Free Music All Summer in Ithaca

Ithaca, NY -- If you're looking for another reason to visit Ithaca in 2010, you can add free concerts to the mix. Ithaca and surrounding Tompkins County are home to seven music series, offering a total of 67 free concerts & arts performances throughout the summer. Well, they're mostly free. It's $5/carload for parking at the Saturaday night concerts at Taughannock Falls State Park. See you at the shows.

For more on the shows, or information about dining, lodging, arts and activities in the Ithaca area, contact the Visitors Bureau at 800.284.8422 or info@VisitIthaca.com.

M&T Bank Downtown Ithaca Summer Concert Series
Thursday evenings, 6-8pm at the Bernie Milton Pavilion on the Commons. For more information, contact the Downtown Ithaca Alliance office at 607.277.8679.

June 17 ● Ithaca Concert Band
June 24 ● Revision
July 1 ● The Burns Sisters
July 8 ● Fe Nunn & Friends
July 15 ● Driftwood
July 21 ● Grassroots Preview Show
July 22 ● Ithaca Concert Band
July 29 ● Ry Cuming
Aug. 5 ● Mutron Warriors
Aug. 12 ● El Rumbon
Aug. 19 ● Hubcap
Aug. 26 ● Sim Redmond Band


Taughannock Falls Summer Concert Series
Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets and join us for an evening of music on the shore of Cayuga Lake. Saturdays, 7-9pm. $5.00 per car parking. Info: 607.387.6739.

July 10 ● Thousands of One: Highly Addictive Afro-HipHop-Funk-Soul Groove.
July 17 ● 505 Blues: A blend of blues, rock and funk delivered by 5 musicians from different roots.
July 24 ● Johnny Russo and the East Hill Classic Jazz Band: Classic Jazz from the "Golden Age of American Song" and originals in the same unique tradition.
July 31 ● Joe Crookston and the Bluebird Jamboree: A colorful band of traveling troubadours "Stomping Loud in Minor Keys and Story Songs and Jamborees"
Aug. 07 ● Lil Anne and Hot Cayenne: Half a dozen groovemasters blending rock and roll, blues funk and up-tempo Zydeco for a dance groove that just won't quit.
Aug. 14 ● Steve Johnson Band: Five diverse musicians bouncing from a foundation in folk, roots rock, bluegrass and gospel all the way to tribal laden, reggae funk.
Aug. 21 ● Jorge Cuevas and the Caribe Jazz Allstars: The best area jazz musicians playing a wide variety of Latin jazz styles and songs.


Myers Park Concert Series
Lansing Parks & Recreation Department invites you to bring your dinner, coolers, and lawn chairs and enjoy pleasant Thursday evenings on the lake at Myers Park listening to some great bands. Shows start at 6:30pm.

July 1 ● Backtalk: music from Motown to Classic 50's, 60's & 70's rock-n-roll
July 8 ● Blue Sky Mission Club: "Soulgrass," traditional Zydeco meets soul, bluegrass and funk
July 15 ● Reporter: a four-piece rock band that pumps out classic and contemporary rock and pop.
July 22 ●  Iron Horse: dynamite Southern Rock.
July 29 ● Tailor Made: Central New York's premier contemporary Country act.
Aug. 5 ● Ageless Jazz Band: classic tunes of Ellington, Basie and the giants of Big Band Jazz.
August 12 ● Do It Again: an appreciation band honoring the music of 70's super group Steely Dan.

Cornell Summer Arts Series
Cornell's School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions invites everyone to its free summer events series. You'll find performances Tuesday nights at the Schwartz Center 7:30pm, lectures Wednesday nights at the Statler Auditorium 7:30pm, and concerts Friday nights at 7:00pm on the Arts Quad.

June 29 ● Cornell Klezmorim with Ryan Zawel and guests: Yiddish street music, new and old
July 2 ● Diana Leigh and Crazy Rhythm: Sweet and sassy swing standards
July 6 ● Victor Romanul and Miri Yampolsky: Works for violin and piano
July 7 ● Rachel Dickinson: Writer's Life: Juggling Soccer, Birds of Prey, and Moleskin Notebooks
July 9 ● Paso Fino: Great voices and tight original songs
July 13 ● Jeremiah McLane and David Surette: Northern tunes and songs
July 14 ● James B. Maas: Everything You Need to Know About Sleep but Are Too Tired to Ask
July 16 ● Jorge T. Cuevas and the Caribe Jazz All-Stars: Hot, danceable Latin jazz at its best!
July 20 ● Love Shoe IV: Dance with artists from NYS Dance Force
July 21 ● Patricia A. Moore: Suddenly aged in a youthful world, a Journey of the Lifespan
July 23 ● Ageless Jazz Band: Classic big-band jazz
July 27 ● Jayne Demakos: Music, harp & voice for the heart and mind, with special guest Samite
July 28 ● Kenneth H. Blanchard: Leading Others and Yourself at a Higher Level
July 30 ● Andrew and Noah VanNorstrand Band: High-energy alternative folk
Aug 3 ● Women's Work presents Cendrillon: Comic operetta based on Cinderella
Aug 6 ● Thousands of One: Rebel rock reggae


Dryden Music in the Park
Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30pm at Montgomery Park in Dryden.

June 30 ● Fall Creek Brass Band
July 7 ● The Blind Spots
July 14 ● Hall Pass
July 21 ● Nate & Kate
July 28 ● Travis Rocco
Aug. 4 ● Jazz Happens
Aug. 11 ● Alice Dietricht


Ellis Hollow Music in the Hollow
Tuesdays (mostly) at the Ellis Hollow Community Center, 111 Genung Rd.
All shows are 6-8pm except Sept. 5 which is 5-7pm.

June 19 ● The Common Railers: Folk, bluegrass and Americana. (Saturday show during the annual Ellis Hollow chicken bbq.)
July 6 ● Ithaca Concert Band: large Ithaca community band
July 13 ● Joe Crookston and Peter Glanville: acoustic
July 20 ● The Lost Sailors: Greatful Dead tribute band.
July 27 ● Hobson's Choice: all American rock 'n' roll
Aug. 3 ● Larry Stamatel: acoustic
Aug. 10 ● Arco Iris: beautiful South American music
Sept. 5 ● The Smoking Loons: upbeat strings, (Sunday, 5-7pm)


Six Mile Creek Vineyard Sunset Music Series
Thursday nights, 7:30pm at the vineyard, 1551 Slaterville Rd., Ithaca. Light refreshments and wine available for purchase. Rain or shine; no charge. For more information, contact: info@sixmilecreek.com, 607.272.9463.

June 17 ● Sally & Doug: great jazz standards
June 24 ●  Blue Skies: toe-tapping bluegrass
July 1 ● Steve Selin & friends: bluegrass tunes
July 8 ● Steve Selin & friends: bluegrass tunes
 July 15 ● Polarus: Americana, old-time folk and Celtic
July 22 ● Arco Iris: lovely South American music
July 29 ● Steve Selin & friends: bluegrass tunes.
Aug. 5 ● Ironwood
Aug. 12 ● The Diana Leigh Jazz Duo: an evening of jazz
Aug. 19 ● Cielle: soulful voice and acoustic guitar
Aug. 26 ● Blue Skies: toe-tapping bluegrass