NYS Music 2024

Author: Remy Commisso

  • Wale Announces ‘Every Blue Moon Tour’ With New York Show Announced

    Rap artist Wale just announced the “Every Blue Moon Tour” in celebration his upcoming album and the 15th anniversary of his debut album.

    The live nations tour will stop at Irving Plaza in New York on Oct. 5. The Blue Moon tour is a 32 city journey starting in Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 19 and ending in Birmingham, Alabama on Nov. 7. 

    About Wale

    Wale was born in Washington D.C. to Nigerian parents. After graduating high school, he studied at Bowie State University but dropped out to pursue his rap career. He dropped his first single “Dig Dug” in 2006 and his first album in 2008. A Mixtape About Nothing put him on the Hip Hop map. His legendary 12 albums continued to establish the new rapper on the scene. Currently Wale is one of the most accomplished hip hop artists from the DMV area.

    In 2023, he signed a new deal with Def Jam records and was featured on Odumodublvck’s “Blood On The Dance Floor.” He celebrated the 10th anniversary of his album Gifted with a performance at the Kennedy Center. His 8th album is yet to be announced but is set to be performed on this upcoming tour.
    Tickets are available with the general sale on Aug.16. You can visit LiveNation.org for more tour information.

    EVERY BLUE MOON TOUR 2024 DATES: 

    Thu Sep 19 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Live

    Fri Sep 20 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live

    Mon Sep 23 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall

    Wed Sep 25 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works

    Fri Sep 27 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle 

    Sat Sep 28 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz

    Sun Sep 29 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore Charlotte 

    Tue Oct 01 – McKees Rocks, PA – Roxian Theatre 

    Thu Oct 03 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts

    Fri Oct 04 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club 

    Sat Oct 05 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza

    Mon Oct 07 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues Cleveland 

    Tue Oct 08 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall 

    Thu Oct 10 – Detroit, MI – Saint Andrew’s Hall 

    Fri Oct 11 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues Chicago 

    Sat Oct 12 – Minneapolis, MN – Uptown Theater

    Mon Oct 14 – Denver, CO – Summit 

    Tue Oct 15 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot 

    Fri Oct 18 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom 

    Sat Oct 19 – Seattle Washington – Neptune Theatre

    Sun Oct 20 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater

    Wed Oct 23 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore 

    Fri Oct 25 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern

    Sat Oct 26 – San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park 

    Sun Oct 27 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren 

    Tue Oct 29 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theatre

    Thu Oct 31 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues Dallas 

    Fri Nov 01 – Austin, TX – Emo’s Austin 

    Sat Nov 02 – Houston, TX – House of Blues Houston 

    Tue Nov 05 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues New Orleans 

    Wed Nov 06 – Mobile, AL – Soul Kitchen Music Hall

    Thu Nov 07 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City 

  • Branford Marsalis Announces Tour Date at Troy Music Hall

    Esteemed Jazz band leader and artist Branford Marsalis will be back at the Troy Bank Music Hall this Jan. 16, 2025.

    Born in New Orleans, Marsalis‘ first musical instrument was the clarinet. He ventured on to the saxophone while he started working in Local bands. In 1986 he formed The Branford Marsalis Quartet which continues to be his primary performance source. The Quartet is now a standard for other musical groups.

    Not only is Marsalis a bandleader and musician but he has also worked on film and television scores and Broadway musicals. He’s received Tony nominations for Children of a Lesser God, Fences, and A Raisin in the Sun. He composed music for the History Channel’s documentary, Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre, for which he received an Emmy.

    In 2002, he created the Marsalis Music label which features his work along with other talented artists like Miguel Zenón and his late teacher Alvin Batiste. Marsalis helps educate other musicians in their journey as well. He has been teaching at North Carolina Central University for the past 18 years. He’s also taught at the Michigan State University and San Francisco State University and makes appearances all over the world for his workshops.

    Over the next few months, Marsalis will be touring in the U.S., Europe and Canada. Before he returns to the Bank Music hall, he has four performances at the Triple Door in Seattle, Washington.
    Tickets for his Troy performance are now on sale at Troymusichall.org.

  • Orchestra Of The Southern Finger Lakes Announces Anniversary 24-25 Season

    The Orchestra of The Southern Finger Lakes ended July with a big announcement of their 24-25 season tickets.

    Their 30th season in history also celebrates another important anniversary. This is the 15th season with Maestro Toshiyuki Shimada leading the group of musicians. The performances of the season include the Orchestra Series and the Musicians Choice Chamber Music Series.

    This fall, on Oct 12, the orchestra will start the season with “Oktoberfest at the Symphony,” a celebration of German composers like Beethoven and Brahms. Korean violinist, Jinyoung Yoon will perform the Brahms Violin Concerto. To end the Orchestra Series, on May 4, 2025 pianist Svetlana Smolina will perform Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2. The “May The Fourth Be With You” performance will also include the classic cinematic Star Wars theme. 

    For fans of smaller ensembles’, on Nov 1, principal flute Jeanne Sperber and pianist Michael Salmirs will perform lyrical repertoire from composers such as Arthur Foote and Charles Griffes. Next year on Feb. 11, a trio of wind instrumentalists, Lesley McClelland, David Resig and Claire Tuxill McKenney, will perform pieces both with and without narration. 

    The Orchestra Series is conducted by director Toshiyuki Shimada. Shimada studied under highly esteemed conductors such as Leonard Bernstein, Herbert von Karajan, Herbert Blomstedt and more. From 2005 to 2019 he was the director of the Yale Symphony Orchestra of Yale University. He also directed the Portland Symphony Orchestra in Portland, ME from 1986 to 2006. Not only does he conduct in the U.S. but he’s made guest appearances at international orchestras like Royal Scottish National Orchestra; L’Orchestre National de Lille in France, Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, the Prague Chamber Orchestra and a seemingly endless list of others. 

    To experience all The Orchestra of The Southern Finger Lakes has to offer, you can purchase season tickets on the website here.

  • The Giraffes Release Trippy Psychedelic Single “The Shot”

    Brooklyn alternative band, The Giraffes, released their new single “The Shot” off their eighth studio album Cigarette coming out Sept. 27.

    The psychedelic single starts out slow, with minimal instrumentation exposing frontman Aaron Lazar’s vocals and harmonies from the band. “The Shot,” a nearly six minute song, has a trippy 60’s meets jam-band sound. 

    According to Lazar, the song is about Generation X. “We have limited desires and, as a result, we tend to see limited returns. This is a song about millennialism I suppose, where we are doomed to fail, but forced to race nonetheless,” he said. 

    Formed in 1996, The Giraffes are known for curating their loud, punk alternative music. You can still hear the 90’s rock influence, even with their recent discography. Along with Lazar, the band is made up of Damien Paris on guitar, Andrew Totolos on drums and Hannah Moorhead on drums. On previous work, Lazar would write exclusively, but now Moorhead is joining in on writing and backup vocals.

    Since 1998, they’ve released seven albums and toured nationally multiple times. In 2011 Lazar left the band and although that year was thought to be the ending of The Giraffes, Lazar returned in 2014 with sold out reunion concerts. 

    You can stream “The Shot” on Bandcamp and keep an eye out for Cigarette on Sept. 27.

  • NYC Artist SOLA Releases single WHAT YOU WANT

    Up and coming NYC R&B artist SOLA has released her funk disco single “What You Want,” which is about people pleasing.

    SOLA, also known as Jessica Bisola Omokheyeke, was born and raised in Houston Texas and moved to NYC to expand her music career. Her hometown inspired her writing style. She began her musical journey in a church choir. “Houston holds a special place in my heart and has shaped who I am today,” Omokheyeke told NYS Music. The 22 year old songwriter released her first EP Everything in Between in November of 2022.

    Omokheyeke opened for Doechii and Earl Sweatshirt at NYC’s Terminal 5 in February of 2023 gaining lots of attention in the NYC Music scene.

    With her background in the church and growing up with R&B superstars like Beyoncé, SZA and Lauryn Hill, her musical influences have range. “From a young age, I created music not to fit into any genre but to represent my own experiences and the sounds I loved,” she said. 

    “What You Want” describes the insanity that striving for perfection leads to. At first, SOLA wanted to write a ballad about her frustration with imperfections, but then it became an upbeat funk song. “Writing this song was incredibly freeing. I feel like I learned more about myself with each line I wrote, uncovering the feelings I was burying under layers of guilt.”

    SOLA is looking forward to sharing more music in the fall as well as a music video with the “What You Want” release day.
    You can listen to her music on any streaming service and keep up with her work through her Instagram @itssolaofficial.

  • Tina Turner Musical Makes Its Way to Schenectady

    Tina, the Tina Turner Musical on Broadway, will tour upstate to Schenectady from July 30 to Aug 4.  

    The eight performances are part of the Keybank Broadway series at Proctors Theater. Tina just finished performances further north in Toronto at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre from June 18 to July 28. 

    Tina Musical

    The historical Proctors Theatre has been open since 1926 and first brought in large audiences by hosting continuous performances like they do today.

    Tina first made its debut in London in 2018. Other international productions began to open in the following years. In 2019, Tina opened in Germany. It made its way to the Netherlands in 2020 and Spain in 2021. The show opened on Broadway in 2019 and was nominated for 12 Tony Awards that year and re-started in 2021 after the industry’s complete shutdown due to COVID-19.

    The current North American tour has a talented cast led by Ari Groover and Zurin Villanueva who share the role of Turner herself. The musical was directed by Phyllida Lloyd and written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall.

    Tina tells the life story of the Grammy award winning artist. Tuner began her musical career as a duo with her then husband Ike Turner. The two rose to fame with their cover of “Proud Mary” in 1966. In 1976, Turner divorced her husband after years of abuse. She made her comeback in the 80’s with her solo album Private Dancer. The singer had decades of musical success until her recent death in 2023. A feature documentary TINA exploring the life and career of this esteemed singer is available to stream on HBO Max.

    To buy tickets to Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, you can visit the Proctors website here.

  • NYC Artist Joe Geni Releases Operatic Single From Upcoming Album

    NYC based artist Joe Geni released his single “City Where The Sky Subsides” on July 23 as a preview to his third album Cities Built Upon Cities.

    The single is an electronic rock song with operatic vocals and an orchestral background. As inferred in the title, the song describes the story of a date being rained out and the disappointment that came with it. Geni is known for his speed and pitch manipulations. With a 3.5 octave range he has a unique talent. 

    Geni is originally from Illinois but moved to the NYC area for various jobs with the United Nations and eventually, his music career. Working between Manhattan and Long Island City, the ever-changing environment inspired his writing and upcoming album.

    His career started in 2019 with his album After Wandering Empire and then Doggerland in 2021. Geni released another single, “City of Energy” earlier this year which will also appear on the Cities Built Upon Cities album coming out on Oct. 4.

    Producer Charlie Nieland mixed his past and upcoming album giving it a new wave feel. Nieland previously worked with popular 80’s rock artists like Debbie Harry and Rufus Wainwright. 

    You can listen to Joe Geni’s music on any streaming service.

  • Friends and Lovers Bar Collaborates With Brooklyn Community

    Friends and Lovers, a bar, music venue and inclusive space located in Crown Heights Brooklyn, is on a mission to revive the soul of Brooklyn nightlife while giving back to the local community.

    Friends and Lovers

    The space opened its doors in 2013 with founders Diana Mora and Dash Brody also the minds behind New York Nightlife United (NU). The organization aims to keep authentic New York Nightlife alive, raising money to keep venues afloat and to support local artists and producers.

    Friends and Lovers has a strategic location on 641 Classon Ave., out of earshot of residential areas, but still nearby local businesses to draw in people coming in and out of Brooklyn. Although the neighborhood has gone through significant changes with new condos and businesses being placed in the area, according to their website, Friends and Lovers remains an inclusive sanctuary.

    The venue also hosts the Classon Community Fridge, a free food fridge that’s completely volunteer run made to give back to the community. Donations come from local business and individual community members. 

    Along with in-house shows, they also host collaboration events. On June 23 they hosted the Summer Dance party at Brooklyn Bridge Park and on Aug. 4 they host Lazy Daze at Liberty Lawn.

    Some of Friends and Lovers upcoming events include “Thoughtcraft,” a comedy show presented by local comics Spencer Simpson and Matt Kumar on July 25. The following night up and coming R&B artist Asante Phenix will perform his discography.

    To find more upcoming events you can visit the website here.

    Upcoming Events

    July 25: Thoughtcraft: A Comedy Show

    July 26: Asante Phenix Live

    July 27: Candid Studios Presents: A Candid Comedy Show

    Aug 1: Game Night

    Aug 2: GetLive! + Friends

    August 4: 3-7pm at GoodFork 79.5, DJs tbd

  • Chaparelle Brings Country Harmonies To Woodstock

    Country-folk power couple Chaparelle gave an exciting performance on July 20 for the Woodstock community at Levon Helm Studios.

    Chaparelle, fronted by singer and songwriters Zella Day and Jesse Woods, are currently on their first tour together. The two started writing music together a year and a half ago and invited producer Beau Bedford to their early sessions and announced nine tour dates on April 26. They released their first Chaparelle single, “Bleeding Hearts” on June 28.

    The song reflects the classic country, slow, cowpoke sound of their homebase, Austin, Texas. The whole band is made up of Texans aside from Day who was born in Arizona, but spent most of her solo career in Los Angeles. 

    Levon Helm Studios was the perfect intimate venue for Chaparelle’s musical introduction to the Hudson Valley. Day and Woods are used to playing in Texas dance halls so the venue allowed them to have a closer connection with audience members. With only one single out, they performed almost all unreleased songs. “I can’t think of a more magical way to share this music,” Day remarked. The couple had eclectic chemistry on stage and their two voices melted together with impeccable harmony. 

    chaparelle woodstock

    Chaparelle gave a sultry Woodstock performance of an unreleased song “Sex and Rage” and even added choreography with an iconic Austin dance move, the cuddle dip. Day sang her song “Girls” from her Sunday in Heaven album. With her iconic tambourine and entrancing vocals, Day has a captivating performance style that sucked her audience in. 

    One cover that had people singing along was their slowed, folky version of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” Chaparelle ended their set with another cover during the encore. “Video Games” by Lana Del Rey was a song that inspired their own writing. Day has previously worked with Del Rey, opening for her a number of times and being featured on her Joni Mitchell cover, “For Free.”

    Chaparelle has confirmed they will release an album in the future with the release date to be determined. With 19 dates still left on their U.S. tour, you don’t want to miss this classic country revival duo. 

    Remaining Chaparelle Tour Dates

    JUL 27, 2024: NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL NEWPORT, RI

    SEP 7, 2024: EVANSTON FOLK FESTIVAL EVANSTON, IL

    SEP 26, 2024: BLUE CANOE TUPELO, MS

    SEP 28, 2024: EVOLUTION FESTIVAL ST. LOUIS, MO

    SEP 29, 2024: RECORDBAR KANSAS CITY, MO

    OCT 1, 2024: MERCURY LOUNGE TULSA, OK

    OCT 2, 2024: HOUSE OF BLUES DALLAS – CAMBRIDGE ROOM DALLAS, TX

    OCT 4, 2024 – OCT 6, 2024: AUSTIN CITY LIMITS MUSIC FESTIVAL AUSTIN, TX

    OCT 9, 2024: HOLLYWOOD THEATRE VANCOUVER, BC

    OCT 11, 2024: TRACTOR TAVERN SEATTLE, WA

    OCT 12, 2024: THE SHOWDOWN PORTLAND, OR

    OCT 13, 2024: DOMINO ROOM BEND, OR

    OCT 24, 2024: MIDDLE EAST UPSTAIRS BOSTON, MA

    OCT 25, 2024: THE SULTAN ROOM BROOKLYN, NY

    OCT 26, 2024: SONGBYRD WASHINGTON, DC

    OCT 27, 2024: CAT’S CRADLE BACK ROOM CARRBORO, NC

    OCT 29, 2024: THE EARL ATLANTA, GA

    OCT 30, 2024: BLUE ROOM AT THIRD MAN RECORDS NASHVILLE, TN

    NOV 16, 2024: EL REY THEATRE LOS ANGELES, CA

  • SPAC Announces Partnership With Festival de Lanaudière

    Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) has announced their partnership with Canadian classical music festival, The Festival de Lanaudière, for their mentorship program.

    Festival de Lanaudière

    From July 25 to Aug 4, the mentorship program will travel with six talented Canadian musicians to Quebec and SPAC. The program pushes the musicians’ careers forward by allowing them to forge relationships with other musicians, conductors and teachers. These six young artists will spend the first six days of the program in Joliette, Quebec and for the first time in the program’s history, the last four days will be with The Philadelphia Orchestra at SPAC.

    The Philadelphia Orchestra has a longstanding summer residency at SPAC and this year, their SPAC performances include 100 years of Rhapsody in Blue on Aug 1, an Evening with John Legend on Aug 7 and a performance with Yo-Yo Ma on Aug 16.

    The entire Festival de Lanaudière goes from July 6 and ends with the mentorship program on Aug 4. The festival was founded in 1978 and the famous Amphithéâtre Fernand-Lindsay was constructed in 1988. Most of the performances take place outside in the Amphitheatre, but for some performances the festival moves to offsite venues like the ornate churches of Quebec as well as distilleries and cultural centers. 

    SPAC is also known for its beautiful open amphitheater where the Philadelphia orchestra shares the stage with other prestigious arts companies like New York City Ballet and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. The town of Saratoga Springs is surrounded by hiking trails and geysers, drawing in summer tourists and music fans alike.

    To find more information about The Festival de Lanaudière, you can visit their website here.

    THE 2024 MENTEES

    ·       Mehdi Ghazi, pianist

    ·       Frédéric-Alexandre Michaud, conductor, violinist and radio cultural commentator

    ·       Elizabeth Polese, soprano

    ·       Antoine Rivard-Landry, pianist

    ·       Catherine St-Arnaud, soprano

    ·       Gabriel Trottier, solo, chamber and orchestral horn player