Celebrate Black Friday with regional blues favorites Gabe Stillman and Steve Grills, plus catch many local bands in action around the area this Thanksgiving holiday 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!
Blues Blaster
The Gabe Stillman Band comes to downtown Ithaca — the group is touring in support of Stillman’s newest record, “Just Say The Word,” (VizzTone Label Group), which debuted in the top ten of the Billboard Blues Charts. Produced by Anson Funderburgh at Wire Recording in Austin, Texas, “Just Say the Word” features from the Texas Horns and special appearances by Funderburgh, Sue Foley, and Greg Izor. “Gabe is somebody who has it all,” says Funderburgh. “His songs move me; he has a way with words. He is an amazing singer, a great songwriter, and a wonderful musician.” Find out more here.
When: 10 p.m. Friday
Where: The Upstairs
Cost: small cover
Tale of Two Cities
Get your Thanksgiving holiday off to a stellar start with this double bill featuring Ithaca’s own Sim Redmond Band along with Rochester reggae-rockers The Medicinals. A longtime favorite of the Ithaca scene, SRB has been honing its blend of melodic Afro-folk-rock for nearly 20 years. Led by Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad’s Dylan Savage, the Medicinals also include members of RootsCollider, Mosaic Foundation, The Buddhahood, Personal Blend, Hybrid Beats, The Level 7 Experience, and the Able Bodies. SRB plays at 9:30 p.m.; the Medicinals at 11:30 p.m. Proof of vaccination is required
When: 9 p.m. Wednesday
Where: The Range
Cost: $15
Keeping It Country
CNY modern country favorites Chasing Neon will bring the party to downtown Cortland, on what is one of the busiest nights of the year.
When: 9 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Brix Pubaria, Cortland
Cost: free
Happy Punksgiving
Three local punk favorites – Mill Bastards, Secret Service Men, and No Complyance – team up for a mosh-filled night on the Inlet.
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday
Where: The Dock
Cost: small cover
Buffalo Shuffle
Buffalo-based southern-soul band Miller and the Other Sinners return to Ithaca. Led by guitarist-singer David Michael Miller, the band can be described as “imagining Chris Stapleton blended with ZZ Top and Tower of Power, the structure of solid songs and freedom for moving jams.” Their latest release is the EP titled “Rise.” Learn more here.
When: 10 p.m. Wednesday
Where: The Upstairs
Cost: small cover
Brothers in Arms
The Brothers MacRae play a rare reunion show, with Austin and Devon MacRae joined by Casey Widger and Sophie MacRae for an evening of original tunes and familiar favorites.
When: 6-8 p.m. Friday
Where: Hopshire Brewing in Dryden
Cost: free
Road Scholars
Steve Grills and the Roadmasters come to Ithaca, bringing with them their vast repertoire of classic blues tunes. The Rochester-based band is led by guitar master Grills, who has drawn inspiration from Robert Lockwood Jr., Earl Hooker, Freddie King, and Albert Collins, along with records by Big Bill Broonzy, Leadbelly, and Lightnin' Hopkins from his father's record collection. His 2011 album, “After Hours,” teamed him with pianist Ernest Lane, who worked with Ike Turner and Robert Nighthawk. Find out more here.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: The Dock
Cost: small cover
Dynamic Duo
Big Sister and Sine Caster join forces for an evening of electronic dance music in downtown Ithaca, promising a “New music dance party at the range with your favorite local bass music + duo LFGGGG.” Proof of vaccination required.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: The Range
Cost: small cover
Raising a Ruckus
Dirtroad Ruckus returns to the Dock. The regional country-rock favorites play a variety of popular tunes, including songs from Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Big and Rich, Eric Church, and Jason Aldean, along with classic rock selections from the likes of the Allman Brothers Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Find out more here.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Dock
Cost: small cover
More Events
The Ende Brothers are at Trevleaven Wines at 5-8 p.m. Wednesday
Two-Horse Johnson is at Grist Iron Brewing at 5 p.m. Wednesday
The Steve Brad Band is at Homer Hops at 6 p.m. Wednesday
Greg McQuade plays at Salt Point Brewing in Lansing at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday
Benny T brings his Open Mic Posse back to the Ridge in Lansing at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday
Rick Starmer (6 p.m.) and Billy Golicki (8 p.m.) return to Cortland Beer Company on Wednesday
Levi and the Wranglers are at Drifters on Owasco at 7 p.m. Wednesday
Roger Decker returns Rex’s Pasta in Cortland at 7-9 p.m. Wednesday
The Purple Valley is at Finger Lakes Distilling at 1:30-4:30 p.m. Friday
The Ende Brothers are at Homer Hops at 6 p.m. Friday
Mike Lucey is at Grist Iron Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Friday
Tommy Tornado returns to Cortland Beer Company at 8 p.m. Friday
DJ Jesse Hill spins tunes at South Hill Cider at 5-8 p.m. Friday
Wingnut will play the Press Bay Artists Market in downtown Ithaca at 1-4 p.m. Saturday
Pine Box is at Stonebend Farm at 5-7 p.m. Saturday
Jordan and the Wombats bring jazz to Brewer’s Café and Taproom in Dryden at 6-8 p.m. Saturday
Billy Golicki is at Summerhill Brewing at 5-8 p.m. Saturday
The Cousins are at Homer Hops at 6 p.m. Saturday
JT Horne is at Grist Iron Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Saturday
13 South is at Cortland Beer Company at 8 p.m. Saturday
Virgil Cain is at Homer Hops at 2 p.m. Sunday
