NYS Music 2024

Category: Capital Region

  • In the Round Series Returns at Universal Preservation Hall with Three New Concerts

    In the Round Series will return to Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs with three new concerts on April 19, May 17 and June 14.

    A view of Universal Preservation Hall is seen during the media tour and ribbon cutting of the new concert hall in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union)

    In the Round Series has partnered with WEXT for the these three concerts with the main mission to uplift and highlight the work of various singer/songwriting artists on the rise to stardom.

    The first show in this new round of concerts is New Zealand-based pop star Kimbra on April 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall. Kimbra’s 2011 debut album Vows, which was certified platinum in Australia and New Zealand. Kimbra exploded that same year with “Somebody That I Used To Know,” a duet with Gotye that earned her two Grammys for “Record of the Year” and “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.” In 2014 she released her highly acclaimed album, The Golden Echo,  recruiting artists as diverse as Thundercat, Omar-Rodriguez Lopez of The Mars Volta, Bilal and John Legend to highlight her eclectic musical style.

    Next, UPH will welcome homegrown artists Jocelyn and Chris with special guest Sydney Worthley on May 17 at 7:30 p.m. Jocelyn and Chris, along with their band, charted five consecutive commercial radio singles in the Billboard AAA Top 40, took two records to number one on the Relix Jambands top 30, and appeared nationally on NBC’s Today Show. The siblings, both recent graduates of Harvard University, have recorded eight albums and toured coast to coast.

    Phoebe Bridgers and Taylor Swift are two singer-songwriters who inspire Sydney Worthley. In her debut single,”How Soon Is Now?”, the singer talks about heartbreak, losing all emotion, grieving for a departed loved one, and the fallout from modifying who you are to suit the requirements of another person. In 2020, Sydney released her EP project Rose Colored Glasses, which  features different themes like learning from past mistakes, coming of age, and long-lost friendships. 

    pearlpalooza

    Also announced is Shayna Steele and Buggy Jive on June 14. Steele, claimed to be one of the greatest singing sensations of our time, will be featuring her third album Watch Me Fly, offering six self-penned originals and four select classics ranging from soul, blues and gospel and easily crossing over to retro R&B and jazz. Joining her is Buggy Jive, a soul rock singer-songwriter from Upstate New York.

    Buggy was recently honored as a 2023 “Top Shelf” Tiny Desk Contest finalist and his latest release The Ghost of Alexander, was named Album of the Year at Upstate New York’s 2023 “Eddie” Awards as well as recently opening for Macy Gray’s recent tour stop in Troy. 

    Tickets for the In the Round Series at the Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga are on sale now through the Box Office at Proctors in-person, via phone at (518) 346-6204 Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. or online visit atuph.org.

  • Caffe Lena in April Features Raul Midon, The Special Consensus, Michael Eck and More

    Esteemed music venue Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs announced a stellar lineup of musicians for the month of April, with Raul Midon, Michael Eck, Vanessa Collier, and The Special Consensus among the featured acts.

    caffe lena april

    CaffeLena has presented New York State with extraordinary music in an intimate setting since the 1960s. It is widely recognized as the longest continuously operating folk music venue in the United States. Bob Dylan performed for two consecutive nights at the cafè in 1961, a year prior to the release of his debut album.

    The venue’s mission is to keep a diverse set of programs and artists, regardless of fame, to present to the community. Caffe Lena is where musical discovery begins on all fronts. All shows held in-person in Lena’s historic listening room are also streamed live to living rooms around the world.

    Caffe Lena’s April shows are not ones to miss. The itinerary is complete with various well-known artists with utmost talent. Various genres like bluegrass, jazz, folk, blues, poetry, funk rock and more are set to light up the intimate venue with energy, love, and art. Artists like Michael Eck see the stage for heartfelt performances signifying great milestones.

    Vanessa Collier

    Michael Eck celebrates his 60th birthday with release of sixth album, fermata, and a performance at Caffe Lena, 8 p.m. Friday, April 19. Eck will be joined by an all-star ensemble, including bassist/vocalist Bob Buckley, guitarist Sten Isachsen, and elusive vocalist Rosanne Raneri.

    Michael Eck

    Caffe Lena’s Top Shows For April

    April 2, 7 PM Live Stream: Storytelling Night Featuring Julia Biaculli

    April 3, 7 PM Poetry Open Mic Night featuring Susan Jefts

    April 4, 8 PM Ruthie Foster

    April 5, 8 PM The Special Consensus

    April 6, 8 PM Peter Mulvey with Opener Zachary Lucky

    April 7, 7 PM House of Hamill

    April 9, 7 PM Songwriting with Eliza Gilkyson

    April 19, 8 PM Live Stream: Michael Eck

    April 26, 8 PM Vanessa Collier

    April 27, 8 PM Bright Series: The Clements Brothers

    April 28, 7 PM Intersectional Voices: Raul Midon

    For more information on Caffe Lena’s April shows and to purchase tickets, click here.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK9dLM8_cKE

  • Slow Fiction Releases Enticing New Single “Monday”

    Multi-faceted  alt rock band Slow Fiction have released their enticing new single “Monday” ahead of the band’s live performance at No Fun venue in Troy on March 27

    Brooklyn based band Slow Fiction consists of five members that bring together amazing performances, distinctive songwriting and innovative vocals delivered by their lead vocalist Julia Vassallo. Their new single “Monday” is a first single from the band’s upcoming EP record Crush set to be released on May 24 via So Young Records.  

    Emerging within a music community shattered by lockdowns, Slow Fiction was woven together from a tapestry of friendships from hometowns and college connections. As boundaries disappeared and audiences expanded, the band became closer, utilizing the changes to play around with their content and achieve ever-greater and more powerful heights.

    Inspired by the raw, sweeping fuzz of bands like Sonic Youth and The Jesus and Mary Chain, the finished composition is a sonically explosive piece of work. A familiar guitar sound from the 2000s meets cutting edge modern angst to produce a sound that is both nostalgic and enticing. The band was liberated as their confidence increased through their live performances, and they used all they had learned to start working on “a lot more cohesive and bigger sounding” project.

    Slow Fiction is fast making a name for themselves as one of the most captivating and intriguing live performers coming out of New York’s thriving scene at the moment. Their new EP goes over and above to demonstrate their potential by combining nostalgic overtones with unquestionably heavy emotional content and stark realities. The band is slowly becoming one of the most intriguing artists to come out of the current music scene because of their skillful blending of personal suffering with a wide range of musical inspirations and dreamy, euphoric tones.

    Following the announcement of their new EP Crush, and the release their new single “Monday” which was accompanied by a visualizer that features a footage taken out the window of a NYC subway, the band has also announce a slew of upcoming tour dates, including a stint at SXSW and shows supporting Hinds and Sprints. 

    To learn more about the band and pre-save their new EP, fans can visit here and Tickets for their tour can be found here.

    Slow Fiction Live

    3/5 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar

    3/6 – Richmond, VA – Richmond Music Hall

    3/8 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle w/ Provoker

    3/9 – Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern

    3/10 – Athens, GA – Hendershot’s

    3/12 – SXSW – Seven Grand @ 11pm

    3/14 – SXSW – Lefty’s Brick Bar – Clash Showcase @ 7pm

    3/19 – Brooklyn, NY – Baby’s All Right w/ Hinds 

    3/21 – Brooklyn, NY – Elsewhere Zone One w/ Sprints 

    3/22 – Brooklyn, NY – Elsewhere Zone One w/ Sprints 

    3/23 – Washington, DC – DC9 w/ Sprints

    3/27 – Troy, NY – No Fun w/ Thus Love, Native Sun

  • Adequate Phil Release Latest Single “Limes,” Marking Final Track Before Debut Album

    Rochester psychedelic indie rock band Adequate Phil have released their latest track, “Limes” which is out on all streaming services now. The song marks their final single before the release of their debut album.

    adequate Phil Limes

    Adequate Phil, hailing from Troy, is an experimental psychedelic indie rock powerhouse with influences from Radiohead, Animal Collective, The Beatles, and The Shins. With the release of their debut album on the horizon and in spite of recent personal difficulties and lineup changes, Adequate Phil continues to captivate audiences with their magnetic stage presence and innovative sound. Since 2021, they’ve been an eclectic and relatively underground driving force in the local scene.

    adequate Phil Limes

    The track “Limes” is nothing short of unique. Its monumental psychedelic influence just oozes out of each pore of the track. You can hear the influence from classic psychedelic bands like The Beatles, Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, and more. You can also hear influence from artists like King Gizzard and even Yoko Ono.

    The vocals are haunting and obscure, the lead and rhythm guitar are hallucinogenic. Nothing about this song is conventional, but it has an eerie familiarity. The more you listen, the more you become entranced by the sounds the band emanates.

    For more information on Adequate Phil and to lay ears on their latest single, “Limes,” click here.

  • Albany Ranked Top Among Best Places to Live in New York

    Albany has been ranked as the best place to live in the state, according to a survey by the U.S. News & World Report. Some may also be shocked that New York City ranked fifth in the 2023-24 list of best places to live in the state, behind Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo, respectively. What we find less surprising is that all five cities have a large music presence.

    Best Place to Live New York albany
    The Palace Theatre in Albany is one of the Capital Region’s premier music venues. Credit: Palace Theatre.

    Ranked as the #1 best place to live in New York State, the Capital Region is home to several music venues and recording studios. White Lake Music and Post, one of the recording studios on Albany’s roster, has produced, recorded, and mixed multiple Billboard Top 40 singles and provided audio services for clients including Netflix, Discovery, Lifetime, Universal, Disney, Nickelodeon, and HBO. Additionally, the Palace Theatre, which first opened its doors in 1931, has been graced by the presence of musical greats like the Rolling Stones and is home to the Albany Symphony Orchestra.

    Best Place to Live New York syracuse
    Central New York’s premier professional theatre, Syracuse Stage. Credit: Syracuse Stage

    Ranking second on the list, Syracuse is home to many venues, among them Syracuse Stage, which is approaching its 50th anniversary this year. The premier professional theatre in Central New York, Stage is part of Syracuse University and is a member of The League of Resident Theatres (LORT), the largest professional theatre association in the country. America’s leading actors, directors, and designers work and/or have worked at Stage including Tony Award-winners Jason Alexander, Lillias White, Chuck Cooper, and Elizabeth Franz, Emmy recipients Jean Stapleton, Sam Waterston, John Cullum, James Whitmore, and Ben Gazzara.

    Drive By Truckers at Water Street Music Hall – photo by Brian Ferguson

    Rochester ranks as the third best place to live in New York State. Rochester is home to Water Street Music Hall, the city’s largest and oldest concert venue. Originally opened in 1976 under the name The Country Warehouse, the venue has brought hundreds of large artists including Phish, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Ashanti, David Byrne, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Iggy Pop, Jack Harlow, Sublime, St. Vincent, King Gizzard and the Wizard Lizard, Maroon 5, Weezer, and many more.

    Shea’s Theatre in Buffalo. Credit: Shea Performing Arts Center.

    Coming in fourth is the Queen City of Buffalo, a major music and entertainment region of its own. Buffalo is home to GCR Audio, a recording studio that has worked with Buffalo natives the Goo Goo Dolls, who recorded their self-titled debut album as well as Jed, Hold Me Up, Superstar Car Wash, A Boy Named Goo, Jessie J, and Who You Are at the studio. The city is also home to the nearly 100-year-old Shea’s Theatre, which this year alone has held performances of classic musicals such as Les, Mamma Mia, and in previous years Beetlejuice, Dear Evan Hanson, A Christmas Story: The Musical, The Nutcracker, and Mean Girls: The Musical, among others.

    Exterior of MSG – photo by Rob Tellerman

    As we know, New York City is the music and entertainment capital of the Empire State, if not the country. With countless music venues such as the Beacon Theatre, Knockdown Center, Brooklyn Bowl and Madison Square Garden, plus dozens of recording studios such as Electric Lady, the Big Apple has earned its title as one of the best cities for music in the world. MSG has hosted more than thousands of sports events and concerts, including upcoming tours by Fall Out Boy and Nicki Minaj. Electric Lady Recording Studio has made music for several big names in the industry such as Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, as well as New York natives Christina Aguilera and Lana Del Rey.

    The state of New York is home to several of the most prestigious and oldest music venues in the country, making it clear to see why the aforementioned cities rank in the top five best places to live in New York State.

  • Caroga Arts Announces 2024 Spring Residency

    From April 11-13, Caroga Arts will welcome back its world-class musicians for its exciting Spring Residency Concert series, featuring performances of major chamber music works.

    Caroga Arts

    The Spring Residency concerts are completely free of charge, but donations are encouraged to support arts programming in the community. The mission of Caroga Arts Collective is to reimagine the Caroga experience through the power of the arts, founded in 2012 by Kyle Price when he invited friends to his grandmother’s house on Caroga Lake – where they presented a week of free concerts, calling themselves the Caroga Lake Music Festival (CLMF). Today, Caroga Arts presents over 50 performances and community events annually bringing world-class artists from various genres of music, visual art, poetry, and film to the Southern Adirondacks.

    On Thursday, April 11 and Friday, April 12, Caroga Arts welcomes Aaron Schwartz (violin), Stephanie Price-Wong (viola), Ken Kubota (cello), Kyle Price (cello), and Chi Wei Lo (piano), performing music by Arensky and Brahms, plus a mix of jazz and pop favorites. The performance is at 7 p.m., but audiences are encouraged to come early at 6:30 p.m. for a special Season Preview where Executive & Artistic Director, Kyle Price, will unveil the thrilling 2024 Caroga Lake Music Festival lineup. April 11th’s show takes place at Karpeles Museum in Gloversville and the other at the Cobleskill United Methodist Church.

    You can also catch saxophonist Eddie Barbash, former member of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s house band, with the Caroga-based KASA Quartet on the road at the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Queens on April 13 and Ravinia Festival at Highland Park, IL. For tickets, visit here.

    For more information about Caroga Arts, visit here.

  • Albany’s Palace Theatre Presents An Evening With Nas this July

    Few rappers boast the resume of Nas. After all, with a career spanning over three decades, 14 studio albums — 8 of which have gone multi-platinum — the Queens native is one of the few rappers with the resume to make a claim as hip hop’s GOAT. The 16-time Grammy nominee continues to stave off father time, remaining as prolific as ever. With a catalog bevy of hits, classic hip-hop cuts and poignant story-telling, Nas remains in demand. In turn, the legendary rapper, mogul, actor, executive producer and co-founder of Mass Appeal Records will make his way to Albany’s Palace Theatre in a showcase dubbed “An Evening With Nas.”

    Nas Palace Albany theatre

    An Evening With Nas: What to Know

    The hip hop legend returns to the Palace Theatre on Friday, July 19 in a performance that is sure to feel like a homecoming for the Magic rapper. All in all, the capital region maintains an intense appreciation for classic hip hop and the boom bap sound. Moreover, New York’s upstate region spearheaded the return of the raw, gritty New York City sound that permeated during hip hop’s golden era.

    However, Nas isn’t here to relive old glories. Having recently released Magic 3 — completing two simultaneous three-album runs with Hit-Boy — he remains a prominent force in the hip hop diaspora. Therefore, while fans will surely await classic cuts like “N.Y. State of Mind,” “I Gave You Power,” and “One Mic,” there will be those just as eager to hear cuts from Nas’ latest run. From his Grammy-winning King’s Disease and its subsequent series to the trilogy of Magic tapes, “An Evening with Nas” will present fans with nonstop content. Above all, Nas remains at the heart of the genre for loyalists and guests alike.

    Tickets for “An Evening With Nas” at the Palace Theatre in Albany go on sale Friday, March 22 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster. Moreover, tickets are also available for purchase at the Palace Theatre Box Office (located at 19 Clinton Ave). Box Office hours are Monday – Friday Noon to 5 p.m. as well as select days and hours.

  • Greensky Bluegrass Announces Pier 17 Rooftop Show and more 2024 Summer Tour Dates

    Greensky Bluegrass will make stops in New York this summer, for an evening with at Pier 17, as well as at SPAC, in support of Tedeschi Trucks Band on their “Deuces Wild” summer tour.

    Greensky Bluegrass pier 17

    Known for their dynamic live performances, profound songwriting, and accessible storytelling, Greensky Bluegrass will kick off their summer tour in Kansas City on June 6.

    The news comes just days after the band wrapped their energetic 24-date winter run with two nights at the iconic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN with surprise guests Billy Strings, Sam Bush, Daniel Donato, Jennifer Hartswick, and Jarrod Walker.

    Greensky Bluegrass is Anders Beck [dobro], Michael Arlen Bont [banjo], Dave Bruzza [guitar], Mike Devol [upright bass], and Paul Hoffman [Mandolin]. The five are connected through a deep bond, just as they are seasoned road warriors, they’re a band of brothers who have seen each other through decades of ups and downs, personal and collective highlights, and the moments when life turns it all upside down. 

    For the past century, bluegrass music has traditionally relayed real tales of American life, struggle, tragedy, and triumph. It gives a voice to the quiet, yet colorful stories woven into the fabric of the country itself. Greensky Bluegrass live these stories through their records and performances. 

    Tickets for Greensky Bluegrass at Pier 17 and other dates are on sale now at greenskybluegrass.com/tour.

    GREENSKY BLUEGRASS ON TOUR 

    May 11-12 @ Mill Valley Music Festival | Mill Valley, CA

    May 23-26 @ DelFest | Cumberland, MD

    May 24-26 @ Dark Star Jubilee | Thornville, OH

    June 6 @ Grinders | Kansas City, MO

    June 8 @ Rock The Ruins | Indianapolis, IN

    June 13 @ Shelburne Museum | Burlington, VT

    June 14 @ Pier 17 | New York, NY

    June 15 @ Northlands Music & Arts Festival | Swanzey, NH

    June 16 @ Bonnaroo | Manchester, TN

    July 5 @ High Sierra Music Festival | Quincy, CA

    July 7 @ Waterfront Blues Festival | Portland, OR

    July 18-20 @ 4848 Festival | Snowshoe, WV

    August 2-4 @ Grassfire Festival | Garrettsville, OH

    August 10 @ Jam Packed Craft Beer & Music Festival | Richmond, VA

    August 30 @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center | Saratoga Springs, NY*

    September 13 @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre | Morrison, CO^

    September 14 @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre | Morrison, CO#

    November 8 @ Avett Moon | Miramar Beach, FL

    * supporting Tedeschi Trucks Band

    ^ with The California Honeydrops

    # with Andy Frasco & The U.N.

  • Dynamic Folk Trio Jamcrackers Coming to The Eighth Step at Proctors

    The Eighth Step at Proctors is presenting the dynamic folk group Jamcrackers at 7:30 pm on Saturday, March 23.

    Jamcrackers

    Jamcrackers is Adirondack folksingers Dan Berggren, Peggy Lynn, and Dan Duggan on harmony vocals, guitar, and virtuoso hammered dulcimer. Performing a mix of original and traditional songs and tunes, the uber-talented trio brings strong songs, tight harmonies, and lively tunes to the stage through Peggy and “the Dans’ ” energy and warm voices.

    National hammered dulcimer champion Dan Duggan is known for his wizardry on the instrument and his flat-picking guitar licks. Peggy Lynn sings in her bluesy alto about strong women and life in the North Country, and Dan Berggren’s songs and stories give voice to the spirit of hard-working folks and inspire care of our beautiful planet. 

    Caffé Lena states: “They sing of nature, strong women, healthy communities and peace, backing their rich vocal  blend with world-class hammered dulcimer, banjo, and guitar,” while the Adirondack Museum praises their “Beautifully crafted songs, powerful vocals, and tight arrangements.” They at once bring us back to the days of mountain men, strong mountain women, settlers, and Gilded Age visitors, and take us forward to tomorrow’s issues shaping the future of our beloved mountains and beyond. The trio’s original and traditional music echoes the timeless beauty of the still-remote, forever wild pine and lake-studded wilderness.  

    Tickets are $27 advance / $29 day of show / $45 Gold Circle (Priority Seating and 6:30 Meet & Greet onstage), available through The Eighth Tix/Info Line at (518) 434-1703 (Visa/MC/Disc/AmEx), online, through Proctors Box Office (518) 346-6204.

  • In Focus: Disco Biscuits at Empire Live

    On Wednesday, March 13, a hungry crowd packed into Empire Live on North Pearl Street for the Disco Biscuits, currently on tour ahead of the release of Revolution in Motion, Part 1, due out on March 29.

    Disco Biscuits Empire Live

    The show marked a return to a smaller venue in Albany, instead of the Palace Theatre, where the Philadelphia trance-fusion pioneers have played 7 times, dating back to 2004. The 1,000 capacity Empire Live offered a club feel to the show, an underground vibe where fans of the Biscuits could gather and dance to nearly three and a half hours of live electronic jams. For a night, this was Albany, New York’s hottest club, and even with sightlines what they are, the crowd carried on and enjoyed the mid-week throw down late into the night.

    Disco Biscuits Empire Live

    Opening up with “Morph Dusseldorf,” the twists came early with samples of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” dropped into the nascent “Morph” jam, honoring a fan’s birthday request and offering a glimpse of untzgrass, at long last. “Triumph” slipped in next, giving way to 30 glorious minutes of “Save the Robots” leeching into the ending of “Astronaut,” giving way to an inverted version of the fan favorite. A resounding “Suspended in the Air” middle section of “Astronaut” was particularly blissful, while the ending section was peppered by another sample, this time Tone Loc’s “Funky Cold Medina,” with the middle-age crowd nodding at each other upon recognition of the now 35-year old song.

    Disco Biscuits Empire Live

    After a standard 30 minute setbreak, the Biscuits returned with “M.E.M.P.H.I.S.,” venturing out into a spacious jam that found its way into the end of “Naeba,” which would be the second inverted song of the night. The slow churn into the song, as well as the stretched out ending were disco bliss, had plenty of room for improv as well as to dance – this was not a coincidance.

    Disco Biscuits Empire Live

    A Tractorbeam version (instrumental) of recent debut “Dino Baby” followed and made way to “Another Plan of Attack,” the two songs being the newest songs of the night, following nearly two hours of old school songs. With sampling becoming commonplace this tour, another surprise in the form of “Hella Good” from No Doubt was found in parts of “Another Plan of Attack,” and while this could have been the end of the night, the Biscuits whisked their way into a 36-minute “I-Man” that had twists and turns and the crowd fist pumping along well past midnight.

    Disco Biscuits Empire Live

    An encore featuring the recently released “Spaga’s Last Stand” was all that was left in this deep tank of electronica improvisation, where we find the Biscuits at the top of their game.

    The Disco Biscuits will be back in New York on March 29 at Webster Hall for the album release show, followed by two nights at Town Ballroom in Buffalo over March 30 and 31.

    Stream the full show from Albany here on Nugs.

    Disco Biscuits Empire Live

    Setlist via Biscuits Internet Project
    Disco Biscuits – Empire Live – Albany, NY – March 13, 2024
    Soundcheck: Magellan, Wet
    Set 1: Morph Dusseldorf 1, Triumph > Save The Robots > Astronaut 2 3 > Save The Robots
    Set 2: M.E.M.P.H.I.S. > Naeba 2 > Dino Baby 4 > Another Plan of Attack 5 > I-Man
    Encore: Spaga’s Last Stand
    1 with ‘Jolene’ (Dolly Parton) samples
    2 inverted
    3 with ‘Funky Cold Medina’ (Tone Loc) samples
    4 Tractorbeam version (instrumental)
    5 with ‘Hella Good’ (No Doubt) teases

    Disco Biscuits Empire Live
    Disco Biscuits Empire Live
    Disco Biscuits Empire Live
    Disco Biscuits Empire Live
    Disco Biscuits Empire Live
    Disco Biscuits Empire Live
    Disco Biscuits Empire Live
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