We exit June with a full slate of events, including a couple of big festivals and a cool documentary.
Cornell Concert
Cornell University’s summer concert series kicks off with Paa Kow, the Ghana-born drummer and composer. Known for blending jazz and African influences with the help of his Afro-Fusion Orchestra, Paa Kow has shared stages with many African and American luminaries including Kojo Antwi, Amakye Dede and Victor Wooten. He just performed at the Rochester Jazz Festival.
When: 7-9 p.m. Friday
Where: Arts Quad, Cornell University (rain location is nearby Rhodes-Rawlings Auditorium in Klarman Hall)
Cost: free
Info: sce.cornell.edu, paakowmusic.com
It’s Happy Hour Again
Friday, catch a happy hour show around Ithaca. Stratcat Willie and the Strays are at Press Bay Alley at 5-8 p.m., The Beauchesnes are at Hopshire in Dryden at 6-8 p.m., and After Market is at the Westy at 7-9 p.m. A bit later, Wingnut returns to the Silver Line Tap Room in Trumansburg at 8 p.m. and Janet Batch and the Alexander Bradshaw Band team for a show at Two Goats Brewing in Hector.
When: Friday 6-10 p.m.
Where: various locations
Cost: Free
Let’s Get Together
The annual Togethernessfest returns, with a lineup that includes The Native Howl, Dave Brown and The Dishonest Fiddlers, Dirty Blanket, Tylor Hubbard and Friends, Simmerin' Stew, ‘Spuds Taggit Fambilly Band, DredNeks, Pigeon Post String Band, uncleshake, Vagabond Nelly, Don Baragian, Garlic.Band, Technicolor Trailer Park, Jaynie Crash and The Tall Men, Woodshed Prophets, Free Grass Union, Milkweed Trio, The Notorious String Busters, The Local Farmers Union and others.
When: Friday-Sunday
Where: Fools Hills Farm Brewery in Spencer
Cost: $60 for the weekend; day passes are $10 Friday, $30 Saturday, $20 Sunday
Visit www.facebook.com/togethernessfest or www.foolshillfarmbrewery.com to learn more.
Sound Clash
Ithaca Reggae Festival will present an official pre-party, as the Selector Sound Clash will feature six local DJs – DJ ha-MEEN, DJ Ziggy, Proper Philth, DJ SolarLion, DJ Evo Evolution, and DJ Rockmon – trading sets and mashups inspired by legendary Jamaican dancehalls. DJ Mike Judah of WICB’s “Reggae Explosions” and SistaAna will host the proceedings.
When: 8 p.m. to midnight
Where: The Haunt
Cost: $10
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/683899662050481/
Sounds of the 60s
“Echo in the Canyon” documents the 1960s folk scene in Los Angeles’s Laurel Canyon through interviews with David Crosby, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, Ringo Starr, Michelle Phillips, Brian Wilson, Stephen Stills and others. Interviewer Jakob Dylan also re-creates some of the era’s classic songs with a variety of his contemporary peers.
When: Opens Friday
Where: Cinemapolis
Cost: $10.50
Info: cinemapolis.com
Vibes from Vermont
A few months after performing at the Finger Lakes Thaw, Sabouyama will return to Ithaca. The Burlington, Vermont-based septet is led by Guinean-born Ousmane Camara, who plays the balafon, a West-African marimba.
When: 10 p.m. Friday
Where: The Range
Cost: $10
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/430077427544400/
Lakeside Vibrations
The Ithaca Reggae Fest returns for its third year, offering a full day of music on the southern shore of Cayuga Lake. The headliner is Mykal Rose, the former lead singer of Black Uhuru, the band that earned acclaim in the 1980s as well as garnered the first-ever Grammy Award for reggae in 1985. He’ll be joined by drummer Sly Dunbar, who also was a key component of that band. The rest of the lineup includes Double Tiger, Kevin Kinsella, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Cha Cha and the Medicinals – with San Diego’s E.N Young, formerly of Tribal Seeds, representing the West Coast scene, and Boston’s Dub Apocalypse, led by longtime John Brown’s Body Tommy Benedetti, making their festival debuts. The Analogue Sons will perform short sets on the side stage during setups on the main stage.
When: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Stewart Park, Ithaca
Cost: $40 at the gate
Info: ithacareggaefest.com
Rock & Bowl
Angry Mom Records will mark its 10th anniversary by joining forces with Low Profile’s monthly Gutterpunk series at the Bowl-O-Drome to host a night of music and bowling. The show will feature five bands – Makeshift Conduit, Scab Addict, Eighteen Hundred And Froze To Death, Sunflo'er and 100% Black – along with DJ sets from Angry Mom staffers. At 6-8 p.m., attendees will also have the opportunity to play some of their favorite records during the Album Listening Pre-Game set.
When: 6 p.m. – midnight Saturday
Where: Bowl-O-Drome
Cost: donations welcome
www.facebook.com/AngryMomRecords, angry-mom-records.com, https://www.facebook.com/events/552188338640471/
A Good Cause
Microtones will host benefit show featuring Russell E. L. Butler, Ghost Slut, Glitter Skulls, Andrew Flint, and DJ SucioNasty. All proceeds go to the Traditional Center for Indigenous Knowledge and Healing (TCIKH).
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Forest City Lodge
Cost: sliding-scale admission of $5-$15.
Info: facebook.com/microtonesithaca
Continuing the Festivities
The Ithaca Reggae Festival will present an official after-party featuring the Crucials, the local all-star band that has been holding down a weekly Reggae Night residency since late last year
When: 10 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Haunt
Cost: $10
Info: thehaunt.com
Raising Their Voices
Party of Four will showcase their jazz-inflected vocal harmonies, with Wayne Gottlieb, Cookie Coogan, Dave Davies and Doug Robinson joining forces on a mix of standards and originals.
When: 5:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Ithaca Bakery
Cost: There’s no cover, but donations are welcome.
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/868732393483926/
Taking Back Sunday
Keyboardist Michael Stark continues his Sunday Night Sessions, as he’s joined by Jennie Lowe Stearns after an opening solo set from Lady D (Alyssa Duerksen).
When: 6:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Argos Warehouse
Cost: There’s no cover, but donations are welcome.
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/2140996159282888/
Strummin’ the Strings
Gravel Gerty and the Scratch Squad return, with Joe Crookston joined by Peter Glanville, Lora Pendleton, Dee Specker, Jeff Lang and others for a night of raucous old-time music.
When: 7-9 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Westy
Cost: Free
Info:https://www.facebook.com/events/2412492472313668/
Fun Folks
Bound for Glory continues its summer season with Nate Marshall and Friends. A talented singer, multi-instrumentalist, juggler and songwriter, Marshall is best known for his duo Nate & Kate, but he’s been collaborating with many other locals in recent years.
When: 8-11 p.m. Sunday
Where: Anabel Taylor Hall, Cornell University
Cost: Free, open to all ages
Info: boundforglory.org