Two all-star benefit shows – Saturday at the Range and Sunday at Deep Dive – will raise funds for two worthy local organizations. Plus, Shemekia Copeland returns to Homer, the Unknown Woodsmen play downtown Cortland, and a Marian Anderson documentary screens in Trumansburg!
Note: the events are listed below in chronological order, in two separate sections.
See an updated list of dozens of shows across upstate New York happening in February and beyond!
And if you missed it, Jim Catalano highlighted his 15 favorite concerts of 2022 in his Soundoff column!
Ready to Launch
Hosted by DJ ha-MEEN, Deep Dive kicks off its new monthly Open Stage Night. "Vocal arts, dancing, playing instruments, comedy, poetry, acting, mini-lectures, etc. — it's your stage! We welcome all performance and artistic talents... within reason. All performers should sign up here in order to be guaranteed a slot. Walk-ins cannot be guaranteed a slot. Make sure you sign up no later than NOON on Open Stage Night! Any sign-ups after then will be considered a walk-in. Please text Open Stage Night's host, DJ ha-MEEN, at 607-227-4295 with questions.”
When: 7-10 p.m. Thursday (the first Thursday of each month)
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: free; open to 18+
Blues Power
Acclaimed vocalist Shemekia Copeland returns to Homer to showcase the powerhouse style that has made her one of the most acclaimed artists of her generation.
Best known as a blues singer, Copeland has been branching out in recent years to incorporate country, zydeco, soul, and rock influences into her growing repertoire.
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Where: Center for the Arts, Homer
Cost: $26-$32, available online here
Read an interview with Shemekia Copeland here!
Cortland Rocks
Get ready to rock in downtown Cortland as the Unknown Woodsmen team up with PeoplePeople for “a night of Blues, Rock, and Funk bouncing off the walls of Rose Hall’s first-floor studio.”
“Since their start in 2011, The Unknown Woodsmen have spent countless hours honing their signature sound and tirelessly performing throughout the Northeast. With their crafty hooks, old-school grooves, and energetic stage presence, the band has captivated crowd after crowd at clubs and festivals in the Central New York region and beyond.
“People People is one of the newest bands to emerge on the Cortland music scene. Pulling together an original cocktail of blues, jazz, funk and rock, the band’s driving grooves and thoughtful lyrics mix with fine-tuned musicianship that effortlessly lifts the spirit and energizes the soul.”
When: 7 p.m. Friday (postponed from Dec. 23)
Where: Rose Hall, 19 Church St., Cortland
Cost: $10, available online here; $15 at the door
Seasoned Songsmiths
Pierce Walsh and Nate Richardson team up for a show in downtown Ithaca. “For Pierce Walsh and Nate Silas Richardson, songcraft is about quality over quantity, texture over technique. The triumphs and tragedies of a combined 93 years of life experience bring new color to old songs and shape the direction of their expanding songbook.”
When: 7-9 p.m. Friday
Where: The Downstairs
Cost: $12 suggested donation
Parisian Personas
NYS Baroque, of Ithaca and Syracuse, continues its 34th season of early music with a variety of medieval, renaissance, baroque, and classical music concerts. “Characters of Paris” “explores the rich music of baroque composer Jean-Philippe Rameau, who is known not only as a music theorist, but also as composer of opera and chamber music. His remarkable set of three-movement concerts (or pieces) for harpsichord and a combination of other instruments such as violin and viola da gamba has long been a favorite among musicians and audiences alike. With many movements transcribed from his opera, these trios provide a musical variety that makes for an entertaining evening of music.
“Many of the pieces are named after various people and places who were known to Rameau and to his listeners. They provide musical depictions – some admiring, some as playful caricatures – of a colorful cast of personages and places around the French baroque court.” The performers are Robert Mealy, violin; Beiliang Zhu, viola da gamba; and Leon Schelhase, harpsichord.
"Our audiences will be given a guide to these so that they can understand where Rameau was coming from," says NYS Baroque Director Deborah Fox. "Our musicians enjoy this music so much, and will communicate this to the audience, with virtuosity, color, and beauty."
When & Where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, First Unitarian Universalist, 109 Waring Road, Syracuse; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, First Unitarian Society, 306 N. Aurora St., Ithaca.
Cost: $30 general, $10 student/low-income; available online here
Spanning Centuries
The Cornell Department of Music welcomes concert organist Anne Laver for a program titled “Song and Dance: Old and New Music for the Schnitger-Style Organ.” The concert will feature dances, chorales, and fugues spanning five centuries on the Baroque-style organ. Alongside music by J. S. Bach, Corelli and Scheidemann, she will perform “Pattern Dances,” a new piece commissioned by Dr. Laver from Syracuse-based composer Natalie Draper.
Laver’s performance activities have taken her across the United States, Europe, Scandinavia, Central America, and Africa. She has been a featured recitalist and clinician at numerous regional and national conventions, including the American Guild of Organists, the Organ Historical Society, Eastman Rochester Organ Initiative Festival, and the Westfield Center for Historical Keyboard Studies. She is Assistant Professor of Organ and University Organist at Syracuse University and has also taught and led outreach programs at the Eastman School of Music, most recently serving as Visiting Professor of Organ from 2020-2022.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Anabel Taylor Chapel, Cornell
Cost: free and open to all
Gimme Some Truth Serum
“Big Logic & the Truth Serum are excited to bring our high-energy mix of covers and originals to Ithaca!” Hailing from Rochester and citing influences such as The Band, Dr. Dog, Grateful Dead, Taj Mahal, Peter Tosh, Bob Dylan, and others, the group is a “versatile band specializing in original songs and choice covers.”
When: 9 p.m. Friday
Where: The Range
Cost: small cover
All-Star Americana
Local Americana musicians will perform their original music in downtown Ithaca to support and fundraise for Planned Parenthood of Greater New York. The music will begin at 6 p.m. and will rotate between two stages. Performances in order will be Mike Callahan (of Mortal Combine), Chickenwire Parachute, Janet Batch, The Dart Brothers, The Notorious Stringbusters, Freight, Richie and Rosie, The 86ers, and Aaron Lipp and Friends.
“Planned Parenthood of Greater New York (PPGNY) is a leading provider, educator, and advocate of sexual and reproductive health care in New York State. PPGNY offers a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services at its 23 health centers across 65% of New York State. PPGNY is a trusted source of medically accurate, evidence-based information that allows people to make informed decisions about their health and future. As a voice for reproductive freedom, PPGNY supports legislation and policies that ensure all New Yorkers have access to the full range of reproductive health services and education.”
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Range
Cost: $20 suggested donation; A donation page exists for donors who seek to donate more!
Songs to Share
Five top area songwriters – Dan Forsyth, Calya Lea, JP Payton, Dan Segal, and Drew Minson – will team up for “The Best Songs You've Never Heard- Best of Songwriter Night.”
“For over a year Hopshire has been hosting a monthly Songwriter Night. Dan Forsyth has curated a list of 5 ‘best of the best’ songwriters to perform for you at a special musical event. So come and enjoy a night of ‘The Best Songs You've Never Heard’ ...and a shout out to Dan Forsyth of Driftwood for making this event possible. Truly a showcase of the great local talent we have.”
When: 6-8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Hopshire Farms and Brewery
Cost: donations welcome
Ready to Serve
Area band How's the Soup? presents “A Soup-Stravaganza!” “Save the date Soup fans! Here's the event that you never knew you always wanted. We're serving up more soup than you can shake a ladle at! Fire Dawgs BBQ will be available to feed your bellies and How's the Soup? will feed your soul with tasty originals and some smokin' cover tunes. There will be complimentary soup sampling and Artisan Elements will be open for your shopping pleasure.”
When: 6-8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Artisan Elements, 77 West St. (Route 281), Homer
Cost: $5
Vocal Legend
The Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts will present a screening of the documentary “Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands.” Directed by Emmy- and Peabody Award-winner Rita Coburn, the film will examine “an international singer who captivated royalty in Europe and defied the conscience of 1939 America. Watch rare archival footage and hear audio recordings exploring her life and career from the Metropolitan Opera to the State Department. Marian Anderson’s singing and speaking voice are heard throughout the documentary, providing new understanding of the woman behind the music.”
When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts
Cost: free; register for tickets here
Let’s Dance
Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca will present a Dessert Dance with the Contradictions.
“Join us in a return to what is certainly our sweetest dance of the year. Join HFDI and the Contradictions for an evening of contras and couple dances, and bring a dessert to share! Beloved Ithaca-based band The Contradictions offers an eclectic mix of blissfully danceable fiddle tunes from American and European traditions. Their repertoire ranges from lively Irish jigs, New England double fiddling, and French Canadian reels to enchanting Venezuelan waltzes, slick bluegrass fiddle breaks, and 1930s hot swing standards, all designed to get your feet moving. The band features Rick Manning on fiddle and mandolin, Dave Davies on guitar and brass, Tom Hodgson on guitar, and special guest George Wilson on fiddle. The calling will be done by a group of wonderful Ithaca callers: Nancy Spero, Pamela Goddard, Katy Heine, Vikki Armstrong and Casey Carr.”
Note: “We require masks to be worn at all times during the dance, unless you're eating. For more information about our Covid-19 protocols, go here.”
When: 7:15-11:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Community School of Music and Arts
Cost: $12 for members, $14 for non-members
Western Stars
The Cast Iron Cowboys kick off their weekly February residency in downtown Ithaca. The band includes bassist Josh Chamberlain (aka Rev Ezra), Max Moses, and slide guitarist Rob Beck, who play a mix of covers and originals they characterize as “Real American Music.”
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturdays in February
Where: The Downstairs
Cost: $7
Joining Forces
The jazz ensembles of Ithaca College, Cornell, and Ithaca High School gather for the Sixth Annual Ithaca Big Band Summit. Directors Mike Titlebaum, Paul Merrill, and Michael Treat showcase the hard work of their groups.
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: Ithaca High School
Cost: free and open to all
Positive Vibrations
Deep Dive will host the “Bob Marley Birthday Tribute Show” to benefit the Cayuga Wetlands Restoration Project. The all-ages, family-friendly event will feature Jamaican-themed food and drinks, a silent auction, and performances of classic Bob Marley songs by The 86ers, Pine Box, The Notorious Stringbusters, Stone Cold Miracle, and The Crucials with special guests. “Lots of singers and players of instruments have been influenced by the works of Bob Marley. What a great opportunity to get people together from many genres of music to pay tribute. Join us as we take a journey with some of our favorite artists from the area performing their versions of Bob songs.”
Proceeds will benefit the Wetlands Restoration Project. “ They have been doing great work. Part of their intention is to bring the land back to its original ecosystems using the wisdom and teachings of the native Gayo’goho:no’. They reintroduce native wetlands plants, clean up trash from the Cayuga Inlet, remove destructive invasive species and collect water samples to test.
“They reintroduce native cattails from other wetland areas in the region back into the inlet. Cattail filters nitrogen and phosphorus from the water. This is a way of combating harmful algal blooms caused by industrialization and the lack of protective wetlands ecosystems.
“By engaging in this work, the youth can reclaim a connection with nature and a connection with others. We believe that by being of service to the Earth, this action heals relationships between peoples.”
When: 4-9 p.m. Sunday
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: $10 suggested donation
Dynamic Duo
Jennie Lowe returns to downtown Ithaca to showcase her original songs “with help from her Telecaster and loop pedal and friends.” She’ll be joined by special guest Philly transplant Brian John McBrearty, who will be opening the show “with his lush and layered guitar sounds and dreamy vocals.”
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Downstairs
Cost: $10
Going Big
The Deep Dive House Big Band continues its every-other-Wednesday residency under the direction of local jazz professor Greg Evans, who teaches at Ithaca College and Cornell University and plays drums with Rose and the Bros and other area bands. The DDBB will feature players from Cornell University, Ithaca College and the greater Ithaca Community every other Wednesday for the coming month.
When: 8-10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: free; ages 18 and up
More Shows
Richie Stearns and Friends play old-time tunes at South Hill Cider at 5-8 p.m. Thursday
Scott B Adams is at Atwater Vineyards at 5-8 p.m. Thursday
Pat and Don are at Cortland Beer Company at 6 p.m. Thursday
Marc Ryan is at the Cortland DAV at 6:30 p.m. Thursday
Benny T brings his Open Mic Posse to Crossroads Bar and Grille in Lansing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday
St. Vith is at Two Goats Brewing at 5-8 p.m. Friday
The Hot Dogs Duo is at Grist Iron Brewing at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by the Silent Disco at 9 p.m.
Past My Bedtime is at BRU64 at 6 p.m. Friday
Mike Passarelli and Luke Hart play at Heuga’s Alpine in Tully at 6-9 p.m. Friday
Pat Tato is at Homer Hops at 6-8 p.m. Friday
Just Joe is at McGraw Box Brewing Company at 6-8 p.m. Friday
Motherwort and Carbon 66 are at Hopshire Farm and Brewery at 6-8 p.m. Friday
Vintage Vintage is at Scale House Brewery at 6 p.m. Friday
The M&Ms (Marc Ryan and Monica) are at the Dryden Hotel at 7-9 p.m. Friday
Trick Shot is at Cortland Beer Company at 8 p.m. Friday
Pat Tato is at Treleaven Winery at 1-4 p.m. Saturday
Logan Route is at Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards at 1-4 p.m. Saturday
Sandra Esparza returns to Chateau Dusseau at 3 p.m. Saturday
M3 is at the Puffin Dirt at Labrador Mountain in Truxton at 4-7 p.m. Saturday
Fritz’s Polka Band plays the German Bierfest at ONCO Fermentations in Tully at 4-7 p.m. Saturday (the Bierfest runs 1-9 p.m.)
Scott Tremolo is at Grist Iron Brewing at 5-8 p.m. Saturday
The Small Kings are at Two Goats Brewing at 5-8 p.m. Saturday
The Vectors are at McGraw Box Brewing Company at 5-8 p.m. Saturday
Dana Twigg is at Summerhill Brewing at 6-8 p.m. Saturday
Jon Rogalia is at Homer Hops at 6-9 p.m. Saturday
Tenzin Chopak and Emmett Scott are at Stone Bend Farm at 5-7 p.m. Saturday
Mark Nanni is at the Amber Inn at 8 p.m. Saturday
Andrew Alling is at Sacred Root Kava Bar and Tea Lounge at 8 p.m. Saturday
The Midnight Mike Petroff Blues Harp Band is at Cortland Beer Company at 8 p.m. Saturday
The Diana Leigh Quartet is at Six Mile Creek Vineyard at 1-3 p.m. Sunday
Payton Bird and Sean Fried are at McGraw Box Brewing Company at 2-5 p.m. Sunday
Rena Guinn and Joe Lule are at Two Goats Brewing at 4-7 p.m. Sunday
The Center for the Arts in Homer hosts Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. Tuesday
Auburn Public Theatre hosts Open Mic Night at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays
The Westy host its new Open Mic Night at 9 p.m. Tuesdays
Jesse Collins hosts the Sandwich Sessions at Brookton’s Market at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday
The Argos Grove trio plays jazz at Bar Argos at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays
Sacred Root Kava Bar and Tea Lounge hosts its weekly Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. Wednesday
The Salsa Night Dance Partyreturns to the Range at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays
Regional Shows
Feb. 3, Disco Biscuits, Palace Theatre, Albany
Feb. 3, Buried Alive, Water Street Music Hall, Rochester
Feb. 3, Crys Matthews, May Memorial UU Society
Feb. 4, Get The Led Out, Stanley Theatre, Utica
Feb. 4, Angel Olsen, Asbury Hall, Buffalo
Feb. 4, Lainey Wilson, Kegs Canalside, Jordan (SOLD OUT!)
Feb. 4, Mark Doyle and the Maniacs, 443 Social Club, Syracuse
Feb. 5, Get the Led Out, Town Ballroom, Buffalo
Feb. 9, Tyler Rich, The L, Horseheads
Feb. 9, Jarrod Dickenson, Abilene Bar & Lounge, Rochester
Feb. 10, Alter Bridge, Del Lago Resort, Waterloo
See an updated list of dozens of shows across upstate New York happening in February and beyond!
