The August Jazz in the City concerts returns to the historic south side of Syracuse for a celebration that has become a long tradition. The Blacklites, a local powerhouse soul band formed over 50 years ago, will appear for the 20th time at Jazz in the City, at the same Dunk & Bright furniture location on South Salina Street.
Mayor Ben Walsh will be on hand along with other dignitaries to award the band with a proclamation recognizing their half century-plus as an urban cultural resource. Walsh said, “The Blacklites have been a staple in the Syracuse music scene for over 40 years. I’m thrilled that they continue to bring high-energy performances for listeners of all ages to Jazz in the City and look forward to recognizing them this year with a proclamation at what will be another can’t-miss event.”
1Accord Line Dance, a growing “dance for health” group founded by Kristle Lemmones in 2010, will open the show. All will be invited to dance with them until the Blacklites appear on the Leadsafe CNY stage at 7 p.m. on August 8th, to perform a two-hour concert.
The Jazz in the City “concert fair” events take place throughout the summer in neighborhoods across the city. As a mobile public health effort unique to American cities, they present America’s music surrounded by multiple healthcare and family service providers, plus food and craft vendors.
Title sponsor Syracuse Community Health provides a team of healthcare professionals as the centerpiece of a healthcare village. As an incentive to be screened and interviewed for individual and family health needs, those going through the SCH tent will receive $5 New York State Lottery scratch-off tickets. Additionally, everyone attending always receives free “goodie bags” filled with information provided by the attending healthcare village providers.
An audience of over 1,000 is expected at the concert, which has always been one of the biggest draws of the series. It’s become one of the biggest family-friendly social events of the summer, thanks to the generosity of the Bright family, and of course our many other sponsors, led by SCH and Community Bank.”
Don’t miss Jazz in the City tonight in Syracuse with The Blacklites.
While the origin of Phish is firmly rooted in Vermont, the band’s history in neighboring New York runs almost as deep. The band made the slow and natural progression from private parties and gigs at frat houses, to small clubs and theaters, later graduating to full scale amphitheaters, to now selling out Madison Square Garden on a regular basis. Phish may have been born and raised in the Green Mountain State, but its more recent history is firmly entrenched in the Empire State.
photo by Dave Decrescente
It took a few years after the band’s inception, but Phish finally waded into New York waters in 1987 with a now-legendary show at Ian McLean’s Farm in Hebron, NY on August 21, 1987 with three sets of music that included the first known performance of their cover of “Hold Your Head Up.” Phish would continue to make New York a regular part of their touring schedule in the early ’90s, with 1992 featuring more NY shows than any other year to date.
Lower show totals would follow in the late ’90s and early aughts as the band started to tour globally and play shows all throughout the country. But the “3.0” era of Phish has seen an influx of NY shows, primarily due to the renovations done to Madison Square Garden which has made The World’s Most Famous Arena the band’s preferred choice for multiple night New Year’s Eve runs. And the modern day pinnacle was set in 2017 with Phish’s legendary Baker’s Dozen Run of thirteen shows over three weeks which served as the foundation for “17 (shows) in ’17” at MSG which also included a 4-night New Year’s run.
In 2023, Phish came fairly close to matching this number with 14 shows spread throughout New York State which included another 11 at MSG. To date, Phish has played 288 total shows in The Empire State, so NY show #300 is certainly on the horizon.
Photo via Marshall Chasan, frame via phrames.com
To showcase this long-standing and still evolving relationship between Phish and New York, NYS Music presents our own reference guide, a map of every show the band has played in the Empire State. In the same vein as our Grateful Dead Map, this will link to each and every article published here with our own take on the show or appearance.
Big thanks to Alex Grosby of the Phishsonian Institute for helping us map out all of the New York venues and locations you see below.
The Great New York State Fair 2024 initial lineup of concerts has been announced, featuring a mix of new and old and a little bit for everybody. The fair begins Wednesday, Aug. 21 and continues through Monday, Sept. 2.
Founded in 1832 by a group of local farmers for agriculture and local fairs, The Great New York State Fair became a musical showcase in the 1950s and 1960s. A variety of artists perform at the fair, including popular and up-and-comers. Last year, Salt-N-Pepa, Chubby Checker, Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone, The Fray, Joywave, and more appeared. Both stages are free with the price of admission.
2024 New York State Fair Concerts
photo by Allison Marie
Chevy Court Stage
Chubby Checker- Aug. 21 at 1 p.m.
Chubby Checker will be making his sixth performance at the Fair, and third in as many years. He is best known for “The Twist,” the first number-one song of all time from Billboard’s Hot 100, but also for releasing hits throughout the 60s, 70s, 80s, and beyond with “The Hucklebuck,” “Slow Twistin’,” “Limbo Rock,” and more. In 2014 he was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame. Checker is set to take the Chevy Court Stage at 1:00 p.m.
90s Rewind: Digital Underground, Tone Loc & Color Me Bad – Aug. 21 at 6 p.m.
To celebrate the fair’s opening day, a 90s rewind concert will take audiences back in time with music from 3 classic acts. Grammy-nominated group Digital Underground will kick off the event, playing hits like “The Humpty Dance” and “Kiss U Back.” Led by rapper Money-B, the group rose to stardom, incorporating elements of 70s funk into their hip-hop stylings. Their early output, including the track “I Get Around,” helped introduce the world to former member and rap legend Tupac Shakur.
Also included is 80s rap legend Tone-Loc. Known for mega hits “Wild Thing” and “Funky Cold Medina,” Tone-Loc was one of the original stars of Hip Hop. His debut Loc-ed After Darkreached no. 1 and has since been certified 2x platinum. Tone-Loc is also known for his acting, being featured in hit films like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.
Closing out this lineup is the classic 90s R&B group Color Me Badd. Together the group has sold 12 million records worldwide, with nine top 40 singles. Color Me Badd are best known for their two no. 1 singles, “I Adore Mi Amor” and “All 4 Love.” Since their breakout, they have been nominated for 2 Grammy Awards, won two Soul Train Awards, and an American Music Award.
Ace Frehley – Aug. 22 at 6 p.m.
Rock legend Ace Frehley rose to fame as the guitarist of KISS. Raised in the Bronx, Frehley was drawn to the guitar, founding KISS in 1973. His powerful riffs and solos on tracks like “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “Detroit Rock City” played a large part in propelling KISS to rock stardom. In 2014 the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Frehley as a member of KISS, with Guitar World magazine since ranking him the 15th greatest metal guitarist of all time.
Sophie B. Hawkins- Aug. 23 at 1 p.m.
American pop legend and Native New Yorker Sophie B. Hawkins is a dynamic creative force known for a spellbinding live show. Hawkins’ appearance at The Fair is part of her tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of her platinum-selling debut album, Tongues and Tails. The GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter/musician will showcase music from her well-received recently released album, Free Yourself, featuring an original new video and the single, “Love Yourself.” She challenged the norms of gender expression and sexual orientation at a time when political, social, and sexual labels were more rigid. Her career arc includes releasing six widely beloved albums, breaking chart records with her smash hit “As I Lay Me Down,” four worldwide singles from Whaler, songs in cultural touchstone TV shows and films, and a starring role as Janis Joplin in the critically acclaimed musical Room 105.
Sister Sledge- Aug. 23 at 6 p.m.
Hailing from Philadelphia, the Sledge sisters became household names and a symbol of unity with their 1979 worldwide hit and iconic album We Are Family. The legendary vocal group is responsible for some of the biggest dance anthems like “Lost in Music,” “He’s the Greatest Dancer,” and “Thinking of You.”
Sister Sledge has performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, London’s Royal Albert Hall, and Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage. They have also performed at the White House, and even before Pope Francis during the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, PA. Over the years, the family group has amassed a string of Gold and Platinum hits and earned hundreds of awards and commendations, including GRAMMY Nominations for Record of the Year, Best R&B Duo or Group, and Best Produced CD for their African Eyes album. Their worldwide anthem “We Are Family” was entered into the prestigious Library of Congress in 2017.
CAIN- Aug. 26 at 6 p.m.
Pop/Contemporary Christian band and sibling trio sensation, CAIN is comprised of siblings Madison Cain Johnson, Taylor Cain Matz, and Logan Cain. They have been delighting audiences with their joyous performances since 2012 when they got their big break opening for Dave Barnes and Andrew Ripp. Since then, they have gone on to release four projects and shared the stage with artists such as TobyMac, Zach Williams, and Casting Crowns, while also performing on the famed stages of The Grand Ole Opry, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and Ryman Auditorium. Following the success of their breakout album, Rise Up, which won a K-LOVE Fan Award for Top Breakout Single “Rise Up (Lazarus),” Honest Offering was released in 2022, followed by Jesus Music in 2023.
Little Anthony- Aug. 27 at 1 p.m.
Doo-wap singer Little Anthony will make his debut appearance at the Fair. With over 60 years in show business and over 50 million records sold worldwide, he has “shimmy shimmied” his way into the hearts of fans across generations. With hits including “Tears On My Pillow,” “Goin’ Out Of My Head,” “Hurt So Bad,” and “Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko Bop,” Little Anthony was inducted into the 2009 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and most recently inducted into the 2018 class of The Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame.
Blue Öyster Cult- Aug. 27 at 6 p.m.
Heavy metal masters Blue Öyster Cult will rock the Chevy Court stage for the band’s fourth appearance at The Fair and the first since 2017. For five decades, they have thrilled fans of intelligent hard rock worldwide with powerful albums loaded with classic songs – becoming one of very few hard rock/heavy metal bands to earn genuine mainstream critical acclaim and commercial success. The band is often cited as a major influence by other acts such as Metallica, and BÖC was listed in VH1’s countdown of the greatest hard rock bands of all time. Upon the release of BÖC’s self-titled debut album in 1972, the band was praised for its catchy-yet-heavy music and lyrics that could be provocative, terrifying, funny, or ambiguous. Their discography includes three songs that no doubt go down in history as stone-cold classics: “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” “Godzilla,” and “Burnin’ for You.”
Danielle Ponder– Aug. 28 at 6 p.m.
Rochester native and soul R&B performer Danielle Ponder first worked in the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office – first as a public defender, then as a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion officer – for nearly a decade, while performing regularly throughout Rochester’s music scene. While working as a public defender, she toured Europe, opening for George Clinton. In 2018, she decided to pursue music full-time, just one week before her 40th birthday. She stepped into the national spotlight with the release of her debut album, Some of Us Are Brave, in September 2022 with her unique sound – a blend of pop, R&B, blues, rock, and soul. Currently, she’s working on her second album.
AJ McLean is known by fans across the world as a beloved member of the Backstreet Boys. As a seasoned performer, McLean has been performing some of pop music’s biggest hits – featuring tightly crafted songs, floor-shaking rhythms, and unmistakable harmonies – for over twenty years.
Over the last few years, McLean has been hitting the road with the Backstreet Boys for the band’s international, stadium-filling “DNA Tour,” which performed over 150 shows across five continents. The band, comprising McLean, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, and Kevin Richardson, also released their documentary series Making of the DNA Tour in 2022. Recently, McLean released a new single called “Electric” and will have more solo music coming out this year
Joey Fatone first rose to fame as a member of the record-shattering, multi-platinum boyband *NSYNC. Following the band’s incredible success with albums that sold over ten million copies and countless awards, Fatone took on projects spanning from television, film Broadway, and beyond. In November of 2019, during Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat series, Joey performed three days of Joey Fatone and Friends, entertaining fans alongside Chris KirkPatrick, Ryan Cabrera, Nathan Morris of BOYZ II MEN, MC Search and more. And, in August 2021, Fatone brought together brought together some of pop superstars like Wanya Morris, Nick Carter, and AJ McLean for the AFTR PRTY, an intimate pop classic for a sold-out residency in Las Vegas.
Fatone recently made headlines with a long-awaited reunion with his bandmates in NSYNC, releasing their first single in nearly 20 years in November 2023. The track, “Better Place,” was featured on the soundtrack of the third main installment in the Trolls franchise, the “Trolls Band Together.” The five members, including Fatone, Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Lance Bass, and Chris Kirkpatrick, also made headlines during a united public appearance at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.
TLC– Aug. 23 at 8 p.m.
One of the most popular female music groups of the 1990s, TLC, is performing at The Fair on Pride Day, Friday, August 23. The ladies of TLC – Tionne “T-Boz” and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas – formed the group in 1990 in Atlanta, Georgia. The four-time GRAMMY award-winning group became one of the biggest-selling female groups of all time, producing an extensive musical resume. TLC has sold 85 million records worldwide, produced ten Top Ten singles in the U.S., and four multi-platinum selling albums, including the 1994 breakthrough CrazySexyCool. The album, which Rolling Stone recognized as one of The Best 500 Albums of All Time, produced four top-five singles including “Creep,” “Diggin’ on You,” and “Waterfalls.” This summer TLC is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the iconic album.
Dropkick Murphys– Aug. 25 at 8 p.m.
The Dropkick Murphys will return to the Chevrolet Music Festival at Chevy Court for the fourth time. The Celtic-influenced rockers have generated half a billion streams and continue to sell out venues. They’ve headlined Boston’s Fenway Park and have been personally invited to share the stage with everyone from Foo Fighters to Bruce Springsteen to Mumford & Sons. Their celebrated discography includes two critically acclaimed acoustic albums – 2022’s This Machine Still Kills Fascists and 2023’s Okemah Rising, four consecutive Billboard top 10 album debuts, along with the double-platinum classic “I’m Shipping Up To Boston.”
Joan Jett and The Blackhearts– Aug. 28 at 8 p.m.
Joan Jett and The Blackhearts formed in 1979, creating the iconic hit “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Over the next 40+ years, the band went on to amass nine Top 40 singles, including “Bad Reputation,” “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” and “Crimson and Clover.” They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. This will be their fifth time performing at The Fair – closing out Women’s Day this year, which is very fitting for a frontwoman who broke down barriers in the mid-1970s to prove women could make it in the world of rock music. Joan Jett was rejected by 23 labels before forming her own independent record label, Blackheart Records.
Big Boi – Aug. 30 at 8 p.m.
Big Boi is a 7x Grammy Award winner best known for his work with legendary Hip Hop duo OutKast. Originating in Georgia, Big Boi helped put Atlanta on the musical map through his rapping and production work. He rose to fame with the release of OutKast’s 1994 debut Southernplayalisticcadillacmuzik, which went platinum. Their subsequent albums Stankonia and Speakerboxxx/The Love Below spawned numerous number 1 hits, making Big Boi a household name. Audiences are sure to know mega-hits like “Ms. Jackson” and “Hey Ya.” Individually, Big Boi is a force to be reckoned with, frequently cracking Billboard charts and racking up millions of streams.
Brian Kelley– Aug. 31 at 8 p.m.
DIamond-selling superstar, Brian Kelley, is first known as the Florida half of the GRAMMY-nominated Florida Georgia Line (FGL). The ACM Breakout Artist of the Decade Award recipients garnered 19 career #1s and became the first and only act to achieve two RIAA DIAMOND singles in Country music history. They have surpassed 17 billion global streams, selling more than 40 million tracks and 4.8 million albums worldwide, plus playing to over four million fans. Kelley’s “Trucks, Ducks, Bucks & Beer” is the latest preview of his much-anticipated full-length album on Big Machine Records due out this spring, having already introduced the project with “See You Next Summer,” “Dirt Cheap,” and “How We’re Livin’.”
Sydney Irving is one of Central New York’s fastest rising up-and-coming musicians. With mature lyricism and a natural knack for music, she has worked her way up in the state’s rock and country scenes. After years of recordings and live performances across New York under her belt, she is poised to be the next big thing.
Photo by Daniel Bocchino
Irving’s musical journey began in Syracuse, in the heart of New York State. A steady musical diet of Tom Petty and Taylor Swift inspired her to take up songwriting at a young age. Her musical career truly began at age 13. After receiving a Breedlove acoustic guitar as a gift, she quickly took to penning tunes.
At only age 14, Irving recorded her debut album Hello Stranger. The album exudes youthful energy, with surprisingly complex lyrics for such a young songwriter. The title track is an upbeat ukulele-driven indie pop number, discussing an enigmatic and lost person.
Irving followed up her debut with 2018’s The Halfmoon Sessions. This sophomore effort reflects a rapid musical maturation. The record featured much more lush, acoustic instrumentation compared to her debut. The track “Where Do I Stand” reflects this musical evolution. A driving drum beat supports Irving’s acoustic guitar. Her lyricism also evolved, with the track discussing someone trying to change their fate regardless of the uncertainty it might bring.
She wrapped up the 2010s with a pair of EPs titled Greene and Ronan. Irving recorded these EPs with her band The Mojo in a rural log cabin. This change in scenery reflected a change in sound. These EPs saw Irving experiment with rock elements, such as on the track “Look What You Do to Me.” Songs like this marked a pivotal change in Irving’s career that would launch her to fame in the 2020s.
Photo by Daniel Bocchino
Sydney Irving kicked off the 2020s with a bang, releasing the singles “You Can’t Forget About Me” and “Seasons Change.” These songs quickly soared to the top of Music Mafia Radio Top 30 Countdown, propelling Irving into the spotlight. The track “Seasons Change” is the culmination of all Irving’s previous work. It has a driving country-inspired rock groove that feels straight out of the 1970s. The lyrics about how fast life can change are supported by a catchy chorus that sticks with the listener. Alongside success on the charts, Irving received growing critical acclaim for these songs. In 2020, the International Singer Songwriters Association named Sydney Irving the Young Adult Artist of the Year. Two years later, these accolades continued with Irving winning Best New Artist at the 2022 SAMMYS.
2023 proved to be an especially important year for Irving, seeing the release of her 6th record, live shows, and countless awards. At the center of this year was her release Unfashioned Creatures. The album featured some existing tracks, like the aforementioned “Seasons Change,” with a host of new songs. This album takes all of Irving’s influences and hones them down into a solid pop record. Tracks like “You Can’t Forget About Me” and “Rain” continue her explorations into Tom Petty-inspired heartland rock. The song “Find Me” is a highlight of the album, sounding straight off of a folksy Taylor Swift album. Unfashioned Creatures illustrates Irving at the top of her songwriting game, and has likewise only increased her notoriety.
In addition to her new release, Irving toured nonstop throughout 2023. Of special note was her performance at Binghamton’s Spiedie Fest. She took the stage on the final day of the festival in support of headliner Gavin Degraw. During her set, Irving had the audience captivated in no time. Across her original songs and covers of Ramones and Taylor Swift, Irving kept the audience clapping and singing along. Shows like this illustrate that Irving, while just getting started, already has the stage presence and charisma as a veteran touring musician.
Her newest album and touring have helped make a name for Irving among music critics. In 2023, she was recognized as the Best Pop Artist at the Mississippi Music Awards, showing just how far her music has reached. Back home in Syracuse, Unfashionable Creatures also won Best Pop Album at the 2024 SAMMYS.
This year, Sydney Irving has continued to release music, with a cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.” Parton’s music has been a major inspiration on Irving’s songwriting. In many ways, the choice to cover this song reflects Irving’s aspirations in the music industry. She said “I could only hope to someday be able to write as many extraordinary songs that strike a chord in a listener the way Dolly has done. She is a lyric goddess!” Shannon Steele of Kickin’ Kountry 101 radio called Sydney Irving’s cover “the real deal.”
This massive success has only increased Irving’s hard work. Throughout July and August 2024, Sydney Irving will be performing near daily concerts across Central New York. With shows hitting the big cities of Syracuse and Binghamton, and small towns in the Finger Lakes and Adirondacks, fans across the state can witness her songs in person. These shows also illustrate Irving’s ability to conquer the stage, no matter the size. She will be performing everywhere from local breweries to large outdoor festivals, even doing a set at the Utica Zoo.
With so many albums and concerts already under her belt, Sydney Irving has nowhere to go but up. She already illustrates a mastery of pop melodies and emotional songwriting, matched by a glowing stage presence. Keep Sydney Irving on your radar, as she is one of the fastest up-and-coming musicians in all of New York State.
For more information on upcoming shows and releases, visit Sydney Irving’s website here.
This summer, The Homer Center for the Arts on 72 S, Main Street, in Homer is teaming up with So Good! Ice Cream to present a diverse line-up of music for the late summer.
With incredible ice cream, homemade cotton candy, unique sundaes, killer sunsets, and home of the So Good Music Series, each summer the ice cream site hosts the series. Plus, So Good! features “Adult Only” specialty ice cream for those 21+, with shows beginning at 7:00 pm.
On August 8th Colleen Kattau and Kyle Michio will be taking the stage, showcasing their talents and enhancing each other’s performance. Colleen Kattau is an award-winning blingual singer-songwriter, known for her blend of folk and latin music, her soulful voice brings the lyrics to life. As a beloved figure in the folk world, Kattau connects with the audience through her composition full of nature, social movements, and Latin American nueva canción.
Micho is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter from Syracuse with a large span of genres from folk, jazz, to classical music. His blend of sounds are both innovative and contains traditional music.
On August 22nd, Second Spring and Mr Gâs Homie Discount will be performing. Second Spring is a local Ithaca indie rock band that brings contemporary music to life. The band currently consists of members Isabella Gold, Erin Wagner, Isaiah Berger, Carys Banford and Aron Kaplan-Hall. With energetic an heartfelt performances, Second Spring has a loyal following.
Mr G’s Homie Discount blends funk, soul, and hip-hop. With a groovy and magnetic stage presence, the band has an infectious energy, making the crowd dance.
The Krockathon Reboot on Saturday, July 27, brought a thrilling resurgence of rock music back to the NYS Fairgrounds. With a memorable lineup featuring Puddle of Mudd, Hoobastank, Nonpoint, Stabbing Westward, Boy Hits Car, and Brand New Sin, fans were in for an unforgettable day.
From the moment the gates opened, the festival grounds were alive with activity. Attendees indulged in classic festival pastimes like playing hacky sack and flocked to the Monster Energy booth to grab free drinks, fueling the vibrant atmosphere.
As the day wore on, the crowd’s energy only increased. Early in the day, fans enjoyed the performances while lounging on the grass, but as each band took the stage, the audience became more animated. By later in the day, Nonpoint’s powerful set had the crowd on their feet, with spontaneous crowd surfing and circle pits adding to the excitement.
Stabbing Westward’s darker, industrial sound provided a unique contrast to the day’s lineup, while Boy Hits Car and Brand New Sin set the tone with their high-energy opening performances. Hoobastank’s set was a highlight, with the crowd passionately singing along to every word of their hit song, “The Reason.”
The festival reached its peak when Puddle of Mudd took the stage. As the sun began to set, its golden rays cast a beautiful glow over the stage, creating a magical backdrop for the band’s performance. The crowd sang along to every hit and savored the moment as the sun set
Overall, the Krockathon Reboot was a triumph, offering a perfect blend of nostalgic rock hits and modern festival energy. The NYS Fairgrounds proved to be an ideal venue, accommodating the enthusiastic crowd and providing ample space for the day’s activities. With such a successful return, the future of Krockathon looks brighter than ever.
Fresh on the heels of their wildly successful Why We Dance Tour and its ongoing follow up tour, The Disco Biscuits are keeping the momentum going and have announced a run of shows in the Fall.
The shows will take place predominantly in the Northeast, but feature a Halloween run at The Caverns in Tennessee. The band will play Brooklyn Steel on November 9 with the next show scheduled for Bearsville Theatre in Woodstock on November 13.
The Fall Tour also includes The Disco Biscuits making return appearances to The Palladium in Worcester, MA on November 15 and the State Theatre in Portland, ME on November 16. The tour also rolls through Connecticut twice with shows in both Norwalk (November 14) and Hartford (November 20-21). And New York continues to get plenty of attention as well as the tour concludes with the final three shows here. The band will play Rome Capitol Theatre for the first time on November 22 before concluding the tour with two shows at Buffalo’s Town Ballroom where the band never seems to disappoint.
Both General Admission and VIP tickets for the Fall Tour go on sale tomorrow at 12 pm ET. The VIP package for this set of shows includes early entry to each venue with early access to merch, a pre-show private soundcheck an group photo with the band as well as a commemorative show ticket instead of the usual poster and a laminate. There’s also still one yet to be announced show for this tour on November 7 that falls between ones at Ram’s Head Live in Baltimore and the aforementioned Brooklyn Steel show. For tickets and more information on the band’s 2024 plans, visit discobiscuits.com.
Disco Biscuits Fall Tour Schedule
10/30 – Madison Theater – Covington, Ky. 10/31-11/2 – The Caverns – Pelham, Tenn. 11/3 – French Broad River Brewery – Asheville, N.C. 11/6 – Rams Head Live – Baltimore 11/7 – TBA 11/9 – Brooklyn Steel – Brooklyn, N.Y. 11/13 – Bearsville Theatre – Woodstock, N.Y. 11/14 – District Music Hall- Norwalk, Conn. 11/15 – The Palladium – Worcester, Mass. 11/16 – State Theatre – Portland, Maine 11/17 – Paramount Theatre – Rutland, Vt. 11/20-21 – Infinity Hall – Hartford, Conn. 11/22 – Rome Capitol Theatre – Rome, N.Y. 11/23-24 – Town Ballroom – Buffalo, N.Y.
The Double Bass Experience was in Syracuse on July 11th as part of the Jazz in the City Series.
The explosive Jazz Double Bass experience featuring Jacob Webb and Phylicia Rae takes an audience to a place where they’ve never been before. The combination of these two stars in contemporary jazz have obtained seven number one Billboard records under their belt.
As a matter of fact, Phylicia Rae is the first female lead bassist to ever obtain a number one record on Billboard’s smooth Jazz National Airplay Chart in the history of this genre. Her history making single “Now or Never,” featuring Marcus Anderson, has granted the opportunity for female bassists to thrive in this genre.
In addition to his bass skills, Jacob Webb founded Next Paradigm Records, a nine artist contemporary jazz roster of fresh talent acclaiming multiple number one hit Billboard singles. Today, Billboard has recognized Next Paradigm as the number four label in smooth Jazz.
With all this success, Jacob and Phylicia brough their show to Syracuse and created a night of great music. From their chart topping hits to covers of Earth Wind & Fire and more. Switching back and forth as the lead bass player Jacob & Phylicia created a magical evening of jazz.
On September 20, Wonderland Forest in Lafayette, NY, will be home to LonCon, a two-day music festival featuring numerous rocking jam bands. This year, LonCon will also see the debut of newly formed Big Shrimp, ready to stun crowds with new faces.
Formerly known as Baked Shrimp, the group has decided to take on a new name, and of course, a new style. Hailing from Long Island and originally forming in 2017, Baked Shrimp took on the world as a trio, made up of Jared Cowen (Guitar/Vocals), Scott Reill (Bass/Vocals), and Jager Soss (Drums/Vocals). Their funk style brought them to festivals and shows all over the United States and Canada, and even provided supporting acts for artists like the Disco Biscuits, Pink Talking Fish, Aqueous, Dopapod, and more.
In 2021, Baked Shrimp formed LonCon, a two-day music festival featuring hundreds of artists over the course of three years. Up until recently, they performed as Baked Shrimp, but are now ready to change it up and announce their new and improved act.
Now known as Big Shrimp, the band has taken on not just a new name, but a new sound and even a new member. Joining the Big Shrimp crew is Matt Takesh, their brand new keyboard player.
“I am so amped up to have Matt Takesh with us behind a batch of keyboards, including a real B3!” says guitarist and vocalist Jared Cowen. “He and Max Perrotti have been a pure joy to bring into our world of music, and we can’t wait to see what this lineup looks and sounds like on the stage.”
This year, LonCon has moved to a new location, Wonderland Forest in Lafayette. Surrounded by beautiful scenery and dozens of hiking trails, attendees can choose to camp as close or as far from the festival as they’d like, and take in amazing hiking trails, scenic overlooks, waterfalls, and more.
The full lineup of LonCon is to be released soon, with performances from Mihali, Big Shrimp x2, Aliens Among Us (ft. Ben Atkind (ElephantProof/formerly Goose), Ryan Dempsey (Twiddle), Sam Lucid (Dogs in a Pile), Jared Sage Cowen (Big Shrimp), Gantzer, Sophistafunk, Annie in the Water, and more already announced.
“Having his and our friends and family be with us for what we continue to want to be an annual event, is so special, and inspires us to continue to want to grow our community,” says Cowen. The highly anticipated debut album for Big Shrimp is set to release in the Spring of 2025, following an incredible festival.
For more information on LonCon, visit the festival’s website.
According to Webster’s Dictionary, a spectacle can be defined as “A visually striking performance or display.” If one were to add an addendum to this, they could add “The Flaming Lips in concert” and anyone would be hard pressed to dispute this.
The Flaming Lips brought their 2024 tour to Beak & Skiff in LaFayette on Tuesday, July 23. The psychedelic rockers from Oklahoma City were continuing a tour which has seen them play the 2002 album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robotsin full, each night. most recently at Lewiston’s ArtPark. The album, one of 16 in The Flaming Lips catalog, brought the band their biggest commercial success, and has long been the centerpiece of the Lips’ highly regarded live performances.
As the 7:30pm start time drew close, a palpable energy set in across the apple orchard’s concert field. Front-man and equally skilled hype-man Wayne Coyne did his part to energize and excite the crowd as he sat side stage. Once the clock struck half past seven, Coyne moved to center stage and the band wasted no time getting the spectacle started. With the acoustic opening strums of Yoshimi’s “Fight Test”, and a large bust of confetti from the multiple confetti canons placed around the stage, the evening’s festivities were underway. As Coyne sang the song’s opening lyrics, giant pink robots inflated around the stage, dwarfing Coyne and his bandmates.
The spectacle would continue to take new heights as the band worked their way through the 2002 album. Dramatic lights draped the stage and the audience. Coyne shot copious amounts of confetti into the crowd, and tossed giant inflatable beach balls (again, filled with confetti) into the pit. He sang under a giant inflatable rainbow during “Do You Realize”, a song about cherishing the time you have with your loved ones.
Following the performance of Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (and a short intermission), the band returned for a second set, which paid homage to the many other stand out tracks through out their career. The band returned to the stage and launched into their 1993 hit “She Don’t Use Jelly”. Other highlights of the second set included “Flowers of Neptune”, “The Spark that Bled”, “Yeah Yeah Yeah Song”, and “Race for the Price”.
It would be easy to anticipate musicians merely going through the motions after 40 years of performances. The Flaming Lips did anything but this. Coyne donned a giant smile between each song, and regularly summoned more and more energy from the crowd. He told stories of the inspirations behind the music, and urged a message of peace and love. In all, the band seemed to take great pride in delivering their spectacle to the audience at Beak & Skiff.
