The first weekend of August will feature a host of music at various local venues, with everything from Americana, bluegrass and reggae to electronic, country, blues and more available for your listening pleasure.
Positive Vibes
Regional favorites Mosaic Foundation conclude the Cornell University Summer Concert Series, with their uplifting blend of reggae, ska, and dub grooves and conscious lyrics. They have released four albums during their decade as a band, including 2018’s “Unity is Strength.”
When: 7-9 p.m. Friday
Where: Cornell Arts Quad
Cost: free
Info: https://www.facebook.com/CornellSCE/; https://www.facebook.com/events/1053302044879776/
Sprouting a Festival
Seedstock XI returns to Cortland, featuring a mix of local, regional and national bands performing on two stages. Among the 20 bands are local favorites Maddy Walsh and the Blind Spots (8:30 p.m. Friday), Root Shock (6 p.m. Saturday), the Unknown Woodsmen (8 p.m. Saturday), and host band Digger Jones (9:30 p.m. Saturday). The latter two bands will again join forces as The Unknown Jones to pay tribute to the Allman Brothers Band’s “Eat a Peach” album at 10:30 p.m. Saturday. The Local Farmers Union will kick off Seedstock at 5 p.m. Friday, and Dan Forsythe and Joe Kollar of Driftwood will play a Sunday afternoon set at 2:30 p.m. to close out the festival.
When: 5 p.m. Friday-5 p.m. Sunday
Where: 3336 State Route 215, Cortland
Cost: $15-$50 for daily or weekend pass
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/447457626041120/; https://www.seedstockfest.com/
Read more about Seedstock here in our preview story.
Ramblin’ On
Americana duo Ghost Town Ramblers will mosey into downtown Cortland, with Lou Kaplan and Kay Miracle showcasing songs from their self-titled 2018 debut album and about-to-be-released CD “Outlaw Highway.”
When: 7-9 p.m. Friday
Where: BRU 64, 64 Main St., Cortland
Cost: free
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/357207491602901/
Just Give a Little Whistle
Whistlin’ Dyl’s Wild Cowboys will bring their homespun country tunes to downtown Ithaca, with frontman Whistlin’ Dyl joined by special guest Rye Makepeace along with guitarist Juge Greenspun, singer Venissa Santi and bassist Gabe Plaine.
When: 9 p.m. Friday
Where: The Range
Cost: $5
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/704764879970063/
Awesome Appetizer
We’re still three weeks out from The BBQ V (formerly the Big Mean BBQ), but you can get an early taste of it at the “Pre-BQ?,” with Driftwood’s Claire Byrne, Joe Kollar and Dan Forsyth joined by Richie Stearns for an afternoon of informal picking on some favorite tunes. The Smokewagon BBQ will be serving food, and you’ll have a chance to win merch, tickets to the BBQ, and other swag.
When: 4-7 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Westy
Cost: free
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/328704234732468/; https://thebbqny.com/
Ready to Boogie
“Boogie on the Lake,” a new event featuring two regional favorites, will debut on the eastern side of Cayuga Lake. Buffalo southern rock-soul band Miller and the Other Sinners perform at 4 p.m., and Rochester’s leading oldies act Ruby Shooz follow at 7 p.m.
When: 4-10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Treleaven Wines in King Ferry
Cost: 5, with kids 12 and under admitted free.
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/421255588708404/
Happy Homecoming
Microtones will host an electronic show featuring Ithaca native Kamal Naeem, who’s returning from Berlin; Buffalo’s Alex Morrison; and locals Soft Squadron, Josh Oxford and Kompyootur Muhsheen.
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Forest City Lodge 180, 536 W. Green St.
Cost: Advance tickets are $5 at Angry Mom Records; $10-$15 at the door.
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/341235946770142/
Feeling the Fire
The Fire Scottish Band returns to Trumansburg, bringing a high-energy sound that blends fiery fiddling with bagpipes, bodhran, whistle and bouzouki on reels, jigs, strathspeys and much more. The group includes international Scottish fiddle champion Rebecca Lomnicky, multi-instrumentalist David Brewer of the Celtic band Molly’s Revenge, and Adam Hendey on guitar and bouzouki.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts
Cost: $17 in advance online at TCFA.live, and $20 at the door
Info: https://tburgconservatory.org; https://firescottishband.com.
Ithaca meets Ohio
Ohio twee-pop band Trying will come to the Ithaca for an eclectic show that also features locals Mike (A)!, Parker Callister, and Power Forward (a new duo featuring Luke Gustafson and Matt Merica).
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Chantiloft
Cost: $5
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1215850028597224/
Bustin’ a String
The Notorious Stringbusters will bring their “foot stompin, stage trompin, metal rustin, string bustin, fist pumpin, gator jumpin, sweat drippin, ass kickin, name takin, jail brakin, swamp burnin, earth turnin, truck drivin, two timin, knee slappin, face plantin, blackout inducin bluegrass” to the restaurant just south of Ithaca on Route 13.
When: 7-9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Stella’s Barn, Newfield
Cost: donation
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/478127769629848/
Shore Enough
Laila Belle, the Trumansburg-based country band fronted by Amy and Ward Puryear, perform on Cayuga Lake’s western shore. They’ll be showcasing songs from their two albums, including the just-released “All The Things.”
When: 7-9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Taughannock Falls State Park
Cost: $5 parking fee
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/2326841540733169/
Ska's the Limit!
Boston ska vets Bim Skala Bim will headline a triple bill that also features the Miggedys, a Rochester ska band that released albums on Moon Records, and the Hub City Stompers, a ska-reggae-oi band from New Jersey.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Haunt
Cost: $15 in advance, $18 at the door.
Info: www.thehaunt.com; https://www.facebook.com/events/341705963117242/
Bluegrass Showcase
Two stellar bluegrass artists, Claire Lynch and Jim Hurst, will return to Ithaca. Praised by Dolly Parton as "one of the sweetest, purest and best lead voices in the music business today,” Lynch has been a leading bluegrass artist since the 1980s, while Hurst has been acclaimed for his virtuosic guitar style.
When: 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: La Tourelle
Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/463268451128131/; www.wintervillagemusic.org/summer-concerts
Phily’s Finest
Low Cut Connie will make its Ithaca debut at the Haunt. Fronted by singer-pianist Adam Weiner, the Philadelphia rock ‘n’ band has earned acclaim for its wild shows and five albums, including its latest, 2018’s “Dirty Pictures (Part 2),” which produced the hit, “Beverly.” Find out more at lowcutconnie.com.
Rounding out the bill are Vee Da Bee and Hannah Taylor, a Cortland native now living in Philadelphia who plays country, rockabilly, blues and more (she also sang with the Fly Rods at GrassRoots a couple of weeks ago).
When: 8 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Haunt
Cost: $15 in advance, $18 at the door.
Info: www.thehaunt.com; https://www.facebook.com/events/430532914180309/