The Beacon Bonfire Music and Art Festival announced its return to the Hudson Valley region this fall, taking place on November 4 and 5 in Beacon. The festival emerged as a community gathering during the pandemic, and evolved into a multi-venue event, showcasing some of the region’s best music, art, and performance.
The festival will take place in 26 indoor and outdoor venues along Beacon’s Main Street. Beacon will host over 400 artists and musicians across over 20 genres, featuring performances from Matt Dickey Group, Ears With Eyes, Rose Stoller, Stephen Clair, Alex Harris, and more.
Photo Credit: Austin Ruffer @austininyourface
In addition to music, the Beacon Bonfire Music and Art Festival will host artistic exhibits from the Ethan Cohen Gallery, Ron English, Frank Hyder, Donna Mikkelson, and Emil Alzamora. Film screenings will take place later in the evening, with both short and feature length programming.
For the kiddie crowd, the festival will offer special kid-friendly programming, including interactive workshops, clay art exhibits, the Steamroller Large Scale Print, and more. Families can enjoy campfires, s’mores, and singalongs on and around Main Street. Children under 12 years old will have free access to the festival.
Photo Credit: Raymond A Wehrli @Zapalandrox
The festival is organized by actors and producers Christian Campbell and America Olivo, Kelly Ellenwood, producer Tim Parsaca, and composer Jeremy Schonfeld. Their aim is to platform regional and local artists in their community, while supporting local art initiatives and performers. All ticket revenue from the festival will go towards the performers.
Tickets, updates, and more information on the festival are available at BeaconBonfire.com.
Acclaimed instrumental progressive rock band, Polyphia, played a sold-out show at Terminal 5 in New York City last week (October 26, 2023) with support from Domi and JD Beck.
Polyphia at Terminal 5. Photograph by David Reichmann (@davidpresspass)
Jazz duo Domi and JD Beck opened the show, with keyboardist Domi Louna and drummer JD Beck delivering a very impressive and lengthy set. Their songs featured highly technical drum patterns and keys. They joked between songs about the quality of their performance, taking jabs at their own skills, which the audience rewarded with big laughs and applause. They played in a fully packed venue and thanked the crowd for showing up early for the set. They left the stage with big applause and a heightened anticipation of the headlining act.
Domi and JD Beck opening for Polyphia. Photograph by David Reichmann (@davidpresspass)
After some brief intro music, Terminal 5 erupted in applause as blinding lights flashed, welcoming Polyphia to the stage. Guitarists and founders Tim Henson and Scott LePage are widely considered to be two of the most influential rock guitarists of today, and they are both Ibanez-endorsed artists with several signature guitars of their own. One of their biggest singles, “Playing God,” has garnered over 30 million views on YouTube. The platform was their initial proving ground when one of their earliest singles, “Impassion,” launched them into fame.
Their set at Terminal 5 included tracks from throughout their four-album catalog. For their encore, they played fan favorites, “Playing God” and “G.O.A.T.” They didn’t speak directly to the crowd at any point in the show, as they didn’t have microphones. But they held their guitars aloft in thanks at the end of the show and walked off with wide smiles on their faces. The crowd cheered them out and left more than satisfied.
You can listen to their latest album here and you can see their upcoming tour dates here. Check out Domi and JD Beck’s music here.
The Halluci Nation (formerly A Tribe Called Red) announced they are performing at The Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023.
Photo credit: Rémi Thériault.
The Halluci Nation is comprised of Bear Witness and Tim “2oolman” Hill, beginning as an act of protest, throwing dance hall parties for Indigenous youth in their hometown of Ottawa to Indigenize the club space after realizing the city’s nightclubs hosted such parties for many different cultures, but none representing the First Nations community. The Halluci Nation takes its name from a phrase coined by John Trudell, to describe the vast global community of people who remember at their core what it means to be human. As a visionary artist and activist, Trudell recognized the connection between his accomplishments and what A Tribe Called Red did intuitively through music and art.
Through groundbreaking stage shows and ever-changing visuals, Bear Witness and 2oolman are working to create media that reflects the modern-day Indigenous identity. They are facilitating a necessary conversation around a subtle and complex representation of the contemporary Indigenous experience. The project is built on collaboration, with the duo collaborating with a diverse set of people, including Yasiin Bey (AKA Mos Def), the Indigenous Australian band, OKA, the Wayuu-Colombian powerhouse, Lido Pimienta, and more.
The next chapter for The Halluci Nation has them further exploring the boundaries of cross-genre collaborations. “We wanted to take the music to another place,” says 2oolman. “We showed a little bit of our ambitious side on our last record and we got to do a lot of songs that we’d been wanting to do for a long time. And this is just the start. We are at the point where we are making music we love, inspired by our everyday lives and the people that surround us. We’ve got so much more coming.”
Photo credit: Rémi Thériault.
This event is part of the Sanctuary Eco-Art Trail project, connecting Indigenous legacy with environmental justice. Located on a block-wide environmental campus in North Central on settler lands, this neighborhood is one of the most under-resourced in New York State, with a long history of disinvestment and environmental contamination. The Eco-Art Trail acknowledges these layered histories as they dream and build towards restored biocultural diversity and robust Indigenous futures.
Indie singer-songwriter, Marina Laurendi, is back with a second single off her upcoming Sophomore EP. The new track “halloween party,” is an ode to childhood innocence, the comfort and safety of home, and the bittersweet feeling of aging into adulthood, coming just in time for the spooky season.
Marina Laurendi is a singer/songwriter and musician, originally from the Western New York area. She started performing as an actress, singer, and dancer at a young age. Her career in musical theater led her to NYC, where she performed around the East Coast and Off-Broadway. Her music takes influence from the pulse of the NYC scene and the calmness of her Western NY upbringing.
Fusing elements of cinematic pop, alternative rock, and singer-songwriter lyricism, her nostalgic and singular sound is a breath of fresh air. She is poetic and moody, with haunting vocals and catchy melodies. Her music is steeped in personal experience yet is universally relatable.
“halloween party” is textured and dripping in ambiance, balancing soft indie rock with tender intimacy. Featuring undertones of singer-songwriter folk, muted acoustic guitar strums, quiet drums, and melodic lines, she captures the sounds that bring about the warm fuzzy feelings associated with home. The track is authentic and raw, featuring voice memos from Marina Laurendi’s childhood friends. It is honest and builds up beautifully into a bittersweet and nostalgic crescendo.
I wrote the song when we were getting ready to sell my childhood home and I was deciding what was next for me. That transitional period stirred up so many emotions and it got me reminiscing about my adolescence. Halloween parties at my childhood home are such a core memory for me and I associate them directly with my childhood and teenage years. When I think of them, I feel such a fondness for home and an appreciation of my upbringing that I didn’t truly value it until later in life.
Marina Laurendi
“halloween party” by Marina Laurendi is the perfect song to add to your fall playlist. Catch up with her new releases and future shows here.
City Winery New York hosted a special night to remember Sinéad O’Connor on October 29th. What started as an idea by Amanda Palmer took shape over the last few months and came together with a star-studded lineup.
Amanda Palmer
The lineup included Stephin Merritt (Magnetic Fields), Amanda Palmer, John Cameron Mitchell, Kevin Devine, Suzanne Vega, Kat Edmonson, Julia Cumming (Sunflower Bean), Catherine Russell, Martha Wainwright, Resistance Revival Chorus, Bilal, Dida Pelled, Toby Lightman, Susan McKeown, and Joy Askew.
Setlist: Dida Pelled: Jealous/Toby Lightman: You Made Me The Thief of Your Heart/Lahna Deering: Dense Water, Deeper Down/Susan McKeown: I Am Stretched on Your Grave/Joy Askew: Mandika/Kevin Devine: This Is To Mother You/Bilal: Just Like You Said It Would Be/Julia Cumming: Success Has Made a Failure of Our Home/Stephin Merrit: The Last Day of Our Acquaintance/Amanda Palmer: Black Boys on Mopeds/Kat Edmonson: In This Heart/Martha Wainwright: Nothing Compares to You/Resistance Revival Chorus: Thank You For Hearing Me/John Cameron Mitchell: The Emperor’s New Clothes/Suzanne Vega: All Apologies/ Catherine Russell: No Man’s Woman
John Cameron MitchellMartha WainwrightDida PelledJoy AskewJulia Cumming (Sunflower Beam)Kat EdmonsonKevin DevineLahna DeeringResistance Revival ChorusSusan McKeownToby LightmanThe House Band
On Thursday, October 26, in a mesmerizing fusion of musical prowess and theatrical artistry, Brooklyn’s own Walrus brought a Brooklyn Bowl audience on a transcendent journey through a musical reimagination of Lewis Carroll’s timeless Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The original production, “Walrus in Wonderland,” presented by Loop Toupe, delivered an immersive experience that blended the iconic sounds of the 60s psychedelic era with mesmerizing live dancers, enchanting costumes, and light show projections.
Since forming in 2021 WALRUS has been on a mission to celebrate the psychedelic music of the Beatles and their contemporaries. From a weekly residency at Manhattan’s The Delancey, to becoming a regular presence at Brooklyn Bowl, Walrus has solidified their status as a cultural staple among New York area concert-goers.
Led by the musical ingenuity of brothers Chris and Tom Mackin and collaborator Josh Santiago, the original soundtrack of “Walrus in Wonderland” enveloped listeners in a psychedelic symphony that evoked the sonic oeuvre of the 1960s across the show’s 13 songs. The night’s standout performance was the debut of the Walrus original “Cheshire Cat” with groovy baselines and ripping solos that left the audience grinning from ear to ear.
During the show, Walrus band members Chris Mackin (Guitar/Vocals), Josh Santiago (Guitar/Vocals), Satoko Mori (Keyboard/Vocals), Dan Shein (Drums) and Sarah Elaz (Bass/Vocals) were joined by a roster of talented guest musicians including Will Corona, Michael Conklin, and Coco Solazzo who took attendees on a musical adventure down the rabbit hole.
The debut performance was elevated by the visual spectacle projection-mapped by Ghost of Provence and seamlessly matched with dance choreography by the talented Megan Roe. Together, the ensemble delivered an experience that defied convention and brought attendees through the looking glass for an evening of unrivaled artistic immersion. “Walrus in Wonderland” was put on by the New York production company Loop Troupe, a group of artists presenting new and experimental material.
Reflecting on opening night, Chris Mackin the show’s lead guitarist said, “It is incredible to see this cacophonous experience brought to life. Tom and I have talked for a long time about wanting to create a concert experience that went beyond the music and played to all of your senses. It is thrilling to watch audiences go on this multi-sensory adventure.”
Walrus in Wonderland – Brooklyn Bowl –October 26
Set One: Mr. W Rabbit > Down, Down, Down > Bottle Says Drink Me, Pig Baby, Garden Of Live Flowers [1], Cheshire Cat, Looking Glass House, Mad Tea Party [2]
Set Two: Nonsense If You Like [3], Vorpal Sword, The Mouse > Caterpillar Hookah, Curious Dream [3] > Down, Down, Down Reprise
Encore: I Am the Walrus [1] [4]
[1] Featuring Will Corona on vocals [2] Featuring Michael Conklin on saxophone [3] Featuring Coco Solazzo on vocals [4] Beatles Cover
The reach of Griselda Records remains immeasurable. From murals translated across continents to ritualistic celebrations in concert, people appreciate those who stamp their legacy in a way that could never be replicated.
The Liz by Armani Caesar
Griselda grew organically and through a brilliant scheme devised by Westside Gunn. Armani Caesar, first lady of Griselda, serves as a cornerstone to their rise and continual ascension.
Buffalo: the Queen City
Armani Caesar often embodies the lavish aesthetic. Her mixtapes consistently revolve around street couture. Mixtapes named after Liz Claiborne, Miss Elizabeth [WWE] and Elizabeth Taylor showcase the lane and luxurious vibes she provides. She dropped out of college the minute she learned how to sell Iceberg and other apparel items discussed in Marketing class at North Carolina Central University. “Hip-Hop in Context 1973-1997” taught by Kid N Play and 9th Wonder at this HBCU changed Armani’s perspective immensely.
Armani Caesar poses beneath spiral stairs while donning a ‘Buffalo Kids’ necklace
This artist expresses herself in an uninhibited and nonchalant manner. Treating hip-hop as competition runs in the veins of any Griselda artist. Yet, Armani makes it seem like she only conquers hip-hop to generate an additional stream of income. That type of disposition adds to the overall appeal of the artist. Additionally, her fashion expertise continues to create many satisfied customers at Armani’s Closet.
Producer Over Consumer
With an entrepreneurial mindset – Armani remains steadfast in all of her endeavors. In 2020, she signed to Griselda and began to cement her legacy as the first lady on the roster. She joined GxFR during quite the pinnacle of musical production for her and her Griselda teammates. Upon rapping over a legendary DJ Premier beat, her abilities began to sharpen quickly.
Liz 2 by Armani Caesar
The way that Westside Gunn reignites and branches individuals together proves why Griselda’s reach will stand the test of time for generations to come. The amount of individually talented people comprise quite the collective of ambitious people who push the genre forward. Armani Caesar could quite possibly be the flyest emcee of the bunch and will continue to elevate her skillset down the line.
AC could tour in 2024 so make sure you stay tuned to see where she might perform.
To cap off a wildly successful 2023 touring schedule that spanned every corner of the country, The Disco Biscuits celebrated with two powerhouse shows in the friendly confines of the legendary Capitol Theatre in Port Chester.
The band is still riding high atop a new wave of creativity and cohesion that’s fostered some of their best performances to date. Friday and Saturday night in Port Chester were no exceptions with the Biscuits doling out some pre-Halloween goodies.
Friday night initiated with “Hope” in the opener spot, aka a good old fashioned “Hopener” that saw the band fly through this older number with ease. The first of tonight’s two cover song selections came next as the Biscuits took the Men Without Hats hit “Safety Dance” out for a spin. A brief outro jam soon morphed into the beginning of “Caterpillar” that took its time with a nicely extended opening section and the band was off and running. A silky smooth segue into the instrumental “M1” came next before an inverted “Naeba” and the end of “Caterpillar” wrapped up the opening stanza.
A Biscuits classic in “House Dog Party Favor” kicked off the second set in fine fashion as the band’s iconic light show replete with laser beams coated the walls of the Capitol Theater in a rich tapestry of colors and images. The second set maintained an old school vibe to it early on with the near-20 minute “Helicopters” that came next and featured a well crafted jam with guitarist Jon Gutwillig leading the way. As it reached yet another climax, a slight change in the rhythm then ushered in the second cover of the night, the band’s instrumental take on Donna Summer’s Disco Era hit “I Feel Love.”
Another funk laden jam with a slow build in intensity served as the foundation for a segue into the ending of “To Be Continued,” another one of the the new batch of Disco Biscuits originals and the first time it’s ever received the “inversion” treatment, with the ending section played immediately before the beginning of the song. Another newer number in “Freeze” followed before a quick re-visit to “Helicopters” to close out a second set that was one long segue of music after the opening “House Dog.” “Times Square” followed by a triumphant and powerful “Morph Dusseldorf” put one last finishing touch on the evening in the encore slot.
Saturday night’s first set featured another extended bookending as it both began and concluded with another selection from the newer originals, “Twisted In The Road.” Seemingly picking up right where they left off the previous night, a dark, up-tempo jam was the first one out of the shoots. The band continued to show their comfort with the new material with another seamless segue into a monstrous “Buy The Time” that came next and clocked in at close to 30 minutes overall. With infectious melodies provided by Aron Magner on keys and a completely danceable beat, this one is sure to be a live staple for years to come and produced, arguably, the best jam of the entire weekend.
Near its completion, elements of “Digital Buddha” began to seep in and the Biscuits were soon away with an inverted take on an old crowd favorite. The band then shifted from the old right back to the new with the fittingly-titled “Monster” that came next, only the third time ever this instrumental song has been played live. It featured some familiar chording that had some thinking “Lunar Pursuit” or otherwise instead. As the tempo began to increase, another familiar sound began to emerge, this time the peak of “Crickets” as the band steamrolled through another inverted rendition of a live staple before wrapping up the set.
The last frame of music for the weekend did nothing but feature more of the same: only a few songs needed with added bountiful jams placed in between each. Things got started with a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Run Like Hell” that started with a slow, patient intro jam before fully kicking into gear. Much like its first set predecessor in “Buy The Time,” a significant chunk of the second was devoted to another new tune in “The Deal,” with this one clocking in at well over 30 minutes in total.
An inverted (for the first time ever) “One Chance To Save The World” took the yet-to-be-released ‘Space Rock Opera’ took the song to new height, peak performance that found itself slipping into “Basis for a Day.” Fans got a taste of “Basis” in April when the second set of the final night featured multiple segues in and out of portions of the song, fitting newer tunes like “The Deal” and “To Be Continued…” within “Basis.” This evening, just one new song, “Photograph” would be sandwiched in between, an intense, energy driven combination, closing the night over the last 38 minutes.
An encore of “Home Again” fit the bill nicely, as fans have found the Capitol Theatre to be home base in the New York metro area, with annual – and now bi-annual runs at the original rock palace. Just before truly calling it a night, Marc Brownstein thanked the crowd and dropped the band back into the final portion of “Basis for a Day,” dubbed “Basis for a Tour” in the Nugs recording.
While the band is done touring for the year, they will be at North Beach Music Festival in Miami in early December, at Palladium Times Square for a late night show on December 28, followed by two nights at Franklin Music Hall in Philadelphia, before heading out west in 2024. Full tour dates can be found here.
Disco Biscuits – The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY – Friday, October 27, 2023
Set 1: Hope, Safety Dance > Caterpillar > M1 > Naeba 1 > Caterpillar Set 2: House Dog Party Favor, Helicopters > I Feel Love > To Be Continued 2 1 > Freeze > Helicopters Encore: Times Square, Morph Dusseldorf 1 inverted 2 first time inverted
Disco Biscuits – The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY – Saturday, October 28, 2023
Set 1: Twisted in the Road > Buy The Time > Digital Buddha 1 > Monster 2 > Crickets 3 1 > Twisted in the Road Set 2: Run Like Hell 4 > The Deal > One Chance To Save The World 5 1 > Basis For A Day > Photograph > Basis For A Day Encore: Home Again, Basis For A Day 6 1 inverted 2 LTP 3/12/22 (108 shows) 3 w/ Gamma Goblins tease 4 unfinished 5 1st time inverted 6 reprise
New Kids on the Block, the Boston native pop act, announced the Magic Summer 2024 Tour, reviving their 1990 tour of the same name.
Special guests Paula Abdul and DJ Jazzy Jeff will join the group as they embark, with stops in Wantagh, Saratoga Springs, and Darien Center.
The tour will kick off on June 14 in Cuyahoga Falls, OH, with stops in Denver, Phoenix, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Toronto. The group will make stops in New York at Wantagh’s Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater on August 4, Saratoga Springs’ Broadview Stage at SPAC on August 11, and Darien Center’s Darien Lake Amphitheater on August 22.
The true ‘magic’ of this tour is in the music, the moments and the memories that we get to create – and recreate – with our amazing fans each night. Feeling all the nostalgic feels of the original Magic Summer, with the bond that we’ve shared throughout the years, will make for a most magical time indeed.
Donnie Wahlberg
As a revival of their 1990 Magic Summer Tour, New Kids on the Block will perform a selection of their greatest hits, fan favorite tracks, and deep cuts for diehard fans. The tour is their first predominantly outdoor tour in 15 years, with many of the same venues from the 1990 tour.
New Kids on the Block will release a revamped version of their 2008 comeback album, The Block Revisited, on November 3. The release will celebrate 15 years since their return from hiatus.
TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with Fanclub and CITI presales beginning on Wednesday, November 1. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning on Friday, November 3 at 10 AM at LiveNation.com.
New Kids on the Block Upcoming Tour Dates
June 14 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
June 15 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
June 18 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
June 19 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
June 21 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
June 22 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
June 23 – Prior Lake, MN – Mystic Amphitheater
June 25 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre
June 26 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
June 28 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
June 29 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
July 1 – Highland, CA – Yaamava’ Theater **
July 2 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre
July 3 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
July 5 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum
July 6 – Palm Desert, CA – Acrisure Arena
July 7 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 9 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
July 10 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
July 12 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
July 13 – The Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Presented by Huntsman
July 14 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
July 16 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater
July 17 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater
July 19 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 20 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
July 21 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
July 25 – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium
July 26 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
July 27 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
July 28 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park
August 1 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
August 2 – Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre
August 3 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
August 4 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
August 8 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
August 9 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion
August 10 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
August 11 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC
August 15 – Philadelphia, PA – TD Pavilion at the Mann
August 16 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
August 17 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
August 22 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
August 23 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena
August 24 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater
New York duo Frog return with their fifth album, Grog, a collection of gorgeous Indie Americana full of the nostalgia, hope, defeat, and lust.l
Frog is made up of brothers Danny (songwriting) and Steve Bateman (drums, percussion, backup vocals).
While Steve believes a lot of his albums felt as if they took place in real-world cities (such as New York, and LA in the 70s), Steve describes this new album as taking place in Hades. He writes, “The whole thing is bathed in flames and the grooves are bubbling and the devil is a DJ smiling broadly.”
Eclectic and wildly creative, Frog’s new fully-realized LP veers from the gorgeous grooving funk of “Black on Black on Black” to the classic pop of “Maybelline” before “New Ro” exemplifies the “gothic and cartoonish” characteristics that songwriter Daniel Bateman describes his latest work with.
Sometimes it’s Jonathan Richman, sometimes it’s Hall & Oates, sometimes it’s Billy Joel, sometimes it’s Steely Dan, sometimes it’s Townes Van Zandt…but it’s always Frog.
“There are really exciting places we were able to get to on this record, places that I didn’t know existed before I found them. It feels both gothic and cartoonish to me, big gargoyles, dark skies, storms, but the statues are of ‘Aaahh!!! Real Monsters.’ Every song is a step deeper into the abyss.”
Daniel Bateman
Grog will be released both via CD and digital on November 17 and launched with a performance at YoFi Fest 11 (Yonkers, NY) which accompanies a screening of their “Kings of Blah” documentary.
