Music is a force, a force that triggers emotions, not unlike religion. This force can elicit elation. It can contribute to sorrow. As a social experiment, a concert reveals emotions across that spectrum. It is the rare occasion, however, that a venue can do the same. Enter, Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock.
Affectionately known as “The Barn,” Levon Helm Studios is a nondescript building set off a country road on the outer edges of Woodstock. This building has an air of reverence about it as soon as you approach it. Once inside, its easy to get the feeling of being inside a church. High, vaulted ceilings with impeccable woodwork force one to take in the architecture. It’s not uncommon to see first-timers looking around with jaws agape at the craftsmanship that went into building this structure.
The story of The Barn has its origins as the home and recording studio of Levon Helm. Helm was best known as the drummer for The Band but also took turns acting in such films as “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “The Right Stuff” and “Feeling Minnesota” among others. The Arkansas-born musician grew up with minstrel shows and wanted to recreate that in his home studio. What became known as The Midnight Ramble was born out of necessity, but also out of a love for the informal feel of a simple jam session. Helm’s Midnight Rambles began in 2004. Word spread in the musical community and Helm and his Midnight Ramble Band (guitarist/mandolinist/fiddler Larry Campbell, guitarist Jimmy Vivino, Helm’s daughter Amy and Campbell’s wife Teresa Williams) began attracting the likes of Elvis Costello, Phil Lesh, Dr. John, Emmylou Harris, My Morning Jacket and Norah Jones to this tiny Catskills hamlet two hours north of New York City.
When Helm died in April of 2012, his final words to Amy and his manager Barbara O’Brien were, “Keep it going.” And keep it going they have. The Midnight Rambles occur regularly and provide an opportunity for musicians of Helm’s ilk to “keep it going.”
The magic that occurs at The Barn isn’t just with the music and the venue. What is truly magical about this venue, is experiencing the reactions of first-time attendees. NYS Music photographer Brian Cornish attended his first Ramble with his brother in 2006. The joy in his retelling of his first Ramble is consistent with so many others who have experienced this jewel of a venue:
It was November of 2006. My brother had heard about these house parties in Woodstock where you could buy a ticket and listen to Levon Helm sing and play, and the kicker was that it was in his own home/studio. We decided to go. Following the opening act, with no fanfare and no announcement, Helm and his band emerged and walked down a hallway to the studio. He preferred to set up on stage left, to be able to look directly at all of the other musicians and catch their eye, read their moves, maybe give them a cue or a nod, or maybe grin and point a drumstick at someone approvingly at the end of a song. Due to this atypical arrangement, we astonishingly found ourselves seated at his left elbow, six feet or so from an American treasure. With a brief flourish on the snare drum, he set the tempo, the horns kicked in, and the band followed. “Boards on the window, mail by the door…” The entire crowd was immediately dancing, tapping their feet, or singing along. It was magical. It still is.
Cornish’s proximity to Helm during his first Ramble is what makes this venue so unique and keeps people coming back. You’re not attending a concert at Levon Helm Studios. You’re celebrating music in a pure listening room with friends, friends you know and friends you just haven’t yet met. The capacity is around 200 and there isn’t a bad spot in the house. It lends itself to chatting with your neighbor between songs and the chance of chatting with any of the musicians at some point during the night.
Amy Helm taking in a performance at “The Barn”
Cornish continues with another Ramble experience:
One time, I and a few friends were seated behind the keyboards so we could look across the room at Levon. A man emerged to the right of my friends, stood at the end of the row, nodded hello, and exchanged small talk between songs in the semi-darkness. After ten or fifteen minutes, he said, “It’s been nice talking to you folks, but I have to go to work.” Only when he was under the stage lights and grabbed his guitar did we realize we’d been chatting with John Prine. Unannounced drop-in guest appearances and unexpected moments are hallmarks of many Midnight Rambles.
Cornish has made it his mission to introduce as many of his music-loving friends as possible to this experience by gifting a ticket to a first-timer as long as the next time that person goes, he or she brings another first-timer and does the same. This writer was the recipient of one such gifted ticket to a Ramble. We were joined by two other music loving friends, Dan Frieden and Rob Bishton for a performance of Amy Helm and Friends on Black Friday 2015. What made this performance so incredibly special was the appearance of Donald Fagen of Steely Dan sitting in for a performance of his band’s “Black Friday.” The fact that this musical legend was mere feet away from us during this performance was not lost on us that night and is the stuff that will be remembered for a lifetime. Two new converts to the Church of Levon were made that night.
A visit to Woodstock isn’t complete without stopping by Big Pink, the house rented by the members of The Band as they killed time waiting for Bob Dylan to recover from injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident in 1966. Dylan lived in Woodstock at the time and the members of what would become The Band were members of Dylan’s backing band. Band members Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson lived in this rental in the town of West Saugerties and spent time in the basement recording covers and Dylan originals. The time spent at Big Pink, so named for the pink siding that adorned the house, solidified The Band’s sound and resulted in the oft-bootlegged and finally released album The Basement Tapes in 1975.
Each time this writer visits Levon Helm Studios, a visit to Big Pink is on the itinerary, as well as a stop at Catskill Mountain Pizza Company, a pilgrimage if you will. It will be left to the reader as to how to find this legendary abode. Anyone familiar with the music of Dylan or The Band can feel the ghosts surrounding this property. Frieden described it this way:
There is an energy at Big Pink. I had never been a big Dylan fan, but being on a property that sparked so much musical creativity made me wonder what it is that really flipped the artists’ “on” switch.
A recent visit to Woodstock for a performance by Joe Henry and Rose Cousins on December 9 indoctrinated April and Enzo Cacciatore to The Barn and Big Pink. Witnessing each of them as they took in the entire experience is what sharing a Ramble is all about.
The nearly two and a half hour trip from Rome took longer than anticipated due to a Nor’easter clipping the southeast section of the state. Despite that, a visit to Big Pink still occurred as did a dinner of pizza and craft beers at Catskill Mountain. Traveling through Downtown Woodstock during Christmas season, especially in the midst of a snow storm, is magical in itself. The storefronts are all decorated as is the town square. The snow cover offered an added air of peacefulness to the town that prides itself on the ideal of peace.
Adding to the family gathering atmosphere at the barn is the communal food table in the merchandise area. Each person is asked to bring a “dish to pass” just like at the potluck dinners of yore. This communal space in what would normally be a garage, is a place for all to gather, share food and talk music. Here, you’ll hear tales of past shows at The Barn or encounters with musicians. This is also the area where the artists’ merchandise is sold, often by themselves after their set, as was the case with Rose Cousins on this night. Cousins was friendly and quick with a joke with each person she dealt with.
Once inside, the Cacciatores took in every inch of the space. Enzo has been in the construction business as a licensed plumber and pipe fitter for almost 40 years. He’s a man who appreciates good construction and good music. He and his wife, April are 17-year veterans of the Poconos Blues Festival and regularly attend the Chenango Blues Festival. His pure appreciation for the architecture of the room was worth the price of admission. He commented that the room is perfectly built for acoustics.
April is a massage therapist and completely took in the arts-centered culture of Woodstock. Those who know April, know she wears her heart on her sleeve and this was clear in her appreciation of the music that she was just being exposed to on this night. She warned earlier in the day that tears may flow early and often throughout the show and while that can’t be proven, the emotion exhibited on stage between Cousins’ and Henry’s sets would lean this writer to believe that there were some tears shed.
Joe Henry is no stranger to this setting. His previous performance at Levon Helm Studios was with British folk/punk troubadour Billy Bragg in 2016 as they were touring their train songs album,Shine a Light. Henry commented during his performance that he and his band don’t view a stop at The Barn as just another tour stop. He likened it to being at a church, deserving of reverence.
The fact that a venue such as Levon Helm Studios exists in the age of big sheds and ticket brokers is a miracle in itself. The down-home flavor that accompanies the attendance at a Ramble and the pure magic of the room itself makes this venue a required trip for any music aficionado.
Upcoming shows at Levon Helm Studios include blues guitarist Carolyn Wonderland on January 19, The Weight Band on February 17, David Bromberg on March 3, the Zombies on March 9 and Jorma Kaukonen on March 10. To purchase tickets, you must visit the studio’s website. You will not receive a physical ticket, but rather a wristband with a number. The number on your wristband determines when you are allowed to enter the venue to claim your spot.
Join the congregation. You won’t regret the services, that’s for sure.
The Bronx’s newest independent live music venue and community center, Bronx Music Hall, recently celebrated its grand opening as the first venue of its kind in the Bronx in over 50 years.
Located at 438 East 163rd Street in Melrose is the Bronx Music Hall, a newly constructed $15.4 million facility that celebrates the history and future of the Bronx’s vibrant music scene.
The space boasts a total of 14,000 square feet for its music hall and community cultural center made in development with the nonprofit Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation, or WHEDco for short. Bronx Music Hall aims to not only provide a space for local musicians to perform but to also allow creatives of all kinds to gather, create, and celebrate their works.
Constructed as a part of WHEDco’s Bronx Commons mixed-use development, the Bronx Music Hall features a 250-person capacity performance theater, a grand lobby and exhibition hall, a multipurpose room and dance studio, a green room, a recording studio and post-production room, and two adjacent plazas with amphitheater-style seating for outdoor performances.
Designed to serve an estimated 20,000 visitors annually, the center will offer live music, dance, and spoken word performances, classes in music and dance, theater workshops and productions, a youth orchestra, film screenings, art exhibitions, community showcases, and more.
“The opening of the Bronx Music Hall marks a new chapter in the cultural and economic renaissance of the South Bronx. This project embodies our commitment to supporting vibrant, inclusive communities through strategic investments in the arts and creative industries. This new venue will not only celebrate the borough’s incredible musical legacy but also serve as a catalyst for job creation, tourism, and long-term economic growth.”
– Hope Knight, Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner
Beyond displaying the skills of the Bronx, the BMH plans to foster the next generation of creatives within the borough through educational and cultural partnerships to inspire community engagement and the pursuing of careers in the arts.
In addition to the facility’s new endeavors, it now provides WHEDco’s Bronx Music Heritage Center a bigger and better space to call home. Founded in 2010, the BMHC preserves and promotes the rich musical history of the Bronx while cultivating and reviving the borough’s music scene today.
“Over decades the Bronx produced more popular music than any place in our country for the simple reason that different cultural traditions lived alongside one another… The Bronx Music Hall will spotlight the sounds of new Americans from around the globe, as well as Bronx born artists like Prince Royce, Romeo Santos, Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B, French Montana, and Samara Joy.”
– Nancy Biberman, Founder of WHEDco and President Emerita
BMHC highlights the evolution of the Bronx as a people and how periods of successive migration introduced distinctive sounds to one another, evolving into entirely new genres such as hip-hop, which saw its inception in the 1970s within the borough’s communities.
With their new space and resources at hand, the BMHC will continue the Bronx’s history of creative innovation with free cultural programs and free or low-cost music and dance classes for folks of all ages.
This giant step forwards in the Bronx creative community was made possible by a series of grants awarded to the WHEDco from the New York City Regional Economic Development Council, I LOVE NY’s Market New York program, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
To learn more about what the Bronx Music Hall has to offer, how to visit, and events to attend, be sure to check out their official website here.
New music venue, The Caz, in Buffalo, celebrates opening weekend Oct 17-20 with some great bands, including Buffalo locals, Johnny Hart & The Mess on Thursday, October 17. October 18 sees NY bands Big Shrimp and Escaper, as well as Buffalo locals, Type Relevant.
The venue features a restored historic listening room and is designed to provide superior sound and visuals for an unforgettable experience. The Caz is proud to be a venue that not only hosts national and international talent but also champions the incredible musical talent found right in Buffalo.
With the venue’s opening celebration on the weekend of October 17, The Caz excitedly hosts plenty of talented performers to kick off the upcoming bonanza. The Caz is redefining the live entertainment scene in the heart of South Buffalo. Savor delicious food from the full-time kitchen, complemented by themed cocktails and a selection of local craft beer and spirits.
Snag your tickets early to secure the best views from our elevated mezzanine and enjoy live performances from top local talent and national touring acts. The Caz is shaping itself up to be the ultimate destination for live shows in Western New York.
Big Shrimp returns with a fresh lineup and an electrifying sound, ready to make waves in the music world. Hailing from Bridgeport, CT, this versatile quartet features long-standing members Jared Sage Cowen and Jager Soss, alongside new talents Max Perrotti and Matt Takesh. Their evolution from a power trio to a quartet has broadened their musical scope, combining bold progressive fusion rock with innovative, polished new elements.
Escaper is a New York City band that blends funky jams with progressive psych-rock to create sci-fi dance parties. Known for the chemistry between Will Hanza and Phil Kadet. Escaper has played major Northeast festivals like Northlands, Great South Bay, and Bear’s Picnic. They have shared the stage with the likes of Jon Fishman (Phish), Karl Denson, and members of the Disco Biscuits, Dopapod, and more. Type Relevant is a Buffalo-based hip-hop collective that has been performing across Western New York for nearly two decades.
Big Shrimp
For more information on The Caz and to purchase tickets to the upcoming shows, click here.
With a rich community of local wineries, music venues, restaurants, performing arts centers, and outdoor hang-outs, the public spaces of Rochester and The Finger Lakes all have one thing in common- they cultivate a unique and vibrant live entertainment culture.
Photo: Andreas F. Borchert
From the most laidback of barside concerts to sold-out 15,000 person shows, there’s a venue and an event for everyone and every occasion. Here’s a list of a few of the creative cornerstones of the Rochester and Finger Lakes communities.
Born out of a rehabbed 19th century building in the heart of downtown Rochester, The Abilene Bar and Lounge has hosted local artists and all-star acts alike since 2008. With a beer menu accommodating their variety of live acts, the bar maintains an unpretentious, neighborhood bar feel regardless of how big or small the musical act of the evening.
The Finger Lakes’ premiere professional theater, Bristol Valley Theater puts on a stunning series of plays and musicals from June to August each year in addition to a full fall collection of concerts, theater, and family events. Founded in 1964, the Theater continues to entertain, educate, and enhance the Finger Lakes’ creative community to this day in their historic church-turned-theatrical space.
Host to live music and DJs seven days a week since 1991, Bug Jar is a cornerstone Rochester bar and live entertainment venue with a consistently action-packed lineup. With names like The Black Keys, Vampire Weekend, The White Stripes, Modest Mouse, and many more gracing their stage over the years, The Bug Jar is a tried-and-true must visit independent venue.
An outdoor dining venue with a bar on site, live music, and local eateries tucked in between historic buildings, The Central on Main offers free entry and plenty of seating for their intimate, casual live music performances. With a new permanent stage and cycle of regional artists, The Central on Main has taken a once barren blacktop parking lot and fostered a tight-knit local community of musicians and music-lovers alike.
Address: 15 South Main Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424
Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (Canandaigua)
Founded as the Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center in 1983, the Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center- or the CMAC- has been cultivating the Finger Lakes’ live arts and music community since day one. With a $13.5 million facility built in 2006 that boasts 5,000 covered seats, 54 VIP boxes, and lawn seating for up to 10,000 guests, the CMAC attracts folks from near and far.
In addition to its star-studded guest list and lengthy community history, CMAC has committed itself to a safe and healthy live entertainment environment, working with local recycling companies to divert waste in real-time at the end of each show, as well as offering multiple water-filling stations to reduce single-use plastic waste. They haven’t stopped there either- CMAC also donates all funds from volunteer-based concession tents to local nonprofits, raising over $50,000 thus far.
Address: 3355 Marvin Sands Dr Canandaigua, NY 14424
Host to the Eastman School of Music’s performances, the Eastman Theatre offers a variety of concert spaces including the historical and illustrious 2,326 seat Kodak Hall, Venetian Renaissance 444 seat Kilbourn Hall renowned for its pure acoustics, and one of the newest additions, the modern and state-of-the-art 222 seat Hatch Recital Hall.
Rooted in a refurbished fire truck, Engine 14 is the result of Rochester Fire Department retiree Greg Borden. Borden’s connection to the truck- having been decommissioned in the 60s from the same firehouse he worked in- and passion for home brewed craft beer resulted in a firehouse themed brewery, live music venue, and cornerstone for the community. Engine 14 Brewery hosts live entertainment almost every weekend featuring local acts and more.
Nestled between other Rochester live music venues and attractions, Flour City Station brings in folks from near and far with their local bites and sips, a friendly and social atmosphere, and a versatile venue that accommodates both local performers and nationally touring acts with their state-of-the-art sound system.
aqueous at Flour City Station, photo by Jake Silco
Fort Hill Performing Arts Center (Canandaigua)
Proud recipient of the Best of Canandaigua 2022 Award, the Fort Hill Performing Arts Center was formed as a concept years prior to its grand opening in January of 2020. Those years of development allowed the folks behind the FHPAC to hone in on their vision for the space- a center for the community to entertain and be entertained with a diverse set of programming that inspires patrons and artists alike.
Originally built as the Canandaigua Academy High School’s 1,100 seat auditorium in 1928 and left for ruin after the district moved to new facilities, the FHPAC raised six million dollars through fundraising to restore and refurbish the space into a performing arts center.
Address: 20 Fort Hill Avenue, Canandaigua NY, 14424
An almost unbelievably scenic 95 acres of public and private events alike, Lincoln Hill farms hosts everything from weddings to glamping to music festivals. Host to an outdoor stage and pavilion, the Farms offer live music and community events throughout the year Thursday through Sunday in addition to local craft beers, farm-to-table bites, and more.
Located in the heart of downtown Rochester’s East End, The Montage Music Hall hosts annual events such as The Rochester International Jazz Festival, The Rochester Fringe Festival, and The Rochester Entertainment Metal Festival and Music Marathon. In addition to keystone events, the 400 person venue hosts musical acts of all genres from near and far- local, regional, and national.
Address: 55 Chestnut & Lawn St Rochester, NY 14604
Providing the Rochester area with professional theatrical productions since 2005, OFC Creations Theatre Center is just that- a hub for creatives and lovers of all things creative to gather.
Staffed with current theatre professionals passionate about imparting their skills upon the next generation of performers, the OFC Creations Theatre Center offers a subscription based pro-season of shows rarely produced in the region, educational programs for students ages 4 to 18, and hosts out-of-town entertainers in their 260-seat venue.
Founded in 2016, Photo City Music Hall provides the space for an impressive variety of musical acts to bring folks from the area and beyond together, regardless of genre, subculture, and popularity. With events reaching from EDM and metal to silent discos and dance parties, Photo City Music Hall’s state of the art set up and inviting energy has something for every kind of live entertainment fan.
Boasting live theater, concerts of all genres, community events, and movies, The Smith Opera House tucked within the Smith Center for the Arts offers much more than just opera. Opened in 1894 and refurbished in the early 1990s, the stage acts as a local cornerstone in multiple ways.
With powerful acts such as Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen gracing the stage, cover bands and musicals and shadow-casts alike bringing iconic works to life, re-inventions and newly emerging children’s entertainment routinely taking the stage, and local high school students walking the venue as they graduate, it’s no wonder the Opera House draws people from Geneva and beyond in time and time again.
Born out of a noticeable lack of West Coast-style brews in the Rochester area, 3 Heads Brewing began as a brave submission to a local self-brewed beer competition and has since grown into a state-of-the-art brewery and beer garden in the heart of Rochester’s neighborhood of the arts. In addition, the space becomes a casual live music venue and versatile dance floor during their weekend live music sets with special events sprinkled across their calendar. A local venue made for locals featuring musical acts rooted in Rochester and beyond- it’s no question why customers return time and time again.
Family owned for over 30 years, Treleaven Wines has expanded from a generational farm to a one stop shop for all things wine, beer, food, live entertainment, and family fun. In addition to trivia, brunch & bingo, and football sundays, Treleaven is home to the Hangtime Main Stage for all high-energy musical needs and their Saturday acoustic series for a cozier listening experience.
A Finger Lakes top destination winery, Ventosa Vineyards hosts free, local, year-round live music every Wednesday with additional select performances sprinkled throughout. Weather permitting, performances occur on the Vineyard’s scenic terrace overlooking the vines below.
Located within the del Lago Resort and Casino, The Vine Showroom has been voted Gold as the best nightclub in the Finger Lakes, and it’s no wonder why. Boasting 2,400 seats, The Vine hosts a range of live events throughout the year that span cover and tribute bands, comedy sets, magic shows, and original musical acts across all genres.
Rochester’s largest and oldest concert venue, Water Street Music Hall was founded as a country bar in 1976, reopening in 1992 for a wider audience prior to the opening of its nightclub opening in 1999 that would push their genre capabilities even further and final rebranding into the recognizable Water Street Music Hall title the same year. With names like Phish, The Ramones, Skrillex, Sublime, and Pusha T gracing their halls, the Music Hall is perpetually history in the making.
The Edwards Opera House might be the best-sounding venue you’ve never heard of. Located in the small town of Edwards, New York in St. Lawrence County, the opera house is a veritable hidden gem of the North County.
“We’ve had musicians who have traveled around the world who sit on the stage and say it’s the best place they’ve ever played acoustically,” says Kathleen Huber, chair of the Edwards Art Council, a non-profit which oversees the theater’s operations and upkeep. She compares the theater’s shape to that of an upside-down ship, which she credits for adding phenomenal acoustics and natural reverb.
Kathleen grew up in Edwards, but had no idea the opera house even existed; and for good reason: The theater itself is located on the second floor of the town hall of all places.
Edwards Town Hall exterior. The Opera House is located on the 2nd floor – Photo via edwardsoperahouse.com
The town hall itself dates back to the late 1800s, where architects in nearby Ogdensburg, were tasked with rebuilding the institution after it had burned down in a fire. Over the years, the town hall has been home to a barbershop, a jail, a post-office and a roller-rink. The theater on the second floor originally hosted traveling troupes and medicine shows as well as local musicians and actors. It also served as a popular movie theater until the late 1950s.
“My parents would go in the 50’s and they would tell me that the place would be full,” Huber recounted.
The long history of this building is still very much evident. The original stage curtains are still intact, which include a vibrant hand-painted mural depicting a pastoral scene. It was painted by a traveling troupe that was quarantined in Edwards during the Great Influenza epidemic. On the back of the current, past and current performers have signed their names, with the oldest signature dating back to the early 1900’s.
The original hand-painted curtain / Photo via Edwards Opera House Facebook page
Edwards was a popular mining town for lead and zinc, but when resources ran out in the late 70’s, the mining companies packed up and Edwards began to resemble more of a ghost town. While the town hall remained operational, the theater closed its doors for nearly half a century.
In the early 200’s the Edwards Art Council, a non-profit organization was formed to oversee the restoration and upkeep of the historic theater. Nearby towns in the North County like Clayton and Heuvelton also restored similar theater spaces around the same time, in a trend to restore historic venues and hopefully revitalize the downtown areas.
The Edwards Opera House seats nearly 275 people and hosts a small smattering of around 8-10 shows a year. The venue is mostly seasonal, operating primarily in the spring, summer and fall seasons. The Opera House recently wrapped up its summer series, which included a comedy night, a variety show, a family band and a group of fiddlers.
The Edwards Opera House – Photo courtesy of Edwards Art Council
But while the Edwards Opera House used to draw full houses for its movie showings, a dwindling population – around 500 people – now makes it difficult to fill the 275 seats in the theater. Most neighboring towns are a 30 minute drive away as well.
Huber returned to her hometown and took the role of chair of the arts council during Covid. During this time, she started live streaming concerts to reach new audiences. You can also watch snippets of passt performances on the Edwards Opera House Youtube channel.
The Arts Council is operated entirely by volunteers who dedicate their free time organizing, promoting and hosting events at the opera house. Huber says they are always looking for new members. She said the most rewarding part is being able to provide music and arts to the community.
While the Opera House typically closes in the winter, this year the theater will be hosting a holiday show on Dec. 1st.
Watertown, NY will soon be home to a new music venue, the Harmony Performing Arts Center.
Joseph Foy, president and founder of HarmoNNY Performing Arts Community started this organization back in 2020 with the goal of creating a music-focused performance venue in the local area. Foy, a long-time musician himself, wanted to expand beyond typical small-town bar gigs and create a space where music could be the full focus.
“Sometimes it would be nice to just be able to play my songs in an environment where people are listening and I can try to create a show out of it,” Foy said. “There wasn’t really a place where I felt like I could really do that here.”
The Historic Strand Theater, Photo by Cinema Treasures
Since then, Foy’s idea has expanded to encompass all types of performing arts, from the theater to dance and comedy.
The Harmony Performing Arts Center is currently undergoing renovation and is set to be open this fall. The venue is located in the historic Strand Theater, a former silent theater turned nightclub, dating back to the early 1900s. The Strand closed its doors in 2018 and was left in the hands of a local non-profit Neighbors of Watertown, which eventually reached out to Foy to create a performing arts space.
The Strand Theater, 1987 article in the Watertown Daily Times announcing its re-opening as a nightclub. Photo: Watertown Daily Times.
The theater will seat 100 people and feature a rooftop area for additional events. Jefferson Community College will also share office space next door, a partnership that helped Harmony gain additional grant funding to renovate the space.
Foy said he took inspiration for Harmony from other small town theaters such as the Homer Center for the Arts located in Central New York as well as Auburn Public Theater. Both have non-profit models, as does Harmony.
“I thought to myself, in Watertown, we didn’t necessarily have anything that was specific to the performing arts,” Foy said. “We feel like in Watertown … people aren’t going out as much to see things anymore, in general, so us starting with a smaller venue makes a lot of sense in our mind to help build up that momentum again.”
Construction in the interior of the soon-to-be Harmony Performing Arts Center – Photo via Downtown News and Glenn Curry
For the past three years, Foy has worked with the local community to improve access to the arts. Harmony currently operates an instrumental lending library where local residents can rent instruments and musical equipment like mics and PA systems. More recently, Harmony partnered with the North County Library system allowing them to deliver instruments across multiple counties.
“The way I see it, you know, you start off small, and then you make it work, and then you build other things into it,” Foy said.
Foy started this program during the pandemic, when finding a theater and doing renovations would have been next to impossible.
“We’ve been doing things, just anything we can think of that helps enhance the arts, whether it be just having a calendar that shows what’s going on in the area each day, to having lists of the performers who are in the area, or the those who are teaching lessons in the area,” Foy said.
The outside of the theater as it undergoes renovations – Photo courtesy Joeseph Foy
Foy said he plans to keep growing the Harmony Performing Arts Center community well into the future.
“My real vision is to go down the line – and maybe this is 10-20, years from now – to create a bigger venue, but we’re so excited to be able to start with something that we can build up from, and that’s not going to be too much for us to take on.”
There is no official opening date or performances scheduled yet for Harmony Performing Arts Center although Foy hopes renovations will be done by this fall. He added Harmony is always looking for new members, volunteers and instrument donations.
“Just to see that momentum from the community is really fulfilling and exciting,” Foy said.
While not in New York proper, the Berkshires are an essential part of live music for those in Eastern New York and beyond. Intersecting multiple state lines, these highlands boast a vibrant community of artists and art alike- drawing both locals and those from beyond the mountains into its captivating live performance scene. From grandiose theaters to intimate speakeasies, the Berkshires offer a venue fit for every event and occasion.
Formed by the merging of the Berkshire Theatre Festival and The Colonial Theatre, two of the county’s oldest cultural organizations, the Berkshire Theatre Group has a long history of bringing live performance to its community. Boasting a catalog of performances dating back to 1928 and an ever-expanding repertoire of both time-honored classics and works from new and emerging artists, the performances of the Berkshire Theatre Group span four stages- The Colonial Theatre, The Unicorn Theatre, The Fitzpatrick Main Stage, and The Garage, each with their own unique personality and purpose.
Address: 6 East St, Stockbridge, MA 01262 (The Unicorn Theatre, The Fitzpatrick Main Stage)
Address: 111 South St, Pittsfield, MA 01201 (The Colonial Theatre, The Garage)
Known for their contemporary productions, Chester Theatre Company hosts a series of shows made and performed by those in the community every summer. In addition to their own works, the Company hosts talkbacks, cast conversations, and panel discussions.
Built completely upon and around the talents and works of those local to the Berkshires and beyond, The Great Barrington Public Theater performs in the Daniel Arts Center of Bard College at Simon’s Rock, either on the 300 seat mainstage McConnell Theater with orchestral and balcony seating or the 100 seat Liebowitz Black Box Theater.
Address: 84 Alford Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230
The Mac-Haydn Theatre has been producing musical theater performances for the area for over fifty years now- bringing the founding wish to spread professional musical theater beyond Broadway to fruition. Each performance comes to life on their 350 seat theatre-in-the-round stage, creating an engaging and intimate audience experience. Shows run each season between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day Weekend.
Constructed in 1904 and opened in 1905, the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center has acted as a community cornerstone for live performance, film, and cultural events since its inception. Boasting theater seats just under 700, year-round arts programming, and a range of events from entertainment to education, the Mahaiwe is the centerpiece to the town’s vibrant art scene.
Address: 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230
An abbreviation for Performance Space 21, this black box theater sits atop a mountain. PS21 is home to contemporary dance, theatre, and music that hosts cutting edge artists from across the globe. Like many performances at this venue that invite the audience to interact- oftentimes more workshop than production- visitors can explore the fields and view of the Hudson below.
Founded in 1978, Shakespeare & Company boasts a wide range of theaters to fit each production’s needs. With tried and true Shakespearean classics, reimagined pieces, and newly debuted shows, Shakespeare & Company utilizes every seat of their 540-seat open air Arthur S. Waldstein Amphitheatre, 400-seat scaffold-and-canvas inspired Tina Packer Playhouse, intimate five row Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre, Elizabethan inspired 280-seat outdoor Roman Garden Theatre, and the 250-seat Rose Footprint Theatre, a reconstruction of the first level of Shakespeare’s first London theater.
With a rich history of live music and musical education, an open-air venue with both indoor seating and an outer lawn that provides a variety of listening experiences, and a star studded performance archive that ranges from Ella Fitzgerald to Dolly Parton, it’s no wonder Tanglewood has been consistently voted a fan favorite concert venue. In addition to individual performances, Tanglewood houses the Popular Artists Series festival, the Boston Pops, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s training academy.
An informal, cozy venue nestled in an old barn at the Egremont Village Inn, The Egremont Barn offers a more casual audience experience complete with pub style comfort foods and a stage boasting little more than a piano. The venue’s charm shines through in its community built around the year-round program of singer-songwriters, theater companies, open mics, and musical acts across genres.
A small speakeasy style venue tucked beneath the Red Lion Inn, The Lion’s Den offers an intimate musical experience with a timeless atmosphere. Thursday through Saturday evenings feature folk, rock, and blues acts from their Den Sessions, and Sunday evenings are the host to their Jazz series.
Address: The Red Lion Inn, 30 Main St, Stockbridge MA 01262
A Tony Award-winning theater, The Williamstown Theatre Festival is a resident summer theatre on Williams College’s campus that hosts a yearly season of shows and community immersive theatre programs year-round.
In the vibrant land of New York City, each borough offers its unique culture, style, and history. In music, the historic jazz clubs of Harlem, projecting unforgettable stars like Duke Ellington, to the indie rock bands in Brooklyn, Manhattan’s Broadway avenues, Queen’s melting pot of cultural musicians, the Bronx’s hip-hop roots, and Staten Island’s hidden diamonds, the city offers something for everyone.
The Rockwood Music Hall is a small live music venue on NYCâs Lower East Side, with world-class sound and a storied history. Anchored by a 9âx9â stage and a Welte & Sons baby grand piano, Rockwood hosts artists of all genres and musical styles, 7 days a week.
The club is filled with vibrant jazz-loving people from all over the world. The musicians are all top-rate and playing their hearts out for an adoring and sympathetic crowd.
Irving Plaza is a ballroom-style music venue located within the Union Square neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. It was featured on the Complex City Guide list of “50 Best Concert Venues of America” in 2013.
Webster Hall is one of New York’s most significant large 19th-century assembly halls, and it became famous for its Bohemian masquerade balls in the 1910s and 1920s.
Known for its mix of local talent and acoustic acts, the funky venue has an intimate stage for all performances. As a local staple of the East Village, locals and visitors love then venue.
The Bitter End is a 230-person capacity nightclub, coffeehouse, and folk music venue in New York City’s Greenwich Village. It opened in 1961 at 147 Bleeker Street under the auspices of owner Fred Weintraub. The club changed its name to The Other End in June 1975. However, after a few years, the owners changed the club’s name back to the more recognizable The Bitter End.
The Mercury Lounge is celebrated as an iconic indie venue due to its acoustics, its fostering and even launching of upcoming artists, and its no-frills, rock n’ roll presentation. It has made numerous top-ten lists over the years including that of Billboard Magazine. It has a capacity of 250 people.
LPR is a music venue and multimedia art cabaret in New York City founded in 2008. The performance space was designed and engineered by John Storyk/WSDG. It has become known for its focus on artistry, bringing contemporary classical music into the club setting, offering a variety of setups so that a seated classical performance can be followed by a standing set by a rock band or a DJ.
Sounds of Brazil, known as S.O.B.âs, is a legendary live music venue in the lower Manhattan neighborhood of SoHo. It was opened by owner and director Larry Gold in June 1982. Gold opened the venue to expose the musical wealth and heritage of the Afro-Latino Diaspora to as many people as possible.
Nublu is a unique club and record label from the cultural epicenter of New York City, the East Village. There are three entities of the Nublu universe, a live music venue, a record label, and a recently launched Nublu Jazz Festival which has premiered in NYC, Sao Paul and Istanbul.
Being a staple in the East Village, the venue is owned and operated by rock and roll lifers. Known for the raw and gritty charm, the establishment hosts rising stars.
The Gramercy Theatre is a music venue in New York City. It is located in the Gramercy neighborhood of Manhattan, on 127 East 23rd Street. Built in 1937 as the Gramercy Park Theatre, it is owned and operated by Live Nation as one of their two concert halls in New York City, the other being the nearby Irving Plaza.
The Red Lion is a living, breathing Rock-n-Roll juke box. This is the place where bands get their start, making their bones, paying the rent and barely paying their tab. Just like the Rolling Stones did with their first three albums: Interpreting the songs they loved the best.
The Rooftop at Pier 17is New York Cityâs most scenic concert stage. A dynamic open-air entertainment venue, set five stories above the East River, concert goers annually see their favorite artists within an intimate atmosphere (3,500 capacity), all from a one-of-a-kind rooftop location with direct views of such iconic skyline landmarks as the Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, and One World Trade Center.
Groove is a venue that remains, honoring the rich musical tradition of Greenwich Village. Groove has seen many changes since opening in 1998, but the mission to uplift local musicians and fans and to preserve the soul of American music continues to this day.
Dueling Pianos is an all-request, rock-and-roll party where you pick the playlist. Two top piano entertainers, mixing music, comedy and audience interaction in a singalong, laugh-along, dance-along show! Itâs everything from Billy Joel to Bon Jovi, Britney Spears to Bruno Mars. Nothing is off-limits from pop, rock, country, hip-hop, hairbands, disco, punk rock, standards, showtunes.
The Beacon Theatre was developed by Samuel “Roxy” Rothafel and built as a movie palace with 2,894 seas across three levels. The theater is designated as a New York City interior landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Part palace, part industrial shed, Park Avenue Armory fills a critical void in the cultural ecology of New York, supporting unconventional works in the performing and visual arts that cannot be fully realized in a traditional proscenium theater, concert hall, or white wall gallery. With its soaring 55,000-square-foot Wade Thompson Drill Hall and an array of exuberant period rooms, the Armory enables a diverse range of artists to create, students to explore, and audiences to experience epic, adventurous, relevant work that cannot be done elsewhere in New York.
The National Sawdust commissions, produces, and presents cultural programming rooted in sound, supporting artists in various disciplines who are passionate about experimentation and innovation. In its intimate venue equipped with a state-of-the-art spatial sound system, National Sawdust connects audiences to the performing arts’ powers to inspire deep thinking, joy, and uphold human dignity.
Elsewhere is a multi-room music venue, nightclub, and arts space in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Our focus is underground and unbound music, presented with love. Since 2017, Elsewhereâs three stories of dance floors and stages have been home to expansive sonic offerings for all New Yorkers to explore. We are and will forever remain fiercely independent.
Located next door to The Brooklyn Monarch, The Meadows is quickly becoming a late night hotspot. This 500 capacity venue is an oasis, complete with a full bar, food, and trippy picturesque backyard with a seasonal outdoor stage.
Skinny Dennis is located in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The bar features 18 beers on draft, our signature cocktails, a vintage jukebox and our INfamous Willie’s Frozen Coffee. Since February 2013, Skinny Dennis has been home to the some of the best live country & roots music in New York City. Offering high quality musical entertainment 7 nights a week.
Quirky Brooklyn bar prized for ‘divey’ vibes, eclectic decor & live performances in the back room. The eclectic decor within the bar adds and build unique character and is a local favorite.
Opened in September of 2008, the warehouse venue hosts big-name acts & up-and-comers. Before opening, the space was used for recording the NPR program “Ask Me Another.”
On November 24, 1928, Brooklyn Paramount introduced the most immersive entertainment experience the world had ever seen. Crowds stretched around the block to leave the world behind for a baroque palace of overwhelming spectacle and groundbreaking performances. Emboldened as âAmericaâs first movie theater built for sound,â Brooklyn Paramount set the stage for a storied saga of beginnings.
Located within the former horse stable of the ASPCA HQ, The Atrium is a cocktail bar and plant based restaurant that transforms into a late night music space. The room is crowned by a historic skylight and imposing 20â² columns that frame a monolithic travertine bar. The Atrium hosts a diverse range of record selectors over dinner service and internationally touring DJâs later in the evening.
With 15,000+ square feet of space on each of two floors featuring high ceilings and ample open space. 3,000 person capacity uniquely positioned to take advantage of the burgeoning Hollywood movie and TV rental business in Brooklyn. The Hangar also has a pre-approved NY State-certified Soundstage/New York State Qualified Production Facility (QPF) for usage rights.
Opened in 1999, Pete’s Candy Store continues as Williamsburg’s original live music venue. Featuring acts such as Will Oldham, Beth Orton, Devendra Barnhart and Norah Jones, this small venue and neighborhood tavern developed an early reputation for special shows and rare treats. While the list of noteworthy performers is quite lengthy, Pete’s Candy Store has always been a free venue and has booked mostly unknown and unsigned bands, many of which have gone on to greater recognition.
The Kings Theatre, formerly Loew’s Kings Theatre, is a live performance venue in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City. Opened by Loew’s Theatres as a movie palace in 1929 and closed in 1977, the theater sat empty for decades until a complete renovation was initiated in 2010.
The Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island is an outdoor live entertainment venue within the Childs Restaurants building on the Riegelmann Boardwalk in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City. The venue opened in June 2016.
Founded in 2014, Câmon was born out of a desire to amplify the underserved creative voices of LGBTQ/QTPOC people (and allies) and to serve as a safe space for the queer community.
Brooklyn Music Kitchen is Brooklynâs newest music infusion giving local and global artists the opportunity to perform, record and stream their live performances from a fully loaded sound and video stage.
TV Eye is a new kind of night club on a geographical and cultural frontier, proudly occupying both a space on the edge of the Bushwick/Ridgewoodborder and in the vanguard of contemporary nightlife.
Industrial-chic venue of rehearsal space, art studios & rooftop bar with live music, films & snacks. From indie to R&B offers a great offering of rising artists.
Established in 2013, Babyâs All Right is an independently funded & operated music venue in the heart of Williamsburg. Its intimate, 250-capacity show room has hosted past perfomers including SZA, Cypress Hill, Lil Yachty, Blood Orange, Charli XCX, Mac DeMarco, James Murphy, David Byrne, Hot Chip, Courtney Barnett, Willow Smith, Jack White, Billie Eilish & many more.
This spot is a favorite hangout and go-to spot for live music and draft beers. Regularly hosting live performances, the venue has the perfect atmosphere for a casual night outing.
The Music Hall of Williamsburg us operated by the Bowery Presents, a group stemming from Bowery Ballroom that was brought by AEG in 2017. The Music Hall of Williamsburg has a capacity of 650 people and has shows on most nights of the week.
Imagine retreating back in time to enjoy live jazz in an intimate, restored 19th-century Victorian brownstone in the historical district of Brooklynâs Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. Brownstone Jazz presents jazz concerts complete with a piano, bass, drum set and other acoustic instruments as well. A Southern fish-fry buffet and open mic sessions add to the experience.
Gemini & Scorpio, two funky Brooklyn gals, have been running the second-largest non-commercial New York City events list since 2002, spreading the word on underground happenings you’d otherwise never hear about. They are also the makers of themed costume parties with live entertainment: legendary happenings from wild circus throw downs to dazzling vintage dance socials to one-of-a-kind Russian baths bashes.
Address: 267 Douglass St 3rd floor, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Issue Project Room A pioneering Brooklyn-based performance nonprofit founded in 2003, ISSUE presents projects by interdisciplinary artists that expand the boundaries of artistic practice and stimulate critical dialogue in the broader community. ISSUE serves as a leading cultural incubator, facilitating the commission and premiere of innovative new works spanning genres of music, dance, literature and film.
Formerly Queens Theatre in the Park and before that Queens Playhouse, is an American professional theatre, located in Flushing MeadowsâCorona Park, Queens, New York City, New York.
Address : Flushing Meadows Corona Park, 14 United Nations Ave S, Queens, NY 11368
Terraza 7 is a live music venue and community center; the perfect hub for local art, political expressions, and your favorite coffee or mixed drink. Located in the heart of Queens, New York, between Elmhurst and Jackson Heights, two locations containing the most diverse population of immigrants on the planet, is committed to a progressive model of business that grows within its community base on local values.
The Wolfhound is a contemporary Irish pub in Astoria Queens NYC. We serve lots of Guinness as well as craft beer + domestic favorites along with a seasonal cocktail list We pack the calendar with weekend events – live music, DJ parties, and more. Trivia on Tuesdays. Rocking since August 2016.
Forest Hills Stadium is a historic outdoor music venue that has welcomed fans to the picturesque New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens for over 100 years. Designed to optimize acoustics and with no obstructed views, the 13,000 capacity stadium is the only outdoor venue of its kind and size in the city.
Flushing Town Hall is a performing arts center and historic town hall at 137-35 Northern Boulevard in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens in New York City. It served as the seat of government of the village of Flushing until the village became part of City of Greater New York in 1898.
Featuring programming of diverse formats and media, Knockdown Center aims to create a radically cross-disciplinary environment. The particularity of our architectural environment and history leads us to gravitate toward projects that demonstrate a sensitive reactivity to site and environment.
Gantry Plaza State Park is a 12-acre state park on the East River in the Hunters Point section of Long Island City, in the New York City borough of Queens. The park is located in a former dockyard and manufacturing district, and includes remnants of facilities from the area’s past.
The Paradise Theater, formerly Loew’s Paradise Theatre, is a movie palace-type theater located at 2417 Grand Concourse in the Bronx. Constructed in 1929 at the height of grand movie theaters, in the later 20th century the building was used also for live entertainment.
The Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco) developed the Bronx Music Hall (BMH) as a performance venue and community cultural center dedicated to honoring, showcasing and cultivating music, dance, theater, and interdisciplinary arts in the Bronx.
The Bronx Brewery The Brewery is committed to using what we create and where we create it to bring people together, while celebrating the rich and diverse creative scene in our home borough and across New York City and Manhattan.
Pregones was founded in 1979 when a group of artists led by Rosalba Rolón set out to create new works in the style of Caribbean and Latin American âcolectivosâ or performing ensembles.
THE POINT Community Development Corporation is dedicated to youth development and the cultural and economic revitalization of the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx. Its programming falls within three main headings all aimed at the comprehensive revitalization of the Hunts Point community: Youth Development, Arts and Culture, and Community Development.
An Beal Bocht Cafe, in operation since 1991, began as a small cafe. Serving only non-alcoholic beverages, it centered as a spot for artist to gather and performs, and quickly cemented itself as a neighborhood favorite.
Orchard Beach is the only public beach in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The 115-acre, 1.1-mile-long beach is part of Pelham Bay Park and is situated on the western end of Long Island Sound. Orchard Beach indeed has music, with Salsa Sundays held every Sunday from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, from noon to 5 pm, as well as Pride in the Bronx in June, Camping, Pelham Bay Park canoeing and much more!
The St. George Theatre is a performing arts venue, picture palace, and office complex at 35 Hyatt Street in St. George, on the North Shore of Staten Island, New York City. The 2,800-seat St. George Theatre was built for Staten Island theater operator Solomon Brill and opened on December 4, 1929.
Harbor Lights is Staten Islands own professional Theater Company presenting Broadway actors in beautifully designed productions at an affordable price.
Located at the heart of the 204-acre campus of the College of Staten Island (CSI), a four-year senior college of The City University of New York (CUNY), the Center for the Arts (CFA) is one of the leading, state-of-the-art, performing arts centers in Staten Island.
Address: 2800 Victory Blvd #1P-116, Staten Island, NY 10314
New York State contains diverse music scenes, with unique venues and events in all corners and counties. From Ithaca to Binghamton, Elmira to the western Finger Lakes and everywhere in between, there is much to explore the venues of New York’s “607.” The Southern Tier has much to offer with theater companies, museums, theaters, and college campuses, there is a venue for every event.
Atomic Tom’s, a venue in Binghamton, holds weddings, art galleries, benefits, and musical performances. The first Friday of every month, Atomic Tom’s hosts a “First Friday Concert.” Admission is always free, and a cash bar is available.
Anderson Center for the Performing Arts (Binghamton)
As part of Binghamton University, Anderson Center for the Performing Arts enhances the local community with culturally significant performances. The Anderson Center contains three theaters: the 1170-seat Osterhout Concert Theater, the 408-seat Chamber Hall (pictured below) and the 558-seat Watters Theater.
Since 1903, Bailey Hall has been used by Cornell University to host musicians and ensembles. The Cornell University Department of Music sponsors more than 100 concerts, encompassing a broad spectrum of the world’s art and music.
The Bundy Museum of History and Art is a rich piece of Binghamton history and hosts events and fundraisers. The Bundy Museum is also home to WBDY 99.5 FM, a community radio station that enriches Binghamton’s artistic and intellectual life.
Cranberry Coffee House is Binghamton’s premier folk music venue. It is also home to The Middle Set, their open mic event. Hosted on the third Saturday of every month, The Middle Set gives artists, musicians, and story-tellers of all ages a chance to perform.
Deep Dive hosts weekly trivia and karaoke nights, as well as concerts and private events. Deep Dive also hosts concerts and jam sessions frequently in a wide variety of genres.
Diversion Brewing Company has been serving the Chemung community since 2016. Diversion hosts a wide variety of events, including musical performances. In the summer of 2017, they started their “Tunes & A Truck” program, where local musicians and food trucks come to the brewery every Saturday.
The Downstairs is a membership-based art gallery and community listening room. With a maximum capacity of around 50 people, The Downstairs is ideal for an intimate concert. The Downstairs also hosts weekly comedy open mics every Tuesday, and exists for the benefit of local artists; The venue does not take a percentage of the proceeds from ticket or merchandise sales.
Binghamton’s beloved restaurant, Downtown, often hosts events for the community. Weekly trivia nights and drag brunches are available, as well as performances by local bands.
Fanatics Pub is a venue in Lima that serves pizza, hamburgers, and wings. Beloved by the local community, concert-goers enjoy the cozy atmosphere and talented acts, most of whom are Blues artists. Fanatics also hosts trivia and comedy nights.
Since 1975, The Hangar Theater has been supporting and enhancing Ithaca’s arts. The Hangar Theater is dedicated to producing quality performances and inspiring community through their programs. The theater strives to be an artistic home that nurtures a lifelong love of the performing arts. Arts education is central to the Hangar Theater’s mission, and they offer numerous programs for children, including the summer Mainstage and KIDDSTUFF productions, an annual production of A Christmas Carol, and the Lab Company.
Known for their live music and fresh wings, The Hornet’s Nest hosts local musicians and karaoke nights. Events are announced on their Facebook, which is available below.
Located in Elmira’s historic Federal Building in the business district, the Ill Eagle hosts events and live music. The Ill Eagle has multiple event rooms, each restored to accommodate guests. The largest event room, the old courthouse, can accommodate up to 200 people.
Irish Kevin’s is an Irish Bar known for its Irish cuisine and talented performers. They are known for their award-winning, house-seasoned corned beef and friendly atmosphere.
Since 1991, the Kitchen Theater Company has offered talented and determined young artists a place they could work together and hone their craft. In 2010, KTC made history by becoming the first theater company in Ithaca to own its own space. Throughout its history, KTC has produced over 200 plays, including 34 world premieres by Adam Bock, Tanya Barfield, Darian Dauchan, and many others.
Moe-Town is an outdoor music venue in Addison that hosts local, regional, and national bands. In addition to concerts, Moe-Town hosts Spring/Fall Festivals, Halloween parties, and overnight camping. Lawn chairs and coolers are welcome, and food and drinks are available.
New Leaf Cider Company is a winery that hosts events and performances. There are weekly open mics, as well as trivia nights every Thursday. They also host stand up comedy the last Thursday of every month and host private events.
The Phelps Mansion was built in 1871 and owned by Sherman David Phelps, an entrepreneur and one-time mayor of Binghamton. The mansion was designed by Isaac G. Perry, who also designed the Binghamton Inebriate Asylum (1858) and helped complete the New York State Capitol Building (1899). The museum hosts fundraisers and concerts, and a psychic fair the first Friday of every month.
The Range is a Western-themed bar that hosts musicians nearly every weekend. The Range is located above Trader K’s in Ithaca’s commons. Their diverse set of performances promises something for every taste.
Sach’s Tee House is a bar that hosts outdoor music. Their new patio is open, and they host trivia nights every Thursday. Known for their trendy and welcoming atmosphere, Sach’s combines traditional sports bar elements with live music.
Endicott’s Little Italy Heritage Center is a non-profit dedicated to preserving Endicott’s Italian neighborhood. A surge of Italian immigrants came to Endicott hoping to work for Endicott-Johnson (EJ) Corp. Italian immigrants created the vibrant neighborhood community the Heritage center works to preserve, The Stage at Little Italy hosts an annual Italian Festival, GUSTO, as well as farmers markets and other community events. They also put on productions in George W. Johnson Park.
The State Theater opened in 1928, and has been a significant venue in the Finger Lakes region ever since. Its 1,600 capacity makes it the largest venue in Ithaca. The theater fell into disrepair, and the owner even considered demolition in the mid ’90s, but Historic Ithaca acquired the building in 1998 and committed to revitalizing the building, and it became a designated landmark.
Tap House 66 is a bar that supports local musicians and hosts performances often. Known for their delicious food and talented local artists, more information is available at the website below.
Since its opening in 2010, The Westy has become a staple of the Ithaca community. They host an open mic every Thursday at 9 PM, food trucks in the summer, and numerous concerts.
A new venue in Westport, NY known as The Mill provides a place for live music, visual arts and all-around creative endeavors for the Adirondack community.
The Mill, as suggested by the name, was originally built in 1952 as a grain mill for the Champlain Valley Seed Cooperative. In 2021, the abandoned building was repurchased and in a collaborative effort between creative director Taylor Haskins and local contractors, they rebuilt the building up as a new cultural hub.
The listening gallery is described as a cathedral-like room. With its high ceilings and wood paneled walls, the space has great acoustic sounds, but has an intimate feel. Haskins conducts the music programming for The Mill’s listening gallery. He is an accomplished musician himself and has released 11 albums under his name. In 2005, he won a Grammy award for playing lead trumpet on Dave Holland’s jazz album Overtime.
The Mill also has a place for visual artists to showcase their work at one of the seven galleries that make up Process Art Space curated by Catherine Ross Haskins.
For visitors looking for a drink and a bite to eat, The Knock is a speakeasy inside the venue that has a sultry 1920’s prohibition aesthetic. The menu of small plates made in house are all created from locally sourced ingredients.
The Mill has a diverse lineup of musicians for the rest of the summer and into their fall season.
Coming up on Aug. 16, singer and songwriter Camila Meza will perform her lyrical, latin jazz fusion repertoire. On Aug 23. Haskins will play alongside another accomplished jazz artist, Ben Monder.
To purchase tickets or to find out more about all The Mill has to offer, you can visit the website here.
