Street Level

Special Event:

•The Oswego-based band, Street Level, will make its area debut on June 14 at the Dinosaur BBQ, 99 Court Street.  The band features Frostbit Blue guitarist/songwriter/vocalist Tom McCaffrey along with drummer/vocalist David Burritt, bassist/vocalist Kent Warner and Kat Rushmore on vocals & flute.  (585-325-7090)

•On June 26, DJ NaNa hosts a “90s Dance Party & Retro Video Game Night” at Vertex, 169 Chestnut Street. Dance to classic 90’s pop music and check out the free video games on the old-school video game systems – Nintendo, Sega, Game Cube, Play Station and Super NES.  (585-232-5498)

•A benefit for the West Webster Volunteer Firemen’s Association and DePaul is planned on June 15 in Veterans Memorial Park in the Village of Webster.  The Sarah Byran Arts and Music Festival will feature such acts as Jeff Slutski, Hollowbodies, Ezra and the Storm, Worthy Duncan, Static Opera and Eberts Band.  (www.facebook.com/sarahannebryanbenefit)

InStores:

•The House of Guitars at 645 Titus Avenue has a series of InStore events linesd up…On June 15, the Greg Wachala Trio with Beau Leopard and Matt Ramerman will offer a live performance at noon.  A jazz stylist who uses his guitar in unique ways, Greg is known to cross over many musical genres in performance….Rochester singer/songwriter/musician Eli Flynn will celebrate his new EP, It’s Not Me…It’s You, also on June 15 at 5 p.m. at the HOG.  The EP features the single, “Tonight’s The Night.”… The industrial rock band, Filter, makes a stop at the store on June 18 at 1:30 p.m. in support of their latest, The Sun Comes Out Tonight…And, on Sunday, June 23rd at 3 p.m., the House of Guitars welcomes guitarist/vocalist Aviella Winder for a 3 p.m. performance.  Just back from LA, the songwriter will perform at 3 p.m.  (585-544-3500)

Drop Us A Line:

•So, what’s your latest?  New releases?  Special shows?  New band members? We’d love to help get your information out there.
Mail the details to us at – 1255 University Avenue, Suite 270, Rochester, New York 14607; or email to freetime@frontiernet.net.

Finger Lakes Chamber Music Festival, From Mid-June-August

•INSPIRE MOORE FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERTS – The Friday night performance series at Inspire Moore Winery, 197 N. Main Street in Naples, continues on June 21 with a concert by Donna the Buffalo.  See our Coming to Town section for details; and for further information on this popular series, call (585) 374-5970; or visit www.inspiremoorewinery.com.

•HOCHSTEIN @ HIGH FALLS – The 2013 free summer concert series, Hochstein @ High Falls, continues on June 20 with a performance by the Craig Snyder Fusion Group – playing original and familiar tunes from artists across several genres.  The program starts at 12:15 p.m. in Granite Mills Park near the Point de Rennes Bridge.  (In case of rain, the concert moves into the High Falls Center.)  Visit www.highfalls.us for details.

•ONTARIO BARN VINEYARDS CONCERTS – The “Summer at Ontario Barn Vineyards” concert series opens on Friday, June 21, with music by Barry’s Crossing Irish Duo from 5 to 7:30 p.m.  Also a Sunset Wine Tasting event , the fun takes place at 513 Whitney Road in Ontario NY.  Visit www.ontariobarnvineyards.

•FINGER LAKES CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL - This year’s Finger Lakes Chamber Music Festival, the 11th annual, will run from mid-June through August in the heart of the Finger Lakes Region.  Founder Richard Auldon Clark, who leads the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra and the Manhattan Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, promises a divers program offered in unique venues this season.  The first concert finds Juilliard faculty member, Audrey Axinn, performing the music of Bach, Beethoven and Mozart for fortepiano and string duo at Hunt Country Vineyards, 4021 Italy Hill Road in Branchport on June 15.  For a full schedule visit www.FingerLakes-Music.org.

•ROCHESTER GAY MEN’S CHORUS – Under the direction of Artistic Director Dr. Robert Strauss, the RGMC celebrates its 30th anniversary on June 15 at Hochstein School of Music, 50 N. Plymouth Avenue, with a concert titled “The Rainbow Connection.”  The program will also feature the Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus, the Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Chorus and the Ithaca Gay Men’s Chorus.  Call (585) 423-0650.

•POPS ON PIPES – The next Rochester Theater Organ Society’s “Pops On Pipes” concert will feature Australian organist Tony Fenelon on June 23rd in the Auditorium Theatre, 885 E. Main Street.  Fenelon gives countless major performances around the world each year, on piano and pipe organ – in the U.S., Japan, the U.K, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.  He has 22 records to his credit along with four Gold records.  Visit www.rtosonline.org.

The Counting Crows @ The Summer Stage at Tag’s, June 15

CONCERTS

Artpark, 450 South Fourth St., Lewiston; 716-754-4375 www.artpark.net
Mainstage:
6/24 Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
Tuesdays in the Park:
6/18 REO Speedwagon
6/25 Chicago
Wednesdays @ Artpark:
6/19 Mgmt
6/26 Dispatch

Chautauqua Institution, Rt. 394, Chautauqua; 800-836-ARTS www.ciweb.org
6/22 Straight No Chaser
6/24 Will & Anthony Nunziata’s “Broadway Our Way”
6/25 The 5 Browns

Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, Rt. 77, Darien Center; 800-745-3000 www.livenation.com
6/23 Zac Brown Band

Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St., Toronto; 416-872-4255 www.masseyhall.com
6/18 & 19 “Joni: A Portrait in Song – A Birthday Happening” with Glen Hansard, Chaka Khan, Rufus Wainright & more
6/20 Willie Nelson & Family

Outer Harbor Concert Site, Off Fuhrmann Blvd., Downtown Buffalo; 800-745-3000 www.outerharborconcerts.com
6/14 Masters of Madness Shock Therapy Tour with Alice Cooper & Marilyn Manson

Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St., N. Tonawanda; 716-692-2413 www.rivieratheatre.org
6/19 Charley Pride

Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs; 800-745-3000 www.livenation.com
6/16 Rascal Flatts with The Band Perry, Kristen Kelly
6/23 Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
6/25 Rush
9/26 Matchbox Twenty & Goo Goo Dolls with Kate Earl

The Summer Stage at Tag’s, Rt. 352, Big Flats, between Elmira and Corning; 800-650-TAGS www.tagstickets.com
6/15 Counting Crows with The Wallflowers
6/16 Rodney Atkins, Gloriana, Dustin Lynch, Josh Thompson

THEATRE

Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St., Buffalo; 716-847-0850 www.sheas.org
thru 6/16 The Book of Mormon

The indie rock band, Ra Ra Riot enjoyed much success with its debut album, The Rhumb Line, which critics described as “an experience in progress – both intensely fun and just plain intense.”  They’ve gone on to release four EPs as well as two full lengths – The Orchard and their latest, Beta Love.  Their popularity was proven by such hits as “Boy” from the TV show Royal Pains, “Dying is Fine, “Too Dramatic,” and “Beta Love.”

The Campbell Brothers have been performing their music from sanctuary to concert hall on a national basis for two decades now, allowing secular audiences a chance to appreciate music both devoted and rocking. Pedal steel guitarist Chuck Campbell and his lap steel-playing brother Darick are two of the finest in the tradition. Rounding out the band is brother Phil Campbell on electric guitar and his son Carlton on drums; with Katie Jackson on vocals.

The group that the New York Times says is “known as the country’s best bar band,” Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes has racked up over 30 years of classic live shows and a multitude of albums. Southside Johnny came to national attention in the mid-seventies when his former band-mate, Bruce Springsteen, hit it big.  Steve Van Zandt produced the first three Southside albums – with Bruce contributing some songs.  Over the years, Southside Johnny has gone on to release over twenty studio albums as well as numerous live recordings, and appeared on dozens of compilations.  Opening are Teagan & The Tweeds and Brian Lindsay Band.

The groove metal act, Lamb of God, hails from Richmond, VA.  Since forming in the late ‘90s, the band has enjoyed album sales of over two million copies, and they’ve toured with Ozzfest, Layer, Metallica and more.  The four-time Grammy Award nominees now support their critically acclaimed album, Resolution.  Released last year, it debuted at #3 on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart and at #1 on the Rock Chart… The deathcore band Acacia Strain hails from Chicopee, MA, and now features two new band members, Devin Shidaker and Richard Gomez, both on guitar.  Releases include The Most Unknown…Formed in 1996, when the average age of members was just 14, Decapitated are considered one of Poland’s, and even Europe’s, best technically-minded death metal troupes. The band gained much attention with its 2000 debut, Winds of Creation.  That was followed by 2002’s Nihility, 2004’s The Negation, 2006’s Organic Hallucinosis and the most recent, Carnival Is Forever.

Nashville’s garage-rock band, Cheap Time, is fronted by Jeffrey Novak.  Their latest album is Wallpaper Music; and the last 7” is titled Live At Third Man.

The New York Funk Exchange is a nine-piece from Brooklyn, formed in 2007.  The band is constantly touring the East Coast, sharing the stage with Topaz, Eddie Money and others. Releases include The Funkonomic Stimulus Plan featuring Christian McBride.

The Grammy-winning musician, Steve Riley, grew up in the Louisiana town of Mamou where French is spoken on the street and the national holiday is Mardi Gras. Riley plays a single-row diatonic instrument made by his cousin, famed accordionist Marc Savoy.  At just 15, Steve was invited to join the Dewey Balfa band where he learned hundreds of French songs.  He formed his own group, The Mamou Playboys in 1988. The band’s most recent LP is Grand Isle, released in 2011