The Burns Sisters and Kathy Mattea return, Ithaca Underground showcases some cool new projects, and Papa Muse celebrates National Absurdity Day. Plus, many other local favorites are performing shows around the region this weekend.
Please be sure to check with each venue for its covid protocols, as well as potential postponement or cancellations due to the weather. Stay safe, and enjoy as much live music as you can in the coming days!
In Harmony
The Burns Sisters return to showcase their trademark harmonies and distinctive blend of country, folk, Celtic, pop, and rock influences. Marie and Annie Burns will be joined by a top-notch band featuring local stalwarts Doug Robinson, Eric Aceto, Harry Aceto, and London McDaniel to perform a variety of originals, covers and traditional holiday tunes from their many albums released since the 1990s.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Hangar Theatre
Cost: $25-$30, available online here.
Raucous Roots
The Cortland Main Street Music Series continues its fall four-show run with Finger Lakes bluegrass favorites Dirty Blanket along with locals James Van Deuson and the Rollin' Rust along with Roger Decker performing live from two stages in Rose Hall. If you can’t make it, a free livestream will be provided by American Vintage Productions.
When: 6 p.m. Friday
Where: Rose Hall, 19 Church St., Cortland
Cost: free
Sonic Explorations
Ithaca Underground presents its latest show, featuring Jen Kutler, the debut of Amok & OK , and the live return of Flose. Kutler will be performing "Cathode Ray Gun Point," an audio-visual performance piece in which Kutler relates stories by the light of a single match while wearing a lie detection circuit which controls the audio and visual environment. Amok & OK are Amy Zuidema and Bubba Crumrine, who explore queer themes and confronts sexism and gender discrimination through voice, bass clarinet, amplified shelving, electronics, sandpaper, beer bottles and more. Flose creates object-based noise improvisations, as showcased on their 2021 debut album, “Solstice.”
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: DM for location
Cost: donations encouraged
Funk Collision
Syracuse favorites Sophistafunk return to Ithaca, with keyboardist Adam Gold, emcee Jack Brown, and drummer Emanuel Washington ready to lay down their hardnosed blend of hiphop, funk, and rock. Rochester’s Roots Collider will open the show.
When: 8:30 p.m. Friday
Where: The Dock
Cost: $20, available online here and at the door.
Absolute Absurdity
To celebrate National Absurdity Day – created as a day to recall and note some of the totally and absolutely absurd things in history, in our country and in our lives – Ithaca’s own Papa Muse and Rochester’s Turkey Omega Blaster are teaming up for a fun show at the Dock. Papa Muse promises “a large horn band with lots of percussion (to) play the most high-energy danceable set we can assemble.” Turkey Omega Blaster is an eight-piece ska party known for its fiery shows. Papa Muse is also participating in the annual Rotary Club's "Share the Warmth" campaign, which ends Nov. 22 – bring and donate warm winter clothes for those in need.
When: 8:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Dock
Cost: $10 suggested donation
Country Cool
Known for country hits such as “Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses” and “Where've You Been?” Kathy Mattea has long been known as one of Nashville’s finest song interpreters, garnering two Grammys, four CMA Awards, four No. 1 singles, and five gold albums. Her latest album, “Pretty Bird,” was produced by Tim O’Brien and showcases her takes of Oliver Wood’s “Chocolate On My Tongue,” Mary Gauthier’s “Mercy Now,” a Bobbie Gentry classic, and other songs that helped her to reclaim her voice after years of vocal difficulties. Mattea also was recently named the new host of “Mountain Stage,” the popular live concert radio program airing from her home state of West Virginia.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Hangar Theatre
Cost: $40-$45
Guitar Great
Acclaimed guitarist Hiroya Tsukamoto returns to Trumansburg for a concert that will showcase his fusion of folk, jazz, and world music influences and virtuosic technique. The Japanese-born, Berklee College of Music-educated guitarist has been lauded for playing with “fluid mastery, pristine tone, and great warmth” and for exuded for his “chops, passion and warmth. Zealously recommended!" Learn more here.
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts
Cost: $12 in advance, available online here; $15 at the door
Dodson Plays Rodrigo
The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra’s Orchestral Series continues with Jordan Dodson, recently dubbed “one of the top young guitarists of his generation.” He’ll bring a fresh perspective to the popular “Aranjuez” concerto, as well as Schubert’s “Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major, D 485,” Arriaga’s “Los Esclavos Felices,” and Piazzolla’s “Oblivion.”
When: 6:45 p.m. Saturday
Where: Ford Hall, Ithaca College
Tickets: available online here.
Get Psyched!
Hammondsport-based St. Vith returns to Ithaca to showcase its take on psychedelic rock, blending sonic improvisation with evocative soundscapes. Their latest album, "Meta," came out in April 2020; it captures the band's self-described "jazz-influenced folk/blues/rock with a jam-oriented presence." Find out more here.
When: 10:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Upstairs
Cost: small cover
More Shows
The Purple Valley returns to Hopshire Brewing in Dryden at 6-8 p.m. Friday
Travis Rocco is at Homer Hops at 6-8 p.m. Friday
Erich with an H is at Grist Iron Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Friday
Jessie Gray is at Sacred Root Kava Bar and Tea Lounge at 6:30-8 p.m. Friday
13 South is at Cortland Beer Company at 8 p.m. Friday
DJ B.o.B is at the Upstairs at 10 p.m. Friday
The Roadhouse Prophets are at Treleaven Winery at 1-4 p.m. Saturday
Rachel Beverly is at Summerhill Brewing at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday
Clint Bush is at Brewer’s Café and Taproom in Dryden at 6-8 p.m. Saturday
Two-Horse Johnson is at Grist Iron Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Saturday
Jess Novak and Ben Wayne are at Homer Hops at 6-9 p.m. Saturday
The Longwood Jazz Project is at Cortland Beer Company at 8 p.m. Saturday
Mark Nanni is at Treleaven Winery at 1-4 p.m. Sunday
Benny T’s Open Mic Posse comes to Homer Hops at 1 p.m. Sunday
The Cornell Jazz Combo, under the direction of Paul Merrill, plays at Klarman Auditorium at 7 p.m. Sunday
