The August Jazz in the City concerts returns to the historic south side of Syracuse for a celebration that has become a long tradition. The Blacklites, a local powerhouse soul band formed over 50 years ago, will appear for the 20th time at Jazz in the City, at the same Dunk & Bright furniture location on South Salina Street.
Mayor Ben Walsh will be on hand along with other dignitaries to award the band with a proclamation recognizing their half century-plus as an urban cultural resource. Walsh said, “The Blacklites have been a staple in the Syracuse music scene for over 40 years. I’m thrilled that they continue to bring high-energy performances for listeners of all ages to Jazz in the City and look forward to recognizing them this year with a proclamation at what will be another can’t-miss event.”
1Accord Line Dance, a growing “dance for health” group founded by Kristle Lemmones in 2010, will open the show. All will be invited to dance with them until the Blacklites appear on the Leadsafe CNY stage at 7 p.m. on August 8th, to perform a two-hour concert.
The Jazz in the City “concert fair” events take place throughout the summer in neighborhoods across the city. As a mobile public health effort unique to American cities, they present America’s music surrounded by multiple healthcare and family service providers, plus food and craft vendors.
Title sponsor Syracuse Community Health provides a team of healthcare professionals as the centerpiece of a healthcare village. As an incentive to be screened and interviewed for individual and family health needs, those going through the SCH tent will receive $5 New York State Lottery scratch-off tickets. Additionally, everyone attending always receives free “goodie bags” filled with information provided by the attending healthcare village providers.
An audience of over 1,000 is expected at the concert, which has always been one of the biggest draws of the series. It’s become one of the biggest family-friendly social events of the summer, thanks to the generosity of the Bright family, and of course our many other sponsors, led by SCH and Community Bank.”
Don’t miss Jazz in the City tonight in Syracuse with The Blacklites.
This summer, The Homer Center for the Arts on 72 S, Main Street, in Homer is teaming up with So Good! Ice Cream to present a diverse line-up of music for the late summer.
With incredible ice cream, homemade cotton candy, unique sundaes, killer sunsets, and home of the So Good Music Series, each summer the ice cream site hosts the series. Plus, So Good! features “Adult Only” specialty ice cream for those 21+, with shows beginning at 7:00 pm.
On August 8th Colleen Kattau and Kyle Michio will be taking the stage, showcasing their talents and enhancing each other’s performance. Colleen Kattau is an award-winning blingual singer-songwriter, known for her blend of folk and latin music, her soulful voice brings the lyrics to life. As a beloved figure in the folk world, Kattau connects with the audience through her composition full of nature, social movements, and Latin American nueva canción.
Micho is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter from Syracuse with a large span of genres from folk, jazz, to classical music. His blend of sounds are both innovative and contains traditional music.
On August 22nd, Second Spring and Mr Gâs Homie Discount will be performing. Second Spring is a local Ithaca indie rock band that brings contemporary music to life. The band currently consists of members Isabella Gold, Erin Wagner, Isaiah Berger, Carys Banford and Aron Kaplan-Hall. With energetic an heartfelt performances, Second Spring has a loyal following.
Mr G’s Homie Discount blends funk, soul, and hip-hop. With a groovy and magnetic stage presence, the band has an infectious energy, making the crowd dance.
Vermont’s own Greg Freeman has announced the details of his newest nationwide tour. Freeman’s tour includes two music festivals and several concerts, with two shows in New York, the first in Sprakers and the other at Baby’s All Right in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Freeman will be joined by supporting acts Snail Mail, Merce Lemon, and A. Savage on select dates.
In an eclectic combination of noise rock and Americana, Greg Freeman has been paving his way through the experimental music scene since his 2022 debut EP I Looked Out. With his use of instruments like soprano saxophone and slide guitar, Freeman brings his fresh, unique sound with him everywhere he goes.
For the last two years, Freeman has garnered attention in the experimental music scene, drawing in crowds from all genres. In regards to his performances, Rolling Stone raves, “He really means every word, bashing away on his electric guitar as bandmates on bass, drums, saxophone, and pedal steel guitar add rich colors to his visions.”
Freeman’s tour began on August 2 at the Pickathon experimental music festival in Portland, Oregon. His tour takes him across the United States, including the two separate shows in New York. His first trip to the Empire State brings him to The Root in Sprakers, celebrating The 11th Annual Limbsnapping with the rest of the town. His second show in New York takes him to Brooklyn, performing at Baby’s All Right in Williamsburg.
The full tour is listed below. Tickets and more information are available on Freeman’s website, linked here.
GREG FREEMAN LIVE!
August 2nd – Happy Valley – Portland, OR – Pickathon August 3rd – Seattle, WA – The Black Lodge August 4th – Happy Valley – Portland, OR – Pickathon August 16th – Sprakers, NY – The 11th Annual Limbsnapping- The Root Community August 26th – Portsmouth, VA – Prescott Park * October 4th – Burlington, VT – Radio Bean ^ October 5th – New York, NY – Baby’s All Right ^ October 6th – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s ^ October 8th – Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle !
* With Snail Mail ^ With Merce Lemon ! With A. Savage
The University of Albany Department of Music and Theatre has announced the lineup for their 2024-25 season. Performances for this season will begin on September 22 and the final show of the season is on Monday, May 5. All performances take place at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center on the main University of Albany campus at 1400 Washington Avenue.
This season’s repertoire consists of dozens of professional and student musicians with a variety of mediums. Choirs, student ensembles, professional duos, and more all come together on the UAlbany stage this season for a spectacular display of their talent. The UAlbany Theatre Department will be presenting three full student productions and offering five to six performances of each show, as well as its annual festival of new plays. Student productions include Machinal by Sophie Treadwell, Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein by Kate Alice Walat, and Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show.
In total, UAlbany offers 27 incredibly diverse shows throughout the upcoming season. Multiple guest performers are included in the season, as well, including GRAMMY-award-winning Imani Winds and the Ulysses Quartet.
The full schedule of events is listed below. All tickets are available on the Department’s website, linked here. Further details on all performances can be found on the UAlbany Performing Arts Center website.
The Department of Music and Theatre’s 2024-25 Season
Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 3pm – The Capital Trio
The Capital Trio performs music by Beethoven and Rebecca Clarke.
Tuesday, September 22, 2024, at 4pm – Lifchitz Plays Lifchitz: 60 Years of Piano Music
Max Lifchitz performs his own piano compositions written over the last 60 years.
Thursday, October 3, 2024, at 7:30pm – SUNY Oneonta Duo
As part of our yearly Ensemble in Residence exchange, a duo from SUNY Oneonta comes to perform new works.
Sunday, October 13, 2024, at 3pm – Imani Winds: The French Connection
2024 Grammy Winner IMANI WINDS visit UAlbany to present a program of French music.
Free to Students, $35 general public
Machinal by Sophie Treadwell
Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at 8pm
Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 8pm
Friday, October 25, 2024, at 3pm
Saturday, October 26, 2024, at 2pm & 8pm
Sunday, October 27, 2024, at 2pm
Saturday, October 26, 2024, at 1pm – Fall Choral Hour
The Fall Choral Hour showcases the University Chamber Singers and University Community Chorale as well as selected student soloists from the Department of Music and Theatre in a performance of music from a wide array of style and culture.
Sunday, October 27, 2024, at 3pm – Shared Band & Orchestra Concert
Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 3pm – The Ulysses Quartet in Concert
The Ulysses String Quartet will present a program of music by Mendelssohn, Mozart, Britten, and a world premiere by Christina Bovey.
Saturday, November 9, 2024, 3pm – More Than You Know (Melanie Shank & Joshua Tanis)
UAlbany Music program alumni Melanie Shank (’12, ’22) and Joshua Tanis (’13) reminisce about their undergraduate musical experiences and how they have shaped their current careers. With music from Mozart to Gershwin, this recital features years-old favorites and new adventures from over a decade of collaboration.
Friday, November 15, 2024, at 7:30pm – Bach to Broadway
Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein by Kate Alice Walat
Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 8pm
Thursday, November 21, 2024, at 8pm
Friday, November 22, 2024, at 3pm
Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 2pm & 8pm
Sunday, November 24, 2024, at 2pm
Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at 6pm – Student Recital
Sunday, December 8, 2024, at 3pm – Holiday Concert
Music Program ensembles (Chorale, Chamber Singers, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Symphony Orchestra, Spirit Band) are joined by student groups (Serendipity, Pitch Please) for a concert celebrating the season.
Monday, December 9, 2024, at 7pm, UAlbany Jazz Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble Concert
Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 3pm – The Catalyst Quartet with Stewart Goodyear
Sunday, January 12, 2025, 3pm – The Food of Love: Songs, Dances and Fancies for Shakespeare
Early Music Ensemble presents music from, for & referenced in the works of Shakespeare.
Friday, February 7, 2025, 3pm – Violin and Piano Duo
The Capital Duo will perform works for violin and piano.
Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 8pm
Thursday, March 6, 2025, at 8pm
Friday, March 7, 2025, at 8pm
Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 8pm
Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 2pm
Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 7:30pm – Shared Band & Orchestra Concert
Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 7pm – The Tetzlaff Quartet in Concert
Youth Movement
Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 7pm
Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 3pm
April 5th, Community members of all ages will perform piano music and chamber music. April 6th, the school of the Albany Berkshire Ballet joins us for the fifth time as a Youth Movements special guest.
Fresh Acts: A Festival of New Plays
Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at 8pm
Thursday, April 23, 2025, at 8pm
Friday, April 23, 2025, at 3pm
Saturday, April 23, 2025, at 2pm & 8pm
Our spring festival of staged readings of new plays written, directed, and performed by students. Now in its seventh year, this year’s festival will also feature a showcase of solo performances on Friday afternoon. This is the future of the American theatre! Come be a part of theatre being made.
Advance tickets: $10 general public/$7 students, seniors, & UAlbany faculty-staff
Day-of-show tickets: $15 general public/$12 students, seniors, & UAlbany faculty-staff
Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at 6pm – Student Recital
Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 3pm – Spring Choral Hour
The Spring Choral Hour showcases the University Chamber Singers and University Community Chorale as well as selected student soloists from the Department of Music and Theatre.
Monday, April 28, 2025, at 7pm – UAlbany Jazz Ensemble
Sunday, May 4, 2025, 3pm – University Symphony Orchestra Concert
With Conductor Christopher David Neubert, this large ensemble performs works representing outstanding repertoire from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Monday, May 5, 2025, at 7pm – Sound of the Trumpets, Roar of the Drums
Lunar Vacation is the musical embodiment of a summer daydream. Hailing from Georgia, this indie rock quintet is made up of five lifelong friends. Their debut album, Inside Every Fig Is a Dead Wasp, was a gentle introduction to their hazy, feel-good vibe. But now, with their upcoming sophomore album Everything Matters, Everything’s Fire, they’re ready to turn up the volume and the feels.
The Show
When Lunar Vacation hit the stage at Brooklyn Steel on August 1, they weren’t just there to warm up the crowd—they were there to make sure everyone was floating on cloud nine before Vacations started their set. Starting with “Set the Stage,” they did just that. The track was like the musical equivalent of opening a window on a perfect summer day, inviting everyone to lean in and soak up the goodness.
As they transitioned into “Cutting Corners,” you could feel the energy in the room amp up. The sharp guitar riffs sliced through the Brooklyn air, locking the band into a groove that had the crowd swaying and grinning. “Unlucky” blended sadness and hope, captivating the audience with its lyrical contrast.
By the time they hit the final notes of “Tom,” the crowd was fully under their spell. The song ended the set with a burst of energy, leaving everyone feeling like they’d shared something truly special.
Lunar Vacation, with sunny tunes and deep lyrics, navigated the stage with confidence. And with Everything Matters, Everything’s Fire on the horizon, it’s clear this band is only just beginning to light up the indie music scene.
Setlist: Set the Stage, Cutting Corners, Unlucky, Monterey, Tom
Classic blues band Blood Brothers announced their live performance at Schenectady’s Music Haven. Their concert is held on August 16, in between concerts from Elias Ochoa and Banda Magda. The band is supported by blues powerhouses Misty Blues and Piedmont Bluz.
Hot off of their most recent album, Live in Canada, a collection of their best live performances in the country released last October, Blood Brothers have reached incredible success in the world of Blues and Rock’n’roll, in both their solo and group careers. In the past, both guitarists Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia won Blues Rock Album of the Year at the Blues Music Awards for their solo works, Zito winning in 2022 and Castiglia in 2024. That same year, Castiglia won for Blues Rock Artist of the Year. Earlier this year, the duo won for Blues Rock Album as Blood Brothers, and Zito won for Blues Artist of the Year.
Now, after their resounding season, they make their way over to New York for a performance at the Music Haven festival. This year, Music Haven celebrates several diverse performers, ranging in several genres from Brazilian Funk to Zydeco to Afrofusion.
Blood Brothers are the latest to join the lineup, making their Music Haven debut on August 16 as part of the Blues BBQ Concert Series. They are joined by their loyal band, including Doug Byrkit on bass guitar, Matt Johnson and Ephraim Lowell on drums and percussion, and Lewis Stephens on keyboards.
Opening for the band are fellow blues artists Misty Blues and finger-pick guitar specialists Piedmont Bluz. Blood Brothers’ headlining performance ends at 9:30 pm. Following the performances is a festive;-wide barbecue for all fans and attendees. After the show, they continue on the rest of their nationwide tour.
Blood Brothers On Tour
AUGUST
08/02 Notodden Blues Festival – Notodden, Norway – Info/Tix
08/15 Chenango Blues Festival Kick-Off in East Park – Norwich, NY – Info/FREE
08/17 Big Bull Falls Blues Fest – Wausau, WI – Info/Tix
While the band gets ready for their tour dates and upcoming festival performances, they are working hard on their solo careers. Mike Zito recently released his latest solo album, Life is Hard, in February earlier this year. Just a week ago, on July 19, Castiglia released Righteous Souls. Both albums have received widespread critical acclaim, ensuring Blood Brothers is a name that blues fans will never forget.
More tour dates are to be announced later this year. Information and tickets are available on the band’s official website. Check them out here.
Harbor Walk, Liberty Hound, and Jeff Miers Music are teaming up to present the Thursday Night Summer Concert Series “Music Matters.” The series takes place on the New Harbor Walk Facility at the Erie Basin Marina in Buffalo. Concerts take place on Thursdays at 7 pm, so don’t miss the last few weeks of eclectic performers.
Now in its final weeks, the Music Matters concert series features a wide variety of regional artists and organizations for attendees to enjoy. Local businesses set up their booths all over the boardwalk, offering special creations just for the event. Private special events on the boardwalk are held after each concert for fans who wish the night would never end.
“I’m excited to be teaming with my friend Jason Davidson and the Liberty Hound to present this summer concert series at the new Harbor Walk venue,’” says Music Matters Series co-producer Jeff Miers. “There’s a long history of live music on Thursday nights in the Canalside region, and it feels great to be able to assemble this lineup of incredible Buffalo talent to continue that tradition at one of our city’s most breathtakingly beautiful sites.”
Music Matters brings an incredibly diverse and talented batch of musicians to Harbor Walk every year. This year, a lineup of rock, country, and funk artists take the stage. In its home stretch, bands like Critt (joined by special guest Blaised and Confused), Funktional Flow, and The Strictly Hip, along with a special announcement for the show on August 8, are ready to turn up the funk for Buffalo crowds.
Don’t miss the last few performances of Music Matters, every Thursday starting at 7 pm. More information is available here.
Jon ‘The Barber’ Gutwillig (a.k.a. Baba G) of The Disco Biscuits will join forces with Ben Atkind of Elephantproof (formerly Goose) to perform on August 3 at Bearsville Theater in Woodstock. The evening will kick off with a set by Capital Region’s own SM INK.
The performance on August 3 marks Barber’s Woodstock debut. Having performed as part of groups and, Barber has garnered a reputation as the guitar player for the band The Disco Biscuits. However, his appearance at the Bearsville Theater marks his first solo set at the theater.
Barber will be stepping out of his comfort zone for Saturday’s show, performing as a DJ named “Baba G,” and bringing house music, trance, and techno, and even remixes of his own songs from The Disco Biscuits.
Baba G will be joined by Ben Atkind of Elephantproof (formerly known as Goose). Atkins will provide drums for the set, while Barber hops in between the guitar and the DJ booth. This marks the second time Barber and Atkind perform together, bringing their dynamic and energetic performances to the Future City Lounge in Brooklyn just two months ago.
“I’m excited to collaborate with Ben again,” says Barber. “Our Brooklyn show was very well received, and I think we’ll deliver an even stronger performance now that we’ve got a show under our belts,” Barber said, referencing the duo’s June 1 performance at Future City Lounge.
Regardless of their past as a duo, Barber and Atkind are gearing up for a performance unlike any other. Their inspirations from disco and electronica music make for an incredibly unique blend of sound, perfect for the early days of the recently reborn Bearsville Theater. The innovative spin on house and disco music will surely be a night that lifelong fans and newcomers alike, whether or their solo or group work, will never forget.
Bearsville Theater is located at 291 Tinker St, Woodstock, NY. This event is 21+, and doors open at 7 PM on August 3. Tickets are available online at the Bearsville Theater’s website, linked here.
Five-time GRAMMY-Award-winning rapper Lil Wayne will be taking the stage of the MVP Arena in Albany this October. He is joined by special guests The Kid LAROI and Selfish Sons.
Over the last 20 years, Lil Wayne has achieved a career unlike any other. His discography has brought him several accolades and immense critical acclaim. Overall, his career is marked by five #1 debuts, starting with the 6x platinum, 3x GRAMMY® Award-winning opus Tha Carter III in 2008, followed by the 5x platinum Tha Carter IV in 2011.
In 2005, Lil Wayne founded the world-famous record label Young Money Entertainment. As CEO, he discovered and signed countless up-and-coming rappers, some of which would grow to become the biggest stars in the music industry, most notably Drake and Nicki Minaj.
On October 11, Wayne will be taking the stage with Australian rapper The Kid LAROI and rock band Selfish Sons. His Albany stop at the MVP Arena marks his only New York show on his current tour.
Tickets for Lil Wayne at MVP Arena in Albany will be on sale this Friday, August 2, at 10 am local time at ticketmaster.com
Billie Marten played a surprise show at Union Pool on Wednesday, July 24. The British indie/folk singer-songwriter announced the show in a handwritten note on Instagram teasing “mostly new stuff” to be played. Marten began her set with an announcement of a new record that she had just spent ten days recording down the street from Union Pool. She didn’t give a solid idea of when this new album might be coming out, but Marten’s last album, Drop Cherries, released just over a year ago on April 7, 2023.
Opening for Billie Marten was writer and musician Jana Horn. If you like Big Thief and Adrianne Lenker, you might also enjoy Jana Horn’s work. Intimate, interpersonal talk singing poetry over folksy drums and unique bass lines. She rode the line between banter and awkwardness perfectly, and the crowd had a great time. Marten then came out quietly onto the stage in Union Pool’s back room, which has the vibe of a Christmassy saloon. One pink light drenched Marten onstage with her acoustic guitar in her spaghetti strap top, light wash jeans, and red converse.
The show was very low-key. Marten’s pickup came loose and the sound engineer scrambled down from his spot up on the balcony as the crowd parted around him. Billie Marten told the audience to talk amongst themselves, and the room filled with a buzz until she was ready to play again. There was plenty of audience banter as Marten changed tunings between each song. We only got to hear four or five new songs, so there is definitely more to come down the road. Hopefully, Billie Marten will be able to put the finishing touches on her album soon, as we are all eagerly awaiting her next show in NY.
