entertainment

This Saturday, music lovers who love brass can get an earful at Batavia Downs as five brass bands will perform in the Paddock Room.

The bands are Mighty St. Joe's Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps, Niagara Memorial Militaires Alumni Drum Corps, St. Joe's of Batavia Brass Ensemble, Parkside Brass, and Darkside of Parkside.

Food and beverages available during the performances.

Tickets are $15, which includes lunch and $10 in free play at Batavia Downs.

The show starts at 1 p.m.

Photo, Frank Panepento with his horn, on the right, Frank Cecere, T.J. Noce, assistant group sales manager for Batavia Downs, Mary Bucceri, group sales manager, and Harold McJury.

Press release:

Friedrich Nietzche once said, "We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once." With great music, fine lighting, a diverse cast of more than a dozen practiced dancers and a range of choreographic styles by Tara Pocock, a Genesee Community College faculty member, "The Night of Dance" promises to be a great day found and fully appreciated. The one-show only event is scheduled Saturday, March 25 at 7 p.m. in the Stuart Steiner Theatre at the Batavia Campus. All proceeds will benefit the GCC Forum Players Theatre Group.

"This fun and family-friendly event will feature varying dance styles from jazz, hip hop, modern, lyrical, and tap," Pocock said. "It combines the talent of many and will even include an optional audience participation opportunity."

Music for "The Night of Dance" will range from Michael Jackson to Skrillex, the 90's hip hop hits to contemporary "rise up" and some "guillotine" music scores to complement multiple styles of movement. The cast includes: Tara Pocock of Batavia, Erin Korn of Brockport,

Katie Luttrell, Nicole Pritchard, Sam Hunt, Remiah Sundine, Alexis Moore, Alex Dowd,

Madison Dowd, Amanda ball and Riley McPherson-all from Churchville, Makayla Spence from Rochester, Rebecca Phelps of Bergen and members of the GCC Dance Club

Tickets prices are: General admission $8; Seniors (55+), students (16+), GCC faculty and staff $5; GCC students with a valid ID $3 and all GCC alumni with the Alumni card receive $2 off regular priced tickets. Doors open at 6:30 and there will be a 15 minute intermission during the 90 minute program.

Photos by Howard Owens

Batavia High Schools annual Mr. Batavia contest is at 7 p.m., March 31, in the school auditorium.

Contestants have been in rehearsals for weeks for the annual event.

This year's contestants and their charities they are competing for: 

• Jerry Reinhart, Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation
• Dominic Brown, Iroquois Trail Council, BSA
• Campbell Anderson, Red Cross
• Casey Radka, Genesee Cancer Assistance
• Cody Dioguardi, Ricky Palermo Foundation
• Sam Bartz, Batavia VA
• Quentin Branciforte, Anna's Wish
• Ryan Bieniek, All Babies Cherished
• Casey Austin, Collin Crane Memorial
• Joe Allegue, Community Action
• Freddie Cunningham, Volunteers for Animals
• John Currier, Habitat for Humanity

Below, a few shots from rehearsal for the "swimsuit" competition.

Press release:

Darien Lake, Western New York’s largest theme park, is expanding benefits for season pass holders by increasing its free concert offerings through its partnership with Live Nation.

Season pass holders will have exclusive eligibility for a limited number of free lawn tickets to three Live Nation concerts during the 2017 season, including Third Eye Blind on June 29, OneRepublic on July 25 and Goo Goo Dolls on August 12.

“We are always looking for ways to reward our most loyal guests and increase the experience value,” said General Manager Chris Thorpe.  “What better way to do that than to increase our free concert offerings for season pass holders?”

Season pass holders will present their processed season pass at Darien Lake’s Live Nation Portal located in the park next to the Grizzly Run attraction only on the day of the concert to receive their free lawn ticket. This benefit is first-come, first-served, and only a limited number of tickets will be given out. As these concerts are Live Nation events, all Live Nation restrictions apply.

Paying for itself in just two visits, a Darien Lake 2017 season pass remains the best value available to park guests. In addition to unlimited admission all season long, season pass holders will enjoy a free souvenir mug, free tickets for friends, free parking, free concerts and other benefits if they purchase and process their pass by May 29.

For more information on season passes, concerts or accommodations, visit www.DarienLake.com.

Press release:

2017 marks the 30th year that GO ART! has proudly administered the New York State Council on the Arts’ Decentralization (DEC)  Regrant Program  in Genesee and Orleans counties. This program was initiated by the NYS Legislature to offer more artistic and cultural decision-making for state monies spent at a local level.

On March 2nd , GO ART! honored 24 grant recipients from across our two-county region. This year, 20 Reach Grants have been awarded to deserving nonprofits and local government entities who will provide cultural and artistic programming to benefit the local community. In addition, one Ripple Grant has been awarded to an individual artist to create a new work, and three Spark Grants (Arts in Education Grants) have been awarded to individual artists and nonprofit organizations, providing K-12 public school students and/or senior learners high-quality artistic learning experiences.                

With the honorees and GO ART! Board and staff, Sharon White representative of Stephen Hawley, Lynne Johnson, Vice Chairperson of Orleans County Legislature, John DeFillips, of Orleans County Legislature, and Gregg Torrey, of Genesee County Legislature, were treated to a vocal performance by the Genesee Chorale and local school music teachers, Lauren Picarro-Hoerbelt and Jennifer Neroni-Trupo.

 These are the 2017 DEC recipients:

 Orleans County

• The Arc of Genesee Orleans, sponsored by Orleans County Chamber of Commerce (Open Mic & Art Show), $2,375
• Lee-Whedon Memorial Library ("Finally Fridays!"), $2,800
• Lyndonville Lions Club (Music Fun in the summer in Lyndonville), $3,800
• Orleans County Chamber of Commerce (Traveling Towpath Troubadours: Bicentennial Celebration of the Erie Canal), $5,000
• Village of Albion (Concerts on the Canal), $2,673
• Village of Holley (Concerts at Canal Park), $1,000
• World Life Institute Inc. (Voices from Earth: Pottery Experience in Orleans County), $4,908
• Yates Community Library (More Than Just Books ),  $4,400

Genesee County

• The Arc of Genesee Orleans (Art Show and Film Festival), $2,394
• Batavia Concert Band (2017 Summer Concert Series), $4,250
• Batavia Players (Summer Musical), $1,750
• Byron-Bergen Public Library (Art and Music in the Community), $2,250
• Genesee Chorale (Genesee Chorale 2017 Season), $4,000
• Batavia Players (Spring After School Program), $1,427
• Jill Pettigrew (NYS School for the Blind 150th Anniversary Permanent Ceramic Tie Mural), $3,559
• Ted Canning sponsored by Genesee Symphony Orchestra (Steel Band Residency), $1,725
• David Burke (Byron-Bergen Public Library Exterior Mural),  $2,500

If you enjoyed any of the events or public artwork created by the recipients, please note that the Decentralization Grant Program (DEC) is probably in danger of being cut or disseminated by Federal budget cuts that are being proposed. If you care about art and culture in your life at the grassroots level, let your legislators know that we need funding to continue to promote art and culture in our community.

The Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble will hold its Spring Concert in the auditorium of Elba Central School at 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 30.

Philip J. Briatico is the conductor.

It will feature these works:

• "A Copeland Tribute" -- Clair Grundman
• "Barnum & Bailey's Favorite" -- Karl King
• "Ghost Train" -- Eric Whitacre
• "New York: 1927" -- Warren Barker
• Highlight's from Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Carousel"
• "When Jesus Wept" -- William Schuman
• Sounds of the Carpenters
• "Hymn to a Blue Hour" -- John Mackey
• "Bond...James Bond" -- arrangements by Stephen Bulla

Admission is $10 for adults; $8 for seniors age 55 and up, and veterans; $5 for students with I.D.; children ages 5 and under are free. Get a Family Deal for $25 for mom and dad and up to four children.

Also, there will be a Meal Deal printed on the back of the tickets, offering a deal at Chap's Elba Diner, which can only be used immediately following the concert for 10 percent off the dining bill.

This program is made possible, in part, by the Reach Grant program administered by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

The purpose of the Genesee Valley Wind Ensemble is to serve and to provide the Greater Genesee Valley audience with new and familiar live music, to serve its membership with the opportunity to perform challenging wind ensemble literature and to create the opportunity for the conductor and musicians to grow their collective musical talents.

To contact the ensemble, email  geneseevalleywindensemble@gmail.com

Special effects artist Rashaad Santiago has set up a studio on the third floor of the Harvester Center where he can do work for his clients from all over the world as well as teach aspiring artists.

Santiago won the reality TV series "Face-Off" in 2014 for his monster-making prowess.

The studio gives Santiago a place where he can make costumes, masks, and props for clients, whether molded, sculpted or welded.

He said he's been getting work for movies, television and commercials.

He's also traveled on personal appearances to conventions and special events. He returned recently from Nashville where he was invited to provide a demo in monster-making.

He said he enjoys teaching.

"I love talking about this stuff," Santiago said. "I love being part of the process of watching somebody learn something new and then watch them work at it until they get it."

Currently, Santiago is running a four-week Wednesday night course. He will start a new course when he returns from his business trip. For more information or to sign up, visit his Facebook page or email him at rashaadsantiago1@gmail.com

Internationally acclaimed pianist Brian Preston performs tomorrow with the Genesee Symphony Orchestra.

They will perform Brahms, "Concerto No. 1 in D Minor."

Also on the program, "Danzon No. 2" by Marquez.

Shade Zajac conducts.

The concert starts at 4 p.m. in the Stuart Steiner Theater at GCC. Tickets are available online at GeneseeSymphony.com or at the door.

The work of Genesee Community College students enrolled in Fine Arts courses are on display this month in the Rosalie "Roz" Steiner Gallery.

Opening receptions were held yesterday afternoon and evening.

The artwork was created by students involved in drawing, painting, 2D and 3D design, and ceramics.

The show is on display through the end of March.

Students at Batavia High School are in the midst of rehearsals for the musical "Hairspray," which they will perform next weekend.

Showtimes are at 7:30 p.m., March 10 and 11, and 2 p.m. March 12.

This is the cast of "10 (Again)" at Byron-Bergen High School, which opens at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the school.

The show is an original musical by the school's music teacher Laurence Tallman.

There are also performances at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors.

Submitted photo and information.

The Elba Central School Drama Club is presenting the musical "Hello, Dolly!" this weekend.

The show opens at 7 p.m., Friday. Additional performances are at 2 and 7 p.m., Saturday, in the school auditorium.

Tickets are $6 for students and seniors and $8 for adults. Tickets available at DailyNewsTickets.com, Roxy's Music Store, and at the door before the show.

Press release:

Strength in Numbers Entertainment announced the 2017 dates for the annual American Warrior Concert sponsored by Red Osier Landmark Restaurant to be held June 2nd and 3rd at "The Ridge NY" on Conlon Road in Le Roy.

For the past four years the event was held in Southern California, but going into its fifth year Strength In Numbers Entertainment owner Dan Clor insisted on going back to his roots and producing the festival in his hometown.

The American Warrior Concert is known for serving as a tribute and to honor the military's active and retired personnel. The American Warrior Concert 2017 will be giving away up to 2,000 General Admission show tickets to veterans and active duty military alike.

This event also donates to a nonprofit veterans' organization of its choice. This year’s event beneficiary is Warrior House of WNY Inc., in Medina, an organization that uses the outdoors to help heal veterans mentally and spiritually. Rochester Vets Center and Honor Flight Rochester will also be in attendance to provide our veterans with additional beneficial information. If you are a veteran or are still active duty, and would like to see the show for free, please contact us and we will make sure that your name is included.

The American Warrior Concert headliner will be none other than Weapon-X, frontman Dan Clor's military inspired heavy band. All other acts scheduled to date include D-ZL, Audibull, Diana Zinni, James D Jackson, Jason Wallace, Ryan Whyman, Black Valentine, Invictra, Kenny Drury, Johnny Bauer, The Dirty Bourbon Blues Band, Delano Steele, 1916, Danny B, Le Roy High Marching Band/Chorus, Dave Riccione Blues Trio, Shawn T, Greg Chako Jazz Trio, Woody Dodge, Ball Cheeze Psychotics and Justin Williams. These acts represent a wide variety of music, something for everyone’s musical tastes.  More acts are being added to the bill.

Clor, a military man himself who is a Marine veteran having served overseas in Iraq sums up the benefit concert with, "American Warrior Concert 2017 -- A celebration of our troops, veterans, and American way of life." The concert is an all-ages event featuring one main stage, a side stage, an acoustic stage, VIP tent, music lesson tent, open jam tent, camping, craft beer, BBQ, vendor booths and is scheduled to have 20+ bands perform.

If you are a local business that would like to be involved with our American Warrior Concert as a sponsor, vendor or contributor please contact us at the number/e-mail above.

To purchase concert tickets click here.

To rent a campsite click here.

Press release:

The Genesee Chorale invites the community to "Summer Daze," a summer-themed choral performance at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19 at St. Joseph Catholic School at 2 Summit St. in Batavia. This fun concert will depart from the Chorale's classical selections to uplift the audience and melt away the winter doldrums with an afternoon in the summer sun.

“This time of year, the long, dark winter days seem to stretch on forever,” said Director Ric Jones. “We wanted to give our audience a much-needed break from the snow and cold by transporting them to a warm, sunny day through music.”

The concert venue will be decorated for the theme, Chorale members will dress the part, and the Chorale will be accompanied by local musicians on percussion and ukuleles! These fun performances are audience favorites, with familiar songs and performances by the full chorale, small ensembles, and soloists.

Concertgoers will recognize many of the song selections, like the Beach Boys’ "Little Deuce Coupe," Israel Kamakawiwo'ole’s Hawaiian rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," Bob Marley’s "One Love," and many more.

Presale tickets cost $8 and can be purchased from any Chorale member or online at www.geneseechorale.com. Tickets will also be available at the door for $10. In the event of severe winter weather, the concert will be rescheduled for the same place and time on the following Sunday, Feb. 26.

This performance is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts, administered by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council.

The Genesee Chorale is a community chorus founded in 1971 with members from Genesee County and seven surrounding counties. The Chorale’s repertoire includes a wide variety of music in various styles from motets and madrigals of the Renaissance, to folk, musicals and jazz. The Chorale always welcomes new singers. The Chorale is directed by Ric Jones, who is the owner of Imagine Music Publishing, the musical director of the Brighton Symphony Orchestra and The Middleport Community Choir, and is also the organist at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church in Medina and Trinity Lutheran Church in Wolcottsville.

Chance the Rapper, fresh off a Grammy win this week, has been added to the lineup of top stars coming to Darien Lake Performing Arts Center this season.

The show is scheduled for 8 p.m., May 31.

The theme park won't be open on that date, though for all other upcoming dates, Live Nation is celebrating 25 years of bringing music to Darien Lake by partnering with the Theme Park to offer free park admission on concert nights.

Other acts booked for the summer include Zac Brown Band, Third Eye Blind, Nickelback, Chicago and the Doobie Brothers, Foreigner, Kings of Leon, Lady Antebellum, and Green Day.

For more on the concert season, click here.

Since I was out in Le Roy last night, I stopped in the Smokin' Eagle and found that Le Roy resident Billy Lambert was performing. His set list included a mix of covers and originals.  Good stuff.

The owners of The Ridge NY (aka Frostridge Campground) enter the 2017 outdoor music season for the first time in a couple of years knowing there are no obstacles that might inhibit concert nights.

The renewed freedom allows David and Greg Luetticke-Archbell to aim high for some of the stars they might book and this week they were able to announce a big one: Clint Black.

One of the most accomplished recording artists and songwriters in Nashville, Black will take The Ridge stage Aug. 12.

"We've been in negotiations since November," David said. "It was kind of a back and forth but one we had hoped for a long time, so this is really great to finally have someone with the kind of history that Clint does. We can bring that classic country sound to Western New York."

Black emerged top of his class among wave of new-traditionalist country singers to come out with chart-topping hits in 1989. He went triple-platinum with his debut album, "Killin' Time," and repeated the feat with his follow-up, "Put Yourself in My Shoes." 

Killin' Time contained five #1 songs, all of which Black wrote or co-wrote. He's written or cowrote every one of his dozens of #1 singles over the years.

It's apparently been a long time since Black came to WNY, so David said they were excited to sign him for a show early in their process of lining up acts for this summer.

There will likely be other big names announced before winter ends, David said. 

There will also be some up-and-coming acts added to the calendar, such as the Swon Brothers, scheduled to appear at The Ridge on July 22.

David and Greg are also putting together a blowout two-day event as a fundraiser for veterans June 2 and 3 called the American Warrior Concert. Nearly two dozen musical acts from throughout the region will perform over the two days.

This summer will also include the annual fundraiser for the Le Roy Volunteer Fire Department (probably Aug. 5), and in July, David and Greg will put the frost back in Frostridge with ice skating -- yes, ice skating in July -- as well as snowman building.

It's great to be able to run a business again, David said, without the cloud of litigation hanging over all their plans. 

"Now we're working with folks knowing that we don’t have to try to figure out a plan B or plan C in case something comes up," David said. "We know what we have and we know how to make it work and it just flows."

It will be the 25th season of concerts at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center this summer and Live Nation has started to release the names of some of the bands scheduled to perform, including Green Day.

As part of the band's Revolution Radio Tour, Green Day will take the stage Aug. 26, a Saturday. Also on the bill, Catfish and the Bottlemen. Showtime is 7 p.m.

Some classic rock bands have also been booked.

Chicago and the Doobie Brothers will be in town July 18. 

Foreigner and Cheap Trick will share top billing July 21, with special guest Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience.

Batavia Players held its annual gala and awards ceremony at the Harvester 56 Theater on Saturday night.

Here are the award winners:

• Outstanding Performance of the Year, Evan Bellavia as Harry the Horse, "Guys & Dolls"
• Outstanding Actor in a Play, Norm Argulski as Lionel Percy, "Bakersfield Mist"
• Outstanding Actress in a Play, Michele Stamp as Martha, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf"
• Outstanding Dramatic Performance of the Year, Kevin Partridge as George, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf"
• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play, Alex Farley as Nick, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf"
• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play, Wendy Williams as Sissy, "Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean"
• Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, Jesse Conklin as Corin, "As You Like It"
• Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Kathy Johns as Joanne, "Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean"
• Outstanding Actor in a Musical, William Grimble as Nicely Nicely Johnson, "Guys & Dolls"
• Outstanding Solo Vocal Performance, Amy-Catherine Cunningham as Charity Hope Valentine, "Sweet Charity"
• Outstanding Actress in a Musical, "Sweet Charity," "Little Women"
• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical, Nash Johns as Laurie Lawrence, "Little Women"
• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical, Emily Crawford as Marmee March, "Little Women"
• Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Patrick Burk as Daddy Brubeck, "Sweet Charity"
• Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Wendy Williams as Aunt March, "Little Women"
• Outstanding Musical Ensemble, Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat, "Guys & Dolls"
• Outstanding Youth Performance, Evan Bellavia as Harry the Horse, "Guys & Dolls"
• Outstanding Youth Performance -- Female, Celia Flyn as Adelaide, "Guys & Dolls"
• Outstanding Child Performance, Paige Sikorski as the Snowflake, "A Christmas Gift"

Rock star Joey Belladonna returns to Batavia Jan. 14 for a show at T.F. Brown's with his cover band, Big Chief Way.

Belladonna is best known as lead singer for the popular thrash metal band Anthrax. Anthrax, with frontman Belladonna, has released 10 albums that have sold 8 million copies worldwide. The band was nominated for three Grammy awards.

From Western New York, Belladonna occasionally plays shows in the area with Big Chief Way.

There are a limited number of VIP tickets available that includes a chance to meet Belladonna between 8 and 9 p.m. for $10. Tickets must be purchased at T.F.'s by Jan. 13. The show starts at 10 p.m. and tickets are $5 pre-sale or at the door. Tickets may be purchased at T.F. Brown's.