On April 17, the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College will present “as if our hands could hold the weight of promise” in conjunction with the Elevator Music 48: Alone, only in flesh exhibition.
Artists MIZU, Theresa-Xuan Bui, Antonius-Tín Bui, and dancer Glenna Yu will turn the Tang elevator and atrium staircase into a living canvas of sound, movement, and spoken word poetry. They take the audience on an excursion, joining the diasporic artists on a migration embodying the hesitations, expectations, and contemplations of returning home.
Elevator Music 48: Alone, only in flesh is a collaborative meditation on the intersections of identity, belonging, and the spaces in-between. The artists invite viewers to commune with the unknown through Asian snacks, traditional Vietnamese áo dài clothing, and experimental cello. In this experience, they engage all five senses.
Additionally, Ivy K. Vương, Curatorial Assistant, is working with the artists to organize the performance. At 4:30pm, Skidmore College’s K-Pop II students will perform under Visiting Artist-in-Residence Chia-Ying Kao before the main event.
The Tang Teaching Museum at Skidmore College explores interdisciplinary learning, blending arts within history, economics, and biology. Designed by architect Antoine Predock, this award-winning building symbolizes the fusion of art and ideas. Open Tuesday-Sunday, noon-5pm, with extended Thursday hours until 9pm.
Save April 17 in your calendars to celebrate art, culture, and community at the Tang Teaching Museum. The performance is free for anyone to see and begins at 5pm. For show and artist details, click here.
Talk about saving the best for last, On April 9, that was the case for Dreamville’s Bas as he stopped at the famed Irving Plaza in New York City for the last stop on his ‘WE ONLY TALK ABOUT REAL SHIT WHEN WE’RE F*CKED UP’ North American Tour.
The show featured three openers: Blxckie, Reuben Vincent, and Hoosh. Each opener each played for around 20 minutes, giving a taste of their style and sound. This shorter set times and the overall quality of the openers worked really well for getting the crowd ready for Bas to take the stage. It was obvious that Bas picked musicians he respects and enjoys listening to to open for him, something emphasized by a story he told about first hearing Blxckie’s music while in South Africa during his set.
Bas graced the stage under a red glowed ambience and sintilating sounds of his live band. Bas was particularly good at interacting with and engaging the crowd. The show kept a great energy with the crowd getting into songs from We Only Talk About Real Shit When We’re Fucked Up and Bas’ back catalog. Bas brought backing vocalists who really filled out his live sound and added a sense of harmony to the performance. These vocals were such a nice touch that really show his attention to detail in putting together a performance.
The show ended with Bas inviting a fan up to rap J. Cole’s verse on his song “Lit.” Clearly energized, the fan selected from the crowd excitedly performed with Bas. Longtime collaborator and Dreamville leader J.Cole popped onto the stage to the surprise of the fan and the crowd. Cole went on to finish the song with the fan and perform “H.Y.B.” with Bas and his classic smash hit ‘No Role Modelz’ rounding out a great night of music and vibes.
Setlist: Light of my Soul, Home Alone, 179 Deli, Black Jedi, Choppas, Yao Ming, Diamonds, Methylone, Dopamine, Ricochet, Clouds Never Get Old, Night Job, Khartoum, Risk, Decent, U-Turn ft. Blackie, Passport Bros, Boca Raton, The Jackie, Paper Cuts, Dr. O’blivion, Wait on Me, H.Y.B., Costa Rica, Down Bad, Tribe and Lit.
Many know of Suzanne Vega for her infamous tunes such as “Luka” or “Tom’s Diner,” but they may not know that she’s been a New York native since she was two-and-a-half years old and that her brand new world tour just launched here in Albany.
The tour, titled “Old Songs, New Songs, and Other Songs,” is in celebration of a new album she teased throughout her live performance. No word on a title or release date as of yet, but she did perform new songs and announced on-stage that it should be out late this year, if not early next year.
The stage of The Egg itself was dressed simply, with no fluff. A stool, two guitars (one with quite the pedalboard), and some mics. Suzanne Vega walked out and was accompanied by Guitarist Gerry Leonard.
Wearing a black pantsuit and a welcoming smile, Suzanne Vega walked to the microphone and graciously accepted the applause the Albany crowd enthusiastically gave. Taking a small bow and putting on a black top hat, she started in by leaning into the ‘old’ with tunes like “Gypsy” and “Small Blue Thing” and weaving back and forth in time throughout her catalog, reminding us of her soft, soulful, yet powerful voice and one-of-a-kind musical storytelling.
In between songs, she takes moments to talk to the audience and the intimate setting of The Egg is perfect for it. She tells the stories behind some of her songs and gives more insight to who she wrote them for and why. imparting a personal touch into the show and sheds light on things in her life, especially a specific camp counselor with whom she worked alongside at another nearby camp many years ago. Before letting any story get stale, however, Suzanne gets to the music and delivers.
Gerry Leonard’s smooth and airy, guitar blended with Suzanne’s acoustic guitar and vocal accompaniment seamlessly as he turned his solo instrument into a soundscape by employing looping pedals to sustain melodies and rhythms. This was best exemplified by the final song of the set “Tom’s Diner” where a makeshift drum beat was created and looped while guitar plucks melodically assisted.
In addition to his glowing performance on Tuesday, Leonard also co-wrote Vega’s 2014 album Tales from the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles and has worked with other talented musicians such as David Bowie, Roger Waters, and Duncan Sheik.
Suzanne Vegas world tour will continue on to the Kupferberg Center for the Arts in Flushing, NY on September 27 and at Old Dutch Church in Kingston, NY on October 4.
On a rainy April evening, April 2, 2024 to be exact, mgk and Trippie Redd brought their brand new EP genre : sadboy to the Irving Plaza stage for its first ever live performance.
A week prior, the pair got fans excited by releasing a video for their song “lost boys,” as well as a short documentary about their time creating the album. Tickets to the show were free and given to fans through a raffle and needless to say that mgk and Trippie fans showed out on Tuesday night, packing the house.
Trippie Redd (left) and mgk (right) at Irving Plaza. Photo by Lucas Kurzweil.
The two opened up the show performing the first five songs off of their new tracklist. The album gives catchy choruses while maintaining a sad tone. Through their words the two artists explore their personal experiences with drugs, relationships and depression. Although the EP is brand new, mgk and Trippie’s longtime fans already knew all of the words.
Trippie Redd (back left) and mgk (right) at Irving Plaza. Photo by Lucas Kurzweil.
After the first five tracks, the Ohio native artists started taking turns performing some of their solo music. Trippie Redd started things off with his 3x platinum track “Taking a Walk,” and mgk followed with “PRESSURE.” They then went back and forth one more time with Trippie performing “Wish,” and mgk performing “dont let me go.” Although short, the throwback portion of the show provided a nice reminder to what these two established artists have accomplished in the past.
Following their four track throwback session, mgk and Trippie Redd continued with the next four tracks of their EP which all helped showcase both artists use of soft tones and dreamy, but also dark, fairytale-like sounds. mgk and Trippie then brought back some more of their old music, with mgk performing “my ex’s best friend,” “all I know,” and “Candy,” all with the crowd at full energy, screaming every word back to mgk. Trippie sang a beautiful rendition of “Fuck Love” his 2017 that he created alongside XXXTENTACION.
With only one track from the EP unsung, the artists started to go back and perform some songs for the second time. They repeated “lost boys” and “beauty” before mgk invited a fan, who had a message on his phone saying he could rap “el Diablo” faster than him, onto the stage. mgk and the fan went bar for bar together rapping the song, and then had a warm embrace at the end before the fan left the stage. Then mgk and Trippie performed “time travel” and “struggles” off of their new EP, for a second time.
Trippie Redd (left) and mgk (right) at Irving Plaza. Photo by Lucas Kurzweil.
To close out the show, mgk performed “Wild Boy” with some acapella verses, as well as “I Think I’m OKAY.” Finally, mgk and Trippie performed the only song off of “genre : sadboy” that had yet to be played, “summer’s gone.” At the end of the song the two artists dropped down off of the stage to greet the fans at the front barricade, before finally departing.
Trippie Redd (left) and mgk (right) at Irving Plaza. Photo by Lucas Kurzweil.
Setlist: lost boys, beauty, time travel, struggles, suddenly, Taking a Walk, PRESSURE, Wish, dont let me go, half dead, hiding in the hills, no more, who do i call, my ex’s best friend, Fuck Love, all I know, Candy, lost boys, beauty, el Diablo, time travel, struggles, Wild Boy, I Think I’m OKAY, summer’s gone
Rock group The FMs have announced the upcoming “Frankie Fest” music festival honoring the late Frankie Rex in Coney Island this May 11. The festival sees a stellar lineup of NYC queer bands and performers and marks the festival’s inaugural opening.
The event will also serve as the record release party for PINK + BLACK and features the first performance from The FMs in over four years – and the first-ever without Frankie. Frankie Fest highlights a range of cutting-edge, NYC-based queer performers showcasing indie rock, goth, riot grrrl, punk, metal, and more. Featured acts include Pink Velvet Witch, Jordan Fiction, Villains, Llynks, The FMs, Frida Kill, Miss Cherry Delight and more.
Their sophomore double album was completed the moment the pandemic started. It is now making its release after the tragic death of singer Frankie Rex in 2022. The material highlights the group’s love of analog synthesizers combined, ethereal guitars and takes a more emotionally dynamic turn. This contrasts their debut album spanning themes from sexual irreverence, the nature of dreams and human connection, to hope for the future of gender freedom.
The show begins May 11 in Coney Island. Doors for the show open at 4pm and music lasts until 10pm. The FMs will release PINK + BLACK on May 10.
To learn more about Frankie Fest and to purchase tickets, click here – to learn more about The FMs and to stay up to date on the group’s upcoming release, click here.
Long Island-based grunge band The Suicide Disease announced the release of their latest single, “Descent,” released on April 12.
The track is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of light to hold on to. The Suicide Disease continue to be a beacon of hope for those navigating through their own personal battles. The theme is accompanied by gritty instrumentation and haunting melodies showcasing their signature sound.
The Suicide Disease saw success in their previously released tracks “Flood” and “War.” The band hopes to see even greater success with the release of “Descent.” With its raw energy and emotive lyrics, the anthem of resilience and perseverance speaks to life’s struggles and the importance of pushing forward in the face of adversity. This major theme is common in the band’s writing and performance.
The group showcases their pop-grunge sound, which is carried by their emotional vocals, punching drumbeats, and rugged, chuggy riffs. Hailing from Mastic, Long Island, The Suicide Disease utilizes their locale of depressive-beach as an outlet for creativity and sees nodes of bands like The Cure, Chevelle, and Fallout Boy. They simultaneously inhabit the spirit of bands like My Chemical Romance and Three Days Grace with the loud, in-your-face emo sound. “Descent” stays true with these sounds and inspirations and holds something inspiring yet dark in their writing.
“Descent is the dark path we take when we are constantly thinking about the macabre. Wanting someone back from the dead and not moving forward with your life because of it. It’s as bad as trying to dig up a body, you’re just digging up the past. And the message here is that death is final – so loved ones would tell you to live on.”
Jay Francis – Lead Vocals
Stream “Descent” by The Suicide Disease on all platforms here. Be sure to stay up to date on the band by checking out their socials. Click here to listen to their other music via Spotify.
Pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo brought the house down April 9 at Madison Square Garden, marking the last of four sold-out shows at the famed arena for her ongoing world tour. Fans decked out in purple, sequins, and feather-trimmed cowboy hats filled the venue, eager to sing along to Rodrigo’s 2023 angsty pop-rock album GUTS.
Olivia Rodrigo — Photo by Molly Higgins
After an opening set from 90s alternative rock favorites The Breeders, Rodrigo’s crowd of young, spirited supporters screamed with excitement as four 3D candles—spelling out GUTS, of course—were projected on stage. When the wax melted, Rodrigo would make her much-anticipated appearance.
Electric guitars crashed as a platform lifted Rodrigo to center stage, kicking off the show with her upbeat single “bad idea right?” Decked out in a sparkling silver outfit for the start of the show, Rodrigo worked the full stage from the moment she appeared, sprinting from one catwalk to another, dancing with her musicians, and interacting with fans in the crowd.
Rodrigo’s setlist featured nearly every song from GUTS and her debut album, SOUR, plus a few surprises, including an unexpected duet with special guest Jewel. Backed by eight skilled backup dancers and eye-catching effects—a significant upgrade in production value from her 2022 Sour Tour—Rodrigo put on a dazzling show, radiating confidence throughout.
Whether seated at a grand piano, shredding on the electric guitar, or floating on a giant crescent moon above the crowd, Rodrigo brought an electrifying energy to the MSG stage. Her seamless transitions between heart-wrenching ballads and early 2000s-style pop rock anthems kept the audience on the edge of their seats. As star-shaped confetti rained from the arena ceiling throughout the final notes of “get him back!,” Rodrigo danced her way backstage, triumphantly closing a show that certainly solidified her superstar status.
Olivia Rodrigo – Madison Square Garden – April 9, 2024
Setlist: bad idea right?; ballad of a homeschooled girl; vampire; traitor; drivers license; teenage dream; pretty isn’t pretty; love is embarrassing; making the bed; logical; enough for you; lacy; jealousy, jealousy; Can’t Catch Me Now; You Were Meant For Me (with Jewel); happier; favorite crime; deja vu; the grudge; brutal; obsessed; all-American bitch; good 4 u; get him back!
Brooklyn Film Festival (BFF), one of New York’s longest running international competitive film festivals, has announced its 27th edition, “Immersion,” which will premiere 150 films from May 31 to June 9 at the Windmill Studios in Greenpoint with additional screenings being held on June 3 to June 6 at the Wythe Hotel Cinema in Williamsburg.
Since 1998, the Brooklyn Film Festival’s organizers have been putting on competitive, international film festivals. The mission of BFF is promote artistic excellence and the unrestricted creative freedom of artists, encourage the rights of Brooklyn residents to witness the power of independent filmmaking, and offer a public forum in Brooklyn to advance public interest in films and indie production. BFF, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
BFF divides films into six categories: Feature Narrative, Documentary Feature, Short Narrative, Short Documentary, Experimental, and Animation. The festivals’ selection criteria is a 27-year-old set of rules that constitute the true festival’s trademark: participating films cannot be older than two years; films are selected from submissions only; all films in the festival participate in the award competition; even the smallest film can win the top festival award: the Grand Chameleon.
When talking about the festival, Marco Ursino the festival director shared that, “Immersion is this year’s theme that reveals the festival’s intention and the desire of the selected filmmakers to tell stories in a vertical fashion. Stories that will dive way beyond the surface to force the audience to consider not only the obvious outcomes and meanings, but also the hidden and secret ones,” Ursine added “In the extremely complex historical and political moment that we are experiencing, we need to understand the truth of things. BFF believes in the truthful spirit of indie filmmakers, and this year we offer the opportunity of a collective immersion, triggered by the film programs, the Q&As at the end of the screenings, the various networking parties, and the infinite chats on social media. We look forward to share with the filmmakers, the media, and the audience our true hopes and inner dreams. Enjoy the immersion.”
BFF, a Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival, received 3,351 films, a festival record, from 103 Countries for its 27th edition, and will program the selected films into 42, two-hour program blocks. The 2024 film lineup will include 150 total film screenings, of which almost all are premieres. All details will soon be announced to fans on the festival’s website.
BFF’s “Immersion” will premiere 150 films from May 31-June 9, 2024 in-person at Windmill Studios in Greenpoint with additional screenings being held on June 3-June 6, at the Wythe Hotel Cinema in Williamsburg. For more information about the festival, fans can visit here, and for more information about KidsFilmFest, visit here.
Legendary rockers Deep Purple have announced the “1 More Time” tour alongside fellow rock legends, YES this summer. The tour sees stops at SPAC, Jones Beach Amphitheater, and Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.
Deep Purple Live in 1971
The tour kicks off on August 14 in Hollywood, Florida and wraps up September 8 in Scranton, PA. The tour makes its way to New York State for three shows September 1, 4, and 6. Deep Purple and YES plan to rock cities all across the US with their highly influential and explosive discographies. The groups have lineups of unforgettable hits that are sure to get the audience rocking.
Legendary Ian Gillan fronts the band with vocals that have defined generations. He is accompanied by the masterful bassist Roger Glover, the powerhouse drummer Ian Paice, the maestro on keyboards Don Airey, and the sensational guitarist Simon McBride. Deep Purple guarantees a musical journey like no other.
Yes
Deep Purple, Yes 2024 Tour
Aug 14 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live Aug 15 – Tampa, FL – Seminole Hard Rock Event Center Aug 17 – The Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Aug 19 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena Aug 21 – Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center Aug 22 – Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill Aug 23 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre Aug 25 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage Aug 27 – Montreal, QC – Bell Center Aug 28 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion Aug 30 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion Aug 31 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center Sep 01 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater Sep 03 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater Sep 04 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC Sep 06 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center For the Arts Sep 07 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live Sep 08 – Scranton, PA – The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
To learn more about Deep Purple and Yes’ upcoming tour, and to purchase tickets, click here.
Caroga Arts Collective announced the lineup for the Caroga Lake Music Festival (CLMF)’s 2024 summer season – bringing in more than 150 artists from around the world to Caroga for 40 events spanning genres from funk, rock, pop to jazz, americana, classical, and even comedy.
Notable artists include Cory Wong, Sawyer Fredericks, Eddie Barbash, Alex Moffat, Henhouse Prowlers, and rising superstar Eddie Benjamin. In addition, over 100 Resident Artists from 24 states and five countries will reside across six weeks and perform major orchestral pieces like Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and Copland’s Appalachian Spring, as well as prominent solo and chamber works.
Presented by Caroga Arts Collective, the Caroga Lake Music Festival is a multi-genre music festival presenting a series of world-class performances in the Southern Adirondacks. Since the festival’s founding in 2012, CMLF has grown from a one-week chamber music festival to an internationally recognized festival showcasing a multitude of genres from May to September. The mainstay is a five-week summer residency featuring renowned soloists, chamber musicians, and orchestral professionals in collaboration with international touring guest artists.
Located on the shore of West Caroga Lake, Sherman’s Park is the home base for the Caroga Lake Music Festival. Known as a venue for iconic big bands in the 1920s and 1930s, Sherman’s provides the perfect up-close setting for an engaging and memorable concert-going experience. Caroga Lake Music Festival regularly attracts thousands of audience members from locally and afar to its concerts, helping spur tourism and economic growth for the town. Caroga Arts is proud to welcome concertgoers of all ages to ride the George and Ruth Abdella Carousel before every 2024 CLMF concert at Sherman’s Park.
Each summer, it’s a joy to bring artists, audiences and communities together for concerts, events and memories along the lake. It’s hard to believe we started this 13 seasons ago when we were only teenagers and now those same artists are going on to win the Grammys, playing in Carnegie Hall and touring across the world. CLMF resides at the core of Caroga Arts mission to reimagine the Adirondack Experience through the power of the arts. By showcasing a diverse group of artists ranging across genres, generations, and geographies, we are confident this year’s lineup features something for everyone.
Kyle Barrett Price, Founder, Executive and Artistic Director of the Caroga Arts Collective.
Performing at the 2024 CLMF for the first time this year are ‘80s rock band Generation Radio(featuring former members of Chicago, Rascal Flatts, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Americana/country group The Mallett Brothers Band, and jazz vocalist Shayna Steele. Other highlights will include: “Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue at 100,” performed by Caroga Arts Ensemble and conducted by Grammy winner David Alan Miller, with Kevin Cole on piano; The return of the free Kids Carousel Concert series including a performance of Louie the Loon, back by popular demand; The Queen’s Cartoonists and collaborations with Running Wild Media and Utica Dance; and Multi-instrumentalist and musical prodigy Eddie Benjamin, who toured with superstar Justin Bieber, collaborates with Caroga Arts Ensemble.
In the Fall of 2023, Caroga Arts launched the String Project & Arts Collaborative Education (SPACE) program in Wheelerville and Johnstown schools. This groundbreaking initiative aims to deliver accessible music lessons and mentorship opportunities to students in schools where the offerings are not otherwise provided in their music programs. This summer marks another milestone for Caroga Arts as they introduce the SPACE Summer Camp, previously recognized as the CLMF Lessons & Ensemble Program. The camp is designed to continue the momentum of providing individual and small group lessons throughout the summer, offering students the opportunity to learn from the esteemed Resident Artists.
We are thrilled to provide returning and new engaging workshops for all ages and levels through the SPACE Summer Camp. Each summer, our education programs have proven to be a rewarding experience for all involved — the Resident Artist instructors, our community of music students, and all attendees of our annual showcase. As we expand arts education offerings to support our youngest students to our senior amateur musicians, the summer program remains a beloved tradition that allows us to build on our year-round resources and provide opportunities for musicians of all ages to hone their musical talents.
Stephanie Price-Wong, Caroga Arts’ Director of Education and Community Engagement.
We are thrilled to provide returning and new engaging workshops for all ages and levels through the SPACE Summer Camp. Each summer, our education programs have proven to be a rewarding experience for all involved — the Resident Artist instructors, our community of music students, and all attendees of our annual showcase. As we expand arts education offerings to support our youngest students to our senior amateur musicians, the summer program remains a beloved tradition that allows us to build on our year-round resources and provide opportunities for musicians of all ages to hone their musical talents.
Discounted Season Passes are now available for purchase and tickets for individual performances will go on sale April 26, 2024. All Caroga Arts presented events are free for children and students aged 17 and below, excluding fundraising events. To learn more about Caroga Arts and reserve tickets, please visit here.
2024 CLMF Schedule
Sat, May 25 @ 11 a.m. – Kids Carousel Concert: Reptiles & Friends Via Aquarium
Sat, May 25 @ 7 p.m. – The Man in Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash
Fri. Jul 5 @ 7:30 p.m. – CLMF Resident Artists: Symphonic Sparks! A Fourth of July Concert & Fireworks
Sat. July 6 @ 5 p.m. – Red, White, Blues & Bluegrass: The Mallett Brothers Band; Quinn Sullivan; Geoff Saunders & The Nashville Bluegrass Buddies
Wed. July 17 @ 7 p.m. – CLMF Resident Artists: Carousel Music Box: An immersive experience with Caroga Arts & Utica Dance
Fri. Jul 19 @ 7 p.m. – CLMF on Tour: Caroga Chapel: Caroga Arts Ensemble performs the Holberg Suite
Sat. Jul 20 @ 5 p.m. – Caroga Arts Gala: A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Cara Samantha & The Highline Band
Sun. Jul 21 @ 3 p.m. – CLMF on Tour: Sacandaga Valley Arts Network
Wed. Jul 24 @ 7 p.m. – The Queen’s Cartoonists: Music from cartoons and animation, Live and synchronized to the big screen!
