The Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, NY announced their first-ever Earth Fest hosted on April 21 from 12 to 4pm.
Earth lovers of all ages are invited to the Ashokan Center for a variety of family-friendly and planet-focused activities. This includes a birds of prey demonstration, hands-on educational workshops, story readings, nature crafts, art-making activities, guided hikes, and live music presented by Shokoloko.
Ravensbeard Wildlife Center will host an educational birds of prey demonstration at 12:30pm spotlighting their rescued and rehabilitating birds. Ravensbeard provides wildlife rehabilitation for injured, ill and orphaned animals in order to return them back to the wild.
Earth Fest features a guided hike around Cathedral Gorge. The trail passes relics of the recent and prehistoric past, including a 19th-century water mill, a 130-year-old covered bridge, and a glacial gorge, before it ends at a 80-foot waterfall. Folks can enjoy this day filled with art, music, nature, and food regardless of financial situation.
No one will be turned away for lack of funds, but any donation is appreciated. The Ashokan kitchen plans to serve savory vegetarian dishes to all. Various workshops are in store including Ink Making and Drawing with Natural Materials, Patching & Upcycling Clothes, and Nature Art. These workshops are hands-on and are encouraged for people of all ages.
For more information on Earth Fest 2024 on April 21 and to select tickets, click here.
Rock group The FMs have announced the upcoming “Frankie Fest” music festival honoring the late Frankie Rex in Coney Island this May 11. The festival sees a stellar lineup of NYC queer bands and performers and marks the festival’s inaugural opening.
The event will also serve as the record release party for PINK + BLACK and features the first performance from The FMs in over four years – and the first-ever without Frankie. Frankie Fest highlights a range of cutting-edge, NYC-based queer performers showcasing indie rock, goth, riot grrrl, punk, metal, and more. Featured acts include Pink Velvet Witch, Jordan Fiction, Villains, Llynks, The FMs, Frida Kill, Miss Cherry Delight and more.
Their sophomore double album was completed the moment the pandemic started. It is now making its release after the tragic death of singer Frankie Rex in 2022. The material highlights the group’s love of analog synthesizers combined, ethereal guitars and takes a more emotionally dynamic turn. This contrasts their debut album spanning themes from sexual irreverence, the nature of dreams and human connection, to hope for the future of gender freedom.
The show begins May 11 in Coney Island. Doors for the show open at 4pm and music lasts until 10pm. The FMs will release PINK + BLACK on May 10.
To learn more about Frankie Fest and to purchase tickets, click here – to learn more about The FMs and to stay up to date on the group’s upcoming release, click here.
Caroga Arts Collective announced the lineup for the Caroga Lake Music Festival (CLMF)’s 2024 summer season – bringing in more than 150 artists from around the world to Caroga for 40 events spanning genres from funk, rock, pop to jazz, americana, classical, and even comedy.
Notable artists include Cory Wong, Sawyer Fredericks, Eddie Barbash, Alex Moffat, Henhouse Prowlers, and rising superstar Eddie Benjamin. In addition, over 100 Resident Artists from 24 states and five countries will reside across six weeks and perform major orchestral pieces like Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and Copland’s Appalachian Spring, as well as prominent solo and chamber works.
Presented by Caroga Arts Collective, the Caroga Lake Music Festival is a multi-genre music festival presenting a series of world-class performances in the Southern Adirondacks. Since the festival’s founding in 2012, CMLF has grown from a one-week chamber music festival to an internationally recognized festival showcasing a multitude of genres from May to September. The mainstay is a five-week summer residency featuring renowned soloists, chamber musicians, and orchestral professionals in collaboration with international touring guest artists.
Located on the shore of West Caroga Lake, Sherman’s Park is the home base for the Caroga Lake Music Festival. Known as a venue for iconic big bands in the 1920s and 1930s, Sherman’s provides the perfect up-close setting for an engaging and memorable concert-going experience. Caroga Lake Music Festival regularly attracts thousands of audience members from locally and afar to its concerts, helping spur tourism and economic growth for the town. Caroga Arts is proud to welcome concertgoers of all ages to ride the George and Ruth Abdella Carousel before every 2024 CLMF concert at Sherman’s Park.
Each summer, it’s a joy to bring artists, audiences and communities together for concerts, events and memories along the lake. It’s hard to believe we started this 13 seasons ago when we were only teenagers and now those same artists are going on to win the Grammys, playing in Carnegie Hall and touring across the world. CLMF resides at the core of Caroga Arts mission to reimagine the Adirondack Experience through the power of the arts. By showcasing a diverse group of artists ranging across genres, generations, and geographies, we are confident this year’s lineup features something for everyone.
Kyle Barrett Price, Founder, Executive and Artistic Director of the Caroga Arts Collective.
Performing at the 2024 CLMF for the first time this year are ‘80s rock band Generation Radio(featuring former members of Chicago, Rascal Flatts, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Americana/country group The Mallett Brothers Band, and jazz vocalist Shayna Steele. Other highlights will include: “Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue at 100,” performed by Caroga Arts Ensemble and conducted by Grammy winner David Alan Miller, with Kevin Cole on piano; The return of the free Kids Carousel Concert series including a performance of Louie the Loon, back by popular demand; The Queen’s Cartoonists and collaborations with Running Wild Media and Utica Dance; and Multi-instrumentalist and musical prodigy Eddie Benjamin, who toured with superstar Justin Bieber, collaborates with Caroga Arts Ensemble.
In the Fall of 2023, Caroga Arts launched the String Project & Arts Collaborative Education (SPACE) program in Wheelerville and Johnstown schools. This groundbreaking initiative aims to deliver accessible music lessons and mentorship opportunities to students in schools where the offerings are not otherwise provided in their music programs. This summer marks another milestone for Caroga Arts as they introduce the SPACE Summer Camp, previously recognized as the CLMF Lessons & Ensemble Program. The camp is designed to continue the momentum of providing individual and small group lessons throughout the summer, offering students the opportunity to learn from the esteemed Resident Artists.
We are thrilled to provide returning and new engaging workshops for all ages and levels through the SPACE Summer Camp. Each summer, our education programs have proven to be a rewarding experience for all involved — the Resident Artist instructors, our community of music students, and all attendees of our annual showcase. As we expand arts education offerings to support our youngest students to our senior amateur musicians, the summer program remains a beloved tradition that allows us to build on our year-round resources and provide opportunities for musicians of all ages to hone their musical talents.
Stephanie Price-Wong, Caroga Arts’ Director of Education and Community Engagement.
We are thrilled to provide returning and new engaging workshops for all ages and levels through the SPACE Summer Camp. Each summer, our education programs have proven to be a rewarding experience for all involved — the Resident Artist instructors, our community of music students, and all attendees of our annual showcase. As we expand arts education offerings to support our youngest students to our senior amateur musicians, the summer program remains a beloved tradition that allows us to build on our year-round resources and provide opportunities for musicians of all ages to hone their musical talents.
Discounted Season Passes are now available for purchase and tickets for individual performances will go on sale April 26, 2024. All Caroga Arts presented events are free for children and students aged 17 and below, excluding fundraising events. To learn more about Caroga Arts and reserve tickets, please visit here.
2024 CLMF Schedule
Sat, May 25 @ 11 a.m. – Kids Carousel Concert: Reptiles & Friends Via Aquarium
Sat, May 25 @ 7 p.m. – The Man in Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash
Fri. Jul 5 @ 7:30 p.m. – CLMF Resident Artists: Symphonic Sparks! A Fourth of July Concert & Fireworks
Sat. July 6 @ 5 p.m. – Red, White, Blues & Bluegrass: The Mallett Brothers Band; Quinn Sullivan; Geoff Saunders & The Nashville Bluegrass Buddies
Wed. July 17 @ 7 p.m. – CLMF Resident Artists: Carousel Music Box: An immersive experience with Caroga Arts & Utica Dance
Fri. Jul 19 @ 7 p.m. – CLMF on Tour: Caroga Chapel: Caroga Arts Ensemble performs the Holberg Suite
Sat. Jul 20 @ 5 p.m. – Caroga Arts Gala: A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Cara Samantha & The Highline Band
Sun. Jul 21 @ 3 p.m. – CLMF on Tour: Sacandaga Valley Arts Network
Wed. Jul 24 @ 7 p.m. – The Queen’s Cartoonists: Music from cartoons and animation, Live and synchronized to the big screen!
The 14th annual Lower East Side Film Festival returns to the Big Apple from May 2 to 6. The festival has recently announced its feature film lineup and opening night events.
The 14th annual LESFF at Village East Cinema and DCTV Firehouse Cinema in New York City features the innovative work of creative, up-and-coming filmmakers, and showcases their films in the heart of New York City’s vibrant and historic Lower East Side.
This year Lower East Side Film Festival welcomes Lizzy Caplan, Beanie Feldstein, and actress Susan Kelechi Watson. Academy Award nominated producer and co-founder of Killer Films, Pamela Koffler, actress, singer, filmmaker Brittany Snow, writer, comedian and actor, Julio Torres, and many more will also be present at the events.
In addition, special screenings at Village East Cinema celebrate the 25th Anniversary of 1999, akathe Greatest Year of Movies – Ever!. Retrospectives include “Cruel Intentions” with Q&A with Director Roger Kumble on May 3.Chris Smith’s 1999 documentary debut “American Movie” on May 4 and “But I’m A Cheerleader” plusQ&A with Director Jamie Babbiton takes place May 5.
Over the four-day span, various films are showcased and discussed with a panel of artists, writers, and “jurors.” Village East Cinema and DCTV Firehouse Cinema are set to present these works and discussions beginning at various times throughout the festival. Opening night tickets, 25th anniversary screenings and festival all-access passes are on-sale now. Feature films, 30+ shorts, panels and parties tickets are available on April 15.
For more information on the festival and to purchase tickets to the various events, click here.
Dance Party returns to Bryant Park for its 10th anniversary from May 1 to May 16. Each night will correspond to a different style of dance.
Dance Party events will take place every Wednesday and Thursday from May 1 to May 16. At each event, attendees meet at the iconic Bryant Park fountain to learn basic steps with expert instructors at 6pm. Afterwards, participants can test out their new moves to live music performed by a diverse selection of bands from 7pm-8:30pm.
The two week-long event sees over 10 different styles of dance for anybody to pick up and learn. A slew of talented individuals and groups makeup the festival’s lineup this year. This year’s series kicks off with New York City’s signature brand of Salsa and R&B served up by Uptown Royalty. Disco’s golden era is accentuated by The Disco Nights.
Other artists in the lineup include Judy Santos, Charles Turner & Uptown Swing, KD Browne, La Charanga Pacha and Jimmy Bosch Salsa Masters. Various different and diverse genres performed include salsa, disco, R&B, Bachata, Lindy Hop, Motown, Charanga, Cuban Salsa, and Cha Cha Cha.
For the last ten years, Bryant Park Dance Party has highlighted diverse cultures and traditions from around the globe and across the boroughs of New York City. More than 50,000 participants have danced on the Fountain Terrace and expert instructors have taught 32 different social dance styles ranging from Bhangra to Polka; Cumbia to Lindy Hop; Flamenco to Contra. After learning the dance steps, audiences immediately put those moves to use, dancing to live music from renowned bands.
Uptown Royalty
“Over the past ten years, Bryant Park Dance Party has grown to a new level, offering some of the most exciting, diverse, free entertainment in one of New York’s most beautiful settings. This year, we’re featuring a range of styles, both traditional and new, and the colorful lineup brings together so many different parts of the City. This series is so special to me because it brings so many New Yorkers together to dance and have the time of their lives.”
Talia Castro-Pozo Bryant, Park Dance Party Producer
For more information on the Dance Party festival at Bryant Park visit the parks website by clicking here.
Stephane Wrembel is proud to announce that the highly anticipated Django a Gogo Music Festival is coming to New York City. This festival is held at The Woodland in Maplewood, New Jersey from May 1-3, and will culminate at The Town Hall in NYC on May 4.
Stephane Wrembel
The festival features performances by Angelo Debarre, Serge Camps, and Frank Anastasio, who are making their first American appearance. Django a Gogo is a celebration of the unparalleled music legacy of jazz guitarist and composer Django Reinhardt.
Django á Gogo has united some of the world’s most exceptional musicians to honor the timeless Sinti guitar style. This year’s festival promises a dynamic lineup, featuring renowned artists from France, Canada, and the United States. The event showcases the vibrant evolution of Reinhardt’s repertoire through reinterpretation, improvisation, and cross-cultural collaborations.
Django a Gogo 2024 Festival Dates & Features
Wednesday May 1, 2024 8PM The Woodland (Maplewood, N.J.) DJANGO NEW ORLEANS featuring: Stephane Wrembel and Josh Kaye on guitar, Adrien Chevalier on violin, Joe Correia on Tuba, Scott Kettner on drums, David Langlois on percussion, Nick Driscoll on sax/clarinet, Joe Boga on trumpet and Sarah King on vocals
Thursday May 2, 2024 8PM The Woodland (Maplewood, N.J.) THE GYPSY GUITARS TRIO Legendary Angelo Debarreâs trio Featuring: Angelo Debarre (guitar), Serge Camps (guitar), Franck Anastasio + many guests
Friday May 3, 2024 8 PM The Woodland (Maplewood, N.J.) STEPHANE WREMBEL BAND + GUESTS Featuring: Stephane Wrembel on guitar, Josh Kaye on guitar, Ari Folman-Cohen on bass and Nick Anderson on drums
The City of Albany is hosting the 76th Annual Albany Tulip Festival presented by KeyBank on Saturday, May 11, and Sunday, May 12 in Washington Park.
The Albany Tulip Festival is Albany’s signature spring event, featuring nearly one hundred artisans selling their handmade crafts, a fine arts show, delicious food trucks, the KidZone family fun destination, three world-class live entertainment stages, a brand new wellness stage with free dance classes, Yogafest, and more than 100,000 tulips can be admired in the historic Washington Park. The festival will bring many genres from across the state and beyond performing on multiple stages for the many people that attend.
Since Mayor Erastus Corning II read the first Tulip Festival Proclamation on May 14, 1949, the Mother’s Day weekend celebration has become one of the Northeast’s biggest and most beloved yearly events. Featuring area vendors, businesses, community organizations, and original local artists on every stage the Tulip Festival honors Albany’s four centuries of history while looking ahead to its future. As always, this event is free and open to the public.
For more information about the 2024 Albany Tulip Festival, visit here.
A local institution for over a century, this acclaimed male chorus is the longest-continuously performing arts group in the Capital Region.
11:45 a.m. – Tulip Queen Procession (Begins at formal Tulip Beds by Moses Statue) The 2023 Tulip Queen Olivia Owens, Mayor Kathy Sheehan, and the Dutch Settlers Society lead the 2024 Tulip Queen finalists to the Lakehouse Stage.
Noon – Tulip Queen Coronation (Lakehouse Stage)
Mayor Sheehan and MC Chad O’Hara of B95.5 crown the 76th Albany Tulip Queen in this traditional highlight of Tulip Fest weekend.
PARKALBANY’S MAIN STAGE
Washington Park Parade Grounds
1:30 p.m. –OF THE ATLAS: Catskill NY-based songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist Jay Woodruff has led the alternative rock band Of The Atlas through a range of styles and incarnations. Initially, it was a solo act by the enthusiastic and longtime member of the thriving and diverse regional underground rock community, Woodruff fleshed the group out into a powerful blend of introspective indie, vibrant art rock, and infectious power pop. Now joined by Ethan Klee and Kenny Rowe.
3:00 p.m. –PRINCE DADDY & THE HYENA: Prince Daddy & the Hyena is an American punk rock band from Albany formed in 2014. They have released three full-length albums and four extended plays.
4:30 p.m. –THE FRONT BOTTOMS: When you turn on a record from The Front Bottoms, you hear the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of two lifelong friends who stare down personal tragedy and the madness of a world gone haywire by simply playing a little louder together. The New Jersey natives went from playing in the woods to performing in high school bands. After the lead singer finished college, The Front Bottoms officially formed – creating their 2011 self-titled independent debut.
A whirlwind of prolific output and countless gigs followed. The Front Bottoms reached a critical peak with 2017’s Going Grey. It received praise from The FADER, Stereogum, VICE, A.V. Club, and more. Along the way, the band performed on Late Night with Seth Meyers and NPR’s “Tiny Desk,” graced the stages of Coachella, Austin City Limits, and Bonnaroo, and toured with the likes of Blink-182, Manchester Orchestra, tallied nearly 100 million streams, sold over 500,000 album equivalents, and launched the annual holiday festival Champagne Jam, which expands year over year at an unprecedented rate.
The Front Bottoms. Photo credit: Maddie McCafferty
WEXT’S 518 STAGE
Washington Park Lakehouse Stage
1:00 p.m. – SIDE B: Four-piece alternative rock band from Upstate New York consisting of drummer Dylan Travison, bassist Eric Mitchell, guitarist AJ Horton, and vocalist Ian Justino. Their debut release The Low Budget Romance EP is out now.
2:15 p.m. – SOFIA CORTS: “Sofia Corts is an 18-year-old singer-songwriter from the Albany area on the cusp of a national breakout. Self-taught on guitar and keyboards, her songwriting effortlessly blends genres, pop, R&B, and a hint of jazz, while generating infectious, memorable melodic hooks.
3:30p.m – CAMTRON5000: Camtron5000, a rapper from Albany, has been creating alternative hip-hop music since 2016. He hopes to break the stereotypes of what it means to be a rapper. Channeling a dynamic yet playful energy with his skilled lyricism, and sporting a logo crafted from his gapped smile, Camtron5000 is a musical personality unlike any other.
4:45 p.m. – THE INSOLENT WILLIES: The Insolent Willies is an upstate New York-based roots-rock band known for their hip-shaking mix of quirky, clever original songs and unpredictable interpretations of tunes from all over the musical map. The band consists of Bill Ackerbauer (acoustic guitar, harmonica, mandolin, vocals), Frank DeVer Pullen (bass, banjo, vocals), Paul Gavry (accordion, fiddle, vocals) and Evan Gavry (guitars, percussion, vocals).
SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2024
PARKALBANY’S MAIN STAGE
Washington Park Parade Grounds
1:00 p.m. – OFF THE RECORD: Off The Record Trio is the Capital District’s only 1960’s rock and roll lounge band. Awarded an “Eddie” for Best Capital District Party Cover Band two years in a row, the trio plays 60’s vintage tunes and some hidden nuggets with a modern twist. It is led by the dynamic and engaging Joanna Palladino on vocals with local favorite Geo on guitar/vocals along with Bob Resnick splashing rock and roll rhythms on a minimalist drum set.
2:30 p.m. –FUNK EVOLUTION : Formed in 2010, Funk Evolution has been bringing top-shelf entertainment to the Northeast for 14 years and features a who’s who of musicians from New York and Massachusetts. They are best known for their high-energy delivery and unique arrangements; epic mashups of classic R&B with modern Top 40, 15-minute mega-medleys, and their legendary ‘Sax Battle’ featuring original 14-year member, Justin Godlewski on Alto saxophone. Funk Evolution is one of the most diverse entertainment groups in the region and has been recognized internationally as one of the top entertainment groups in the nation.
4:30 p.m. –NEW YORK PLAYERS: New York Players are New York’s Dance Party Experts, an entertainment powerhouse with a focus on corporate and private events, nightclubs, concerts, and festivals.
WEXT’S 518 STAGE
Washington Park LakehouseStage
1:00 p.m. –GIRL LOVE: Girl Love is the Albany-based, folk project of award-winning poet and songwriter, Laura Beth Johnson. She is known for her dark blend of story and soul – awarded the Lucy Monro Brooker Poetry Prize from the University of Indianapolis in 2017. In 2019, she received the Songwriting Scholarship by Image Magazine and a Poetry Scholarship from the Hudson Valley Writers Guild in 2022. In 2023, Girl Love was nominated for two Eddies.
2:15 p.m. –THE E-BLOCK:The E-Block is a five-piece indie R&B band based in Upstate New York, blending the acoustic warmth of singer-songwriter music with an ice-cold rhythm section informed by modern R&B.
3:30 p.m. –REESE FULMER & THE CARRIAGE HOUSE BAND: “Reese Fulmer & The Carriage House Band challenge the traditional relationship of a songwriter and his band, with a fluidly rotating cast of top-notch players and a flair for experimentation that combine for a unique and mesmerizing live performance. Add to that a keen lyricism that explores the human experience with a patient and poetic touch.
4:45 p.m. –OOBLECK: Oobleck, founded in 2008, is an original, analog funk band out of the Capital Region. Known regionally for inciting dance parties wherever they land, they boast a big, in-your-face sound inspired by New Orleans street music. It’s a melee of horns, super heavy drums and bass, and your favorite type of chunky guitar riffing that leaves your bum shaking and your face grinning.
Bands N’ Beans is making its anticipated return to Lake George for its 30th anniversary this April. The festival will showcase a slew of bands from across New York State, as well as over 20 restaurants’ homemade chili.
The annual festival is brought to the forefront by Lake George Arts Project. Bands N’ Beans is held on April 14 at Fort William Henry Conference Center. The festival sees a lineup of nine total bands playing throughout the duration of the event from 2-7 pm. These artists play on two separate stages, one electric and one acoustic. Along with the diverse and fun musical element comes the “beans” element.
Over 20 local restaurants are throwing down their best chili concoctions and vying for the sought-after People’s Choice Award. This event isn’t just a ton of fun, the proceeds from Bands ‘n Beans benefit the Lake George Arts Project’s free and open to all music and art programs like the year-round Courthouse Gallery exhibitions, Summer Concert Series and the popular Jazz at the Lake, a three-day Jazz Festival.
Tickets for Bands N’ Beans can be purchased by April 12 for $25 or bought day of for $30. For more information on the festival and to purchase tickets, click here.
The second annual Geneva Jazz Festival returns April 4-7, featuring 20 performances at nine venues over four days.
The Geneva Jazz Festival is held in Geneva, known for innovation and forward-thinking businesses. It is the gateway to the Finger Lakes, providing access to historical landmarks, natural beauties, wineries, breweries, food, shopping, and more.
The festival honors the late Scott LaFaro, who grew up in Geneva. At 18, he started learning to play the double bass. In 1961 he was killed in a car accident at age 25. He became the most influential jazz bassist ever after his performance with Stan Getz at the Newport Jazz Festival and subsequent recordings with the Bill Evans Trio, which still impacts jazz today.
The nine headline concerts are hosted at the historic Club 86, featuring a high-fidelity sound system by George’s Pro Audio for an immersive jazz experience. These performances represent some of the finest jazz musicians working and creating in New York State. Evening concerts on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – plus matinee shows on Saturday and Sunday.
Schedule
On the opening night on April 4, the festival celebrates women in jazz at the historic Club 86. Trombonist and vocalist Melissa Gardiner brings her organ trio MG3 (8 PM), with singer Vanessa Vacanti & Jazz Mafia (6 PM) and saxophonist Ellen Pieroni & Encyclopedia of Soul (4 PM) performing. There also is a free concert at Ventosa Vineyards with Annie Wells Trio featuring Mike Kaupa (5 PM) and the free FLIMA Open Jazz Jam at 10 p.m.
On Friday, April 5, The Ryan Johnson Project performs at 2 p.m. It has become a known name in the music industry, featuring informed, professional, outgoing attitudes, and beautifully written pieces of music that have caught the ears of many worldwide. Ryan and his group have played with, opened for, and collaborated with artists such as Cabo Frio, Chuck Mangione, Maynard Ferguson, Soulive, Sharon Jones, Gary Clark Jr., and Robert Randolph.
At 4:30 p.m., The Mellow Warblers perform playful renditions of jazz standards and deviations – setting the perfect mood with an ever-mellow attitude. At 5, The Craig Snyder Trio plays a wide variety of jazz-rock material steeped in groove, ensemble unity, and melodic soloing. The Rochester band is fronted by veteran guitarist, teacher, and composer Craig S Snyder. Others include Tony Hiler + Giancarlo, A Tribute to Sam Venuti, Mike Melito Quartet, and the free FLIMA Open Jazz Jam.
On Saturday, April 6, the Greg Lofaro Quartet begins the day at 1 p.m., with the Mike Titlebaum Quartet preceding. Mike directs the jazz studies program at the Ithaca College School of Music, teaching jazz saxophone, arranging, improvisation, and theory. Before teaching, he lived in New York City where he played at the Blue Note, Smalls, Augies, Fez/Time Café, and the legendary CBGB’s. He has performed with dozens of internationally recognized artists and groups including John Hollenbeck, Gary Versace, Branford Marsalis, Jason Robert Brown, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra, and more.
At 3 p.m., the Banjo Juice Jazz band performs an eclectic blend of vintage blues, jazz, and swing. Founded by bandleader, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Tyler Westcott in 2017, the group features musicians from many notable bands. At 4:30, the Swordfish Trio brings a soulful, blues-infused, and high-energy improv experience that takes you on a journey from tight riffs and funky Afrobeat grooves to soulful jazz and subtle bass virtuosity.
At 8, the Bill Tiberio Sextet performs. In his 40th year as a music educator, he has been a band director at Fairport (NY) High School for 36 years, directing two concert bands and three jazz ensembles, and is also an adjunct faculty member at the Eastman Community Music School – directing the Educator Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble and a high school wind ensemble camp. He is an active saxophonist and clarinetist in the Rochester music scene and has recorded four albums with his contemporary jazz quintet, the Bill Tiberio Band.
The final day begins early at 11 a.m. with the Evan Dobbins Quartet feat. Bill Dobbins. At noon, the Dave Solazzo Duo plays modern interpretations of jazz standards and original compositions in the spirit of Oscar Peterson, Keith Jarrett, and Brad Mehldau. Dave Solazzo has been a mainstay of Central New York’s music scene for over two decades, working with artists from a wide mix of genres – jazz, fusion, R&B, and beyond.
At 2 p.m., Dennis Winge + John Viavattine perform, with the Nancy Kelly Quartet following. Over her 40-plus-year career, Nancy Kelly has perfected her signature swing/bop take in front of audiences all over the U.S.A. and abroad. She performs regularly in New York City, including at The Blue Note and Birdland, The Rainbow Room, and Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Lincoln Center. Finally, at 6 p.m., The Pickle Mafia, a dynamic trio from New York, performs their unique brand of Arena Jazz Fusion. The visual appeal the band brings to audiences across the globe is an important element that adds to their musical artistry.
To purchase tickets for the many performances at the Geneva Jazz Festival, visit here.
The Skaneateles Festival is celebrating 45 years this summer from July 31 through August 24, 2024, featuring an incredible variety of concerts from jazz to classical to bluegrass.
The season includes 14 main series concerts, two KidsFest performances, a free music lecture series with Juilliard professor Aaron Wunsch, and several community outreach performances.
The idea for the Skaneateles Festival came together in the spring of 1980 in discussions between musician Lindsay Groves and Skaneateles residents Beth Boudreau and Louise Robinson. The first season, two weeks, was presented that August in the village’s Library Hall. The generous David and Louise Robinson opened their home, Brook Farm, which soon became the Festival’s center.
At Brook Farm, musicians would live, eat, rehearse, relax, and perform, all because of the Robinsons’ hospitality – which extended to the thousands of concertgoers who sat under the stars and listened to music on Saturday evenings for the first 36 years of the festival. Its mission is to be one of the nation’s outstanding summer music festivals, set in the beauty of the Finger Lakes region.
Concert evenings at the picturesque Robinson Pavilion offer stunning lake views and are situated at Anyela’s Vineyards, taking place on Friday, August 2, and Saturdays, August 10, 17, and 24.Opening the first vineyard concert of the season is renowned musician Rhiannon Giddens. A two-time GRAMMY winner and recipient of the prestigious MacArthur ‘Genius’ grant, Giddens is known for her iconic folk music and efforts to spotlight overlooked contributions to American musical history.
During week two, the festival proudly welcomes Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh and invites audience members to grab a glass of wine and bring a picnic for Beethoven Under the Stars. Appearing at the Festival for the first time on August 17 is Chris Thile – a GRAMMY Award-winning mandolinist, singer, and songwriter. Thile is a highly regarded musician celebrated for his mastery of the mandolin and innovative approach to bluegrass, folk, and classical music.
The Festival Finale features the highly anticipated return of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis on August 24.
For concerts at the vineyards, audiences are welcome to arrive as early as 6:00 pm and bring picnic dinners to enjoy on the lawn overlooking the lake. Wine and beer will be available at Anyela’s Vineyards; outside alcohol is not. On August 3, the Skaneateles Festival presents its largest-ever orchestral concert at one of the area’s high schools. The program, Music of the Americas, features colorful music from North and South America, including Alberto Ginastera’s Harp Concerto featuring Bridget Kibbey, Gabriela Lena Frank’s celebration of Inca warriors, and music by Aaron Copland and Gershwin’s beloved Rhapsody in Blue.
This season’s outreach initiative, “Searching for Home” invites performers, composers, and audiences to reflect on the nature of home and consider what it means to those who must search out a new one. It will highlight performers, composers, and musical traditions from those who resettled in Central New York: Syrians, Somalians, Afghans, and Ukrainians. The outreach initiative will include free performances open to the public between Syracuse and Auburn.
2016 Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.
Chamber concerts at the First Presbyterian Church (97 East Genesee Street, Skaneateles) are performed on Thursday and Friday nights (except August 2). Two celebratory opening concerts at the church will feature favorite musicians from the festival’s past, including violinist Joe Genualdi, cellists Steven Doane and Rosemary Elliott, and pianist Andrew Russo.
Violinist James Ehne will make his Festival debut on August 1 with pianist Andrew Armstrong. He is one of the most sought-after violinists in the world, performing regularly with leading orchestras, and recently won a GRAMMY Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo.
The Dover Quartet will perform on August 8 and 9. August 8 will bring together two dearly beloved string quartets and August 9 presents a premiere performance of a new collaboration between bass-baritone Davóne Tines and the quartet where they will explore spirituality and mysticism through varied cultural lenses. The Claremont Trio takes the stage on August 15 and 16 performing a new work by Kinan Azmeh, commissioned by the Skaneateles Festival, and a “Queen of Hearts” program which will highlight regal trios by Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel.
The Westerlies debut at the Festival on August 22, joined by the young violinist-fiddler, George Meyer. Together they’ll present Songbook – music of John Prine, Randy Newman, Woody Guthrie, spirituals by the famous Golden Gate Quartet, and more.
The final week highlights this year’s Young Artist in Residence, the Ivalas Quartet – the current graduate quartet-in-residence at The Juilliard School. There will be several free outreach performances from the quartet and a ticketed evening concert by candlelight on August 23.
Tickets range from $32-70 for adults based on concert and seating choice. Youth under 18 are free in Section B (lawn). College students may purchase $10 student tickets at the door of the concert. Season Passes are on sale now. Week Passes and Vineyard Passes go on sale Monday, April 1, and individual tickets go on sale May 1.
