It’s not every day you get to see an iconic musician hear the roar of the crowd in his hometown for the very last time. Sure, farewell tours come and retirements go out the window just as quickly. Will this be the last call for Lou Gramm in Rochester at this weekend’s Hoochenanny Whiskey & Music Festival?
Lou Gramm was previously thought to have given his final performance on Friday, August 1st in Batavia, according to his last published comments in late 2024. Now, a few short days later, fans of Lou Gramm will have the chance to buy at least one more ticket to hear his voice come alive at the Hoochenanny Whiskey & Music Festival in the city where it all began – Rochester, NY – on Saturday, August 9th. Rolling Stone once referred to Gramm as “the Pavarotti of rock.”
Gramm’s performance at Hoochenanny in Rochester will be flanked by headline appearances by American country-folk artist Charles Wesley Godwin on Friday with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts set to headline on Saturday. Two sets of Dark Star Orchestra and one by NY favorites moe. will close out the festivities with a Sunday show you won’t want to miss. The Hoochenany Whiskey & Music Festival will take place August 8-10 on 14 acres at Camp Eastman in Irondequoit, NY, a suburb of Rochester.
Like a trip from the past, Gramm’s performance will occur just a few short miles from the scene of his youthful indiscretions on Lake Avenue that inspired “Rev On the Red Line” from Foreigner’s 1979 studio release Head Games. It’s the lure of those classic muscle cars (his favorite pastime) and the once-in-a-life chance to spend time with his young daughter that will drag Lou Gramm away from performing for crowds when it’s all said and done.
Foreigner and Lou Gramm have seen a resurgence of interest with the inclusion of “Juke Box Hero” in the music montage scene of Happy Gilmore 2 on Netflix. Co-written by Gramm and founding guitarist Mick Jones, it’s a song that inspired a generation of starry-eyed kids to pick up a guitar and dream of becoming a rocker in the early eighties.
“Head and shoulders above all rock singers for me is Lou Gramm. Incredible precision and diction – you can hear every word he sings, unlike the majority of singers before and since. He had decorative elements in his delivery that weren’t overdone – mainly he sang on the beat, in tune and with great emotion.”
Ian Anderson, founder and frontman of Jethro Tull.
He is a true Rochester success story and icon. Gramm was inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame as a solo artist and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in NYC, both in 2013. He became the first artist to enter the Rochester HOF twice when his first band, Black Sheep, was inducted in 2025.
Black Sheep was chosen as the opening act for Kiss, when a Christmas Eve accident in 1975 on an ice-covered New York State Thruway with their equipment truck suddenly ended the band’s tour. Unable to support its albums with live performances, Black Sheep disbanded, which opened the door for Louis Grammatico to audition with Mick Jones. The new project would soon be dubbed Foreigner, with it’s new lead singer, now named Lou Gramm.
With Foreigner, Gramm became one of the most successful rock vocalists of the late 1970s and 1980s, with seven multi-platinum albums and more than 70 million records sold. Gramm wrote or co-wrote twenty Top 40 singles, including “Cold As Ice,” “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Double Vision,” “Urgent,” “Midnight Blue,” and “Hot Blooded.”
After spending six decades behind the microphone, Lou Gramm was inducted with Foreigner into the National Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024 when pleas to the board by Grammy-winning producer Mark Ronson, Peter Frampton, and Sir Paul McCartney were finally answered.
The legendary lead singer of Foreigner with the golden voice will join #1 hit songwriter Andy Kim in festival co-owner Tommy Brunett’s All-Star Calvalcade of Scoundrels. Kim reached #1 with the hit song “Sugar, Sugar” in 1969 and once again with “Rock Me Gently” in 1974. Andy Kim is frequently ranked among the top composers of feel-good songs of the early 70s. His career includes nine Top 40 hits, more than 30 million records sold, and honors from the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Billboard’s Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
In addition, the Scoundrels will be comprised of Dennis Casey, the longtime guitarist for Flogging Molly, known for blending traditional Irish music with punk rock. Casey has toured extensively with the Los Angeles-based Celtic punk band, both internationally and across the United States. He remains a core member of one of the genre’s most enduring and influential acts with his spirited stage presence and raw guitar style.
Also announced as a member of Brunett’s All-Star Calvalcade was Katy Eberts. A well-known and widely respected musician across the region, Eberts was involved in a serious rollover accident while headed to Syracuse on the NYS Thruway with her band, the Seven Wonders, in July 2023. With severe spinal damage, Eberts was expected never to walk again.
The Rochester community rallied behind Katy to raise funds for her extensive surgeries and recovery. #KatyStrong became a unifying slogan among Rochesterians and beyond, with musicians such as Gloria Estefan donating financial support. Two years later, Katy Eberts has overcome monumental odds with her fighting spirit and support from the community to be able to walk on stage under her own power to join the all-star group led by Brunette, Kim, Casey and Gramm.
In the wake of her life-altering injury, Eberts has transformed her story into a source of strength—not only for herself, but for others. She is now a passionate voice for accessibility, inclusion and empowerment, and has returned to both the stage and the kitchen. Eberts’ story is inspirational, and her unique platform serves to empower others with the notion that disability can amplify one’s abilities. Katy strives to encourage others to reclaim what they love, no matter the challenges.
The full lineup for Tommy Brunett’s All-Star Cavalcade of Scoundrels includes Lou Gramm, Andy Kim, Dennis Casey, Katy Eberts, Brian Eberts, Donny Mancuso (Black Sheep), Todd Lange (The Isotopes), Greg Hasset, Sean McCarthy, Eddie Nebula, Cash Brunett, Jagger Brunett, Nick Spangenberg (ConArtist), Reid Burton (BB Dang), Jenna Ridell, Barb Walczak, Vinnie Cormier and Dylan Cormier.
“This Cavalcade of Scoundrels lineup is absolutely stacked with talent,” said Brunett, co-founder and co-owner of Hoochenanny Whiskey and Music Fest and co-owner of Iron Smoke Distillery. “I’m truly honored to share the stage with musicians I respect so deeply, including the one and only Lou Gramm. He’s not only joining us on stage but also supporting the Lou Gramm Foundation, one of the incredible nonprofits benefitting from our official whiskey auction. Each artist brings something powerful to the mix, and there might even be a few surprises up our sleeves. You need to be at Hoochenanny to experience it firsthand. It’s going to be something special.”
Gramm has a handful of dates in December 2025 still remaining with his former band, Foreigner. In addition, he plans to release a solo release in early 2026 with a brief tour likely to follow. A Broadway musical called Juke Box Hero will premiere in April 2026 as well. But for now, this feels like it could be the very last time to see Lou Gramm perform in Western NY.
Pick your day or shoot on over for the weekend with passes available for purchase here. All patrons ages 21+ receive a five-beer flight on the house, but all ages are welcome to attend the festivities. Don’t wait because prices go up on August 7th. Don’t worry, if you get whiskey curious, World of Whiskey tasting passes can be added to your General Admission tickets on-site for $30.
General admission passes are $55 for one day, $95 for two days or $135 for three days, plus fees. These include access to all music stages, food vendors, the Artisans Bazaar, beer tastings, cocktail areas and covered seating. All ages are welcome, with 21-and-older areas marked on site.
Tasting passes include everything in general admission, plus entry to the World of Whiskey for 20 curated whiskey tastings. Prices are $85 for one day, $150 for two days or $215 for three days, plus fees.
VIP passes include tasting access and additional amenities such as exclusive stage views, VIP lounges, private bars, luxury restrooms, sit-down dining and on-site parking. Prices are $160 for one day, $310 for two days or $430 for three days, plus fees.
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