NYS Music 2024

Category: Genres

  • Pitbull Announces Highly Anticipated “Party After Dark” Tour with 5 Dates in New York

    Global superstar Pitbull has announced his upcoming “Party After Dark” tour beginning August 21 and wrapping up October 5. The tour sees five stops in New York including, SPAC, Jones Beach, Forest Hills Stadium, Darien Lake, and Syracuse.

    The “Party After Dark” tour plans to hit over 25 cities across the U.S. with special guest T-Pain and openers SiriusXM Globalization DJ’S. Lil Jon is also set to make appearances at select markets. Mr. Worldwide is set to deliver another incredibly dynamic tour with an electrifying mix of his biggest career-spanning hits of instantly recognizable smashes and surprises. 

    The tour sees a stop at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens on August 25. Pitbull makes his way to Darien Lake Amphitheater in Buffalo on September 6. Empower FCU Amphitheater in Syracuse gets a visit on September 7, then SPAC the following night. Lastly, September 12 sees the tour’s last NY stop at Jones Beach Amphitheater in Long Island.

    PARTY AFTER DARK TOUR DATES: 

    Wed Aug 21 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live  

    Fri Aug 23 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater  

    Sat Aug 24 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium  

    Sun Aug 25 – Queens, NY – Forest Hills Stadium  

    Thu Aug 29 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center  

    Fri Aug 30 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre  

    Sat Aug 31 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater  

    Sun Sep 01 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center  

    Wed Sep 04 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre  

    Fri Sep 06 – Buffalo, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater  

    Sat Sep 07 – Syracuse, NY – Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview  

    Sun Sep 08 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC  

    Thu Sep 12 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health At Jones Beach Theater  

    Fri Sep 13 – Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre  

    Sat Sep 14 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater  

    Sun Sep 15 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center  

    Wed Sep 18 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake  

    Thu Sep 19 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center  

    Sat Sep 21 – Ridgedale, MO – Thunder Ridge Nature Arena  

    Sun Sep 22 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre 

    Wed Sep 25 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre  

    Fri Sep 27 – Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater*  

    Sat Sep 28 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre  

    Thu Oct 03 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre*  

    Fri Oct 04 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre  

    Sat Oct 05 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater  

    *with Special Guest Lil Jon 

    Tickets go on sale beginning on Friday, April 26 at 10 AM at LiveNation.com. For more information on Pitbull’s upcoming “Party After Dark” tour click here.

  • Blues, Roots, and Bourbon take over Buffalo

    April 20 saw year three of the Buffalo Blues and Roots festival at Buffalo RiverWorks. With help from Three Chords Bourbon, Ray Barry and Barry Entertainment has brought some strong Chicago-esque blues to Buffalo’s waterfront on April 20.

    Buffalo Blues and Roots

    Starting in 2022, Barry Entertainment has taken on the daunting task of organizing a full day of music, arts vendors, and bourbon tasting. Over this time they have welcomed international stars, Grammy award winners, and local talents to Buffalo. Vanessa Collier, Selwyn Birchwood, and Colin James to name a few. Pair theses with rising names and local talent and you now have the Buffalo Blues and Roots Festival.

    Like previous years, Three Chord Bourbon, from nearby Clarence, was named sponsor of this event, and offered up some sample of their goods. 2024 saw a Kentucky Straight Bourbon on display, along with a blended bourbon and Rye Whiskey. The straight bourbon was a nice offering subtle notes and smooth finish that left the consumer ready for more. The chatter heard around the tasting table was very positive, and seemed as though the Kentucky straight was the fans choice.

    Starting of the day was Diane Kallay. Originally from the Western NY area, Kallay has earned regional recognition over the years, winning accolades for Best Female Blues Vocalist, as well earning nominations for Best Acoustic Duo (for Kinship, with her brother), and Best Female Vocalist. Her vocal range, and ability to cover multiple genres with relative ease has led to sharing the limelight with such acts as .38 Special and The Marshall Tucker Band.

    On this night, though, Kallay performed a beautiful set along with Barry Arbogast, Paul Beringer, Sal Marino, Keith Spurlock, and Michael Mietlicki. A nice mix of sultry blues and gentle roots to welcome music fans as they entered the venue.

    Next up was Rusty Fisher. If you enjoy classic blues guitar riffs, you need to check out Rusty. Unlike 2023, where he sat in for a couple acts, Fisher had his own set time this year and made it count. Teaming up well known Western New Yorkers Dan Shurtleff (of The Growlers) and Nate Coffey, he took the stage for about an hour and did nothing but amaze the growing crowd. Lucky for locals, he is out and about often. He can be found at Fanatics Pub & Pizza on June 16th, among other venues that kick ass. Riffs, licks, and shredding seem to be the way of life for Rusty.

    Planned accordingly or pure coincidence, Shurtleff was able to remain on stage with his drum set as he is the guy for The Growlers (Facebook). With the incomparable John Lewandowski leading the charge on harmonica, Shurtleff sits comfortably at the drums and does his thing. For the third year in a row, Lewandowski and the rest of the team shook the stage and got fans yearning for more. Seeing them last year for the first time was a treat. 2024 has me looking for more of their shows.

    Joining the band on stage was local star Pat Harrington. Growing up about 45 minutes north of Buffalo, Harrington joined Victor Wainwright and The Train in 2016 and has provided a fresh youthful explosion to the band that Wainwright was seeking. Well known around the Buffalo area, Harrington has taken the blues world by storm and is has been heralded as one of the best young blues guitarists. As the night goes, Harrington would continue to join in and jam with everyone.

    Buffalo Blues and Roots
    Pat Harrington – Buffalo Blues and Roots Festival
    Pat Harrington

    As the show progresses, it seems like the next act couldn’t possibly top the previous. Enter Scott Celani and his band. Covering early music from Black Crowes, the Buffalo native and 2021 inductee to the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame came out rocking a Buffalo Bills cap, black leather jacket and aviator sunglasses, ready to play the part. I can assure you he excelled. As John Popper said “Scott has some pipes!” Not as raspy as Chris Robinson, Celani for sure has what it takes for these covers, and it was on full display as he paraded around nailing every note.

    Following the amazing faux Black Crowes show, a handful of the musicians called an audible and took the stage for a little tribute to the late Dickey Betts. On stage were Ray Barry, Pat Harrington, Guy Nirelli, Dan Shurtleff, Eric Weinholtz, and Dave Thurman. An amazing tribute to a musical legend that the fans and musicians will never forget

    Next up, Patti Parks. Another member of Buffalo Music Hall of Fame, Parks delivered a soulful set, donned in a black and red dress and fedora style hat. High energy and smooth vocals are on full display as Parks proves her worth better than a Buffalo Sabres coach.

    Buffalo Blues and Roots

    Following the dynamite set from Parks, Miller and The Other Sinners hit the stage for the third year in a row. David Miller has nothing to prove to Western NY. He and his Sinners have made a name for themselves at this event as well as others from Buffalo to Syracuse. Some would say he is a household name, and rightfully so. He has shared the stage with names such as Tedeschi, Bonamassa, Vaughn, and Copeland. In doing so, David Miller has paid his dues earned his keep. While Buffalo is not a hotbed for Southern Soul, Miller makes an exception and delivers a world class set. New album for 2024 Thieves in The Breadline includes “Better Times Better Days” which was written pre-Covid and hits on the affect of social media on our lives.

    Based out of Central NY, Tas Cru is a blues-roots songwriter/musician, with a splash of funk thrown into the mix. Take your standard blues jam and kick it up a notch, you wind up with Tas Cru. Soft, subtle lyrics and quick fingers on the guitar are only part of what makes him special. Amid a couple samples of Three Chords Bourbon, Cru flawlessly floats around and interacting with the crowd, he jokes around quips of his time touring, which all turn out to be segways into the next song. Such stories as about a young man saying he should be paid more for helping out. Cru’s response was “welcome to the blues, kid”.

    Rounding out the 9-hour jam session, Victor Wainwright came out to crowd that was the loudest it had been all day. The headlining act of the Buffalo Blues and Roots Festival was at the end of an intense leg of their tour, including back-to-back shows at the aforementioned Fanatics Pub, in Lima, NY. Regardless of that, Wainwright and his Train of musicians, including hometown favorite Pat Harrington, were full of energy as if they had downed a couple red bulls backstage. Playing the ivories and swaying on his stool, ala Ray Charles, Wainright had a story for everything. He talked about getting his musical inspiration from older Disney movies, although he came from a musical family. The music for movies like The Jungle Book were what got Victor into the blues and roots scene. His parents were happy, though, that he was still into music of some sort. Subsequently, he and the band broke out into a very jubilant version of “I Wanna be Like You”, which the crowd really took in.

    Grammy nominated and winner of Blues Music Awards for Piano Player of the Year (3x) and BB King Entertainer of The Year, Victor Wainwright is a name you will hear often and if you ever have the chance, you need to go see the show. Truly amazing and inspiring for all ages.

    The blues and roots don’t always have to be the classic sounds of Elmore James or Cab Calloway. One song from Miller and The Other Sinners or Victor Wainwright will convince you of that. Still blues and roots, but with some modern flare and ingenuity, the artists on stage today make the genre much more marketable to the new generation.

    Year three of Buffalo Blues and Roots didn’t see as many visitors as the first two years, but when you are going against a big show at the Highmark Stadium and numerous 420 events around town, you are bound to see a decline. Craft vendors, bourbon tasting and nine hours of outstanding music for a respectable price tag, one would be foolish not to check it out. Despite that, organizer Ray Barry said next year is in the works, and I will be there. In addition to this festival, Barry Entertainment (Facebook) organizes other events in and around the Buffalo area, please go check them out.

    Rusty Fisher Band
    The Growlers
    The Growlers
    The Growlers
    The Growlers
    The Growlers
    The Growlers
    Diane Kallay
    Ray Barry/Barry Entertainment
    Scott Celani
    Patti Parks Band
    Patti Parks Band
    Patti Parks Band
    Patti Parks Band
    Patti Parks Band
    Patti Parks Band
    Patti Parks Band
    Patti Parks Band
    Buffalo Blues and Roots
    Victor Wainwright and the Train

  • Inaugural Long Island Yoga Festival Comes to Buddha Jams Yoga in Glen Cove this June

    Buddha Jams Yoga in Glen Cove, Long Island is proud to announce the first-ever Long Island Yoga Festival which begins June 21. The three-day event promises a unique lineup of yoga sessions, workshops, and soul-stirring live music.

    Long Island Yoga Festival

    The festival is birthed as a celebration of International Day of Yoga and the Summer Solstice. Renowned yoga masters Rodney Yee, Colleen Yee, Alan Finger, Sarah Platt Finger, Matthew Giordano, and more will grace the mats. The musical ensemble includes Kirtan Goddess Nina Rao and DJ Taz Rashid, who are set to elevate the festivities with their rhythms.

    Guests can look forward to more than just yoga and music. The festival is a culmination of cultural experiences with food trucks, craft vendors, dance parties, drum circles, and more. This event is designed to be a microcosm of Buddha Jams Yoga’s philosophy. Buddha Jams aims to create a communal song where every individual’s voice finds harmony.

    Long Island Yoga Festival

    The studio is equipped with two stages and sophisticated sound systems that resonate with nearly 2,000 watts of sound. This is perfect for a range of events from live music yoga classes to intimate concerts. Buddha Jams Yoga is not just a place to practice yoga. The venue is a vibrant community space where every visit promises a new experience.

    Each day of the Long Island Yoga Festival promises fun, unique, all-inclusive events to keep the community spiritually entertained. There are a range of tickets that include, “Music Only,” “Day Passes,” and “Weekend VIP.”

    For more information on Buddha Jams’ Long Island Yoga Festival and to purchase tickets, click here.

  • Saints Did Conquer – Queensryche and Armored Saint at Empire Live in Albany

    A hefty double-bill of old-school metal stomped into a packed Empire Live in Albany on April 26 – Queensryche and Armored Saint.  Both acts have long legacies of gigs in the Albany area: Seattle’s Queensryche first came through the area promoting their debut e.p., opening for Twisted Sister in Scotia in 1983, and have played the area fairly regularly for 40+ years, most recently warming up Judas Priest at the MVP Arena in 2022.

    photo by Mark Kurtzner

    L.A. metal heroes Armored Saint first played the region in early January 1985 – again, in Scotia – warming up for Metallica and WASP and promoting their debut LP ‘March of the Saint’.  So there’s some history here, and Albany showed up for this gig – the venue was sold out, and vintage metal tees and battle vests were on display for a great Friday night of heaviness.

    Happily, there wasn’t a long, agonizing wait through a half-dozen opening bands – Armored Saint hit the stage at 8 p.m. sharp, walking on stage to an intro tape of Judas Priest’s classic “Delivering the Goods”, and proceeded to deliver the goods with a crushing 50-minute set of headbanging gloriousness.  As vocalist John Bush pointed out early on, although Saint were a regular visitor to the Albany region through the late 80s (mostly at the long-departed temple of metal, Saratoga Winners in Latham), it has been almost 33 years since the band has been here.  The last gig this band played hereabouts was at Winners in October 1991, with Wrathchild America.  Soon after, the band went dormant when Bush joined New York’s Anthrax, and since they reunited early this century, they have not been back to their Albany stomping grounds of yore.  They more than made up for their absence this Friday night.

    photo by Mark Kurtzner

    Saint kicked off proceedings with the hammering “End of the Attention Span”, an ode to the damage done by small screens, social media and on-demand culture, taken from the killer newest AS record, ‘Punching the Sky’. Unlike Queensryche, who were playing an album-specific vintage set, Saint covered their entire discography this night, launching immediately thereafter into a steamrolling “Raising Fear”, title track of their underrated 1987 third record.  Next up were a pair of songs from Saint’s (arguably) most-acclaimed LP, 1991’s Symbol of Salvation, the propulsive “Tribal Dance” (during which drummer Gonzo Sandoval earned his wage admirably), and a soaring “Last Train Home”, with the audience roaring the chorus back to Bush and the band.  The title track of their 40-year-old (!) debut LP, March of the Saint, followed, which spawned headbanging and more vocal crowd participation, and the excellent “Left Hook From Right Field” (from 2010’s La Raza) was a cool surprise – the Saint have been mixing up setlists on this run with Queensryche, and while killer second record Delirious Nomad was sadly unrepresented this night, “Left Hook” was one that hasn’t been played every show, a great choice.

    Next up was “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants”, another standout from newest LP Punching the Sky, which saw guitarists Jeff Duncan and Phil Sandoval unleashing some Thin Lizzy-esque guitar harmonies.  Saint, in contrast to the headliners, is pretty much the same guys who have been with the band since back in the day.  Bush, the Sandoval brothers and bassist Joey Vera have been in the band since their inception, and guitarist Jeff Duncan has been with the band since 1988.  Only guitarist Dave Prichard, who sadly passed in 1990 from leukemia, is missing from the lineup that recorded their debut EP in 1983.

    photo by Mark Kurtzner

    Other than Bush talking about how many years it had been since the band played Albany, the band kept the stage banter to a minimum and used their time for music, hammering out each song into the next.  “Win Hands Down”, the roaring title track from their 2015 LP, came next, into another crowd favorite, “Can U Deliver” (again from the ‘84 debut), with the band wrapping up with a blasting, high-velocity “Reign of Fire” (again from Symbol of Salvation).  When this band’s debut hit the streets in 1984, the slogan was “Saints Will Conquer” – and they did so in heroic fashion this night.

    Unlike Saint, who have always led the charge for traditional, real old-school metal, Queensryche have historically cast a wider net, dipping their toes into prog-metal, concept albums (including 1988’s legendary ‘Operation: Mindcrime’), and mainstream success (1990’s ‘Empire’), and over the years leaning fairly far away from their trad-metal beginnings.  But not tonight – this was a old-school, early Queensryche set, with the band playing their debut self-titled 1983 EP, and 1984 debut album ‘The Warning’ back-to-back and in order.  

    That debut EP was a monumental beginning for this band – in 1983, every metalhead on the planet seemed to own and love that record, including this writer as a 15-year-old, and you cannot deny the quality of those 4 songs, which the band opened their set with this night: the legendary “Queen of the Reich” began proceedings, arguably the most well-known song of the night, into the raging “Nightrider” and “Blinded”, both long-ignored deep tracks in the band’s catalog, but truly excellent, hammering real metal.  “The Lady Wore Black” is more epic, and more indicative of what was to come for Queensryche after 1983, and sounded great.  

    photo by Mark Kurtzner

    The rest of the set was debut LP The Warning, soup-to-nuts, in order, from “Warning” through “Roads to Madness”.  The band played it flawlessly.  While Armored Saint’s lineup is fairly unchanged from days of old, three of the five band members who recorded the music from these early Queensryche records are no longer with the band: only guitarist Michael Wilton and bassist Eddie Jackson remain from the ‘classic’ lineup, but vocalist Todd La Torre (who had been with the band for 12 years now) is able to replicate former singer Geoff Tate’s vocals on these early songs with uncanny accuracy.  In all honesty, my personal enthusiasm for ‘The Warning’ is nowhere near the nostalgic appeal I feel for the debut EP, but the band nailed it and there was a percentage of the crowd who were all-in for every single moment.

    The band didn’t deviate from the stalwart, old-school vibe for the encore, trotting out “The Prophecy”, an EP-era deep track that never made the record, but eventually saw light on ‘The Decline of Western Civilization – Part II’ soundtrack a few years later, a great choice.  It was only the final track, “Empire”, that post-dated 1984.  And to their credit, the band kept the set-list old-school and metal instead of taking the easy route for the encore and playing crowd-pleaser hit singles like “Silent Lucidity” or “Jet City Woman” (or something from ‘Mindcrime’) – no doubt some of the more casual fans would have preferred that, tonight was about the old-school.   All hail both bands, but game, set and match went to the Saint.

    photo by John Moore
    photo by John Moore
    Queensryche and Armored Saint
    photo by Mark Kurtzner
    Queensryche and Armored Saint
    photo by Mark Kurtzner
    photo by Mark Kurtzner
    Queensryche and Armored Saint
    photo by Mark Kurtzner
    photo by Mark Kurtzner
    photo by Mark Kurtzner
    Queensryche and Armored Saint
    photo by Mark Kurtzner
    Queensryche and Armored Saint

  • Rivers Casino Unveils Harbor Jam Summer Concert Lineup

    Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady has announced the return of Harbor Jam this summer at the Mohawk Harbor Amphitheater. This year’s Harbor Jam concerts will take place Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21.

    harbor jam rivers casino

    This summer’s Harbor Jam weekend performance lineup includes headliners Night Fever and Hotel California, tributes to the Bee Gees and the Eagles respectively. Each night’s entertainment kicks off at 6 PM with DJ MixItUp NY on Saturday and DJ Ketchup on Sunday. The headlining performance starts at 7:30 PM. The Sunday, July 21 concert will also be followed by a special firework show.

    The event sees two fantastically talented cover bands of two of the world’s most recognizable groups. Night Fever is the largest production of the Bee Gees in the world. The group has been touring for the past ten years, from Disneyland to Russia, recreating the look and sound of the Bee Gees. Capturing a full history of the Bee Gees, Night Fever includes songs from “To Love Somebody”, “I Got to Get A Message”, “Stayin Alive”, “More Than A Woman”, “Nite Fever”, and many more.

    For over three decades now Hotel California has been recreating the legendary sound of The Eagles, and thrilling audiences all over the world. The night of July 21 welcomes Hotel California for another thrilling show.

    harbor jam rivers casino

    For more information on the free Harbor Jam Summer Concert at Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, click here.

  • Dead of Summer Music Festival to Feature Charity Disc Golf Tournament in Vermont this July

    Dead of Summer Music Festival announced its featured charity disc golf tournament at Hunter Park in Manchester, Vermont this July. The event spans two days – July 13 and 14 – and sees a stellar lineup of performers from all over.

    dead of summer music festival

    Saturday July 13 is the main event featuring a one round recreational singles tournament. The following day consists of a doubles match. All entrants will have the opportunity to win some great prizes for the top finishers on both days, all for a good cause. This July is the 5th annual Dead of Summer Music Festival which boasts a large, diverse lineup of bands and solo artists.

    Some headliners include Pink Talking Fish Ensemble, Neighbor, Max Creek, and many more. To support the fundraising effort, tee box sign sponsorships are currently available. Now and throughout the festival weekend, raffle tickets for some great band merchandise and other giveaways can be purchased. 

    dead of summer music festival

    The musical acts appear July 12, and continue throughout the disc golf tourney, until its closure on July 14. At least 18 bands see the two stages over three days at Hunter Park. The park is seated on 25 acres in the Green Mountains of Manchester Vermont. The festival features performances as well as RV camping and tent camping, over 25 vendors. This family friendly festival also offers 2 days of yoga, kid’s set, and tie dying. Gates open at 9am Friday July 12th. 

    For more information on Dead of Summer Music Festival and the charity disc golf tournament, click here.

  • Joe Louis Walker Plays to a Packed House at Caffe Lena

    Respected blues and roots music songwriter and performer Joe Louis Walker from the Hudson Valley of New York brought his diverse blues driven songs, incredible musicianship and warm performance skills to a packed house at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs on Sunday, April 21.  

    Joe Louis Walker – photo by carlrubinomusicphotographer.com

    Walker did two sets of his original contemporary blues, R&B and rock, infused with a hint of gospel, from “Run Me Down”, which he opened the show with, to “Too Drunk To Drive Drunk”, which he did as an encore and said emanated from when he and a friend were in a bar and the friend looked at someone and said “that guy’s too drunk to drive drunk”, delivering a truly energetic show throughout to a highly appreciative crowd.

    He interspersed his performance with crowd-pleasing stories about what brought him to write some of the songs he performed and what they mean to him, such as “Don’t Walk Away” which he wrote for his wife, and “The Blues Comin’ On” which he wrote with Dion of Dion and the Belmonts. 

    At the end of his show Walker credited those he referred to as the creators of rock ‘n roll, of which he said there could not be a better mousetrap, and launched into a rock ‘n roll tribute performance that included an instrumental medley of measures from multiple chart topping rock songs that spanned decades and brought the crowd to its feet.

    Weaving passages of musical tension and release into each song on his triple humbucking pickup electric guitar and with his melodic larger-than-life singing of his well-crafted lyrics, he delivered a performance that owned the room at Caffe Lena, giving the audience a clear understanding of what lies behind his being an inductee of the Blues Hall of Fame, his Grammy for Contemporary Blues for “Everyone Wants A Piece”, his multiple M. C. Handy awards, and his place as a featured performer at countless blues festivals.  

    Joe Louis Walker was backed up with stellar performances by Scott Milici on keys and backing vocals, Geoff Murfitt on electric bass and John Medeiros Jr on drums, all of whom also played on his Weight Of The World album.

    Scot Milici, Keys & Vocals, Joe Louis Walker – photo by carlrubinomusicphotographer.com
    Geoff Murfitt, Bass, Joe Louis Walker – photo by carlrubinomusicphotographer.com
    John Medeiros Jr, Drums, Joe Louis Walker – photo by carlrubinomusicphotographer.com

    The show was part of his 2024 tour covering locations as wide-spread as New York, California and Morocco, with performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on April 26 and in the Netherlands at the Holland International Blues Festival.  He will next appear in New York State at the Full Moon Resort in Big Indian on June 26th.  The tour is also in support of his 2023 album “Weight Of The World” which was recorded in a studio outside of Woodstock, NY.

    During the show Walker, who has played at Caffe Lena before, mentioned how much he felt honored to play in the same place that legends like Bob Dylan had, and after the show he said he truly enjoyed performing in this special place with such an appreciative audience.

    Joe Louis Walker – photo by carlrubinomusicphotographer.com
    Joe Louis Walker – photo by carlrubinomusicphotographer.com
    Joe Louis Walker – photo by carlrubinomusicphotographer.com
    Joe Louis Walker – photo by carlrubinomusicphotographer.com
    Joe Louis Walker – photo by carlrubinomusicphotographer.com

  • In Focus: Souls of Mischief Perform in Buffalo for the First Time

    Souls of Mischief performed in Buffalo for the first time on April 21 at Electric City, commemorating the 30th anniversary of their debut album, 93 to Infinity. They had the audience buzzing all night.

    Souls of Mischief

    Originating from Oakland, California, the group has been producing music for three decades. The group formed in 1991 and gained popularity through the years. They released their hit album 93 to Infinity on September 28, 1993. This concert highlighted their accomplishments in the music industry.

    Souls of Mischief

    Prior to the anticipated set by Souls of Mischief, the audience was captivated by a lively performance from local cover band Co Jones. Their energetic performance had the crowd dancing and singing along to soul/funk and popular pop songs, setting the stage for the main act.

    Souls of Mischief

    The crowd was buzzing with excitement as Souls of Mischief took the stage. They delivered a dynamic performance that had the audience fully engaged and entertained. The band’s vibrant music and compelling lyrics resonated with the crowd, creating a memorable experience for everyone in attendance.

    Souls of Mischief
    Souls of Mischief
    Souls of Mischief
    Souls of Mischief
    Souls of Mischief

  • Ashokan Center Presents a Living Tradition of Scottish Music with Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas Duo

    The Ashokan Center has announced they are hosting a special public concert featuring the celebrated Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas Duo on Sunday, May 12, 2024, at 3:00 PM.

    They will be joined by fiddler Emerald Rae and cellist Summer McCall, as well as Ashokan Music and Dance Camp founders Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, in a musical program that explores the emotional and chronological range of traditional Scottish music. 

    Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas Duo at Ashokan Center
    Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas Duo.

    The Ashokan Cenuper is a unique non-profit organization with a 55-year history of youth outdoor education and 42 years of cultural preservation at summer Music & Dance Camps for adults and families. They have recently expanded outreach to offer local in-school and after-school arts and nature programming and increased access to their 385 acres of forests through guided hikes, day passes, and community events. The Ashokan Center has been a registered Historic Landmark since 2016. 

    The Sunday afternoon concert will conclude the Ashokan Center’s eleventh annual Scottish String Fling weekend, where fiddlers and cellists learn tunes by ear – initiated by Fraser in 2014. It is part of a decades-long tradition of music and dance camps founded by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason at the Ashokan Center and is one of many music camps created and led by Fraser over the decades — including the Valley Of The Moon Fiddle Camp in the Santa Cruz mountains of northern California, where Fraser first met an eleven-year-old budding cellist named Natalie Haas in 1995. 

    “It was just a life-changing experience for me,” says Haas. “It’s where I discovered traditional music.” Today, Natalie Haas is a world-renowned and highly in-demand performer and educator in her own right, and the Fraser/Haas duo partnership has endured for more than twenty years, through six acclaimed recordings and countless performances at concerts and festivals worldwide. 

    The strength of a duo is amazing; you can sort of ‘live’ ideas together, and I’m lucky to be playing with someone who is so simpatico. Every concert we do celebrates the music and its power to transport, to lift us… and we are highly likely to be test-driving new arrangements, new ideas, surging on forwards.

    Alasdair Fraser.

    Alasdair Fraser is one of the greatest carriers of the Scottish fiddle music tradition with expressive playing, mastery of his instrument, and deep understanding of his native music. Since 2003 Fraser has thrilled audiences internationally with their virtuosic playing, their near-telepathic understanding, and the joyful spontaneity and sheer physical presence of their music.

    Natalie Haas is one of the most sought-after cellists in traditional music today. She and Fraser have toured as a duo for over twenty-three years, wowing audiences at festivals and concerts worldwide with their unique sound. A Juilliard grad with decades of touring and collaboration experience, she is an expert teacher and guide for cellists looking to support and shine.

    Joining the duo is Summer McCall, a Celtic cellist, fiddler, and dancer and Emerald Rae, an American Fiddler & Folksinger with powerhouse vocals, groovy percussive fiddle, and eclectic songwriting style.

    When possible, the Ashokan Center tickets work on sliding scale admission. Tickets to this concert start at $20 for the suggested price and $10 as the minimum price per ticket for all-age tickets. For more information about the Ashokan Center, visit here.

  • Porter Robinson Coming to Forest Hills in Late Summer

    Porter Robinson has announced a five-continent world tour including stops in more than 30 North American cities, Europe, and Asia – including Forest Hills Stadium in Queens – in support of his highly-anticipated third studio album SMILE! 😀, releasing on July 26.

    porter robinson

    The SMILE! 😀 World Tour includes a stop at Forest Hills Stadium in New York, NY, August 31, 2024. Dates in Australia and Latin America will also be announced soon. Full routing is available below. Robinson will debut a completely new live production, including a full live band during his SMILE! 😀 World Tour, after first experimenting with the band format at his own sold-out Second Sky festival and again in 2023 at Coachella’s main stage.

    Fans can expect opening acts ericdoa in North America, underscores in Europe and Galileo Galilei in Japan. Pre-sale commences Tuesday, April 30 at 10 am—fans can register for early access to tickets at porterrobinson.com. Various presales will take place throughout the week including a CITI presale in the U.S. (details below) ahead of the general on sale on Friday, May 3 at 10 am.

    For more information on the tour and tickets, visit porterrobinson.com. The tour will also offer a variety of different VIP packages and experiences for fans. VIP Packages may include premium tickets, exclusive access to the pre-show VIP lounge, access to a VIP bar, early entry into the venue, pre-show merchandise shopping opportunity, specially designed gift item, and more. VIP package contents vary based on offer selected.

    For more information, visit vipnation.com (N. America) or vipnation.eu (Europe). CITI is the official card of Porter Robinson presents SMILE! 😀 World Tour. CITI Card Members will have access to presale tickets for the U.S. dates beginning on Monday, April 29 at 10 AM until Thursday, May 2 at 10 PM through the CITI Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com.

    Porter Robinson SMILE! 😀 World Tour Dates:

    August 29, 2024 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway

    August 30, 2024 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway

    August 31, 2024 – New York, NY – Forest Hills Stadium

    September 5, 2024 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy

    September 6, 2024 – Orlando, FL – Addition Financial Arena

    September 7, 2024 – Miami, FL – FPL Solar Amphitheater at Bayfront Park

    September 10, 2024 – Nashville, TN – Municipal Auditorium

    September  11, 2024 – Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre

    September 13, 2024 – Philadelphia, PA – TD Pavilion at the Mann

    September 14, 2024 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion

    September 15, 2024 – Pittsburgh, PA – UPMC Events Center

    September 17, 2024 – Montreal, BC – MTELUS

    September 19, 2024 – Toronto, BC – HISTORY

    September 21, 2024 – Toronto, BC – HISTORY

    September 22, 2024 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore

    September 23, 2024 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater

    September 26, 2024 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee

    September 27, 2024 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island

    September 28, 2024 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory

    September 30, 2024 – St. Louis, MO – Saint Louis Music Park

    October 1, 2024 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion

    October 8, 2024 – El Paso, TX – El Paso County Coliseum

    October 11, 2024 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl

    October 12, 2024 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

    October 13, 2024 – San Diego, CA – The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

    October 15, 2024 – Albuquerque, NM – Revel

    October 17, 2024 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena

    October 18, 2024 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

    October 19, 2024 – Las Vegas, NV – BleauLive Theater

    October 24, 2024 – Sacramento, CA – Wheatland Toyota Amphitheatre

    October 25, 2024 – San Francisco, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

    October 29, 2024 – Boise, ID – Revolution Concert House

    October 31, 2024 – Portland, OR – Alaska Airlines’ Theater of the Clouds

    November 1, 2024 – Vancouver, BC – Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre

    November 2, 2024 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena

    November 25, 2024 – Bangkok – Samyan Mitrtown Hall

    November 27, 2024 – Singapore – The Star Performing Arts Centre

    December 8, 2024 – Manila – The Podium

    December 10, 2024 – Taipei – Zepp New Taipei

    December 12, 2024 – Seoul – Myunghwa Live Hall

    February 10, 2025 – Tokyo – Tokyo Garden Theater

    February 11, 2025 – Osaka – Namba Hatch 

    February 12, 2025 – Nagoya – Diamond Hall

    February 14, 2025 – Fukuoka – UNITEDLAB

    February 21, 2025 – Berlin – Huxleys Neue Welt

    February 22, 2025 – Hamburg – Fabrik

    February 24, 2025 – Oslo – Rockefeller Music Hall

    February 25, 2025 – Stockholm – Berns

    February 26. 2025 – Copenhagen – Vega

    February 28, 2025 – Amsterdam – Melkweg

    March 3, 2025 – Cologne – Live Music Hall

    March 4, 2025 – Paris – Salle Pleyel

    March 6, 2025 – London – O2 Academy Brixton

    March 7, 2025 – Manchester – Albert Hall

    March 8, 2025 – Glasgow – SWG3 Galvanizers

    March 10, 2025 – Dublin – 3Olympia Theatre