NYS Music 2024

Tag: Music News

  • Opera Saratoga Announces 64th Summer Season for May 20 – June 29

    Opera Saratoga based out of Saratoga Springs has announced their 64th Summer Season which runs from May 20 – June 29.

    Opera Saratoga summer

    Offenbach, Meilhac & Halévy’s sparkling, witty, and electric La Vie Parisienne takes us to the heart of the demi-monde in 1860s Paris where two bachelors play tour guide to a Swedish Baron and Baroness. They showcase the Paris of their imagination, complete with visits to dives that they claim are fancy palaces and meetings with friends who are disguised as aristocrats. La Vie Parisienne is social critique at its most hilarious. You will leave the theater humming catchy patter songs and raucous party numbers. This show includes four performances at Universal Preservation Hall on June 20, 26 & 28 at 7:30 pm and June 22 at 2:00 pm.

    Offenbach’s romp runs in repertory with Bock, Harnick & Masteroff’s jewel-box musical She Loves Me. Famous for tunes like “Vanilla Ice Cream”, “She Loves Me”, and “It’s Been Grand Knowing You”, this sweet story focuses on two employees in a Budapest parfumerie who are sworn enemies during the day but unsuspecting lonely hearts penpals at night. This show consists of five performances at Universal Preservation Hall June 21, 25, 27 at 7:30 pm and June 28 & 29 at 2:00 pm.

    Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs

    Earlier in the month, the company will produce a site-specific installation version of In a Grove composed by Chris Cerrone with libretto by Stephanie Fleischmann. This operatic adaptation of Akutagawa’s classic short story “In a Grove” which inspired the plot of Kurosawa’s renowned film Rashomon, offers a searing investigation into the impossibility and elusiveness of truth. This show takes flight with four performances at the Ferndell Pavilion in Saratoga Spa State Park on May 28 at 5:00 pm, 7:00 pm, and May 29 at 5:00 pm, 7:00 pm.

    Saratoga Spa State Park

    Finally, the company will present a work-in-progress showing of composer Emma O’Halloran and librettist Naomi O’Connell’s A Mass for Women in Bathrooms. This opera-theater work for three singers, an actress and electronic sound design by Alex Dowling reframes the structure of the Irish Catholic Mass to tell an intimate family story of three sisters and their mother. A story born from personal experience, A Mass for Women in Bathrooms examines themes of infertility, reproductive rights, and dementia, while reclaiming bodily autonomy for women in a historically violent space. This project is funded in part by the Arts Council of Ireland. This show airs with two work-in-progress performances at Universal Preservation Hall on June 22 at 7:30 pm and June 27 at 2:00 pm.

    For more information on the Opera Saratoga Summer Series and to purchase tickets click here.

  • Biography of The Band’s Richard Manuel Coming this Spring

    A biography of The Band’s Richard Manuel is slated to release this spring for the 50th anniversary of the group’s 1974 tour.

    Richard manuel

    The biography is titled, Richard Manuel: His Life and Music, from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to The Band (Schiffer Publishing, on sale May 28, 2025) celebrates Manuel’s immeasurable contributions to music, ensuring his soulful voice and profound artistry endure in the annals of rock. Richard Manuel sang and played piano for The Band, which originated in Toronto, Canada and Woodstock.

    The Band began as a backing group for the legendary Bob Dylan. The Band is often credited with helping to define the sound of roots rock and Americana, blending rock, country, blues, and folk into a cohesive and groundbreaking style. Their music was characterized by a raw, earthy quality that bridged the gap between traditional American folk music and modern rock.

    Richard Manuel was sweetly soulful and creatively multifaceted, leaving his mark on rock history that is still celebrated today. Through insightful analysis and interviews, his troubled yet inspired spirit is contextualized within music history. From his role in forming the Band to his iconic vocals and songwriting, Manuel’s influence resonates deeply.

    Author Stephen Lewis is a rock-and-roll archivist, collector, and storyteller. He owns and operates the Talk from the Rock Room website and podcast and has been writing about music for over 20 years, including contributing articles on Summer Jam and Little Feat for NYS Music. He delves into Manuel’s influence on the history of rock, along with discussing some of Manuel’s life as told through his forth coming book.

    The Band in London, June 1971. From left: Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson.

    For more information on the biography Richard Manuel: His Life and Music, from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to The Band click here.

  • Math Rock Trio Peaer Return After Five Years with Single “Just Because”

    Math-rock trio Peaer has announced their return to music after five years with the release of single “Just Because.”

    NYC-based math rock trio Peaer return with their new single, “Just Because.” It’s their first new offering since 2019’s A Healthy Earth, which earned raves from fans and media alike. A drop-tuned, four-on-the-floor thumper that crescendos with a moment of headbanging catharsis, the track is a perfect blend of Wish-era The Cure’s glittery rhythms and the melancholic post-rock emo of American Football.

    The band will also be making its live return with their first show in nearly a year this Saturday, November 16, in Brooklyn at Baby’s All Right alongside Pet Fox. “Just Because” is the fruit of their focus — a soaring introduction to Peaer’s new era and a tantalizing promise of what else lies ahead.

    Peaer began in earnest in 2014, when Katz sought to blend his love of windy math rock with contemplative slowcore. From this sprang 2014’s lo-fi, home-recorded album the eyes sink into the skull, released digitally via Bandcamp with Katz taking on all of the instrumentation himself. From there the idea of Peaer evolved, and while touring on 2016’s self-titled LP (Peaer), Katz joined forces with now long-term close-collaborators Jeremy Kinney (drums, engineering) and Thom Lombardi (bass, vocals).

    The trio came together to write and produce 2019’s aforementioned, critically acclaimed A Healthy Earth, which they quickly followed up with The Hands and Feet Turn Blue (2019) — an Eyes companion album featuring reworked songs, demos, and remixes. 

    For more information on Peaer and to hear their new single “Just Because” click here.

  • Three-Event Celebration Planned for Cohoes Music Hall Sesquicentennial on Nov 23

    Cohoes Music Hall has announced their 150-year anniversary celebration which includes three major events on Nov 23.

    Cohoes Music Hall

    Saturday, November 23, 2024, marks 150 years since Cohoes Music Hall first opened its doors to the public, and the venue’s management entity, Playhouse Stage Company, will mark the momentous occasion with three public events throughout the day. Playhouse Stage Company has been producing free outdoor musicals at Albany’s Park Playhouse since 1989 and has been producing musical theatre at Cohoes Music Hall since 2016. The company has managed the Hall since August 2020. 

    From 10:00AM to 12:00PM, eventgoers can expect a free public event featuring music and activities for kids, including face painting, balloon animals, and live music from popular Capital Region children’s musician Andy the Music Man. Funny, quick-witted, warm, and tuneful, Andy Morse has been delighting young audiences for more than 27 years.

    Cohoes Music Hall
    One of the oldest music venues in the state, Cohoes Music Hall celebrates a sesquicentennial anniversary on November 23

    At 2:00PM, “London Assurance & A Toast to the Hall” begins. This special event will start with a champagne toast to Cohoes Music Hall’s 150-year history, followed by a staged reading of the play that first opened the Music Hall in 1874, and then reopened the building one hundred years later. London Assurance, adapted by Capital Region theatre artist Aaron Holbritter, will be co-presented by Creative License Theatre Collective and Playhouse Stage Company. The performance will feature Capital Region actors Ryan Palmer, Laura Darling, Amy Hausknect, Nick Martiniano, Jay Hunter, Ketih DuBois, Molly Kirby, Evan Jones, Chuck Kraus and Owen Smith.

    “Get Zep! performing The Song Remains the Same” begins at 8:00PM. Get Zep!, presented by Guthrie Bell Productions, is an upstate super group consisting of Troy’s fabled rock band Super 400 and dynamic Hudson Valley vocalist Sean Matthew Whiteford. The group has been touring the region and beyond with tributes to classic Led Zeppelin albums, selling out Cohoes Music Hall on four occasions. For this event, they’ll play “The Song Remains The Same” in its entirety, and other Zeppelin hits.

    Get Zep!

    For more information on Cohoes Music Hall’s upcoming sesquicentennial celebration and to purchase tickets for November 23, click here.

  • Revamped “All Good Now” Releases 2025 Lineup

    All Good Music Festival has launched a revamped festival, All Good Now, and has announced their 2025 lineup, slated to grace stages at Merriweather Post Pavilion from June 14-15, 2025 in Columbia, Maryland.

    Ten years gone, All Good Music Festival is being reimagined as All Good Now, blending the legacy of the original festival with an iconic venue and an exciting lineup, capturing the timeless energy that brought thousands together for nearly two decades.

    The official All Good Now lineup is a carefully curated mix of bands from All Good’s past and present. Returning artists from the original lineup include Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, The String Cheese Incident, The Disco Biscuits, moe., Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Keller Williams, and The Bridge. They are joined by Goose, Lawrence, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Neal Francis, Dogs in a Pile, and Eggy, promising a celebration that spans the full evolution of the jam band and grassroots music scenes.

    In the days leading up to the festival, All Good Presents will host a series of All Good Now Pre-Parties at popular venues across Baltimore and Washington, D.C. These pre-parties highlight All Good Presents’ deep ties to the local live music scene, allowing fans to catch favorite acts like STS9, Andy Frasco & the U.N., Moon Hooch, Sam Grisman Project, and The Bridge at beloved venues including The Anthem, 9:30 Club, The Atlantis, and The 8×10.

    Set within the scenic Symphony Woods, Merriweather Post Pavilion has hosted the biggest names in live music, including Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Phish, and countless others. Merriweather has hosted 150 festivals, from Lilith Fair to Virgin Mobile’s FreeFest to Warped Tour to All Things Go. Known for its 40-acre natural oasis, Merriweather is a historic hub for music lovers, conveniently located between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., offering one of the best festival environments in the country.

    All Good Now represents the next evolution, bringing the All Good spirit to these iconic stages, and particularly to the historic Merriweather Post Pavilion, where fans will feel the magic and memories of past festivals reborn in a new, vibrant format. Tickets for All Good Now, along with hotel packages, VIP options, and full ticketing packages, will go on sale Friday, November 22. VIP packages include exclusive access to elevated viewing areas, premium food and beverage options, private lounge areas, and additional amenities designed to enhance the festival experience.

    For more information on the upcoming All Good Now festival and to purchase tickets, click here.

  • Tannery Pond Center Announces Family Fun Christmas Concerts on December 7 and 15

    Tannery Pond Center has announced two magical Christmas concerts on Dec 7 and 15 as part of their 2024 season.

    Tannery Pond Center in North Creek, NY, is the premier arts venue for the lower Adirondack region. The intimate and welcoming performance space brings high-quality music, dance, and dramatic performances to the Gore Mountain region. The Center presents concerts throughout the year in a variety of styles including, but not limited to, folk, rock, classical, jazz, and bluegrass, in our state-of-the-art Lyle Dye Auditorium, where every sound and artistic nuance can be heard and appreciated. The region has a rich history as a retreat for artists and musicians from New York City and we regularly feature the music of touring artists as well as established and talented musicians and performers from the local area.

    Tannery Pond Center (TPC) presents a full schedule of arts programming, including exhibits of original art, musical concerts and performances, as well as workshops and children’s programs. TPC also manages the community center for the Town of Johnsburg. Other groups presenting arts programs at the center include Our Town Theatre Group, North Country Singers, Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts and more. Put simply, TPC is a keystone of the community, and they work to provide upstate New York with fun, captivating performances, activities, community events and more.

    On December 7 and 8 at 7pm and 4pm respectively, Tannery Pond Center presents ‘A Holiday Celebration’ by North Country Singers. This concert includes all of your favorite holiday season jingles performed by the best of the North Country’s voices. All ages are welcome, but make sure to reserve your seat, as these festive concerts always fill up. On Sunday, December 15 at 3 PM, The McKrells bring their signature Celtic-infused bluegrass for an afternoon of holiday cheer – featuring traditional and original songs, classic Christmas stories and good humor. The band is led by singer/songwriter Kevin McKrell and features Frank Orsini on fiddle, Scott Hopkins on banjo, Peter Pashoukas on guitar, Arlin Greene on bass, and Brian Melick on percussion.

    The McKrells

    For more information on Tannery Pond Center’s Christmas concerts, other upcoming events and to purchase tickets, click here.

  • The Orchestra Now Presents Two Manhattan Shows as Part of “Sight and Sound” Series Dec 8 and 15

    NYC-based ‘The Orchestra Now’ has announced Manhattan performances of ‘Siena, Wagner & Parsifal’ and ‘The Nutcracker & The Planets’ as part of their Sight and Sound series starting Dec 8.

    On Sunday, December 8, the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) hosts The Orchestra Now’s performances of ‘Siena, Wagner & Parsifal’ which kicks off the organization’s Sight and Sound concert series. The program will examine Wagner’s remarkable innovations in opera via selections from his work Parsifal, set against the background of notable painterly invention during the Italian Renaissance in Siena.

    The Orchestra Now (TON) Sight & Sound series at the Met explores the parallels between orchestral music and the visual arts. Each performance includes an introduction by a Met curator, a discussion with conductor and music historian Leon Botstein accompanied by on-screen exhibition images and live musical excerpts, followed by a full performance of the works and an audience Q&A. Tickets include same-day museum admission.

    Richard Wagner

    At the dawn of the Italian Renaissance, Siena was the site of remarkable artistic innovation. Sienese artists—including Duccio, Pietro and Ambrogio Lorenzetti, and Simone Martini—played a pivotal role in defining Western painting. Over 500 years later, Richard Wagner revolutionized opera composition in much the same way. Twelve years after he read Wolfram von Eschenbach’s Parzival, a poem from the Renaissance era, he began working on a libretto inspired by this tale of the quest for the Holy Grail. This eventually became his final composition, the opera Parsifal.

    The Orchestra’s second December performance will offer a FREE holiday concert of audience favorites by Johann Strauss II, Tchaikovsky, Borodin, and Holst, led by Leonardo Pineda and joined for some of the pieces by the All-City High School Orchestra at New York City’s Talent Unlimited High School on December 15.

    The Orchestra Now and Interim Assistant Conductor Leonardo Pineda present a free holiday season concert at the Talent Unlimited High School for the performing arts on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The program of high-spirited popular works includes Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite and Johann Strauss II’s Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka. TŌN is joined by NYC’s All-City High School Orchestra for Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances and two movements from Holst’s The Planets.

    For more information on the upcoming Manhattan performances by The Orchestra Now and to purchase tickets, click here.

  • Endicott Performing Arts Center Presents Holiday Magic with EPAC Christmas Show

    Endicott Performing Arts Center (EPAC) located in Endicott, NY, has announced the magical EPAC Christmas Show, beginning on Friday, December 6.

    This shows offers the opportunity to experience the magic of the holiday season like never before at the Endicott Performing Arts Center. Immerse yourself in the festive spirit with a handpicked selection of captivating Christmas Shows that are sure to create lasting memories for audiences of all ages. Prepare to be transported to a world of wonder and joy with the EPAC Christmas Show December 6 & 7 with 7pm showtimes.

    This enchanting production is a heartwarming journey through the holiday season, featuring a dazzling array of music, dance, and captivating performances that perfectly encapsulate the magic of Christmas.

    Delve into the enchanting world of The Nutcracker December 12 – 15, a timeless holiday classic that continues to captivate audiences year after year. Follow Clara on her magical journey to the Land of Sweets as talented dancers from EPAC (1st Act) and The FUSE Dance Center of Binghamton (2nd Act) bring this beloved ballet to life with grace, skill, and artistry. This show begins at 7pm on Friday, Saturday and 3pm on Sunday.

    Experience a holiday extravaganza like no other with the EPAC Holiday Burlesque Show, Naughty & Nice December 21. This unique and sassy twist on traditional holiday entertainment combines comedy, dance, and glamour to create a festive experience that is both entertaining and unforgettable. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this one-of-a-kind celebration. This show is one night only and begins at 8pm Saturday.

    For more information on the upcoming EPAC Christmas Show Series and to purchase tickets, click here.

  • Psych-Funk Band Lettuce Partners with GZA of Wu Tang Clan for 2025 Co-Headline Tour

    Psychedelic funk band Lettuce and legendary emcee GZA join forces for ‘The Get Up Tour’ in 2025. The tour sees 17 dates including one at Brooklyn Steel on February 7.

    GRAMMY-nominated psychedelic funk band Lettuce kicks off 2025 with ‘The Get Up Tour,’ an expansive 17-date run at prominent venues throughout the U.S. Joining Lettuce on seven of those performances is legendary hip-hop artist GZA of Wu-Tang Clan. GZA presents his iconic 1995 album Liquid Swords in full with The Phunky Nomads Band. On those performances, GZA will play the first set of the evening followed by Lettuce marking a full night of music and inevitable collaboration.

    The tour kicks off on the West Coast from Jan 22 – 24 in Del Mar, CA, followed by Los Angeles and Oakland. The tour comes to a close on March 2 in Denver, Colorado. New York City gets a taste of the tour on February 7 at Brooklyn Steel in Brooklyn.

    GZA’s Liquid Swords was released in 1995 and has become a widely revered album celebrated for its sharp lyricism and vivid imagery. The record heavily samples dialogue from the 1980 cult martial arts classic Shogun Assassin and uses dark, atmospheric beats throughout. The record charted at #9 on the Billboard 200 chart, #2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and was certified platinum nearly 20 years after its release.

    The Get Up Tour 2025 Dates:

    Jan 22, 2025 – The Sound at Del Mar – Del Mar, CA*

    Jan 23, 2025 – The Novo – Los Angeles, CA*

    Jan 24, 2025 – Fox Theater – Oakland, CA*

    Jan 31, 2025 – Mercury Ballroom – Louisville, KY ^

    Feb 1, 2025 – Mercury Ballroom – Louisville, KY ^

    Feb 2, 2025 – Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH ^

    Feb 4, 2025 – XL Live – Harrisburg, PA*

    Feb 5, 2025 – Stage AE – Pittsburgh, PA*

    Feb 6, 2025 – The Fillmore Silver Spring – Silver Spring, MD*

    Feb 7, 2025 – Brooklyn Steel – Brooklyn, NY*

    Feb 8, 2025 – House of Blues Boston – Boston, MA %

    Feb 10, 2025 – Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC ^

    Feb 11, 2025 – Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA ^

    Feb 12, 2025 – Victory North – Savannah, GA ^

    Feb 13, 2025 – Miami Beach Bandshell (Jam Cruise Pre-Party) – Miami, FL

    Feb 14-19, 2025 – Jam Cruise – Miami, FL

    Mar 2, 2025 – The Mission Ballroom – Denver #

    * Co-Headline Show w/ GZA

    ^ An Evening with Lettuce

    % Lettuce w/ Support TBD

    # w/ The Colorado Symphony

    For more information on Lettuce and GZA’s ‘The Get Up Tour’ and to purchase tickets to any of the dates, click here.

  • New York Philharmonic Announces Recipients of the 2024 Marie-Josée Kravis Prize for New Music

    The New York Philharmonic has announced the recipients of this year’s Marie-Josée Kravis Prize for New Music. The honor has been awarded to American composers David Lang and Missy Mazzoli.

    One of the world’s largest new-music prizes, the Kravis Prize includes $200,000 and a commission for a work that the New York Philharmonic will premiere. Lang’s new work will be premiered in the 2025–26 season, and Mazzoli’s will be premiered in 2026–27. Additionally, the NY Phil has named Kate Soper the Kravis Emerging Composer, an honor bestowed as part of The Marie-Josée Kravis Prize for New Music. Soper receives a $50,000 stipend, including a commission to compose a work that the Philharmonic will premiere in May 2025. Funding for both honors comes from a $10 million gift to the New York Philharmonic in 2009 by Henry R. Kravis in honor of his wife, Marie-Josée, for whom the Prize is named.

    The Philharmonic has performed two works by Missy Mazzoli: Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres), conducted by Dalia Stasevska (October 2021), and River Rouge Transfiguration, led by Daniela Candillari (February 2023). Musicians from the NY Phil have also performed Mazzoli’s works on CONTACT!, the new-music series (November 2014; April 2015), and Kravis Nightcap (October 2022). In February 2025 Mazzoli will
    be a featured speaker at the Young People’s Concert: The Future Is Innovation, in which the Orchestra, led by Jerry Hou, will reprise Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres).

    Missy Mazzoli

    The NY Phil has performed five works by David Lang, beginning in January 1991 with the New York Premiere of Eating Living Monkeys, conducted by Zdeněk Mácal, and most recently with the June 2019 World Premiere of prisoner of the state, conducted by then Music Director Jaap van Zweden. Additionally, Lang’s works have been performed by Musicians from the New York Philharmonic on two NY Phil new-music series: CONTACT! (January 2017) and Sound On (June 2019; March 2022).

    In naming Kate Soper the Kravis Emerging Composer, the NY Phil is commissioning a work
    that will mark the Philharmonic’s first performance of one of her orchestral compositions. The NY Phil will give the World Premiere of Kate Soper’s Orpheus Orchestra Opus Onus — the fulfillment of her commission as part of being named a Kravis Emerging Composer — in May 2025, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. Soper, in her NY Phil debut, will also perform in the work as the soprano soloist. The only previous occasion on which the Philharmonic presented her work was a CONTACT! concert (November 2015), when Musicians from the New York Philharmonic performed Into That World Inverted for horn and piano.

    David Lang

    For more information on the NY Philharmonic’s Marie-Josée Kravis Prize recipients, click here.