We exit June and head toward the 4th of July with a full slate of shows in the coming week, including Alex Cano at Deep Dive, Mectapus at South Hill Cider, and the return of the DJ Cookout! Plus, Village Swing returns to the Downstairs, and Cortland County hosts an all-day extravaganza at Dwyer Memorial Park that features hours of live music followed by a fireworks show over Little York Lake!
Righteous Reunion
South Hill Cider’s Golden Hour Music Series continues with the return of Mectapus, which formed in July 1997. The band includes Eric Aceto, Michael Cerza, Peter Dougan, Andrew Farnsworth, Chad Lieberman, Joe Palermo, and Charlie Shew.
“Get ready for a VERY SPECIAL event! Here is your chance to see Mectapus, live for the first time since maybe before you were born, or reborn, or for a long time at least. It's been more than 15 years since the band last played in Ithaca. See them for one show and one show only. Though the band might like to say ‘we will see you soon’ and ‘we will be back,’ herding seven cats across four states in an era of chaos is ... less likely than winning the Powerball. It's so rare that we do not even have a photo of the band that is more current than the Clinton Administration.”
The band wrote original music “inspired by a wide array of genres that spoke to and influenced each of them in their own unique ways. These included Afrobeat, Latin jazz and traditional, bluegrass, country, progressive and classic rock, new age, funk, R & B, and more. Some non-musical influences also infiltrated the band's aesthetic, including puppetry, modern American history, botany, and ornithology.”
“The band strives always for joy above perfection, embodying a mantra of the band - let happiness prevail among this human infestation! Instrumentation on this night will feature acoustic and electric guitars, violin and mandolin, bass, drums and percussion, keyboards and other keyed instruments, and the occasional brass and wind instruments.
Tonight’s performance will span the band's musical catalog, mostly available with effort here. This evening's event will be documented live by whatever means are available (hopefully excluding sketch artists, depending on how guilty we might be of playing too many notes).”
When: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday
Where: South Hill Cider
Cost: $10
Dynamic Duo
Local singer-songwriter Whistlin’ Dyl concludes his “Trilogy” residency at the Downstairs. This show will feature his band Spice Rack and guitarist Kyle Madrigal.
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: The Downstairs
Cost: $10/pay what you can
Underground Practice
Practice at Presents returns with another cool show, this one featuring Albany’s CPS and Wiring along with local favorites Secret Service Men and BRIAN! Open to all ages.
Where: Sacred Root Kava Lounge & Tea Bar
Cost: $10
Read a recent interview with BRIAN! here!
Vintage Vibes
Kevin Kinsella returns to Deep Dive with his OG JBB to perform the classic tunes he wrote and sang for longtime local reggae favorites John Brown’s Body. He’ll be joined by several former JBB members, including drummer Tommy Benedetti and saxman Lee Hamilton, as well as Boston-based guitarist Van Martin. Kinsella’s latest album, “At Imperial Sound, Volume 1,” came out in February.
Roadman, the solo project of ex-JBB keyboardist Jon Petronzio, will open the show
When: 9 p.m. Friday
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: $14 in advance, available online here; $20 day of show
Read an interview with Kevin Kinsella here!
Fireworks and Fun
The Cortland County Independence Day Spectacular returns to Dwyer Memorial Park. The Center for the Arts of Homer will host a Beer and Wine bar (21+) and a full day of music at the park. Here’s the schedule:
2 p.m. – Steve Daniels
3 p.m. – Dirty Doves
4 p.m. – The Elderly Brothers
5 p.m. – Second Spring
6 p.m. – The Rolling Rust
7 p.m. – Hot Dogs & Gin
8 p.m. – Jon Rogalia & The Swamp Boys
“Celebrate our return to tradition with live music, food, and family fun. Area food vendors will be on-site as well as a beer and wine garden alongside a full lineup of local bands. The music will begin at 2 p.m.; make sure you tune in to X101 for the Sky Concert.”
When: 2-10 p.m. Saturday (rain date is Sunday)
Where: Dwyer Memorial Park, 6799 Little York Lake Road, Preble
Cost: Admission is free, with a $5 per car parking fee that will begin at 8 a.m.
An Arty Anniversary
Hair•Color•Art will host its “Art-iversary Partay” in Press Bay Court in downtown Ithaca. The event will feature live music from the 86ers, Teencat, and Milk Cousin; live painting and art auction with Blazing Phoenix Studio, Tom Bomb, Bryan Riek, Abstractisms, Mandy Nord, Emily Hoyt, and Toph is Toph.
The event also will include the Lost Cat Memorial Statue reveal in Press Bay Court Lawn, Lost Cat donuts for sale at The Gallery, a raffle table with local art, and other fun things. “Come celebrate another year at Hair Color Art and fundraising for the Hair Color Art Hair Scholarship Program as well as Lost Cat and kitten fund to support homelessness in our local Jungle community.”
When: 3 p.m. Saturday
Where: Hair•Color•Art, 112 W. Green St., Ithaca
Cost: donations welcome
Duo Dynamism
Tom Shevory and Chris Bell will perform at Brookton’s Market.
“Tom Shevory started out with classical, shifted to blues and boogie woogie, and ended up with an amalgam of piano driven rock-n-roll original songs, inspired by the upright’s pedigree, but smitten by the digital’s versatility. Guitarist extraordinaire Chris Bell is a veteran of numerous local bands, and a founding member of current Ithaca band, Scratched Vinyl. Together they create a unique musical experience, blending the acoustic, the electric, and the electronic, with a poetic sensibility tossed in.”
When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Brookton’s Market
Cost: free; donations welcome
Swing Thing
The Downstairs will host its second Village Swing residency, with top local players Wayne Gottlieb (guitar, vocals), Harry Aceto (bass), and Brian Earle (clarinet) performing vintage jazz on Saturday nights in July. They’ll be joined by a different guest each week, including Dee Specker (July 1), Alice Saltonstall (July 8), Ariel Arbisser (July 15), Mike Titlebaum (July 22), and Catherine Gale (July 29).
When: 7-9 p.m. Saturdays in July
Where: The Downstairs
Cost: free; donations accepted
Welcome Return
Deep Dive will host the return of Ithaca College grad Alex Cano, along with the Samuel B. Lupowitz Trio.
“New York-based rock/Americana artist Alex Cano’s debut album ‘Every Rise of the Sun’ is a story of resilience and survivorship that hits straight to the heart, while making you want to drum along on your steering wheel. If you’re looking for a raw slice of organic, honest, Rock n’ Roll, this is it. From setbacks, to comebacks, to ultimate resolve, this record comes from a very real place and is intended to revive and inspire.
“Cano’s combination of smooth baritone and powerful rock vocals tell the truth and the whole truth, from cover to cover. Coming from a wide array of influences, his sound is described as a mix of Foo Fighters, Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, Jason Isbell, and Johnny Cash. ‘Every Rise of the Sun’ was supported by a full U.S. tour. It has received acclaim from respectable publications such as Paste Magazine (8.7 rating) and Indie Current… Alex is currently actively touring and in the studio with new music set to release in 2023.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srChvCPbitU
“Samuel B. Lupowitz brings you thoughts, feelings, and theatrical leanings through his piano-driven brand of rock ’n’ soul songcraft.
“Best known in his home of Ithaca, N.Y., as the hair-tossing keyboardist of Noon Fifteen, Thru Spectrums, Maddy Walsh & The Blind Spots, and many others, SBLhas released two full-length albums as leader of Samuel B. Lupowitz & The Ego Band: 2012’s 'Songs to Make You Wealthier and More Attractive' and 2015’s 'Ten Square Miles.' His newest solo effort, 'No Man Is an Island,' tackles the personal and political turmoil of the 2020s with love, rage, and a snarky sense of humor.” He’ll be joined in his trio by bassist Michael Wu (Gunpoets, Maddy Walsh & The Blind Spots, Front & Main) and drummer Simon Bjarning (The Oxtet, Electrolyte, Pocket Bandits).
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: $10 in advance, available online here; $15 day of show
Read a 2021 interview with Samuel B. Lupowitz here!
Saturday Night Sounds
The Journeymen Sound System returns to Ithaca for another edition of Saturday Night Sessions. “Your selectors for this evening taking you into the late-night hours will be Apactor and Priest. They will be serving up a quality blend of house, electronic, techno, and experimental music.”
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Forest City Lodge 180
Cost: $10 at the door, open to 21 and up
Cooking on the Deck
DJ Rob Haze and Team607 present the annual DJ Cookout, featuring more than 30 DJ sets throughout the day on the Deep Deck and indoor stage, as well as a special menu from Smash Bros. World Foods. “This is a DJ networking event, but the public is always invited! M. Deck sound and lights by Vision, Rainbow Glow Box, and Middle Moon. Open to all ages before 8 p.m., 18+ after. No cover!”
Here’s the full schedule:
DECK STAGE
12:45pm to 1:30pm Marbles
1:30pm to 2:15pm RO3
2:15pm to 3pm Everything Hz
3pm to 3:45pm Fisticuffs
3:45pm to 4:30pm Juno
4:30pm to 5:15pm J-SUN
5:15pm to 6pm Highstone
6pm to 6:45pm GravVa
6:45pm to 7:30pm MVSTRNTE
7:30pm to 8:15pm RADAR RADAR x Double A
8:15pm to 9pm Proper Philth
9pm to 9:45pm EverMix
9:45pm to 10:30pm Tym the Traveler
10:30pm to 11:15pm Mikey Parkay
11:15pm to 12am Dose the Alien
12am to 12:45am Vision
INSIDE STAGE
1pm to 1:45pm Mack Bango
1:45pm to 2:30pm The 1980 Underground
2:30pm to 3:15pm Метал Кравитц
3:15pm to 4pm Tractus
4pm to 4:45pm Rob Haze
4:45pm to 5:30pm Law
5:30pm to 6:15pm Doktorvox
6:15pm to 7pm Faith in the Glitch
7pm to 7:45pm Dvrkstvr x Darkstep
7:45pm to 8:30pm DUCE
8:30pm to 9:15pm Mike Melice
9:15pm to 10pm Anthony
10pm to 10:45pm The Dutchess of Spirit Posse
10:45pm to 11:30pm ha-MEEN
11:30pm to 12:15am EVO Evolution
12:15am to 1am s00pdudes
When: 12 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: free
In Session
Traonach and Friends continue their Live Irish Music Session on alternating Sundays at the Watershed, carrying on in the fine tradition of their much-beloved sessions at the Argos, The Chapter House, and Micawbers.
When: 5-8 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Watershed
Cost: free; donations welcome
Kid Power
Local up-and-coming jazzers Jacob Merrill, Nick Peloso, Martin Lowry, and Daniel Zawel will showcase their talents in downtown Ithaca.
When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Downstairs
Cost: $5
MAQ Attack
South Hill Cider’s Monday Night Jazz series continues this week with MAQ, a quartet that performs everything from classic and modern jazz to Brazilian bossa and folk music. The lineup includes Eric Aceto (violin), Harry Aceto (bass), Doug Robinson (guitar, vocals), Chad Lieberman (accordion), and Steve Pond (percussion). MAQ plays on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month.
When: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Monday
Where: South Hill Cider
Cost: free
Under Pressure
Angelo Paradiso (New Planets, Living Myths, Big Mean Sound Machine, Swamp Kids) continues his weekly residency at Deep Dive, with drummer Tom Gilbert returning for this edition of Sound Pressure Monday.
“Angelo Paradiso (multi - instrumentalist / mad scientist) brings you a VS battle that will make that tush pop and jaw drop. Man VS machine : Angelo invites a rotating cast of characters that range in instruments, names and forms to battle machine sequences, modular synths and all things sample-able. All styles from all places. All things funky. No computers, just humans. Bring your dancing shoes, your party hat, and dial 1-800-NOREQUESTS.”
When: 8:30 p.m. Monday
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: $10
Lotsa Laughs
Deep Dive continues its new bi-weekly comedy night, "Dive Into Comedy,” produced by Comedy On The Commons. “Brace yourselves for waves of laughter every other Wednesday, as the stand-up scene in Ithaca takes a deep dive into humor! Your hosts for the night, Mike Stewart and Andre ‘Pnut’ Williams, promise to keep your spirits afloat with their unique styles. Mike, known for his sharp wit and original observations, has been making waves on the comedy scene with his relatable humor. And what can we say about Pnut? Though relatively new on the comedy scene, his rich life experiences and nique perspective guarantee plenty of laughs and food for thought. So mark your calendars, call your friends, and get ready to dive into a night filled with laughter, good vibes, and the most diverse comedy acts in town. Who knows? You might even discover your new favorite comedian!”
When: 6:30 p.m. every other Wednesday
Where: Deep Dive
Going Galactic
The Galactic Escort Service returns every other Wednesday to Deep Dive, promising “another epic journey through sonic cosmology.” Core players include Tenzin Chopak, Emmett Scott, Michael Schuler, Josh Oxford, and Ashley Ickes, who create improvisations on a variety of instruments.
When: 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 5
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: $5
More Shows
Quinn Bedore is at Liquid State North Shore at 4:30-7:30 p.m. Friday
Papa Muse plays Bagley’s Winery at 5-8 p.m. Friday
Sweats are at Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards at 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday
Seneca Jam are at Seneca Cheese Company at 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday
Doolin’ O’Dey is at Summerhill Brewing at 6-8 p.m. Friday
The Tarps Duo plays at Brookton’s Market at 6-8 p.m. Friday
The Soul Benders are at Hopshire Farms and Brewery at 6-8 p.m. Friday
Melanie and the Boys play the Marathon Village Green at 6-8:30 p.m. Friday
The Drive is at Grist Iron Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Friday
Chris Rattie and the New Rebels are at Two Goats Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Friday
Just Joe is at ONCO Fermentations at 6-9 p.m. Friday
Gabe Stillman is at the Scale House Brewery at 6-9 p.m. Friday
The Destination is at Treleaven Winery at 6-9 p.m. Friday ($10)
Group du Jour plays the BoatYard Grill at 6 p.m. Friday
Rev Ezra and Friends are at Stone Bend Farm at 6-8 p.m. Friday
The Sim Redmond Band is at the Finger Lakes Cider House at 6-9 p.m. Friday ($10)
Sean Fried and Ben Wayne are at Homer Hops at 6-9 p.m. Friday
The Delta Mike Shaw Band plays Wagner Vineyards at 6:30 p.m. Friday
The Homebrewed Comedy Show plays the McGraw Box Brewing Company at 7-9 p.m. Friday
The Rollin’ Rust and Annie Kathplay Rose Hall in Cortland at 7 p.m. Friday
Mini-Grits plays at Original’s Bar and Lounge in Owego at 7-10 p.m. Friday
Levi and the Wranglers are at Cortland Beer Company at 8 p.m. Friday
The Infrared Radiation Orchestra plays an album-release show at Moondog’s in Auburn at 8-11 p.m. Friday
Kevin Ludwig is at the Scale House Brewery at 12-3 p.m. Saturday
Rita Venuti and John Blume are at Buttonwood Grove Winery at 1-4 p.m. Saturday
Rachel Beverly is at Muranda Cheese Company at 2 p.m. Saturday
GoGone is at Chateau Dusseau at 3-6 p.m. Saturday
Michaell Reed is at the Scale House Brewery at 4-7 p.m. Saturday
DJs Mateo and Dijon spin at Aurora Brewing Company at 4-7 p.m. Saturday
The Delta Mike Shaw Band is at Liquid State North Shore at 4:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday
Crystal Visions are at Summerhill Brewing at 5-8 p.m. Saturday
The Cousins play at Lucky Hare Brewing Company at 5-8 p.m. Saturday
Meg Williams plays Bagley’s Winery at 5-8 p.m. Saturday
Trick Shot plays the annual Cincinnatus Rodeo at 5:30 p.m. Saturday
Pat Young is at Homer Hops at 6 p.m. Saturday
Patchwork Down is at Brewer’s Kitchen and Taproom at 6-8 p.m. Saturday
Steve Romer and Bradford Allen are at Heuga’s Alpine in Tully at 6 p.m. Saturday
Bad Alibi is at Buttonwood Grove Winery at 6-9 p.m. Saturday
Kilrush is at Grist Iron Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Saturday
Billy Golicki and the Therapists are at Two Goats Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Saturday
Past My Bedtime is at McGraw Box Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Saturday
GIO plays Cortland Beer Company at 8 p.m. Saturday
The Good Time Brothers are at Landon’s Pub in Watkins Glen at 8-11 p.m. Saturday
The Upstairs hosts First Saturday Salsa Night at 9 p.m. Saturday
Butternut Creek is at Heuga’s Alpine in Tully from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday
Wayne Gottlieb and Ken Zeserson play the Live Jazz Brunch series at Stonecat Café from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday
Brian Hughes is at Wagner Vineyards at 1-4 p.m. Sunday
Michaell Reed is at Buttonwood Grove Winery at 1-4 p.m. Sunday
Caleb Lieber is at the Glen Haven at 1-4 p.m. Sunday
Rachel Beverly is at Hosmer Winery at 2 p.m. Sunday
Tom Gath plays ONCO Fermentations at 2-5 p.m. Sunday
Two Horse Johnson is at Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards at 2-5 p.m. Sunday
Zydeco Trail Riders are at Grist Iron Brewing at 2-5 p.m. Sunday
Gerard Burke is at Seneca Cheese Company at 3-6 p.m. Sunday
Not From Brooklyn is at Two Goats Brewing at 4-7 p.m. Sunday
The F.A.R. Trio is at Scale House Brewery at 4-7 p.m. Sunday
Rob Ervin is at Owasco Lake Brewing in Moravia at 5-7 p.m. Monday
Brett Beardslee is back with the blues at Rasta Ranch Vineyards at 5-8 p.m. Mondays
Mark Maynard hosts Open Mic Night at Lucky Hare Brewing in Hector at 6-8 p.m. Mondays
The Downstairs hosts Poetry & Prose Open Mic Night at 6:30-9 p.m. Monday
Adam Guinn is at Barnstormer Winery at 5-8 p.m. Tuesday
Richman and the Poorboys are at Firelight Camps at 6-8 p.m. Tuesday
Kenneth McLauren hosts Open Mic Stand Up Comedy Night at The Downstairs at 7-9 p.m. Tuesday
The Center for the Arts in Homer hosts Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. Tuesdays
Auburn Public Theatre hosts Open Mic Night at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays
The Westy hosts its Open Mic Night at 9 p.m. Tuesdays
Cap Cooke and Delta Mike Shaw are at the Trumansburg Farmers Market at 4-7 p.m. Wednesday
Whistlin’ Dyl and Kyle Madrigal play the Stonecat Café’s Pub Night at 5-7 p.m. Wednesday
The Argos Trio plays jazz at the Argos Inn at 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays
Jesse Collins and Friends host the Sandwich Sessions at Brookton’s Market at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays
Stereopticon is at Ithaca Beer Company at 6-8 p.m. Wednesday
The Ampersand Project is at Bright Leaf Vineyard in King Ferry at 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesday
Molly and Merkley play on the Homer Village Green at 7-8 p.m. Wednesday
DJ Dale hosts Trivia Night at Revelry Yards at 7-9 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
The Upstairs has resumed its weekly Open Mic Night, now at 8:30 p.m. to midnight Wednesdays
Regional Shows
June 30, Woe Is Me, the L, Horseheads
June 30, Sergio Mendes, Del Lago Resort, Waterloo
June 30-July 2, 30thGreat Blue Heron Music Festival, Sherman
June 30, Falling in Reverse, St. Joseph's Health Amphitheater at Lakeview, Syracuse
July 1, The Temptations and The Four Tops, Del Lago Resort, Waterloo
July 1, Kansas, Kodak Center, Rochester
July 1, Leonid and Friends, Point of the Bluff Vineyards, Hammondsport
July 1, Counting Crows and Dashboard Confessional, St. Joseph's Health Amphitheater at Lakeview, Syracuse
July 1, Big Time Rush, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs
July 1, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss and JD McPherson, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel
July 2, Winger, The L, Horseheads
July 2, Black MIDI, Asbury Hall at Babeville, Buffalo
July 2, Counting Crowes, CMAC, Canandaigua
July 2, Leonid and Friends, Point of the Bluff Vineyards, Hammondsport
July 2, Steve Miller Band and Joe Satriani, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel
July 2, Tim McGraw, Turning Stone Event Center, Verona
July 3, Trevor Hall and the Great In-Betweens and The California Honeydrops, Lincoln Hill Farms, Cazenovia
July 3, Memphis May Fire, The L, Horseheads
July 3, Weezer, Joyce Manor, and Future Islands, CMAC, Canandaigua
July 3, Tedeschi Trucks Band and Ziggy Marley, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs
July 3, Shania Twain, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel
July 4, TheWesley Street Block Partywiththe Rollin’ Rust, Driftwood, Chris Merkley,the Rollin’ RustBrian Thomas and the Strikes, Manlius
July 5, Selwyn Birchwood, 443 Social Club, Syracuse
July 5, Tears for Fears and Cold War Kids, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel
July 6, Selwyn Birchwood Band, Abilene Bar and Lounge, Rochester
July 6, Thomas Rhett, KeyBank Center, Buffalo
July 6, Chris Stapleton with Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives and Allen Stone, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel
July 7, Big Time Rush, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel
July 7, “Roc The Lake” Festival with AJR, Chelsea Cutler, and Lawrence, CMAC, Canandaigua
July 7, Goose, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs
July 8, Eilen Jewell, Center for the Arts, Homer
July 8, Jill Sobule, 443 Social Club, Syracuse
July 8, Elvis Costello & the Imposters with Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets, Landmark Theatre, Syracuse
July 8, Noel Gallagher’s High-Flying Birds, Garbage, and Metric, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs
July 8, Tom Kiefer, Steven Pearcy, and Vixen, Tag’s Summer Stage, Big Flats
July 8, Tori Amos, Artpark, Lewiston
July 8, Shania Twain, St. Joseph's Health Amphitheater at Lakeview, Syracuse
July 8, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Point of the Bluff Vineyards, Hammondsport
