Cooperstown Concerts has announced that indie rockers ‘Annie in the Water’ are performing their electrifying sound at the Otesaga Hotel on November 15.
Blending elements of Americana with indie rock and infusing their sets with acoustic guitars, synthesizers and a thunderous rhythm section, Annie in the Water transcends genres, offering fans an exhilarating musical journey. With influences spanning rock, soul, funk, reggae and hip-hop, the band’s live shows are a unique experience, with each performance a new adventure that evolves in response to the crowd’s energy. Their infectious grooves and feel-good rhythms are sure to get everyone on their feet, dancing the night away.
The audience at the November 15 show will be joining the band in celebrating the release of their latest album, Things to Do, which explores their deep connection to Upstate New York, the place the band calls home. Described as a “love letter” to the region, the album has garnered praise for its rich, multi-genre sound. Prior to this album, their latest full-length album was 2022 with Sun at Dawn. Between these two albums, the band released several singles in 2023 – “Sailing,” “Honeybee,” and “Frozen Lake.” Many of their singles, EPs and albums have amassed thousands of streams in only a short timeframe.
Because every show is different, experiencing the music of Annie in the Water live can be compared to paddling with a river. At times you may find yourself in the calm of the flow while at other times you may be deep in the rapids while the music churns and grows in energy. With the ebbs and flows you’re reminded of the constant that you are a part of something greater than yourself, working together with the forces around you and caught in the midst of a beautiful moment in time.
With decades of history and a reputation for excellence, Cooperstown Concerts has been a cornerstone of the local music scene, bringing together a community of music enthusiasts and hosting unforgettable performances. The 2024-2025 season continues this tradition of excellence, featuring a diverse lineup that invites audiences to explore new sounds, discover emerging artists, and enjoy timeless favorites.
Founded 55 years ago, Cooperstown Concerts has served as a home for live music – dedicated to bringing an eclectic mix of world-class live music to our community. With a commitment to diversity in programming and a deep connection to its audience, Cooperstown Concerts offers an opportunity for people to come together, experience and engage with high-quality music from around the globe and enjoy a great performance close to home.
Alice in the Water live at Funk n Waffles
For more information on Annie in the Water’s upcoming show in Cooperstown on November 15, their latest album Things to Do, and to purchase tickets or the album, click here.
Get the scoop on what to do before and after Phish during their three-night run in Albany over October 25-27!
photo by Dave DeCrescente
Formed in 1983 through flyers across the University of Vermont’s campus, Phish has had a career of steady incline for more than four decades. Amassing more than eight million sales in the United States, 14 studio albums, a seemingly endless list of live shows under their belt, and their own record label named JEMP records, Phish is a legendary psychedelic-rock-jam fusion to be reckoned with.
Comprised of members Trey Anastasio, Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon, and Page McConnell, Phish has accomplished what most bands have not in the face of multiple group hiatuses and solo endeavors- a legacy as one of the most influential jam bands that spans the first four decades of their achievements thus far and extends well into the prospective future.
With roots in the Northeast, Phish’s connection to New York can not be understated. The band has performed 83 shows in Manhattan’s historic Madison Square Garden to date, surpassing Elton John in 2023 to become the second most frequent musical act to grace the Garden’s stage behind record-holder Billy Joel.
The metro area hasn’t been the only one to experience the magic of Phish’s live performance, however. The group has traveled up and down the entire state, a feat highlighted in our three part series exploring their endeavors in Albany in particular over the course of several decades. Read part one, two, and three here.
Albany has hosted Phish countless times over the course of their career, making it one of few cities they still frequent where fans can track their progression as a band over the course of their visits to the area. Beginning in Albany at the city’s oldest bar Pauly’s Hotel to a crowd of 30-40 fans back in 1989, Phish has worked their way up to a three night stay at the MVP Arena this October 25-27.
In a historic announcement, Phish will be playing their first ever three show run in which 100% of the concert and merchandise profits will go to the Divided Sky Foundation. Established in 2020 during the Beacon Jams, Divided Sky Foundation dedicates themselves to building and supporting a non-clinical residential recovery program that recognizes that addiction is a disease and not an absence of willpower.
Colloquially known by its original name of Knickerbocker Arena, the MVP Arena will be host to Phish and thousands of devoted Phish heads over the course of the exciting and deeply meaningful weekend. For those in attendance, there’s a lot to know about attending the shows and everything in between for the weekend of Phish! But don’t worry- we’ve got you covered.
Primarily, the shows themselves- be sure to check the Arena’s extensive list of policies including bags and prohibited items on the event’s page before you leave home here.
Once at the venue, there are multiple entrances depending on which is nearest you. The main entrance faces Market Street, but if using the MVP Arena parking lot, visitors can use the arena entrance on level three. The Beaver Street entrance provides another route into the arena itself as well.
In addition to attending an unforgettable evening- or evenings- of live music, there’s plenty to see and do in Albany, Phish adjacent and beyond. Fans may find themselves enjoying a grilled cheese at the “Cheesiest Phish Pre Party,’ or adventuring through the Albany Capital Center for the 2024 Dead Man’s Hand Tattoo Expo that spans the duration of the weekend.
Looking for events to explore on a particular day? Read the day-by-day breakdown of the weekend of Phish below.
FRIDAY: OCTOBER 25
Prior to the opening evening, Gratefully Yours will be performing a free pre-show at the casual food and live entertainment venue Ophelia’s at 4:00 PM- only two blocks from MVP Arena. Later that evening the band will return to the stage for a $20 post-show performance with doors at 10:00 PM and a start time of 11:00 PM.
In addition to Gratefully Yours, The Big Dig Live will host a free groovy afterparty at The City Beer Hall with doors at 10:30 PM and a start time of 11:00 PM, and Lark Hall will be hosting The Jerry Dance Party with DJ Jerrbrother. Doors open at 11:00 PM and tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.
SATURDAY: OCTOBER 26
Day two will open with a variety of events including a Divided Sky Foundation pre-show hosted by The WaterWheel Foundation, a PhanArt hometown art show and live music event, and another morning set at Ophelia’s that will loop back around for the evening post-Phish.
A Divided Sky Foundation pre-show event hosted by The WaterWheel Foundation will take place on the 26 prior to the event, a benefit exclusive to ticket holders who purchased the package alongside their ticket or ticket request.
If tickets to the Divided Sky Foundation pre-show aren’t in your hands, don’t worry. There’s plenty more to explore in the area, like the PhanArt Show at the Palace Theatre. In association with Mirth Films, PhanArt presents some of the scene’s best known artists as well as some of the area’s rising stars. From 12:00 to 5:00 PM, attendees can collect exclusive art and apparel, enjoy live music from acts like Kale and Sweeping Views, and treat themselves to free Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food as courtesy of Lark Street Ben & Jerry’s.
Annie In The Water will be the artist in residence at Ophelia’s for October 26, with a free acoustic set pre-Phish and two electric sets after the show at 10:00 PM with tickets at $20.
Saturday’s after parties also include acts like the Beau Sasser Trio, Adrian Tramontano, and Justin Hendricks coming together for a free show at The City Beer Hall with doors at 10:30 PM and show at 11:00 PM, and the Dude of Life Band alongside special guest Ella Fishman at the Empire Underground starting at 11:15 PM. Partial proceeds from the Dude of Life Band’s after party will benefit the Waterwheel Foundation with tickets priced at just under $34.
In addition to these incredible acts, The Jerry Dance Party with DJ Jerrbrother will return for one more night to wrap Saturday evening at Lark Hall in partnership with DayGlo and Nectar. Tickets are priced at $15 in advance or $20 at the door.
SUNDAY: OCTOBER 27
The weekend of Phish will conclude on the 27th. While there isn’t anything Phish-y to attend outside of the final performance that evening, the Albany Comic Con will be hosted at the Polish Community Center just a fifteen minute drive away from MVP Arena. Tickets are $10 online or at the door all day Sunday.
Upstate New York natives Annie in the Water have announced their next studio album Things to Do which will be released on October 25 to go along with two shows in NY in support of the album.
As a follow up to their 2022 album Sun at Dawn, Annie in the Water’s fourth studio album was written and recorded from 2022 to 2024 at Bijou Artist Space in Malta, NY. Things to Do represents a step forward for the band towards a new sound inspired by their surroundings Upstate. Things to Do is a love letter to the region they call home.
Musically, the album is a culmination of two years of hard work with the goal of creating a polished sound that transverses multiple genres. The songs are a reminder to honor one another, to dance while living life with intention, integrity, loyalty, and patience. Each person involved in this project left a tangible impact, creating a truly collaborative album.
Annie in the Water is an alternative rock band from Upstate New York. Since their first album in 2011, Destination, the band’s feel good sound found its roots in acoustic guitars without limits. Their songwriting, led by guitars and synthesizers over a ground-shaking rhythm section, gives the listener the ability to traverse multiple genres.
Annie in the Water will be playing three shows in support of their new album which are listed below. They will also have new album related merchandise and vinyl pre-sales available at upcoming shows.
Annie in the Water Tour Dates:
Saturday, Oct. 26th – Ophelia’s – Albany, NY (Phish at MVP Arena pre and after parties) Friday, Nov. 15th – Cooperstown Concert Series – Cooperstown, NY Saturday, Nov. 30th – Wonder Bar – Asbury Park, NJ (Supporting Fungkshui)
Brew York Festival has announced it will return to Madison Barracks Polo Fields in Sackets Harbor on August 24 with a wide variety of music, entertainments and activities.
Brew York is an all-ages event (kids under 12 free) and features two stages of live music, as well as beer, wine, & whiskey vendors, free tastings, food trucks, cornhole tournament, kids zone, and select craft/artisan vendors. The festival will return this summer and will continue to showcase different local, regional, and national acts.
Headlining this yearâs festival is Mike Powell & The Echo Sound, a five-head rock band from Syracuse formed in 2020. After forming in 2020, the band played all of 2021 under the name Wade, before later changing it to Mike Powell & The Echo Sound. In 2023, the band released their debut album, Plastic Spoon Honeymoon, which was recorded in Utica.
Also, headlining is Annie In The Water, a Indie rock band rooted in limitless acoustic guitars. Over time, listeners can experience rock, funk, reggae, hip hop, soul, dancebeat, and jam with enjoyable melodies driven by guitars and synthesizers over a ground-shaking rhythm section thanks to their songwriting and versatility. Comprised of members Brad Hester on lead vocals and rhythm,, Michael Lashomb on lead guitar and vocals, Josh West on drums and vocals, Chris Meier on bass and vocals, Matt Richards on keys and vocals, and Brock Kuca on percussion and vocals, each of their performance is and exhilarating and everlasting adventure.
The Brew York Festival lineup also includes Sophistafunk, Sydney Irving & The Mojo, Teno2, When We Were Thirty, Undefeated, Josh Cox & The Rattlesnakes, Bread & Circuses, Middle Name Quince, The Rollin’ Rust, Edge & Babi Lou Wi The Basement Crew Jake Desormo, Bull Rush Bay, and Rachel Dara.
Proceeds and event donations will be split this year between ROCC Charity (Rock Out Childhood Cancer) and Local Volunteer Fire and EMS. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit here.
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.
With solar eclipse events and preparations underway from Buffalo to Plattsburgh, one New York band, Annie in the Water, has been on a two-month long journey that will find the group performing during the totality on April 8.
Annie in the Water have been on a ‘Road to Totality’ tour since January, with stops around the Northeast, as well as a trip to Colorado for shows in Denver, Golden and Breckenridge. The longevity of the group and perseverance that led them to their current lineup and performance schedule has been noted by longtime fans, as well as new fans they’ve picked up along the way.
Following the Colorado shows, Annie in the Water returned back to New York for shows in Rochester and Syracuse, but a performance at Lark Hall was cancelled due to the snow storm over March 23-24. That show is now rescheduled for Friday, April 5, and making for a 4-show run that will catch the band playing in Sackets Harbor on April 6, where the duo of Brad Hester and Michael Lashomb first performed together. They then head south to Woods Valley Ski Area near Rome on April 7, then head north again towards the High Peaks, for a show on April 8 at Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington.
When asked about playing during the totality of the solar eclipse, Matt Richards (keys/vocals) shared:
“Just as the eclipse reaches totality, I think myself and as a band will also reach a transient feeling of completeness. The hard work of scheduling, preparing for, and performing the tour will be complete. But just like the eclipse, that moment and feeling won’t last long and it will be onto the next phase for myself, the band, the moon, and the sun.”
After respite in April, the band will hit four music festivals in the first half of the summer, performing at Shakori Hills in North Carolina, Memorial Meltdown in Lake George, Sterling Stage Folkfest in Sterling, NY and Northlands Festival in New Hampshire in June. They’ll also be part of Twin Ponds Campground ‘3rd Thursday’ concert series this summer, where Backwoods Pondfest was held for many years, in Peru, NY.
Shooting for the moon with infinite potential, Asbury Parks’ next big thing is Fungkshui. Not stopping there, they may also be the next big thing in the Capital Region too. With frequent visits to the area, including recent high octane rock performances at Putnam Place and the Rye Bread Music Festival (RFB), the fun-loving psychedelic prog-funk quintet is quickly and consistently earning high praise from high people in high places.
Fungkshui performing at Lark Hall in Albany 1/25/2024.
Whether Fungkshui (pronounced funk shway) are playing to packed clubs along the boardwalks of New Jersey, or randomly stopping in for an unannounced happy hour improv set at The Eleven, it seems the band has found their ‘home away from home’ at Albany’s Lark Hall. As friendly with their staff as they are with their fans, Fungkshui originally made a good first impression at the hall last March while opening for acclaimed avant-garde jazz trio LaMP. Later returning for “Funk Night” with the E-Block in September, NYS Music was there for the for their most recent throwdown on Thursday, January 25th.
Teaming up with sonic astrological improv jammers Quantum Cosmic, a new experimental side project featuring members of Annie in the Water, Raisinhead and The Switch, the dynamic pairing of bands proved to be the perfect combination of good vibes and good times. On a night full of other-worldly jams, technical proficiency, soaring and sublime guitar solos, guest sit-ins, and enough funk to make you want to float around the room and dance with total strangers, both bands turned in peak performances that you ‘outta be kicking yourself for missing.
Blasting off a little later than the advertised 8pm start, Quantum Cosmic quickly made up for lost time by inviting the audience to help telepathically guide them through their all-improvised set. Encouraging listeners to share their positive and creative thoughts as well as birthday wishes to drummer Joshua West, “Just hopefully you’re not a dick about it, ” joked guitarist Michael Lashomb, who also plays with the ever-busy West in Annie in the Water.
Along with Matt Richards on keys, Raisinhead guitarist Ted Grey and bassist James Woods, the band who hasn’t played the same show twice and gambles on “making it up as they go along’ would surprise everyone by also inviting up fellow Annie in the Water/Space Carnival bassist Chris Meier for a memorable trippy dip on the AITW OG staple “The River,” in which the birthday boy West hilariously changed (forgot?) some of the lyrics. After coming back down to earth for a brief intermission, things at the hall were about to get even more Fungky.
Chris Meier sits in with Quantum Cosmic at Lark Hall 1/25/2024.
Barreling their way towards Nectars in Burlington, VT, the road to get there saw Fungkshui work their way through New York by way of gigs at Snug Harbor in New Paltz, an unannounced acoustic set at The Eleven and finally, their fiery headlining set in Albany. Kicking things into gear with a technically proficient and impressive “Meat Salad” >“Ready To Go” > “Power Out” jam sandwich, it was immediately evident what all the fuss over this band is about. Part punk, part prog and overflowing with all kinds of primal groove, there is no denying the twin ax attack and chemistry of guitarists Jack Reed and Max Vitale. Along with the luscious locks of Jon Scheps on the low end, drummer Bobby Reilly and the band’s most recent addition of Dan Hogan on keys, Fungkshui took the Lark Hall stage by sheer force.
Fungkshui performing at Lark Hall in Albany 1/25/2024.
Feeling confident and comfortable in the surroundings, Fungkshui would take the opportunity to debut a new song called “Run It” before getting down and dirty on “Barefoot Blues” and the playful “Dan Dan The Waterman.” One of the true highlights of the night came when the band invited Annie in the Water/Quantum Cosmic keyboardist Matt Richards out for some dueling piano action on Dan Hogan’s well-lit rig. Catharsis through collaboration shining through disco ball lights and huge smiles beaming from the faces of everyone on stage, it was the kind of magic musical moment that makes Lark Hall such a special place to see a show.
Matt Richards sits in with Fungkshui in Albany 1/25/2024.
An unexpected guilty pleasure came next in the form of Alice DeeJay’s “Better Off Alone,” which had the whole room dancing around each other in circles. After successfully showing their hand, Fungkshui would then “Ante Up” and “Fade Away” before going deep into the night with one last party jam, “That’ll Do.”
Matt Richards sits in with Fungkshui in Albany 1/25/2024.
With such a formidable relationship already forming between the band and the venue, you almost can’t help but feel optimistic there will be many more magical Fungkshui moments on Lark for years to come. Fresh off the release of their first full length album “Ready to Go,” it’s clear this band is just that. Buckle up in 2024, Fungkshui is about to blast off, and what can I say, I’m totally here for it.
Watch fan shot footage of Fungkshui performing “That’ll Do” in the video clip below:
Fungkshui | January 25, 2024 | Lark Hall | Albany
Setlist: Meat Salad > Ready To Go > Power Out, Run it•, Barefoot Blues > Dan Dan The Water Man, Didn’t Know Anything, Better Off Alone*, Ante Up, Fades Away, That’ll Do
*= Alice DeeJay Cover •= Original Song Debut
Quantum Cosmic | January 25, 2024 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY
The fifth annual Dead of Summer Music Festival is coming to Hunter Park from July 12-14, nestled on 25 acres in the Green Mountains of Manchester, Vermont.
Dead of Summer features three days of live music on two stages, with over 20 food and craft beer vendors. It is family/kid-friendly, with various activities including yoga, a kids set with Andy The Music Man, tie-dying, disc golf, and RV and tent camping opportunities. The event is rain or shine.
The lineup includes a variety of well-known jam bands, including Pink Talking Fish performing the Grateful Dead’s album Terrapin Station and a fusion of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, and Phish. The Ensemble includes THE WOLFPACK string & brass quintet along with members of Twiddle, Remain In Light/Cool Cool Cool, and Dead Set.
Special guests include Neighbor, Max Creek, Bearly Dead, Dead Man’s Waltz, Deadgrass, Bar Maids, Lizards: A Phish Tribute, Annie in The Water, Misty Blues Roadhouse Revival, Mystic Dead, Harvest & Rust: A Neil Young Tribute, Rev Tor’s KlusterFunk, Saints and Liars, Organ Fairchild, The Rejuvenators w/ Wanda Houston, Woody and Rebel Alliance, and The Morning Dudes.
Gates open at 9 am on Friday, July 12. For more information about the Dead of Summer Music Festival and to purchase tickets, visit here.
