There’s a bounty of big shows on tap for the Memorial Day weekend, including three huge concerts each at Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards and CMAC! Plus, the new Dinosaur Jr. documentary plays for one night only at Cinemapolis, and dozens of local bands play around the region in the coming days.
Please be sure to check 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!
(Note: the concerts are listed below in chronological order)
Soul Singing
Elisa & the YesMen will present "The Origin of Song,” their first live show in two years, performing original soul with world music influences. The band is led by Elisa S. Keeler, who is “reemerging with song medicine - new music intended to heal, unite and uplift us.” The YesMen include Travis Knapp (keys/vocals), Jon Keefner (drums/vocals), Rusty Keeler (bass), Mark Karlsen (sax/flute) and Jamie Yaman (sax). Find out more here.
When: 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Ithaca Farmers Market
Cost: free; suggested donation of $20 welcome at the show or online here
Lipp Service
Aaron Lipp returns to South Hill Cider. A native of Naples, N.Y., and 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.” Find out more here.
When: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: South Hill Cider
Cost: free; donations welcome
Triple Bill
Practice at Pete’s returns with a diverse lineup featuring host band and local punk icons Secret Service Men along with heavy psychedelic rockers Spazzare and eclectic rockers Patchwork Down.
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Where: Pete’s Cayuga Bar
Cost: $5
Smorgasbord of Song
The Friday Night Farm Jams series continues with Michael Francis McCarthy. “Born in the Andes mountains and raised the woods of rural New Hampshire, McCarthy has gathered influences from the many branches of the greater American roots family tree while wandering the Western Hemisphere over the last 15 years. Elements of delta blues, bluegrass, early country, Bolivian folklore, Celtic folk, 70s jam and even thrash metal blend seamlessly in live sets featuring original compositions and carefully selected deep cuts, rich guitar work and powerful vocals. McCarthy has performed all over the country and overseas in Central America and Ireland.”
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Finger Lakes Cider House
Cost: $5
Welcome Return
Lake Street Dive returns to Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards to showcase their trademark blend of pop, jazz, rock, and soul with singer Rachael Price, bassist Bridget Kearney and drummer Michael Calabrese joined by new members Akie Bermiss and James Cornelison, who replaced the retired Mike “McDuck” Olson. Philadelphia-bred singer-songwriter Devon Gilfillian opens the show.
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards, 2708 Lords Hill Road (corner of Routes 20 and 80), LaFayette
Cost: $49.50-$55, available online here
Play Ball!
The Avett Brothers return for their “Let’s Play Two” weekend in Cooperstown. Saturday’s show with opener Lake Street Dive is sold out, but tickets remain for Friday’s show featuring opener Sierra Ferrell.
When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday (SOLD OUT); gates at 5 p.m.
Where: Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown
Cost: $59.50-$70, available online here
Opening Night
The Lumineers open CMAC’s summer season, bringing their “Brightside” world tour to Canandaigua to promote their latest album. Caamp opens the show.
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: CMAC, 3355 Marvin Sands Dr., Canandaigua
Cost: $75-$126, available online here
Downtown Takeover
Local nonprofit label New Vine Records is taking over the Range for May, with Friday and Saturday shows on tap for each weekend through the end of the month. Each show will feature a New Vine act paired with another local artist. The takeover concludes this weekend: Friday will feature DJ Evo Evolution, LGN, and Tee Melly for “a sick night of rap, hip hop, and DJ EVO”; Saturday will feature Emma Vulnerability, Timothy, Leo and the Maydays, Bob Roberts Calamity, and Metasequoia.
When: 9 p.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Range
Cost: small cover
Event Info
Trio Scampi
Long Island-based funk trio Baked Shrimp returns to Ithaca – the band is marking its five-year anniversary as well as the recent release of its third studio album, “Pork Etiquette.” The band – guitarist Jared Cowen, drummer Jager Soss, and bassist Scott Reill – was voted as a finalist in NYSMusic's March Madness up-and-coming bands competition last year. Learn more about them here.
When: 10 p.m. Friday
Where: The Upstairs
Cost: cover charge
Lonsky Beat
Treleaven Winery’s annual Memorial Day Weekend event featuring The Destination will kick off its summer season. Joe Lonsky and The Destination will once again showcase their energetic mix of funk, rock, R&B, soul, and more as performed by some of the region’s best players. Tickets are $10; free for premier wine club members. Kids 12 and under are free but must have a ticket. Seating is based on first come first serve.
When: 6-9 p.m. Saturday (doors open at 4 p.m.)
Where: Treleaven Winery, King Ferry
Cost: $10, available online here
What a Rush
Primus pays prog-rock legends Rush with “A Tribute to Kings,” a cross-country tour that will feature the Bay Area trio playing Rush's classic 1977 album “A Farewell to Kings” in its entirety, in addition to its own music: “The 'Tribute to Kings' tour will be just as it is implied, a respectful and loving tribute to three spectacular musicians, songwriters, legends and friends."
Battles, the duo of guitarist-keyboardist Williams and drummer John Stanier, will open the show.
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards, 2708 Lords Hill Road (corner of Routes 20 and 80), LaFayette
Cost: $45 and up, available online here
It’s An Elevation
Journeyman Productions' monthly "Elevate" event returns, promising a “higher state of consciousness.” This month’s event features Scanner Darkly, an upstate New York DJ-producer-remixer who “creates a distinct blend of dark progressive and melodic sounds. Known for bridging various genres he has consistently been building a solid catalog of original music and remixes. His focus is to push boundaries by bridging the gap between dark pulsating beats, hard-hitting percussion, and uplifting melodies.” Resident DJs Priest, HighStone, and Freeze also will perform during the event, offering techno, house, drum n’ bass, deep house, and more.
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Forest City Lodge 180, 536 W. Green St., Ithaca
Cost: $10 at the door
Exit Ox
Ithaca’s own Josh Oxford will present his final concert to commemorate earning his DMA from Arizona State University! “The program will include some solo piano music, music for tuba/euphonium and electronics, OxDos electric clarinet/synthesizer duo, and some praise and worship music,” he says. “There will be a livestream option that will soon materialize.” Check the Facebook event page for updates
When: 10:30 p.m. Saturday EST
Where: Online
Cost: free
Jazz on the Hill
The Jesse Collins Quartet continues South Hill Cider’s Jazz Monday series, performing Collins’ original music as well as his arrangements of jazz standards and R&B classics. Find out more here.
When: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Monday
Where: South Hill Cider
Cost: free; donations welcome
A Little Help From His Friends
Ringo Starr brings his latest All Starr Band to Canandaigua, as the ex-Beatle drummer is joined by long-time All Starrs Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Warren Ham, Hamish Stuart, and Gregg Bissonette and welcomes back All Starr alumnus Edgar Winter.
When: 7 p.m. Monday
Where: CMAC, 3355 Marvin Sands Dr., Canandaigua
Cost: $35-$150, available online here
Get Your ‘Freakscene’ On
For one night only, Cinemapolis will screen “Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr.” the documentary that tells the story of the Massachusetts-based indie-rock band led by J. Mascis. Written and directed by Philipp Virus, the film is a “homage of one of the most influential bands on the American East Coast, which inspired the rock scene – an emotional, tragically funny and sometimes noisy roller-coaster ride by a dysfunctional family – Dinosaur Jr.” Phuong Le, a reviewer for The Guardian, wrote: “Amid such intense ups and downs, what makes Freakscene so engaging is its decision to put Dinosaur Jr’s music front and centre, with numerous audio and live performance excerpts.” See the trailer here.
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 31
Where: Cinemapolis
Cost: $10.50
Tuesday Bluesday
The Head and The Heart will bring its “Every Shade of Blue” tour to Central New York to promote its new album of the same name. British singer-songwriter Jade Bird, who just released the album “Different Kinds of Light,” will open the show.
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards, 2708 Lords Hill Road (corner of Routes 20 and 80), LaFayette
Cost: $45-$50, available online here
Roof Raisers
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss bring their “Raising the Roof” tour to Canandaigua to mark the release of “Raise the Roof,” their second album together, more than a decade after their initial successful collaboration, “Raising Sand.” Stellar roots-rocker J.D. McPherson will open the show.
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 1
Where: CMAC, 3355 Marvin Sands Dr., Canandaigua
Cost: $37-$117 available online here
More Events
Small Tattoo is at the Trumansburg Farmers Market at 4:30-7 p.m. Wednesday
Argos Grove is at Bar Argos in the Argos Inn at 5-7 p.m. Wednesday
Two Horse Johnson is at Lucky Hare Brewing in Hector at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday
Endres and the Manurevers are at the Bike Bar at 7 p.m. Wednesday
Sacred Root Kava Bar and Tea Lounge hosts its weekly Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. Wednesday
Jeremy Bussman hosts the weekly Open Mic Night at the Upstairs at 7-10 p.m. Wednesday
Mike Brown is at Grist Iron Brewing at 5-8 p.m. Thursday
Feed the Fire is at Brookton’s Market at 6 p.m. Thursday
Off the Rails plays the Six Mile Creek Vineyard’s Sunset Music Series at 6-8 p.m. Thursday
The Scale House Brewery hosts its weekly Open Mic Night at 6-9 p.m. Thursday
Aiken is at Cortland Beer Company at 6 p.m. Thursday
M3 is at the Three Bear Inn in Marathon for Bike Night at 6 p.m. Thursday
The Vinyl Lounge continues its weekly residency at Trumansburg’s Atlas Bowl at 7-10 p.m. Thursday
JoJo and the Blue Notes are at Lucky Hare Press Bay Alley stage at 5:30 p.m. Friday
Backtalk with Hannah Martin is at Wagner Vineyards at 5:30 p.m. Friday
Tony Serdula is at Seneca Cheese Company at 5:30 p.m. Friday
Top Shelf is at Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards at 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday
The Steve Daniele Jazz Trio is at Bright Leaf Vineyard at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday
The Delta Mike Shaw Band kicks off Solera Tap House’s 1-year Anniversary weekend at 5:30 p.m. Friday
The Rezenens are at Homer Hops at 6-8 p.m. Friday
Madd Daddy is at Summerhill Brewing at 6 p.m. Friday
McArdell and Westers are at ONCO Fermentations in Tully at 6 p.m. Friday
Bad Alibi is at Hopshire Brewing at 6-8 p.m. Friday
Stereopticon is at Grist Iron Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Friday
Jim E Leggs is at Buttonwood Grove Winery at 6 p.m. Friday
SingTrece and Kenneth McLaurin bring their “Singing Notes and Slinging Jokes” show to Two Goats Brewing at 6 p.m. Friday
The Midnight Mike Petroff Blues Harp Band is at the Amber Inn at 7 p.m. Friday
Levi and the Wranglers are at Cortland Beer Company at 8 p.m. Friday
10th Avenue is at Buttonwood Grove Winery at 1 p.m. Saturday
Off The Rails is at Solera Tap House at 2-5 p.m. Saturday
Joel Kane and Grassanova, with special guests Dave Borisoff and Joe Crum, will play Chateau Dusseau’s Anniversary Weekend at 2-7 p.m. Saturday
Brad Allen and Casey Widger are at Summerhill Brewing at 5-8 p.m. Saturday
Adam Parker is at Owasco Lake Brewing at 5-8 p.m. Saturday
Travis Knapp brings his trio to Stone Bend Farm at 6-8 p.m. Saturday
Roger Decker is at the Westy at 6-8 p.m. Saturday
Peg Newell is at Homer Hops at 6-9 p.m. Saturday
Stone Cold Miracle is at Grist Iron Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Saturday
Gabe Stillman is at Two Goats Brewing at 6 p.m. Saturday
In Too Deep is at Cortland Beer Company at 8 p.m. Saturday
NEO Project returns to the Upstairs at 9:30 p.m. Saturday
Jessie Gray is at the Elf in the Oak in Burdett at 10:30 a.m. Sunday
The Tribal Revival Duo of Marc Ryan and Tom Gath kick off the “Music and Mimosas” series at Hosmer Winery at 1 p.m. Sunday
Eric Aceto, Doug Robinson and Chad Lieberman are at Red Newt Winery at 1-3 p.m. Sunday
Bob and Dee are at Buttonwood Grove Winery at 1 p.m. Sunday
Fools Hill in Spencer hosts its weekly Open Mic “Chill on the Hill” at 1-7 p.m. Sunday
Tru Bleu is at Treleaven Winery at 1-4 p.m. Sunday
Joanna Yaeger is at Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards at 2 p.m. Sunday
Unoriginal Gravity is at Grist Iron Brewing at 2-5 p.m. Sunday
Two Horse Johnson is at Solera Tap House at 2-5 p.m. Sunday
Sam I Am, with special guests, will play Chateau Dusseau’s Anniversary Weekend at 2 p.m. Sunday
Caleb Liber is at the Glen Haven at 3-6 p.m. Sunday
Darwin is at Two Goats Brewing at 4 p.m. Sunday
Bad Alibi is at Spruce Row Campground at 7 p.m. Sunday
The Center for the Arts in Homer hosts its weekly Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. Tuesday
Richie Stearns and Steve Selin play the Firelight Live concert series at Firelight Camps (behind La Tourelle) at 6-8 p.m. Tuesday
Dee Specker and Bob Walpole are at the Trumansburg Farmers Market at 4:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, June 1
Kitestring is at Bright Leaf Vineyard at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday
Sacred Root Kava Bar and Tea Lounge hosts its weekly Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. Wednesday
Jeremy Bussman hosts the weekly Open Mic Night at the Upstairs at 7-10 p.m. Wednesday
Johnny Dowd is at Bike Bar Ithaca at 7 p.m. Wednesday
