Best August Music

Posted OnJuly 10, 2019

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Best August Music: More free concerts in the park plus Jerry’s Birthday in Bedford, Train, Bryan Ferry, Gavin DeGraw, My Morning Jacket, Santana, Hot Tuna, Rufus Wainwright and more.

FDR Drive, Chappaqua Millwood Chamber’s Summer Concerts, Wed, 7/31: 7pm: Summer Concerts on Recreation Field in Chappaqua continue with the return of FDR Drive. This multi-vocalist dance band keeps the joint jumping with foot tappers from Motown and Classic Rock through Disco, Salsa and beyond. Chappaqua Summer Concerts continue with R&B band The Haks on Wed, 8/7 and The Chappaqua Orchestra on Wed, 8/14. See you at Recreation Field.

The Sun Kings, Katonah Memorial Park, Thurs, 8/1: 7pm: Bedford Recreation’s Summer Music in the Parks series concludes with the Sun Kings who will perform Beatles Hits & B-Sides at Katonah Memorial Park.

It’s Jerry’s Birthday! Grateful Dead Meet Up at the Movies, The Bedford Playhouse, Thurs, 8/1: 7pm: The Bedford Playhouse joins in this national movie theatre meet up with a screening of the Grateful Dead’s June 17, 1991 concert at Giants Stadium. This 48 track recording of what is widely considered one of the greatest shows of the Dead’s later years opens with a tight “Eyes of the World” and features performances of “Truckin'”, “Uncle John’s Band”, “New Speedway Boogie” and (get ready for it) “Dark Star”. (633 Old Post Rd., Bedford; www.bedfordplayhouse.org)

Katonah Museum of Art Block Party, Thurs, 8/1, Sat, 8/10 & Thurs, 8/22: 8pm: Summer music continues at the KMA sculpture garden with a properly curated selection of bands and performers across many genres, plus cool summer drinks and food trucks. There’s R&B from Sami Stevens Trio on August 1; Fan Favorites from Peter & the Four26 on August 10; Indie singer/songwriter Roxanne on August 22; and American Songbook from Mark Morganelli & The Jazz All Stars on September 14. TKTS $20-$25. (134 Jay St., Rt. 22; Katonah; www.katonahmuseum.org)

Sunset Jazz at Lyndhurst Mansion, Thursday, 8/1-8/29: 6pm: Relax on Lyndhurst’s great lawn and enjoy cool music by hot jazz artists! Every Thursday in August. The grounds open at 4:00 pm, music begins at 6:00 pm. There is a $5 per person parking fee. This venerable series serves up Westchester’s best jazz from Chilean Jazz from guitarist Camilla Meza on 8/1; piano jazz from James Weidman on 8/8; brass jazz from the Scott Reeves Jazz Orchesta on 8/15; Afro-Latin trombonist Papa Vasquez on 8/22; and Bird’s 99th Birthday Bash with Gary Smulyan on 8/29. (635 S. Broadway, Tarrytown; www.lyndhurst.org)

Lasdon Park, Deni Bonet, Katonah, Friday, 8/2: 7pm: Gates open at 5pm for picnicking, strolling Lasdon’s 234 acres or checking out their new glass house conservatory. Just $10 will get you in to hear violinist/singer/songwriter Deni Bonet brings her sold out Carnegie Hall show to conclude their summer series on August 2. Deni started in the NPR’s Mountain Stage Radio house band and has performed on Saturday Night Live and with R.E.M., Robyn Hitchcock, Cyndi Lauper and Sarah McLaughlin. (2610 Amawalk Road, Route 35, Katonah; www.lasdonpark.org)

Corinne Bailey Rae, Ridgefield Playhouse, Sat, 8/3: 8pm: Grammy Award-winner, Corinne Bailey Rae’s music spans indie, electronic, jazz, soul and experimental. The critically acclaimed British singer-songwriter’s global hits include “Put Your Records On” and “Like A Star.” Don’t miss this intimate performance the day after her Newport Jazz Festival debut! (80 E. Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Train, Goo Goo Dolls, Alien Stone, Northwell Jones Beach Theatre, Sat, 8/3: 7pm: Two-time Grammy Award-winners, Train’s 2002 album went double platinum on the success of the single “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)’. They followed up in 2003 with the single “Calling All Angels” that spearheaded there second platinum album. In 2009 their album Save Me San Francisco featured three Billboard Top 40 hits including their 6X platinum single “Hey, Soul Sister”. (Bay Parkway, Wantagh, NY www.jonesbeach.com)

Dark Star Orchestra Acoustic, Ridgefield Playhouse, Tues, 8/6: 7:30pm: DSO doesn’t cover Grateful Dead songs – they cover Grateful Dead shows. Each performance faithfully recreates a specific Dead concert (date, time and venue). Here they take one of the Dead’s acoustics sets from the Workingman’s Dead/American Beauty era. (80 E. Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Natalie Merchant, Ridgefield Playhouse, Wed, 8/7: 8pm: After rising to fame at the helm of the popular folk-rock band 10,000 Maniacs, Natalie Merchant has enjoyed even greater success as a solo artist with hits like “Carnival,” “Jealousy” “Kind and Generous,” “Wonder,” and more! (80 E. Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

The Haks, Chappaqua Millwood Chamber’s Summer Concerts, Wed, 8/7: 7pm: It took The Haks eight years to get their own Facebook page so you know they’re not your average wedding band. They’re billed as Rock, R&B & Motown but we heard some Allman Brothers, Jerry Garcia and a smokin’ version of what they called Joe Cocker’s “The Letter” but what we all know is originally from The Box Tops. (Take that Gen X-ers!) Summer Concerts conclude with The Chappaqua Orchestra on Wed, 8/14. See you at Recreation Field.

Bryan Ferry, Capitol Theatre, Wed, 8/7: 8pm: One of our Fave Raves, Roxy Music’s quirky heart-throb lead singer has had an active solo career releasing cover albums of songs by Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Lesley Gore, Smokey Robinson, Janis Joplin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Rodgers and Hart, Kurt Weill and others. (149 Westchester Ave, Port Chester; www.capitoltheatre.com)

Gavin DeGraw, Capitol Theatre, Thurs, 8/8: 8pm: His 2003 debut album, Chariot went platinum on the strength of the chart-topping single “I Don’t Want To Be”. He reached the top of the charts again in 2011 with “Not Over You”, had Top 10 hits with “Chariot” and “in Love With a Girl” and garnered a Grammy-nom for his duet with Colbie Caillat, “We Both Know”. (149 Westchester Ave, Port Chester; www.capitoltheatre.com)

My Morning Jacket: A Tennessee Fire 20th Anniversary Celebration, Capitol Theatre, Fri, 8/9: 8pm: The alt-country, indie rockers from Louisville perform their debut album, The Tennessee Fire, in its entirety plus other songs from their early years. The album had some success in the US but caught fire overseas on their European tour. The album introduced the band’s reverb vocal sound created by recording in an empty grain silo in Kentucky. (149 Westchester Ave, Port Chester; www.capitoltheatre.com)

Art Garfunkel, Tarrytown Music Hall, Sat, 8/10: 8pm: The other half of Simon & Garfunkel breaks out his beautiful counter tenor voice to sing “Mrs. Robinson,” “Scarborough Fair,” “The Sound Of Silence,” “The Boxer” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” and more. (13 Main St., Tarrytown; www.tarrytownmusichall.org)

Hot Tuna Electric & David Bromberg Quintet, Capitol Theatre, Thurs, 8/15: 8pm: Americana godfather, David Bromberg opens for Jorma and Jack, following the release of his new album, The Blues, the Whole blues and Nothing But the Blues. The album features Robert Johnson’s “Walking Blues” as well as country and gospel influenced blues. Then it’s Hot Tuna Electric presenting the other side of the fold/rock/psydelia continuum. (149 Westchester Ave, Port Chester; www.capitoltheatre.com)

Ladies & Gentlemen, Armonk’s Wampus Brook Park, Thurs, 8/15: 7:30pm: Summer Concerts at Wampus Brook Park in Armonk wraps up with this performance from Ladies and Gentlemenc who will perform a variety of classic, soul, funk and R&B hits. Picnickers are welcome! This concert is part of the Armonk Chamber’s Third Thursday Celebrations and includes town-wide in-store sales and trunk shows during the day and Kids on the Town entertainment with Michael Salem in Armonk Square from 5:30-7:30pm Picnickers are welcome!

Rob Thomas, Capitol Theatre, Chip Tooth Tour, Fri, 8/16: 8pm: After selling out his August 2 show at the Cap in a nano-second, Rob Thomas, the former Matchbox Twenty frontman, adds another show just two weeks later to support his new album “Chip Tooth.” Thomas had three Top 10 hits with Matchbox Twenty including the No. 1, “Bent”. He added another top 10 hit as a solo artist with “Lonely No More”, and won three Grammy-Awards for his collaboration with Santana on “Smooth”, his third chart-topper. (149 Westchester Ave, Port Chester; www.capitoltheatre.com)

Rufus Wainwright, Ridgefield Playhouse, Tues, 8/20: 8pm: Grammy Award nominee Rufus Wainwright has established himself as one of the great male vocalists and songwriters of his generation with songs like “Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk,” “April Fools,” and his covers of “Hallelujah” and “Across the Universe.” He has collaborated with Elton John, David Byrne, Joni Mitchell and Burt Bacharach. His album Rufus Does Judy, recorded at Carnegie Hall, was nominated for a Grammy Award. (80 E. Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

The Zombies, Ridgefield Playhouse, Wed, 8/21: 8pm: The Zombies return to The Playhouse after a sold-out show in 2017! Recent Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, The Zombies are known for the 60s hits “She’s Not There,” “Tell Her No” and “Time of the Season.” The band is led by founding members Colin Blunstone (vocals) and Rod Argent (keyboards). Their 1968 Odessey & Oracle is ranked #100 on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums of All Time. (80 E. Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Santana & The Doobie Brothers, Northwell Jones Beach Theatre, Sun, 8/25: 7pm: Santana celebrates the 20th anniversary of his Grammy Award-winning album Supernatural, (“Smooth”, “Corazon Espinado”) and the 50th anniversary of his performance at Woodstock (“Soul Sacrifice”) He is joined by The Doobie Brothers (“Listen to the Music”, “Black Water”, “China Grove”). (Bay Parkway, Wantagh, NY www.jonesbeach.com)

Hot Ticket Alerts for September

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Capitol Theatre, Sat, 9/14: 8pm: Jason Isbell swept the 2014 American Music Awards (Best Artist, Album, Song of the Year) for his album Southeastern and the song “Cover Me Up”. His 2015 album, Something More Than Free and his son “24 Frames” won Grammy Awards for Best Americana Album and Best American Roots Song. He took both categories again at the 2017 Grammy Awards for his album Nashville Sounds and the song “If We Were Vampires”. (149 Westchester Ave, Port Chester; www.capitoltheatre.com)

The Who Symphonic Tour, Northwell Jones Beach Theatre, Sun, 9/15: 7:30pm: The Who bring their 2019 Symphonic Tour to the beach. Each night on their tour they will be accompanies by a local orchestra. Roger Daltrey explains, “Just because it’s The Who with an orchestra, in no way will it compromise the way Pete and I deliver our music. This will be full throttle Who with horns and bells on.” Expect a selection of songs from Tommy and Quadrophenia. (Bay Parkway, Wantagh, NY www.jonesbeach.com)

Lucinda Williams & Buick 6, Capitol Theatre, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road 20th Anniversary tour, Fri, 9/20: 8pm: WTD Fave Rave, Lucinda Williams (great show at Caramoor in 2016) takes her Car Wheels on a Gravel Road tour to the Cap. Williams garnered her first of three Grammy Awards for the album (Best Contemporary Folk Album) and it was named Album of the Year in the Village Voice’s Pazz & Jop critic’s poll. (149 Westchester Ave, Port Chester; www.capitoltheatre.com)