Kommuna Lux, the acclaimed ‘Odesa Urban Folk’ band from Ukraine, is set to embark on a 30-city US charity tour this Summer, blending thrilling Klezmer and Ukrainian folk music to raise funds for humanitarian causes back home.
Just as the streets of their hometown of Odesa are rich with nostalgia and a diverse, bohemian Black Sea coastal vibe, Kommuna Lux’s melodies are filled with dazzling rhythms, refreshing anarchy, and plenty of joie de vivre! These conservatory-trained musicians combine traditional Klezmer, Balkan, and Urban Chanson, with a dash of Ukrainian Folk and inject it with rocket fuel for a high-energy Big Band sound from the bygone days of speakeasies and rum runners.
The first stretch of the tour will bring this unique ensemble to leading venues in the Hudson Valley, Upstate New York and New York City. Performances will including Drom in NYC (June 21), Live at the Falcon in Marlboro (June 23), The Levitt/AMP Concert Series in Utica (June 24) and Ithaca’s Unitarian Church (June 25).
Leading Kommuna Lux is Bagrat Tsurkan, whose hot buttered voice and nonstop energy compel everyone to the dance floor. The remaining band, Volodymyr Gitin (clarinet), Oleg Vasianovich, (accordion), Andrei Okhramovich (trumpet), Yaroslav Besh (trombone), Viktor Kirilov (acoustic guitar), and Sergei Poltorak (percussion), miraculously manage to play with perfection while creating equally dizzying energy on stage. Watch an example of their live show here.
Kommuna Lux has been fundraising at their shows since 2022 and raised $16,000 in donations on their fall 2023 US tour. They created KMLX, a 501-c3 charity, after their first US tour, ensuring that 100% of donations received at their concerts are used for humanitarian aid. Virtual donations can be made on the website kmlx.org
One of the most intimate show venues in all of New York, The Yard Amphitheater at Ray Brothers BBQ in Bouckville, has announced its summer 2024 concert series lineup.
With 2024 marking The Yard Amphitheater’s 10th anniversary, a stop at Ray Brothers BBQ is a must for anybody in Central New York who enjoys authentic BBQ and great live music.
Ray Brothers BBQ opened in Bouckville, in 2014 with a mission to make mouth-watering slow-cooked BBQ to feed the masses. But alongside the restaurant, Colin Ray also completed another mission: to build his very own outdoor music venue.
The same year that the renowned Ray Brother BBQ opened, The Yard Amphitheater opened as well. Located right next to the restaurant, the amphitheater has transformed from a simple stage of plywood screwed to pallets set in the backyard into an annual center of community gatherings.
10 years later, The Yard Amphitheater is thriving more than ever. The amphitheater now has a guest capacity of 1,500 people but still maintains the intimate feel of a smaller venue. Watching a show at The Yard Amphitheater is like being in your own backyard for a concert, only the backyard has a fully stocked outdoor bar, delicious BBQ and nationally touring acts.
This year, Ray Brothers BBQ will be hosting nearly 10 events between June 15 and September 1. This year’s lineup includes music from a variety of artists performing many genres, including country, funk and folk. July 20 will even host an entire rock festival, with six artists playing throughout the single day.
So if you’re in the area, bring some chairs or blankets and stop by Ray Brothers BBQ to catch a show. What’s better than some delicious BBQ, a cold beer and live music?
Yard Amphitheater 2024 Lineup
July 6: Cassidy Lynn with special guest Brian Nelson
July 20: Cows Rock Festival featuring Jason Michael Carroll with special guests The Old Main, Jason Wicks Band, Nina’s Brew, Grit n Grace and Williams Road
July 25: G. Love & Special Sauce with Brett Dennen and Mihali
August 3: Weird Phishes and Hayley Jane Band
August 11: bob. an interpretation of Dylan Featuring Al and Vin of moe., Brian Lauri, Zach Fleitz, Charley Orlando
August 17: Ryan Montbleau with special guest Mike Powell
August 24: Cool Cool Cool with special guest The Laughing Buddha Episodes
September 1: Hop Harvest Smoke Out with Jimkata with special guests Chris Eves and the New Normal and Adam Brooks
This fall, ArtsWestchester will hold its annual JazzFest from Sept. 11- 15, a night market on Sept. 21, and an art exhibition on Oct. 13.
Throughout the coming fall, the public will have the opportunity to experience the exciting events ArtsWestchester will have to offer. The variety of events will offer something appealing to everyone interested in attending.
ArtsWestchester begins the fall season with the big bang of our annual JazzFest that presents nationally prominent musicians. We will quickly pivot to a string of events that include our returning night market and a new art exhibition.
Kathleen Reckling, incoming CEO of ArtsWestchester
To kick the season of events off is White Plains’ annual Jazzfest taking place from Sept. 11- 15. The festival will include 18 live shows ranging from free musical experiences to performances from Grammy-winning artists. Friday, Sept. 13, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Nicole Zuraitis will play. The following night the Vijay Iyer Trio feat. Tyshawn Sorey and Linda May Han Oh will take the stage. Other shows, including noon and Sunday performances, will be free to the public.
On Sunday, Sept. 15, the festival will end with the addition of the White Plains Jazz & Food Festival from 12:30-7:30 PM on Mamaroneck Ave in White Plains.
On Sept. 21 from 4 to 8 PM, ArtsWestchester will celebrate the harvest moon by turning their gallery into the Mooncake Night Market. The event will be full of music, crafts, food, and workshops. Attendees can have hands-on experiences in Chinese calligraphy and lantern-making. Admission to the market is $15.
Beginning on Oct. 13 through Jan. 12, ArtsWestchester will present the Futures Art Exhibition. Attendees can explore an immersive look into visions of Hudson Valley’s future as well as themes of historic land ownership, inclusive communities, creative placemaking, and sustainable development interpreted into art installations.
For more information about ArtsWestchester and the events, visit artswestchester.org.
On Sunday. June 16, 2024, the 77th Tony Awards took place in Lincoln Centerâs David H. Koch Theater in New York City, celebrating the achievements of Broadway during the 2023-2024 season. 26 awards for a variety of categories were given out during the three-hour celebration, which was streamed on Paramount+ and CBS.com. Naturally, the night had a healthy dose of star-studded performances alongside some over-the-top theatrics.
Ariana DeBose hosting the Tony Awards Show. Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
Stereophonic won the most awards of the night, with a total of five out of the 13 they were nominated for, including best play, best scenic design of a play and best sound design of a play. The Outsiders and Merrily We Roll Along both took home four awards each, with The Outsiders winning the coveted best musical award.
Other notable successes were Appropriate, winning best revival of a play, and Suffs, winning best original score (music and/or lyrics) written for the theatre.
Jeremy Strong accepting the Tony Award for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a play for “An Enemy of the People.” Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Production
The night produced several special moments for both the award winners and the viewers at home. Kara Young was notably the first Black performer to ever be nominated for a Tony Award three years in a row. The third time truly was the charm, as Young won this year for the first time. A visibly surprised Daniel Radcliffe won his first Tony Award after previously acting in five separate Broadway shows, and gave an emotional acceptance speech that was capped off with a heartfelt thank-you to his parents, his wife and his son. Hillary Rodham Clinton even got onto the stage to introduce the performance of Suffs, a musical she produced, where she joked about the difficulties that come with making change.
Daniel Radcliffe accepting the Tony Award for best performance by an actor in a featured role in a musical “Merrily We Roll Along” Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
Between the awards, performances were given throughout the night by Jay Z and Alicia Keys, the company of Hell’s Kitchen, the company of Merrily We Roll Along, host of the night, Ariana DeBose and many more.
This year was DeBose’s third year in a row of hosting the Tony Awards. Due to the at-the-time Writers Guild of America strike, DeBose hosted last year’s ceremony entirely script-free. Her return this year was a mark of the quality she upheld last year, and she delivered once again. DeBose even opened up the show with the night’s first performance.
The American Theatre Wingâs Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.
Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Best Revival of a Musical
Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Gutenberg! The Musical!
Book, Music & Lyrics
Scott Brown & Anthony King
Merrily We Roll Along– Winner
The Who’s Tommy
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Days of Wine and Roses
Here Lies Love
The Outsiders
Stereophonic
Suffs– Winner
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
William Jackson Harper, Uncle Vanya Leslie Odom, Jr., Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch Liev Schreiber, Doubt: A Parable Jeremy Strong, An Enemy of the People – Winner Michael Stuhlbarg, Patriots
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Betsy Aidem, Prayer for the French Republic Jessica Lange, Mother Play Rachel McAdams, Mary Jane Sarah Paulson, Appropriate – Winner Amy Ryan, Doubt: A Parable
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Brody Grant, The Outsiders Jonathan Groff, Merrily We Roll Along – Winner Dorian Harewood, The Notebook Brian d’Arcy James, Days of Wine and Roses Eddie Redmayne, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Eden Espinosa, Lempicka Maleah Joi Moon, Hell’s Kitchen – Winner Kelli O’Hara, Days of Wine and Roses Maryann Plunkett, The Notebook Gayle Rankin, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Will Brill, Stereophonic – Winner Eli Gelb, Stereophonic Jim Parsons, Mother Play Tom Pecinka, Stereophonic Corey Stoll, Appropriate
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Doubt: A Parable Juliana Canfield, Stereophonic Celia Keenan-Bolger, Mother Play Sarah Pidgeon, Stereophonic Kara Young, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch– Winner
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Roger Bart, Back To The Future: The Musical Joshua Boone, The Outsiders Brandon Victor Dixon, Hell’s Kitchen Sky Lakota-Lynch, The Outsiders Daniel Radcliffe, Merrily We Roll Along – Winner Steven Skybell, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Shoshana Bean, Hell’s Kitchen Amber Iman, Lempicka Nikki M. James, Suffs Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Monty Python’s Spamalot Kecia Lewis, Hell’s Kitchen – Winner Lindsay Mendez, Merrily We Roll Along Bebe Neuwirth, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Scenic Design of a Play
dots, Appropriate dots, An Enemy of the People Derek McLane, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch David Zinn, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding David Zinn, Stereophonic– Winner
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
AMP featuring Tatiana Kahvegian, The Outsiders Robert Brill and Peter Nigrini, Hell’s Kitchen Takeshi Kata, Water for Elephants David Korins, Here Lies Love Riccardo Hernández and Peter Nigrini, Lempicka Tim Hatley and Finn Ross, Back To The Future: The Musical Tom Scutt, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club– Winner
Best Costume Design of a Play
Dede Ayite, Appropriate Dede Ayite, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding – Winner Enver Chakartash, Stereophonic Emilio Sosa, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch David Zinn, An Enemy of the People
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Dede Ayite, Hell’s Kitchen Linda Cho, The Great Gatsby – Winner David Israel Reynoso, Water for Elephants Tom Scutt, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club Paul Tazewell, Suffs
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Isabella Byrd, An Enemy of the People Amith Chandrashaker, Prayer for the French Republic Jiyoun Chang, Stereophonic Jane Cox, Appropriate – Winner Natasha Katz, Grey House
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Brandon Stirling Baker, Illinoise Isabella Byrd, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club Natasha Katz, Hell’s Kitchen Bradley King and David Bengali, Water for Elephants Brian MacDevitt and Hana S. Kim, The Outsiders– Winner
Best Sound Design of a Play
Justin Ellington and Stefania Bulbarella, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding Leah Gelpe, Mary Jane Tom Gibbons, Grey House Bray Poor and Will Pickens, Appropriate Ryan Rumery, Stereophonic– Winner
Best Sound Design of a Musical
M.L. Dogg and Cody Spencer, Here Lies Love Kai Harada, Merrily We Roll Along Nick Lidster for Autograph, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club Gareth Owen, Hell’s Kitchen Cody Spencer, The Outsiders– Winner
Best Direction of a Play
Daniel Aukin, Stereophonic – Winner Anne Kauffman, Mary Jane Kenny Leon, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch Lila Neugebauer, Appropriate Whitney White, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Best Direction of a Musical
Maria Friedman, Merrily We Roll Along Michael Greif, Hell’s Kitchen Leigh Silverman, Suffs Jessica Stone, Water for Elephants Danya Taymor, The Outsiders– Winner
Best Choreography
Annie-B Parson, Here Lies Love Camille A. Brown, Hell’s Kitchen Rick Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman, The Outsiders Justin Peck, Illinoise – Winner Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll, Water for Elephants
Best Orchestrations
Timo Andres, Illinoise Will Butler and Justin Craig, Stereophonic Justin Levine, Matt Hinkley and Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance), The Outsiders Tom Kitt and Adam Blackstone, Hell’s Kitchen Jonathan Tunick, Merrily We Roll Along– Winner
This year’s Backyard at Hudson Yards presented by Wells Fargo, announced the weekly concert series including artists like Keke Palmer and David Archuleta.
Backyard at Hudson Yards is a larger backyard entertainment program in Hudson Yards, NYC. The festival also includes free yoga, pilates and fitness classes hosted by Alo as well as pickleball tournaments. You can also catch free movies and find food and beverages made by Verona, a Mexican street food inspired restaurant.
The eight-week summer concert series programmed by the Bowery Presents starts on June 19 with country singer, Chayce Beckham and ends on Aug 7 with actress and singer Keke Palmer. The July 24 artists are yet to be announced.
After the concerts 21+ guests can enjoy the featured food and drinks made by local restaurants O’Toole’s Way, Mercado Little Spain, Bronx Brewery in addition to Verona.
All the concerts are free to attend and you can find more information on the Hudson Yards website.
Concert Lineup
June 19 – Chayce Beckham, with opener Thomas Edwards
June 26 – David Archuleta, with opener Jake Brewer
July 3 – Crash Adams, with opener David Alexander
July 10 – Brynn Cartelli, with opener Zia Victoria
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 Village of Saranac Lake has announced the artist lineup for the 2024 Music on the Green Summer concert series. The concert series will showcase a vast array of genres, including funk, folk, indie, and bluegrass. This year’s run will begin on July 3rd, and continue weekly until August 14th, with weekly concerts Wednesday 7-9pm.
Music on the Green is an annual tradition for Saranac Lake, bringing the community together to enjoy artists. The village’s mission is to provide its residents with live music that is accessible, both in location and price. Due to this, admission to all Music on the Green concerts is free.
Music on the Green began in 2013, and has since attracted over 68 performing artists to Saranac Lake. In the past, concert-goers have enjoyed performances ranging from alternative rock to swing to folk. The variety in this year’s lineup continues in this tradition of diversity.
The 2024 season kicks off on July 3rd with a concert from local folk band Nubble. The band’s style mixes alternative with folk. As the band says about their music “Sometimes we get a little sad, but mostly we stay pretty happy.” With this emotional range, it is sure to be a captivating show to start the season.
Frankie and the Moonlighters will perform on July 10th. The Saranac Lake-based band specializes in covers of well-known 1950s and 60s hits. Their smooth covers feature vocal harmonies, and rhythms that are sure to get audiences dancing.
Double Axel has captivated audiences for 50 years. This classic North Country band will perform at the July 17th concert. The group will take audiences back in time with decades worth of classic rock.
July 24th will feature a concert by Massachusetts’ Dis-N-Dat Band. The band’s sound is a fusion of Caribbean sounds, incorporating reggae, dancehall, and R&B. The band has toured the US for over 20 years, with its singer Sista Dee also being resident singer of Holland America cruises.
Waiting on Mongo will perform on July 31st with their signature funk stylings. Starting from their home of Asbury Park, NJ, the band has lit up concert venues across the country with their powerful psychedelic funk. With danceable guitar riffs, funky horns, and driving organs, each performance by the band is a groovy journey.
5 Pound Horse
5 Pound Horse will kick off the August portion of the season with a concert on August 7th. The Berkshires-based ensemble has traveled the world absorbing influences into their sound. The band began by playing roots rock, with steel guitar, fiddle, and driving rhythms. Since their travels, the group has incorporated aspects of African music, pop, and jazz, making each one of their performances extremely captivating.
An August 14th set by the Beat Authority will close out Summer Season. The Beat Authority has been a staple of North Country Public Radio since its inception. Led by DJ David Sommerstein, the program broadcasts dance music from around the world, ranging from Cumbia to Afrobeat. This set is sure to get audiences dancing to beats from around the globe.
Music on the Green Schedule
7/3 – Nubble
7/10 – Frankie and the Moonlighters
7/17 – Double Axel
7/24 – Dis-N-Dat
7/31 – Waiting on Mongo
8/7 – 5 Pound Horse
8/14 – Beat Authority
All Concerts take place in Saranac Lake’s Riverside park from 7-9pm. For more information on the summer festival, visit the village website here.
The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College announced the list of events they will be hosting during the summer season. Events include Frances Day, Family Saturdays, Crafts on the Grass, and the inaugural Skidmore College Juneteenth Celebration.
The most anticipated of these events is the 2024 rendition of its summer concert series, “Upbeat on the Roof,” located in Saratoga Springs, NY. The series will run each Thursday from July 11 through August 15. All events are free and open to the public. Art-making activities are geared toward children 5 and older, with an adult companion.
A wide variety of performers will attend the concert series, including both revisiting and new performers. This year, a new collaboration with The Orchard Project and a theater and performance incubator in residence at Skidmore are among the newcomers.
The Tang Teaching Museum – Official website
For 23 years, the Tang Teaching Museum has brought the summer concert series to Saratoga Springs. However, the concert series is not just for musicians, as the aforementioned arts and crafts events, as well as the debuting of art for the museum’s gallery, take place after the performances. Showcasing a diverse set of performers and artists, and spanning across several genres, Upbeat on the Roof brings the best of what Skidmore College has to offer.
The Tang Teaching Museum located at Skidmore College is a monumental feat in the world of education. With exhibition programs that bring together visual and performing arts with interdisciplinary ideas from history, economics, biology, dance, and physics, the Tang inspires learning on a higher level adapted to our modern times. The Tang has one of the most rigorous faculty engagement initiatives in the nation, as well as a robust publication and touring exhibition program that brings the Tang all around the world.
Staff at Upbeat on the Roof are dedicated to providing a family-friendly, fun space for their upcoming concert series. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, camping chairs, food, and drink to picnic on the lawn. Craft kits will be available at 5:30 pm; concerts begin at 6 pm.
Below is the full schedule of summer events hosted by the Tang, including the lineup of the 2024 rendition of Upbeat on the Roof.
Skidmore College’s Juneteenth Celebration – Saturday, June 22, noon to 3 pm
Celebrate Juneteenth at Skidmore College’s annual celebration. The event features Juneteenth-themed arts and crafts, storytelling, food, and performances, with ongoing activities and timed events inside and outside the Museum. Black-owned businesses will have items for sale, including clothing, hand-crafted products, flowers, baked goods, and more. Live musical performances are scheduled for the event, as well. It’s a great opportunity to support local Black artists!
Musical performances will be:
Noon-12:15 pm: Welcome and hip-hop dance performance by Prodigal B
12:15-1:15 pm: Neo-soul music performance by Adrian Emanuel
1:15-2 pm: Congolese dance and drumming workshop by Nkoula Badila and Angel Lau
2-3 pm: Gospel performance by The Heavenly Echoes Gospel Band
Family Saturdays – Saturdays, July 6, August 3, August 17, 2 to 3:30 pm
Our popular Family Saturdays foster multigenerational creative cooperation through looking at artwork, discussing it, and engaging in a hands-on art-making activity. The programs, which are free and open to the public, run from 2 to 3:30 pm. They are suitable for children ages 5 and older, accompanied by their adult companions. No registration required; supplies provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Led by Njeri Jennings, the Laurie M. Tisch Educator for K-12 and Community Programs at the Tang Teaching Museum, the programs are inspired by current exhibitions and art from the Tang collection. Details for each Family Saturday will be announced later.
Crafts on the Grass – Thursdays, July 11 to August 15, 5:30 pm
Before each Upbeat on the Roof concert, Tang museum educators will offer Crafts on the Grass, art-making kits for kids starting at 5:30 pm. A different kit with a craft project will be available each week. All projects are suitable for children aged 5 and up, with adult supervision. Materials will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Frances Day – Saturday, July 20, 2 to 6:30 pm
The Tang Teaching Museum’s annual open house features contemporary art exhibitions, art-making activities, tours, food, music, and more in honor of the museum’s namesake, Frances Young Tang. Details of Frances Day—including tours, art-making activities, and musical guests—will be announced soon and listed on the Tang website.
Visitors of all ages engage in art-making activities during the 2023 Frances Day community open at the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College. This year’s Frances Day is July 20. Photo by Megan Mumford.
Upbeat on the Roof Summer Concert Series
July 11 – Future of Broadway
The Orchard Project is a preeminent artistic development laboratory and accelerator for creators of performance and dramatic stories, in residence each summer in Saratoga Springs. This special Upbeat on the Roof performance features selections from project-in-residence Safety Not Guaranteed, a theatrical version of the 2012 feature film, with music by Guster’s Ryan Miller and Nick Blaemire, that will have a major New York City production this fall; and from composers-in-residence Jesse J. Sanchez, Anna DeNoia, and others
July 18: Great Mutations
Great Mutations is a Troy, New York-based rock band that brings melodic, intricate songs about love, work, and death to their performances. Since their formation in 2012, they have released four studio albums, including their most recent LP, Gifted Kids, in April. Band members are singer and guitarist Matthew Thouin, bassist Mitchell Masterson, drummer Ian White, and guitarist Tommy Krebs. Join them for the 2024 Upbeat on The Roof on July 18!
Great Mutations – Bandcamp
July 25: Dust Bowl Faeries
Celebrating their tenth year in 2024, Dust Bowl Faeries perform a faerie-tale medley of dark cabaret and gothic polka music, infused with a dose of witchcraft and a dusting of woodland magic. Hailing from the New York Hudson Valley, the band draws inspiration from circus music, murder ballads, and Eastern European folk songs. Instruments like the accordion, lap-steel, electric bass, percussion, and acoustic guitar combine to create the Dust Bowl Faeries’ mystic sound. Founded by Ryder Cooley (“faerie queen”), Dust Bowl Faeries includes Jon B. Woodin (“rocket faerie”), Jude Roberts (“hobbit faerie”), Rubie LaRue (“feisty faerie”), and Andrew Stein (“time faerie”).
Dust Bowl Faeries, photo by Stephen Spera
August 1: Drank the Gold
Drank the Gold is made up of two members: fiddler Oona Grady and multi-instrumentalist James Gascoyne. In 2023, the band was named the Folk/Traditional Artist of the Year at the Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards. The duo plays North Atlantic dance tunes and traditional folk songs with their own original twist, bringing a new face to the folk scene. See them perform at Upbeat on the Roof on August 1.
Drank the Gold, photo by Elizabeth Pedinotti Haynes
August 8: Dan Carr and the Cure for Asthma
The band, in their own words: “Deep within the piney hills of Albany, New York, lurks a gaggle of obnoxious strummers, bangers, and sangers on an epic plot to take over all of Albany. Their music is so incredibly catchy it will brainwash and destroy all the evil-doers in Albany AND Troy. Rock, Country, distortion, they have it all. Tori, Juliana, Gabe, Joe, Sam, and Dan won’t stop ever.” Join them for a rock’n’roll night at Upbeat on the Roof on August 8.
August 15: Reese Fulmer & The Carriage House Band
The 2023 and 2024 Americana Artist of the Year at the Thomas Edison Music Awards, Reese Fulmer and his band are among the fastest-rising groups in the Capital Region. The Carriage House Band has appeared in duo, trio, quartet, 5- and 6-piece formats, and has featured artists including Chris Carey, James Gascoyne, Andy Arnold, Connor Dunn, Dustin DeLuke, Julia Alsarraf, JP Hubbs, Orion Kribs, Bobby Kendall, Chris Bloniarz, Matt Griffin, Connor Armbruster, Paul Guay, Sara Milonovich, Jimi Woodul, Katie Weissman, and Joe Woodul. Join them on August 15 as they close out Upbeat on the Roof!
Reese Fulmer & The Carriage House Band – Official Facebook
Performances will take place every Thursday from July 11 through August 15. Tickets and more information are available here.
Well, the instruments are packed up, the chairs are empty. But the spirit of Geneva Music Festival lingers on. For 14 years, musicians have come to Geneva for three weeks of the early summer to collaborate, perform together, and share their talents with audiences from across the Finger Lakes.
This season presented a beautiful circle, with opening band Biriba Union concluding their electric concert with an Appalachian fiddle tune, and The Brothers Blue closing out the festival season with their homegrown fiddle music.
photo by Jan Regan
The Night and Day resident artists’ finale was a gem in an already excellent themed season. It was also the most visually descriptive, with the musicians introducing their pieces with imagery like water over the sea and light through leaves, in a poetic synesthesia that remains with you even after the music has faded.
A highlight of this season was the world premiere of a Mark Olivieri piece, “Artifacts of a Valiant Past”, commissioned by Director Geoffry Herd specifically for the concert theme this year. Olivieri, composer and associate professor of music at HWS, said that he wanted to play with the idea of consciousness and memory as encompassing the theme of light and dark, and commented after the Thursday night concert, “That was just one of the most intuitive and energetic performances that I’ve had the pleasure of to hear, and I was very excited for them to be performing my piece. I look forward to working with them again in the future.”
The final concert also featured an intellectually challenging modern piece, “Light and Matter”, composed by Kaija Saariaho. Less approachable than the shimmering Haydn “Sunrise” string quartet earlier that evening, it presented a different form of light – light that is harsh, competing with darkness, struggling as it fades in and out of existence.
And it would be remiss not to mention Anna Petrova’s stunning piano solo at Night and Day. Since GMF is primarily a chamber music festival, there are generally few solos on the program. Petrova’s rendition of Scriabin’s Sonata No. 2, which was performed entirely from memory with a breathtaking finesse during the first movement and a tightly controlled passion that made the entire piano shake during the second, was an incredible treat. She received an immediate standing ovation both nights.
After the performance on Thursday night, Mark Gearan, President of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, commented, “I think as a Genevan, for 14 years this festival … every year … gets bigger, longer, more interesting, with a brilliant theme. We’re just so fortunate to be in these intimate settings and to have the musicians share their talent, describe it – the way they describe the music is such a highlight. Hobart and William Smith is proud to have it on our campus, but I think for everyone here the range of talent and musicians coming from literally all over the world, it’s great for Geneva.”
After the emotional intensity of the violin on Thursday and Friday night, it was a delight to finish out the season with the violin’s down-home brother for some danceable fiddle music outdoors.
The local bluegrass band The Brothers Blue brings home the special sense of place that the Finger Lakes offers – where else are you likely to hear bluegrass singers mention “glacial till” nostalgically in their music? Even a passing shower Sunday afternoon couldn’t dampen the audience’s enthusiasm, with attendees dancing through the rain. “These guys are awesome, I’ve seen them three or four other places. I’m very much a fan of this event and the whole [GMF] series, it’s incredible, absolutely incredible.” Said Dresden resident Donna Rae Sutherland.
Geneva Music Festival notes the following sponsoring organizations this year:
• Rochester Area Community Foundation • Nelson B. Delavan Foundation • Max and Marian Farash Foundation • Brenda & Dave Rickey Family Foundation • Williams Family Foundation • Wyckoff Family Foundation • New York State Council on the Arts • National Endowment for the Arts
The Geneva Music Festival was founded in 2011 by Geneva, New York violinist Geoffrey Herd as a weekend of chamber music in his hometown. The festival has grown over its fourteen years to a nearly month-long event that draws thousands of attendees from across the Finger Lakes region. Each year, the Festival continues its mission of inspiring people with world-class chamber music and engaging diverse audiences in its outreach programs. All concerts are wheelchair accessible. To learn more, and to purchase tickets, visit: https://genevamusicfestival.com/
Ahead of the release of the live albumLOUIS IN LONDON, the RIAA has announced that Louis Armstrong’s legendary track “What a Wonderful World” has been certified 5x Platinum, marking the original recording’s cumulative US sales of more than 5 million since its first release in 1967.
To coincide with this milestone moment, Verve Records is releasing the official performance video of the track, along with a live recording of his GRAMMY-Award-winning Hello, Dolly!
left to right: Jamie Krents – President, Verve and Impulse; Wynton Marsalis – President of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation / Managing and Artistic Director at Jazz at Lincoln Center; Jackie Harris – Executive Director of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation; Ken Druker – Senior Vice President, Jazz Development at Verve and Impulse; Oliver Schrage – Senior Director, Marketing and Jazz Development at Verve and Impulse
Recorded at the BBC in 1968, Louis Armstrong’s live rendition of “What a Wonderful World” marked his last great live performance. He had done the recording just weeks after the song hit #1 on the UK’s top charts, and afterward, it became the biggest song in the country for that year. Along with his biggest hit, Armstrong had recorded an entire concert in London with the BBC.
An iconic figure who transformed the world of music, Louis Armstrong continues to be honored by the Recording Academy and celebrated worldwide. Born in New Orleans, Louis Armstrong rose to prominence in the world of jazz and eventually moved to New York City. He quickly became an iconic figure at The Cotton Club, the most famous jazz club in Harlem. He lived the rest of his life in New York City and was buried in Flushing Cemetery in Queens.
The Louis Armstrong House Museum, located in Queens, holds hundreds of collected items that document his life, both in and outside the world of music. The upcoming album includes insider-exclusive liner notes by Armstrong’s biographer and Director of Research Collections for the Louis Armstrong House Museum, Ricky Riccardi.
The posthumous live album Louis In London contains 13 live performances recorded in London in 1968. In addition to the live recordings, the collection features six previously unreleased tracks, including “(Back Home Again) In Indiana,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” “Ole Miss,” and “Blueberry Hill.” The album will be released on July 12, 2024.
The Louis in London album will be available for purchase and download on July 12, 2024. Pre-orders are available here.
