Music Scene

Music Venues

• A/V Art Sound Space
  

• Boulder Coffee Co.
  

• The Bug Jar
  

• California Brew Haus
  

• Eastman Theater
  

• German House
  

• Greece Athena Performing Arts Center
  

• Harro East Ballroom
  

• High Fidelity (formerly Milestones)
  

• House of Hamez aka "The Mez"
  

• Kilbourn Hall
  

• Little Cafe
  

• lovin' cup
  

• Main Street Armory
  

• Tasteology
  

• The Montage Grille
  

• The Penny Arcade
  

• The Stage
  

• Water Street Music Hall (and The Club at Water Street)

Also, check out Rochester's night clubs.

Local Acts

A Cappella

• Rochester A Cappella Rochester's A Cappella Groups
  

Acoustic

• Aaron Maras Energizing acoustic originals

• Brian Rath singer/songwriter
  

• Gregory Paul americana/psych folk/ singer/songwriter
  

• Chris Gunter Energetic lyrical acoustic tunes
  

• Jim Drew Acoustic rock/lyrics can be both straight and off the wall thought provoking
  

• JoAnn Vaccaro Folk rock singer/songwriter with incredible guitar fingers
  

• Kalu James Coool, smooth, peaceful singer/songwriter, originally from Nigeria
  

• Larry Sugarman Incredible original banjo music
  

• Lisa Bigwood Soulful original folk
  

• Maria Gillard Folk, blues, and swingy jazz singer/songwriter
  

• Plus Suffix Upbeat, acoustic rock duo with classical/jazz piano
  

• Shawnee BoyEEE Mad raw crazy songwriter beatboxer guitarist!
  

• Steve West Acoustic Blues Guy
  

• Still Fighting It 3 piece full band acoustic rock from the Finger Lakes
  

• The Varnish Cooks Rochester's own old-time string band
  

Bluegrass

• String Theory Rochesters own "finger-pickin' good bluegrass music!

Blues

• 3-D Electric Blues Band

• Andrea Dodge Amazing bluesy singer/songwriter
  

• W. B. Blues Delta Blues Trio
  

Classical

• Penfield Symphony

• Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
  

Country

• Josie Waverly

Electronica

• Airport Scene Electronica

• HELLFIRA Dark electronic music from Rochester dj/promoter: Dan Dangler
  

• Ju-Jajuba Indie electronic pop that makes you feel like a kid again
  

• Silent Auction is a local electronic band
  

• tranquil.a.twist down-tempo / trip hop / electronica
  

• Roger Houston retro synth-pop
  

Experimental

• Marc McNulty Earphone.org : Online experimental sound work of Marc McNulty

Funk

• Prime Time Funk World class 10-piece funk band

• SubSoil Hiphop/funk outfit...full live band with emcees Moon and Laz Green
  

Hip Hop/Rap

• H2O Rap duo from Henrietta

• Laz Green Critically Acclaimed underground hip hop
  

• SubSoil Hiphop/funk outfit...full live band with emcees Moon and Laz Green
  

Indie/Pop

• The Bailey Quarters Powerpop/Rock/New Wave with Rochester and Buffalo-based musicians

• A Wonderful Beautiful Experimental Pop.
  

• The Chinchillas
  

• El Destructo" Repard"
  

• The Squires of the Subterrain Psychedelic Pop!
  

• The Tabs Lo-fi psychedelia
  

• Sam Valentine and the Ponies Pop
  

Industrial

• The Fragile Path International industrial project based in Rochester, Featuring EN ESCH among others...

Jazz

• Margaret Explosion Instrumental improv jazz w/ 3 former members of Personal Effects

• Paul Blackburn Jazz guitarist and guitar instructor
  

• Steve Greene local Jazz guitarist and teacher
  

• The White Hots Four-piece Acoustic Blues/Swing/Jazz
  

Metal

• Achilles Hardcore/Metal/Screamo

• Agiel Symphonic black metal
  

• Crucifist Skull-Smashing Face-Ripping Death
  

• PsyOpus
  

• Sulaco Continuing the legacy of Rochester quirk metal
  

• Seric
  

• Warblade Melodic Black/Death Metal
  

• Tiffany Ng The heaviest metal of all: free carillon concerts every Wednesday at noon
  

Orchestra

• Penfield Symphony - period instrumental

• Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
  

• The Publick Musick
  

Opera

• Mercury Opera - Rochester's own opera company

Reggae

• Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad Super Live Roots Dancing Music for All to Grip!

• Mountain Mojo Authority Excellent Reggae Band
  

• Positive Crisis Another Excellent Reggae Band
  

Rock

• A False Reality Hardcore/Metal

• A Televised Reality Psychedelic garage punks
  

• Absolution Project Modern rock with heavy rock roots
  

• Adeline's Hero
  

• Atomic Swindlers Glam rock
  

• Auld Lang Syne rock / roots / country / soul
  

• Autumdivers Atmospheric ambient emotive indie pop/rock
  

• Bee Eater
  

• The Bird Circuit fun to see live - lead singer used to be the singer in Muler - new record out!
  

• Black Arrows
  

• Blame Johnny kickass rock & roll goodness
  

• Blue Jimmy
  

• Burning Daylight Country-tinged roots rock with power-pop hooks
  

• The Capitals Sraight up Rock and Roll with a clever twist.
  

• C R B Family-friendly rock & roll
  

• The Chesterfield Kings retro-1960s garage band
  

• Down to Earth Approach an indie rock band from Batavia
  

• Eddie Nebula & the Plague Punk pop all-stars
  

• Faded Grey
  

• Fivestar Riot
  

• 40 Rod Lightning Insurgent North Country / Alternative Americana
  

• The Frogbots Indie rock 'n' roll.
  

• The Grievants Slant rock
  

• The Grinders
  

• High Volume Components
  

• Hinkley (myspace) is one of the best Rochester bands
  

• This A.M. Static
  

• The Hi-Risers Real-deal rockabilly rock and roll
  

• The Hoodies
  

• Hypnotic Clambake Psycho-klezmer-country-blues-indie-rock band
  

• The Isotopes The best brutal surf-core band around!
  

• Jumbo Shrimp Cover Band
  

• Makyo Star
  

• The Mercies Indie powerpop/rock
  

• Mint Jam A mix of blues and classic rock
  

• The Neighbors You Hate Indie rock and classic rock meet with disastrous results
  

• Orbit Underground 60's influence, modern edge
  

• Pia Mater "An audible magic carpet ride through serene lands of music"
  

• Pietzche Nietzche Irritainment
  

• The Quitters
  

• The Riviera Playboys Garage rock
  

• The Skycoasters Oldies rock-type band
  

• Smock Specialists in "Frolnk*" (*see link)
  

• Streamline Modern rock (acoustic & electric)
  

• The Sweet Action '60s Mod Garage Rock
  

• Theophilus
  

• They Sleep They Dream
  

• Tiger Cried Beef
  

• Tin Sphinx Indie garage rock!
  

• Uncle Plum
  

• Urgency
  

• Violet Mary "It’ll make your insides stand up and salute"
  

• Walri - MySpace Webpage
  

• The Window Room Ambient and instrumental rock
  

• Woody Dodge - Rock, alt-country and some bluegrass flavors
  

• Zarek High school pop/rock
  

Punk Rock

• The Expired (myspace) Penfield's punk/ska upstarts

• The Flour City Knuckleheads
  

• The Sweatshop Boys political punk rock
  

• UV Rays
  

Ska

• The Hoboz Avon's rising ska-rock stars

• The LeVar BurTones 2-tone/third-wave ska from Fairport
  

• Mrs. Skannotto deep-grooving Rochester ska
  

World

• The Buddhahood

Unclassified

• Megan Beller Irish American Klezmer Fiddle, lessons dances weddings concerts

• Edge of Jupiter -Time Is Fast Fiction
  

• Polly Panic (myspace) Original rabid wailing cellist
  

• Post Meridian
  

• Roses Are Red
  

• The Alpine Black Rochester's new Folk Noir group!

• See also Lost Rochester Bands and Rochester In Music.

Local Labels

• Blackdog Records is a Local independent label founded by Robert Blackburn of [http://www.blackdogdigital.com Blackdog Recording
  

• Carbon Records Small independent label run by local experimental artist Joe Tunis
  

• CMI Records - An Independent Record Company CMI on MySpace
  

• Earring Records is an independent label with releases by Margaret Explosion, Invisible Idiot, Colorblind James, Personal Effects, Pete LaBonne, Bob Martin, Little Theatre Compilation, Wilderness Family, The Essentials, Absolute Grey.
  

• Garage Pop Records, run by Rob Filardo, is an independent label that puts out rock and roll, garage, surf, punk, country, roots(ish) music.
  

• Jargon Records is a label that features The Riviera Playboys.
  

• Hegira Records (formerly Melee Records) A local independent label featuring local hardcore and metal acts.
  

• So, Grow Recordings Local Independent label founded by Tim Wilson. Attempts to keep all releases intimate with a sense of being hand made.
  

• Viper Bite Records Local indie label featuring Auld Lang Syne, The Color Wheels, Paper the Operator, and more

Recording Studios

• Bluebrick Recordings
  

• Acme Recording Co
  

• Black Dog Studios
  

• Dynamic Recording
  

• Saxon Recording
  

• The Studios At Linden Oaks
  

• What's Real Unlimited

Music Festivals

• Bands on the Bricks - July and August 2008, Public Market
  

• Bennett Alliance Music Fest — Boston 2008 (formerly called OpenFest)
  

• BoulderFest — July 27-29, 2007
  

• Bug Jar Fest — August 27, 2005 in the Highland Bowl (no info available regarding a 2007 festival)
  

• CounterFitFest — June 11-12, 2005 at A/V (no info available regarding post 2005 festivals)
  

• Fairport Music & Food Festival — August 23, 2008, Fairport on Liftbridge Lane near Box Factory Building
  

• Jazz Festival — June 13-21, 2008 around the East Ave area
  

• MusicFest — June 22, 2008 at Paetec Park (no info available regarding a 2009 festival)
  

• Rochester Independent Music Festival

Open Mic

Open Mic nights are when Cafe's, coffeehouses, or bars open their stage to anyone who wants to perform. It's a great opportunity for new performers to get out there and try their thing, and it's entertaining to watch, both the good and the bad. Unfortunately,

Places to go for Open Mic Nights

• Open Mic night at Boulder Coffee Co. Monday and Wednesday.
  

• Open Mic night at Java's Monday 9-11 pm. Black August provides entertainment between each performer.
  

• Poetry Open Mic at Starry Nites Cafe. On TweedlesWedDay from 8 to 10 pm ¹ Hosted by Michael Thompson. ²
  

• Poetry Open Mic at Fairport Village Coffee on the third Monday of the month from 7pm-9pm. Fairport Village Coffeehouse, 6 N. Main St. Hosted by Marla Pelletier (marladeviyoga@gmail.com). Upcoming featured readers: Joe St. Martin (Sept 17), Trish Annese (October 15). Readers featured previously: Donna Marbach, Kathy Van Schaick, Dee Hogan, Pat Schwartz, Ron Bailey, and Nubia Hassan.
  

• Music Open Mic at Fairport Village Coffee every Thursday, 7 pm. Don't bother showing up until at least 7:15. Nice size crowd, although heavily populated by young performers, with the occasional older adult. Very modern and clean. Free parking, safe area with lots of pedestrians.
  

• Pure Kona
  

• Burlingham Books Call for times.
  

• Johnnys Irish Pub Bluegrass open mic with String Theory [www.stringtheorybluegrass.com] bring down your banjo's, fiddles, mandolins, guitars, etc. and sign up to pick with the band. Or just come out and check out the fun!

Rants and Raves

I always end up at the right place, at the right time, to catch some college kid doing his cover of Dave Matthews Band. Again. For the 34th time. Also, what is up with Rochester Cafe's insisting on haveing an event EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. It's impossible to find a cafe that is not in the middle of open mic night, band night, or mancala night to sit and work in. Sheesh. - FarMcKon