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.
On September 20, Wonderland Forest in Lafayette, NY, will be home to LonCon, a two-day music festival featuring numerous rocking jam bands. This year, LonCon will also see the debut of newly formed Big Shrimp, ready to stun crowds with new faces.
Formerly known as Baked Shrimp, the group has decided to take on a new name, and of course, a new style. Hailing from Long Island and originally forming in 2017, Baked Shrimp took on the world as a trio, made up of Jared Cowen (Guitar/Vocals), Scott Reill (Bass/Vocals), and Jager Soss (Drums/Vocals). Their funk style brought them to festivals and shows all over the United States and Canada, and even provided supporting acts for artists like the Disco Biscuits, Pink Talking Fish, Aqueous, Dopapod, and more.
In 2021, Baked Shrimp formed LonCon, a two-day music festival featuring hundreds of artists over the course of three years. Up until recently, they performed as Baked Shrimp, but are now ready to change it up and announce their new and improved act.
Now known as Big Shrimp, the band has taken on not just a new name, but a new sound and even a new member. Joining the Big Shrimp crew is Matt Takesh, their brand new keyboard player.
“I am so amped up to have Matt Takesh with us behind a batch of keyboards, including a real B3!” says guitarist and vocalist Jared Cowen. “He and Max Perrotti have been a pure joy to bring into our world of music, and we can’t wait to see what this lineup looks and sounds like on the stage.”
This year, LonCon has moved to a new location, Wonderland Forest in Lafayette. Surrounded by beautiful scenery and dozens of hiking trails, attendees can choose to camp as close or as far from the festival as they’d like, and take in amazing hiking trails, scenic overlooks, waterfalls, and more.
The full lineup of LonCon is to be released soon, with performances from Mihali, Big Shrimp x2, Aliens Among Us (ft. Ben Atkind (ElephantProof/formerly Goose), Ryan Dempsey (Twiddle), Sam Lucid (Dogs in a Pile), Jared Sage Cowen (Big Shrimp), Gantzer, Sophistafunk, Annie in the Water, and more already announced.
“Having his and our friends and family be with us for what we continue to want to be an annual event, is so special, and inspires us to continue to want to grow our community,” says Cowen. The highly anticipated debut album for Big Shrimp is set to release in the Spring of 2025, following an incredible festival.
For more information on LonCon, visit the festival’s website.
The 22nd annual Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival has announced its artist lineup for 2024. The all-day free concert will feature five live acts on September 14.
Since its start in 2002, the Riverfront Jazz Festival has been a staple of Albany’s live music scene. Each year, the festival has featured legends of jazz music and highlighted local up-and-comers, providing a vast array of sounds for audiences. The 2024 event will likewise feature jazz artists from across the country, each sharing their unique take on the genre.
The first artist to perform is Bright Dog Red at 12:30pm. The Albany-based jazz rap octet has made waves for their unique genre blending. Their sound mixes improvisational jazz in the vein of Ornette Coleman and Mahavishnu Orchestra with 90s hip-hop. The group’s socio-politically charged lyricism has drawn comparisons with legendary acts like A Tribe Called Quest and Digable Planets. Glide Magazine describes the group as “Genre-agnostic, uncategorizable, and intensely thrilling.”
Following up the first performance is a set by Melanie Charles at 2:00pm. The Brooklyn-based musician has gained traction for her blending of jazz, R&B, and soul. Following a 2021 NPR Tiny Desk Concert, Charles was propelled further into the mainstream. In the past years, she has collaborated with everyone from Gorillaz to Mach Hommy. Her music, while heavily indebted to jazz, looks to the future of the genre. She said “I love jazz, I really fell in love with it deeply. But I was interested in young people interacting with it.”
Third-up is the Philadelphia-based septet Snacktime. The group first made a name for themselves playing free shows in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square, with their shows soon growing to sold-out concerts across the country. Their sound combines jazz, funk, punk, and more, creating songs that sound like no one else. Since their start, they have gained endorsements from Portugal. The Man and celebrities like Eric Andre and the Impractical Jokers. This performance comes in the leadup to their studio debut recorded by GRAMMY-nominated producer Will Yip. Snacktime’s set will begin at 3:30pm.
Following these performances is a presentation of the 8th annual Henry Johnson Award for Community Service. The ceremony is set for 4:30 pm with performances resuming at 5:00pm. At this point, Roosevelt Collier will perform a set, exhibiting his pedal steel guitar prowess. Since his start, Collier has performed alongside legends like the Allman Brothers Band and Los Lobos. In 2017, Collier launched his all-star band the “get-downs,” combining gospel, funk, rock, and more.
The final performance of the night comes from Nate Smith at 6:30pm. Hailing from Chesapeake, Virginia, Smith is a composer, drummer, and producer all in one. His emotional and raw style of drumming has brought collaborations with countless artists. Everyone from Norah Jones to Pat Metheny has sought out Smith for his percussion chops. Across his studio albums and collaborations, Smith has received three Grammy nominations. In recent years, his viral videos have introduced millions to Smith’s drumming, making him one of the most influential of this generation.
The Riverfront Jazz Festival is scheduled for Saturday, September 14th at Jenning’s Landing in Albany. The all-day free festival is an all-ages event, featuring music, food, beverages, and local vendors. For more information, visit the Albany Office of Cultural Affairs website here.
This fall S2O, one of Asia’s most highly anticipated music events, is making its United States debut. Running from August 31 to September 1, the immersive water music festival, is proud to bring electronic music’s biggest names to the Brooklyn Mirage during Labor Day weekend.
Known as “the world’s wettest festival,” S2O has celebrated the Thai New Year with a killer festival since 2015. The festival is known for upholding numerous New Year traditions in Thailand, including the Songkran tradition of spraying one another with water for good luck, for which it is most famous. In the almost decade since its creation, S2O has gained recognition for its innovative blend of electronic dance music and spectacular water effects. The unique festival concept aims to harness the power of water as an elemental force of joy and unity, bringing together fans from all backgrounds to celebrate the Thai New Year.
Since the festival’s creation, S2O has entertained thousands with the biggest names in electronic music, garnering fans and visitors from all over the world. Its resounding support has made S2O the largest Thai New Year celebration in the world. The high anticipation of the festival has made it continental, bringing it to other neighboring countries in Asia. Now, the United States joins the list, standing alongside spectacular past shows in Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and Hong Kong.
This year, S2O brings some of electronica’s biggest acts to Brooklyn in celebration. Headlining the festival are Marshmello and Subtronics, with an exciting lineup of supporting artists like Alan Walker, B2B, and more.
S2O Full Lineup
Saturday, August 31, 4 pm – 12 am
Headliner: Marshmello
Accompanied by: Alan Walker, timmy, Borgeous, Dzeko
Additional support: Sensei, Jokah
Sunday, September 1, 4 pm – 12 am
Headliner: Subtronics
Accompanied by: Said the Sky, B2B, William Black, ARMNHMR, Kaivon, Level Up
Additional support: Zion, Jomu, Cyberpunk, PSYXTOI
Attendees will immerse themselves in a water music festival experience with experiential elements. The Brooklyn Mirage’s 200-foot LED wall and indoor lounge guarantee the ultimate Songkran (Thai New Year) celebration. Regardless of culture or individual traditions, S2O promises a celebration fans will never forget. Tickets are now available on S2O’s website. However, two-day passes are now sold-out, with limited Sunday tickets still available.
After a five-year hiatus, Krockathon is making its long-awaited return to Syracuse on Saturday, July 27 at Chevy Court located in the NYS Fairgrounds.
Since 1996, this iconic festival has been a highlight for rock fans, and this year’s reboot promises to deliver an unforgettable experience with a stellar lineup of bands.
Krockathon Reboot is not just a concert; it’s a full-day festival experience. The Chevy Court Fairgrounds will be buzzing with activity, food and drink vendors, and merchandise stands. The spacious grounds ensure plenty of room to enjoy the music and festival atmosphere comfortably.
Throughout its original run, KRockathon drew hundreds of thousands of rock and metal fans to Central NY to see legendary acts like Deftones, Public Enemy and Korn. Following 21 years of rocking the region, KRockathon went on an indefinite hiatus. Its last showing was in 2018, featuring Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie.
Halestorm at Krockathon 19
This years line up includes performances by Hoobastank, Puddle of Mudd, and more that will transport concert-goers back to their moshing days. Take a look at the full lineup below
Puddle of Mudd leads the charge, bringing their unmistakable post-grunge sound. Fans can look forward to an electrifying performance featuring hits like “Blurry,” “She Hates Me,” and “Control.”
Hoobastank is set to deliver a powerful set with their blend of alternative rock and post-grunge. Known for the mega-hit “The Reason,” their performance is sure to be a standout moment of the day.
Stabbing Westward, adding a darker, industrial edge to the festival, Stabbing Westward will perform fan favorites such as “Save Yourself” and “What Do I Have to Do?” Expect an intense and dynamic show.
Nonpoint, with their hard-hitting, high-energy performance style, Nonpoint is a must-see. Hits like “Bullet with a Name” and their cover of “In the Air Tonight” will have the crowd headbanging in unison.
Boy Hits Car’s unique fusion of alternative rock and world music influences will add a diverse flavor to the lineup. Their energetic stage presence and catchy songs, including “LoveFuryPassionEnergy,” are sure to engage the audience.
Brand New Sin representing local talent, Brand New Sin brings a gritty, southern rock-inspired sound. Their powerful riffs and heartfelt lyrics will make their set a memorable homecoming for Syracuse rock fans.
Tickets for Krockathon Reboot are available now! This highly anticipated event is expected to draw a large crowd, so be sure to secure your tickets early. Whether you’re a long-time Krockathon attendee or experiencing it for the first time, this festival is set to be a highlight of the summer.
This year, the Schroon Lake Arts Council celebrates the 50th anniversary of its summer concert series, now named Schroon Lake Live.
To commemorate the golden anniversary, Schroon Lake Live offers two months of free concerts, having started on July 3 and held weekly on Tuesdays, and the 34th Adirondack Folk Festival.
Concerts for Schroon Lake Live! and the Adirondack Folk Festival are held at the 1874 Boathouse Theatre, or outdoors on the 1936 Bandstand. For Schroon Lake Live, this year’s program is more diverse than ever before and features artists of several genres, including Irish, folk, jazz, bluegrass, classical chamber music, and even a childrenâs and family program.
Also bringing fans to Schroon Lake is the Adirondack Folk Festival, celebrating and honoring the roots of of folk music from the region. Local and regional artists are set to perform, including Jamcrackers, House of Hamill, E.T.E., Vanaver Caravan, Matoaka Little Eagle and Julia Haines presenting Indigenous stories and music, and Three-Quarter North. The festival is Sunday, August 11, from noon to 6 pm. Food trucks and local vendors are available throughout the duration of the festival, and guests even have opportunities to meet the performers after the show.
In addition to the concerts, free open jam sessions are held in the Boathouse on Mondays from 7- 10 p.m. for all singers, musicians, and music lovers.
The full lineup for Schroon Lake Live is listed below. All concerts and events hosted are free, and welcome guests of all ages. For more information, visit the Art Council’s website, linked here.
Schroon Lake Live! Full Lineup
July 3: Get Up Jack
July 9: Dave Ruch
July 13: The Puppet People
July 15: Songs To Keep: Treasures Of An Adirondack Folk Collector with Dan Berggren
A Music Festival of national acclaim, the annual Farm Aid will return to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) on September 21st. The 2024 edition of the festival will feature performances from the festival’s legendary board members: Neil Young, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Margo Price, among other performers.
Farm Aid began in 1985 to raise awareness about the loss of family farms across the country. Bob Dylan’s Live Aid performance, where he commented on the hardships of American farmers, inspired Willie Nelson to begin the festival. In only six weeks the first Farm Aid was organized. Located in Champaign, Illinois, the September 22, 1985 festival drew 80,000 concert-goers. This first farm aid featured legends including Billy Joel, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty.
Since its founding, the festival has grown into the longest running annual benefit concert, raising over $80 million. The proceeds made by the festival go towards keeping farming families on their land in the face of growing commercial consolidation.
Neil Young, Willie Nelson, and John Mellencamp onstage at Farm Aid 1985
A highlight of Farm Aid was its 2013 edition hosted at SPAC. The festival featured over 20 artists playing to a sold-out crowd of 25,000 fans. In addition to emotional performances from legends like Pete Seeger, the night was dedicated to education and political change. The festival highlighted the issues of GMO seeds and spending cuts to food stamps, among other plights farmers faced.
In 2024, Farm Aid remains true to these convictions. This festival will highlight farmers’ roles in supplying fresh, healthy food for Americans. There will be a specific focus on farmers’ acts of resilience and unity in face of mounting pressures. Rising demand and labor costs coupled with the effects of global warming have had detrimental effects especially for New York’s dairy farmers. In just 5 years, over 3,000 dairy farms across New York have closed due to these pressures.
“We’re energized to be back in New York. The farmers here have always found ways to innovate and contribute to their communities, even as they deal with uncertainties, extreme weather and policies that favor corporations over people”
– Willie Nelson, Farm Aid Founder
The festival will feature performances from its board members as well as a host of other artists. The festival’s founder Willie Nelson is going strong into his 7th decade as a recording artist and will grace the crowd with his world-famous country twang. Also featured is Neil Young, who across his solo albums and work with CSNY, has firmly established himself as one of the greatest folk artists in history. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Mellencamp will energize audiences with his iconic heartland rock. The festival’s newest board member Dave Matthews will play a rock set alongside long-time collaborator Tim Reynolds.
In addition to these acts, the festival will feature performances from at least eight other artists. Among these are Mavis Staples, Nathaniel Rateliff, Lukas Nelson, Charley Crockett, Joy Oladokun, Southern Avenue, Cassandra Lewis, and Jesse Welles.
Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats
In addition to these musical performances, the festival will feature a number of experiences revolving around the importance of small farms. Festival concessions will use family-farm raised ingredients to highlight local specialities. In addition, exhibits will educate festival-goers on soil, water, energy, food and farming.
Presale tickets for Farm Aid in Saratoga Springs at SPAC go on sale Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 10am ET. Public sale tickets will follow on Friday, July 26 at 10am ET. Ticket prices range from $85 to $325.
For more information, visit the Farm Aid festival website here.
Greenwich Village’s annual Village Trip Festival will return on Saturday, September 14th. The 2024 edition will feature two full weeks of musical performance, comedy, and lectures.
Village Trip began in 2018, as a way to celebrate Greenwich Village’s countercultural history and spirit. Dating back to the 1910s, Greenwich Village was a hub for boundary-pushing thought. Village Resident and anarchist writer Hippolyte Havel described the village as “a spiritual zone of mind [with]…no boundaries.” In addition to spearheading the movements for women and LGBT rights, Greenwich Village was at the hub of musical innovation throughout the last century.
The 1930s saw legends of jazz and blues, like Leadbelly and Billie Holliday play at its many nightclubs. By the 1960s, its taverns and parks had become hubs for young songwriters in Manhattan. At the center of this musical movement – and Village Trip – was the Music Inn instrument shop. Throughout the 60s and 70s, legends like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and George Harrison frequented the shop.
In addition to performances and instrument shopping, Greenwich Village played an important role in inspiring classics of the rock and folk genres. The neighborhood is said to have inspired Joan Baez’s “Diamonds and Rust” and The Mamas & the Papas’ “California Dreamin’” among others.
The Village Trip’s first year featured a free concert by the legendary singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega. Since 2018, the event has expanded to neighborhood wide block parties, concerts, and events for both NYC locals and visitors to enjoy. In addition to music, past festivals have included writing seminars, book talks, and walking tours of the village.
Beginning on September 14, the 2024 Village Trip promises 13 different events for visitors to enjoy. A Block Party on West 4th Street will kick off the festival beginning at 2pm. Centered around the Music Inn, the party will feature performances by artist-emeritus David Amram. With a set featuring percussion, guitar, and bouzouki, the festivities are sure to spill out into the neighboring areas. During the block party, visitors can walk the same streets as Bob Dylan during the writing of The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.
September 15 will feature two events: a concert and a film screening. First is a performance by Janis Siegel and Yaron Gershovsky titled Colors of My Life – A Cy Coleman Songbook. Siegel and Gershovsky were both previously members of the legendary vocal jazz group The Manhattan Transfer, as vocalist and keyboardist respectively. This show will highlight the works of legendary Broadway composer/pianist Cy Coleman. With four decades worth of compositions under his belt, critic Clive Barners called Coleman “a permanent gem in Broadway’s musical crown.” The time and location of this performance are not finalized. Tickets will be $30.
September 15 will feature two screenings of Lead Belly: The Man Who Invented Rock & Roll. The film follows legendary bluesman Lead belly through his troubled life, career, and imprisonment. It features interviews with countless rock legends, tracing how Lead Belly’s compositions were key in developing early rock and roll. The film screenings will take place at 4pm and 7:30pm. Following the screening, there will be a Q&A with Alvin Singh II, Director of the Lead Belly Foundation. Tickets start at $25.
September 16 will feature The Music of the Bard: Words & Music of Shakespeare in the Park 1956-1967. This event traces the work of Joe Papp, the visionary behind Shakespeare in the Park and the Public Theatre. The Music of the Bard will feature selections from David Amram’s scores from Shakeapseare in the Park productions. In addition, actors will reenact their favorite scenes, and Gail Merrifield Papp will read excerpts from her memoir Public/Private: My Life with Joe Papp at The Public Theater. The event will last from 7:00-8:15pm, with tickets being $30.
September 17 and 18 will feature talks regarding the history of Greenwich Village. First, Rolling Stone senior writer David Browne will discuss his new book Talkin’ Greenwich Village: The Heady Rise and Slow Fall of America’s Bohemian Music Capital. This talk will discuss how such a small neighborhood fostered so much musical talent, and how government forces acted to subvert that musical innovation. This talk will begin September 17 at 6pm. This will be followed by a talk from Rutgers University history professor Ruth Feldstein. Feldstein’s talk will discuss how Black female entertainers in Greenwich Village impacted the larger pushes for civil rights and women’s liberation. Her talk will begin September 18th at 6pm.
September 17 will also feature a musical celebration of the works of three pioneering New York artists: Georgia O’Keeffe, Edward Hopper, and Jackson Pollock. The event will feature a number of compositions for piano, flute, viola, cello, and vocals inspired by these artists’ works. A screening of PBS documentary on Pollock’s life will precede the performances, with a special talk by the film score’s composer. This event will take place 7-9pm, with tickets starting at $20.
September 19-22 mark the festival’s “American Primitive & Inventors of Genius Weekend.” This stint of events celebrates Greenwich Village artists that have pushed the boundaries of their field. The weekend places a specific focus on the genre of American Primitivism, a classically-inspired strain of acoustic guitar compositions. Throughout the weekend, composer Agustin Castilla-Avila will host free conferences with a host of musicologists analyzing microtonality in the genre.
September 20 will feature a performance from Grammy-winning guitarist John Schneider. His performance will explore the works of pioneering American Primitivist composers Harry Partch and Lou Harrison. Included in the performance are Partch’s December 1942 and Barstow, as well as Harrison’s Just Guitars. The performance will take place from 7-9pm, with tickets starting at $17.50.
Also on September 20, 8x Grammy-nominated drummer Bobby Sanabria will perform his renowned Latin jazz. For over 50 years, Sanabria has mixed free jazz with elements of Cuban and Brazilian folk to craft his award winning brand of jazz. In 2018, his album West Side Story Reimagined (2018) won the Jazz Journalists Association Record of the Year award. Afro-Latin jazz band Ascensión will accompany Sanabria during the performances. Bobby Sanabria & Ascensión will perform at 7pm and 9pm. Tickets start at $25.
September 21 will feature a tribute to Laura Nyro by vocalist Diane Garisto & the Laura Nyro Project. Garisto has made a name for herself signing backup for some of the biggest names in music. She has previously sung with Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, and more. Since the 1990s, Garisto has performed tributes to the late Laura Nyro. Across her 22 studio albums, Nyro established herself as one of the most prolific singer-songwriters in history. She mixed pop, gospel, and rock to write dozens of classic songs. This performance will begin at 7pm, with tickets starting at $25.
Also featured on September 21 is a performance by pianist Eliza Garth. Garth will play Sonatas and Interludes by the legendary New York composer John Cage. Cage’s minimalist compositions helped revolutionize 20th century classical piano. The performance will take place at St Mark’s Church, a historic meeting space for many of the village’s artists, including Cage. Garth’s performance will be from 2-4pm, with tickets starting at $17.50.
September 22 will feature yet another performance from Janis Siegel, this time celebrating the music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. This performance will honor the compositions of Ellington and Strayhorn, as well as recognize the hardships of their lives in such a deeply racist and homophobic era. Pianist John di Martino will join Siegel using his grammy-nominated piano chops to bring the Ellington and Strayhorn compositions to life. Tickets for this performance are $30.
On September 23, Village Trip will feature the special event The Parting Glass – A Drop of the Irish. The purpose of this event is to recognize the deep influence of New York’s Irish community on its musical tradition. In addition, the event will remember NYU professor Mick Moloney and singer Dan Milner who recently passed. Following a concert, there will be a special event at Wicked Willy’s pub, where attendees are encouraged to bring instruments and join in on the festivities. The event will begin at 6:30pm, with tickets starting at $25.
September 24 will feature a celebration for the centennial of James Baldwin’s birth. His writings, including his 1953 novel Go Tell It On the Mountain are literary giants, discussing the issues of racial discrimination in the US. Following his early life in New York City, Baldwin joined civil rights leaders in the Selma March and used his platform to call for political change. This celebration will feature readings by actor Daniel Carlton, as well as performances of music enjoyed by Baldwin. The event will begin at 7pm, with tickets at $25.
In contrast to the musically focused events of the festival, September 25 will feature a night of comedy. The Grisly Pear comedy club will feature established and up-and-coming comedians performing observational jokes about modern life. In the past, this venue has featured legends like Lenny Bruce, Jon Stewart, and George Carlin. The night of comedy will begin at 8pm, with tickets starting from $15.
September 27th will feature a special concert titled “From the Courtyard.” This concert seeks to recreate the sounds of an 1890s tenement courtyard, which housed immigrant families in the city. Much like the scene it will recreate, the concert’s performers come from many cultural backgrounds, each offering their own influences. Among the many pieces performed are Yiddish klezmer pieces, Mexican folk, and the Afro-American Suite by Undine Smith Moore. This special performance will take place from 7-9pm, with tickets starting at $20.
Village Trip will conclude with a free concert in Washington Square Park, featuring female musicians. Among the artists playing are the Washington DC-based alt-rockers BETTY. Founded in 1986, the trio’s music has been featured in countless tv shows. Along tours, they used their platform to call for equal rights for women and LGBTQ Americans, gaining feminist icon Gloria Stenem as their biggest fan. BETTY will be joined by Janie Barnett, who will perform her brand of Americana. Barnett got her start in Virginia’s bluegrass scene, before settling in New York where she continued to hone her folk chops. Her work has led to collaborations with legends like Linda Rondstadt and Bonnie Raitt.
The final act to play will be Tish and Snooky Bellomo. The glam-punk duo traces their roots back to the heyday of punk rock at New York’s CBGB club. As singers and owners of the punk boutique Manic Panic, the duo were icons of the Lower East Side, endearing themselves with members of Blondie and the Ramones. The concert will take place on September 28 from 4-7pm.
For more information regarding the Village Trip festival, visit their website here.
North Creek’s Tannery Pond Center (TPC) is hosting the Indigenous Gifts Festival. The festival began on July 16th, and will continue until September 14th. Each week, TPC will highlight works from indigenous artists of the Adirondacks, including music, dance, film, and more.
For centuries, the Adirondacks have been home to the Haudenosaunee, or “People of the Longhouse.” This confederation includes the Mohawk, Cayuga, Seneca, Oneida, Onondaga, and Tuscarora peoples of New York. Prior to European arrival, the Haudenosaunee were one of the premier political and cultural forces of the region, with their form of representative government going on to influence America’s founding fathers.
Haudenosaunee culture – then and now – has a deep connection to the natural environment of the Adirondacks, with their art reflecting this. Tannery Pond Center’s Indigenous Gifts: Tradition, Today and Tomorrow Festival celebrates these artistic works, and the culture of the 81,000 members of the Haudenosaunee nation in the US.
Since its start, the Tannery Pond Center has been dedicated to bringing diverse arts programming to the North Country. Operating out of the Johnsburg Community Center, TPC has presented countless art exhibitions, musical performances, and arts workshops for local children. At the center of TCP’s mission is a deep respect for the community, with the center striving to provide the highest quality programming, all while fostering the creativity of those who visit.
As part of its dedication to community involvement, TPC is hosting the Indigenous Gifts Festival until September 14th. For this festival, TPC has closely collaborated with local Haudenosaunee artists to highlight their vibrant arts and culture, as well as further educate the public on their history. This two month-long festival will feature 14 special events highlighting different aspects of Haudenosaunee arts and history. Included among the events are art exhibitions, musical performance, and crafts workshops.
For the entirety of the Festival, TPC’s Widlund Gallery will feature an exhibition of local indigenous art. Local artist David Fadden curated the exhibition, using art to break down stereotypes and foster accurate understandings of Haudenosaunee culture. Fadden grew up in Onchiota, NY with close ties to Haudenosaunee and Mohawk culture.
Of special note are the festival’s many musical performances. On July 25, the Akwesasne Women Singers will perform from 7:30-9:30pm. The group will perform Onhwentsiakehkha music, traditionally sung at longhouse social dances. Each year, new lyrics to these songs are penned, ensuring that the language will thrive. The Akwesasne Women Singers have performed together since 1996, mixing song and dance into their performances. Before each dance, the singers explain its cultural significance and invite audience members to join in.
August 11th will feature a performance from the Allegany River Indian Dancers. Since their start in 1979, the group has become one of the premier indigenous dance groups in the US and Canada. Their performances include a number of “pow wow” dances, including the hoop dance. This performance involves 30 hoops used to form nature-inspired designs. Since their start, the troupe has taught countless people about Seneca culture through audience participation and lectures. This performance will take place from 3-5pm.
The final musical event is a Social Dance with the Travel Troupe from the Native North American Traveling College. The event will begin at 3:00pm with a youth-only dance at the Outdoor Stage Riverside Park. This event will educate children of all ages on the importance of indigenous dance. A 7:30pm event at Tannery Pond Center will follow. This is an all-ages event, inviting families to learn about the significance of indigenous social dance. During the 90 minute program, audience members will be able to participate in dances, while learning how these events involve all members of the community. These social dance events will both take place on August 22nd.
In addition to these music and dance events there are a slew of other cultural activities to be enjoyed. Among these are workshops on traditional wampum bead bracelets and moccasins, film screenings, and academic lectures.
For more information on events and ticketing, visit the TPC website here.
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.
