Formed at Yale in 1986, NYC-based band Crash Harmony has released the second single from their upcoming first-ever album, No One Asked for This, set to be released on Oct. 18.
“Orange Background” is the newest song from the indie rock group Crash Harmony, and it will be included on their debut album, No One Asked for This, set for release on Oct. 18 through the Montclair, NJ-based label Magic Door Record Label. The band draws influence from acts like The Replacements, Hüsker Dü, Big Star, and R.E.M, contributing to the song’s clear ’90s vibe, which fits it comfortably within the group of other ’90s indie bands, particularly R.E.M.
Now based in NYC, Crash Harmony consists of Dave Derby (The Dambuilders, Gramercy Arms, Lloyd Cole), Nils Nadeau, Jon Nighswander, and Mike Potenza (The Anderson Council). Formed in 1986 at Yale University, the band played its last gig in May 1988 and hadn’t performed together again until 2022. After more than 30 years apart, they reunited to record this 10-track album, releasing the lead single, “Velour Goddess,” on Aug. 20. The album was recorded with renowned producer Ray Ketchem (Guided by Voices, Luna, Elk City, Gramercy Arms) at Magic Door Recording and is already available for pre-order.
“‘Orange Background’ is a letter from our college selves to our grown selves and also, in a way, from Generation X to what we have now in the world,” says Nadeau. “It’s also the only one, played back, that might have made me wet-eyed for a minute”.
On Monday, Oct. 14, The Albany Symphony and the Empire State Youth Orchestra will offer the chance to rehearse and perform with a professional symphony orchestra in a “Symphony Side-by-Side” at MVP Arena in Albany.
Following the success of last year’s “Movie Music Play-In,” which engaged more than 1,500 people, the Albany Symphony and the ESYO have announced a special free family-friendly event, entitled “Symphony Side-by-Side,” that is designed to engage and entertain audiences of all ages.
Members of the ESYO along with high school and college students from across the Capital Region, will join forces with the Grammy Award-winning Albany Symphony. Together, they will rehearse and perform, gaining invaluable experience in the professional symphonic performance process. Musicians from both the Albany Symphony and ESYO will perform a dynamic selection of music—ranging from blockbuster hits in film, television, and video games to beloved symphonic classics—while sitting literally side by side.
ESYO, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1979, has been recognized as a premier music education/performance program for youth and has received three ASCAP awards.
The event will culminate in a grand finale featuring community musicians of all ages, celebrating the unifying power of music. For the finale, audience members are invited to join the stage with their instruments for a lively performance of John Williams’ iconic “Imperial March” and Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” Community members can choose to participate at different points throughout the concert.
Families can also enjoy a variety of activities, including an “instrument petting zoo,” where children can explore and try out different musical instruments.
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) in partnership with Caffè Lena have announced the return of the free annual “Caffè Lena @ SPAC” festival which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 5 from midday to 5:30 pm.
The festival will feature five bands that explore roots, rock, funk, bluegrass, jazz, pop, and indie-folk including Nation Beat with Melanie Sholtz, Wild Adriatic, and others for one day only on Oct. 5. The free event will take place on SPAC’s Charles R. Wood Stage, and will give audiences a wide variety of genres and styles to listen to throughout the day.
The “Caffè Lena @ SPAC” festival highlights a unique, ongoing collaboration between the arts center and the folk music venue. Caffè Lena has been recognized as the largest continuously operating folk music venue in the United States since opening in 1960 in historic downtown Saratoga.
The collaboration between SPAC and Caffè Lena first launched in 2017, which included jointly curated and presented programs at both venues. Guests are welcome to bring in food, drink, blankets and lawn chairs for the concerts. Food concessions will also be available. The concerts will take place rain or shine.
“Everyone in the crowd treats this event as a gift, and it really is,” says Sarah Craig, executive director of Caffè Lena. “SPAC is a huge organization compared to Caffè Lena, but we both have our hearts in serving the community where we live. We want to be accessible and have the art that happens on our stages be here for everyone. This festival puts those values into action.”
The Playhouse Stage Company has announced five new productions for their 2024/25 season at the Cohoes Music Hall in Cohoes
The theme for this season is “Coming of Age, from the Screen to the Stage,” and will include, A Christmas Story: The Musical (Dec. 4 – 22, 2024), Heathers (Feb. 21 – Mar. 9, 2025), Schoolhouse Rock Live (Mar. 12 – Apr. 4), The Little Mermaid (July 17 – Aug. 11), and Moana Jr. (Aug. 20-24), with more to be announced soon.
Moana Jr. will be performed by the Playhouse Stage Academy’s younger students in a youth adaptation of Moana. The Little Mermaid will also feature a large cast of the company’s advanced teen students who will work alongside local and regional professionals.
In addition to productions at Cohoes Music Hall, during the summer season, the company will return to Park Playhouse in Albany’s Washington Park, and Guilderland Performing Arts Center in Tawasentha Park to present free, outdoor summer musical theater for the community. Details about title selection and schedule will be announced in early 2025.
Playhouse Stage Company has been producing free outdoor summer musicals at Albany’s Park Playhouse since 1989. They have also been presenting musicals year-round at the historic Cohoes Music Hall since 2016. The Company also holds classes for youths and adults including acting classes, dance classes, vocal classes, and more.
“We’re presenting a series of dynamic musical adaptations of film classics and cult hits, all of which tell stories of growing up and discovering the world around us,” says Playhouse Stage Co. Producing Artistic Director Owen Smith. “Building on the success of this past season, we will once again feature the region’s most talented young performers across all of our productions.”
Purchase tickets, season memberships, and learn more here.
Saturday Night Live has announced the first five hosts and musical guests of their historic 50th season, premiering September 28.
Celebrating its 50th season this year, Saturday Night Live has been gracing the screens of folks across the country and beyond since its premiere in 1975. The opening “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” has become synonymous with not just the show but New York City as a whole, cementing SNL in the long legacy of the city and the live entertainment scene at large.
Consisting of celebrity hosts, sketch comedy, and musical performance, SNL has got it all when it comes to late-night television, and in its 50th year of operation the show is boasting quite the lineup of guests and hosts alike.
SEPTEMBER 28: JEAN SMART & JELLY ROLL
Comedy veteran, Emmy-winning star of Hacks, and SNL debutante Jean Smart will host the premiere episode of the season. With TV credits including Fargo, Watchmen, Legion, and Mare of Easttown, she initially rose to fame as Charlene Frazier Stillfield in 1980s sitcom Designing Women and hasn’t stopped since.
Smart will be adding the hosting gig to a long list of accolades and accomplishments that include six Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe award, nominations for Tony and Grammy Awards, being the most awarded performer at the Critic’s Choice Television Awards, and so on.
Alongside Smart will be the season premiere’s musical guest, Nashville born American singer, songwriter, and rapper Jelly Roll. Starting out selling mixtapes in his car, the singer has come a long way as one of the most popular country fusion artists of today.
Being the second SNL debut of the evening acts as another testament to his success alongside three CMT Music Awards, the CMA New Artist Award, and a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 2023.
OCTOBER 5: NATE BARGATZE & COLDPLAY
Photo: Melanie Levi
Veteran stand-up comic Nate Bargatze will host the season’s second episode following his wildly successful SNL debut in Season 49. With viral sketches like “Lake Beach” and “Washington’s Dream”, Bargate is the mind behind the most-watched night of the season to date in addition to the most-watched episode since Steve Martin and Martin Short’s in December of 2022 with 4.8 million viewers.
Returning for what will be their eighth appearance on the show, British rock group and SNL veterans Coldplay will return to the show’s stage once more. Debuting on the SNL stage in 2001, Coldplay is set to return with a new and exciting performance just off of the release of their newest album, Moon Music, which will drop the day prior.
OCTOBER 12:ARIANA GRANDE & STEVIE NICKS
Pop sensation, singer-songwriter, and actress Ariana Grande is set to host the third episode of the season following her SNL debut as musical guest in 2014 and host in 2016, when she performed a double-duty as host and musical guest.
Her most recent appearance was Josh Brolin’s episode of Season 49 where she starred alongside cast member Bowen Yang just ahead of the Wicked film adaptation’s release. Wicked marked Grande’s return to the acting world, starring as Glinda the Good.
Music legend and Fleetwood Mac Frontwoman Stevie Nicks will return to SNL after over 40 years. Last appearing as Musical Guest in December of 1983, Nicks brought “Stand Back” and “Night Bird” from her second solo album to the SNL audience. Named the “Reigning Queen of Rock and Roll” by Rolling Stone, her performance is sure to enchant.
OCTOBER 19: MICHAEL KEATON & BILLIE EILISH
Photo: Gage Skidmore
Most recently starring in Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, sequel to the 1988 Tim Burton film- both in which he played the titular role- Michael Keaton is a decorated actor with a Primetime Emmy, two Golden Globes, and nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA under his belt.
Keaton is no stranger to the SNL stage, the October 19 episode marking his fifth with the show. His first hosting gig was for the Halloween episode of 1982, and he would return to host again in 1992 and 2015.
A pop sensation since 13 with her debut “Ocean Eyes”, Billie Eilish has kept the public enraptured in her unique sound developed alongside her brother Finneas for years now, resulting in nine Grammys, two American Music Awards, seven MTV Music Video Awards, three Brits, two Golden Globes, two Academy Awards, and 20 Guinness World Records.
This will mark Eilish’s fourth return to the SNL stage, appearing as the Musical Guest in September of 2019 and December of 2023 in addition to a double-duty as both Musical Guest and Host in December of 2021.
NOVEMBER 2: JOHN MULANEY & CHAPPELL ROAN
Stand-up comedian, actor, and veteran of the New York City comedy scene, John Mulaney will be returning to SNL once more on November 2. Starting as a writer for Saturday Night Live from 2008-2013, Mulaney has built quite the comedy career for himself over the years, returning to host SNL for what will be the sixth time in addition to countless cameos over the years.
Your favorite artist’s favorite artist, Chappell Roan is adding SNL to the ever-growing list of accomplishments after her recent rocket into pop fame. Known for her unapologetically queer, captivating, and campy music, Roan has delivered powerful performances dressed in drag at Coachella, Governors Ball, and the MTV Video Music Awards where she also took home the Best New Artist award- all in the past year.
The first episode of Saturday Night Live‘s 50th season will premiere on September 28.
The inaugural Icons of Culture Festival presented by BNY, will feature influential actors, artists, chefs, and more in conversation from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 at the newly opened Perelman Performing Arts Center in Downtown Manhattan.
The Icons of Culture Festival will bring audiences into the room with trailblazers in music, comedy, film, sports, and more to talk about pushing boundaries, making a mark, and elevating the everyday to the iconic. The festival features cultural change-makers sharing their personal journeys and powerful insights, encouraging us all to be iconic in our own lives. Featured conversations at the festival include Misty Copeland, The Dogist, Alex Edelman, Renée Fleming, Michael Imperioli, Baaba Maal, Philippe Petit, Questlove, Marcus Samuelsson, Kathleen Turner, Serena Williams, and Vanity Fair‘s Little Gold Men Live, and more to be announced.
PAC NYC on Fulton Street in Manhattan is the new home for artists in theater, dance, music, opera, and multi-disciplinary performances from New York and around the world. Since its opening in September of 2023, PAC has brought many concerts and series to their stages, to “create a range of unique experiences for audiences and be fully responsive to artists’ creative visions.” On their lobby stage, you can catch concerts throughout the year on most Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Series such as “Old Songs, New Songs” which features artists from the Middle East and North Africa, or “¡Oyeme!” which features hip-hop and Latinidad artists.
Tickets for the festival are on sale now. Learn more about Perelman Performing Arts Center and purchase tickets here.
Hudson Valley Votes will hold a “Get-Out-The-Vote” rally and concert at the Ulster Performing Arts Center in Kingston on Oct. 4 at 7:30 pm.
A concert and rally with the primary goal of motivating citizens from Ulster County and the surrounding areas to vote in national and local races on Nov. 5, will be put on by Hudson Valley Votes and co-presented by Dayglo. The event will bring regionally-based artists and musicians to perform at the UPAC on Oct. 4. All net proceeds from this year’s concert/rally will be donated to Planned Parenthood of Greater New York.
The organization was originally founded in early 2018 by a group of friends in Woodstock, including Ulster County residents Abbe Aronson, Jason Bowman, and Acacia Ludwig. They have produced voter turnout events for the past six years, including concerts/rallies to bring attention to the importance of local elections, civic engagement, and to encourage turnout at the polls. In 2018, they produced the first sold-out concert/rally at UPAC. In 2020, they put on a virtual concert due to the pandemic.
“What makes Hudson Valley Votes so special is how it brings together the arts and politics, reflecting the strength and creativity of our community, From making housing more affordable to protecting reproductive rights, this event shows how we can come together to create real, positive change. This election is one of historic importance—from electing leaders like Harris and Walz, to winning back the House, to securing the Equal Rights Amendment. We need to make sure every person exercises their right to vote. I’m excited to be part of this moment and to continue fighting for a brighter, more equitable future for all of us.”
Michelle Hinchey (New York State Senator)
This year, Hudson Valley Votes Concert and Rally 2024 will be hosted by activist and actor Thomas Sadoski with Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody, and additional special guests. One of these special guests will be Natalie Merchant (formerly of 10,000 Maniacs) who will speak and perform.
The event is produced by all Hudson Valley locals including Natalie Merchant, Elizabeth Penta, and Elizabeth Mitchell, along with Political Directors, Liam Kahn and Jazmin Kay, and co-producers Tricia Reed, Suzanne Walton, Mary Gormley, and Kristy Engels.
This year, New York State Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, Congress Member Pat Ryan (NY-18), New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey (SD-41), Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha (NY-103), and Josh Riley (candidate for Congress, NY-19) will all speak.
“I’m incredibly proud to be part of a large and varied community of artists, here in the Hudson Valley, who are willing to show up when it matters…and this election really matters. With this rally, we’re doing all we can to put our Democratic candidates in the spotlight and amplify what they have to say.”
Zach Bryan’s newest music video for “Oak Island” featuring actors Casey Affleck and Jack Martin has recently been released after being filmed in Schenectady this past August.
Photo: Zach Bryan
Country singer-songwriter Zach Bryan has channeled his innermost emotions into folk melody, country sound, and raw, cutting lyrics since he came into the public light in 2019. One of many of his first songs to be uploaded onto his YouTube channel, “Heading South” was recorded outside of his Navy barracks by phone only minutes after he had written the song.
The video quickly caught traction and ended up going viral, with just under 30.5 million views as of September 2024. Since skyrocketing into fame, Bryan has stuck to the same principles that had captured the public, delivering lyrically raw, human songs that leave it all out on the table.
Released on September 10, Zach Bryan’s music video for “Oak Island” delivers the gut wrenchingly human and emotional narratives he’s known for once again. One of 19 tracks from Bryan’s newest album, “Oak Island” tells the story of a jaded older brother with mistakes of his own watching his younger brother fall down the same path.
In “Oak Island,” the narrator is crushed by the realization that the hope he had placed in his younger brother’s future, a brother who had a good head on his shoulders and a better life than his own ahead of him, had thrown it all away and fallen in with a bad crowd. The narrator turns first to resentment for the people that had done this to his brother, which quickly becomes an aching sense of loss as he watches the kid he had grown up with become one of the men he loathes.
Actors Casey Affleck, known for his work in Oppenheimer,Manchester by the Sea, and Interstellar, and Jack Martin portray estranged brothers in the music video’s narrative penned by Bryan and his girlfriend, influencer and Barstool Sports personality Brianna LaPaglia, that pulls heavily from the narrative spun in “Oak Island’s” lyrics.
Photo: Youtube
Directed by long-time video collaborator Matthew Dillon Cohen, the music video features multiple careful frames of Schenectady, with local scenes interspersed throughout the narrative. The opening shot in particular features Affleck stepping out of local favorite Mike’s Hot Dogs while making one of many missed calls to his younger brother.
Split by unclear circumstances, the older brother played by Affleck attempts to reach his younger brother, played by Martin, in the hopes of redirecting his life away from less than favorable companions. As with the song’s narrative, the two brothers confront one another- the younger already along his own path, one diverging from everything Affleck believes to be right.
Tensions rise when Affleck pulls Martin out of a bar and goes after one of his brother’s associates, breaking into a fight. The video culminates in a car chase that ends in the two siblings staring at each other on either end of the road interspersed with flashbacks of their childhood, only to reveal that Affleck has been alone on the road this entire time – he had already lost his brother to the path he had walked down.
Bryan is currently on tour for his The Quittin Time Tour 24, with two upcoming dates at the Barclays Center on December 18 and 19. For more information and tickets, visit his website here.
The National Independent Venue Association has announced their “Live Independent” program in partnership with Bandsintown in order to promote and preserve independent venues.
NIVA, or the National Independent Venue Association, is the national trade association that represents thousands of independent live entertainment venues, festivals, promoters, and more. Their ethos focuses on the preservation and nurturing of live entertainment’s ecosystem, empowering members and their team with member benefits, advocacy on the state, local, and federal levels, an annual industry-leading conference, and more.
NIVA seeks to maintain and promote the smaller stages where the music community begins, especially those operated and staffed by people of color, women, non-binary, LGBTQ+, veterans, and people with disabilities.
Their newest program, “Live Independent”, is another large step towards this objective. Designed to enhance the quality and sustainability of independent live entertainment all while preserving the authentic energy of such cultural cornerstones, the “Live Independent” certification program will recognize excellence and commitment to the independent spirit via seals of certification that carry major benefits.
When a venue is marked as an inductee to the “Live Independent” ranks, they will earn the certified seal along with various physical posters, stickers, and decals as well as digital assets with the “Live Independent” branding for websites, marketing, and social media. Partnerships with ticketing companies will also enable the “Live Independent” seal to appear on event tickets.
The program will also include a dedicated website acting as an encyclopedia to “Live Independent” venues and events. Fans can search the site to see which venues are certified and find shows at certified stages.
Finally, “Live Independent” certified venues can expect to have their seal displayed on their Bandsintown page in addition to appearing on the Bandsintown “Live Independent” certified venue map on both the platform’s app and website.
When fans and artists choose independent stages, they’re investing in the soul of their community. Live Independent is our collective promise—to the artists, to the fans, and to the communities that cherish these spaces—that the spirit of independent venues will not only endure but will continue to flourish.”
– Stephen Parker, NIVA Executive Director
Eligibility for the “Live Independent” certification and its benefits is open to independent venues, promoters, and festivals that demonstrate a mission chiefly centered around delivering live performance to audiences, offer fair payment to all artists, performers, and creators, stand independent from multinational conglomerates or publicly traded companies, support a transparent, competitive, and diverse community, and show a commitment to protecting and preserving independent stages through their NIVA membership.
For more information on the “Live Independent” certification program, including how to apply and the specific benefits of certification, please visit here.
Corning’s Gaffer District presents the 2024 installment of the annual Harvest Fest. The festival will take place on Sept 20 and Sept 21 on historic Market Street in Corning, NY.
Harvest Fest is the annual celebration in downtown Corning, NY that welcomes the Fall season from Friday, Sept 20, through Saturday, Sept 21. On the five blocks of historic Market Street, experience over 200 vendors, a scarecrow contest, highland cows, stilt walkers, horse-drawn wagon rides, music performances, hayrides, and more. The Gaffer District has announced Williams Toyota as the title sponsor of Harvest Fest 2024.
On every block of Market Street, the streets will be blocked off for pedestrian access on both Friday and Saturday. There will be food from local vendors, as well as outdoor dining from beloved restaurants of the community. Both local businesses, and farmers will have booths set up and live music will be performed. Some special events include a sports car show in Centerway Parking Garage from 5-8 on Friday and a cornhole tournament at the Radisson Hotel Corning on Saturday. You will also have the opportunity to check out some of Corning’s most prominent landmarks such as the Little Joe Tower, Centerway Square, and more.
Coleen Fabrizi, the Executive Director of Corning’s Gaffer District Inc. says, “It doesn’t matter if your idea of the perfect Fall event is something mellow with great shopping and great food options or a list of fun activities and great tunes, this Harvest event is going to be at the top of your list, we can’t wait to welcome you all!”
Corning Harvest Fest Schedule
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20th, 4PM — 9PM:
Savor delicious food from local vendors while dining on Market Street.
Shop among local businesses, vendors and farmers.
Enjoy live music performances on every block of Market Street. FREE
607 MotorSports Car Show in Centerway Parking Garage from 5PM — 8PM. FREE
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21st, 11AM — 9PM:
Face painting for kids by Jennifer Skella on Block 2, 11AM — 7PM. FREE
Take part in a cornhole tournament presented by the Radisson Hotel Corning, put on by SCNY.
Vote for your favorite scarecrow created by local Market Street businesses. FREE
Enjoy captivating stilt walker performances presented by Bath Planet throughout Market Street. FREE
Take a scenic hayride with Hemlock HIdden Hames. Rides going from 1PM — 5PM. $5 for kids, $10 for adults. Loading at the Market St. & Wall St. Intersection near The Radisson Hotel.
6 Pack Trials Car Show 9AM — NOON on Block 5. FREE
YMCA: Enjoy inflatable children’s activities in Riverfront Park 10AM — 6PM. FREE
Balloon Art: Watch the Balloon Lady create amazing balloon sculptures from 1:30PM — 5PM on Block 1. FREE
Experience live music at the Val Reep Fountain near the Market/Chestnut St. intersection from 11 AM to 6:30 PM. FREE
Enjoy live music at the Centerway Stage from 11 AM — 8:30 PM. FREE
Listen to live performances at the Marich Music Stage from 10 AM — 7 PM. FREE
