NYS Music 2023

Category: Western NY

  • The Gaslight Anthem Tour makes 3 Stops in New York this Spring

    Rock band The Gaslight Anthem is following up their 2022 comeback with a headline tour this spring. During the tour, the band will perform at the Buffalo Outer Harbor Site, The Paramount in Huntington, and the Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards in LaFayette.

    The Gaslight Anthem Members, from left to right: Benny Horowitz, Brian Fallon, Alex Levine, and Alex Rosamilia

    The band’s 2022 tour marked the first time since 2018 that they performed together.

    The Gaslight Anthem consists of Brian Fallon (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Alex Rosamilia (lead guitar, backing vocals), Alex Levine (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Benny Horowitz (drums, percussion, backing vocals). The band first came on the music scene in 2007, with their debut album, Sink or Swim. Their most recent album, Get Hurt, was released in 2014, after which the band went on an indefinite hiatus. After a brief reunion for the 2018 Governor’s Ball Music Festival, the group officially got back together in early 2022. The Gaslight Anthem announced they were working on their yet-to-be-titled new album in Dec. 2022.

    Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 10 a.m. begins the artist presale. Local/venue presales begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16 at 10 a.m. All presales conclude on Feb.16 at 10 p.m. General on-sales begin Friday, Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. For more information, please see www.thegaslightanthem.com.

    THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM – US TOUR 2023

    MAY

    1 – Houston, TX – House of Blues * †

    2 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theater †

    3 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom †

    6 – Atlanta, GA – Shaky Knees Music Festival ^

    7 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall *

    9 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution * †

    10 – St Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live * †

    12 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz * †

    14 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium †

    16 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore Charlotte T

    17 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live * †

    19 – Atlantic City, NJ – Sound Waves at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino * †

    20 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Outer Harbor Site *

    21 – Wallingford, CT – The Dome at Toyota Presents Oakdale * †

    23 – Portland, ME – The State Theatre *

    25 – Bethlehem, PA – The Wind Creek Event Center *

    26 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount *

    27 – LaFayette, NY – Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards *

  • Grammy Award Winning Group Tedeschi Trucks Band Announce Summer Tour, Coming to CMAC and SPAC

    The Grammy Award-winning group Tedeschi Trucks Band announce a run of summer tour dates across the US, hitting twenty cities, including SPAC on July 1 and CMAC on July 11.

    Tedeschi Trucks Band

    Tedeschi Trucks Band, led by the husband/wife duo of guitarist Derek Trucks and singer/guitarist Susan Tedeschi, formed in 2011. The founders have been described by NPR as “two of the best roots rock musicians of their generation.” The twelve piece group is known globally for their unique sound and ability to blend distinctive genres of American music. Their shows are “nothing short of exhilarating” (Salon), with annual summer amphitheater tours and multi-night residencies across America to tours through Europe and Japan.

    The group continues to tour in support of I Am The Moon, their acclaimed fifth studio project, which finds them “at their finest and most adventurous” (NPR). New this year will be single support acts, leaving Tedeschi Trucks Band with longer set times. Country and blues singer/songwriter Vincent Neil Emerson will support the tour’s first few dates and return in late July for the final five stops — and legendary musician, producer and activist, Ziggy Marley will support all dates in between. The TTB Fan Club Presale will begin Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. local time with an Artist Presale beginning Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. local time. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. local time. For more information, visit here.

  • The Chicks Announce World Tour With Dates At Bethel Woods, SPAC, CMAC

    Fresh off the heels of their massively successful U.S. tour last summer, 13-time Grammy-winning, multi-platinum selling global superstars, The Chicks announced their return to the global stage with The Chicks World Tour 2023.

    This 37-date mega tour kicks off June 20 in Olso, Norway at Spektrum, with stops throughout the UK and Europe before returning to North America. In fact, the 29-date North American run includes performances at Bethel Woods on August 3rd, Saratoga Performing Arts Center on August 6th, and CMAC on August 11th.

    In the meantime, The Chicks have announced Grammy award-winning country music sensation, Maren Morris as an supporting performer on The Chicks World Tour 2023 for headline dates in Europe, U.K., and Canada. Furthermore, world renowned Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ben Harper will be joining the tour for nine select dates in the U.S. beginning August 10 at the Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, PA. Meanwhile, Canadian folk band, Wild Rivers will be opening for The Chicks on 12 special dates throughout the tour.

    “North America! Thank you to all our fans for making last Summer so fun! We look forward to returning to the road and bringing the show to fans in new cities across the US and Canada! See you soon.”

    The Chicks

    Altogether, the Chicks released their fifth studio album Gaslighter after nearly 14 years to rave reviews in July 2020 via Columbia Records. Furthermore, the 12-track record was co-produced by award-winning singer-songwriter, producer, and close friend of the band Jack Antonoff.

    Ultimately, The Chicks have earned universal recognition as the biggest-selling U.S. female band of all time, having sold more than 30.5 million albums and are among an elite group of artists and the only female group to achieve multiple “diamond” selling (ten million copies) releases.

    Altogether, the group can count 13 Grammy Awards, six Billboard Music Awards, four American Music Awards, and numerous Country Music Association Awards among many other accolades, their last record-breaking studio album, Taking The Long Way (2006), won five Grammy Awards including “Album of the Year,” “Record of the Year,” and “Song of the Year.”

    Tickets will be on sale on Friday, February 17 at 10am local time, and tickets for the Bethel, Hershey, Columbus, and Sioux Falls dates will be available beginning Friday, February 24 at 10am local time.

    For additional information please visit The Chicks website.

    THE CHICKS WORLD TOUR 2023 DATES:

    June 20, Oslo Spektrum*

    June 21, Stockholm Avicii Arena*

    June 23, Amsterdam Ziggo Dome*
    June 27, Cardiff Cardiff Castle*
    June 28, Glasgow OVO Arena*
    June 30, Dublin 3Arena*
    July 2, Birmingham Utilita Arena*
    July 4, Manchester AO Arena*
    July 21, Tulsa, OK BOK Center^
    July 22, Little Rock, AR Simmons Bank Arena^
    July 25, Louisville, KY KFC Yum Center^
    July 27, Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena^
    July 29, Knoxville, TN Thompson-Boling Arena^
    July 30, Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum^
    August 2, Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion^
    August 3, Bethel, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts^
    August 5, Gilford, NH Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion^
    August 6, Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center^
    August 10, Hershey, PA Hersheypark Stadium #
    August 11, Canandaigua, NY CMAC#
    August 13, Bangor, ME Maine Savings Amphitheater^
    August 16, Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena#
    August 17, Grand Rapids, MI The Van Andel Arena#
    August 19, Des Moines, IA Iowa Fairgrounds#
    August 25, St. Paul, MN Minnesota State Fair^
    August 26, Madison, WI Kohl Center Arena#
    August 29, Kansas City, MO T-Mobile Center#
    August 30, Omaha, NE CHI Health Center Arena#
    September 1, Sioux Falls, ND Denny Sanford Premier Center#
    September 5, Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena*
    September 7, Calgary, AB Scotiabank Saddledome*
    September 8, Edmonton, AB Rogers Place*
    September 10, Saskatoon, SK SaskTel Centre*
    September 12, Winnipeg, MB Canada Life Centre*
    September 15, Ottawa, ON Canadian Tire Centre*
    September 16, London, ON Budweiser Gardens*
    September 18, Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena*

    ^ (Wild Rivers to perform)

    # (Ben harper to perform)

    * (Maren Morris to Perform)

  • Duran Duran Announces New Tour With CMAC Date

    Duran Duran has announced a 26-date North American arena tour for 2023, with both Bastille and Nile Rodgers & CHIC joining them as special guests across the entire run.

    “The Future Past Tour” begins on May 28 in San Jose, CA, and includes a stop at CMAC in Canandaigua on September 3, 2023.

    Duran Duran

    2022 served as something of a landmark year for Duran Duran, having just been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, a career peak that followed a summer live season of epic proportions. They headlined London’s Hyde Park in front of 60,000 people, performed at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace, and closed the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in their home town of Birmingham. They also embarked on a headline tour across North America which included sold-out shows at New York City’s Madison Square Garden and three nights at the Hollywood Bowl.

    It’s remarkable to me that as a band, we are still hitting new milestones, and introducing the sound of DD to new generations of music lovers. We are truly grateful that we get to do what we do on a daily basis, and that we still love our job as much as we did when we started out some four decades ago.

    Simon Le Bon

    The cinematic release of their new docu-concert film, A Hollywood High followed, before the band capped off the year with a spectacular performance in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, counting fans down into 2023 in front of a live audience of over one million people on the streets of Manhattan. All this after the huge success of the new studio album FUTURE PAST, hailed as Duran Duran at their best by critics and fans alike, four decades into their rich and storied career.

    Enlisting the help of some of the most exciting names of the last 50 years, with FUTURE PAST, Duran Duran has delivered another incredible genre-spanning piece of work that once again sets them apart from the pack. Working alongside DJ / producer Erol Alkanand pioneering Italian composer/producer Giorgio Moroder, who added his magic to create two instant future classics “Beautifullies,” and “Tonight United,” as well as some of the most unexpected and inspiring names in pop – including Swedish hitmaker, Tove Lo on “Give It All Up,” and “Queen of Drill,” as well as Ivorian Doll on “Hammerhead” and Japan’s CHAI on “More Joy!”.

    In addition, Blur’s Graham Coxon co-wrote and lends his guitar to several tracks on the record and David Bowie’s former pianist Mike Garson adds an exquisite sonic layer to album closer “Falling.” The record, which was recorded across studios in London and LA over lockdown, also features long-time collaborator Mark Ronson who co-wrote and played on “Wing,” and was mixed by Mark ‘Spike’ Stent.

    Tickets will go on sale to the general public starting on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 10 a.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit Duran Duran’s website.

    Duran Duran 2023 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES

    05/27 – Bottlerock Festival – Napa Valley, CA
    05/28 – SAP Center – San Jose, CA
    05/31 – Climate Pledge Arena – Seattle, WA
    06/01 – Moda Center – Portland, OR
    06/03 – Vivint Arena – Salt Lake City, UT
    06/06 – Moody Center – Austin, TX
    06/07 – Smoothie King Center – New Orleans, LA
    06/09 – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – The Woodlands, TX
    06/10 – American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX
    06/13 – Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
    06/15 – State Farm Arena – Atlanta, GA
    06/17 – Amalie Arena – Tampa, FL
    06/18 – FLA Live Arena – Sunrise, FL
    08/24 – Golden 1 Center – Sacramento, CA
    08/26 – T-Mobile Arena – Las Vegas, NV
    08/28 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
    08/29 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
    08/31 – Minnesota State Fair – St. Paul, MN
    09/01 – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island – Chicago, IL
    09/03 – CMAC – Canandaigua, NY
    09/06 – TD Garden – Boston, MA
    09/07 – Wells Fargo Center – Philadelphia, PA
    09/09 – PPG Paints Arena – Pittsburgh, PA
    09/10 – Blossom Music Center – Cuyahoga Falls, OH
    09/13 – Capital One Arena – Washington, DC
    09/16 – Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI
    09/19 – Scotiabank Arena – Toronto, ON

  • Water Street Music Hall Announces “No Fee Friday” Initiative

    To celebrate their 45th anniversary, Water Street Music Hall has announced their newest initiative, “No Fee Friday”.

    Water Street Music Hall

    The Initiative will waive all service fees on general admission tickets purchased on Fridays going forward. Water Street Music Hall says this is just the first of many surprises coming in the future to celebrate their anniversary, and to thank the Rochester music community that has supported them for four and a half decades.

    Located alongside the Genesee River, Water Street Music Hall has been Rochester’s premier music venue since 1976. Water Street has hosted iconic concerts for 40+ years of shows with artists such as David Byrne, Iggy Pop, DMX, Pusha T, Ashanti, and St. Vincent to name a few.

    The mission of Water Street Music Hall is to provide a welcoming and intimate space for music lovers to experience live performances from local and national touring artists. They are committed to supporting the music community in Rochester and beyond. The Hall creates a space where people of all ages can come together to enjoy the transformative power of music. For the past 45 years, they have been at the heart of the Rochester music scene, and are dedicated to continuing this tradition for many years to come. Their overall goal is to continue to be a destination for music enthusiasts, a place where people can discover new artists and rediscover their love of live music. They believe that music has the power to bring people together and to enrich our lives, and are proud to be a part of that tradition.

    Tickets, and a schedule of events is availible at Water Street Music Hall’s website.

  • Junior Jerry Jam Combines Musical Family Fun and Community Philanthropy in WNY

    In Western New York, a group of live music fans have come together to give back to the community while fostering the development of young musicians. Junior Jerry Jam (JJJ) is a grassroots not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to inspiring young musicians and music lovers by introducing young people to professional musicians in a fun, safe and family friendly environment.

    Embodying the belief that Buffalo is truly the City of Good Neighbors, Junior Jerry Jam (JJJ) is committed to raising money and awareness to support local non-profits and other community organizations, so as to strengthen and deepen bonds throughout the greater Buffalo community.

    Founded by long-time Grateful Dead fans Stu and Judy Weinstein, Junior Jerry Jam was started in 2021 after the couple sensed a need for family friendly music events in the vibrant Buffalo music scene. Stu and Judy had shared their love of music with their five children as well as their grandchildren over the last few decades, and in the post-pandemic era, they were moved to reach more kids and families.  The Weinstein’s sought to provide live music events for young people and their parents, but also to combine the positive feeling that comes from giving back to the Buffalo community that they are so proud to be a part of. 

    I just love watching the joy in young kids’ faces when they are at live music. They don’t stop smiling and dancing. Their ability to make new friends at these events is a beautiful thing to watch. There is no judgment, only love and oneness. 

    Judy Weinstein

    The roots of Junior Jerry Jam are of course, connected to the Grateful Dead, thanks to Judy bringing Stu to his first Dead show at Ventura County Raceway in California, many years ago. Stu has thus learned to share his appreciation of the Grateful Dead, and in the summer of 2021, having visited their grandkids in New Jersey, the couple were inspired by their son bringing his kids to a local show, which got the wheels turning.

    Junior Jerry Jam
    photo by Strawberry Island Dweller

    Stu told the Buffalo News in 2022 “I’m a very community-minded, family-oriented person and a huge lover and supporter of live music.” With that sentiment in mind, Junior Jerry Jam has created events for the whole family to enjoy, giving parents a way to pass on the love of live music with their kids in a fun , safe environment.

    Past events held by Junior Jerry Jam include their first event in December 2021, “The Kids They Dance and Shake their Bones” at Buffalo Iron Works, which led to $3,000 being donated to Buffalo String Works. In 2022, JJJ picked up pace with a Dogs in a Pile soundcheck show, dubbed “Dogs to the Rescue,” at Buffalo Ironworks, netting $1500 for the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter (view the soundcheck here). They also held events in the Kids Village at Cobblestone Live in July 2022, a moe.queous soundcheck show at Town Ballroom this past October (with $1,490 donated to American Cancer Society) and a Holiday Shakedown at Babeville in December, featuring Workingman’s Dead, leading to a $3,000 donation to Buffalo String Works

    Coming up in 2023, the first event for Junior Jerry Jam will be “Dogs to the Rescue” featuring Dogs in a Pile performing a soundcheck show at Buffalo Ironworks on March 12th at 5:30 pm. That night, the group will be raising funds for the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter.  Looking ahead to the summer, JJJ will once again host the Kids Village at Cobblestone Live in July, and have another Holiday Shakedown slated for December. More events are in the works beyond these, as Junior Jerry Jam is just getting started.

    Photos from past Junior Jerry Jam events courtesy of Strawberry Island Dweller, Matt Shotwell.

    Junior Jerry Jam
    Junior Jerry Jam
    Junior Jerry Jam
    Junior Jerry Jam

  • Renowned Guitarist Tab Benoit to Perform at Hangar Theatre on Feb. 19

    The illustrious guitarist, Tab Benoit announced his Winter/Spring 2023 Tour at the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca. Enjoy songwriter, producer and guitarist, JD Simo open for Benoit on February 19th.

    The Chicago born Benoit has produced with artists such as Jack White, Tommy Emmanuel, Luther Dickinson, Dave Cobb and Blackberry Smoke. Additionally, Simo’s latest album, Mind Control was released in 2021.  

    tab benoit

    Louisiana Bayou blues guitarist Tab Benoit is renowned for his passionate environmental activism.  Benoit is a powerhouse that you won’t want to miss. He is treasured for his distinctive guitar tone and fiery playing. In 2020, Benoit was inducted into the Louisiana Folklife Center Hall of Master Folk Artists. In a recent review of Tab Benoit’s show in Salem, Blues Rock Revue reported, “The final song of the night was “Night Train” from 2005’s Fever on the Bayou which Benoit jammed on for over ten minutes with explosive guitar licks. It was a bring down the house conclusion”

    You also might’ve seen him in the documentary Hurricane on the Bayou. The documentary describes the effects of Hurricane Katrina, calls to protect and restore the Wetlands, and produced a CD to help restore the state’s Coastal Wetlands. Benoit has also been featured in the Sony Picture Classics 2022 movie JazzFest: A New Orleans Story. 

    “From his set opening “Why Are People Like That” to his encore “Medicine”, Benoit had the delighted crowd swinging, singing, and swaying. Benoit’s set was the perfect culmination of three fabulous days of extraordinary music at an extraordinary venue in an idyllic location”

    -Rick Witt

    Tickets for the tour can be purchased here.

    Feb 17 (Fri) – Cleveland OH@House of Blues*

    Feb 18 (Sat) – Niagara Falls NY@Private Event*

    Feb 19 (Sun) – Ithaca NY@Hangar Theater*

    Feb 21 (Tue) – Nashville IN@Brown County Playhouse*

    Feb 23 (Thur) – Kalamazoo MI@Kalamazoo State Theatre*

    Feb 24 (Fri) – Grayslake IL@James Lumbar Center for Performing Arts*

    Feb 25 (Sat) – Skokie IL@North Shore Center for the Performing Arts*

    Feb 26 (Sun) – Madison WI@Barrymore Theater*

    Feb 27 (Mon) – Mankato MN@Hooligans*

    March 1 (Wed) – Milwaukee WI@Turner Ballroom*

    March 2 (Thur) – Viroqua WI@Historic Temple Theater of Viroqua*

    March 3 (Fri) – Iowa City IA@Englert Theatre*

    March 4 (Sat) – Bloomington IL@The Castle Theatre*

    March 6 (Mon) – Memphis TN@Lafayettes Music Room*

    March 7 (Tue) – Memphis TN@Lafayettes Music Room*

    March 8 (Wed) – Memphis TN@Lafayettes Music Room*

    March 10 (Fri) – Jackson MS@Martin’s*

    March 11 (Sat) – New Orleans LA@Tipitina’s*

    March 31 (Fri) – Cedar Park TX@The Haute Spot**

    April 1 (Sat) – Houston TX@Heights Theatre**

    April 2 (Sun) – Dallas TX@The Kessler**

    April 11 (Tue) – Birmingham AL@Saturn

    April 12 (Wed) – Murfreesboro TN@Hop Springs Beer Park

    April 15 (Sat) – St Petersburg FL@Tampa Bay Blues Festival

    April 20 (Thur) – Raleigh NC@Lincoln Theatre

    April 22 (Sat) – Newberry SC@Newberry Opera House

    May 7 (Sun) – New Orleans LA@New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

    June 3 (Sat) – Greeley CO@Greeley Blues Jam

    June 30 (Fri) – Kansas City MO@Knuckleheads Saloon

    July 6 (Thur) – Dayton OH@Levitt Pavilion

    July 8 (Sat) – Johnstown PA@Flood City Music Fest

    Sept 7/8/10 (Thur/Fri/Sun) – Las Vegas NV@Big Blues Bender

    Nov 7/8/9/10/11 (Tue/Wed/Thur/Fri/Sat) – Ft Lauderdale FL@The Big Easy Cruise

  • In Focus: Alter Bridge Rock Del Lago in Waterloo

    Alter Bridge made their long-awaited return to Central New York on Friday, February 10, playing to a near-capacity crowd at Del Lago Casino in Waterloo.  The band is touring in support of its 2022 release, Pawns & Kings, and brought along Mammoth WVH in support.

    Formed in 2004 in Orlando, Florida, Alter Bridge has released seven studio albums as well as several live albums.  The band consists of Myles Kennedy (vocals, guitar), Mark Tremonti (guitar, vocals), Brian Marshall (bass guitar), and Scott Phillips (drums).  

    The evening kicked off promptly at 8 o’clock with Mammoth WVH playing to an already full house.  The band, fronted by Wolfgang Van Halen (son of Eddie Van Halen), tore through a set of classic rock tracks off their 2021 self-titled release.  Wolfgang delighted the crowd with his pristine vocals and his indisputable guitar talent, tearing through several guitar solos reminiscent of his father.  After a forty-minute set, the band left the stage triumphantly, to a sea of metal horns from the crowd.  

    Excitement in the venue quickly became palpable as the Alter Bridge backdrop rose from behind the stage.  Shortly after the band entered and launched into “Silver Tongue.” With a howl from Myles Kennedy, the set was underway.  The band tore through a mixture of tracks from throughout their nineteen years together.  Kennedy’s vocals, powerful enough to fill a stadium, soared through the venue.

     After a short acoustic set which saw Kennedy play a solo rendition of “Watch Over You,” followed by a Kennedy and Tremonti duet of “In Loving Memory,” the band returned to the stage.  With their return, the opening notes of “Blackbird” by The Beatles were strummed.  The crowd rose in anticipation as the band segued into their song of the same name.   Perhaps the pinnacle of the Alter Bridge catalog, “Blackbird” is a hauntingly beautiful track about the loss of a close friend.  The slow-building track soon erupted into another memorable solo from Tremonti.  

    Like all great things, this evening had to come to a close.  Alter Bridge ended the night where they began nineteen years ago: with their first single, “Open Your Eyes.” The crowd joined, erupting into a full-fledged singalong before the band was through.  

  • Angel Olsen and Erin Rae Warm Hearts at Asbury Hall in Chilly Buffalo

    On a frigid Buffalo February, fabulous female folkies fed off frantic fans for fantastic fun. F yeah! Angel Olsen and the Big Band were in town at Babeville’s Asbury Hall, and they had Erin Rae along to open the show.

    angel olsen

    Rae, a Nashville-based singer/songwriter, was back in Buffalo for only the second time, waiting about 10 years for her return. Her last visit was a house show in front of just 7 people. Asbury Hall, an old converted church with seemingly endless height, and an attentive full house, was quite the jump up. One woman, one guitar and a ton of space to fill with a lot of ears and minds to reach. But Rae was able to command the crowd like they were just a handful in a living room. Maybe it was the spirit of her great grandmother who won woman of the year in Buffalo some 50-odd years ago lifting her up, but more likely it was Rae’s stellar skills put into practice.

    And there was more to celebrate then just a long-awaited return to Buffalo. It was the one-year anniversary of her latest album, Lighten Up. She of course played liberally from it, opening with “Cosmic Sigh,” working a nice bit of mouth trumpeting in “Candy & Curry,” and closing up with “Lighten Up and Try.” She also tucked a couple older ones in, like “Can’t Cut Loose” and the enchanting “June Bug” from Putting on Airs.

    angel olsen

    Headliner Angel Olsen was also coming through with a nearly year-old album, having put out Big Time back in June. An album called “Big Time” warrants a big band, and Olsen had it covered with a seven-piece that included violin, cello, bass, drums, guitar, keys and herself on vocals, guitars ,and keys.

    The story behind this latest release is Olsen’s turn toward classic country. Olsen delivered on that in spades, showing range on acoustic and electric guitars, her voice soaring and punctuated, soft and gentle, whatever it need be to drive home songs like “Dream Thing” and “Ghost On.” During both “Right Now” and “Go Home” the energy swelled and crashed multiple times like incoming waves, Olsen steered her crew deftly through voice and guitar.

    The makeup of the band allowed for a flexible sound, and they flexed that muscle powering through some older material. They showed a poppier edge on “Shut Up and Kiss Me,” immediately flipped into grunge on “Give It Up,” then teetered into new wave on “All Mirrors.” Later in set, “Lark” provided fireworks. The fiddle, cello and bass opened in a humming drone, which led into more undulating ebbs and flows which strengthened with each passing chorus, until a final explosion left the same starting drone in its wake.

    Olsen felt comfortable toying with her audience. She promised a premiere of a new song she wrote earlier that day, only to reveal it as a joke. Then she offered to play a request only to rebuff them all and play what she wanted instead. Though it may have only endeared her even more to the crowd. And really, what wasn’t to love?

    After the final frame finished, fans filed from the festive fling, feeling fabulous. F yeah indeed.

    Setlists

    Erin Rae: Cosmic Sigh, Gonna Be Strange, California Belongs to You, Can’t Cut Loose, June Bug, Candy & Curry, Bad Mind, True Love’s Face, Modern Woman, Lighten Up and Try

    Angel Olsen: Dream Thing, Big Time, Ghost On, Right Now, Shut Up and Kiss Me, Give It Up, All Mirrors, Go Home, Through the Fires, Lark, Sister, Those Were the Days, All the Good Time, Chance E: Without You (Harry Nilsson)

  • Geneva Music Festival Announces 2023 Theme, Dates

    Known as the Finger Lakes premiere summer kick-off event, the Geneva Music Festival has announced their 2023 season theme and dates.

    The festival was founded in 2011 by Geneva native and violinist Geoffrey Herd with fellow Genevans violinist Eliot Heaton and cellist Hannah Collins. Originally a weekend of chamber music for their hometown, the festival has grown over the years. Now in its 13th season, the festival attracts audiences of all regions to hear outstanding musicians from the world’s stages. 

    While still rooted in the chamber music repertoire, performances now include jazz, contemporary, and bluegrass music. Festival musicians include leading classical soloists, multiple Grammy Award-winning artists, members of the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society, and faculty from Yale, Juilliard, the Colburn School, and the Cleveland Institute of Music.

    This years theme will be “Gods, Myths and the Divine” from May 21 to June 11. GMF artists-in-residence and visiting artists will explore the connection between music and experiences of uplifting our spirit, seeking something larger in the universe, or contemplating anew our place here on earth. This 8-concert series explores composers throughout history who have been inspired by their religious beliefs or by the universal themes embedded in cultural myths to create music of rich meaning and beauty.

    “I’m excited to share our 2023 theme, Gods, Myths, and the Divine, through which we will explore musical masterpieces inspired by composers’ religious and spiritual beliefs. Walking through Milan last summer, I was struck by the inimitable architecture of the Duomo di Milano and found myself pondering how many of the world’s greatest pieces of art grow naturally out of their creator’s religious beliefs.

    Festival Director Geoffrey Herd

    The Geneva Music Festival’s mission is to entertain, inspire, and nurture a lifelong appreciation of chamber and other musical genres in Finger Lakes communities. They strive to present world-class artists that engage audiences of all ages, including populations with little exposure to music of this caliber.  Purposeful engagement with young people is an integral part of the Festival’s programming and children 18 years and younger are admitted free to all public concerts.  

    A full lineup and schedule will be availible in the coming weeks. Please visit the festivals website for more information.