Ithaca Underground’s annual Big Day In tops this weekend’s slate, which also features several holiday shows, the first concert at the newly reopened Lot 10, and much more!
Big Time
Ithaca Underground will present Big Day In #15, a daylong all-ages event that features more than a dozen acts ranging across a wide variety of musical styles. Headlining the show are Irreversible Entanglements, the Philadelphia-based free jazz collective that includes Camae Ayewa (aka Moor Mother) and former Ithacan Keir Neuringer, and Sammus, the Ithaca native who has seen her star rapidly rise in the hiphop world in recent years. The lineup also features HOME BODY, La Neve (Joey of Downtown Boys), Lady D & The Shadow Spirits, Desmond n Friends, Tender Cruncher, The Miserable Genius, Magnetic The Shaman, Sonic Reducers, Denzel World Peace, Xen Model, Jake and The Nowhere Men, Guy Fieri Fever Dream, and Charmion.
When: noon-midnight Saturday
Where: The Haunt
Cost: $10-$15
It’s Happy Hour Again
Kick off the weekend with some live music at various venues around Ithaca and Cortland: Richie Stearns will be at South Hill Cider at 5:30-7:30 p.m., Arthur B and the Planetary Mix play Hopshire Farm and Brewery in Dryden at 6-8 p.m., Zingology is at Ithaca Bakery at 6-8 p.m., The Local Farmers Union returns to the Westy at 7-9 p.m., Lydia Garrison, Tess Clancy and the Rhiners are at Bike Bar Ithaca at 7-9 p.m., The Yardvarks are at Americana Vineyards at 6-8 p.m., Jimmy Lawler is at Summerhill Brewing at 6-8 p.m., Lucky Old Sun is at Two Goats Brewing at 7 p.m., Ellen Street Muse is at BRU 64, The Starmer Brothers are at Cortland Beer Company at 7 p.m., and The Tribal Revival Duo is at the St. Charles Hotel at 8 p.m.
When: Friday
Where: Various locations
Cost: free
Hats Off to Hendrix
Guitarist Stanley Jordan will bring his new project, “Stanley Jordan Plays Jimi (A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix),” to Ithaca. He’ll be joined by bassist Gary Kelly (Jimmy Buffett, Rhett Tyler) and drummer Kenwood Dennard (Sting, Herbie Hancock, Jaco Pastorious) for the show.
When: 7 p.m. Friday (no opener; starts at 7 p.m. sharp!)
Where: Lot 10 (officially reopened!)
Cost: Advance tickets are $20 at Ithaca Guitar Works up to 3 p.m., or online at stanley.brownpapertickets.com; At the door, admission is $25.
Can’t Stop Won’t Stop
Merciful Studio will present the “Night of No Mercy” hiphop showcase featuring New York City’s $Quidnice and BobbyNICE, along with locals Mr. McBean, Saint Kid, Corey Loveless (whose new album drops soon), Katharsis, Blane Bent, YCS Money, and Flaccorolla.
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: The Haunt
Cost: $10
Circle of Songs
Andrew Alling will host the bimonthly Songwriters Night at Sacred Root Kava Lounge. This edition will feature locals Cielle, Josh Brokaw, Dustin Stuhr, and Don Baragiano along with some dancers.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Sacred Root Kava Lounge and Tea Bar
Cost: donations welcome
Feeling the Funk
After Stanley Jordan’s Hendrix, stick around for the after-party with Toronto groove-meisters After Funk, featuring vocal-keyboards virtuoso Yannick Allwood.
When: 10 p.m. Friday
Where: Lot 10
Cost: free
Deep Grooves
The Analogue Sons – Lee Hamilton, Aaron Speiser, Michael Stark, Alicia Aubin, Jason Shegogue and Lars Burggren – return to downtown Ithaca a night of jazz-dub-rock-soul-reggae originals. Local duo Junkyard Theory – the husband-and-wife of Shane and Emily Hoyt – will open with their distinctive blend of soul, electronica and more.
When: 9 p.m. Friday
Where: The Range
Cost: $5
On The Move
Comics for Collectors just moved to a new downtown location and will celebrate by hosting local electronic artists Electronic Dog Dream, m??d?(?)fog, Witch on Horseback and Demi Gogos performing sets every two hours beginning at noon. There also will be a video installation done in collaboration with Cleo Keahna featuring comic art as well as original art from Cleo Keahna, Shaky Kane, and Elijah Joseph Weber-Han.
When: noon-8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Comics for Collectors, 124 W. State St.
Cost: free
Half-Century Celebration
Wynnter Fest, which celebrates the 50th birthday of Tobi Wynnter, will feature a full day of free live music from regional roots bands Technicolor Trailer Park, Woodshed Prophets, Pine Fever, and Bug Tussle.
When: 1-10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Two Goats Brewing
Cost: free
Keeping It Kind
Voices Multicultural Chorus will present its fall concert; in keeping with the fall theme of "We Can Be Kind," the program includes a repertoire of eleven pieces including chorus favorites "Gabi Gabi," "Omnia Sol," "Ljubav (Cup Song)," and "Behold Zion" and upbeat newcomers including "Three Little Birds," "We Can Be Kind," and "We Are” that celebrate the joy of choral singing and the important messages it can convey.
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: First Baptist Church of Ithaca, 309 N. Cayuga St.
Cost: $15; free for kids 12 and under
Batch, Please!
The Janet Batch Trio will bring in their rustic roots sounds to the recently opened Bike Bar Ithaca.
When: 7-9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Bike Bar Ithaca
Cost: free; donations welcome
A Call for Unity
“Journey to Unifier” will features live music sets from I,Star, Cozmic Theo, and Felix Free w/ Shrimps, plus a “Cacao Circle” from Silvermoon Chocolate of Asheville N.C. at 7 p.m.
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Sacred Root Kava Lounge & Tea Bar
Cost: $10
Holiday Swing
The Ageless Jazz Band will team with the Ithaca Swing Dance Network for its annual Holiday Dance at the Community School of Music and Arts. Festive dress is encouraged, but not required.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Community School of Music and Arts
Cost: $15, $12 for students and seniors; includes an introductory dance class at 7 p.m.
Happy Holidays
Terry Burns and Ron Kristy will host their annual holiday concert featuring seasonal favorites and original songs. They’ll be joined by bandmates Rich DePaolo, Doug Robinson, Dan Lashkoff and guest Jon Petronzio for the show.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: First Unitarian Society Church, 306 N. Aurora St.
Cost: $15 in advance, available at Ithaca Guitar Works or online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4415023; $20 suggested donation at the door.
Soul Power
Elisa and the YesMen return with their original and classic soul music with R&B, jazz, funk, African and Latin influences. Fronted by Elisa Sciscioli Keeler, the band also includes Travis Knapp on keys, Rusty Keeler on bass, and Jon Keefner on drums, with Jamie Yaman and Mark Karlsen on saxophones. Knapp also will play a short opening set, and DJ Astro will close out the night.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Casita del Polaris
Cost: $10
Winning Entry
The Ithaca Jazz Ensemble will be joined by acclaimed saxphonist Braxton Cook to perform Mike Caudill’s winning composition in this year’s David P. ’60 and Susan W. Wohlhueter Jazz Composition Contest.
When: 8:15 p.m. Saturday
Where: Ford Hall, Ithaca College
Cost: free
Three of a Kind
Beatscene Hub – Ithaca’s all-original electronic music crew – returns with a lineup featuring three of their top trackmakers: Sine Caster, Wandering Poet and Fuzzy Bunny Slippers
When: 9:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Lot 10
Post-Fest Tunes
Keep the spirit of Trumansburg Winterfest going with the Glacial Erotics, who will bring their rootsy originals to one of the village’s long-running restaurants.
When: 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Little Venice
Cost: donations
Soulful Sunday
Agava Restaurant will host its first Holiday Gospel Brunch, which will feature the Debbie Kendrick Project and a special New Orleans-style brunch buffet.
When: Two seatings, at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Sunday
Cost: $30 per person, $50 per couple
Cross-Culture Caroling
The Cayuga Vocal Ensemble will present “Carols Across Cultures.” Interim artistic director Melissa Rooklidge will conduct a holiday celebration featuring Benjamin Britten's “Ceremony of Carols” with harp, as well as traditional and new arrangements of carols sung in Norwegian, French, German, Spanish, and more.
When: 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: St. Catherine of Siena, 309 Siena Dr. Ithaca
Cost: free; donations welcome at the door
Seasonal Sounds
The Ithaca Concert Band – the official band of the City of Ithaca – will perform holiday favorites and seasonal songs with the Ithaca College Brass.
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
Where: Ford Hall, Ithaca College
Cost: free
Stellar Students
The 2019 Ithaca College Student Showcase will feature a variety of acts across a broad range of genres, including rock, rap, electronica and pop. The bill includes Siamese Bikes, Quail The Band, Ivy, Crae and Teddy Hyde. Cover is $5 for the 8 p.m. show.
When: 8 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Haunt
Cost: $5
String Theory
Bound for Glory closes out its fall season with the New Cut Road String Band, which includes John Hoffmann on fiddle, Steve Arkin on banjo, Jim Reidy on tenor guitar, Randi Beckmann on guitar and Sally Freund on bass.
When: 8-11 p.m. Sunday
Where: Alternatives Library, Anabel Taylor Hall, Cornell University
Cost: free
Salsa Sunday
Damn Yanquis will return for a night of salsa, cha-cha, rumba, boleros and other Latin/Afro-Cuban music in downtown Ithaca.
When: 8 p.m. Sunday
Where: Argos Warehouse
Cost: donations welcome