NYS Music 2024

Author: Faith Logue

  • Oscars 2024 Music Nominees Includes Robbie Robertson, Billie Eilish, and More

    The 2024 Oscar nominations were just announced, featuring Robbie Robertson receiving a posthumous nomination for Killers of the Flower Moon, Billie Eilish for Barbie, and more.

    oscars

    The 2024 Oscars will occur on Sunday, March 10, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. With an eclectic mix of musicians, the music nominees are bold and diverse, creating songs for some great films last year.

    In the Best Original Score category, Robbie Robertson earned a posthumous Oscar nomination for his score for Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon. Robertson, composer, songwriter, and musician known for the influential group the Band, died Aug. 9 at age 80. He was a longtime collaborator with Scorsese, starting with 1978’s The Last Waltz. The iconic director acknowledged Robertson in a statement about the Oscar nom, writing ” I only wish that Robbie Robertson had lived to see his work recognized—our many years of friendship and Robbie’s growing consciousness of his own Native heritage played a crucial role in my desire to get this film onscreen.”

    Other nominees in that category include Flushing native and infamous composer John Williams for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Williams has received almost 80 GRAMMY nominations for his work in iconic films, and 54 Oscar nominations, the most of any living person. Ludwig Göransson’s emotionally charged compositions for Oppenheimer earned a rightful nomination, and English musician Jerskin Fendrix received his first nom for Poor Things.

    Robbie Robertson, photo by Matthew Eisman for Getty Images.

    In the Best Original Song category, Diane Warren earned her seventh consecutive Oscar nom for “The Fire Inside” from Flamin’ Hot, her 15th overall. Jon Batiste, who won an Oscar three years ago for collaborating on the Soul score with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, got his first best original song nod for “It Never Went Away” from American Symphony, a documentary about a year in his life.

    Killers of the Moon received another Oscar nomination with “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)” by Scott George. Barbie spawned two best song nominees, the first film since La La Land seven years ago. “I’m Just Ken” by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt and “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, which also received several GRAMMY noms, made it on the ballot.

    To see the full list of 2024 Oscar nominees, visit here.

  • SPAC Celebrates 75 Years of New York City Ballet with 2024 Season

    Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) has announced its 2024 New York City Ballet (NYCB) season, featuring four unique programs from July 9-13 as part of NYCB’s historic 75 anniversary and its 58 season in Saratoga.

    Sara Mearns, in white, and company in “Swan Lake”, choreography © The George Balanchine Trust, New York City Ballet, David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center. Friday, May 26, 2023, 8 pm. Credit Photo: Erin Baiano.

    Called “the foremost creative ballet troupe in the world” by The New York Times, New York City Ballet will bring its roster of more than 90 dancers under the direction of Artistic Director Jonathan Stafford and Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan, accompanied by the New York City Ballet Orchestra, led by Music Director Andrew Litton. New York City Ballet, one of the foremost ballet companies in the world, was founded in 1948 by the legendary choreographer George Balanchine and arts patron Lincoln Kirstein and quickly became world-renowned for its athletic and contemporary style. Today, NYCB continues to be inspired by its founders who envisioned an authentically American expression of ballet with a company that reflects the rich cultural diversity of the city and nation.

    “This season marks the occasion of our beloved New York City Ballet’s historic 75 anniversary. We look forward to an incredible week celebrating our shared history over the past nearly six decades, while also pointing toward our exciting future together,” said Elizabeth Sobol, president and CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

    Opening the season on July 9 is “NYCB On and Off Stage,” hosted by NYCB principal dancers for a unique “behind the curtain” experience featuring excerpts from the week’s ballets and culminating with a celebratory after-party.

    Highlighting the residency is George Balanchine’s three-act work Jewels, returning for the first time since 2016 and featuring Fauré’s elegant Emeralds, Stravinsky’sjazz-inflected Rubies, and Tschaikovsky’s symphonic Diamonds.

    Emily Kikta in “Rubies”, JEWELS, New York City Ballet, David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center, Tuesday, September 17, 2019. Credit Photo: Erin Baiano

    Also featured are two evenings dedicated to works by contemporary choreographers including a new work by Amy Hall Garner, which is set to hold its world premiere as part of NYCB’s 2024 spring season. Other works include Gustave le Gray No. 1, a SPAC debut choreographed by Pam Tanowitz and set to the music of Caroline Shaw, Ulysses Dove’s dynamically charged, abstract work Red Angels, and Justin Peck’s sneaker ballet The Times are Racing, heralded by audiences and critics alike since its premiere in 2017.

    Rounding out the season will be two performances of some of Balanchine’s most beloved works, including the classic story ballet Swan Lake, the patriotic Stars and Stripes, the SPAC-commissioned work The Steadfast Tin Soldier, based on Hans Christian Andersen’s charming fairytale, and scenes from Coppélia, featuring children from the Capital Region, celebration the work’s 50 anniversary, which held its world premiere at SPAC in 1974.  

    Daniel Applebaum and Naomi Corti in Gustave Le Gray No. 2, choreography by Pam Tanowitz. New York City Ballet Art Series, Friday, April 29, 2022, David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center. Credit Photo: Erin Baiano

    Tickets will be available beginning on February 9 at 10 a.m. for members (tiered by level) and on February 22 at 10 a.m. for the general public. Visit here for details.

    NEW YORK CITY BALLET: JULY 9 – 13 

    NYCB On and Off Stage  

    TUESDAY, JULY 9 @ 7:30 P.M. 

    NYCB principal dancers host a unique “behind the curtain” experience featuring excerpts from the week’s ballets. A compelling evening for newcomers and fans alike. Immediately following the program is a celebratory “dance party” in the Hall of Springs.  

    Jewels 

    WEDNESDAY, JULY 10 @ 7:30 P.M. 

    THURSDAY, JULY 11 @ 2:00 P.M.  

    Emeralds (Fauré/Balanchine) 

    Rubies (Stravinsky/Balanchine) 

    Diamonds (Tschaikovsky/Balanchine) 

    Contemporary Choreography 

    THURSDAY, JULY 11 @ 7:30 P.M. 

    SATURDAY, JULY 13 @ 7:30 P.M. 

    New Garner* (TBA/Garner) 

    Red Angels (Einhorn/Dove) 

    Gustave le Gray No. 1* (Shaw/Tanowitz) 

    The Times Are Racing (Deacon/Peck) 

    Swan Lake & Stars and Stripes 

    FRIDAY, JULY 12 @ 7:30 P.M. 

    SATURDAY, JULY 13 @ 2 P.M.  

    Swan Lake (Tschaikovsky/Balanchine) 

    Scenes from Coppélia (Delibes/Balanchine and Danilova, after Petipa) 

    The Steadfast Tin Soldier (Bizet/Balanchine) 

    Stars and Stripes (Sousa, orch. by Kay/Balanchine)

    *indicates SPAC premiere  

  • Oswego Music Hall Announces 2024 Calendar, Featuring Upstate Group Driftwood

    The Oswego Music Hall, also known as the Ontario Performing Arts Center, has announced its 2024 calendar of events, featuring diverse band Mile Twelve, and Americana Upstate-NY group Driftwood, among others.

    Oswego Music Hall

    The Oswego Music Hall evolved from a little coffee house venue called “The Low Life Cafe,” created by Richard Reinert back in 1976, on Water Street in Oswego where it was known as the Market House Music Hall. Oswego Music Hall was incorporated in 1979 and received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in 1985. The venue relocated twice before settling into the McCrobie Civic Center, a historic municipal building adjacent to Breitbeck Park, overlooking the Great Lake Ontario.

    Run by an incredibly reliable team of volunteers, Oswego Music Hall has produced diverse and high-quality concerts on their National Stage every other Saturday night during their fall, winter/spring seasons, and national stage events for 40 years. Their programs offer Oswego and the Greater Central New York community exposure to top-quality touring musicians, singers, and songwriters of many genres. Most importantly, the venue helps support artists and music not typically heard in the mainstream media, encouraging the development of emerging artists from the community. 

    Their first Main Stage event of the year is on January 27 at 7:30 p.m. with Boston group Mile Twelve. The group has won several awards, and recently added two new members: fiddler and vocalist Ella Jordan and mandolinist Korey Brodsky, adding a new dimension to the band. With a variety of songs and genres, people can expect to hear a little bit of everything.

    Tom Rush at the Oswego Music Hall.

    The next Main Stage event is on February 10 with Driftwood performing. Anyone familiar with the Americana music scene knows this Upstate, New York-based band has cut their teeth on a killer live show. With a never-ending tour schedule and a steady buzz, they have built a very solid underground fan base.

    National Stage acts coming to the venue include Vance Gilbert, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Shawna Caspi and Rachael Kilgour, Big Sky Quartet, and many more.

    To purchase tickets and for more information, visit here.

    Oswego Music Hall Events Calendar

    Jan 27 Mile Twelve

    Feb 9 Open Mic w/Mark Wahl opening

    Feb 10 Driftwood 

    Feb 17 Jazz by the Lake

    Feb 23 Open Mic w/Kenny Roffo opening

    Feb 24 Vance Gilbert, w/Cam Caruso opening

    Mar 2 Imagining Kerouac, curated by Don Masterson

    Mar 8 Open Mic w/Jane Zell opening

    Mar 9 Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen

    Mar 16 Jazz by the Lake

    Mar 22 Open Mic w/Frank Stefanek and Julie Clement opening

    Mar 23 Shawna Caspi and Rachael Kilgour (Women in Music Series)

    Apr 12 Open Mic w/Mark Zane opening

    Apr 13 Big Sky Quartet

    Apr 20 Jazz by the Lake

    Apr 26 Open Mic w/Larry Kyle opening

    Apr 27 Livingston Taylor 

    May 11 Sam Robbins (Season Finale, Emerging Artists Showcase)

  • Buffalo Ska Festival 2024 Lineup Announced

    The Buffalo Ska Festival has announced the full lineup for this year’s fest, taking place at Buffalo Iron Works on July 13, 2024. Buffalo Ska Fest delivers a front-row ticket to the Ska revival, featuring handpicked local, regional, and national acts.

    The full lineup of artists set to appear at Buffalo Ska Fest includes Against All Authority, Folly, The Code, Buffalo acts Working Class Stiffs, The Abruptors, and Do It With Malice, Stop the Presses from Brooklyn, PWRUP, The Chemical Imbalance, The What Nows?, and Turkey Blaster Omega from Rochester.

    After selling out during presales, Buffalo Iron Works is the new official home of Buffalo Ska Fest. Located in the Cobblestone District with an outdoor patio, full bar and kitchen, hosting up to 500 attendees with parking and walking distance to hotels, Buffalo Iron Works is the perfect place for gatherings and a good time in Buffalo. 

    Featured at the fest is The Ska Shop, showcasing vendors such as Timeless Babez, Ska Tinz, Ov Lust & Leather, and Insidious Industries as well as official Buffalo Ska Fest and band merch.

    Tickets to Buffalo Ska Festival are on sale now. The all-ages event will feature general admission tickets, as well as VIP packages. VIP includes early entry, a pre-party, access to the upstairs lounge & viewing areas, an official poster, a lanyard & badge. For tickets to the kick-off party, visit here.

  • JazzBuffalo Announces “Art Meets Jazz” Series

    JazzBuffalo has announced the brand new “Art Meets Jazz,” series, a four-part event taking place at Beebe’s at the Gallery and the C. Stuart and Jane H. Hunt Gallery with the first installment on Jan. 24 from 6-8:30 p.m.

    JazzBuffalo is the d.b.a. and brand name for the Greater Buffalo Jazz Society, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to building jazz awareness and jazz appreciation in the WNY area. The organization promotes jazz and builds audience appreciation for jazz through jazz news, live performances, concerts, festivals, jazz series, event calendaring, ticketing, hosting internationally recognized jazz musicians, and jazz education.

    Experience the harmonious blending of ‘Art Meets Jazz’ at Beebe’s at the Gallery and the C. Stuart and Jane H. Hunt Gallery — an exceptional and one-of-a-kind event. With a uniquely captivating art gallery encounter and entertaining sounds of live jazz music, it is a perfect place to relax and enjoy some quality art. This event is set to provide a unique New York City-style gallery experience, brought to audiences through the collaborative efforts of Tony Zambito, producer of the renowned Art of Jazz Series, and Peter Hunt, esteemed sponsor of the Art of Jazz Series.

    “This unique collaboration represents a fusion of art and jazz, a joint effort between Peter Hunt and myself,” said Tony Zambito, founder and Executive Director of JazzBuffalo, for Buffalo Rising. “Our goal is to expand the artistic synergy between art and jazz, continuing our mission to enrich Buffalo’s cultural landscape, akin to our successful Art of Jazz Series at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum.”

    Beebe’s at the Gallery.

    Beebe’s at the Gallery is billed as “An art-forward events venue,” featuring a dining room that seats up to 50 people. The new venue is named after the architect of the Brisbane Building, Milton E. Beebe. For the first installment, artist Andy Russell will open exhibit 111 Alignment with artist XIII at the Hunt Gallery. 

    For the splendid jazz performance, JazzBuffalo brings DeeAnn DiMeo, affectionately known as DeeAnn, who has been entertaining Western New Yorkers for over 20 years. She has graced small clubs to large venues with everything from solo to big bands. Her versatility reaches jazz fans, pop fans, blues, and country audiences, and even church worship services. She’ll be joined by some of Buffalo’s best next-generation rising stars in the jazz scene with Harry Graser on Keyboard, Ed Croft on bass, and John Troy on saxophone/flute.

    A $30 ticket provides you admission to the gallery, live music, and a delightful selection of light hors d’oeuvres. A cash bar offering beer and wine will be available throughout the event. To ensure a comfortable atmosphere for listening to music, socializing, and viewing the art, attendance will be limited to 70 guests.

  • Madonna in Trouble, Fans Sue over Late Start at Brooklyn “Celebration Tour” Dates

    Pop icon Madonna has run into some trouble as two fans who attended the December 13 date of her Brooklyn “Celebration Tour,” have decided to sue the musician for starting her show over two hours late, causing it to end at around 1 a.m.

    Madonna performing during “The Celebration Tour” at Barclays Center on December 14, 2023, photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Live Nation/Getty Images.

    As reported in the BBC, the case, brought by Michael Fellows and Jonathan Hadden, states that “many ticketholders who attended concerts on a weeknight had to get up early to go to work and/or take care of their family responsibilities the next day.” Due to the start time changing from the previously scheduled 8:30 p.m. to a near 10:30, making the pair leave the show at around 1 a.m. they were “left stranded in the middle of the night” and “confronted with limited public transportation, limited ride-sharing, and/or increased public and private transportation costs.”

    The defendants only attended the December 13 concert, but the suit claims that the December 14 and 16 concerts also had a delayed start time. Fellows and Hadden are accusing Madonna, Barclays Center, and tour promoter Live Nation of “unconscionable, unfair, and/or deceptive trade practices” for the delayed start time, citing it as an exercise of false advertising. Had they known this would have occurred, they said they would have not purchased tickets.

    The court papers also say Madonna “has a long history of arriving and starting her concerts late, sometimes several hours late.” In 2019, during her “Madame X” theater tour, Madonna was similarly sued for starting her show at 10:30 p.m. and was also called out at her 2016 Rebel Heart Tour for being late.

    Madonna’s “Celebration Tour” was a greatest hits show including more than 40 songs from her career. The Barclays Center shows were originally supposed to happen in July 2023 but were rescheduled following her hospitalization in June for a serious bacterial infection. The tour continues until its last stop in Mexico in April.

    https://youtu.be/lsvv6JoJ358?si=AwLYQ0CSqegaa-Ii

  • Sam Rappaport Explores Intimacy and Growth in “Bicycle Away”

    Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Sam Rappaport has released the music video for his latest single “Bicycle Away,” teaming up with Queens-based interpretive dancers and filmmakers Kathleen Dalton and Sonja Petermann for the intimate and emotional track.

    Credit: John LaRosa.

    Sam Rappaport is a Los Angeles-born writer and musician living in Bushwick. He pulls from rock, jazz, and soul, creating understated compositions. With a touch of delicate vocals, he creates an intimate vibe that makes the listener feel as if they are being addressed directly.

    “Bicycle Away” was produced by Lorenzo Wolff and recorded in his East Williamsburg studio Restoration Sound. The track traces the volatile seesawing of a relationship struggling to reach equilibrium, with the narrator acknowledging his need for emotional growth while also yearning for an escape route. He wants to escape and move beyond the horizon but also wants to stay close.

    I wrote this song about a year and a half ago. I think it started with this image–this memory–of my friends and I riding bikes through the streets of the valley, in Southern California–how it felt like we were explorers charting out a whole geography of experiences. We felt trapped by the valley, and we wanted to escape, but there was also such a feeling of freedom in being a kid, on a bike, after school, racing through different neighborhoods. Our entire lives were still in the distance. Then, from there, I moved into the present and started thinking about the difficulties I’ve had in finding equilibrium in relationships, the tendency to kind of swing between extremes. Somehow, I crammed all that stuff together into a song. I’m not really sure how it happens.

    Sam Rappaport.

    The music video is soft and nostalgic, bringing the viewer in deep with the rhythmic movement and slow edits. Sam Rappaport’s voice is melodic, bringing in irresistible slow guitars and percussion. The listener can fall hard into the track, reminiscing on their past along with Sam. The interpretive dancing was a unique touch and helped tell the story even more, bringing in scenes of nature that make you feel warm as you watch it.

    “Bicycle Away,” the new daring and emotional track from Sam Rappaport made me feel many different emotions while watching it, and is perfect for these cold winter months coming up. It is available to stream now.

  • Songwriters Hall of Fame Announces 2024 Inductees

    The Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced the list of 2024 inductees, with a special awards ceremony taking place on Thursday, June 13 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

    Timothy Mosley p/k/a Timbaland will be inducted this year.

    Musical icons Hillary Lindsey, Timothy Mosley p/k/a Timbaland, Dean Pitchford, Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe p/k/a R.E.M., and Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, who was born in Queens and will posthumously be inducted, p/k/a Steely Dan will become the latest inductees of the Songwriters Hall of Fame at the organization’s 2024 Induction and Awards Gala. These legendary songwriters are credited with mega-hits such as “Jesus Take The Wheel,” “Big Pimpin’,” “Footloose,” “Losing My Religion,” and “Reelin’ in the Years.”

    Established in 1969, the Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) serves as a vital bridge between music’s past and future. Musical pioneers are enshrined and celebrated in the Hall, while the organization’s outreach to the music community finds the next generation. To qualify for induction, a songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song. 

    Out of the tens of thousands of songwriters of our era, there are approximately 400 inductees who make up the impressive roster enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Some past inductees include Smokey Robinson, Bob Dylan, Carole King, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi & Richie Sambora, Elton John & Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, and Phil Collins, among many others. 

    I’ve said it before, but the music industry does not exist without songwriters delivering great songs first. Without them there is no recorded music, no concert business, no merch . . . nothing, it all starts with the song and the songwriter. We are therefore very proud that we are continually recognizing some of the culturally most important songwriters of all time and that the 2024 slate represents not just iconic songs but also diversity and unity across genres, ethnicity and gender, songwriters who have enriched our lives and literally enriched music and the lives of billions of listeners all over the world.

    SHOF Chairman Nile Rodgers.

    Other key songs from the inductees include “Million Reasons,” “SexyBack,” “Let’s Hear It For The Boy,” “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine),” and “Black Friday,” among others.

    For more information about the Songwriters Hall of Fame, visit here.  

  • Hubbard Hall Begins Search For New Executive Director

    The Hubbard Hall board of directors has announced they are beginning a search for a new executive director, replacing David Andrew Sinder, who will be leaving for a new opportunity.

    The Hubbard Hall Center for the Arts and Education is a thriving arts center dedicated to developing, promoting, and sustaining the cultural life of Cambridge, Washington County, the New York Capital Region, Southern Vermont, and the Berkshires. Since 1878 Hubbard Hall has developed, produced, and presented theater, music, opera, dance, and the visual arts and in recent years has become a world-class development center for new work. Since 1977, its current nonprofit has engaged thousands of artists, students, and audience members.

    David has led Hubbard Hall for 10 years and has managed its development as a thriving regional arts and community center, as well as navigated the organization through the challenging time of COVID lockdowns and restrictions. In a statement, he said, “As the Executive & Artistic Director of Hubbard Hall, I’m so proud of all the work we’ve done together over the past decade, especially our support of students, artists, and community members throughout the global pandemic, as well as all of the programming and progress we’ve made together since 2014.”

    He went on to say “I’m heartened by the fact that Hubbard Hall is physically and financially in much better shape than when I arrived. I’m thrilled that the past ten years have included so many triumphs with programming, including our seven-year streak with the CCS Drama Club, dozens of artist residencies, hundreds of presentations and productions of theater, opera, dance, and music, and thousands of hours of classes provided to our community.” He will be leaving Hubbard Hall on January 30, as he accepted a new offer at another arts institution.

    The recruitment of a new director provides us with a great opportunity to fine-tune the vision of Hubbard Hall in this post-pandemic era. We will focus on strengthening not only the organization’s commitment to delivering high-quality performance and arts experiences, but also on reaffirming our role as an important cultural citizen and leader of the arts communities of Cambridge, Washington County, the New York Capital Region, Southern Vermont and the Berkshires.

    Margaret Surowka, Chair of the Board.

    The board went on to explain that during the initial transition phase, the day-to-day activities of Hubbard Hall will be handled by the board and current staff, with the job description and other details of the executive search being released shortly.

    For more information about Hubbard Hall, visit here.

  • Dark Star Orchestra Returns to The Stanley Theatre

    Dark Star Orchestra has announced their only New York date of their upcoming tour, returning to The Stanley Theatre in Utica on Thursday, March 14, at 7 p.m.

    Dark Star orchestra utica
    Dark Star Orchestra, photo by Filip Zalewski.

    Recreating the sound, energy, and experience of The Grateful Dead, the renowned Dark Star Orchestra marks two decades and over 3,000 shows of musical excellence. Committing to authenticity and to the unique live experience, they have become a staple in the world of live performances. With seven talented musicians, the band brings the Dead’s music to life, using historical setlists and crafting their own unique sets locally and internationally.

    Previous guest performances with Dark Star Orchestra include those of six original Grateful Dead members, including Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, and Bill Kreutzmann, and collaborations with artists like Mike Gordon and Jon Fishman of Phish, showcasing the band’s credibility and deep connection to the music community. “For us, it’s a chance to recreate some of the magic that was created for us over the years,” keyboardist and vocalist Rob Barraco explains. “We offer a sort of a historical perspective at what it might have been like to go to a show in 1985, 1978 or whenever. Even for Deadheads who can say they’ve been to a hundred shows in the 90s, we offer something they never got to see live.”

    For nearly a century, The Stanley Theatre has brought the community together with live concerts, Broadway shows, musicals, ballets, movies, graduations, and recitals. Today, The Stanley Theatre operates as a not-for-profit organization run by the Central New York Community Arts Council, Inc. Originally built as a movie palace, The Stanley Theatre opened its doors in 1928 with 2,963 seats, a grand entry staircase that resembles the main staircase of the Titanic, a gold leaf interior and a terra cotta and tiled mosaic exterior.

    Tickets for Dark Star Orchestra at the Stanley Theatre in Utica start at $33.50 including fees and go on sale Friday, January 19 at 10:00 a.m. Tickets are available either in person at the box office or by phone at 315-724-4000. Tickets will also be available online here.