NYS Music 2024

Category: Central NY

  • NEO Project: Ithaca-Based Band Brings The Funk All Over New York

    Hailing from Ithaca, six-piece funk band NEO Project dazzles audiences with their energetic stage presence and hypnotic fusion music. Their unique, high-energy sound and performances have blown crowds away for the better part of a decade. With an interesting mix of genres and insatiable chemistry, NEO Project is sure to put on an unforgettable performance.

    NEO project

    Since 2012, the band has been on a mission to make crowds dance with their stellar improvisation and musicianship. NEO Project is made up of Elly Holiday and Jimbo Scott as lead vocalists, John White on keyboards and backup vocals, Dwight Carroll on electric guitar and vocals, Franklin Henry on electric bass, and Mike McCoy on drums. As well-decorated veterans of the music industry, including past careers as music professors, soul practitioners, and even a former Motown sideman, they each hold a deep love and passion for funk, soul, jazz, and R&B music.

    In their many years of touring and making music, NEO Project has worn many hats when it comes to performing. Originally, they began as a funk band, but soon after realized their true potential in becoming an all-out dance band that blends a multitude of genres. Bringing in inspiration from Afro-Caribbean music, as well as soul, jazz, and R&B, NEO Project combines the genres that were truly inspirational to them, with their own improvisational twist.

    Eventually, through years of fine-tuning their sound, NEO Project became exemplary of the great diversity within the music industry, proving that genres can absolutely coexist and share the spotlight at the same time. Along with their own original music, NEO Project reinterprets some of the best soul, jazz, and funk music out there with their own unique twist, covering a wide range of artists from Deee-Lite to James Brown. Their unique sound has brought thousands from all over the state to bars, concert halls, and festivals to enjoy some new-age fusion in classic old-fashioned styles.

    NEO project

    Throughout the last ten years, the NEO Project family has performed all over New York, bringing the energy to music festivals and concert series alike. On July 11, the band headlined a performance at the Ithaca Summer Concert Series; their most recent surmounting success right from their hometown. Their most recent gig at the Finger Lakes Cider House brought the house down with their incredibly dynamic and original performance.

    NEO Project’s funky, charming tunes have brought them widespread critical acclaim, from magazines to newspapers and more. “There’s a new band based in Ithaca, NY that will have you tapping your toes and shakin’ your groove thing to its unique, fun style of Neo Soul, Funk, Jazz, Rock, and Afro-Caribbean world grooves,” says Roger Theies of What’s Hot? magazine. Harry Segal of The Dock calls them “the tightest funk fusion band in the land!”

    After a rousing ten-year anniversary, NEO Project’s reign is far from over. Catch NEO Project at The Range, 119 E State St, Ithaca, for a surefire performance that will never make you want to throw away your dancing shoes. The end of a busy season awaits the band as August begins, with headlining performances at the Geneva Lakefront Summer Concert Series on Wednesday, August 14. On September 2, NEO Project will perform for a private member’s exclusive event at the Ithaca Yacht Club, followed by a headlining performance at the Corning Harvest Fest on Saturday, September 21.

      For any information on the band, be sure to visit their official Facebook page, linked here.

    • Brooklyn-Based Gooseberry Release “Cherry Blossoms” Ahead of Full-Length LP

      Brooklyn-based alt-rock band Gooseberry released their brand new single, “Cherry Blossoms,” this Friday. “Cherry Blossom” is the third single from their upcoming full-length LP, All My Friends Are Cattle, which is set to release Sept. 6.

      Photo Credit: Alex SK Brown

      Gooseberry, formed in 2019, melds alternative rock, indie, and blues to craft their distinctive and signature sound. Comprising Asa Daniels (guitar, vocals), Evin Rossington (drums), and Will Hammond (bass), the band has racked up hundreds of thousands of streams and garnered praise from editorial stalwarts Under the Radar, Ones to Watch, and more.

      Now, bigger than ever and with the most to prove, Gooseberry is gearing up to release their debut full-length album, All My Friends Are Cattle. Announced back in April, the new project is, in the words of the band, “Gooseberry’s most ambitious project yet.” From the gritty alt-rock tune “Kikiyon” to the eerie and slow-building “Dying To Meet You,” the album’s singles released to date have indicated that listeners should expect the unexpected.

      The band’s new single, “Cherry Blossoms,” leans into a more stripped-down sonic direction compared to their usual wailing guitars but thematically covers familiar ground, with Daniels singing about lost love and his desires to catch up to them, no matter how much time it takes. “I saw you underneath the cherry blossoms. I forgot to call your name,” Daniels tenderly sings over the song’s hook, then ends said hook with, “And I’ve forgotten so many things—keys and dates and wedding rings—but I could never forget your face.”

      “I spent months during the pandemic scanning and cataloging photos of my family dating back to the 1800s. There’s something terrifying about how much of life slips through the cracks once lived, but also something beautiful about the staying power of the few moments that remain. My grandmother’s dementia has made that more tangible for me. So this song is essentially saying, ‘I’m gonna get it wrong a whole lot, and I won’t remember much of it in the end, but I’ll never forget the face of the ones I love.’”

      Daniels on “Cherry Blossoms”

      Gooseberry plans to release a fourth and final single, “Baby Do You?” in August.

      In addition to All My Friends Are Cattle arriving this September, Gooseberry has also announced an upcoming tour with stops all around the country, including four in New York State. For the last show of the tour, Gooseberry will be sharing the stage with Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band in New Lenox, IL.

      See below for the full list of Gooseberry tour dates, visit here for tickets and information, and stream “Cherry Blossoms” on all streaming platforms.

      Tour Dates

      8/1 – Boston, MA – Aeronaut Brewing

      8/2 – Portsmouth, NH – The Press Room

      8/3 – Burlington, VT – Red Square

      8/4 – Rochester, NY – Bug Jar

      8/6 – Cleveland, OH – The Happy Dog

      8/7 – Detroit, MI – Lager House

      8/8 – Chicago, IL – Reggie’s

      8/10 – Des Moines, IA – xBk

      8/11 – St. Paul, MN – Amsterdam Bar & Hall

      8/12 – Davenport, IA – Raccoon Motel

      8/13 – Omaha, NE – Reverb Lounge

      8/14 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads Gospel Lounge

      8/15 – Milwaukee, WI – Anodyne

      8/17 – Madison, WI – The Bur Oak

      8/18 – St. Louis, MO – The Golden Record

      8/20 – Nashville, TN – The Basement

      8/21 – Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic

      8/22 – Knoxville, TN – Barley’s Taproom

      8/23 – Asheville, NC – New Belgium Brewing

      8/24 – Charlotte, NC – The Evening Muse

      8/30 – Cooperstown, NY – Brewery Ommegang

      9/1 – Rock Stream, NY – Seneca Lake Brewing Company

      9/7 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom – ALBUM RELEASE SHOW

      9/14 – New Lenox, IL – New Lenox Commons – Supporting Ringo Starr And His All Starr Band

    • Pink Talking Fish Announce 2024 Tour With Five Shows in New York

      Pink Talking Fish – the Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish tribute fusion act – has announced a huge fall tour running all the way into December, with five stops in New York State. Along with last month’s New Year’s Run announcement, the rest of 2024 is mapped out for the hybrid phenomenon.

      Known for their mind-blowing live performances, the three-act tribute band Pink Talking Fish has announced a two-leg tour, with stops in Lafayette, Lake George, Tarrytown, Buffalo and Brooklyn.

      Pink Talking Fish is a must-see for any fan of the three bands they cover: Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish. The band features Eric Gould on bass, Richard James on keyboards, Zack Burwick on drums and Cal Kehoe on guitar. 

      The Pink Talking Fish fall tour kicks off in late September and brings the band coast-to-coast through 12 states around the country. Shows start on the East Coast in Tarrytown, NY, and Harrisburg, PA, with the band then heading to the Midwest through Ohio, Illinois and Kentucky.

      For Halloween, the band will be in Portsmouth, NH, at The Music Hall, directly following the annual Portsmouth Halloween Parade. In November, Pink Talking Fish will head to California for the Golden Road Festival in Sanger, along with other shows in San Luis Obispo, Menlo Park, and Auburn.

      Later in November marks a return to the Brooklyn Bowl in NYC with special guest Trukken, a band that performs heavy metal versions of Grateful Dead songs. 

      After the fall tour, Pink Talking Fish will close out the year with a New Year’s Eve run, which includes two-night runs in Mill Valley, CA, and Seattle, WA. 

      For those eager to catch a show as soon as possible, Pink Talking Fish will be performing this weekend in Atlanta, GA, at Buckhead Theatre and Charleston, SC, at The Refinery, joining Allman Brothers Band tribute band Trouble No More for a double bill. 

      Visit here for tickets to any of the shows. See below for the tour graphic and a full written list of dates.

      Pink Talking Fish Tour Dates

      Summer Tour:

      7/19: Atlanta GA at Buckhead Theatre – double bill with Trouble No More

      7/20: Charleston SC at The Refinery – double bill with Trouble No More

      7/25: Jackson WY at Snow King Mountain – King Concerts Series with Moe. & Melvin Seals JGB

      7/26: Steamboat CO at Steamboat Square – Stranahan’s FREE Concert Series

      7/27: Denver CO at Cervantes Other Side

      8/02: Atlantic City NJ at The Tropicana Showroom

      8/03: Westport CT at Levitt Pavilion

      8/04: Lafayette NY at Wonderland Forest – Grateful Getaway: The Eleven

      8/10: Dover NH at Revel In The Meadow

      8/30: Salisbury MA at Blue Ocean Music Hall

      8/31: Lake George NY at Adirondack Independence Music Festival

      9/01: Murphysboro IL at The Shawnee Cave Amphitheater – Weekend At The Cave

      Fall Tour:

      9/27: Tarrytown NY at Tarrytown Music Hall

      9/28: Harrisburg PA at XL Live

      10/09: Cleveland OH at Beachland Ballroom

      10/10: Columbus OH at Woodlands Tavern

      10/11: Chicago IL at Park West

      10/12: Covington KY at Madison Theater

      10/13: Buffalo NY at Buffalo Iron Works

      10/17: Chattanooga TN at Barrelhouse Ballroom

      10/18: Nashville TN at Eastside Bowl

      10/19: Louisville KY at Brown Forman Amphitheater

      10/20: Asheville NC at Asheville Music Hall

      10/31: Portsmouth NH at The Music Hall

      11/01: Hartford CT at Infinity Music Hall

      11/07: San Luis Obispo at SLO Brewing Co

      11/08: Sanger CA at Golden Road Festival

      11/09: Menlo Park CA at The Guild Theater

      11/10: Auburn CA at Odd Fellows Hall

      11/22: Brooklyn NY at Brooklyn Bowl w/s/g Trukken

      11/23: Keene NH at The Colonial Theatre

      12/06: Plymouth NH at The Flying Monkey

      12/07: Burlington VT at Higher Ground

      12/21: Portland ME at State Theatre

      New Years Eve Run:

      12/28-29: Mill Valley CA at Sweetwater Music Hall

      12/30-31: Seattle WA at Nectar Lounge

    • Mabee Farm Announces July 26th Benefit Concert

      The Mabee Farm Historic Site in Rotterdam Junction, NY has announced a benefit concert set for Friday, July 26th. The concert will feature performances from Capital Region acts Lost Radio Rounders and Mark & Jill. 

      Mabee Farm's Dutch Barn
      Exterior of Mabee Farm’s Dutch Barn

      Located just 10 minutes West of Schenectady, Mabee Farm is the oldest farm in the Mohawk Valley, dating back to 1705. In addition to scenic forest trails and orchards, the site is host to a number of historic buildings. These buildings include the handbuilt Dutch Barn from 1760. The Dutch barn will host the benefit concert performances. This site frequently hosts concerts, most notably the annual Howlin’ at the Moon Concert Series each summer. 

      Proceeds from the concert will go towards preserving the farm’s Brick House. The Brick House – built in 1767 – was home to Mabee Farm’s 14 enslaved people. Following surveys, engineers determined that $76,000 in preservation work, including repairs to the basement was needed to stabilize the structure. This restoration comes as a part of the site’s mission to acknowledge the role of slavery in the Mabee Farm’s history. 

      “It is vitally important to preserve this building. The Brick house – particularly its barren basement – is a tangible connection to the lives of enslaved Schenectadians. It is our duty as stewards of history to safeguard this structure so that future generations will be able to delve into the complexities of our shared past”

      – Mary Zawacki, Mabee Farm Executive Director

      These plans have gained the support of politicians like New York Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado. Delgado recognized the restoration’s role in “keeping this history alive for generations of New Yorkers to enjoy.”

      Lost Radio Rounders and Mark & Jill have volunteered to perform at the July 26th benefit show. The trio Lost Radio Rounders are staples of the Capital Region Americana scene. Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Hall of Fame inductees Paul Jossman and Michael Eck, alongside multi-instrumentalist and educator Tom Lindsey founded the trio in its current form in 2021. With acoustic instrumentation including resonator guitars, mandolins, and double basses, the trio transports audiences to a time long passed. 

      Lost Radio Rounders

      Their sound is aided by the group’s love of history, frequently performing frontier ballads and even historical presidential campaign songs. Lindsey – a New York State history teacher – holds a special love for the oral tradition of folk music. Speaking on the benefit concert, Lindsey said the band has “always explored the way American music reflects American history, and we are delighted to lend a helping hand to this important project. As a former educator I know the impact that living history sites like Mabee Farm can have on people of all ages, especially children.”

      Mark and Jill

      Blues duo Mark & Jill will join Lost Radio Rounders at the benefit concert. Founded by New York Blues Hall of Fame inductee Mark Tolstrup and singer Jill Burnham, the duo has produced a unique blend of American roots music. Combining Tolstrup’s bluesy slide guitar and Burnham’s sultry vocals, they explore the joy and sorrow that life brings through their songs. The group’s blending of styles from Texas, New Orleans, and New York has brought them much acclaim. In 2022, the duo won the Capital Region Thomas Edison Awards “Blues Artist of the Year.” Additionally, they were finalists in the 2022 Memphis International Blues Challenge. 

      The benefit concert will take place on Friday, July 26th starting at 7:00pm. The concert is an “admission by donation” event with proceeds going towards the restoration project.

    • Duran Duran Haunts The Danse Macabre Halloween Party At Madison Square Garden

      British pop icons Duran Duran joins the macabre for an all-night Halloween party at Madison Square Garden. On October 31, the band returns to New York City for the Danse Macabre Halloween Party and encourage fans to dress up and go all out for a night of electrifying, spooky fun.

      duran duran

      Madison Square Garden’s Danse Macabre Party originally began during their 2022 tour on Halloween night as a once-fabled Duran Duran show come to life. The party featured new music, concept art, and themes for the band, now compiled in a full new album, Danse Macabre. In the two years since the first concert, it has become a highly anticipated annual tradition. Lifelong fans and newcomers alike head to MSG for fresh, spooky music Billboard calls “delightfully devilish.”

      Along with a night in New York City, Duran Duran has announced an official North American tour starting in October. The tour will take their new album across the American Northeast, with an earlier stop in Verona, NY. The final show will take place on November 2 in Manchester, New Hampshire.

      For those who want to get a head start on the haunting vibes, Danse Macabre is out now and is available on all streaming platforms. Below is the complete list of tour dates. Public on-sale begins Friday, July 12 at 10 am local.  Along with every ticket purchased, fans will receive a digital copy of Duran Duran’s 16th studio album, Danse Macabre, repackaged with unreleased extras. For more information, visit the band’s official website here. Get started on those costumes if you haven’t already!

      NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES

      10/21 – PPL Center – Allentown, PA

      10/23 – The Event Center at Turning Stone Resort Casino – Verona, NY

      10/25 – Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT

      10/26 – Borgata Event Center – Atlantic City, NJ

      10/28 – CFG Bank Arena – Baltimore, MD

      10/31 – Madison Square Garden – New York, NY **HALLOWEEEN DANSE MACABRE PARTY**

      11/02 – SNHU Arena – Manchester, NH

    • In Focus: Good Times with Lake Street Dive at Beak & Skiff

      Brooklyn based soul-pop artists Lake Street Dive made their triumphant return to Beak & Skiff on Sunday, July 7.  The Beak & Skiff veterans have been long embraced by the Central New York community. 

      Lake Street Dive was one of the first to bring live music back to the area during the Covid-19 pandemic, with a run of three consecutive shows at the venue in 2021. They are currently touring in support of their eighth studio album, Good Together. 

      The evening kicked off under crystal clear blue skies and warm temperatures, with a set by Alisa Amador, who won NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Contest in 2022, and dazzled the crowd with her blend of Spanish infused folk music.  Amador’s powerful yet soothing vocals danced through out the already filled orchard valley and kept captive hold of the audience through out the 40 minute set.  Late in her set, Amador paid tribute to Radiohead, with her own rendition of “High and Dry.”

      The familiar opening synths of “Good Together” (the title track on the band’s latest release) kicked off Lake Street Dive’s set.  The band immediately had the densely packed audience swaying and dancing, following the lead of singer and front-woman Rachael Price.  Price enamored the audience with her charismatic stage presence as she strutted and danced across the stage, never missing a vocal beat. She took a seat and twirled at a makeshift bar on stage during “Seats at the Bar”, and even brought bystanders from side stage to center stage to dance along with her during the appropriately named “Dance with a Stranger.”

      While much of the allure of seeing Lake Street Dive in concert is the fun and energetic set, perhaps the highlight on this evening was during “Twenty-Five,” the somber piano-ballad off the band’s latest release.  Price’s vocals soared in perfect harmony with her bandmates during the emotional track, which likely left few dry eyes through out the audience.

      Lake Street Dive would return to their high energy ways, closing their Beak & Skiff set with the Hall & Oates classic, “Rich Girl” and the band’s own fan favorite “Good Kisser”. The latter track’s catchy chorus allowed Price’s vocals to soar through out the LaFayette Valley one last time.

    • 2024 Chenango Blues Festival Announces Lineup Featuring Devon Allman Project

      The 2024 Chenango Blues Festival lineup, on Aug. 16 and 17, features the Devon Allman Project wsg JD Simo, Jimmy Hall, Ghalia Volt, and more at the Chenango County Fairgrounds.

      2024 Chenango Blues Festival

      The Chenango Blues Fest is a family-friendly event run by an all-volunteer staff. Their motto is “by fans, for fans.” The Chenango Blues Fest is the 2016 recipient of The Blues Foundations Keeping the Blues Alive award as well as a two-time recipient of the Russell J. Perlman Award for the most outstanding project to apply for an NYS Decentralization grant, which is administered by the Chenango Arts Fund. 

      The Devon Allman Project is a six-piece world-class band that has previously toured almost 20 countries. The band is led by Devon Allman, son of The Allman Brothers guitarist Gregg Allman. The band is known for gracefully blending genres and jam in the same way that the Allman family is known for.

      Other performers include Paul Thorn – a bluesy, rocking, and thoroughly Southern American who speaks universal truths; Bywater Call, a powerhouse seven-piece Southern soul, a roots rock band from Toronto, Canada; Sue Fole, a virtual triple threat as a lead guitarist, singer, and songwriter; award-winning guitar virtuoso and soul-deep singer Coco Montoya; and more.

      Camping has become a very popular way to enjoy the festival and the ranks of people setting up tents or bringing in RVs grows every year.  This year the fairgrounds is planning to install more RV hookups to try and keep up with demand.  Those bringing tents have a nice area under the trees (and some even under cover!) and there is a shower building on site.  The stages are right on the grounds so it’s a great way to enjoy the festivities.

      The festival also has a nice variety of food and craft vendors to go along with the music and on Saturday there is a children’s craft tent for the younger fans.   With the Thursday and Friday shows being free all you need to do is buy a ticket for Saturday to enjoy award winning blues all weekend long for this great family friendly event.

      Tickets for the 2024 Chenango Blues Festival are on sale now.

      Festival Schedule

      Friday, August 16

      Tent Stage

      5:30 – 6:45 – TBA
      7:15 – 8:30 – Bywater Call
      9:00 – 10:15 – Paul Thorn

      Saturday, August 17

      Infield Stage

      11:30 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. – Benny Turner with the Tommy Z Band
      12:45 – 1:45 p.m. – Chris O’Leary
      2:45 – 4:00 p.m. – Sue Foley
      5:15 –  6:30 p.m. – Ruthie Foster
      7:40 – 9:00 p.m. – Devon Allman Project
      wsg JD Simo, Jimmy Hall, and Ghalia Volt

      Saturday, August 19

      Tent Stage

      1:45 – 2:45 p.m. – Tinsley Ellis
      4:00 – 5:15 p.m. – John Gros Band
      6:30 – 7:40 p.m. – Robert Finley
      9:00 – 10:15  p.m. – Coco Montoya

    • Central NY EDM Festival SummerFest Returns in August

      Coming back for its second season, SummerFest will bring local EDM and House music to The Finish Line Bar and Grill in Brewerton on August 3. The one-day event held just north of Syracuse, will have a variety of energetic DJ sets.

      EDM SummerFest, Brewerton

      Saturday, August 3 in Brewerton, NY, will be filled with a lot of EDM music and dancing. The event, presented by Kandi God Enterprises and Neon Grove Studios, will showcase 18 performances made up of House music with a Dubstep and bass set. DJs will play throughout the day across two stages, one indoor and one outdoor, so attendees are sure to get the full experience. Accompanying the music is amazing production value with impressive sound systems by C.A Sound and LED visuals by  ZPL Lighting.

      The Indoor stage will have sets from 3:30 PM-1:30 AM, and the Outdoor sets will go from 4 PM-12:30 AM. Each set will be an hour long, with plenty of time to see as many sets as possible. Along with the DJ sets, attendees can also indulge in Vendor Village. Local artists will have offerings ranging from handmade products to festival necessities.

      Other forms of entertainment are live painting and lawn games. Artist Jason Vincent will create a painting in front of a live audience. There will also be lawn games throughout the venue for ravers to enjoy during and in between sets. SummerFest is sure to bring EDM fans together in Brewerton for one electrifying day of electronic music and art from all over the state.

      SummerFest Indoor Stage

      3:30 PM – 4:30 PM- Evan Hughes

      4:30 PM – 5:30 PM- Kittie C – B2B – Da Rex

      5:30 PM – 6:30 PM- Derrick – J

      6:30 PM – 7:30 PM- Izzy

      7:30 PM – 8:30 PM- Lenny Mvdhitz

      8:30 PM – 9:30 PM- Nesra [DnB Set]

      9:30 PM – 10:30 PM- 1DRFL

      10:30 PM – 11:30 PM- Dose The Alien – B2B – Tyme The Traveler

      11:30 PM – 12:30 AM- Dezz – B2B – TheKandiGod

      12:30 AM – 1:30 AM- OH KANE

      SummerFest Outdoor Stage

      4:00 PM – 5:00 PM- D A V E O

      5:00 PM – 6:00 PM- Ben Coscia

      6:00 PM – 7:00 PM- Oli Oh!

      7:00 PM – 8:00 PM- Rayner

      8:00 PM – 9:00 PM- Dezz [Dubstep Set]

      9:00 AM – 10:30 PM- TheKandiGod

      10:30 PM – 11:30 PM- Mack Bango

      11:30 PM – 12:30 AM- Chris Allen

      Early Bird tickets are $15 +fees and end July 9, Tier 1 Tickets are $20 +fees, starting July 9 and ending July 27, Tier 2 Tickets are $25 +fees, starting July 27 and ending August 4 at 12:00AM. Tickets for the EDM SummerFest can be found here.

    • Five For Fighting Nationwide Tour To Begin – 9 Shows Across NY

      Five For Fighting kicked off Independence Day with a performance on Live With Kelly and Mark at “Live’s 4th of July Family Party” in New York City. In addition the Grammy-nominated soft-rock star has announced an upcoming 4-month nationwide tour beginning in July until October. Moreover the tour will be split into two separate legs; a full-band Tour and a string quartet leg of the tour.

      five for fighting
      John Ondrasik’s top-40 Billboard hit “Superman” earned him a Grammy nomination in 2002. Credit: Nikolai Puc

      FFF — also known as John Ondrasik — will be joined by experienced banmadates; drummer Randy Cooke, bassist Sean Hurley, and guitarist Peter Thorn for the first 2 months of the tour. Comparatively he will be joined by the likes of violinist Melissa Tong –who toured with Post Malone in 2023, Tony-winner Katie Kresek on violin, Broadway’s own Chris Cardona on viola and cello player Peter Sachon for the tours finals two-months. Markedly FFF’s eclectic style has brought out a wide-arrange of highly decorated performers.

      “If it’s summer, the Five for Fighting rock band is back in the bus! It’s always a thrill for me to play with such amazing musicians, Pete, Randy, and Sean,” said Ondrasik. “We look forward to playing songs people know and love and some of the newer songs like ‘OK (We Are Not Ok)’ and telling some stories along the way. See you this summer!”

      – John Ondrasik

      All dates for the Full Band and String Quartet shows are listed below. For more information and tickets, as well as to request a show, visit Five For Fighting’s website linked here.

      FIVE FOR FIGHTING FULL BAND TOUR DATES:

      Thus, July 11: Hot Summer Nights Concert Series @ Municipal Lawn in Sherman, TX (Free Show)

      Saturday, July 27 @ Mystic Lake Casino, Mystic Amphitheater in Prior Lake, MN (Free Show)

      Tuesday, August 6 @ Ardmore Music Hall in Ardmore, PA

      Thus, August 8 @ Electric City in Buffalo, NY

      Friday, August 9, 2024 @ House of Blues, Cambridge Room in Cleveland, OH

      Saturday, August 10, 2024 @ St. Andrew’s Hall in Detroit, MI

      Sunday, August 11, 2024 @ Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, MI

      Tuesday, August 13, 2024 @ Lincoln Theatre in Washington, DC

      Wednesday, August 14, 2024 @ Oceanfront Concerts Series, 24th Street Park in Virginia Beach, VA

      Friday, August 16, 2024 @ Cabot Theater in Beverly, MA

      Saturday, August 17, 2024 @ The Wolf Den At Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT (Free Show)

      Sunday, August 18, 2024 @ Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown, NY

      Five For Fighting Quartet Shows

      Thus, September 26, in Homer, NY, at the Center for the Arts of Homer

      Fri, September 27, in Saratoga Springs, NY, at Universal Preservation Hall

      Sat, September 28, in Corning, NY, at Corning Museum Of Glass

      Sun, September 29, in Bethel, NY, at The Event Gallery at Bethel Woods

      Tuesday, October 1 in Oneonta, NY, at Foothills Performing Arts Center

      Thursday, October 3 in Nashua, NH, at Nashua Center for the Arts

      Friday, October 4 in Laconia, NH, at The Colonial Theatre Laconia

      Saturday, October 5 in Bethlehem, NY, at The Colonial Theatre

      Sunday, October 6 in Waterville, ME, at Waterville Opera House

      Tuesday, October 8 in Newport, RI, at The JPT Film & Event Center

      Wednesday, October 9 in Red Bank, NJ, at Count Basie Center for the Arts – The Vogel

      Thursday, October 10 in Port Washington, NY, at Landmark on Main Street

    • Fretless Guitar God Ned Evett Rocks Buffalo, Syracuse, and Rochester This August

      Ned Evett, a pioneer in the world of fretless guitarists, makes his return to upstate New York for the first time in over two decades this August.

      Evett kicks off a string of live performances with a live concert at the Westcott Theater in Syracuse, on August 6. Immediately following, is his show at The Lounge at Revolution Gallery on August 7. Evett finishes off his New York stops with a live show at the Spirit Room in Rochester.

      ned evett

      Over the last two decades, Ned Evett has cemented himself as an influential figure in the world of guitar players. In the early 1990s, Evett smashed his guitar after playing a show and handcrafted his own fretless guitar. Since then, Evett has mastered the style of fretless playing, which requires an immense understanding of the instrument’s sound and impeccable perfect pitch.

      During his career, Evett has performed in over 30 countries with hundreds of touring artists, including Joe Satriani, Leon Russell, Kansas, Eric Johnson, George Thorogood, and John Scofield. Despite his extensive touring history, he has not made a return to upstate New York in over two decades. His name might be familiar to longtime guitar fans in the region, though. In 2003, Evett won the North American Rock Guitar Competition at the University of Buffalo. Since then, Evett has received massive critical acclaim. Described by Guitar Player magazine as “the world’s first fretless guitar rockstar” and dubbed “the king of the glass-necked guitar” by USA Today, Evett is the inventor of the glass-necked fretless guitar and the glass slide capo.

      Evett will perform in a trio, with Rochester-based Steve Imburgia on drums and percussion and Brian Barr on bass for the New York shows. He will perform songs from his forthcoming record, Strange Kind of Freedom, which is set to release on November 8, as well as several fan favorites from his 12 prior solo releases.

      Information for the New York shows are listed below.

      Aug. 6 — Syracuse @ Westcott Theater
      tickets: $20
      doors: 7 p.m.
      show: 8-10 p.m.
      address: 524 Westcott St., Syracuse, NY 13210

      Aug. 7 — Buffalo @ The Lounge at Revolution Gallery
      tickets: free
      doors: 5:30 p.m.
      show: 6 p.m. start
      address: 1419 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, NY 14216

      Aug. 8 — Rochester @ The Spirit Room
      doors: 7 p.m.
      show: 8:30-10:30 p.m.
      address: 139 State St., Rochester, NY 14614

      8/2 Friday Syracuse NY Funky Town Comics & Vinyl
      8/6 Tuesday Syracuse NY The Lounge at Revolution Gallery
      8/7 Wednesday Buffalo NY Iron Works
      8/8 Thursday Rochester NY The Spirit Room
      11/8 Friday Okinawa Japan Kadena Festival
      11/14 Thursday San Pedro CA Alvas Showroom
      11/16 Saturday Mill Valley CA Sweetwater Saloon
      11/23 Saturday Boise ID Sapphire Room

      Any additional information and tickets are available on Ned Evett’s website linked here.

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