Philip Selway, Radiohead’s drummer, has announced an upcoming one-night only show. In celebration of his most recent album Strange Dance, Selway will be performing at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City on September 25.
Although perhaps best known as the drummer of iconic rock band Radiohead, Philip Selway is also a successful solo musician. Strange Dance is Selway’s third and latest studio album. His performance at Le Poisson Rogue will be his first time playing at the venue in eight years.
Founded by musicians in 2008, Le Poisson Rouge is located in the heart of Greenwich Village. The venue’s website names it an “underground live music sanctuary.” Audiences can expect to hear a wide variety of music when visiting, from indie rock to contemporary classic and everything in-between. Additionally, the venue includes a Gallery Bar that hosts art exhibitions, stand-up comedy, and drag queen bingo. Previous performances at Le Poisson Rogue include Charli XCX, Christina Aguilera, Florence & The Machine, and more.
Selway revealed the show in an Instagram post. Beginning the caption with his classic opening “Hiya,” Selway wrote that he was “delighted to announce” that he will be bringing his album to Le Poisson Rouge “for one night only.”
Doors open at 7:00 pm and the show begins at 8:00 pm. Tickets are available for purchase here.
Brew York has announced it will return to Madison Barracks Polo Fields in Sackets Harbor on Aug. 26 featuring a wide variety of bands and activities.
Brew York is an all ages event (kids 12 and under free) and features live music on two stages, as well as Beer, wine, & whiskey vendors, free tastings, food trucks, cornhole tournament, kids zone, and select craft/artisan vendors. Now in its seventh year, Brew York continues to showcase local, regional, and national acts.
Headlining this year’s festival is The Cold Stares, an American rock band from Indiana formed in 2009. The Cold Stares have toured the world relentlessly as a duo, blowing away audiences across the US and Europe with a fierce, and powerful live show that belied their bare-bones, guitar-and-drums setup. Now, the band is embracing a whole new kind of chemistry as they launch their next chapter, adding a third member and channeling the power trio sound with their explosive new album, Voices.
Also, headlining is The Georgia Thunderbolts, a Southern rock-infused group with a style steeped in soulful Southern swagger, blistering blues, and raw rock. Released in October of 2021, the quintet’s full-length debut Can We Get A Witness conjures a tried-and-true spirit through a fresh fire, with undeniable anthems and pulse-pounding percussion.
The Brew York lineup also includes Mike Powell & The Echosound, The Old Main, Josh Cox & The Rattlesnakes, Undefeated, The Grizzly Ridge Band, Bread & Circuses, Joey Collins & The Creatives, and a Dusk Dance Party with “The Strictly Hip.”
Proceeds and event donations will be split this year between sponsors and Fighting Children’s Cancer, with their newly established ROCC Charity. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit here.
Hip-hop artists are the most envied and least protected individuals on the planet. Many pursue a rap career without knowledge of the risks associated with the occupation. Keisha Plum could be considered a rapper, yet she never has to sound like one. She sounds sensuous and soulful as her poetic tongue glides down the back end of Griselda tracks. A true spoken word poet – this woman gives hope to those who speak their truth in the form of soliloquies.
In Plum Poetry We Trust
Keisha Plum – a.k.a Buffalo Jill – drips Tears of Honey onto every page. A great deal of her poetry began when she would send meaningful letters to her brother who was serving in the military.
Growing up in Buffalo made her gravitate toward the African American Cultural Center to express herself. Within the AACC compound, she learned what she could do with her craft. A young Keisha Plum learned about her roots through various mediums of cultural black excellence.
“If Rakim & Nikki Giovanni did the nasty, they would have had me.”
K.Plum on Flygod
She learned that she could write poetry and talk shit at the same time. Obviously, it is much deeper than that but it is evident that she enjoys to paint vivid pictures with her poems. Drawing incredible inspiration from the likes of Maya Angelou, this phenomenal woman lays down piercing poetry that encapsulates the entire Griselda movement.
Griselda the Behemoth
Griselda Records hits you from so many different angles. With nearly 30 artists on roster – each one brings something different and puts the listener into a different perspective on each and every track.
Not to mention, they are the head of the umbrella to all of these spectacular artists that hear their work and strive to go harder than the day before. It is such a blessing to discover all of these underground talents adjacent to Griselda who just want to put their own spin on it.
Clearly, Westside Gunn never even had to touch a mic and he would still be set – his kid’s great-grandkids would be set. But we are so glad he did. His lead-by-example no nonsense approach, creative direction and guerilla marketing tactics place him head and shoulders above the competition.
Westside Gunn is the type of individual who ensures that his legacy will carry on for generations. Ultimately, humans judgment ultimately occurs as a result of outcomes. Did you push yourself every day to ensure that your work will live on when your physical form no longer can? WSG pushes him and his team to their furthest extent – hence all of the new artists and real rap that has risen to the forefront in the past decade.
Buffalo Kids Stick Together
Westside Gunn and Keisha Plum attended Grammar School for the Gifted & Talented together. When Keisha had to settle for a retail job, Wes pulled up on her at the mall to recruit her talent. He wrote poems for Keisha to lay down in the booth as everything came into fruition with meticulous planning and preparation. It was just up to her to fine tune the content, plug & play words that she saw fit and ultimately execute the vision laid before her.
The most impressive part about Keisha Plum and her ascension is the way that she bends the genre backwards and flips hip-hop on its headpiece. She is living proof that if you know yourself – know your worth – know what you’re capable of doing – and act upon ideas you can be successful. This woman is single-handedly rearranging the constructs of hip-hop one spoken word at a time.
Interested in hearing her live? Catch her at The Cookout in September.
Held annually in the parks of Round Lake, just north of Albany, the Markets at Round Lake announced the music lineup and information for the 2023 extravaganza, held on the second weekend of August.
Taking place Saturday, August 12 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday, August 13 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, the free event highlights local music, food options, and shops that shine in the community.
Including 12 different food trucks, over 40 local vendors, and 5 performers, Markets at Round Lake ensures to have something for everyone in attendance.
Saturday’s music lineup will roll through the entire day including four artists, while Sunday will feature an all-day set by DJ Selector David Suede.
In addition to the shops and live entertainment, a book market will be held at the Round Lake Auditorium, an annual sale featuring more than 15,000 used and rare books available in hardcover and paperback.
Rain or shine, the event will go on as planned. Free and paid parking options are also available for those who attend.
Admission is free. The music lineup and event/parking map are below.
With the final weekends of July fast approaching, the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance is rearing to share the 2023 edition of their highly anticipated Riverfest before the month is through. The vibrant street festival will take place on July 23rd from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Main Street of Narrowsburg, NY in order to celebrate ecology, art, summer, and most of all – music.
Riverfest will kick off right at 10:00 AM with an ultimate crowd favorite – River Dogs On Parade, giving pet owners the chance to showcase mans best friend to a panel of judges and an adoring audience. An hour following the take over by the furry creatures, the Kids’ Tent will be available to people of all ages, allowing children with active minds and creative souls to be guided by Narrowsburg’s own teaching artist, Catherine Chesters, in creating colorful Riverfest Art Posters.
For those in search of the promised musical acts, live performances will also begin at 11:00 AM on the Riverfest Main Stage. Madárka will start off the morning taking listeners on a journey of worldly music as the band works to blend traditional Eastern European styles through centuries and borders. Later in the afternoon, beginning at 2:00 PM, Hollywood Herb & 7he 7eam will take the stage calling on countless icons from The Beatles to Lil Wayne. The genre bending rock, rap, and pop band offers a unique blend that bridges genres and is sure to please music lovers of all ages.
The live music will be temporarily interrupted around 1:00 PM by the anxiously awaited Riverfest Poster Auction that will take over the main stage and feature nearly fifty one-of-a-kind posters created by local artists. In addition to live music, K9’s of all shapes and sizes, posters, and delicious food truck vendors, the festival will feature an all day long Makers Market in which over forty Artisan Market Booths will display a wide range of handcrafted goods including jewelry, clothing, paintings, and more.
From morning until night, there will be something for all ages to enjoy at this years’ Riverfest!
Riverfest 2023
10:00 AM (9:00 AM for registration) – River Dogs on Parade
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Kids’ Tent
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Live Music ft. Madárka (11:00 AM) and Hollywood Herb & 7he 7eam (2:00 PM)
This past Sunday evening, July 16, in the heart of New Haven’s downtown arts district, veteran singer-songwriter Jenny Lewis paid a visit to College Street Music Hall (CSMH), a historic concert hall constructed in the mid-1920s that was nearly sold-out to its holding capacity of 2,000 souls.
Jenny Lewis | Photo: Michael Dinger
Lewis is touring in support of her latest solo album Joy’All (Blue Note/Capitol) released last month, a good portion of which was written in early-2021 during a week-long virtual songwriting workshop hosted by Beck. For more than 90 minutes, the co-founder of the charting indie outfit Rilo Kiley in the late-1990s did not disappoint en route to a dazzling performance. But more on our treasured country-rock troubadour a bit later.
College Street Music Hall Marquee | Photo: Michael Dinger
The first of two opening acts was Hayden Pedigo, an eccentric 29-year old performance artist who also moonlights as a model and even a politician – he campaigned in 2018 to fill a City Council seat in his native Amarillo, TX. Pedigo mesmerized the growing audience on the general admission floor with four tranquil instrumental pieces featuring exquisite fingerpicking on an acoustic Yamaha 12-string and an electric Epiphone.
Hayden Pedigo | Photo: Michael Dinger
Following Pedigo was Cass McCombs who hails from Concord, CA, but calls NYC his home. Born in 1977, the alt-country musician who owns the reputation as one of the great songwriters of his generation was backed by a trio of touring musicians on bass, drums and keyboards. Like Pedigo, music is not McCombs’ only passion – in 2020, a book of his poetry was published titled Toy Fabels, with illustrations by none other than McCombs himself. For nearly 40 minutes, and without much pandering to the audience, the quartet presented a set filled with jaw-droppingly gorgeous, soulful rock delivered with a laid-back attitude, which was more than fine by me.
Cass McCombs | Photo: Michael Dinger
Smack in the middle of an 18-date tour that kicked off in early-June in Nashville, TN, including an appearance by Lewis at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, the Las Vegas native who first gained prominence in the 1980s as a child actress took to the CSMH stage at 9:15 pm. Bathed in a sea of red, purple and blue lights and accompanied by a foursome of all-female musicians, Lewis gracefully glided about the stage, frequenting an elevated circular platform adorned in red roses or taking a seat at her piano which was positioned front and center.
Lewis’ evocative lyricism was on full display from the jump with “Psychos,” the lead single from Joy’All and her first No. 1 song on a Billboard chart that she earned only two days prior to the CSMH show. Lewis would go on to gift her fans four more songs from Joy’All, but she was sure to spread the wealth around from her discography, including “Red Bull & Hennessy” (On the Line, 2019), “Head Underwater” (The Voyager, 2014) and the title track from 2008’s Acid Tongue.
Jenny Lewis | Photo: Michael Dinger
During the sugary-sweet “Cherry Baby” (Joy’All), red, white and silver balloons were released into the air, much to the delight of the audience, many of whom were in their late-teens and early-20s and sung along to the chorus on several songs. Several of the flailing balloons that were being batted around by the fans depicted the likeness of Bobby Rhubarb, Lewis’ beloved two-year old black Cockapoo who even has her own Instagram account with more than 5,600 followers! Two tunes later, during “Just One of the Guys” (The Voyager), one of the balloons mysteriously hovered between Lewis and her bassist at stage left. Static electricity? A demonic possession? Check out the video below and you decide what the strange occurrence may have been attributed to.
Speaking of Lewis’ dog, as the show turned for the home stretch, the rotary dial telephone sitting atop her piano suddenly rang. It was Bobby Rhubarb on the other end of the line, and she had a joke for all of us! Because most of us in attendance did not speak the “bark” language, Lewis translated, “Why is it so hot at the Grateful Dead show? Because their fans don’t work!” As part of the four song encore, Lewis offered up two wonderfully rendered covers – “Lust for Life” by Girls and the night’s finale, “With Arms Outstretched,” by none other than Rilo Kiley from 2002’s The Execution of All Things.
Following its New Haven stopover, The Joy’All Tour continues for three more weeks, including scheduled dates along the west coast in early-August. For the final three shows of the tour – Bend, OR (August 3), Concord, CA (August 5) and Inglewood, CA (August 7) – Lewis will be joined by the aforementioned Beck and Phoenix, who are embarking on a split bill of their own next month.
Jenny Lewis | Photo: Michael Dinger
No rest for the weary, Lewis and the indie pop supergroup The Postal Service, a trio that she has been a part of since 2002 with Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello, will be hitting the road on a co-headlining, 30-date U.S. tour (performing Give Up in its entirety to celebrate the album’s 20th Anniversary) with Death Cab for Cutie this fall. So, in case you missed Lewis this time around, or you just cannot get enough of the “redheaded indie wet dream,” as the rock critic Robert Christgau fittingly referred to her in a 2004 piece for The Village Voice piece, she’ll be back soon!
Jenny Lewis Setlist: Psychos > Do Si Do > She’s Not Me > Late Bloomer > Joy’all > Red Bull & Hennessy > Heads Gonna Roll > Head Underwater > Giddy Up > Cherry Baby > Little White Dove > Just One of the Guys > Puppy and a Truck > Acid Tongue > Encore: The Next Messiah > Lust for Life (Girls cover) > With Arms Outstretched (Rilo Kiley song)
Starting July 21, visitors to White Feather Farm in Saugerties can expect to take part in the second annual Soil Fest, a three day celebration of soil. The second annual festival includes live performances, workshops and food intersecting art, science and ecology.
The host of Soil Fest, White Feather Farm, located in Saugerties takes place at White Feather Farm, which “aims to create connection between community, culture, and land,” according to their website, They do so by advancing, and promoting education about, “sustainable farming and other food production, distribution and consumption techniques and practices that reduce climate change and create healthy soil and a vibrant ecosystem.” They also showcase local talent, artists, writers and experts.
Soil Fest Events
Soil Fest kicks off Friday, July 21 and continues through Sunday, July 23. The first event begins at 2:00 pm Friday, called “Sensory Kinship of the 3rd Kind.” This workshop will be led by Lisa Schonberg and Allie Wist. The two will conduct a series of exercises using multi-sensory means of communication, like smell, taste and sound. Later that day, Schonberg will also host a performance of percussion and electronic music featuring and responding to soil soundscapes.
On Saturday, Soil Fest attendees have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities. Some of these include a chromatography workshop, a carbon sponge workshop, and alternative grain beer tasting. There will also be food available from a locally owned and operated mobile catering company, From the Ground Up.
Additionally, Saturday night will feature a live performance by the band Dust Bowl Faeries. They are a New York based cabaret-inspired indie rock band. Described as a “faerie-tale fusion of gothic polka, dark carnival and angsty folk music,” they draw inspiration from circus songs, murder ballads, vaudeville, jazz and klezmer music.
On the third day of Soil Fest, attendees can participate in workshops where they make easy to ferment foods with harvest from White Feather Farm. There is also a workshop entitled “Drawing with Biochar,” where participants choose among various sizes and types of wood to make a set of charcoal drawing sticks.
Finally, Soil Fest closes with a live performance of “Arm of the Sea: Riparian Rhapsody.” Arm of the Sea is a mask and puppet theater that combines art, ecology and social action. The “Riparian Rhapsody” performance explores Catskill ecology to reveal the intricate interactions between forest and stream, while it lyrically makes the case for protecting streamside buffer zones.
Several recording studios in Western New York are at the disposal of aspiring musicians looking to make a name for themselves in the industry. Within the region, Buffalo and Rochester are the epicenter of music-making. with many studios established for decades, and others just starting out.
Counties of Western New York
Blackdog Recording Studios in Rochester, incorporated in 2005, is a full-service audio and video production company located in the heart of downtown Rochester’s East End district, right near the world-renowned Eastman School of Music. The studio offers a wide array of specialized services including recording, mixing, mastering, and a wide variety of aspects of audio, podcast, video production, musical scores, sync licensing, and educational programming.
The sound room in Blackdog Recording Studios.
Wicked Squid Studios in Rochester offers recording, mixing, mastering, editing services, and music lessons for artists. The facility has two studios, A and B, and a mobile recording studio, “The Truck.” The custom-built RV functions as a mobile control room, and can be used for location recording, broadcast, and mixdown.
The sound room in Studio A at Wicked Squid Studios.
GFI Music Productions in Wayne County, part of the Rochester Metropolitan Statistical Area, has welcomed a steady stream of talented artists of all styles from legendary multi-platinum artists such as Lou Gramm (Foreigner) and Russell Tompkins Jr. (Stylistics) to well-known genre artists like Greg Howe, Victor Wooten and Dennis Chambers. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a band just starting, GFI will assure that your recording experience is a great one. GFI offers several recording, production, and artist management services. GFI has two studios, A, and B, available for artists’ recording needs.
GFI’s Studio A is one of the best tracking and mixing rooms in Upstate New York. Studio A offers state-of-the-art digital recording, a 14’x23′ control room, a 25′x 27′ main room, a 6′x 7′ iso booth, and more. Studio B is equipped with a 14’x 22′ control room, a 14’x 26′ main room, and a 5’x 6′ iso booth, and offers HD recording and editing, among others.
A guitar set in Studio B of GFI Recording Studio.
Outer Limit Recording Studio opened in 1993 and is located in the Erie County city of Cheektowaga, a suburb of Buffalo, and offers artists high-quality recording, professional mixing, professional mastering, music production, and more. The studio comes equipped with a control room, recording room, production suite, drum room, piano room, snack room, game room/lounge, and writing room. The control room is outfitted with top-quality outboard gear by Avalon, Focusrite, Universal Audio, Lexicon, PreSonus, Grace Design, Empirical Labs, and more. The recording room comes equipped with microphones from Neumann, AKG, Blue, Sennheiser, Oktava, GA Project, Shure, and a dozen others, allowing artists to have the best mic quality to achieve the best sound for their music. The production, the newest edition to the outer limit, is available to rent to produce beats with either Maschine and its controller and keyboard, or with Reason and the controller and/or keyboard.
Outer Limit provides musicians with four soundproof performance rooms, each offering its own unique sound, bringing a different depth and quality to your project. The 1945 Everett upright in the piano room, from the now-defunct Everett Piano Company, is always tuned and waiting, and the room has been specifically designed for great sound. The snack room is available anytime for artists to unwind or have a bite to build up their energy, and provides a microwave and a small refrigerator. While your songs are being mixed or if you just need a break from the studio, enjoy the Xbox One or PS4 in the game room. Lastly, the writing room is the perfect place to rework your music or put that last-minute sparkling touch on your project.
In business for nearly three decades as of 2023, Outer Limit Recording Studio is one of the top recording studios in New York State and one of the go-to studios in Buffalo. Owner and chief engineer Ken Rutkowski is determined to provide each client with the best recording possible and an inspiring and comfortable environment in which to create it. Big names in the music business like Smokepurpp, Eminem Raheem DeVaughn, and the music group D-12 have recorded at the Outer Limit, as have local recording artists based in Western New York and all throughout the East Coast.
Ken Rutkowski, chief engineer/owner of Outer Limit Recording Studio.
GCR Audio, located in the heart of downtown Buffalo, has worked with the Goo Goo Dolls on several of their albums. Buffalo natives, the Goo Goo Dolls recorded their self-titled debut album Goo Goo Dolls, as well as Jed, Hold Me Up, Superstar Car Wash, A Boy Named Goo, Jessie J, and Who You Are at GCR Audio. Opened in 1980 and originally known as Trackmaster Audio, the studio is housed in the former chapel of the historically protected, 150-year-old St. Margaret’s Girls School.
GCR Audio was designed by world-famous studio architect John Storyk (Electric Lady Studios, Jungle City, personal studios for Whitney Houston, Bob Marley, Jay Z, Aerosmith, Green Day, and Alicia Keys). Prior to the Goo Goo Dolls gaining international success in the mid-’90s, both guitarist/singer John Rzeznik and bassist/singer Robby Takac worked at the studio in various roles that ranged from reception to engineering and producing. Their first #1 song, “Name,” was recorded at GCR Audio while it was still known as Trackmaster.
The Fender Jaguar guitar is available for musicians to practice with at Select Sound Recording Studio.
Select Sound Recording Studios in Erie County Village of Kenmore, part of the Buffalo-Niagra Falls metropolitan area, has been in business in New York for nearly 50 years since 1974. Select Sound provides musical artists with two recording studios, A and B, and a comfort and convenience area with a reception, lounge, and coffee area. The main studio, A, has a control room, a Yamaha C-7 Grand Piano, a drum riser, and a live room. Studio B is equipped with a vocal booth for voice-overs, editing, and spot production. The studio was designed by Lakeside Associates, now theYanchar Design and Consulting Group, who designed the Los Angeles headquarters of Disney-ABC, Capitol Records, and both the Los Angeles and New York headquarters for CBS Records.
ProTools MIDI suite with a vocal booth in Studio B of Select Sound Recording Studio.
Additionally, Select Sound Recording Studios offers a wide variety of training programs for musicians. The Vocational Training Program is made up of six courses, First in Audio Recording, followed by Non-Linear Recording, Advanced Production Techniques, Midi and Sequencing for the Home and Pro Studio, Analog Recording and Mastering, and lastly, an Independent Study for Advanced Students. Furthermore, internships are available for students in the Vocational Training Program.
The Control Room in Studio A of Select Sound Recording Studios.
Recording Technologies 1: Audio Engineering is a comprehensive study of the history of recording, the recording chain, the physics of sound, production techniques, studio acoustics, signal processing equipment, various applications of microphones and direct lines, and the operation of the mixing console. Students participate in the production of a recording session. Recording Technologies 2: Non-Linear Recording teaches students what they need to know to complete a recording project, from initial setup to final mixdown. Recording Technologies 3: Advanced Production Technologies provides a more detailed look at Pro Tools and covers all the key concepts and skills needed to operate a Pro Tools LE system. Students will learn about external controllers, loop recording, advanced techniques, audio editing and file management techniques, automation enabling, playing, viewing, and editing automation data, mixing, using sends, returns, plug-ins, master faders, and groups.
The Yamaha C-7 Grand Piano in Studio A of Select Sound Recording Studio. Tuning and maintenance by BPO technician Robert Sowyrda.
The next class, Recording Studios 4: MIDI and Sequencing for the Home and Pro Studio teaches students the basics of Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI,) event editing and its role in music creation. Students will learn how to create sequencer and drum patterns without needing any keyboard skills and be able to use them to enhance audio recordings, complete songs, or just create demos. The focus will also be on analog synthesis, sampling, and loop construction as it applies to the creation of much of today’s music using Propellerhead’s Reason software. In Recording Studios 5: Analog Recording and Mastering, students will learn analog recording and mixing, audio for multi-media, and 5.1 surround sound production. The final course, Recording Studios 6: Independent Study for Advanced Students concentrates on the student’s professional goals, and the student will receive a block of hours for instruction, pre-production, recording, mixing, and mastering.
Mammoth Recording Studio in Buffalo exhibits a laid-back, old-school feel akin to that of a ‘70s rec room or secret clubhouse, complete with a rotary dial telephone. Its décor radiates a colorful, comfortable vibe that reflects the studio’s philosophy, which is to provide creative, high-end production that helps to realize the musician’s initial ideas and facilitate their journey as artists. Mammoth is owned and operated by Justin John Smith and Mike Santillo. Smith, singer, and guitarist of Aircraft, has a degree in sound recording from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida. Santillo is the Keyboardist for Buffalo’s The Tins and has been recording his band’s music for the better part of a decade.
The inside of Mammoth Recording Studio.Musicians have access to the Korg MS-20 guitar center at Mammoth Recording Studio.
LBA Recording Studio in North Collins, a village in Erie County, was established in 2010 and offers music production, recording, analog mixing, mastering, and photography for musicians. LBA Studios is a 40-track professional recording studio focused on delivering high-quality audio with an inspiring analog sound. LBA is fully equipped with an extensive collection of vintage and modern pieces of professional recording equipment. When it comes time to record, there are multiple rooms with video communication and personal audio mixers for your headphones. It’s a comfy vibe just a short car ride from Buffalo.
Owner Mike Congliosi II has a long history and background in music making. Music producer, recording engineer, and sole proprietor at LBA, he has more than 20 years of experience in the business, first began recording music in 1998, and has an associate’s degree from Villa Maria College of Buffalo before obtaining his master’s in studio production from SUNY Purchase. Throughout his career, Congliosi has worked with hundreds of artists in many various genres from around the United States.
Mike Congliosi, owner of LBA Studios. A drumset at LBA Studios.
A wide array of recording studios are at artists’ disposal who are looking to make a name in the music business in Central New York. Some of these studios have been in business for decades, while others are just starting out. Buffalo and Rochester are the epicenters of music-making in Western New York, with several recording studios at artists’ disposal.
Hip hop pioneer Slick Rick has announced he will make his New York State Fair debut on Aug. 26 at 2 p.m. as part of the statewide I Love NYSummer of Hip Hop celebration.
With his British accent, witty lyrics spoken through a leisurely cadence, and nasally voice, Slick Rick has one of the most recognizable voices in hip-hop. Featuring legendary lyrics and note-worthy fashion, he has inspired many artists including JAY-Z, Eminem, and Idris Elba. Dubbed “the most sampled hip-hop artist in history,” it all started in 1984 when Slick Rick – who went by “Ricky D” at the time – joined Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh crew to record the breakout hit, “La-Di-Da-Di.” He then signed to Def Jam Records and had several multi-platinum albums, including The Great Adventures of Slick Rick (1988) and The Art of Storytelling (1999), his highest-charting album to date.
Not just an inspiring artist, he also is active in the New York City real estate community, providing affordable housing to communities in the Bronx. As a philanthropist, he supports efforts to fight youth incarceration and poverty, and works to raise awareness about homelessness, food insecurity, and children’s literacy. In 2020, Slick Rick and his wife co-founded the Victory Patch Foundation, which empowers underserved and overlooked communities by partnering with FreshDirect, City Harvest, and the New York City Department of Youth & Community Development.
I Love NYSummer of Hip Hop is a statewide celebration held in partnership with cultural organizations around the state – including Lincoln Center in New York City, The Plaza in Albany, and The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester. “Since The Fair is a showcase of New York State, we also appreciate Slick Rick’s connections to New York. Hip hop was founded in The Bronx, which is where Slick Rick settled when he moved to this country at age 11, and where he spends time advocating for community causes today. It’s always great when we can highlight New Yorkers in our musical line-up!” said Sean Hennessey, Interim Fair Director.
New York State Fair Lineup
Chevy Court
Aug. 23 at 1 p.m.- Chubby Checker
Aug. 23 at 6 p.m.- Salt-N-Pepa
Aug. 24 at 6 p.m.- Quiet Riot
Aug. 26 at 1 p.m.- Peppa Pig Live! Peppa Pig’s Adventure
Aug. 26 at 6 p.m.- Julio Iglesias Jr.
Aug. 27 at 1 p.m.- The Prodigals
Aug. 27 at 6 p.m.- Matt Stell
Aug. 28 at 1 p.m.- Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
Aug. 28 at 6 p.m.- Anne Wilson
Aug. 29 at 1 p.m.- Tommy James and the Shondells
Aug. 29 at 6 p.m.- Bret Michaels
Aug. 30 at 1 p.m.- Danielle Ponder
Aug. 30 at 6 p.m.- Chapel Hart
Sept. 1 at 6 p.m.- The Fray
Sept. 2 at 12-9:45 p.m.- JAMS Funk Fest Featuring: Brick (6:45 p.m.) & Dazz Band (8:15 p.m.)
Sun. Sept. 3 at 1 p.m.- Disney Junior Live On tour: Costume Palooza
Sept. 4 at 12 p.m.- The High Kings
Suburban Park
Aug. 23 at 2 p.m.- Steven Page
Aug. 23 at 8 p.m.- Lainey Wilson
Aug. 24 at 8 p.m.- Theory of a Deadman
Aug. 26 at 2 p.m.- Slick Rick
Aug. 26 at 8 p.m.- George Thorogood and the Destroyers
After teasing their return at Pharell’s Louis Vuitton Fashion Show, legendary rap brothers Pusha T and No Malice — known as Clipse — will continue their resurgence with a headlining performance at Genius’ IQ/BBQ. Presented in partnership with Infiniti, Paco Rabanne, Patron El Alto, and Paramount+ with Showtime’s The Chi, the all-day event takes place on August 19 at Knockdown Center in Queens, N.Y., and will feature live performances from some of the hottest names in hip-hop, including the platinum-selling duo.
In addition to the show, IQ/BBQ will feature experiences like the So Fresh, So Clean Shop from Paco Rabanne 1M, an art installation from Infinity featuring the new QX60, a VIP “Genius Lounge” presented by Patrón El Alto, and a Rap Cafeteriafilled with lyric-inspired dishes from local NYC food vendors – presented by Showtime Original Series, The Chi.
Clipse Making a Comeback
With this performance, The Clipse continue their teased reunion. After previewing their first joint-record in 14 years the Virginia-bred brothers have garnered fans attention with the teased record. Their last collab was the outro to Pusha T’s most recent album It’s Almost Dry, titled “I Pray for You.”
Moreover, since their days as The Clipse, the duo have been part of some of hip hop’s most iconic records. Notably, records like “Grindin’,” “Mr. Me Too,” and “What Happened to That Boy.” Since their last album — 2009’s Til The Casket Drops — Pusha T has embarked on a successful solo career that has resulted in several Grammy nominations and recognition as one of the best rappers ever. Meanwhile, No Malice left the music industry to become a pastor making sporadic feature appearances since, including an album cut on Ye’s 2019 release Jesus Is King.
Tickets for the Genius IQ/BBQ are free and are now available at dice.fm, while the event maintains a 21+ age restriction.
