NYS Music 2024

Category: Festival News

  • Ashokan Center Announces Ukrainian Community Day Celebration on September 22

    Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, NY has announced a music celebration in honor of Ukrainian culture on September 22. The event is coined Ukrainian Community Day.

    Ukrainian Community Day

    The event features a diverse lineup of Ukrainian music. This includes The Ukrainian Village Voices, singer Maria Sonevytsky, bandura player Olya Fryz, and Eva Salina, founder of Driftwood Chorus.

    The Ukrainian American Youth Association of the Hudson Valley are selling a range of items. This includes shirts, sweatshirts, handmade jewelry, collectible Ukrainian stamps and more.

    Activities include Ukrainian folk medicine plant walks, dance instruction, hands-on workshops showcasing Ukrainian potters, and wool spinning & weaving artists. Also included, an array of authentic culinary delights to be presented by Soyuzivka, the Ukrainian American cultural center in Kerhonkson.

    Various performances are planned for the event by Zoya Shepko & YiYi Folk Ensemble, Ruby Pinyuh-Derovan, Bourbon & Breast Milk, and more. Each performance pays homage to the vast diversity of Ukrainian culture. Ukrainian Community Day is one for all to enjoy, and for all cultures to take part in and to experience this unique culture.

    Ashokan’s all-age tickets work on a sliding scale with $20 as the suggested price of the event, $10 as the minimum, and $30 to be a supporter. This allows the Ashokan Center to provide tickets to those who are financially unable to attend otherwise.

    50% of all proceeds are donated to Ukrainian-American Youth Association of the Hudson Valley. The support for Ukrainian American Youth Association’s (UAYA) efforts to aid children and hospitals in Ukraine is incredibly important, especially given the current challenges the country faces.

    “The natural beauty and wooden architecture of the Ashokan Center invokes a
    sense of the Ukrainian mountain communities, creating a meaningful and resonant
    backdrop for this event. Showcasing and connecting with Ukrainian culture and
    community helps bring the issues in Ukraine closer to people’s hearts and helps
    support its resilience and fight for freedom.”

    Danylo Mykula, Ukrainian American Youth Association

    For more information on Ukrainian Community Day, and to purchase tickets, click here.

  • QUIP World Music Festival Returns to Queens

    The Queens United International Party (QUIP) presents the seventh annual World Music Festival, taking place in Sunnyside Gardens Park on Saturday, September 21.

    quip

    An annual celebration of all 120 countries and 135 languages represented in Queens, the QUIP World Music Festival brings the entire borough and beyond together to enjoy the music, art, culture, and food of the community, for the community, by the community.

    This year’s QUIP offers a full roster of events for all ages- music, arts and crafts, dance contests, a wide array of food vendors spanning from arepas to momos, and all that the historical community park has to offer. 

    Musical performances will occur on two alternating stages from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM with a lineup that is sure to stun, including but not limited to the renowned kora player Yacouba Sissoko, dancer and educator Malini Srinivasan, all-women, trans, and nonbinary Brazilian Samba Reggae drum line Fogo Azul, and the ever-entertaining Pinkie Special.

    Tickets are $15 at the door, and kids under 12 years old are free. For further information, please visit here.

    The full lineup can be found below.

    Full Festival Lineup

    Somer Suarez

    Malini & Ensemble

    Pinkie Special

    Yacouba Sissiko

    Fogo Azul

    Liftoff Brass

    Akoko Nante

    Alea

  • Inaugural Finger Lakes Balloon and Music Festival Announced

    For the first time ever, Western New York will get to experience the Finger Lakes Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival. From Sept 27 to the 29, balloons will fill the sky at the Castel Grisch Winery in Watkins Glen.

    Finger Lakes Balloon Festival

    This year, which hot air balloon fans hope to be the first year of many, will be the inaugural Finger Lakes Hot Air Balloon Festival. For three days this fall, hot air balloons will rise into the air over Watkins Glen, and you can admire their beauty from the ground or the sky. You will have the opportunity to take a ride in one of these floating contraptions either tethered or untethered.

    The first manned hot air balloons began to be tested in the air in 1783. Since then were mainly used as research devices for the first 150 years of their history. After the advent of the onboard heat source in 1950, Hot air balloons have mainly been used for recreational purposes.

    If you are afraid of heights, the Finger Lakes Balloon and Music Festival will have plenty of entertainment safely on the ground. The festival will feature many food trucks, craft vendors, and samples from local wineries, breweries, and distilleries. But that’s not all, a classic car show will even be held on Sept 28.

    As the balloons ripple across the sky, music will ripple over the grounds as 11 bands will entertain the masses throughout the days of the festival. Such acts as Jimmy Mowery, Clark Jackson, Jacob Gilpin, Alyssa Crosby, Major Bigtime, Nick G & The Neons, Tru Bleu, and many more.

    In case you were curious, the world-famous RE/MAX Balloon will be there.

    Purchase tickets and learn more here.

  • Buffalo Jazz Festival Returns Sept 1

    For the third year in a row, Buffalo Jazz Festival will be hosted on the Richardson-Olmsted Campus in Buffalo on Sunday, September 1st from 12:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

    Buffalo Jazz Festival

    JazzBuffalo, a non-profit organization, presents this year’s Buffalo Jazz Festiva, seeking to increase and spread Jazz awareness and appreciation. They also host a variety of events throughout the year such as “Food Truck Tuesdays at Larkin Square,” as well as the “Jazz at Richardson” series, which holds performances both on the lawn and inside the Richardson Hotel.

    The Richardson Hotel is also the home of the festival this year. The stage on the south lawn will hold performances throughout the day. The historic hotel was built as a mental asylum by Frederick Law Olmsted (of Central Park fame,) and housed patients from 1880 until 1974. The campus was deemed a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

    Attendees this year will experience Salsa, Latin Jazz, as well as timeless jazz classics. The festival will include free salsa and swing dance lessons.

    Schedule for Buffalo Jazz Festival

    Sunday, September 1

    1:00 pm – Vibrant Strings

    2:20 pm – Jay Sharp-tet

    3:40 pm – My Cousin Toné

    5:00 pm – Wendell Rivera Latin Jazz Ensemble

    6:30 pm – The Fredtown Stompers

    Learn more about JazzBuffalo here.

  • Second Annual GrassRoots Unplugged Comes to Trumansburg this September

    Finger Lakes GrassRoots festival has announced the return of the GrassRoots Unplugged concert. The second annual unplugged festival is held from September 7 to 8 at the Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts.

    Trumansburg

    GrassRoots Unplugged is a two day, two stage, musical gathering featuring some of your favorite GrassRoots performers in an intimate setting. Conclude the perfect summer with Sim Redmond, Rose & the Bros, Kevin Kinsella and more at TCFA September 7-8.

    This festival is one for the community. The mission of the Finger Lakes GrassRoots festival is to unify the community and to create a cultural hub for future generations to enjoy. At least ten acts prepare to perform at the unplugged festival.

    Performances are held from 1:30 to 9:30 on both days. Tickets are $25 a day or $40 for both days. For children 12 and under, admission is free. Sunday will feature our fabulous dance floor including a Sunday Square Dance with caller Casey Carr and GrassRoots Unplugged musicians. The fest also includes a visual arts section, and a children’s fun area.

    For more information on the GrassRoots Unplugged festival coming to Trumansburg, NY, click here. Click this link to purchase your daily tickets or tickets for the whole weekend.

  • Adirondack Independence Music Festival Releases Full Weekend Schedule Including Headliners moe. and Melvin Seals & JGB

    The Adirondack Independent Music Festival has just released the full schedule of performances set for their Lake George extravaganza Friday, August 30 through Sunday, September 1. The stacked lineup features headliners moe. and Melvin Seals & JGB, alongside many other local and nationally touring bands.

    For those looking to see some great music this upcoming Labor Day weekend, Adirondack Independent Music Festival (‘ADK Fest’) is the place to be. Returning for its ninth year, the festival will once again take place at the beautiful Charles R. Wood Festival Commons in Lake George.

    Headlining this year’s festival will be Upstate New York jam band moe., who will perform two sets each night on Saturday and Sunday. Hailed by American Songwriter for their “mind-bending musicality,” moe. is treasured for their mesmerizing musical synergy, unfettered showmanship, and smart, resonant songcraft. For three decades, the band has corralled myriad musical forms on a truly original journey rich with crafty, clever songwriting and astonishing resourcefulness. Fueled by an impassioned fan base, moe. has spent much of those thirty years on the road, encompassing countless live performances marked by eclectic wit, deep friendship, and exploratory invention.

    The other festival headliner, Melvin Seals & JGB, will be performing two sets on the opening night of Friday. Melvin Seals has been a powerful presence in the music industry for over 30 years, with a long-established reputation as a performer, recording artist and producer. Melvin is most revered for his powerful, high-spirited Hammond B-3 organ and keyboards in the Jerry Garcia Band. Melvin spun his B-3 magic with the Jerry Garcia Band for 18 years and, in doing so, helped pioneer and define what has now become “Jam Band Music.” From blues to funk to rock to jazz, Melvin Seals serves up a tasty mix with a little R&B and gospel thrown in to spice things up. Continuously on the road with his band JGB, featuring John Kadlecik, John-Paul McLean and Jeremy Hoenig, Melvin Seals continues to spread the music of Jerry Garcia Band and more.

    The stacked lineup will also feature performances by GRAMMY-nominated progressive bluegrass act Yonder Mountain String Band, Twiddle frontman Mihali, whose band also features Twiddle members Zdenek Gubb and Adrian Tramontano, and Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime.

    Food and craft vendors will be available on the grounds, with the beautiful Lake George sitting as a backdrop to everything. All ages are welcome to attend, and children 12 and under are free for general admission. Visit here for tickets and more information. See below for the show schedule graphic and a full written lineup with times.

    Full Adirondack Independent Music Festival Schedule

    Friday

    One Time Weekend – 1-2 PM

    Bella’s Bartok – 2-3 PM

    Lucid – 3-4:15 PM

    Cool Cool Cool – 4:15-5:15

    Lespecial – 5:15-6:30 PM

    Mihali (Live Band) – 6:30-8 PM

    Melvin Seals & JGB – 8-11 PM

    Saturday

    Crooked Coast – 12-1 PM

    Strange Machines – 1-2 PM

    The Frank White Experience: A Tribute to the Notorious B.I.G. – 2-3 PM

    RAQ – 3-4 PM

    Moon Hooch – 4-5 PM

    Pink Talking Fish – 5-6:15 PM

    Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime – 6:15-7:30 PM

    moe. – 7:30-11 PM

    Sunday

    Kendall Street Company – 12-1 PM

    Yam Yam – 1-2 PM

    Wild Adriatic – 2-3 PM

    Hayley Jane Band – 3-4 PM

    Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country – 4-5 PM

    Spafford – 5-6:15 PM

    Yonder Mountain String Band – 6:15-7:30 PM

    moe. – 7:30-11 PM

  • Jazz at the Lake Celebrates 40 Years

    The Lake George Arts Project celebrates their 40 year anniversary of Jazz at the Lake, a three-day festival featuring renowned and rising jazz musicians. The festival takes course over three days, presenting a wide variety of artists and musical styles. This year’s festival is from September 13 through 15.

    Jazz at the Lake features an extensive lineup, including GRAMMY-winning artists and virtuosos. This year’s stellar lineup includes rising star Jahari Stampley, trumpet virtuoso Michael Mayo, GRAMMY-winning artists Ulysses Owens, Linda May Han Oh, Nicole Zuraitis, Danilo Perez, and many more. 

    Over the years, Jazz at the Lake has become one of Lake George’s most anticipated events, bringing in thousands of fans to the region to celebrate jazz. The multiple-days long festival has proudly showcased some of the greatest regional, national, and international jazz musicians in hundreds of concerts over the last four decades. Now in its 40th year, the festival brings three days of incredible artists, special events, and tribute shows.

    The full line-up for this year’s Jazz at the Lake can be found at: www.lakegeorgearts.org

    Jazz at the Lake has provided fans with a playlist to all pieces featured during the festival. The playlist is available here.

    Friday Night, September 13:

    Friday kicks off on Friday night with the 2023 First Place winner of the Herbie Hancock International Competition Jahari Stampley, who is performing with his family trio comprised of 7-time GRAMMY Award nominee Erania Stampley  and Miguel Russell.

    Friday night also features performances as part of the Jazz Around Town program. They will perform at multiple locations around town.  Lineup for these performances include The Arch Stanton Trio, Nook & Cranny, Dylan Perillo and Brad Brose, the Scott Hopkins Jazz Trio, and the Chuck Lamb Trio. 

    Saturday, September 14

    Saturday begins at the Hello Sunshine Bagel Bistro for the Coffee and Jazz program, starting at 10 am and ending at noon. Attendees can grab a free coffee while listening to the music of the Chad McLoughlin Trio.

    Michael Mayo, a breakout composer and trumpet virtuoso, takes the Shepard Park stage at 1pm. Renowned saxophonist Ben Wendel brings his lyrical compositions to life at 3 pm. At 5pm, three time Grammy™ Award-Winning Drummer Ulysses Owens Jr., performs with Generation Y, a group of distinct and reputable talent from the top music conservatories in the United States. Finishing the show is GRAMMY winner Nicole Zuraitis, jazz singer-songwriter, pianist and arranger, at 8 pm.

    Sunday, September 15

    Fans can enjoy Jazz at the Lake’s very own Jazz Cruise on Sunday morning. The cruise ride includes a tour of scenic Lake George accompanied with breakfast and live music.

    Taking the Shepard Park stage at 1 pm is The Daniel Kelly Group, who pay tribute to festival founder Paul Pines in a performance that uses Pines’ poetry (read by David Gonzales) as inspiration. At 3pm, GRAMMY award-winning Linda May Han Oh, a highly renowned bassist and composer, takes the stage with her dynamic quintet. Jazz at the Lake ends with the GRAMMY Award Winners and UNESCO Artist for Peace, Danilo Pérez who will be playing with John Patitucci & Adam Cruz beginning at 5 pm.

  • NEEMFest Returns to Homer in September

    NEEMFest electronic music festival will return to Homer, NY on September 13th. The annual event continues in its mission of bringing electronic performances and workshops to Central New York. 

    A performance from NEEMFest 2019
    A Performance from NEEMFest 2019

    NEEMFest dates back over 23 years, when Howard Moscovitz organized the Electro-music conference in Philadelphia. The event worked to showcase the versatility of electronic equipment in making music that could be both dreamy and danceable. Following its initial success, the conference evolved into an annual event. 

    In 2017, the event organizers approached Homer’s Center for the Arts, with the town soon becoming its new home. Since the move, NEEMFest has worked to increase community engagement through cooperation with local school and university music programs. 

    Since its start, NEEMFest has prided itself in highlighting cutting edge electronic music. In its history, the festival has attracted performers from across the Northeast, each bringing a unique take to the genre. Past artists have utilized modified cellos, industrial fans, synthesizers, and video game consoles in their music. In this large umbrella of electronic music, artists incorporate genres from classical to rock, creating a diverse musical landscape. Aiding these performances are projected visualizations made by a team of video artists. 

    Homer Center for the Arts

    In the past, NEEMFest has highlighted a wide variety of electronic musicians and composers. Highlighted artists include video game composers, planetarium sound designers, and avant-garde musicians. Due to the quality of NEEMFest’s performances, the Philadelphia Inquirer has hailed it as the “Woodstock of Electronic Music.”

    NEEMFest 2024 will feature over 40 performances lasting from September 13-15th. On top of its musical performances, the festival offers a number of educational events. Included in these are artist talks & demonstrations and experimental music workshops. These events aid in NEEMFest’s mission of community building and engagement. NEEMFest’s events will take place at the Homer Center for the Arts, located at 72 S Main St.

    On top of these scheduled events, a special off-site performance is also planned. The performance is a rendition of William Basinski’s “The Disintegration Loops,” composed in memory of the 9/11 attacks. NEEMFest’s organizers plan to host the event in a meditative space in Homer that best suits the piece. Following NEEMFest 2024, its organizers will release a digital compilation on Bandcamp highlighting performances from the festival. 

    William Basinski’s “The Disintegration Loops”

    NEEMFest 2024 Schedule

    Friday, September 13th

    3:30pm – Workshop: Ritchie DeCarlo

    4:00pm – Ritchie DeCarlo

    4:30pm – Giles Reaves

    5:00pm – Luciform

    5:30pm – Laura Feathers

    6:00pm – neon.bev.click

    8:00pm – Martin Bisi Collective

    8:30pm – Stepwriterun

    9:00pm – Beard Farm

    9:30pm – VENN SUNG

    10:00pm – Bleep Salon: Joe Wall, DORSCHEL, Gianni

    11:00pm – BIT.ROT

    11:30pm – Bob Lukomski

    12:00pm – Deftly Demolition

    Saturday, September 14th

    10:00am – Workshop: Joel Izquierdo

    10:30am – Workshop: Howard Moscovitz

    11:00am – Karl Fury R. Doschel

    11:30am – F Balducci + E Karp

    12:00pm – Dimension Step

    1:30pm – Shivasongster

    2:00pm – redgreenblue

    2:30pm – Twyndyllyngs

    3:00pm – Pas Musique

    3:30pm – Joel Izquierdo

    4:00pm -THOR

    4:30pm – Finite Element

    5:00pm – VISHWANATH_GI

    5:30pm – SPACECRAFT

    6:00pm – Dei Xhrist

    8:00pm – Mathieu Sylvestre

    8:30pm – David Berends

    9:00pm – a.drift

    9:30pm – Compactor

    10:00pm – Bleep Salon: Dan Gitlin, Dei Xhrist, Gianni

    11:00pm – Robert Dorschel

    11:30pm – MOSC

    12:00am – Symmetry

    Sunday, September 15th

    10:30am – Dave Heineman

    11:00am – Dave Heineman

    11:30am – Workshop: Dorschel

    12:00pm – Workshop: Jeremy dePrisco

    1:30pm – Dan Gitlin

    2:00pm – Escape Velocity

    2:30pm – Michael Victor

    3:00pm – Andrew Koenig

    3:30pm – Cindy Flowers

    4:00pm – John Rose

    4:30pm – HURON

    5:00pm – Tony Gerber, William Curtis Chang

    5:30pm – Jeremy Slater

    6:00pm – Final Bleep Salon: MOSC Director

    For more information, visit the NEEMFest website here. 

  • Manic Kat Records Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary With Festival

    Manic Kat Records, an independent record label based out of Pomona, NY, celebrates its tenth anniversary this year.

    In honor of their tenth birthday, Manic Kat Records hosts their very own music festival featuring their signed artists. This festival takes place September 13th and 14th at Olive’s in Nyack.

    manic kat records

    Over the last decade, Manic Kat Records has cemented itself as an independent punk music label that focuses on the growth and prosperity of its artists. Manic Kat has represented some of the most prolific names in the punk music scene, such as Ryan Cabrera, Todd Morse (Offspring/H2O), and Showoff, along with new artists who are on their way to joining the list of punk icons. 

    Manic Kat’s ventures have taken them down multiple paths. In the last ten years, they have collaborated with other entertainment centers like American Colosseum Wrestling (ACW) to host wrestling events, and launched a mobile app, Punk Hub Live, in the midst of a global pandemic to keep fans in touch with artists after live performances had been shut down.

     “This anniversary is a celebration of all the hard work, dedication, blood, sweat, and tears we have all put in to get us where we are today!” says CEO and founder Peter James. “I feel as though this milestone is even more special since we not only overcame the normal obstacles every business encounters, but were also able to survive a global pandemic and come out on the other side with continued growth and the passion to find and cultivate an amazing roster of artists.” 

    Much like their fifth anniversary, Manic Kat celebrates with another two-day festival. Hosting Magic Kat’s festival is McKenzie Mitchell, former ACW superstar, further cementing the incredibly strong relationship between the two organizations. On September 13 and 14, Magic Kat brings out an extensive lineup, all consisting of artists signed to their label. The full lineup of the punk powerhouses will be released soon. Both festival dates begin at 6 pm. Tickets start at $25 online, $30 at the door.

    For more information and tickets to Manic Kat Records’ anniversary show, visit the label’s website.

  • Drumstock Festival Returns to Geneva for Fifth Year

    The fifth annual Drumstock Music and Arts Festival will return to Geneva on Saturday, September 7th. The open-air festival will celebrate the region’s rich musical and artistic heritage with 14 hours of entertainment.

    Drumstock Festival

    Since its start, Drumstock has been so much more than just a music festival. Its organizers are dedicated to crafting an inclusive environment through collaboration with local artists and activists. This year, Drumstock will begin at 12pm on Saturday, September 7th at Geneva’s Lake Drum Brewing. The festival will take place in the outdoors in an open-air space behind the brewery. The free festival will feature a day of live music and community partnerships.

    The 2024 Drumstock Festival will feature 17 artists – both local and nationally renowned. At the top of the ticket is avant-garde funk group Soule Monde. Founded by Trey Anasastio Band members Ray Paczkowski and Russ Lawton, Soule Monde combines over 20 years of musical experience. Since their start, the band members have played with artists like Mike Gordon and Dave Matthews. With Lawton on Drums and Paczkowski on Hammond Organ, the duo crafts syncopated and highly improvisational tracks with ease. The band has previously appeared at Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, and Saturday Night Live.

    Alongside Soule Monde, Drumstock will highlight diverse local talent with a number of New York bands. Among the featured bands are Finger Lakes’ natives St Vith. The indie rock group blends influences ranging from Wilco to Animal Collective. With synthesized electronics and acoustic instrumentation, St Vith crafts an eclectic brand of alternative.

    The festival’s local talent spans countless genres, showcasing the region’s rich musical heritage. On top of St Vith’s indie rock, Kajuneji will perform, highlighting their mixing of jam, jazz and world music. This musical heritage will take festival-goers on a musical trip around the world. Geneva’s Zydecorp will bring audiences cajun-inspired accordion dance music and Colors Do Som will play their Brazilian-influenced stylings. Drumstock’s performances will begin at 12pm and last until 2am.

    In addition to countless musical performances, the festival provides visitors other ways to engage with local arts and culture. Throughout the day, Drumstock will feature art exhibitions and performances from local Hobart & William Smith students. In addition to arts, local vendors will be present throughout the day, giving visitors the chance to buy local handicrafts and delicacies. This all reflects Drumstock’s core mission of strengthening the local community through its exhibition of arts.

    Admission to this year’s Drumstock Festival is free thanks to local partnerships. Lake Drum Brewing, LDC, Geneva Community Projects, Red Jacket, Wayne Bank, Community Proud, and Dave & Wendy’s contributions have made the festival possible. For more information on the 2024 Drumstock Festival, visit their website here.

    Drumstock Festival Lineup

    Soule Monde (Featuring Ray Paczkowski and Russ Lawton of the Trey Anastasio Band)

    St Vith

    Kajuneji

    Zydecorp

    Cool Club & Lipker Sisters

    ProjectX

    Karen

    Colors do Som

    El Ka Bong

    Streetcat

    Charlie Reitz

    Seager

    Brad Dorrington

    Calya Lea

    Scott Tremolo

    DJ Haggard

    NuNu