Organizers for Buffalo’s Music is Art festival have announced the event’s relocation to the Outer Harbor. This move is the second time the festival has changed venues this year. The concert will take place on Saturday, September 21st.
The Music is Art festival began in 2003 in North Buffalo. Led by Goo Goo Dolls bassist Robby Takac, the festival board has continually worked with volunteers and local organizations to hold the event. Since its start, Music is Art’s goal has been to “encourage people to find their musical voice [and] think about how music touches their lives.”
Previously, Buffalo Riverworks and the neighboring Riverfest Park had hosted the festival. However, in early Spring 2024, the festival organizers announced that the festival would return to North Buffalo. This move had the Buffalo AKG and Buffalo State University hosting. Despite initial enthusiasm for this move, issues quickly began to arise.
In an Instagram post, Takac announced “After months of planning, Music is Art Festival organizers and AKG staff have agreed that too many challenges stand in the way of presenting our annual music festival on the grounds of Buffalo’s AKG and Buffalo State University without compromising the energy and character of the event.”
As a result of these challenges, the Music is Art festival will move to Buffalo’s Outer Harbor. The Outer Harbor hosts Buffalo’s newest concert venue Terminal B, as well as a large lakeside lawn to hold concerts. Despite the change of venue, the festival organizers will continue to work with the AKG and BSU to showcase local artists. With this change in location, festival organizers are “filled with excitement and anticipation for what this yearâs festival will bring.”
The Outer Harbor will host Music is Art on Saturday, September 21st from 11am-11pm. Across its 17 acres, the festival will host 26 concert stages with over 200 performers. The artist lineup has not yet been announced. In addition to musical performance, the festival will also feature visual artists, food trucks, local vendors, and more. These activities ensure MIA’s mission of being “a beacon of artistic expression and a truly inclusive cultural gathering in Buffalo showcasing the vibrant energy and diverse talents of the local and regional art and music scene” as per executive director Tracy Fletcher.
Admission for Music is Art is free for all guests. Additionally there will be both free and paid parking options, shuttle services, and bike accommodations. To learn more, visit the Music is Art website here.
The town of Long Lake has announced the 2024 lineup for its Summer Music by the Lake concerts. Concerts will take place at the Long Lake Town Beach 6-8pm each Friday until August 23rd. This year’s concerts will highlight yacht rock, alternative, and tributes to classic acts.
Long Lake is situated in the heart of the Adirondacks, two hours north of Albany. With pristine forests and waters, visitors have hailed the town as one of the most scenic in all of New York. At the center of Long Lake’s recreation is the town beach. In addition to swimming and boating, visitors can enjoy a host of music performances at the beach throughout the Summer Season.
Before the start of the Music by the Lake series, Long Lake Town Beach will host a special July 4th concert. The concert features NYC-based yacht rock outfit The Yacht Lobsters. Founded in 2022, the septet mixes the sounds of classic acts like Hall and Oates, with a jazz horn section, and funky rhythms to make endearingly retro songs. This concert comes as part of a day-long celebration, including barbeques, bake sales, and fireworks. The Yacht Lobsters will begin at 6:30pm on the beach stage.
The Friday Music by the Lake concerts will begin July 5th with a special open mic night. At the concert, local artists can sign up to perform sets. The open mic night will showcase a range of local artists and sounds sure to captivate beach-goers.
On July 12th, New Paltz’s Gratefully Yours will perform a set at the town beach. Keyboardist Alex Mazour founded the band in 2012 to recreate the Grateful Dead’s timeless classics. The group plays off the energy of their crowds, capturing the improvisational talent of the original band. Gratefully Yours puts their audiences at the center of performances, allowing them to submit dream setlists to play. With members from the Dark Star Orchestra and Trey Anastasio Band, Gratefully Yours is one of the premier Grateful Dead tributes around today.
July 19th will feature a set by the Jess Novak Band. Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Jess Novak formed the group with a host of Syracuse’s premier musicians to perform blues and soul-influenced rock. Novak performs over 150 shows each year, which have taken her everywhere from Burlington to Key West. On top of releasing 12 albums, Novak also started the F.I.R.E festival to highlight female musicians.
The Green River Tribute Band will perform on July 26th. NYC-native Rick Horvath has led Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute bands since he was 13 years old. CCR was a staple of 1960s and 70s rock, selling over 30 million records in their heyday. Green River pays tribute to this classic group with 90-minute sets, encompassing faithful covers of classic CCR tunes. Audiences can expect to hear CCR favorites like “Proud Mary” and “Bad Moon Rising.”
Night School will kick off August, with an evening concert on the 2nd. The five-piece dance rock group hails from Tupper Lake in the heart of the Adirondacks. The band defies genre, playing danceable hits of all types from the past. Playing everything from the Beatles and Talking Heads, to Rick James, Night School is bound to keep audiences grooving throughout their whole set.
August 9th will feature a performance by the Altered Tones. The four-piece band consists of local artists from Long Lake and Tupper Lake united by a love of 90s music. Together, the Altered Tones pump out acoustic covers of classic rock and alternative for audiences to enjoy. Concert-goers are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs and coolers to boost their enjoyment.
Booyah will perform an August 16th concert of their unique brand of funk. For over eight years, Booyah’s seven members have played unique funk-imbued takes on classic tracks. With funk versions of David Bowie, Talking Heads, and Rage Against the Machine songs, Booyah will keep their audiences dancing all night.
Big Martha will close out the Music by the Lake concert series with an August 23rd show. Hailing from Buffalo, Big Martha offers one of the most faithful Allman Brothers experiences. Together, the six-piece band crafts an energetic set from one of the greatest Southern rock catalogs in music history.
Long Lake Music by the Lake Schedule
7/4 – The Yacht Lobsters
7/5 – Open Mic Night
7/12 – Gratefully Yours
7/19 – Jess Novak Band
7/26 – Green River Tribute Band
8/2 – Night School
8/9 – The Altered Tones
8/16 – Booyah
8/23 – Big Martha
For more information, visit the Long lake town website here.
On Sunday, June 30 at 3:52am, flames consumed the Lake George Village Bandstand in Shepard Park. The bandstand – located at the heart of the village hosts numerous summer concerts. Due to the fire, the future of Lake George’s summer concerts is now uncertain.
For years, Shepard Park has been a Summer staple in Lake George. Located in the heart of the village, the park offers beach access to the lake. On top of aquatic fun, the park has attracted countless visitors with its picnicking, and playground spaces.
At the center of the park stood the Lake George Village Bandstand. The bandstand takes the form of a stone amphitheater facing a newly renovated wooden concert stage. The amphitheater provided Lake George residents with a premier outdoor concert venue with great views of the lake.
Since its 2017 renovation, the bandstand has hosted Lake George’s free summer concerts. Starting in June 2024, a host of weekly performances were slated for the Summer. The venue planned to host performances from local bands as part of its Concert Series Wednesdays, Tribute Tuesdays, and Fridays at the Lake. In addition to this, the bandstand planned to host multiple rock, jazz, and pop music festivals.
These plans were thrown into disarray on Sunday morning when the Village Bandstand went up in flames. At 3:42am the Lake George fire department received a call regarding the fire and quickly responded with aid from North Queensbury Fire. Authorities say there were no injuries in the fire, but the bandstand structure suffered severe damage. The Post Star newspaper was among the first to report on the fire, posting this video of the aftermath to their website.
Reportedly, the fire began in a locked utility room adjacent to the stage, with an electrical cause confirmed by multiple inspectors and agencies involved. “All indication says that’s where it started. Nobody could have gotten in there because a padlock was still on the charred remains of the locked door,” said Ray Perry, Mayor of the Lake George Village, to the Post Star.
The fire has led to an outpouring of support from performing artists. Glens Falls band Seize Atlantis wrote on Instagram “Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this from the music community to the entire 518 community at large.” Guitarist James Mullen spoke to NYS Music regarding a benefit concert for the lost venue, “Hopefully we can put together something special and help heal and rebuild for the LG community. We can’t just let this space go.”
A photo of the bandstand remnants from Seize Atlantis’ instagram post
Since the fire, the future of Lake George’s Summer concerts has been unclear. Mayor Ray Perry remains dedicated to keeping the venue’s concert plans on track, telling the Chronicle “ I’m just trying to save the summer.” Deputy Mayor Joseph Mastrodomenico Jr added “we will do what we can as soon as we can To somehow make our summer activities continue.”
Jim Anderson, Fridays at the Lake promoter, told NYS Music “We have an immediate plan that will let us play this Friday (July 5) and we are working on the longer term solution which will allow us to play all shows on the schedule.”
As of June 24, 2024 the MTV News website has completely vanished, taking with it over two decades of content. This comes after the closure of MTV News in 2023 by its parent company Paramount.
The result of this wipe, thousands of pieces of music journalism, including interviews, columns, and archives are now lost. With this massive blow to music journalism, let’s look back at the history of MTV News and how it shaped the field.
The history of MTV News has to begin with the beginnings of MTV as a whole. MTV began broadcasting on August 1st, 1981 at 12:01 AM. The channel execs must have known the magnitude of this launch, inaugurating the channel with footage of the Columbia Space shuttle launch and moon landing, all edited to feature the MTV logo. In many ways, the launch of MTV was as consequential as the moon landing for the music industry, changing the way audiences consumed music forever.
Prior to the launch of MTV, the music video was a fledgling medium. While superstars like the Beatles, and Bob Dylan had recorded videos to accompany songs in the 1960s, they were far from what we would consider music videos today. For instance the Beatles’ performances feature in the narrative of their 1964 hit film A Hard Day’s Night rather than acting as standalone videos. Even Bob Dylan’s iconic “Subterranean Homesick Blues” video was part of the larger Don’t Look Back documentary. Despite this lack of videos, music television was extremely popular thanks to programming like Midnight Special. These programs often featured live performances, as music videos were still not widely established as a practice.
MTV changed all of this in 1981. Following its inaugural broadcast, the station screened its first music video: the Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star.” The song’s title seemed to foreshadow exactly what MTV would do to the music industry. Because of MTV, the music video became a common part of any album roll out, with the medium becoming its own art form.
By 1984, MTV was a staple of American television, reaching 25.4 million households across the country. With this wide spread, MTV became a tastemaker for America’s youth. New Wave artists like the Human League, and Adam Ant were kicking off the “second British invasion” thanks to frequent play on the station. By the end of the decade, MTV had made the music video the paramount form of promotion, propelling superstars like Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Cyndi Lauper even further into stardom.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9Lq9sqqbYY
Off of this massive broadcasting success, MTV launched MTV news in 1987. MTV News began with the twice weekly program The Week In Rock. In 30 minute segments, the program featured news about award shows and tours, and interviews with the biggest stars in music. This programming added a journalistic edge to MTV’s programming, featuring high quality reporting that was still entertaining to the station’s young audience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPj88KXBCOc
At the helm of MTV News was Kurt Loder. By the time of The Week in Rock’s launch, Loder was already an established figure in music journalism. Starting in 1976, Loder was writing for New York-based music magazines, beginning with Long Island’s Good Times. By 1978, Loder had moved to Manhattan to write for Circus, focusing on heavy metal, punk, and other emerging genres. He admits that the writing of Circus was not always the most admirable “it was a foregone conclusion that writing of any technical ambition about new acts of any real excitement or interest would make it in the mag only by the sheerest accident.”
In 1979, Loder began a 9-year career as one of the most prolific writers at Rolling Stone Magazine. Perhaps the pinnacle of his career prior to MTV was co-authoring Tina Turner’s 1986 autobiography I, Tina. The book quickly became a best-seller, launching the film adaptation What’s Love Got to Do with It, launching Loder further into the public eye. It was following this that MTV approached Loder to head their newly-established news desk.
“Linda Corradina called me and asked, ‘Have you thought about being in TV?’ I hadn’t — ever. So I went over and did a camera test, which was pretty awful, I think. And suddenly, I was there”
– Kurt Loder
Introduced by the guitar intro of Megadeth’s “Peace Sells,” Loder brought features on some of the biggest musical groups of the era. Early stories featured Depeche Mode, Public Enemy, and Anthrax. Loder’s presence brought a seriousness and professionalism to the station, while providing quality interviews and commentary. Up to that point, many viewed MTV as a raunchier, rather unserious network for America’s youth. However, Loder and MTV News proved that its programming could be just as diligent and well-produced as established news stations. While being professional, the programing managed to retain MTV’s trademark sense of rebelliousness.
Soon after its founding, MTV News began to incorporate politics and society into its repertoire in addition to music. This came to a head in 1992, preceding that year’s presidential election. In the leadup to the election, MTV News launched a $1 million “Choose or Lose” campaign to encourage young people to vote. Accompanying this was frequent political coverage, making up about 25% of its programming. In June 1992, MTV News aired “Choose or Lose: Facing the Future with Bill Clinton,” a 90 minute program featuring the candidate answering young people’s questions. By election day, the number of 18-20 year olds voting was up by 20% aiding in Bill Clinton’s electoral victory.
Despite this incorporation of politics, MTV News still remained one of the premier sources for music journalism. Perhaps one of the defining moments of MTV News’ 90s output came in the follow up of Kurt Cobain’s death. On April 5, 1994, Kurt Loder interrupted MTV’s regular programming to announce the news of Cobain’s death. This broadcast was the first time many people had heard the news, launching a wave of nationwide mourning for the biggest rock star of the era. In addition to the announcement, Loder’s coverage provided a thoughtful tribute to Cobain’s career, influence, and talent.
Following a decade of success of TV reporting, MTV News launched its website in 1996. Over the course of the next 20 years, the site became a haven for online music journalism. It hosted thousands of articles and artist interviews. Of note was the site’s hip-hop archives, such as the “Monday Mixtape” column, which featured many early interviews with future stars.
After three decades of operation, MTV News ran into serious financial woes. This began in 2017, with the site’s shift towards video content, laying off most of its editorial staff. These problems came to a head in May 2023, as Paramount announced it would shut down MTV News. With this announcement, its television and internet content was abruptly brought to a halt.
Despite this, the MTV News site remained open for over a year. However, on June 24, 2024, MTV removed the site and all of its content from the internet. Among the first to notice was former MTV News journalist Patrick Hosken. Writing on X, Hosken said “So, mtvnews.com no longer exists. Eight years of my life are gone without a trace.” If users try to access the website, they will now be redirected to the mtv.com home page. MTV has not given a reason for the website’s removal, however some such as music journalist Alex Young have speculated it could be due to hosting and legal costs.
Music lovers have taken to X to express their disappointment in the site’s deletion. Rolling Stone Senior Writer Brian Hiatt called it “disgraceful,” with Entertainment Weekly News Director Jillian Sederholm adding it was “devastatingly cruel to journalists.”
With the loss of MTV News, let’s remember the programming that helped bring music journalism to America’s youth. With Kurt Loder and countless music journalists, their television and online programming helped provide America’s youth with updates on everything from the Pet Shop Boys to the Presidency, all while establishing MTV as a news source to be reckoned with.
Those interested in exploring the history of MTV News can explore archival versions on the Wayback Machine.
The Athens Performing Arts Corporation (APAC) has announced its the lineup for its annual Summer Concert Series. The series will feature eight weekly concerts beginning on July 19th. The Summer Concert series will host performances including jazz, funk, and tributes to classic groups.
Athens is a quaint village in the Northern Catskills that is home to a little under 2,000 people. Located at the heart of Greene County, the village is just West of Hudson, and a short 30 minute drive South of Albany. With a history dating back to 1665, the village is home to many historical sites and a rich arts scene.
At the head of the arts scene is APAC, which is dedicated to spreading music to Athens’ residents. For almost two decades, APAC has hosted free yearly concerts in Athens Riverfront Park. As founding member Rick Suranno said “Our main goal from day one was to bring something different and to keep it free. We wanted national touring acts, although we started with all of my friendâs bands for years, we knew what our goal was.”
APAC has achieved that goal, with the Athens Summer Concert Series continuing into 2024. The series will feature eight weeks of Friday concerts lasting from July 19th to September 6th. All concerts will take place in Athens Riverfront Park from 7-9pm.
Sonny Landreth will kick off the Summer concert season with a July 19th performance. Landreth or “Louisiana’s King of Slydeco” has graced the blues world with his slide guitar prowess for over 50 years. Across his 18 solo albums, Landreth has received awards from the Americana Music Association and Blues Music Awards.
Toronto’s Bywater Call will ring in the second week with a July 26th concert. The seven-piece blends southern soul, roots, and blues to create their award-winning sound. The band won the 2024 UK Blues Award for best international artist, with European media hailing singer Meghan Parnell as one of the best voices in blues today. In 2023, the band toured across 10 countries, and shared the stage with legendary guitarist Joe Bonamassa.
August 2nd will feature a tribute to the music of the Dave Matthews Band. This will be followed by an August 9th concert by Vanessa Collier. Collier is an award-winning vocalist and saxophonist. Her music blends jazz, blues, soul, and rock. On top of multiple Blues Awards, legends like Buddy Guy have praised Collier’s musical ability.
British bluesman Matt Schofield will perform at the series’ August 16th concert. Throughout his 30 years of performing, Schofield has become one of the most influential guitarists of his generation. His brand of British Blues, which incorporates jazz and funk elements, has taken him everywhere from Tokyo to Texas. Schofield is a 3x “British Blues Guitarist of the Year” winner, and was ranked in the “Top Ten British Blues Guitarist of All Time” by Guitar & Bass Magazine.
August 23rd will feature a show by Beginnings, the foremost Chicago tribute band. The New York-based seven-piece has performed across the country since their founding in 2002. Beginnings is dedicated to creating the most authentic Chicago experience, bringing accuracy and intensity. An August 30th tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival will follow this concert by Beginnings. APAC has not announced the final concert of the series taking place on September 6th.
Athens Summer Series Schedule
7/19 – Sonny Landreth
7/26 – Bywater Call
8/02 – The Dave Matthews Tribute Band
8/09 – Vanessa Collier
8/16 – Matt Schofield
8/23 – Beginnings
8/30 – Creedence Revived
9/06 – Final Show TBA
Concert-goers can bring lawn chairs to sit on during concerts. Athens Riverfront Park is located at 1 Water Street, Athens, NY. For more information, visit the APAC website here.
Michigan-based singer-songwriter Quinn XCII has announced three New York shows as part of his “All You Can Eat” Tour. The cross-country tour will stop at Port Chester’s Capitol Theatre, Syracuse’s Landmark Theatre, and Huntington’s Paramount in October.
Detroit native Quinn XCII burst onto the music scene with his trademark brand of pop. Quinn combines his pop prowess with influences from reggae and hip-hop, crafting a unique sound. His alternative yet catchy pop propelled Quinn to stardom with platinum selling hits “Straitjacket,” “Kings of Summer”, and “Love Me Less.” Off the back of these hits, Quinn’s catalog has garnered over 3.5 billion streams.
Quinn XCII has also found success on the live stage, headlining shows across the country. During his tours, Quinn has played at major festivals including Bonnarroo, Governors Ball, and Lollapalooza. This success has also allowed him to collaborate with major names in pop music, releasing collaborations with AJR, Noah Kahan, and Big Sean.
Quinn XCII’s “All You Can Eat” Tour comes at a new stage in his career. He kicked off this new era with the EP Breakfast, which is to be followed by Lunch, and Dinner. These three EPs follow Quinn’s alter-ego Mustard Mike, who is a sarcastic restaurant owner. In the leadup to this tour, Quinn XCII has released a new single titled “Melt.” The track is an upbeat and bouncy Summer anthem sure to get audiences dancing during the tour.
Quinn XCII in his Mustard Mike Persona
Playing off the culinary theme of his new era, Quinn has partnered with charities fighting hunger as part of his tour. $1 of all ticket sales will go towards supporting Conscious Alliance’s mission to end hunger across the US. Quinn XCII has also encouraged audiences to bring canned foods to select concerts to be donated for this cause.
Quinn will begin the “All You Can Eat” tour on September 20th in San Diego, before making his way Eastward. He will perform his first New York date at Syracuse’s Landmark Theatre on Wednesday, October 16th. Following this performance, Quinn will make his way down to Long Island to play a show at Huntington’s Paramount. The Long Island show will take place Friday, October 18th. Quinn will close out the New York Leg of the tour with a Tuesday, October 20th show at Port Chester’s Capitol Theatre.
QUINN XCII 2024 NORTH AMERICA TOUR DATES:
Fri Sep 20 — San Diego, CA — Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
Sat Sep 21 — Oakland, CA — Fox Theater
Tue Sep 24 — Missoula, MT — The Wilma
Wed Sep 25 — Boise, ID — Revolution Concert House and Event Center
Fri Sep 27 — Salt Lake City, UT — Love Letters Music Festival
Sat Sep 28 — Denver, CO — Fillmore Auditorium
Mon Sep 30 — Omaha, NE — Steelhouse Omaha
Tues Oct 01 — Fayetteville, AK — JJ’s Live
Thu Oct 03 — West Des Moines, IA — Val Air Ballroom
Fri Oct 04 — La Crosse, WI — La Crosse Center Arena
Sat Oct 05 — Milwaukee, WI — The Eagles Ballroom
Tue Oct 08 — Nashville, TN — Ryman Auditorium
Thu Oct 10 — Louisville, KY — The Louisville Palace
Fri Oct 11 — St. Louis, MO — The Factory
Sat Oct 12 — Cincinnati, OH — The Andrew J Brady Music Center
Tue Oct 15 — Toronto, ON — The Danforth Music Hall
Wed Oct 16 — Syracuse, NY — Landmark Theatre
Fri Oct 18 — Huntington, NY — The Paramount
Sat Oct 19 — Wallingford, CT — Toyota Oakdale Theatre
Tue Oct 22 — Port Chester, NY — The Capitol Theatre
Wed Oct 23 — Washington, DC — Echostage
Fri Oct 25 — Raleigh, NC — Red Hat Amphitheater
Sun Oct 27 — Birmingham, AL — Avondale Brewing Co.
Mon Oct 28 — Orlando, FL — House of Blues Orlando
Tue Oct 29 — St. Petersburg, FL — Jannus Live
Ticket Presale for the tour begins Tuesday, June 25th, with general sales beginning Friday, June 28th. To learn more about Quinn XCII’s ‘All You Can Eat” Tour, visit his website here.
The Peach At The Beach music festival in Atlantic City, NJ has announced its artist schedule. The festival will feature eight artists and DJs. Concert-goers can enjoy shows playing dance, funk, rock, and reggae music.
Peach At The Beach music festival will take place at Atlantic City’s Island Waterpark on Saturday, July 13.
An Aerial View of the 2023 Peach Music Festival
Peach At The Beach spawned from the annual Peach Music Festival in Scranton, PA. The Allman Brothers Band started the festival in 2012. Each Summer, the festival has brought jam bands from around the world to the Montage Mountain Resort for concert-goers to enjoy. Since its beginning, artists such as Santana, the Black Crowes, and Ween have played the festival. This year marks a shift in venue, with the festival relocating to Atlantic City’s Island Waterpark for the Summer. The festival will feature shows for all ticket-holders on the main Peach Stage. Additionally, General Admission+, VIP and Super VIP ticket holders can access early waterpark DJ and artist sets.
The festival will kick off for premium ticket-holders at 11:00am with special waterpark DJ sets. The waterpark concerts will feature sets by DJ King Mega, DJ Logic, and Uncle Jesse. The waterpark set will also include a show by Asbury Park’s Dogs In a Pile. Jersey native guitarist Jimmy Law and drummer Joe Babick founded the band in 2019 with help from a host of Berklee-trained musicians. They combine jazz, rock, and funk to create psychedelic journeys for their audiences.
Doors open for the festival’s Peach Stage at 2:00pm. The Peach Stage is located outside the waterpark, and will host 5 performances throughout the afternoon and evening.
Mykal Rose, from legendary reggae band Black Uhuru, and a staple of the genre since the early 1970s will kick off the festival with a 3:00pm set. In 1984, Rose and Black Uhuru won the first Grammy for Best Reggae Album for their record Anthem. Since the 1990s, Rose has toured the world, spreading his iconic roots reggae stylings.
Rose’s set will be followed by a performance by Karina Rykman. Rykman’s journey into indie and jam rock stardom began in her youth in New York City. By the time of her graduation from NYU, Rykman was playing alongside Vulfpeck, Les Claypool, and Sean Ono Lennon. Rykman is known for her combination of indie pop with scorching distorted rock. Since beginning her career, Rykman has headlined festivals like Bonnarroo, and played on shows like Late Night with Seth Meyers. This performance comes after the release of Rykman’s 2023 album Joyride produced by Phish’s Trey Anastasio. She will perform a 4:00pm set.
The highlight of the Festival is a performance by Trouble No More recreating the Allman Brothers’ iconic 1972 album Eat a Peach. The band includes all-star musicians who are dedicated to recreating the Allman Brothers’ early catalog. Their guitarist Brandon Niederauer has shared the stage with everyone from Buddy Guy to Lady Gaga. The band additionally features vocalist Lamar Williams Jr., son of the Allman Brothers band’s bassist, and 5x Grammy-nominated keyboardist Peter Levin. During their recreation of Eat a Peach, the band will play Allman Brothers hits, including “Melissa,” and “Blue Sky.” The band will begin their set at 5:30pm.
Trouble No More will be followed by a second 7:15pm set by Dogs In a Pile. Joe Russo’s Almost Dead will then close out the festival with 2 sets beginning at 9:00pm. Joe Russo formed Almost Dead in Brooklyn in 2013 to perform classic tracks from the Grateful Dead. Since their start, the band has played with legends like John Mayer, Ween, and Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh. Almost Dead has previously sold out shows at venues including Red Rocks, the Brooklyn Bowl, and the Peach Music Festival. Rolling Stone even named their 2018 Peach Music Festival performance as “Best Scene-Stealer,” saying Almost Dead takes “improvisational jam rock to the nth degree.”
Festivities are not limited to July 13th, with special pre and post festival parties. On July 12th, Philadelphia-based jam band the Disco Biscuits will perform at the Showboat Resort’s Bourbon Ballroom. Saturday, July 13th will also feature a special “Peach After Dark” set at the Bourbon Ballroom. This set will include Woodstock-based experimental rocker Marco Benevento, and South Carolina-based synth wave band Doom Flamingo.
Waterpark Schedule
11:00am – Doors Open
11:00am – DJ King Mega
12:00pm – DJ Logic
2:00pm – Dogs In a Pile
3:15pm – Uncle Jesse
Peach Stage Schedule
2:00pm – Doors Open
3:00pm – Mykal Rose of Black Uhuru
4:00pm – Karina Rykman
5:30pm – Trouble No More
7:15pm – Dogs In a Pile
9:00pm – Joe Russo’s Almost Dead
For more information on location, ticketing, and regulations, visit the Peach Festival website here.
The Concerts By The Shore summer concert season has entered its fourth week. This Summer concert series takes place at Rochester’s Ontario Beach each Wednesday.
The upcoming weeks offer concert-goers chances to enjoy reggae, rock, classical and more, continuing each week until Wednesday, August 28.
2024 marks the 38th season of Concerts By The Shore, making the summer concerts a long-time tradition for Rochester. With concerts right on the shore of Lake Ontario, the Concerts By The Shore program is a favorite Summer activity among many Rochester residents.
The 2024 season kicked off on June 5th with a show by party band Nik and the Nice Guys. It featured upbeat dance songs and colorful costuming. This was followed by a show by Finger Lakes R&B favorites The Cool Club and Lipker Sisters. Wednesday, June 18th featured a concert by Rochester-based country group Branded.
Concerts By The Shore will return June 26th with a concert by the Skycoasters. The Skycoasters have been mainstays of Finger Lakes and WNY parties for over four decades. The 9-piece band, which features horns, vocals, and more have brought energy and fun to parties across the country. Their June 26th concert will begin at 7:00pm.
The Invictas will kick off July with their brand of 1960s rock. The famed garage rock band were mainstays of Rochester’s club scene in the 1960s. Since their start, the band has played on programs like NBC’s Today Show, and toured with the legendary Beach Boys. Their classic dance songs, like “The Hump,” are sure to get audiences grooving. The Invictas will play on Wednesday, July 3rd at 7:00pm.
Atlas will follow this show with a July 10th concert. Atlas began in Syracuse in 1981, featuring some of Upstate New York’s finest musicians. A funky horn section backs up lead singers Lisa Denise and Tyler Owens to forge high energy dance music. With their infectious strain of funk and dance, Atlas has become a mainstay of festivals, night clubs, and events around Syracuse. Their concert will begin Wednesday, July 10th at 7:00pm.
July 17th will feature a special concert by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. The Orchestra began over 100 years ago, with its dedication to community involvement dating back to its inception. As a result, the orchestra performs hundreds of free concerts each year, including the Concerts By The Beach. The Orchestra’s award-winning conductors will lead the acclaimed ensemble in a number of classical and pop pieces. This special concert will begin at 7:30pm on Wednesday, July 17th.
Bachata Rebelde will perform their brand of latin dance on Wednesday, July 24th. The Rochester-based band combines Latin, African, and Caribbean influences to create groovy dance music. They have previously played at Rochester’s Afro Latin Dance Festival and Puerto Rican Festival. They will perform at Concerts By The Shore on Wednesday, July 24th at 7:00pm.
iGNiTE! will close out July with an evening concert on July 31st. Frontman Ronald âSkillâ Gordon founded iGNiTE! over 30 years ago to deliver authentic reggae to Rochester. The band uses groovy rhythms, vocal harmonies, and guitar to bring their mix of reggae, ska, and dancehall to life. This infectious mix, combined with their crowd work has made them mainstays of galas, beaches, and festivals across Western New York. Since their start, iGNiTE! has played with reggae legends, including the Wailers. They will perform at Concerts By The Shore on Wednesday, July 31st at 7:00pm.
Junkyard Field Trip will begin August with a showcase of their eclectic rock music. Songwriters Mike Gladstone and Rob Smith founded the Rochester-based group in 2014. While starting as an acoustic rock band, the group began incorporating electric elements to create their current sound. Its members have toured with legends like ZZ Top, Lou Gramm, and the Gin Blossoms. The band has become mainstays of Rochester’s concert scene, even being nominated for the City Newspaperâs Best of Rochester award for best band. Junkyard Field Trip will perform on Wednesday, August 7th at 7:00pm.
August 14th will feature a performance from the classic Rochester soul band The Dukes. The eight-piece band dates back to 1957. The original band climbed the charts with their hit âGive Me One More Chance,” which allowed them to perform with legends like Dionne Warwick and Johnny Cash. Although the band broke up in 1974, it gradually reformed with new musicians who wanted to keep its legacy alive. The band continues to play a groovy, soulful brand of 60s and 70s R&B to audiences today. Their concert will take place Wednesday, August 14th at 7:00pm.
Party band Allegro will perform on August 21st. The eight-piece band, featuring dual male and female vocalists, and a funky rhythm and horn section have toured for over 20 years. The Rochester band incorporates influences ranging from jazz to modern pop hits, making for an infectious, danceable blend of songs that audiences are sure to enjoy. Allegro has kept thousands of concert-goers dancing the night away throughout their years performing. Their Concert By The Shore will take place Wednesday, August 21st at 7:00pm.
Ruby Shooz will close out the season with 50s and 60s rock and roll. The band has been mainstays of Upstate New York’s live music scene for over 20 years, regularly performing at the NY State Fair. Their infectious blend of classic rock and roll has seen them perform across the Northeastern US. Ruby Shooz puts the audience at the center of their performances, blending 50s and 60s trivia into their performances. Their shows will surely be nostalgic for older members of the audiences, educational for younger concert-goers, and a fun time for all. Ruby Shooz will perform Wednesday, August 28th at 7:00pm.
Concerts By The Shore Schedule
6/26 – The Skycoasters
7/3 – The Invictas
7/10 – ATLAS
7/17 – Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
7/24 – Bachata Rebelde
7/31 – iGNiTE!
8/7 – Junkyard Field Trip
8/14 – The Dukes
8/21 – Allegro
8/28 – Ruby Shooz
All Concerts By The Shore in Rochester are free all-ages events. For more information on the program and artists, visit the Ontario Beach website here.
The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival has announced the lineup for its 26th season. The festival begins July 17th, and will include six concerts. With shows ranging from jazz to blues to classical, there is a concert for everyone.
The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival has prided itself in presenting a high variety of quality shows for over 20 years. Founded in 1999, the festival has hosted over 100 artists in its history. In its 25 years of existence, the festival has exhibited classical, cabaret, and even special children’s concerts. Performance Today, the most popular classical radio program, has also frequently featured festival concerts.
“Our new season features an impressive collection of performances that will bring best-in-class artists in a wide variety of genres to perform for audiences in Cooperstown,”
– Linda Chesis, Festival founder
The Miró Quartet will kick off the season with a July 18th program titled “Voices of Home.” Beginning in 1995, the Austin-based quartet has made a name for itself as one of the most celebrated classical groups. The band takes its name from surrealist painter Joan Miró, with much of their music reflecting themes of imagination and fantasy. The quartet has previously toured across the United States, Europe, and Asia, receiving critical acclaim wherever they go. The July 18th show, titled “Voices of Home,” will tackle themes like nostalgia and yearning. It will feature compositions by Franz Joseph Haydn, Caroline Shaw, Kevin Puts, and George Walker. This concert will take place at 7pm at Cooperstown’s Farmers’ Museum.
July 25th will see a performance by the Caroga Arts Ensemble, titled “American Journey.” Cellist Kyle Price founded the ensemble in 2019, as part of the Caroga Arts Collective. The ensemble features prizewinning instrumentalists, music school faculty, and members of chamber groups. Since its founding, the ensemble has played at Chicago’s Symphony Center, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and more. Their July 25th show will feature pieces by American composers, such as Aaron Copland, John Corigliano, and more. The concert will take place at Cooperstown’s Farmers’ Museum at 7pm.
Pianist Richard Goode will perform a selection of Beethoven pieces on July 30th. Famous for his emotional interpretations of classical and romantic pieces, Goode has become one of the most acclaimed pianists of our day. He has played concerts across the United States and Europe, and has hosted multiple music masterclasses. As part of this concert, Goode will perform some of Beethoven’s later work, illustrating the emotional depth of his playing. The concert will take place 7pm at the Otesaga Resort Hotel.
Grammy award-winning vocalist Catherine Russell will perform a blues and jazz selection on August 6th. Coming from a musical family in New York, Russell has spent much of her life performing. She has previously toured with legends like Steely Dan, Paul Simon, and Cyndi Lauper. Her third album Inside This Heart of Mine reached #1 on the iTunes jazz charts upon release. Since then she has won various awards, including a Grammy for her work on the Boardwalk Empire Soundtrack. NPR hailed Russell’s vocals, saying she “wails like a horn and whispers like a snake in the garden of Eden.” She will perform at the Otesaga Resort Hotel at 7pm.
August 16th will feature two performances as part of the program’s Family Music Fest. The concerts will be hosted by Justin Jay Hines, percussionist for the NY Philharmonic Young People’s Orchestra. These family friendly performances will begin with an interactive workshop. During this workshop, kids will learn how to make instruments from natural materials, and craft different beats. The workshop will end with a performance using these handmade instruments. These workshops will be followed by a performance from Hines. The first performance will take place at Origins cafe at 10:30am. It will be followed by a second 3pm performance at the Farmers’ Museum. These performances are free, but registration is required.
The festival will conclude with an August 20th performance titled “Bach Again.” This performance will feature harpsichordist Bradley Brookshire, cellist Wolfram Koessel, flautist Linda Chessis, and violinist Rachell Ellen Wong. The night will celebrate the musical genius of Johann Sebastian Bach, featuring renditions of his instrumental sonatas. Mezzo-soprano Winona Martin will join these instrumentalists to perform a selection of Bach’s arias. This concert will take place 7pm at Christ Episcopal Church.
Concert Schedule
7/18 – Miró Quartet: Voices of Home – 7pm @ The Farmers’ Museum
7/25 – Caroga Arts Ensemble: American Journey – 7pm @ The Farmers’ Museum
7/30 – Pianist Richard Goode Plays Late Beethoven – 7pm @ Otesaga Resort Hotel
8/6 – Catherine Russell, Blues and Jazz Singer – 7pm @ Otesaga Resort Hotel
8/16 – Family Music Fest with Justin Jay Hines, Percussionist and Host of NY Philharmonic Young People’s Concerts – 10:30am @ Origins Cafe
8/16 – Family Music Fest – 3pm @ The Farmers’ Museum
8/20 – Bach Again – 7pm @ Christ Episcopal Church
Tickets are $30 for all concerts, with students under 18 having a reduced price of $15. All tickets must be purchased in advance. For more information on ticketing and concerts, visit the Cooperstown Music Festival website here.
The Chenango Blues Foundation has announced its Thursday summer concert series spanning from July 11th to August 29th at East Park in Downtown Norwich, NY, who will host free concerts every Thursday in the leadup to the Chenango Blues Festival on August 16th. These Summer concerts are free, allowing concert-goers to enjoy world class talent at no cost. 2024’s lineup provides a diverse array of genres, including blues, roots rock, and psychedelic.
Since 2003, the Chenango Blues Foundation has put on free concerts for Norwich residents highlighting blues talent. This aids in their mission to foster the appreciation of American musical arts through accessible performances. As part of this mission, the foundation has presented free concerts by American blues legends such as Shemekia Copeland in 2021. The Summer concert series has also featured legends of big-band jazz, and zydeco, including multiple shows by the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
Eric Lindell will kick off the Summer series on July 11th with his trademark brand of Americana. Lindell’s strain of music mixes Southern R&B, West Coast Rock, and Soul to create an infectious sound. This performance marks Lindell’s third performance at the Chenango Thursday Concert Series, having previously played in 2007, and 2008.
Eric Lindell
New Orlean’s the Iguanas will grace the concert series with a July 18th show. The Iguanas have toured for three decades with few lineup changes, crafting a fun and almost brotherly attitude in their music. The band’s style of roots rock connects genres ranging from New Orleans jazz, blues, tejano rock, and Caribbean music.
The James Hunter Six will close out July with an evening concert on July 25th. MOJO magazine hailed Hunter as “the United Kingdom’s greatest soul singer.” Since starting his career over 30 years ago, Hunter has played guitar and backing vocals for Van Morrison, and received a Grammy nomination for “Best Traditional Blues Album.” Hunter will perform while in the US on a larger tour with Bonnie Raitt.
Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds will kick off the festival’s August lineup. Headed by singer Arleigh Kincheloe, the Brooklyn based band has made a name for themselves with their electrifying soul. For their headlining shows, festival performances, and residencies, NPR hailed them as “one of the biggest voices in rock music.” With very limited dates, this performance is sure to be one of the group’s only free shows.
Sister Sparrow
August 8th will see a special performance by the Garcia Project. The Garcia Project is dedicated to faithful recreations of Jerry Garcia Band concerts from 1976-1995. These concerts are not covers, but thoughtful musical arrangements meant to evoke the emotions of classic Garcia concerts. This concert is perfect for enjoyers of Garcia’s classic work or those who enjoy psychedelic and jam band music.
August 15th will feature a special Blues Fest pre-show with Blood Brothers. The duo consists of blues guitarists Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia. Both Zito and Castiglia are renowned musicians in their own right. In 2022, Zito won the Blues Music Award for “Best Blues Album,” and Castgilia won the BMA for “Blues Rock Artist.” Together, the duo are more than the sum of their parts, featuring immensely collaborative performances and songwriting. This concert will kick off the weekend-long Chenango Blues Festival.
Following the Blues Festival, the Thursday concert series will return on August 22nd with a performance by Sam Bush. This legendary artist spearheaded the “newgrass” movement, creating a new progressive style of bluegrass. Bush’s sound melds traditional bluegrass with long rock jams, and even aspects of Bob Marley’s reggae. Bush is a Bluegrass Hall of fame inductee, 3x Grammy winner, and Americana Music Association lifetime achievement award winner. Since beginning his career, Bush has collaborated with legends like Emmylou Harris, Garth Brooks, and Bela Fleck.
Musical innovator Keller Williams will close out the summer season with an August 29th performance. Williams is not bound by conventional notions of genre, seamlessly shifting between rock, funk, and blues. With this eclectic mixing of styles, no two shows by Williams will ever be the same. Keller will play solo, accompanying himself on guitar, bass, synthesizer, and drum sampler. Williams has dubbed this style “Acoustic dance music,” which is sure to make for an engaging and danceable show.
Keller Williams
Summer Concert Series Schedule
7/11 @ 7:00pm – Eric Lindell
7/18 @ 7:00pm- The Iguanas
7/25 @ 7:00pm- James Hunter Six
8/1 @ 7:00pm- Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds
8/8 @ 7:00pm- The Garcia Project
8/15 @ 6:30pm- Blood Brothers
8/22 @ 7:00pm- Sam Bush
8/29 @ 7:00pm- Keller Williams
For more information on performers, location, and times, visit the Chenango Blues Festival website here.
