OSWEGO – The Oswego Music Hall is proud to welcome back Leslie Mendelson on Saturday, February 22. The venue is the McCrobie Civic Center, 41 Lake Street in Oswego. Show begins at 7:30 PM; doors open at 7.
“Leslie is a master of writing from her subconscious, something comes out of Leslie when she begins to write a song. It’s not from the mind; it’s from somewhere the mind can’t comprehend. Then, you return to the song and you might add details that your mind knows”, Jackson Browne.
With her enchanted voice and evocative songwriting, Leslie Mendelson has won the hearts and minds of both an adoring fanbase and fellow artists alike. No less than Jackson Browne has declared, “Leslie’s melodies are timeless. They reach me way back in my youth somewhere. I hear traces of Burt Bacharach and Carole King, and hooks and passages that remind me of the pop songs I grew up hearing on the radio,” while The Wallflowers frontman Jakob Dylan shares: “Voices like Leslie’s can get away with almost anything. Along with being a great songwriter, this leaves her with few if any peers.”
A Grammy Award-nominated artist, Mendelson returns this summer with her fourth studio album, After The Party. For this latest effort, she collaborates with not one, but three producers: the legendary Peter Asher (James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt), the young, in-demand Tyler Chester (Madison Cunningham, Sara Bareilles, Sara Watkins) and her longtime songwriting partner, three-time Grammy Award-winner, Steve McEwan. Recorded at Jackson Browne’s studio Grove Masters in Santa Monica, CA, she was joined by an ace band featuring guitarists Waddy Wachtel and John Jorgenson, bassists Leland Sklar and Derrick Anderson, and drummers Jim Keltner and Abe Rounds.
For further information visit https://www.lesliemendelson.com/ or view a video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ3Xr5Ni9Qg
Shows start at 7:30 PM and doors open at 7:00 for all National Stage concerts. For a complete performance schedule and ticket information, visit the website at https://www.oswegomusichall.org/ or stop at the river’s end bookstore, 19 West Bridge Street in Oswego.
Tickets are on sale online now at https://www.oswegomusichall.org/ ($17-22), or at the rivers end Bookstore, although you may be able to get tickets at the door if it is not sold out. The community is encouraged to buy tickets early to ensure a seat.
Ticket prices for the National Stage range from a low of $17 to $30 at the door. Children 16 and under are half price and under 5 are free. Purchase tickets at any concert, online or at the river’s end bookstore. Tickets are cash or check only at the door.
Guest Host, Matt Talamo, will lead off Open Mic Friday on February 21 and will be followed by performers who sign up that night. Doors open at 6:30 with sign-ups taking place then and throughout the evening, as space allows. Musicians typically play three songs each. Admission is by donation.
The Winter – Spring season continues on March 8 with The Women in Music Series featuring Crys Matthews and The Nields. In addition to the main concert, everyone is invited to the Meet & Greet Reception at 6:30 p.m. During the Meet & Greet, representatives from OCO’s programs such as Services to Aid Families (SAF), Cancer Services, Reproductive Health, and OPTIONS will be on hand to discuss the services available through these programs as well as volunteer opportunities. OCO will also be collecting donations of women’s personal hygiene products.
Crys Matthews is a “rising folk music star”, Ann Powers, NPR.
Already being hailed as “the next Woody Guthrie,” Matthews is among the brightest stars of the new generation of social justice music-makers. A powerful lyricist whose songs of compassionate dissent reflect her lived experience as what she lightheartedly calls “the poster-child for intersectionality,” Justin Hiltner of Bluegrass Situation called Matthews’s gift “a reminder of what beauty can occur when we bridge those divides.” She is made for these times and, with the release of her new, hope-fueled, love-filled social justice album Changemakers, Matthews hopes to take her place alongside some of her heroes in the world of social-justice music like Sweet Honey in the Rock and Holly Near. Of Matthews, ASCAP VP & Creative Director Eric Philbrook says, “By wrapping honest emotions around her socially conscious messages and dynamically delivering them with a warm heart and a strong voice, she lifts our spirits just when we need it most in these troubled times.
For further information visit https://www.crysmatthews.com/ or view a video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_slW_y1QxMo.
The Nields are “a masterful mix of modern folk with an alternative edge”, Minneapolis Star Tribune.
The Nields, the folk-rock band from Massachusetts, are delighted to announce the release of their much-anticipated twenty-first album, Circle of Days. An homage to the calendar––and really, time itself––this collection of songs is a testament to the band’s enduring creativity and unwavering commitment to their craft. With their unparalleled ability to blend pop craftsmanship, folk sensibility, and the influences of ’60s classic rock and ’90s alternative, they have created a distinctive musical style that defies categorization. Their songs, imbued with intelligence and occasional humor, offer poignant observations on life’s unexpected twists and turns. Apple Music describes their sound as “equal parts The Beatles, the cranberries, and Joni Mitchell,” a testament to their unique fusion of melodic sensibilities.
For further information visit https://nields.com/ or view a video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubWQHdHTLRI.
The wheelchair accessible venue is located in the McCrobie Civic Center, on 41 Lake Street in Oswego. It is adjacent to Breitbeck Park and overlooks Lake Ontario and the Oswego Harbor. The atmosphere is intimate with candle-lit tables surrounding a small stage. Light refreshments will be available at reasonable prices.
Oswego Music Hall is a family-friendly, non-profit organization that has been run entirely by volunteers since its inception in 1977. Volunteers can earn admission to shows through various tasks — from event support to making popcorn. Students can also earn credit for community service. To volunteer, email Volunteer Coordinator Michael Moss at [email protected].
Find more information online at https://www.oswegomusichall.org/, on Facebook and Instagram, or email [email protected].
Concerts are made possible in part with funding by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the governor and New York Legislature. Other major supporters are the City of Oswego and Shineman Foundation.
PSA/Calendar (continued):
On Friday, March 7th 7 PM (sign-ups at 6:30) at the McCrobie Civic Center, 41 Lake St., Oswego, the Oswego Music Hall continues its Open Mic Friday Series with opener “Big D” Dave Schneider. Info: https://www.oswegomusichall.org/
On Saturday, March 8th Women in Music Series featuring Crys Matthews and The Nields at 7:30 PM (doors open at 7) at the McCrobie Civic Center, 41 Lake St., Oswego. In addition to the main concert, everyone is invited to the Meet & Greet Reception at 6:30 p.m. Info: https://www.oswegomusichall.org/
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