Music

The Tombstone Hands is a slow churn of rock ‘n’ roll burn dedicated to preserving the rock of ages. The trio plays like it’s the last garage band on Earth, always kicking it off with Link Wray’s “Rumble,” in honor of the man who first revved up his electric guitar. Established in 2009, The Tombstone […]

Fans of singer-songwriters with classical music predilections will find a lot to like in Laura Wolf. Part-cello exploration, part-folksy rumination, the multi-instrumentalist’s songs, like the excellent “Body Part,” feature dense but inviting textures, with plenty of percussive flair. Wolf’s debut EP will be released later this month. If you like national acts like Sam Amidon, […]

With widespread accolades, John Gorka has been one of folk music’s brightest stars, though he seems to stick to solo outings and the intimate venues of the coffee-house circuit. The thing that separates Gorka, besides his rich baritone, is the scale of his storytelling, which makes snapshots of everyday life seem as if epic tales […]

Of all the singers who have emerged in the last few decades, perhaps none fits the term “unique” better than Björk. The Icelandic vocalist’s range covers everything from fragile, ethereal beauty to wonderfully crazy primal screams. Perhaps that’s the reason Björk has inspired musicians in a variety of genres. The Institute for Creative Music, known […]

As Schroeder said to Lucy, “Beethoven is IT, clear and simple! Do you understand?” When it comes to the title of “King of Classical Music,” Ludwig van Beethoven remains the heavyweight champion (Western European Division). This week and next, Ward Stare and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra salute Beethoven with programs featuring two of his works […]

A new music group, Rochester Folkus, is here to promote acoustically based music — whether it’s bluegrass, Celtic, folk, or whatever. And this will be on a semi-regular basis on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at Downstairs Cabaret. The maiden voyage takes place this week with Sally Rogers, whose storied lyrics are rivaled only […]

English pianist Paul Lewis is what you could call a Beethoven specialist. An expert interpreter of the classical music master, Lewis plays with an engaging combination of exactitude and finesse, communicating all the power of Beethoven without diminishing any of the composer’s melodic flourishes. On Monday, Lewis comes to Kilbourn Hall as part of the […]

The premise is simple: What if different Rochester musicians all wrote songs with the same exact title? More than 20 local songwriters will give that a shot, including Connie Deming, Maria Gillard, Madeleine McQueen, Mike Muscarella, Scott Regan, and Jeff Spevak. Actor and comedian Michael Koldan will serve as host. “How Did We Get Here?” […]