The coming days include a show by 1990s alt-rock favorites Luna at the Haunt, and Ithaca Underground’s Queer Sound series at the Cherry Artspace.
Luna Landing
Founded in 1991 by singer-guitarist Dean Wareham in New York City, Luna released several influential albums of atmospheric pop during its heyday before breaking up in 2005. The band reformed in 2015 with the lineup of Wareham, co-guitarist Sean Eden, drummer Lee Wall and bassist Britta Phillips. Luna has been rotating a performance of one of its classic three albums – “Lunapark,” “Bewitched” and “Penthouse” – in its entirety at most of the dates on its current tour, but in Ithaca we’ll get the best of everything rather than one specific album. Opening the show are Billy Cote and Mary Lorson of Madder Rose, joined by Beverly Stokes and Wingnut’s Michael Stark, Zaun Marshburn and Walt Lorenzut. They’ll be celebrating the recent release of “To Be Beautiful,” the first Madder Rose album since 1999.
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday
Where: The Haunt
Cost: $25 in advance, $30 at the door
Click here for more information.
By the Fire
The weekly Firelight Live series continues with host-curator Ted Walsh, who’ll perform solo sets of originals and cover tunes, including some new selections. “I've been reaching back lately to some old folk and Americana – inspired by two Ken Burns PBS series, ‘The West’ and ‘Country Music,’” said Walsh.
When: 6-9 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Firelight Camps, La Tourelle
Cost: free
Let’s Dance
In Celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Jorge T. Cuevas & The Caribe Jazz Allstars will be playing danceable Latin jazz in the styles of Cha Cha, Salsa, Merengue, Bolero and Swing. The band features some of Ithaca’s top musicians, including Doug Robinson (bass), Jorge T. Cuevas (percussion), Sally Ramirez (vocals), Matt Clauhs (sax, flute) and David Zakalik (keyboards). The show includes a dance lesson in Salsa at 6:30 p.m. and two hours of live music beginning at 7:30 p.m.
When: 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Where: The Range
Cost: $7
Click here for more information.
Three of a Kind
Jazz trio Argos Grove – Ithaca College faculty members Nicholas Walker (bass), Greg Evans (drums), and Andrew Carroll (piano) – continue the celebrated Wednesday happy hour community music tradition initiated by i3° at Bar Argos. The trio’s repertoire ranges from Duke Ellington and Stevie Wonder to the Beatles, Disney, swing, funk and bossa nova.
When: 5-7 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Argos Inn
Cost: free; donations welcome
Click here for more information.
Sonic Explorations
Ithaca Underground's Queer Sound Ithaca concert series will present a triple bill featuring claire rousay, Jen Kutler, and Travis Johns. The San Antonio-based rousay “explores queerness, human relationships, and self perception through the use of physical objects and their potential sounds.” Kutler, now based in Ithaca (she’s the artist-in-residence at the Grayhaven Motel), “modifies found objects that are cultural signifiers of power, gender, queerness and intimacy to create atypical instruments and sculptures.” Johns, also now based in Ithaca, is a soundartist whose “work includes performance, installation and printmaking, often incorporating electronic instruments of his own design.”
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
Where: The Cherry Artspace
Cost: $7; open to all ages
Click here for more information.
Good Vibrations
The Crucials continue their weekly Reggae Night residency in downtown Ithaca, with some of Ithaca’s top musicians joining forces for an evening of classic and obscure reggae and dub classics. DJ Jesse Hill will start off the night by spinning on the decks.
When: 9 p.m. Wednesday
Where: The Range
Cost: $5
Click here for more information.
Colorado Calling
The Colorado-based Yonder Mountain String Band – guitarist Adam Aijala, bassist Ben Kaufmann, banjo player Dave Johnston, mandolinist Jacob Joliff, violinist Allie Kral – has been expanding the boundaries of bluegrass in its 20-year-existence, winning fans with its stellar musicianship and high-energy shows. Its latest album is 2017’s “Love Ain’t Love.” The Drunken Hearts, another Colorado-based quintet, will open.
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Where: Center for the Arts, Homer
Cost: $20-$28
Click here for more information.