Saranac Lake, NY-  The Waterhole will bring 12 different musical acts to the Upstairs Music Lounge from across the North East to the keep Winter Carnival goers movin’ & groovin’ as the town celebrates the 126th annual Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. The 2023 musical lineup features fan favorites and pairs them up with unbelievably talented opening acts. Annie in the Water will kick things off Friday, February 3 with high energy jams, funky tones, and chill vibes.

The Reflexions will open the night with their blend of Reggae and Funk vibes with world music grooves. With a larger-than-life stage presence, Saturday night headliner, Underground System is a show not to be
missed. This six-piece act hails from New York City, mixes dance club vibes with Afrobeat, Latin-style tunes and other musical themes from around the world. The group started in 2018 with a reimagining of Fela Kuti’s work, and grew into an internationally touring indie dance band. Expect flute, congas, sampling, and hypnotic, infectious grooves.

Midweek will feature a solo performance from Ryan Montbleu on Tuesday, February 7. Ryan will fill the music hall with his eloquent and soulful songwriting for which he is known for. Haley Jane will open the night with a solo performance of her own. Expect raw intensity and linguistic prowess. She has a deeply emotive and highly magnetizing presence that combines a diverse sound with Vaudevillian style story telling. On Wednesday, February 8, David Sommerstein of NCPR will host a Beat Authority Dance Party. Listeners can expect a fresh, eclectic choice of dance music from all over the world. You may hear cumbia or bluegrass, afrobeat or jazz, it’ll keep your head a-noddin’ and your spirits up. Join in the groove and enjoy.

On Thursday, February 9, The Frank White Experience brings things to a new level. Bringing the sounds of Notorious B.I.G with live instrumentation to your ears in a way never head before. FWE brings listeners on a journey back through the beloved soundscape of 1990’s hip hop. On Friday, February 10, The Mallett Brothers Band will return from the deep woods of Maine. You can expect alternative country, grunge, with a side of beards and flannels. Partnered with them is Saints + Liars a Vermont-based Americana group, blending variants of honky-tonk, folk, bluegrass, and rock n’ roll. Saturday the 11 is sure to be the biggest dance party of the week. The post-parade party is free and will be led by Rose + The Bros. This 6-piece ensemble made their Saranac Lake debut in September 2022 at Northern Current: A Community Music Festival. Hailing from Ithaca, NY the band is rooted in southern dance tradition, with the addition of crooning vocal harmonies, and country music influence; listeners can expect distinctive rhythmic patterns based in a Louisiana sound, with additional reggae and melodic drum tones.

On Saturday night, West End Blend will bring the FUNK + SOUL! Fronted by vocalist Erica Tracy Sullivan, WEB plays homage to classic throwback sounds while adding their own distinct vibe and flair. Behind her, the blend packs a four-piece horn section, two guitars bass, keyboards, and drums. Party goers will not want to miss Chestnut Grove opening the night. The Pennsylvania-grown quintet has continued seeing its efforts bear fruit since it formed in Perkiomenville, Pa. in 2011, growing a dedicated fan-base and a songbook filled with truly heartfelt, groove-worthy original work. And when it comes to their abilities to groove within the canon of classic rock greats, well, they ain’t slouches there, either.

On Sunday, February 12, the DiTrani Brothers will wrap things up with one final party. They hail from the woods of Vermont and play original songs from and about the dystopic present, ragtime and jazz tunes, the perfect complement to Bloody Mary Sunday. The street level bar will be open every day of the week & boasts the largest selection of craft beer in The Blue Line. As you travel upstairs, you will find The Upstairs Music Lounge: a destination music venue. On the second story there is a magnificent dance floor and a fully stocked bar. Make sure to keep going up and check out the third story balcony. There you will find additional seating for when your dancing feet are tired, and a truly unbeatable birds-eye view of the stage & dance hall.

Concert tickets are available for purchase on the Waterhole website www.saranaclakewaterhole.com and in person by stopping into the venue. Winter Carnival Week Passes will be offered for $82. This pass guarantees access to every single show. As always, the Waterhole is a 21+ venue.

Photo at top: 2023 Waterhole Winter Carnival Lineup. Photo courtesy of the Waterhole Music Lounge.