Esteemed music venue Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs announced a stellar lineup of musicians for the month of April, with Raul Midon, Michael Eck, Vanessa Collier, and The Special Consensus among the featured acts.
CaffeLena has presented New York State with extraordinary music in an intimate setting since the 1960s. It is widely recognized as the longest continuously operating folk music venue in the United States. Bob Dylan performed for two consecutive nights at the cafè in 1961, a year prior to the release of his debut album.
The venue’s mission is to keep a diverse set of programs and artists, regardless of fame, to present to the community. Caffe Lena is where musical discovery begins on all fronts. All shows held in-person in Lena’s historic listening room are also streamed live to living rooms around the world.
Caffe Lena’s April shows are not ones to miss. The itinerary is complete with various well-known artists with utmost talent. Various genres like bluegrass, jazz, folk, blues, poetry, funk rock and more are set to light up the intimate venue with energy, love, and art. Artists like Michael Eck see the stage for heartfelt performances signifying great milestones.
Vanessa Collier
Michael Eck celebrates his 60th birthday with release of sixth album, fermata, and a performance at Caffe Lena, 8 p.m. Friday, April 19. Eck will be joined by an all-star ensemble, including bassist/vocalist Bob Buckley, guitarist Sten Isachsen, and elusive vocalist Rosanne Raneri.
Michael Eck
Caffe Lena’s Top Shows For April
April 2, 7 PM Live Stream: Storytelling Night Featuring Julia Biaculli
April 3, 7 PM Poetry Open Mic Night featuring Susan Jefts
April 4, 8 PM Ruthie Foster
April 5, 8 PM The Special Consensus
April 6, 8 PM Peter Mulvey with Opener Zachary Lucky
April 7, 7 PM House of Hamill
April 9, 7 PM Songwriting with Eliza Gilkyson
April 19, 8 PM Live Stream: Michael Eck
April 26, 8 PM Vanessa Collier
April 27, 8 PM Bright Series: The Clements Brothers
April 28, 7 PM Intersectional Voices: Raul Midon
For more information on Caffe Lena’s April shows and to purchase tickets, click here.
The Eighth Step at Proctors is presenting the dynamic folk group Jamcrackers at 7:30 pm on Saturday, March 23.
Jamcrackers is Adirondack folksingers Dan Berggren, Peggy Lynn, and Dan Duggan on harmony vocals, guitar, and virtuoso hammered dulcimer. Performing a mix of original and traditional songs and tunes, the uber-talented trio brings strong songs, tight harmonies, and lively tunes to the stage through Peggy and “the Dans’ ” energy and warm voices.
National hammered dulcimer champion Dan Duggan is known for his wizardry on the instrument and his flat-picking guitar licks. Peggy Lynn sings in her bluesy alto about strong women and life in the North Country, and Dan Berggren’s songs and stories give voice to the spirit of hard-working folks and inspire care of our beautiful planet.
Caffé Lena states: “They sing of nature, strong women, healthy communities and peace, backing their rich vocal blend with world-class hammered dulcimer, banjo, and guitar,” while the Adirondack Museum praises their “Beautifully crafted songs, powerful vocals, and tight arrangements.” They at once bring us back to the days of mountain men, strong mountain women, settlers, and Gilded Age visitors, and take us forward to tomorrow’s issues shaping the future of our beloved mountains and beyond. The trio’s original and traditional music echoes the timeless beauty of the still-remote, forever wild pine and lake-studded wilderness.
Tickets are $27 advance / $29 day of show / $45 Gold Circle (Priority Seating and 6:30 Meet & Greet onstage), available through The Eighth Tix/Info Line at (518) 434-1703 (Visa/MC/Disc/AmEx), online, through Proctors Box Office (518) 346-6204.
On the New York City night of February 23, Chelsea Cutler sold out her first ever Radio City Music Hall headline show. Nearly 6,000 New Yorkers wrapped around the Midtown blocks, adorned in Cutler-inspired sneakers, jerseys, and “vintage” Cutler merch. The energy circulating from city to city on “The Beauty Is Everywhere Tour” finally arrived in Manhattan, and it was well-received.
Photograph by Shauna Hilferty
The evening began with an opening performance from the New York City native group, Yoke Lore. Lead singer Adrian Galvin exclaimed how gracious he was to be on stage at “the most beautiful venue.” Galvin and drummer, Rafe Bouchard, warmed up the rapidly filling auditorium with their folk-pop discography. He sang crowd favorites like “Beige,” and “Shake,” and thrashed his limbs in a feral yet simultaneously elegant dance. Yoke Lore also performed one his favorite childhood songs, “Truly Madly Deeply,” which felt like an unveiled sentiment to playing at Radio City.
After Yoke Lore departed, Radio City’s iconic velvet curtains lowered to the stage floor. Behind them, stage crew shadows danced in a fit of productive motion, bringing Chelsea’s stage to life. It wasn’t long before the lights dimmed, hushing everyone’s conversations into a silence of excitement, and the curtains lifted to reveal the massive stage.
Photograph by Shauna Hilferty
White scalloped arches framed a platform with a miniature catwalk where a microphone waited at the end. A drum set, guitar setup, and Chelsea’s signature sound board accessorized the stage. Retro strobe lights at the base of the stage, casting long shadows over the audience while synth swallowed the space, and an intro-audio oding to the beauty in everything carried up to the mezzanine.
At the close of the audio, Chelsea appeared on stage. Her song “Something More” was the perfect opening song, and a great introduction to the yearn and desperation behind her record “Stellaria.”
Stellaria’s production grade is too large to be put in the confines of a single “type” of music. Chelsea really tapped into her personal writing style, and introduced her fans to the story-telling air of folk music. Instrumentally, the record is versatile – it relies on Cutler’s usual mastery of percussion and riffs, while also introducing more twang carrying sounds, and displays a phenomenal usage of synth. Radio City was the perfect venue to hold room for the performance of “Stellaria.”
After her first few songs “I Don’t Feel Alive” and one of her crowd-favorites, “Cold Showers,” Chelsea couldn’t contain her excitement. She stopped to acknowledge how “pretty fucking cool” it was to be playing Radio City. “It’s a Friday night in the city I call home! New York City, how are you doing?” The crowd erupted, charging Cutler’s amped energy.
Cutler spoke casually with the audience, like they were all just chilling together at a party she was hosting. “There are a few important things to talk about. One, I’m a bit of a sneakers girl, but tonight… I’m wearing loafers! Two, my mom just got a hip replacement and she is here tonight!” The crowd applauded Mama Cutler.
Photograph by Shauna Hilferty
On tour in celebration of “Stellaria,” Chelsea Cutler is fortifying her already established fanbase. Having been in the music industry since her college days, Chelsea is ever-evolving as a musician, bridging an experimental gap between genres. The community at the foot of her sound has only grown, as she’s planted her voice in the genres of folk-americana, pop, and continues to water her roots in electronic exploration. Her willingness to try something new grows her listener count album by album.
Cutler’s fanbase is composed of a large listener demographic. Fans of multiple genres, fans of all ages, and fans from the LGBTQ+ community. A Chelsea Cutler show has always been the friendliest and most welcoming environment, and it was heart-warming to see that energy occupying a notorious space like Radio City.
Photograph by Shauna Hilferty
The show rolled into some of Chelsea’s archives from albums “When I Close My Eyes” and “Sleeping With Roses II.” Songs like “Easy” and “AF1s” elicited a surefire singalong from the audience.
Sewn around two of her newer songs dealing with the weight of self-reflection “Hunting Season” and “Growing Up Is Hard,” were two of her older songs “NJ” and “Crazier Things,” two songs written with romantic grief. The parallel lines running beside each other added an intensity to the performance.
Halfway through the setlist, stage crew rolled out a rickety wooden piano and Cutler’s incredibly talented bandmates, drummer Michael Mason and keys player J.T. Becker stepped back to make room for an acoustic set that wrapped with her song “Hotel June.” Acoustic sets deeply favor Cutler’s flutey tonal ability, allowing her range to take up more sonic space.
The lights dimmed and the piano was pulled from the stage to make the transition into a different sector of her sound. When the lights flashed back into motion Cutler reappeared to sing two of her hits “Sad Tonight” and “The Reason.” “The Reason,” from “Sleeping With Roses” is a staple at a Chelsea Cutler concert, with one of the most electrifying instrumental choruses to ever drop.
After a few more tracks, the show closed with one of Chelsea’s most received single releases, “The Lifeboat’s Empty.” The seated structure of Radio City couldn’t contain the fans, as they jumped and pushed into the aisles. It was the perfect send off song, before Chelsea ran backstage.
Overhead, the lights turned on but Chelsea Cutler fans knew better than to assume the show’s over. It wasn’t long before reappeared on stage for an encore. She acoustically performed her most recent song of transcendence, “Your Bones.” The audience took matters into their own hands, singing the chorus as Chelsea sat back in awe.
Photograph by Shauna Hilferty
The evening closed with another track from “Brent,” “This Is How You Fall In Love.” The lyrics felt like an ode to her fans, her tour, and the earned chance to perform at Radio City. As the slow and melodic sound came to an abrupt close, Chelsea’s outro song “Paper Planes” took over the speaker and she exited the stage with the widest smile. The audience collectively sang along as they filed out of the auditorium.
Photograph by Shauna Hilferty
“The Beauty is Everywhere Tour” has been a true display of enjoyment, passionate songwriting, vocal maturity, and Cutler’s self-acceptance as a human being. This record has done great things for listeners and for Chelsea herself, and a sold out Radio City Music Hall is a symbol of that achievement.
The project behind this tour is a display of the cleanse that comes with the discomfort of acceptance. Acceptance of one’s self, acceptance of the mundane, acceptance of the past/present/and future. Acceptance sometimes feels otherworldly, like a transformance. This is what “The Beauty is Everywhere Tour” has been for Cutler – an artistic exploration of the space between one’s existence and their sound.
NYC Indie-folk band Sweetboy has been gaining popularity after the release of their 2023 album A Day in the Park. The group is known for their powerful style of indie, folk, pop, and alternative meshing.
Sweetboy was created by artists Anna Barnett and Jon Flores. The two met on Craigslist under aspiring musicians in search of a band. The pair got together, created some tunes, and began performing at open mics around NYC.
The duo then added some new members, put out some demos, and by 2023, released their first album A Day in the Park. Their sound combines infectious indie-pop energy and nostalgic alt-rock angst with an introspective throughline.
Sweetboy considers themselves not much more than nerdy music lovers trying to figure out the most interesting, authentic, and exciting ways to turn their feelings into songs. While the bandmates live throughout New York and New Jersey, the City is their musical home.
The group performed their song “Upstate” on Albany’s WTEN news station on February 25. The song is a wonderful combination of sound, beginning with a strong folk tone, shifting and evolving into a higher-energy pop-rock ballad with a punchy drumbeat.
“Upstate” features a percussive yet melodic piano. Throughout the tune, several changes of intensity and instrumentation occur. The track features Anna’s wonderous vocals along with soaring, choir-like vocals. From beginning as a slow, soft acoustic ditty, to a moving, quick-witted ballad, the song keeps the listener entranced and moving.
To learn more about Sweetboy and their upcoming music, visit their website here. Make sure to check out their YouTube channel for all past releases as well.
The Oswego Music Hall is proud to present Shawna Caspi and Rachael Kilgour, as part of its Women in Music Series, on Saturday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Before the concert, the public is invited to the Annual Member Meeting which will take place at 4:30.
Shawna Caspi. Photo by Terence Gui.
“I’m excited to be kicking off the first year of our new Women in Music Series during Women’s History Month with two talented Canadian singer-songwriters that put on incredible performances at the NERFA conference,” said Tom Lambert, Artistic Director.
The Oswego Music Hall evolved from a little coffee house venue called “The Low Life Cafe,” created by Richard Reinert in 1976, on Water Street in Oswego, known as the Market House Music Hall. Oswego Music Hall was incorporated in 1979 and received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in 1985. The venue relocated twice before settling into the McCrobie Civic Center, a historic municipal building adjacent to Breitbeck Park, overlooking the Great Lake Ontario.
Run by an incredibly reliable team of volunteers, Oswego Music Hall has produced diverse and high-quality concerts on their National Stage every other Saturday night during their fall, winter/spring seasons, and national stage events for 40 years. Their programs offer Oswego and the Greater Central New York community exposure to top-quality touring musicians, singers, and songwriters of many genres. Most importantly, the venue helps support artists and music not typically heard in the mainstream media, encouraging the development of emerging artists from the community.
Toronto-based singer-songwriter Shawna Caspi takes her time crafting poetic and meaningful lyrics, often using unusual rhymes. She spent years on the road playing solo shows at festivals and in concert halls, train cars, backyards, and living rooms, supporting her warm, clear voice with intricate fingerstyle guitar accompaniment, and drawing energy from shifting landscapes and long drives through Canada and the United States. After taking a break from the road, she returns with her fifth album, Hurricane Coming, a collection of raw, deeply personal songs set against a backdrop of colorful cinematic soundscapes. She also created a series of abstract paintings inspired by the songs on the album.
Hurricane Coming was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award for Contemporary Album of the Year and the Ontario Folk Music Award for Album of the Year. Her songs have also won awards from Folk Music Ontario and the Songwriters’ Association of Washington. She strives to tell the truth and empower listeners to come to terms with the parts of themselves and the world that they might find scary.
Rachael Kilgour. Photo by Kara Dupre.
Rachael Kilgour is a Canadian-American songwriter and performing artist whose plain-spoken, lyric-driven work and intimate performances have endeared her to listeners and fellow artists alike. Kilgour has been featured at NYC’s Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and the Sundance Film Festival.
Her exquisite fourth full-length collection, My Father Loved Me, is a tribute to her late father, produced by JUNO Award-winning songwriter Rose Cousins and recorded in the senior Kilgour’s native Canada. Kilgour gives us a complex portrait of a man through his daughter’s eyes, posing questions about identity, inheritance, and grief, affirming the value of one ordinary working man’s life in an often indifferent world.
Tickets are on sale online or at the Rivers End Bookstore in Oswego.
Oswego Music Hall Events Calendar
Mar 16 The Intention – Jazz by the Lake
Mar 22 Open Mic w/Hosts Frank Stefanek and Julie Clement
Mar 23 Shawna Caspi and Rachael Kilgour (Women in Music Series)
Apr 12 Open Mic w/Host Mark Zane
Apr 13 Big Sky Quartet
Apr 20 Count Blastula w/Special Guest Mike Dubaniewicz Jazz by the Lake
Apr 26 Open Mic w/Host Larry Kyle
Apr 27 Livingston Taylor w/Ash & Eric opening
May 11 Season Finale – Sam Robbins & Emerging Artists Showcase
Each Sunday evening from 7-9 p.m. you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up-and-coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music from W.Y. Huang, Sara Devoe, and Luminous Crush.
WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.
Singaporean singer-songwriter W. Y. Huang has released the new song “Life Just Lately.” The New York-based musician captivates audiences with his groovy instrumentals and irresistible vocals.
Sara Devoe is a singer/songwriter from Albany. She takes most of her inspiration from artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Haley Heynderickx, Field Medic, and Grimes. Her catchy song “am i pretty in the light?” will be played on EQXposure on Sunday.
After 60 years of Irish ballads and rebel songs, The Wolfe Tones will conclude their career in America this St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Their last American shows will be Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16 at 7:30 pm at the Town Hall in New York City.
The Wolfe Tones pictured on stage. From left to right: Brian Warfield, Tommy Byrne, and Noel Nagel.
The group formed six decades ago, back in August of 1963. The group consisted of frontman Brian Warfield, Noel Nagel, and Liam Courtney. The following year, Brian’s brother Derek Warfield joined the group along with Tommy Byrne, who replaced Courtney. That lineup remained consistent for almost 37 years until “creative differences” caused Derek Warfield to leave the band in 2001. Derek formed The Young Wolfe Tones and has barely spoken to his brother Brian since.
The band now consists of Brian Warfield, Noel Nagel, and Tommy Byrne. Despite the change in lineup, the band continues to chant their rebel songs. Their hit “Celtic Symphony” remains a fan favorite, standing the test of time. Just two years ago in October of 2022, the song rose again to No. 1 on the Irish iTunes charts and No. 2 on the UK iTunes chart 35 years after its initial release. This rebel song truly embodies The Wolfe Tones essence, especially as the band is named after Theobald Wolfe Tone, a prominent leader of the Irish Rebellion of 1798.
The band’s success hasn’t stayed in Ireland and the UK but has traveled overseas to the Tri-state area. Their song “The Streets of New York,” which was released in 1981, continues to be a staple in the New York Irish community. The song can be heard every week on New York’s WFUV 90.7 FM’s Irish music program, Ceol na nGael.
A crowd of 10,000 eagerly sing along to The Wolfe Tones when they performed at Belfast’s Féile an Phobail in August of 2022.
The Wolfe Tones will celebrate their long-term success with their Farewell Tour. But why not continue this success? Brian Warfield said member Tommy Byrne always said, “I’m not going to go past 80.” As Byrne and Nagel are 80 this year, the band has decided to retire. But they’re not going quietly. They’ll be ending their Farewell Tour with two lively shows in 3Arena, Dublin in mid-October.
To catch The Wolfe Tones live one last time in New York at the Town Hall this upcoming St. Patrick’s Day weekend on March 15 and 16, click here for tickets.
The Great Blue Heron 2024 festival lineup has been announced, featuring 33 artists on three stages from July 5-7. Fan favorites and amazing Heron first-timers come together for what is sure to be a great weekend!
The Great Blue Heron Festival draws in thousands of fans from across the U.S. each year, remaining a tradition for people young and old to celebrate self-expression and music. The festival will take place at the Heron Farm in Sherman, an award-winning campsite, voted number one in the U.S. by HipCamp. The Heron is open daily for seasonal camping from May through October along with the Green Heron Growers Farm Store.
David Tidquist and Julie Rockcastle founded the festival, built to present a diverse assortment of original music from regional and national artists, create a collaborative space where all are encouraged to participate and interact, foster a cooperative and positive environment for celebration, and ensure a safe and satisfying experience for the whole community.
There are three stages; the Main Stage, the big top Dance Tent, and the Tiger Maple Stage, as well as over 30 artists, featuring returning headliners Donna the Buffalo. The group has been together for over thirty years, releasing over ten records, and performing with various musicians, including prominent folk/roots performers such as Jim Lauderdale, the father and son zydeco musicians Preston and Keith Frank, and more.
The lineup for the Great Blue Heron 2024 Festival includes Donna the Buffalo, Sam Bush, Rubblebucket, Couch, Jimkata, Driftwood, Cool Cool Cool, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Buffalo Zydeco, and so much more.
To purchase tickets for the Great Blue Heron 2024 Festival, visit here.
Sea.Hear.Now 2024 has announced its lineup, bringing Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band to the beaches of Asbury Park, NJ for a historic headline performance on Sunday, Sept.15, along with another first-time headliner set from Noah Kahan on Saturday, Sept. 14.
The Gaslight Anthem, Trey Anastasio Band, The Black Crowes, Norah Jones, 311, The Revivalists, Kool & The Gang, The Hives and more will perform at the world-class two-day festival in North Beach and Bradley Park. Sea.Hear.Now celebrates music, surf, and art with over 25 artists, three stages, a professional surf contest, and art installations throughout the weekend.
Fans can watch some of the biggest East Coast surf legends catch waves between the jetties. This year’s surf contest returns with the ocean calling the winner; the “North Beach Sessions” pro surfer who catches the “wave of the day” will take home the prize purse. The 2024 esteemed surf lineup includes surfers: Balaram Stack, reigning champ Cam Richards, Sam Hammer, Cassidy McClain, Rob Kelly, Pat Schmidt, Mike Gleason, Tom Ihnken, Jamie DeWitt, Logan Kamen, Cole Deveney, and Audrey Iglay. Stay tuned for future announcements!
Stoke Henge, located in the sand just off the boardwalk, is once again the center of all things art. Asbury Park visual artist Pork Chop will return with his iconic jellyfish and surfboard arch serving as the festival’s visual centerpiece.
Photo by Ismael Quintanilla III.
Ocean County-based muralists and artists Jasen Mack and Tim Sramowicz are the featured artists on the beach. A special nod this year will be given to legendary surf photographer Dick “Mez” Meseroll.
Over in Bradley Park, the Transparent Gallery will feature artwork from participating festival musicians, a special surfboard collaboration, and special pop-up performances.
Presale for one-day or two-day tickets for Sea.Hear.Now 2024 begins Thursday, March 7 at 10 a.m. ET and is the best chance to purchase 2-Day General Admission, GA+, VIP, Platinum, or Ultimate Experience tickets. Fans can sign up now for a presale passcode.
GA+ allows unlimited access to the GA+ Lounge with relaxed seating and air-conditioned restrooms, a private bar with drinks for purchase, complimentary water, and a dedicated GA+ Concierge to assist with festival needs. VIP Tickets provide an exclusive viewing area with elevated sightlines of the stages, VIP Lounges, and more. Platinum Tickets offer all GA+ and VIP amenities, plus exclusive front-of-stage viewing at the Surf, Park, and Sand stages, and much more.
Circles Around The Sun was born in 2015 when lead guitarist Neal Casal was invited to compose a handful of Grateful Dead influenced instrumentals to play between sets at the Dead’s ‘Fare Thee Well’ concerts. Since, the Los Angeles-based band formed and influenced by contemporary instrumental rock.
The tour kicks off for their fourth studio album release, Language, welcoming guitarist John Lee Shannon, a longtime peer who joins bassist Dan Horne, keyboardist Adam MacDougall, and drummer Mark Levy. The six song release builds on a 70s groove with cosmic-disco and synth sounds that compliment extra percussion and bass riffs. This album allowed the band to explore a new-found sound that encourages a psychedelic and hypnotic feel. The audience was floored by the atmospheric presence they brought to the stage this past weekend. The new material harnesses soul-jazz, funk, rock and allows an exhilarating new path for Circles Around The Sun.
Overall, the band blew the crowd away with their incredible stage presence and new tune transformation. Influenced by free-form and fusing transformational instrumental elements to extend their art as musicians. New York looks forward to see what else the group has is in store for upcoming shows in Albany at Lark Hall on March 9, and in Buffalo at Iron Works on March 12.
