Cover Story
More than a cover band
A look at the phenomenon of tribute shows in Rochester
RCSD v. City Hall heads to court this week
Will a state takeover of the Rochester City School District be on the ballot in November? Voters could find out within the next few days. State Supreme Court Justice Scott Odorisi will hear arguments on Thursday.
RCSD will sue city over referendum on takeover
The Rochester School District plans to sue Mayor Lovely Warren and City Council to prevent a November referendum on a temporary state takeover of the school district. At a meeting last night, the school board approved a resolution directing the school district’s attorney to begin legal proceedings stopping what the district says is “an illegal…
Thousands in Monroe County could lose SNAP benefits
A proposal from the US Department of Agriculture could keep thousands of people in Monroe County from receiving SNAP money to buy food.
Feedback 7/24
Send comments to feedback@rochester-citynews.com with your name, your daytime telephone number for verification, and your city, town or village. We edit selections for publication, and we don’t publish letters sent to other media. Help Sierra Club help the earth They say that if you drop a frog into a saucepan of water and turn the…
Urban Action 7/24
This week’s call to action includes the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.) Learning from nature The Rush Recreation and Park Association will host “Reforestation and Rewilding Solutions for Any Outdoor Space.” The outdoor walk-about workshop on what nature can teach about permaculture will be held…
GateHouse and Gannett talk consolidation
GateHouse Media already owns the Canandaigua Daily Messenger and the suburban Post papers. Its business-to-business division, Bridgetower Media, owns the Rochester Business Journal and The Daily Record. Soon, the Democrat & Chronicle could be a GateHouse paper, too. GateHouse and Gannett — the D&C’s owner — are in merger talks, and reports from the Wall…
Tim Hortons tragedy underscores child care needs
Little is known yet about what led to the tragic death of a 3-year-old child in a grease pit behind a Tim Hortons last week. Rochester police say the child’s mother had taken him to work at Tim Hortons that day because she didn’t have other care available. And while the child’s death has focused…
ART-FOLK | Belle-Skinner
Singer-guitarist Maria Brosgol is better known as Belle-Skinner. Originally from Upstate New York and now based in Brooklyn, she is a rigorous performer and talented songstress, with audiences in the United States and the United Kingdom. Brosgol has a flowery soprano voice, singing lengthy melodies with jumping arpeggios, accented by fingerpicking acoustic guitar, organ, and…
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL | The John Payton Project
Led by the thundering power of rhythm-mashing drummer man John Payton — formerly of The Buddhahood — The John Payton Project funkifies every genre in its beefy repertoire. Frontman Drew Belavia gives all with manic vocals, saxophone and flute. This band serves up a deep-dish wild ride with its undeniable rock ‘n’ roll spectacle. The…
SURF ROCK | The Coffin Daggers
The Coffin Daggers are better than The Cramps. With a Mosrite roar right outta its Gotham garage, this spawn of New York City is the perfect collision cocktail of Link Wray, Dick Dale, and Los Straightjackets. Loud and vicious, and the fun that comes with it. Awesome, torrential surf action. The Coffin Daggers pay Thursday,…
ALTERNATIVE ROCK | Mosswalk
Crossing over from a typical jam band toward the avant-garde, Mosswalk is a vibrant four-piece from Buffalo that keeps you on your toes, with driving energy. Featuring singer-guitarist Sean McNamara, keyboardist Ryan Cass, drummer Jamie Sunshine, and bassist Daniel Heuskin, the group has released almost a dozen live albums since 2017, as well as its…
INDIGENOUS | Indigenous Music & Arts Festival
Ganondagan’s annual Native American Dance & Music Festival has been rebranded this year as the Indigenous Music & Arts Festival. And though the musical aspects are emphasized, the festival will still feature traditional Iroquois social dancing and arts demos, storytelling, the Hodinösö:ni Juried Art show and Native American art market, indigenous food, guided trail walks,…
SPECIAL EVENT | Jazz & Jambalaya Fundraiser
The second annual afternoon of Jazz & Jambalaya will be held this weekend at French Quarter Café, as a fundraiser in support of the Baobab Cultural Center and Ujima Rochester. In late 2017 The Baobab Cultural Center began raising funds in support of keeping its doors open and continuing its programming on African and African…
KIDS | Mario the Maker Magician
The world of magic and sleight-of-hand are ever fascinating to youth and adults alike, but when paired with the maker movement, the possibilities of wonder are endless. This weekend Rochester Museum & Science Center will bring award-winning children’s performer, Mario the Maker Magician, to town to perform two lives shows at the museum. Mario’s show…
SPECIAL EVENT | Galactic Get Down!
The Rochester Museum & Science Center’s exhibits and programming make it a favored spot for families, but it also regularly hosts some after-hours events for the 21-and-over set. This week the center’s After Dark series continues with Galactic Get Down!, a space-themed party featuring star shows, activities, dancing, and booze. Visitors are encouraged to dress…
THEATER | ‘Macbeth’
This is the final weekend to check out the 20th anniversary production of Shakespeare in the Park, presented by the Rochester Community Players: Shakespeare Program. This year’s selection is “Macbeth,” the Bard’s classic, cautionary tale about ambition and its bloody consequences. Set in medieval Scotland, the show follows Macbeth’s downward spiral from hero to mass…
SPECIAL EVENT | ‘A Taste of Germany’
There are few things that bring us together more effectively than food. Breaking bread together satisfies hunger as well as the palate, and fuels cultural curiosity and connections. New York State’s German American Chamber of Commerce has initiated a “Wunderbar Together campaign” meant to promote transatlantic dialogue, international exchange, and cooperation between people and cultures.…
No WallTherapy festival, still fresh paint
July is wrapping up, and for the only the second time eight years, WallTherapy is not putting on its annual mural festival. But the group’s organizers are still working to link WT artists with opportunities to paint new murals around Rochester.
Warren’s letter pushes vote on school district
Continuing her push for a temporary state takeover of the Rochester school district, Mayor Lovely Warren sent city residents a letter last week urging them to vote on the issue in November. In June, at Warren’s request, City Council approved a November 5 referendum calling for a state takeover. But the takeover issue is highly…
Album review: ‘Deference’
Aaron Rizzo ‘Deference’ Self-released aaronrizzomusic.com [UPDATED AND REVISED 7/23/19] Rochester-born singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Aaron Rizzo is doing things differently on his sophomore album, “Deference.” Having played guitar since age nine, Rizzo performed in various rock bands throughout his teenage years before pursuing his own solo project. He later released his debut album, “Blck Tee Shrt,”…
Rocco owner opens seafood dining bar
Rella, which opened on Monroe Avenue in June, is a casual but refined seafood-centric dining bar, where you can watch the kitchen’s every move. There are no tables, and no waiters. Instead, the cooks do double duty, deftly plating and serving dishes while chatting with the diners just feet away.
Album review: ‘Ughwow’
Julia Nunes ‘Ughwow’ Rude Butler Records julianunes.com/ughwow Compared to previous outings, a break-up record is not really something you’d expect from Fairport native and singer-songwriter Julia Nunes. But there’s a pervasive melancholy coming out of this artist, pouring out, really. It’s a little unexpected from a songwriter who is generally known to couch her lyrics…
Film review: ‘Crawl’
It’s a film with little on its mind besides pure excitement, and you could probably read some minor commentary about the climate and global warming’s effect on severe weather events that force animals to find new hunting grounds. But that’s not really the focus here.
Film review: ‘Wild Rose’
Telling the story of a Scotland-based singer who dreams of making it as a Nashville country music star, “Wild Rose” is touching, toe-tapping musical dramedy anchored by a dynamite performance from star Jessie Buckley.
