Jam band God Street Wine has announced a series of five concerts in March, including a date in Woodstock that will be recorded for a live release.
Photo- Geoff Tischman
One of the most prominent acts of the early jam band scene, New York based God Street Wine has been jamming on and off for over twenty six years. Within their first decade as a unit, the group had released five albums and performed over 1,000 shows across the country.
After a nearly decades-long split, the band reunited in 2009 privately to honor the passing of an old friend and later performed a series of shows in New York City benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. With the band spread geographically, releases came sporadically throughout the next few years, including a 25th anniversary box set retrospective and the All The Way To Here documentary film.
Just off of the heels of eight shows in the Summer of 2019, the band faced an unexpectedly lengthy hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. After four years kept apart, God Street Wine was able to reunite in 2023 with two New York shows, this time in benefit of Mission Stadiums for Multiple Sclerosis.
Earlier this year, the group celebrated their first major-label release’s 30th anniversary with digital releases of once-lost tracks and pressed three of their albums on vinyl for the first time ever, punctuated with four sold-out shows in Woodstock, New York City, and Asbury Park in New Jersey.
With countless performances and releases behind them, God Street Wine has decided once more that what they’ve accomplished so far is not all that is in store for the group and their fans. The band has announced five concerts in March of 2025, including a date in New York.
Performing at the historic Bearsville Theater, God Street Wine will be making an appearance in Woodstock on March 15. This performance will wrap the mini-tour, and notably will be recorded for a future Live Release- it’s truly a show to not be missed. Tickets are on sale now- visit here to purchase and learn more.
The Town Supervisor of Woodstock will be presenting Todd Rundgren with Keys to the Town on October 23 following a two-day residency.
A pioneer of electronic and progressive rock music, the usage of computer software and online music delivery, and music videos as a whole, Todd Rundgren is nothing short of a music industry legend.
His experimental approach to creating has garnered widespread respect since his beginnings with psychedelic band Nazz, following solo career and subsequent group Utopia, and ventures into the tech world- Rundgren is to be thanked for one of the first music videos to be aired on MTV produced in addition to one of the first computer paint programs.
This insatiable desire to create and experiment is exactly what landed Rundgren in the limelight time and time again, as his work maintains personality and ingenuity regardless of medium or circumstance.
Some of his most notable work not directly tied to his name came out of his 1969 move to New York, in which he found himself in the Greenwich Village club scene mingling with Manhattan creatives.
After accepting a job offer from former Nazz assistant manager turned new founder of Ampex Records and correlated Bearsville Studios nestled next to Woodstock, Rundgren began his journey to becoming the highest-paid producer in the world, eventually giving him the push needed to kick-start his solo career.
Rundgren’s ties to the town continue in 2002, scoring the A Face to a Name film debuted at the Woodstock Film Festival, a piece made in and concerning the aftermath of the September 11 attacks of the previous year.
It’s no wonder why the town of Woodstock has decided to honor Rundgren in this way- the keys will be a testament to his importance to the cultural history of the area, music, and everything in between. In addition to the symbolic presenting of keys, the ceremony will also mark the installation and dedication of a plaque to his work at Utopia Video Studio, built for Rundgren by Albert Grossman in the 1980s- the origin point of his legendary MTV music video projects.
The ceremony runs parallel to Rundgren’s two-day set at Bearsville Theater on October 22 and 23. While the first of two dates is sold out, the second that will follow the key presenting ceremony still has tickets available- learn more and purchase tickets here.
Rochester-based new wave shoegaze band Bad Bloom has released their latest single, “onion.”
Described as having a goth, grunge gaze sound, Bad Bloom has been evolving traditional genre patterns since their initial release of the three-track Candle in November of 2019. Since their inception, the band has shared the stage with the likes of Ringo Deathstarr, SUUNS, Greet Death, and Pet Fox, with Kal Marks soon to be added to the list.
Known for pop hooks tucked underneath a distinct shoegaze distortion and riveting instrumentals, members Kate Rogers, Jay Trovato, Travis Johansson, and Jenn Wameling have dedicated themselves to constantly evolving as they experiment with noise through several pedal boards and a determination meld the conventions of the shoegaze genre to their liking.
Once more, Bad Bloom has delivered upon this promise with their latest release, “onion.” As the title suggests, the track itself and its significance offers listeners several layers to dissect. Rooted in hazy rock instrumentals and dreamy vocals, “onion” explores the feeling of having a dream so enjoyable it’s almost disappointing to find yourself back in the real world once you’ve awakened.
Rogers, lead vocalist and bassist, penned the track in the hopes of recreating the feelings of innocence, playfulness, and boundless delight that come with a wandering mind- the magic that happens when one is left to their own devices, bored out of their mind and following whatever weird path boredom leads their thoughts down.
“onion” is only the first track of many to come from Bad Bloom, being the initial pre-release leading up to their upcoming EP Pepper, to be released later this year. In addition, the band plans to release the official music video for “onion” in October.
Bad Bloom is currently on tour, performing at the Bug Jar in Rochester on October 11 and in Kingston on November 1. For more information on future shows, the upcoming Pepper EP, and all of Bad Bloom’s other happenings, visit their Linktree here.
The Park Theater Foundation has partnered with The Hub in Brant Lake to present the Adirondack Americana music series.
Founded as a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the Glen Falls community with live entertainment, The Park Theater Foundation has provided a venue for quality and affordable entertainment and educational opportunities in the performing arts for folks in the area time and time again.
Their most recent endeavor, Adirondack Americana, is a music series presented in partnership with The Hub. Throughout September and October, an engaging set of indie-americana acts will take the stage at The Hub in Brant Lake to perform live sets that are completely free to the public.
The first of the Adirondack Americana performances will be a double feature of indie-americana band Mipso member Joseph Terrell and ‘Dream Country’ glitz-and-groove band Blue Cactus on Saturday, September 28.
The second show on Saturday, October 12 will be performed by Saratoga Springs based band Little Saints, who describes their sound as a healthy blend of americana, indie-folk, and modern soul.
The venue for Adirondack Americana is truly one-of-a-kind. The Hub is a bike shop, a bar, a cafe, a concert venue, and more all wrapped into one. With scenic views over a perfect space to bike, hike, or paddle across Brant Lake, The Hub brings folks of all passions together- an energy that matches the Adirondack Americana attitude perfectly.
Both evenings of free music will commence at 4:00 PM at The Hub. For further information on the performances and how to attend, visit The Park Theater Foundation’s website here.
New York City based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer allie has released her second studio album Every Dog.
Allie Cuva, better known under her moniker allie, is a songwriter, producer, mix engineer, multi-instrumentalist and performer- it’s no exaggeration to say that her work is entirely her own.
With a pulse on everything music from the age twelve onwards, allie began her professional musical journey after a move to Nashville that allowed her to hone her musical skill set and identity as a musician. In 2021, allie toured extensively as the hired drummer for indie pop artist Cavetown, the same year a debut LP of her own was released- Maybe Next Time.
The gutturally honest and sonically ambitious sounds that had caught the attention of those in the New York City indie-rock scene back in 2021 are sharpened in allie’s newest release, Every Dog. Filled with sounds that are unapologetically allie, the album aims to take a space so often dominated by men and expand the horizons, reaching out to listeners and connecting them based upon the fundamental human experience framed within a lesbian, trans, and leftist lens.
A vulnerable exploration of queer love and one’s self, Every Dog offers 27 minutes of sitting alongside allie as she spins poetry out of her most vulnerable experiences. Not unlike paging through a personal journal, the listening experience of Every Dog is as self-reflective as the writing process was for allie herself.
Throughout each track, she explores the jarring shift of life in suburban Michigan and Tennessee to the vibrant constancy of New York City, struggling through self isolation, finding yourself in the midst of pure creative freedom, and queer love and loss.
The title track was one of three tracks selected for pre-release- “Radio Shower,” “Every Dog,” and most recently “Tiny Colored Pills”. “Every Dog” and its coinciding music video recorded along the Long Island Coastline explore the simultaneous acceptance and aching loss felt after a necessary separation from those once kept close.
“I wanted to create something that felt flickering–the oscillating guitar can resemble the constantly churning transportation flowing through NYC–and that also evolved to deliver the listener somewhere different than expected, which was meant to represent big, structural change in a relationship.”
– allie, on “Every Dog”
The video itself is intentionally rather impressionistic and left to interpretation, the only goal when recording being to explore the coastline and possibly capture some of the most mentally engaging imagery.
Similarly, the first of three pre-release tracks to see the light of day, “Radio Shower”, is a deeply impressionistic montage of aging, loss, and love that considers the weight of the passage of time above alternatively tuned guitar plucks and sonically layered instrumentals that lend the song a beautifully textured feel.
Clearly a labor of love, the track had gone through over 32 mix revisions with countless arrangement changes and scrapped vocal recordings that resulted in a cohesive testament to allie’s skill across the music-making experience.
allie has also announced a special one night only album release party at Cassette NYC on October 4 with support from Precious Human and Kid Lake. The evening will celebrate her newest work as she performs the LP from beginning to end. Tickets for this event start at $15 and are available here.
The full track list for allie’s newest LP Every Dog, out now, is below. Fans can learn more about allie’s works and keep up with all of her latest happenings on her website here.
The New York Philharmonic has announced details of its 2024-25 season that will explore Afromodernism through a program of concerts, free performances and events, and a parallel museum exhibition.
Artwork: Jon Key
A cultural cornerstone of New York City for the past 180+ years, the New York Philharmonic has connected with up to 50 million individuals through live concerts in New York and abroad thus far. Founded in 1842 by a group of local musicians, the Philharmonic is one of the oldest symphony orchestras in the world, and the oldest in the United States. Since its foundation, the New York Philharmonic has performed in 436 cities in 63 countries across five continents.
This lengthy history has not resulted in the Philharmonic existing within the past, however. As accessibility to music, public interest, and the context classical music exists within have shifted and expanded, the New York Philharmonic has adapted likewise. Spanning international broadcasts on television, radio, and online alongside archival recordings and educational programs, the Philharmonic has always been on the cutting edge of reaching and connecting people through music.
The upcoming 2024-25 season in particular will feature explorations and celebrations of the voices of Black creators and examine the influence of contemporary Africa and the African diaspora upon the modern arts movements, from music to fashion and more.
Presented through a combination of subscription concerts, a free performance by the International Contemporary Ensemble co-presented by the Museum of Modern Art, a NY Phil Young People’s Concert, and a series of complementary presentations, the New York Philharmonic will highlight the experiences, creations, and impacts of artists across the African diaspora throughout time.
Photo: nyphil.org
A series of concerts will be the highlight of the Philharmonic’s exploration, with Music of the African Diaspora on October 17 and 18, Young People’s Concert: The Future is Unity on October 19, and Sound On – Composing While Black, Volume II on October 25.
Music of the African Diaspora will consist of works by four black American composers spanning nearly a century to be conducted by Thomas Wilkins; Carlos Simon’s Four Black American Dances, Nathalie Joachim’s Had to Be– a Philharmonic co-commission and New York Premiere featuring the New York Philharmonic debut of cellist Seth Parker Woods as a soloist, David Baker’s Kosbro, and William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 4, Autochthonous.
The October 18 concert will include a pre-concert talk accessible to all ticket holders for the evening moderated by Juilliard professor Fredara Hadley, who will be speaking with panelists Seth Parker Woods, Nathalie Joachim, Barnard College professor Monica L. Miller, and Harvard University professor Carol Oja.
Conductor Thomas Wilkins will also lead the Young People’s Concert: The Future is Unity on October 19 with a program featuring pieces from Music of the African Diaspora’s collection, selections from Nigerian composer Fela Sowande’s African Suite and Florence Price’s Symphony No. 1, and Very Young Composer Isai Rabiu’s Aye Ni Ilu.
On October 25 the Museum of Modern Art will join in partnership with the Philharmonic for a free performance by International Contemporary Ensemble as a part of the Philharmonic’s Sound On contemporary music series.
Titled Composing While Black, Volume II, the concert will examine international perspectives of the African diasporic experience through pieces by composers Jalalu Kalvert-Nelson, Daniel Kidane, Hannah Kendall, Tebogo Monnakgotla, Joshua Uzoigwe, and Leila Adu-Gilmore. The program builds upon ICE’s Composing While Black: Volume I, titled after the scholarly compilation of essays composed by ICE’s artistic director in collaboration with Harald Kisiedu, Composing While Black.
In addition to the musical performances, the New York Philharmonic is presenting several events and a museum exhibition in parallel to their exploration of Afromodernism, including The Unanswered Questions panel discussions and the Africa’s Fashion Diaspora exhibition.
The Unanswered Questions is a two-part panel series featuring “Afromoderism and the Arts” on October 15 at CUNY’s Graduate Center which will examine the decolonization of modernism through the African diaspora’s impact on music and the arts and “Styled for Survival: How Music and Fashion Converge” on February 19 at The Museum at FIT, a conversation tracing the intentional connections between sound and attire, the history of Black dandyism, and more.
The museum exhibition Africa’s Fashion Diaspora will take place at the Museum at FIT on October 7, 9, 21, and November 20. The exhibition will examine fashion as a medium for storytelling and a designer’s tool to contribute to longstanding and evolving ideas of transnational Black cultural spaces.
The exhibit will explore designers from Africa, the Americas, and Europe who construct and interpret their local and community cultures while simultaneously reaching across geography to tie Black cultural practices together through their designs. Talks and tours will be held in the space as well.
Tickets to the New York Philharmonic performances can be purchased online here. Reservations to attend Africa’s Fashion Diaspora and The Unanswered Questions: Afromodernism and the Arts are free but required, and can be made on their respective web pages here and here.
Reservations for Composing While Black, Volume II and The Unanswered Questions: Styled for Survival are also free but required, and will be available at a later date. Keep up to date on the Philharmonic’s web page here.
World renowned comedy musician “Weird Al” Yankovic has announced his BIGGER & WEIRDER 2025 tour, including four shows across New York state in Buffalo, Manhattan, Bethel, and Saratoga Springs.
The biggest-selling comedy recording artist in history, most have heard Weird Al’s work- even if they haven’t realized it. Best known for his parody work riffing off of the last four decades’ hits, Yankovic has received five grammy awards and seventeen career nominations.
As one of only three artists to chart in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 in the previous four consecutive decades alongside Madonna and Michael Jackson, to say Yankovic is a decorated comedian would be underselling it. His top hits include “Smells Like Nirvana,” “Eat it,” “Amish Paradise,” and more, with his most recent release Mandatory Fun being the only comedy album in history to debut on the top of the Billboard Top 200.
In addition to his music career, Yankovic is an accomplished actor, writer, director, and producer, having been awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and an Emmy for the WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story biopic starring Daniel Radcliffe.
Having performed across the globe for generations in some of the world and New York’s premiere venues already, “Weird Al” Yankovic is touring once more after a six year hiatus to bring a show that is bigger and weirder than ever before to audiences across the country and beyond- including the stages of the Darien Lake Amphitheater in Buffalo, Madison Square Garden,Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, and the Broadview Stage at SPAC in Saratoga Springs.
The BIGGER & WEIRDER 2025 tour, among many things, will feature fan favorites that haven’t hit the stage yet alongside his biggest hits in a larger-than-life performance involving a giant video wall, multiple costume changes, and support by an eight-piece ensemble featuring Al’s original band.
“This is kind of a ‘best of both worlds’ tour. We’ll be doing all the big crowd-pleasing parodies as well as some deep cuts for the hardcore fans – but with twice as many players on stage, everything is going to sound twice as good!”
– “Weird Al” Yankovic
In addition to Yankovic’s iconic performance, the tour will be supported by special guest Puddles Pity Party, the 7-foot sad clown with a voice of gold that has sold out shows across the globe in venues including but not limited to San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts, London’s Soho Theatre, and a residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.
The BIGGER & WEIRDER tour will kick off on June 13 and land in New York on July 11 at the Darien Lake Amphitheater in Buffalo, followed by a show on July 12 at the iconic Madison Square Garden on July 12 and a show at the Bethel Woods Center For the Arts on July 13. Then, after a brief pause to perform in Boston, Weird Al will return to the state for his July 17 performance at the Broadview Stage at SPAC in Saratoga Springs.
Tickets will be available for purchase starting at 10:00 AM on Friday, September 27, starting at $29.50. For further information and ticket purchasing, please visit Weird Al’s website here.
“Weird Al” Yankovic BIGGER & WEIRDER 2025 Tour
June 13 LAS VEGAS, NV The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort June 14 LAS VEGAS, NV The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort June 18 LAS VEGAS, NV The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort June 20 LAS VEGAS, NV The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort June 21 LAS VEGAS, NV The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort June 23 SALT LAKE CITY, UT Maverik Center June 24 MORRISON, CO (Denver) Red Rocks Amphitheatre June 26 KANSAS CITY, MO Starlight Theatre June 27 DES MOINES, IA Des Moines Civic Center June 28 WELCH, MN (Minneapolis) Treasure Island Amphitheater at Treasure Island Resort & Casino June 29 HIGHLAND PARK, IL (Chicago) Ravinia Festival (on sale TBA) July 1 TRAVERSE CITY, MI National Cherry Festival July 2 CLARKSTON, MI (Detroit) Pine Knob Music Theatre July 3 INDIANAPOLIS, IN Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park July 5 BEAVER DAM, KY (Evansville) Beaver Dam Amphitheater July 6 KETTERING, OH (Dayton) Fraze Pavilion July 9 TORONTO, ON Budweiser Stage July 11 BUFFALO, NY Darien Lake Amphitheater July 12 NEW YORK, NY Madison Square Garden July 13 BETHEL, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts July 15 BOSTON, MA Boch Center Wang Theatre July 17 SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (Albany) Broadview Stage at SPAC July 18 MASHANTUCKET, CT The Premier Theatre at Foxwoods Resort Casino July 19 PHILADELPHIA, PA TD Pavilion at the Mann July 20 VIENNA, VA (Washington, DC) Wolf Trap July 24 RALEIGH, NC Red Hat Amphitheater July 25 WILMINGTON, NC Live Oak Bank Pavilion July 26 CHARLOTTE, NC Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre July 27 HUNTSVILLE, AL Orion Amphitheater July 29 NEW ORLEANS, LA Saenger Theatre July 31 AUSTIN, TX Bass Concert Hall Aug 1 THE WOODLANDS, TX (Houston) The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Presented by Huntsman Aug 2 GRAND PRAIRIE, TX (Dallas) Texas Trust CU Theatre Aug 3 ROGERS, AR (Fayetteville) Walmart AMP Aug 5 LINCOLN, NE (Omaha) Pinewood Bowl Theater Aug 7 CASPER, WY Ford Wyoming Center Aug 8 IDAHO FALLS, ID Mountain America Center Aug 9 NAMPA, ID (Boise) Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater Aug 10 BONNER, MT KettleHouse Amphitheater Aug 12 AIRWAY HEIGHTS, WA (Spokane) BECU Live Amp at Northern Quest Resort & Casino Aug 13 TROUTDALE, OR (Portland) Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn – McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater Aug 14 TROUTDALE, OR (Portland) Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn – McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater Aug 15 AUBURN, WA (Seattle) White River Amphitheatre Aug 17 PALMER, AK (Anchorage)* Alaska State Fair – ConocoPhillips Borealis Theatre Aug 20 EUGENE, OR Cuthbert Amphitheater Aug 22 MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA (San Francisco) Shoreline Amphitheatre Aug 23 MODESTO, CA The Fruit Yard Amphitheater Aug 24 STATELINE, NV (Reno/Tahoe) Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys Aug 26 REDDING, CA Redding Civic Auditorium Lawn Aug 27 ROHNERT PARK, CA Green Music Center Aug 29 SAN DIEGO, CA* The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park Aug 30 INGLEWOOD, CA (Los Angeles) Kia Forum Aug 31 PHOENIX, AZ Arizona Financial Theatre Sept 2 GRAND JUNCTION, CO Amphitheater at Las Colonias Park Sept 4 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO Ford Amphitheater Sept 5 RIO RANCHO, NM (Albuquerque) Rio Rancho Events Center Sept 6 CONCHO, OK (Oklahoma City) Lucky Star Amphitheater at Lucky Star Casino Sept 7 TULSA, OK Tulsa Theater Sept 9 MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO (St. Louis) Saint Louis Music Park Sep 12 MADISON, WI Breese Stevens Field Sept 13 CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH (Cleveland) Blossom Music Center Sept 14 COLUMBUS, OH Palace Theatre Sept 16 NEWPORT, KY (Cincinnati) MegaCorp Pavilion Sept 17 KALAMAZOO, MI Miller Auditorium Sept 20 NASHVILLE, TN Ascend Amphitheater
Saturday Night Live has announced the first five hosts and musical guests of their historic 50th season, premiering September 28.
Celebrating its 50th season this year, Saturday Night Live has been gracing the screens of folks across the country and beyond since its premiere in 1975. The opening “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” has become synonymous with not just the show but New York City as a whole, cementing SNL in the long legacy of the city and the live entertainment scene at large.
Consisting of celebrity hosts, sketch comedy, and musical performance, SNL has got it all when it comes to late-night television, and in its 50th year of operation the show is boasting quite the lineup of guests and hosts alike.
SEPTEMBER 28: JEAN SMART & JELLY ROLL
Comedy veteran, Emmy-winning star of Hacks, and SNL debutante Jean Smart will host the premiere episode of the season. With TV credits including Fargo, Watchmen, Legion, and Mare of Easttown, she initially rose to fame as Charlene Frazier Stillfield in 1980s sitcom Designing Women and hasn’t stopped since.
Smart will be adding the hosting gig to a long list of accolades and accomplishments that include six Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe award, nominations for Tony and Grammy Awards, being the most awarded performer at the Critic’s Choice Television Awards, and so on.
Alongside Smart will be the season premiere’s musical guest, Nashville born American singer, songwriter, and rapper Jelly Roll. Starting out selling mixtapes in his car, the singer has come a long way as one of the most popular country fusion artists of today.
Being the second SNL debut of the evening acts as another testament to his success alongside three CMT Music Awards, the CMA New Artist Award, and a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 2023.
OCTOBER 5: NATE BARGATZE & COLDPLAY
Photo: Melanie Levi
Veteran stand-up comic Nate Bargatze will host the season’s second episode following his wildly successful SNL debut in Season 49. With viral sketches like “Lake Beach” and “Washington’s Dream”, Bargate is the mind behind the most-watched night of the season to date in addition to the most-watched episode since Steve Martin and Martin Short’s in December of 2022 with 4.8 million viewers.
Returning for what will be their eighth appearance on the show, British rock group and SNL veterans Coldplay will return to the show’s stage once more. Debuting on the SNL stage in 2001, Coldplay is set to return with a new and exciting performance just off of the release of their newest album, Moon Music, which will drop the day prior.
OCTOBER 12:ARIANA GRANDE & STEVIE NICKS
Pop sensation, singer-songwriter, and actress Ariana Grande is set to host the third episode of the season following her SNL debut as musical guest in 2014 and host in 2016, when she performed a double-duty as host and musical guest.
Her most recent appearance was Josh Brolin’s episode of Season 49 where she starred alongside cast member Bowen Yang just ahead of the Wicked film adaptation’s release. Wicked marked Grande’s return to the acting world, starring as Glinda the Good.
Music legend and Fleetwood Mac Frontwoman Stevie Nicks will return to SNL after over 40 years. Last appearing as Musical Guest in December of 1983, Nicks brought “Stand Back” and “Night Bird” from her second solo album to the SNL audience. Named the “Reigning Queen of Rock and Roll” by Rolling Stone, her performance is sure to enchant.
OCTOBER 19: MICHAEL KEATON & BILLIE EILISH
Photo: Gage Skidmore
Most recently starring in Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, sequel to the 1988 Tim Burton film- both in which he played the titular role- Michael Keaton is a decorated actor with a Primetime Emmy, two Golden Globes, and nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA under his belt.
Keaton is no stranger to the SNL stage, the October 19 episode marking his fifth with the show. His first hosting gig was for the Halloween episode of 1982, and he would return to host again in 1992 and 2015.
A pop sensation since 13 with her debut “Ocean Eyes”, Billie Eilish has kept the public enraptured in her unique sound developed alongside her brother Finneas for years now, resulting in nine Grammys, two American Music Awards, seven MTV Music Video Awards, three Brits, two Golden Globes, two Academy Awards, and 20 Guinness World Records.
This will mark Eilish’s fourth return to the SNL stage, appearing as the Musical Guest in September of 2019 and December of 2023 in addition to a double-duty as both Musical Guest and Host in December of 2021.
NOVEMBER 2: JOHN MULANEY & CHAPPELL ROAN
Stand-up comedian, actor, and veteran of the New York City comedy scene, John Mulaney will be returning to SNL once more on November 2. Starting as a writer for Saturday Night Live from 2008-2013, Mulaney has built quite the comedy career for himself over the years, returning to host SNL for what will be the sixth time in addition to countless cameos over the years.
Your favorite artist’s favorite artist, Chappell Roan is adding SNL to the ever-growing list of accomplishments after her recent rocket into pop fame. Known for her unapologetically queer, captivating, and campy music, Roan has delivered powerful performances dressed in drag at Coachella, Governors Ball, and the MTV Video Music Awards where she also took home the Best New Artist award- all in the past year.
The first episode of Saturday Night Live‘s 50th season will premiere on September 28.
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall has announced the lineup for the next installment of the Music At Noon free concert series.
Originating in 1988, the Music at Noon concert series has brought music to the people of Troy every second Tuesday of the month from October through May. A free community event designed to present skilled musicians with a diverse mix of musical styles, folks of all ages are encouraged to attend the performances in addition to a special children’s workshop.
The main event will feature an opening performance by fortepianist Daniel Maltz on October 8, the Vermont based woodwind ensemble Heliand Quartet on November 12, the medieval, renaissance, and baroque music focused Bleecker Consort on December 10, a performance from pianist Michael Century on January 14, an enrapturing clarinet, hichiriki, cello, and piano show from Thomas Piercy, Marina Iwao, and Daniel Hass, and a concluding Irish traditional music and song performance from Toss the Feathers on March 11.
Opening the season is fortepianist Daniel Adam Maltz, who is offering an exciting educational interactive performance and deep dive into the world of Classical era Vienna and its music in the way iconic composers like Hadyn and Mozart intended for them to be heard.
Based in Vienna, Maltz studied Historical Performance at the Royal Academy of Music in London and at Vienna’s University for Music and Performing Arts- meaning this 90 minute experience will not be one to miss.
Additionally, prior to the Heliand Quartet’s performance on November 12, the group will engage in a hands-on exploratory musical experience that will be concluded with a petting zoo. Best for students grades one through four but open to all, the educational hour will begin with the musicians introducing the students to the sounds of chamber music, particularly with the piano, oboe and bassoon.
Students will be able to identify how the instruments work, sound, and fit into the ensemble dynamic. The workshop will conclude with students being able to experiment with the instruments themselves prior to the fan favorite petting zoo. Seating for this event will be limited- click here to register.
Music at Noon is completely free to attend with no registration needed. Folks are encouraged to bring their own lunch, and larger parties or teachers with buses should call ahead to reserve seats. In addition, there are a limited number of handicapped accessible spaces available.
For further details and information on other programs put on by the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, please visit their website here.
Acclaimed Brooklyn based musician and composer Sandra Kluge has released her third single, “Beholden to No One”.
Brooklyn based tap percussionist, performer, educator, and musician Sandra Kluge channels the deepest parts of her heart and soul in every piece and performance. Wrought with self reflection, honesty, and contemplation, her works channel what she wants to put out into the world using the full breadth of her skills across music and dance.
Kluge began dancing at the age of 10, spending the following years learning under the greats and endless hours of self-study that would later lead her to stages at the legendary Tap Ahead Festival, tap club Cologne, and Soundspace Philadelphia. In addition to performances of her own, Kluge shares the results of her years of practice and routine with her students at the American Tap Dance Foundation and Mark Morris Dance Center, in addition to teaching students from around the world virtually.
Just as reflecting the self is a through line in her lyricism, Kluge reflects all aspects of her life in her production. Utilizing her life-long passion in tap, Kluge channels the sounds of the dance into her percussion- the tap shoes themselves transcending the role of dance equipment to become instruments as she performs.
Her newest release “Beholden to No One” centers this unique and deeply personal form of percussion, a steady constant under the lyrics and mantra of “I am my best friend, beholden to no one”. The sounds of dance intertwine with ethereal synth textures, multidimensional guitar arrangements, and serene vocals above an odd time signature and intricate polyrhythmic structures that all culminate in a stirring experience of emotional self-determination.
A piece entirely its own, “Beholden to No One” originated from a therapy session in which Kluge realized that her existence is not tied to the permission or approval of anyone else. Empowered by the realization of all that she is capable of when no other voice is given the time of day, she is “beholden to no one”.
In addition to the track’s release, Kluge has published the official music video for “Beholden to No One” in which she walks through countless city settings in flowing bright clothing and an effortless yet quiet confidence, truly embodying the self-sufficient and self-loving attitude reflected in the song’s lyrics.
Only the third song of Kluge’s musical career, “Beholden to No One” marks her as an artist carving her own path- and an artist that needs no one’s permission but her own to do so.
To learn more about “Beholden to No One,” her other releases, and her story, please visit Sandra Kluge’s website here.
