Archive: Around Town

This Saturday at 7pm the second 'Concert in the Courtroom' series begins with Lansing favorites Marty & Shannon.  Hosted by the East Shore Arts Council in the Lansing Town Hall, the winter concert series comes on the heels of a successful Fall series that featured five bands and three open mic nights.  The new series will feature four bands on the second Saturday of each month and four open mic nights on the fourth Saturdays.  It will also feature The Dean's List, Dan Veaner on Celtic harp and Bob & Dee.

"The first series was great," Veaner says.  "We had some wonderful musical experiences.  We really discovered what a beautiful space that courtroom is.  The acoustics are amazing.  It's an intimate venue.  I heard people saying how great it was to be able to really hear the essence of the music without the distraction of a background noise from a bar or a restaurant."

The courtroom can seat as many as 90 people per concert.  The Fall series attracted modest audiences, but Veaner says that as more people discover it she expects full houses.

"Because it was a new series the crowds were smaller, between 40 and 70," she says.  "I think we can expect the crowds to grow this time around.  We heard a lot of comments about how excited people were to be able to listen to this quality of music and to experience it live, so close to home.  I heard people say, 'I can't believe this is five minutes down the road from where I live.'  And the musicians were overwhelmed by how much fun it was to play in that room and have that intimate experience with the crowd."

"We're bringing back two of the performers from the Fall series," she says.  "The Dean's List and Dan Veaner and his Celtic Harp were such great hits that we are bringing them back for another go-'round."


The council is theming the new series around holidays.  The opening concert on January 10th will feature Marty & Shannon (Marty Lee Flynn and Shannon Rae), preforming original songs as well as traditional songs and covers to celebrate the New Year.   Marty was a founding member of the popular Back Alley Boys.  He played solo and with other artists before being joined by Shannon.  Since then they have become a staple of the Central New York music scene.  In 2009 they released 'Our Life', on CD

"We're very happy to be opening with Marty and Shannon," Veaner says.  "They are very well loved in Lansing.  They will do a lot of their original music as well as traditional songs that have a bit of a country flavor to them. From what I've heard you better come early to get a good seat."


Veaner calls the February 14th Valentine's Day concert with The Dean's List a 'great date night'.  The band is an inter-generational revamp of the Dean Brothers.  It includes brothers John and Bob Dean on guitar, bass, and vocals, daughter's daughter Kate Ellen Dean, and niece-in-law Caroline Manring Dean on vocals and fiddle.  They perform four-part vocal harmonies on everything from originals and folk to classic rock and Motown, with guitar, bass, and fiddle.


Dan Veaner will perform traditional Irish and other Celtic songs and melodies on Celtic harp and guitar for the Saint Patrick's Day concert on March 14.  He has been playing Celtic Harp since around 1980.  He plays mainly traditional fare, with some originals sprinkled in.  He has played solo and in bands including the Madison, Wisconsin based Ceoltóirí and Lughnasa and Ithaca-based Crossáin.  He has performed on several recordings, including a solo album and a Christmas album with Lisa Craig Fenwick.  He blends a combination of tunes and songs in a low-key, humorous show.


Finishing off the series, Bob & Dee will celebrate Spring.  Dee is an award winning Nashville recording artist and Ithaca resident, who toured the country with Cornerstone, a nationally recognized bluegrass band. Bob performed as a solo artist on both coasts and, until reuniting with Dee.  Together they perform big harmonies and enchanting melodies, blending Dee’s lovely voice and imaginative violin solos with Bob’s airy, exuberant rhythms and vocal harmonies.

The other element in the series is the open mic nights, hosted by Paul Kempkes (Dr. K) on the second Saturday of each month.  An accomplished musician, Kempkes has played five string fretless electric bass with The Ageless Jazz Band for about a dozen years, and Purple Valley, a five piece swing/blues/rockabilly band.  He released his CD, 'The Fundus Amoung Us' in 2005.  He also plays guitar, clarinet, saxophone and a little keyboard, and played guitar and ukulele at open mic nights in the Spring series.


"We've had some just incredible music on open mic nights" Veaner says.  "You don't have to play to come, or play at all.  We have had some people read poetry.  Whatever talent you want to share, come on down, and if you just want to come and enjoy the music and entertainment, the open mic nights are free."

Veaner says the concerts are a great value for $10 ($5 for seniors and students).

"You can bring your whole family for a great evening of entertainment for less than what it would cost to go to the movies," she says.

Veaner says the East Shore Arts Council is new and growing, and the community can look forward to arts activities and programming that will incorporate all of the arts.  She says the council wants to focus on affordable programming so that everyone can access the programs.

The Council is also planning a jazz festival in Myers Park on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend.  It will incorporate open air artists painting and drawing in the park while live jazz is featured in the bandstand.

"It's an opportunity for the community to come together in our beautiful Myers Park," Veaner says.  "Summer's last last before the school year begins."

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