It’s another big week on the Central New York music scene, with Bob Moses and Big Thief at the State Theatre of Ithaca; Danielle Ponder, Cowboy Junkies, and Billy Prine coming to the Center for the Arts in Homer; and Todd Snider performing at the Hangar Theatre. Plus, lots of local favorites are in action around the region.
Please be sure to check with each show’s event page for various venue protocols, as well as potential postponement or cancellation information. Stay safe, and enjoy as much live music as you can in the coming days!
String Thing
Richie Stearns and Aaron Lipp return to South Hill Cider for a night of old-time tunes. Richie, best known for his work with the Horse Flies, Richie & Rosie, and the Evil City String Band, will be joined by Aaron Lipp for this week’s event. A master of many instruments – guitar, fiddle, Hammond B3 organ – and styles – old-time, bluegrass, rockabilly, country, gospel – Lipp is a familiar face to upstate music fans through a variety of projects and collaborations in recent years. His latest solo album is “Nothing to Lose.”
When: 4:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: South Hill Cider
Cost: free; donations welcome
Songs to Sing
Dan Forsyth of Driftwood hosts Singer/Songwriter Night, a new series taking place every first Thursday of the month at Hopshire: “This is an opportunity for songwriters to share their craft with each other. Bring a song you are working on, it doesn’t have to be complete, to get input from your peers. All are welcome to come listen respectfully.”
When: 6-8 p.m. Thursday
Where: Hopshire Farm and Brewing, Dryden
Cost: free
Taking It EZ
The Electrozone and the Downstairs continue their new series, “EZ Nights,” which they call “a vibrant and eclectic showcase of artists and entertainers.” This week’s artist is Stepwriterun (aka Jason Leifer), who uses a mix of modular synths, samplers, turntables, iPads, effects pedals, synthesizers, and sequencers to produce on the fly. His music is influenced by ambient, dub, techno, house, and triphop. Hear more here.
When: 7-11 p.m. Thursday
Where: The Downstairs (below the Watershed)
Cost: $5
From The Heart
Known for her powerhouse vocal style and passionate stage presence, Rochester-based singer Danielle Ponder will make her debut at the Center for the Arts. A former public defender, Ponder has given full-time attention to her music career with excellent results: a trip to Australia, performing at the 2021 Newport Jazz Festival and 2022 South by Southwest and, and upcoming tour dates with Leon Bridges. Find out more here. Syracuse singer-songwriter Jess Novak will open with a 7 p.m. preshow set.
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Where: Center for the Arts, Homer
Cost: $15; advance tickets available here.
Practice Makes Perfect
Practice at Pete's returns, with co-founding host band Cobra Cadaver joined by fellow Ithacans Chimes of Bayonets and New Motor Club. The latter two bands recently released new EPs, which you can hear here and here.
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Where: Pete's Cayuga Bar
Cost: $5
Crossing the Border
Canadian favorites Cowboy Junkies bring their "Songs of the Recollection" album release tour to Central New York. The album compiles nine cover songs, five of which have never been commercially released, with selections from Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Gram Parsons, David Bowie, Vic Chesnutt, the Rolling Stones, and The Cure. The band still includes its original lineup of siblings Michael (guitar), Peter (drums), and Margo Timmins (vocals) along with longtime friend Alan Anton (bass); they’ll perform two sets, drawing from their entire catalog. Learn more here.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Center for the Arts, Homer
Cost: $28.50-$48.50; tickets available online here
Read an interview with Cowboy Junkies guitarist Michael Timmins here!
Four on the Floor
The Sacred Root Songwriters Night returns, with host Andrew Alling joined by four stellar locals: Johnny Dowd, who just marked the release of his latest album, “Homemade Pie”; Janet Batch, who recently released her second album, “You Be The Wolf”; Adam Guinn, whose original songs draw from blues, rock n’ roll, country, bluegrass, and more; and Emma Vulnerability, who plays bass for Spazzare as well as writes her own heartful folk-punk originals.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Sacred Root Kava Bar and Tea Lounge
Cost: $5-$20 suggested donation
Three of a Kind
The Analogue Sons will morph into the acoustic trio Trio de TAS for this intimate gig, with Lee Hamilton (sax), Michael Stark (keyboards), and Jason Shegogue (guitar) joined by some guests. The group plays mostly originals, with the occasional cover, drawing on reggae, jazz, dub, soul, rock, surf, and Eastern European influences for their deep, melodic grooves.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: The Downstairs
Cost: $10; advance tickets are available online here
Feeling the Funk
Syracuse hiphop-rock-funk trio Sophistafunk returns to downtown Ithaca, with frontman Jack Brown, keyboardist Adam Gold, and drummer Emanuel Washington ready to showcase their relentless grooves, topical lyrics, and energetic stage show. Southern Tier favorites Amongst The Monks, who draw from rock, blues, and funk influences, will open the show.
When: 9:30 p.m. Friday
Where: The Upstairs
Cost: $20, available in advance here
Dynamic Duo
Bob Moses, the Vancouver-bred duo consisting of Tom Howie and Jimmy Vallance, will make its Ithaca debut. Last month, the pair released “The Silence in Between,” its third full-length album, which features the single “Hanging On.” The pair have worked together since meeting in Brooklyn in 2012. It’s the follow-up to Bob Moses’ JUNO Award-nominated 2020 project “Desire” and their first full-length since 2018’s “Battle Lines.” The pair have worked together since meeting in Brooklyn in 2012, and won a Grammy Award in 2015 for Best Remix Recording (Non-Classical). Find out more here. Amtrac will open the show.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: State Theatre of Ithaca
Cost: $30 and up; advance tickets are available here
Going Beyond
Beyond Music brings together local musicians Colleen Kattau, Mary Bentley, Tom Mank, Jody Kessler, Will Fudeman, and SOLID for a night of singer-songwriter experimentation. Come early, and view the gallery exhibit before the show.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Cherry Art Gallery at ArtHaus, 130 Cherry St., Ithaca
Cost: $10-$20 suggested donation; no one turned away
Cartoon Hallucinations
Strong Maybe continues its April residency in downtown Ithaca, performing on Saturday nights for the entire month. The Ithaca-based band includes Matthew Saccuccimorano (drums), Mark Wienand Karlsen (saxes and flute), and Chad Lieberman (keyboards), who have created a sound they describe as “mostly improvised psychotic cartoon animal dream soundtrack music.” Their latest release is “Rona,” created via file sharing during the lockdown. Hear for yourself here!
When: 8-11 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Downstairs
Cost: $5
Brotherly Love
Billy Prine and the Prine Time Band will present “The Songs of John Prine,” in tribute to his late brother. “During this concert celebrating John’s life in song, Billy will tell stories about or surrounding some of John’s most beloved songs before leading his band through his version of John’s timeless masterpieces.”
When: 8 p.m. Saturday (postponed from February)
Where: Center for the Arts, Homer
Cost: $35, available online here
All Right Guy
Singer-songwriter-raconteur Todd Snider will make a welcome return to Ithaca with his “Pickin’. Grinnin’. Tellin’ Stories. Takin’ Requests Tour.” Known for his blend of humor and storytelling, Snider has released 20 albums that showcase his distinctive singing and songwriting style. His latest album, “First Agnostic Church of Hope and Wonder,” features pseudo-sermons inspired by events of the past couple of years. Find out more here.
Indiana-based singer-songwriter Otis Gibbs, “who has been likened to everyone from Guthrie to Springsteen — but his is the rare voice that stands on its own.” (Esquire) — will open the show. Learn more here.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Hangar Theatre
Cost: $30-$35; advance tickets available here
Isn’t That Special?
Specialists, a New York City-based funk collective founded by guitarist Will Harden and bassist Mikey Rotunno, come to downtown Ithaca. The band adds jazz, rock, and hiphop influences to Harden’s powerful vocals, as showcased on three albums since 2018 and their new single, “I Got You.” Find out more here.
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Upstairs
Cost: small cover
Make It Big
Acclaimed indie-rock band Big Thief returns to Ithaca to make its State Theatre debut. The group’s latest record, the 20-track “Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You,” came out earlier this year via 4AD, and has received praise from Pitchfork (Best New Music), Variety, NPR Music, The New York Times, The Needle Drop, Rolling Stone, and others. SPIN calls it the band's "...Magnum Opus," and The New Yorker says, "Big Thief has become one of the most salient acts of the twenty-tens." The band includes Adrianne Lenker, Max Oleartchik, Buck Meek, and James Krivchenia; find out more here. Kara-Lis Coverdale opens the show.
When: 8 p.m. Tuesday
Where: State Theatre of Ithaca
Cost: $36; advance tickets available here.
More Events
Aiken is at Cortland Beer Company at 6 p.m. Thursday
Benny T brings his Open Mic Posse back to the Ridge in Lansing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday
Jeremy Bussman hosts the weekly Open Mic Night at the Upstairs at 7-10 p.m. Thursday
The Vinyl Lounge continues its weekly residency at Trumansburg’s Atlas Bowl at 7-10 p.m.
Kitestring is at Hopshire Brewing at 6-8 p.m. Friday
Steve Romer is at Homer Hops at 6-8 p.m. Friday
The Smoking Loons are at BRU64 at 6 p.m. Friday
The Ende Brothers are at Grist Iron Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Friday
Tommy Tornado is at Cortland Beer Company at 8 p.m. Friday
Jess Novak and Ben Wayne are at Treleaven Winery at 12-3 p.m. Saturday
Up Jumps Trouble is at Stone Bend Farm at 4-7 p.m. Saturday
Levi Dusseau is at Summerhill Brewing at 5-8 p.m. Saturday
Davey O is at Grist Iron Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Saturday
Gerard Burke is at Two Goats Brewery at 6 p.m. Saturday
Sam Swanson is at Homer Hops at 6 p.m. Saturday
Mike and Bob are at Cortland Beer Company at 8 p.m. Saturday
Sacred Root Kava Bar and Tea Lounge hosts its weekly Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. Wednesday
Benny T brings his Open Mic Posse back to Salt Point Brewing at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 14
