Category: News

PhanArt brings Phish Art, Health and Wellness Fair and Kale together at Palace Theatre on October 26

On Saturday, October 26 from Noon to 5pm, PhanArt, in association with Mirth Films, will hold a hometown Art Show and Health & Wellness Event at the Palace Theatre in Albany

Featured during the show is New Paltz band Kale for the October edition of Palace Sessions Live.

Located just a 0.5 mile walk down Pearl Street from the MVP Arena (where Phish will perform for three nights) PhanArt at the Palace will feature dozens of artists and vendors from the Capital District and across the country from the greater Phish community.

Presented alongside Mirth Films, PhanArt will host artists and vendors offering a great deal of art, clothing, home goods, music inspired memorabilia and much more from dozens of small businesses, in addition to a Health and Wellness fair on the Second Floor of the Palace Theatre. There attendees will find Reiki, aerial yoga, interactive art, healing circles, psychedelic integration and much more.

Confirmed artists and vendors include Perpetual Hang, Scotty Radford Art and Design, BLURD Glass, YouEnjoyMyVegan, Ethereal Honey, Blazinâ Donuts, Fiddle and Feather, Unusual Conclusions, The Overhead View and many more.

Kale, a genre-blending indietronica jam trio from New Paltz, will be playing 2 sets during the afternoon, along with music from Sweeping Views in between performances. Kale combines a love of danceable electronic rhythms, soaring melodies, and energetic hooks into an improvisational channel that allows for deep exploration of the musical cosmos.

The Palace Theatre is located at the corner of Clinton and North Pearl Street, just a half mile walk to MVP Arena, where Phish will perform each evening from October 25-27.

The first hometown PhanArt show at Albanyâs historic Palace Theatre takes place on Saturday, October 26 from 12-5pm. Admission is free as always!

October 19, 2024
Tom Paxton’s To Play Three Final Shows In New York

The GE Theatre presented by the Eighth Step will host one of folk legend Tom Paxton’s final shows in his farewell tour in Schenectady on Saturday, Oct. 19.

The Eighth Step has hosted Paxton about every two years since the mid-1980s. First, on Willett Street in Albany, then at the Cohoes Music Hall, and since 2007, at the GE Theater in Schenectady. On Oct. 19, they will once again present Grammy-winning folk legend Tom Paxton in concert with the Don Juans live at 7:30 pm. Paxton has toured and written with the DonJuans [Grammy winners Don Henry & Jon Vezner] for the past several years and as of next Spring, he will retire from touring.

Since the beginning of Tom Paxton’s career, he has delivered clever political commentary, and poignant love songs. His story began in 1960s Greenwich Village, playing in now-legendary coffee houses like The Gaslight and befriending other folk legends like Dave Van Ronk, Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, and Eric Anderson. Since then, has gone on to perform thousands of concerts, in places across the world like Hong Kong, Denmark, Tokyo, Oslo, and New Zealand. He has also toured England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland over 50 times and has recorded over 50 albums of his own songs.

Recordings of Paxton songs by other artists number in the hundreds and include artists such as Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Judy Collins, John Denver, Joan Baez and Peter Paul & Mary.

In 2009, Tom Paxton was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy during the 51st Annual Grammy Awards. In addition, he has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from ASCAP, and the BBC.

Tickets are $32.50 Advance, $37.50 day of show, and $55 Gold Circle including front center section seats and admission to the 6:30 pm Artist Reception onstage with Tom, Don and Jon. Learn more and purchase tickets here.

Tom Paxton Farewell Tour

Fri, OCT 18 – CaffÃ¨ Lena -Saratoga Springs, NY

Sat, OCT 19 – Eighth Step at Proctor’s – Schenectady, NY

Sun, OCT 20 The Park Theatre Jaffrey, NH

Mon, OCT 21 – The Iron Horse – Northampton, MA

Tue, OCT 22 – Club Passim – Cambridge, MA

Wed, OCT 23 – The Loft at City Winery New York – New York, NY

Sat, OCT 26 – Birchmere – Alexandria, VA

Thu, NOV 14 – Triple Door – Seattle, WA

Fri, NOV 15 – Spanish Ballroom at Elks Temple – Tacoma, WA

Sun, NOV 17 – Alberta Rose Theatre – Portland, OR

Tue, NOV 19 – Musical Instrument Museum – Phoenix, AZ

Fri, NOV 22 – daniels hall – Denver, CO

Sat, NOV 23 – TACAW – The Arts Campus At Willits – Basalt, CO

Sat, JAN 11, 2025 – The Sofia – Sacramento, CA

Fri, MAR 14, 2025 – The Cultural Arts Center – Glen Allen, VA

Thu, APR 3, 2025 – Temple Isaiah – Fulton, MD

October 19, 2024
Works & Process Presents Peter & the Wolf with Isaac Mizrahi

Works & Process has announced a production of Peter & the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev in direct collaboration with and featuring Isaac Mizrahi among other seasoned creatives at the Guggenheim.

A non-profit without walls, Works & Process promotes performing artists and their creative endeavors from studio to stage. Through longitudinal and fully funded creative residencies and commissioning support, Works & Process platforms creators from the world’s largest organizations and amplifies under-recognized performing arts cultures.

Presenting at the Guggenheim Museum, Manhattan West, and the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts with the Jerome Robbins Dance Division, Works & Process presents a variety of year round programs including their iconic summer dance programs with City Parks Foundation’s SummerStage and NYC Parks, all while their LaunchPAD program offers industry-leading residencies and amenities for rising creatives.

Veteran of practically every aspect of the entertainment industry, Isaac Mizrahi has worked as a performer, host, writer, designer, and producer for over 30 years. Most recently seen as Amos Hart in the Broadway production of Chicago and widely recognized for his annual residency at Café Carlyle in New York City among his archive of other iconic venues throughout the state and beyond, it’s no wonder why he’s been hailed as the pioneer of “a genre that fuses performance art, music, and stand-up comedy”- as put by The New York Times.

In addition to live performance, Mizrahi can be recognized through his television and film works including the Sundance Film Festival award-winning documentary Unzipped that followed the making of his Fall 1994 collection, his seven-year run as the host of his own talk show appropriately titled The Isaac Mizrahi Show, and his position as judge for all seven seasons of Project Runway: All-Stars.

The skill of Mizrahi, the mission of Works & Progress, and many other creatives’ efforts will be meeting in their production of Peter & the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev on December 6 and 7. Not only has Mizrahi taken on the mantle of director for the production, the cast will be fully costumed in his designs and his voice will grace the stage as the show’s narrator.

Mizrahi is in great company- Peter & the Wolf is to feature the sound of Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect conducted by Michael P. Atkinson and the moves of recognized choreographer John Heginbotham.

Photo: Shervin Lainez

New York City based composer, arranger, conductor, and instrumentalist Michael P. Atkinson is most recognized for his collaborations with the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Justin Peck, William Kentridge, New York Philharmonic, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, New York Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, International Contemporary Ensemble, BalletCollective, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the list goes on.

An Associate Conductor of The Knights and guest conductor of the New York City Ballet, the Orlando Philharmonic, and the world premiere of seven ballets- including two of Justin Peck’s presented at Works & Process- it’s an understatement to say it’s exciting to see his skill lent to the production.

Graduate of The Juilliard School for dance, John Heginbotham is a powerhouse of a choreographer. Among countless other works, Heginbotham has choreographed Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy Season 3- which earned him a 2023 World Choreography Award nomination, the Tony and Olivier Award-winning revival of Oklahoma!, and has created works for ballet and opera companies including The Washington Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, BalletX, Dutch National Opera, LA Opera, and San Francisco Opera.

In addition to these accomplishments, Heginbotham has collaborated with the likes of Maira Kalman, Maile Okamura, Colin Jacobsen, Tyondai Braxton, Joshua Bell, Ethan Iverson, Brooklyn Rider, The Knights, Alarm Will Sound, and the production’s very own Isaac Mizrahi. He also lends his skills to Dance Heginbotham as Artistic Director, the Dartmouth Dance Ensemble as Director and faculty to the school, and the founding teacher of Dance for PD.

Each iconic figure in this collaboration guarantees a culminating unforgettable thirty minute production of Peter & the Wolf for the young and young at heart in the iconic Guggenheim Museum. With four shows over the course of December 6 and 7, the heartwarming show is not one to be missed.

No matter how big or small, all audience members will require a ticket- which are available now. Starting at $20, tickets can be purchased on the Works & Process website here.

October 17, 2024
Third Annual Pop-Up Health and Wellness Clinic Returns to Caffè Lena in Saratoga on October 20
Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs has announced the return of their free annual pop-up health and wellness clinic on October 20.

Medical professionals from Saratoga Hospital and community organizations will provide testing, evaluation, health & wellness education, as well as assistance obtaining access to ongoing care during a one-day pop-up health clinic. These services are available free of charge to anyone in the creative community, including artists, musicians, designers, photographers, filmmakers, writers, and all others who work in a creative capacity and live in the Saratoga region.

The clinic was brought to life three years ago through the vision of Saratoga Hospital Community Health Center nurse and musician Jill Burnham RN, BCEN of “Mark and Jill Sing the Blues”. This year’s event is made possible by the generous support of the Rotary Club of Saratoga, with additional support from Caffè Lena, Sight and Sound Vision Care for the Music Industry, and Saratoga Hospital.

Available services will include:
- Vision Screenings and Free Eyewear/Sight and Sound Vision Care
- Insurance Navigation Services
- Connection to Primary Care Services/Saratoga Hospital Community Health Center
- Narcan Training & Distribution
- Blood Pressure Screenings
- Nutrition Services
- Cancer Screening Program
- Hearing Screenings
To learn more about Caffe Lena’s pop-up health and wellness clinic on October 20 visit their website by clicking here.
October 16, 2024
Bands Do BK Presents The Music Matters NYC VHS Compilation

Brooklyn based project Bands Do BK has announced the official VHS compilation release of live performances from a 3-day, 15-band event held at Arlene’s Grocery earlier this May.

Born out of a desire to bring musicians to fans and vice versa throughout Brooklyn and beyond, Bands do BK is a project designed to offer readers uncut perspectives of the borough from their favorite local artists and musicians. From personable conversation, spotlights on new releases, and events hosted for fans and creators alike, Bands do BK avoids pomp and pretense in favor of genuine content curated for music lovers and makers, by music lovers and makers.

Back in May of this year, Bands do BK put on a powerful three-day event at the iconic Arlene’s Grocery comprised of 15 emerging bands of the local indie scene. Capturing the liveliness of the tightly knit NYC music scene throughout every set while in a historically significant area that has consistently provided a space for creatives and musicians alike, the event was a major hit.

Now, in an exciting one-of-a-kind VHS compilation, the project and its impactful message have been further immortalized. Spearheaded by Executive Producer Marc Seligman and Production Coordinator (and Bands do BK Curator) Sam Sumpter, The Music Matters NYC is a 67 minute testament to the immortality of music in New York City and the newest voices taking that charge.

Artists featured in the compilation correspond with the original performance dates- day one’s Big Girl, Tilden, A Very Special Episode, Tetchy, and TVOD are showcased alongside day two’s O. Wake, NEVVA, Two-Man Giant Squid, Mary Shelley, and day three’s AVATAREDEN, Jelly Kelly, Go Home, Night Spins, and SKORTS.

Largely inspired by the authentic work of these artists and a vision of capturing the essence of their performances in a genuine way, a simple documentary-style idea quickly developed into the nostalgic experience that is a VHS release- a perfect call back to analog recordings that pays homage to the timelessness of New York City’s indie music scene alongside a uniquely nostalgic viewer experience.

“My hope is that this doc serves as a window into our community—what’s happening in venues, parks, bars, backyards and basements across the city on any given day or night. I hope it inspires you to fall in love with these artists like I have and to buy music and merch, go to local shows and support this sweet, sweet scene that we, as New Yorkers, are unbelievably lucky to have access to. NYC isn’t even close to dead, and I’m beyond stoked to showcase some of the incredible bands who are out there proving it.”
– Sam Sumpter, Bands do BK Curator

The event’s performances were subsequently recorded by a top-tier crew including Brad Wagner and Juan Soria on audio and video production assisted by Charlie Peterson, Jeff Schaer-Moses on photography, and Jason Toledo on video editing in addition to being a co-producer.

To be released on Friday November 1, the official The Music Matters NYC VHS compilation will be available through Bands do BK, Arlene’s Grocery, Village Revival Records, and all of the bands featured at their shows.

In addition, Bands do BK has announced an exciting upcoming watch party at the very same Arlene’s Grocery. Bringing together fans, friends, and artists in a larger community of creativity and appreciation for live performance, the once-in-a-lifetime chance to relive the magic in the same room where it was made is not to be missed.

No official date for the watch party has been announced yet, so to keep up to date on the latest updates as well as all of Bands do BK’s endeavors, visit their website here.

October 16, 2024
Buffalo to Celebrate Birthday of “Over the Rainbow” Composer Harold Arlen

On Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025 at Kleinhans Music Hall of Buffalo, the 120th birthday of legendary composer Harold Arlen will be celebrated.

Presented by JazzBuffalo in collaboration with Kleinhans Music Hall, a special 120th birthday celebration and concert will pay tribute to one of Buffalo’s most legendary musical icons, Harold Arlen, in the Mary Seaton Room at Kleinhans Music Hall.

Born on Feb. 15, 1905, Arlen was the composer behind some of the most beloved songs in the Great American Songbook such as, “Stormy Weather,” “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “Get Happy,” and, of course, “Over the Rainbow.” The latter is of course the iconic song from The Wizard of Oz that earned him an Academy Award and is frequently hailed as the greatest song of the 20th century.

Since passing away in 1986, Arlen’s compositions have left a mark on American music, shaping the landscape of jazz and popular music for generations.

This concert aims to highlight Arlen’s Buffalo roots by exploring where he grew up, performed, and began his illustrious career. From his early days playing piano on the S.S. Canadiana to his rise as a Broadway and Hollywood composer, Arlen’s Buffalo upbringing was integral to his success, and the event will honor the city’s role in shaping his career.

The concert will be headlined by acclaimed jazz pianist and Western New York native Pete Malinverni, who has made a name for himself as a composer, arranger, and educator based in New York City. Joining Malinverni will be internationally renowned violinist Julie Kurtzman and rising star jazz vocalist Anaïs Reno. Together, they will bring new life to Arlen’s cherished songs, including “Over the Rainbow” through fresh arrangements and performances, offering audiences a unique opportunity to experience the music of this Buffalo-born legend.

Early bird ticket pricing is available throughout Oct. at $35 and tickets are priced at $40 afterward. Purchase tickets here.

October 16, 2024
Adirondack Theatre Festival and Proctors Collaborative Announce Expansive New Partnership

Adirondack Theatre Festival (ATF) and Proctors Collaborative have entered into a three-year agreement to expand shared services and explore how the two will partner more significantly over the long term.

Proctors Collaborative has provided the Adirondack Theatre Festival with set construction and marketing services on a fee basis for the past three seasons and cross-marketed for over five years. These efforts have led to conversations about the production of theatre in the Capital Region, the state of locally produced professional theaters around the country and the opportunities for ATF, the Collaborative and its affiliate Capital Repertory Theatre to work together. The goal is to imagine and deliver ever-better professional theater with ever-more stable means and methods for the larger community.

Glens Falls-based ATF has operated a summer season for three decades under an agreement with the Actors’ Equity Association, casting actors, designers and directors who have worked regularly on and off-Broadway, on television and in movies. Under the leadership of Producing Artist Director Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill, Albany’s Capital Repertory Theatre has a longer but similar history. Since its founding in 1976, it has produced over 300 shows across 6,000 performances, including 46 world premieres and is the Capital Region’s only League of Resident Theatres member.

The merging of these two entities has potential to create a collaborative project that may change the state of theater in upstate NY and throughout the nation. Since the Covid pandemic, the theater industry has been struggling to get back to the glory of its past. With this new collaborative adventure afoot, the capital region may see an explosion of creativity, success, and artisanship.

“Our donor community and funding communities and the cultural industry in general are focusing more and more on collaborations and efficiencies. Proctors Collaborative was born of that sensibility; the opportunity to connect and work with the region’s other significant professional theater company just makes sense at this point.”
Philip Morris, CEO of Proctors Collaborative

For more information on the Adirondack Theatre Festival and their upcoming collaborations click here. To learn more about Proctors Collaborative and their upcoming events, click here.

October 15, 2024
Documentary “Left Behind” To Premire At Woodstock Film Festival

On Friday, Oct. 18 at the Bearsville Theater, the documentary Left Behind will premiere as part of the 25 annual Woodstock Film Festival.

The feature documentary Left Behind follows a group of determined moms who band together to open NYC’s first public school for dyslexic students. The documentary depicts the long journey as the heroes face both institutional and personal hurdles as they try to upend a system for the city’s dyslexic youth.

The film gives insight into the ways that the public school system ignores the needs of students with learning disabilities and, in doing so, contributes to the school-to-prison pipeline. It examines the current public education system and evaluates it is not built to help students with learning disabilities succeed or thrive. This becomes especially a problem for lower income families as just about every single dyslexia-centered school in the country is privately owned. Anna Toomey’s gripping documentary chronicles a group of advocates in their struggle to start New York City’s first public school for dyslexia.

“Powerful…inspiring Left Behind is an urgent call to action to help dyslexic kids”
Anderson Cooper

Director, Anna Toomey, is an Emmy Award winner as a Producer for ABC News, Good Morning America, ABC News long-form unit, and Peter Jennings Reporting on projects including The Gun Fight, an inside look at the NRA, The Century, and more. Left Behind began in 2020 after her son was diagnosed with dyslexia and she realized the inadequate resources for millions of children across the country. Toomey created, developed and directed the film and it is her first feature length independent documentary. She owns her own production company, Sandy Dog Productions, where she works on independent film projects.

Following the screening on Oct. 18, Juju Chang, multiple Emmy Award-winning co-anchor of ABC News’ “Nightline,” will host a Q&A on the emotional impact of dyslexia within families and the global issue of the school to prison pipeline.

Learn more here.

October 14, 2024
Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame To Host Celebration of Pat DeRosa

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame has announced a celebration honoring the life of inductee, long-time music teacher, and record holding saxophone player Pat DeRosa.

A special event hosted by the daughter of Pat DeRosa, Patricia, the festivities on October 19 will celebrate the lifelong musical passions and accomplishments of the seasoned saxophonist and all that he gave to his Long Island community throughout his life.

Born in Brooklyn on December 6, 1921, Pat DeRosa discovered his love for saxophone at just twelve years old after his mother brought him to a music store on the Bowery. After a move to Huntington, Long Island, DeRosa developed already commendable self-taught skills due to a lack of musical resources in the area that would only flourish as he grew up, joining the Central School District’s high school band.

Following graduation, DeRosa found work at Grumman manufacturing airplane parts for the war. Within a year, he had joined the Grumman band and had formed his own trio that performed at nightclubs and parties all throughout New York City and Long Island.

After a draft into the Army Air Forces at the height of World War II and a successful audition into the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band, Pat spent three years traveling the country with the band performing for and entertaining the troops.

In 1946 DeRosa was able to return to Long Island and subsequently enrolled in the Manhattan School of Music, creating the opportunity for him to perform alongside legends of the time including Bob Hope, Milton Berle, Andy Williams, Dean Martin, and Jerry Lewis. Despite the lengthy evenings spent dedicated to live performance, DeRosa was dedicated to his studies and graduated with a Bachelors and Masters in Music Education.

The 1950s found DeRosa pursuing this passion for music education further, becoming a music teacher at Huntington Elementary and South Huntington Memorial Junior High. During this time Pat also performed alongside the jazz great John Coltrane until Coltrane’s passing and formed the Pat DeRosa Trio, which played constantly, including at the historic inaugural ball of President Richard Nixon.

Despite retiring from education in 1978, DeRosa’s musical spark refused to go out. He continued to perform shows spanning venues from the Hamptons to Florida. On Veteran’s Day in 2020, Pat was inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, and in 2021 he was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the ‘Oldest Professional Saxophone Player.’

Hosted at the LIME Hall of Fame on October 19, the celebration of Pat DeRosa’s legacy will include a special video/interview presentation, a Q&A with his daughter and granddaughter, a special raffle for all attendees, and a live performance played by his family and friends.

The event is free with a general admission ticket purchase. For further information on the event and the Hall of Fame, please visit their website here.

October 13, 2024
Annie in the Water Announce Next Studio Album ‘Things To Do’

Upstate New York natives Annie in the Water have announced their next studio album Things to Do which will be released on October 25 to go along with two shows in NY in support of the album.

As a follow up to their 2022 album Sun at Dawn, Annie in the Water’s fourth studio album was written and recorded from 2022 to 2024 at Bijou Artist Space in Malta, NY. Things to Do represents a step forward for the band towards a new sound inspired by their surroundings Upstate. Things to Do is a love letter to the region they call home.

Musically, the album is a culmination of two years of hard work with the goal of creating a polished sound that transverses multiple genres. The songs are a reminder to honor one another, to dance while living life with intention, integrity, loyalty, and patience. Each person involved in this project left a tangible impact, creating a truly collaborative album.

Annie in the Water is an alternative rock band from Upstate New York. Since their first album in 2011, Destination, the band’s feel good sound found its roots in acoustic guitars without limits. Their songwriting, led by guitars and synthesizers over a ground-shaking rhythm section, gives the listener the ability to traverse multiple genres.

Annie in the Water will be playing three shows in support of their new album which are listed below. They will also have new album related merchandise and vinyl pre-sales available at upcoming shows.

Annie in the Water Tour Dates:

Saturday, Oct. 26th – Ophelia’s – Albany, NY (Phish at MVP Arena pre and after parties)
Friday, Nov. 15th – Cooperstown Concert Series – Cooperstown, NY
Saturday, Nov. 30th – Wonder Bar – Asbury Park, NJ (Supporting Fungkshui)

Learn more here.

October 12, 2024