Category: Festival News

Oldtone Music Festival 2024 Reveals Full Lineup After One-year Hiatus

Driven by intense local and artist community support, the beloved Oldtone Music Festival has returned from the grave and revealed its full lineup. A one-of-a-kind 3-day hoot taking place from September 5-8 in Hillsdale, NY, the festival is making a miraculous comeback to Cool Whisper Farm after an early demise that turned out to be a one-year hiatus.

After beginning in Wassaic, NY, Oldtone is now held in Hillsdale.

What is Oldtone Music Festival?

The Oldtone Roots Music Festival was founded in 2015 with a one-day show in Wassaic, NY. In 2016, the full three-stage/camping festival was launched at the Schober family’s Cool Whisper Farm in North Hillsdale, NY. The festival ran the second weekend of September until the lockdowns of 2020 forced the producers to cancel. In 2021 and 2022, attempts were made to reboot the festival in limited scope; however, by early 2023, the choice to end the festival was made.

Nonetheless, Oldtone’s motto reads, “Participation is Preservation.” Truly the proud eastern Columbia town aims to preserve roots music and folkways through artist and audience participation and by passing traditions down by hand. As a result the Oldtone Festival has always brought the best of old-time, bluegrass, hot jazz, Cajun dance music, Western swing and other traditional styles to North Hillsdale and was sorely missed in the community. The niche festival remains true to the small town, standing out amongst a sea of corporatized summer festivals, Oldtone is, by design, an intimate, rural, artist-driven festival without the trappings of larger mega festivals. Thus, it was only a matter of time before the vision was brought back to life.

Don’t Call It a Comeback

Thus fittingly, by the fall of 2023 the possibility of reviving the festival as a non-profit event became a reality. Armed with a new management team and the support and enthusiasm of the Schober family, Oldtone Arts, Inc. was formed. Consequently by October of 2023, the new team received not-for-profit status via the New York Foundation for the Arts and the hard work to revamp the festival and make it everything it can be again. Henceforth Oldtone is now co-produced by Jim Wright and Trevor Roush. As a result any of the same people are still working on the show, with some fresh talent. Meanwhile, it is their hope that the festival will have a better chance to be sustainable and continue to promote the same great roots music.

Oldtone Music Festival Returns after a long hiatus.

Oldtone 2024

Moreover, artist interaction remains a high priority, with hands-on workshops, a dance tent, band and instrument contests, and even a side stage in order to pull camper-pickers up for a few numbers, which creates a festival experience unlike any other. This year, Oldtone is adding Latin-American roots music in a big way out of the gate, with Grammy-winners Los Texmaniacs.

Joining previously announced artists like the Grammy Award-winning conjunto band Los Texmaniacs, The Deslondes, JP Harris, and more are Sweet Megg, Down Hill Strugglers, Kiki Cavazos, Ranse Chase, Krissie & the Kranks, The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee, Beg, Steal or Borrow, and Slinky Armadillo.

The Oldtone Festival is back, and it’s coming together as a bigger and better event. We can’t wait to see you all dancing to some of the best roots music being made these days in our big dance tent. And bring your instruments. With some of the best field jams in the Northeast, this pickers’ festival packs the campground with music late into the night.
– Jim Wright, Oldtone founder

Camping Gates will open at noon on Thursday, September 5, for full festival ticket holders who booked to tent camp and for those with RVs and trailers that are longer than 18 feet. Please check the Oldtone website for all event updates.

We are beyond excited to bring back the Oldtone Festival full-on with both the main stage and our beloved dance tent. This year’s line-up is an amazing mix of legends and rising stars across so many genres of roots music. One thing we truly wanted to do for the upcoming festival attendees is keep the ticket price low… as it was in 2019. I think we did that and a whole lot more… It’s going to be the best one ever.
– Trevor Roush, producer

Tickets for the festival are currently on sale here.

Oldtone Music Festival Full Lineup

Los Texmaniacs

Foghorn Stringband

Kiki Cavazos

The Deslondes

Jesse Lége & Bayou Brew

Danny Paisley & Southern Grass

Sweet Megg

JP Harris

Dumpster Debbie

Will Mentor

Jordan Thibodeaux, Joel Savoy & Cedric Watson

Down Hill Strugglers

Rance Chase

Krissie & The Kranks

Chattanooga Dogs

Maura Gahn

Moonshine Holler

The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee

Wild Leek River

The Talking Hearts

The Neon Moons

Zach Bryson

Beg, Steal or Borrow

Slinky Armadillo

Day Lot Gate Times

Thursday: 4 pm -12 am

Friday: 11 am -12 am

Sat: 9 am -12 am

Sun: 10 am – 4 pm

July 8, 2024
Long Island Bluegrass & Roots Music Festival Announces 2024 Lineup

Returning for its 22nd year, the Long Island Bluegrass & Roots Music Festival has announced the lineup of its day-long showcase of bluegrass and roots talent on August 17 in Copiague, Long Island.

The festival will run between noon and 7:00 p.m. in Tanner Park on Long Island’s Great South Bay and feature performances from seven accomplished artists and bands.

Copiague, located in Suffolk County, is a hamlet on the southern end of Long Island, just about an hour from Queens.

The Long Island Bluegrass & Roots Music Festival has been a staple in Copiague and the New York bluegrass and roots scene in general since its inception in 2003. After all, not many local festivals are able to run for more than 20 years with no breaks or cancellations.

Returning for the 2024 season with a date of August 17, this year’s festival lineup has not disappointed.

The Jacob Jolliff Band, a nationally touring group of virtuosic pickers headed by lifelong mandolinist Jacob Jolliff, is a must-see. Miles to Dayton, a band with a love for blending elements of folk, rock, classical and funk into an irresistible invitation, will bring their four-part vocal harmonies, clever songwriting, improvisational violin and cello and infectious rhythms to Copiague in another essential performance.

But performances aren’t only for the billed artists. If you’re a bluegrass musician at any level, bring your instruments for the bluegrass pickin’ sessions that are available to all attendees.

In addition to the all-day music, food vendors will be at the festival for anybody looking for a bite to eat.

Free parking is available, and guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for extra relaxation.

Tickets for the whole day are $20 and can be purchased here. Children under the age of 12 are free. See below for the full list of performers.

Full Festival Lineup

The Jacob Jolliff Band

Miles to Dayton

Gene Casey & the Lone Sharks

Buddy Merriam & Back Roads featuring the Long Island Mandolin Quartet

Pluck and Rail

Eastbound Freight

The New Students

July 7, 2024
Kaatsbaan Cultural Park Announces 2024 Annual Festival

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, an in-development production by 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.

July 6, 2024
Music is Art Festival Moves to Buffalo’s Outer Harbor

Organizers for Buffalo’s Music is Art festival have announced the event’s relocation to the Outer Harbor. This move is the second time the festival has changed venues this year. The concert will take place on Saturday, September 21st.

The Music is Art festival began in 2003 in North Buffalo. Led by Goo Goo Dolls bassist Robby Takac, the festival board has continually worked with volunteers and local organizations to hold the event. Since its start, Music is Art’s goal has been to “encourage people to find their musical voice [and] think about how music touches their lives.”

Previously, Buffalo Riverworks and the neighboring Riverfest Park had hosted the festival. However, in early Spring 2024, the festival organizers announced that the festival would return to North Buffalo. This move had the Buffalo AKG and Buffalo State University hosting. Despite initial enthusiasm for this move, issues quickly began to arise.

In an Instagram post, Takac announced “After months of planning, Music is Art Festival organizers and AKG staff have agreed that too many challenges stand in the way of presenting our annual music festival on the grounds of Buffalo’s AKG and Buffalo State University without compromising the energy and character of the event.”

As a result of these challenges, the Music is Art festival will move to Buffalo’s Outer Harbor. The Outer Harbor hosts Buffalo’s newest concert venue Terminal B, as well as a large lakeside lawn to hold concerts. Despite the change of venue, the festival organizers will continue to work with the AKG and BSU to showcase local artists. With this change in location, festival organizers are “filled with excitement and anticipation for what this yearâs festival will bring.”

The Outer Harbor will host Music is Art on Saturday, September 21st from 11am-11pm. Across its 17 acres, the festival will host 26 concert stages with over 200 performers. The artist lineup has not yet been announced. In addition to musical performance, the festival will also feature visual artists, food trucks, local vendors, and more. These activities ensure MIA’s mission of being “a beacon of artistic expression and a truly inclusive cultural gathering in Buffalo showcasing the vibrant energy and diverse talents of the local and regional art and music scene” as per executive director Tracy Fletcher.

Admission for Music is Art is free for all guests. Additionally there will be both free and paid parking options, shuttle services, and bike accommodations. To learn more, visit the Music is Art website here.

July 5, 2024
Basilica Soundscape Returns to Hudson This September
This September, the town of Hudson, NY, will host the 2024 Basilica Soundscape Music Festival. From September 27-29, fans and attendees can see a wide variety of concerts, art installations, and high-tech performances from local and nationwide artists.

Founded in 2010 by Melissa Auf der Maur, Patrick Doyle, and Tony Stone, Basilica Hudson has been providing local artists, writers, and musicians alike with a historic space to showcase their work. Located in a reclaimed industrial factory from the 1880s, the original architecture included industrial windows, brick walls, terracotta ceiling tiles, and an intricate steel truss system. With thorough renovations, but still preserving the original features, it became the perfect scenic location to present these works. Since then, a wide variety of programs hosted through Basilica Soundscape include music festivals, live readings, and gallery presentations.

Through its programs, Basilica Hudson actively encourages and supports the creation, production, and presentation of independent arts and culture. One of its trademark festivals, Basilica SoundScape, features live concerts, conceptual sound performances, author readings, art installations, curated local vendors and artisans, on-site activities, and more, creating an immersive, innovative weekend of art, music, and culture.

Presented below are the full list of performers coming to Basilica Soundscape:

Friday, September 27

“Motherbeat” vinyl DJs Eris Drew & Octo Octa return to Basilica Soundscape for a night of bass-blasting house music. They’re bringing their powerful, custom LUV NRG sound system to the cavernous Main Hall for an all-night party, presented by the Bunker.
Nitemind returns with an electric and innovative light show to accompany the party.
Eris Drew and Octo Octa – Crack Magazine

Saturday, September 28

Noise legends Lightning Bolt bring their exciting sound from Providence, Rhode Island, to Hudson for a night of energetic rock and roll.
Lightning Bolt – Official photo

Post-rock band Still House Plants make their Basilica Soundscape debut. Join them on Saturday to hear some creative, innovative sounds.
Still House Plants – Pitchfork

An exciting combination of genres awaits as new rap combines forces with a nü-metal edge with the heavy style and flow of hardcore rapper E L U C I D.
E L U C I D – Pitchfork

Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter Greg Mendez shares songs from his newest self-titled album on Saturday night.

Maria BC presents dark, ambient movements that accompany melancholy, soaring vocals with a haunting new song featured on the soundtrack for the new film “I Saw the TV Glow.”

Cassandra Jenkins, the unofficial songwriter laureate of Central Park Birders, will present songs from her upcoming album, My Light, My Destroyer, set to release on July 12.

Local band Babehoven brings the indie-rock sound to Basilica Soundscape. They will be presenting songs from their latest album, Water’s In You, released in April of this year.
Babehoven – Rolling Stone

Movement and music presented by Kinlaw, a composer, choreographer, and performer.

Open Head, one of the most exciting bands local to Kingston, NY, brings a night of post-punk fun to Basilica Soundscape.

Basilica Hudson’s signature Writers in the Rafters program makes a return to Basilica Soundscape, featuring live readings from local writers and poets alike.
Sunday, September 29

Although Sunday’s program is yet to be announced, Basilica Hudson promises a night of family-friendly fun for free!

For any festival, artist, or ticket information, visit the festival’s website.
July 5, 2024
Biscoland Returns to Wonderland this Weekend

Over July 4-6, Biscoland will return to Wonderland Forest in Central New York, for three nights of electronic music and jam bands, hosted by trance-fusion pioneers Disco Biscuits.

Official Biscoland poster by Vinny Naro

Wonderland Forest is situated roughly 25 minutes south of Syracuse in the rolling hills of Lafayette, NY. Plot your trip with the map below.

This will be the second Biscoland at Wonderland, the first being held this past October. The return to a summer music festival hosted by Disco Biscuits brings back Camp Bisco memories, albeit much smaller, and as bassist and DJ Marc Brownstein put it in October, “We really hope you will consider a spontaneous last minute trip to support the thing that you always wanted, a return to the festival of the old days.”

The Wonderland Forest Grounds

Bisconauts can expect five sets of Disco Biscuits, including one set on Thursday night of Tractorbeam. Playing each day prior to the hosts are Lettuce, Nora en Pure, Kitchen Dwellers, Lespecial, Break Science, Maniac Focus, Saxsquatch, Ben Silver, DJ Minx, Jimkata, Out of the Beardspace, RAQ, Squeaky Feet, The Breakfast, Space Bacon, Mark Farina, Cofresi, Dizgo, Cloudchord, Souleye and Horizon Wireless.

Weekend Passes & Single-Day Tickets are still available at bisco.land.

Check out the daily schedules below and stay tuned for updates during the festival!

Disco Biscuits 2024 Tour Dates

7/4-6 – Lafayette, NY – BISCOLAND
7/11 – Selbyville, DE – Freeman Arts Pavilion
7/12 – Atlantic City, NJ – Bourbon Ballroom
7/13 – Richmond, VA – The National
7/14 – Wilmington, NC – Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
7/15 – Isle of Palms, SC – The Windjammer
7/18-19 Thornville, OH – Secret Dreams Festival
7/20 – Patchogue, NY – Great South Bay Music Festival
8/9-11 – Long Pond, PA – Elements Festival
8/29-30 – TBA
8/31-9/1 – Murphysboro, IL – Weekend at the Cave
9/6 – Dillon, CO – Dillon Amphitheater
9/7 – Bellvue, CO – Mishawaka Amphitheatre (SOLD OUT)
9/8 – Bellvue, CO – Mishawaka Amphitheatre (SOLD OUT – VIP available)
9/11 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
9/13 – Livingston, MT – Pine Creek Lodge (TRACTORBEAM)
9/14-15 – Livingston, MT – Pine Creek Lodge

July 3, 2024
Bard Music Festival Announces 2024 Theme: “Berlioz and His World”

Bard College announced the return of its Bard Music Festival, “Berlioz and His World,” a two-weekend concert event in the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts Aug 9-18.

The festival has been presented since 1990 and this summer will be its 34th season. Co-artistic director and founder of the festival, Leon Botstein will conduct The Orchestra Now (TŌN) on weekend one and the American Symphony Orchestra on weekend two. The Bard Festival Chorale is also featured in all vocal repertoire under the direction of James Bagwell.

As referenced in the title, the theme of this year’s festival is French composer, Hector Berlioz. He was a guitarist and flutist who toured all over Europe but surprisingly was not very popular in his home country. His most famous work is Symphonie fantastique, an orchestra piece inspired by an opium dream. Aside from larger orchestral pieces, Berlioz also wrote songs for guitar and voice.

Weekend one is titled “Revolutionary Spectacle and Romantic Passion.” The first of these five concerts will be Symphonie fantastique performed by the TŌN. The last concert will pay homage to “Women Musicians in Berlioz’s Time,” with music from composers like Clara Schumann and Louise Bertin.

The final weekend explores “Music and the Literary Imagination.” The first concert of the weekend will move to Rhinebeck, NY in Episcopal Church of the Messiah for the sound of its renovated organ.

For the final concert, “Faust and the Spirit of the 19th Century,” on Aug 18, New York City residents have the opportunity to take a bus to and from the venue. The roundtrip can be ordered online.
Tickets for mainstage events are $25 per person and the live streams are $20. Patrons can purchase these tickets on the Fisher Center website.

Program details of Bard Music Festival, “Berlioz and His World”

WEEKEND ONE: Revolutionary Spectacle and Romantic Passion

PROGRAM ONE: Staging the Musical Imagination

Friday, August 9

Sosnoff Theater

7pm performance with commentary by Leon Botstein, with Joshua Blue, tenor; Alfred Walker, baritone; Bard Festival Chorale and James Bagwell, choral director; and The Orchestra Now, conducted by Leon Botstein, music director (plus livestream)

Hector BERLIOZ (1803–69)

Symphonie fantastique: Episode de la vie d’un artiste, Op. 14 (1830)

Lélio, ou Le retour à la vie, monodrame lyrique, Op. 14b (1831–32, rev. 1855)

PANEL ONE: A Revolutionary Life in a Revolutionary Era

Saturday, August 10

Olin Hall

10am–12 noon

Leon Botstein, moderator; Anna Celenza; Esther da Costa Meyer; Michael P. Steinberg

Free and open to the public

PROGRAM TWO: Anxieties of Influence: Models and Teachers

Saturday, August 10

Olin Hall

1pm preconcert talk: Jonathan Kregor

1:30pm performance: Jana McIntyre, soprano; Rebecca Ringle Kamarei, mezzo-soprano; Tyler Duncan, baritone; Noël Wan, harp; Michael Stephen Brown and Erika Switzer, piano; Balourdet Quartet; and others

Hector BERLIOZ (1803–69)

Le montagnard exilé (1822–23)

Songs

Luigi CHERUBINI (1760–1842)

Etude No. 2 (1804)

Anton REICHA (1770–1836)

String Quartet in C minor, Op. 49, No. 1 (1803)

Carl Maria von WEBER (1786–1826)

Invitation to the Dance, Op. 65 (1819)

Elias PARISH ALVARS (1808–49)

Introduction and Variations on Themes from Bellini’s Norma, Op. 36 (n.d.)

Arias by Jean-François LE SUEUR (1760–1837), Gaspare SPONTINI (1774–1851), and Ambroise THOMAS (1811–96)

PROGRAM THREE: The Sounds of a Nation: Patriotism and Antiquity

Saturday, August 10

Sosnoff Theater

6pm preconcert talk: Sarah Hibberd

7 pm performance: with Jana McIntyre, soprano; Megan Moore, mezzo-soprano; Joshua Blue, tenor; Bard Festival Chorale and James Bagwell, choral director; and The Orchestra Now, conducted by Leon Botstein, music director (plus livestream)

Hector BERLIOZ (1803–69)

Hymne des Marseillaise (arr. 1830)

“Trojan March,” “Nuit d’ivresse et d’extase infinie,” and “Royal Hunt and Storm” from Les Troyens (1856–58)

Te Deum Op. 22/H.118 (1849)

Christoph Willibald GLUCK (1714–87)

Overture to Iphigenia in Aulis (1774; arr. R. Wagner 1847)

Daniel-François-Esprit AUBER (1782–1871)

Overture to Fra Diavolo (1830)

PROGRAM FOUR: Chansons, romances, et mélodies: Vocal Music from Cosmopolitan Paris

Sunday, August 11

Olin Hall

11 am performance with commentary by Byron Adams; with Jana McIntyre, soprano; Rebecca Ringle Kamarei, mezzo-soprano; Maximillian Jansen, tenor; Tyler Duncan, baritone; and Kayo Iwama and Erika Switzer, piano

Hector BERLIOZ (1803–69)

From Irlande, Op. 2 (1830); songs

Songs and arias by Giacomo MEYERBEER (1791–1864); Gioachino ROSSINI (1792–1868); Franz LISZT (1811–86); Richard WAGNER (1813–83); Pauline VIARDOT (1821–1910); Ernest REYER (1823–1909); Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835–1921); Georges BIZET (1838–75); Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840–93); and Gabriel FAURÉ (1845–1924)

PROGRAM FIVE: Women Musicians in Berlioz’s Time

Sunday, August 11

Sosnoff Theater

2:30pm preconcert talk: Hilary Porris

3pm performance: Laquita Mitchell, Monica Yunus, and Camille Zamora, sopranos; Rebecca Ringle Kamarei and Adriana Zabala, mezzo-sopranos; Noah Stewart, tenor; Babatunde Akinboboye, baritone; Anna Polonsky and Lucy Tucker Yates, piano; Sharyn Pirtle, director of Le dernier sorcier; and others (plus livestream)

Hector BERLIOZ (1803–69)

Le mort d’Ophélie, Op. 18, No. 2 (1842)

La captive, Op. 12 (1831–32)

Pauline VIARDOT (1821–1910)

Le dernier sorcier (1869)

Works by Gioachino ROSSINI (1792–1868); Louise BERTIN (1805–77); Clara SCHUMANN (1819–96); and others

WEEKEND TWO: Music and the Literary Imagination

PROGRAM SIX: Sacred Music in France

Thursday, August 15 at 7pm

Friday, August 16 at 3pm

Episcopal Church of the Messiah, Rhinebeck

With Renée Anne Louprette, organ, and members of the Bard Festival Chorale and members of The Orchestra Now, conducted by James Bagwell

Hector BERLIOZ (1803-1869)

Veni Creator Spiritus (c. 1860-68)

La fuite en Égypte: Mystère en style ancien (1850)

Choral and organ works by Dmitry BORTNIANSKY (1751-1825), Luigi CHERUBINI (1760–1842), Giacomo MEYERBEER (1791–1864), Gioachino ROSSINI (1792–1868), Pierre-Louis DIETSCH (1808–65), Alfred LEFÉBURE-WÉLY (1817–69), César FRANCK (1822–90), Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835–1921), Gabriel FAURÉ (1845–1924), and Olivier MESSIAEN (1908–92)

PROGRAM SEVEN: Berlioz: The Composer as Writer

Friday, August 16

Sosnoff Theater

6:30pm preconcert talk: Peter Bloom

7pm performance: Jana McIntyre, soprano; Noah Stewart, tenor; Alfred Walker, bass-baritone; Luosha Fang, viola; Piers Lane and Orion Weiss, piano; and others (plus livestream)

Hector BERLIOZ (1803–69)

Harold en Italie, Op. 16 (1834; arr. Liszt)

Niccolò PAGANINI (1782–1840)

Cantabile (1823)

Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809–47)

Andante and Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 14 (1830)

Piano works and arias by Louis SPOHR (1784–1859), Fromental HALÉVY (1799–1862), Adolphe ADAM (1803–56), Mikhail GLINKA (1804–57), Michael BALFE (1808–70), Charles-Valentin ALKAN (1813–88)

PANEL TWO: Musical Romanticism and Literature

Saturday, August 17

Olin Hall

10am–12 noon

Eric Trudel, moderator; Francesca Brittan; Mark Pottinger; and others

Free and open to the public

PROGRAM EIGHT: Literary Romantics

Saturday, August 17

Olin Hall

1pm preconcert talk: Dana Gooley

1:30pm performance: Jana McIntyre, soprano; Rebecca Ringle Kamarei, mezzo-soprano; Noah Stewart, tenor; Tyler Duncan, baritone; Piers Lane, Anna Polonsky, and Orion Weiss, piano; Balourdet Quartet; and others

Hector BERLIOZ (1803–69)

Les nuits d’été, Op. 7 (1841)

Fanny MENDELSSOHN (1805–47)

From Sechs Lieder, Op. 1 (1846)

Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809–47)

String Quintet No. 2, Op. 87 (1845)

Robert SCHUMANN (1810–56)

Andante and Variations, Op. 46 (1843)

Piano works by Ferdinand HILLER (1811–85), Stephen HELLER (1813–88); and Louis Moreau GOTTSCHALK (1829–69)

SUMMER SOIRÉE

Saturday, August 17

Blithewood

3:30pm

PROGRAM NINE: An Evening with the Orchestra

Saturday, August 17

Sosnoff Theater

6 pm preconcert talk: Christopher H. Gibbs

7 pm performance: American Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leon Botstein, music director (plus livestream)

Hector BERLIOZ (1803–69)

Waverley Overture, Op. 1 (1827)

Gioachino ROSSINI (1792–1868)

Overture to William Tell (1829)

Louise FARRENC (1804–75)

Symphony No. 3 in G minor, Op. 36 (1847)

Joachim RAFF (1822–82)

Symphony No. 10 in F minor, “In Autumn,” Op. 213 (1879)

PROGRAM TEN: Berlioz’s Transformation of the World of Sound

Sunday, August 18

Olin Hall

11 am preconcert talk: Richard Wilson

11:30am performance: Anna Polonsky, piano; New Hudson Saxophone Quartet; Bard Festival Wind Ensemble; and others

Hector BERLIOZ (1803–69)

Chant sacré (arr. 1844)

Jean-Baptiste ARBAN (1825–89)

Fantaisie and Variations on The Carnival of Venice (1861)

Richard STRAUSS (1864–1949)

Andante, op. posth. (1888)

Edward ELGAR (1857–1934)

Romance, Op. 62 (1910)

Eugène BOZZA (1905–91)

Andante et Scherzo (1938)

Edgard VARÈSE (1883–1965)

Density 21.5 (1936, rev. 1946)

Olivier MESSIAEN (1908–92)

Le merle noir (1952)

Steve REICH (b. 1936)

Clapping Music (1972)

Luciano BERIO (1925–2003)

Sequenza V (1966)

György LIGETI (1923–2006)

Six Bagatelles (1953)

PROGRAM ELEVEN: Faust and the Spirit of the 19th Century

Sunday, August 18

Sosnoff Theater

2pm preconcert talk: Francesca Brittan

3pm performance: with Sasha Cooke, mezzo-soprano; Joshua Blue, tenor; Alfred Walker, bass-baritone; Stefan Egerstrom, bass; Bard Festival Chorale and James Bagwell, choral director; American Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leon Botstein, music director (plus livestream)

July 1, 2024
Beau Fleuve Announces Lineup for 8th Annual Celebration

Buffalo’s arts and culture organization will host the 8th Annual Beau Fleuve Music & Arts Celebration on Sunday, August 25. The event, presented by Bully Hill Vineyards, will take place at Buffalo Central Terminal.

Gates open at 1:30 PM and the event kicks off at 2 PM with diverse performances, exhibitions, and events catered to all ages. Attendees can indulge in offerings like art installations, photography exhibits, food trucks, vendors, kid’s attractions, and additional unique experiences.

Featured Performances

Soft-rock band, Infinity Song is set to take the Beau Fleuve stage. The band, made up of siblings Abraham, Angel, Israel, and Momo Boyd, will bring their energetic presence and skillful harmonies to Buffalo. The New York City band, who’s currently on their World Tour represents the importance of honoring local music and the creatives behind the art. Infinity Song brings a wonderful, entertaining show that’s not to be missed.

Also bringing their soulful sounds to Buffalo, are Country singer-songwriter Elsie and Grammy-winning R&B singer Kameron Corvet. Additionally, melodic Latin singer La Cassandra and Canadian Jazz and R&B musician Seyblu will bring their respective cultural performances to the celebration.

Other performances include acts from Tiny the Dream, Stephen Babcock, The Miserable Genius, Neftali, and 14 Mafia.

Specialty Performances

Meanwhile, the Music & Arts Celebration attendees will also have special performances available to watch. DOSYO: WEH featuring DJ Ran$um, 438 Music Group, and Haundensee Dancers will put on an incredibly noteworthy show, representing indigenous land and Seneca Nations.

Furthermore, other forms of entertainment include sets by DJ Ted Smooth, DJ First Choice, DJ P Nasty, and DJ Ruption. Other sets include DiyenÃ© Band’s Jam Session in addition to producer Toney Boi’s Live Mixtape. These sets will give the audience an interactive experience within the festival.

Curated Experiences

The Music & Arts Celebration will add an especially unique flare with their curated experiences. These events include Happy Hour from 2-3 PM comprised of the new Family Fun Zone with exciting activities for kids, as well as Live DJ and Podcast Sets, and drink specials.

Attendees can also utilize the Pull Up & Pitch event presented by The Exchange at Beverly Gray. Those with business ideas or in need of seed money for their venture can pitch their ideas for the opportunity to win a Capital Seed Investment, Incubator Space, and Mentorship.

Arts

Art installations include “The New Era Cap Tent” featuring Patti Thomas/The Ghost Room, Emeka
Wajed/MadebyMek, and Tyshaun Tyson/Left Handed Bandit. The artists will present their cap patches while interacting with viewers. Likewise, Mandella Huff, Nekea Brown, and Vinny Alejandro will participate in emerging artist installations with their interactive and skillfully designed sets.

Angela Guest will present a large-scale fabric piece in the “We Are All Made Up of Stars” installation.

The Beau Fleuve Music & Arts Celebration is also hosting exhibiting artists including Neese Rich, Bree Gilliam, Cargo Santana, Paulie The Artist, XXXI, Jessica Mjoen, Marquise Rowell, Darmelle, DJHA, and KIDWITTHEWINGS.

Local businesses, food, games, and hospitality can be found at Vendors Village.

General Admission Adult (18+) Single Tickets are $20, Herd (Buy 3, Get One Free)- $60. Youth (17 under) – $10, Kids under 5 are Free. To purchase tickets visit beaufleuvemusicarts.com

June 26, 2024
Jazz Festival Livens up Rochester

Year 21 of the Rochester International Jazz Festival kicked of this weekend, with 13 indoor venues as well as four open air stages being used during the nine-day event.

Bad Sneakers

Starting on June 21, streets around the famed Eastman School of Music were closed and transformed into a music lovers haven, with Gibbs St being becoming Jazz St for the next 9 days. The hub of the festival, Jazz St has a large stage with viewing from 180 degrees around, a large air-conditioned merchandise shop, beer trucks, and culinary promenade the opposite end. There are also info booths around to help visitors navigate and get questions answered.

Kingfish Ingram

Also conveniently located along Jazz St are four indoor venues, including Kodak Hall (Eastman Theatre), which hosted the legendary Taj Mahal on Friday night and Lee Ritenour on Saturday.

Mahal brought a show that mixes old school stripped down blues with tropical vibes, as he played the keyboard, guitar, and banjo. With steel drum, bass, and drums to add to the sounds, Taj and crew energized the crowd on the first of nine amazing nights of music.

Christie Dashiell

The following night, Ritenour took the stage and wowed yet another packed house of music fans. With sixteen Grammy nominations and one win (1985 “Early A.M. Attitude”), Ritenour’s music has not gone un-noticed, as he showcased his guitar skills with specials guests Randy Brecker and Bill Evans for roughly two hours.

Across the street from Kodak Hall is Max Rochester, which provides an airy atrium setting, with amazing acoustics for more casual sets, such as the soulful sounds of Christie Dashiell and Franck Amsallem‘s perfectly arranged piano pieces. Stop by Max at Eastman this week for some amazing culinary delights and perfect ambient sounds as you sip your spirits.

One of my favorite venues during the festival is The Little Theatre. Just outside the perimeter of the festival, this nostalgic theatre greets you with the aromas of classic popcorn as you make your way across the hall to the 1929 300 seat theater. A step back in time, indeed. As with recent years, The Little hosts Roots and Americans acts. Small acts, with minimal gear to set up, but amazing sounds and stories. This weekend, Thunderstorm Artis stopped by and told stories of being one of eleven kids (number 7 to be precise) and island life in Oahu. His laid-back personality, smooth and poignant vocals, and witty rizz paired perfectly the crowds for each of his 2 shows as well the venue itself. A finalist from The Voice, Artis is quickly making his name known.

You want free shows? They are plentiful each night of the festival. The blues serenaded the intersection of East Ave and Chestnut St for nearly three hours as Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Chris Beard played on Saturday night to a packed street that stretched nearly a full block out and half block each way. This festival is more than grammas jazz records, as it encompasses many genres and takes.

The Jazz St Stage hosts free shows from 330pm until 10 every night. Local high school jazz bands get showcased, the Army band, and various other young local ensembles have opportunities. Later on, more noticeable acts will shake the stage, as Miss Emily did.

Hailing from Prince Edward County in Ontario, Miss Emily has a powerful soulful voice that resonates to every corner of the room she is in. Playing songs she wrote for her daughter and about mother nature (ironically as the winds picked up around the area), Emily played 2 sets for the Sunday evening crowd. Chatting with her after her first set, she says said she was amazed at the festival and the area in general and would love to come back with a full band in the future. This night was just her and the keyboardist.

âMiss Emilyâs voice has got to be heard to be believed – raw, expressive, transitioning flawlessly from a plaintive cry to a sonorous growl, weaving blues, country and rock while she does it. Miss Emily is unafraid to dig deep when she sings, tackling big, messy feelings in her songs – and you can feel it in every note.â

â Rob Baker (The Tragically Hip)

New venues for this year’s festivities are The Duke and Inn on Broadway. The Duke sits just outside the perimeter of the festival, and it is taking up space in a former retail mecca that is growing back up with the area around it. 18 sets will adorn the small stage over the week. It is the fourth business for ownership who also own a small plate venue right across the hall.

The Inn on Broadway is 95-year-old, 25 room boutique hotel and steakhouse that many visitors will pass as the make their way to the main event. The musical venue is an elegant second floor ballroom, with great sound and lots of natural light.

With the first weekend in the books, the Rochester Jazz Festival is primed for a strong finish as acts such as Sheila E, Brubeck Brothers Quartet, Bill Charlap, Samara Joy, and John Oates roll into town. Local favorite, Joy, is making her first appearance as a headliner at the festival, after playing smaller stages in recent years. The festival concludes Saturday night, June 29.

Bad Sneakers

Bad Sneakers

Bad Sneakers

Christie Dashiell

Christie Dashiell

Christie Dashiell

Christie Dashiell

Funk You

Funk You

Kingfish Ingram

Kingfish Ingram

Kingfish Ingram

Kingfish Ingram

Lee Ritenour

Lee Ritenour

Lee Ritenour

Lee Ritenour

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

The Shuffle Demons

The Shuffle Demons

The Shuffle Demons

Thunderstorm Artis

Artemis

June 25, 2024
Music Haven Announces 34th Annual International Concert Series

Music Haven announced the return of their beloved summer series of international music. From July 7 to September 6, Music Haven will host diverse performances for Schenectady residents.

Each concert will feature artists from different parts of the world, from Brazilian Jazz to Zimbabwean Afro Fusion. Schenectady’s Central Park will host the series in their award winning outdoor venue. Music Haven has transported viewers on a musical trip around the world for over 30 years.

In addition to the returning festival, Music Haven is excited to introduce their new Blues BBQ, and a three-part film and event series.

The Agnes MacDonald Music Haven is a family-friendly, accessible venue that has been voted “Best Outdoor Concert Venue” in the Capital Region. In addition to an excellent venue, the series will boast a collection of local craft beverages from Frog Alley and Wolf Hollow Brewing Companies and Nine Pin Cider. Ben and Jerry’s ice cream will also be available at each show, along with Yanni’s 2-go and Flacos Tacos.

Music Haven will welcome special guests as exciting as their headliners.

The series will open with Mokoomba, a Zimbabwean Afro Fusion group with infectiously danceable music. Special guest Jordan Taylor Hill will join Mokoomba with West African drums and dance.

The next performance will feature Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & The Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band for an evening of Louisiana Zydeco, a unique blend of jazz, blues, and Indigenous Creole influences. Special guest The Brass Machine will bring New Orleans style jazz .

Afterwards, the next performance will feature Balkan Brass, Roma (gypsy) accordion, and Slavic Soul Party jazz. Special guest Niva will perform Izverna, Macedonian roots music. The musical globetrotting trip will visit Ireland with Goitse, Live Ireland’s “Traditional Group of the Year”. The Capital region’s own Hair of the Dog will join Goitse.

More jazz will follow with Brazilian artist Anat Cohen, Jazz Journalists Association’s “Clarinetist of the Year”. Additionally, the jazz quartet Art D’echo Trio will be joined by percussionist Brian Melick.

Cuban musician Eliades Ochoa will perform classic Cuban Son. Cuban sextet Bolero Blues, led by Walter Ramos, will join Ochoa.

Music Haven will also feature food from around the world.

A full list of Music Haven’s summer events is available below, along with a news interview regarding the 2023 season.

Music Haven 2024

*7 p.m. Sundays

July 7—Mokoomba (Afrofusion)

Special Guests: Crossroads—Jordan Taylor Hill

Sponsors: M&T Bank, Fidelis Care, Benchemark Printing

July 14: Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & The Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band (Zydeco)

Special Guests: The Brass Machine

Sponsors: WellNow Urgent Care, Snapple, Broadview FCU

July 21: Slavic Soul Party (Balkan Brass Roma Gypsy Funk Band)

Special Guest: Niva

Sponsors: Freihofer’s, The Carlilian Foundation, Buzz Media

July 28: Goitse (Traditional Irish)

Special Guest: Hair of the Dog

Sponsors: Fenimore Asset Management, Polar Beverages, CDTA

August 4: Anat Cohen Quartetinho (Brazilian Jazz)

Special Guest: Art D’echo Trio +1

Sponsors: The Salmon Law Firm, Transfinder, DeCrescente Distributing Co.

August 11: Eliades Ochoa (Classic Cuban Son)

Special Guests: Bolero Blues

Sponsors: Goya, Mohawk Honda, Rivers Casino & Resort

August 18: Banda Magda (Global Folk & Jazz Songs)

Special Guests: TBA

Sponsors: Peregrine Engineering Consulting, Head to Tail, Gallagher

Additional performances at Music Haven 2024

Monday, August 5, 7 PM: SUNY Schenectady Jazz Faculty Combo

With Featured Guest Delfeayo Marsalis

Sponsor: SUNY Schenectady

Friday, August 9, 7 PM: 42^nd Infantry Division Band of the New York Army National Guard

Saturday, August 10, 7 PM: Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra, ‘A Tribute to John Williams’

Sponsors: Fenimore Asset Management and Classical WMHT

Friday, August 16, 5:00 – 9:30 PM: Blues BBQ

Blood Brothers With Misty Blues and Piedmont Bluz

Saturday, August 24, 7 PM: MOP*CO Improv Theater “Spontaneous Broadway”

Supported in part by a Schenectady County Arts & Culture Grant

Alfresco Film & Event Series

Presented in partnership with Film Schenectady

Friday, August 23 5:00-10:00 PM: ‘Bollywood Night’

Featuring Veena & Devesh Chandra, Lalita Ramnauth, Indian & Guyanese Food, & Fun followed by a screening of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

MC: Mahendra Prag

Supported by an NEA grant through NYS Folklore

Friday, August 30 5:00-9:30 PM: ‘Reggae Sunset’

Featuring Meta & The Cornerstones, Caribbean Food & Fun, followed by a screening of Bob Marley: One Love

MC: Sir Walford

Sponsor: MVP Health Care

Friday, September 6 5:00-9:30 PM: ‘Paint the Park Pink’

Featuring FLY 92.3, Classic Summer & Pink Food & Fun, followed by a screening of the award-winning blockbuster, Barbie

Sponsored by First New York Federal Credit Union

Supported in part by FairGame and Schenectady County Arts & Culture Grants

June 23, 2024