All sorts of music is on tap for this weekend in Ithaca and Cortland, as well as a screening of “The Last Waltz” at the State Theatre.
One More Time
The legendary concert film “The Last Waltz” returns to downtown Ithaca. Shot by Martin Scorsese at The Band’s 1976 Thanksgiving 1976 farewell concert at San Francisco’s Winterland, the film features guest performances Joni Mitchell, Dr. John, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, and others. There’s also a plenty of offstage footage with members of The Band reflecting on their 16-year career.
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: State Theatre
Cost: $10
It’s Happy Hour Again
Kick off the weekend with some live music at various venues around Ithaca and Cortland: The Tarps play Hopshire Farm and Brewery in Dryden at 6-8 p.m., The Royal Enfield Blues Band returns to the Westy at 7-9 p.m., Jim Scala is at Cortland Beer Company at 7 p.m., Jimmy Lawler is at BRU 64 at 7 p.m. and Dimitri Cosimo is at the St. Charles Hotel at 8 p.m.
When: Friday
Where: Various locations
Cost: free
Towns Tour
Ithaca singer-songwriter Travis Knapp concludes his Southern Cayuga Lake Watershed Tour, a nine-day tour of all the Tompkins County towns, with one last stop in Danby. This show will benefit the Youth Farm Project.
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday
Where: South Hill Cider
Cost: $20 suggested donation at the door (no one turned away for lack of funds)
Songs, Stories and More Songs
Start off the weekend with two shows at one venue. At 7:30 p.m., Bert Scholl will reprise his songs and stories solo show that he debuted last year; he’s had quite an interesting life, and he’ll tell us how his music was impacted by the momentous events he has dealt with in the past few years. He’ll be followed by the Small Kings, who will be showcasing their new lineup with Jon Petronzio on keyboards (and also covering the bass lines) at 9:30 p.m.
When: 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Casita del Polaris
Cost: small cover charge(s)
Goin’ Underground
A triple bill curated by Alexander (Abel) Bradshaw, whose eponymous band will be releasing a new single titled “Old Friends” that night, also will include Oats Holy Roller, the Western New York-based project of poet and existential songwriter Joe Murray Myers, and Wallace and the Apes, a young energetic Ithaca group that has just released its second full-length album, “Vol.2: Far Away.” Cover is $6 for the 8 p.m. show.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Sacred Root Kava Bar & Tea Lounge
Cost: $6
Dead Reckoning
Gratefully Yours returns to Ithaca with their all-star lineup of Grateful Dead-inspired musicians – Alex Mazur (keyboards), Jeff Prescott (drums), Jessica Barlow (vocals), Rob Schiff (guitar) and Tom Pirozzi (bass), plus the occasional special guest – to create your dream setlist.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: The Haunt
Cost: $15
Darkwave Doings
Cornell’s Fanclub Collective will host a post-punk/darkwave/industrial show headlined by Toronto’s Odonis Odonis and Chicago’s Grün Wasser, with locals Bubba Crumrine and Tender Cruncher rounding out the lineup.
When: 8:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Cayuga Lodge, 630 Stewart Ave.
Cost: small cover
Home on the Range
Whistlin’ Dyl and the Spirits return for a night of country-western originals. They’ll be followed by Corey Landis and the Finer Things from Columbus, Ohio.
When: 9 p.m. Friday
Where: The Range
Cost: small cover
Cool Classics
Tribal Revival returns to downtown Cortland with their vast catalog of classic rock tunes, fueled by fiery guitar work of Marc Ryan and Tom Gath.
When: 7-10 p.m. Saturday
Where: BRU 64, Cortland
Cost: free
Meeting Mozart
The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra will welcome acclaimed pianist Shai Wosner, who’s known for his "keen musical mind and deep musical soul." Wosner will perform Mozart’s “Concerto No. 21, K. 467” and “Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 551” (“Jupiter”), Joan Tower’s “Chamber Dance” and Christopher Cerrone’s “The Air Suspended, concerto for piano and strings,” a piece completed only months ago.
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Ford Hall, Ithaca College
Cost: $30 for adults, $10 for student
It’s Johnny Dowd Time
Local icon Johnny Dowd will be joined by his usual sidekick, Michael Edmondson for a show in downtown Ithaca. Dowd just released a new album, “Live at GrassRoots 2006,” recorded at the festival with one of his best lineups: Dowd, Kim Sherwood-Caso, Brian Wilson and Michael Stark. Speaking of Stark, he’ll open the show with a solo set.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Sacred Root Kava Bar
Cost: small cover
Beatles Benefit
More than two-dozen local musicians will come together for this year’s Ithaca Health Alliance benefit show: a tribute to the Beatles and their iconic “Abbey Road” album, which came out 50 years ago this fall. Organized by Sam Lupowitz (Noon Fifteen, Thru Spectrums), Mac Myers of the Ithaca Health Alliance (and Hollow Choir) and Cosmic Joke Collective’s Mickie Quinn, the show will feature members of Noon Fifteen, Thru Spectrums, The Uncommons, Vee Da Bee, Hollow Choir, and other bands. The first set will include solo or duo versions of various Beatles songs, while the second set while comprise a full-blown recreation of “Abbey Road,”
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Haunt
Cost: $10
Trio Grande
Strong Maybe – Mark Wienand Karlsen (sax), Matt Saccuccimorano (drums) and Chad Lieberman (keys) – made their debut a few months, and have impressed with their powerful yet quirky songs, which seem equally influenced by cartoons and avant-garde jazz. Food Pill (the solo electronica project of Zero Mean’s Fidget Illy) and Nnnnnnnn (Eric Trichon and Brian Wilson, along with go-go dancer Danielle Saint Velvet) will open the show.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Casita del Polaris
Cost: small cover charge
Feelin’ ‘Alright’
Jeffrey Gaines makes first visit to Ithaca since the mid-1990s. His 1992 self-titled debut album produced the hit “Hero in Me,” while his version of Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” has also garnered much airplay over the years. His latest album is “Alright.”
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Range
Cost: $10
Setting the Standards
Vocalist Hannah Martin and pianist Emmett Scott will perform an intimate show of jazz and pop standards at this afternoon show.
When: 1-2:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Red Newt Cellars, Hector
Cost: free; donations welcome
Closing It Out
The Stonecat Café in Hector will host its season-closing party, with music from Los Finsteros (4 p.m.), Brett Beardslee (6:30 p.m.), and Maddy Walsh and the Blind Spots (10 p.m.) throughout the day.
When: 3-11:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Stonecat Café, 5315 State Route 414, Hector
Cost: $40 for food and music; call 546-5000 to reserve a ticket
British Invasion
Radio London returns for a night of Sixties rock ‘n’ roll classics, with John Simon and company covering the Beatles, Byrds, and other favorites of the era.
When: 6-9 p.m. Sunday
Where: Maxie’s Supper Club
Cost: free
Bringing the Blues
Gerard Burke returns to Ithaca’s West End for a night of solo acoustic blues on his resonator guitar.
When: 7-9 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Westy
Cost: free
Beautiful Music
Mary Lorson and Billy Cote of Madder Rose will be joined by Beverly Stokes and Wingnut (Michael Stark, Walt Lorenzut and Zaun Marshburn) for an evening of songs from their deep catalog, including the recently released “To Be Beautiful,” Madder Rose’s first album in 20 years. The show also will feature an opening set from Wingnut.
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
Where: Argos Warehouse
Cost: donations welcome at the door
Getting the Hang Of It
Matt Venuti, a talented multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, returns to downtown Ithaca. He plays melodic-percussive acoustic instruments developed in Switzerland, including the hang, as well as the Electronic Valve Instrument (EVI) wind-synthesizer that he layers with a looper.
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
Where: Sacred Root Kava Lounge and Tea Bar
Cost: $10
Beyond the Board
Bound for Glory continues its 53rd season with Terry Kelleher, who has long served as one of the engineers for the show – he’s also a talented singer-songwriter, with a unique style and wide-ranging repertoire.
When: 8-11 p.m.
Where: Anabel Taylor Hall, Cornell University
Cost: free