Woodstock’s Maverick Concerts will host After Spring Sunset: A Tribute to Peter Schickele a tribute to renowned composer Peter Schickele on Saturday, Aug. 10. The day will include two main acts- a free morning concert showcasing some of Schickele’s folk tunes, and an evening show full of many talented musicians further expanding on Schickele’s works.
The tribute is honoring Peter Schickele, a composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist with decades of accomplishments under his belt. Schickele, who passed away this past January, is remembered through the character, P.D.Q. Bach, and his public radio program “Schickele Mix.”
Having won multiple Grammy Awards for his work, Schickele found fame writing for folk musicians, as well as ensembles and solo work. Most notably, he arranged music for folk musician Joan Baez across multiple bodies of music. Throughout his career, Schickele created over a hundred orchestrations.
Aug. 10 will be an undeniably full day of music and remembrance with the first set taking place from 11 AM-12 PM, and the second, at 6 PM. To begin the day, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, Elizabeth Mitchell will lead a series of folk tunes written by Schickele. She will be joined by M Shanghai String Band, pianist Ray Bailey, and Schickele’s daughter, musician Karla Schickele. Additionally, folk musician, Marc Black will come out and perform the song “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” which he made with Schickele. The morning performance is free to attend and welcomes families.
Peter Schickele at Maverick Concerts by John Kleinhans
The latter half of the day brings an extravagant slate of performers to exemplify Schickele’s vast repertoire. After Spring Sunset: A Tribute to Peter Schickele will exhibit performances from a variety of different artists. Firstly, the Callisto String Quartet will perform Schickele’s Fifth String Quartet, A Year in the Country. Following the quartet will be their rendition of his P.D.Q. Bach work, The Moose Quartet.
Next, the M Shanghai String Band and surprise guests will perform a piece from a Schickele bluegrass concerto. Elizabeth Mitchell also returns to perform a song Schickele wrote for Joan Baez. The show will turn particularly personal when Karla Schickele along with her cousin, Nighttrain Schickele, and son, Emmet Schickele, perform special and generally unknown, Peter Schickele family songs. Marc Black will also join the lineup to sing an additional slate of special songs.
Continuing to honor P.D.Q. Bach, Mezzo Michele Eaton, along with tenors Wesley Chinn and Greg Purnhagen, will perform some of his vocal works. Overall, the show will serve as a testament to how significant Schickele was to not only his family and friends but fans all over the world. Maverick Music Director Alexander Platt, Woodstock Chimes founder and percussionist Garry Kvistad, and Karla Schickele will host the event and guide the show in Schickele’s honor.
For more information or to purchase tickets for After Spring Sunset: A Tribute to Peter Schickele visit maverickconcerts.org
The Krockathon Reboot on Saturday, July 27, brought a thrilling resurgence of rock music back to the NYS Fairgrounds. With a memorable lineup featuring Puddle of Mudd, Hoobastank, Nonpoint, Stabbing Westward, Boy Hits Car, and Brand New Sin, fans were in for an unforgettable day.
From the moment the gates opened, the festival grounds were alive with activity. Attendees indulged in classic festival pastimes like playing hacky sack and flocked to the Monster Energy booth to grab free drinks, fueling the vibrant atmosphere.
As the day wore on, the crowd’s energy only increased. Early in the day, fans enjoyed the performances while lounging on the grass, but as each band took the stage, the audience became more animated. By later in the day, Nonpoint’s powerful set had the crowd on their feet, with spontaneous crowd surfing and circle pits adding to the excitement.
Stabbing Westward’s darker, industrial sound provided a unique contrast to the day’s lineup, while Boy Hits Car and Brand New Sin set the tone with their high-energy opening performances. Hoobastank’s set was a highlight, with the crowd passionately singing along to every word of their hit song, “The Reason.”
The festival reached its peak when Puddle of Mudd took the stage. As the sun began to set, its golden rays cast a beautiful glow over the stage, creating a magical backdrop for the band’s performance. The crowd sang along to every hit and savored the moment as the sun set
Overall, the Krockathon Reboot was a triumph, offering a perfect blend of nostalgic rock hits and modern festival energy. The NYS Fairgrounds proved to be an ideal venue, accommodating the enthusiastic crowd and providing ample space for the day’s activities. With such a successful return, the future of Krockathon looks brighter than ever.
Northern Ireland’s alternative icons Two Door Cinema Club made a stop at Lewiston’s Artpark on July 29 for their North America tour. This band has provided the anthem for teenage youth throughout the years making their fanbase span from an array of ages.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
The indie band Flipturn opened up the night in Artpark with their cinematic sound. This Floridian group are no strangers to the alternative scene. Their slow burn of a rise in stardom is definitely one to watch out for. Their signature guitar riffs and airy vocals pave way for introspective nights. This is especially so with their performance of their hit single, “August.” Flipturn got to play a new song they’ve been working on called, “Juno,” that so many people loved.
Flipturn, Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
The trio that makes up Two Door Cinema Club is Alex Trimble (singer/guitarist/programmer), Sam Halliday (guitarist/singer), and Kevin Baird (bassist/singer). The group met in school and chose to skip university in order to put full focus into their band. Luckily, that worked out for them. They released an EP in 2009 and numerous singles, but nothing gained huge traction until their debut album Tourist History came out in 2010.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
Their album had such a grip on the youth that they were charting numerous Billboard records and being used in soundtracks for films. The way Two Door Cinema Club is able to make the present moment feel nostalgic through their sound is why so many people love them. It’s also why so many people drove out to get a glimpse of their talent on a random Monday night in July.
In summertime feels fashion, Two Door Cinema Club opened with their song, “This Is The Life” off the very renowned album that got them so much traction. They are no strangers to the Buffalo area and their welcome back was legendary. They brought life into the crowd with their humor and electropop sound. Their music so punchy and full of energy it makes just about anyone want to groove to it.
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
The band played an array of their discography making longtime fans so fulfilled. Songs off of their sophomore album Beacon were performed including, “Next Year” and “Sun.” They took the audience through the years of the 2010s not shying away from any of their bold musical decisions. Of course though they had to finish with the track that everyone knows from Two Door Cinema Club, “What You Know.”
Photo Credit: Maddie McCafferty
This July night in Lewiston was one that took everyone down memory lane and had people in their feels. Artpark is the perfect venue for getting that beautiful sunset show and if you haven’t been then you’re missing out. Upcoming shows at Artpark include, Backroads Blue Festival on August 10 and Stray Cats on August 13. Get your tickets here.
Setlist: This Is the Life, I Can Talk, Sleep Alone, Sure Enough, Changing of the Seasons, Next Year, Do You Want It All?, Something Good Can Work, Costume Party, Bad Decisions, Everybody’s Cool, Come Back Home, Handshake, Lucky, Lavender, Are We Ready? (Wreck), The World Is Watching, Eat That Up, It’s Good for You, Undercover Martyn, Cigarettes in the Theatre, Messenger AD (Intro), Sun, What You Know
Classic blues band Blood Brothers announced their live performance at Schenectady’s Music Haven. Their concert is held on August 16, in between concerts from Elias Ochoa and Banda Magda. The band is supported by blues powerhouses Misty Blues and Piedmont Bluz.
Hot off of their most recent album, Live in Canada, a collection of their best live performances in the country released last October, Blood Brothers have reached incredible success in the world of Blues and Rock’n’roll, in both their solo and group careers. In the past, both guitarists Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia won Blues Rock Album of the Year at the Blues Music Awards for their solo works, Zito winning in 2022 and Castiglia in 2024. That same year, Castiglia won for Blues Rock Artist of the Year. Earlier this year, the duo won for Blues Rock Album as Blood Brothers, and Zito won for Blues Artist of the Year.
Now, after their resounding season, they make their way over to New York for a performance at the Music Haven festival. This year, Music Haven celebrates several diverse performers, ranging in several genres from Brazilian Funk to Zydeco to Afrofusion.
Blood Brothers are the latest to join the lineup, making their Music Haven debut on August 16 as part of the Blues BBQ Concert Series. They are joined by their loyal band, including Doug Byrkit on bass guitar, Matt Johnson and Ephraim Lowell on drums and percussion, and Lewis Stephens on keyboards.
Opening for the band are fellow blues artists Misty Blues and finger-pick guitar specialists Piedmont Bluz. Blood Brothers’ headlining performance ends at 9:30 pm. Following the performances is a festive;-wide barbecue for all fans and attendees. After the show, they continue on the rest of their nationwide tour.
Blood Brothers On Tour
AUGUST
08/02 Notodden Blues Festival – Notodden, Norway – Info/Tix
08/15 Chenango Blues Festival Kick-Off in East Park – Norwich, NY – Info/FREE
08/17 Big Bull Falls Blues Fest – Wausau, WI – Info/Tix
While the band gets ready for their tour dates and upcoming festival performances, they are working hard on their solo careers. Mike Zito recently released his latest solo album, Life is Hard, in February earlier this year. Just a week ago, on July 19, Castiglia released Righteous Souls. Both albums have received widespread critical acclaim, ensuring Blood Brothers is a name that blues fans will never forget.
More tour dates are to be announced later this year. Information and tickets are available on the band’s official website. Check them out here.
This summer, the Americana trio, Lost Radio Rounders, has been busy creating a series of YouTube videos between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The band uploads performance videos every three days, and over the course of three months will have around 40 videos posted.
For Lost Radio Rounders, “YouTube Summer” is a creative effort to expand audience reach. By sharing their jam sessions, the trio of Tom Lindsay, Michael Eck, and Paul “Bowtie” Jossman, show viewers the joy playing music gives them.
Lost Radio Rounders‘ specialty is paying homage to older songs. While they mostly play to intimate live audiences, they’re broadening their repertoire by utilizing social media, and in this case specifically, YouTube. Through these videos, their music can extend past their regular audiences and venues, reaching a more national and even international realm.
In 2023, we had 60 paid performances, but only about a dozen of those were public. Venues such as libraries, historical societies and even the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall’s Music at Noon series have been perfect spots for our blend of music and American history, however those venues can only book us once a year at best. Michael, Paul and I wanted a way to share what we do with more folks, and the Lost Radio Rounders YouTube Channel was a great option.
Tom Lindsay
Some of their covers include sea chanties like “Leave Her Johnny, Leave Her,” and “Drunken Sailor,” and Pete Seeger’s New York classic, “Sailing Down My Golden River.” Through these covers, the joy the band finds in playing these songs is evident, giving the world access to their profound authenticity.
These videos are as far from AI as one could imagine; no overdubs, edits or pitch correction, just each note that the three of us sang and played.
Tom Lindsay
Following their video series, this fall, the trio will put on three free, public performances. For information about the Lost Radio Rounders visit lostradiorounders.com. Watch “YouTube Summer” here.
Lost Radio Rounders Fall Shows
Saturday, September 7 at 2 PM- The Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield, MA
Sunday, October 20 at 2 PM- Guilderland Public Library, Guilderland, NY
Sunday, November 3 at 2 PM- New Scotland Historical Assoc., Voorheesville, NY
Harbor Walk, Liberty Hound, and Jeff Miers Music are teaming up to present the Thursday Night Summer Concert Series “Music Matters.” The series takes place on the New Harbor Walk Facility at the Erie Basin Marina in Buffalo. Concerts take place on Thursdays at 7 pm, so don’t miss the last few weeks of eclectic performers.
Now in its final weeks, the Music Matters concert series features a wide variety of regional artists and organizations for attendees to enjoy. Local businesses set up their booths all over the boardwalk, offering special creations just for the event. Private special events on the boardwalk are held after each concert for fans who wish the night would never end.
“I’m excited to be teaming with my friend Jason Davidson and the Liberty Hound to present this summer concert series at the new Harbor Walk venue,’” says Music Matters Series co-producer Jeff Miers. “There’s a long history of live music on Thursday nights in the Canalside region, and it feels great to be able to assemble this lineup of incredible Buffalo talent to continue that tradition at one of our city’s most breathtakingly beautiful sites.”
Music Matters brings an incredibly diverse and talented batch of musicians to Harbor Walk every year. This year, a lineup of rock, country, and funk artists take the stage. In its home stretch, bands like Critt (joined by special guest Blaised and Confused), Funktional Flow, and The Strictly Hip, along with a special announcement for the show on August 8, are ready to turn up the funk for Buffalo crowds.
Don’t miss the last few performances of Music Matters, every Thursday starting at 7 pm. More information is available here.
2024 marks the 150th anniversary of the Chautauqua Institution’s founding. The world-renowned institution has become famous for its annual summer programming.
This year is no different, with the 2024 Summer Season featuring a number of lectures, performances, and more to celebrate the anniversary.
The Chautauqua Institution traces its history back to 1874. In that year inventor Lewis Miller alongside Bishop John Heyl Vincent founded the institution. From its start, Chautauqua represented an experimental approach to traditional education. The institution – then known as the Chautauqua Lake Sunday School – sat on 750 acres of lakeside property. At its founding, Chautauqua was a pioneer in “vacation learning,” with people out of school traveling to the site for instruction.
Although it was originally dedicated to religious education, Chautauqua’s programming soon expanded into a number of other fields. In addition to religion, classes on arts, music, and other subjects were soon offered. In 1878, the institution founded the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. This program was intended to provide education to those not fortunate enough to attend university. In addition, Chautauqua used these programs to advocate for morality – which they defined as abstention from activities like drinking, gambling, and dancing. By 1880, Chautauqua hosted over 100 Summer lectures.
Due to the success of Chautauqua’s academic programming, the institution’s musical facilities evolved quickly. In 1875 – one year after its founding – the institution hosted the Fisk Jubilee Singers. The all-African American a capella group broke racial barriers with their performance at the height of the Reconstruction Era. Throughout the years, Chautauqua continued to highlight pioneering African American performers. Legendary singers like Marion Anderson and Paul Robeson performed at the institution in their heydays.
Marian Anderson performing at Chautauqua in 1957
The institution’s musical facilities increased with the installment of the Massey Memorial Organ in 1907. The high-precision organ now performs regular recitals during the summer season. By 1920, symphony orchestras regularly performed on the institution’s grounds. 1929 saw the official founding of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra. Since its founding almost 100 years ago, the orchestra has grown into one of the institution’s most recognizable features. Housed in the institution’s 4,400-person amphitheater, the orchestra now plays three weekly performances each season.
Marking this full adoption of music, a number of composers and performers began visiting Chautauqua in the 1920s. In 1925, George Gershwin made a Chautauqua practice shack his home while he composed his Concerto In F.
Chautauqua’s embrace of musical programming extended to dance and theater. In 1929, the Chautauqua Opera Company began alongside the orchestra, performing regularly in the art-deco Norton Hall. Nowadays, the aforementioned Amphitheater and Norton Hall, as well as the Bratton Theatre regularly host contemporary and ballet dance performances.
A Tent Chautauqua in Mechanic Falls, Maine
The success of the Chautauqua Institution’s programming led to a nationwide phenomenon. By the early 1900s, “Tent Chautauquas” traveled the country, bringing entertainment and education to places as far as South Carolina and Colorado. However, by the 1930s, these road shows grew out of fashion. As cinema and radio expanded, the need for the Tent Chautauqua exhibitions was seen less and less.
The 1930s also marked an era of hardship for the Western New York institution. Following the stock market crash of 1929, the United States entered the Great Depression. Countless businesses and organizations went bankrupt, putting much of the country out of work. The Chautauqua Institution was no exception to this. In 1933, it entered a period of receivership, unable to handle its debts. The Chautauquan community, however, remained dedicated to keeping the institution alive. They founded the Chautauqua Foundation to raise funds, successfully creating an endowment to fund the institution in 1937.
Since 1937, the institution has persevered as a staple of Western New York’s academic landscape. Throughout its history, Chautauqua has presented lectures and performances by countless famous artists. Legendary bandleaders like John Philip Sousa and Duke Ellington have led performances at the institution. On top of this, the institution has featured pop artists ranging from Toby Keith to Ben Folds. Additionally, six presidents have visited the institution in their lifetimes. Starting with Ulysses S. Grant in 1875, James Garfield, William Mckinley, Theodore Roosevelt, FDR, and Bill Clinton have all visited.
Theodore Roosevelt speaking at the Chautauqua Institution
During his visit to Chautauqua, Theodore Roosevelt described the institution, saying “it is a source of positive strength and refreshment of mind and body to come to meet a typical American gathering like this—a gathering that is typically American in that it is typical of America at its best.”
The government has recognized Chautauqua’s importance to education and performance since the 1970s. In 1973, the National Park Service recognized the institution’s campus as a National Historic Place. This was followed by a 1989 designation as a National Historic Landmark District.
As 2024 marks the 150th anniversary of the institution’s founding, it will feature a number of special events. Throughout August, the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra will perform weekly performances. Each performance celebrates a different legendary composer, highlighting works by Brahms, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, and more. In addition to these performances, Chautauqua will host shows by Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in the amphitheater August 21-23rd. The institution’s Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall will also host weekly chamber performances each Monday and Saturday.
On top of these instrumental performances, a number of pop groups will perform at the institute’s famous amphitheater. Among these groups is the legendary Jamestown-based alternative group 10,000 Maniacs. The August 19th concert likewise celebrates the groups 40th anniversary that launched them to international stardom. In addition, Indigo Girls, Squonk, Twisted Pine, and more will perform throughout August.
On top of these musical performances, the Chautauqua Institute will host a number of other activities throughout August. These activities include daily interfaith lectures, theater performances, art exhibitions, and campus tours. For more information on the Chautauqua Institution’s upcoming events, visit its website here.
The Beacon Sloop Club has announced the musical lineup for the annual Corn Festival. The day-long festival offers visitors fresh snacks (like Hudson Valley fresh picked corn boiled for two minutes), sails on the Sloop Woody Guthrie, and music from 11 artists. The Corn Festival takes place August 11th from 12-5 pm at Pete and Toshi Seeger Memorial Park.
The Beacon Sloop Club traces its origins back to New York folk legend Pete Seeger. In 1966, Pete and Toshi Seeger founded the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater nonprofit to raise awareness of pollution in the Hudson River. For decades, General Electric had polluted the river with factory runoff, which was toxic to the river’s wildlife and people nearby. At the centerpiece of the nonprofit’s mission was the Sloop Clearwater, which sailed the river as a symbol of the Seegers’ mission.
In 1969, the Clearwater sailed to Beacon where the locals set up a welcome festival. This welcome party evolved into the Beacon Sloop Club, with a mission dedicated to community and environment. The group renovated Beacon’s Ferry Diner to make it a headquarters and community gathering space, alongside newly replaced docks. To top off their facilities, Seeger commissioned the Sloop Woody Guthrie – named for the folk legend – to act as the club’s public education space.
One of the Sloop Club’s most popular events is the annual corn festival. The family-friendly event invites all to enjoy hand-picked corn, fresh watermelon, lemonade, and more local delights. Aiding in the Sloop Club’s environmental mission, a large educational tent will feature exhibits on the ecology of the Hudson River watershed. In addition to these exhibits, visitors can enjoy the Hudson first-hand with free rides on the Sloop Woody Guthrie. Weather permitting, sloop ride sign-up will begin at 12pm.
The Sloop Woody Guthrie, Photo by Pete Becerra Jr., 2017
On top of these activities, the festival will feature live music from local artists throughout the day. The festival facilities include two solar-powered stages, with one dedicated solely for children’s entertainment. Among the local bands playing are Last Minute Soulmates, Trouble Sisters, Offshoots, Soil & Soul Creek, and The Seed Song Family Band.
The festival will also feature a number of local singer-songwriters and individual performers. Hudson-based acoustic duo Laurie Siegel & Patrick Jones will perform a set. Also performing is Cosby Gibson. The Adirondacks-based artist rose to local prominence through her dulcimer and guitar-driven folk. Over the years she has won a Capital District Music Award for Best Folk Album and a Dorn Space Arts Award for Music Outreach.
In terms of children’s entertainment, Bindlestick Bill will perform. The Poughkeepsie-based performer works as an elementary school music teacher by day and local music star by night. Bindlestick Bill takes the form of a comedic hobo character, with songs and performances aimed towards children.
Spook Handy and Pete Seeger
The festival will also feature a number of local folk musicians who played with Pete Seeger throughout his career. Among these musicians is New Jersey’s Spook Handy, who played over 50 shows with Seeger after the two met in 2003. The festival will additionally feature music by Pat Lamanna. Lamanna’s folk stylings tackle issues of peace and environmental ills, receiving praise from Pete Seeger and Phil Ochs. Finally, Lydia Adams Davis will perform. Over the years, Davis performed alongside Seeger and the Hudson River Sloop Singers. The New York Times has heralded her as “One of our finest folk composers” for her legendary folk/country stylings.
The Beacon Sloop Club Corn Festival will take place August 11th from 12-5pm. The festival is a free, all-ages event made possible by the Sloop Club’s volunteers. All proceeds from the festival go towards the Woody Guthrie sailing program and other environmental education programs. For more information, visit the Beacon Sloop Club website here.
Jon ‘The Barber’ Gutwillig (a.k.a. Baba G) of The Disco Biscuits will join forces with Ben Atkind of Elephantproof (formerly Goose) to perform on August 3 at Bearsville Theater in Woodstock. The evening will kick off with a set by Capital Region’s own SM INK.
The performance on August 3 marks Barber’s Woodstock debut. Having performed as part of groups and, Barber has garnered a reputation as the guitar player for the band The Disco Biscuits. However, his appearance at the Bearsville Theater marks his first solo set at the theater.
Barber will be stepping out of his comfort zone for Saturday’s show, performing as a DJ named “Baba G,” and bringing house music, trance, and techno, and even remixes of his own songs from The Disco Biscuits.
Baba G will be joined by Ben Atkind of Elephantproof (formerly known as Goose). Atkins will provide drums for the set, while Barber hops in between the guitar and the DJ booth. This marks the second time Barber and Atkind perform together, bringing their dynamic and energetic performances to the Future City Lounge in Brooklyn just two months ago.
“I’m excited to collaborate with Ben again,” says Barber. “Our Brooklyn show was very well received, and I think we’ll deliver an even stronger performance now that we’ve got a show under our belts,” Barber said, referencing the duo’s June 1 performance at Future City Lounge.
Regardless of their past as a duo, Barber and Atkind are gearing up for a performance unlike any other. Their inspirations from disco and electronica music make for an incredibly unique blend of sound, perfect for the early days of the recently reborn Bearsville Theater. The innovative spin on house and disco music will surely be a night that lifelong fans and newcomers alike, whether or their solo or group work, will never forget.
Bearsville Theater is located at 291 Tinker St, Woodstock, NY. This event is 21+, and doors open at 7 PM on August 3. Tickets are available online at the Bearsville Theater’s website, linked here.
The town of Black Brook, NY is in the midst of its weekly summer concert series, Music at the River Park, spanning from July 17 to Aug 21. The concerts take place in Au Sable Forks‘ River Park every Wednesday evening.
The Northern NY concert series, Music at the River Park, is the musical collaboration of the towns of Black Brook and Au Sable Forks. Every Wednesday night from July 17 to Aug. 21 from 6-8 PM, locals can head down to River Park for free live entertainment. Concertgoers can also treat themselves to the town’s renowned food truck, The Dogfather, onsite.
The weekly acts, presented by Black Brook are full of local musicians ranging from country artists to acoustic singer-songwriters. Thus far, July’s acts have included exciting homegrown acts such as Larry Ebere, Tally & Pop, and Bluebird. The music, queued to the picturesque views of the Au Sable River makes an electric combination proved to be loved by the community weekly.
In the upcoming weeks, music lovers can enjoy sets from Midnight Stargazers, Larry Ebere once again, and finally, Sarah Mitchell. Filled with western tunes and harmonic melodies, August at River Park is sure to be plentiful of amazing music and talented artists.
