Finger Lakes GrassRoots festival has announced the return of the GrassRoots Unplugged concert. The second annual unplugged festival is held from September 7 to 8 at the Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts.
GrassRoots Unplugged is a two day, two stage, musical gathering featuring some of your favorite GrassRoots performers in an intimate setting. Conclude the perfect summer with Sim Redmond, Rose & the Bros, Kevin Kinsella and more at TCFA September 7-8.
This festival is one for the community. The mission of the Finger Lakes GrassRoots festival is to unify the community and to create a cultural hub for future generations to enjoy. At least ten acts prepare to perform at the unplugged festival.
Performances are held from 1:30 to 9:30 on both days. Tickets are $25 a day or $40 for both days. For children 12 and under, admission is free. Sunday will feature our fabulous dance floor including a Sunday Square Dance with caller Casey Carr and GrassRoots Unplugged musicians. The fest also includes a visual arts section, and a children’s fun area.
For more information on the GrassRoots Unplugged festival coming to Trumansburg, NY, click here. Click this link to purchase your daily tickets or tickets for the whole weekend.
Boston-based rocking quartet Neighbor have announced a fall US tour, with the first show kicking off in Buffalo. To close out the tour, the band will be doing an epic three-night Halloween run in New England alongside powerhouse trio LaMP.Â
Although Neighbor formed in the last half-decade, the band members’ roots began over 35 years ago. Childhood neighbors Richard James (vocals, keys) and Lyle Brewer (guitar) shared fence lines and melodies as they both grew and explored their own musical paths. Decades later, the quartet became complete with the addition of Dan Kelly (bass) and Dean Johnston (drums) in 2019. Their creative incubation began with a weekly residency that grew in large part by the passion of their fans, the âNeighbors,â who continue to inspire the band as the fan base has expanded across the country.
With a diverse catalog of hundreds of songs, Neighbor combines ambitious composition, soulful balladry, and a fearless approach to their lengthy improvisations. Not boxed in by a single genre, their songwriting brings elements of Americana, funk, rock, jazz, soul and more. The band is putting pen to paper once again as they head back into the studio to begin work on their second album.
But before their follow-up project hits streaming services, the quartet has decided to keep busy, announcing a fall tour with 12 stops in 11 cities, the first being Buffalo. Beginning on October 10, Neighbor will hit all 12 shows across the country in just 23 days, with the final three shows being a self-contained Halloween run alongside Burlington, Vermont band, LaMP. The final show in the tour will see Neighbor returning to their home crowd in Boston.
Visit here for tickets and more information. See below for a full written list of Neighbor tour dates.
Neighbor Fall Tour Dates
Thu, Oct 10 – Buffalo Iron Works – Buffalo, NY
Fri, Oct 11 – Woodlands Tavern – Columbus, OH
Sat, Oct 12 – HI-FI Indianapolis – Indianapolis, IN
Sun, Oct 13 – Stache at The Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI
Tue, Oct 15 – High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI
Wed, Oct 16 – Vivarium – Milwaukee, WI
Thu, Oct 17 – The Taft Theater Ballroom – Cincinnati, OH
Fri, Oct 18 – Martyrs – Chicago, IL
Sat, Oct 19 – Martyrs – Chicago, IL
Thu, Oct 31 – Neighbor with LaMP – South Burlington, VT
Thursday, August 22 was a night of neon shirts, glow sticks and necklaces, and spandex as New Kids on The Block put quite the performance for fans at Darien Lake Ampitheatre. Joining the adventure were Paula Abdul and DJ Jazzy Jeff, no strangers to the Gen X fans in attendance.
Formed in 1984, the New Kids recently released their eighth album, Still Kids, and have been on tour in support of it.
Getting the party started was DJ Jazzy Jeff. Half of the famed duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, Jazzy Jeff scratched the records while his MC, Dayne Jordan, rocked the mic. Playing samples of classics like “O.P.P.”, “I’m a Believer”, and “Jump”, as well as theme songs from both Cheers and Super Mario Bros., this MC and DJ duo had the crowd of mostly middle-aged fans thinking they were still kids on the playground chillin’ out, maxin’, relaxin’ all cool. As his set ended, I am sure fans were anxious to see if would get tossed off the stage in the same manner Uncle Phil tossed him out of his house (he did not get tossed.)
Following the famed DJ, fans were treated to a former dancer/cheerleader/choreographer turned talent show judge. 62-year-old Paula Abdul took to the stage playing notable hits from the late 80s and early 90s.
Rising up through the stage, Abdul seems to be portraying herself struggling to write “Straight Up”, scribbling notes, before breaking into song as she is whisked off towards the front of the set. Using her amazing dancers as props, she continues on like it was 1988 all over again. This time around was little different, though, as she immediately takes quick breather, some water, and oxygen. “What?” She asks the surprised crowd. “This is 62, folks!” she quips.
Well known for her dancing and choreography, Abdul wastes no more time in continuing the production. “Vibeology” and “Cold Hearted” were performed flawlessly, as if they were making a new video to air during TRL.
With a hand-picked dance troupe surrounding her, Abdul prances around the stage, utilizing the various wardrobe racks for quick changes, many that were replicated from the heyday of music videos, including a bright yellow fedora style hat.
Only playing for about 35 minutes, the former celebrity crush of many 70s and 80s kids doesn’t forget those who have helped her along the way, including her video partner from “Opposites Attract”, MC Skat Kat, who joined her while she performed the song. For someone who recently came back from a 25-year hiatus from touring, Paula Abdul doesn’t seem to have lost her step.
Danny Wood, Jonathan Knight, Jordan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, and Joey McIntyre were brought together in the mid 80s outside of Boston, MA to create an up-and-coming boy band as counterpart to New Edition. While success wasn’t immediate, it did happen a few short years later after a Florida radio station put “Hangin Tough” on repeat due to listener requests. Fame was on the fast track, and teenage girls buying posters and cassettes, t-shirts and hoodies, and going to shows at malls around the country drove the train on that fast track.
Fast forward to August 22, as many of those young girls are now taking their kids to see the boys who they went nuts for in middle and high school. “Donnie! I love you!”, “Marry me, Joey!”, “Danny is so hot!” were common things heard while among the sparse crowd of around 8500.
Getting the night started with two tracks from their newest release, NKOTB came out with “Magic” and “Summer Love”. Just like 35 years ago, fans were screaming and jumping for joy as they music played. I don’t know if it was because of the songs or because they were seeing childhood idols for the first time. Either way, the crowd was boisterous and enthusiastic from start to finish. Rounding out the first 3 was “My Favorite Girl,” a song they first played in 1989.
It’s the most mature album we’ve ever made
Mark Wahlberg on Still Kids
Cruising through the 28-song set, Wahlberg and company give fans what they want with every song. Nostalgic lyrics, hip thrusts and gyrations that Elvis would be proud of, as well as a little bit where shirts came off and muscle flexes were the show. As teenage heartthrobs of yesteryear, the boys have seemed to take their rizz to new levels now that they are all grown up. I heard zero complaints from the crowd.
Having toured with NKOTB before, DJ Jazzy Jeff once again becomes part of the show, as he appears atop of the huge steps on stage. With a mashup of “Dance With You” and “Love Like This” getting started, each of the singers brings out a ‘selected’ fan and they continue to perform with the guests by their sides. A true moment to remember for these 5 lucky ladies.
Getting Jazzy Jeff more involved, Wahlberg, in roundabout way, demands to play “Summertime”, to wish there is no argument from the DJ. After playing a short clip, Wahlberg stops and asks a young lady on stage who claims to know the song word for word. The 16-year-old made the trip the mid Atlantic region for this show and proceeded to belt out a couple verses from the song made famous by DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince. With her mom by her side, the young lady was elated to get the opportunity. Wahlberg continues on to say that they continue to gain fans through generations by parents still listening to the music of their childhood.
With notoriously bad parking rituals at the venue, I left a little early but was able to hear clearly as “Step By Step” and “Hangin Tough” rounded out the night.
While I will admit the New Kids were never my cup of tea 35 years ago, and maybe aren’t now, but they can sure put on a show, I will never argue that at all. They had men and women up and waving their arms and singing word for word. They had teens singing along with their music, and that is exactly what they want. I watched a group of ladies, probably in late 40s, doing the dances they learned 35 years ago. They were all having an amazing time reliving some of their glory years. Life longs fans that pass on their music and memories.
Follow along with the Kids and check out their first new album in 11 years New Kids On The Block
New Kids on The Block setlist: Magic, Summer Love, My Favorite Girl, Cover Girl, Dirty Dancing, You Got It (The Right Stuff), Remix (I Like The), Block Party, Tonight, Where Do I Go From Here?, Treat Me Right, Call It What You Want, Popsicle/Games/This Is How We Do It/ Stay With Me Baby, Baby I Believe in You, Never Gonna Fall In Love Again/Paradise City, Happy Birthday, Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time), Please Don’t Go Girl, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Dance With You/Love Like This, Summertime (DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince), Kids, I’ll Be Loving You (Forever), Step by Step, Hanging Tough/We Will Rock You (Queen), These Are The Better Days
Paula Abdul Setlist (partial) Straight Up, Vibeology, Cold Hearted, Opposites Attract, Rush Rush, The Promise of a New Day/Knocked Out/Ain’t Never Gonna Give You Up, Forever Your Girl
DJ Jazzy Jeff setlist (partial): OPP (Naughty by Nature), Jump, Eye of The Tiger (Survivor), Jump Around (House of Pain), Let Me Clear My Throat (DJ Kool), Monkees, Cheers, The Fresh Prince theme, Super Mario Bros Rap, Uptown Funk, Living on a Prayer
Avril Lavigne and opening acts girlfriends and Simple Plan put on an electrifying show at Darien Lake Amphitheater this past Tuesday, August 20 for old and new fans showing that the emo genre is here to stay wasn’t just a phase.
Kicking off the night were girlfriends who brought an intense and energetic performance with Travis, Nick, and the rest of the band maintaining a high level of energy from start to finish.
Performing hits such as “Shut Up and Kiss Me,” “I Thought About You While I Was Taking a Shower,” and ” California” from their recent albums (e)motion sickness (2022) as well as self-titled debut album girlfriends (2020), the band was in true warm up form, channeling the headliner in their angst.
Following girlfriends was the pop-punk legend Simple Plan. They continued the high energy set by girlfriends and took it to the next level. Pierre Bouvier’s crowd interaction was outstanding, and the band’s attention to detail in engaging the crowd was truly remarkable.
Throughout their set, the audience enthusiastically sang along with the band, creating an unforgettable atmosphere. The night was filled with iconic songs such as “I’d Do Anything,” “Welcome to My Life,” “Summer Paradise.” They also sang favorites like the Scooby-Doo theme song, during which they invited fans dressed as Scooby-Doo to join them on stage, and the timeless anthem “I’m Just a Kid.”
At last the iconic princess, or rather the queen of the early 2000s pop-punk era, Avril Lavigne, took the stage. Her entrance featured her past album covers, early interviews, and clips from her early career, all leading up to her grand appearance on stage. When she emerged, the crowd went wild, and she kicked off with the song “Girlfriend.”
Throughout the night, Avril had the audience in the palm of her hand, taking them on the ride of their lives. Her audience was one of the loudest of my concert season, and you could truly feel the love that her fans have for her, as well as her gratitude for every single one of them that night.
She followed up with the songs “What the Hell” and “Complicated.” During her set, she brought out Simple Plan, and they sang Simple Plan’s “Addicted” together. Avril ended the night with the iconic song “I’m With You,” and she had everyone singing along with her. She’ll be back in New York on August 27 in Wantagh at Jones Beach Theater.
Avril Lavigne Setlist: Girlfriend, What the Hell, Complicated, Here’s to Never Growing Up, Smile, My Happy Ending, Addicted (with Simple Plan), Losing Grip, Hot, Bite Me, Love It When You Hate Me, When You’re Gone, Don’t Tell Me, He Wasn’t, Sk8er Boi
The fifth annual Drumstock Music and Arts Festival will return to Geneva on Saturday, September 7th. The open-air festival will celebrate the region’s rich musical and artistic heritage with 14 hours of entertainment.
Since its start, Drumstock has been so much more than just a music festival. Its organizers are dedicated to crafting an inclusive environment through collaboration with local artists and activists. This year, Drumstock will begin at 12pm on Saturday, September 7th at Geneva’s Lake Drum Brewing. The festival will take place in the outdoors in an open-air space behind the brewery. The free festival will feature a day of live music and community partnerships.
The 2024 Drumstock Festival will feature 17 artists – both local and nationally renowned. At the top of the ticket is avant-garde funk group Soule Monde. Founded by Trey Anasastio Band members Ray Paczkowski and Russ Lawton, Soule Monde combines over 20 years of musical experience. Since their start, the band members have played with artists like Mike Gordon and Dave Matthews. With Lawton on Drums and Paczkowski on Hammond Organ, the duo crafts syncopated and highly improvisational tracks with ease. The band has previously appeared at Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, and Saturday Night Live.
Alongside Soule Monde, Drumstock will highlight diverse local talent with a number of New York bands. Among the featured bands are Finger Lakes’ natives St Vith. The indie rock group blends influences ranging from Wilco to Animal Collective. With synthesized electronics and acoustic instrumentation, St Vith crafts an eclectic brand of alternative.
The festival’s local talent spans countless genres, showcasing the region’s rich musical heritage. On top of St Vith’s indie rock, Kajuneji will perform, highlighting their mixing of jam, jazz and world music. This musical heritage will take festival-goers on a musical trip around the world. Geneva’s Zydecorp will bring audiences cajun-inspired accordion dance music and Colors Do Som will play their Brazilian-influenced stylings. Drumstock’s performances will begin at 12pm and last until 2am.
In addition to countless musical performances, the festival provides visitors other ways to engage with local arts and culture. Throughout the day, Drumstock will feature art exhibitions and performances from local Hobart & William Smith students. In addition to arts, local vendors will be present throughout the day, giving visitors the chance to buy local handicrafts and delicacies. This all reflects Drumstock’s core mission of strengthening the local community through its exhibition of arts.
Admission to this year’s Drumstock Festival is free thanks to local partnerships. Lake Drum Brewing, LDC, Geneva Community Projects, Red Jacket, Wayne Bank, Community Proud, and Dave & Wendy’s contributions have made the festival possible. For more information on the 2024 Drumstock Festival, visit their website here.
Drumstock Festival Lineup
Soule Monde (Featuring Ray Paczkowski and Russ Lawton of the Trey Anastasio Band)
New York State contains diverse music scenes, with unique venues and events in all corners and counties. From Ithaca to Binghamton, Elmira to the western Finger Lakes and everywhere in between, there is much to explore the venues of New York’s “607.” The Southern Tier has much to offer with theater companies, museums, theaters, and college campuses, there is a venue for every event.
Atomic Tom’s, a venue in Binghamton, holds weddings, art galleries, benefits, and musical performances. The first Friday of every month, Atomic Tom’s hosts a “First Friday Concert.” Admission is always free, and a cash bar is available.
Anderson Center for the Performing Arts (Binghamton)
As part of Binghamton University, Anderson Center for the Performing Arts enhances the local community with culturally significant performances. The Anderson Center contains three theaters: the 1170-seat Osterhout Concert Theater, the 408-seat Chamber Hall (pictured below) and the 558-seat Watters Theater.
Since 1903, Bailey Hall has been used by Cornell University to host musicians and ensembles. The Cornell University Department of Music sponsors more than 100 concerts, encompassing a broad spectrum of the world’s art and music.
The Bundy Museum of History and Art is a rich piece of Binghamton history and hosts events and fundraisers. The Bundy Museum is also home to WBDY 99.5 FM, a community radio station that enriches Binghamton’s artistic and intellectual life.
Cranberry Coffee House is Binghamton’s premier folk music venue. It is also home to The Middle Set, their open mic event. Hosted on the third Saturday of every month, The Middle Set gives artists, musicians, and story-tellers of all ages a chance to perform.
Deep Dive hosts weekly trivia and karaoke nights, as well as concerts and private events. Deep Dive also hosts concerts and jam sessions frequently in a wide variety of genres.
Diversion Brewing Company has been serving the Chemung community since 2016. Diversion hosts a wide variety of events, including musical performances. In the summer of 2017, they started their “Tunes & A Truck” program, where local musicians and food trucks come to the brewery every Saturday.
The Downstairs is a membership-based art gallery and community listening room. With a maximum capacity of around 50 people, The Downstairs is ideal for an intimate concert. The Downstairs also hosts weekly comedy open mics every Tuesday, and exists for the benefit of local artists; The venue does not take a percentage of the proceeds from ticket or merchandise sales.
Binghamton’s beloved restaurant, Downtown, often hosts events for the community. Weekly trivia nights and drag brunches are available, as well as performances by local bands.
Fanatics Pub is a venue in Lima that serves pizza, hamburgers, and wings. Beloved by the local community, concert-goers enjoy the cozy atmosphere and talented acts, most of whom are Blues artists. Fanatics also hosts trivia and comedy nights.
Since 1975, The Hangar Theater has been supporting and enhancing Ithaca’s arts. The Hangar Theater is dedicated to producing quality performances and inspiring community through their programs. The theater strives to be an artistic home that nurtures a lifelong love of the performing arts. Arts education is central to the Hangar Theater’s mission, and they offer numerous programs for children, including the summer Mainstage and KIDDSTUFF productions, an annual production of A Christmas Carol, and the Lab Company.
Known for their live music and fresh wings, The Hornet’s Nest hosts local musicians and karaoke nights. Events are announced on their Facebook, which is available below.
Located in Elmira’s historic Federal Building in the business district, the Ill Eagle hosts events and live music. The Ill Eagle has multiple event rooms, each restored to accommodate guests. The largest event room, the old courthouse, can accommodate up to 200 people.
Irish Kevin’s is an Irish Bar known for its Irish cuisine and talented performers. They are known for their award-winning, house-seasoned corned beef and friendly atmosphere.
Since 1991, the Kitchen Theater Company has offered talented and determined young artists a place they could work together and hone their craft. In 2010, KTC made history by becoming the first theater company in Ithaca to own its own space. Throughout its history, KTC has produced over 200 plays, including 34 world premieres by Adam Bock, Tanya Barfield, Darian Dauchan, and many others.
Moe-Town is an outdoor music venue in Addison that hosts local, regional, and national bands. In addition to concerts, Moe-Town hosts Spring/Fall Festivals, Halloween parties, and overnight camping. Lawn chairs and coolers are welcome, and food and drinks are available.
New Leaf Cider Company is a winery that hosts events and performances. There are weekly open mics, as well as trivia nights every Thursday. They also host stand up comedy the last Thursday of every month and host private events.
The Phelps Mansion was built in 1871 and owned by Sherman David Phelps, an entrepreneur and one-time mayor of Binghamton. The mansion was designed by Isaac G. Perry, who also designed the Binghamton Inebriate Asylum (1858) and helped complete the New York State Capitol Building (1899). The museum hosts fundraisers and concerts, and a psychic fair the first Friday of every month.
The Range is a Western-themed bar that hosts musicians nearly every weekend. The Range is located above Trader K’s in Ithaca’s commons. Their diverse set of performances promises something for every taste.
Sach’s Tee House is a bar that hosts outdoor music. Their new patio is open, and they host trivia nights every Thursday. Known for their trendy and welcoming atmosphere, Sach’s combines traditional sports bar elements with live music.
Endicott’s Little Italy Heritage Center is a non-profit dedicated to preserving Endicott’s Italian neighborhood. A surge of Italian immigrants came to Endicott hoping to work for Endicott-Johnson (EJ) Corp. Italian immigrants created the vibrant neighborhood community the Heritage center works to preserve, The Stage at Little Italy hosts an annual Italian Festival, GUSTO, as well as farmers markets and other community events. They also put on productions in George W. Johnson Park.
The State Theater opened in 1928, and has been a significant venue in the Finger Lakes region ever since. Its 1,600 capacity makes it the largest venue in Ithaca. The theater fell into disrepair, and the owner even considered demolition in the mid ’90s, but Historic Ithaca acquired the building in 1998 and committed to revitalizing the building, and it became a designated landmark.
Tap House 66 is a bar that supports local musicians and hosts performances often. Known for their delicious food and talented local artists, more information is available at the website below.
Since its opening in 2010, The Westy has become a staple of the Ithaca community. They host an open mic every Thursday at 9 PM, food trucks in the summer, and numerous concerts.
It was the perfect summer night with just a little rain mixed in for Tedeschi Trucks Band to perform at Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC) in Canandaigua, New York, on Friday, August 16.
Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi of Tedeschi Trucks Band at Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC) in Canandaigua, New York, on Friday, Aug. 16.
The 12-piece powerhouse band took no time getting most of the crowd on their feet to set everyone up for a night of moving and grooving with their soulful, bluesy, rock and roll. The night featured a mix of the band’s original music with some cover songs thrown into the setlist. They relied heavily on songs from their most recent album I am the Moon, released in 2022. Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi are music superstars, and they surround themselves with superb musicians. With such a large band, everyone gets a chance to show off their skills throughout the night.
Tedeschi sings most of the vocals throughout most of the night and she has a powerful, incredible voice that demands attention. Mike Mattison also gets to share his voice on many of the songs and his passion comes through with so much soul on the songs he gets to sing.
The whole night was full of crescendos and deep, meaningful music. The band leads into many of the songs very softly, then just builds everything up to this massive explosion of music from everyone on stage. Many of the bandmembers get their time to shine with solos. The show got off moving and grooving with high energy with “Part Of Me” and continued through “Playing My Emotions” and then “Ain’t That Something,” with keyboardist Gabe Dixon taking the lead on vocals and trading off with Tedeschi.
Mattison got his first chance to show off his bluesy voice as the band covered Bessie Smith’s “Gin House Blues.”
Tedeschi put down the guitar to sing “All The Love” and slowed things down a bit after this one as Trucks and other bandmembers left the stage with Tedeschi and drums, keys and bass. She performed the popular John Prine cover “Angel From Montgomery” that segued into Grateful Dead’s “Sugaree” and topped the sandwich off by going back into “Angel From Montgomery.”
Coming back from this slower, somber moment, the full band came back out and kicked it back into high gear for the big hit “Anyhow,” which had the crowd back on their feet and just has such an epic feel to it. Tedeschi then sang “Sweet & Low,” another song off 2013’s Made Up Mind and Elizabeth Lea had a big trombone solo.
Susan Tedeschi of Tedeschi Trucks Band at Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC) in Canandaigua, New York, on Friday, Aug. 16.
The band then played a couple covers with “Keep On Growing” by Derek and the Dominos, and Mattison took lead on Taj Mahal’s “Everybody’s Got to Change Sometime.” Then “Circles ‘Round The Sun” let Kebbi Williams loose on the saxophone. Tedeschi and other members then went off stage to let Trucks jam out on the long “Pasaquan” jam that also featured “Mountain Jam” sandwiched in the middle, a nod to Trucks’ past with The Allman Brothers Band. Trucks melted faces with his incredible guitar playing and the drummers Tyler Greenwell and Isaac Eady got to highlight their instruments with some sort of a duel.
The band then played “Just Won’t Burn,” a song from Tedeschi’s personal discography that came out more than 25 years ago. She really lets her bluesy voice do its thing on this one. The set eventually closed with “Show me a Woman,” a cover by Joe Tex, as the band left the stage in high spirits to get ready for an encore.
Only half of the band came out with Tedeschi and she invited opening act Margo Price to sing the George Jones song “Color of the Blues.” Then to really send everyone on their way, the full band came out along with all of Margo Price’s band as the 17 musicians on stage performed Leon Russell’s “Stranger in A Strange Land.”
Margo Price opens for Tedeschi Trucks Band at Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC) in Canandaigua, New York, on Friday, Aug. 16.
Margo Price’s opening set was a real treat for those who settled in early. The country singer-songwriter played a set fit for a headliner at CMAC. She really rocked the house with her good singing and her band really brought some power rock to the mix. Her sweet voice will sweep you off your feet, but that band will have you dancing really hard and almost headbanging.
Setlist: Part of Me, Playing With My Emotions, Ain’t That Something, All the Love, Gin House Blues (Bessie Smith cover), Angel from Montgomery *> Sugaree+>Angel from Montgomery* (*John Prine) (+Grateful Dead), Anyhow, Sweet & Low, Keep On Growing, Everybody’s Got To Change Sometime (Taj Mahal), Circles ‘Round the Sun, Pasaquan >Mountain Jam*> Pasaquan (*The Allman Brothers), Just Won’t Burn – (Susan Tedeschi), Show Me – (Joe Tex)
Encore: Color of the Blues w/Margo Price (George Jones), Stranger in a Strange Lane w/full Margo Price Band (Leon Russell)
Continuing the tradition of capturing the excitement of The Band’s historic 1976 Thanksgiving concert at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, Blackbird Presents has announced Life is a Carnival: Last Waltz Tour ‘24. A celebration of what many have hailed as the greatest live concert event of all time, this year’s tour will also celebrate the legacy of The Band’s co-founder, Robbie Robertson.
Over forty-five years ago, The Band performed their final concert to a sold-out crowd with a who’s-who of music royalty in attendance. The evening culminated with “Don’t Do It,” The Band’s cover of Marvin Gaye’s “Baby Don’t You Do It.” After the last note, Robbie Robertson, The Bands’ lead guitarist, songwriter, and founding member, said, “Goodnight. Goodbye,” walking off stage, forever immortalizing this epic event.
To adequately pay homage to The Band’s legendary performance, Life is a Carnival: Last Waltz Tour ‘24 will feature a star-studded lineup led by Ryan Bingham, Jamey Johnson, Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers), Don Was, John Medeski, Dave Malone, Terence Higgins, Cyril Neville, Mark Mullins and The Levee Horns (featuring the original horn arrangements of Allen Toussaint). Additionally, Lukas Nelson will be joining the tour for three special shows in Colorado. The multi-city tour will make a stop at the Beacon Theatre in New York on November 6 and The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester on November 7 and 8.
“This band, made up of these artists, playing these songs, is what Don and I dreamed of when we began planning this tour. Now the dream is a reality. Do not miss these shows!” said Keith Wortman, creator and producer of The Last Waltz Tour franchise.
A portion of the proceeds from the tour will be donated to local charities.
Tickets go on sale Friday, August 16 at 10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. For more details, visit The Last Waltz Tour’s website here. See below for all tour dates.
The Band’s 1976 Thanksgiving concert at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco
The Last Waltz Tour 2024 Dates & Locations
Saturday, October 19 – The Warfield, San Francisco, CA
Tuesday, October 22 – Revolution Concert House and Event Center, Boise, ID
Thursday, October 24 – Mission Ballroom, Denver, CO
Friday, October 25 – Boulder Theater, Boulder, CO
Saturday, October 26 – Vilar Performing Arts Center, Beaver Creek, CO
Tuesday, October 29 – Orpheum Theater, Omaha, NE
Wednesday, October 30 – Coronado Theatre, Rockford, IL
Friday, November 1 – The Louisville Palace, Louisville, KY
Saturday, November 2 – Brady Music Center, Cincinnati, OH
Monday, November 4 – Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank, NJ
Wednesday, November 6 – Beacon Theatre, New York, NY
Thursday, November 7 – The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY
Friday, November 8 – The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY
Saturday, November 9 – The Met Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Tuesday, November 12 – Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA
Grateful Dead pianist Tom Constanten has announced a farewell tour spanning September and October 2024. This tour alongside Live Dead & Brothers will give deadheads one last opportunity to see the legendary pianist live in concert. Among the tour dates are four performances across New York state.
Tom Constanten was born in Long Branch, New Jersey in 1944. Following enrollment at UC Berkeley, Constanten met future Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, becoming further involved in music. This musical career soon led Constanten to study across Europe, playing alongside legends of modern classical, like Karlheinz Stockhausen and Steve Reich. Constanten then followed up his studies with a brief stint in the US Air Force.
Following his return to the US, Constanten immediately joined the Grateful Dead on tour. His debut with the band was a November 23, 1968 performance at Athens, Ohio’s Memorial Auditorium. During his three-year career with the band, Constanten played keyboards on three Grateful Dead recordings: Anthem of the Sun, Aoxomoxoa, and Live/Dead. Constanten’s stint with the Grateful Dead ended with an April 28, 1971 performance at the Fillmore East in New York.
Following his departure from the Grateful Dead, Constnaten remained close to his bandmates while pursuing other artistic endeavors. Since 1971, he has recorded alongside the Incredible String Band, Jefferson Starship, and more. In 1994, Constanten was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside the other members of the Grateful Dead.
Tom Constanten alongside Jerry Garcia
Now, after more than five decades of touring, Constanten will make a final farewell tour across the United States. Supergroup Live Dead & Brothers will join Constanten on stage throughout the tour. The band consists of Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers collaborators, dedicated to celebrating Constanten’s legacy. Among the musicians are the Allman Betts Band’s Berry Duane Oakley and Les Dudek. Also featured are Grateful Dead collaborators Mark Karan, Scott Guberman, and Pete Lavezzolli.
The tour will begin on September 6th in Irving, Texas, before making its way Northeast. Along the two month-long tour, Constanten will make four stops across New York State. The first stop comes in Buffalo’s Sportsman’s Tavern on September 26th. Following this performance is a September 27th show at Albany’s Empire Live. The 1000-person venue features state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment, and a large stage, making it one of Albany’s premier venues.
Constanten will return to New York on October 9th with a show at Canandaigua’s Fort Hill Performing Arts Center. The venue’s features a 387-person orchestral theater dating back to 1928. The venue’s impeccable sound makes it one of the top theaters in the Finger Lakes region. Constanten will close out his tour with an October 12th performance at Syracuse’s prolific Westcott Theatre.
Across these tour dates, Constanten and Live Dead & Brothers will perform an eclectic mix of rock, jazz, and blues. These shows will act as a testament to the legacy of the Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers catalogs, featuring their trademark improvisational jams.
Tickets for Constanten’s farewell tour shows are currently on sale. For more information on tickets, visit the link here.
Tom Constanten Tour Dates
9/6 – Carpenter Hall – Irving, TX
9/7 – Cailloux Theater – Kerrville, TX
9/17 – Perot Theatre – Texarkana, TX
9/18 – Cullen Theatre – Houston, TX
9/19 – Greenville Municipal Auditorium – Greenville. TX
9/20 – Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts – Amarillo, TX
9/26 – Sportsman’s Tavern – Buffalo, NY
9/27 – Empire Live – Albany, NY
9/28 – Pat Garrett Amphitheater – Strausstown, PA
9/29 – The Hamilton – Washington, DC
10/1 – Sellersville Theater – Sellersville, PA
10/2 – Beacon Theatre – Hopewell, VA
10/5 – Rams Head on Stage – Annapolis, MD
10/8 – The Empire – Belleville, ON
10/9 – Fort Hill Performing Arts Center – Canandaigua, NY
10/10 – Jergel’s Rhythm Grille – Warrendale, PA
10/11 – Tussey Mountain Amphitheatre – Boalsburg, PA
At the start of August 2024, Buffalo announced the enforcement of an “Amusement fee” on all ticketed events. This announcement was met with immediate backlash from venue owners, local politicians, and musicians across the city. Now, the city has placed a pause on fee collections, seeking other methods of raising revenue. This whole saga still raises some questions: Why did Buffalo implement such an unpopular policy and what is the best way forward?
Letters sent to venue owners alerting them of the amusement fee. Source: Investigative Post
The first question is: Why did Buffalo decide to enforce this unpopular amusement fee? The simple answer is that the city is in desperate need of money. Buffalo currently has a $40 million budget gap that it needs to fill. The city’s current budget adopted on July 1st, depends heavily on a 4.2 percent hike in property taxes and an increase in garbage collection fees. An additional $32 million in federal pandemic relief money, and nearly $15 million from the city’s reserves supplement these taxes. Past attempts to raise revenue, like a 9% tax hike in 2023, have all failed to fix this issue. Despite attempts to raise money, the city’s Control Board still identified over $131 million in potential shortfalls within the next four years. Due to this, Buffalo has attempted to raise money anywhere possible.
The city decided that the best way to tackle these fiscal issues was to enforce an archaic law. The law was the obscure Chapter §75-1. Amusements Classifications of City code, also known as the “Amusement fee.” The law allows the city to charge fees for amusement licenses on all ticketed events. This not only includes music, but also “lectures, exhibitions, theater, sports, comedy…and other shows that charge a fee for entry.” In correspondence to venue owners, the city included a schedule of fees based on show size. For example, an event with tickets below $25 would have an additional $55 fee. Larger events, with tickets over $100, would likewise have higher fees, upwards of $350.
Critics of the law have pointed out its outdated nature. As Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera and Senator Sean Ryan noticed the law includes language referring to “minstrel shows,” and “kinetoscope” exhibitions. As this language implies, the city has not enforced the law in living memory. Many venue owners felt blindsided by its enforcement, never having to pay the amusement fee previously.
State Senator Sean Ryan (center) is one of the amusement fee’s major opponents
While the city has only newly enforced this law, increased event fees are not uncommon in the city. In 2019, the city proposed a surcharge on all events held at city-owned venues. This proposal would have taxed tickets on a sliding scale, ranging from $.50 to $3.50.
Following the enforcement of the amusement fee, musicians and venue owners immediately fired back. Many pointed out that this new fee would cost venues tens of thousands of dollars each year. Not only would these fees put venues at financial risk, but they would waste owners’ time. As Babeville’s operator Scott Fisher pointed out “The burden [is] not only the money, but the time that our staff would have to spend making sure we’re compliant.” If venues fail to comply with event licensing, they could face fines from the city.
Musicians have likewise pointed out the harm on music fans. Buffalo-based musician Dave Thurman speaking to WIVB said “We are talking about asking somebody to pay a $30 ticket instead of a $20 ticket.” These amusement fees threaten to put Buffalo’s music scene at risk, dissuading people from attending concerts due to the elevated prices. As Thurman continues, he noted how this also hurts local business, “Well, that’s probably going to cut into the bar owners’ receipts at the end of the night too, because that person isn’t going to spend that much more.”
Some have also criticized the law as misguided. Riverworks CEO Bill Casale said that money is better off “being reinvested into our facilities and investing into our communities, into our staff and our people.” Instead the city is using “taxes that they want to summon us with that we are unaware of with no notice.” The financial data backs up these points. In 2023, only .01% of the city budget came from event fees. Additionally, in the past 15 years, the city has raised less than $27,000 annually from these fees.
Buffalo Riverworks – one of many venues impacted by the amusement fee
Alongside musicians’ criticisms have been those from Buffalo’s elected officials. At the forefront of the anti-amusement fee push are Assemblyman Jonathan D. Rivera and State Senator Sean Ryan. Ryan has stated that the city’s budget shortall “isn’t a problem that can be solved with quick fixes, and Buffalo can’t afford to keep kicking this can down the road.” He additionally points out that “Reviving an obscure amusement fee to plug budget gaps is the same type of short-term thinking that got the City into this mess in the first place.” Ryan believes that fees like this distract city officials from dealing with serious problems. “Buffalo’s leaders need to permanently scrap this fee and stop trying to put this burden on the backs of small business owners when they should be working on solving the root issues that got us here.”
Assemblyman Rivera likewise pointed out the fee’s threat towards Buffalo’s unique character. Rivera stated that Buffalo needs to “Find a suitable way to improve the City’s finances without sacrificing the vibrant cultural and economic landscape that makes Buffalo unique.” This sentiment was echoed by Scott Fisher of Buffalo’s Asbury Hall. At a local press conference, he said “I have an idea of how to help Buffalo – find a way to raise the city’s population from 280,000 to 380,000 people by making it a friendlier place to live and enjoy the culture, instead of simply nickel-and-diming that culture toward the brink of extinction.”
Asbury Hall’s Scott Fisher has been critical of the amusement fee
The response to the amusement fee goes past criticism, with some local politicians seeking solutions. Buffalo Common Councilman Joe Golombek told Buffalo Rising that he “look[s] forward to working with [his] colleagues in the Common Council and the City administration to find a solution that is both equitable and consistent.”
As a result of the backlash against the amusement fee, actions have already been taken to solve the issue. As of August 7th, the city of Buffalo has placed a temporary pause on amusement fee collections. This move has already gained praise from local venue owners. Jason Hall of Sportsmens Black Rock said to ABC7, “I’m very happy that the city came together really quickly to solve what would have been a real problem to businesses like mine.” Additionally, Venu’s Tim Walton added “It shows they are listening to businesses, shows they’re willing to work with small businesses.”
While a pause has been implemented, the fight is not over according to local politicians. Both Rivera and Ryan have called for a permanent termination of amusement fee collections. WNY music journalist Jeff Miers reports “They vowed to fight side by side with our community of music venues to make this cessation permanent.” For now, this fight will have to wait, as the Common Council is on recess for the remainder of August. As Councilman Golombek pointed out “We can’t change anything until September…but we are very open to doing that.”
This saga begs new questions for the future, specifically regarding how the city will deal with its budget shortfalls. As shown by the swift and unanimous backlash against the amusement fee, any new taxes on live events seem unlikely for the near future. As Common Council President Christopher P. Scanlon stated, any future moves would have to “ensure these vital venues and our arts and cultural scene continue to thrive and remain assets to our city and region.”
