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Concert Review: Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba at UPH 2/16/24 - Nippertown
When Bassekou Kouyate asked “Are you happy?” at Universal Preservation Hall Friday, he knew the answer. Everybody was, both in the audience and onstage. The intricate, uplifting African-bluesy music Malian griot Kouyate made with his quintet amazed and charmed the audience; a mid-winter throng that arrived all bundled-up then listened, attentive but not dancing as […]
'Number the Stars' at Troy's Schacht offers moving look at difficult time - Nippertown
BY BARUCH RAINEY“Number the Stars” — with book, music and lyrics written by Sean Hartley and based on Lois Lowry’s critically acclaimed novel — is the latest production at the Theatre Institute at Sage (TIS). The musical centers on the escape of the Danish Jewish population during World War II. As the Nazis take control […]
Flurry Festival back in Saratoga Springs for 36th year - Nippertown
BY SHENANDOAH BRIEREHundreds of dancers are expected to get their groove on this weekend as the 36th annual Flurry Festival takes over the Saratoga Springs City Center and Hilton Hotel, as well as the Music Hall inside City Hall and The Parting Glass. The festival, which will run from Friday through Sunday, was founded by […]
Gibson brothers set for pair of sold-out shows at Caffe Lena - Nippertown
Performing professionally since 1988, the Gibson Brothers — who will play Saturday night for two sold-out shows at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs — have multiple International Bluegrass Music Association Awards and just happen to live in our area: Leigh in Glenville and Eric in Glens Falls. In 2015, Eric Gibson told me their telepathic […]
Hubby Jenkins set for Caffe Lena show on Sunday - Nippertown
Hubby Jenkins might be best known as a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, but he’ll play solo at Caffe Lena on Sunday. The Carolina Chocolate Drops made a giant splash as a leading roots music band that revived Black string-band traditions and famously launched Rhiannon Giddens on her superstar trajectory. The groundbreaking, old-timey band […]
Upstate Beat: Johnstown natives, lifelong friends release eclectic new album with the Bitter Stars - Nippertown
In the 1990s, 100 Acre Wood was a prominent local band that generated lots of college radio play and opened locally for big-name artists including Buffalo Tom, Matthew Sweet, Yo La Tengo and King Missile. “We were very ambitious in the early days of 100 Acre Wood, and we were lucky enough to have a […]
5 Questions with Robert Zukerman, Barrington Stage Company - Nippertown
February brings many things to help us get through the winter season: Black History Month, Mardi Gras, Valentine’s Day and theater summer season announcements. The best mid-winter theater event that has come around every February for the past 13 years is Barrington Stage Company’s “10×10 New Play Festival.” There are many one-act play festivals throughout […]
Concert Review: A.J. Croce at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall 2/10/24 - Nippertown
By Louise Hoffman BroachTROY — A.J. Croce said if there’s one thing he’s sure of, it’s that you can’t fight the acoustics in a 149-year-old theater. “The room will win every time,” he said after his sold-out show Saturday at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. Still, he managed to beautifully tame the venue for two […]
Dierks Bentley announced for SPAC in July - Nippertown
Country music superstar Dierks Bentley is set to play SPAC in July, LiveNation announced Monday. Bentley is to appear with special guests Chase Rice and Mae Estes as part of his Gravel & Gold Tour. He is to play the Broadview Stage at SPAC July 18 at 7 p.m. Bentley is to also play Darien […]
Staged reading production of 'The Hatmaker’s Wife' comes to Albany - Nippertown
A staged reading of “The Hatmaker’s Wife” comes to Albany next weekend. Theater Voices has been a not-for-profit theater company for 36 seasons, offering free staged readings. Their production of “The Hatmaker’s Wife” by Lauren Yee will be performed the weekend of Feb 16-18 and is free to the public at the Steamer No. 10 […]
Daily Gazette to sponsor High School Musical Theatre Awards - Nippertown
SCHENECTADY — The Collaborative School of the Arts announced last week the Daily Gazette’s new three-year sponsorship of the annual High School Musical Theatre Awards. This program welcomes dozens of schools and impacts more than 3,500 students and families across upstate New York in a lively showcase of regional talent. More at DailyGazette.com: Daily Gazette […]
Upcoming Literary Events: February 9-14, 2024 - Nippertown
This week, we have another great lineup of literary events in the region. Here’s a quick look at the upcoming book discussions, readings, open mics, and workshops. Friday, February 9 1:00 PM –Poetry/Storytelling Open Mic @ Saratoga Senior Center The Saratoga Senior Center presents a poetry and storytelling open mic featuring poet Jay Rogoff. 6:00 […]
CONCERT REVIEW – Joshua Redman Group 2/7/24 at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall - Nippertown
After releasing his highly-lauded “where are we” album last year, saxophonist Joshua Redman built a new band to play live the place-specific tunes on the album, which he made with A-list jazz stars. Wednesday at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, he led three younger gents onstage, all four players in suits; plus a slim […]
Crys Matthews Brings Her Black History Month Tour to Caffe Lena, Feb. 9 - Nippertown
SARATOGA SPRINGS – Caffe Lena is set to host Crys Matthews Feb. 9. The activist/singer songwriter is a “drum major for justice,” tackling heavy topics with powerful lyrics and inspirational music. For those who wonder what happened to the folk song tradition that inspired union organizers, peace marches and the civil rights movement, you’ll want […]
Albany Symphony, pianist to celebrate Gershwin's true 'Blue' - Nippertown
George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” was published in January 100 years ago, something the Albany Symphony Orchestra is celebrating with a concert Saturday at Proctors. What makes featuring this work on the program even more special is that it will be the first time audiences will hear the piece as Gershwin actually wrote it. “I […]
Saratoga Chowderfest brings cash and chowder in its 25th year - Nippertown
The silver anniversary of this year’s annual Saratoga Chowderfest could once again set new records — something Darryl Leggeri, president of Discover Saratoga, the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau, welcomes. “I think this is one of the largest festivals that Saratoga County and the region has in the first quarter, and this year will be […]
Boston Symphony Orchestra season at Tanglewood - Nippertown
WEST LENOX, Mass. — The Boston Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2024 Tanglewood Music Center season, running from late June through Aug. 31. Tickets go on sale March 19. The season features BSO music director Andris Nelsons in a newly expanded role as head of conducting at Tanglewood. Nelson will lead 10 performances with the […]
5 Questions with George Filieau at Ghent Playhouse - Nippertown
George Filieau is a mainstay on area stages, performing in dozens of shows throughout the Capital Region at Curtain Call Theatre, Albany Civic Theater and Sand Lake Center for the Arts, among others. He is currently making his second appearance in less than a year at the Ghent Playhouse, where he will be playing Joe […]
Upstate Beat: NoLaNauts blast spirit of New Orleans to Frog Alley for Mardi Gras - Nippertown
Although the members of the NoLaNauts are based here in the Capital Region – including five from Schenectady County – the 10-piece funk band has a second city at heart: New Orleans. Guitarist and vocalist Tom O’Connor of Albany, a frequent visitor to the Big Easy since the early 1980s, hatched the plan for the […]
Saratoga Springs' Home Made Theater presents 'Peter Pan, A Musical Adventure' - Nippertown
For two weekends starting Feb. 23, Home Made Theater will present “Peter Pan, A Musical Adventure”, with music by George Stiles, lyrics by Anthony Drewe and book by Willis Hall. The legend of Peter Pan has been delighting people for more than 100 years, and this faithful new version is a festive adventure perfect for […]
Stevie Nicks announced for MVP Arena in Albany - Nippertown
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Stevie Nicks is set to play Albany’s MVP Arena in June, LiveNation announced Monday. She is to perform June 12 as part of her Live in Concert tour. The show is one of 12 new dates added to her tour due to high demand, LiveNation said. She is to […]
Theater Review: ‘The Mountaintop’ offers a wonderful glimpse into a legacy - Nippertown
By Baruch Rainey “The Mountaintop,” playing at The Rep in Albany through Feb. 11 and superbly written by Katori Hall, is a thoughtful reimagining of how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spent his last night. The show begins on the night of April 3, 1968, with King returning to his room at the Lorraine Motel […]
Album Review: Glens Falls' Carolyn Shapiro's 'Take It Easy' - Nippertown
GLENS FALLS – Following up her debut release with “Take It Easy”, Carolyn Shapiro shows stunning improvement in her craft – one she was already well-versed in! From the arrangements, to the lyrics, and musicality, there’s a lot to enjoy on this EP. Featuring just six songs, each having a healthy dose of all things […]
Midnight Mass electronic dance show set for Saratoga's UPH - Nippertown
Midnight Mass, billed as an electronic dance music experience, was announced Friday for an April show at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs. The show, subtitled “Bloomin'” is scheduled for April 6. It is to feature multiple DJs, including Crusy, described as “one of Spain’s more influential artists of recent years.” Jenn Getz & Alfie […]
Hailing that 'Schenectady Sound' at the Electric Grinch: Upstate Beat - Nippertown
The first time that local musician Mikey Baish heard the Abyssmals, he was walking his dog past a house in his Schenectady neighborhood where he heard the psychedelic-garage-rock band practicing. “I can remember standing outside just listening to them play for a while. And I was like, ‘Holy smokes,’” said Baish, who plays guitar and […]
Benefit to support Ballston Spa's Gateway House of Peace Saturday - Nippertown
Two local individuals will be performing at a benefit for the Gateway House of Peace on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Malta Avenue Elementary School auditorium. Patricia A. Nugent and Michael Jerling will be performing together, as Nugent will read excerpts from her memoir “They Live On: Saying Goodbye to Mom and Dad” and […]
5 Questions with singer, retired Mohonasen music teacher Gail Sparlin - Nippertown
The Capital Region has an enormous breadth when it comes to types of performance offered – from the dramatic arts to music and stand-up – and this weekend will see the birth of a fascinating amalgamation of many of these genres into one joyous celebration via a live, honest-to-goodness variety show. “The Swamp Lily Charity […]
Concert Preview: Rees Shad and the Conversations at Unihog in Hoosick Falls 2/2/24 - Nippertown
“The Galahad Blues,” title of Rees Shad’s new album, may suggest Muddy Waters waving “Tales of King Arthur & The Knights of the Round Table” at his band and saying, “Let’s play this.” Fans who turn out to see Shad introduce the new album Friday at Unihog will find a far more complex reality – […]
Train, REO Speedwagon to play SPAC in July - Nippertown
Train and REO Speedwagon are set to play SPAC in July, LiveNation announced this week. They’re expected to play on the Broadview Stage July 23 with the band Yacht Rock Revue. The appearance is part of the bands’ Summer Road Trip 2024 tour. The tour is to also play New York State dates at Artpark […]
In Session: Capital Region's SIRSY - Nippertown
SARATOGA SPRINGS – How do you keep something fresh after ten years? Twenty? However you do it, Melanie Krahmer and Rich Libutti of SIRSY have certainly found a way. Twenty-four years into the husband-wife band, the two are continuing to go strong, relentlessly touring and writing new material all the time. Renowned for their dynamic […]
Mystic Bowie & The Talking Dreads @ Putnam Place 1/26/24 - Nippertown
Although it is late January in Upstate NY, Saratoga Springs’ Putnam Place was the hot place to be and also revisit some of the great music from the late 70s-early 80s reggae style. Band frontman Mystic Bowie fell in love with the Talking Heads music while growing up in Jamaica. As a musician he got […]
Empire State Youth Orchestra receives National, Regional and State Support - Nippertown
The Empire State Youth Orchestra has been awarded $150,000 in national, regional and state grants this season. Within those grants include a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Challenge America Award of $10,000 to provide critical support to the orchestra’s Creating Harmony, Inspiring Musical Excellence (CHIME) Amplify Our Voice program and to various scholarships for […]
Doobie Brothers headed for SPAC in August - Nippertown
The Doobie Brothers are headed to SPAC in August. They’re set to appear Aug. 13 at 7 p.m., Live Nation announced recently. Appearing with them is to be special guest Steve Winwood. The Doobie Brothers have won four Grammy Awards and are Rock & Roll Hall of Famers. Their 2024 tour, dubbed simply “The 2024 […]
Concert Preview: Joshua Redman @ TROY SAVINGS BANK MUSIC HALL 2/7/24 - Nippertown
Saxophonist, composer and bandleader Joshua Redman calls his new album “where are we.” The answer on Feb. 7 will be local: Onstage at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall with, as usual, a new band. If “location, location, location” explains the prime factor in valuing real estate, it has a similar power in jazz where […]
Mile Twelve playing Caffe Lena Friday - Nippertown
Mile Twelve, playing Caffe Lena for the fifth time this Friday, (Jan. 26) is not your granddaddy’s Oldsmobile. The pandemic accelerated some changes in the band that pushed them into a sound that’s defined better by the words “String band” than “bluegrass.” “The most recent album (“Close Enough to Hear”) is more into the progressive […]
Upcoming Literary Events: January 26-31, 2024 - Nippertown
This week, we have another great lineup of literary events in the region. Here’s a quick look at the upcoming book discussions, readings, open mics, and workshops. Friday, January 26 6:00 PM – Scott Chaskey – “Soil and Spirit” @ Northshire Manchester Farmer, activist, poet and author Scott Chaskey will return to our Manchester store […]
Review: Schenectady Civic Players vividly bring world of dementia to life - Nippertown
Schenectady Civic Playhouse has started off 2024 with a jolt to the senses. “The Father,” by French playwright Florian Zeller and translated to English by Christopher Hampton, is an emotionally chilling examination inside the mind of Andre, an older gentleman living in Paris. Andre is a retired engineer whose daughter, Anne, has come to look […]
CONCERT PREVIEW: CHANDLER TRAVIS @ CAFFE LENA 1/27/24 - Nippertown
1 + 1 x 2 = Chandler Travis. Saturday, Jan. 27 at Caffe Lena, Travis introduces not one but two new duos in what he calls Chandler Travis 2 by 2. It’s a return to the scene of the fun where he played with his (four-piece) Three-O in 2017; they also played the Hangar on […]
Music Review: Lonnie Holley @ The Local Saugerties 1/16/24 - Nippertown
To say that Lonnie Holley’s background is hardscrabble is a true understatement. In 1979, Holley’s sister lost two of her children in a fire and did not have enough money for their tombstones. He sculpted two headstones from scrap sandstone left over from foundry castings. This began his life as an artist with found materials, […]
Review: Excellent SLOC show is sure to awaken something in everyone - Nippertown
Every once in a while a community theater company puts together a production that could stand toe to toe with a professional production of the same play. Sometimes it even surpasses the production values and the talent pool that the professional company has put together. For me, when that happens it’s pure heaven. After all, […]