The return of Bob Dylan tops this weekend’s slate of shows, which also feature the Battle of the Farmer Bands, another screening of the Highwoods String Band documentary, and the return of Start Making Sense.
Talking Heads Time
Start Making Sense returns to Ithaca with its Talking Heads tribute show. Hailing from Bethlehem, Pa., and led by brothers Jon Braun (vocals) and Jesse (drums) Braun, the band has been making twice-yearly visits to Ithaca for the past few years. Ruby Dear, which features singer Jenny Founds backed up by the Braun brothers, will open the 8 p.m. show with a set of her original songs.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: The Haunt
Cost: $20
It’s Happy Hour Again
Kick off the weekend with some live music at various venues around Ithaca and Cortland: Rachel Beverly is at Summerhill Brewing at 5-7 p.m., Lynn Wiles is at Ithaca Bakery at 6-8 p.m., Lloyd’s Boys are at Hopshire Farm and Brewery in Dryden at 6-8 p.m., Pete Panek and the Blue Cats are at the Westy at 7-9 p.m., Jimmy Lawler is at the St. Charles Hotel at 7 p.m., Roger Decker is at Cortland Beer Company at 7 p.m., Steve Romer is at the Eagles Club of Cortland at 7 p.m., and Dmitri Cosimo at BRU 64 at 7 p.m. A bit later, Tribal Revival is at Penny’s One Cent Saloon in Cortland at 9 p.m.
When: Friday
Where: Various locations
Cost: free
Marking 50 Years, Part II
The fabled synthesizer ensemble Mother Mallard’s Portable Masterpiece Company concludes its 50th anniversary celebration with the second of two shows at Cornell. The group will perform pieces from founder David Borden’s “The Continuing Story of Counterpoint” on vintage instruments that include original Moogs, Fender Rhodes pianos, and more. Mother Mallard was the first live synthesizer ensemble in the world and came about through Borden’s work with Robert Moog in Trumansburg.
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University
Cost: free
Sound of Silents
The classic 1928 silent film “The Passion of Joan of Arc” will be screened with improvised music by organist Stephen Kennedy and singers from the Christ Church Schola Cantorum.
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: St. Luke Lutheran Church, 109 Oak Ave., Collegetown
Cost: free
Travis Knapp continues his tour of the towns of Tompkins County with three more shows this weekend:
• 7 p.m. Friday, Littletree Orchards, Newfield; Traditional Center for Indigenous Knowledge & Healing
• 1 p.m. Saturday, Freeville house show (contact Knapp for address at travisknappmusic@gmail.com); Youth Music Arts Scholarship at Southside Community Center
• 3 p.m. Sunday, Brooktondale Community Center; Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming
Cost: $20 suggested donation at the door (no one turned away for lack of funds)
Rocking for Consent
The Advocacy Center of Tompkins County’s ACTion teen organizers have put together “Consent Rocks!” a benefit concert featuring student performers and community groups. The funds raised will be used to increase awareness of ACTion, teen access to Advocacy Center services, as well as for the agency's youth services.
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Kulp Auditorium, Ithaca High School
Cost: Suggested donation of $10
Triple Bill
Local favorities Strange Heavy, The ilium Works and The 86ers will team for a night of original roots music.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Casita del Polaris
Cost: Small cover charge
Ambience on Tap
The ElectroZone will present “A Very FN Ambient Evening” with harpist Chelsea Smarr, Finite Element, stepwriterun, shaawano and Kompyootur Muhsheen – each putting their unique spin on ambient music. There’s a $10 cover for the 8 p.m. show. Find out more at facebook.com/ithacaelectrozone.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Sacred Root Kava Bar
Cost: $10
Double Header
It’s time for “Vee Da Teencat,” as local favorites Teencat and Vee Da Bee team for a show in downtown Ithaca. Both bands blend rock, punk and indie influences with catchy riffs and cool songs.
When: 9 p.m. Friday
Where: The Range
Cost: small cover
Jersey Guys
Cortland Rep welcomes back the Jersey Tenors, a quartet of talented Broadway singers who premiered in Cortland in the spring of 2018, and are back with an all new show: “Make American Macho Again.”
When: 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Cortland Repertory Theatre Downtown, 24 Port Watson St., Cortland
Cost: $25
Paying Tribute
Ithaca College professor of piano Laura Amoriello will present “The Girl Gershwin: Music of Dana Suesse,” highlighting the composer who wrote “You Ought To Be in Pictures,” “Ho Hum” and other classic tunes in the 1930s yet remains little known today. This lecture-recital includes solo music for piano as well as a vocal set featuring Hannah Martin.
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Hockett Family Recital Hall, Ithaca College
Cost: free
Farm-Fed Fun
The first “Battle of the Farmer Bands” will see five local groups – each featuring at least one farmer – take the stage to help raise funds for the Northeast Organic Farming Association of NY (NOFA-NY). On the bill are the Local Farmers Union, Brookton Bridge, The 86ers, The Flywheels, and Rot N Roll – all of which play their own version of Americana by blending country, folk, bluegrass and old-time influences with topical lyrics.
When: 5-9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Hopshire Farm and Brewery in Dryden
Cost: donations welcome
Lipp Talk
Talented multi-instrumentalist and singer Aaron Lipp returns to Ithaca for a solo show that will feature a mix of original and old-time tunes at this recently opened tasting room.
When: 5:30-8 p.m. Saturday
Where: South Hill Cider, 550 Sandbank Road, Ithaca
Cost: free
Songs to Sing
Cortland-bred, Ithaca-based singer-songwriter Rachel Beverly returns to Dryden for a night of originals and covers.
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Brewer’s Café and Tap Room, Dryden
Cost: free
‘Music for the Ages’
Musicians for World Harmony will host the third annual “Music for the Ages” gala to raise funds to bring healing music to people of all ages. The event will feature internationally acclaimed musician Samite Mulondo, as well as sumptuous snacks and beverages, a diverse silent auction and an inspirational program showcasing stories of how music can heal all ages.
When: 7-10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Coltivare
Cost: $45
On the Screen
If you missed the sold-out screening of “Dance All Night: The Highwoods String Band Story” when it premiered in Ithaca last year, here’s another chance to see it. Directed by Larry Edelman, the film tells the tale of the influential Tompkins County band, which helped to spearhead the old-time music revival in the 1970s through extensive touring and three albums on Rounder Records. Following the screening of the film will be a special performance by The Original Fat City Stringband – Mac Benford, Walt Koken, and Bob Potts (all found Highwoods members) – with special guest Jennifer Cleland (also a Highwoods member).
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts
Cost: $10
Swing Sultans
Hot gypsy jazz combo Zingology will play a swing dance in a century-old Grange hall just a few miles west of Ithaca.
When: 7 p.m. Saturday (dance lesson at 6 p.m.)
Where: The Enfield Grange, 182 Enfield Main Road (Route 327), Enfield
Klezmer Quest
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Veretski Pass’s klezmer music CD, “The Magid Chronicles.” The band and master klezmer clarinetist Joel Rubin will detail project development based on the fieldwork of Sofia Magid, the Jewish ethnographer who worked intensively documenting Jewish music in Belarus and Ukraine during Stalin’s regime in the 1920s and 30s. (Rubin and Varetski Pass also will perform music from the CD at Cornell’s Anabel Taylor Hall Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.)
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Temple Beth El, 402 N. Tioga St.
Cost: Suggested donation for each event is $10, but no one will be turned away.
Indie Rock
Ithaca Underground and Goo Lagoon will join forces to present a show in downtown Ithaca. Godcaster, a rock band from Philadelphia and New York City, will be joined by local punks Tilling and Syracuse garage rockers Winter Beach.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Chanticleer
Cost: $7
Going Solo
The lead guitarist and singer for jam-band favorites Twiddle, Mihali Savoulidis will step out in his solo Ithaca debut. He’ll showcase his songwriting, lyrical, beatboxing, looping and guitar talents in this intimate setting. Find out more at mihalimusic.com. Sam Johnson will open the show.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Haunt
Cost: $15 in advance, more at the door.
Two Sets of Tunes
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad comes to downtown Ithaca. The Rochester-based band will be playing two sets – the first focusing on its acoustic-based Americana songs, the second focused on its traditional blend of dub and reggae.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Range
Cost: Advance tickets are $20 on eventbrite.com.
Ready to Dance
“Dancer” will feature an overview of dance music from the 1970s through the present day, with funk, disco and house sets from Playhouse 90, DJ Pleocene and Andrew Voltage.
When: 8:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Forest City Lodge 180, 536 W. Green St.
Cost: free, ages 21 and up
Celebrating Clara Schumann
"Experiencing Clara Schumann's Musical Environments will feature performers and Cornell students and faculty, including Richard Valitutto, Lucy Fitz-Gibbon and students, Roger Moseley, Theodora Serbanescu-Martin, David Keep, Soo Yeon Kim, and Junghwa Lee, perform works in honor of Clara Schumann's bicentennial as part of the conference “Performing Clara Schumann: Keyboard Legacies and Feminine Identities in the Long Romantic Tradition.”
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Barnes Hall, Cornell
Ready to Rock
Led by singer-guitarists Phil Muka and Casey King, the Unknown Woodsmen return to downtown Cortland, promising a few new tunes along with some of their familiar favorites.
When: 8:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: BRU 64, Cortland
Cost: free
Sea Change
The Cornell Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Katherine Kilburn, performs a concert featuring Emily Cooley's “Argo, “and Johannes Brahms' “Symphony No. 4 in E Minor.” Inspired by the voyage of the ship Argo from the mythology of Jason and the Argonauts, “Argo” is a meditation on change.
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: Bailey Hall, Cornell
Cost: free
In Harmony
Party of Four -- Cookie Coogan, Wayne Gottlieb, Doug Robinson and Dave Davies -- will showcase their vocal harmonies and jazz chops on a variety of classic and original tunes.
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: Danby Town Hall, 1830 Danby Road
Cost: free
Fall Colors
The Ithaca Gay Men’s Chorus (IGMC) will perform its fall concert, “True Colors,” which will comprise a varied list of musical pieces including a new arrangement of “True Colors, composed by Cyndi Lauper, two compositions using the poetry of William Blake and much more. Also appearing on the program will be AFAB4, a newly formed quartet composed of members of IGMC.
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: First Baptist Church, 309 N. Cayuga St.
Cost: A donation of $15 is suggested at the door.
Raising Their Voices
Odyssey Choir's Fall Concert, "Homeward Bound,” will feature selection of choral music celebrating giving thanks and coming home with family and friends. The Odyssey Choir is directed by Melissa Rooklidge and consists of two ensembles, Alpha (youth treble choir) and Omega (adult mixed choir).
When: 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: Opus Ithaca School of Music, 402 N. Aurora St, Ithaca, New York 14850
Cost: free and open to all
Sound of the Sixties
Radio London – John Simon, Mike Vitucci, Jon Hilton, Ken Zeserson and Dan Lashkoff – returns with their high-energy brand of classic rock ‘n’ roll from the 1960s.
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
Where: Argos Warehouse
Cost: free; donations welcome
Jazz on Tap
Jane Monheit returns to Central New York; the acclaimed singer recently released “Songbook Sessions: Ella Fitzgerald,” her tenth studio recording since her 2000 debut, “Never Never Land,” but first on her own label, Emerald City Records.
When: 8 p.m. Sunday
Where: Center for the Arts Homer
Cost: $18-$35
Sea Songs
Bound for Glory continues its 53rd season with Joy Bennett and Chris Koldewey, whose songs “tend toward the traditional, songs of the sea and the land.” Find out more at chriskoldewey.com.
When: 8-11 p.m. Sunday
Where: Alternatives Library, Anabel Taylor Hall, Cornell University
Cost: free and open to all
Bob is Back
Bob Dylan and His Band will return to Ithaca after a six-year hiatus to perform at Ithaca College. Dylan has been getting excellent reviews on the current tour: one writer described his October show in Denver as “an intense, often stirring tour through his catalogue,” while another reviewer called his Lincoln, Neb., concert as “the best Dylan show I’ve seen in at least a decade, maybe longer.” Read more about the show here.
When: 8 p.m. Sunday
Where: Athletics and Events Center, Ithaca College
Cost: $55-$85, available online here