The Underrated Vibes

High Falls Rises Again for Flower Fest
Rochester, Culture, Arts, Music Andy Gold Rochester, Culture, Arts, Music Andy Gold

High Falls Rises Again for Flower Fest

Hosted on June 6, Flower Fest was a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Rochester’s iconic city logo. However, for those of us who attended, it became a celebration of a historic space with new life. In my view, it became a reminder of what happens when the city gives one of its most historic spaces the attention it deserves, and crowds turn out to embrace the experience.

Read More
A Stage Dive Into the 585’s Rising Music Scene, Part 2
Music, Culture, Rochester Andy Gold Music, Culture, Rochester Andy Gold

A Stage Dive Into the 585’s Rising Music Scene, Part 2

To understand the 585’s rising music scene, one must see the value of local talent, as there are over 3,000 unique bands performing regularly at local bars and music spaces regionally. Rochester has an eclectic artistic underbelly, and while local music venues tend to be smaller, they excel at offering a closer connection between the audience and performers.

Read More
The Legacy of Johnny Cash Lives On In This Nashville Museum
Music, Culture, Nashville Andy Gold Music, Culture, Nashville Andy Gold

The Legacy of Johnny Cash Lives On In This Nashville Museum

Exploring Downtown Nashville, I stumbled upon a monumental site, the Johnny Cash Museum. For those of you who love Outlaw Country, Country Rock, and Rockabilly music, you’ve probably listened to Johnny Cash at one time or another. For me, Johnny Cash was a musical legend, a figure who transformed the Outlaw Country scene and who bridged cultural divides through his famed hits.

Read More
The Vinyl Hits are Still Spinning on Rochester’s Record Row
Culture, Music, Rochester Andy Gold Culture, Music, Rochester Andy Gold

The Vinyl Hits are Still Spinning on Rochester’s Record Row

Record Row is the site of three remarkable record shops: Bop Shop Records, Needle Drop Records, and the Hi Fi Lounge. Each shop is unique; they have their own flair, elevate different genres of music, and contain nuanced specializations that set their stores apart. All shops sell vinyls, CDs, and other wonderful collections, but no two shops are alike.

Read More
An Ode to Wasted Girl: The Phantom of the Cabaret Sings Another Day
Arts, Music, Culture, Rochester Andy Gold Arts, Music, Culture, Rochester Andy Gold

An Ode to Wasted Girl: The Phantom of the Cabaret Sings Another Day

Wasted Girl, an odyssey of original musical compositions written with thoroughly researched morbid and romantic lyrics, a robust instrumental accompaniment, and performed by the multitalented, multi-instrumentalist Artemisia LeFay, and classical pianist counterpart, Renée Guerrero, at the 2025 Rochester Fringe Festival.

Read More
From Under the Spiegeltent, the Marvelous Rochester Fringe Festival Beckons
Arts, Culture, Music, Rochester Andy Gold Arts, Culture, Music, Rochester Andy Gold

From Under the Spiegeltent, the Marvelous Rochester Fringe Festival Beckons

The marvelous Rochester Fringe Festival made its debut in Downtown Rochester in 2012, featuring 180 performances while attracting more than 30,000 attendees throughout the 5-day event. Today, Rochester Fringe has grown, expanding to 12 days and featuring over 600 events at more than 30 venues, attracting nearly 1,000,000 attendees to over 5,700 performances since the festival began.

Read More