A bevy of music – jazz, metal, folk and pop to country, hiphop, Americana and rock – is on tap this weekend, not only in Ithaca and Cortland, but all around Central New York.
Keep It Country
Country singer Kip Moore, who scored big with his 2012 debut “Up All Night” and 2015’s “Wild Ones, will bring his “Room to Spare” acoustic tour to Ithaca. The Georgia native’s hits include “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck,” “Hey Pretty Girl,” “More Girls Like You” and “Last Shot.” Up-and-coming country artist Tucker Beathard will open the show.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: State Theatre
Cost: $35-$50
It’s Happy Hour Again
Kick off the weekend with some live music at various venues around the area. Iron Horse brings their southern-rock favorites to Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards in Hector at 5:30 p.m., the IthaCats will perform their rockabilly rave-ups at Hopshire in Dryden at 6-8 p.m., Richman and the Poorboys will be at Firelight Camps at La Tourelle at 6-9 p.m., Modern Instincts are at the Westy at 7-9 p.m., the Local Farmers Union returns to Cortland Beer Company at 7-10 p.m., and the Delta Mike Shaw Band is at the Boathouse Beer Garden at 7-10 p.m.
When: Friday
Where: Various locations
Cost: free
Famous Folk
In a career that dates back more than 50 years, folk legend Tom Rush has recorded hit songs such as “The Circle Game,” “Remember Song,” “Urge for Going” “Merrimack County,” and "No Regrets”; the last one has been covered by dozens of artists, including Emmylou Harris, The Walker Brothers, and Fairport Convention, among many others. At this show, Rush will be accompanied by multi-instrumentalist Matt Nakoa.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Hangar Theatre
Cost: $35-$40
From Page to Stage
A longtime favorite of area folk fans, Dar Williams is known for her winsome blend of pop, folk and rock influences. Called “one of America’s very best singer-songwriters” by The New Yorker, Williams has released ten studio albums and authored four books, including her latest, “What I Found In A Thousand Towns.”
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Center for the Arts, Homer
Cost: $30
Coming Up
Local producer-emcee Saint Kid (aka Kii Kinsella) has curated a show featuring several up-and-coming hiphop artist. On the bill are Anthony Kannon and Meech, Corey Loveless, Mr. McBean, Blane Bent, Dim 136, TY Vegan and DJ ha-MEEN.
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: The Haunt
Cost: $10
Brotherly Love
The Starmer Brothers – Mike and Rick – return to downtown Cortland for a night of familiar favorites and tasty originals.
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: BRU 64, Cortland
Cost: free
Make It Metal
Regional hard rock favorites Bendher return to Cortland with their repertoire of cool metal covers and fiery originals from their EP, “Here and Now.”
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Penny’s One Cent Saloon, Cortland
New Grooves
Producer-rapper Overflow will host a release party for his debut album, "Failed Yuppie Lifestyle."
When: 8:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Cayuga Lodge, 630 Stewart Ave
Cost: free; donations welcome
Polkville Punk
UR Promotions has put together a punk-rock triple bill to lead off the weekend, featuring Philadelphia’s Assemble, Cortland’s Genitor and Sodus’s Jaynie Crash and the Tall Men.
When: 9 p.m. Friday
Where: Night Owls, 3840 US Route 11, Cortland
Cost: small cover charge
Mojo Workin'
Mojo and the Mayhem – which includes former Ithacans Jimmy Rose, Aidan Boardman and Larkin McSurely Bradshow – will return from New York City with their high-powered blend of funk, rock, soul and R&B. They released an EP titled “It Ain’t Easy” earlier this year.
When: 9:30 p.m. Friday
Where: The Range
Cost: small cover charge
A Good Cause
The fourth annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest returns to the Commons, with local contestants competing in a variety of categories. The contest is organized by The Sophie Fund, which was established in 2016 in memory of Cornell University art student Sophie Hack MacLeod to support mental health initiatives aiding young people. Live music will be provided by several local acts, including Joe Gibson, Josh Dolan, Ginny Maddock and Jacob Close, Hannah Martin and Emmett Scott, OA—Nellia and Savannah, and Singing Notes and Slinging Jokes, with Elbonee La’Trece Stevenson and Kenneth McLaurin.
When: 12-3 p.m. Saturday
Where: Bernie Milton Pavilion, The Commons
Cost: free
Fall Fun
Bright Leaf Vineyard will host its first Harvest Festival, with live music provided by Madd Daddy – the father-daughter duo of Ted (GoGone, the Beauchesnes) and Maddy (the Blind Spots) Walsh who play a mix of originals and cool covers that they don’t do in their other bands.
When: 12-5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Bright Leaf Vineyard in King Ferry
Cost: free
Canadian Crossing
Microtones will present another cool night of cutting-edge electronic music, with two Canadian artists joining a local favorite. On the bill are Toronto’s Aerodrömme, Ontario’s Agua and Ithaca’s own Bubba Crumrine.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Forest City Lodge 180
Cost: Advance tickets are available for $5 at Angry Mom Records; at the door, admission is sliding-scale of $10 to $15.
Smash It Up
Louiston – the solo project of Trumansburg songwriter Lou DiPietro – will celebrate the release of his new EP, “Duels,” at Sacred Root Kava Lounge and Tea Bar. He describes his sound as a “hybrid mix of acoustic, Americana, bluegrass, and soul, all smashed together into a delightful batch of original songs.” Fellow T-burg singer-songwriter Rena Guinn will open the show.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Sacred Root Kava Lounge and Tea Bar.
Cost: small cover charge.
Goin' Underground
Cornell’s Fanclub Collective will present an indie-rock show; on the bill are Boston’s Anjimile, Chicago’s Retirement Party, Boston’s Squitch, and Ithaca College’s own Kyra Skye.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: 630 Stewart Ave.
Cost: $5
Rock 'n' Bowl
Gutterpunk returns after a brief hiatus to present banger of a show, this one featuring three relatively new local bands: Wallace and the Apes, Jake and the Nowhere Men, and Secret Service Men. Throughout the night, Dusty Visions and DJ George from WRFI and Angry Mom Records will spin cool vinyl from their vast collections.
When: 8:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Bowl-O-Drome
Cost: donations are welcome
Dashing Duo
The Analogue Sons will join forces with Metasequoia for a night of local music ranging from ska, jazz and dub to rock, reggae and more.
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Casita del Polaris
Cost: $7
One Man Band
Rochester's Jackson Cavalier comes to Ithaca; the one-man band plays a blend of folk, country, bluegrass, and Americana.
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Agava Restaurant
Cost: donations
Rockin’ the Jukebox
Jack and the Jukebox, a prog-rock trio from Utica, will perform. Band members include Aaron Myatt, Timothy B. Parker and Jackalico, who cite influences ranging from King Crimson, Jethro Tull and P.O.D to Bella’s Bartok, Underoath and Radiohead.
When: 9:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Range
Cost: small cover charge
Celebrating Country
John McEuen and the String Wizards will visit Auburn for “A Celebration of Country Music.” McEuen, a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, will be joined local favorites such as Loren Barrigar, the Owens Brothers and newcomer Emalee Herrington.
When: 5 p.m. Sunday
Where: Auburn Public Theatre
Cost: $28
Percussion Power
Eye Vee Arts & Media, run by artist-in-residence Jen Kutler, will present an event at the Grayhaven Motel. Tatsuya Nakatani – an avant-garde sound artist, composer, and master percussionist – will perform a set of solo percussion after opening sets by Russ Waterhouse, Donna Parker, and Tom Law and Kevin Cheli.
When: 6 p.m. Sunday
Where: Grayhaven Motel, 657 Elmira Road
Cost: donation requested
Sunday Night Light
Stark Nights returns, with keyboardist Michael Stark reuniting with drummer Zaun Marshburn in their duo MSZM. They’ll also back up vocalist Jennifer Middaugh on a variety of pop and jazz standards.
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
Where: Argos Warehouse
Cost: free; donations welcome
Payton's Place
JP Payton and Liam of the EasyTigers make their debut in Ithaca's West End, performing rootsy originals from the band’s new EP, “Good Mourning, Friend, just out on Switchyard Records.
When: 7-9 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Westy
Cost: free
Ready to Return
Syracuse grindcore legends Dialysis, who have briefly reunited with vocalist Ryan Hex, will return to Ithafca. They’ll be joined by local noise riffsters Water Bears along with another band or two.
When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Chanticleer
Cost: $5
Double Bill
Bound for Glory continues its 53rd season with the double bill of Mara Levine and Gathering Time. Levine, who earlier this year released her third album “Facets of Folk,” has played the show several times, but this is the debut of Gathering Time, a Long Island-based folk-rock trio.
When: 8-11 p.m. Sunday
Where: Durland Alternatives Library in Cornell’s Anabel Taylor Hall.
Cost: free, and open to all
