Singer-songwriter Cosby Gibson has returned for her seventh album, the poetic and wonderfully whimsical The Hollow Crown.
Hailing from near the Adirondacks, Cosby Gibson is a singer-songwriter who specializes in unique and original folk-style songs on guitar and dulcimer. With multiple Capital District Music awards among many other trophies on her shelf, she spins whimsical tales on life in all of its aspects- the beautiful and the less than so.
Returning for her seventh album, Gibson has released The Hollow Crown– an album capturing the chase for something empty that she aptly dubs a “hollow crown”- something ultimately fruitless or unimportant.
At its core, however, the album tackles what is worth one’s time- remembering. Remembering the good, to remind oneself of the foundation you stand upon, and the bad to untangle the brambles of negative emotion.
Entwined with a sense of the magical between Gibson’s gentle vocals, deft acoustic guitar, and vivid lyricism, tracks like “In This Kind of Rain” and “Asking The Lilies” craft a sense of imagined adventure through the woods, pondering the complications of meanings of life while observing babbling brooks or blooming flowers.
Imagery is also rich in “Spinning in Spirals,” a song full of roses and sparkles and a sense of excited wanderlust, which is contrasted in the vulnerable and insightful “What’s Happening Is You” that decides that lyrical honesty is best for the frank conversation being had.
Wonderfully poetic and positively teeming with flora and fauna, The Hollow Crown is a beautifully crafted collection of tracks that balance emotional honesty with the whimsical. The full album is available now both in digital and physical format through Gibson’s Bandcamp page here.
To learn more about Cosby Gibson, listen to more of her work and The Hollow Crown, and keep up with all of her latest endeavors, be sure to explore her official website here.
The Wild Center in Tupper Lake has announced the fifth season of Wild Lights which runs from November 29 to February 22, 2025.
The evening experience transforms The Wild Center’s 115-acre campus into a winter wonderland, with thousands of bulbs and a variety of activities and displays. This family-friendly winter event offers a chance to experience The Wild Center in a new light.
Visitors can look forward to a New Immersive Projection Experience. Visitors can explore Wild Lights like never before with indoor and outdoor immersive projection art installations by Echo, an Adirondack artist and co-founder of The Station in Onchiota. Snack at the Mobile Sugar Shack: the shack will be converted into a food truck, serving hot and cold treats at The Wild Center’s patio space.
Wild Lights Light Lager: Raquette River Brewing’s festive creation will be returning and can be purchased at The Wild Center, as well as in-store and on tap at Raquette River Brewing Co. and other local stores. Forest Music: the looped trail with over 130 trees wrapped in colorful lights synchronized to a 10-track musical compilation from Whatever Penny entitled Songs for an Old Pine Forest. Lit Photo Ops: oversized neon bird wings that provide a perfect photo op and other new illuminated sculptures guide visitors through the different paths and trails. The Wild Supply Co. will be available for shopping, and indoor experiences will be open, including Planet Adirondack and the Living River Trail, where guests can watch North American River Otters play.
Located in Tupper Lake, NY, The Wild Center uses science-based experiences, exhibits and programs to open new ways to look into the relationship that people have with nature and to promote environmental best practices. A 54,000-square-foot facility, The Wild Center features outdoor space, live animals, and its popular Wild Walk, an elevated trail across the Adirondack treetops. Tupper Lake is a great little town for music heads too. The town constantly sees stages full of local artists at venues including The Wild Center.
From Nov. 29 to Feb. 22 the Wild Lights show is held on Friday and Saturday evenings. The event is open nightly during Holiday Week on Dec. 26 to 31 and Winter Week on Feb. 14 to 22. Admission to Wild Lights is to be purchased separately from day-time admission to The Wild Center. From Nov. 29 to Feb. 22, member pricing is $7 for adults and $2 for children ages 5-17, and non-member pricing is $12 for adults, and $7 for youth. Admission is free for children 4 and under.
For more information on Wild Lights and to purchase tickets, click here.
The nominations for the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards have been announced and a host of New York artists are among the nominees. Today we take a look at the nominees hailing from across New York State.
One of the most prestigious music awards in the industry, The GRAMMY Awards are held annually to recognize the best of the best in music each year, both on stage and behind the scenes. Now in its 67th year, the Recording Academy has released its nominees ahead of this year’s presentation of awards on February 2, 2025.
To little surprise, several nominees on this year’s ballot hail from the state of New York. With some of the industry’s biggest names rooted in the state and rising stars cropping up each and every day, you can check out our list of this year’s GRAMMY nominees who call New York home below.
A$AP Rocky
Most recognized as A$AP Rocky, Rakin Mayers returns for his third GRAMMY nomination to date with Best Music Video for “Tailor Swif”. Born and raised in Harlem, Rocky’s career was launched within the hip hop collective ASAP Mob- hence his stage name- and has since skyrocketed into the limelight with a BET Award, two BET Hip Hop Awards, an MTVU Woodie Award, and an MTV Video Music Award Japan, among several nominations.
The Baylor Project
Husband and wife and musical duo Marcus and Jean Baylor are nominated for Best Jazz Performance for their track as The Baylor Project “Walk With Me, Lord (SOUND | SPIRIT)”. Based in New Jersey, the two will add this nomination to their roster of seven previous nominations, including two for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
Béla Fleck
Béla Fleck
With an astounding five nominations for this year’s awards added to his collection of eight wins thus far, banjo virtuoso and New York City native Béla Fleck has an impressive list of accolades and accomplishments under his belt already. Having won in an array of categories already, Fleck’s nominations for the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards are Best Jazz Performance, Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, Best Instrumental Composition, and Best Arrangement.
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Nominated for the second year in a row for Best Orchestral Performance is the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra alongside conductor and fellow nominee JoAnn Falletta. Founded in 1935, the Orchestra has presented live symphonic music and other adjacent events to the folks of Buffalo and beyond for nearly a century now. With more than 120 classical, rock, pop, kids and youth concerts each year, this nomination marks another major recognition for the already GRAMMY Award-winning Philharmonic.
Cardi B
Born in Manhattan, Cardi B- or Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar- is up for Best Rap Performance with her track “Enough (Miami)”. Cardi was raised in the South Bronx but spent much of her time in her grandmother’s home in Washington Heights, the region she accredits her accent to. She also attended Renaissance High School for Musical Theater & Technology, a vocational high school on the Herbert H. Lehman High School campus.
Catherine Russell
Catherine Russell
Native New Yorker and graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts Catherine Russell is in the running for Best Jazz Vocal Album for My Ideal with Sean Mason. Born into musical royalty, Russell’s father Luis Russell was a lifelong pianist, composer, bandleader, and musical director for Louis Armstrong, and her mother Carline Ray performed with International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Mary Lou Williams, and Sy Oliver as a pioneering vocalist, guitarist, and bassist.
After graduation, Russell toured and recorded alongside the likes of Carrie Smith, Steely Dan, David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Michael Feinstein, and more, with a total of over 200 appearances on various albums made thus far in her career.
Cory Henry
A jazz organist, pianist, gospel artist, producer, and musical prodigy, Cory Henry began his musical career at just two years old when he was introduced to the piano and the B3 organ. Performing an astonishing show at the Apollo Theater at just six years old, the Brooklyn-Born artist was first a member of the unit Snarky Puppy before launching into his solo career in 2018. Henry has been nominated for Best Roots Gospel Album for his collection Church.
Photo: Shervin Lainez
Daniel Nigro
Long Island local Daniel Nigro is nominated for Producer Of The Year and Best Song Written For Visual Media, and if you’re a fan of today’s pop princesses it’s likely you have Nigro to thank. With credits in Olivia Rodrigo’s “girl i’ve always been”, “so american”, “stranger”, and “Can’t Catch Me Now” as featured in the Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes soundtrack, as well as the entirety of breakout star and fellow GRAMMY nominee Chappell Roan’s debut album The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess, Nigro’s impact on the past year’s most popular music cannot be understated.
Raised in Massapequa Park, Daniel took piano, guitar, and voice lessons in his youth and attended Fordham University for philosophy during his college years. Nigro has accrued a total of 16 GRAMMY nominations across his career thus far in addition to winning Best Pop Vocal Album with Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour in 2021.
Photo: Monhand Mathurin
Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II
Hailing from Brooklyn, Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II is up for a Producer Of The Year for his work on tracks like Usher’s “I Love U” and “One Of Them Ones”, Lucky Daye’s Algorithm and “That’s You,” “Power of Two” from Star Wars: The Acolyte featuring the voice of VIctoria Monét, and song of the year nominee “Die With A Smile” with Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars.
Elaine Martone
Born in Rochester, raised in Long Island, and graduating from Ithaca College with a Bachelors in Music, Elaine Martone is a New Yorker through and through. With a background in the oboe, editing, and recording, Martone has been nominated for Producer Of The Year in the Classical category.
The Harlem Gospel Travelers
Formed with members hailing from throughout the five boroughs of New York City, The Harlem Gospel Travelers gathered originally as members of the Gospel For Teens music education program before launching their own collective rooted in their shared passion for gospel music. The group has been nominated for Best Roots Gospel Album for their album Rhapsody.
JoAnn Falletta
A decorated musician and conductor, JoAnn Falletta was raised in Queens and spent her college years at Mannes College of Music and Juilliard. Beginning her career as a guitar and mandolin student, Falletta began conducting the Mannes student orchestra in her freshman year despite administrative doubts concerning women in music directorship. JoAnn rose above and beyond these doubts, however, going on to Queens College for her Masters and Juilliard once again for her Doctorate in Orchestral Conducting.
JoAnn’s nominations for Best Orchestral Performance and Best Classical Compendium this year stem from her work as conductor for fellow nominee, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Joe Bonamassa
Blues rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Joe Bonamassa has been nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album with his release Blues Deluxe Vol. 2. Born in New Hartford and raised in Utica, Bonamassa began playing the guitar at just age four.
First influenced and taught by his father, Joe would go on to be mentored and trained by American guitar legend Danny Gatton at just 11 years old, and by age 12 he was touring around western New York with his band named Smokin’ Joe Bonamassa and even opened for the likes of B.B. King. Since then, Bonamassa has released a total of fifteen solo albums, with eleven charting number one on the Billboard Blues chart. This year’s GRAMMY nomination will be Joe’s fourth.
Photo: Danielle Neu
Kim Gordon
Rochester native Kim Gordon has earned nominations for both Best Alternative Music Performance and Best Alternative Music Album, for “BYE BYE” and The Collective respectively. Returning to New York after her college years to pursue the arts, Gordon discovered her love for no-wave music and the artistic freedom it offered.
Lady Gaga
Needing little introduction, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta- better known as Lady Gaga– is nominated for Song Of The Year for her collaboration with fellow pop superstar Bruno Mars, “Die With A Smile”. Born in Manhattan and raised on the Upper West Side, Gaga famously spent her college years at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, playing gigs with her band in the Lower East Side’s club scene as she honed her skill.
Once her solo career as the famed Lady Gaga began to take shape, she played iconic Manhattan venues such as Mercury Lounge, the Bitter End, and the Rockwood Music Hall, slowly developing a following- and the rest is history.
Lakecia Benjamin armed with her saxaphone. Courtesy of ropeadope.com
Lakecia Benjamin
Nominated for Best Jazz Performance and Best Jazz Instrumental Album is Lakecia Benjamin with Phoenix Reimagined (Live). Born and raised in New York City, Benjamin has been writing and performing music since grade school. After winning admission to the Fiorello LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, Lakecia attended the New School for its renowned jazz programming.
At The New School Benjamin studied with veterans of the genre including Billy Harper, Workman, Buster Williams, and Gary Bartz, who proved to be a key mentor in her studies and musical touch. Her deep roots in jazz and reputation for innovation landed her performance opportunities of all kinds, including a touring gig with Anita Baker.
Marc Anthony
The top selling salsa artist of all time, New York City native Marc Anthony has returned to the GRAMMY docket once more with a nomination in Best Tropical Latin Album for MUEVENSE. Raised in East Harlem, Anthony’s career is nothing short of admirable with over 12 million album sales recorded to date. This year’s nomination will sit on the shelf beside his eight Latin GRAMMY Awards, 29 Lo Nuestro Awards, and four GRAMMYs.
Madison Beer
Up for Best Dance Pop Recording is Madison Beer with “Make You Mine”. Born in Jericho, Beer saw a rise to fame after a cover she posted to YouTube was reposted by Justin Bieber. Debuting in 2013 with “Melodies”, Beer has since released two studio albums, the second Silence Between Songs earning her a nomination for Best Immersive Audio Album at the 66th GRAMMY Awards.
Marin Alsop
Marin Alsop is nominated for Best Orchestral Performance for her work with the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, and it’s little wonder why. As the first woman to win the Koussevitzky Prize for conducting, the first conductor to earn a MacArthur Fellowship, a musical director and chief conductor for several orchestras, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, Alsop has achieved quite a lot in her career thus far.
Born in New York City and raised on the Upper West Side, Alsop attended The Masters School and studied violin at Juilliard’s Pre-College Division, eventually graduating from the school with a Bachelor of Music and Master in violin. While studying, Alsop also played in the New York Philharmonic and the New York City Ballet.
Norah Jones
Awarded singer-songwriter and Manhattan-born musician Norah Jones has been nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for her release Visions. Music is practically in Jones’ blood, having been raised by her mother, the concert producer Sue Jones, and father, the Indian Bengali musician Ravi Shankar.
With nine GRAMMY wins already under her belt, over 50 million record sales recorded to date, and the title of Billboard’s top jazz artist of the 2000s decade, this nomination adds to her already impressive collection of accolades.
Pete Rock
Born in The Bronx and raised in Mount Vernon, Pete Rock is nominated for Best Rap Performance alongside Common on their track “When The Sun Shines Again” featuring Posdnuos. Having grown up in an environment of live music, Rock was influenced by his father’s part-time DJ gig and extensive record collection, often accompanying him to watch his father perform. His passion was sparked at age seven after his parents bought him a Fisher-Price record player toy.
Post Malone performs onstage during the Global Citizen Festival.(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Global Citizen)
Post Malone
Known professionally as Post Malone, Austin Richard Post is up for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “I Had Some Help” featuring Morgan Wallen and Best Country Album for F-1 Trillion. Born in Syracuse, Malone was heavily influenced by his father who had been a DJ in his youth, subsequently introducing his son to a myriad of genres including rock, country, and hip hop, all of which make appearances in his professional work.
This year’s nomination will add to his collection of other GRAMMY nominations in addition to a whopping ten Billboard Music Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards, and three American Music Awards.
Run DMC
The three-member hip hop group RUN DMC has been nominated for Best Music Film for their piece “Kings From Queens”. Fittingly titled, Run DMC hails from Hollis. Formed in 1983, the trio is recognized as one of the most influential hip hop acts in history for pioneering the new-school sound and ushering in what many consider to be the golden age of the genre.
Samara Joy
Rising jazz star SamaraJoy is nominated for Best Jazz Performance for “Twinkle Twinkle Little Me” with Sullivan Fortner and Best Jazz Vocal Album for A Joyful Holiday. A native of Castle Hill in the Bronx, Joy’s life has been entwined with music since the very beginning. Her grandparents led the Philadelphia gospel group the Savettes, and her father Antonio McLendon has produced, composed, and arranged his own astounding original works.
Beginning her jazz journey during her studies at SUNY Purchase, Samara won the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition which put her name on the map for those within the scene. Debuting in 2021 with a self-titled album, her career quickly took shape and her second release Linger Awhile garnered her first GRAMMY win with Best Jazz Vocal Album in addition to the headline-making Best New Artist.
Shemekia Copeland
Born in Harlem, Shemekia Copeland is up for two nominations in Best American Roots Performance for “Blame It On Eve” and Best Contemporary Blues Album for her release of the same name. The daughter of blues guitarist and singer Johnny Copeland, Shemekia began singing at an early age and made her first public performance at just ten years old at the Cotton Club on 125th street. Copeland has released 12 albums and received eight Blues Music Awards to date.
Tony Trischka
Born in Syracuse and raised in a household that was almost overflowing with music, Tony Trischka has been nominated for Best Bluegrass Album with his release Earl Jam. Recognized as one of the most influential banjo players of today, Trishka is credited with the inspiration of a generation’s worth of progressive bluegrass artists.
The Adirondack Wind Ensemble’s Eleanor Marcus Memorial Concert was held on Sunday, Sept. 22 at the E. Glenn Giltz Auditorium in Plattsburgh.
The Adirondack Wind Ensemble (AWE) celebrated Eleanor Marcus’s love of music through its annual Memorial Concert. Marcus graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1943 and loved music, attending almost every music event at E. Glenn Giltz Auditorium for decades until her passing. Since its founding in 2002 by Daniel Gordon, a member of the music faculty at SUNY Plattsburgh, AWE has performed an annual concert in E. Glenn Giltz Auditorium.
AWE is a professional musical ensemble of wind and percussion instruments comprised of music educators and other outstanding community musicians from around the North Country. Its performers represent every public school district in Clinton County as well as several communities beyond. AWE is dedicated to providing quality concert performances by members of this community for this community.
From 2010-20, AWE performed its program at a second venue in either Lake Placid or Saranac Lake.over the years, AWE has also performed at Battle of Plattsburgh Commemorations (2002-2004), in annual fall concerts at Plattsburgh High School (2007-2009), at First Night Saranac Lake (New Year’s Eve 2014), and as part of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival (2020). These geographic expansions have made AWE a true “Adirondack” Wind Ensemble.
Program: “Home in the Adirondacks”
Gustav Holst (1874-1934):
Second Suite in F, Op. 28b (1911) – March – Song without Words “I’ll love my love” – Song of the Blacksmith – Fantasia on the “Dargason”
Maurice Whitney (1901-1984):
Introduction and Samba (1951) – for alto saxophone and band
Todd Pray, soloist – Intermission –
Ian Deterling (b. 1990)
Images of the Adirondacks, Op. 25 (2024) – Autumn Colors – Mountain Sunset – Tempest
– AWE Commission, World Premiere –
Charles Ives (1888-1897) arr. Elkus
Old Home Days – Waltz (1874-1954) – The Opera House – Old Home Day – The Collection – Slow March – London Bridge Is Fallen Down!
Tannery Pond Center has announced two magical Christmas concerts on Dec 7 and 15 as part of their 2024 season.
Tannery Pond Center in North Creek, NY, is the premier arts venue for the lower Adirondack region. The intimate and welcoming performance space brings high-quality music, dance, and dramatic performances to the Gore Mountain region. The Center presents concerts throughout the year in a variety of styles including, but not limited to, folk, rock, classical, jazz, and bluegrass, in our state-of-the-art Lyle Dye Auditorium, where every sound and artistic nuance can be heard and appreciated. The region has a rich history as a retreat for artists and musicians from New York City and we regularly feature the music of touring artists as well as established and talented musicians and performers from the local area.
Tannery Pond Center (TPC) presents a full schedule of arts programming, including exhibits of original art, musical concerts and performances, as well as workshops and children’s programs. TPC also manages the community center for the Town of Johnsburg. Other groups presenting arts programs at the center include Our Town Theatre Group, North Country Singers, Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts and more. Put simply, TPC is a keystone of the community, and they work to provide upstate New York with fun, captivating performances, activities, community events and more.
On December 7 and 8 at 7pm and 4pm respectively, Tannery Pond Center presents ‘A Holiday Celebration’ by North Country Singers. This concert includes all of your favorite holiday season jingles performed by the best of the North Country’s voices. All ages are welcome, but make sure to reserve your seat, as these festive concerts always fill up. On Sunday, December 15 at 3 PM, The McKrells bring their signature Celtic-infused bluegrass for an afternoon of holiday cheer – featuring traditional and original songs, classic Christmas stories and good humor. The band is led by singer/songwriter Kevin McKrell and features Frank Orsini on fiddle, Scott Hopkins on banjo, Peter Pashoukas on guitar, Arlin Greene on bass, and Brian Melick on percussion.
The McKrells
For more information on Tannery Pond Center’s Christmas concerts, other upcoming events and to purchase tickets, click here.
The 2024 holiday season is upon us, and along with a spirit of giving and supporting those most in need in our local communities. Jam for Tots will once again be held at venues across New York State, bringing live music fans together for great shows while collecting toys to brighten the spirits of children statewide.
For more than 10 years, Jam for Tots has been held across New York State and the Northeast, where fans are encouraged to bring along with an unwrapped toy for a child (under 13) to drop in the donation box. These toys will be brought to local charities within the venueâs community, to ensure that these toys brighten the day of children within the local area.
Things kick off at Hibernian Hall in Albany on November 15 with One Heart Band. See below for the full lineup of 2024 Jam for Tots shows across New York State (chronological order).
Friday, Nov. 15 – One Heart Band – Hibernian Hall, Albany
Saturday, Nov. 16 – Barry Goudreau’s Engine Room – The Strand Theatre – Hudson Falls
Thursday, Dec. 5 – Open Mic Jam hosted by John Pinder – The Stewart House, Athens
The Waterhole Music Lounge live entertainment venue in Saranac Lake has announced their Fall event lineup.
Beloved for its communal and casual approach to hosting live events, Waterhole Music Lounge is the Adirondacks’ premier live entertainment venue. With three stories that are home to two bars, an expansive outdoor patio space, and a unique live entertainment energy that draws folks from nearby and beyond time and time again, there’s something for everyone at the Waterhole this fall.
This year’s newly announced fall lineup is sure to excite regulars passionate about the Lounge and newcomers all the same, with acts ranging from live comedy to tribute bands in addition to the final few installments of their Party on the Patio series and a lively New Years Eve Bash that will wrap out the year.
Opening the season on October 9 is Come Back to Earth – A Live Mac Miller Tribute, the world’s first and only Mac Miller tribute band renowned for their captivating and thoughtful performances dedicated to honoring Miller’s musical legacy.
Following on October 17 will be the finale of the Party on the Patio series with Raisinhead as they wrap a bow on the last bits of nicer outdoor weather. The next week will host the Waterhole’s iconic annual Holloween Bash dance party on October 26, headlined by six-piece New York City dance fusion unitUnderground System with special guests and co-dance experimentalists New Planets.
November will be kicked off with boundary stretching electronic yet organic headliners Jimkata alongside local ethereal funk and rock piece Strange Cereal on the first of the month, continued with bob. An interpretation of Dylan on November 8, featuring artists Al Schnier and Vinnie Amico of moe., Brian Lauri, Zach Flietz, and Charley Orlando.
The night of November 15 will mark the debut of the Waterhole Rhyme Sessions series, created for hip hop lovers by hip hop lovers. Volume one will feature DJ Ease One with seven total MCs making appearances throughout the evening.
November 16 will take a turn to the territory of fusion mountain music with Donna the Buffalo, a group that meshes the sounds of the mountains with Cajun and Zydeco styles, rock, folk, reggae, and country. Special guests Jatoba will open the night with their signature high-energy groove-grass.
Stand up comedy will return to Waterhole’s stage on November 22 with two seated events back to back. The evening will be hosted by Kay Guotos with David Louis as headliner, along with support from Matt Hanley and CJ. Catalano.
Folkface will bring their rowdy and raucous roots energy to the Lounge the following evening of the 23. Spanning country, blues, jazz, rock and roll, honkey tonk, and more, Folkface promices sounds for every fan of the music spectrum alongside local Adirondack Folk openers Nubble.
Beginning the end will be The Warped Tour Band! throwback night. On December 6. A celebration of all things Emo and Pop Punk, acts such as All The Blink Things and Dookie will span the 30+ years of Blink-182 and Green Day.
The 2024 New Years Eve Bash will round out Waterhole’s schedule in an electric night of funk music ringing in the new year. The night will feature Sophistafunk, a unit having been described as “Rage Against the Machine meets The Roots, dipped in P-Funk” and special guests Organ Fairchild, an old-school organ, dance, and jam fusion trio that have been playing music together since the early 80s.
Tickets to all of these fall events are available for purchase at the Waterhole website and in person at the venue now. For more information and online purchasing, please visit their website here.
Merging their deep backgrounds in classical violin and cello performance and composition with influences from an array of musical genres, NYC based instrumental duo ARKAI captivated a full house at The Recovery Lounge in Upper Jay, NY on Sunday, September 20.
ARKAI performed as part of their current world tour and in support of their recently released debut album, Crossroads.
ARKAI at The Recovery Lounge
ARKAI is violinist Jonathan Miron and cellist Philip Sheegog, graduates of New York’s renowned classical music institution The Julliard School. The pair met early in their music career and realized that, despite their devotion to classical music, they had a deep appreciation for a wide variety of music as diverse as pop, folk, metal, jazz and rock, giving birth to the fusion that became ARKAI.
Jonathan Miron, ARKAI
Performing a selection of genre-defying music that showcased both their instrumental virtuosity and compositional and arrangement skills, the duo performed with an energy way beyond what one would anticipate being delivered by violin and cello. Their energy was infectious. Glances around the room showed not only smiles on appreciative faces, but listeners who moved with and to the music, clearly wanting to get out of their seats and dance.
ARKAI at The Recovery Lounge
The pair performed the first half of their show on vintage classical instruments. Miron’s violin was made in Italy in 1709. Sheegog’s cello was made in 1914 in France, where it survived two World Wars. With those instruments they displayed their precise classical training, performing their unique arrangements of songs including A-ha’s “Take On Me”, The Beatles’ “Blackbird”, Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile”, as well as original compositions including “Patchwork”.
ARKAI at The Recovery Lounge
In the second half of the show the pair switched instruments, and delivered an electrifying, high-energy performance on electric violin and electric cello, backed by tracks which they composed and created using a variety of computer and MIDI based techniques to explore and create what might be called soundscapes. Driven by, or perhaps because they are clearly inseparable from the music they deliver, the pair became animated, both facially and in near dance-like movement, during portions of the electro-delivery. And, in a display of technique that might perhaps drive their former Julliard professors to pull their hair out, on one song they used debit cards to play their instruments, Sheegog scraping the strings of his cello with the edge of a card to “swipe” notes or tapping it on the electric cello’s pickup for drum-sounds and Miron tapping the sides and edges of his electric violin to add percussion.
ARKAI at The Recovery Lounge
This “electric” portion of their performance included their compositions “Ascent”, which they said was inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s film “2001: A Space Odyssey”, and “Tokyo Sidecar”; their arrangement of Cold Play’s “Clocks”, and a composition they created based upon the melody of Joji’s “Glimpse of Us” which went viral on TikTok. They also played their composition “Letters”, which came together while the pair was separated during the Covid lockdown period, when Miron and Sheegog would each record themselves on iPhone Voice Memos playing musical “ideas” or contributions and send the recordings back and forth to each other as “audio letters” created in a time of loneliness, sorrow and the hope to be together again. Those bits and pieces ultimately became “Letters” as a musical offering of hope to those in need of being brought together.
ARKAI at The Recovery Lounge
ARKAI’s music, whether their originals or unique arrangements of others, is a signature sound resulting from skilled and exploratory improvisation, a collaborative creative process and pure instrumental virtuosity. In performance they bring these talents full on, playing true to the score in the tightly composed sections, and following their creative spirit in-the-moment in improv sections, inspiring and feeding off each other and deeply enjoying every moment of their performance.
Philip Sheegog, ARKAI
Their fusion, both as musician/composers and in the diversity of the music they explore, was born in part out of a realization that, in their words, they were the “weird guys” in traditional classical music; and out of a strong desire “to stay true to your heart” and to “do something not done before”. And that was the genesis of ARKAI.
Jonathan Miron, ARKAI
Upcoming performances include October 10 at Town Hall, NYC, November 3 at The Strand Center for the Arts in Plattsburgh, NY, and November 14-16, PRISMA, NYC. Their tour will also take them to other major US cities and Toronto as well as overseas to Berlin, Basel, and Rabat. Their newly released CD Crossroads is a collection of seven ARKAI compositions ranging from traditional sounding classical pieces to electro-soundscape-emo music that explore a “journey of discovering one’s voice, overcoming adversity, and embracing new dreams”. ARKAI’s music puts you in touch with your emotions, and if you allow yourself the freedom you “see a video” as you listen.
Philip Sheegog, ARKAI
This review and the photographs presented with it are truly an unintended consequence of attending this performance as a last-minute spontaneous decision, becoming captivated at the outset, capturing images of ARKAI’s performance on an iPhone.
ARKAI at The Recovery Lounge
ARKAI’s performance was presented by Upper Jay Art Center at its “Recovery Lounge” space, where it hosts year-round music, art, and theatre ranging from touring artists and groups to its own productions in an intimate and out-of-the ordinary performance space.
ARKAI at The Recovery LoungeJonathan Miron, ARKAIARKAI at The Recovery LoungePhilip Sheegog, ARKAIPhilip Sheegog, ARKAIARKAI at The Recovery LoungeJonathan Miron, ARKAIARKAI at The Recovery Lounge
Get ready, Jimkata fans! The Psychedelic super pop jam band is back with a fresh new single, “Off The Rails” that’s set to be the soundtrack of your fall.
Known for their electrifying blend of indie rock and synth-driven beats, Jimkata has been a staple of the indie music scene, and their latest track doesn’t disappoint. The single offers a glimpse into their upcoming album, Running In Place which is released Friday, October 4th and is packed with the band’s signature energy and fresh new vibes.
To celebrate the release, Jimkata is hosting an Album Release Party Friday at Asbury Hall aka Babeville in Buffalo, and you won’t want to miss it! This is your chance to catch them live, hear your favorites plus hits off the new album, and experience the magic that only Jimkata can deliver. Big Something is opening the show.
NYS Music spoke to Jimkata ahead of the show and album release.
NYSMusic: What kind of themes or stories are fans going to hear on this new album? Did anything unexpected inspire you guys this time around?
Jimkata: I think as musicians and individuals we’ve all been navigating our way through a lot of changes and challenges the last few years. We started working on this album as a three piece, sort of doing what we could here and there while touring and Packy and Aaron becoming new fathers, while also trying to fund the process entirely independently. It hasn’t always been easy the last few years but it feels like a “pressure makes diamonds” type of situation. In that time, we added Cooper into the band full time on bass/synths and have been discovering a new sound or really, just advancing it to a new level. It’s hard to sum it up musically or lyrically since I think it’s pretty diverse between songs but I know for sure I pushed myself into some new territory at times while writing and recording this one. There were plenty of unexpected “aha” moments.
NYSMusic: If you could describe the new album in three words, what would they be? What kind of wild ride can Jimkata fans expect?
Jimkata: Full Spectrum Jimkata. We chose to incorporate both studio and live tracks to try to encompass where we’re at right now. It felt natural to end the album with the live stuff since this process began with a lot of isolated sessions, often just one or two of us working on a demo at home or with a producer. Then after playing a bunch of shows on the fall tour, building some chemistry on stage between the four of us, we knew we needed to get all of us in a room to work on the remaining new songs as a band and capture the vibe. I think the emotion of our songs gets amplified at shows because of the energy in the room and we wanted to show what that currently sounds like literally but also channel that into the studio stuff too.
NYSMusic: How do you decide which older songs to include in the setlist alongside the new tracks? Are there any fan favorites you always keep in rotation?
Jimkata: Sometimes it’s by fan request. Someone messages us about wanting to hear a certain song one night and we say, yea lets do it. Sometimes it’s something one of us brings up in a rehearsal. Like, “Hey what about this song?”. Sometimes we feel like we need a certain tempo or vibe at a specific time in a set and there are a few that always seem to do the trick. Its kinda tough because we have so many to choose from now but we’ve been embracing the whole catalog a lot more these days. We definitely know which songs seem to be clicking with the crowd but are always testing out new ideas or further enhancing an old song.
NYSMusic: Any songs on the new album that ended up surprising you or going in a completely different direction than you thought?
Jimkata: Almost all of them but probably the song Running in Place was the big surprise. It came together after a frustrating day in the studio where we seemed to be losing creative steam on a different song. We thought about what kind of song we needed vibe wise to round out the album and it just wasn’t it. Jocko (producer) asked if I had any other demos laying around and I rifled through a bunch of song ideas for them and the immediate reaction to Running in Place (aka ‘Spirals’) from everybody was, “Yea this one!”. We were getting really close, if not already past the deadline we gave ourselves so I went home and finished writing the song over the weekend and sent it around to everybody. We went back in and tracked it in a day and overnight we had this brand new tune that didn’t exist a week ago. Lyrically we felt like this idea of Running in Place resonated with how we felt about life lately- working your ass off trying to keep up with everything and in some ways feeling like you’re moving forward but other times like you’re just running on a treadmill.
The middle section on “Off the Rails” was also an unexpected moment of inspiration. We stumbled into the breakdown section while playing it live in the studio. Then weeks later, I’m driving there to record vocals, listening to the song, and I come up with this vocal idea. It’s almost insane sounding and we wanted to lean into that unhinged character. I really enjoyed yelling like a crazy person in the vocal booth, something I’m not sure I’ve done before but clearly was exactly what I needed to do and is probably a more accurate portrayal of how stressful life has been at times in the last few years for me. “
NYSMusic: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to upcoming and inspiring indie artists trying to find their voice and grow their audience in today’s music scene?
Jimkata: We don’t really know what to tell anyone since it seems like today’s landscape is very different from the one we started with and even the “professionals” are always trying to figure out what the hell is going on. However, we’ve seen a lot of things come and go in a short amount of time and things change, but some things remain true. Obviously social media is important, but I’d say don’t forget to just get out there and play a show, a party, whatever. Get together with friends and jam, go to shows and meet other musicians, other bands. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, suck, mess up in front of people, write songs you might not like later. Just laugh and learn from it. With a world of talented people on a screen in our pockets it can be intimidating and feel like maybe you’ll never be “good enough” to put yourself out there. But music is art, expression. It’s not always about technical ability although that’s important too. It’s about expression and having fun and sharing an experience with others not just on a screen, but in person.”
The Edwards Opera House might be the best-sounding venue you’ve never heard of. Located in the small town of Edwards, New York in St. Lawrence County, the opera house is a veritable hidden gem of the North County.
“We’ve had musicians who have traveled around the world who sit on the stage and say it’s the best place they’ve ever played acoustically,” says Kathleen Huber, chair of the Edwards Art Council, a non-profit which oversees the theater’s operations and upkeep. She compares the theater’s shape to that of an upside-down ship, which she credits for adding phenomenal acoustics and natural reverb.
Kathleen grew up in Edwards, but had no idea the opera house even existed; and for good reason: The theater itself is located on the second floor of the town hall of all places.
Edwards Town Hall exterior. The Opera House is located on the 2nd floor – Photo via edwardsoperahouse.com
The town hall itself dates back to the late 1800s, where architects in nearby Ogdensburg, were tasked with rebuilding the institution after it had burned down in a fire. Over the years, the town hall has been home to a barbershop, a jail, a post-office and a roller-rink. The theater on the second floor originally hosted traveling troupes and medicine shows as well as local musicians and actors. It also served as a popular movie theater until the late 1950s.
“My parents would go in the 50’s and they would tell me that the place would be full,” Huber recounted.
The long history of this building is still very much evident. The original stage curtains are still intact, which include a vibrant hand-painted mural depicting a pastoral scene. It was painted by a traveling troupe that was quarantined in Edwards during the Great Influenza epidemic. On the back of the current, past and current performers have signed their names, with the oldest signature dating back to the early 1900’s.
The original hand-painted curtain / Photo via Edwards Opera House Facebook page
Edwards was a popular mining town for lead and zinc, but when resources ran out in the late 70’s, the mining companies packed up and Edwards began to resemble more of a ghost town. While the town hall remained operational, the theater closed its doors for nearly half a century.
In the early 200’s the Edwards Art Council, a non-profit organization was formed to oversee the restoration and upkeep of the historic theater. Nearby towns in the North County like Clayton and Heuvelton also restored similar theater spaces around the same time, in a trend to restore historic venues and hopefully revitalize the downtown areas.
The Edwards Opera House seats nearly 275 people and hosts a small smattering of around 8-10 shows a year. The venue is mostly seasonal, operating primarily in the spring, summer and fall seasons. The Opera House recently wrapped up its summer series, which included a comedy night, a variety show, a family band and a group of fiddlers.
The Edwards Opera House – Photo courtesy of Edwards Art Council
But while the Edwards Opera House used to draw full houses for its movie showings, a dwindling population – around 500 people – now makes it difficult to fill the 275 seats in the theater. Most neighboring towns are a 30 minute drive away as well.
Huber returned to her hometown and took the role of chair of the arts council during Covid. During this time, she started live streaming concerts to reach new audiences. You can also watch snippets of passt performances on the Edwards Opera House Youtube channel.
The Arts Council is operated entirely by volunteers who dedicate their free time organizing, promoting and hosting events at the opera house. Huber says they are always looking for new members. She said the most rewarding part is being able to provide music and arts to the community.
While the Opera House typically closes in the winter, this year the theater will be hosting a holiday show on Dec. 1st.
