The Heart of Rock and Roll, a jukebox musical featuring songs from the GRAMMY Award-winning band Huey Lewis and the News, is coming to Broadway this spring.
Matt Doyle and members of the Old Globe company of “The Heart of Rock and Roll,” 2018. Credit: Jim Cox.
The show will begin performances on March 29, 2024, ahead of an opening night on April 22 at the James Earl Jones Theatre. The musical premiered at San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre in 2018, featuring a cast led by Tony winner Matt Doyle and Katie Rose Clarke. A summer 2023 workshop was led by Jonah Platt with Clarke.
The Heart of Rock and Roll tells the story of two 30-somethings each with certain plans, changing when they meet each other, set to a score of songs made famous by Huey Lewis and the News.
The Heart of Rock and Roll features a book by Jonathan A. Abrams, based on a story created by Tyler Mitchell and Abrams. Brian Usifer does the music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations, with Gordon Greenberg directing and choreography by Lorin Latarro. The musical is also being produced by Hunter Arnold, Mitchell, and Kayla Greenspan.
Working on our show has been so gratifying. I’ve always been a storyteller, and it’s a thrill to see my songs woven together in service of a fantastic, new story. That it will all take place on the world’s most prestigious stage — Broadway — just makes the ride that much sweeter.
Huey Lewis
Lewis’s tune “The Power of Love” was featured in Back to the Future on Broadway earlier this year, and in the original movie as well. “The Power of Love,” as well as “Workin’ for a Livin’,” “Stuck with You,” “If This Is It” and the musical’s title tune are among the Huey Lewis and the News songs that will be featured in The Heart of Rock and Roll.
Casting for the Broadway production, as well as additional creative team members, will be announced soon. To purchase tickets and find more information, visit here.
In an unprecedented collaboration, two legendary Mexican bands, Caifanes and Cafe Tacvba, have announced they are embarking on their first-ever joint tour in the United States, coming to SummerStage on June 26, 2024.
The two groups are coming together to celebrate their legacies and showcase the power of Mexican rock on an international stage. Both bands originated in the late 80s in Mexico City. Despite their distinct musical styles, this tour is a testament to the enduring power of music, showcasing how these bands have evolved and continue to resonate with audiences across time.
Caifanes have lived their path intensely and passionately since 1986, evolving and changing throughout their career. One thing remains constant: the music shared by several generations, remains a powerful connection then and now. For young people, their music is new; for the older generation, those songs are already part of the soundtrack of their lives. Caifanes has always been the band that opens the doors to every band coming up behind them. The last two years and 108 concerts have seen the band getting better and bigger than ever, on stage, no one rivals their power and strength. Their commitment to social causes has been an essential part of who they are from the start of the band.
Caifanes.
Together since 1989 with the same founding members (Quique, Meme, Joselo, and Ruben) GRAMMY winners and Mexico City indie rockers Cafe Tacvba are credited as the preeminent band to emerge from the “Rock en Español” movement of the early ‘90s. The Mexican quartet has remained one of the biggest acts on the Latin music scene since, inspiring generations of rockers. Their music is broadly appealing not only because of its groundbreaking nature but also because of its fun, madcap, and ever-changing qualities.
Cafe Tacvba
Tickets will be available starting with a Citi presale beginning on Tuesday, December 12. Additional pre-sales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning on Friday, December 15 at 10 a.m.
TOUR DATES:
Wed May 29 Kennewick, WA Toyota Center
Thu May 30 Seattle, WA WAMU Theater @ Lumen Field
Sat Jun 1 Reno, NV Reno Events Center
Wed Jun 5 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
Thu Jun 6 Las Vegas, NV Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood
Fri Jun 7 Palm Desert, CA Acrisure Arena
Sat Jun 8 Chula Vista, CA North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Tue Jun 11 Phoenix, AZ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Thu Jun 13 Salt Lake City, UT Maverick Center
Fri Jun 14 Denver, CO Levitt Pavilion
Sat Jun 15 Albuquerque, NM Isleta Amphitheater
Sun Jun 16 El Paso, TX El Paso County Coliseum
Tue Jun 18 Laredo, TX Sames Auto Arena
Wed Jun 19 Edinburg, TX Bert Ogden Arena
Fri Jun 21 Houston, TX The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
Sat Jun 22 Dallas, TX Dos Equis Pavilion
Wed Jun 26 New York, NY SummerStage in Central Park
Fri Jun 28 Toronto, ON Budweiser Stage
Sat Jun 29 Chicago, IL Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Sun Jun 30 Indianapolis, IN Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park
The sounds of Mikaela Davis’ harp once again danced through Armory Square in Syracuse, as Davis and her band, Southern Star returned to Funk ’n Waffles for a performance on Friday, December 8. The band last played Syracuse in May, with a stunning three-show residency. Rochester natives Maybird opened the show.
2023 has been quite kind for Davis, the classically trained harpist from Rochester. Davis and her band released their first full length album as a unit, And Southern Star in June. They have played multiple show residencies in various cities through out New York State, which have often seen the shows sell out well in advance. The band recently wrapped up a west-coast tour which saw them opening for indie favorites, The Mountain Goats. They have come together for one final run through Upstate New York before the year closes.
Friday night opened with a set by Rochester natives Maybird. The psychedelic rockers delighted early arrivers to the club, with a forty minute set filled with spacey guitar riffs. Fans packed their way to the front and were quickly engrossed in the band’s psychedelic sounds.
After a brief stage change over, which saw Davis herself drag and tune her harp at center stage, Southern Star joined and the set was under way. Fans were immediately met with the hypnotic harp intro of “Cinderella”, the opening track on the band’s recent release. Slowly the remainder of the band would add their sounds to the mix. The band would follow with the appropriately named “In My Groove”, which had fans dancing and swaying in front of the stage.
While Mikaela Davis and her harp talents may be the primary draw for listeners, Southern Star proved to be anything but a backing band. Through out the set each band member would lay their musical finger prints on the tracks, transforming them from their studio form to live masterpieces. The band would regularly go on extended musical jam sessions during songs, paying homage to their musical inspirations such as Grateful Dead. Tracks like “Leave It” took on new life when paired with Kurt Johnson’s pedal steel, Cian McCarthy’s saxophone, while Shane McCarthy (bass guitar) and Alex Cote (percussion) kept pace. The song, after an extended jam would then flow seamlessly into the rocking “Promise”. It was just one of many moments during the set that showcased the band’s refreshing musical talents.
After a ninety minute set and a brief encore, the band would return to the stage with opener Maybird for an energetic rendition of “Other Lover”. The song would see band members taking turns on various pieces of percussion, including a colander. It was a fun way to wrap up the evening, but still showcase the many musical talents that graced the stage on this evening.
Dubstep DJ Mersiv stopped in Buffalo on Dec. 9 for the final stretch on his latest tour. The Town Ballroom was ready for their reunion with Mersiv since his last appearance there one year ago, and he did not disappoint.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
The openers were stacked with heavy bass and passion. Local artist Daggz kicked off the night with his experimental bass and was followed up by Heyz. Australian artist SIPPY had the crowd wooed with her heavy-hitting beats.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Mersiv finally took over the stage with a prompt that read, “Outside the Prescribed or Conventional Boundaries or Limits. Enjoy Your Journey Fellow Travelers.” And just like that the young producer took his audience on a journey through finding presence in sound, so much so that even the bass blew out the speakers for five minutes.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
He performed many tracks off of his 2023 album Out of Bounds including “I Like It When You Move” and “Top Floor.” He brings a meditative force through his live show. His use of fun visuals and insane energy make the positive atmosphere super contagious.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
The Mersiv Sound Project is the brainchild of Anderson Benoit Gallegos who has sought to spread healing energy through his sound, and fans would argue he does just that. His dark and loud sound pays homage to the duality of life. Both the highs and lows of what makes every human…human. It’s through these struggles that Gallegos shares we can rise from but never as ways to define us.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
The growing artist brings a particular energy into EDM through mysterious psychedelia. Mersiv played fun mixes throughout his set and performed his popular song with Wreckno, “Bounce.” Nothing quite brought the heat though until he played “Beautiful & Filthy.” The fans were seen head-banging throughout Buffalo’s Town Ballroom.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
If you missed out on this rad EDM night don’t worry we have a lot more in store to finish off the end of the year. DMVU and Toadface perform at Ironworks on December 16., and a special 360 show from Rusko is on December 31 that you do not want to miss! Get your tickets here.
A series of Phish After-Parties have been unveiled as part of the band’s upcoming Madison Square Garden shows this December. As a recurring staple of Phish’s frequent MSG shows, the afterparties are once again brought to fans by CEG (Creative Entertainment Group).
Here are the already announced shows, with more to come! Get tickets for the shows soon, as these shows are often a hot ticket following each night of Phish.
Hill Country Live hosts Loop Troupe’s LSD Soundsystem, a jamified LCD Soundsystem, on December 28 at 11:59 p.m.
Sony Hall will host Dogs in a Pile, a psychedelic jazz-rock group on December 28 following Phish’s performance at MSG.
The Cutting Room’s December 28 afterparty will feature a Prince/Bowie theme, featuring appearances from members of Twiddle, Pink Talking Fish, The Machine, Deep Banana Blackout, and more to come. The musicians will play the music of legends Prince and David Bowie throughout the night at Midtown Manhattan’s The Cutting Room.
Hill Country Live will host a pre-party on December 29, featuring a happy hour with Dude of Life Band. The five-piece genre benders will host the event beginning at 4PM, with doors opening at 3PM. More information available here.
The Cutting Room’s December 29’s afterparty will be headlined by the Pink Talking Fish, playing hit 90s tracks from Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, Phish, and more.
Hill Country BBQ Live will host Space Bacon, a progressive funk jam band, known for immersing audiences in audio-visual displays during shows. The afterparty will also take place on December 29.
The afterparty on December 30will feature John Medeski, Billy Martin, Scott Metzger, and Nels Cline. The group will play a night full of improvised music, following the Phish show at MSG that night. The party will be hosted at Sony Hall.
On New Year’s Day, Hill Country Live will host David Yates, performing his Wook Comedy Show. The event will take place at 1PM as a pre-party ahead of the NYE Phish show that night. Information available here.
In addition, Hill Country will host Marcus Rezak as yet another pre-party on New Year’s Eve. Performing his “Shred Is Dead” jam show, Rezak will perform at 4PM ahead of the NYE Phish show. More information here.
The night of New Year’s Eve, Hill Country Live will feature dj AF and Tad Cautious, two DJ acts performing to ring in the new year. Three tiers of tickets are available now for the NYE celebration afterparty.
Phish holidays runs are beloved events at Madison Square Garden, and afterparties around Manhattan are part of the adventure. Check back for updates on more after parties to be announced as the MSG shows approach. More information available at phishafterparties.nyc.
Rodrigo y Gabriela has announced a new run of dates in 2024, taking their thrilling live shows to cities in America that didn’t get a chance to see them on the first run. The tour will stop in Ithaca, Kingston, Tarrytown, and Buffalo.
Rodrigo y Gabriela recently kicked off the 49th season of the venerable television music series, Austin City Limits, as the premiere performers on episode one. The band was joined by an ensemble of over 30 musicians from the esteemed Austin Symphony Orchestra in an exhilarating hour; the unprecedented performance marked the first time ACL has collaborated with the world-class orchestra, one of Austin’s leading arts institutions.
In September, the duo shared their official music video for “In Between Thoughts…A New World,” featuring exclusive footage filmed earlier this summer on their North American tour. “In Between Thoughts…A New World” is the title track to Rodrigo y Gabriela’s latest album, In Between Thoughts…A New World, available now via ATO Records.
“The perfect demonstration of their abilities…Rodrigo y Gabriela create a surging sonic display of cinematic goodness, using their guitars to represent rising and falling action. Each song feels like a mini-movie, containing stirring riffs, mesmeric backing strumming, and glorious, soaring strings that add extra tension to every piece…The duo harness the impressive ability to tell intricate stories without saying a word, and these songs are sure to conjure up rich images in listeners’ minds.”
FarOut Magazine
Rodrigo y Gabriela’s eagerly awaited follow-up to 2019’s GRAMMY® Award-winning Mettavolution and first full-length collection in four years, In Between Thoughts…A New World was self-produced by Rodrigo y Gabriela at their studio in Ixtapa, Mexico, the album includes such singles as “The Eye That Catches The Dream,” “Egoland,” “True Nature,” and “Descending To Nowhere.”
A #1 Most Added hit at Non-Com Radio outlets nationwide, “Descending To Nowhere” had its world premiere with an in-depth and illuminating “Origins” feature via Consequence and was quickly named by Paste as one of “The 10 Best Songs of February 2023,” hailing it as “an irresistible groove that builds and ebbs as it showcases delicious electric licks and the promised orchestral swells.”
Rodrigo y Gabriela marked the arrival of In Between Thoughts…A New World with a very special live session for Seattle’s KEXP as well as electrifying live performances of “Descending To Nowhere” and “Egoland” on BBC Two’s venerable Later… with Jools Holland. In addition, “Descending To Nowhere | A Take Away Show,” a live performance video filmed earlier this year at an empty Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord in Paris, is streaming now exclusively via La Blogothèque.
RODRIGO Y GABRIELA’S IN BETWEEN THOUGHTS…A NEW WORLD 2024
APRIL
17- Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre
18 – Orlando, FL – The Plaza Live
19 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Parker Playhouse
21 – Charlotte, NC – Knight Theater
23 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall
25 – Tysons, VA – Capitol One Hall
26 – Charlottesville, VA – The Paramount Theater
27 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live!
28 – Princeton, NJ – McCarter Theatre Center
30 – Ithaca, NY – State Theater of Ithaca
MAY
1 – Kingston, NY – Ulster PAC
2 – Burlington, VT – Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
4 – Portland, ME – State Theatre
5 – Nashua, NH – Nashua Center for the Arts
7 – Beverly, MA – The Cabot
8 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall
9 – Tarrytown, NY – Tarrytown Music Hall
11 – Harrisburg, PA – Harrisburg University at XL Live
12 – Buffalo, NY – Asbury Hall at Babeville
14 – Cleveland, OH – TempleLive at Cleveland Masonic
15 – Columbus, OH – The Athenaeum Theatre
16 – Indianapolis, IN – The Egyptian Room
18 – Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe
For more information on Rodrigo y Gabriela, visit their website.
The inaugural Extreme Music Awards will be held at Empire Live in Albany on Saturday, January 13. The awards show celebrates the most extreme music acts in the 518 Capital Region of Upstate New York.
The Extreme Music Awards is the conception of Mike Valente of Upstate Black N Blue Productions who then assembled the team of RadioRadioX, Capital Underground, That Fuzzing Rock Show and 518Scene.com. All five of these entertainment media forces joined together to bring the inaugural event to Albany.
Attendees will be able to enjoy a full concert experience by house band, Uncle SAMM, in addition to watching the awards ceremony. In between presenters, fans can also look forward to a raffle for a chance to win prizes like signed drum heads, guitars, gift certificates, and more.
Check out the nominees and categories below and get your tickets for the Extreme Music Awards here.
The Extreme Music Awards will be held on Saturday January 13 at Empire Live on N. Pearl St. in Albany, starting at 6:00pm.
Tickets to this event are limited and expected to sell out, with general on sale here:
CATEGORIES & PRESENTERS
Best Death Metal Band: Chris Pervelis/Kyle Eddy (Internal Bleeding)
Best Black Metal Band: Mike Score (All Out War)
Best Doom/Goth/Stoner Band: Matt Byrne (Hatebreed)
Best Power Metal Band: Gary Holt (Slayer/Exodus)
Best Progressive/Math Metal Band: Marc Rizzo (Soulfly/Ill Nino)
Best Hair/Glam/Sleaze Metal Band: Nick Miller (Lethal Lipstick)
Best Thrash Metal Band: Gary Holt (Slayer/Exodus)
Best Grindcore Band: Sal Lococo (Sworn Enemy)
Best Metalcore Band: Danny Schuler (Biohazard)
Best Punk Band: Lars Frederiksen (Rancid) (Video Presenter)
Best Hardcore Band: Mike Gallo/Vinnie Stigma (Agnostic Front)
Best Beatdown Hardcore Band: Ray Mazzola/Mike Valente (Brick by Brick)
Best Hardcore Punk Band: Jimmy Gestapo (Murphy’s Law)
Best Metal Video: Drew Stone (Stone Films/The NYHC Chronicles)
Best Live Performance: Art Fredette/Rob Smittix (RadioRadioX)
Most Brutal Mosh Pit: Tony Foresta (Municipal Waste)(Video Presenter)
Best Merch: Michael “Fuzz” Kebabjian (That Fuzzing Rock Show)
Album of the Year: Ralph Renna (Capital Underground)
Lifetime Achievement Award (25+ Years in the Scene): Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth (Overkill)
Best New Band (Less Than 2 Years in the Scene): Mario & Kim Cangemi (Upstate Records)
Best Veteran Band (10+ Years in the Scene): Brendan Manley (518scene.com)
THE NOMINEES
Best Death Metal Band: Tyranize, Skinless, Invoke Thy Wrath, Intrusive
Best Black Metal Band: Malefic, Blackbraid, Morticide, Vile Tyrant
Best Doom/Goth/Stoner Band: Gozer, Ike’s Wasted World, Gunther Weezul, Carnwennan
Best Power Metal Band: Deveria, Alloy Reign, Frozen Sun, The Antarctican
Best Progressive/Math Metal Band: Deveria, Psychomanteum, The Phoenix and the Raven, MIRA
Best Hair/Glam/Sleaze Metal Band: The Erotics, Joe Mansman and the Midnight Revival Band, Untaymed, Mystery Girl
Best Thrash Metal Band: Hate The Adversary, FACED, Concrete, Ice Queen
Best Grindcore Band: Escuela Grind, URINE, Horse Grave, Vaginal Fungus
Best Metalcore Band: Concrete, Oakheart, Faded Line, Downswing
Best Punk Band: The Hauntings, VinTri Hill, Nick Rossi, Lurking Class
Best Hardcore Band: Violent By Design, Confinement 413, Halo Bite, Cold Kiss
Best Beatdown Hardcore Band: Wrong Move, Torn Out, From Within, Adhara
Best Hardcore Punk Band: Halo Bite, Murderer’s Row, Gusto, Wet Specimens
Best Metal Video: Alloy Reign – “Blood Demon”, Downswing – “Bound to Misery”, The Antarctican – “I is the Lie”, Freya – “Nothingness or God”
Best Live Performance: Alloy Reign, Tyranize, Joe Mansman and the Midnight Revival Band, Flatwounds
Most Brutal Mosh Pit: Invoke Thy Wrath, Concrete, Assault on the Living, Downswing
Best Merch: Alloy Reign, The Erotics, Malefic, Concrete
Album of the Year: Psychomanteum – Full Fathom Five, Blackbraid – Blackbraid II, Adhara – Abandoned Future, Urine – Excreta Lotium Miasma
Lifetime Achievement Award (25+ Years in the Scene): Paul Rukwid, Jeff Caro, John Glassbrenner, Bob Riley
Best New Band (Less Than 2 Years in the Scene): Alloy Reign, Flatwounds, Confinement 413, Outta My Head
Best Veteran Band (10+ Years in the Scene): Tyranize, The Erotics, Murderer’s Row, Concrete
Gus Dapperton’s performance at Webster Hall on November 30 was a captivating journey through a sonic tapestry, opening with a unique touch of vintage charm.
Gus Dapperton, the moniker of Brendan Rice, emerged as a defining force in indie-pop, forging a musical path that blends nostalgia with contemporary vibes. Hailing from Warwick, NY, Dapperton rose to prominence with his breakout single “Prune, You Talk Funny,” showcasing a distinctive sound marked by dreamy melodies and introspective lyrics. His debut album, Where Polly People Go to Read, exemplifies his genre-defying approach, capturing the essence of his journey as an artist who seamlessly navigates between past influences and modern expression. With each release, Gus Dapperton continues to evolve his musical narrative, creating a unique space in the indie-pop landscape.
As the band entered the stage, the crooning notes of “Fly Me to the Moon” reverberated from an old-timey speaker, setting an enchanting tone. From this moment, the audience was transported into the dreamy world that Dapperton effortlessly creates.
The setlist unfolded like a carefully crafted narrative, seamlessly blending fan favorites and surprises. “Give It To Me Straight” and “Prune, You Talk Funny” showcased Dapperton’s signature blend of indie pop and funk-infused beats, keeping the crowd in a perpetual state of dance. The playful Drake-infused intro to “My Favorite Fish” added an unexpected twist, revealing the artist’s willingness to experiment within his established sound.
Throughout the performance, Dapperton’s stage presence was magnetic, engaging the audience with every beat. The cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire” demonstrated not only his vocal versatility but also his ability to reinterpret classics. A mysterious interlude came in the form of “Flatline,” injecting an element of suspense that kept the audience hanging onto each note.
The energy reached its zenith during the encore, featuring “Horizons” and a lively rendition of “Twist and Shout.” Dapperton’s ability to connect with the audience and curate a setlist that seamlessly blended genres left concertgoers with a euphoric afterglow. The night stood as a testament to Dapperton’s artistry and showmanship, making it a performance to be remembered.
Setlist: Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words), Sunset, Palms, Give It To Me Straight, Ditch, [Prune, You Talk Funny], My Favorite Fish (With ‘In My Feelings’ by Drake intro), Medicine, [Gum, Toe and Sole], I’m Just Snacking, I’m on Fire (Bruce Springsteen cover), Flatline (Mystery song), First Aid, Midnight Train, Don’t Trust Me (3OH!3 cover), Fill Me Up Anthem, Wet Cement, Don’t Let Me Down, Post Humorous
Encore: Horizons, Twist and Shout (The Top Notes cover)
The 47th Annual Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival will return for a full two-day and two-stage exhilarating festival experience this summer at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
Founded in 1978 by jazz impresario George Wein, Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival is the fifth longest-consecutive-running jazz festival in North America. Initially founded as “the Newport Jazz Festival at Saratoga,” the weekend event was renamed Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival in 1998. With an inside seating capacity of 5,200, and lawn seating of 20,000, the two-day, two-stage festival continues to be one of the largest jazz music events in North America, beloved by audiences for both the remarkable annual line-up of international jazz talent and the spectacular setting at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in the idyllic Saratoga Spa State Park.
Featuring a roster of twenty-two musical groups and ten festival debuts, the 47th Annual Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival line-up is co-headlined by four premier contemporary artists: Lake Street Dive, Norah Jones, Laufey, and Samara Joy; alongside jazz and blues legends Stanley Clarke with his band N*4Ever, Terence Blanchard Sextet and Coco Montoya. Also highlighting the line-up is the next generation of jazz stars Yussef Dayes, Joey Alexander, Miguel Zenon, Tia Fuller, Theo Crocker, Helen Sung and Sara Caswell, and today’s most electrifying Afro-Cuban and funk bands Cory Henry, Cimafunk, The New Orleans Groove Masters and Pedrito Martinez Group.
From jazz to roots, funk, blues, pop, indie and beyond, the festival will bring its signature blend of world-class artists and ensembles, solidifying its place as an international destination and a ‘must-stop’ on the 2024 festival trail.
Headliner Lake Street Dive will make their highly anticipated festival debut on Saturday with their spirited eclecticism and joyously soulful music. As heard on their critically acclaimed album Obviously, the Boston-bred band possesses a keen talent for combining sociopolitical commentary with immediately catchy pop gems.
Returning following her triumphant festival debut in 2023 is “Silky-voiced rising jazz star” (New York Times) Samara Joy, a two-time GRAMMY winner and the second jazz performer in history to win the award for best new artist.
Returning by popular demand to headline the festival on Sunday is multi-GRAMMY winning singer and pianist Norah Jones, who played the festival in 2019. Named the top jazz artist of the 2000-2009 decade by Billboard, Norah has won nine GRAMMY Awards, including five for her 2002 solo debut, Away with Me. “The one to watch” on Sunday’s line-up for her festival debut is Laufey, a 24-year-old Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter whose modern jazz sound has won her both a GRAMMY nomination and millions of fans on TikTok. Her new album Bewitched reached more than 5.7 million streams on its first day and set a Spotify record as the biggest debut for a jazz album. Most recently, Norah and Laufey collaborated on a new two-track single Christmas With You, which was released on November 10.
Music icons returning to the festival include jazz and blues legends Stanley Clarke with his exciting new band N*4Ever, which is a celebration of his long-time collaborator Chick Corea and their time together in Return to Forever; seven-time GRAMMY winner, two-time Oscar nominee and Opera composer Terence Blanchard with his Sextet, performing the music from his 2005 GRAMMY nominated album Flow, and blues guitar virtuoso and vocalist Coco Montoya. Representing the next generation of jazz talent on the stage is captivating composer and drummer Yussef Dayes, fan-favorite jazz pianist Joey Alexander who will celebrate his 21st birthday at the festival, 2021 Guggenheim Fellow and jazz pianist and composer Helen Sung, and GRAMMY-nominated jazz violinist Sara Caswell.
Highlighting the weekend is also today’s most electrifying Afro-Cuban and funk bands including progressive R&B artist Cory Henry, GRAMMY-nominated Afro-Cuban rockstar Cimafunk for his festival debut, The New Orleans Groove Masters featuring Herlin Riley, Jason Marsalis & Shannon Powell, GRAMMY-nominated Cuban percussionist Pedrito Martinez with his band for his fifth festival appearance,and hard-grooving, soulful crowd-pleaser Olatuja!, which reunites Alicia and Michael Olatuja in music.
2024 FREIHOFER’S SARATOGA JAZZ FESTIVAL LINE-UP
SATURDAY, JUNE 29
Amphitheater:
Lake Street Dive*
Samara Joy
Yussef Dayes*
Joey Alexander Trio with special guest Theo Croker
Cimafunk* with special guest Pedrito Martinez
The New Orleans Groove Masters* featuring Herlin Riley, Jason Marsalis &
Shannon Powell
Charles R. Wood “Jazz Discovery” Stage:
Tia Fuller
Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory Orchestra*
Theo Croker
Coco Montoya*
Harold Lopez-Nussa*
Sara Caswell Quartet*
SUNDAY, JUNE 30
Amphitheater:
Norah Jones
Laufey*
Stanley Clarke N*4Ever
Terence Blanchard Sextet
Cory Henry
Charles R. Wood “Jazz Discovery” Stage:
Pedrito Martinez Group
Miguel Zenon Quartet
Olatuja!
Helen Sung presents Quartet+*
Skidmore Jazz Institute Faculty All-Stars Centennial Celebration of Max Roach, Bud Powell & J.J. Johnson featuring Clay Jenkins, Steve Wilson, Steve Davis, Mike Moreno, Bill Cunliffe, Todd Coolman & Dennis Mackrel
In addition to two non-stop days of great music on two stages, fans can also enjoy a host of amenities including a new craft beer tasting village, in partnership with New York State Brewers Association, new and diverse food offerings, a fine arts and crafts fair, and artist CD signings. Guests are welcome to bring in their own food and beverages, as well as blankets, tents and lawn umbrellas. Parking for the event is free. Performances will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 29 and at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 30.
Tickets for the festival start at $80 and will be available online here beginning January 5 at 10am to the general public and starting on December 14 at 10am to SPAC members (tiered by level). Members will also receive a discount of 15-20% (depending on level) on their ticket purchase. Two-day passes are also available for a savings of $20 off per pass (offer ends 6/15 and can’t be combined with other discounts). Children 12 and under receive 50% off tickets in the amphitheater and are free on the lawn. Full-time students with a school issued ID receive 25% off tickets in the amphitheater, or $28 on the lawn (student ID must be presented at will call).
Local native Mariel Loveland, better known by her stage moniker Best Ex, performed an intimate show this past Sunday evening (December 10) at Heaven Can Wait in the East Village, a neighborhood with rich musical history. Joined by Matthew Florio, who got his start with Loveland as her touring guitarist in 2017, the duo delivered a ten song, 35-minute set chock-full of indie pop melodies.
Bathed in red strobe lights and accompanied by drum and keyboard backing tracks, Best Ex’s set featured numbers gifted from Loveland’s debut LP (With a Smile, Iodine Recordings) released this past October, to high acclaim. Outliers included the title track from Loveland’s second EP titled Good At Feeling Bad (No Sleep Records, 2020), an anthemic breakup song with a chorus begging to be sung along to, and “Lemons,” a song that finds Loveland drunk in a Penn Station bathroom contemplating life and loneliness at 3:00 am.
Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
Previously fronting Candy Hearts, which she co-founded in 2009 and served as primary songwriter, Loveland shed the pop punk genre and launched Best Ex, an offshoot project influenced by a calling to pop and pulsating club beats. During the last six years of her solo endeavor, Loveland has often taken a sarcastic, introspective look at the world around her, outwardly speaking about the challenges of being a woman in today’s music industry.
Admittedly talking more than she usually does during a live show, it was wonderful to hear what Loveland’s songs mean to her firsthand, and the story behind each one. An already emotional set reached its pinnacle with the evening’s penultimate number “Stay With Me,” which saw Florio exit the stage for a few minutes as Loveland presented an acoustic rendering of said tune about struggling with anxiety and the fear of it being a burden on the one you love.
Photo Credit: Michael Dinger
The next holiday show for Best Ex is a gig at Alchemy in Providence, Rhode Island on December 16. If you are a fan of cynical breakup jams cloaked with fuzzy synths and dreamy guitar riffs – aren’t we all? – be sure to keep Best Ex on your radar for upcoming show announcements in 2024.
Best Ex – Heaven Can Wait, East Village, NYC – December 10, 2023
Setlist: With a Smile > Good At Feeling Bad > Tell Your Friends > Lemons > Give Me a Break > Salt On Skin > Die For You > I Promise to Ruin Your Life > Stay With Me > The End
