Phish has announced their annual New Year’s Eve run at Manhattan’s Madison Square Garden, set for December 28, 29, 30, and 31.
The annual run at MSG marks the 15th time Phish will ring in the New Year at ‘The World’s Most Famous Arena’, and the 91st concert overall, as of New Year’s Eve, the second most for any artists at the venue behind Billy Joel.
A ticket request period is now underway at tickets.phish.com and will continue through Monday, September 25 at 12 noon (ET). Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, September 29 at 12 noon (ET). A limited number of travel packages (hotel and tickets) will go on sale Wednesday, September 27 at Noon ET.
Phish recently performed two benefit concerts at the Broadview Stage at SPAC August 25 – 26, raising over $3.5M for flood recovery efforts in Vermont and Upstate New York. Both shows featured special pre-show acoustic sets with Phish’s Page McConnell and Trey Anastasio, while the Saturday, August 26 performance saw Phish joined on stage by a surprise appearance from guitarist Derek Trucks.
PHISH 2023 TOUR DATES
OCTOBER
6 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
7 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
8 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
10 – Dayton, OH – Wright State University Nutter Center
11 – Dayton, OH- Wright State University Nutter Center
Grammy Award-winning artist Lukas Nelson and his longtime band, Promise of the Real (POTR), have announced an extensive headline tour this fall including stops at New York’s Madison Square Garden on September 29, Kingston’s Ulster Performing Arts Center on November 25, and Rochester’s Water Street Music Hall on November 26The tour is in support of Nelson’s recent album, Sticks and Stones.
The group will embark on their tour on September 15 in Pryor, OK, with stops including Kansas City, MO, Boston, MA, Austin, TX, and Asbury Park, NJ.
Self-produced by Lukas Nelson and POTR, Sticks and Stones was released last month on 6ACE Records/Thirty Tigers and is currently top 5 on the Americana Albums charts. With the record, Nelson continues to garner success at radio as his single, “Sticks and Stones,” is currently #1 on the Alt Country chart and top 10 on the Americana Singles chart.
Written solely by Nelson, Sticks and Stones is filled with upbeat energy and fun. He explores universal human experiences of love, celebration, longing and humor, while also capturing the musical power and electricity of the band’s live performances. Lukas Nelson and POTR is Lukas Nelson, Anthony LoGerfo, Corey McCormick, Logan Metz, and Tato Melgar.
Tickets for the new shows are on sale now. Details can be found at www.lukasnelson.com/tour. Additional headline dates to be announced.
September 20—St. Louis, MO—Delmar Hall
September 21—Bloomington, IL—The Castle Theatre
September 24—North Adams, MA—FreshGrass
September 27—Boston, MA—TD Garden*
September 29—New York, NY—Madison Square Garden*
October 6-8—Gretna, LA—Gretna Heritage Festival
October 13—Austin, TX—ACL Live at the Moody Theatre
October 14—Midland, TX—The Tailgate
October 15—San Antonio, TX—The Espee
October 18—Abilene, TX—The Paramount Theatre
October 19—Fort Worth, TX—Tannahill’s Tavern
October 21—Oklahoma City, OK—Tower Theatre
October 24—Little Rock, AR—The Hall
October 25—Memphis, TN—Minglewood Hall
October 26—Oxford, MS—The Lyric
October 28—Atlanta, GA—Buckhead Theatre
October 30—St. Petersburg, FL—Jannus Landing
November 1—Fort Lauderdale, FL—Parker Theatre
November 4—Sanford, FL—Tuffy’s Music Box
November 5—Fort Myers, FL—The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon
November 8—Nashville, TN—Ryman Auditorium
November 9—Asheville, NC—Orange Peel
November 11—Raleigh, NC—The Ritz
November 12—Washington, DC—9:30 Club
November 14—Charlottesville, VA—Jefferson Theatre
November 15—Asbury Park, NJ—Stone Pony
November 16—Philadelphia, PA—Brooklyn Bowl
November 19—Providence, RI—The Strand
November 24—Burlington, VT—Higher Ground
November 25—Kingston, NY—Ulster Performing Arts Center
Brooklyn-based electropop duo, FIIZ, released their newest single “Phantom Limb” on September 14. “Phantom Limb” skillfully captures the torment of an emotional rupture that is often overlooked, and faced by everyone in today’s society.
This new track forces listeners to contemplate a deeply personal sentiment: the odd feeling of missing someone even if they are physically present. While songs, movies, and literature prepare us for the heartache of romantic love, few artists offer solace for the experience of losing a platonic friend. “Phantom Limb” invites listeners to face these feelings head-on, and normalize this sensation.
“We wanted to write about the aftermath when time has passed and healing has begun, but maybe there will never be closure.”
Isabelle, FIIZ
The band FIIZ is comprised of Fiona (Fi) and Isabelle (Iz). The band sprouted from their profound friendship that grew during the quarantine of the COVID-19 pandemic. As artists, they aim to defy norms as they both fearlessly represent the LGBTQ+ community, and champion the queer community proudly through their music. They continue to break the heteronormative pop culture that’s deeply engraved in the music industry, shattering barriers with their unapologetic artistic expression and empowering presence.
FIIZ’s sound is a canvas where both band members blend their influences, resulting in an electronic-pop sound that incorporates elements of hyperpop and EDM. Their previous single, “Lungs,” stands as a celebration of queer sensuality, capturing the emotions experienced during a woman’s first encounter with another woman.
In an era where music tends to romanticize and idealize heteronormative relationships, FIIZ’s “Phantom Limb” stands as a testament to the complexity of human connections, reaching their listeners on a deeper, more personal level.
Listen to their single on Spotify and follow them on Instagram for future updates.
When You Wish Upon a Star – A Jazz Tribute to 100 Years of Disney is coming to Corning’s Museum of Glass on October 28 as part of their upcoming national tour. The tour will also make a stop at Newark, NJ’s Victoria Theatre at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.
The show features musical direction by Sean Mason and the brand new house band of The National Jazz Museum in Harlem, as well as Kim Nalley and Sasha Dobson as vocalists.
Director Sean Mason leads the touring show, as one of the premier talents of his generation. Mason has performed and toured with jazz legends including Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, and Herlin Riley, and as a recent Julliard graduate, he is rolling out his upcoming debut album The Southern Suite. As a native North-Carolinan turned New Yorker, the record explores his southern roots from his current vantage point at the heart of the NYC music scene.
Credit: Martina DaSilva
Philanthropist and vocalist Kim Nalley will join the show, boasting a 3½ octave range and stunning performances. As the “Most Influential African American in the Bay Area,” Nalley has performed with greats such as Rhoda Scott, David “Fathead” Newman, and the San Francisco Symphony. In addition to Nalley, Sasha Dobson will join the show on vocals. A critically acclaimed performer, she is one-third of the hit triop Puss n’ Boots, alongside Catherine Popper and Norah Jones.
Together with band members Ahmad Johnson on drums, Corentin Le Hir on bass, Alicyn Yaffee on guitar and Anthony Hervey on trumpet, the musicians will bring the jazz arrangements of Disney’s popular soundtracks to the stage on the nationwide tour this fall.
As shown in their vast collection of animated feature film soundtracks, Disney has always had an affinity for jazz music. In 2009, Disney released an album of reimagined songs based on their soundtrack catalog. With over 600 songs to choose from, the album features some of the most talented contemporary jazz stars of the age, as well as rising up-and-comers. This fall, the new generation of emerging talent will perform the live touring version, titled When You Wish Upon a Star – A Jazz Tribute to 100 Years of Disney.
Although not associated with Disney, When You Wish Upon A Star will feature fan favorite tunes from iconic movies such as Snow White, Lady and the Tramp, Mary Poppins, and Toy Story. The reimagined songs have been arranged and recorded by Disney music fans such as Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, and Dianne Reeves.
The touring band personnel is Sean Mason (piano, bandleader), Kim Nalley (vocals), Sasha Dobson (vocals), Ahmad Johnson (drums), Corentin Le Hir (bass), Alicyn Yaffee (guitar), and Anthony Hervey (trumpet).
Upcoming Tour Dates
Sept. 29, 2023 –Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center, Livermore, CA
Sept. 30, 2023 – Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, Tracy, CA
Oct. 1, 2023 – Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons, Santa Clarita, CA
Oct. 3, 2023 – Brigham Young University Performing Arts Series, Provo, UT
Oct. 4, 2023 – College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, ID
Oct. 6, 2023 – CU Presents – University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
Oct. 7, 2023 – SF Jazz, San Francisco, CA
Oct. 8, 2023 – Carpenter Performing Arts Center at CSU Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Oct. 10, 2023 – Numerica Performing Arts Center, Wenatchee, WA
Oct. 12, 2023 – Pepperdine University, Smothers Theatre, Malibu, CA
Oct. 14, 2023 – Fox Tucson Theatre, Tucson, AZ
Oct. 15, 2023 – Chandler Center for the Arts, Chandler, AZ
Oct. 17, 2023 – Traverse City Opera House, Traverse City, MI
Oct. 18, 2023 – Michigan State University, Wharton Center, Pasant Theatre, East Lansing, MI
Oct. 19, 2023 – Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Oct. 20, 2023 – Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, Bloomington, IL
Oct. 21, 2023 – College of DuPage McAninch Arts Center, Glen Ellyn, IL
Oct. 22, 2023 – Door Community Auditorium, Fish Creek, WI
Oct. 24, 2023 – The Grand Theater, Wausau, WI
Oct. 27, 2023 – Millersville University, The Ware Center, Millersville, PA
Madison Square Garden received the shortest extension in the arena’s history, with The City Council unanimously voting on September 14 to give the venue only a five-year permit to continue to operate above Penn Station in Manhattan.
Photo by Gabriela Bhaskar for The New York Times.
“At this time the Council cannot determine the long-term viability of an arena at this location, therefore five years is an appropriate term for this special permit,” said Erik Bottcher, a Manhattan councilman whose district encompasses Madison Square Garden. The arena’s owner, James Dolan’s MSG Entertainment, wanted a permanent extension of the operating permit, which expires this year, receiving ten-year permits in the past.
“A short-term special permit is not in anyone’s best interest and undermines the ability to immediately revamp Penn Station and the surrounding area,” MSG Entertainment said in a statement. The issue at hand is the ongoing tension between Penn Station and the Garden. There needs to be a creation of a transportation management plan to address “use conflicts” related to the arena’s loading operations on West 31st Street and pedestrian access, with MSG ordered to provide a plan within six months of its progress. If the venue fails to do so, they could have their operating permit revoked.
“I still believe that ultimately, we would be able to build the most extraordinary train station if Madison Square Garden was not there,” Bottcher said in an interview. “I’m still hopeful that would happen someday, but in the immediate term there are plans under consideration that would permit us to have a very extraordinary Penn Station with Madison Square Garden in place.‘’
For now, state officials are focused on a $7 billion renovation of the station, putting away a broader redevelopment plan for the area.
Willie Nelson brought his Outlaw Music Festival to Saratoga for a late-summer jam session. With a tour that celebrates Willie’s lifelong musical genius and his legacy of hits, this tour seems extra special as Willie turned a remarkable 90 years old this year. The show brings an “Outlaw Village” with it, which is a little village of vendors that travel with the festival. And there is certainly a festival vibe as attendees ate and partied all throughout SPAC’s beautiful grounds.
The evening opened with Waylon Payne playing a solo acoustic set of country and bluegrass. (Particle Kid (Willie’s Nelson’s son’s group) was not there to start the night off.) Highlights from Payne’s set include an excellent cover of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” and Payne’s own classic “Born to Lose.” Payne was genuinely thankful to be performing and expressed that gratitude many times. Payne showed up later in the night as Willie’s right hand man during Willie’s set. A good night for Waylon Payne.
Los Lobos was up next. It’s unfortunate that the festival was held on a week night. Even though it was Friday, it was slow to fill and was still visibly empty when Los Lobos took the stage. They handled it like the classic professionals they are though and put on a hell of a set. Even with attendance low, one could look anywhere in the amphitheater and see people dancing to Los Lobos’ hits. With what had to be a nod to Bobby Weir, they opened with their song “Will the Wolf Survive?”. They followed that up with Three Midniters’ “Love Special Delivery.” The standout for the set was the set closing “La Bomba” segueing into The Olympics’ “Good Lovin’” and then back into “La Bomba.” With the set opening and closing with a nod to Mr. Weir, the crowd was warmed up indeed!
Hitting the stage next was The String Cheese Incident. Having been 20 or so years since this listener last saw SCI, it was special to hear them open with “Smile.” Michael Kang busted out his violin and the jam took off into classic Outlaw territory. With a blend of deep cuts and new tunes, it was good to hear these guys again. The highlight for this listener was the 20ish minutes of “Missing Me” segueing into “Just One Story.” Looking around the venue, one could see many Friends of Cheese dancing to the jams.
Setlist: Smile, Get Tight, Suntan, Barstool, Missin’ Me, Just One Story, Bhangra Saanj, Can’t Stop Now.
While this constant listener is not an old-school Deadhead with hundreds of Grateful Dead shows under his belt, but I have been listening to them for about 40 years now, and they remain in regular rotation at my home and in my car. Having been at this show, and from seeing chatter online, what occurred with the Bobby set this evening was one hell of a Dead set. Bobby Weir and the Wolf Bros Featuring the Wolfpack dropped an incredible set of music on SPAC. The Wolfpack brings horns to jam. Drop a horn section into a “Dark Star”, a slow-building “Dark Star”, and magic happens. Add a “West LA Fade Away”, a “Wharf Rat”, and wrap it up with a “Sugar Magnolia” and you have one incredible set. And all this fails to mention the “El Paso”, the “Greatest Story Ever Told”, and the “New Speedway Boogie”! Listen to this set over Nugs.Net, and don’t you think of skipping that “Lost Sailor” with horns!
Setlist: Bertha, Greatest Story Ever Told, Dark Star, El Paso, Lost Sailor, Saint of Circumstance, West LA Fadeaway, New Speedway Boogie, Wharf Rat, Sugar Magnolia
To cap the evening off, Willie Nelson came on stage and amazed the crowd with his never-ending charisma and charm. His opening number “Whiskey River” segued into “Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer).” Listening to Willie is always a trip down Nostalgia Lane. He has written so many classic tunes, it’s mind-blowing. Highlights for this listener were “Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys”, “On the Road Again” and that all-time classic “Always on My Mind” (written by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James).
The patience shown by die-hard fans waiting for their statesman Willie Nelson paid off that evening. Sitting through the noodle-ly dancing of the Cheese- and Deadheads, fans were now saying they were glad that people were sitting so they could see Willie on stage. Willie was remarkable. At 90 years of age, he came out on stage unassisted, sat and played for an hour, and then left after waving and throwing his bandana into the crowd. Imagine catching Willie Nelson’s bandana? What a keepsake!
Setlist: Whiskey River (Johnny Bush cover), Stay a Little Longer (Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys cover), Still Is Still Moving to Me, Bloody Mary Morning, I Never Cared for You, Workin’ Man Blues (Merle Haggard and The Strangers cover), Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys, Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground, On the Road Again, Always On My Mind, Good Hearted Woman (Waylon Jennings cover), Help Me Make It Through the Night (Kris Kristofferson cover) (Waylon Payne – lead vocals), Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die, Still Not Dead, Georgia (On My Mind) (Hoagy Carmichael and His Orchestra cover), I Been to Georgia on a Fast Train (Billy Joe Shaver cover), Write Your Own Songs (Willie Nelson & Kris Kristofferson cover), Move It on Over (Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys cover), Me and Bobby McGee (Kris Kristofferson cover), Will the Circle Be Unbroken? (William MacEwan cover) (with Bob Weir), I’ll Fly Away (Rev. J.M. Gates cover) (with Bob Weir), It’s Hard to Be Humble (Mac Davis cover), Saw the Light
October 28 will be your last chance to catch a show at Poughkeepsie’s famed The Chance Theatre, as the venue is slated to close, with Mike Robinson of Rolling Stones tribute band 50 Amp Fuse headlining what is billed as “the final show at the Legendary Chance theater.”
photo by Mickey Deneher
Shows lined up from mid-September through late October will mark the final at a venue that has been a staple of Poughkeepsie for over 110 years.
Axl Rose performing with Guns n Roses at The Chance, 1987
Located at 6 Crannell Street in Poughkeepsie, the 17,000 sq ft building was built in 1912 was first named the Dutchess Theatre – and later the Carol Players Playhouse and Playhouse Theatre, as ownership changed hands during the 1920s – originally designed with vaudeville performers and silent movie screenings in mind.
The building would be closed following World War Two, and from 1945 to 1970 the theatre became a storage facility. The venue would reopen in 1970 when Larry Plover opened “Sal’s Last Chance Saloon,” turning the old vaudeville theatre into a music venue until 1977. The name was shortened to “The Chance” in 1980, when Peter Francese re-opened the venue.
In 1994 Frank Pallett acquired The Chance, bringing the venue to new heights with an incredible array of classic and contemporary rock bands to the Hudson Valley. Pallett passed away in 2021, and his sister and business partner, Carolyn Brophy, died a short time later, putting the future of the building, already listed for sale, in jeopardy.
Everlast performing at The Chance
The list of artists that have performed at The Chance sets the legacy for this venue on solid footing: The Police, The Ramones, Muddy Waters, Pete Seeger, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ace Frehley, The Band (numerous times), Guns n Roses, Motorhead, Rob Zombie, Fozzy, Hatebreed, Sevendust, Shadows Fall, Soundgarden, Candiria, Slayer, Breaking Benjamin, Phish, Coheed and Cambria, moe. (New Year’s Eve 1999) R.E.M., Metallica, Charles Mingus, Cyndi Lauper and hundreds more.
In August 2023, CR Properties, the listing agent for the theater, announced the sale to Chai Developers, headed up by CFO Berry Kohn, who have been purchasing other buildings throughout Poughkeepsie, with a focus on Main Street. But they plan to renovate and rejuvenate The Chance, making it a centerpiece of a revitalization effort.
Among work that is slated to be done to The Chance include, new electric, lighting, mechanical components and the addition of a proper backstage area, as well as maintaining the building aesthetic while increasing capacity to make the theater more profitable. While there are no solid plans, they could involve moving the entrance and rentals for private shows.
Chai Developers does believe that the wait for what comes of The Chance and downtown Poughkeepsie will be worth it, saying “It’s gonna be something that will surprise a few people with what we’re willing to do there.”
The New York Latino Film Festival (NYLFF) will be held on September 15-24 at New York City’s Regal Union Square. With an impressive roster of 116 films from nearly 20 countries, the festival marks the 25th celebration since its inception in 1999. With musical tribute films, brand new biopics, and the return of long-time favorite actors and directors, the festival has something for everyone.
The festival will open with the NYC premiere of Amazon Prime’s Cassandro (2023, 99min, USA). Starring Gael Garcia Bernal, the film follows the true story of a gay wrestler from El Paso who rose to international stardom. Directed by Roger Ross Williams, the feature film also stars global music sensation Bad Bunny.
“Amidst this historic moment in the entertainment industry, NYLFF continues to uphold the importance of stories as a powerful and important tool for collective social change. The Festival, for 23 years, has and will continue to offer Latino filmmakers and content creators a platform to highlight our stories. More than ever, we been ready
Calixto Chinchilla, Founder, New York Latino Film Festival
In addition, the NYLFF will screen Aristotle Torres’ debut feature Story Ave (2023, 94min, USA). Starring Puerto Rican-New Yorker Luis Guzman, the film follows an MTA worker held up by young graffiti artist Kadir (Asante Blackk) in a robbery gone right. Luis Guzman, known for hit films such as Punch-Drunk Love (2002), The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009), and the new hit series Wednesday (2022) as Gomez Addams, was raised in New York’s Greenwich Village and Lower East Side.
We are thrilled to shine a light on independent film production in NYC by once again supporting the New York Latino Film Festival. This year’s opening night film, Story Ave, directed by up-and-coming NYC filmmaker Aristotle Torres, is the perfect example of why this festival, and others like it, are so important; to provide a global platform to amplify diverse storytelling.
Pat Swinney Kaufman, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment
Music lovers can enjoy NYLFF’s screening of feature film Carlos (2023, 88min, USA), that follows Santana’s journey from 14-year-old street musician to 10-time Grammy-winning global sensation. After the rock group’s legendary performance at New York State’s Woodstock Festival in 1969, Santana shot to global fame with their unique blend of salsa, jazz, and rock music.
The New York Latino Film Festival will close with a free outdoor event in Washington Heights’ Quisqueya Plaza, featuring live music and food.
For more information on the festival, and a full list of featured films and shorts, visit nylatinofilmfestival.com.
Affectionately dubbed “The BABYKLOK Tour,” the infectious metal tandem of BABYMETAL and Dethklok descended upon the Hammerstein Ballroom this past Friday night (September 15) – a turn-of-the-century opera house located in Midtown Manhattan – for the twelfth stop on their 29-date trek across North America.
Providing opening support on this night, and for the entire tour, was 32-year-old guitar virtuoso Jason Richardson of Manassas, Virginia. Hours before the show, an eclectic recipe of fans lined West 34th Street in eager anticipation of the show, including anime girls in full costume, tattooed death metal fans, and conservative mothers and fathers with their teenage daughters.
BABYMETAL | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
The evening’s first co-headliner to appear on stage was Dethklok, both a virtual band featured in Adult Swim’s animated, dark comedy program Metalocalpse and a natural melodic death metal band created to perform in front of a live audience. The fictional members of the band, who were featured throughout the 16-song set in numerous dark and macabre animations on a huge monitor that functioned as the stage backdrop, include Nathan Explosion, Toki Wartooth, Pickles, Skwisgaar Skwigelf, and William Murderface.
Dethklok | Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
The actual members of the band are comprised of Brendon Small (a co-creator of both bands along with Tommy Blacha), Gene Hoglan, Bryan Beller, and Mike Keneally. Also joining Dethklok in their live performances for this tour is Nili Brosh, an Israeli-American guitarist who has played with Steve Vai, DragonForce, and The Iron Maidens. Watch Dethklok perform “Bloodlines,” lifted from their 2009 studio album Dethalbum II, below:
Last to take the stage, but certainly not least, was the Japanese kawaii metal band (a musical fusion of heavy metal and J-Pop) known as BABYMETAL who are touring in support of their fourth album The Other One, a concept album released in March 2023. A trio of young women ranging in age from 20 to 25 years old, BABYMETAL formed in 2010 and is comprised of main vocalist Suzuka Nakamoto as “Su-metal,” Moa Kikuchi as “Moametal” and Momoko Okazaki as “Momometal” (the band’s latest addition).
With vocals backed by heavy metal instrumentation performed by a group of session musicians known as the “Kami Band,” BABYMETAL thrilled the sold-out 2,200-capacity crowd with a breathtaking routine filled with their own brand of non-stop, synchronized dancing, while at the same time willing their fans to harness raw, head-bang inducing energy. Watch BABYMETAL perform “PA PA YA!!,” taken from their 2019 studio album titled Metal Resistance Episode VII – Apocrypha – The Chosen Seven, below:
Dethklok Setlist: Deththeme > Briefcase Full of Guts > Birthday Dethday > Awaken > Bloodlines > The Gears > Hatredcopter > Dethsupport > Duncan Hills Coffee Jingle > Aortic Desecration > I Ejaculate Fire > The Duel > Murmaider > Thunderhorse > SOS > Go Into the Water
BABYMETAL Setlist: BABYMETAL DEATH > Gimme Chocolate!! > PA PA YA!! > Distortion > BxMxC > Believing > Monochrome > METALI!! > Megitsune > Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!! > Road of Resistance
UPCOMING TOUR DATES
09/20 – Grand Rapids, MI @ GLC Live at 20 Monroe 09/21 – Chicago, IL @ Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom 09/23 – Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life Festival 09/24 – Milwaukee, MN @ The Rave/Eagles Club 09/25 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore 09/27 – St. Louis, MO @ Saint Louis Music Park 09/28 – Omaha, NE @ Steelhouse Omaha 09/30 – Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium 10/01 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex 10/03 – Vancouver, BC @ PNE Forum 10/04 – Seattle, WA @ WaMu Theater 10/07 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival 10/08 – Las Vegas, NV @ Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort 10/10 – Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theater 10/11 – Los Angeles, CA @ YouTube Theater
The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra will launch its 2023-24 Season, “Beethoven and Beyond,” with Beethoven’s Sixth; a program led by Music Director Finalist Jeffrey Meyer and featuring Pianist Xak Bjerken.
The September 23 concert opens with Carlos Simon’s “Fate Now Conquers,” followed by Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G, and finally with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 to finish the evening. There is also a free pre-concert chat at 6:30 pm for anyone who wishes to attend.
Jeffrey Meyer has captivated audiences throughout North America, Europe, Russia, and Asia, with his passion for championing contemporary orchestral music and groundbreaking collaborations. His programming has been awarded multiple prizes including three ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming and two Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Awards in Orchestral Programming. Artistic Director of the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic for two decades, his work with the orchestra was noted for its breadth and innovation.
Praised as “one of the most interesting and creatively productive conductors working in St. Petersburg” by Sergei Slonimsky, the orchestra’s American debut with three performances at Symphony Space’s Wall-to-Wall Festival in New York City was described by The New York Times as “impressive,” “powerful,” “splendid,” and “blazing.” He also led the acclaimed conducting program at Ithaca College for ten years.
Pianist Bjerken has appeared as a soloist with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and has performed at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Glinka Hall in St. Petersburg, the Konzerthaus in Berlin, and St. Cecilia in Rome. He was for many years a member of the Los Angeles Piano Quartet, and has held chamber music residencies at the Tanglewood Music Center, the Spoleto Festival and the Olympic Music Festival. Bjerken is a Professor of Music at Cornell University where he co-directs the international chamber music festival Mayfest with his wife, pianist Miri Yampolsky.
For more information and subscriptions, or for tickets, visit this link or contact the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Box Office at 607-272-8981 or info@CCOithaca.org.
