If you were hoping to see Canadian country star Colter Wall at the Haunt Saturday night, you’re out of luck unless you already have a ticket – the show sold out weeks ago. But there are more than a dozen other cool shows to consider this weekend in and around Ithaca.
Beat of the Drums
The Drums – the indie-rock band fronted by Horseheads native Jonny Pierce – will come to promote their new album, “Brutalism.” Pierce wrote and recorded the new album in Los Angeles and Upstate New York – he has a cabin on Seneca Lake (which he subtly pay tribute to on the song “Loner”) – following a painful divorce and tough time living on his own in L.A. Tanukichan, the project of San Francisco’s Hannah Van Loon, will open.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: The Haunt
Cost: $20
Info: the haunt.com, wearethedrums.com
Ready to Lawnch!
“LAWNCH! A Beer Garden Opening and Benefit for Ithaca Festival” will feature live music from Pierce Walsh, Pinebox and Kitestring. Attendees can enjoy a batch of beer brewed especially to support the festival.
When: 5-9 p.m. Friday
Where: Ithaca Beer Company
Cost: Free
Info: ithacabeer.com
Hopping on In
Hailing from Oneonta, the Hop City Hellcats specialize in alt-country and rootsy blues and play a mix of originals and classic covers.
When: 7-9 p.m. Friday
Where: The Westy
Cost: free; donations welcome
Info: www.hopcityhellcats.com
Hot Jazz
The Original Cornell Syncopators will play their final concert of the year at Barnes Hall. Led by Colin Hancock, the 13-piece band specializes in vintage hot jazz from the 1920s and 1930s and recently toured the northeast.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Barnes Hall, Cornell University
Cost: Free
Info: music.cornell.edu.
Circle of Song
Andrew Alling will host the bi-monthly songwriters group, with Samuel B. Lupowitz, Mandy Goldman, Leon Arguello, J. Schmitt and Polly Wood trading songs and stories.
When: 8-11 p.m. Friday
Where: Sacred Root Kava Bar & Tea Lounge
Cost: small cover charge
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/438396166971739/
Rockin’ the Range
Friday, Ithaca trio Teencat and the Tins, from Buffalo, will team for a night of indie rock. Saturday, Mosaic Foundation will return with their reggae-dub grooves and the soulful vocals of Yao Foli “Cha Cha” Augustine.
When: 9 p.m. Friday & Saturday
Where: The Range
Cost: small cover charge
Info: therangeithaca.com
Going for a Spin
Mary Lorson will host “Seven Minutes in Heaven: a spin-the-bottle of the arts” as part of the Spring Writes Literary Festival happening this weekend. The event features seven writers, seven musicians, and seven actors mixing it up, for seven minutes at a time – all matched by a spin of the bottle. Actors will read, accompanied by musicians (improvising), for seven minutes, and the writers will be named at the end of each piece.
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Lot 10
Cost: $5
Info: springwrites.org
A Night of Improv
Ithaca Underground will host an evening of improvisation, as four of Ithaca’s top musicians – Annie Lewandowski (electronics), Sarah Hennies (vibes), Brian “Willie B” Wilson (drums) and Chris Corsano (drums) – will join forces for the first time. The trio of Desmond Bratton (bass), Dara Anissi (oud, guitar) and Simon Bjarning (drums) will open with the show.
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Sacred Root Kava Bar
Cost: $7
Info: ithacaunderground.org
Old-Time Tunes for Today
Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves, rising stars in the acoustic music world, and come to Ithaca to promote their just-released self-titled debut album. DeGroot is know for her intricate clawhammer banjo work with Molsky’s Mountain Drifters, while Hargreaves has made her name with her powerhouse fiddle style with Gillian Welch and Laurie Lewis.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Casita del Polaris
Cost: UPDATE: the show is now sold out!
Info: www.facebook.com/casitapolaris/
Panther Power
“Panther on Piano” will feature the talented double bill of keyboardists Remanu Panther and Michael Stark. “Panther on Piano” showcases theatrical telling of pieces of Remanu’s journey from Long Island to Ithaca; Stark also is from Long Island, and the pair will combine forces for an improvisational concert event.
When; 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts
Cost: $10 in advance online at www.TCFA.live; $15 at the door
Info: tburgconservatory.org
Ready for Release
The Auroras will release their new EP, “Chicco,” at Agava Restaurant. The Ithaca band bills its sound as “Future soul, party funk”
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Agava Restaurant
Cost: small cover charge
Info: theaurorasband.com
Expanding His Palette
Sandy (Alex G) – aka Alex Giannascoli, who played at Angry Mom Records a few years ago – recently released “Rocket,” the latest album in a prolific decade of making original music, and one that welcomes contributions from other musicians for the first time. Tomberlin, the project of Louisville-based singer-songwriter Sarah Beth Tomberlin, will open.
When: 8 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Haunt
Cost: $18
Info: thehaunt.com, sandyalexg.com, www.tomberlinmusic.com
New Jersey Folk
Bound for Glory continues its 52nd season with Mike Agranoff, the New Jersey singer-songwriter who has appeared many times on the show. He’s known for his funny songs and stories, but he also can be quite serious as well.
When: 8-11 p.m. Sunday
Where: Anabel Taylor Hall, Cornell University
Cost: free
Info: mikeagranoff.com, boundforglory.org