Legendary soul, funk and R&B powerhouse, Tower of Power, is set to light up the holiday season with a new album and anticipated December tour. The holiday album It’s Christmas releases September 27 and the “Holidays and Hits” tour begins December 3, with stops in Niagara Falls and Manhattan.
This tour promises to be a joyful journey through Tower of Powerâs storied past, blending beloved holiday tunes with the bandâs classic hits and fan favorites that have defined their legacy. Alongside iconic tracks like “What Is Hip?” and “You’re Still a Young Man,” fans can expect fresh renditions of timeless holiday songs, delivered with the bandâs unmistakable brass-driven sound and signature high-energy performances.
The “Holidays and Hits” tour begins December 3 in Plymouth, MA, and wraps up on December 21 in Oakland, CA. The tour sees a total of two dates in New York including a stop at the Seneca Niagra Casino & Hotel in Niagra Falls on December 6. Following this, the tour also stops at Sony Hall in New York City on December 8.
Tower of Power “Holidays and Hits” Dates:
December 3: Plymouth Memorial Hall, Plymouth, MA
December 6: Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel, Niagara Falls, NY
December 7: Golden Nugget, Atlantic City, NJ
December 8: Sony Hall, New York, NY
December 10: Midland Theatre, Newark, OH
December 11: Rialto Square, Joliet, OH
December 13: Capitol Theater, Davenport, IA
December 15: The Astro, La Vista, NE
December 17: Lensic Performing Arts, Santa FE, NM
December 18: The Fox, Tucson, AZ
December 21: The Fox, Oakland, CA
The album It’s Christmas contains 11 total holiday-themed tracks. Fans can preorder the album now alongside limited-edition bundles that include a variety of album-specific merchandise and access to an exclusive presale code for the Holidays and Hits Tour. Link to pre-save and preorder can be found here.
For more information on Tower of Power’s upcoming tour and to purchase tickets, click here.
Farm Aid 2024 arrives at Broadview Stage at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Saturday, September 21, with preparations in store for a full day of live music, farming education and festival events that make the day long event an annual affair a can’t miss show for the whole family.
Even if you won’t be in Saratoga Springs, you can still be a part of the annual excitement that Farm Aid brings. Watch on FarmAid.org or the Farm Aid YouTube channel where they will livestream the full festival (including a press event) from the Broadview stage beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET.
Additionally, SiriusXM subscribers can listen to Farm Aid 2024 starting at noon ET on SiriusXM’s Willie’s Roadhouse (channel 61) and Dave Matthews Band Radio (channel 30) via SiriusXM radio and on the SXM app. Live coverage will include backstage interviews with artists and family farmers, hosted by SiriusXM’s Dallas Wayne, Ari Fink and Joey Black. Eligible customers can get their first three months of SiriusXM streaming for free. Click here to see offer details, sign up and experience all that SiriusXM has to offer.
Of course there’s a huge day of music on tap, featuring Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Margo Price, Mavis Staples, Nathaniel Rateliff, Lukas Nelson, Charley Crockett, Joy Oladokun, Southern Avenue, Cassandra Lewis, Jesse Welles, Wisdom Indian Dancers, and Kontiwennenhá:Wi.
Farm Aid 2024 Music Performances Schedule
1 p.m.: Kontiwennenha: Wi 1:12 p.m.: Wisdom Indian Dancers 1:27 p.m.: Jesse Welles 1:43 p.m.: Cassandra Lewis 2:07 p.m.: Southern Avenue 2:42 p.m.: Joy Oladokun 3:17 p.m.: Charley Crockett 3:57 p.m.: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats 4:42 p.m.: Lukas Nelson with the Travelin’ McCourys 5:27 p.m.: Mavis Staples 6:22 p.m.: Margo Price 7:17 p.m.: Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds 8:12 p.m.: John Mellencamp 9:07 p.m.: Neil Young 10:02 p.m.: Willie Nelson & Family
Here’s a step-by-step guide for an awesome Farm Aid 2024 festival!
Willie Nelson performs at Farm Aid on Randall’s Island Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007 in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
First and foremost – get the Farm Aid 2024 app: Download the Farm Aid 2024 app for iPhone and Android to personalize your festival experience. Use it to get details about the HOMEGROWN Concessions® menu, learn the stories of local farmers, and make a schedule of music, workshops and artist briefings for the day. The app includes photo frames so that you can share your Farm Aid 2024 experiences.
Get your hands dirty: In the HOMEGROWN Village, you can celebrate and engage in the cultures of agriculture. From noon until 5:00pm, experience hands-on activities about climate, soil, water, energy, food and farming. Check out the FarmYard Stage where farmers and artists will discuss pressing issues, like food access, soil health and climate change and share inspiring stories. In the HOMEGROWN Skills Tent participate in hands-on demonstrations, including beekeeping, willow weaving and mushroom growing.
Discover the Music and More from Farm Aid 2007 at Randall’s Island – the first Farm Aid in New York State!
Swap Seeds: Join the annual HOMEGROWN Seed Swap! Bring seeds from home and come on down to the HOMEGROWN Skills Tent to meet enthusiastic seed savers, swap seeds and go home with new varieties to try (you can even take home seeds even if you have none to swap). If you’re bringing seeds keep them domestic, please, and bring them in a sealed and labeled envelope.
Meet a Farmer:Introduce yourself to a farmer! We’re here to celebrate farmers and they’ll be all around at Farm Aid 2024 at SPAC. Look for people wearing a “farmer” pass, enjoy their food at HOMEGROWN Concessions® and hear from them on the FarmYard Stage and in the HOMEGROWN Skills Tent.
Farm Aid Board of Directors – Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews, Margo Price, John Mellencamp – Photo by Scott Streble
Eat HOMEGROWN: We’re proud to offer family farm food throughout the venue. Our HOMEGROWN Concessions® contains ingredients produced by family farmers utilizing ecological production practices with a fair price paid to the farmers. Check out menu items like: local pastured beef burgers, pastured pork sausages, delicious cheeses from pasture-based and organic dairies, watermelon and feta salad, cider donuts made from local flour and much more. Farm Aid partners with Legends Hospitality and Live Nation to offer HOMEGROWN Concessions®.
Want to learn about how HOMEGROWN Concessions® started and how it’s changing the live music industry? Take a listen to a brand-new podcast episode where farmers and eaters unite!
Make Soil: Be passionate about composting and recycling! With a goal of zero waste, HOMEGROWN Concessions® uses compostable serviceware and Farm Aid promotes and supports composting in the venue. Loving Earth Compost of Saratoga will receive the food waste gathered at Farm Aid 2024 to make future soil.
Revisit the last time Farm Aid was at SPAC in 2013!
Wear the mission on your T-shirt: Take home a Farm Aid at SPAC t-shirt, hoodie, bandana or hat. New limited-edition items include a custom screenprint poster by artist Gary Houston and Wachiay Studio, regenerative leather bracelets stitched by Native artists from Oyate Studio and locally produced leather key fobs. Our online store is open for pre-orders!
Support the Regional Food Bank: Festivalgoers are encouraged to bring non-perishable, unopened items in original packaging. Grains, soups, proteins and personal hygiene items are highly desired. No glass or pet food, please! Food Bank volunteers will be stationed at both entrances. The Food Bank helps feed 350,000 people each month through a network of more than 1,000 partner agencies and direct distribution programs.100% of the fresh, nutritious food grown on the Regional Food Bank’s farm, Patroon Land Farm, goes to the clients of the Food Bank!
Chat with a volunteer: So many folks donate their time to create an incredible Farm Aid experience for all festivalgoers. Our team (in the volunteer t-shirts) is ready to help out in any way!
Eat apples at the HOMEGROWN Youthmarket Presented by Taste NY: Come to our farm stand run by young people who care about agriculture. This year’s HOMEGROWN Youthmarkets will be staffed by young people from Saratoga County 4-H, The National Grange, FFA’s Saratoga County chapter and Two Bridges Youth Farmers Market. Festivalgoers can meet these young adults, learn about the work they do in their communities, get to know the farms represented and taste fresh fruits, vegetables, cider, juices, cookies and maple candy from local farms and orchards. Donors supporting the HOMEGROWN Youthmarket include Square, Red Jacket Orchards and Indian Ladder Farms.
If you’re joining NYS Music for Farm Aid this weekend at SPAC, make sure to read through the venue rules and make sure your bag meets the guidelines! And keep an eye out for special guests – the late Pete Seeger joined Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews and John Mellencamp on stage for an unforgettable performance of “This Land is Your Land.” Watch below.
Multi-platinum country artist Thomas Rhett has announced his 2025 return to the road with new “Better in Boots Tour.” The North American tour includes four dates in New York State at four venues.
The “Better in Boots Tour” announcement comes on the heels of the release of Thomas Rhettâs acclaimed seventh studio album, About a Woman. This 14-track collection showcases Rhett’s powerful style while exploring new boundaries of the genre.
The summer tour kicks off on June 5 in Rogers, Arkansas and concludes September 26 in Ridgefield, Washington. The tour sees four stops in NY beginning June 12 at SPAC. July 12 Thomas Rhett sees the stage at Jones Beach Amphitheater in Long Island. Following these dates, the tour moves to Darien Lake Amphitheater in Darien Center on August 7 and Empower FCU in Syracuse on August 21.
BETTER IN BOOTS TOUR 2025 Dates:
6/5 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP *
6/6 – Southaven, MS – Bank Plus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove *
6/7 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre *
6/12 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC +*
6/13 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
6/14 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center *
6/26 – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium *
6/27 – Birmingham, AL – Venue TBA +*
6/28 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater *
7/10 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center ^
7/11 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion ^
7/12 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater ^
7/17 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage +*
7/31 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park ^
8/1 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion ^
8/2 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre ^
8/7 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater ^
8/8 – Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre ^
8/9 – East Troy, WI – Alpine Valley Music Theatre ^
8/15 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center *
8/21 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview *
8/22 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live *
8/23 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach +*
9/4 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre *
9/5 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre *
9/6 – Savannah, GA – Enmarket Arena *
9/18 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Arena *
9/19 – Boise, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater *
9/20 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre *
9/26 – Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater *
For more information on the “Better in Boots Tour,” and to purchase tickets, click here.
Under the Saturday night stars on September 14, Austin Richard Post – a.k.a. Post Malone – delivered an unforgettable barefoot performance, a hometown show in Syracuse.
The sold-out crowd filled the Empower Federal Credit Union at Lakeview Amphitheatre with energy, creating an electric atmosphere for Post fans. Dan Spencer and Muscadine Bloodline opened the Syracuse F-1 Trillion tour stop.
Post is just a few dates in to his much-anticipated F-1 Trillion tour in support of his new crossover country album. Captivating the hometown fans with a setlist that balanced his chart-topping hits and brand new sound. Songs like âCirclesâ and âRockstarâ resonated through the air, while his new material like his duet with Luke Combs, “Guy For That” showcased his artistic evolution and versatility.
Until the age of 10 Post was living in Baldwinsville with his family until his dad was offered a position with the Dallas Cowboys. Residing in Utah now, currently the family does still have a home in Baldwinsville.
A standout feature of the night was a Post wearing an Otto the Orange shirt performing barefoot. Opening the show with the song “Wrong Ones” from his new F-1 Trillion album. Impressive stage production, highlighted with striking pyro effects ignited certain songs with explosive energy. Bringing the stage to life from his older rap hits to his newer country twang – Post really proved he truly is a Rockstar.
The new Post Era includes songs like “Yours” which is about being a girl dad and how it has changed his life.
Adding to the experience was the display of the iconic truck from his music video, Throughout the night, Post Malone took the time to connect with the audience, expressing genuine appreciation for their support.
Syracuse fans echoed the energy and showed Post he always has a place here at home. As he thanked the crowd multiple times for their energy and support, it was clear that this night would be cherished by all who were lucky enough to attend. After the final notes faded, Post jumped into the pit, taking the time to sign autographs and hug fans, further solidifying his reputation as a good guy. Those lucky enough to meet him remarked on his kindness and authenticity, a testament to his character beyond the stage.
With heartfelt gratitude and unforgettable moments, Post Malone once again proved why he is one of the most humble, iconic and loved artists of our time.
Catch Post again in New York at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Monday, September 23 with Jelly Roll.
Post Malone – Empower Federal Credit Union at Lakeview Amphitheatre, Syracuse, NY – Saturday, September 14, 2024
Setlist: Wrong Ones, Finer Things, Circles, What Don’t Belong to Me, Guy For That, Chemical, California Sober, M-E-X-I-C-O, Candy Paint, Fallin In Love, Who Needs You, Two Hearts, Stay, I Fall Apart, Better Now, Psycho, Losers, Yours, White Iverson, Aint How It Ends, Go To Hell, Had Some Help, rockstar, Congratulations Encore: Sunflower
Metallica has announced an expansion to their three year M72 World Tour with 21 North American Dates, including one night in New York at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse on April 19, 2025.
Barely needing any introduction, Metallica is one of the biggest selling acts in American history and have been leaving their heavy metal mark on the world since the band’s inception in 1981. Known as one of the “big four” bands of thrash metal alongside Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer, Metallica has rather humble origins.
Formed through newspaper ads and mutual friends, the band had found themselves traveling to Rochester, New York in a stolen U-Haul to record their first album in 1983, resulting in their debut album Kill ‘Em All which quickly caught the underground metal scene by storm.
photo by Rob Tellerman
Metallica just couldn’t stop the success from there, their third album Master of Puppets being hailed by fans as both the band’s best work and one of heaviest metal albums ever, their fourth album …And Justice for All earning the band its first Grammy nomination, and their fifth achieving mainstream commercial success not seen before with more than 16 million copies.
With 11 studio albums, 10 Grammys, and 37 tours under their belt, Metallica is a metal legend to be reckoned with- but they aren’t done yet. Having begun the M72 World Tour in April of 2023 in celebration of the band’s latest studio album 72 Seasons, Metallica has announced 21 additional North American Dates that will push the tour through 2025.
Metallica at Metlife Stadium, August 2023 – photo by Rob Tellerman
The band will be paying a visit to New York on April 19, playing a show at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse. Supported by heavy metal band Pantera and thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, this tour is not to be missed.
As is tradition with Metallica, a portion of all ticket sales will go to local charities through the band’s All Within My Hands foundation that was established in 2017 so they could give back to the communities who have supported them throughout the years. Thus far, All Within My Hands has raised over $15 million, which has provided $8.2 million in grants to career and tech education programs including the ground-breaking Metallica Scholars Initiative, over $3.6 million to combat food insecurity, and more than $3.5 million to disaster relief funds.
Tickets for Metallica in Syracuse at JMA Wireless Dome go on sale on Friday, September 27 at 10:00 AM. For further information and ticket sales, please visit their website here.
Zach Bryan’s newest music video for “Oak Island” featuring actors Casey Affleck and Jack Martin has recently been released after being filmed in Schenectady this past August.
Photo: Zach Bryan
Country singer-songwriter Zach Bryan has channeled his innermost emotions into folk melody, country sound, and raw, cutting lyrics since he came into the public light in 2019. One of many of his first songs to be uploaded onto his YouTube channel, “Heading South” was recorded outside of his Navy barracks by phone only minutes after he had written the song.
The video quickly caught traction and ended up going viral, with just under 30.5 million views as of September 2024. Since skyrocketing into fame, Bryan has stuck to the same principles that had captured the public, delivering lyrically raw, human songs that leave it all out on the table.
Released on September 10, Zach Bryan’s music video for “Oak Island” delivers the gut wrenchingly human and emotional narratives he’s known for once again. One of 19 tracks from Bryan’s newest album, “Oak Island” tells the story of a jaded older brother with mistakes of his own watching his younger brother fall down the same path.
In “Oak Island,” the narrator is crushed by the realization that the hope he had placed in his younger brother’s future, a brother who had a good head on his shoulders and a better life than his own ahead of him, had thrown it all away and fallen in with a bad crowd. The narrator turns first to resentment for the people that had done this to his brother, which quickly becomes an aching sense of loss as he watches the kid he had grown up with become one of the men he loathes.
Actors Casey Affleck, known for his work in Oppenheimer,Manchester by the Sea, and Interstellar, and Jack Martin portray estranged brothers in the music video’s narrative penned by Bryan and his girlfriend, influencer and Barstool Sports personality Brianna LaPaglia, that pulls heavily from the narrative spun in “Oak Island’s” lyrics.
Photo: Youtube
Directed by long-time video collaborator Matthew Dillon Cohen, the music video features multiple careful frames of Schenectady, with local scenes interspersed throughout the narrative. The opening shot in particular features Affleck stepping out of local favorite Mike’s Hot Dogs while making one of many missed calls to his younger brother.
Split by unclear circumstances, the older brother played by Affleck attempts to reach his younger brother, played by Martin, in the hopes of redirecting his life away from less than favorable companions. As with the song’s narrative, the two brothers confront one another- the younger already along his own path, one diverging from everything Affleck believes to be right.
Tensions rise when Affleck pulls Martin out of a bar and goes after one of his brother’s associates, breaking into a fight. The video culminates in a car chase that ends in the two siblings staring at each other on either end of the road interspersed with flashbacks of their childhood, only to reveal that Affleck has been alone on the road this entire time – he had already lost his brother to the path he had walked down.
Bryan is currently on tour for his The Quittin Time Tour 24, with two upcoming dates at the Barclays Center on December 18 and 19. For more information and tickets, visit his website here.
It was like 2007 all over again when we were introduced to Soulja Boy when he came into New York City for his SODMG Tour on September 17, 2024 at the acclaimed Gramercy Theatre. The New York crowd danced and sang the night away as if it were the Summer of 2007 all over again.
Atlanta, GA native, Soulja Boy found himself in the middle of what’s called the “Snap” era of Hip Hop with his 2007 hit debut, “Crank That (Soulja Boy)”. At 17, he became an instant Hip Hop star due to recording his daily life and posting it on YouTube, his hit single and a fun dance to match.
After SODMG’s various openers showcase, rather than treating the audience to silence between the build up—as is standard (and not necessarily frowned upon)—Soulja Boy began building the landing by allowing his DJ to play 2000s classics. Commanding the theatre illuminated by cellphone lights, he launched into one of his numerous classics “Turn My Swag On” to get the party started.
The Grammy-nominated artist went on to perform hits such as “Kiss Me Thru the Phone”, “Soulja Girl”, “Pretty Boy Swag”, “Gucci Bandana”, “Yahh” and most recently, “Rick & Morty.” Soulja commanded the whole room with hit after hit from his multi-decade spanning career. Although the set was just shy of 45 minutes, the crowd was served a heavy dose and reminder of why Soulja Boy, the musical legend that he is, is cemented in Hip-Hop and overall music history.
Southern Rock jam band Gov’t Mule has announced the return of their annual New Year’s show at the Beacon Theatre from December 30-31. The band will also see the stage at College Street Music Hall in New Haven, Connecticut on December 28 as well.
The three-night stand – Celebrating 30 years of The Mule – kicks off Saturday, December 28 at College Street Music Hall in New Haven, CT and then return to the Beacon Theatre in New York City, the longstanding home of their New Year’s shows, for back-to-back nights Monday, December 30 and Tuesday, December 31.
These special year-end shows mark the first Gov’t Mule headlining shows since their February “30 Years Strong Tour” and continue the celebrations for this major milestone as they honor the band’s past, present and future. This year marks the 22nd year in a row the band has hosted the annual New Year’s Run.
Gov’t Mule has galvanized a global fan base with their honest, organic and daring music and improvisational virtuosity, leading them to be recognized as one of the most timeless, revered and active bands in the world whose spot amongst rock titans remains unshakable. This celebratory performance is one you’ll want to see live at the Beacon Theatre this December.
The general on sale will commence Friday, September 20 at 12 pm ET. VIP packages will also be available, which include reserved seating, access to soundcheck, limited edition signed poster, and more starting Wednesday at 12pm ET.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years. It’s also hard to believe we’ve been celebrating New Year’s together for over 20 years. These are always such special shows for us. I’m looking forward to being with the band revisiting some of the stuff we haven’t played in a long, long time and, of course, being with our incredible fans.”
Warren Hayes, Guitarist and Vocalist
For more information on the upcoming Gov’t Mule New Year’s Run and to purchase tickets, click here.
Hudson West Music Festival will provide a day of Americana, folk, and roots music on Saturday, Sept 28, 2024, from noon to 10:00 pm in Downtown Jersey City at the Nimbus Arts Center.
Founded in 2016, as a non-profit organization, the Hudson West Fest is an Americana, Folk & Roots music festival that presents performers from across North America to both play and teach. New Jersey’s Hudson West Fest annually holds an all-day music festival but has also expanded its music programming over the years to include Music Workshops, a Talent Search, Open Mics, Free Concerts presenting local musicians, and School Music Programs. This year the festival will include a free street festival that will take place on Warren street right in front of the Nimbus Art center from 2:00 to 7:00. The street festival will include a book signing with Terri Thal, music lessons, performances, and a jam.
You can enjoy all the performances indoors as well as a variety of music workshops on topics such as guitar tricks and song writing taught by this year’s Hudson West Fest performers and Welcome Home New Jersey will bring a taste of ethnic foods. Entry is $35 each person, or $40 at the door.
Hudson West says their mission is “to enable fine musicians to earn a living from their art.” and “to help the larger community hear high quality music and gain a greater appreciation.”
Hudson West Music Festival Mainstage Lineup
Jenni Muldaur & Teddy Thompson, with David Mansfield
On Friday September 13th two Troybands – Lemon of Choice and Fantasy of the Broken – brought a large crowd to NO FUN in Troy.
Lemon of Choice is a rock band based in Albany. This band of friends makes every show more enjoyable by looping the crowd into their between song conversations. “I need my fancy drum sticks, or we won’t have any music” says Joe Taurone (Drummer and Lead Singer). They have a way of letting the crowd think every song is over then all of a sudden continues the song shocking the audience.
Fantasy of A Broken Heart promoted their debut album coming out on September 27. The band consists of two New York City friends who also play in the band Water from Your Eyes. This band has a Neo-Psychedelic feel to their music which sounds perfect in NO FUN’s intimate setting. They played all four songs from their most recent release Follow Your Captain EP.
They ended their set with title track “Follow Your Captain” which was the last song for them to finish on this project. The song follows the story of Al Nardo and Baliey Wollowitz’ childhoods. A song that they stated felt too personal to finish prior but when the opportunity arose, they decided to give it a try and added it to the EP.
