A guitar virtuoso returns for a concert and workshop, a local band drops two new songs, and two electronic duos join forces for the first time – all that and more are on tap for the weekend in area venues!
Guitar Great
Acclaimed guitarist Hiroya Tsukamoto will return to Trumansburg for a concert that will showcase his fusion of folk, jazz and world music influences and virtuosic technique. Before the show, the Japanese-born, Berklee College of Music-educated guitarist will conduct a workshop in which he’ll demonstrate fingerstyle techniques and how to practice on a daily basis to improve your skills.
When: 7 p.m. Saturday for concert; 3:30-5 p.m. Saturday for workshop
Where: Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts
Cost: $15 in advance, $18 at the door, for the concert; $30 for the guitar workshop
It’s Happy Hour Again
Kick off the weekend with some live music at various venues around Ithaca and beyond: Strange Heavy is at South Hill Cider at 6-8 p.m., All Strung Out is at Ithaca Bakery at 6-8 p.m.; The Notorious Stringbusters return to Dryden’s Hopshire Farm and Brewery at 6-8 p.m., Raedwald is back at Bike Bar Ithaca at 7-9 p.m., Sandra Esparza is at the Westy at 7-9 p.m., Jimmy Lawler is at Summerhill Brewing in Locke at 6-8 p.m. In Cortland, Stiv Morgan is at BRU 64 at 6:30 p.m., Chasing Neon is at the St. Charles Hotel at 8 p.m., and Tribal Revival is at One Cent Saloon at 9:30 p.m.
When: Friday
Where: Various locations
Cost: free
Voices Raised
Ithaca College’s School of Music will hold its annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration in Ford Hall at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Free and open to all, the concert will feature the Ithaca College Choir, the Ithaca College Chorus, the Ithaca College Jazz Vocal Ensemble and the Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers. Student soloists include Preston Atkins, Louis Bavaro, Asila Folds, Naya Griles and Nicole Morris; community member Maria Ellis-Jordan, a gospel singer, will solo as well. The program is directed by Janet Galvan and Baruch Whitehead.
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Ford Hall, Ithaca College
Cost: free
Dazzling Debut
In “Apple: Tree,” a new mixed-media “rolling cabaret” of song, art, and shifts in perspective, acclaimed opera singer-turned-cabaret chanteuse Caitlin Mathes will sing a palette of music from Baudelaire and Brecht to Piaf and Björk, paired with an immersive environment of her father Al Mathes’s visual art. The entire show surrounds an audience seated in rolling chairs, with performers and audience travelling around the space.
When: 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Where: The Cherry Artspace
Cost: $25, $15 for students and seniors
Songs and Stories
Liam Lawson, frontman of the Auroras and guitarist in JP Payton and the Easy Tigers, will debut a new monthly series,"Liam Lawson Presents...” The inaugural event will spotlight Alexander Bradshaw, who’s currently working on his debut solo album after years with the Newman Brothers and other bands, and JP Payton, the Indiana transplant who released an excellent EP last year.
When: 8:30-10:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Agava Restaurant
Cost: donations welcome
Fire on the Mountain
Terrapin Station returns with their deep catalog of classic Grateful Dead tunes. Fronted by guitarists Larry Honigbaum and Frank Raponi, the band also features Josh Drotar on drums, Brian Lauri (Root Shock, The Black River) and, for this show, Eric Wise from Pearly Baker’s Best on bass.
When: 9 p.m. Friday
Where: The Haunt
Cost: $10
Joining Forces
Cozmic Theo and DJ Evo Evolution will team for a show in downtown Ithaca. Theo will open the night with his live looping show, followed by the DJ set, with a dual improv set to conclude the evening.
When: 9:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Lot 10
Cost: $5
Trio Grande
Julia Felice and the Whiskey Crisis return to downtown for “Rule of Three,” the first of their serial music releases in 2020. “We'll have two brand new jams – one cover, and one original – plus a brand new collaborative art piece from Philly-based artist J.P. Feenstra,” said the band.
When: 10 p.m. Friday
Where: The Range
Cost: cover charge
Saturday Songs
Saturday, catch some free local music around the area: Joel Kane returns to Chateau Dusseau in Locke at 3-6 p.m., Jon Rogalia is at Summerhill Brewing in Locke at 5-8 p.m., Off The Rails is at Brewer’s Café and Tap Room in Dryden at 6-8 p.m., and Tribal Revival is at Greek Peak's Trax Pub and Grille at 7 p.m.
When: Saturday
Where: Various locations
Cost: free
Going Solo
Local guitarist Dennis Winge will present “The Art of Solo Guitar” at the. The event will feature master class, concert and jam session at 6-9 p.m. Winge will be celebrating the release of his fifth instrumental album, “Fly on the Wall,” and will also lead a master class on solo guitar. The night will end with a jam session for all styles of music.
When: 6-9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Foundation of Light, 391Turkey Hill Road
Cost Admission is $15 for the concert, $30 for the whole event
Instrumental Improv
Founded in 2019, the Long Now Trio includes guitarist Ryan Vanderhoof, bassist Brian Dozoretz and drummer Matt Saccuccimorano. The group draws inspiration from Bill Frisell, Julian Lage and other acts that blend jazz and roots influences. They’ll be joined by Desmond and Friends, led by bass master Desmond Bratton, for a night of “improvised and composed instrumental music.”
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Sacred Root Kava Lounge and Tea Bar
Cost: $10
Funk Friendship
NEO Project will play its first show of the year – the local ensemble will be joined by guest vocalist Hannah Martin (Backtalk Band, MaMa) for a night of funk, soul and pop tunes.
When: 7-10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Lot 10
Cost: $5
Dessert and Dancing
Ithaca-based band The Contradictions (Rick Manning, Tim Ball, Dave Davies, and Tom Hodgson) will offer an eclectic mix of danceable fiddle tunes from American and European traditions. Presented by Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca, the event will feature contras at 7:30-10:30 p.m., followed by a dessert potluck and an hour of couples dancing.
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Community School of Music and Arts
Cost: $9 for members, $12 for non-members
Rock ‘n’ Bowl
The Gutterpunk series for its first show of 2020, presenting a quadruple indie-rock bill featuring Rochester’s Jan the Actress and locals Spazzare, River Diver, and Chimes of Bayonets. DJs Rocket Morton and Dusty Visions round out the festivities with some cool vinyl cuts.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday, open to all ages
Where: Bowl-O-Drome
Cost: donations welcome; just find the hollowed-out bowling ball at the door
Event Info
Moon Rock
The Small Kings return for a Lunar New Year Party. The roots-rock-reggae-funk-jam band recently added Jon Petronzio to the band on keyboards; and he’ll open the night with a solo Road Man set.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Casita del Polaris
Cost: small cover
Blanket Coverage
Dirty Blanket performs to Ithaca for their first show here since the 2019 GrassRoots Festival. Hailing from the Western Finger Lakes and led by lead guitarist Max "Dirty" Flansburg and singer-songwriter Kevin "Blanket" O'Leary, the quintet plays high-powered bluegrass.
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Range
Cost: $5
2+2=4
Junker Rucky will make its debut -- the band is a new mashup of local electronic duos Dubber Rucky (Ben Ortiz and Kenny Christianson) and Junkyard Theory (Emily and Shane Hoyt), who collectively promise “an extraterrestrial dance party!!”
When: 10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Lot 10
Cost: $5
Dancing in the Afternoon
Head to the Haunt for a family friendly dance party featuring a live band playing kid-requested pop hits and classic rock favorites. There also will be a bake sale, silent auction, raffle baskets and more. All proceeds benefit the Fall Creek Elementary PTA.
When: 1-5 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Haunt
Cost: Admission is $10 per person, $35 per family, available in advance or at the door.
‘Tenebrae’ comes to Cortland
Arts at Grace will present a unique performance of Hugh McElyea’s “Tenebrae: The Passion of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.” The concert will feature Steven Stull as Bonhoeffer, Dawn Pierce as his fiancé Maria, David Neal as narrator, the SUNY Cortland Choral Union, a professional chamber ensemble, and Opus Ithaca children’s choir. The concert will mark the UN Holocaust Remembrance Day on Jan. 27
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: Grace and Holy Spirit Church, 13 Court St., Cortland
Cost: free; donations welcome
Sunday Songs
Sunday, catch some free local music around the area: Mike Titlebaum and Catherine Gale, along with pianist Gary Versace, are at Red Newt Cellars in Hector at 1-2:30 p.m.; the Diana Leigh Trio is at Six Mile Creek Vineyard at 2-4 p.m.; the Devo/Massa Duo is at Maxie’s at 6-9 p.m.; Amber Martin is at the Westy at 7-9 p.m.; and Dubber Rucky, along with guests Hannah Martin and Alice Goddard, returns to the Argos Warehouse at 7-10 p.m.
Welcome Back
Bound for Glory returns for the winter segment of its 53rd season as North America's longest running live folk concert broadcast. Matt Nakoa, recently seen here backing Tom Rush at the Hangar Theatre, returns for a solo show that will spotlight his talent on keyboards, guitar and vocals as well as his strong songwriting chops.
When: 8-11 p.m. Sunday
Where: Anabel Taylor Hall, Cornell University
Cost: free, open to all ages