The 27th Annual Albany LatinFest will take place on Saturday, Aug. 24 featuring Taina Asili, DLG, Tony Succar, and talent from local artists.
Photo by Mabou Riddick
This year’s lineup includes Taina Asili, a Puerto Rican-American singer-songwriter and activist. Originating from Binghamton, her music contains a variety of styles and inspirations ranging from Afro-Caribbean and flamenco to hardcore punk and opera. Asili is also an extensive activist focusing on prisoner justice, climate justice, food justice, and female empowerment.
DLG (Dark Latin Groove) will bring some fun salsa music to LatinFest with a performance that incorporates reggae and hip-hop into salsa music. In 2009, the band was nominated for a “Best Tropical Album” Grammy Award as well as a Premio Lo Nuestro Award for “Best Tropical Group” the same year.
Lastly, Peruvian-American percussionist, Tony Succar will take the stage. Succar is also a composer and producer. In 2015 he became the youngest Latin Grammy winner of Producer of the Year and Best Salsa Album. Since then he’s had Grammy nominations in 2021, 2023, and 2024. His set at LatinFest is not to be missed.
Photo by Mabou Riddick
Along with exhibitions from local talent, the festival will offer raffles, Latino vendors, crafts, and a Kid Zone.
The event is held in Albany’s Washington Park from 11 AM to 6 PM and free to the public. In the case of rain, the festival will be moved to the I-90/I-787 interchange in Corning Preserve.
The Albany Latin Festival Association (ALFA) is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to promote and develop Hispanic cultural events in the Capital Region of the State of New York for the purpose of acknowledging the contributions of Hispanic performing artists and promoting an appreciation for multicultural diversity. For more information visit www.albanylatinfest.org
The Albany Symphony announced seasoned orchestra manager, Emily Fritz-Endres, as their new executive director. Fritz-Endres has more than a decade of experience within the music industry, having worked for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Boston Symphony Orchestra.
“We are thrilled that after a national search led by vice-chair of the board Daniel Kredentser and a dedicated search committee, Emily Fritz-Endres has been chosen as our new executive director. We were impressed by her proven leadership successes in financial management and strategic planning, and are excited to welcome her,” said Faith Ann Takes, chair of the board for the Albany Symphony. “Emily will be an excellent leader for the Symphony and together, we will ensure that the Albany Symphony will flourish even more throughout our region.”
During her time with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Fritz-Endres focused on financial and facilities planning, bringing the organization into alignment with the diverse Atlanta community, artistic ambition, venue solutions, audience development, and an endowment campaign. At the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Fritz-Endres served as director of board administration cultivating relationships with the orchestra’s 250 trustees and advisors. She organized projects including the opening of the Linde Center for Music and Learning at Tanglewood, two fundraising campaigns, and a governance restructure.
Fritz-Endres will take the helm as executive director beginning in August 2024 and continue the work that David Hyslop, Albany Symphony’s interim executive director, began in January 2024.
“I am honored to lead the Albany Symphony, an adventurous, future-looking orchestra devoted to championing the music of our time. I am grateful to my predecessor, Anna Kuwabara, a leader I admire for her talents in building enduring community partnerships and her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. As the organization nears its centennial, I am thrilled to work with the wildly creative David Alan Miller, and the talented orchestra, board, and staff as we expand how our music celebrates, educates, and transforms the people of the Capital Region and beyond,” said Fritz-Endres
Fritz-Endres earned her MBA from Columbia Business School in New York and her BA from Carleton College in Minnesota. When not in music venues, she loves playing clarinet, being in nature, and mentoring queer youth.
The Albany Symphony has shows running all year, with the next show being the symphony’s Summer Soiree on June 27. More information and tickets for the Albany Symphony can be found here.
U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and John Hickenlooper have introduced a bill to help support music tourism throughout the country, dubbed the American Music Tourism Act of 2024.
According to a press release, the American Music Tourism Act of 2024 requires the assistant secretary to identify locations and events in the United States that are important to music tourism and implement a plan to increase and attract domestic and international visitors to venues nationwide.
Music tourism is projected to bring in over $11.3 billion in revenue nationwide by 2032, with the United States boasting one of the world’s largest music industries – generating over $43 billion in revenue each year. The act will require the assistant secretary to submit their findings, achievements, and activities to the congressional and senate committees within one year of its passage and every year after that.
“Tennesseans know a thing or two about the positive impact that music tourism has on the economy and culture,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Volunteer State is proud to be home to so many iconic musical landmarks for tourists to enjoy – from Graceland in Memphis to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol. This bipartisan legislation promotes music tourism’s fast-growing industry and ensures fans from all over the world can celebrate the rich history of music for generations to come.”
Former Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) speaks at the United States Conference of Mayors winter meeting in Washington, U.S., January 24, 2019. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas.
The legislation is endorsed by the Recording Academy, the Recording Industry Association of America, Live Nation Entertainment, the National Independent Venues Association, the Nashville Songwriter’s Association International, the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, the National Independent Venues Association, the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development, Tennessee Entertainment Commission, Memphis Tourism, Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism and the Overton Park Shell in Memphis.
“Music venues are keepers of our culture. From Red Rocks to the Grand Ole Opry, and hundreds of small venues across our country, millions visit Colorado and all our states to hear world-class musicians and connect with each other,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “Our bipartisan American Music Tourism Act will support these venues by helping our music tourism industry grow and expand.”
We reached out to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for their views on the bill, but have not heard back. We will update this article if they reach out.
The premier New York summer event for Deadheads and jam band enthusiasts is back. The Circus of the Dead Festival will be returning to Lee’s Campground in Saratoga Springs on June 21 and 22 for a literally jam-packed weekend of performances celebrating the spirit of the Grateful Dead.
2024 marks the second year of Saratoga Springs’ spin on their annual Circus of Life Festival, Circus of the Dead, which stemmed from a visit by Dead and Company in 2023 while they were on their final tour. While the Grateful Dead will sadly not be touring in Saratoga Springs this year, or anywhere for that matter, this year’s festival is still set to deliver an experience for Deadheads of all ages.
Highlights among the bands set to perform include high-octane new-funk electrofusion and dance band Kung Fu, never-before-heard supergroup Uncle Vin’s Band, featuring Vinnie Amico, Nate Wilson, and Al Schnier from moe.., Marc Brownstein of The Disco Biscuits, and Max Verna of The Ominous Seapods. This extraordinary supergroup promises a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration that will blow your mind and leave you craving more. Plus don’t miss genre-bending one-man band Keller Williams, who’s playing a must-see Dead Infusion set. Multiple performances will also include light shows and other visual effects. 16 other bands are billed to play during the densely packed two-day festival.
Beyond the performing artists, a variety of activities and attractions for guests will be available during the weekend. Art installations and workshops, food and merchandise vendors, circus acts and performances and LED walls, lasers and light shows will all be present to enhance everyone’s experience.
General admission tickets cover both days of the weekend and also include the ability to tent or car camp. Tickets for no-camp single days are also available, as well as early arrival and RV passes. General admission tickets are $176.88, and single-day tickets are $74.64.
The 2024 Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala will take place on Thursday, June 13, featuring a slate of legendary musicians to perform and present.
Along with Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) Chairman Nile Rodgers, Trey Anastasio, Kevin Bacon and Michael Bacon p/k/a The Bacon Brothers, Cary Barlowe, Andra Day, Rodney Chrome, El Debarge, Missy Elliott, Jason Isbell, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Deniece Williams, Paul Williams, are all slated to either present and/or perform at the induction.
These musicians will celebrate the art of songwriting and the decades of work the inductees have put into their craft. The SHOF also educates the public about the significance of songwriting through workshops, showcases, and scholarships at programs across the country.
The 53rd Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala will be inducting Hillary Lindsey, Timothy Mosley p/k/a Timbaland, Dean Pitchford, Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe p/k/a R.E.M., and Donald Fagen and Walter Becker p/k/a Steely Dan. Additionally, SZA will receive the Hal David Starlight Award and Diane Warren will receive the Johnny Mercer Award.
They will be joining the likes of Bob Dylan, Carole King, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Elton John & Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and Pharell Williams in the SHOF, to name a few out of approximately 400 inductees.
Tickets for the Songwriters Hall of Fame event begin at $2,000 each and are available through Buckley Hall Events, 914-579-1000 and SHOF@buckleyhallevents.com. Net proceeds from the event will go toward the Songwriters Hall of Fame programs. Songwriters Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 organization. The non-deductible portion of each ticket is $215. Contributions, for which no goods or services are received in exchange, are fully tax-deductible as provided by law.
ALP has officially released Grateful: The Music Plays The Band, a new 17-track album that features classic Grateful Dead songs covered by many of their friends. It contains selections played by familiar names like Oteil Burbridge and Dark Star Orchestra but also ALO, Doom Flamingo, and more.
Proceeds from this LP will benefit The Grateful Guitars Foundation, a nonprofit charity that obtains world-class musical instruments for people who seek to carry on the tradition of jam band music into the 21st century and beyond.
Grateful features longtime and newcomer bands influenced by the music of the Grateful Dead, committed to expanding the group’s sound in various musical directions – from live grooves to Afrobeat to sultry synth-driven pop. But there’s also touches of vintage Grateful Dead as well, with a track from David Nelson Band, a former New Rider of the Purple Sage and longtime cohort. See below for a full track listing.
Founded by Andy Logan in 2019, the Grateful Guitars Foundation not only serves to put guitars in the hands of musicians in the community but also supports music instruction in schools to seed the next generation of talented players. To capture the tones of specific eras of Grateful Dead concerts, Logan worked with luthiers across the country to build a library of models of every guitar played by Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir from 1965-1995.
Logan then loaned these instruments out to bands doing recreation shows, most notably to Phil Lesh & Friends at Terrapin Crossroads in 2015 and 2016. Logan himself also owns two historic pieces of Grateful Dead memorabilia – “Alligator,” a Fender Stratocaster Garcia played by Jerry Garcia 1971 to 1973 (so-named because of a sticker on it), and the Martin D-28 with which he recorded “Ripple.”
“These instruments should be played, not mounted on a wall,” says Logan. “I wanted to share them with the fans and players who have loved the Grateful Dead, so that the jam scene is enlivened by their unique tones and historical significance.”
Grateful: The Music Plays The Band can be found on all streaming platforms here and to learn more about The Grateful Guitars Foundation visit gratefulguitars.org.
Grateful: The Music Plays the Band tracklist:
1. “Jack Straw” – Dark Star Orchestra
2. “Friend of the Devil” – David Nelson Band
3. “Peggy-O” – Alex Jordan & Friends
4. “Candyman” – Katie Skene & Andrea Whitt
5. “They Love Each Other” – ALO
6. “One More Saturday Night” – BERTHA: Grateful Drag
7. “Loser” – Michael James Wheeler
8. “Touch of Grey” – Doom Flamingo
9. “So Many Roads” – John Kadlecik
10. “Music Never Stopped” – Cubensis
11. “China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider” – La Horsa Bianca
Summer is here, and Western New York amusement park Six Flags Darien Lake has announced its lineup of shows coming to their 21,600-capacity amphitheater. The stacked lineup includes countless stars, including but not limited to Janet Jackson, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Avril Lavigne and Creed.
HARDY with special guests Kip Moore, Travis Denning and Stephen Wilson Jr. – Quit!! Tour – June 8, 6:45 PM
Country Rock veteran HARDY will open up Darien Lake’s summer lineup with the second New York show on his Quit!! Tour. Fellow country artists Kip Moore, Travis Denning and Stephen Wilson Jr. will open up the show as special guests.
Niall Horan with special guest Del Water Gap – The Show Tour – June 22, 7:30 PM
Former One-Direction member Niall Horan will be stopping by Darien Lake for his The Show Tour. Brooklyn-based indie-pop artist Del Water Gap will join as a special guest.
James Taylor and His All-Star Band – June 25, 8:00 PM
Six-time Grammy Award winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee James Taylor and his all-star band will arrive in Darien Lake on June 25. Some of the all-stars from Taylor’s band include The Blues Brothers saxophonist Lou Marini and Steely Dan and Bee Gees drummer Steve Gadd.
Kenny Chesney with special guest Megan Moroney – Sun Goes Down Tour – June 27, 7:30 PM
Grammy-nominated and Country Music Association award-winner Kenny Chesney will play in Darien Lake as a stop for his Sun Goes Down Tour. The Academy of Country Music Awards’ 2024 New Artist of the Year, Megan Moroney, will join Chesney.
Third Eye Blind with special guests Yellowcard and ARIZONA – Summer Gods Tour – July 3, 6:30 PM
American rock band Third Eye Blind will be coming to Darien Lake as the first of three New York stops for their Summer Gods Tour. Similarly-popular band Yellowcard will be the featured opener, alongside pop-rock band ARIZONA.
Janet Jackson with special guest Nelly – Together Again Tour – July 5, 8:00 PM
Iconic pop star Janet Jackson is set to appear in Darien Lake on July 5 before playing in Brooklyn later in the month. Rapper and singer Nelly, known for hits like “Hot in Herre” and “Ride Wit Me,” will appear as a special guest.
Kidz Bop Kidz – July 7, 4:00 PM
The renowned family-friendly pop song cover group, Kidz Bop Kidz, will perform in Darien Lake for an early show on July 7. This child-friendly concert is perfect for any younger children looking to hear clean versions of some of their favorite modern pop hits.
Chris Stapleton with special guests Marcus King and Nikki Lane – All-American Road Show – July 11, 7:00 PM
Ten-time Grammy Award winner Chris Stapleton will come by Darien Lake for a stop on his All-American Road Show. Fellow country singers Marcus King and Nikki Lane will contribute opening performances.
Red Hot Chili Peppers with special guest Wand – Unlimited Love Tour – July 12, 7:00 PM
Genre-defining American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers will arrive in Darien Lake the day after Chris Stapleton for their Unlimited Love Tour. Psychedelic rock band Wand will open up the set.
Jason Aldean with special guests Lauren Alaina, Chase Matthew, Austin Snell and Dee Jay Silver – Highway Desperado Tour – August 1, 7:30 PM
Country musician Jason Aldean will kick off August with a performance at Darien Lake as a stop on his Highway Desperado Tour. Lauren Alaina, Chase Matthew, Austin Snell and Dee Jay Silver will all appear as special guests.
The Queens of R&B: Xscape and SWV with special guests Mya, Total and 702 – The Queens of R&B Tour – August 6, 7:00 PM
Known for their active reality television series, The Queens of R&B, Xscape and SVW, will be performing at Darien Lake for their last of three New York shows. Mya, Total and 702 will join as special guests.
Avril Lavigne with special guests Simple Plan and Girlfriends – The Greatest Hits Tour – August 20, 7:00 PM
Pop-punk idol Avril Lavigne will play nothing but the best in Darien Lake for her new tour focusing on her greatest hits. Rock bands Simple Plan and Girlfriends will open up the show.
New Kids On The Block with special guests Paula Abdul and DJ Jazzy Jeff – Magic Summer Tour – August 22, 7:00 PM
Classic boy band New Kids On The Block is celebrating the release of their brand new album, Still Kids, with their Magic Summer Tour. The Darien Lake performance will be opened by Paula Abdul and DJ Jazzy Jeff.
Pitbull with special guest T-Pain – Party After Dark Tour – September 6, 8:00 PM
Mr. Worldwide, aka Pitbull, will perform some of his classic pop hits to the Darien Lake crowd on September 6 for his Party After Dark Tour. Fellow 2000s and 2010s hitmaker T-Pain will appear as well.
Falling In Reverse with special guests Black Veil Brides, Dance Gavin Dance, Tech N9ne and Jeris Johnson – The Popular MonsTOUR II: World Domination – September 10, 5:45 PM
American rock and pop-punk band Falling in Reverse is set to perform at Darien Lake for their Popular MonsTOUR II: World Domination. The packed night of performances will also feature Black Veil Brides, Dance Gavin Dance, Tech N9ne and Jeris Johnson.
ZZ Top & Lynyrd Skynyrd with special guest The Outlaws – The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour – September 12, 6:30 PM
American rock bands Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top will perform at Darien Lake for their last of four New York shows as a part of their collaborative tour. Fellow American rock band, The Outlaws, will open up the show.
Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss and Celisse – The Outlaw Music Festival – September 17, 5:00 PM
American folk legends Willie Nelson & Family and Bob Dylan will play together in Darien Lake as part of the traveling “must see music festival of the summer,” Outlaw Music Festival. Robert Plant, Alison Krauss and Celisse will perform as well.
Creed with special guests 3 Doors Down and Finger 11 – Summer of ’99 Tour – September 27, 7:00 PM
Post-grunge American rock band Creed will cap off Darien Lake’s summer lineup with a performance for their Summer of 99′ Tour on September 27. 3 Doors Down and Finger 11 will open up the show.
Tickets for all of the shows shown can be found here.
Hot 97’s annual Summer Jam concert event came and went this past weekend. The annual hip hop showcase held at Elmont’s UBS arena where artists like Cash Cobain, Lola Brooke, 41, French Montana, Davido, Doja Cat, Sexyy Red and legacy acts such as Method Man & Redman all performed. While the concert celebrated hip hop old and new, Method Man made it clear that this might be his last time performing at the annual hip hop festival.
As Hot 97 took to Instagram to share highlights from the event, Method Man shared in the comments that the audience’s reaction was not to his liking. With the legendary rhymer stating that the audience was “not our crowd at all.” However, the “Tical” rapper held no qualms towards Hot 97 pillars and hosts Ebro and Peter Rosenbengerg, but simply stated that “at this point the generation gap is just too wide for me.”
With the historic radio station celebrating their 30th annual Summer Jam event, Method Man, Redman and the likes of Rakim and Big Daddy Kane were brought out to commemorate three decades of hip hop at the radio station. Moreover, Big Daddy Kane shared a heartfelt moment with the crowd, bringing out the late Mister Cee’s brother and sister to commemorate the legendary, late DJ’s tribute with a moment of silence, instructing the crowd to throw up C’s.
However, despite this, Summer Jam has routinely curated its setlist to cater to hip hop’s newer acts. With focuses on Cash Cobain — who has taken airwaves by storm with his hit-record “Fisherrr”– drill rappers 41 and Sexxy Red, with A Boogie serving as a celebrity host. From afar the lack of crowd reaction seems to be the result of hip hop being quick to discard its legends, rather than learn and study their work, which is a stark contrast to country much and rock & roll acts. As Meth and Red performed their hits includng their 1999 collaborative single “Da Rockwilder,” hip hop showed why it may not always be the best idea to cling to the youth for relevance, as it may result in legends not getting their just due.
In an upcoming interview with NYS Music, owner and CEO of Lounge Studios in Manhattan Walt Randall revealed that he is starting a new surround sound company for his studio called Spatio. The company will launch during the first week of June and allow independent artists to record their music in Atmos Spatial Audio. This new surround-sound format allows for a more realistic and immersive recording experience.
The Dolby-Certified Solaris Room is the latest addition to Lounge Studios where artists will record their music in Atmos Spatial Audio. Credit: Walt Randall.
However, this new format is pricey and creates roadblocks for independent artists.
“All major labels make it mandatory to release Atmos, but it’s too expensive for independent artists. The going rate is between $500-$1500/song. This makes it impossible for independent musicians to get their songs done in Atmos Spatial Audio,” Randall said.
Randall realized what an obstacle this posed for independent artists, and decided to do something about it at Lounge.
“When I realized that this amazing format would pose insurmountable obstacles to independent artists, it became my mission to even the playing field”, Randall said.
Randall described the process of making Atmos Spatial Audio more accessible to independent artists.
“I started by building one of only three Dolby Certified, Atmos Studios in Manhattan. I then developed proprietary software systems that would help speed up the mixing process. Lastly, I trained some of Lounge Studios’ best engineers to work with Spatio,” Randall said.
Randall added, “To date, we have done Atmos mixes for every major record label and have done some of the biggest stars in every genre of music, including The Wallows and Lil Baby.”
Randall emphasized what a big deal Spatio will be for rising musicians.
“It’s going to be huge for independent artists and will change the playing field.”
There’s a new music festival that’s been announced for the summer season. Wonderland Forest in Lafayette, NY will play host to Grateful Getaway, a series of Grateful Dead tribute acts playing over the course of eleven consecutive days in August.
The initial artist lineup has now been announced with more to follow and there’s various ticketing options for either individual shows or all eleven packaged together.
Grateful Getaway promises to feature a harmonious fusion of sound, nature, and community and begins on August 2 and 3 with two performances by the Sam Grisman Project. The August 3 show will also feature a supporting act from Grateful for Biggie – a band that blends the iconic worlds of the Grateful Dead and Notorious B.I.G.
Pink Talking Fish then takes over Wonderland Forest for a show on Sunday, August 4 and the artist for the Monday, August 5 show has yet to be announced.
Grateful Getaway then powers right along to Tuesday, August 6 with a performance from Steely Dead, another “mash-up” tribute act that lives up to the name. This then sets the stage for two of the more renowned and long lasting Dead cover bands that are playing today.
Melvin Seals & JGB will headline on August 7 and 8 and then pass the baton to Dark Star Orchestra for two shows on Friday, August 9 and Saturday, August 10. Grateful Getaway will then come to an end on Sunday, August 11 with that night’s headliner also yet to be announced.
Tickets for individual shows and further information can be found here.
