The 11th annual Rochester Fringe Festival opened this week, with plans to offer more than 500 performances and events in downtown Rochester.
A multidisciplinary performing arts festival, Rochester Fringe aims to provide a platform for artists to share their talent.
Following is a slice of what the Fringe has to offer — the fringe of the Fringe–and where I’ll be.
DivaZ
A musical tribute to Nina Simone, Billie Holliday, and Tina Turner. Friday September 23, Saturday, September 24 at .
Paying tribute to some of the most hallowed female singers in the world and engrained in our hearts and minds, but they really aren’t “out there:” Zahiya and the Benevolent mystery Arkrestra (a nod to Sun Ra, I’m certain) acknowledge musical limits and boundaries only long enough to leave them in the dust. You’ll be left there too.
Venue: Allen Main Stage Theatre, School of the Arts
Performance: Sept. 23 (8:30 p.m.) and Sept. 24 (9:00 p.m.)
Tickets: From $21
Moving Mountains
These world music monsters rock it like jam ‘cause jelly don’t shake like that. Moving Mountains will move your soul as well. The band doesn’t just spill their rootsy wail, they launch it forth into the listeners mind. Good luck keeping a smile off your dial.
Venue: CenterStage Theatre at the JCC: Dawn Lipson Canalside Stage
Performance: Sept. 16 (7 p.m.)
Tickets: From $15
Cirque du Fringe: Afterglow
This amazing show stars the venue as much as it does the the performers, with its fistfuls of pomp and death-defying airborne vaudeville. Oh, and don’t forget and burey -Q. Do yourself a favor, sluggo; don’t miss this show.
Venue: CenterStage Theatre at the JCC: Dawn Lipson Canalside Stage
Performance: Sept. 16-24 (show times vary)
Tickets: From $35
Dirk Darrow: Magic of Future Past.
Take one part film noir, part prestidigitation, part wise ass and join the slack-jawed audience as Darrow weaves his keen magic. My absolute favorite.
Venue: CenterStage Theatre at the JCC: Dawn Lipson Canalside Stage
Performance: Sept. 14-23 (show times vary)
Tickets: From $15
Electronic explorers
Pioneering a sound they call EBM (electronic body music), Belgian godfathers of this genre, Front 242 return to claim their crown and its rightful place in electronic music history. For the last time.
Formed in Aarschot, Belgium, in the early 1980s, by electronic explorers and progenitors Daniel Bressanutti and Dirk Bergen, the group arose from the ashes of a music project entitled “Prothese” that released several one-off explorations.
Prior to bringing itself to prominence the duo made a big splash via its 1981 single “Principles” with the B-side “Body To Body.”
Front 242 is known in their electro-phylum as an aggressive and loud stage presence. We’re talking end times loud; apocalyptic. The band’s production and visuals are nothing short of spectacular.
And this is your last chance to see Front 242. After 40 years of touring, this will be their last tour in the US and Canada. Catch ‘em while you can.
Front 242 Black to Square One 2022 North American Tour will perform at Photo City Music Hall with KITE (Sweden) and local electronic punk solo artist Komrads.
Sept. 20, Doors 7 p.m., music 8 p.m., Tickets: $30
Here’s a comprehensive list of live shows in and around Rochester: Get Your Gig On
Frank De Blase is Rochester Beacon music writer. The Beacon welcomes comments from readers who adhere to our comment policy including use of their full, real name.