The oppressive heat of recent days seems to be lifting just in time for the weekend, which will feature a variety of shows spanning folk and blues to rock and reggae in Ithaca and beyond.
Please be sure to check with each show’s event page for various covid protocols, as well as potential postponement or cancellation information due to the weather. Stay safe, and enjoy as much live music as you can in the coming days!
Shaking Some Sugar
New Vine Records and Hopshire Farms and Brewery present the Sugar Hollow Music Festival, which will feature five area artists, with a cut from food and beverage sales supporting the participants. The lineup includes: 1 p.m., Rachel Beverly; 2:30 p.m., Leo & the Maydays; 4 p.m., Noon Fifteen; 5 p.m., Kitestring; and 6:30 p.m., Alex Cano.
When: 1-9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Hopshire Farm and Brewery, Dryden
Cost: free
Planetary Journey
New Planets, a groove-oriented band that includes members of Mosaic Foundation, Big Mean Sound Machine and Analogue Sons, will host a dance party on South Hill. (Note: Cha Cha of Mosaic Foundation is back in Ghana due to a death in the family; GrassRoots favorite and Miami’s own Fabi will step in his place.) DJ Jesse Hill will round out the festivities throughout the night, and Van Noble Farms will be selling its trademark BBQ.
When: 6-9 p.m. Friday
Where: South Hill Cider
Cost: $10 at the door
Classical Sounds
Triphammer Arts will present “Beethoven String Quartets” – Opus 74 - The Harp, and Opus 59, #2 – on its Outdoor Barn Stage, performed by Jonathan Hwang and Edgar Tumajyan, violins; Victoria Miskolczy, viola; and Lindsay Groves, cello. Feel free to bring along a picnic.
When: 6-7:15 p.m. Friday (Rain date: Sunday or Monday); gates open at 5 p.m.
Where: CRS Barn, 2622 N. Triphammer Road
Cost: $10 at the door
Rail Riders
The Friday Night Farm Jams series continues with Bent Rails, who play cosmic country rock that blends “the sounds of our favorite performers on our musical journey through the Deep South to the Pacific coast; through the swamps, across the valleys, and up on the hilltops.” The lineup includes Doyle Lodor (guitar, vocals), Joe Hayward (pedal steel guitar, banjo, vocals), Gary Graeff (electric guitar, piano, vocals), Joe Damiano (bass, vocals) and Kraz (drums).
When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Finger Lakes Cider House
Cost: $5
It’s Happy Hour Again
Friday, catch some happy hour shows around the area: The Sim Redmond Trio is at Buttonwood Grove Winery at 5:30-8:30 p.m.; Encore is at Hopshire Farms and Brewery at 6-8 p.m.; GoGone is at Firelight Camps (behind La Tourelle) at 6-8 p.m.; All Strung Out is at Celebrations at 6:30 p.m.; Raedwald is at Two Goats Brewing at 6-8 p.m.; L’Bonti is at Treleaven Winery at 6-9 p.m. (cover is $5); Logan Smith at Homer Hops Brewing at 6-8 p.m.; and the Soul Benders are at Summerhill Brewing at 6-8 p.m.
When: Friday
Where: Various locations
Cost: free; donations always welcome
No Place like Olde Home
Groton Olde Days returns this weekend, with local favorites Chasing Neon (7-10 p.m. Friday) and Bendher (8-11 p.m. Saturday) perform at the Groton American Legion. Plus, there will be lots of food, drinks, rides and other fun activities throughout the weekend.
When: Friday & Saturday
Where: Groton American Legion Post 800, 307 Main St., Groton
Cost: free
Ready to Rock
The “Some Kind of Wonderful Tour” comes to the Southern Tier, with Grand Funk Railroad joined by the Guess Who and the Grass Roots for a night of classic rock hits. Expect to hear a load of classic rock hits, including “Sooner or Later,” “Temptation Eyes,” “American Woman,” “We’re An American Band” and more.
When: 5:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Tag’s Michelob Summer Stage, Big Flats
Cost: $35-$80
Event Info
Room To Move
Triphammer Arts Inc. presents “Moving Landscapes,” a show of outdoor art-making and staged choreography. The evening will begin at 5 p.m. with dancers improvising in the gardens and interacting with Rob Licht’s beautiful large-scale sculptures, “Glimmerglass Landforms” while audience members sketch, paint, photograph, videotape or enjoy the lake views. At 6 p.m., audience and dancers will transition to the Drive-In Stage in the field for the annual Choreographers’ Showcase, which features new and repertory works performed by dancers from Ithaca, Rochester, Geneva, and Elmira. The entire performance will take place outdoors, with a great view of Cayuga Lake and plenty of space for social distancing and audience safety.
When: 5 p.m. Saturday (Rain date is 5 p.m. Sunday)
Where: CRS Barn Studio, 2622 N. Triphammer Road, Ithaca
Cost: free; donations welcome at the door
Film al Fresco
The 11th annual “Silent Movie Under the Stars” will once again take place at Taughannock Falls State Park, with the Wharton Studio Museum presenting a recently restored version of “Sherlock Holmes” featuring a recorded soundtrack by the Neil Brand Ensemble. Directed by Arthur Berthelet, the film stars William Gillette, a well-known actor, playwright and stage manager in the late 19th and early 20th centuries Learn more here. Local favorites Rick Manning (fiddle and mandolin) and Tom Hodgkin (guitar) will provide pre-screening live music beginning at 6:45 p.m.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Taughannock Falls State Park
Cost: free; $5 parking fee per car
Blues and Beyond
The East West Blues Band pays tribute to the classic sound of the Butterfield Blues Band, which blended Chicago blues with psychedelia, Indian, and a variety of other influences. Frontman Barry Miller is joined by guitarists Mike Shaw and Mike Vitucci, drummer Mike Wellen, and bassist Walt “Mike” Lorenzut in the current lineup
When: 10 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Range
Cost: small cover
Righteous Reggae
Since the 1970s, the Wailers have been one of the world’s most influential reggae bands, first as Bob Marley’s band and then carrying on in the ensuing decades. Currently led by Aston Barrett Jr., son of founding bassist “Familyman,” the Wailers continue to bring their infectious vibes to audiences around the world. “One World,” the band’s first album in 25 years, was nominated for a 2021 Grammy® Award in the Best Reggae Album category.
When: 8 p.m. Sunday
Where: Center for the Arts, Homer
Cost: $15-$30, available here
Fair Fun
The Great New York State Fair, which bills itself as “the largest free music festival at any state fair in America,” continues in Syracuse. A variety of shows covering a huge range of genres are set for this weekend at Chevy Court and Chevy Park stages, including: Melissa Etheridge (8 p.m. Friday, Chevy Park), The Beach Boys (8 p.m. Saturday, Chevy Park), Vixen (7 p.m. Saturday, Chevy Court), Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes (7 p.m. Sunday, Chevy Park) and Dropkick Murphys (7 p.m. Sunday, Chevy Court). See the website for a full list of concerts.
When: Through Sept. 6
Where: New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse
Cost: The shows are free to attend; they’re included with the $3 admission fee to the fair.
Event Info
https://nysfair.ny.gov/