All sorts of music is on tap for the weekend in and around Ithaca, including several blues-rock shows from local favorites. Plus, the Edgar Winter Band comes to Auburn and a new festival debuts in LaFayette!
Blues Blasters
Erin and the Backwoods Blues Project return to Ithaca’s West End for a high-energy night featuring various shades of the blues. Bandleader Erin Mulrooney says they’ll be debuting five new songs at the show.
When: 7-9 p.m. Friday
Where: The Westy
Cost: free
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/2707331449338462/
Roots Riders
Common Railers – the Americana quartet fronted by singer-songwriters Peter Glanville and Gordon Rowland – head to Dryden for a happy-hour show. Their latest album, “Isn’t It Real,” came out earlier this year.
When: 6-8 p.m. Friday
Where: Hopshire Farm and Brewery
Cost: free
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/368968990454959/
Ready to Rock!
Bad Alibi will rock the Cayuga Inlet with its catalog of classic-rock favorites.
When: 6-8 p.m. Friday
Where: The BoatYard Grill
Cost: free
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/346933662852860/
Triple Threat
Three local bands will join forces for a show in downtown Ithaca. The Alexander Bradshaw Band is the latest project of Abel Bradshaw (Newman Brothers, Toto's Magic Show, Ithaca Bottom Boys), one that showcases a rootsy yet still funky musical approach along with thought-provoking lyrics. Rena Guinn is a Trumansburg-based singer-songwriter who’s beginning to make her mark on the local scene, while Wallace and the Apes are a group of longtime friends who just graduated high school and will be making their public debut after a string of recent house shows.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Sacred Root Kava Bar & Tea Lounge
Cost: $6.
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/2378441672367920/
Upstairs Underground
Ithaca Underground will present an all-ages show headlined by Philadelphia singer-songwriter Will Henriksen, who will be joined by locals Dummy Plug and Sarah Noell of Wildflwr.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Chantiloft
Cost: cover
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/350943132268675/
Blues Boys
The Brian Spencer Blues Project returns to downtown Ithaca for a night of hard-rockin’ blues, including some cool originals from the band’s debut EP.
When: 10 p.m. Friday
Where: The Range
Cost: $5
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/356069398407649/
Goin’ Long
The Long Now – an new instrumental project featuring Ryan Vanderhoof, Matt Saccuccimorano and Brian Dozoretz – will return to Press Bay Alley for an afternoon set of original tunes that evoke the spirit of Bill Frisell, Julian Lage and other kindred spirits.
When: 2-5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Press Bay Alley, 112 W. Green St.
Cost: free
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/424135448201671/
Songs to Sing
Hailing from Cortland and based in Ithaca, Rachel Beverly has been building an ardent following around the regional in the past couple of years. See her perform solo with the help of her handy looper pedal as she showcases a mix of originals and covers.
When: 3-5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Chateau Dusseau, Erron Hill Road, Locke
Cost: free; donations welcome
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/525038024991438/
Brews and Beyond
Brewfestifunk – a new festival and successor to last year’s Sophistafest – will debut, offering live music from four regional bands, along with tastings from more than 20 craft breweries from around New York State. The lineup includes Big Sexy & The Scrambled Eggs, Funky Dawgz Brass Band, The Blind Owl Band and host band Sophistafunk.
When: 4-10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, LaFayette
Cost: $50 for music and tastings; $25 for music lover or designated driver
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/2449657595261979/
Sweetheart of a Reunion
The Starry Mountain Sweetheart Band broke up in 2015, but three of its members will reunite for a combination book reading-mini concert. Author-musicians Adam O'Fallon Price and J. Robert Lennon will celebrate their recent literary work -- Price, will read from his new novel “The Hotel Neversink” – and they’ll joined by fellow SMSB alum Elizabeth Watkins Price (Adam’s wife) on harmonies.
When: 5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Buffalo Street Books
Cost: free
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/366616487388422/; https://www.buffalostreetbooks.com; https://starrymountainband.bandcamp.com
Campfire Songs
ElectroZone will present “Campfire Concert,” an electronica event headlined by Pas Musique, led by Brooklyn-based Robert Pepper. Also on the bill are Utica’s PHUNgEYE and Soft Hail, and Kopmpyootur Muhsheen, the solo project of Elijah Weber-Han.
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Grayhaven Motel, 657 Elmira Road, Ithaca
Cover is $10
Info: http://www.facebook.com/ithacaelectrozone; https://www.facebook.com/events/368423357195753/
Moxy Rockers
Maddy Walsh and the Blind Spots will perform on Cayuga Lake’s western shore. They’ll be showcasing songs from their recent album, “Talk,” as well as some recently written or reworked material from the band’s new lineup.
When: 7-9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Taughannock Falls State Park
Cost: $5 parking fee
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/508367639900660/
Classic Rock
The Edgar Winter Band will come to Auburn for a concert to top off the city’s annual Founder’s Day celebration. Best known for his No. 1 hit single “Frankenstein” and the pop-funk classic “Free Ride,” Winter is known for his virtuosity on several instruments and for non-stop touring schedule. Find out more at edgarwinter.com. The Lightkeepers will open the show.
When: 7 p.m. Saturday (gates open at 5 p.m.)
Where: Falcon Park, 130 N. Division St., Auburn
Cost: $35; parking is free
Info: auburnny.gov; https://www.facebook.com/events/597594317430362/
Blastin’ the Blues
City Limits returns with their high-energy blues-rock sound powered by a three-piece horn section and the fiery guitar riffs of Danny Paolangeli.
When: 7-9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Stella’s Barn, Newfield
Cost: free
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/433495927250225/
Goin’ Solo
Ithaca singer-songwriter Tenzin Chopak – formerly known as Rockwood Ferry and currently playing with Swamp Kids – will return to Hector for a solo show featuring songs from past, present and future projects.
When: 4-7 p.m. Sunday
Where: Two Goats Brewing, Hector
Cost: donation
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/541417380015059/
Could it be… Murder?
Binghamton-based vaudevillians Peaches and Crime return to Ithaca for a night of “music, mayhem and murder ballads” featuring original songs, vintage costumes and cool sketches that recall the Roaring 20s.
When: 6-9 p.m. Sunday
Where: Maxie’s Supper Club
Cost: free; donations welcome
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/371865780380909/
What The Kale!
Cortland’s Local Farmers Union will return, offering original veggie-related tunes from their 2018 debut album “Kale-In-It” as well as some choice covers. Founding member Johnny “Elijah” Wild will return for the show.
When: 7-9 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Westy
Cost: free
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/945195829153501/
Indie Endeavor
An eclectic show will feature locals Wildflwr and Guy Fieri Fever Dream along with NYC’s Pasha and the Kindred Spirits.
When: 8 p.m. Sunday
Where: Chantiloft
Cost: $5
Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/2325841314165005/
Lake Life
The “Club Cayuga: DJ Cruises at Sunset” series continues with The Sunset Reggae Boat Cruise. DJ Mike Judah (host of WICB’s “Reggae Explosions”) will host a night of “Chill lounging and dancing vibes.” Guests are invited to bring their own food and drink. “This is NOT a Booze Cruise.”
When: 6:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Cruises depart from Allan H. Treman Marine State Park.
Cost: $25 for one person, $40 for two
Info: https://www.discovercayugalake.org/boat-tours-booking; https://www.facebook.com/events/2127377807373136/; https://bit.ly/clubcayuga