The 31st annual Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival in Trumansburg is back this summer featuring four days and five stages of world, national, regional, and local music.
The Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival is held at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds in Trumansburg which is located about ten miles north of Ithaca on the west side of Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes region of Central New York. Since the festival’s birth, the guiding quote has always been “To create joy in the midst of crisis is a powerful thing and brings magic to the table.” It was founded by Donna the Buffalo and is a mission-based organization that focuses on nurturing local artists and talent while reaching around the globe to bring world music and culture to new audiences to inspire creativity and foster community building.
Four days before the festival there is a Culture Camp, which helps community building by having attendees attend four days of music and dance workshops led by regional and national artists. Tickets for Culture Camp and a full list of workshops can be found here. This year, the festival features a variety of genres like Americana, regular and Appalachian folk, country, and world music from countries like Ukraine and Congo.
There will be over 80 artists featured at the Grassroots Festival. Some of the performances include renowned Americana / folk roots music duo Watchhouse, Gambian multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer Sona Jobarteh, Grammy Award-winning Country music legends The Mavericks, and 2022 Best Reggae Album Grammy Award winner and Jamaican lyricist Kabaka Pyramid. Other performers include Appalachian folk music multi-instrumentalist sisters Rising Appalachia, beloved Ukrainian folk music quartet DakhaBrakha, Democratic Republic of Congo Afropop superstar Jupiter & Okwess, Louisiana Zydeco boss Keith Frank & The Soileau Zydeco Band, and acclaimed singer-songwriter Ryan Montbleau Band.
For more information about the 31st annual Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival and to purchase tickets, visit here.
Rapper, singer, producer and DJ Q-Tip celebrates 53 years of life today, on that has blessed him with countless songs and immeasurable success in the music business.
Born Jonathan William Davis in Harlem, the artist is professionally known by his stage name but has also been given the nicknames, Qualiall, The Abstract Tip The Lone Ranger, and The Last Zulu. In addition to his success as a solo artist, Q-Tip has been a part of the music groups A Tribe Called Quest, Native Tounges, Soulquarians, and The Ummah.
One of the most prominent figures in the hip-hop music genre, Q-Tip has always been a team player, beginning his career as a member of and producer of the group A Tribe Called Quest throughout most of the 80s and 90s, creating its own music production team, The Ummah, active from 1996-2000. It inspired another music collective, the Native Tongues, which worked concurrently with A Tribe Called Quest from the late ’80s until the late ’90s.
The group released their debut studio album, People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, in 1990, peaking at number 23 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Its lead single, “I Left My Wallet in El Segundo,” peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart. After initially breaking up in 1998, the hip-hop group would reunite intermittently from the late 2000s to 2010s, releasing their final studio album, We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service in 2016. The group would become members of the Native Tongues from 1988 until the late 90s, and Q-Tip would become a member of the Soulquarians from the late 90s to early 2000s, itself inspired by A Tribe Called Quest.
A Tribe Called Quest members: Q-Tip (top left, vocals,) Phife Dog (top right, vocals,) Ali Shaheed (bottom left, turntables, co-production,) and Jarobi (bottom right, vocals.)
The Ummah’s first project would be serving as a producer for A Tribe Called Quest’s fourth studio album, Beats, Rhymes and Life. The album was criticized for moving away from the group’s earlier, denser, and bottom-heavy sound to a more laid-back and polished tone. The group would continue this sound with their next album, The Love Movement, in 1998, which was released to a lukewarm reception. They would ultimately not release another album for more than 10 years, until their sixth and final studio album in 2016. The Ummah’s final production would be Q-Tip’s first solo release in 1999.
The Soulquarians collaborated with The Ummah on the production of Q-Tip’s debut solo studio album. Before that, the first record they produced was 1999’s Things Fall Apart, the fourth studio album by the hip-hop band The Roots. They would work with The Roots again on their next studio album, Phrenology in 2002. Significantly, they worked on the production of the debut studio by Brooklyn-born Talib Kweli, Quality, that same year. The last album the Soulquarians produced was Bilah’s leaked second album, Love for Sale, in 2006.
Cover of Q-Tip’s debut solo studio album, Amplified. Credit: Apple Music
Q-Tip’s solo career began with 1999’s Amplified, which peaked at the number four spot on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Its lead single “Vivrant Thing,” became the fourth rap song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot R&B Airplay chart since its 1992 inception. Q-Tip has performed at the New York Town Hall, Brooklyn Bowl, Output, and Stage 48, just to name a few, and he is currently working on three more albums yet to be announced release dates: The Last Zulu, AlGoRhythms, and Riotdiaries.
Q-Tip’s third most recent solo studio album, Kamaal the Abstract, was released in 2009.
Q-Tip has also ventured into television, appearing as a guest on good friend Dave Chappelle’s sketch comedy series on Comedy Central, Chappelle’s Show, in 2004. In 2015, Chappelle, with fellow comedian and actor Chris Rock, appeared on Q-Tip’s Abstract Radio, his radio show on Apple Music 1. A Tribe Called Quest appeared as a musical guest with Chappelle on the Nov. 12, 2016, episode of Saturday Night Live, shortly after Donald Trump won the 2016 Presidential Election, where Chappelle gave a monologue that he ended with “I’m wishing Donald Trump luck, and I’m going to give him a chance, and we, the historically disenfranchised, demand that he give us one too.”
In celebration of Q-Tip’s life, check out his work anywhere music is sold, and join the New York State Music team in wishing him a happy birthday, here’s to 53 more years!
Twiddle frontman and reggae singer/songwriter Mihali has announced three shows in the New York metro area this May, presented by Relix.
Over May 12-14, Mihali will perform solo looping sets at Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, then at Brooklyn Bowl the next night. On Sunday, May 14, he’ll return to Port Chester for a full live band performance at Garcia’s.
The appearances follow Twiddle announcing they will go on hiatus following their touring plans this year.
Conway The Machine will release his second studio album, Won’t He Do It, this spring. The prolific Buffalo MC’s road to his major label debut was undeniably impactful and redemptive. God Don’t Make Mistakes served as his commercial breakthrough, as it rose to the top of DSP charts and was also his highest-charting Billboard project to date. Moreover, the project was hailed by critics and fans alike.
While God Don’t Make Mistakes was Conway’s de-facto origin story to the mainstream market, it will also serve as the bridge to the next phase of his already decorated, mixtape-laden career, which begins with his next album Won’t He Do It.
After sharing the album’s first single, “Super Bowl,” featuring Sauce Walka and Juicy J, Conway The Machine has released the album’s second single and first visual in “Quarters/Brucifix.” Featuring Westside Gunn, the music video is shot on location in Paris. The two-sided single features production from Khrysis on “Quarters,” (which also includes vocals from late podcaster, Combat Jack) along with the Daringer produced “Brucifix.”
The record sees Conway The Machine maintain his musical trajectory. While his content remains forever rooted to the streets, Conway continues to challenge himself with the production he raps over. Moreover, the former Griselda signee has long cultivated a rags-to-riches image and continues to abide by his street ethics in his music. However, his growing success makes his subject matter that much more idiosyncratic. All in all, his presentation adds to his allure, while he continues to serve as motivation to those with similar backgrounds.
“I wanted to tap back in with my bro, Khrysis, and give em that feel that my fans know me for providing,” Conway shared with Complex. “I also wanted to set the tone for my new album.”
Conway The Machine Tour
In addition to the release of “Quarters/Brucifix,” Conway also announced the Won’t He Do It Spring Tour featuring Sauce Walka and his fellow Drumwork artist Jae Skeese. The month-long, 18-city expedition begins on My 26 in Chicago, IL and wraps up on June 28 in Detroit with a stop in Brooklyn set for June 24.
Pioneering Australian/British composer, pianist and flautist Keyna Wilkins will mark her first American “mini-tour” tour with a Big Apple debut at Brooklyn’s Williamsburg Music Center on April 20 at 9 p.m.
A two-time finalist for the Australian Art Music Awards, Wilkins is the writer of over 60 compositions that have been performed internationally – in solos, with small ensembles and orchestras. Her eclectic music is informed by her passion for human rights, astronomy, Indigenous culture, jazz, intuitive improvisation and existential quests. As an innovative soloist on piano and flute and leader of cutting-edge ensembles, she has been heralded by UK’s Jazz Journal as a“powerhouse player”, and “fine and nuanced playing”by Limelight Magazine and is described by Australian Jazz as being “unconstrained by labels and is constantly exploring new ways to express herself musically.” She has composed 4 major orchestral works including “Celestial Emu”, a didgeridoo concerto in collaboration with indigenous didgeridoo player Gumaroy Newman for The Metropolitan Orchestra, and a triple flute concerto “Solar Triumvirate” which was described by Sydney Arts Guide as “sensational,.. with incredible freshness of gesture”.
Wilkins’ tour was made possible via a collective effort of artists who are involved with Music for Musicians, MFM. MFM is an advocacy group for musicians’ rights founded by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi, whose board, supporters and membership includes leading names like Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman and Dr. Cornell West.
When the organization’s members found out that Wilkins, one of its first international members, was seeking to tour the U.S., they combined forces to help her find and promote gigs.
For the April 20 show at Williamsburg Music Center, Wilkins will be joined on the bill by two active MFM members, Dawoud the Sufi Renegade and NYSMusic.com book reviewer/feature writer Sal Cataldi (aka Spaghetti Eastern Music). The trio will perform solo sets and also collaborate. For info, visit the Eventbrite page here.
Hudson Valley music-lovers will be able to catch Keyna on April 22 at an intimate concert in the home of another MFM member, pianist/composer Peter Wetzler, at his studio in Kingston, N.Y. Wetzler will also perform at the event, along with poet-artist Julie Hedrick. For info, visit here.
Wilkins will conclude here New York performances on April 25 at 9 pm with a solo performance at the Downtown Music Gallery. Info here.
Wilkins has released 9 albums of original music on all streaming platforms including 4 solo albums. Her latest album in 2021, “Set Me Free”, a collaboration with a 9-year innocent detained refugee poet-artist, Jalal Mahamede.
Fans of all ages wearing fancy attire attentively listened to Laufey’s captivating vocals as she sang multiple songs from her latest jazz album, Everything I Know About Love. People traveled from Puerto Rico, Florida, and New York City for this one time show.
Laufey
Laura Elliot opened the show with an incredible set, singing multiple songs off of her first album People Pleaser to celebrate one year since its release. Born and raised in the Hudson Valley she gained recognition after collaborating with Lizzy McAlpine on “weird,” and joining artists like The Walters on tour before having her own People Pleaser tour in 2022.
Laura Elliot
After a twenty minute intermission, Laufey took the stage at 9:05, causing a stream of excited screams to erupt from her eager crowd. The 23-year-old jazz-pop artist got her start in 2020 when her singing videos gained huge recognition on TikTok. Growing up in Iceland and now living in LA, Laufey attended Berklee College of Music and grew up around classically-trained musicians. Since she was young, she listened to jazz artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, who largely inspired the type of music she writes today. Laufey is currently off tour, but previously played at the Bowery Ballroom in 2022 during her Everything I Know About Love tour across North America and Europe.
Laufey writes a majority of her songs about heartbreak, which is evident in both her raw and meaningful lyrics and in the short spoken monologues she gave to introduce each song. Her performances of tracks like “James,” “Let You Break My Heart Again,” and “Dear Soulmate” touched on her difficult experiences with past partners, breakups, and feeling lost in the realm of love. Lit by the starlike backdrop of the beautiful Mahaiwe theater, Laufey ran onto the stage with her shiny red guitar and played an incredible show with just her voice and her instruments. Her awed fans—consisting of elders, middle-aged adults, teenagers, and children wearing suits, ties, long flowy skirts, dresses, heels, and intricate updos—stayed completely silent during each performance. No phones were present, as people went to truly enjoy the show. Nearing the end of her set, Laufey announced the workings of a second album, and even performed two unreleased songs for the first time that would feature on it.
After playing her last song, “Falling Behind,” Laufey made a quick exit before re-entering to play an encore. She performed a beautiful rendition of “Two Sleepy People” on the stage’s grand piano, and called it a “lullaby” for her audience of one thousand.
Setlist: Fragile, Street by Street, Best Friend, I Wish You Love, Dear Soulmate, Valentine, Let You Break My Heart Again, Like the Movies, Promise (unreleased), From the Start (unreleased), Beautiful Stranger, James, Magnolia, Falling Behind Encore: Two Sleepy People (Hoagy Carmichael and Frank Loesser cover)
Big Time Rush became an overnight boy band sensation in November 2009 during the launching of a scripted TV show of the same name on Nickelodeon. The show highlighted the Hollywood escapades of four hockey players from Minnesota after they were chosen to form a pop band. Throughout the show’s success Carlos, Kendall, James, and Logan came to life as a band off the screen releasing three full length albums and performing worldwide. Big Time Rush concluded in July 2013 and after four years of touring as a band, the guys went their separate ways but remained close friends through the years.
The band is also being honored with a celebratory day known as Big Time Rush Day on April 4. Emily Larson, the Mayor of Duluth, Minnesota will make an official pronouncement from the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center making BTR day a national holiday. Duluth holds special significance for Big Time Rush since it is the hometown of the four band members. Duluth will also have a ceremonial street renamed as tribute to Big Time Rush.
In addition to the celebratory day and international tour, BTR announced a highly anticipated new album that will be released on June 9. The album will be Big Time Rush’s first new studio album in a decade. The guys have begun working on the album in 2022 and are thrilled to share it with their Rushers worldwide.
In attempts to bring joy to their fans during quarantine, the members of Big Time Rush gathered to send a message of love and togetherness. Following the announcement was a socially distant performance of an acoustic version of their smash hit, “Worldwide.” The band received 10+ million streams because of hysteria amongst their fans and in the media. Furthermore, four seasons of the television series were added to Netflix in March 2021. BTR ended 2021 with a release of their first single in 8 years, “Call It Like I See It.” They also performed at iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in Philadelphia and had two sold out shows in Chicago and NYC.
The sensational band kicked off 2022 with the launch of their wildly successful Forever Tour. with over 300,000 tickets across North America. They also released new music, with hit singles “Honey,” “Fall,” and “Not Giving You Up.” BTR also performed live at the Latin Kids Choice Awards, iHeart Music Festival, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the premiere of their first pay-per-view event, “The City Is Ours.” It was a concert film that captured the band’s sold-out show at Madison Square Garden.
BTR fans can purchase tickets to “Can’t Get Enough Tour” here. Additionally, Big Time Rush will offer special sharable content and GIFs that fans can share.
Full details of the “Can’t Get Enough Tour” can be found here.
Big Time Rush | CAN’T GET ENOUGH TOUR 2023
6/22/2023 Fort Worth, TX Dickies Arena
6/24/2023 Durant, OK Choctaw Casino & Resort
6/25/2023 Southaven, MS BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove
6/27/2023 Charlotte, NC PNC Music Pavilion
6/28/2023 Burgettstown, PA The Pavilion at Star Lake
6/30/2023 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
7/1/2023 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
7/2/2023 Hershey, PA Hersheypark Stadium
7/3/2023 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
7/5/2023 Toronto, ON History* ^
7/7/2023 Bethel, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
7/8/2023 Virginia Beach, VA Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
7/9/2023 Wantagh, NY Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
7/11/2023 Bangor, ME Maine Savings Amphitheater
7/12/2023 Mansfield, MA Xfinity Center
7/14/2023 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
7/15/2023 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center
7/16/2023 Tinley Park, IL Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
7/17/2023 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center
7/19/2023 Clarkston, MI Pine Knob Music Theatre
7/21/2023 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
7/22/2023 Milwaukee, WI American Family Insurance Amphitheater
7/23/2023 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
7/24/2023 Nashville, TN Ascend Amphitheater
7/26/2023 Alpharetta, GA Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
7/28/2023 Simpsonville, SC CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park
7/29/2023 Charleston, SC Credit One Stadium
7/30/2023 Orlando, FL Amway Center
8/1/2023 Pelham, AL Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
8/3/2023 The Woodlands, TX The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
8/5/2023 Phoenix, AZ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
The Easter weekend episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL) featured longtime cast member Molly Shannon, alongside musical guests Jonas Brothers.
The cold open featured James Austin Johnson as indicted former President Trump, interrupting The Last Supper to compare himself to Jesus, and pointing out where he would have done better.
Molly Shannon, who has been on a roll with The White Lotus and I Love That for You, in addition to her biography Hello, Molly! available in paperback starting April 11, opened the show with a song alongside featured players.
If you were looking for references to classic Shannon characters, you were in luck. Jeannie ‘Don’t get me Started’ Darcy was featured in her own “Selective Startage” Netflix special, bringing back the super dry humor.
Please Don’t Destroy played Molly 2K23, a video game series based on Shannon’s life, and hidden within the only Mary Catherine Gallagher reference of the night.
Nick Jonas joined the 5-timers club this week, having hosted and performed sans brothers, both of whom have played Studio 8H three times. Nick would stop by during “The Play” and the trio would appear in the final skit of the night, featuring Sally O’Malley, who can kick, stretch and kick.
The latest single from Jonas Brothers, “Waffle House” – featured a dozen backup singers plus a five-piece band for the pure pop tune that is no doubt catchy.
The second song had a far more animated use of the performance space, with “Walls” had backup singers getting enthuasiastically down, a surprise banger to close the night.
Lower East Side legend and classic rock musician Robin Eaton is excited to announce the release of “Wishing Well.” The latest single from Eaton’s upcoming album, Memories of A Misspent Youth, due for release on May 1st.
The single “Wishing Well” combines cinematic Western music with classic rock instrumentals. Using sensibilities reminiscent of Eric Clapton, Robin Eaton evokes memories of days gone by with his haunting vocals.
On the single release, there are many layers of folk, Americana, and classic rock sounds infused with cosmic synths and reminiscent of the Lower East Side in the 1970s. Thus, where Eaton earned his stripes on the local music scene. The latest single, alongside “Drugs R 4 Kids” and “Tell Me Your Dream,” helps Robin Eaton continue to pave a sonic lane for himself.
As a prolific songwriter and producer, Robin Eaton is reintroducing himself as a performing artist in 2023. In addition to his background as a songwriter and artist, he was also in the original Broadway production of Hair.
In the 80s, Robin moved to Nashville and built the studios Alex The Great Recordings and Club Roar Recordings, where Memories of A Misspent Youth was recorded. Eaton is also a combination of a producer, recording engineer, and mixer with an instrumentalist able to fill in wherever there is a hole, be it a guitar gnat, bass bump, even a sitar squiggle.
There should be no shock in naming the latter instrument prior to mentioning Eaton’s status in Nashville, where he moved from his native Pennsylvania to follow the musical muse. The country & western capital, after all, is where the sitar was utilized on a whole series of hits at the height of pop music’s raga rage in the ’60s and ’70s.
Aside from his personal music, Robin Eaton is also a respected composer. Robin’s recent score credits include the film Mountain Rest and, written with collaborator Roger Moutenot, the Narcissa podcast (which was one of last year’s top dramatic podcasts). Both works were directed and written by Robin’s daughter, Alex O Eaton.
Listen to “Wishing Well” from Robin Eaton by clicking the link here.
Memories of A Misspent Youth is due for release on May 1st.
For more music by Robin Eaton, click the link here.
Playhouse Stage Company announced the regional premiere of the hit musical The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, featuring teens from the Playhouse Stage Academy training program, at the Cohoes Music Hall.
The Playhouse Stage Company has been producing free summer musicals at Albany’s Park Playhouse in Washington Park since 1989, producing musicals year-round at Cohoes Music Hall since 2016, and has since become manager of the historic Spindle City venue in 2020. They are celebrating their 35th anniversary with a great lineup of events for the season. The company makes theater an all-inclusive art form by providing free and affordable admission at each production, welcoming people from all walks of life and socio-economic backgrounds. The company also provides arts education programs to young people in the community with Playhouse Stage Academy.
The Cohoes Music Hall opened its door in 1874 in Cohoes. It was restored in 1974 to become what it is today, a historic music hall with a great lineup of events. In late December of last year, the venue was awarded $1.88 million in funding through New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation grants, transforming it into an energy-efficient building. The Lightning Thief production begins on April 13 and runs to the 23, reuniting Director Chuck Kraus, Choreographer Ashley Simone Kirchner, and Musical Director Brandon Jones, who has worked on more than a dozen teen productions at both Albany’s Park Playhouse and Cohoes Music Hall for Playhouse Stage Company.
The LightningThief is a rock musical adapted from the best-selling young adult novel by Rick Riordan of the same name. It was first produced by Theatreworks USA as a one-hour “theatre for young audiences” production in 2014, in 2017 an expanded two-act version premiered at the Lucille Lortel Theatre and was a critically acclaimed hit, and in 2019, there was a limited engagement on Broadway. The show features a thrilling rock score with music and lyrics by Rob Rikicki and a book by Joe Tracz.
The novel follows Percy Jackson, a troubled young man struggling with dyslexia and ADHD, who finds himself expelled from five schools in a few years. He comes to learn he is the half-blood son of a Greek God and finds himself at “Camp Half-Blood,” where he and his friends are sent on a quest by the Oracle of Delphi to uncover the truth behind the theft of Zeus’s lightning bolt. “The Lightning Thief is an epic story that is ideal to be performed by our gifted teen students,” said Owen Smith, Playhouse Stage Company’s Producing Artistic Director. “Fans of the book series will revel in the loyalty to the original book, while the average audience member will be enthralled not only by the cast of colorful characters and rock score but also how personal and relatable the story is.”
The cast is led by AJ Halsey (Percy Jackson) and Joshua Hoyt (Grover), who received strong reviews for their performances in last summer’s The Wedding Singer at Park Playhouse, as well as Molly Kantrowitz (Annabeth Chase) who is playing her first principal character for Playhouse Stage. The cast features eighteen of the area’s most talented teen performing artists, hailing from all corners of the Capital Region. Those who have graduated from the Playhouse Stage Academy have gone on to study in top collegiate theatre programs, and to appear on Broadway, film and television, or national tours.
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical plays April 13 through 23, 2023, at Cohoes Music Hall. Performers play Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are now on sale online, by phone, and in-person through the Playhouse Stage Box Office at Cohoes Music Hall.
