We exit March and enter April as Twiddle brings its farewell tour to the State Theatre of Ithaca, Tennis plays at Homer’s Center for the Arts, and Blaque Dynamite and Dan Pugach make their Ithaca debuts at Deep Dive! Plus, the Fiddlehead Frolic returns to BJM School and Annatto kicks off its residency at The Downstairs.
Note: the events are listed below in chronological order, in two separate sections.
Let’s Dance!
Hosted by belly dancers Alicia Free and Anya Hamer, the Wanah Dance Cafe Rites of Spring Event will feature “West Asian, North African & Hellenic Dance & more fabulous arts in our community.” The cover charge “includes VIP access to the barrel room and an amazing dance show” and goes toward paying the performers. Taksim Ithaca will provide live music
When: 7-9 p.m. Thursday
Where: Liquid State Brewing Company
Cost: $10; advance tickets are available online here
Piano Echoes
The Cornell Department of Music continues its run of numerous organ and piano concerts, as Jack Yarbrough presents forms in the air / echo studies, a piano recital featuring the music of Morton Feldman, Arthur Lourié, Tomasz Sikorski, and Josef Matthias Hauer. “Exploring themes of resonance, echo, and rhythmic weightlessness, the piano’s unique sonorities are allowed to unfold over an expansive timescale.”
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Where: Barnes Hall, Cornell
Cost: free and open to all
Dazzling Debut
Acclaimed drummer-singer-songwriter Blaque Dynamite will make his Ithaca debut at Deep Dive. He’ll be showcasing the powerful blend of jazz, hiphop, gospel, and funk that has garnered him more than a dozen Downbeat Music awards and a Grammy nomination. Wingnut, COOKIE., and Jacks Muñiz will open the show
When: 9 p.m. Thursday
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: $20 day of show, available online here and at the door
Read an interview with Blaque Dynamite here!!
Perfect Pair
Dara Anissi and Martin Shamoonpour will team up for an intimate concert in downtown Ithaca. “Our music is primarily original Middle Eastern music influenced by Persian, Arabic, Turkish, and Kurdish music with elements of Jazz, Progressive Rock, and West African music.”Anissi plays the oud, an ancient stringed instrument that gave birth to the guitar; Shamoonpour plays the daf, a Persian frame drum.
When: 7-9 p.m. Friday
Where: The Downstairs
Cost: $5
Let the Good Times Roll
Rose and the Bros will play a GrassRoots Zydeco Dance at the CSMA’s Hamlin Ballroom. They’ll be playing songs from their two albums as well as from their forthcoming record. Wine from Sweet Land Farm Cellars and Cider from South Hill Cider will be available for purchase. Open to all ages.
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Community School of Music and Arts Cost: $10 suggested donation to benefit the GrassRoots Music Academy
Homeward Bound
Cornell’s Center for Historical Keyboards will host a presentation titled “Homeward.” Joined by soprano Rachel Schutz, pianist Xak Bjerken performs music by composers of his Nordic and Slavic heritage—Grieg, Sibelius, Janáček, and Rachmaninoff.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Barnes Hall, Cornell
Cost: free and open to all
Nine is Fine
Grammy-nominated drummer and composer Dan Pugach brings his nine-piece ensemble to Ithaca. Hailing from Israel, Pugach moved to the United States in 2006 to pursue a career in music after three years of service in the IDF playing drums for The Air Force Band and attending the Rimon School of Jazz at the same time. He received a Bachelor of Music Degree from Berklee College of Music, where he studied with Terri Lynn Carrington, Hal Crook, and Joe Lovano, and an M.A in music from the City College of New York, where he studied with Mike Holober and Scott Reeves. His arrangement of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” from his 2018 debut album “Dan Pugach Nonet - Plus One” was Grammy-nominated for Best Arrangement for Instruments with Vocals.
“Pugach is an ace composer and arranger. It is pretty incredible to realized that ‘Plus One’ is the drummer’s debut album. It sounds fully formed and completely evolved." –– All About Jazz
When: 9 p.m. Friday
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: $14 in advance, available online here; day of show, $20
Glitch Mode
Delaques returns to downtown Ithaca, as Yoshi Aerson and Tony DeVivo showcase their “funky, jazzy stylings” accompanied by the mesmerizing glitch art projections of Skeleton Hands.
When: 9-11 p.m. Friday
Where: Sacred Root Kava Bar & Tea Lounge
Cost: $5-$10 sliding scale
Frolicking Fun
Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca returns with the Fiddlehead Frolic, a day of dancing featuring Alchemy (Rachel Bell, Karen Axelrod, and Eric Martin) with calling by Sarah VanNorstrand. “A fabulous medley will feature local favorites the O’Shanigans and a dream team of area callers.” Dance workshops and an open jam will round out the festivities. Masks are required. “We encourage all participants to rapid test the day of the event, and to be up to date on their vaccinations.” See the event page for the day’s complete schedule.
When: 12:30-10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Beverly J. Martin School
Admission: (Members/Non-Members/student rate): Afternoon Only— $15/$18/$9; Evening Only—$15/$18/$9; Entire Frolic—$25/$30/$15
A Variety of Fools
The Savage Club of Ithaca presents its April Fools Variety Show, promising “A fun musical event for all.”
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Savage Club Community Performance Space, 1004 Auburn Road, North Lansing
Cost: donations will benefit renovations of the club’s community performance space
Set Phasers to Stun
The Electrozone returns with another cool show, this one “a fun night of video game inspired music and other electronic fun.” The headliner is Boston-based electro-pop duo Battlemode, “the vibrant and irrepressibly energetic work of mismatched but inseparable friends Biff and Kris. Together they create dynamic electro pop that embraces the sounds of the past in order to look forward; incorporating the glitchy 8-bit chiptune sounds that accompanied adolescent days spent playing Gameboys, and reinvigorating them amongst contemporary synth.” Rochester’s Captain L3mo and Ithaca’s own Gorgonne round out the bill.
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Sacred Root Kava Lounge & Tea Bar
Cost: $10-$15 sliding scale
Silent Sounds
Cloud Chamber Orchestra (Robby Aceto, guitars; Peter Dodge, keyboards, trumpet, etc.; Chris White, cello) will perform with the 1923 German silent film “Warning Shadows,” as part of the Finger Lakes Film Festival (FLEFF). "An illusionist turns a shadowy puppet show into a violent premonition of what might occur if the wife of a jealous German baron continues to flirt with dinner guests in this German expressionist classic."
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Cinemapolis
Tickets: available online here and at the door
Going Techno
Microtones returns with another stellar show, this one featuring live sets from Russell E.L. Butler and Glitter Skulls. “Russell Ellington Langston Butler is a Black artist from Bermuda, living and working in New York City. Russell has painstakingly cultivated a unique artistic expression that integrates and investigates themes around process, technological innovation, the archive, and decolonization. Their works have taken the form of vinyl records, digital audio releases, live A/V performances, and special archiving projects.”
“Glitter Skulls is the live techno project of Ithaca-based filmmaker and sound engineer Chris Knight. Knight’s mind-melting improvised performances draw on trance-inducing synthesized rhythms with procedurally-generated glitchy melodies and acid bass lines.”
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Forest City Lodge 180
Cost: $10 in advance, available at Angry Mom Records; at the door, admission is $20 (cash or Venmo)
Bel Canto
Ithaca College’s Manley and Doriseve Thaler Vocal Concert Series will host acclaimed tenor Lawrence Brownlee, accompanied with pianist Kevin J. Miller. They’ll perform a program that includes works by Robert Owens, Jeremiah Evans, Margaret Bonds, Jasmine Barnes, Carlos Simon, Brandon Spencer, Joel Thompson, and others. A leading figure in opera, both as a singer on the world's top stages, and as a voice for activism and diversity in the industry, Brownlee has been captivating audiences and critics around the globe, and has been hailed as “an international star in the bel canto operatic repertory” (The New York Times), “one of the world’s leading bel canto stars” (The Guardian), and “one of the most in-demand opera singers in the world today” (NPR).
When: 8:15 p.m. Saturday
Where: Hockett Family Recital Hall, Ithaca College
Cost: free and open to all
Positive Vibrations
Double Tiger returns to Deep Dive, with Jay Spaker showcasing his blend of dub, reggae, funk, and soul with the help of some of the area’s top players. DJ Mike Judah, host of WICB’s “Reggae Explosions,” will spin tunes before and after the set.
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: $9 in advance, available online here; $15 day of show
Ready for Release
The Downstairs kicks off another residency, as Annatto, “the beats and vinyl mastermind, is taking over the joint for the first four Saturdays of April, each with a unique and unforgettable theme that will blow your mind. Annatto and friends' ‘April Jewels’ offers electrifying music and immersive entertainment in an intimate listening room with a high-quality atmosphere and libations.”
This weekend’s show will feature a night of electrifying beats, funky pop, and unique jazz-based hip-hop grooves,” as well as a celebration of Annatto's second EP release, "April Jewelz,” featuring “immersive visuals to enhance your experience.” Joining the show are jazz-hiphop duo Delaques and local funk-pop band Ten Square Miles.
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Downstairs
Cost: sliding scale $5-$10
That’s the Plan
Plan Z returns to downtown Ithaca, promising “a collaborative musical journey featuring some of the great musicians in the area. You will hear jazz, blues, soul, and funk filled originals as the group pushes their own boundaries to create something new.” The lineup includes Michael Stark (keyboards), Marc Devokaitis (sax), Andrew Battles (bass), Ryan Zawel (trombone, sousaphone), Paul Merrill (trumpet), and Zaun Marshburn (drums).
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Downstairs
Cost: $10 suggested cover
Fond Farewell
Twiddle brings its “Distance Makes The Heart” tour to Ithaca. The Vermont-based band – Mihali Savoulidis (vocals, guitar), Ryan Dempsey (keys, organ, synth), Brook Jordan (drums), and Zdenek Gubb (bass) – will be going on hiatus after its current tour. The group’s latest release is “Every Last Leaf,” which showcases its trademark blend of funk, jazz, rock, reggae, and bluegrass influences.
Yam Yam, a funk-soul-jazz-jam band from Harrisburg, Pa., opens the show.
When: 8 p.m. Sunday (postponed from January 27)
Where: State Theatre of Ithaca
Cost: $36, available online here (almost sold out!!)
Anyone for Tennis?
Tennis – the duo of Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley – will bring its “Pollen” tour to Central New York. Their 2020 album “Swimmer” featured the singles “Need Your Love” and “Runner”; it was followed by their latest album, “Pollen,” released earlier this year,
Kate Bollinger, a singer-songwriter from Charlottesville, Virginia, will open the show. Her debut EP “Look at it in the Light” came out in 2022.
When: 8 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Center for the Arts of Homer Cost: $30, available online here
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 months.
When: 8-10 p.m. Wednesday, April 5
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: free; ages 18 and up
More Shows
Sarah Noell returns to Atwater Vineyards at 5-8 p.m. Thursday
Richie Stearns and Friends play South Hill Cider at 5-8 p.m Thursday
Pat and Don are at Cortland Beer Company at 6 p.m. Thursday
Scott B Adams hosts Open Mic Night at the Scale House Brewery at 6-9 p.m. Thursday
Benny T brings his Open Mic Posse to Crossroads in Lansing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday
Tenzin Chopak and Emmett Scott return to the Downstairs at 7 p.m. Thursday
The Homebrewed Comedy Show is at McGraw Box Brewing at 5-8 p.m. Friday
Rev Ezra is at Barnstormer Winery at 5-8 p.m. Friday
Stereopticon is at Two Goats Brewing at 5-8 p.m. Friday
Gone Acoustic is at Grist Iron Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Friday
3-Mo-G is at Scale House Brewing at 6 p.m. Friday
Caleb Liber is at Homer Hops at 6-8 p.m. Friday
The Zydeco Trail Riders are at Hopshire Farm and Brewery at 6-8 p.m. Friday
Off The Rails is at BRU64 at 6-8 p.m. Friday
Greg McQuade is at Cortland Beer Company at 8 p.m. Friday
Bad Bear is at Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards at 1-4 p.m. Saturday
The Lakeside Drifters Duo is at Treleaven Winery at 2-5 p.m. Saturday
J9 and Company are at Chateau Dusseau at 3-6 p.m. Saturday
Insolent Cur is at Brookton’s Market at 4 p.ml Saturday
Tenzin Chopak and Emmett Scott are at Two Goats Brewing at 5-8 p.m. Saturday
M3 plays ONCO Fermentations’ Rock Steady Round Two event to benefit Empower Parkinson at 5 p.m. Saturday
Levi and the Wranglers are at Summerhill Brewing at 5-8 p.m. Saturday
Rocco Rich and Aaron Craig are at Homer Hops at 6-9 p.m. Saturday
The Hector Prom with DJ Obvious Objects is at Grist Iron Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Saturday, followed by Silent Disco at 9-11 p.m.
Clint Bush is at McGraw Box Brewing at 6-8 p.m. Saturday
Chasing Neon is at Goody’s Lake Como Inn at 8 p.m. Saturday
Billy Golicki and The Therapists are at Cortland Beer Company at 8 p.m. Saturday
The 86ers and Angela Marion team up for a show at the Range at 8 p.m. Saturday
Lutheran Skirts are at Owego’s John Barleycorn Tavern at 8 p.m. Saturday
First Saturday Salsa Night returns to the Upstairs at 9 p.m. Saturday
Cayuga Blue Notes are at Two Goats Brewing at 4-7 p.m. Sunday
djGOURD will spin at a Twiddle after-party at the Upstairs at 10:30 p.m. Sunday
The Center for the Arts in Homer hosts Open Mic Night at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays
Auburn Public Theatre hosts Open Mic Night at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays
The Westy hosts its new Open Mic Night at 9 p.m. Tuesdays
The Argos Grove trio plays jazz at Bar Argos at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays
Jesse Collins and Friends host the Sandwich Sessions at Brookton’s Market at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays
Fresh Vintage is at Scale House Brewing at 6 p.m. Wednesday
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
Robert Beck is at Atwater Vineyards at 5-8 p.m. Thursday
Scott B Adams hosts Open Mic Night at the Scale House Brewery at 6-9 p.m. Thursday
Regional Shows
March 31, Scott Bradlee’s Post-Modern Jukebox, Turning Stone Showroom, Verona
March 31, Joshua Hyslop, 443 Social Club, Syracuse
March 31, Almost Queen, Forum Theatre, Binghamton
March 31, Florence Dore Band, Mohawk Place, Buffalo
March 31, 1DRFL and Friends Part II, Westcott Theater, Syracuse
March 31, Snakes and Stars, Funk N Waffles, Syracuse
April 1, Joywave, Empire Live, Albany
April 1, Sam Grisman Project, Geneseo Riviera, Geneseo
April 1, The National Reserve, Funk N Waffles, Syracuse
April 1, Florence Dore Band, Abilene Bar and Lounge, Rochester
April 1, Stryper and Vixen, Del Lago Resort, Waterloo
April 1, The Moxie Strings, 443 Social Club, Syracuse
April 1, Earth Crisis, Lost Horizon, Syracuse
April 1, Travis Denning, The L, Horseheads
April 2, The Queers, The Bug Jar, Rochester
April 5, Strawberry Girls, Lost Horizon, Syracuse
April 5, Bass Drum of Death, Buffalo Iron Works, Buffalo
April 6, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Lost Horizon, Syracuse
April 6, Anvil, Empire Underground, Albany
April 7, Driftwood, The L, Horseheads
April 8, Aaron Lewis, Del Lago Resort, Waterloo
April 8, Papadosio and Space Bacon, Westcott Theater, Syracuse
April 8, The Kicks, Lost Horizon, Syracuse
