NYS Music 2023

Category: Regions

  • Drom30 Festival in Hudson Valley Announces Eclectic Lineup

    Dromedary Records has announced Drom30, a weekend-long celebration of independent rock in the beautiful Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains of New York, from Sept. 15-17.

    Drom30

    Initially brought up as a party to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Kingston micro-indie Dromedary Records, the idea evolved into a greater event.

    As more and more bands got involved, it really started to look more like a celebration of the entire community of independent rock music, and the many of us who’ve kept our toes in this water for a really long time. Some of the artists have released records with Dromedary, some have been long-time friends, and some have been artists we’ve admired from afar. We’re all going to get together in the Hudson Valley and have a big,
    weekend-long party, hopefully feel like kids again, and celebrate this amazing community of artists we’re so proud to be a part of.

    Dromedary founder Al Crisafulli.

    “We hope people plan to come out to the party and enjoy the Hudson Valley for the weekend,” explained Crisafulli, “It’s a great lineup, an excellent blend of indie rock royalty, and great bands that haven’t played together in years, and younger bands that wear their 90s indie rock influences on their sleeve.” The lineup includes a number of musical luminaries, standout DJs, and some of the most important figures in the history of indie rock. Longtime Dromedary artists and collaborators Cathedral Ceilings, The Mommyheads, Stuyvesant, Joy Cleaner, Civic Mimic, Speed the Plough, and Guy Capecelatro III will perform. Each day’s events will be headlined by indie rock legends Yung Wu, Lotion, and Das Damen, three artists who seldom perform live.

    Single-day passes are on sale now. Admission for Friday night’s events will be $25 and will take place at Tubby’s in Kingston. Admission for Saturday and Sunday events in Catskill will be $40 per day. For more information about Drom30 and to purchase tickets, visit here.

    Drom30 Lineup

    Sept 15 – 7 pm-midnight
    Tubby’s Kingston
    Yung Wu, Speed the Plough, and DJ Jeff Economy (WGXC)

    Sept 16 – 1 pm-midnight
    The Avalon & Left Bank Ciders, Catskill
    Antietam, Sleepyhead, Flower, Cathedral Ceilings, Joy Cleaner, Civic Mimic, Das Damen, French, Dots Will Echo, Guy Capecelatro III w/Carrie Bradley, DJ Mark Shue (GBV), DJ Betsy Wright (Bat Fangs), DJ Al C (Dromedary/WIOX), and DJ Nick & Lysa (WGXC).

    Sept 17 – 3 pm-midnight
    The Avalon & Spike’s Record Rack, Catskill
    Lotion, Monsterland, The Mommyheads, Jenny Toomey & Friends, Dippers, Stuyvesant, Overheard, Bela Koe-Krompecher, DJ Metal Mark (Worldsucks), and DJ JC (Rigorous/KMES).

  • Brooklyn Conservatory of Music’s Upcoming Midsummer Nights Concert Series

    The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music (BKCM) has announced the dates of events for its upcoming Midsummer Nights concert series, which will kick off with a special event featuring the recent recipients of the Jazz Leader Fellowship. The free events will take place in July and August, and will be outdoor in front of the BKCM building.

    BKCM is dedicated to giving every New Yorker access to high-quality music instruction and music therapy, as well as to supporting the musical talents of traditionally underserved New York communities. The all-ages event has been curated by BKCM Jazz Leaders Fellow Jasmine Wilson. All events are held at 6:30 p.m..

    Upcoming Shows

    Courtney Wright and Jazz Leader Fellowship Recipients – July 20

    Courtney Wright is a composer and baritone saxophonist based in Brooklyn, and she leads her own quintet and jazz orchestra that plays her original compositions. She will be joined by the winners of the third year of the BKCM Jazz Leaders Fellowship, Melanie Charles and Olithea Anglin (also known as Miss Olithea).

    Melanie Charles has made a name for herself through genre fusions with jazz, soul, rhythm and blues. She has lead a project called “Make Jazz Trill Again” since 2016, focused on taking jazz out of the museum and onto the streets.

    Miss Olithea is a singer, songwriter, producer, and sound healing practitioner, as well as a proud member of the renowned Burnt Sugar Arkestra Chamber. In November 2020, she started her own private studio known as “The Vocal Journey.”

    Courtney Wright

    Akua Dixon – July 27

    Akua Dixon is a cellist, composer, conductor, and educator. She has been at the forefront of improvising string since 1973, and was the first cellist to win the Downbeat Critics Poll. Dixon is also a multi-laureate of the National Endowment for the Arts in composition and performance.

    Akua Dixon

    Milena Casado – Aug. 3

    Milena Casado is a composer, flugelhorn, and trumpet player hailing from Spain. Casado has played with prominent artists, such as Terri Lyne Carrington, Kris Davis, Aaron Parks, Jazzmeia Horn, Jorge Rossy, Francisco Mela, and Kenny Werner.

    Milena Casado

    Charisa the ViolinDiva – Aug. 10

    Charisa the ViolinDiva is a souljazz violinist and vocalist who has challenged the preconceptions of what a violinist can do in contemporary music. Her talent has led her to perform alongside artists such as Lauryn Hill, Paul McCartney, Vivian Green, Kim Burrell, Cyndi Lauper, and Quincy Jones.

    Charisa the ViolinDiva

    No RSVP is needed to attend any of these free events. More information can be found on BKCM’s website.

  • Organ Fairchild Releases Groovy Cover of Grateful Dead’s “He’s Gone” Ahead of New Album

    New York organist trio Organ Fairchild release a second lead single ahead of their new album Leisure Suit, this time around a groovy cover of the Grateful Dead’s track “He’s Gone.”

    The funky, upbeat instrumental rendition of the well-known song will come out Friday, July 21, 2023, serving as a taste of what’s to come from their second album coming this September.

    Organ Fairchild release Grateful Dead cover song.

    Recorded, mixed, and co-produced by Grammy-winning engineer Justin Guip (HotTuna, Levon Helm) and mastered by Alan Evans (Soulive), the song additionally showcases the band’s love for the Grateful Dead, a group that has meant a lot to them throughout their journey.

    Group members Dave Ruch, Joe Bellanti, and Corey Kertzie originally met and started off as the Wild Knights in 1983, a cover group for the Grateful Dead, incorporating some of their older cover styles with fresh, new funk sounds into the single.

    The three of us grew up playing Grateful Dead music together, so how fun to take our organ-trio format (with no singing and no bass player!) and reinterpret this song.”

    – Dave Ruch

    Coming together as Organ Fairchild in 2020, the trio began writing their first original music together, while also earning the title of New York’s number-one emerging band in 2021.

    Photo via the Organ Fairchild website

    Organ Fairchild is no stranger to large festivals either, playing shows and festivals with Goose, Trey Anastasio Band, Melvin Seals, moe., and many more.

    The lead single drops just one week before Organ Fairchild heads on their “Dead of Summer” Tour. Their tour expects to feature a full set of Grateful Dead covers, organ-trio style, along with a set of their award-winning original material.

  • SPAC Announces Dance Season in Spa Little Theatre

    Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) announced that it will present modern dance troupes Pilobolus and BalletX in the Spa Little Theatre as part of its commitment to world-class dance.

    BalletX.

    Presented as part of SPAC’s 2023-2024 fall and spring seasons, the performances mark the first time that full dance productions have been mounted in the Spa Little Theatre in decades. “There is literally nowhere else in the Capital Region to experience full dance productions in this intimate and visceral way,” says Elizabeth Sobol, President and CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center. 

    Kicking off the series is Pilobolus with two productions on Oct. 8, 2023, of its new Re: Creation Tour, featuring groundbreaking new pieces and beloved works from the past to create an experience both timely and timeless. Building on the success of their critically acclaimed Big Five-OH! Anniversary tour, Pilobolus moves confidently into the next half-century of creation and performance. The performances mark the SPAC debut of the company, following their participation in SPAC’s Festival of Young Artists event in 2021.

    Following their debut on the SPAC stage alongside The Philadelphia Orchestra in 2022, BalletX will grace the stage for two performances on March 16 and 17, 2024. Based in Philadelphia, BalletX is one of the nation’s premier contemporary ballet companies. They create extraordinary dance experiences that inspire human connection through live performances, dance education in Philadelphia public schools, free community pop-ups, and more. BalletX’s dancers were named “among America’s best” by The New York Times, commissioning choreographers from around the world to create dance that is “fresh, inclusive, and connects to what people want” (Philadelphia Citizen).

    Pilobolus, photo by Grant Halverson.

    The announcement follows SPAC’s spring season in the Spa Little Theatre and is part of SPAC’s mission to present year-round programming that extends beyond the traditional summer months. Additional programming for the 2023-2024 Spa Little Theatre season will be announced soon. Tickets will be available for purchase on Aug. 10, 2023.

  • In Focus: Sweet at Alive at 5

    On Thursday, July 13th, Sweet raced against the storm to deliver for Albany’s fifth installment of Alive at 5.

    Sly Fox at Alive at 5 – Photo by Jarron Childs

    Sly Fox and the Hustlers opened classic rock night under I-787. They formed in Albany in 2010 after Sly’s long time friend decided to embark on a solo career. He enlisted the help of guitarist, Zak Young and drummer, Sean Ireland to form the band. They created a classic blues rock and roll sound which has so far produced two albums. Sly Fox and the Hustlers are working on releasing their third album sometime this year.

    Luke McNamee at Alive at 5 – Photo by Jarron Childs

    Sly Fox and the Hustlers played about an hour set with the addition of three members. Saxophonist, Luke McNamee, Brian Mangini on the keyboard and John Dievendorf on the bass took the stage to with Sly Fox to modest crowd of Albany’s most loyal rock and rollers. The mood was a bit more mellow as their music leaned more towards a classic blues sound than a typically head banging rock n’ roll beat. Many of the songs were centered more around love, which may have helped to audience understand Sly more. Most of crowd saved their energy by resting in their lawn chairs in anticipation for Sweet. They were left off with a warm farewell before the night was revved up.

    Steve Priest at Alive at 5 – Photo by Jarron Childs

    Sweet was a band in the 70s who gained popularity in the UK with from their single “Blockbuster!” They had many songs reach the charts in both the UK and England before they disbanded in 1981. Most of the founding members died between 1997-2020, but they did not stop the legacy from continuing. Guitarist Andy Scott, has formed his own version of Sweet that continues to play shows today and even make music. His version of Sweet, however, was not the version that was in Albany.

    Bassist Steve Priest came out of retirement in 2007 and formed his own version of Sweet. This version shares similarities with Scott’s version, but are not actively making new music. They still are keeping the legacy alive by playing some of Sweet’s best songs at their shows. Their show in Albany was no show for the week hearted as they really gave it their all with the short window they had.

    Jim Burkard at Alive at 5 – Photo by Jarron Childs

    The show was moved to Albany’s rain location under I-787, but a torrential storm was so strong the highway could not protect everyone. Nonetheless, the show still went on with a few changes to the set.

    Coming out strong with hits like “Teenage Rampage” and “Set Me Free”, there was not one person still sitting in their seat for the show. Lead singer, Patrick Stone, really meshed with the crowd well by encouraging participation from all. Stone stuck his mic over the crowd, stood on the front speakers, and even ran through the crowd twice to keep everyone energized.

    Patrick Stone singing with fan at Alive at 5 – Photo by Jarron Childs

    Even though they could not complete their whole set, they were able to get off their two most notable songs before they departed early. “Fox on the Run”, which regained popularity after being on the The Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack, still hit the same as it probably did back in 1974. Crowd members needed very little encouragement to sing it word-for-word with Sweet. The set ended early with “Ballroom Blitz,” which still left the energy on high just before the downpour.

    Steve Priest’s Sweet continues to tour with their next stop being Louisville Kentucky on August 25th.

    Sly Fox and The Hustlers Setlist: Back in Funk, Rough Patch of Road, Giving Dream, Revolution 2012, Look At You, Let Me Down Easy, Smooth, Home By Morning, Forever Young, Find Someone, S.U.N.Y. Girl, American Gypsy, Sympathy

    Sweet Setlist: Action, Teenage Rampage, Set Me Free, Love Is Like Oxygen, Sweet F.A., No You Don’t, Done Me Wrong, Willie/Block/Wig, AC/DC, Fox on the Run, Ballroom Blitz

  • Huntington Summer Arts Festival Hosts Performances Throughout July

    The Huntington Arts Council (HAC) is bringing live music to Long Island during the entire month of July with the Huntington Summer Arts Festival. The festival is now in its 48th season and features performances from July 1- 30. Concerts will take place at the Chapin Rainbow Stage in Heckscher Park. 

    Free to attendees, the Huntington Summer Arts Festival aims to celebrate established acts while also highlighting up-and-coming artists. This year’s celebration features festival regulars Huntington Community Band, who perform each Wednesday of the month. Concertgoers still have the chance to see Huntington favorites North Shore Pops Concert Band. 

    Red Baraat

    This summer’s roster of musicians come from a diverse set of musical backgrounds. Genres like swing jazz, latin, R&B/Soul, rock, and classical are all represented at the festival. In addition to music, the Huntington Summer Arts Festival also includes dance and theatrical performances. The group Sol Y Sombra Spanish Dance Company performed earlier this month. Attendees however will still have the opportunity to catch the L.I. Dance Consortium is set to take the stage on July 23. 

    Created in 1963, The Huntington Arts Council has been a pillar in the Long Island arts scene. The organization looks to celebrate and nourish the cultural diversity of Long Island through different avenues. HAC is involved with constructing and sponsoring a multitude of activities, programs, and events. The Council maintains that “the arts create a vibrant, energized, and culturally rich environment”. 

    Sol y Sombra Spanish Dance Co.

    Along with the Huntington Summer Arts Festival, HAC has also collaborated with the Folk Music Society of Huntington to bring back the Huntington Folk Festival on July 22. Co-headliners Lucy Kaplansky and Cliff Eberhardt take the stage at 8, with the festival getting underway at 12:30. 

    Below is the upcoming schedule for the Summer Arts Festival. Sunday performances start at 7:00PM, all others performances start at 8:00PM, unless noted. Here for a full list of the lineup and more details about the festival. 

    Remaining Schedule

    Wednesday, July 19 – Huntington Community Band, “Una Celebracion de la Musica Latina”- 7:00PM Jazz Band start time, 8:00 PM Concert Band start time

    Thursday, July 20 – North Shore Pops Concert Band– Northport Community Band- 8:30PM NPT Park

    Friday, July 21 – Huntington Latin Night: Tito Rodriguez Jr. Orchestra- 7:00 PM 

    Saturday, July 22 – 16th Huntington Folk Festival, Cliff Eberhardt & Lucy Kaplansky- Festival at 12:30PM, headliners at 8:00PM

    Sunday, July 23 – L.I. Dance Consortium, “Long Island Dances!- 7:00PM 

    Wednesday, July 26 – Huntington Community Band,”…and Home Again!”- 8:00PM

    Thursday, July 27 – Swing Sessions with Dudley Music & Guests- 7:30PM

    Thursday, July 27 – Northport Community Band- 8:30PM NPT Park

    Saturday, July 29 – Jazz Loft Big Band, Tom Manuel Conductor, and Nicole Zuraitis- 8:00PM

    Sunday, July 30 – Orchestra L.I., David Stewart Wiley, Conductor “In Concert With Nature”- 7:00PM 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUjUWYkZXZY&ab_channel=CarlosJimenez

  • Ganondagan Indigenous Music & Arts Festival Returns to Seneca Art and Culture Center in Victor

    The annual Ganondagan Indigenous Music and Arts Festival returns on July 22 and 23. The event runs 10AM-5PM on both Saturday and Sunday at the Seneca Art & Culture Center in Victor, NY. The festival is free to the public, however donations will go toward funding future events. 

    Ganondagan is a historic site located on the original ground of a 17th century Seneca town. Taking up over 500 acres, the site honors the way in which the Seneca people have influenced everything from political philosophy to our concept of the natural environment. Since its construction in 2015, the Seneca Art and Culture Center has acted as a space to demonstrate Haudenosaunee contributions to art, culture, and society. 

    Ganondagan Indigenous Music and Arts Festival
    The Sinquah Family Dance Troupe

    The Ganondagan Indigenous Music and Arts Festival looks to highlight Haudenosaunee and Indigenous culture through various ways. The festival will include dancing, storytelling, traditional crafts, a Native American arts market, food, live music and more. 

    Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the Wampum/OTGOÄ Exhibition in the Seneca Art & Culture Center. In addition to the tour, there will be on-demand t-shirt screen printing with artwork from artist Peter Jemison (Seneca). Organizers encourage visitors to bring their own 100% cotton shirt to have screen printed. 

    The artists performing at the festival represent several different cultures and groups. This year’s lineup of performers includes Native folk-rock band, December Wind (Mohawk). There will also be dancers from the Sinquah Family Dance Troupe (Hopi/Tewa/Choctaw) and the Haudenosaunee social dancers, Indigenous Spirit Dancers. In addition to music and dance, the festival will feature storytelling from Ronnie Reitter (Seneca) & Tonia Galban (Mohawk). Artists Samantha Jacobs (Seneca), Cliff Redeye (Seneca), and Marilyn Issacs (Tuscarora) are also all scheduled to host demonstrations. 

    Ganondagan Indigenous Music and Arts Festival
    December Wind- Facebook

    December Wind is a Native folk-rock band led by two-time Native American Music Award-winning artist, Atsiaktonkie (Mohawk) accompanied by bass guitarist, Terry Terrance (Mohawk). Together, the group expertly fuses folk-rock with the sounds of Akwesasne/Kanienkehaka (Mohawk) culture. December Wind songs are filled with stories of love, hope, the struggles of native peoples and the beauty of their heritage.

    Here for more details and information about the Ganondagan Indigenous Music and Arts Festival.

  • Grandmaster Flash to Return to the Bronx for “Birth of a Culture”

    One of the founding father’s of hip-hop, Grandmaster Flash will be returning to the Bronx for the free “Birth of a Culture: The Four Elements Block Party” to celebrate 50 years of hip-hop. The event will be in Crotona Park on Aug. 4 and has been made possible by Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage.

    Through his Quik Mix Theory, Grandmaster Flash was the first DJ to use the turntables as a musical instrument by placing his fingertips on the vinyl, extending the break of a song. This innovation would lead the way to further developments, such as cutting, scratching, and transforming. Grandmaster Flash has become the voice of his generation of ’70s hip-hop pioneers, and continues to be a cultural force.

    Present at this celebration of the history and legacy of hip-hop will be Jazzy Jay, DJ Charlie Chase,
    Pete Rock, GrandWizzard Theodore, Tony Touch, and Stretch Armstrong. Additional performers include Funk Flex, DJ Mell Starr, Scram Jones, DJ NABs, and Chuck Chillout.

    Crotona Park is one of the parks where it all started for me when hip-hop was an infant. Now, it’s all grown up and I’m going back home. This is my way of saying “thank you” to my fans and community for supporting me 50 years later. We’re doing things we did back in the ’70s, authentically showing how hip-hop started.

    Grandmaster Flash

    Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage is one of New York’s most accessible outdoor performing arts festivals, with nearly 80 free and benefit performances in Central Park and neighborhood parks throughout the boroughs. It has served New York’s communities for nearly 40 years, and over six million people from around the world have gotten to enjoy their shows.

    The “Birth of a Culture” event will be livestreamed on Grandmaster Flash’s YouTube and Twitch. It will begin at 5:00 p.m., and updates can be found on Grandmaster Flash’s Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or Twitch.

  • Baha Men to Perform at Caroga Lake Music Festival on July 22

    The Grammy Award winning band Baha Men will perform on the waterfront at Caroga Lake Music Festival on Saturday, July 22.

    Baha Men Caroga Lake Music Festival

    In honor of their triple platinum track “Who Let the Dogs Out”, Caroga Arts will be directing $1 of every ticket sold to the Fulton County Regional SPCA to help animals in need.

    Baha Men will be joined this evening by Balla Kouyaté and Mike Block Band.

    Caroga Lake Music Festival began in 2012, when Kyle Price invited friends to his grandmother’s house on Caroga Lake, where they presented a week of free concerts, ambitiously calling themselves the Caroga Lake Music Festival (CLMF). During the first five seasons, CLMF grew from one to five weeks, presenting concerts at a variety of local venues. In 2016, to accommodate the growth, the organization gained 501(c)(3) not-for-profit status as Caroga Arts Collective.

    Today, Caroga Arts presents over 50 performances and community events annually bringing world-class artists from various genres of music, visual art, poetry, and film to the Southern Adirondacks. 

    Premium Seats are $35 with General Admission $25, and free general admission for students. Caroga Arts offers free admission to concert goers age 17 and under for all Caroga Arts presented concerts at Sherman’s. Get Tickets here

  • Harpist Mikaela Davis Shares Stunning Video For Her Newest Single “Cinderella”

    Songwriter, harpist, and Rochester born artist Mikaela Davis has recently shared a stunning music video to accompany her newest single “Cinderella.” The song is a selection from her upcoming album And Southern Star which will officially be released on Aug. 4 via Kill Rock Stars.

    Since releasing her debut album Delivery five years ago, Mikaela Davis has traveled far away from her hometown of Rochester to fully immerse herself in her musical journey. The artist has joined the stage with musicians from all backgrounds of music and genres including founding members of the Grateful Dead Bob Weir and Phil Lesh, eight-time Grammy Award winner Christian McBride, and American indie folk band Bon Iver.

    Although Davis earned her degree in harp performance at the Crane School of Music, she has grown and built off of that foundation into a multi-genre and multi-talented artist, molding her classical music training to create an original and genre-bending catalog that weaves together 60s pop-soaked melodies, psychedelia, and driving folk rock. This diverse mix of sounds is what fans should expect from her upcoming album along with the story of Davis’ ever-evolving relationships between her closest friends and bandmates. And Southern Star is a truly collaborative effort that ruminates on the choices we make, and the people we always come back to.

    Fans can now use the single “Cinderella” to understand the direction Mikaela Davis is heading in this new decade of growth and storytelling. The song begins with the hauntingly beautiful picking of a solo harp quickly joined by Davis’ atmospheric and soul-stirring melodic voice. Davis can be seen playing the instrument in a gorgeous red dress, tearing the pieces, and running through fields of green throughout the video. As the song picks up, more instruments are built on to add support to a primarily fragile musical story surrounding the girl with countless choices to make with even more roadblocks in her way: Cinderella.

    Davis will continue to give her fans all the content they desire as the artist is starting out on tour this summer and into the Fall. She will travel to stages all over the United States bringing her beautiful voice and classically trained harp skills to select audiences. Joining her in multiple locations is the alternative and indie band The Mountain Goats.

    Mikaela Davis Tour Dates

    AUG 3, THU Happy Valley, OR Pickathon FEST 
    AUG 4, FRI Happy Valley, OR Pickathon FEST 
    AUG 5, SAT Seattle Nectar 
    AUG 8, TUE Redding, CA The Dip 
    AUG 9, WED Fresno, CA Strummers 
    AUG 11, FRI Phoenix, AZ Last Exit 
    AUG 12, SAT Truth or Consequences, NM Artist Abbey 
    AUG 13, SUN Santa Fe, NM Meow Wolf 
    AUG 17 THU,  Minneapolis, MN Turf Club
    AUG 20 SUN Evanston, IL SPACE
    OCT 2 MON @ 7:00 pm Solana Beach, CA Belly Up *
    OCT 3 TUE  @ 7:00pm Los Angeles, CA   The Belasco Theater *
    OCT 5 THU @ 7:00pm San Francisco, CA August Hall *
    OCT 6 FRI @ 7:00 pm San Francisco, CA August Hall *
    OCT 7 SAT @ 7:00 pm Sacramento, CA  Ace Of Spades  *
    OCT 9 MON @ 7:00 pm Spokane WA Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox  *
    OCT 10 TUE @ 8:00 pm Boise, IDKnitting Factory Concert House *
    OCT 11 WED @ 7:00 pm Bozeman, MT  The Elm  *
    OCT 13 FRI @ 8:00 pm Boulder, CO   Fox Theatre  *
    OCT 14 SAT @ 8:00 pm Englewood, CO  Gothic Theatre  *

    *performances with The Mountain Goats