Concert Review: Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba at UPH 2/16/24
Nippertown
by Michael Hochanadel
1M ago
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 in past shows here when Kouyate led bigger bands. Kouyate launched his seamless 80-minute show himself, silvery staccato notes from his ngoni ringing through the room. This set a meditative mood and announced the show would be cente ..read more
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‘Number the Stars’ at Troy’s Schacht offers moving look at difficult time
Nippertown
by Nippertown Staff
1M ago
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 of Denmark, the family of Annemarie Johansen decides to shelter Ellen Rosen, Annemarie’s Jewish best friend. A Nazi officer forces his way into the Johansen apartment, demanding they tell him the whereabouts of the Rosen family. The Johansens convince the officer that Ellen i ..read more
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Gibson brothers set for pair of sold-out shows at Caffe Lena
Nippertown
by Don Wilcock
1M ago
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 connection was downright scary. “We try to come out firing and look at the crowd and try to judge what they want to hear,” he said. “So, when we decide what we’re gonna play as the crowd is applauding at the end of a song, we just back away, look at each other ..read more
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Flurry Festival back in Saratoga Springs for 36th year
Nippertown
by Nippertown Staff
1M ago
BY SHENANDOAH BRIERE Hundreds 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 Paul Rosenberg. The first event in 1988 was just one day and held in Westmere Elementary School in Guilderland, according to the event’s website. Over the years the event has grown, with roughly 400 performers and 4,500 attendees, according to its website. “I feel like the ..read more
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Upstate Beat: Johnstown natives, lifelong friends release eclectic new album with the Bitter Stars
Nippertown
by Kirsten Ferguson
1M ago
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 good relationship with Howard Glassman at [Albany music venue] Bogie’s, and he really gave us some amazing shows there, where we opened for a lot of national acts. It was exciting,” said Clarke Hingeford, who formed 100 Acre Wood with his childhood friend, Kyle Pemrick. Hingeford and Pemrick both g ..read more
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Hubby Jenkins set for Caffe Lena show on Sunday
Nippertown
by Michael Hochanadel
1M ago
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 was a key stop on the Brooklyn-born Jenkins’ pilgrimage into half-forgotten antique musical styles in projects and achievements of his own. The band’s gradual fade freed Jenkins to continue reaching back into Black American roots music. Playing solo f ..read more
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5 Questions with Robert Zukerman, Barrington Stage Company
Nippertown
by Patrick White
1M ago
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 the Capital Region, but the “10×10” has a tight structure – 10 plays of 10 minutes each – which attracts BSC veteran playwrights such as Brent Askari (“Andy Warhol in Iran”), Jessica Provenz (“Boca”) and actors who are masters of the game. I ..read more
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Concert Review: A.J. Croce at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall 2/10/24
Nippertown
by Nippertown Staff
1M ago
By Louise Hoffman Broach TROY — 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 hours with “Croce Plays Croce” in a space that he said was built “pre-microphone and not designed for electric guitars, electric bass or drum kits.” The son of the legendary Jim Croce, A.J. joyously and jubilantly performed many of his father’s songs as well as some of his own and those ..read more
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Dierks Bentley announced for SPAC in July
Nippertown
by Steven Cook
1M ago
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 Lake July 20 and Syracuse Aug. 16. Tickets go on sale Friday at LiveNation.com The post Dierks Bentley announced for SPAC in July appeared first on Nippertown ..read more
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Staged reading production of ‘The Hatmaker’s Wife’ comes to Albany
Nippertown
by Nippertown Staff
1M ago
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 Theatre in Albany. Read the full preview at DailyGazette.com: Staged reading production of ‘The Hatmaker’s Wife’ comes to Albany Two very different couples struggle — each in their own ways — to reach across the divide that separates them. From left, Dennis Schebett ..read more
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