Top acoustic musicians will show their stuff at the Winter Village Music Camp, a bass master visits Auburn, and a just-announced rave will raise funds for endangered Australian wildlife. Learn more in our latest roundup of cool shows around Central New York!
Meeting of the Masters
This weekend’s Winter Village Music Camp will host its annual faculty concert, with a focus on bluegrass, swing and Ontario and French-Canadian musical styles. Instructors Tony Trischka (banjo), Claire Lynch (singing, songwriting), Michael Daves (singing, guitar), Shane Cook (fiddle), Quinn Bachand (guitar and fiddle), Maddie Witler (mandolin), Beatrix Methe (fiddle), Dave Davies (singing and guitar), Bobby Henrie (guitar), Aaron Lipp (guitar), Tim Ball (fiddle), Cap Cooke (banjo), Laurie Hart (fiddle), Paul Fairbanks (banjo), Perry Cleveland (mandolin), Nicholas Walker (bass), and Rick Manning (fiddle, mandolin). The show will sell out in advance, so buy your ticket ASAP today!
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: La Tourelle, Danby Road
Tickets: $30 in advance, available online here
Note: There are still some spaces available for the workshops for those who want to attend all or part of the weekend; visit the camp website for details!
It’s Happy Hour Again
Kick off the weekend with some live music at various venues around Ithaca: Sandbox is at Hopshire Farm and Brewery at 6-8 p.m., Jen Cork is at South Hill Cider at 6-8 p.m., Richman and the Poorboys return to the Westy at 7-9 p.m. A bit further flung, Dana Twigg is at Summerhill Brewing in Locke at 6-8 p.m., and in downtown Cortland, the CCO Youth Orchestra is at Rose Hall at 7-9 p.m., Rachel Beverly is at BRU 64 at 7-9 p.m., Billy Golicki is at Cortland Beer Company at 7 p.m., and the Ridgeline Duo is at the St. Charles Hotel at 8 p.m. Later, DJ Jesse Hill of HectorWorks SoundSystem brings a full crate of roots, dancehall and dub vinyl to Lot 10 at 10 p.m. joined by special guests Naga and Hayden on vocals.
When: Friday
Where: Various locations
Cost: free
Blues Beast
Popa Chubby makes his long-awaited return to Ithaca. Born Ted Horowitz, the New York City-based singer-guitarist burst on the scene about 30 years ago, blending 1960s blues and hard-rock influences. His 1995 major-label, “Booty and the Beast,” was produced by Tom Dowd (Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett) and included the hit “Sweet Goddess of Love and Beer.”
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: The Haunt
Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door
Brothers in Arms
The Levin Brothers, featuring Tony Levin of King Crimson and Peter Gabriel fame, perform in Auburn. The bass and Chapman Stick master will be joined by his brother Peter Levin on keyboards, Jeff “Siege” Siegel on drums, and Jeff Ciampa on guitar. Opening the show is the Mack Quartet, featuring pianist Dino Losito, bassist Peter Mack and drummer Harvey Sorgen along with special guest Chico Freeman on sax.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Auburn Public Theater
Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door
New Year Noise
The ElectroZone will host its first show of the year, putting on “a fun little pop-up” featuring Josh Oxford (in his last show before heading back to grad school in Arizona), ?m??d?(?)fog, zachuoso, Chris Raw, and Infinite Basement.
When: 9 p.m. Friday
Where: Sacred Root Kava Lounge and Tea Bar
Cost: $5-$10 sliding scale
Friends of the Devil
Terrapin Station, Ithaca’s long-running Grateful Dead tribute band, returns with its deep catalog of Dead classics. Fronted by singer-guitarists Larry Honigbaum and Frank Raponi, the band also includes drummer Josh Drotar and bassist Roy Flacco with Root Shock/Pearly Baker's Best keyboardist Brian Lauri sitting in as well.
When: 9 p.m. Friday
Where: Casita del Polaris
Cost: small cover
Benefit for the Bush Fires
Several local electronic artists will join forces in a just-announced show to benefit animals imperiled by the raging fires in Australia. Presented by Microtones and the ElectroZone, the “Rave for Australian Wildlife Preservation” will feature DJ Hill, Anthony Mansfield, otodojo, and Elijah Weber-Han performing sets throughout the event. “The situation for animals in Australia is dire and we would like to gather to help provide support for their preservation in any capacity,” say the organizers. Proceeds will go directly to WIRES Wildlife Rescue of Australia. There also will be vegan dishes – soba noodle salad, vegan sushi, rice balls, and fried rice -- from Akemi Foods and lodge members available to purchase.
When: 2-10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Forest City Lodge 180, 536 W Green St, Ithaca
Cost: $5-15 paid either to the door or direct to WIRES, please show a receipt of donation upon entry.
Young Blood
The CCO Youth Orchestra will perform its third annual winter concert; the program will feature Prokofiev’s "Lieutenant Kije”; the world premiere of Josh Oxford's "Shuggie's Boogies," commissioned by the CCOYO’ soloist Kate Wyly in Mendelssohn's “Violin Concerto”; and the first installment of the Festival Chorus in Borodin's "Polovtsian Dances" from his opera, “Prince Igor.”
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Ford Hall, Ithaca College
Cost: $10 for adults, free for ages 18 and under
Free Music Saturday
Catch some free tunes around the area on Saturday: Clint Bush is at Brewers Café and Tap Room in Dryden at 6-8 p.m., Eric the Red returns to Bike Bar Ithaca at 7-9 p.m., Tribal Revival is at BRU64 at 7 p.m., and the Ridgeline Duo is at Greek Peak’s Trax at 7 p.m.
When: Saturday
Where: Various locations
Cost: free
Rockin’ for Romano
Musicians from Ithaca and Syracuse will band together in the “Benefit for Mark Romano,” an event to raise funds for the Papership singer-guitar guitarist currently battling oral cancer. The lineup includes The Flashing Astonishers, Professional Victims, The Art World, Steve Gollnick, Methodist Bells, Zombie Kitten and Judge Gazza & Co. A variety of cool items will be raffled off, and food and drink will be available as well.
When: 1-7 p.m. Saturday
Where: King of Clubs, 406 S. Clinton St., Syracuse
Cost: $20 suggested donation for all-ages show, free to kids 10 and under
Trios Grande
This cool triple bill will feature three great local acts: Strong Maybe (the cartoon-jazz instrumental trio of Matthew Saccuccimorano, Chad Lieberman and Mark Wienand Karlsen), BRIAN! (the avant-prog trio of Bubba Crumrine, Brian “Willie B” Wilson” and David Resig) and Zero Mean (the doom-fuzz band fronted by bassist Fidget Illy).
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Sacred Root Kava Lounge and Tea Bar
Cost: $10 for all-ages show.
Going Goth
“Goth Night: 20th Anniversary Celebration” will celebrate the dance party founded in 1999. The event has gone through several names – Grail, Nokturna, :BINARY:, Poizen, Goth Night – over the years, and while its weekly Sunday night dance parties ended a few years ago, it still emerges every so often to recapture that 1999 vibe of fishnets, eyeliner and industrial-electro grooves. There’s no cover for the 9 p.m. event, which will feature DJs Rob DJ Rob Haze (EBM, Goth Rock, Industrial, Electro, Synthwave) and Joe Tragedy (Post-Punk, Goth Rock, Darkwave). Visit thehaunt.com to learn more.
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Haunt
Cost: free
Planetary Explorers
Founded last year, New Planets features Angelo Peters, Alicia Aubin, Archer Cowen, Yao Foli “Cha Cha” Augustine, Cooper Casterline and Emmett Scott playing mostly instrumental original tunes with a heavy Afro-funk influence.
When: 10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Lot 10
Cost: $5
Free Music Sunday
Catch some free tunes around the area on Sunday: Travis Knapp is at Red Newt Wine Cellars at 1-2:30 p.m., Tru Bleu plays Six Mile Creek Vineyard at 2 p.m., the Bird-in-Hand String Band plays old-time jigs and reels at the Danby Town Hall at 3-5 p.m., Wicked Children (with Judy Hyman and Jeff Claus) returns to Franco’s Pizzeria at 6-8 p.m., Radio London returns to the Argos Warehouse at 7 p.m. and James Margolis is at the Westy at 7 p.m.
When: Sunday
Where: Various locations
Cost: free
Chicken and Cider
Aaron Lipp will return to South Hill Cider for the venue’s first Fried Chicken Sunday. He’ll play his raucous blend of old-time, country, folk and rockabilly at 3:30-6 p.m., with Piggery co-founder and chef Brad Marshall serving up his house-made fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, apple cabbage slaw, honey cornbread and more.
When: 3:30-6 p.m.
Where: South Hill Cider
Cost: free for music, fee for the food
Ithacans in Auburn
The Auburn Public Theater will host the “Best of Ithaca Singer-Songwriter Series,” with Travis Knapp, Nate Marshall and Joey Dugan swapping songs and stories.
When: 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: Auburn Public Theater
Cost: $10
Looking Ahead
Plan ahead with our monthly roundup, 11 Shows to See in January, listing a variety of big shows coming to Central New York!