The Clayton Opera House had a renovation and revival in 2007. This was a pivotal point in the opera house’s history. When the government offices were added to the bottom floors, it became not only a musical venue, but a community center.
Since they have such large attendance rates (between 12,000 and 15,000), the Clayton Opera House has already announced 18 confirmed shows for 2024– with more shows to come.
Clayton Opera House 2024 Season Schedule
March 8 – Celtic Angels – Celtic Singers and Dancers
March 30 – Diggery Dinosaur Show – Interactive Show
May 4 – Gridley Paige – Rock n’ Roll**
May 25 – Jen Kober – Comedian
June 1 – The Gibson Brothers – Bluegrass
June 7 – Official Blues Brothers Revue – Tribute Band
June 27 – Tapestry – The Carole King Songbook with Suzanne O’Davis
July 6 – Letters Aloud, From the Front – Letters from War by Soldiers
July 18 – Good Witch/Bad Witch – Broadway
July 25 – The High Kings – Celtic Music
July 27 – The Bacon Brothers – A Mix of Folk, Rock, Soul & Country
August 1 – Jim Messina – Classic Rock
August 8 – The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John – starring Michael Cavanaugh
August 14 – Top House – Americana/Folk Music
August 22 – Martha Redbone – Blues/Soul Singer
August 29 – Fran Lebowitz – Speaker/Author
September 7 – Henry Cho – Comedian
October 12 – Haunted Objects – Paranormal Researchers Greg & Dan Newkirk
** This performance will be set up with a standing room (general admission) in the performance hall and a cash bar.
For more information on the Clayton Opera House, and to see any new performances added to their lineup, visit their website.
Singer-songwriter Deb Cavanaugh and her band, Dandelion Wine, released a new single on Friday, November 17, titled “Come On Over,” as a preview of their record slotted to come out next year. Recorded at Jive Hive Live, the accompanying music video offers a fun rendition of the brand new track.
Deb Cavanaugh, a singer-songwriter and longtime musician based in Upstate New York, has been focusing on folk music since the 90s. She now plays shows with Dandelion Wine, a rotating cast of musicians featuring Deb Cavanaugh, Anders Johansson, Jared Carrozza, and Andy DeBell, all of whom contributed to the new single and upcoming record.
Inspiration for this song, like many others, came to me while driving down the road. I started thinking about relationships and how important it is to me to have a balance between partnership and independence.
Deb Cavanaugh
“Come On Over” was recorded at Jive Hive Live, a private Albany venue built for live recordings and livestream productions. Backup vocals, as well as the mixing, mastering, and producing were done at Mountaintop Studios in Petersburgh, NY. Backup vocals feature family with Tabitha Cavanaugh, as well as Brenda Fisher and Laura Johnson
Deb Cavanaugh and Dandelion Wine’s new record, Come On Over, will be released in 2024. The new single, of the same name, is available now with the brand new music video below.
Jimkata, the three-piece anthemic, synth-washed, electro-rock band based out of both Ithaca and Los Angeles have announced Winter Tour dates for 2024, with six Northeast performances planned.
photo by Allison Marie
Jimkata has built a large grassroots following over the last two decades, including two and a half years on hiatus, which was recently ended. The group have released six studio albums all with their signature swirling synths, infectious pop hooks and candid lyrics.
Jimkata’s Winter Tour for 2024 will include stops in NYC at Nublu, Buffalo Iron Works, and The Waterhole in Saranac Lake. These dates are in addition to the upcoming show at Photo City Music Hall on Saturday, December 2.
Tickets here for all upcoming shows can be found at jimkata.com/tour
Jimkata 2023-2024 Tour Dates
December 2 – Photo City Music Hall w/ Edalo & CAT_A_TAC, Rochester
The Johnsburg Town Board voted unanimously to approve leasing Tannery Pond Community Center to the group operating the facility. The center, with the lease, will continue to promote arts, education, and community events.
The venture began in April 2021, with the lease going into effect on January 1, 2024. Tannery Pond features an art gallery space, an auditorium, and various community rooms. It hosts exhibits, musicals, concerts, plays, and various other performing arts events year-round.
Their core values include being accessible and welcoming to all, pursuing excellence in all aspects of programming and operations, supporting creativity and experimentation, being respectful to audiences, and much more. For years, the town government has subsidized the building’s operation, maintenance, repairs, utilities, and capital expenses as well as a portion of its programming and administrative costs, totaling upwards of $100,000. Due to this, the center has raised funds and received grants to continue operations.
Tannery Pond Center Executive Director Candice Murray said to The Sun that large organizations, like the New York Council for the Arts, that award grants to performance venues want sponsoring groups to either own their facilities or have a long-term lease in place before they award any money.
Improving the quality of life in Johnsburg is a priority for Tannery Pond, and hopes to secure partnerships to be awarded more grants, and bring more people in. These include the Adirondack Folk School to teach people about traditional crafting techniques, and to host shows and performances presented by the Adirondack Center for the Arts and the Seagle Colony festival.
Tannery Pond Center (TPC), the 501C3 organization that manages Tannery Pond Community Center (TPCC), is excited to enter into a long-term lease with the Town of Johnsburg. We have worked toward this partnership since 2021 and are very excited to finalize the lease. It will give increased ability to fundraise and apply for grants which we were previously not eligible to receive. We are excited about what the future holds and are looking forward to being able to provide more programming and offerings to the community.
Tannery Pond
Tannery Pond will now be able to get more and better shows and concerts, as well as exhibits. These events will be more culturally enriching, with more school-aged kids activities planned in the mix.
The townspeople have 30 days to bring the issue to a public vote if they wish to overturn it, but there has been substantial support.
The Village of Saranac Lake Board of Trustees have turned down a requested zoning change that would have turned a field adjacent to a decommissioned landfill into a multi-use music venue, event space and athletic field.
The property, located on Moose Way and seen on the map below at right, is owned by Bob Farmer, who envisioned taking his property, as well as the former landfill – for which the village has a $435,000 grant to convert into athletic fields – and turn the field into Mountain View Performing Arts Field. These plans are now on hold as Farmer weighs his options.
At a village meeting on Monday, October 9, and as reported by Adirondack Daily Enterprise, locals and neighbors of Farmer’s property showed up to voice concerns that this change in zoning would lead to increased traffic, noise, and littering in the small Adirondack town.
This was not the first time Farmer has been turned down by a local board for use of the land for concerts, music and events. The town of North Elba rejected the proposal as it may set precedent for commercial use within a residential area.
With Farmer’s property located in North Elba, and not Saranac Lake, the village board rejected the proposal on this technicality, saying it would need to be annexed before consideration, but based upon concerns of locals, it seems the two best avenues for Farmer have dried up. Resident of Saranac Lake Jacquelyn Dubee said “I feel that it is unfair for the community members to be forced to take a say on what we’re going to be using that land for when we don’t want it to be used for anything,”
The Village of Saranac Lake
One resident, Shannon Madden, started a petition opposing the plan, which she said has 200 signatures so far. With the potential crowd capacity likely to be 3,000, Madden considered this potential venue leading to a “full town invasion.” For those unfamiliar – route 73 that brings most traffic in from I-87 and points east, is a two lane road, with no room for development to expand. The traffic heading into Saranac Lake is already intentionally slowed down as you approach the village center, making the potential for another 500-1000 cars enough to bring the village to a stand still, with no other roads in the area making this feasible.
Christine Collins, a Saranac Lake native and resident of Potsdam has been attached to be venue manager at the Mountain View Performing Arts Field. She pointed to playing it safe as the factor that is holding the town back. “This is about this village and its desperate need for change, culture, diversity and enrichment. While I respect the past, we must let go of antiquated thinking and begin to move forward.
While Farmer and Collins may have exhausted their options, the pair will press ahead and explore alternatives to bringing this site to fruition.
The Waterhole Music Lounge in Saranac Lake has filled their calendar with live music offering top touring acts starting this September all the way through to New Year’s Eve this fall season.
Music enthusiasts can expect a wide range of genres from folk music Fridays, a collection of tribute acts and a handful of side projects from big name acts including String Cheese Incident, EOTO, and Turkuaz The Brazilian Girls. Waterhole Lounge indulges attendees to parties on the patio a venue bar and an incredible scene perfect for live music.
To kick off the start to the fall music season, The Seapods and Raisinhead plan to perform September 9th following will feature triple header Mal Maiz on Thursday for Party on the Patio. The fall lineup also includes many talented tribute acts including The Dave Matthews Tribute Band a 5 member ensemble who match the excitement, intimacy and intensity of a live DMB show. Another highlight during the season is the annual Halloween Bash with funky music and costume contest where hip-hop jam band Sophistafunk from Syracuse plan to shake things up with opening act Chestnut Grove known for their rock n’ roll.
To close out the season The New Year’s Eve Bash will be headlined by The Mallet Brothers Band, a well admired alternative rock country band from the woods of Maine. New York looks forward to what Waterhole Lounge has in store this season that will bring audiences talented acts nationwide that they won’t get enough of. For more information visit The Waterhole Website.
