Category: Regions

Drake Announces KeyBank Center and UBS Arena Shows On 2024 ‘It’s All A Blur Tour’ with J.Cole

Four-time Grammy award-winning and multi-platinum-selling Canadian rapper Drake announced his 2024 US Tour “It’s All A Blur Tour – Big As The What” with American rapper and producer J.Cole featuring two stops at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Tuesday, Feb. 27, and Wednesday, Feb. 28 and two in Belmont Park at UBS Arena on March 14 and 15.

Drake is a Canadian born hip hop artist who first emerged in the music industry in 2009 when he debuted his EP So Far Gone, named the hottest mixtape of the year by MTV and selling over 650,000 copies. Since his emerging success Drake has focused on his development and creation of music, leading to some of his most praised work. Drake embraces the hip-hop culture while integrating R&B and pop to create a languid, grandiose sound. Some of his fan favorites include “Nice For What”, “God’s Plan”, “One Dance (with Wizkid and Kyla)”, “Controlla” and many other record breaking hits.

The upcoming tour follows Drake’s successful return to the stage after his 2023 “It’s All A Blur” Tour, which saw Drake perform 50 sold out area shows across North America throughout the summer and fall. Most recently, Drake released his eighth studio album For All The Dogs featuring ten collaborations with top charting artists SZA, Bad Bunny, J.Cole and more.

Pre-sale tickets will be available beginning on Wednesday, November 15, followed by general tickets on Friday, November 17. For more information please visit here.

DRAKE ‘IT’S ALL A BLUR TOUR – BIG AS THE WHAT?’ 2024 TOUR DATES:

Thu, Jan 18 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena +

Fri, Jan 19 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena

Mon, Jan 22 – San Antonio, TX – Frost Bank Center

Thu, Jan 25 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center

Mon, Jan 29 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center

Tue, Jan 30 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center

Fri, Feb 02 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena

Wed, Feb 07 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena

Thu, Feb 08 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena

Mon, Feb 12 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center

Fri, Feb 16 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena

Tue, Feb 20 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center

Wed, Feb 21 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center

Sat, Feb 24 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse

Tue, Feb 27 – Buffalo, NY – KeyBank Center

Wed, Feb 28 – Buffalo, NY – KeyBank Center

Sat, Mar 02 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center

Tue, Mar 05 – Memphis, TN – FedExForum

Sun, Mar 10 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena

Thu, Mar 14 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena

Fri, Mar 15 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena

Mon, Mar 18 – State College, PA – Bryce Jordan Center

Sat, Mar 23 – Sunrise, FL – Amerant Bank Arena

Wed, Mar 27 – Birmingham, AL – The Legacy Arena at BJCC

November 14, 2023
Marco Benevento To Release ‘Barn Burner: Live At Levon’s’

Marco Benevento has announced a new double album, Barn Burner: Live at Levon’s, to be released March 29, 2024 via Royal Potato Family.

Recorded earlier this year live with his band featuring bassist Karina Rykman and drummer Chris Corsico over a two night, sold out run on January 13-14, 2023 at Levon Helm Studios in the keyboardist’s adopted hometown of Woodstock, the exhilarating 13-track set spans Benevento’s career with tracks from across his eight studio albums, as well as a cover of Bob Dylan & The Band’s “This Wheels On Fire” with special guest Scott Metzger on guitar.

Benevento will celebrate its release with a return to Levon’s aka The Barn for a two-night stand on March 29-30, 2024. Tickets go on-sale this Friday, November 17 at 10am ET.

Our shows at Levon’s barn are always among my favorites. I can literally walk to the gig from my house, but even more important, the vibes are amazing. The staff, the sound, the intimacy and energy of the audience, and of course, Levon’s spirit burning bright inside those four walls, is like nowhere else in the world. After several years of playing there, it seemed like the right time to multitrack the shows and pick my favorites for official release. We were on fire both nights. Karina and Chris sound so, so good playing these tunes! I think our fans will love having a document of the band at this point in our history.
Marco Benevento

Benevento has spent less time touring over the past year to instead focus on several studio projects. He’s recorded with Mark Ronson, Black Thought, El Michels Affair, Clairo, Roge, Molly Lewis and even a posthumous collaboration with Bernie Worrell, while he’s also deep into tracking his ninth album inspired by his favorite Italian movie score composers.

photo by Rachel Brennecke

With his own band, he’s pivoted to inviting fans to destination performances in the Hudson Valley, including his festival Follow The Arrow in Accord, NY, as well as, reoccurring two nights stands at Levon Helm Studios. A cornerstone of the reinvigorated and flourishing arts and music scene in and around Woodstock, NY, Benevento most recently headlined a benefit, Stop Woodstock National LLC, raising funds for the Woodstock Land Conservancy in its efforts to halt the construction of a golf course and luxury condominium complex on 625-plus acres of pristine, untouched forest.

After the pandemic, we made a decision to slow things down a bit on the touring front. There’s been lots of opportunities to work on recording projects and record artists at my studio, Fred Short Recording, while getting to spend a little more time with my family. It’s so beautiful up in the Catskills, so we’re playing more shows around these parts and inviting our fans come up to hang with us in the country!
Marco Benevento

Marco Benevento Barn Burner: Live At Levon’s is available now for pre-order/save on 2-LP, 180-gram classic black vinyl and digital formats here.

Barn Burner: Live At Levon’s Track Listing

1. Coyote Hearing
2. Let It Slide
3. I Can’t See The Light
4. Follow The Arrow
5. Send It On A Rocket
6. Atari
7. Oh Baby Can’t You See
8. Do You Want Some Magic
9. Bus Ride
10. This Wheels On Fire
11. You Must Be A Lion
12. Heartbeats
13. At The Show

November 14, 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
Fingers of Gold: Holly Bowling plays Lark Hall, begins Fall Tour

A brisk fall night on Lark Street was warm and inviting at The Eleven, celebrating its grand opening with a fitting artist upstairs at Lark Hall, pianist Holly Bowling.

photo by Zak Radick

Much has changed in the past decade since Bowling began playing solo shows, having transcribed and performed Phish jams (not just songs, the improv sections too) and gave fresh takes on the catalog of the Grateful Dead, even having appearances with Phil Lesh as one of his friends.

Bowling now enters her second decade of live performances with an evolving solo career in the jam scene, having branched out into Ghost Light with Tom Hamilton and company, played regularly with Greensky Bluegrass, taken part in the immersive Musical Sojourns in Portugal this past October, and brought to life the ever unique Wilderness Series – performing at beautiful vistas within and around our National Park System.

The past decade has been a whirlwind of growth and opportunities, including giving birth to her and husband Jeffery’s first child. Holly Bowling has been about as busy as one can, and shares how she has worked towards finding balance with it all:

One thing I took away from the pandemic was a new acceptance of how to be creative in touring and that there’s a lot of different ways to play music for people. You have to do what makes sense for the situation you find yourself in at that particular time, whether it’s finding ways to create and play music when all the venues are shut down or finding ways to tour that make sense as a parent of a young child. I’m not sure I’d say I’ve figured out how to balance it all. I think finding balance of any kind is a challenge for most touring musicians. It’s a constantly evolving process, and I have to keep reminding myself to find ways to make it work for what my life is today and that what works today isn’t necessarily going to be what worked before or what’s going to work five years from now. And that’s fine – maybe even good.
Holly Bowling

On this evening, Bowling took the stage and performed as she always has, with focus and attention to detail, showing no signs of slowing down a well-paced musical career. Bowling last played Lark Hall with Ghost Light in October 2022, and sought out owner Jennifer Miller to plan a show in the future, with November 11th – 11/11 – being the best date for a show, adding in a nod to the Grateful Dead in the process.

With tube lighting on either side of the stage, a mirror ball above and four colored spots shining down and moving slowly along with the tempo, the stage was set, a grand piano and bench awaiting Bowling.

The first set featured the entire “Terrapin Station” suite, broken up into two sections, opening up with the first half of the song, “Lady with a Fan” and “Terrapin Station,” deep and layered, neatly falling into Phish’s “Fast Enough For You,” with the addition of looping to give the Rift track a new twist. 30 minutes later, the audience offered rousing applause.

With the use of effects pedals processing the piano sound, Bowling illuminated the improvisation jam that led from “About to Run”, and found its way into the rest of the “Terrapin Station” suite, “At a Siding” and “Terrapin Flyer,” finally ending the set with an ever-gorgeous “Divided Sky.” The emergence of a greater scope of sounds from the piano – whether it be with mallets, e-bows, fishing line or pedals – adds depth to the music. Said Bowling, “The piano has always been the instrument that can be closest to a full orchestra and I just want to play with as many sounds as possible.”

The second set opened with a heavy “St. Stephen” where Bowling explored the most familiar parts of the song using a tribal synth sound via manipulation of the inner piano strings, creating a hypnotic trance (accentuated briefly by a police siren wailing down the street.) “William Tell Bridge” developed out of this trance, Bowling playing the inner strings again, the pair of songs harkening the call of “The Eleven,” which would show up promptly at 10:11 (that’s 11:11 without DST). A song very rarely played by Bowling, “The Eleven” gave way to Phish’s “If I Could,” an emotional composition in its own right, and with light internal plucking and looping, Bowling summoned the intro of “Theme From the Bottom,” which took deep turns and twists, eventually fading into “Morning Dew” to close the set.

“Waste” would fall into the encore slot, with Bowling greeting and talking to fans after the show, everyone filing downstairs through The Eleven where Quantum Cosmic Trio continued on with the celebration of a grand opening, a grand performance and a grand pianist.

Holly Bowling – Lark Hall, Albany – Saturday, November 11, 2023

Set 1: Terrapin Station Suite -> Fast Enough For You, About to Run -> Terrapin Station Suite -> Divided Sky
Set 2: St. Stephen -> William Tell Bridge -> The Eleven -> If I Could, Theme from the Bottom -> Morning Dew
Encore: Waste

November 14, 2023
In Focus: David Broza & Omer Avital’s Wilson Live Experience

This past Sunday, November 12, City Winery New York and American Friends of NATAL held a special afternoon of music featuring a rare combination of Omer Avital’s Wilson Live Experience, a group of all-Israeli Jazz musicians who put on live shows mostly from their space on Wilson Avenue in Brooklyn and Israeli Superstar singer David Broza. Concert proceeds went to go to those suffering from PTSD in Israel.

The pair have collaborated before on David Broza’s previous release called TEFILA, where Broza took the traditional Jewish Friday Night Prayers and recomposed them along with the help of Omer Avital, who wrote the orchestration parts. The pair performed the entire piece along with a full choir, string, and horn section at Temple Emanu-El earlier this year.

David Broza & Omer Avital’s Wilson Live Experience at City Winery New York

November 14, 2023
Concept for Metropolitan Park includes Live Music Venue in Flushing

The area around Citi Field might look very different in future years with Mets owner Steve Cohen’s proposed $8 billion plan to create a new development, dubbed Metropolitan Park, featuring a casino and new live music venue.

What is now 50 acres of asphalt surrounding Citi Field might transform into something completely different, bringing together fans, neighbors, and visitors with 20 acres of new public park space, world-class entertainment, and authentic local global cuisine. It is meant to be enjoyed by not only those located in Queens and New York City but could become a tourist destination.

“It’s time the world’s greatest city got the sports and entertainment park it deserves,” said New York Mets owner Steve Cohen. “When I bought this team, fans and the community kept saying we needed to do better. Metropolitan Park delivers on the promise of a shared space that people will not only want to come to and enjoy but can be truly proud of.” Owning the Mets is a civic responsibility to Cohens, and extends beyond the ballpark walls. For over 85 years, this area has been nothing but parking lots that have not served the community or fans to their full potential, and he wants to change this under-developed area.

Over the last three years, Cohen and his team have met with community groups, elected officials, Mets fans, and those who live and work in the surrounding neighborhoods to develop their vision, giving life to a sports and entertainment park. With over 15 community workshops, 20,000 door-to-door conversations, and hundreds of meetings with local leaders, this project has the community’s best ideas in mind.

The vision includes an investment of $8 billion, nearly 15,000 good-paying permanent and construction jobs, 20 acres of new park space with five acres of community playgrounds and athletic fields, climate-ready infrastructure, an accessible and renovated mass transit station, improved and modernized road network, and much more.

The big ticket item everyone is excited about is the new world-class entertainment experience that will bring people to the area every day of the year. Cohens wants to bring a Hard Rock to the area, known for its best-in-class hospitality, with memorable live music experiences and casino and sportsbook gaming. Hard Rock has been committed to New York for nearly four decades with its iconic Cafe in Times Square.

Now spanning the globe in over 70 countries with hotels, casinos, cafes, rock shops, and sports betting namesake venues and properties, Hard Rock is rooted in the spirit of music and philanthropy, embracing the culture and character of each location.

“Hard Rock at Metropolitan Park will be rooted in the spirit of music while embracing the unique culture and character of Queens,” said Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International. “Metropolitan Park captures the energy and vision of bringing people together for memorable shared experiences that exemplifies the company’s mottos to Love All Serve All, All is One, Save Time to Be Kind and Save the Planet. We’re excited to bring our unique brand of world class entertainment to Queens.”

For more information about Metropolitan Park, visit here.

November 14, 2023
Graham Nash to Receive 2023 John Lennon Real Love Award

Legendary musician Graham Nash, known for his iconic journey through the British invasion with the Hollies, his involvement in the legendary Laurel Canyon scene with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and his enduring solo career, is set to be honored with the prestigious 2023 “John Lennon Real Love Award.”

The honor will be presented at the 43rd Annual John Lennon Tribute hosted by Theatre Within, a non-profit organization that has been curating the Annual John Lennon Tribute since 1981. This much-anticipated event will take place on Saturday, December 2, at The Town Hall in New York City.

In recognition of this esteemed award, Graham Nash, a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, will not only graciously accept this accolade but also share his musical talents with the audience. He will perform renditions of his favorite John Lennon and Beatles classics, promising an enchanting night for all in attendance. Joining him will be a lineup of renowned artists who will also grace the stage.

Among the featured performers, Judy Collins, the folk legend, will make her first Tribute appearance in over a decade. Rosanne Cash, a seasoned performer, returns for the third time, having previously received the John Lennon Real Love Award in 2018. Bettye LaVette, the beloved soul queen and fan favorite, will make her sixth Tribute performance. Rich Pagano, a founding member of the Fab Faux, will serve as the Music Director for the 15th consecutive year, ensuring a stellar musical experience.

Graham Nash expressed his gratitude for this recognition, stating,

This is a very special award. I thank Yoko and the Theatre Within for thinking of me. Over many years, I watched John and Yoko ‘fight the good fight’ for many whose voices were not being heard, a fight that Yoko continues to this day. I’m proud to be associated with the many fine artists who were previously honored with the John Lennon Real Love Award.

Theatre Within, known for its joyful Annual John Lennon Tribute and John Lennon Real Love Project, is actively advancing the vision that John Lennon and Yoko Ono shared for a better world. This event’s proceeds will support Theatre Within’s free workshops in creative expression and mindfulness. These workshops encompass the John Lennon Real Love Project’s songwriting program, benefiting the cancer community, elementary and middle schools, and youth in crisis.

The John Lennon Real Love Project’s educational initiative, presented to elementary and middle schools, continues to expand its reach. The program introduces students to John Lennon’s life, music, and his values of peace, love, and equality. Students then craft new lyrics for “Real Love” and record their rendition with John Lennon’s original vocal and piano track. ABC News recently featured the 2023 project.

Tickets for Theatre Within’s 43rd Annual John Lennon Tribute are available for purchase at LennonTribute.org.

November 13, 2023
Dumbo Gets Mad Gets Rochester Dancing

Getting people out to a show on a Monday night is a hard sell. Getting people out for a show on the first Monday after our clocks turn back and darkness falls before lunch has even been digested is even tougher. Getting people out to a show on a dark Monday night when Tool is also in town is near impossible. So the impossible was achieved on Monday, November 6, when the Bug Jar had Italian quartet Dumbo Gets Mad on the bill and drew a solid crowd to come check them out.

That crowd was treated to an extremely fun and danceable set. And dance they did! The quartet, guitar, keys, bass and drums, put their own psychedelic spin on a wide swath of genres. Synth-pop, surf, reggae, late night grooves, and heavy rock all reared their heads through the evening in a set that spanned their 10-year catalog.

“Congratulations” gave the Bug Jar’s mirror ball a bit of nostalgia with it’s disco beat, slinky bass and infectious groove. Slow and sexy “Indian Food” gave the dance floor a bit of a breather. “Self Esteem” ratcheted the energy way up through the upside-down roof, bombastic bass blasts met raucous guitar in an absolute rager. The band had an endless bag of catchy synth lines, and “Plumy Tale” ended the set with yet another one.

Dumbo Gets Mad was having as good a time as the crowd, and exhibited their own set of dance moves from the stage. Urged back for “one more song,” the band launched into a guitar and drums workout that had lead Dumbo Luca Bergomi grooving with his guitar through the crowd, the dance party on and off the stage ultimately coalescing in the end.

November 13, 2023
Free Music at Noon Series Returns to Troy

The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall’s Music at Noon series has returned for the 2023-2024 season with The Lost Radio Rounders on Oct. 10. The rest of the year brings an eclectic lineup to the venue, featuring a wide variety of acts.

Carl Gutowski & Yalin Chi.

Since 1988, on the second Tuesday of each month from October to May, the free Music at Noon concert series has presented exceptional musicians with diverse musical styles. Returning in full swing on Nov. 14 is Carl Gutowski, a flutist based in the Hudson Valley and Cape Cod who has been performing in solo and chamber music settings for over 30 years. When he isn’t creating music he is a Software Engineer with nearly 30 years of experience developing software systems for air traffic control, publishing, education, e-commerce, and finance.

Joining him is pianist Yalin Chi from Beijing, China, who made her debut with the Central Opera Orchestra before moving to the United States to study at Interlochen Arts Academy. She has performed and worked with musicians from across the globe, and studied at Julliard for her undergraduate and master’s degrees.

Other performances at the Music at Noon series include singer/songwriter Alan Goldberg, performing a mix of originals and covers on Dec. 12. On Jan. 9, the Vermont-based Woodwind ensemble Heliand Consort performs, featuring a pre-show workshop titled “Explore Double Reeds & Piano: Demonstration & Instrument Petting Zoo.” Students will learn about chamber music and each instrument: piano, oboe, and bassoon, and how each of them operates. The workshop is free, register here.

On Feb. 13, Korean classical fusion group CelloGayageum performs, with a free preshow workshop titled “Exploring Cello & Gayageum through Korean Folk Music,” where students learn about Korean culture through sing-alongs and immersive activities. Musicians Yvonne Chavez Hansbrough, Young Kim, and Paul Quigley perform at Music at Noon on March 12, featuring the flute, guitar, and piano.

April 9 brings Spira, a group made up of Jamecyn Morey, violin, Brittany Zellman, viola, David Bebe, cello, and Chrysi Nanou, piano. There is a free pre-show workshop titled “Explore Bowed String Instruments and Piano: Demonstration & Instrument Petting Zoo,” showcasing their respective instruments.

The final Music at Noon performance is on May 14 with Findlay Cockrell, an 87-year-old pianist, who taught music and performed at UAlbany and throughout the whole capital District, retiring from the university after 40 years in 2006.

For more information about Music at Noon or the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall’s upcoming programs visit here.

November 13, 2023
Jam for Tots Celebrates 10 Years with 2023 Toy Drive

The 2023 holiday season has arrived, and with it a spirit of giving and supporting those most in need in our local communities. Jam for Tots will once again be held at venues across New York State, bringing live music fans together for great shows while collecting toys to brighten the spirits of children statewide.

For 10 years, Jam for Tots has been held across New York State and the Northeast, and we celebrate this year with 10 venues around the state where fans are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy for a child (under 13) to drop in the donation box. These toys will be brought to local charities within the venue’s community, to ensure that these toys brighten the day of children within the local area.

Shows will be hosted by multiple beloved venues, including Buffalo Iron Works, Bug Jar, Funk ‘n Waffles Syracuse, Lark Hall, Putnam Place, Stewart House, The Strand Theatre Hudson Falls, The Hollow Bar + Kitchen, The Sting (Oswego) and The Waterhole. We gratefully thank these venues for their support of this worthy cause.

Things kick off in Albany on November 22 at The Hollow Bar and Kitchen with two of Albany’s favorite artists – Glass Pony, with special guest Laura Leigh – joining together to celebrate Thanksgiving Eve.

See below for the full lineup of Jam for Tots shows across New York State (chronological order)

The Hollow, Albany

Wednesday, November 22 – Glass Pony with special guest Laura Leigh (solo)

Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs

Thursday, November 30 – Karina Rykman

Waterhole, Saranac Lake

Saturday, December 2 – Donna the Buffalo

Funk n Waffles, Syracuse

Sunday, December 3 – Tato for the Tots (open mic)

The Strand Theater, Hudson Falls

Sunday December 3 – The McKrells Christmas Show

Stewart House, Athens

Thursday, December 7 – Open Mic hosted by John Pinder

Buffalo Iron Works

Saturday, December 9 – Keller Williams
Wednesday, December 20 – DJ Brownie with special guests

The Sting – Oswego

Saturday, December 9 – Char Dennis Band

Lark Hall, Albany

Friday, December 15 – The Deadbeats Holiday Bash

Bug Jar, Rochester

Friday, December 22 – Waldhexen / Chrmr / Dissonant Seepage / Humiliating Moan

November 12, 2023