The 2024 Rochester Lilac Festival has announced its headliners and direct support performers from May 10-19 – the largest variety of talent in festival history.
The Lilac Festival brings over 500,000 people a year from across Western and Upstate NY, the tri-state area and Canada to Highland Park to see great music, look at the beautiful lilacs that grow in the park, and eat and drink amazing food. In 2024, the festival will return with 80+ musical performances, 300 juried arts and craft vendors, kids’ activities, and the star of the show – the lilac blossoms. The annual event is hosted by the Lilac Festival Board, which includes Monroe County, the City of Rochester, and Visit Rochester.
“The Rochester Lilac Festival is one of our greatest community assets and is an essential component of our identity as the Flower City,” said Mayor Malik D. Evans. “The Festival showcases the spectacular beauty of historic Highland Park and provides residents and visitors the opportunity to enjoy free, family-friendly, world-class talent. On behalf of the City of Rochester, I would like to thank the Lilac Festival Committee, organizers, sponsors, and partners for the energy they bring to producing this year’s Lilac Festival.”
Nine of the ten headliners at the 2024 Rochester Lilac Festival are national touring artists, including Rochester native Danielle Ponder. All ten direct support acts were intentionally selected to showcase a diverse array of genres and talent from well-known and emerging Rochester artists.
Ghost-Note is performing at the 2024 Rochester Lilac Festival.
For more information about the 2024 Rochester Lilac Festival, visit here.
A genre-bending feast that blends jazz, hip-hop, and funk into an eclectic fusion. For fans of The Roots, Sly and the Family Stone, A Tribe Called Quest
Masters of high-energy swing, BBVD has helped revitalize swing music for over 30 years. For fans of Louis Prima, Duke Ellington, and Brian Setzer Orchestra
Rochester native and nationally touring artist brings masterful songwriting, bold vocals, and soulful storytelling to the stage. For fans of Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Black Pumas, and Aretha Franklin.
This powerful female band brings melodic and heartfelt harmonies that spread a message of self-acceptance and love. For fans of The Chicks, Kacey Musgraves, and HAIM.
Banjo great Béla Fleck has announced his latest project, expanding and exploring George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, just in time for its centennial.
Available on February 12, 100 years to the day Gershwin premiered the work at Aeolian Hall in NYC, Fleck will pay homage to the legendary composer while redefining an American classic. Fleck’s Rhapsody in Blue album includes three variations: “Rhapsody in Blue(grass),” “Rhapsody in Blue(s),” and the classic orchestration, but with banjo featured instead of piano, performed by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Eric Jacobson. “Rhapsody in Blue(grass),” also commemorates the 100th birthday of the great Earl Scruggs. The set also features Gershwin’s “Rialto Ripples” and “Unidentified Piece for Banjo,” an unrecorded and unreleased gem discovered at the Library of Congress.
“It’s very much like a ragtime tune through a Gershwin lens, with a highly catchy melody and some surprising harmonic moves at the ends of phrases,” Fleck says. “He didn’t write out the harmony, but the implications seemed to point clearly towards ‘I Got Rhythm’ types of chords, though a little more quirky. To keep the authenticity of the piece, I played it on an old gut-string, five-string banjo.”
Béla Fleck was born and raised in New York City, and over the last four decades, he has boldly gone where no banjo player has before. He has earned 16 GRAMMY awards in different areas, including country, pop, jazz, instrumental, classical, and world. Fleck has had a lifelong love for Gershwin and his compositions. He took his homage further and decided to incorporate bluegrass instrumentation instead of a full orchestra for some areas.
“A piano player can play Rhapsody a lot faster than I can,” adds Fleck. “But the truth is, they’ve played it so much that it sometimes gets rushed through. I’d listen and think, ‘There is so much in there but it’s going by so fast that I’m not getting it all.’ That gave me a window into a way to reinterpret those parts on banjo. It could be a new experience for listeners rather than hearing it banged out on piano for the twenty-fifth time. It might even be revelatory.”
Photo credit: Jeremy Cowart.
He’s joined by the core band from his GRAMMY-winning My Bluegrass Heart band: Michael Cleveland, Sierra Hull, Justin Moses, Mark Schatz, and Bryan Sutton. Rhapsody in Blue(s)—the blues version—features longtime Fleck collaborators Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, and Victor Wooten.
Béla Fleck added a solo banjo rendition of Gershwin’s “Rialto Ripples,” a ragtime novelty that initially flopped when it premiered in 1916. “My wish is that George Gershwin might have loved it, that he might have thought, ‘Hmmm, this is not what I expected, but the musicians certainly brought something different to it.’”
On May 4, 2024, at Carnegie Hall, Rhythm, Raga & Rhapsody will celebrate the music of Béla Fleck, including his New York premiere of Rhapsody in Blue performed with the Aeolian Orchestra, conducted by Eric Jacobsen. The multi-artist night will also feature My Bluegrass Heart, tabla master Zakir Hussain, pianist Bruce Hornsby, and woodwind player Anat Cohen.
Rhapsody in Blue will be available on LP, CD, and streaming. Order here.
Bela Fleck 2024 TOUR DATES
March 9 Lincoln, NE Lied Center for Performing Arts ~ April 3 Buffalo, NY Kleinhans Music Hall ^ April 4 Oakville, Ontario Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts ^ April 5 Kingston, Ontario Kingston Grand Theatre ^ April 6 Stowe, VT Spruce Peak PAC ^ April 9 Ottawa, Ontario Centrepointe ^ April 10 St. Catharines, Ontario Partridge Hall ^ April 12 State College, PA The State Theatre ^ April 13 Goshen, IN Goshen College ^ April 14 Lexington, KY Lexington Opera House ^
April 24 Skokie, IL North Shore PAC * April 25 Kohler, WI Kohler Memorial Theatre * April 26 Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Music Theatre * April 27 Wilkesboro, NC MerleFest *
April 28 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Jazz Festival May 4 New York, NY Carnegie Hall (Rhythm, Raga & Rhapsody)
June 13 Groton, MA Groton Hill Music Center ^
June 14 Kingston, NY Ulster PAC ^
June 15 Hartford, CT The Bushnell ^
June 16 Kennett Square, PA Longwood Gardens
June 18 Boulder, CO Chautauqua Amphitheater #
June 20 Telluride, CO Telluride Bluegrass Festival (house band)
June 21 Telluride, CO Telluride Bluegrass Festival #
July 12 Vancouver Island Musicfest #
July 16 Breckenridge, CO Riverwalk Center #
July 17 Aspen, CO Aspen Music Festival #
July 18 Santa Fe, NM The Lensic PAC #
July 27 Lyons, CO RockyGrass ^
Oct 18 Pelham, TN CaveFest ^
Ticket information *My Bluegrass Heart ^Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn ~Béla Fleck w/ Symphony # Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Zakir Hussain featuring Rakesh Chaurasia
Playbill and the Times Square Alliance have announced they will partner for the third annual Pride in Times Square celebration of free events on June 28 and 29, 2024.
Last year’s Pride in Times Square included top stage and screen celebrities, talent from Broadway/Off-Broadway productions, local Times Square business promotions, Pride Piano Bar sessions, live DJ sets, the return of The Big Broadway Disco, and more.
Founded in 1992, the Times Square Alliance works to improve and promote Times Square, cultivating the creativity, energy, and edge that have made the area an icon of entertainment, culture, and urban life for over a century. It keeps the neighborhood safe and clean, promotes local businesses, manages area improvements, and produces major annual events, like Pride in Times Square. Founded in 1884, Playbill is an internationally known trademark synonymous with theatre and is a symbol of the arts. Playbill Magazine is distributed to every Broadway theatre, most Off-Broadway theaters, regional theaters, and fine arts institutions in over 24 cities across the country.
Pride in Times Square2024 promises to be another exciting event and a great addition to New York City’s celebration of Pride at the Crossroads of the World. On Sunday, June 30, the Playbill Pride Float returns to the NYC Pride March, supporting their partner Heritage of Pride (Pride NYC). Customized double-decker buses from some of the event’s sponsors will also join the Pride March, rounding out an amazing weekend of diversity, equity, education, and celebration.
Past Pride in Times Square events have attracted nearly 800,000 attendees and social media coverage garnering over 1.05 million social impressions. The third day, centered on one of the world’s largest Pride marches, had an attendance at 2023 Pride March of 2.4 million people.
“Playbill is extremely proud to take part in our third annual Pride celebration in the heart of New York City with our fantastic partner, the Times Square Alliance,” said Alex Birsh, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Playbill. “For ten years, we have been honored to change our iconic yellow design to recognize the Pride Flag colors, celebrating this expansive and important community. And this year, we are even prouder to celebrate with another activation that celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies in Times Square. Playbill aims to be a leader in our community, and we look to this event to continue our tradition of standing with and behind our LGBTQIA+ friends, family, and allies. Here’s to an amazing celebration with our partners, sponsors, and the entire Broadway community.”
For more information about the Times Square Alliance, and to find more Pride events happening around the city this June, visit here.
Caffé Lena has a storied history in Saratoga Springs starting in 1960, launching the careers of many folk greats including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, and Don McLean. Now, the venue is providing that same feel-good listening experience and great talent, set in their iconic intimate setting. In honor of Women’s History Month, it is important to highlight the women helping make the industry happen. Executive Director at Caffé Lena, Sarah Craig, is one of these women leading in the industry.
Lena and Bill Spencer opened Caffé Lena with a deeply entrenched European influence. Upon the passing of Lena in 1989, the venue was converted to a nonprofit institution, supported by concert revenue, grants, private and corporate donors, and a team of volunteers. Lena started the venue as a way to present deserving talent regardless of fame, emphasizing community over business. Over the years, this theme still sticks with Caffé Lena’s diverse range of programming. Whether in-person or on a live stream, those can enjoy the intimate setting and vibe while garnering the sense of community so prevalent in everything they do.
Sarah Craig has been the Executive Director of Caffé Lena since 1995, a role she earned by applying to an anonymous job posting in the classified section of the newspaper. All it said was, “Nonprofit arts organization seeks full or part-time executive director.” She was the only applicant, and the rest is history.
Photo by Derek Java.
Craig earned her BA in Psychology and Women’s Studies from the University of Vermont, where she developed organizing skills as an activist. “[I was] inspired by two things: my sister’s participation in the Peace Corps in rural Paraguay, which was a huge eye-opener for me, and my own exposure to Liberation Theology in the Catholic Church, which was an important part of my life at the time,” she said. She became interested in gay rights, ecology, and economic justice, working in the sphere of some very effective senior activists, including Bernie Sanders and Roddy Cleary.
After college, she moved to Boston and began canvassing for Massachusetts Peace Action, serving as the Executive Director before eventually going to Caffé Lena. When she first started at Lena, her duties included grant writing, house management, and developing the volunteer and membership base. Now that there are a dozen people on staff, the budget has grown more than 2,000%. She says she spends “about 1/2 of my time booking shows, 1/4 fundraising, and 1/4 developing new ideas and managing the team.”
Caffé Lena takes up most of her time – waking and sleeping. “It’s an outlet for my creative energy, my social energy, and my dreams of saving the world. But, ever since the start of the pandemic, I’ve made a concerted effort to not be all Caffe all the time,” she explained. She is working on a sequel to a novel she finished and started playing the French horn again. She likes to spin yarn and felt, run or X-C ski, and when it’s the season – grow vegetables. She also likes to play online Scrabble with her daughter in NC a few times a week, and explains that was one of Lena’s great passions, “she was a 400 player.”
Sarah Craig speaking at a press conference. Lauren Halligan – MediaNews Group file.
In 2016, the venue underwent $2 million in renovations creating a home for Lena’s celebrated program for decades to come. New additions also included a 100% handicap-accessible space on their second-floor performance space.
Caffé Lena has a wide variety of programming available besides their eclectic mix of performers. In 2020, they launched the School of Music to carry on the folk tradition of music as a social pastime. Children and adults learn in small, friendly groups, mastering a repertoire of folk classics, and write some too. Some more experienced kids have now formed their own band, The Rolling Pebbles.
Folk gets passed along by venues, festivals, camps, places of worship, community groups and families. The School is our investment in this process. We offer activities for toddlers to seniors that are social and musical. It’s the most wonderful thing to sit at my desk and hear 30 senior citizens in the next room jamming away on three-chord songs and just having the best time. Or seeing our youth students developing into righteous little fiddlers and guitarists…There are powerful forces in the world pulling us deeper and deeper into a world of technology, where people are rarely face to face with their community. People are not experiencing social life in the way we’ve evolved to experience it. The School of Music feels like a win for basic, old-school humanity.
Sarah Craig.
Other programs that have been seen at Caffé Lena are The Bright Series – monthly shows featuring artists playing the venue for the first time; Caffé Lena on the Road, where headline artists travel into the community to deliver live music at places such as elderly care centers, recovery groups, soup kitchens, and more; Pride Night; Little Folk Shows – kid-friendly matinees; and so much more.
Since Craig’s time at the venue, she has seen a variety of musicians, with some of her favorites including those that have not risen to widespread fame besides small clubs like Lena. “In that category, I’d cite Jeremy Wallace, Gina Forsyth, and Chandler Travis. Some were real jaw-droppers and indeed they did go far: Anais Mitchell, Billy Strings, 14-year-old Sawyer Fredericks, and Allison Russell, who just won two GRAMMYs.” She went on to say “Our staff gets asked a lot, ‘Who’s your favorite?’ and we all agree: it’s the one we saw last night.”
Bob Dylan with Lena Spencer. Photo by Caffé Lena.
Caffé Lena has a long history in the folk scene but as Sarah Craig pointed out in our conversation, the emergence of Americana music in 2007 replaced some of the singer-songwriters from the ’80s and ’90s. The popularity of folk-rock string bands has stayed strong for nearly 20 years. Since taking the reigns in 1995, she noticed that the Internet has drastically changed many things.
“It completely changed the culture of everything everywhere, but that definitely includes live music,” she explained. “On the positive side, it has greatly facilitated our success in building an audience with eclectic tastes that is willing to explore new music. On the downside, it has radically amped up the way of life at Caffe Lena. Lena used to book her musicians for a full weekend. These days, it’s a different show every night, and bands rush in 2 hours before showtime and hit the road immediately afterward to get to the next gig.”
With events happening almost every day, the venue is busy and booming. Sarah Craig loves the atmosphere of the venue. She loves when the volunteers arrive and start baking cookies and making coffee, and when the “legendary Joe Deuel, Lena’s sound tech for the past one thousand years, starts setting up the mics.” The little moments that she experiences every day are her favorite; turning off the lights at the end of the show and saying goodnight to the iconic venue.
https://youtu.be/ht2zdYvs_wc?si=1krBF-BOObg_R9AH
The music industry is largely dominated by men, but some very decent people love music and enjoy spending their lives with musicians and are not in it for the money. Asking Craig about her experience as a woman in the industry, she said that her experience has overall been good. Despite the fact she isn’t a man, who can get more bookings, she has made it work. Something notable she highlighted was that the nonprofit world, like Caffé Lena, is largely dominated by women, however, the majority of executive directors are men.
Why does she think this is? Sarah explained “Because boards of directors have more confidence in men. The world continues to misread women because women tend not to be swaggering and self-advocating. They just do a rock-solid job, and expect that to be enough. This is something people in supervisory positions need to be conscious of: valuable male workers and valuable female workers don’t necessarily look the same.”
Despite this, working in the music industry is a rewarding experience for her, and many women across the board.
Goodnight Moonshine at Caffe Lena. Photo by Derek Java.
Caffé Lena has an eclectic lineup month after month, full of vibrant musicians and welcoming people. For more information about the venue, visit here.
The Sembrich has announced its 2024 summer festival “A Century of Sembrich,” celebrating 100 years of Marcella Sembrich’s musical legacy on Lake George. The festival features a spectacular line-up of today’s acclaimed concert artists and works by composers in Sembrich’s artistic circle.
Experience music, history, and nature at The Sembrich in Bolton Landing, featuring museum exhibitions and an annual summer festival with an exciting mix of world-class musicians, noted musical scholars, and a free film series. Listed on the National Historic Register, The Sembrich was once the teaching studio of Polish soprano Marcella Sembrich, one of the most famous musicians at the turn of the 20th century. Visitors can discover her storied legacy, including over 400 performances at the Metropolitan Opera and faculty positions at the Juilliard Graduate School and the Curtis Institute of Music.
“When Marcella Sembrich had a boathouse on her summer estate rebuilt as a teaching studio, she brought music to the shores of Lake George. We’re proud to continue that tradition of music on the lake and to celebrate our centennial with an exciting lineup of concerts, films, and special events,” says Richard Wargo, The Sembrich’s Artistic Director and Composer-in-Residence. “As ever, Marcella Sembrich remains our guiding star – a spirit of excellence that we strive to uphold.”
Marcella Sembrich (I.C. Mackeown. Date Unknown). From The Sembrich Collection.
The 2024 festival begins on June 5 and runs through August 31.
On opening night at 7 p.m., Opera Saratoga brings festival artists to the Sembrich. Includes an evening of standards from Cosi fan tutte and Guys and Dolls – provided by one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious opera training programs. Opera Saratoga serves the communities of Saratoga Springs, the Lower Adirondack, and New York State Capital areas by providing access to world-class opera through the production of an annual Summer Festival, year-round activities, extensive educational programs, mentorship of emerging operatic artists, and unique opportunities for the public to experience opera.
Saturday, June 9 at 2 p.m. features the Young Writers Showcase, celebrating the region’s most promising young artists with an afternoon of vocal and instrumental music, in both classical and popular styles. June 15 at 2 p.m. brings a member appreciation event to the Sembrich; a conversation with the host of Sirius XM’s Symphony Hall Vincent Caruso, discussing his journey through classical music and radio. Also features a guest performance by Joel Brown and the Finger Lakes Guitar Quartet.
“A Century at Sembrich” continues with a Juneteenth celebration featuring Pulitzer prize-winning composer Anthony Davis. Soprano Christine Jobson, bass-baritone Carl DuPont, and pianist Alan Johnson perform excerpts from Davis’s acclaimed operas, X – The Life and Times of Malcolm X, Amistad, Tania, and The Central Park Five, all portraying momentous actions and engagements crucial to black Americans. Davis will also treat the audience to a piano improvisation and discuss his works.
Composer Anthony Davis. Photo Courtesy of the Artist.
The 2024 festival features the acclaimed Sembrich film series, with The Magic Flute on June 24, The Opera House on July 8, Fitzcarraldo on July 28, the US premiere of Lost Voice on Aug. 12, and Falling for Figaro on Aug. 26. All films start at 7:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, June 26 at 2 p.m. The Seagle Festival presents a sampling of the festival’s exciting 2024 lineup: Brigadoon, DonGiovanni, Cold Mountain, and Sweeney Todd. Now in its 109th anniversary season, it is the premier opera and music theater-producing organization in the Adirondack region and the oldest summer vocal training program in the United States.
Featuring some of the finest concert artists on the classical music scene, the Alfred Z. Solomon Masterwork Series celebrates monumental figures in Marcella Sembrich’s artistic circle. On July 6 at 7 p.m., “Classical Splendor” features violinist Ruben Rengel and pianist Ahmed Alom performing Brahms, Lizst, Stravinsky, and more.
Violinist Ruben Rengel. Photo Courtesy of the Artist.
The Mastwork Series continues on Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. with “Composers Sembrich Knew” – an evening of chamber music by members of The Philadelphia Orchestra, including works by Puccini, Brahms, and Kreisler. The final performance on Aug. 17 at 7 p.m., “Violinist Kinga Augustyn,” brings the acclaimed violinist back to Bolton Landing for an evening of masterworks, including the de Beriot concerto performed by Marcella Sembrich at the Metropolitan Opera in 1884.
For one night only on July 11, literary dramatist Betty Spinelli and members of The Sembrich Board and Staff will offer an exclusive glimpse into the Gilded Age life of Marcella Sembrich by showcasing a selection of her treasured and rarely displayed possessions, including a diamond bracelet from the Czar of Russia, a silver tribute from Enrico Caruso, and the famous Queen of the Night costume from the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Mozart’s The Magic Flute.
Sembrich’s 2024 festival features the Promenade Series, perfect for a casual evening or date night on the lakeshore. This year’s series features the Zeger – Pesaturo accordion/violin duo (July 13 – 7:00 p.m.), the cutting-edge woodwind quintet WindSync (July 27 – 7:00 p.m.), and acclaimed guitar/violin duo ArcoStrum (August 21 – 7:00 p.m.).
WindSync Woodwind Quintet. Photo by Carlin Ma.
The Sembrich’s popular lakeside matinee series celebrating music from around the globe – World Music Wednesdays – returns this summer. This year’s events include “Harmonia Ensemble” (July 17 – 2:00 p.m.) highlighting music from Marcella Sembrich’s homeland in Eastern Europe, “Jomion and The Uklos” (August 7 – 2:00 p.m.) exploring unique traditions from West Africa, and “Cantrip” (August 28 – 2:00 p.m.) closing the series with beloved Celtic tunes.
The Sembrich doesn’t forget the family, with two family fun-packed events. “Interstellar Cinderella” performed by WindSync (July 25 at Rogers Park) is a delightful performance for the entire family, introducing five wind instruments of the orchestra, complete with costumes and choreography. “Dragon’s Breath” performed by emerging artists from Seagle Festival (August 1 at The Sembrich) is a charming original children’s opera by Evan Mack, with a libretto by Joshua McGuire, exploring themes of coping with anger and other difficulties. Follow young Alan as he gains wisdom in dealing with his own emotions.
Violinist Kinga Augustyn, performing at the Masterworks Series. Photo by Dale Jabagat.
On Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. is the World Premiere of At That Hour, a James Joyce-inspired chamber opera written expressly for The Sembrich studio. Also on the program, works by Haydn and Beethoven. Commissioned for The Sembrich’s 2024 centennial celebration in partnership with The American Center for New Works Development at Seagle Festival, this new work by Composer-in-Residence Richard Wargo will be performed by artists from Seagle Festival and the Hyperion String Quartet.
The Sembrich brings down the curtain on its centennial summer with an elegant candlelit evening featuring music by one of the world’s most beloved composers, Frédéric Chopin on Aug. 31. Piano virtuoso Christopher Johnson performs some of the most enduring works by this “Poet of the Piano,” exploring the master’s full range of expression. Johnson will pay tribute to Marcella Sembrich with a delightful paraphrase by Franz Liszt of the soprano’s signature song, Chopin’s “The Maiden’s Wish.” The performance will be followed by a Parisian-style lakeside reception, accompanied by the string duo of Amanda and Jonathan Brin.
Tickets and the full-season schedule are available here.
The Sembrich’s 2024 Summer Festival Schedule
June 5, 7:00 PM – Festival Artists from Opera Saratoga June 9, 2:00 PM – 2024 Young Performers Showcase June 15, 2:00 PM – An Afternoon with Vincent Caruso June 19, 7:00 PM – A Juneteenth Celebration with Anthony Davis June 24, 7:30 PM – FILM: The Magic Flute (1975) June 26, 2:00 PM – Seagle Festival Season Preview
July 6, 7:00 PM – Classical Splendor July 8, 7:30 PM – FILM: The Opera House (2017) July 11, 7:00 PM – A Night at the Museum July 13, 7:00 PM – Leah Seger – Cory Pesaturo Duo July 17, 2:00 PM – Harmonia Ensemble July 25, 11:00 AM – Interstellar Cinderella by WindSync July 27, 7:00 PM – WindSync Woodwind Quintet July 28, 7:30 PM – FILM: Fitzcarraldo (1983)
August 1, 10:00 AM – Seagle Festival: Dragon’s Breath (Children’s Opera) August 4, 7:00 PM – Composers Sembrich Knew August 7, 2:00 PM – Jomion and The Uklos August 12, 7:30 PM – FILM: Lost Voice, The Story of Marcella Sembrich (2024) August 17, 7:00 PM – Violinist Kinga Augustyn August 21, 7:00 PM – ArcoStrum August 24, 7:00 PM – At That Hour: A Chamber Opera After James Joyce (World Premiere) August 25, 2:00 PM – At That Hour: A Chamber Opera After James Joyce (Encore Matinee) August 26, 7:30 PM – FILM: Falling for Figaro (2021) August 28, 2:00 PM – Cantrip August 31, 6:00 PM – Chopin by Candlelight
Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams have announced they are joining forces with musical friends old and new to present Larry & Teresa’s July Jam at Arrowood Farms in Accord, NY on July 20, 2024.
The one-day festival is a not-to-be-missed celebration of some of the best performers in Americana music in a picture-perfect Hudson Valley setting. July Jam follows the release of the duo’s newest album All This Time, out April 5.
In addition to Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams and bandmates Brandon Morrison (bass/vocals) and Justin Guip (drums), July Jam will feature Hot Tuna Acoustic, Jackie Greene, The Secret Sisters, Connor Kennedy & Onestar, plus special guests Cindy Cashdollar (dobro) who’s played with everyone from Asleep At The Wheel to Bob Dylan, Jim Weider (guitar) and Brian Mitchell (keyboards) from The Weight Band. This impressive cast promises to keep the ‘jam’ in July Jam and remind everyone of the joy that happens when good friends come together to create music.
Photo credit Gregg Roth.
Their relationships with the artists sharing the bill span decades. They have worked with Hot Tuna’s Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady on stage and in the studio since 2011, with Larry producing their most recent album Steady as She Goes, plus Jorma’s solo albums River of Time and Ain’t in No Hurry. Campbell & Williams met West Coast-based guitarist singer Jackie Greene courtesy of Phil Lesh in 2012 when the three toured with Phil and Friends including the historic fourteen-day stand at New York’s Nokia Theater. Greene toured with the Black Crowes, Bob Weir, and Gov’t Mule, and his songs have been featured in films like Brokeback Mountain.
From Muscle Shoals, Alabama’s The Secret Sisters burst onto the Americana scene in 2010 working with luminaries like Dave Cobb, Brandi Carlile, and T Bone Burnett. Their soon-to-be-released album, Mind, Man, Medicine features Larry on guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and pedal steel. Connor Kennedy first connected with Larry & Teresa at Levon Helm Studios. He has toured with Donald Fagan and Rachael Yamagata, and will open the festival with his band Onestar whose members include Brandon Morrison, Lee Falco, and Will Bryant.
Sad Summer Festival has announced its fifth-anniversary celebration this summer with an iconic mix of emo and punk bands, coming to The Rooftop at Pier 17 on Aug. 1 and Terminal B at the Outer Harbor in Buffalo on Aug. 6.
Sad Summer Festival was originally launched in 2019 by The Maine and Mayday Parade along with industry personnel mourning the loss of the long-running Vans Warped Tour. It has grown significantly each year, becoming a scene staple. The nationwide run features festival founders Mayday Parade and The Maine along with The Wonder Years, We The Kings, Real Friends, Knuckle Puck, and Daisy Grenade, with Like Roses, Diva Bleach, The Summer Set, and Hot Milk at select dates.
Unlike most major festivals that feature multiple stages and hundreds of bands each day, Sad Summer creates a more intimate experience with one stage and a smaller curated lineup each year, eliminating any competition and the need to decide which act you are going to watch, providing the smaller acts on the bill a real chance to be seen and heard. In addition, festival co-founders Mike Marquis, Josh Terry, and Tim Kirch made it a goal with Sad Summer to create an environment that is inclusive and independent. This conscious choice has been well-received making them one of Pollstar’s “Top Grossing Tours of 2021.”
Another important theme of Sad Summer is its ongoing commitment to non-profit partnerships and involvement. As they look to celebrate their fifth anniversary, the festival will continue to build upon their dedication to giving exposure and access to causes the artists, founders, and community are passionate about. This year fans can expect to learn more about previously involved non-profits like HeadCount and Reverb, and their new partnership with Calling All Crows. Each organization will have an on-site presence, providing education and resources.
Ten years ago, a group of friends from Tallahassee, FL formed a band and traveled the country, selling their CD to anyone that would listen in a parking lot at Vans Warped Tour. Building a following from the roots up, Mayday Parade has garnered a lifelong massive dedicated fanbase, in their evolution from a hard-working local band to a global force. With a catalog of six studio recordings, the band released their recent record What It Means To Fall Apart in 2021, taking matters into their own hands and releasing it on their own time.
Formed in Arizona back in 2007, The Maine have been together for over ten years with an extensive catalog to their name. Over the years, the band has been labeled as pop, alternative, rock, emo, and every style in between. Some of The Maine’s charm lies in frontman John O’Callaghan’s writing style. Their most recent record The Maine came out in 2023.
Bands The Wonder Years, We The Kings, Real Friends, Knuckle Puck, and Daisy Grenade round out the lineup with an electric mix of rock, metal, and hard punk.
To sign up for first access to tickets on March 1, visit here. On sale is March 8.
Sad Summer Festival Confirmed Dates
Friday, July 12, 2024 Sacramento, CA The Backyard%$
Saturday, July 13, 2024 Santa Ana, CA Observatory Festival Grounds%$
Tuesday, July 16, 2024 Denver, CO Mission Ballroom%
Friday, July 19, 2024 Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom%$
Saturday, July 20, 2024 Chicago, IL Salt Shed Outdoor+$
Sunday, July 21, 2024 Pontiac, MI Crofoot Festival Grounds+$
Tuesday, July 23, 2024 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE Outdoor+^
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 Columbus, OH KEMBA Live! Outdoor+^
Friday, July 26, 2024 Atlanta, GA Coca-Cola Roxy+^
Saturday, July 27, 2024 Clearwater, FL The Sound at Coachman Park+^
Monday, July 29, 2024 Cleveland, OH Jacobs Pavilion+^
Thursday, August 1, 2024 New York, NY The Rooftop at Pier 17+^
Saturday, August 3, 2024 Worcester, MA Palladium Outdoors+^
Sunday, August 4, 2024 Asbury Park, NJ Stone Pony Summer Stage+^
Tuesday, August 6, 2024 Buffalo, NY Terminal B at the Outer Harbor+^
Thursday, August 8, 2024 Philadelphia, PA Highmark Skyline Stage+^
Friday, August 9, 2024 Columbia, MD Chrysalis at Merriweather Park+^
On Feb. 20, Carnegie Hall remembered the legendary flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía who passed away on Feb. 25, 2014. Over 30 top artists including some of those close to him gathered to remember his teachings and celebrate flamenco.
The Paco de Lucía Legacy Festival is a testament to the enduring legacy of a musical genius and promises to be an unparalleled celebration of the art of flamenco. This extraordinary event brings together world-class musicians, pays tribute to the profound influence of Paco de Lucía, and showcases the vibrant talent of established and emerging flamenco artists.
An opening night cocktail reception was held in the Rohatyn and Shorin Club Rooms at Carnegie Hall before the emotional night of music, attended by numerous people linked to the musician, as well as figures such as Guillermo Fesser and Juan Luis Cano, the basketball player José Manuel Calderón, the award-winning Latin jazz musician and composer Paquito D’Rivera, among others.
The Consul General of Spain in New York, Caridad Batalla, congratulated the Paco de Lucía Foundation for its initiative, confirmed the support of her consulate, and thanked “all the institutions that disseminate Spanish culture.”
Paco de Lucía’s widow, Gabriela Canseco, announced that “this week we brought together musicians who are part of Paco’s great family, musicians who, although some did not know each other, are all united by their music. They all converge because they have drawn on Paco’s work, whether they have played with him or not. Thirty-three musicians who come from different parts of the world and have been living together for four days, rehearsing, remembering, and talking about Paco non-stop,” she said. “Starting tonight they meet in various spaces to translate all those emotions through their personality, their knowledge, and their instruments. They are perfect conditions for Paco’s music to fly and pure magic to occur.”
Magic hit the stage of Carnegie Hall with well-known artists like Diego El Cigala, José Mercé, Carmen Linares, Al di Meola, Rubén Blades, Sílvia Pérez Cruz, and Farruquito, as well as the members of the two sextets that Lucía surrounded himself in his career. Over three hours, the large cast performed classic songs from Paco de Lucía’s repertoire such as “I Only Want to Walk,” “Monasterio de Sal,” “Luzia, La Barrosa” and the popular rumba “Entre dos Aguas,” adding the finishing touch to the concert.
Coming up next at the festival on Feb. 22 are cajon maestros El Piraña and Makarines teaching a compás master class at KJCC-NYU, with a night of surprises at Town Hall with Flamenco Summit Meets New York. Flamenco, Jazz, Latin, and African music will go hand in hand with names like Niño Josele, Rubén Blades, Josemi Carmona, Antonio Rey, Richard Bona, and Pepe Habichuela. The event will feature the dancers Farruquito, Karime Amaya, and Farru. The program includes Alain Pérez, Rafael Riqueni, Antonio Sánchez, and Silvia Pérez Cruz.
On February 23, the Instituto Cervantes New York will host Puro Flamenco, a recital starring Pepe Habichuela, Rafael Riqueni, and Carmen Linares, among others.
Finally, on February 24 at 4 p.m., Quad Cinema will host the screening of the film The Search by Curro Sánchez, son of Paco de Lucía, about the figure of his father. That same morning, at the Ángel Orensanz Foundation, the unreleased album Pepito y Paquito will be presented and the festival will officially close.
Members of New York City’s metal scene are scrambling to rebook shows as Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn was shut down by The NYC Department Of Buildings in the middle of Balmora’s set at the Mindforce show on Feb. 16. Many are questioning what happened and what to do next.
Saint Vitus Bar has been in operation since 2011 but since 2017, the company started receiving complaints about its certificate of occupancy, which got the attention of the city’s building department.
As Gothamreported, in May and June of 2023, the venue received dozens of identical complaints alleging a lack of maximum occupancy signs, an inappropriate certificate of occupancy, and a missing Public Assembly Certificate of Operation. The complaints started threatening to get the city involved, falling silent until September. This recent complaint sparked the inspection during the metal show.
As of Friday, September 22, 2023 the following are facts about 1120 Manhattan Avenue know to the public as Saint Vitus Bar: 1) Saint Vitus Bar does not have any maximum occupancy signs posted anywhere, and more often than not they host more people than their allotted maximum capacity. 2) Saint Vitus Bar’s most recent Certificate of Occupancy on file with the Department of Buildings does not allow it to operate as an eating/drinking establishment. There is no other Certificate of Occupancy or Letter of No Objection that supersedes their Certificate of Occupancy dated November 12, 1953…I will continue to make this complaint on a daily basis until either the Department of Buildings performs an inspection or until Saint Vitus Bar can remedy their situation.
The main question plaguing the venue owners and staff is who could have made these complaints. Do they have some personal vendetta against the venue? Why would the DOB come during the show? As one of the last independent venues operating in the city, it is a loss for the underground community. Bands scheduled for February and March now have to cancel shows and find new venues, which is difficult in a city like New York where acts are booked months in advance.
With the fishiness of the similar complaints, people believe it might be one disgruntled community member who was upset by the noise. Obviously, the venue needs to get their paperwork and rules in order, but hopefully, this isn’t the end of Saint Vitus.
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD) has announced they are headlining Peach at the Beach, a full day of live music at the new Summer Concert Stage at ISLAND Water Park at Showboat Resort in Atlantic City, NJ, on Saturday, July 13, presented by the team behind Peach Fest.
The Peach at the Beach, inspired by the legendary music of the Allman Brothers Band, also features Dogs In A Pile, Trouble No More performing the Allman Brothers Band iconic album Eat A Peach, Karina Rykman, Mykal Rose of Black Uhuru, and more.
Peach Fest is taking a pause this year – making this the perfect place to gather the Peach community for a day of peach, love, and happiness in Atlantic City.
The theme of The Peach at the Beach is reconnecting with friends and embracing the essence of what makes The Peach so unique. Their mission is to continue spreading as much love and positive energy as possible.
The Summer Concert Stage at ISLAND Waterpark at Showboat Resort is Atlantic City’s newest concert venue, located outdoors among the sand, the sea, and stars, steps away from the beach, and boardwalk. It is the largest indoor beachfront waterpark in the world, covering 120,000 square feet and holding more than 317,000 gallons of water, with 11 crazy slides.
An early bird presale will begin on Thursday, February 22 at 10 a.m. ahead of the general on-sale on Friday, February 23 at 10 a.m., available here.
Super VIP packages, which include access to a Friday night pre-party set, a Saturday late-night set, and passes to the ISLAND Water Park at Showboat Resort on Saturday are also available at the above link. VIP and GA+ tickets include passes to the ISLAND Water Park at Showboat on Saturday with additional amenities.
