West Falls Center for the Arts will hold its second annual Fallsfest this October, in conjunction with The Blueberry Treehouse Farm in West Falls, NY, outside of Buffalo.
The West Falls Center for the Arts is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing visual, performing, music, and healing arts programming to a diverse rural population.
Their ongoing programs include a weekly concert series with local youth performers opening for national talent, a free kids music jam series for young musicians (partnering with the Sportsman’s Foundation), the prestigious Southtowns Youth Jazz Orchestra led by Mark Filsinger, as well as the Buffalo Jazz Collective with young musicians performing alongside accomplished professionals.
This year, they’re hosting FallsFest on October 14 from 10am-10pm, and October 15, from 10am-6pm. Come enjoy live music, the AKG Art Truck, craft vendors and artists, pumpkin smashing, animals, food trucks, the Super Hilarious Magic Show with Nick Mambretti, homemade WFCA pizza, a Prehistoric Reptile Show, a treehouse café, and beautiful nature trails.
Purchase tickets online here for October 14 and/or October 15. Adults are $10, kids 3-12 are $5, and kids 2 and under are free.
Bop Shop Records, an independently-owned record store in Rochester, has announced their upcoming lineup of shows for this fall. The run starts with a trio of jazz legends, Joseph Daley’s Tuba Trio, consisting of Warren Smith, Scott Robinson, and Joseph Daley.
Bop Shop Records opened in the Cobbs Hill neighborhood of Rochester in 1982 with owner Tom Kohn, who spent the 70s working for MXR and Rounder Records, where he collected music from all kinds of genres. The venue hosts jazz, folk, and blues artists at the store, and boasts a collection of over 200,000 records available.
This fall’s lineup will feature Joseph Daley’s Tuba Trio, Preston Reed, Charlie Parr, and Brooklyn’s own Ember Trio. Ember is a collaborative music group that is based in exploration, improvisation, and creativity. The jazz group includes Caleb Wheeler Curtis on alto saxophone, Noah Garabedian on bass, and Vinnie Sperrazza on drums. The group will make their stop at Bop Shop Records on December 16.
Bop Shop Records is excited to welcome Joseph Daley’s Tuba Trio on October 3. The group explores improvisational concepts of Sam Rivers, the famed jazz composer and multi-instrumentalist who accompanied the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. Daley dedicated his newest record, The Tuba Trio Chronicles, to the memory of Rivers, his good friend and mentor.
More information and tickets are available at bopshop.com/events. Tickets are currently available now for all shows. To attend a show, register at BopShop.com. Concertgoers may pay in advance or at the door. Tickets and information are also available at (585) 271-3354.
Bop Shop Fall Events
10/3 – Joseph Daley’s Tuba Trio 10/8 – Preston Reed 10/10 – Soft Machine 10/13 – The Mat Maneri Quartet 10/19 – Eric Vloeimans & Will Holshouser 11/4 – New Origin Trio 11/8 – Charlie Parr 11/18 – Joel Harrison 12/4 – Bill Kirchen’s Honky Tonk Holiday Show 12/16 – Ember Trio
Country music icon Tim McGraw is extending his highly anticipated 2024 Standing Room Only Tour with the announcement of 11 new tour dates, including a stop at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo on May 4 and UBS Arena in Belmont Park on May 5.
The Standing Room Only Tour is set to kick off on March 14, 2024, and will cover over 40 cities across the United States and Canada. Joining Tim McGraw as a special guest on all tour dates is Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Carly Pearce.
Tim McGraw’s Standing Room Only Tour promises to deliver high-energy live shows, featuring his greatest hits and tracks from his latest album, Standing Room Only, released on August 25. The title track of the album, “Standing Room Only,” is currently climbing the Country Radio charts and marks McGraw’s 92nd career chart entry.
McGraw has been a dominant figure in the music industry for over three decades, amassing 69 Top 10 hits and holding records for the most weeks at #1 with all titles, totaling 73 weeks. His enduring success places him just behind George Strait for the second-most #1 albums in the U.S.
This tour expansion provides fans in New York and surrounding areas with the chance to witness one of country music’s biggest stars live in concert. As Tim McGraw’s music continues to resonate with audiences across the nation, this event promises to be a memorable night for country music enthusiasts.
Tickets for these newly added tour dates are now on sale.
Tim McGraw â Standing Room Only Tour 2024
March 14 Jacksonville, FL VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
March 15 Tampa, FL Amalie Arena
March 16 Orlando, FL Amway Center
March 21 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena
March 22 St. Louis, MO Enterprise Center
March 23 Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena
March 27 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena
March 29 Seattle, WA Climate Pledge Arena
March 30 Eugene, OR University of Oregon – Matthew Knight Arena
April 4 Denver, CO Ball Arena
April 5 Salt Lake City, UT Delta Center
April 6 Boise, ID Boise State University – ExtraMile Arena
April 11 Austin, TX Moody Center
April 13 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
April 18 Indianapolis, IN Gainbridge Fieldhouse
April 19 Milwaukee, WI Fiserv Forum
April 20 Saint Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
April 25 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
April 26 Knoxville, TN Thompson-Boling Arena
April 27 Pittsburgh, PA PPG Paints Arena
May 2 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
May 3 Ottawa, ON Canadian Tire Centre
May 4 Buffalo, NY KeyBank Center
May 9 Belmont Park, NY UBS Arena
May 10 Boston, MA TD Garden
May 11 Wilkes-Barre, PA Mohegan Sun Arena
May 16 Greenville, SC Bon Secours Wellness Arena
May 17 Charlotte, NC Spectrum Center
May 18 Charleston, WV Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center
May 30 Toledo, OH Huntington Center
May 31 Chicago, IL United Center
June 1 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
June 6 Sioux Falls, SD Denny Sanford Premier Center
June 7 Omaha, NE CHI Health Center
June 8 Kansas City, MO T-Mobile Center
June 13 Biloxi, MS Mississippi Coast Coliseum
June 14 Atlanta, GA State Farm Arena
June 15 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center
June 20 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
June 21 Baltimore, MD CFG Bank Arena
June 22 Raleigh, NC PNC Arena
June 27 Phoenix, AZ Footprint Center
“Standing Room Only” By Tim Mcgraw
For more information about the Standing Room Only Tour and ticket sales, visit www.timmcgraw.com.
Finger Lakes musician Jeremy Button of Americana band Growl Bear, has penned a few tunes as of late that celebrate two distinct regions of New York State, the Delaware Valley and the Finger Lakes.
Among them are the comedic tune, with a dash of regional pride, “Fingerlakes Wine,” and the history-infused “The Ballad of Orrin & Squire.”
Growing up in Wayland, NY, Button attended SUNY Fredonia, and currently works for NYSDOT. A guitarist and songwriter in Americana band Growl Bear, Button has learned a variety of instruments, among them fiddle, mandolin, bagpipes, and banjo as well as writing music for both Growl Bear and his solo performances.
Speaking of “Fingerlakes Wine,” Button says, “I just wanted my area to have a song like this. I love Rochester and the Fingerlakes area and I like writing songs about where I live, we don’t have a lot of them and we need more, creating lore, making us feel more in touch with this place we call home.”
Button’s tune “Fingerlakes Wine” comes in both a classy (above, for all ages) and original versions, while “The Ballad of Orrin & Squire” is ripped from the history books and lyrics mention various stops in the Southern Catskills.
Button’s Great-great Grandfather and his brother fought in the Civil War for the Union Army, part of the NY 56th Regiment of Volunteers, also known as the 10th Legion. A tune that comes right out of Button’s family tree, the song tells of their travels from small towns near the New York-Pennslyvania border to New York City before heading south to fight. Button says of the song’s historical accuracy, “95% true. Not many songs about NY regiments going to go kick butt.”
Another tune from Button, “Goodbye Fredonia,” the reluctance that he found in moving onto the next stage of his life, post-college.
You can catch Jeremy Button performing solo and with Growl Bear this fall around the Finger Lakes. Growl Bear plays at Lovin Cup, near Rochester Institute of Technology at 8:30 on Friday, October 6 and the trio version of Growl Bear plays at the B-side in Fairport on October 25. For more info visit the band’s website.
Hey Rochester, pat your local venue owners, bookers and promoters on the back, they’re firing on all cylinders this October. The month ahead is one of the most chock-full live music months in recent memory.
Legend of legends Bob Dylan, grunge stalwarts Mudhoney, gypsy jazz wizard Stephane Wrembel for four nights, punk-turned-folky Jonathan Richman are just a few of the talents coming back through town. To make it easier to narrow this list down to just five shows, let’s take a look at some first-timers in Rochester you are not going to want to miss and let’s coax them to come back by giving them some great crowds.
Bitchin Bajas are a synth-heavy instrumental trio out of Chicago that will send your mind afloat into the ether. This will be a unique show the likes of which we don’t always see in these parts. Sweetening the pot, local psych rockers Overhand Sam and Bad Weapon will open up the evening.
An international sensation, Danielle Ponder is unquestionably the queen of Rochester, not remotely new to town so what gives? As must-see as she is she certainly doesn’t belong on this list. Yes but, she’s opening the much-buzzed new venue Essex. Live music fans all over the city are clamoring to get a look inside and enjoy a new spot to catch some great shows. So Essex, new to Rochester, and worthy of a hearty welcome from all of us, come on out! Chi the Realist will open Friday night and Sheneiqua Shine on Saturday.
Folksy blues man Buffalo Nichols has the voice, the licks, the songs and he definitely has the name. Put it all together and you’ve got a young talent that you’re going to want to get on board with ASAP. He’s touring behind his fantastic brand new album, The Fatalist.
Tickets are $15, $20 dos and the show gets started at 730pm.
October 20: Chris Forsyth’s Evolution Band at LUX
Chris Forsyth is a guitar player extraordinaire of the knock your socks off variety. He’s coming with a trio including Ryan Jewell, a superb drummer playing with a number of awesome bands too long to list, currently on tour with Woods. And Douglas McCombs, who is most notably the bassist in post-rock legends Tortoise. Tuck these guys into the wild and intimate LUX late on a Friday night and you’ve cooked yourselves up an ass-kicking time of high-powered psychedelia. Will Veeder and his band will open the show.
Local promoter Honest Folk is back with another great show, in a new-to-them venue at Skylark Lounge. Cat Clyde, a young singer/songwriter from Ontario, Canada, is bringing a full band to present her stellar new release, Down Rounder. She connects the old and new in unique and beautiful ways and this should be a thrilling show.
Show starts at 8p and tickets are $20.
Bonus! And while we’ve got your here, Honest Folk is actually bringing in another hip cat named Kat worth checking out. Two folkin’ cats in one month, is this heaven? Rochester native Kat Wright is whiddling down her usual big soul band to just a trio for a more stripped down sound. Hear them at Good Luck on October 8.
Alex Northrup, a Rochester composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, has released his newest single “What Did I Miss” as part of his bigger album, Turning Point, set for release this January.
You may recognize Alex Northrup from other Rochester-based groups in the past such as Northern Spies, Brindamor, Jon Lewis Band, and the Demos. More recently, he has been touring the keyboardist for Kill Rock Stars artist Sean Barna.
Locally, he has made appearances in the bands of Katie Morey and Overhand Sam. Recently, he’s been performing around Rochester both solo and with his latest backing group of the Darlingtones– anchored by Ryan Yarmrel on bass and Sam Hirsh on drums, with a revolving cast of guests.
A follow-up to his album, Popular Songs That Will Live Forever, Alex Northrup’s Turning Point follows in the same home-made vein, with more guest appearances and a more soothing vibe. Popular Songs That Will Live Forever featured 10 songs, including the single “The Only Thought I Need,” released in June of 2020, with a quirky and whimsical tone via an upbeat tambourine from beginning to end.
“What Did I Miss” follows that same psychedelic rock genre, but with a more relaxing feeling from an upbeat guitar and soothing vocals. “What Did I Miss” is a single that reminds me of the COVID shut down, where everyone was encouraged to take breaks from social media when it became “too much.” I love the sound but I, as always, am drawn to the lyrics: “What did I miss? // Don’t tell me – I don’t want to know // What did I miss? // This absence was to help me grow // What did I miss?” It’s like when you take a break from social media, but part of you– the addicted part of you– wants to know what is going on despite knowing it’s for the best that you don’t.
“…I was distracted by things such as life and contributing to other people’s bands and recording projects. Actual songwriting was the furthest from my mind – I thought I had totally lost that part of me, and with the way things were going with the world, I wondered what the point even was. But after a couple years of that, the fog started to lift and the words started to come again. And soon enough, out of the mess of unfinished tracks and jams, a dozen actual songs emerged! Nearly half were written fresh at that point, and one 11 year old song that had never been properly recorded was revived. So now I’m back to writing and playing again (with my live band the Darlingtones) and there are definitely more songs that will be coming out! So Turning Point is hopefully the start of something bigger.”
Alex Northrup
Turning Point’s lead single “What Did I Miss” is available now to preview what’s to come from Northrup’s album set for release come January, which has been nearly three years in the making.
To find out where Alex will perform next, or for any other info, check out his Instagram.
For his single, “What Did I Miss,” click this link.
The Shakti Lounge in Buffalo announces their new live music series lineup for 2023-24, with their first show on October 7th, presented by Lavender Haze Collective.
The first show features Ravi Padmanabha & David Muse on October 7th. The music duo encompasses a new found musical language using crystal bowls, gongs, tabla, hand pan, clarinet and ocean drum to create an ambient meditation that traverses to an ecstatic musical trance.
The Shakti Lounge offers musicians with a space to open their skills and invites a comfortable environment of community to hear innovative music. Shakti creates a salon-like setting offering guests the freedom to recline on the heated floor or take a seat in a chair, welcoming all. Offering a live music experience truly like no other in Buffalo.
The live music series features a diverse group of artists performing all genres including jazz, folk, classical and world music. Musicians are mainly local to Buffalo with the exception singer-songwriter Cammy Enaharo and Seth Faergolzia’s Multibird both from Rochester. The series also includes storyteller Tyler Westcott, string quartet fra/ctured, alto saxophonist Elliot Scozzaro, guitar driven artist Adam Bronstein & ABtrio and drummer John Bacon with his cast for JBQ.
Shakti lounge in Buffalo welcomes people of all ages to come join the forthcoming live music series and experience the duo host monthly concert every Saturday. For more information visit here.
Shakti Lounge 2023-24 Concert Lineup, Presented by Lavender Haze Collective
It was a full night of earnest Southern Americana when Water Street Music Hall in Rochester hosted the Drive-By Truckers and American Aquarium on Tuesday, September 26.
American Aquarium got things rolling with a tight workman-like set, punching in right at the listed 8pm start time and finishing up at 9pm on the button. With little to no chitchat and little to no breaks, they muscled through 14 songs in their hour. They weren’t in a rush though, and each tune was given it’s proper due, with room to breath. BJ Barnham’s voice carried his words with the weight and passion they deserved.
A vision of his life as a singer/songwriter on the road, and the people and places he’s encountered along the way, unfolded song by song. And he usually wasn’t singing alone. The early-arriving crowd appeared to be as familiar and interested in the opening band as they were the headliner, singing, fist-bumping and genuinely hanging on the band’s every note. It was their first visit to town since 2014, but with that kind of welcome hopefully it won’t be another decade before their next return.
The Drive-By Truckers wasted no time laying their cards on the table. Set opener “Maria’s Awful Disclosures” introduced the first of many characters to make an appearance, and erupted into triple guitar shredding reminiscent of Crazy Horse. Lead singers Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley swapped songs for most of their two-hour set, each getting ample opportunity to tell their own modern-day allegories. Messages delivered on waves of searing guitars hit like a fist through the chest. Cooley’s “Maria” and her distorted guitar tangle gave way to Hood’s “Charlie” (“Drag the Lake Charlie”) and it’s more anthemic rock sound.
Later we’d hear about “Uncle Frank,” “Heathens,” “Women Without Whiskey” and “Rosemary With a Bible and a Gun.” Each song also took on a character of it’s own, spanning multiple flavors of rock: the deep dark blues of “The Driver,” the barroom banger “Surrender Under Protest,” the heavy rocking “Lookout Mountain.”
“Hell No, I Ain’t Happy” had a more traditional classic rock feel with its sing-along chorus, fist-pumping beat and dense hooks. Then they took Prince’s “Sign of the Times” and crashed it right into the end, turning it into an Allman Brothers Band southern rock gem, with syncopated guitars exploding into the biggest jam of the night.
The rest of the truckers helped flesh out the characters, stories and messages. Jay Gonzales was the swiss army knife everyman, filling in as needed when needed, with some perfectly placed Hammond B3 swells, electric piano sparkles and some of the best guitar playing of the night. Matt Patton kept the low end fresh and bouncing, smiling broadly the whole night long, no one was having more fun. Brad Morgan was as workman as anyone, providing the backbone for it all, helping the Drive-By Truckers deliver.
American Aquariumsetlist: Me & Mine (Lamentations), All I Needed, The Long Haul, Casualties, St. Mary’s, Six Years Come September, Losing Side of 25, Saturday Nights, Abe Lincoln (Backsliders Cover), Harmless Sparks, Katherine Belle, The Luckier You Get, Wichita Falls, Burn.Flicker.Die
Drive-By Truckers setlist: Maria’s Awful Disclosures, Drag the Lake Charlie, Every Single Storied Flameout, Sink Hole, Uncle Frank, Heathens, Shit Shots Count, Why Henry Drinks, Women Without Whiskey, Pizza Deliverance, Panties in Your Purse, The Driver, Made Up English Oceans, Rosemary With a Bible and a Gun, 3 Dimes Down, Hell No, I Ain’t Happy > Sign of the Times (Prince Cover), Surrender Under Protest, The New OK, Gravity’s Gone, Lookout Mountain, When the Pin Hits the Shell, Shut Up and Get Off the Plane, Let There Be Rock
Borderland Music & Art Festival brought some heavy hitting national and local bands to the historic Knox Farm State Park situated in the small village of East Aurora. Over three beautiful days – September 15, 16 & 17 – the historic grounds hosted many great bands on two stages that filled the air with sounds to sooth the soul from some amazingly talented artists.
Friday started as a wonderful partly cloudy morning with perfect temps. As festival goers started to flow in, setting up their chairs and blanks for the day, you could hear the first band. Folk/Americana jam-type band The Stove Pipes playing the Homespun stage which was situated off behind the horse stables at the top of the hill opposite the Mainstage. As the day progressed there was very minimal overlapping of each band’s sets. Making it an easy walk between both stages through or around the horse stables to see each band play throughout the day.
On the Homespun stage you could catch other local and reginal acts like, Dirty Blanket, Not Fade Away Band (Playing Dead Zepplin) & Farrow. The Mainstage acts included local, regional, and national touring acts like Leroy Townes Band, The 502s, Dawes & Goose. Goose being the closing act of night one, brought the house down with their amazing set of music. An absolute not to be missed band of abundantly talented musicians. Setlist via Elgoose.net.
Goosesetlist: Flodown[1], Mr. Action, Pancakes, Honeybee[2], Writing A Novel[3], Creatures, Rosewood Heart[4], Animal Encore: Slow Ready -> Arcadia [1] Flopener. [2] With Coach on rainstick. [3] Father John Misty. [4] With Taylor Goldsmith on guitar and vocals, Griffin Goldsmith on drums, and Jeff on guitar.
Saturday at Borderland was met with beautifully clear skies and temperatures out on the farm. Saturday’s crowd filled in the ground of Knox Farm State Park much earlier being a Saturday. Again with very little overlapping of each band’s sets, it was quite easy to catch most of each act playing both the Homespun and Mainstage. Starting out the day on the Mainstage with a great improvisational set was The Damone Jackson Outcome, a band known for their high energy improv sets.
First up on the Homespun stage was A Girl Named Genny, a folk/Americana band with a little bit of Rock and Roll. Other Homespun stage acts included local and reginal bands, Never Ben, Public Water Supply, Grosh and Organ Fairchild. Other Mainstage acts included local, reginal and national acts like, Miller & The Other Sinners, Mighty Poplar, Neal Francis and Sammy Rae & The Friends. Trey Anastasio Band closed out night two with a stellar set of mostly Phish tunes to send everyone home only wanting more. And what an exceptional set of music it was, made even better with an almost Phish/Kuroda level light show. Setlist via Phish.net
Trey Anastasio Bandsetlist: Sand, Back on the Train, Everything’s Right, Blaze On, A Wave of Hope, Outside the Lines, Llama [1], Heavy Things, Oblivion, Pillow Jets > …And Flew Away, Wolfman’s Brother > First Tube Encore: Ghost [1] Performed in an alternate arrangement.
Sunday, was the closing day to the perfect three-day Borderland Music & Arts festival and the weather could not have been better for mid-September. Starting out the day on the Homespun stage was The Red Grenadines, followed by Folkfaces, and NYS Dead Coalition. During Folkfaces and in between The Red Grenadine & NYS Dead Coalition was the Tailgate & Buffalo Bills Watch Party with many in attendance. Starting the day on the Mainstage was Karina Rykman, followed by, Krasno/Moore Project, The Infamous Stringdusters, and to close out the night, and festival, with two sets, our hometown heroes, moe.
Set 1: The Pit> Rise, Blond Hair and Blue Eyes, Gone, Do It Again> George, Lazarus Set 2: Skitchin’ Buffalo, Mexico> Ups And Downs> Silver Sun> Rebubula> Four[1] > Rebubula [1] Chuck on vocals. 1st time played since Chuck’s stroke.
The Stove PipesLeroy Townes BandDirty BlanketThe 502sNot Fade Away BandDawesFarrowGooseGooseGooseGooseGooseGooseGooseGooseThe Damone Jackson OutcomeA Girl Named GennyMiller & The Other SinnersNever BenMighty PoplarPublic Water SupplyNeal FrancisGroshSammy Rae & The FriendsOrgan FairchildTABTABTABTABTABTABTABTABTAB
Buffalo Iron Works plans to host an exclusive 10th anniversary party to celebrate a decade of success, featuring the renowned Melvin Seals & JGB on Thursday, October 19th, promising an unforgettable night to commend this milestone of intuitive, expressive, and soulful music.
Melvin Seals has had a remarkable three-decade career as a recording artist, performer and producer and will take center stage during the Buffalo Iron Works anniversary festivities. Melvin is celebrated for his electrifying performances on the keyboard and B-3 organ while accompanying the stage with Jerry Garcia Band. Both Melvin and JGB have played pivotal roles in the jam band music scene with a mix of blues, funk, rock, jazz, gospel and R&B that captivate an audience of all tastes.Their onstage chemistry fuels a psychedelic experience for concert goers that keeps them dancing, smiling and engaged in the rhythm of rock-gospel blues fusion.
In addition to the performance with Melvin and JGB, Buffalo Iron Works 10 year anniversary party will feature drink specials, exclusive signed merchandise and more. The venue offers an intimate music lounge setting that hosts a diverse range of national, regional and local artists across various genres. Not only is it a haven for music but welcomes all types of events, from concerts, acoustic shows, and book signings, ensuring an inclusive and vibrant versatile cultural space.
Join Buffalo Iron Works on Thursday, October 19th to celebrate a decade of music, community and unforgettable moments that have made BIW a cherished part of Buffalo’s cultural landscape. For more info visit here.
