Happy New Year! Welcome to the first concert roundup of 2024. While many local venues are closed for their post-holiday break, there still are some worthwhile shows happening in the coming days, especially if you’re a fan of jazz and/or acoustic music!
Note: This week’s shows are listed in chronological order in two sections below.
String Thing
Richie Stearns returns to South Hill Cider for the Community Concert Series, this week joined by Joey Arcuri, Steve Selin, and Kevin Wimmer for a night of old-time tunes and more.
“Richie Stearns first discovered the pleasures of the old-time banjo when he was 14. He’s traveled round the world, performing both traditional and his own original music, finding ways to collaborate with musicians from five continents (Africa/Asia/North America, Australia, Europe) as well as local musicians from diverse musical backgrounds (classical, jazz, country, R&B, and more). Over the past three decades, he’s written original music for film scores and dance ensembles as well as his own bands (The Horse Flies, Evil City String Band, Ti Ti Chickapea, Donna the Buffalo, and the Renegades, among them) and collaborated with artists from a variety of disciplines to present public performances on stages through the U.S., Canada, and Europe, as well as on radio and television.”
When: 5-8 p.m. Thursday
Where: South Hill Cider
Cost: free; donations welcome
Songs to Share
Singer-Songwriter Night returns to Hopshire Farm and Brewery in Dryden. Hosted by Driftwood’s Dan Forsyth on the first Thursday of every month, “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. first Thursday of every month
Where: Hopshire Farm and Brewery
Cost: free
Dynamic Duo
DFLT – the duo of Thomas R. Bruce and James Spitznagel – will present a free streamcast of their new album, “We Are Not From Here,” which they describe as “imaginative-electro-ambience.”
They say: “Please join us for chatting and trippy videos.”
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Where: Watch online here!
Cost: free
Setting Up Shop
Justin Roeland and Friends will kick off their monthlong residency at the Downstairs, performing on Fridays throughout the month.
“My good friends Ryan Vanderhoof (Akron Family, Nightswimmers) and Jon Petronzio (Roadman, John Brown's Body) will be joining Brian Dozoretz, Matthew Saccuccimorano, and Jason Shegogue for the evening,” he says. “Hope to see you then!”
About: “Justin Roeland is an American singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist best known for his work as guitarist/keyboardist with the Long Beach, California psych-rock band, The Fling (Dangerbird Records) and chamber pop ensemble Greater California.” Check out his music here!
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: The Downstairs
Cost: $10 or pay what you can
Power of Three
The Venissa Santí 3rio comes to South Hill Cider for an evening of Cuban jazz and original music.
“Singer and composer Venissa Santí is an Ithaca-born and raised daughter of Cubans. Honing her craft in the Philly world jazz scene, she was one of the first of her family to return to Cuba to be schooled in sacred and secular Afro-Cuban song styles of her ancestral homeland. Playing original, and obscure gems from albums past and present, she has traveled a long road to develop her signature sound and repertoire. Accompanied by seasoned local treasure pianist Michael Stark (Wingnut, Analogue Sons, MSZN) and recent west coast transplant, multifaceted instrumentalist, performer, and educator Olive Mitra on percussion. (Immortal Peaches, Spice Rack, Freight).”
When: 5-7 p.m. Saturday
Where: South Hill Cider
Cost: free; donations welcome
Western Style
The Whiskey West Duo – Eric Winders (vocals, guitars) and Steve Tatowicz (drums) – returns to the Downstairs for a night of rootsy tunes. They “combine the sounds of outlaw country and bluegrass with lyrics told in the country music tradition. Come out and enjoy an evening with us!”
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Downstairs
Paying Tribute
“The Cortland County community, school, and church choirs, and local music groups, including the Cortland Old Timers Band and the Underground Flute Operative (UFO), will join forces to celebrate the musical contributions of four life-long local musicians (now deceased): Donna K. Anderson, Samuel Forcucci, Barbara Pauldine, and Donna Yacavone. The choral performance of Samuel Forcucci's cantata "Child of Wonder" will be under the direction of the county's longest-serving choral conductor, Sue Bonné, with piano accompaniment by Dr. Timothy Diem and Marina Gorelaya.”
Parking is available across the street at the County Office Building. For more info, call (607) 597-9227.
When: 3-5 p.m. Sunday
Where: United Presbyterian Church, 25 Church St., Cortland
Cost: free
Four on the Floor
The Downstairs will host Horns & Ivory for a night of jazz. The quartet features some top regional players, including Terry Light (flugelhorn), Steve Brown (guitar), Dino Losito (keyboards), and Jimmy Johns (drums).
When: 5-7 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Downstairs
Cost: $10 suggested
Just Jazz
Every second Monday, the Ryan Peterson Trio hosts a Jazz Jam Session in the Liquid State Barrel Room.
“We're really excited to announce our guest for this month: Catherine Gale! Raised in a family of musicians, Catherine Gale has been singing since the age of three. She has over 20 years of experience as a professional vocalist in jazz, pop and classical idioms. She attended Oberlin College, and completed her Bachelor of Music degree at Manhattan School of Music. For over 10 years she was a freelance singer in and around New York City, performing with a variety of groups including The Warren Vache Quintet, The Peter Deutchen Orchestra, Manhattan Sound, and The Bronx Arts Ensemble.”
The trio will play a couple tunes to warm up the stage and then open the stage to members of the local jazz community. “Each person who signs up will get approximately two tunes with the band before rotating. Bring your instrument and join in with this great band, which features Peterson on guitar, August Bish on upright bass, and Owen Erickson on drums.”
When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday
Where: Liquid State Brewing Company
Cost: “The $5 Suggested Donation goes directly to the band and to supporting the session.”
Mythic Mondays
Join storyteller and host Jay Leeming for “Mythic Mondays,” a monthly open-mic event in which participants are invited to bring alive the many stories, legends and epics of world mythology through the power of the spoken word. Expect magical snakes, rockin' goddesses, shape-changing seers of the ancient world and much more, all brought to life through the cinema of your own imagination.” Held every second Monday at the Downstairs.
When: 7:30-9 p.m. Monday
Where: The Downstairs
Ready to Rock
Triple 5 Spout returns to the Downstairs for a night of homegrown original music. The band includes Jason Dengler (piano, synthesizer), Aaron Speiser (drums), and Brian “Sid” Burke (bass)
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday
Where: The Downstairs
Wednesday Night Jazz
Kicking off a full night of jazz, Greg Lofaro and The Firefly Trio return for the Deep Dive Jazz Happy Hour. They’ll be followed by the Deep Dive House Big Band at 8-10 p.m. and the new People’s Jam hosted by Drew Martin at 10:30 p.m.
When: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: free
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. every other Wednesday
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: free; ages 18 and up
People Get Ready
“The People’s Jam,” a new jam night hosted by saxophonist Drew Martin, continues every other Wednesday right after Deep Dive House Big Band. A native of the Bronx, Martin is currently a jazz studies major at Ithaca College and has played a key role in the local music scene over the past couple of years.
When: 10:30 p.m. every other Wednesday
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: free
More Shows
The Yayle Hues Duo is at Cortland Beer at 6-9 p.m. Thursday
Benny T brings his Open Mic Posse to The Ridge in Lansing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday
DJ Dale hosts Karaoke Night at the Upstairs at 10 p.m. Thursday
GoGone is at Hopshire Farms and Brewery at 6-8 p.m. Friday
Quona Hudson is at Homer Hops Brewing at 6-8 p.m. Friday
Tim Britt is at Grist Iron Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Friday
Jess Novak and Ben Wayne are at Heuga’s Alpine in Tully at 6-9 p.m. Friday
Bunger Dennen is at McGraw Box Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Friday
The Ryan Peterson Trio is at ONCO Fermentations in Tully at 6-9 p.m. Friday
Rob Ervin is at the Dryden Hotel at 7-9 p.m. Friday
Rick Starmer is at Cortland Beer Company at 8 p.m. Friday
Small Town Shade and Yayle Hues team up for a show at the Red Jug Pub in Cortland at 9 p.m. Friday
Metasequoia returns to Tioga Downs Casino at 9 p.m. Friday
Roadhouse Prophets are at Treleaven Winery at 1-4 p.m. Saturday
The Ende Brothers are at Homer Hops Brewing at 6-8 p.m. Saturday
A Taste of Khaos are at Grist Iron Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Saturday
The Double Standards (Sean Fried and Rob Ervin) are at McGraw Box Brewing at 6:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday
Bob Holtz and A Vision Forward is at Cortland Beer Company at 8 p.m. Saturday
The Johnny West Trio is at the Watering Hole at 6-9 p.m. Saturday
Levi Dusseau is at Salt Point Brewing at 6:30-8:30 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 Upstairs hosts its weekly Open Mic Night at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday
