Bands N’ Beans is making its anticipated return to Lake George for its 30th anniversary this April. The festival will showcase a slew of bands from across New York State, as well as over 20 restaurants’ homemade chili.
The annual festival is brought to the forefront by Lake George Arts Project. Bands N’ Beans is held on April 14 at Fort William Henry Conference Center. The festival sees a lineup of nine total bands playing throughout the duration of the event from 2-7 pm. These artists play on two separate stages, one electric and one acoustic. Along with the diverse and fun musical element comes the “beans” element.
Over 20 local restaurants are throwing down their best chili concoctions and vying for the sought-after People’s Choice Award. This event isn’t just a ton of fun, the proceeds from Bands ‘n Beans benefit the Lake George Arts Project’s free and open to all music and art programs like the year-round Courthouse Gallery exhibitions, Summer Concert Series and the popular Jazz at the Lake, a three-day Jazz Festival.
Tickets for Bands N’ Beans can be purchased by April 12 for $25 or bought day of for $30. For more information on the festival and to purchase tickets, click here.
American rock band Stray Cats have announced the details for their summer 2024 tour which will include a stop at the Artpark Outdoor Amphitheater in Lewiston on August 13 and one at The Rooftop at Pier 17 in New York City on August 15.
After first appearing in the New York area in the middle of 1979 performing under a number of names including the Tomcats, the Teds, and Bryan and the Tom Cats, Stray Cats will return on the road for a three-week tour starting July 27. The Stray Cats, which includes Brian Setzer on guitar, and vocals, Lee Rocker on upright bass, and vocals and Slim Jim Phantom on drums, and vocals, will rock their way across America this summer and will be joined by The Midnight Cowgirls as the supporting act
The Midnight Cowgirls is an exciting band that’s on track to transform music with their electrifying blend of country, new wave, post-punk, and rockabilly. The band is led by charismatic vocalist and rhythm guitarist Kandle Osborne, backed by powerhouse rhythm section Jennie Vee and Leah Bluestein from Eagles of Death Metal, and lead guitarist Rex Elle and is also known for performances with Stray Cats’ drummer Slim Jim Phantom.
The tour will mark the Stray Cats’ first performances since the release of their critically acclaimed 2019 album 40 and subsequent reunion tour, which they followed with a live album Rocked This Town: From LA To London in 2020. This tour, fans can expect to hear the band’s signature unparalleled virtuosity and red-hot rock & roll spirit through their classic tunes alongside their most recent material. Their setlists will include massive hits such as “Stray Cat Strut,” “Rock This Town,” “Runaway Boys,” “(She’s) Sexy + 17,” “I Won’t Stand in Your Way” and more.
Tickets for the Stray Cats summer 2024 tour are currently on sale. Fans can find the tickets and sign up for the band newsletter at Straycats.com.
Seminal alt-rockers Violent Femmes have announced a Spring tour – performing their ground-breaking, debut, self-titled album, and their sophomore release, Hallowed Ground, from cover to cover during a limited run of shows – coming to Beak and Skiff on Aug. 17.
During these unprecedented performances, the Violent Femmes will start the show by playing their second album, Hallowed Ground, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2024, in its entirety. Following a brief intermission, the band will retake the stage and play their debut record, Violent Femmes, from cover to cover and a few fans- and band-favorites to finish the show.
Serving as a sonic time capsule for the soul, these special shows will capture a pivotal moment in music as Femmes’ lead vocalist and guitarist Gordon Gano wrote the songs for both albums while in high school. The tracks for Hallowed Ground were made long before the release of Violent Femmes however the band wanted to focus on upbeat songs for the debut album and “confuse people” with the more experimental songs on Hallowed Ground.
The result was two unique releases that showcased very different sides of the Violent Femmes. Their eponymous record amplified teenage angst and alienation in the 1980s with such songs as “Kiss Off,” “Add It Up,” and “Gone Daddy Gone.” The mostly autobiographical album would later embody some of the most relatable and enduring anthems of youth – now having sold three million copies worldwide and is still in rotation on today’s top rock stations. Today, it stands as a pillar of an American underground movement and one of the best early examples of alternative rock.
Photo by Mike Benson.
Hallowed Ground incorporated elements of country, gospel, and blues and was a surprise to many critics and fans who were expecting another collection of teen-rage punk songs. They received an eclectic piece of art that fused different genres, sounds, and imagery. Songs like the bold and bluesy “Sweet Misery Blues” and the banjo-fueled “Country Death Song” proved that the Femmes are true to themselves, and stands as a tribute to their resilience, bravery, and unwavering indifference to the scrutiny of the industry. 40 years later, Hallowed Ground continues to mystify and excite listeners.
For the remainder of the ’90s, Violent Femmes continued to record new material. Since then, the band has released ten studio albums including their most recent Hotel Last Resort (2019). Today, Violent Femmes continue to resonate with audiences of all ages.
Upon the band’s 40th anniversary, Pitchfork wrote that “The Femmes don’t signify an era so much as a time of life,” adding that “for young people growing up in the internet age” their music “is part of a shared language.”
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit here.
Violent Femmes Tour Dates:
Dates subject to change.
May 1 The Warfield San Francisco, CA
May 3 The Cuthbert Amphitheater Eugene, OR
May 4 Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, BC
May 5 Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, BC
May 7 MacEwan Hall Calgary, AB
May 8 Winspear Centre Edmonton, AB
May 10 Burton Cummings Theatre Winnipeg, MAN
May 11 Outdoors @ Fargo Brewing Fargo, ND
May 12 The Palace St. Paul, MN
May 14 Val Air Ballroom Des Moines, IA
May 15 Peoria Civic Center Peoria, IL
May 16 Murat Theatre at Old National Centre Indianapolis, IN
May 17 Riverfront Live Cincinnati, OH
May 18 Masonic Cathedral Theatre Detroit, MI
June 20 Kresge Auditorium Interlochen, MI
June 21 Ravina Chicago, IL
June 22 Columbus Bicentennial Pavilion Columbus, OH
The Black Keys announced their 2024 North American headline tour – International Players Tour – in support of their new album, Ohio Players, out April 5. The 31-date run includes a stop at Madison Square Garden (MSG) on Oct. 30, 2024. The Head and The Heart will be joining the show as direct support.
The tour announcement follows two stand-out performances by The Black Keys at SXSW earlier this month, where they also debuted their new documentary This is a Film About The Black Keys to rave reviews. Ohio Players is set to be an album unlike any of the band’s others, featuring collaborations with friends and colleagues, including Beck, Noel Gallagher, Dan the Automator, Greg Kurstin, Juicy J, Lil Noid, and others. Listeners have heard what to expect from the new project with the lead single, “Beautiful People (Stay High),” which recently reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart and AAA Airplay charts.
Stereogum commented, “The Black Keys are entering another pop crossover phase.” In its four-star review, Mojo said, “This is the most streamlined and tunes-packed Black Keys album since El Camino. The sound of a band rejuvenated.” Pre-order Ohio Players here.
Photo credit: Larry Niehues.
Formed in Akron, Ohio in 2001, The Black Keys are singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney – called “rock royalty” by the Associated Press and “one of the best rock ‘n’ roll bands on the planet” by Uncut. Cutting their teeth playing small clubs, the band has gone on to sell out arena tours and has released eleven previous studio albums: the debut The Big Come Up (2002), followed by Thickfreakness (2003) and Rubber Factory (2004), along with their releases on Nonesuch Records: Magic Potion (2006), Attack & Release (2008), Brothers (2010), El Camino (2011), Turn Blue (2014), “Let’s Rock” (2019), Delta Kream (2021), and Dropout Boogie (2022). The band has won six GRAMMY Awards, a BRIT, and headlined festivals in North America, South America, Mexico, Australia, and Europe.
American Express Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public on Tuesday, April 2 at 10 am through Thursday, April 4 at 10 pm. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning on Friday, April 5 at 10 am. For more details and to purchase tickets to their tour, which includes a stop at Madison Square Garden, visit here.
The Black Keys – 2024 International Players Tour
DateCityVenue
September 17* Tulsa, OK BOK Center
September 18* Austin, TX Moody Center
September 20 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
September 21* Houston, TX Toyota Center
September 24 Denver, CO Ball Arena
September 26* Phoenix, AZ Footprint Center
September 27* Los Angeles, CA Kia Forum
September 28* Palm Desert, CA Acrisure Arena
September 29*^ Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
October 2 Portland, OR Moda Center
October 3 Seattle, WA Climate Pledge Arena
October 10* Pittsburgh, PA PPG Paints Arena
October 11* Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
October 12* Cleveland, OH Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
October 13* Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
October 16* Charlotte, NC Spectrum Center
October 18* Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
October 19* Atlanta, GA State Farm Arena
October 21* Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
October 23 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center
October 24* Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena
October 26* Indianapolis, IN Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Some of the biggest names of R&B‘s golden era will be coming to a city near you as SWV and Xscape announce The Queens of R&B Tour alongside fellow golden era stapes in Mya, Total and 702. Following a social media teaser that ignited fervent excitement among fans, the legendary songstresses are will be teaming up for a nearly two-month, nationwide expedition stopping in 30 different cities, including 3 stops in New York.
The Queens of R&B Tour will be a celebration of the genre’s golden age
Produced by Mona Scott Young’sMonami EntertainmentandLive Nationand represented by Seth Shomes through Day After Day Productions (DADP), The Queens of R&B Tour will highlight some of the biggest names from R&B’s golden age whose work also serves as the soundtrack for the oft-romanticized decade.
To announce this HERstorical tour during Women’s History Month means everything. It speaks to the power of our ability as women to overcome adversity and emerge triumphant. 702, Total, Mýa, SWV, and Xscape have all weathered storms and are still here and better than ever! We are so excited to bring the fans an incredible and undeniable performance experience that truly celebrates R&B music.
– Mona Scott-Young
Furthermore, the Queens of R&B Tour will circle New York three times, beginning with a July 24 performance at Madison Square Garden. The tour returns 9 days later with a stop in Syracuse’s Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview. Additionally, they conclude their east-coast trek with an August 6 performance at Darien Lake Amphitheater in Darien Center, NY.
The Queens of R&B tour will consist of 30 shows.
Moreover, fans have rejoiced on X (formerly known as Twitter) with this latest tour announcement. After all, with songs like SWV’s “Right Here,” Xscape’s “Just Kicking’ It,” Mya’s “Best of Me (part 2),” Total’s “Kissing’ You,” and 702’s “Get It Together” R&B history will be reenacted with one era-defining record after another. Tickets for this monumental event are available on Ticketmaster’s official website.
THE QUEENS OF R&B TOUR DATES:
Thu Jun 27 – Concord, CA – Toyota Pavilion at Concord
Sat Jun 29 – Las Vegas, NV – Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
Proctors Theatre in Schenectady is proud to host Golden Oldies Spectacular on April 13. The show is headlined by the Doo Wop Project and includes a multitude of talented, authentic acts.
The Doo Wop Project consists of five Broadway stars from smash hit shows like Jersey Boys and Motown: The Musical. This supergroup of Broadway stars transforms hits from the classic and modern American songbook into revamped renditions of your favorites. The group is excited to play hit-songs from the classic American squalls of Doo Wop, Motown, and other golden oldies.
The Golden Oldies Spectacular sees four other spectacular acts including co-headliners The Brooklyn Bridge, who perform a slew of 1950s defining hits. Also performing in the event are The Capris, Bobby Brooks Wilson, and E’stefano DiStanto. Together, the acts set to encapsulate the authenticity and originality of the 50s and 60s music boom.
The Golden Oldies Spectacular takes place 7 pm on April 13 at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady. Tickets range from $45 to $75 and can be purchased on the Proctors Theatre website. To learn more about the upcoming show and to purchase tickets, click here.
Brooklyn-based alternative/post-punk group Castle Black recently released their latest single titled, “Heart Can’t Feel.” The single is off of the band’s upcoming album, The Highway at Night.
Castle Black is an ever-evolving thunderstorm of sound on a backdrop of captivating hooks and edgy soundscapes. Castle Black draws elements from punk, post-punk, grunge, alternative and new-wave music. The band sees the release of their first full length album, The Highway at Night in June.
The single, “Heart Can’t Feel” is the second released single off the album. The group has released six EPs since 2015. Castle Black hopes to reach new heights with the release of their first full-length album.
“Heart Can’t Feel” begins with captivating chords, vocal tones, and immediate action. The song has strong influence from a band like Hole. The fierceness of the vocals, the upbeat yet grungy sound, and the song structure are very reminiscent of Hole and other alternative bands from that era.
The riffs throughout the song catch the listener right away and refuse to stay static. The track is certainly very post-punk in its vocals, grunge in its tone, alternative in its pace and instruments, with a bit of a new-wave aura to it. Castle Black does an excellent job here of crafting a catchy, punchy, and fun piece of music.
To give “Heart Can’t Feel” a listen and to learn more about the minds behind the music, click here.
Albany’s Spectrum 8 Theatre has found new management and will reopen this spring, potentially in late April, per multiple reports last week.
photo via Spotlight News
As reported in February, Spectrum 8 was slated to close, with owner Landmark Theatres withdrawing from management after nearly 9 years. Scene One Entertainment has stepped in to take over management, bringing back a few notable aspects of Spectrum 8 that regulars missed in the past decade.
Scene One Entertainment owner Joseph Masher said in a press release, “The overwhelming response to the theatre’s closing last month prompted me to move faster with the building’s owner to get the cinema reopened. I’ve been working very closely with [Spectrum 8 co-founder] Keith Pickard to bring the heart and soul back into the Spectrum. The art gallery will be reactivated and the calendar that was published monthly will return.”
Among the changes are the return of the theater’s locally-sourced cakes, pastries, cookies, mint brownies, and real butter on the popcorn. The Spectrum reports it will also serve alcoholic beverages once it obtains a liquor license.
Spectrum 8 has been in operation since 1983, beginning as a single screen theater before expanding to eight screens, offering a wide number of independent movies, Oscar nominated films that are hard to find in theaters, including foreign language films and live and animated short films, in addition to Hollywood blockbusters.
A total solar eclipse is happening on Monday, April 8, 2024, visible across North America – especially New York State which is in the Path of Totality. To celebrate this monumental occurrence, venues and places across the state are hosting eclipse-themed events with great music, food, and community bonding.
Prepare for a celestial event of epic proportions as the Solar Eclipse 3-Day Music & Arts Festival comes to Gowanda, NY, from April 6-8. This extraordinary event offers a rare opportunity to witness the total solar eclipse with great music. Headlining are international sensations SVTOKO聡子 from Japan, E&I hailing from Harrisburg, PA, Vodden representing Toronto, and Beelzedubz from Philly. The festival also proudly showcases supporting music acts and artists from the surrounding Western NY region, including Erie, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Niagara, and Wyoming counties.
In the days leading up to the main event, the festival will have two exhilarating pre-parties. On Sunday, April 7, the Wobblepots Solar Eclipse Takeover will feature back-to-back sets from 7 PM to 2 AM. Meanwhile, on Saturday, April 6, the Greater Buffalo Collective will host a pre-preparty with performances from bands, hip-hop acts, DJs, comedians, and fire performers. The festival also features local vendors, food trucks, and artisanal crafts.
From April 7-8, The Heron is hosting a 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Celebration, transforming The Heron Campground and PFM Event Center into a sanctuary for sky-watchers, offering the perfect view of a phenomenon last seen in 1925 – not returning until 2144 in this part of the world. The Heron’s serene natural setting provides an idyllic stage for this awe-inspiring celestial show.
The celebration begins with a Sunday night dance party with The Sun King Warriors, setting the stage with a night of revelry. Then on Monday, connect with the rhythm of the land with drumming, chanting, and yoga sessions. Feed your soul and your appetite with a diverse range of food trucks offering delicious treats. And most importantly, you’ll be part of a community of enthusiasts, sharing this extraordinary moment. Every attendee also receives complimentary solar viewing glasses for a safe and unforgettable eclipse experience. Tickets are on sale now.
The Capital Region is hosting several events in honor of the eclipse. On April 8 from noon to 4 p.m. is Eclipse Day on the Skyway with DJ Tall Matt. The public is invited to experience this cosmic event with free #AlbToTheCore glasses for the first 500 attendees and complimentary popcorn courtesy of ParkAlbany (while supplies last). Boozy Moo! will also be on-site with ice cream available for purchase.
After, The Egg hosts a free Eclipse at the Ellipse event, featuring music from Julianna Barwick, Ami Dang, b e i n g – s o u n d with visuals by Alex Allauxis, Connor Armbruster, and DJ Harlan (in Hart Lobby). From 4-10 p.m., attendees can enjoy great music with iconic sci-fi movies like WALL-E, A Trip to the Moon, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, as well as Hudson-Valley-based projection artist B.A. Miale filling the venue with a stunning psychedelic light show.
Attendees will need a free ticket to enter – RSVP here. When checking out, there will be a chance to select an optional donation. While this is not required, every penny helps support more free programming at The Egg.
The Adirondack area is full of exciting events, like Annie in the Water at Whiteface Moutain. Come to watch this once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event at the mountain with a great view from the Cloudspin Bar & Grill deck at the Main Base Lodge. The band will perform at the Cloudspin between 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm; the cost is $40 for lift tickets. The partial eclipse begins at 2:12 pm. Totality begins at 3:24 pm. The maximum eclipse is at 3:26 pm. As a safety precaution, all lifts will close at 2:00 pm on this day, this includes the Cloudsplitter Gondola. Complimentary safety eclipse glasses will be provided as supplies last.
The City of Plattsburgh will be hosting a free eclipse viewing party at the Plattsburgh City Beach on Monday, April 8th from 12:00 – 5:00 PM with a performance by local indie psychedelic rock band, Ursa and the Major Key alongside local food trucks (Tammy’s Lunchbox, The Dogfather, Norma J’s and High Peaks Brew), activities and more! Local astronomy enthusiast Ephemer ADK will be on site sharing information about the eclipse and views of the sky from his telescope. For more information about where to view the eclipse in the Adirondacks, visit here.
Albany-based band Glass Pony will bring its psychedelic and jam-focused rock to Blue Mountain Lake from 12:30 p.m.- 2:30 p.m. They offer a sound that translates through generations, with a stylistic blend built to engage a broad listenership. With a focus squarely set on delivering the most captivating live performance possible, the band utilizes infectiously danceable grooves colored with virtuosic individual performances that deftly blend into a cohesive whole. Visit here for information.
Stay safe during this monumental event! Here are even more local eclipse events Statewide.
To commemorate their first studio release in nearly 13 years, The Disco Biscuits staged a release party at New York City’s famed Webster Hall on March 29. With help from a couple of friends, the band played their new album Revolution In Motion from start to finish over two sets that spanned nearly four hours, much of it without a break between tracks.
Along with their typically incredible light show via Herm Light Designs, and corresponding animation from Blunt Action and Todd Kushnir projected on a screen behind the band, the album came to life and cemented its lore in Disco Biscuits history.
The sold out show had a buzz about it for weeks leading up, with the night having a slight bit of warmth to it in the East Village, ushering fans inside shortly after doors to secure a spot for a night that was years in the making. With the tracks from Revolution in Motion debuting since 2022, fans are well acclimated to the new material, as well as the depths of jamming that can unfold from any of the songs. Therein lies the beauty of what the Disco Biscuits have created in their ninth studio album, and not just the music – the story that intertwines the songs was revealed in full earlier this day, completing Part 1 of Revolution in Motion, with the band saving the day on the alien world Polyfuzia.
The band was joined by three special guests this evening – Erin Boyd added soul with her vocals on “Twisted in the Road” and “Why We Dance,” Matteo Scammell singing alongside guitarist Jon Guttwillig on “Tourists (Rocket Ship)” and “To Be Continued…,” and guitarist Cloud Chord joining for “Tourists (Rocket Ship)” and “Spagaâs Last Stand,” which had keyboardist Aron Magner step out with a keytar for back-to-back playing alongside Cloud Chord. Guests for the Disco Biscuits are infrequent at best, and the three etched their names into Biscuits’ history as well as the fans memories.
In lieu of a song-by-song breakdown of the show, we encourage you to listen to the full show here on Nugs.net. The show is best enjoyed in full from start to finish, taking the story along with the music and explorative trance-fusion jams.
A full summation of the night, however, is best found from Brian Stollery, who offers the following thoughts on the evening that unfolded at Webster Hall.
In the kaleidoscopic carnival that was the Disco Biscuits’ album release show for Revolution in Motion, their first sonic odyssey in 14 years since Otherwise Law Abiding Citizens, the band once again proved themselves as the cosmic jesters at the crossroads of the Grateful Dead’s experimental psychedelia and the pulsating heart of modern analog techno’s transcendental oneness revolution.
Among the cacophony, “The Deal” emerged as a transcendent hymn, a bizarre yet profound meditation on business acumen that captures the essence of the Biscuits’ ability to spin mundane realities into psychedelic gold, propelling the audience into a state of intellectual spiritual mayhem, where fun collides with the sublime in a spectacular explosion of sound and fury.
Disco Biscuits – Webster Hall, NYC – March 29, 2024
Set 1: Shocked > The Wormhole > Twisted In The Road > Another Plan Of Attack > Times Square >Freeze Set 2: Tourists (Rocket Ship) > Spaga’s Last Stand, Who’s In Charge > Space Train > The Deal > One Chance To Save The World > Why We Dance Encore: To Be Continued
