Rochester Set for a Frightfully Good Weekend of Music

Many treats and even some tricks highlight the weekend before Halloween

Halloween is on October 31 this year, same as every other. Though isn’t it more convenient to celebrate over the weekend? The concert slate in Rochester this weekend gives music lovers lots of reasons to celebrate. Here are just some of the many treats to feast on. So get out there and see some live music!

Thursday

Let’s get the weekend started on Thursday, when you can check out the scary good jazz of Branford Marsalis, saxman extraordinaire and member of the first family of jazz. He’s bringing his quartet to Nazareth College for a show at the Callahan Theater. Tickets are $45-$75 and the show starts at 730 pm.

The Rochester Residency will be wrapping up its October with Sam Snyder (Overhand Sam) who put together a crackpot band of musicians to take on the massive task of covering The Beatles’ White Album in full. The Residency’s full album cover shows have been huge hits and this one shouldn’t be an exception. Expect it to sell out. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 day of. Show starts at 8 pm.

Got a taste for more trickery? Albany jammers Formula 5 return to Flour City Station and will be playing a set of Widespread Panic and Grateful Dead covers as well as a set of originals. Ponder will open the show at 9 pm and tickets are $10.

Friday

If you’re more in the mood for original music, Friday’s got you covered.  The Moho Collective is releasing a new acoustic EP, Soma, and will be playing it live with an extended band at Lovin Cup. The band will play a second electric set which will also feature guests. Attendees will receive their own copy of the EP with their admission. Show gets started at 8 pm with a set from Mike Brown. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

King Buffalo released their latest, “Longing to Be the Mountain,” a couple of weeks ago and return to the Bug Jar to unleash its pure stoner rock power from the stage. Handsome Jack and Snack Shack are also on the bill that should get started around 9 pm. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door.

As we inch closer to All Hallows Eve, things start to get spookier. Syracuse’s Magnetic Pull is coming to the Bread and Water Theater to play their original score to the 1922 horror silent film classic, Nosferatu. Show starts at 730 pm and tickets are $10.

Saturday

Jazz is Phish returns to Anthology after their Jazz Fest appearance this summer. They will also mimic Phish’s tradition of donning a musical costume for their Halloween show, playing a cover album for the second of three sets. They say it’s a mystery but the show art is a dead giveaway, unless it isn’t? A band covering a band covering a band might send you into a wormhole, but then maybe you’ll just be “riding on the back of the worm.” Show starts at 830 pm and tickets are $15.

Sunday

On Halloween, children go house to house getting free candy. Though many in our community are going hungry. If Music Be the Food is doing its part to see that that isn’t the case. Its mission is threefold: “raising awareness and support for the hungry in the local community, sharing great music with our neighbors, and teaching students about the importance of community service via their art.” All proceeds go to Rochester’s Foodlink and admission is a donation of money or non-perishable food. The concert series is opening its 10th season with a show at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and we couldn’t think of a better way to finish off this treat-filled musical weekend. The show starts at 7:30 pm.

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