On May 8th, New York State confirmed an investment of $5 million for local arts organizations and centers. Alive Downtowns!, a coalition of 13 historic performance arts centers across Upstate New York, received the funding with open arms as they thanked New York legislators in various press releases.
Alive Downtowns! was formed in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on performing arts centers. Today, upstate theaters remain understaffed and are continuing the fight to reach the expanse of pre-pandemic audiences. Representatives from the coalition have been meeting with New York State legislators and the Governor’s office to discuss the importance of the performing arts and the theaters to urban education opportunities, economic viability, and a city’s attractiveness.
The 13 facilities welcome and serve over five million people annually and have an average age of nearly 100 years. Together, the theaters have a yearly economic impact of $900,000,000. Their goal has always been to receive capital support from the state and have now secured a place in this year’s state budget.
The members of the coalition ranging from Jamestown to Poughkeepsie, not only bring diverse performances and shows to their areas but are a beacon that brings together local communities with arts and education.
Members of Alive Downtowns!
Bardavon 1896 Opera House of Poughkeepsie
Clemens Center in Elmira
Palace Performing Arts Center in Albany
Proctors Collaborative of Schenectady, Albany, and Saratoga
Darien Lake Amphitheater has announced their official 2023 summer lineup of performances beginning on June 14th. Located in the small town of Darien in Western New York, the venue originally opened in 1993 and has the capacity to hold 21,600 guests with 6,410 pavilion seats.
The American rock band, formed in Charlottesville, VA in 1991, set out on May 19th on their Walk Around The Moon Tour to celebrate the release of their newest album. The band is headed by singer-songwriter Dave Matthews and is supported by: bassist Stefan Lessard; drummer and backing vocalist Carter Beauford; trumpeter, percussionist, and backing vocalist Rashawn Ross; saxophone and winds player Jeff Coffin; Tim Reynolds on lead guitar; Buddy Strong on keyboard and backing vocals.
Luke Bryan, one of the most successful and awarded country artists of the past decade, comes to Darien as his 4th stop on his summer tour. The singer, songwriter, and TV personality plans to perform his recent #1 single Country On alongside his most popular releases including “Play It Again” and “That’s My Kind of Night.”
Kidz Bop Live – Never Stop Tour – July 14th, 7:00 PM
KIDZ BOP AND LIVE NATION ANNOUNCE ALL-NEW 2023 TOUR
Kidz Bop is known as the #1 music brand for kids that makes everyday hits friendly for younger audiences. The brand will be partnering with Live Nation and travel to a total of thirty-seven cities. This tour will introduce four new kids to the performance crew: Jackson, Kiya, Shila, and Tyler.
The American singer-songwriter, Sam Hunt, will take to the Darien stage in mid July. His openers on tour will include country singer Brett Young alongside genre bending artist Lily Rose.
The classic rock band which gave music lovers everything from “I Want To Know What Love Is” to “It Feels Like the First Time” heads out on their final tour this summer. The group will play all over North America alongside one of the 80s greatest hitmakers, Loverboy.
Lead singer, Boy George, will be taking the stage once again along side Roy Hay and Mikey Craig as Culture Club. The London pop group will be joined on stage by the British singer Howard Jones and the American new wave band Berlin.
This years Outlaw Music Festival will bring feature singers Willie Nelson and Family, Nathaniel Rateliff and the The Night Sweats, Gov’t Mule, and Kathleen Edwards & Particle Kids to Darien. The festival will kick off on June 23rd and will run a total of 16 dates this summer. Each performance will feature varying artists.
Pop rock band, Matchbox Twenty, have over fifty tour dates lined up for the summer. The Slow Dream Tour will feature special guest American singer-songwriter, Matt Nathanson.
The three time CMT Music Award winner, Jelly Roll, takes his unique and genre-bending sound across the United States this summer. The artist will be joined by many other performers over the length of the tour, but his show in Darien will feature rappers Merkules and Struggle Jennings.
Celebrating their newest album, So Much (for) Stardust, which dropped on March 24th, Fall Out Boy will head out on tour starting June 21st. Joining the American rock band at Darien will be the British rock band Bring Me The Horizon, singer-songwriter Royal and The Serpent, and The Games We Play.
Also Performing
Post Malone: If Y’all Weren’t Here, I’d Be Crying Tour – July 17th, 8:00 PM
50 Cent ft: Busta Rhymes & Jeremih: The Final Lap Tour – August 5th, 7:00 PM
The 2023 Artpark Summer Concert lineup promises a wide range of live performances for the summer season. 2023 marks Artpark’s 50th season of unforgettable live performances, art, and culture. Located in Lewiston, NY, just north of Buffalo on the Niagara River, the venue houses one of the state’s largest stages, and an amphitheater voted one of the top 100 Amitheaters Worldwide by Pollstar.
Artpark’s 50th show will celebrate 50 years of creativity and excellence. Over 110 days of summer, Artpark’s season will showcase the natural beauty and cultural legacy of the Niagara Gorge. Artists from far and wide will engage audiences in a multifarious conversation all summer long.
Artpark opened in 1974, originally owned and operated by New York State until the early 1990s, when it became independently owned by the non-profit Artpark and Company. Initially, the venue was an experiment with artist-public interaction, commissioning some of the most avant-garde art of its day. Today, Artpark hosts over 150 events attended by over 150,000 visitors on their 150+ acres of land. Their facilities include a mainstage theater that seats 2,400 people indoors and 2,000 people on the lawn, in addition to an outdoor amphitheater atop the Niagara River Gorge.
Mt. Joy – May 25
Mt. Joy, a Philadelphia-based quintet, takes their name from a rural town in southwest Pennsylvania. The group surpassed half a billion streams over the past four years through their widely successful alternative and indie rock albums, their most recent Orange Blood. The group has been highly acclaimed from NPR, Billboard, RollingStone, The Line of Best Fit, and more.
Noah Kahan – May 26
Noah Kahan, a Vermont-based singer-songwriter has achieved over one billion streams through his two full length albums Busyhead and I Was/I Am, EP Cape Elizabeth, and Gold Certified song “Hurt Somebody” feat. Julia Miachaels. Additionally, Kahan is partnering with PLUS1 to ensure $1 of each ticket goes toward mental health organizations.
STYX – June 2
Artpark is just one stop on the STYX 2023 World Tour. STYX, a Chicago-based rock band and one of the most popular rock groups in the 1970s and early 1980s will perform well over four decades of hits.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise – June 7
A mix of jam and indie, Rainbow Kitten Surprise has received well over one billion streams since their 2013 debut. The band has been acclaimed by Billboard, TIME, Vice, and NPR, who commend their unique sound. Additionally, Rainbow Kitten Surprise will partner with PLUS1 to ensure that $1 per ticket will support local food banks.
Young The Giant with Milky Chance – June 13
Since their start in 2004, Young The Giant have released countless alternative hits. Their 2023 tour includes their newest album, American Bollywood, their first release in four years. “The Walk Home,” their most recent single, has quickly become a hit amongst alternative listeners. Milky Chance, a German rock group largely recognized for their hit single “Stolen Chance” amongst others.
Michael Franti & Spearhead – June 21
Artpark is just one stop in Michael Franti & Spearhead’s Big Big Love Tour. Michael Franti, a highly successful musician, activist, hotel owner, and award-winning film maker, has had a widely successful multi-decade career. Franti’s high-energy shows and inspiring music have earned him three Billboard No. 1’s, six Top 30 Hot AC Singles, 10 Top 25 AAA Singles, and three Billboard Top 5 Rock Albums.
My Morning Jacket – June 26
Each of My Morning Jacket’s nine studio albums have received Grammy Award nominations for ‘Best Alternative Album.’ Their 2020 single “Feel You” made history, reaching #1 at Triple A radio outlets across the country, and on Billboard’s “Adult Alternative Songs” chart.
The Australian Pink Floyd Show – June 28
The Australian Pink Floyd Show brings the magic of Pink Floyd to life through The Darkside 50 Tour, a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s classic, The Dark Side of the Moon. Additionally, the show will include state-of-the-art lighting and video, pinpoint lasers, and signature gargantuan inflatables.
Barenaked Ladies – July 11
The Toronto-based quartet will perform at Artpark for their Last Summer on Earth Tour. Over the past 35 years, Barenaked Ladies have sold 15 million records worldwide, considered one of the best live acts in the world. Their signature hits such as “One Week,” “Pinch Me,” and “The Big Bang Theory Theme” have won them eight JUNO Awards, and secured their spot in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2018.
Lauren Daigle – July 14
Lauren Daigle, a contemporary Christian singer-songwriter has achieved Billboard Top Christian Album charts ever since her debut album How Can it Be in 2015. Daigle’s well-received albums and singles have earned her two Grammy Awards, seven GMA Dove Awards, five Billboard Music Awards, and two American Music awards.
Larkin Poe with the Allman Betts Band – July 27
Larkin Poe’s gritty, soulful sound is the product of sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell’s Southern heritage, originally from Atlanta and currently residing in Nashville. The sisters have been highly regarded by Billboard, NPR, and other notable publications as the new faces of blues rock. The Allman Betts Band, an internationally recognized rock group, will perform their two hit albums, Down to the River and Bless Your Heart.
Orville Peck – August 1
Orville Peck’s Bronco Tour will grace Artpark with Peck’s deeply personal lyrics and theatric stage presence. Peck, known for captivating audiences through his voice and songwriting, recalls the golden age of country through his performances.
Richard Marx with Yacht Rock Revue – August 10
Richard Marx, a professional singer-songwriter for 35 years and counting, has sold over 30 million albums worldwide. Based in Chicago, Marx has written a No. 1 single in each of the last 4 decades, and has written songs for a plethora of notable artists, including Barbara Streisand, Keith Urban, Kenny Rogers, Celine Dion, Josh Groban, and many others. Additonally, Yacht Rock Revue will perform their 70s and 80s inspired yaucht rock.
Whiskey Myers – August 20
Since their 2007 debut, Whiskey Myers have sold over 1.65 million albums and accumulated over 2.25 billion streams, earning six RIAA Gold & Platinum certifications. The Texas-based band is known for their genre-bending, high-energy live shows and unique blend of Southern rock and gritty country.
Pixies and Modest Mouse – August 28
Pixies, known for their signature “loudquietloud” sound and quirky, catchy melodies, have defined the alternative genre. Acclaimed as the most influential band of the late 80s alt/rock movement, Pixies have influenced many notable artists including Nirvana, Peal Jam, Radiohead, the Strokes, and Weezer. Their simultaneously electrifying and lo-fi sound, paired with their improvisation, ensures that each Pixie show is one-of-a-kind. Modest Mouse, based in Portland, will perform their most recent album, The Golden Casket amongst their greatest hits.
Artpark Mainstage Theater Concerts
The Avett Brothers – May 21
Since their 2009 debut, The Avett Brothers have become three time GRAMMY Award nominees and inductees to the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. The critically acclaimed folk rock group’s hit albums and singles have scored grammy nominations, making their way to the top of Billboard’s Top Albums, Billboard’s Top 200, and more.
Buddy Guy – June 10
Hall of Fame inductee and American treasure Buddy Guy will perform at Artpark for The Damn Right Farewell Tour. At age 86, the rock legend’s widely successful career will be celebrated through performances of his classic hits. Guy has received 8 GRAMMY Awards, a Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY Award, 38 Blues Music Awards, and the Presidential National Medal of Arts, amongst others.
Ben Folds – June 16
Ben Folds, one of our generation’s major music influencers, will perform music from his new collection, What Matters Most. The album, an examination of the tragic and absurd, gratitude and lss, marks Fold’s first new studio release in eight years. Additionally, $1 of each ticket will support Ben’s Keys For Kids initiative.
July 8 – Tori Amos
Tori Amos will perform at Artpark amidst her Ocean to Ocean Tour, following a sold-out world tour in 2022. Amos will perform alongside bassist Jon Evans and drummer Ash Soan, renowned throughout the UK.
RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles – July 16
One of the most notorious rock bands of all time lives on through RAIN, the next best thing to seeing The Beetles. The performance will transport audiences back in time through a theatrical, mind-blowing performance.
Jason Isbell l& The 400 Unit – August 5
Since his 2013 debut, Jason Isbell has established himself as one of the most notable songwriters of his generation. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit will perform their latest album Georgia Blue, along with other Grammy-winning hits for a night of Americana music.
Parker McCollum – August 17
Parker McCollum’s Sumer Tour will stop at Artpark for an unforgettable night of country music. McCollum, singer-songwriter and multinstrumentalist, has recently gained recognition as ACM’s 2022 Male Artist of the Year, earned the CMT Award for ‘Breakthrough Video of the Year,’ and a 2022 CMA Award Nomination.
Alvvays and Alex G – September 1
Alvvays, a widely recognized alternative indie band based in Toronto, will perform at Artpark amidst their tour across North America and Europe. Additonally, Alex G, an indie-rock musician and singer-songwriter will perform his signature lo-fi pop.
New Music in the Park
Jeremy Dutcher – July 7
Jeremy Dutcher, a classically trained operatic tenor and composer, will perform music that incorporates his Wolstoq First Nation roots. Dutcher creates something entirely new through his combination of classical, traditional and pop.
Third Coast Percussion – July 9
Third Coast Percussion, The GRAMMY Award-winning, Chicago-based percussion quartet, invites listeners to embark on an exciting musical adventure. Known for their elegant performances, Third Coast Percussion will perform virtuosic pieces written by many iconic music creators.
L’Oiseau: Guided Walking-Concert Along the Niagra Gorge – July 13
L’Oisseau will explore the intersection of art, nature, and human expression through their immersive concert installation. The concert, a guided walking set will explore a plethora of contemporary composers.
CS4: Philip Glass String Quartets – July 20
Violinist Chase Spruill will lead CS4, an all-Glass program, through a celebration of 30 years of compositions by Philip Glass. The performance will include the US premiere of Glass’s String Quartet No. 9, “King Lear,” amongst others.
Jacob Bacon Quintet
The Jacob Bacon Quintet, consisting of the finest jazz artists and composers in the region, is a modern jazz quintet. The quintet will their own original compositions in celebration of the release of their first recording.
LUX: Vivaldi Redefined The Four Seasons – August 13
Vivaldi Redefined will form a bridge between the natural world and technocratic future through an exploration of Vivaldi’s most radical work. LUX, an immersive orchestra project, reimagines the symphonic concert experience.
The Upstate Theater Coalition for a Fairgame announced that it has received $165,000 in grant awards to non-profit arts and cultural organizations in the Capital, Catskills, and Southern Tier districts.
Formed in partnership with New York and four casinos in the three gaming regions previously listed: Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady, Resorts World Catskills, del Lago Resort & Casino (Waterloo), and Tioga Downs Casino Resort (Nichols).
11 additional theater/venue members also make up the Upstate Theater Coalition, with them being major local figures in the towns of Albany, Bethel, Binghamton, Elmira, Ithaca, Poughkeepsie, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, and Rochester.
27 counties were able to apply for $1,000-$5,000 dollar grants in order to help enrich the community and the respective shared spaces. Through its community engagement, the Coalition created Fairgame Arts Grants, a funding program published in 2019 to assist organizations in regions across New York State.
Since the 2019 mark, over 100 non-profit arts and cultural organizations have received grant awards, compiling a total of over $450,000 for these groups.
Jon Elbaum, Executive Director of the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and President of Fairgame, is looking forward to revitalizing local theaters and businesses that have had trouble rebounding since the pandemic.
“So many programs were delayed or even cancelled because of the pandemic shutdown; this type of support often represents the difference between a great idea and a fully realized and measurably beneficial initiative. We are thrilled to be able to offer this funding once again.”
-Jon Elbaum
Between the Catskills, Capital, and Southern Tier regions, almost 40 venues will receive grant awards.
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy
Award Recipients
Capital Region recipients: 440 State St. Inc., Albany Center Gallery, Contemporary Circus and Immersive Arts Center, Frank Chapman Memorial Institute, Home Made Theatre, LAKE GEORGE Opera Festival Association, Inc. (dba Opera Saratoga), Media Alliance, Inc., Millay Colony for the Arts, Music Haven, New York Folklore, Sand Lake Center for the Arts, Saratoga Chamber Players, Inc. and The Orchard Project.
Catskill Region recipients: Arm-of-the-Sea Productions, Inc., Arts Mid-Hudson, Athens Cultural Center, Bridge Street Theatre, Catskill Mountain Shakespeare, Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, DENIZEN Theatre, Forestburgh Playhouse, Gardiner Library, Hudson Opera House, Inc. dba Hudson Hall, Kingston Midtown Arts District, Nego Gato Inc., NYTOS, Pan American Dance Foundation, Inc. dba Woodstock Playhouse, Roxbury Arts Group, The Vanaver Caravan and Voice Theatre, Inc.
Southern Tier recipients: A Magical Journey Thru Stages, Inc., Binghamton Philharmonic, Inc. Binghamton Theater Organ Society, Circus Culture, Community Arts Partnership of Thompkins County, Corning-Elmira Musical Arts, Inc., Grupo Cultural Latinos En Rochester, Inc., Southern Finger Lakes Pride and The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes.
Fusing the sounds of country and rock, Dutchess County-based Raquel & The Wildflowers will embark on a tour of the Midwest and South, bookended by shows in the Northeast and Hudson Valley.
Raquel and the Wildflowers are known for their energetic live performances and the breath of fresh air they bring into the country/rock genre.
Raquel & The Wildflowers have performed alongside country festival artists such as Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Thomas Rhett, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Granger Smith. The group has opened for multi-platinum artist Andy Grammer, award winning band The Big E Fair, and performed numerous at Summer Concert series and Music Festivals around the Northeast.
Raquels debut solo artist single “Run Towards the Highway” won a ReverbNation contest that was distributed for airplay. The song charted #32 on DRT Top 50 Country AirPlay charts (2018) alongside global country stars such as Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan.
Raquel & The Wildflowers were previously featured on NY’s Country 94.7 FM, Central NY #1 Country station Big Frog, MD Country Station 94.7WDSD, Freedom Park “QuaranTunes” Summer Series and iHeart Radio KISS FM.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le8Qx5eQ99M
Shows in New York State for Raquel & The Wildflowers include Hudson Valley cities Redhook, Pawling, New Paltz and Fishkill, as well as shows in the North Country in Akwesasne and Southern Tier in Nichols and Salamanca.
Raquel is currently recording her first album with the band that is scheduled to be released in 2023. For more information, visit Raquelwildflowers.com
The prog/jam sounds of Baked Shrimp will be found across the Midwest, South and Northeast this summer, with six July shows lined up across New York State. The Long Island power trio will perform in Alexandria Bay, Rochester, Cortland, Patchogue, Manhattan and Schtagatoke, including festival appearances and a Phish pre-show.
Baked Shrimp’s Summer Tour runs for 40+ shows and pushes the workhorse trio to west of the Mississippi for the first time in their six-year career. The band will perform at major festivals including Peach Music Festival, Summer Camp Music Festival, Strange Creek Camp Out, Northlands Live, and more. An additional round of dates will be announced in June.
The Bug Jar, in Rochester, is “Your Bar on Earth” as the sign on the door proclaims. But what happens when five purveyors of deep psychedelia visit from Japan and launch it and everyone inside out into the cosmos? Such was the case on May 10, and for one evening, the Bug Jar became the Acid Mothers Temple.
Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O, opened their set in cacophony, a deep unsettling rumble that announced the journey was about to begin. They settled into a Morricone-esque sound, a languid slow-motion trek, samurais navigating a desolate landscape. By journey’s end, the band was engaging in some supremely intense rocking, and from there we were off.
No matter where the music started, guitarist Kawabata Makoto carved out space for some ridiculous shredding. Whether it was full-throttle metal, rhythmic rock, electric Miles Davis-style fusion, slow and spacey drone, or avant arhythmic weirdness, it all wound around to some showcase-level soloing from Makoto.
Synthesizer shaman Higashi Hiroshi meanwhile was twisting and turning knobs, eliciting otherworldly whistles and squonks from his equipment. He kindly turned back a shot offered from the audience to grease his wheels, but he did use WD-40 to liberally grease up his keyboard throughout the set.
Jyonson Tsu added vocals and rhythm guitar and bouzouki and Ron Anderson held down the low-end. Satoshima Nani sat behind it all, holding it together and driving it ever onward with masterful drumming and boundless energy.
Repetitive grooves broke down slowly into weird nether regions, or otherwise built up to gloriously locked-in hyper-funk. It was music to get lost in. Then Makoto would light a fuse and the eventual explosion jarred you back to consciousness. In a final flourish, Acid Mothers Temple engaged an unadulterated full-band chaos, with Nani and Makoto reaching for new levels of craziness. It culminated in Makoto hanging his guitar from the ceiling, the burning embers of his last solo still glowing as the Bug Jar landed back home, one again “Your Bar on Earth.”
My Education, a six-piece out of Austin Texas got things warmed up nicely. As the band tuned up on stage, it started to take shape into something more. Had the set started? The dissonance swelled and eventually congealed into a singular force. What followed was a set filled with rhythmic cinematic post-rock. Drummer Earl Bowers was the centerpiece, though as they locked into a rhythm, when they were all playing the role of drummer, was when the music shined brightest.
Live Nation has announced the return of its annual “Concert Week” promotion. The promotion offers fans a chance to purchase tickets to some of the hottest concerts happening this year for the decent price of $25. This year, concert week falls between May 10th to May 16th and you’ll find plenty of shows across New York State with this deal, including at SPAC, St. Joseph’s Amphitheatre, Artpark, KeyBank Center, Darien Lake, and more.
The limited-time ticket offer includes over 300 of today’s biggest acts across a wide variety of genres, including hip-hop, country, Latin, R&B, metal, pop, rock, K-pop, electronic, comedy and more.
Artists included in the Live Nation Concert Week range from 5 Seconds of Summer, Beck & Phoenix, Bebe Rexha, Big Time Rush, Don Toliver, Fall Out Boy, Janet Jackson, Kountry Wayne, Larry June, Maroon 5, Marca MP, Shania Twain, Snoop Dogg, VALLEY and many more. Concert Week features live events across all venue sizes – from clubs and theaters, to amphitheaters and arenas.
Fans can visit LiveNation.com/ConcertWeek to see the full list of participating events. Once they’ve selected a show, they should look for the ticket type labeled “Concert Week Promotion,” add the ticket(s) to their cart and proceed to checkout. Fans can filter their search on LiveNation.com/ConcertWeek by participating events, venues, or artists. While on the website, fans can also set the location to the closest city and the site will refresh to only include participating shows nearby.
The general on-sale for Live Nation Concert Week will begin on Wednesday, May 10th, at 10 AM ET through Thursday, May 16th, at 11:59 PM, or while supplies last at LiveNation.com/ConcertWeek.
Big Time Rush (Getty Images)
Participating shows at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC)
TLC 06/16/2023
Dermot Kennedy 06/19/2023
Tedeschi Trucks Band 07/01/2023
Tears For Fears 07/02/2023
Big Time Rush 07/03/2023
Counting Crows 07/05/2023
Goose 07/07/2023
Garbage 07/08/2023
Kidz Bop Kids 07/09/2023
Jason Aldean 07/16/2023
Gov’t Mule 07/28/2023
Matchbox Twenty 07/30/2023
Foreigner 08/01/2023
The Chicks 08/06/2023
Goo Goo Dolls 08/08/2023
Zac Brown Band 8/13/2023
Brit Floyd 8/22/2023
Pentatonix 08/23/2023
Eric Church 08/24/2023
Lynyrd Skynyrd 09/08/2023
Outlaw Music Festival 09/15/2023
Killer Queen 09/16/2023
Participating artists celebrating Concert Week at JMA Wireless Dome
Elvis Costello & the Imposters 07/08/2023
Def Leppard & Mötley Crüe: The World Tour 08/05/2023
Participating artists celebrating Concert Week at Warsaw, Brooklyn
Lankum 07/28/2023
Participating artists celebrating Concert Week at Landmark Theatre
Encanto: The Sing-Along Film Concert 10/20/2023
Participating artists celebrating Concert Week at St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater
Luke Bryan 06/15/2023
Falling in Reverse 06/30/2023
Counting Crows 07/01/2023
Kidz Bop Kids 07/16/2023
Matchbox Twenty 07/29/2023
Mudvayne 08/01/2023
Godsmack 08/03/2023
Pantera 08/08/2023
Zac Brown Band 08/11/2023
Disturbed 08/12/2023
Goo Goo Dolls 08/16/2023
Yellowcard 08/17/2023
Ghost 08/18/2023
Parker McCollum 08/19/2023
Pentatonix 08/24/2023
Sam Hunt 08/25/2023
Foreigner 09/02/2023
Shinedown 09/13/2023
Participating shows in Western New York
Brooks & Dunn at KeyBank Center: May 13, 2023
Bryan Adams at KeyBank Center: June 13, 2023
Ben Folds at ARTPARK – Amphitheater : June 16, 2023
Luke Bryan at Darien Lake Amphitheater: June 16, 2023
Thomas Rhett at KeyBank Center: July 6, 2023
Kidz Bop Kids at Darien Lake Amphitheater: July 14, 2023
Sam Hunt at Darien Lake Amphitheater: July 15, 2023
Foreigner at Darien Lake Amphitheater: July 28, 2023
Culture Club at Darien Lake Amphitheater: July 29, 2023
Outlaw Music Festival at Darien Lake Amphitheater: July 30, 2023
Matchbox Twenty at Darien Lake Amphitheater: August 1, 2023
Regina Spektor at Kodak Center: August 1, 2023
Orville Peck at ARTPARK – Amphitheater: August 1, 2023
Jelly Roll at Darien Lake Amphitheater: August 3, 2023
Fall Out Boy at Darien Lake Amphitheater: August 04, 2023
Jason Isbell at ARTPARK – Amphitheater: August 5, 2023
Godsmack at Darien Lake Amphitheater: August 6, 2023
Pantera at Darien Lake Amphitheater: August 9, 2023
Nickelback at Darien Lake Amphitheater: August 16, 2023
Parker McCollum at ARTPARK – Amphitheater : August 17, 2023
The Offspring at Darien Lake Amphitheater: August 20, 2023
All American Rejects at Darien Lake Amphitheater: August 21, 2023
ODESZA at Darien Lake Amphitheater: September 1, 2023
Ray LaMontagne at Kodak Center: September 22, 2023
Fresh on the heels of the much loved Barton Hall show, the Grateful Dead followed up that evening with a show at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium the next night. Some consider this show to be superior to 5/8/77, one that is overshadowed by years of hype and adoration for the Cornell performance. While the debate will continue, we offer up for your consideration May 9, 1977 as a potentially equal if not better show than the night prior.
Starting with a “Help on the Way” > “Slipknot” > “Franklin’s Tower” opening trio, the energy takes off over more than 30 minutes to start the show. From there, stand out versions of “Cassidy,” “Tennessee Jed” and a set closing “The Music Never Stopped.” This first set stand out on its own as one of the best you’ll find among 70s Dead shows.
The second set kicks off with “Bertha” and The Rascals’ “Good Lovin,” before impressive versions of “Ship of Fools” and “Estimated Prophet.” With Donna and Keith Godchaux on board for this journey, the show features a pair of “Not Fade Away” and “Comes a Time” that stand up to any pairing from the previous night in Ithaca.
Including the shows on May 5 in Boston and May 6 in New Haven, May 1977: Get Shown The Light covers all four incredible shows, a stellar component of one of the Dead’s best years. Enjoy these two shows from Ithaca and Buffalo, a true sign that the Grateful Dead perform with the highest caliber when in the Empire State.
Formed nearly 20 years ago on the outskirts of Boston, Ward Hayden & The Outliers have released 9 albums, including South Shore, which was released on May 5. Promoting the album’s release, the band has embarked on tour, with stops this first weekend in May in Syracuse, Rochester, Cleveland, and Columbus.
The May 6 matinée in Rochester at Abilene was their third trip to the area in the past year as they hit up Abilene in the fall as well as playing to a joyous crowd at CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival last June. The Jazz Festival is the first place I had noticed these talented crooners and their sounds have stuck with me. Mellow, insightful, calming sounds that allow you to just sit back, relax and let your worries drift away.
The first release off of South Shore is “Breaking up With My Hometown.” A nice mellow number that many people can relate to as they move on from the only surroundings they know. In a recent interview, Hayden says “It was very hard to move on, but you have to leave home if you want to grow. It’s hard to tap into those emotions if you haven’t been anywhere else.”
With his “pillowy voice of 50s pin-up star” (according to Boston Globe) Ward Hayden & The Outliers 9th studio album is nothing short of spectacular. Starting with “I Can Write a Song About It” to get you deep into thought, South Shore continues with “Hush,” “South Shore,” “Crazy Love,” “Gasoline,” “Things These Days,” “Blink of an Eye,” “I Can’t Wake Up,” “(Breaking Up with) My Hometown,” and “The Great Unknown.”
Like previous albums every song tells a story, especially the title track “South Shore.” This is an ode to where Hayden grew up. Having moved numerous times, his family finally settled down in Scituate, about 30 miles from Boston. The song talks of his personal struggle of leaving Scituate to discover life and who he was and then having to return as the pandemic took a hold of the country. “The Great Unknown” is about life and all that nobody really knows, deep thoughts that Jack Handy would be proud of. Crazy Love is about just that, crazy love. Was it a first crush? First long term relationship? It doesn’t matter, we have all been there to certain degree.
And I left home for a while to see where I belonged. I searched high and low for a place to call home, but it all felt wrong. And people say, “You can never go home”, But I like to think that ain’t so ‘cause if it is I’ve got nowhere to go
The band includes Josh Kiggans on drums, Cody Nilsen on guitar & Pedal Steel, Greg Hall on upright & electric bass Ward Hayden Vocals & Guitar
