NYS Music 2024

Author: nick motto

  • Christian Parker’s Upcoming “Change is Now” Album Pays Homage to The Byrds

    Folk/country artist Christian Parker has announced his upcoming album, Change is Now, set to release on March 22. The album pays tribute to some of The Byrds’ classic hits.

    Christian Parker
    Christian Parker

    The album, Change is Now is something of a power-folk medley. Each song has an energetic folk melody, but a very distinct sound that Christian Parker made his own. The album pays much homage to the Byrds’ classic hits like “Ballad of an Easy Rider,” “Chimes of Freedom,” and “The World Turns All Around Her.” You can very clearly hear Parker’s own original spin on the tunes.

    Along with The Byrds, Parker has clear influence from other classic artists like The Beatles, Blue Oyster Cult, and of course, Bob Dylan. Each song on the album has its own spark, its own character and its own rhythmic flair. Some tunes on the album are perfect for a excited countryside drive, while some fit for a calm, hopeful campfire.

    Christian Parker

    Christian Parker hails from Canton, New York up by the Canadian border. Parker’s dazzling collection of songs have been warming the hearts of listeners over the past 3 and a half decades. His music contains lyricism around emotion, tension, and hope, carried by chiming guitar, and unforgettable hooks.

    Earl Poole Ball, one of the original Byrds studio members, joins Parker on the album. This addition adds another element of honor to the album already paying homage to The Byrds. The album’s folk-driven, country-twanged, and mainstream appeal brings people of all tastes together.

    Earl Poole Ball

    To learn more about Christian Parker, and to stream his upcoming album, Change is Now, click here.

  • New York Philharmonic Announces Jam-Packed 2024-25 Season

    The New York Philharmonic has announced their 2024-2025 season of events. The season is packed with hearty, unique, and diverse talent with Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel leading three weeks of subscription concerts.

    New York Philharmonic season
    Gustavo Dudamel

    The New York Philharmonic presents a wide range of new compositions, including 13 World, US, and New York Premieres this season. This consists of five World Premieres, two US Premieres, and six New York Premieres. These premieres encapsulate the diversity and broad perspectives of the Philharmonic’s community.

    For the first time, Dudamel leads New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks, presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer. The Philharmonic explores programming from a variety of musical perspectives. Pianist Yuja Wang appears in contexts that reflect her musical interests, including her first NY Phil appearances in
    which she leads the Orchestra from the piano.

    Also new for the upcoming season, New York Philharmonic musicians were invited to act as an Artistic Partner, curating a program that reflects their varied musical interests, and also celebrates the Orchestra’s brilliant history.

    The Philharmonic examines music of the African diaspora in America from the latter half of the 20th century through the present day. Artistic Partner International Contemporary Ensemble presents the beauty of Afromodernism. The program is curated by artistic director George Lewis; and a Young People’s Concert.

    Over the 2024–25 season the New York Philharmonic shines a spotlight on two French composers who transformed the musical landscape and left enduring legacies. The Pierre Boulez Centennial and Ravel’s 150th Anniversary are two programs that pay deep tribute to the French composers.

    The upcoming season sees several debuts from conductors and soloists alike. Along with this, there are many returning friends and favorites. The New York Philharmonic welcomes all those returning and the unfamiliar faces as well.

    For more information on the New York Philharmonic’s upcoming 2024-25 season, click here.

  • HOT 97 Announces 30th Annual Summer Jam at UBS Arena in Long Island

    HOT 97’s Summer Jam festival sees UBS Arena in Elmont, New York as the host for the event’s 30th anniversary. The festival sees a stellar lineup of some of hip hop’s most notable names. This includes Doja Cat, Sexxy Redd, Offset, Method Man, Redman and many more.

    Hip hop’s biggest celebration begins June 2 at UBS Arena in Elmont, Long Island. Summer Jam 2024 sees an explosive celebration of HOT 97’s legacy and the biggest names hip hop has to offer. Cemented rap artists of today, legends of the past, and rising stars all gather at Summer Jam to show their talent and to make the crowd move.

    Headlining this historic occasion are chart-toppers Doja Cat, Davido, and Offset, alongside fan-favorites such as Sexyy Red, the legendary duo Method Man and Redman, rising star Sleepy Hallow, Detroit’s pride Tee Grizzley, and the dynamic 41 Kyle Richh, Jenn Carter, and TaTa.

    Legendary Hip Hop Duo, Method Man and Redman

    Summer Jam started humbly and become a cultural phenomenon. The festival has continuously pushed boundaries and shaped the landscape of hip-hop. With icons Method Man and Redman joining forces to set the stage on fire, this year’s lineup reflects the evolution of the genre and pays homage to the artists who have contributed to its legacy over the past three decades.

    Summer Jam at UBS is something that’ll recur. UBS Arena is the festival’s new home now that its fully built and ready for massive audiences. The arena has been meticulously designed to elevate fans’ audio experience during performances, and those in attendance can vouch.

    Summer Jam 2019 at Metlife Stadium

    General public tickets will officially go on sale on Friday, March 22nd at 10 am on HOT97.com  and ticketmaster.com. You do not want to miss Summer Jam at UBS Arena.

  • Chris Pellnat Releases Latest Multi-Sound Album “Cairn”

    Chris Pellnat announced the release of his latest folk, synth, rock fusion album, Cairn and it is certainly something unique. The album showcases several unique and intriguing sounds from Chris Pellnat’s repertoire.

    Cairn Chris Pellnat

    Chris Pellnat is a singer-songwriter based in Hudson, New York. In addition to his solo work, he plays guitar in the Poughkeepsie-based rock band, The Warp/The Weft. He is also half of the duo, Teeniest. He performs mostly in upstate New York. Chris creates melodic, memorable songs using unusual instrumentation, including vibraphone, clarinet and dulcimer in addition to guitar, bass, drums and
    synthesizers. His songs are sometimes cleverly humorous, but always with an underlying message.

    There is clear vocal and instrument influence from artists like Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, John Lennon, Paul Simon and more. Cairn combines elements of traditional American folk, orchestral music, acoustic rock, and even electronic. Each song on the Cairn has its own feel and theme. Some songs are about hope, some are about endings and beginnings, some are about nothing. The album has an overwhelming ability to calm, but also the ability to get your feet tapping or your head swaying.

    Cairn has a good deal of variety in terms of musical vibe and style. It starts off with “Ship on the Horizon,”
    a dulcimer-and-accordion-driven song that sets the tone with the sound of ocean waves. “Wandering Squandering” is a straight-ahead electric rocker. “Forest Giants” is a trippy, electronic exploration inspired by the wilderness. The album continues like that: you never know what the next song will sound like, and you’ll likely be surprised when you find out.

    For more information on Chris Pellnat’s music and to listen to Cairn, click here.

  • Caffe Lena in April Features Raul Midon, The Special Consensus, Michael Eck and More

    Esteemed music venue Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs announced a stellar lineup of musicians for the month of April, with Raul Midon, Michael Eck, Vanessa Collier, and The Special Consensus among the featured acts.

    caffe lena april

    CaffeLena has presented New York State with extraordinary music in an intimate setting since the 1960s. It is widely recognized as the longest continuously operating folk music venue in the United States. Bob Dylan performed for two consecutive nights at the cafè in 1961, a year prior to the release of his debut album.

    The venue’s mission is to keep a diverse set of programs and artists, regardless of fame, to present to the community. Caffe Lena is where musical discovery begins on all fronts. All shows held in-person in Lena’s historic listening room are also streamed live to living rooms around the world.

    Caffe Lena’s April shows are not ones to miss. The itinerary is complete with various well-known artists with utmost talent. Various genres like bluegrass, jazz, folk, blues, poetry, funk rock and more are set to light up the intimate venue with energy, love, and art. Artists like Michael Eck see the stage for heartfelt performances signifying great milestones.

    Vanessa Collier

    Michael Eck celebrates his 60th birthday with release of sixth album, fermata, and a performance at Caffe Lena, 8 p.m. Friday, April 19. Eck will be joined by an all-star ensemble, including bassist/vocalist Bob Buckley, guitarist Sten Isachsen, and elusive vocalist Rosanne Raneri.

    Michael Eck

    Caffe Lena’s Top Shows For April

    April 2, 7 PM Live Stream: Storytelling Night Featuring Julia Biaculli

    April 3, 7 PM Poetry Open Mic Night featuring Susan Jefts

    April 4, 8 PM Ruthie Foster

    April 5, 8 PM The Special Consensus

    April 6, 8 PM Peter Mulvey with Opener Zachary Lucky

    April 7, 7 PM House of Hamill

    April 9, 7 PM Songwriting with Eliza Gilkyson

    April 19, 8 PM Live Stream: Michael Eck

    April 26, 8 PM Vanessa Collier

    April 27, 8 PM Bright Series: The Clements Brothers

    April 28, 7 PM Intersectional Voices: Raul Midon

    For more information on Caffe Lena’s April shows and to purchase tickets, click here.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK9dLM8_cKE

  • Jeff Lynne’s ELO To Play Madison Square Garden on Upcoming Fall Tour

    Jeff Lynne’s ELO is set to tour across the United States for 27 dates, including one at MSG in Manhattan.

    The “Over and Out Tour” kicks off on August 24 in Palm Desert, California. The tour wraps up in Los Angeles on October 25. The two-month tour stops at Madison Square Garden on September 16. This is the only tour date in the Empire State.

    Jeff Lynne MSG

    Jeff Lynne’s ELO has delivered a chart-topping album along with a sold out run of UK and European shows. Jeff Lynne was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame last year and the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.

    Jeff Lynne is a rock and roll legend who’s produced for The Beatles, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, and many more. Lynne also co-founded The Travelling Wilburys with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty. Jeff Lynne is a music genius who creates once in a blue-moon performances that can’t be missed.

    The band has always been known for their epic live shows and a distinct style that seamlessly and innovatively blends rock, pop and classical. This tour is filled with genre-defining talent from production to performance. The “Over and Out Tour” is one you’ll want to witness.

    Jeff Lynne MSG
    Jeff Lynne’s ELO “Over and Out” Tour Dates:

    August 24       Palm Desert, CA                     Acrisure Arena

    August 27       Seattle, WA                            Climate Pledge Arena

    August 28       Vancouver, BC                       Rogers Arena

    August 30       Portland, OR                           Moda Center

    September 1    San Francisco, CA                  Chase Center

    September 6    St. Louis, MO                         Enterprise Center

    September 7    Indianapolis, IN                      Gainbridge Fieldhouse

    September 9    Toronto, ON                           Scotiabank Arena

    September 10  Pittsburgh, PA                        PPG Paints Arena

    September 13  Cincinnati, OH                       Heritage Bank Center

    September 14  Cleveland, OH                        Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse

    September 16  New York, NY                       Madison Square Garden

    September 20  Philadelphia, PA                     Wells Fargo Center

    September 23  Boston, MA                            TD Garden

    September 25  Washington, DC                     Capital One Arena

    September 27  Chicago, IL                             United Center

    September 30  St, Paul, MN                           Xcel Energy Center

    October 2        Denver, CO                             Ball Arena

    October 9        Detroit, MI                              Little Caesars Arena

    October 11      Nashville, TN                         Bridgestone Arena

    October 12      Atlanta, GA                            State Farm Arena

    October 15      Austin, TX                              Moody Center

    October 16      Houston, TX                           Toyota Center

    October 18      Dallas, TX                              American Airlines Center

    October 21      Phoenix, AZ                            Footprint Center

    October 23      Sacramento, CA                     Golden 1 Center

    October 25      Los Angeles, CA                    Kia Forum

    Artist Presale will begin on Wednesday, March 20 at 10 a.m. and the general on-sale will start on Friday, March 22 at 10 a.m. To learn more about the tour and to purchase tickets, click here.

  • Adequate Phil Release Latest Single “Limes,” Marking Final Track Before Debut Album

    Rochester psychedelic indie rock band Adequate Phil have released their latest track, “Limes” which is out on all streaming services now. The song marks their final single before the release of their debut album.

    adequate Phil Limes

    Adequate Phil, hailing from Troy, is an experimental psychedelic indie rock powerhouse with influences from Radiohead, Animal Collective, The Beatles, and The Shins. With the release of their debut album on the horizon and in spite of recent personal difficulties and lineup changes, Adequate Phil continues to captivate audiences with their magnetic stage presence and innovative sound. Since 2021, they’ve been an eclectic and relatively underground driving force in the local scene.

    adequate Phil Limes

    The track “Limes” is nothing short of unique. Its monumental psychedelic influence just oozes out of each pore of the track. You can hear the influence from classic psychedelic bands like The Beatles, Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, and more. You can also hear influence from artists like King Gizzard and even Yoko Ono.

    The vocals are haunting and obscure, the lead and rhythm guitar are hallucinogenic. Nothing about this song is conventional, but it has an eerie familiarity. The more you listen, the more you become entranced by the sounds the band emanates.

    For more information on Adequate Phil and to lay ears on their latest single, “Limes,” click here.

  • Latin Hip Hop Artist Residente Announces “Las Letras Yo No Importan” Tour

    Latin rapper Residente announced his official tour “Las Letras Ya No Importan” (Lyrics Are Not Important) after the release of his second album.

    Residente’s tour will make its only U.S. East Coast stop at Radio City Music Hall in NYC, on September 18, 2024. The Radio City Music Hall show is one of only two U.S. dates. The other is in Los Angeles on September 20.

    Residente

    The tour name coincides with the album of the same name, which features 23 tracks. The album includes artists such as Penélope Cruz, Ricky Martin, Busta Rhymes, Big Daddy Kane, Christian Nodal, Arcangel, and many more.

    General on sale for tickets began March 15. Get them now at stubhub.com. Make sure to see Residente at his show at Radio City Music Hall before he leaves the states.

    Residente

    Las Letras Ya No Importan 2024 Tour Dates

    Sept 14th – Barcelona, Spain

    Sept 15th – Madrid, Spain

    Sept 18th – New York, NY

    Sept 20th – Los Angeles, CA

    Sept 27th – Buenos Aires, Argentina 

    Oct 3rd – Montevideo, Uruguay

    Oct 5th, Santiago, Chile

    Oct 9th – Lima, Peru

    Oct 12th – Bogota, Colombia 

    Oct 25th – Quito, Ecuador 

    Nov 7th – City of Mexico, Mexico

    Nov 14th – Tegucigalpa, Honduras 

    Nov 15th – City of Guatemala, Guatemala

    Nov 16th – San Salvador, El Salvador

    Dec 7th – San Juan, Puerto Rico

  • Artist Profile: Upstate New York-Based Beach Hop Rapper, Cully

    Beach-hop artist Cully has a new album out titled Sad Boy Nites. The seven-track album contains many new musical elements as well as his usual, unique sound.

    Cully’s music can best be described as beachy, upbeat, bubblegum rap that lifts spirits and ensues relaxation.

    Cully was inspired by music from a young age. In elementary school he was freestyling and beatboxing on the playground. Then in high school, he along with two friends formed rap-trio Tribe Style, where they would release song after song on YouTube.

    It wasn’t until Cully’s college years at SUNY Oneonta where he’d really get the musical ball rolling. He met MC Righteous, joined Bright Dog Red and began releasing real-deal albums under Ropeadope Records. Shortly after graduation he began working in recording studios as a sound engineer, working for two years under record producer Sean Ono Lennon. 

    Cully’s music combines elements of pop, surf music, hip hop, and indie. Together, his music makes for an upbeat, chillaxed, and unique “beach hop” vibe. The artist loves to implement absurdist and dry humor into his lyrics with a flowing stream of melody behind it. He switches from catchy pop vocals, and a funky rhyme cadence frequently.

    His new album, Sad Boy Nites has an overarching theme of a laid-back, uplifting summer. Many of the tunes on the album relate to being a young adult in the current age, trying to enjoy life amidst the daily chaos of the world. Each song has a unique and vibey melody. They also contain different themes of their own like love, relaxation, getting lifted without drugs, and enjoying oneself. This album is one to kick back, chill outdoors, and surround yourself with positivity to.

    To lay your ears on some of Cully’s previous tunes, and to stay up on his upcoming releases, visit his YouTube channel or click here.

  • Artist Profile: Up and Coming Indie-Folk Troupe Sweetboy

    NYC Indie-folk band Sweetboy has been gaining popularity after the release of their 2023 album A Day in the Park. The group is known for their powerful style of indie, folk, pop, and alternative meshing.

    Sweetboy was created by artists Anna Barnett and Jon Flores. The two met on Craigslist under aspiring musicians in search of a band. The pair got together, created some tunes, and began performing at open mics around NYC.

    The duo then added some new members, put out some demos, and by 2023, released their first album A Day in the Park. Their sound combines infectious indie-pop energy and nostalgic alt-rock angst with an introspective throughline.

    Sweetboy considers themselves not much more than nerdy music lovers trying to figure out the most interesting, authentic, and exciting ways to turn their feelings into songs. While the bandmates live throughout New York and New Jersey, the City is their musical home.

    The group performed their song “Upstate” on Albany’s WTEN news station on February 25. The song is a wonderful combination of sound, beginning with a strong folk tone, shifting and evolving into a higher-energy pop-rock ballad with a punchy drumbeat.

    “Upstate” features a percussive yet melodic piano. Throughout the tune, several changes of intensity and instrumentation occur. The track features Anna’s wonderous vocals along with soaring, choir-like vocals. From beginning as a slow, soft acoustic ditty, to a moving, quick-witted ballad, the song keeps the listener entranced and moving.

    To learn more about Sweetboy and their upcoming music, visit their website here. Make sure to check out their YouTube channel for all past releases as well.