Music Journalism and Documentary for Central New York
Seedstock: a festival large enough for plentiful, diverse music, but small enough for free parking. Nestled on the hilltop of Reed’s Seed’s farmland, locals of all ages celebrated Seedstock’s ninth installation. Continue reading “Seedstock Unearths Community Roots”
Though the energy of GrassRoots still lingers in the air, another great Finger Lakes festival is already here. Seedstock combines a comfortable backyard vibe with a high level of organized professionalism for a unique weekend in Cortland, New York.
(By Jonathan A. Hochberg)
It has been just about 27 years since I moved back to the region of my birth. Central New York is such a dichotomy of politics, philosophies and religions, it’s sometimes hard to reconcile the differences. And yet, and yet… we all get along. We don’t have earthquakes. We don’t have hurricanes. (I’m talking figuratively as well as literally. Despite our differences, we are a civil people here in the heart of New York State.) Continue reading “Reflections”
“Life isn’t perfect, this we all know. But what makes it worth it is reaching our goal. Keep striving.”
The lyrics of Ithaca soul band Stone Cold Miracle boomed through the swampy Infield on the second day of GrassRoots. Between front woman LaTrece Stevenson’s contagious smile and the sun’s newfound persistence, the fairgrounds came alive with positivity. Continue reading “A Day of New Music”
It wouldn’t be GrassRoots if it weren’t either unbearably hot or pouring rain. Well, lets just say the 27th annual festival of music and dance has made a stormy debut. Continue reading “GrassRoots Goes Acoustic”
The air is stirring. Leaves rustle as kids run; fiddle music echoes through the tents. As food vendors arrive and workers put the final touches on the stages, the GrassRoots setup nears completion.
In the final day of Culture Camp , there seems to be an ongoing dialogue of inclusivity. The music has inspired, or perhaps just magnified, an eagerness to share stories and perspectives. Continue reading “The Potential Energy of Culture Camp”
Though this is only the second annual Culture Camp, the atmosphere here is one of long-lasting energy. Culture Camp began in 2016 as a way to break the barrier between artist and audience. Through interactive workshops for all ages and skill levels, community members can develop relationships with the artists they’ve been watching perform at GrassRoots for years. Continue reading “Day 2 of Culture Camp”
Whether you’re a longtime local fan or a touring artist just passing through, it doesn’t take long to sense how unique the Finger Lakes music scene is. Ever since I was a kid I was drawn to this energy; I wanted to learn from it, watch it grow, and one day be a part of it. My name is Allison Young, a local writing student and musician. Growing up in the Ithaca area undoubtably shaped my perspective on music and its profound ability to affect both personal and global change. As I enter my senior year of college, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my summer than documenting this incredible community with Finger Lakes Music Press. Continue reading “Welcome to the Finger Lakes Music Press Blog”