The West Falls Center for the Arts will host a special fundraiser known as “Music Mends.” The fundraiser is held at the Admiral Room in Buffalo, on October 3, from 6-9 pm.
West Falls Center for the Arts is a nonprofit arts and cultural destination hub, offering programs designed to bring arts and culture enjoyment to all. Music Mends is yet another of the inspiring events hosted by the center.
Music Mends offers a wide variety of activities, including free music lessons for Veterans and their families, lessons from the accredited PBS program Kids Jam, and music mentoring for young artists. The nationally recognized Musical Memories Cafe hosts a special program for individuals with Alzheimer’s/Dementia and their caregivers. Performances from special musical guests and Buffalo natives The Kensingtons will take place all night, celebrating the classic artists of the 1960s and 70s like Roy Orbison. Music Mends will end with a Community Concert Series.
Guests can enjoy complimentary wine, beer, and soda all night long. Throught the night, there are basket raffles, wine pulls, a gift card wall, and more fundraising activities. All proceeds go directly to the West Falls Center for the Arts, and help fund a wide variety of programs to bring music and art to the citizens of West Falls.
Tickets for Music Mends start at $75 each, or $130 for two – tickets and more information are available on the West Falls Center website, linked here.
The Admiral Room is located in the Marin apartment buildings, located at 237 Main Street, 14203, in Buffalo.
Hailing from Ithaca, six-piece funk band NEO Project dazzles audiences with their energetic stage presence and hypnotic fusion music. Their unique, high-energy sound and performances have blown crowds away for the better part of a decade. With an interesting mix of genres and insatiable chemistry, NEO Project is sure to put on an unforgettable performance.
Since 2012, the band has been on a mission to make crowds dance with their stellar improvisation and musicianship. NEO Project is made up of Elly Holiday and Jimbo Scott as lead vocalists, John White on keyboards and backup vocals, Dwight Carroll on electric guitar and vocals, Franklin Henry on electric bass, and Mike McCoy on drums. As well-decorated veterans of the music industry, including past careers as music professors, soul practitioners, and even a former Motown sideman, they each hold a deep love and passion for funk, soul, jazz, and R&B music.
In their many years of touring and making music, NEO Project has worn many hats when it comes to performing. Originally, they began as a funk band, but soon after realized their true potential in becoming an all-out dance band that blends a multitude of genres. Bringing in inspiration from Afro-Caribbean music, as well as soul, jazz, and R&B, NEO Project combines the genres that were truly inspirational to them, with their own improvisational twist.
Eventually, through years of fine-tuning their sound, NEO Project became exemplary of the great diversity within the music industry, proving that genres can absolutely coexist and share the spotlight at the same time. Along with their own original music, NEO Project reinterprets some of the best soul, jazz, and funk music out there with their own unique twist, covering a wide range of artists from Deee-Lite to James Brown. Their unique sound has brought thousands from all over the state to bars, concert halls, and festivals to enjoy some new-age fusion in classic old-fashioned styles.
Throughout the last ten years, the NEO Project family has performed all over New York, bringing the energy to music festivals and concert series alike. On July 11, the band headlined a performance at the Ithaca Summer Concert Series; their most recent surmounting success right from their hometown. Their most recent gig at the Finger Lakes Cider House brought the house down with their incredibly dynamic and original performance.
NEO Project’s funky, charming tunes have brought them widespread critical acclaim, from magazines to newspapers and more. “There’s a new band based in Ithaca, NY that will have you tapping your toes and shakin’ your groove thing to its unique, fun style of Neo Soul, Funk, Jazz, Rock, and Afro-Caribbean world grooves,” says Roger Theies of What’s Hot? magazine. Harry Segal of The Dock calls them “the tightest funk fusion band in the land!”
After a rousing ten-year anniversary, NEO Project’s reign is far from over. Catch NEO Project at The Range, 119 E State St, Ithaca, for a surefire performance that will never make you want to throw away your dancing shoes. The end of a busy season awaits the band as August begins, with headlining performances at the Geneva Lakefront Summer Concert Series on Wednesday, August 14. On September 2, NEO Project will perform for a private member’s exclusive event at the Ithaca Yacht Club, followed by a headlining performance at the Corning Harvest Fest on Saturday, September 21.
For any information on the band, be sure to visit their official Facebook page, linked here.
The second day of the Great South Bay Music Festival on Friday, July 19, was a vibrant celebration of reggae music, transforming Shorefront Park into a haven of laid-back rhythms and positive vibes. The day featured an eclectic mix of reggae, ska, and rock, drawing fans from all over Long Island and beyond.
Main Stage Highlights
Pepper: Formed in 1997 in Hawaii, Pepper has been a staple in the reggae rock scene for over two decades, known for their infectious energy and dynamic sound. They kicked off their set with the energetic “Bring Me Along,” followed by “Rent,” keeping the energy high. Their set also included crowd favorites like “Stone Love” and “Brand New Day,” showcasing their unique blend of reggae and rock. They closed their performance with the powerful “Warning,” from their 2019 album Local Motion.
Streetlight Manifesto: Before Pepper took the stage, Streetlight Manifesto delivered a memorable performance, opening with “Watch It Crash.” They followed with “A Better Place, A Better Time,” captivating the audience with their energy. The band wrapped up their set with “Here’s to Life,” leaving a lasting impression with their blend of ska and punk.
Bandshell – Five Town College Stage
Badfish and Tropidelic: Both bands added to the day’s vibrant atmosphere. Badfish, known for their tribute to Sublime, and Tropidelic, with their funky, high-energy style, kept the crowd dancing and singing along throughout their sets.
The Bandshell – Five Town College Stage featured a diverse lineup of bands that kept the reggae vibes flowing all day long.
Samsara kicked off the performances, followed by the smooth sounds of Aqua Cherry. Nonstop to Cairo brought their high-energy mix of ska and hip-hop, keeping the crowd on their feet. Oogee Wawa closed out the stage with their unique blend of reggae, rock, and hip-hop, creating a perfect end to the dayâs performances.
Jambalaya Stage
The Jambalaya Stage was a hub of reggae and rock fusion, showcasing both local and up-and-coming talent.
IRIEspect started the day with their authentic reggae sound, followed by the Chris Ruben Band, who brought a mix of rock and reggae influences. Enrose and Roots Foundation continued the reggae vibes, with Roots Foundation delivering a standout performance. Formed in 2008 by bassist Corey Browd, this Long Island-based band pays homage to the roots style of reggae, drawing inspiration from legends like Bob Marley, Burning Spear, Steel Pulse, and Peter Tosh. The day on this stage concluded with the dynamic sounds of Half Breeds.
A Day of Unity and Celebration
The reggae-themed day at the Great South Bay Music Festival was a testament to the unifying power of music. With a lineup that honored the roots of reggae while embracing its modern evolutions, festival-goers experienced a day of peace, love, and rhythmic bliss. As the sun set over Shorefront Park, the sounds of reggae continued to echo, leaving everyone eagerly anticipating the next day of this incredible festival.
Pepper Setlist: Bring Me Along. Rent, Things That You Love, Nice Time, Stormtrooper, Your Face, B.O.O.T., Tradewinds, Too Much, Freeze, Drum Solo, Stone Love, Seven Weeks, Crazy Love, Green Hell, Brand New Day, No Control, Warning
Streetlight Manifesto Setlist: Watch it Crash, A Moment of Silence, A Moment of Violence, A Better Place, a Better Time, Intro: This Is a Call to Arms, Here’s to Life
Badfish Setlist: Smoke Two Joints, Caress Me Down, Garden Grove, We’re Only Gonna Die, Waiting for My Ruca, Feel Like That, Get Ready, Badfish, Doin’ Time, My Girl, Pawn Shop, Changes, Regulate, Santeria, The Final Countdown, Date Rape, What I Got
Following the event’s undeniable success in 2023, the Borscht Belt Museum has announced the return of its now-annual Borscht Belt Festival, a three-day-long celebration of the iconic Borscht Belt Era in the Catskills.
Beginning on the evening of Friday, July 26, and running through Sunday, July 28, the equally informative and entertaining festival will pay homage to the Borscht Belt’s vibrant past while showcasing its legacy and wide-ranging influence on American culture to all who attend in Ellenville, NY.
The Borscht Belt, a term for the region of summer resorts in the Catskills Mountains that thrived from the 1920s to the 1970s, is a pivotal piece of New York history. In its prime, the Borscht Belt had over 500 resorts that filled up with guests every year. The catalyst of the Borscht Belt was that in the early 1900s, certain hotels and resorts openly discriminated against Jewish people, which led to an untapped market that all resorts in the Borscht Belt leaned heavily into. Some of the most iconic aspects of the Borscht Belt’s prime are the historic comedians, delicious and authentic Jewish foods, and a second-to-none communal atmosphere.
Inspired by the fabled Borscht Belt era, the Borscht Belt Festival was created as an outlet to celebrate the region’s lengthy and impactful history. The inaugural Borscht Belt Festival last year was a rousing success, bringing in over 6,000 attendees, which led to all ticketed events selling out. The festival offers food, comedy, live music and scores of other events that will take over much of downtown Ellenville, just ninety minutes from Times Square.
Ellenville was home to the Nevele Grand Hotel, one of the largest and most important resorts in the Borscht Belt’s history, which sadly closed in 2009.
“Amid the backdrop of rising antisemitism, Borscht Belt Fest is a timely celebration of Jewish joy as a response to exclusion,” said Andrew Jacobs, president of the Borscht Belt Museum board. “The resorts may be gone, but we are committed to preserving and celebrating the Borscht Belt and the comedy, food and culture that had lasting impacts on mainstream America.”
This year’s festival is set to one-up everything from the first festival, with organizers claiming to have doubled the size of all offerings from the last year.
Highlights from this year’s lineup include Cousin Brucie, New Yorker writer Patricia Marx, comedian Rachel Feinstein, The Great Babka Bake Off, what will surely be a competitive and raucous Simon Sez competition, an outdoor screening of Dirty Dancing, and more, including cabaret and musical theater. Paying homage to the lifeblood of the Belt, the festival will also feature a multitude of stand-up shows from start to finish. A partnership with the NY Comedy Club has guaranteed that attendees will be getting the best of the best.
The festival’s centerpiece, though, has to be the street fair, which will run Saturday, 11–5 p.m. and Sunday, 10–3 p.m. and will feature local artisans, nostalgic merchandise, and delicious food, including artful interpretations of Jewish classics. The street fair is free to enter for all who come. Most events are free, but tickets are required for the comedy shows, talks, and workshops, with proceeds going to support the Catskills Borscht Belt Museum.
The Borscht Belt Festival is fully organized by the Borscht Belt Museum, a non-for-profit dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Borscht Belt resort era and celebrating its history as a refuge from bigotry, the cradle of stand-up comedy, and a cultural catalyst that left deep imprints on America. The museum’s current exhibition, “And Such Small Portions: Food and Comedy in the Catskills Resort Era,” will be running through November 15.
Find tickets and more information on the Borscht Belt Festival here.
Slavic Soul Party, a New York City brass band will rock Schenectady, NY with their performance at the Music Haven concert series on July 21.
The nine piece band blends Slavic, Balkan and Roma tunes to create their unique sound. The band has been officially named the number one GypsySoul, BalkanBrass band in NYC. The band is led by drummer Matt Moran who is accompanied by Kenny Bentley on the tuba, John Carlson and Kenny Warren on trumpets, Adam Dotson and Tim Vaughn on trombones, Peter Hess on the saxophone, Peter Stan on the accordion and Chris Stromquist on percussion.
Over the last 15 years they have released seven albums and toured around North America, Europe and Turkey and Zimbabwe. The group has a less than traditional way of recording. They recorded the album Bigger in under four hours with another brass band and used four roosters in the making. Slavic Soul Party re-arranged Duke Ellington “Far East Suite” for their 2016 album, adding their own twist to the classic jazz record.
Joining the concert series as Slavic Soul Party’s opener is Niva, a four-woman Macedonian band from Brooklyn. The band performs a variety of tradition folk music in Macedonian
This year’s Music Haven series features a lineup of incredible international and cultural performers. The 34th season includes Mokoomba, a Zimbabwean Afro-fusion band, Buckwheat Zydeco, a creole-funk artist from Louisiana and an Irish folk band called Goitse.
You can catch these free performances every Sunday from July 7 to Aug 30. Yanni’s 2-Go will serve a global menu throughout the series. During the Slavic Soul Party performance, they will serve traditional Balkan dishes like Moussaka and Baklava.
To find more information about the lineup, you can visit the Music Haven Website here.
On Sunday, July 7, the Coney Island Amphitheater was alive with the sounds of reggae and dancehall music as Federation Sound celebrated their 25th anniversary.
Founded in 1999 in Brooklyn by Max Glazer, Kenny Meez, and Cipha Sounds, Federation Sound has become a key player in the reggae scene. They are famous for their energetic shows and unique blend of classic reggae and modern dancehall.
Federation Sound
The night started with performances by Red Fox & Screechy Dan, who got the crowd moving with their lively set. Following them, Tifa kept the energy high with her hit songs and engaging performance. Mr. Lexx continued the party, showing why he remains a favorite in dancehall music.
Red Fox & Screechy Dan
Tanto Metro & Devonte were a crowd favorite, delivering hit after hit and getting everyone to sing along. Iotosh, a newer artist in the reggae world, impressed the audience with his fresh sound, mixing traditional reggae with modern vibes.
Tanto Metro & Devonte
A special guest performance by the legendary Johnny Osbourne was a highlight of the night. He wowed the crowd with his classic hits “Buddy Bye” and “Ice Cream Love,” bringing a wave of nostalgia and joy.
Johnny Osbourne
The headliners of the night, Shaggy and Sister Nancy, delivered unforgettable performances. Shaggy had the crowd dancing and singing along to his hits “Boombastic,” “Angel,” “It Wasn’t Me,” and more. Sister Nancy closed the night with her iconic songs “Bam Bam” and “One Two,” leaving the audience in awe of her powerful presence
Shaggy
In between some of the acts, Federation Sound kept the energy high with their DJ sets, showcasing their skill in mixing and keeping the crowd entertained.
Sister Nancy
Federation Soundâs 25th-anniversary show was more than just a concert; it was a celebration of reggae and dancehall culture. Fans and artists came together to honor Federation Soundâs impact on the music world, from their popular mixtapes to their influential radio shows and online streams.
Sun Ra Arkestra band leader and saxophonist Marshall Allen has lived on Earth for a century, but on Saturday night at Opus 40, he pointed to the sky and asked the sold-out crowd “why can’t we go somewhere there?” suggesting he’s still not done with his exploratory, interplanetary jazz mission.
On the Arkestra’s second of two nights headlining Opus 40, part of an eclectic series from Hudson Valley promoters Chosen Family Presents, the 17 piece big band played an energetic 100 minute set, and the 100-year-old Allen never let up for a minute. His ostinato, high-register alto sax and NASA-approved EVI synth sax playing excited the crowd who were in reverent awe of the living legend.
And while recent pieces about Allen’s 100th birthday have populated the pages of The New Yorker and The New York Times, and have certainly enhanced his celebrity, Marshall Allen is pretty much the same musician he’s always been – an acolyte and torch bearer for the life’s work of his old boss Sun Ra. Perhaps that’s why Allen closed the night with this message: “Going to outer space as fast as I can. Ain’t got time to shake your hand.”
It’s hard to shake hands when you’re busy wailing on the sax and tapping your feet. And, let’s face it, the Arkestra isn’t really about one player: it’s an ensemble of the first order, and perhaps the most colorful one going. Adorned in the brightest of future-Egyptians-from-space garb, each member of the Arkestra added his or her individual hue to a melting pot of American, world, and extraterrestrial music. Only the Arkestra can vacillate genres so easily, from free jazz to New Orleans second line to Afro-Futurism to deep blues, to the sound of pure, carefree joy encapsulated in the divine vocals of Tara Middleton.
While it was a hot and muggy day, the evening shade was pleasant and the setlist included a number of shout outs to the cooperation of Mother Nature. While night one was punctuated by some rain, Saturday’s weather got cooler as the band got hotter. Lyrical references to sunsets, sunshine, and the open sky only seemed to help things. And while the band is largely composed of older men, the audience was diverse in age. Children danced alongside parents and hipsters sat on blankets next to aging Deadheads – it was a reminder that Sun Ra music is wonderfully uniting. You can parse it for its academic significance to avant-garde music and the Black experience, or you can let your mind go entirely and just shake your ass to the polyrhythms as the band encouraged in “Carefree”.
Aside from Middleton’s exceptional performance, it’s important to note another member of the Arkestra who stole my attention for long periods of the set. Knoel Scott’s fiery performance on alto sax, baritone sax, conga drum, and vocals stood out. For a number of years now, Scott (who actually played with Sun Ra back in the 80s) has been the de-facto music director and it was fun to watch him signal for the trombones to punctuate a repeating-phrase, or when he called the band back to the head. The guy was intense in the best way possible, with his eyes often rolling back in his head and he attacked his conga drum. At one point, he was noticeably perturbed that the band (who might have been having a little issue with their monitors early in the set) didn’t end a tune together. But, this was just the galactic forces having some fun because one of the lyrical themes of the night was “What do you do when you know that you’re wrong? You’ve got to face the music. You’ve got to listen to the cosmic song” and “You made a mistake. Make another mistake and do something right”.
There were far more “right moments” than mistakes during Saturday’s set. Pretty much every time the group went into “big band mode” for the head of a tune, it was striking just how loud and dynamic the horns were. Trumpeter Cecil Brooks took a number of fine solos and bassist Tyler Mitchell had several shining moments where his soulful walking bass lines ignited the rest of the group. Younger band members Anthony Nelson (baritone sax) and Robert Stringer (trombone) also impressed. Nelson enhanced the low end all night, doubling basslines. Stringer’s solo with a mute late in the set was a particular crowd pleaser. Farid Mitchell also did more than a yeoman’s job as the Sun Ra stand-in on keyboards, especially when he played some rad organ sounds in the set-closer while wearing an incredible mask (my vote for the best Arkestra stage costume).
As for the compositions, the Sun Ra-written hard bop composition “Dancing Shadows” was an exceptional blend of Arkestra poly-rhythm percussion, a tightly played head, and trumpet and alto solos that dipped their toes into the avant-garde stratosphere. The current incarnation of the Arkestra plays jazz a lot more “in” than “out” with Allen adding the “free” elements as more of a garnish than a main dish. Certainly adventurous Ra adherents know that exploring Arkestra albums is sonic adventuring of th first order. Some albums are pretty straight and others send your ears to Jupiter. Those seeking to hear a well-recorded version of “Dancing Shadows” might take a look at the Sun Ra release on ESP-Disk “Nothing Is…”. The album (a personal favorite) features an excellent live performance from a 1966 tour of New York State colleges.
“Boma”, a Marshall Allen composition inspired by a river in Congo, was also a noteworthy moment for a couple of reasons. The piece only exists in the repertoire of the Arkestra in the “under the direction of Marshall Allen” era and it’s a reminder that this particular group of musicians have released a few stellar records in their own right that not only carry on a tradition but have mined new asteroid belts and continue to write. “Boma” is African-influenced and it sounds timeless like much of this music. It could be ancient or from the year 2250, it’s hard to say. What it shares with the Sun Ra music of the past is percussion that extends beyond the jazz cannon and into the African continent in particular (it’s kind of like the music the Arkestra was playing in the early 80s with Salah Ragab and the Cairo Jazz Band and not all that far removed from the reverie of artists like Fela Kuti who just relentlessly groove).
During the show, I saw a fair amount of people rocking t-shirts with stealies, skulls, and roses on them and I was struck by just how much the live music of The Grateful Dead shares with the Arkestra. Even though the bands operate in different genres, their most analogous characteristics are their emphasis on collective improvisation, which makes it so fun to watch various members of the group to see just exactly how they are coloring the mix. Both groups also have an incredible ability to hold an audience in the palm of their hand. At times the music may fall short of expectations, but when it’s firing, like it was during “Carefree” towards the end of Sun Ra Arkestra’s set, the divide between performers and audience crumble and EVERYONE knows that the music is right. You can see it on the faces of the musicians and you can turn around and see that just about everyone is out of their lawn chairs and dancing. It’s a special kind of magic, especially when you’re on top of a mountain in a gorgeous sculpture park like Opus 40.
And like bearded Bobby Weir, Marshall Allen is a mainline back to the origin of Sun Ra, an American original just like Jerry. Just as Jerry took his roots in bluegrass and folk music and mined new territory in psychedelic rock music, Sun Ra left a world of big band jazz standards and oddball lounge music in search of something bigger, more spiritual, and decidedly weirder (and consequently more original).
Let’s be glad that Marshall Allen continues to play and preserve this music so that new ears can fall down the wormhole of endless recordings that the Arkestra left behind. And what’s more, let’s celebrate that this music can still be shared in person, where the experience is transcendent, immediate, and always unexpected.
Marshall Allen is here on Earth, but only to remind us that space is the place. His final frontier feels distant yet, and I’m ecstatic that because of his recent birthday, his star is burning brighter than ever.
Setlist: Face the Music, Sunology, Dancing Shadows, Dorothy’s Dance, Love in Outer Space, Boma, Make Another Mistake, Space is the Place/If We Came From Nowhere Here, Blues Jam, Care Free, Watch the Sunshine
Rising Reggae star Mihali just announced nine new tour dates, including The Yard at Ray’s in Bouckville, NY on July 25 and Garcia’s in Port Chester, NY on Aug 8.
Chiefly, Mihali is the co-founder and former lead singer of the band Twiddle. However, the band parted ways in 2023. But Mihali was recording solo music long before their end. Thus, his first piece of solo music was his song “Breath and Let Go” which he released in 2020.
Mihali, or Mihali Savoulidis, continued to write throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover Savoulidis sent Ivy Terra front man, Nathan Feinstein, a demo of his song “All Day” and Feinstein finished the song remotely and sent it back. As a result the two began to collaborate frequently, with Feinstein producing Savoulidis’s first record from 2022’s Effection.
According to Savoulidis, there’s a lot of happiness and hope portrayed on Effection. “Personally, I’m wearing a lot of hats right now,” said the Reggae star. “I’m incredibly proud and excited to be releasing so much music and, as always, evolving.”
Significantly two of his shows will be in his home state of Vermont. Hence on Aug 15 and 22 he will perform at Nectar’s in Burlington. Additionally there will be two New York stops. Moreover during his set at the Yard at Ray’s, Savoulidis will collaborate with the hip-hop blues band G. Love and Special Sauce.
Meanwhile, tickets can be purchased on Mihali’s website here.
Mihali Tour 2024
July 14 – Wilmington, NC – Bowstring Brewyard
July 17 – Ocean City, MD – Seacrets Beach Stage
July 19 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live
July 20 – Wilmington, DE – The Queen
July 21 – North Stonington, CT – Jonathan Edwards Winery
July 24 – Hampton, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
July 25 – Bouckville, NY – The Yard at Ray’s
July 26 – Cheswick, PA – Mountain View Amphitheater
August 8 – Port Chester, NY – Garcia’s
August 15 – Burlington, VT – Nectar’s
August 22 – Burlington, VT – Nectar’s
August 25 – Boston, MA – Terptown Throwdown
August 29 – Port Chester, NY – Garcia’s
September 18 – Toronto, ON – Adelaide Hall
October 9 – South Deerfield, MA – Tree House Brewing Company
November 7 – Los Angeles, CA – The Venice West
November 8 – San Diego, CA – Winstons Beach Club
November 9 – Sanger, CA – Golden Road Festival
November 10 – Mill Valley, CA – Sweetwater Music Hall
This fall, Kaatsbaan Cultural Park hosts the 2024 rendition of their annual cultural festival. The festival, held in Tivoli, NY, begins on the weekend of September 13 and ends on October 6.
For the three weekend of the festival’s duration, an array of visual and musical artists will showcase their work, with each weekend focusing on a different medium. Attendees can enjoy a wide variety of activities and shows, including film screenings, concerts, art exhibits, dance shows, and more.
Founded in 1990, Kaatsbaan Cultural Park promotes all forms of art and culture found throughout the world. The organization hosts a wide variety of events, including the Annual Festival, art and dance exhibitions, and even educational programs such as the Ballet Intensive. With a diverse set of performers, Kaatsbaan Cultural Park brings culture and art to the town of Tivoli. As both an incubator for creativity and presenter for world-class artists in dance, theater, music, film, poetry, and culinary and visual arts, Kaatsbaan provides artists with state-of-the-art dance studios, accommodations, an indoor theater, and outdoor stages.
The three weeks of the Annual Festival involves dozens of performers, each specializing in their own form of art. Due to the festival’s length, the events are dedicated to a specific medium.
September 13-15
September 13–15 focuses on film, literary, and visual art. The events include an author reading and conversation with Francine Prose, an art walk with curator Hilary Greene and artists, and a screening of MERCE / MISHA / MORE, a film celebrating decades of friendship and collaboration between Mikhail Baryshnikov and Merce Cunningham.
Mikhail Baryshnikov – MERCE / MISHA / MORE
September 19–2, Gaia Music Collective and Contemporaneous
The festival celebrates music with a free Community Sing hosted by Gaia Music Collective and a performance of History of Life—Act 1, anin-development productionby Contemporaneous, a Kaatsbaan-grown ensemble,inspired by Homer’s Odyssey.
Gaia Music Collective- PC Joanna Lee Johnson
September 28–29, Limón Dance Company, Boca Tuya, and Music From The Sole
A preview performance of a new creation by Bessie Awardee Kayla Farrish that examines two thematically aligned works by José Limón, Redes (1951) and El Grito (1952).
Boca Tuya performs Like Those Playground Kids at Midnight, a shapeshifting duet developed at Kaatsbaan in 2023. Boca Tuya is led by queer Puertorriqueño choreographer and director Omar Román De Jesús.
Music From The Sole closes out the night with a new work-in-development that explores the profound link between tap dance, Afro-Brazilian, and house music.
Limon Dance Company – PC Kelly Puleio
October 5–6
The weekend begins with the Kaatsbaan debut of multi-award-winning British choreographer and director Sir Wayne McGregor and his work Autobiography (v100 and v101) on the outdoor Mountain Stage.
Tickets and any additional information for the Kaatsbaan Cultural Park Annual Festival are available on their website, linked here.
The Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association, located in Ballston Spa, NY, has announced its summer concert series, “Concerts in the Park.” Events and performances will take place weekly on Thursdays from 6-8 pm in Lions Music Park at the historic Iron Spring Park on Front Street. Attendees can enjoy performances from a wide variety of performers, including community symphonic bands and local rock groups.
Formed in 1983, the BSBPA is committed to making Ballston Spa a thriving, prosperous community that is great for both business and everyday life. Since its inception, they have promoted local vendors, merchants, and businesses alongside artists and musicians in and surrounding the area. The Concerts in the Park series is one of their many events promoting the extensive talent in the thriving neighborhood.
From chamber ensembles to indie rock bands, the Ballston Spa Concerts in the Park series celebrates musicians of all kinds. Listed below is the full list of those performing for Concerts in the Park.
The Ballston Spa Community Band makes their return to the concert series just in time for the opening performance. Since 2005, the volunteer musicians that make up the band have bonded over their love of music. About a dozen times each year, the Ballston Spa Community Band performs in schools, parks, and theaters in the area. Join them for a sensational opening performance on June 27.
For the last 15 years, HEARD has brought captivating fusions of jazz, improvisational, and world music to festivals and concerts all over the country. Their vibrant sound incorporates influences from West Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean, and beyond.
Based in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Fenimore Blues performs an eclectic mix of blues, R&B, and rock. The blend of genres comes from multiple inspirations, including Bonnie Raitt, Aretha Franklin, the Neville Brothers, the Allman Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, Etta James, Santana, and even Tedeschi Trucks. Their unique stage presence stems from its instrumentation – Sherian Nolan’s powerful vocals are backed by guitar, keyboards, saxophone, bass, and drums, and one band member doubling on accordion.
Concerts in the Park once again welcomes the Union Fire Company Band with an ice cream social, accompanied by a performance from the Union Fire Company Band. Support the Ballston Spa local fire department on August 1st.
Hailing from Upstate NY, Sirsy is a sassy pop-rock duo with an amazing musical ability. Drummer Melanie Krahmer, who also plays keyboards, is joined by her husband John (guitar), these multi-instrumentalists manage to sound like a full band. Sirsy is known for their passionate, honest, heartfelt live performances. The Boston Globe calls SIRSY the “little band with the big sound.”
For the last 30 years, Lustre Kings have cemented themselves as focused, driven, and passionate musicians returning to their roots. Their reverb-driven sounds of early rock lean on touchstones of country, blues, and R&B.
The Protones are a group of well-seasoned musicians bringing back the classic sounds of 70s rock to venues and festivals all over the state. Join them as they close out the Concerts in the Park series on August 22!
