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  • BADBADNOTGOOD Share the Love at Free Show in the Lower East Side

    BADBADNOTGOOD played a generous 80 minutes of high-energy jazz-rock during a free show at Awake in New York’s Lower East Side, Saturday Sept. 20. The band teamed up with the vintage clothing store as part of a promotional drive for their new three-disc LP, Mid Spiral.

    badbadnotgood
    One incarnation of BADBADNOT.

    The mutating Canadian 5-piece came into the night off a four-night run at the Blue Note, and seemed keen to put their new material through its paces in a way they perhaps couldn’t have at the jazz institution a few blocks north. They looked to create a party atmosphere from minute one, and the revved-up crowd were happy to play along with drummer Alexander Sowinski’s high-octane crowd-work.

    BADBADNOTGOOD have always provided up-tempo moments on their records, but Mid Spiral feels like a departure from their earlier work; it climbs to high altitude on opener Eyes On Me – and stays there for the duration. This makes for a charged live show: four-to-the-floor percussion, supported by a rhythm section that might be at home at a bossa nova show, drive distorted guitar turns and upbeat horns.

    Listeners can detect jazz fusion influences as well as subtle notes of jazz contemporaries Thundercat and Kaytranada; indeed, at several points Sowinski made a point to recognize the band’s musical foundations. Fans of this record would do well to check out those two artists, as well as Dutch 9-man collective Jungle By Night.

    This was somewhat of a bootstrap affair and the performance from BADBADNOTGOOD put the LES tenement building through its paces. During bumpier moments one couldn’t help but throw a concerned eye to the creaking ceiling; at quieter points the crowd was reminded that this vintage clothing store has the acoustics of… well, a vintage clothing store.

    The performance was an interesting exercise in gig-based sensory deprivation: with no stage available, the crowd had to rely on their ears – and their feet – for the full experience. But the record makes for a compelling performance nonetheless as keys, guitar, saxophone, trumpet and drums deftly trade prominence throughout. A pared-back saxophone solo late in the day made for some light relief from the 100 mph efforts up to that point; bandmates were invited back in one by one to reach a thrilling climax to the night – the evening’s high point.

    Sowinski began the show by introducing BADBADNOTGOOD as a group of people who care deeply about music, one another and the direction the world is heading. While this latter point may have felt incongruous with the boutique clothing store setting (not to mention the army of iPhones pointed towards the band), the evening was a thrilling celebration of music and those who come together to enjoy it.

  • Albany Swoons For Teddy Swims at Sold-Out Palace Theatre

    Teddy Swims has become a name synonymous with raw emotion and versatility, and on Thursday night, September 26th at Albany’s Palace Theatre, he proved why he’s one of the most magnetic performers in music today.

    The Atlanta-born singer sold out the venue, bringing his soul-stirring blend of R&B, pop, country, and rock to an adoring crowd as part of his “I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy” tour. Along with a joyous opening set from country-rap artist Breland, fans weren’t just showing up for the music, they came for the connection and they came to party. 

    Teddy Swims sold-out the Palace Theatre in Albany on 9/26/24.

    Opening the night was Breland, a country-rap hybrid artist who’s quickly making a name for himself with his genre-defying sound. His energy was infectious as he performed hits like “My Truck,” “For What It’s Worth,” and “Thick.” He was the perfect warm-up for an audience ready to feel every lyric. Breland’s ability to mix country storytelling with urban beats mirrors Swims’ ability to blend styles, making him a natural opener for this tour. After a brief set-change, it was finally time to jump into the deep end.

    Country-rap crossover artist Breland opening for Teddy Swims in Albany on 9/26/24.

    The bond between Teddy Swims and his fans runs deeper than his music. At the Palace Theatre, it was clear that his audience connects with him on a personal level. This is a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve—quite literally, as his tattoos tell the story of his life and struggles. His heavily inked arms are a reflection of his journey, including a prominent “Create Forever” tattoo that serves as a mantra for the singer. Teddy’s tattoos are more than just ink—they are milestones in his personal journey.

    Each piece is carefully curated to represent his struggles, growth, and commitment to his craft. His body art has become as iconic as his voice, with fans often asking about the stories behind the designs. From lyrics of songs to meaningful symbols that represent family, Swims’ tattoos have become part of his brand. Whether he’s singing about love, heartbreak, or resilience, fans see a part of themselves in his lyrics, and it’s this authenticity that sets him apart.

    Teddy Swims performing at the Palace Theatre in Albany on 9/26/24.

    Opening his performance at the Palace with “Goodbye’s Been Good to You” and “What More Can I Say,” from the moment Teddy and his band, Freak Freely, took the stage, the audience was completely enamored.  With both girls and guys regularly blurting out “I love you, Teddy!”  he was always quick to acknowledge he heard them and that he loves them right back.  After all, as Swims is quick to point out, it’s because of them that he’s allowed to “have the best job in the world.” His one request for the evening was that everyone has fun, stays hydrated and to look after the people in their section to make sure everyone was all good.

    During his set, you could feel the energy in the room shift when he introduced songs like “Broke,” which tackles financial struggles, and “911,” a deeply emotional track about mental health. Following them up with a pair of his most recent singles, “Bad Dreams” and “Funeral,” Teddy’s themes often range from self-empowerment to vulnerability, but at the core of every song is the idea of keeping it real, even when life gets hard. Referencing just how far he’s come since the last time he was in Albany, at the much smaller Empire Live venue down the street in November of 2022, his rocket ship to the top has been full throttle ever since, yet Teddy seems to be the same guy now that local fans fell in love with back then.

    Teddy Swims performing at the Palace Theatre in Albany on 9/26/24.

    Swims rise to fame started humbly, as he began uploading covers to YouTube in 2019. What set him apart was his ability to take on songs from a wide range of genres—everything from Marvin Gaye to Shania Twain—and infuse them with his unique grit and soul. That versatility earned him viral success and a massive following, catapulting him into mainstream success. His cover of “You’re Still the One” went viral, showcasing his vocal power, which, combined with his vulnerability, won over millions.

    Now, with 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify and growing, he’s proving that his original material connects just as much as the covers that brought him into the spotlight. Of the many highlights of the night though, perhaps none was more touching than when Teddy invited his main squeeze out for a duet on the aforementioned Shania cover of “You’re Still the One.” At the end of the song, the two exchanged a heartfelt kiss in the middle of the stage which elicited a HUGE ovation, even bringing some to tears.

    Teddy Swims performing at the Palace Theatre in Albany on 9/26/24.

    While Teddy’s voice is his ultimate instrument, it was the band behind him that brought the music to life. Backing him up on stage was Freak Freely, a tight-knit band of musicians who are as dynamic and versatile as Teddy himself. They seamlessly blend genres, moving from soulful ballads to full-blown rock numbers. The core group includes Addy Maxwell (guitar), Christian Medice (drums), and Kyng Henson (bass), each bringing their own flavor to the sound.

    Their synergy with Swims is palpable, creating an atmosphere where every note feels meaningful. Wowing the crowd with their chops on songs like “Hammer to the Heart,” “Devil in a Dress” and the party anthem “Apple Juice,”  Teddy made sure to give each member of the group ample time to shine in the spotlight too. 

    Teddy Swims performing at the Palace Theatre in Albany on 9/26/24.

    A true man of the people, during various guitar, keyboard and drum solo breaks throughout the night, Teddy could be seen signing autographs and T-shirts that people had brought up to the stage.   He was even totally cool with people being on their phones during the show. In fact, at one point during his song “Simple Things,” he encouraged everyone to text a friend or a loved one that they hadn’t been in touch with for a while, just to let them know you still care. 

    His endearing sentimentality also came through prior to performing “Some Things I’ll Never Know,” in which he admits he still thinks about a particular ex-lover and wonders what could have been, before “hypothetically” wishing she was doing well. The ballads continued with “Last Communion” before 2021’s “Bed on Fire” from his album Unlearning brought the main portion of the show to a close and left the audience begging for more.

    Watch fan shot footage of Teddy Swims performing “Lose Control” live in Albany on 9/26/24.

    Returning to the stage with a huge smile on his face, Teddy would soulfully croon “Tell Me” before an absolutely gorgeous piano solo gave the audience ample time to contemplate life. Following an equally beautiful guitar solo intro by Addy Maxwell, fans finally got the song they had been waiting all night for.  A veritable smash hit with well over 1 billion streams in just over a year, “Lose Control” had people from the very front to the very top of the balcony singing along with every word.  It was one of those concert moments that simply gives you the chills and you knew it was something special.   With time left for just one more song, Teddy Swims sent fans out of the Palace Theatre doors in a near euphoric state with one final hit, “The Door,” bringing the scintillating performance to a close. 

    Teddy Swims performing at the Palace Theatre in Albany on 9/26/24.

    As giddy fans gathered outside, the buzz over what they had just experienced felt palpable. Everyone just knew they had to savor the moment, because everyone knew it would likely be the last time they saw Teddy Swims in a venue this size.  Destined for bigger stages in bigger cities, years from now, people will still be talking about this show and saying “I remember the night Teddy sold-out the Palace and it’s still one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen.”   As Teddy Swims continues his North American tour, he’s gearing up for stops in Boston, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia. His star is only rising, and if his show in Albany was any indication, this is just the beginning. Fans are flocking to see a singer who doesn’t just perform songs—he lives them. Every tear, every smile, every ounce of sweat is real, and that’s why Teddy Swims’ shows feel like much more than a night of music—they feel like a shared experience.

    Teddy Swims | September 26, 2024 | Palace Theatre | Albany, NY

    Setlist: Goodbye’s Been Good to You, What More Can I Say, Broke, 911, Bad Dreams, Hammer to the Heart, All That Really Matters, Devil in a Dress, Funeral, Apple Juice, Simple Things, You’re Still the One*, Some Things I’ll Never Know, Last Communion, Bed on Fire.

    Encore: Tell Me, Lose Control, The Door.

    Breland | September 26, 2024 | Palace Theatre | Albany, NY

       

  • The Best-Sounding Music Venue You’ve Never Heard Of: Edwards Opera House

    The Edwards Opera House might be the best-sounding venue you’ve never heard of. Located in the small town of Edwards, New York in St. Lawrence County, the opera house is a veritable hidden gem of the North County. 

    “We’ve had musicians who have traveled around the world who sit on the stage and say it’s the best place they’ve ever played acoustically,” says Kathleen Huber, chair of the Edwards Art Council, a non-profit which oversees the theater’s operations and upkeep. She compares the theater’s shape to that of an upside-down ship, which she credits for adding phenomenal acoustics and natural reverb.

    Kathleen grew up in Edwards, but had no idea the opera house even existed; and for good reason: The theater itself is located on the second floor of the town hall of all places. 

    Edwards Opera House
    Edwards Town Hall exterior. The Opera House is located on the 2nd floor – Photo via edwardsoperahouse.com

    The town hall itself dates back to the late 1800s, where architects in nearby Ogdensburg, were tasked with rebuilding the institution after it had burned down in a fire. Over the years, the town hall has been home to a barbershop, a jail, a post-office and a roller-rink.   The theater on the second floor originally hosted traveling troupes and medicine shows as well as local musicians and actors. It also served as a popular movie theater until the late 1950s. 

    “My parents would go in the 50’s and they would tell me that the place would be full,” Huber recounted. 

    The long history of this building is still very much evident. The original stage curtains are still intact, which include a vibrant hand-painted mural depicting a pastoral scene. It was painted by a traveling troupe that was quarantined in Edwards during the Great Influenza epidemic. On the back of the current, past and current performers have signed their names, with the oldest signature dating back to the early 1900’s.

    Edwards Opera House
    The original hand-painted curtain / Photo via Edwards Opera House Facebook page

    Edwards was a popular mining town for lead and zinc, but when resources ran out in the late 70’s, the mining companies packed up and Edwards began to resemble more of a ghost town. While the town hall remained operational, the theater closed its doors for nearly half a century.

    In the early 200’s the Edwards Art Council, a non-profit organization was formed to oversee the restoration and upkeep of the historic theater. Nearby towns in the North County like Clayton and Heuvelton also restored similar theater spaces around the same time, in a trend to restore historic venues and hopefully revitalize the downtown areas.

    The Edwards Opera House seats nearly 275 people and hosts a small smattering of around 8-10 shows a year. The venue is mostly seasonal, operating primarily in the spring, summer and fall seasons. The Opera House recently wrapped up its summer series, which included a comedy night, a variety show, a family band and a group of fiddlers.

    The Edwards Opera House – Photo courtesy of Edwards Art Council

    But while the Edwards Opera House used to draw full houses for its movie showings, a dwindling population – around 500 people – now makes it difficult to fill the 275 seats in the theater. Most neighboring towns are a 30 minute drive away as well. 

    Huber returned to her hometown and took the role of chair of the arts council during Covid. During this time, she started live streaming concerts to reach new audiences. You can also watch snippets of passt performances on the Edwards Opera House Youtube channel

    The Arts Council is operated entirely by volunteers who dedicate their free time organizing, promoting and hosting events at the opera house. Huber says they are always looking for new members. She said the most rewarding part is being able to provide music and arts to the community. 

    While the Opera House typically closes in the winter, this year the theater will be hosting a holiday show on Dec. 1st.

  • The Park Theater Foundation Announces Adirondack Americana Series

    The Park Theater Foundation has partnered with The Hub in Brant Lake to present the Adirondack Americana music series.

    Adirondack Americana Series

    Founded as a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the Glen Falls community with live entertainment, The Park Theater Foundation has provided a venue for quality and affordable entertainment and educational opportunities in the performing arts for folks in the area time and time again. 

    Their most recent endeavor, Adirondack Americana, is a music series presented in partnership with The Hub. Throughout September and October, an engaging set of indie-americana acts will take the stage at The Hub in Brant Lake to perform live sets that are completely free to the public.

    The Park Theater Foundation

    The first of the Adirondack Americana performances will be a double feature of indie-americana band Mipso member Joseph Terrell and ‘Dream Country’ glitz-and-groove band Blue Cactus on Saturday, September 28.

    Adirondack Americana Series

    The second show on Saturday, October 12 will be performed by Saratoga Springs based band Little Saints, who describes their sound as a healthy blend of americana, indie-folk, and modern soul. 

    The venue for Adirondack Americana is truly one-of-a-kind. The Hub is a bike shop, a bar, a cafe, a concert venue, and more all wrapped into one. With scenic views over a perfect space to bike, hike, or paddle across Brant Lake, The Hub brings folks of all passions together- an energy that matches the Adirondack Americana attitude perfectly.

    Both evenings of free music will commence at 4:00 PM at The Hub. For further information on the performances and how to attend, visit The Park Theater Foundation’s website here.

  • Billy Joel and Sting to Play at JMA Dome in Syracuse

    Billy Joel will return to the Dome in Syracuse for his 8th career performance, and he’s bringing along Sting with him. The pair will rock the JMA Wireless Dome on Friday, April 11, 2025.

    billy joel sting syracuse

    The iconic musicians will each perform their most beloved songs from throughout their illustrious careers. The spectacular show is Billy Joel’s eighth appearance at the JMA Dome and first since 2015, a record-breaking statistic.

    billy joel sting syracuse
    Billy Joel and Sting Syracuse jerseys – photo by CNY Central

    This show will mark Sting’s first time at the JMA Dome as a solo artist, having appeared twice before in performances with The Police in 1982 and 1984).

    “We’re excited to have both Billy Joel and Sting back at the JMA Dome. Both have been here before and have helped draw some of our biggest audiences to date. With this show, Billy will be extending his record number of Dome performances to eight over a nearly 25-year period. We’re grateful to again work with Live Nation on another big concert event and can’t wait to host it. It’ll be a great show,” said Pete Sala, vice president and chief campus facilities officer, managing director of JMA Dome.

    Tickets go on sale on Friday, October 4 at 9 a.m. here.

  • Brooklyn Indie Artist Buffchick Releases “Gone Awhile” Ahead of Anticipated LP

    Brooklyn-based indie artist Buffchick has released a new single titled, “Gone Awhile,” out on all streaming services now. The release comes ahead of her anticipated LP Showtime.

    Erin Manion, known by her stage name Buffchick, brings strong female vocals to the forefront of modern indie music.

    “Gone Awhile” begins with a rising and falling of energy that really grabs the listener and lets them know a climax is to be expected. The track has traditional indie tones and vocal styles, but Buffchick’s vocal strength is certainly unique. Her voice soars majestically and really pushes the backing instrumental forward.

    Around two-thirds of the way into the song, it falls down to an intimate volume before rising back up sharply and stunningly. Buffchick really displays her vocal talents in this section of the song. In my opinion, this ending of the track was the most impressive part, and really shows the talent she possesses.

    Buffchick

    To check out Buffchick’s music, “Gone Awhile,” and to stay up to date on upcoming releases, visit her Spotify by clicking here.

  • The Night Sweats with My Morning Jacket: The Syracuse Summer Concert Season is Officially Closed

    Nathaniel Rateliffe and the Night Sweats and My Morning Jacket have been trekking up the eastern US with a late summer double-bill that has inched over into autumn. Turning the corner into the last week of the tour, they took a daring swing up to Syracuse on September 24, testing the city’s notoriously unpredictable weather.

    Which, it turned out, was actually quite predictably miserable. Low 60s and a a nagging rain. But the hardy crowd was well prepared, and welcomed the rare chance at an early autumn outdoor pavilion concert, the last of the “summer” season at the Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview.

    The bands took comfort in the Upstate NY weather. Jim James proclaiming in a very Jim James way, “Feels good to have the winds of Syracuse blow through my soul!” and Nathaniel Rateliffe, while apologizing to the wet and cold fans out on the lawn, said “This is actually perfect weather for me.” Coming after a couple weeks in the hot South it was no wonder.

    James and Rateliffe are two highly engaging front men, each able to corral both their bands and the audience into a symbiosis, while also managing the flow and energy with skill and ease. The similarly equipped bands, navigate similar but unique sounds. The Night Sweats approach Americana from a Soul Revue angle while My Morning Jacket comes at it with an updated Classic Rock focus. They each took their 90 allotted minutes and made the best of it, seamlessly flowing songs together with very little breaks. It was a match made in live music heaven, and the audience was taken on a fabulous three-hour journey.

    My Morning Jacket took the stage first on this night. Jim James strode out in an all white suit, questionable after Labor Day as it was, but then again James has always played by his own rules. After searing takes on a couple newer tunes out of the gate, “Regular Scheduled Programming” and “Penny For Your Thoughts,” the band settled into the comfort of some well-worn material.

    “Lay Low” arrived early with late set energy and a finishing run of “I’m Amazed,” “Gideon,” “Evil Urges,” “Mahgeetah,” and “Wordless Chorus” was a non-stop parade of hits, energizing the My Morning Jacket faithful while rousing the interest of the larger Night Sweats contingent. But the set hung it’s hat on a monster “I Will Sing You Songs” that was as beautiful as it was ferocious. It’s ending swirled for a long while in and out of a spacey interlude, building up and down out of formlessness for a secondary climax that didn’t quite explode before petering out altogether.

    The relentless energy of My Morning Jacket is a tough act to follow, but Nathaniel Rateliffe and the Night Sweats are no slouches. They came out swinging with “Suffer Me,” their three-piece horn section giving that added punch of color. Whether rollicking on the piano at the back of the stage on, fronting on guitar, or bounding across the stage with a tambourine, Rateliffe was in command and had the crowd on their feet and singing along for the entirety of the set. Their core sound was stretched to cover a lot of ground with the New Orleans blues of “Slow Pace of Time,” the atmospheric folk of “And It’s Still Alright,” the country jaunt of “Hey Mama,” and the bring-the-house-down gospel of “S.O.B.”

    The night came to a head with a show-closing cover of Traffic’s “Feelin’ Alright” that had both bands merging for a very fun onslaught of sound that pulled out the best from both units. The last show of the amphitheater’s season was an early autumn treat that had everyone in Syracuse feeling alright.

    photos by Brian Ferguson

  • Caffè Lena @ SPAC Festival Returns Oct. 5

    Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) in partnership with Caffè Lena have announced the return of the free annual “Caffè Lena @ SPAC” festival which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 5 from midday to 5:30 pm.

    Caffe Lena @ SPAC

    The festival will feature five bands that explore roots, rock, funk, bluegrass, jazz, pop, and indie-folk including Nation Beat with Melanie Sholtz, Wild Adriatic, and others for one day only on Oct. 5. The free event will take place on SPAC’s Charles R. Wood Stage, and will give audiences a wide variety of genres and styles to listen to throughout the day.

    The “Caffè Lena @ SPAC” festival highlights a unique, ongoing collaboration between the arts center and the folk music venue. Caffè Lena has been recognized as the largest continuously operating folk music venue in the United States since opening in 1960 in historic downtown Saratoga.

    The collaboration between SPAC and Caffè Lena first launched in 2017, which included jointly curated and presented programs at both venues. Guests are welcome to bring in food, drink, blankets and lawn chairs for the concerts. Food concessions will also be available. The concerts will take place rain or shine. 

    “Everyone in the crowd treats this event as a gift, and it really is,” says Sarah Craig, executive director of Caffè Lena. “SPAC is a huge organization compared to Caffè Lena, but we both have our hearts in serving the community where we live. We want to be accessible and have the art that happens on our stages be here for everyone. This festival puts those values into action.”

    Learn more here.

    Caffe Lena @ SPAC Full Concert Lineup

    11:30 AM | Gates Open  

    Noon-12:50 PM| Kat & Brad

    1:10-2:00 PM| Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light

    2:20-3:10 PM | Alice Howe & Freebo

    3:30-4:20 PM | Wild Adriatic

    4:40- 5:20 PM | Nation Beat with Melanie Sholtz

  • Singer-songwriter allie Releases Second Studio Album Every Dog

    New York City based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer allie has released her second studio album Every Dog.

    allie every dog

    Allie Cuva, better known under her moniker allie, is a songwriter, producer, mix engineer, multi-instrumentalist and performer- it’s no exaggeration to say that her work is entirely her own. 

    With a pulse on everything music from the age twelve onwards, allie began her professional musical journey after a move to Nashville that allowed her to hone her musical skill set and identity as a musician. In 2021, allie toured extensively as the hired drummer for indie pop artist Cavetown, the same year a debut LP of her own was released- Maybe Next Time

    The gutturally honest and sonically ambitious sounds that had caught the attention of those in the New York City indie-rock scene back in 2021 are sharpened in allie’s newest release, Every Dog. Filled with sounds that are unapologetically allie, the album aims to take a space so often dominated by men and expand the horizons, reaching out to listeners and connecting them based upon the fundamental human experience framed within a lesbian, trans, and leftist lens.

    A vulnerable exploration of queer love and one’s self, Every Dog offers 27 minutes of sitting alongside allie as she spins poetry out of her most vulnerable experiences. Not unlike paging through a personal journal, the listening experience of Every Dog is as self-reflective as the writing process was for allie herself. 

    Throughout each track, she explores the jarring shift of life in suburban Michigan and Tennessee to the vibrant constancy of New York City, struggling through self isolation, finding yourself in the midst of pure creative freedom, and queer love and loss.

    The title track was one of three tracks selected for pre-release- “Radio Shower,” “Every Dog,” and most recently “Tiny Colored Pills”. “Every Dog” and its coinciding music video recorded along the Long Island Coastline explore the simultaneous acceptance and aching loss felt after a necessary separation from those once kept close. 

    “I wanted to create something that felt flickering–the oscillating guitar can resemble the constantly churning transportation flowing through NYC–and that also evolved to deliver the listener somewhere different than expected, which was meant to represent big, structural change in a relationship.”

    – allie, on “Every Dog”

    The video itself is intentionally rather impressionistic and left to interpretation, the only goal when recording being to explore the coastline and possibly capture some of the most mentally engaging imagery. 

    Similarly, the first of three pre-release tracks to see the light of day, “Radio Shower”, is  a deeply impressionistic montage of aging, loss, and love that considers the weight of the passage of time above alternatively tuned guitar plucks and sonically layered instrumentals that lend the song a beautifully textured feel. 

    Clearly a labor of love, the track had gone through over 32 mix revisions with countless arrangement changes and scrapped vocal recordings that resulted in a cohesive testament to allie’s skill across the music-making experience.

    allie has also announced a special one night only album release party at Cassette NYC on October 4 with support from Precious Human and Kid Lake. The evening will celebrate her newest work as she performs the LP from beginning to end. Tickets for this event start at $15 and are available here.

    The full track list for allie’s newest LP Every Dog, out now, is below. Fans can learn more about allie’s works and keep up with all of her latest happenings on her website here.

  • Waterhole Announces October Lineup Featuring Rocktober Fest

    The Waterhole of Saranac Lake has announced its full October schedule, which will include the conclusion of this season’s “Party on the Patio,” the debut of Rocktober Fest, and a Halloween Bash/Costume Contest to close out the month.

    October lineup the Waterhole
    Raisinhead on the patio

    Kicking off the month on Thursday, Oct. 3, Mal Maiz will blend traditional cumbia with psychedelic grooves, Latin, reggae, and Afro-Caribbean sounds. Based out of Burlington, VT, Costa Rican Brujo, Maiz Vargas Sandoval and his Afro-Latino Orchestra are an East Coast dance band with both traditional and modern flair.

    The next day, on Oct. 4, a new annual event called Rocktoberfest will debut. Super 400, a Troy, NY-based band that closed out the 2023 party season with a high-energy rock performance, will play on the patio, with food provided by Kate Mountain Farm and Oktoberfest beer from Zero Gravity.

    On Oct. 10, Drew Foust & The Wheelhouse will make their Waterhole debut. The Wheelhouse is an amalgamation of some of the best musicians in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. Together, Drew and the band contribute to heartfelt songwriting showcasing their signature southern soul n’ roll sound.

    Raisinhead will play the Season Finale Party on the Patio on Oct. 17. The band has built a strong following in Upstate New York, promising audiences an interactive evening of sound, energy, and pure fun. Help us bid farewell to our beloved concert series.

    The annual Halloween Bash and costume contest on Oct. 26 will feature Underground System, a band that has captivated Saranac Lakers with their hypnotic, infectious grooves. This six-piece band from NYC blends dance club vibes with Afrobeat, Latin rhythms, and musical influences from around the world. Special guests New Planets will open the night, blending diverse sonic narratives and performing dance music that defies borders and genres.

    Full Waterhole October 2024 Schedule:

    Thursday, Oct. 3 – Mal Maiz (Party on the Patio, 6-10 PM)

    Friday, Oct. 4 – Super 400 (Rocktoberfest on the Patio 6-10 PM)

    Thursday, Oct. 10 – Drew Foust & The Wheelhouse (Party on the Patio, 6-10 PM)

    Thursday, Oct. 17 – Raisinhead (Party on the Patio, 6-10PM)

    Saturday, Oct. 26 – Underground System wsg. New Planets (Halloween Bash, 7 PM-1 AM, $15 Admission)

    The Waterhole in Saranac Lake is a 21+ venue. All events are free unless otherwise noted. Concert tickets are available for purchase on the Waterhole website.