Wednesday 5/14
8:00 PM
$12

It's live performance radio with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason and the Dancing On The Air Orchestra featuring Peter Davis and Sam Zucchinni. Each month, they showcase exceptional talent in a wide variety of idioms. The music runs the gamut... whether it's folk, Celtic, swing, Cajun, zydeco, old-time country, bluegrass, rockabilly, blues, jazz, or pop, you can be assured of a fabulous evening of extraordinary live music.

Guests to include:
TBA

Tins for Tickets
The Linda - WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio and Food Pantries for the Capital District are pleased to announce Tins for Tickets, a ticket discount program to help collect canned goods for distribution to local food pantries that feed those in need in our neighborhoods. Patrons who purchase tickets at the door for Dancing On The Air, WAMC’s live monthly folk music broadcast at The Linda will receive a $2.00 discount off the cost of a regular $12.00 ticket if they bring one or more canned goods.

Buy the “Linda Getaway” ticket and receive two admissions, a special discounted rate on an overnight stay for two at the Clarion Hotel, and a two-for-one dinner at the Clarion’s own Scenarios Restaurant. Once you have made your purchase we will contact you to confirm and set up your Clarion reservations. Don’t miss this fantastic offer! For more information call 518-465-5233 x4.

Visit www.dancingontheair.com for an archive of past shows.

Made possible in part by Tech Valley Communications, and by the New York State Music Fund, established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

Or call 518-465-5233 ext. 4 for tickets.

Thursday 5/15
8 PM
$37

Three long-awaited words: David Bromberg's back! Roots music fans will rejoice in the release of "Try Me One More Time," the first new CD in 17 years by guitarist/vocalist David Bromberg, a master practitioner of folk, blues, bluegrass and other musical genres. Live music fans will rejoice as they get the opportunity to witness the stringed wizardry of David up close and personal in the intimate surroundings of The Linda.

Bromberg’s live show remains as unique as ever. Concerts by David and his band are extraordinary events, and performances follow no set pattern of selection. Give and take between performer, is complete, spontaneous, and totally sincere. As the NY Times noted, “He has such control of his audience that he can, at one moment, hold it in his hand with a tender, touching yet funny anecdotal song, and then set it romping and stomping with a raucous bit of raunch. He is electrifying.”

Supported by the New York State Music Fund, established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

Or call 518-465-5233 ext. 4 for tickets.

Friday 5/16
7 PM
$6

2007 Academy Award winner for best documentary short subject

The documentary film "Freeheld" chronicles 25 year veteran Detective Lieutenant Laurel Hester's struggle to transfer her earned pension to her domestic partner, Stacie Andree. With less than six months to live, Laurel refuses to back down when her elected officials - the Ocean County Freeholders -deny her request to leave her pension to Stacie, an automatic option for heterosexual married couples. The film is structured chronologically, following both the escalation of Laurel's battle with the Freeholders and the decline of her health as cancer spreads to her brain.

There will be a Q & A with Academy Award winning director Cynthia Wade following the film.

Cynthia Wade directed and shot the five-time award-winning HBO documentary "Shelter Dogs", which was broadcast in seven countries. She directed and edited the award-winning 1999 Cinemax documentary "Grist For The Mill", which was called "a jewel... extremely comical" (Variety) and "excellent... a delight" (The Hollywood Reporter). Wade was co-producer and cinematographer for the 1998 PBS documentary "Taken In: The Lives of America's Foster Children", which won a prestigious duPont Columbia Award for Excellence in Journalism. Wade has been Director of Photography for PBS, HBO/Cinemax, A&E, Discovery, The History Channel, MTV, AMC, Oxygen, and TNT. She has made dozens of films for corporate and nonprofit clients, including Intel, the National Guard, and Job Corps.

This screening is made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State agency, and the Capital District Gay and Lesbian Community Council

Or call 518-465-5233 ext. 4 for tickets.

Saturday 5/17
9 AM to 6:30 PM

4MATION Entertainment and The Linda Present...

Learn the A to Z of independant filmmaking in workshops and panel discussions with industry professionals, along with a special screening of the locally produced film Uncivil Liberties (see next listing.)

Schedule

• 9am Casting your Independent Film
• 10am Writing your Independent Film
• 11am Insurance for your Independent Film
• 12pm Lunch
• 1pm Distribution of Independent Film
• 2pm Film Financing and Film Sales
• 3pm Film Festivals
• 4pm Filming in NY State (free panel)
• 5pm Networking Break
• 6:30pm Screening of UnCivil Liberties (panel to follow)

Presented as part of The Indie Film Workshop

Sponsored by:

Tix and info

Saturday 5/17
6:30 PM
$6

Presented as part of The Indie Film Workshop

Or call 518-465-5233 ext. 4 for tickets.

Thursday 5/22
7 PM - Mixer
8 PM - Music
$10

The Linda and Crumbs.net, the online place where all musicians and local music fans start the process of networking with everyone who’s anyone in the Capital Region music business, have joined to present Crumbs Night Out at The Linda. On Thursday April 24th we bring the official hub of the Capital Region music scene off the internet and into The Linda, WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio. The evening will feature local artists Blackcat Elliot and SIRSY a special pre-show mixer, industry vendor tables and local online classified music ad updates from Crumbs.

The Musicians:
Blackcat Elliot - Blackcat Elliot has taken the runners-up spot in the best local band category in the Times Unions Readers Poll in each of the past four consecutive years. They took the top spot in the Capital Region Living readers' poll, and they were named "best-kept secret" in Metroland's readers' poll. Well, Blackcat Elliot isn't going to be a secret any longer. The high-energy, go-for-the-throat indie rockers have just unleashed their sophomore CD, "Never Come Clean" on Billbored Records.

Sirsy is fronted by the "charismatic Melanie Krahmer" who reviewers say has a "stunning voice capable of a lion's roar and a floaty whisper". Krahmer is also the band's drummer, playing a full drum kit while STANDING UP, bass parts with her drum stick, and the occasional Ian Anderson-esque flute solo (sometimes playing drums, flute, and bass all at once). Not to be outdone, guitarist Rich Libutti also plays bass parts with his feet and even the occasional snare part with his feet (during Krahmer's flute solos). Everything is played live. Despite the multi-tasking on stage with this unique set up, the duo manages to have a "dynamic stage presence and chemistry" that has audiences and critics raving. The Boston Globe says "Little band, BIG sound!" and New York's City's Village Voice urges readers to "Go see sirsy!"

Made possible in part by the City of Albany, NY.

Media Sponsor: Exit 97.7 WEXT

Or call 518-465-5233 ext. 4 for tickets.

Thursday 5/29
7:30 PM
FREE

Connected by having a son or daughter who is gay, parents across the country discuss their experiences in the documentary Anyone and Everyone. In it, filmmaker Susan Polis Schutz depicts families from all walks of life. Individuals from such diverse backgrounds as Japanese, Bolivian, and Cherokee, as well as from various religious denominations such as Mormon, Jewish, Roman Catholic, Hindu, and Southern Baptist, share intimate accounts of how their children revealed their sexual orientation and discuss their responses.

There will be a Q & A following the film.

This screening is made possible with support from the Capital District Gay and Lesbian Community Council

Free admission.

Friday 5/30
8 PM
$20

Alix Olson is an internationally touring folk poet and progressive queer artist-activist. One part peace vigil, one part protest rally, and one part joyful raucous concert, Alix ignites audiences everywhere she performs. Olson's innumerable stage, broadcast, radio and print appearances include twice headlining HBO's "Def Poetry Jam" (Russell Simmons), and an inclusion in Utne Magazine's InRadio compilation. Utne's website calls Olson "...the spoken word diva everyone's talking about."

Made possible by the New York State Music Fund, established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

and with support from the Capital District Gay and Lesbian Community Council Progressions Concert Series

Or call 518-465-5233 ext. 4 for tickets.

Wednesday 6/11
8:00 PM
$12

It's live performance radio with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason and the Dancing On The Air Orchestra featuring Peter Davis and Sam Zucchinni. Each month, they showcase exceptional talent in a wide variety of idioms. The music runs the gamut... whether it's folk, Celtic, swing, Cajun, zydeco, old-time country, bluegrass, rockabilly, blues, jazz, or pop, you can be assured of a fabulous evening of extraordinary live music.

Guests to include:
Special Surprise Guests.

Tins for Tickets
The Linda - WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio and Food Pantries for the Capital District are pleased to announce Tins for Tickets, a ticket discount program to help collect canned goods for distribution to local food pantries that feed those in need in our neighborhoods. Patrons who purchase tickets at the door for Dancing On The Air, WAMC’s live monthly folk music broadcast at The Linda will receive a $2.00 discount off the cost of a regular $12.00 ticket if they bring one or more canned goods.

Visit www.dancingontheair.com for an archive of past shows.

Made possible in part by Tech Valley Communications, and by the New York State Music Fund, established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

Or call 518-465-5233 ext. 4 for tickets.

Thursday 6/12
8 PM
$12

Erica Seguine is a jazz composer/arranger studying at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. She studies jazz composition with Bill Dobbins and jazz piano with Harold Danko, and also studied classical piano in the past with Tony Caramia. While at Eastman, several of her big band pieces have been performed by the Eastman Jazz Ensemble, as well as by various combos at the school.

While in high school, Erica studied jazz piano with Albany jazz pianist Adrian Cohen. Erica was the pianist in the Empire State Youth Jazz Ensemble for two years and played clarinet for one year in the Empire State Youth Orchestra. In her senior year, her classical piece, “Trio for Flute, Oboe, and Piano”, was chosen to be performed at the 2004 Young Composer’s Honors Concert at the NYSSMA Winter Conference in Rochester.

Some highlights of her career so far have been a performance of her jazz combo piece, “The Breeze at Night” at the 2007 Women in Music Festival in Rochester and a performance of her big band arrangement of “Sweet Georgia Brown” at the 2007 Rochester International Jazz Festival Scholarship Concert. In addition, she has written several pieces (jazz and non-jazz) for various musicians in the Rochester and Albany areas.

Or call 518-465-5233 ext. 4 for tickets.

Sunday 6/15
8 PM
$42

An evening with any one of these gentlemen would be reason for celebration, but all 3 in one night?

Songwriting legend Guy Clark doesn't merely compose songs; he projects images and characters with the kind of hands-on care and respect of a literary master. Clark works slowly and with strict attention to detail, and has produced an impressive collection of timeless gems, leaving very little waste behind. The emotional level of his work, as well as the admiration and esteem of his peers, consistently transcends sales figures and musical genres. Masterful and charismatic in live performance, Clark has built a devout U.S. and international following through years of touring prestigious clubs and concert halls.

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Ramblin Jack Elliott always wanted to be a cowboy, inspired by the rodeos he attended at Madison Square Garden. Elliott taught himself to play guitar and started busking for a living. Eventually he hooked up with Woody Guthrie and lived with him as a kind of student and observer. Elliott's guitar style and his mastery of Guthrie's material made a big impact on Bob Dylan while a student at the University of Minnesota. When Dylan reached New York, he was sometimes referred to as 'son of Jack Elliott', due to Elliott's way of introducing Dylan's songs with the words: "Here's a song from my son, Bob Dylan." While Dylan rose to prominence through his song writing, Elliott continued as an interpretative troubadour, bringing old songs to new audiences in an idiosyncratic manner. Elliot plays guitar in a traditional flatpicking style, which he matches with his laconic, humorous storytelling, often accompanying himself on harmonica. His singing has a strained, nasal quality which the young Bob Dylan emulated. His repertoire includes American traditional music from various genres, including country, blues, bluegrass and folk.

Slaid Cleaves is a singer/songwriter originally from South Berwick, Maine. Slaid is a full-time touring musician but like most musicians has held many day jobs; Janitor, warehouse rat, ice cream truck driver, rope-tow operator, film developer, groundskeeper, meter reader, and pizza delivery guy. Slaid's musical roots extend back prior to his days playing in a high school "garage band" with his childhood friend Rod Picott. The two shared a love of music, especially Bruce Springsteen and named their band The Magic Rats, after a character in Springsteen's song "Jungleland. The characters that traverse his open sky songs are down but never out, forever waiting on something better, something earned. You don’t know whether to feel sorry for the poor saps for their lot in life or envy them their indefatigable hope. Be they race track dreamers, heartbroken gamblers, or barroom fighters, all yearn for a better deal but accept their fate with resignation and even the wisdom of those who can see things for what they are. Cleaves is skilled at summing up the whole drift of their lives within their midlife revelations while tightly wrapping the package with sing-along melodies.

Made possible by the New York State Music Fund, established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

Or call 518-465-5233 ext. 4 for tickets.

Saturday 6/21
8 PM
$15

During one forty-hour period in 1973, folk musician Gary Higgins and his band of five laid down one of the saddest, loveliest acoustic recordings you'll ever hear, the now semi-legendary Red Hash. The entire album was recorded on four-track, giving it the warmth and immediacy of live performance, but making it hard to hear instruments like bass and drums. Even so, its haunting harmonies and wistful mood are amazing; in addition to being an absolute distillation of 1960s and 1970s folk, it hints at the skewed purity of contemporary psyche folk.

Although Higgins and his friends recorded a few more songs together -- two of them appear on the Red Hash reissue as bonus tracks -- there was never another record. Higgins disappeared after Red Hash was released. The whole unlikely experience seemed likely to drop into the black hole of lost albums.

Then, during the 1990s, word began to spread about Red Hash. Pirated copies appeared for sale on the Internet. Tracks were played on influential freeform radio stations like WFMU. A Drag City records employee got it from Ben Chasny of Six Organs of Admittance and became obsessed with the album and tracking Higgins down. Finally, he located Gary Higgins still writing and playing songs in his spare time, still holding the master tapes to his one and only full-length album. The album was remastered and reissued on Drag City in 2005 and this year saw the re-issue of Red Hash on vinyl.

Made possible by the New York State Music Fund, established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

Or call 518-465-5233 ext. 4 for tickets.

Sunday 6/22
8 PM
$25

Singer-songwriter Dan Hicks is truly an American original. Since the early 1960s, Hicks has deftly blended elements of Swing, Jazz, Folk and Country music to create the appealing sound he sometimes calls "Folk Jazz". The lyrics of his songs range from the simply sublime to the sublimely ridiculous, all presented with his uniquely skewed and inscrutable touch. Dan's irresistible sense of rhythm, hip lyrical styling, laid-back vocalizing, and infamous on-stage wit will make most who listen fans for life. He's a snappy dresser, too.

Made possible by the New York State Music Fund, established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

Or call 518-465-5233 ext. 4 for tickets.

Friday 6/27
8 PM
$23

From elegant pop to all-out rock, sweet electronics to witty swing, Erin McKeown has packed a ton of music into her young career. With 5 albums, 2 EPs, and numerous soundtracks and compilations to her credit, the 29-year-old songwriter and multi-instrumentalist hasn't stopped for a breather in the last 10 years. Along the way she has averaged 200 shows a year and garnered the praise of fans and critics alike.

Made possible by the New York State Music Fund, established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

Or call 518-465-5233 ext. 4 for tickets.

Friday 6/27
11 PM
$6

Rocky Horror takes up residence at The Linda!

They’re back, Brad, Janet and the whole kinky troupe from transsexual Transylvania! Without a doubt this film is one of a kind. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is still the weirdest film out there, and probably the ultimate cult classic even after more than 25 years. Whether you’re a TRHPS virgin or a true fan, come be a part of a truly unique movie going experience. So break out your fishnets and bustier and don’t forget your toast!

Or call 518-465-5233 ext. 4 for tickets.

Saturday 9/20
8 PM
$100

On September 20, as a major fundraiser for the station, WAMC will proudly present ”This American Life’s” creator, Ira Glass, for his first appearance at The Linda. During this special presentation, the audience will enjoy a live media experience as Glass lectures, plays audio clips, and answers questions.

Ira Glass started working in public radio in 1978, when he was 19, as an intern at National Public Radio's Washington headquarters. Over the course of the next 17 years, he worked on nearly every NPR news show and did nearly every production job they had: he was a tape-cutter, desk assistant, newscast writer, editor, producer, reporter, and substitute host. He spent a year in a high school for NPR, and a year in an elementary school, filing every week or two for All Things Considered. He has filled in as host of “Talk of the Nation” and “Weekend All Things Considered”. He moved to Chicago in 1989 and was a reporter at NPR’s Chicago Bureau till 1995 until he launched This American Life in November of 1995.

Since its debut, the unique format of “This American Life” has contributed to the overwhelming popularity of the show. It successfully combines a hybrid of journalism, fiction, docu drama and old fashioned storytelling. One of the people who helped shape the program, Paul Tough, says “What This American Life does is apply the tools of journalism to everyday lives, personal lives. Which is true. It's also true that the journalism we do tends to use a lot of the techniques of fiction: scenes and characters and narrative threads.” It’s a documentary show for people who normally hate documentaries; a public radio show for people who don't necessarily care for public radio. Such luminaries as David Sedaris, Sarah Vowell, Russell Banks, Jhumpa Lahiri, Anne Lamott, and Spalding Gray have all participated. Now the show can be heard on more than 500 public radio stations across the country with a weekly audience of about 1.7 million. It's won a lot of awards—the Peabody, the duPont-Columbia, the Murrow, and the Overseas Press Club, to name a few. Ira Glass was named best radio host in the country by Time Magazine. The American Journalism Review declared that the show is at "the vanguard of a journalistic revolution.

In 2007, “This American Life” was turned into a television program that airs on Showtime reaching those who might never have listened to public radio. With inventiveness and boldness Killer Films, the independent film makers who are creating “This American Life”, portray the show in a way that is pleasing to the creators of the radio show; however, translating a radio show into a television show has been a challenge—a challenge that Ira Glass and his staff live for.

Join us on September 20, and experience Ira Glass’ popular show live and have the opportunity to meet him personally! This will be an event that you won’t want to miss.

For more information on Ira Glass and “This American Life”, visit http://thisamericanlife.com.

Or call 518-465-5233 ext. 4 for tickets.

Friday 11/14
8 PM
$100

On November 14, as a major fundraiser for the station, WAMC will proudly present Terry Gross, the host and co-executive producer of Fresh Air, taliking about her career as host of one of public radio’s most beloved programs. Following her presentation there will be a book signing reception and meet and greet.

Gross’ award-winning interview style distinguishes her from the rest; she combines compassion and tenderness, genuine inquisitiveness, and sharp intelligence. She has also been known to ask the tough questions, whether it’s a politician, writer, actor, artist, or musician while always providing an atmosphere that typically is comfortable for those that she probes. Gross observed, "Anyone who agrees to be interviewed must decide where to draw the line between what is public and what is private. But the line can shift, depending on who is asking the questions. What puts someone on guard isn't necessarily the fear of being 'found out.' It sometimes is just the fear of being misunderstood."

Gross has drawn added public attention to herself and her show when she has clashed with her guests on the show. In a few instances, the interviewees have been offended or shocked by the questions asked. In response, Gross released her well-received book All I Did was Ask: Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists in 2004.

Fresh Air was honored with a Peabody Award in 1994 which cited Gross for her “probing questions and unusual insights”. Gross received a Gracie Award in the category of National Network Radio Personality in 1999 by the America Women in Radio and Television. In 2003, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting gave Gross the Edward R. Murrow Award for advancing the “growth, quality and positive image of radio”. Most recently, in 2007, she received the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation.

Gross has served as a guest host for the weekday and weekend additions of NPR’s All Things Considered in addition to her work on Fresh Air. She’s also appeared as a co-anchor of the PBS show, The Great Comet Crash, produced by WHY-TV, and has guest-hosted the show CBS Nightwatch.

Join us on November 14, when Terry Gross shares her unique insights gained from years of interviewing those in the spotlight, and don’t forget about the book signing and reception following. This will be an event that you won’t want to miss.

For more information about Terry Gross and Fresh Air visit http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=13

Or call 518-465-5233 ext. 4 for tickets.