Ithaca Reggae Festival
The 5th Annual Ithaca Reggae Fest is returning to Ithaca’s Stewart Park with a full day of music on Saturday, June 24. A free Welcome Party to kick off the weekend at the large pavilion in Stewart Park will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, June 23.
On June 24 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. the festival will feature a full day of reggae, yoga, water education, skateboarding, art, food, dance, and more. Setting the intention for the day starts with festival partners the Yoga Farm leading 108 Sun Salutations followed by additional yoga activities and free breakfast for all yogis before a Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ' Cultural Celebration, and then a community drum circle with One Heart Community Drumming to lead into the beginning of an incredible lineup of music.
Culminating with headlining performances from internationally renowned Rochester-based roots reggae & dub masters Giant Panda Guerilla Squad, mixed by legendary Jamaican producer Scientist, and the conscious revolutionary Ithaca-based artist Double Tiger also mixed live by Scientist, Saturday’s lineup includes some of the best reggae bands from throughout New York State. From Brooklyn-based lovers rockers SunDub to Ithaca’s own favorite afro-funk dance party New Planets, Saturday at Ithaca Reggae Fest will include performances by Ithaca’s longtime dub & drum & bass favorites The Analogue Sons plus multiple DJ sets by EvoEvolution, DJ Ziggy, DJ Cappel, Proper Philth and more. All emphasize some of the best reggae in the New York State reggae scene.
As a community event, children under the age of 16 are allowed free of charge when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Ticket prices for attendees over the age of 16 will be $35 at the gate, Saturday, June 24, 2023.
Ithaca’s own GIAC is organizing various festival activities including face painting, family yoga, hula hooping, art projects, games, the Physics Bus, and more. Ithaca Reggae Fest is excited to partner with GIAC and famous artist Jay Stooks to host the Art Village featuring numerous local, regional, and national artists creating live art in addition to an interactive mural for all to paint throughout the day on Saturday.
The CFCU Summer Concert Series at the Bernie Milton Pavilion
The concerts are free and fun for the entire family, the CFCU Summer Concert Series in Downtown Ithaca will be taking place outside and live starting at 6:00 pm each Thursday between June 8th and September 14th, 2023, at the Bernie Milton Pavilion.
Local and national acts perform music in genres including jazz, blues, reggae, folk, hi-hop, country, bluegrass, rock, and more.
June 15 - MADDY WALSH AND THE BLIND SPOTS
June 22 - MOSAIC FOUNDATION
June 29 - KITESTRING/NOON FIFTEEN
July 6 - SING TRECE & STONE COLD MIRACLE
July 13 - NEO PROJECT
July 27 - ARIEL ARBISSER
August 3 - CITY LIMITS
August 10 - FALL CREEK BRASS BAND
August 17 - EMPIRE KINGS
August 24 - LEO AND THE MAYDAYS
August 31 - GUNPOETS
September 7 - SIM REDMOND BAND
September 14 - MADDY WALSH AND THE ALL STAR BAND
Community Concert Series at South Hill Cider
The community concert series at South Hill Cider will see a new musical performance every Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
June 15 - Pierce Walsh & The Makers
June 22 - Rongo Brand
June 29 - Ariel
July 6 - Tenzin Chopak & Emmet Scott
July 13 - Freight
July 20 - The Bigness W/S/G Honey-Chile
August 3 - Hank Roberts Trio
August 10 - Rye Makepeace
August 17 - Fabi
August 24 - Drank the Gold
Cornell Friday Concert Series
On Friday, July 7, Gratefully Yours is performing. If you missed the Dead & Company concert at Cornell this spring, or you're wanting more, this Grateful Dead inspired band from New Paltz, NY, will bring out the jams. Gratefully Yours' impressive improvisations, spontaneity, and the ability to connect with an audience transports the magic of classic Dead performances to fans young and old.
On Friday, July 14, the Mosaic Foundation is performing. Mosaic Foundation has opened for world renowned reggae artists Toots and the Maytals, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Rebelution, Passafire, and local favorites like John Brown's Body and Thousands of One.
On Friday, July 21, Jorge T. Cuevas and the Caribe Jazz Allstars are performing. Come out for a free Latin dance party on the Arts Quad with Jorge T. Cuevas and the Caribe Jazz Allstars. Featuring some of the region’s best jazz musicians, the Allstars play an irresistible mix of originals and jazz standards in the styles of salsa, cha-cha, bolero, samba, and merengue.
On Friday, July 21, Arleigh Rose (a.k.a Sister Sparrow) is performing. Known far and wide as the leader and songwriter of acclaimed soul collective Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, Arleigh Rose Kincheloe brings a new project to life with her brother Jackson.
The Cornell Friday concerts start at 7 p.m. on the Cornell Arts Quad and are free and open to the public with free parking on campus after 5 p.m.
The Skaneateles Music Festival
From July 26 through August 19 the Skaneateles Music Festival provides intimate access to the world’s best music in the heart of the Finger Lakes Region.
For more than 40 years the festival has brought some of the world’s most talented musicians to perform on stage, with the hope of building community and enduring friendships through music. The goal of the festival is to provide an experience that is inspiring, joyful, and engaging.
Festival performances are scheduled as follows:
Why Mozart?
Date: July 25, 2023
Time: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Venue: First Presbyterian Church
An Afternoon with Eliot Fisk
Date: July 26, 2023
Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Venue: First Presbyterian Church
Eliot Fisk & Friends
Date: July 27, 2023
Time: 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Venue: First Presbyterian Church
The Danish String Quartet
Date: July 28, 2023
Time: 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Venue: First Presbyterian Church
Béla Fleck: My Bluegrass Heart
Date: July 29, 2023
Time: 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Venue: Robinson Pavilion at Anyela’s Vineyards
A full list of performances can be found at https://skanfest.org/.
Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance
The 31st annual Finger Lakes Grassroots Music Festival will be held from July 20th to 23rd at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds in Trumansburg, New York — just ten miles north of Ithaca.
Tickets are still available and will cost $179 at the gate for a 4-Day adult admission pass. The early bird rate for an adult 4-Day pass is $149 and Advance Rate is $164. A 4-Day pass pass for children ages 13 to 15 will cost $90 at the gate and kids under 12 are granted free admission but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Single-day passes will range from $55 to $78 depending on the day.
The Grassroots Festival has brought a combination of music, dance, and camping to the area since its inception in 1991. The idea for the annual festival was conjured up by Jeb Puryear, his band Donna the Buffalo, and a cohort of friends and family dedicated to keeping the local music scene alive and thriving.
This year the festival will present more than 80 musicians, bands, and dance troupes on four simultaneously running stages throughout the long weekend. Genres represented among the musicians include bluegrass, Cajun, zydeco, African, reggae, country, Americana, Native American music, old-time music, Irish music, jam band, rock and roll, hip hop, Conjunto, rockabilly, and more.
For the serious festival goers who wish to keep the party going non-stop for the entire weekend, camping is available a short distance from the music venue at Across the Way Camping.
Located at 8669 Falls Road, Across the Way features a lovely circular layout with a community area in the center of the campground with showers, a food vendor, EMS, security, a dishwashing station, and a community fire pit, picnic, and recreation area.
Although it’s not too far of a walk, there is a shuttle to help you get from Across the Way to the Front Gate during limited hours. There is also a wheelchair-accessible shuttle on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday during peak hours when handicapped parking tends to fill up on-site.
Across the Way features various configurations of campsite sizes. There are also designated areas for quiet family camping and generator camping.
The festival has been nominated as one of USA Today's top 10 outdoor music festivals.
The Impossible Dream Broadway Pops Concert
The Impossible Dream, A Broadway Pops Concert will take place at the Hangar Theatre located on 801 Taughannock Blvd in Ithaca from July 27 - 30.
Over the last 49 years of Hangar Theatre productions, artists from multiple generations have graced the Niederkorn Stage to bring you 53 iconic musicals. This summer, celebrate the Hangar's history with a star-studded ensemble as they perform favorite musical moments from this incredible roster of productions, bringing to life the very evolution of musical theater. Appropriate for all ages.
You can find tickets on sale now at Stubhub.com
