NYS Music 2023

Tag: roots

  • Ganondagan Indigenous Music & Arts Festival Returns to Seneca Art and Culture Center in Victor

    The annual Ganondagan Indigenous Music and Arts Festival returns on July 22 and 23. The event runs 10AM-5PM on both Saturday and Sunday at the Seneca Art & Culture Center in Victor, NY. The festival is free to the public, however donations will go toward funding future events. 

    Ganondagan is a historic site located on the original ground of a 17th century Seneca town. Taking up over 500 acres, the site honors the way in which the Seneca people have influenced everything from political philosophy to our concept of the natural environment. Since its construction in 2015, the Seneca Art and Culture Center has acted as a space to demonstrate Haudenosaunee contributions to art, culture, and society. 

    Ganondagan Indigenous Music and Arts Festival
    The Sinquah Family Dance Troupe

    The Ganondagan Indigenous Music and Arts Festival looks to highlight Haudenosaunee and Indigenous culture through various ways. The festival will include dancing, storytelling, traditional crafts, a Native American arts market, food, live music and more. 

    Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the Wampum/OTGOÄ Exhibition in the Seneca Art & Culture Center. In addition to the tour, there will be on-demand t-shirt screen printing with artwork from artist Peter Jemison (Seneca). Organizers encourage visitors to bring their own 100% cotton shirt to have screen printed. 

    The artists performing at the festival represent several different cultures and groups. This year’s lineup of performers includes Native folk-rock band, December Wind (Mohawk). There will also be dancers from the Sinquah Family Dance Troupe (Hopi/Tewa/Choctaw) and the Haudenosaunee social dancers, Indigenous Spirit Dancers. In addition to music and dance, the festival will feature storytelling from Ronnie Reitter (Seneca) & Tonia Galban (Mohawk). Artists Samantha Jacobs (Seneca), Cliff Redeye (Seneca), and Marilyn Issacs (Tuscarora) are also all scheduled to host demonstrations. 

    Ganondagan Indigenous Music and Arts Festival
    December Wind- Facebook

    December Wind is a Native folk-rock band led by two-time Native American Music Award-winning artist, Atsiaktonkie (Mohawk) accompanied by bass guitarist, Terry Terrance (Mohawk). Together, the group expertly fuses folk-rock with the sounds of Akwesasne/Kanienkehaka (Mohawk) culture. December Wind songs are filled with stories of love, hope, the struggles of native peoples and the beauty of their heritage.

    Here for more details and information about the Ganondagan Indigenous Music and Arts Festival.

  • Maria Muldaur, Taj Mahal And Sona Jobarteh To Perform At The Egg

    The Empire State Plaza’s Center for the Performing Arts, or The Egg, recently announced that Maria Muldaur, Taj Mahal and Sona Jobarteh would all be joining the Albany venue’s 2023-24 programming. Muldaur is scheduled to perform on Sept. 15 with Taj Mahal and Jobarteh stopping by on March 7, 2024. 

    The Egg is a state-owned entity created to bring quality artists and performances to New Yorkers. Besides music, the venue showcases several forms of art including dance, comedy, film, and theater. Originally constructed in 1978, The Egg features two theaters and can comfortably house over 1,400 visitors. 

    Since its inception, the venue has attracted some of the biggest names in arts and entertainment. Past performers include Roger McGuinn, Chaka Khan, Dave Chappelle, Eric Burdon, Margaret Cho, and Buddy Guy. 

    Maria Muldaur- September 15, 7:30 PM 

    Making music for over 55 years, American folk/roots artist Maria Muldaur became a household name thanks to her 1973 hit song “Midnight at the Oasis”.  Released as a single, the track received a Grammy nomination and has since become one of the quintessential songs in the genre. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the bubbly and infectious tune, she will perform the song along with the help of the Red Hot Bluesiana Band. Together, the two will showcase some of Muldaur’s classic blues, country, folk, swing, and pop offerings. The performance will also include some of the artist’s collaborative work with the Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt, Tuba Skinny, and Taj Mahal. Here for tickets and information about the performance at The Egg.

    Taj Mahal & Sona Jobarteh- March 7, 7:30 PM 

    Taj Mahal has established himself as one of the world’s premier blues musicians throughout his extensive career. The Harlem-born artist is known for melding together the sounds of traditional American blues with elements from the Caribbean, Africa, South Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Originally rising to prominence in the 1960s, Taj has earned three Grammy awards and ten nominations. In 2014 he was awarded the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. 

    Sona Jobarteh is a Gambian singer, composer, and instrumentalist credited for being a master of the Kora stringed instrument. With her diverse and ethereal sound Jobarteh has been hailed as one of the biggest upcoming stars in world music. Blending traditional West African, blues, pop, and even afro beats, Jobarteh has amassed fans from all over the globe. Here for tickets and information about the performance.

    To check out The Egg’s full schedule of performances click here.

  • In Focus: The Wailers at The Strand Theater in Hudson Falls

    The Wailers from Jamaica brought classic roots reggae to The Strand Theater in Hudson Falls on Saturday, April 22. Playing to a packed theater, the band got the crowd to their feet for a night of reggae dancing after much enticing and cajoling. In the end, as it always is with roots reggae, it was the music that brought them to their feet. Roots infects the soul with a groove, and when it is the classics from The Wailers, there is no resisting the dance. New Yorkers that caught The Wailers at the Brooklyn Bowl back in 2019 know this so well!

    Mitchell Brunings, lead singer of The Wailers. Photo by Derek Java.

    Lead by the son of famed bassist and founder Aston “Familyman” Barrett, the band brought love and light to The Strand. Aston Barrett, Jr. sat tight on the drums all evening, keeping a groovy rhythm with bassist Owen “Dreadie” Reid. On lead guitar was Wendel “Junior Jazz” Ferraro, and on keys was Andres “Ipez” Lopez. Backup singers Alecia Marie and Teena “Tamara” Barnes were amazing and held the crowd in love. Lead singer Mitchell Brunings is perfect singing Bob Marley’s parts on the classics. Reggae is good for the soul, and this night proved to be a refreshing experience for a thirsty crowd. This concert-goer can not wait for them to return!

    The Wailers band leader Aston Barrett Jr. Photo by Derek Java.

    Set 1: Trenchtown Rock, Is This Love, Concrete Jungle, Chant Down Babylon, Satisfy My Soul, Destiny, Get Up Stand Up, Stir It Up, Three Little Birds, One Love.

    Set 2: No More Trouble, Rat Race, Rebel Music, No Woman No Cry, Crazy Baldhead, One World, Coming in From the Cold, Lively Up Yourself.

    Encore: Redemption Song, Buffalo Soldier, Could You Be Loved.

    Catch The Wailers on tour now across the US and back again.