Live music in Canandaigua, NY

Get into the Halloween spirit a little early with a pre-Halloween night of simple, festive fun. It is a low-key way to celebrate before the big day.

Guests can enjoy treats from Harv's H-D, take part in a costume contest, and catch music by Kid Kurry Band. The showroom will be open for browsing during the festivities.

Enjoy a Halloween-themed night of spooky fun with singing and a chance to compete for $100 in the Mike's Ridge Halloween Contest. Share your best vocals and embrace the playful scares.

Enjoy a cozy experience at the Little Cafe with free admission. Annie shares gentle jazz on the cafe's new baby grand piano, creating a warm, relaxed vibe for live music.

The Town Pants return to The Smith with their Drinking in the Graveyard Party, a Halloween weekend celebration of lively Celtic rock where costumes are encouraged. Based in Ottawa, Ontario, the band blends Irish traditional, folk, rock, and roots Americana into a distinctive West Coast Celtic sound. Brothers Duane and Dave Keogh share dual lead vocals supported by Jeff Tripoli and Blake Propst on rhythm, with violin by Johanna So. This is a seated general admission concert on a first come, first served basis. All sales are final and The Smith does not offer refunds or resell tickets.

At the Naples Hotel, celebrated for Halloween festivities and stories of guests who never checked out, this night brings together costumes, karaoke, and festive fun. U-Sing Karaoke supplies the music while attendees step up to the mic. A costume contest offers prizes, and the famously haunted atmosphere adds an extra shiver to every song. Dress to impress or embrace your spookiest look, sing your heart out, and fill the halls with your voice.

Explore the spirited rhythms of Guinea through drumming and dance with master artist and educator Mohamed Diaby at South Wedge Mission. Beginners are welcome, and the format includes separate sessions for drum and dance. Pricing is straightforward: the drum class is $15, with the option to remain and drum during the dance portion for an additional $5. The dance class is $20, or choose both for $30. Payment is accepted in cash or via Venmo at @Diaby. Diaby’s background spans premier ensembles and stages. He learned jembe under the guidance of his older brother, received early support from Mamady Keita, toured West Africa as lead drummer for Les Merveilles de Guinea with extended time in Sierra Leone, and earned recognition from Kemoko Sano of Les Ballet Africains. He later performed at Symphony Space in New York City, directed the Guinea-style troupe Africa Sogaye in Atlanta, and organized the WAH WAH Drum and Dance Conference. He continues to teach across the United States, Canada, and Europe while sharing the music and culture of Guinea.

A Halloween bash at The Chosen Pot brings food trucks, live music, and a costume contest together for a festive celebration. Vagabond Bards perform an eclectic mix of cover songs, including spooky seasonal hits that set the tone for Halloween fun.

The Marbletones make their annual appearance at the VFW Halloween Party. Enjoy the party, admire the costumes, and listen to music by the Marbletones.

Celebrate Halloween under the tent with Shackwater.

Camp Rave brings Dance of the Dead to Photo City Music Hall in Rochester, a vibrant celebration inspired by Día de los Muertos that centers on bass-heavy electronic music, nonstop dancing, and a high-energy rave vibe. Photo City Presents, Disco Duck Presents, and MÖLR Presents unite to feature Dan Dangler, Disco Duck, MOLR, Keets, Loud Noises, J-Red, Trav Was, Sebulba, and Camille, with immersive visuals that amplify the atmosphere. The theme encourages expressive style, including bright outfits, face paint, flowers, and skeleton-inspired touches, giving attendees plenty of reasons to dress for the occasion.

Yokai! is a modern jazz project led by bassist Fumi Tomita, drawing on Japanese folklore to shape a program of music about spirits, shape-shifters, and otherworldly tales. The repertoire features eleven pieces largely informed by nineteenth century woodblock prints, with selections centered on figures like Daija (Monster Snake), Kitsune (The Fox), Betobetosan, Amabiko (Sea Lad), and Raiju (Thunder Beast). Hyakki Yagyo, or A Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, takes its cue from a nineteenth century scroll that portrays a wide array of yokai. Additional works evoke other Japanese supernatural beings, including the ghost Okiku, the magician Wakana-Hime (Princess Wakana), and the vengeful spirit Kiyomori. The quartet includes Carl Clements on tenor and soprano saxophones and flute, Jason Ennis on electric and acoustic guitars, Gary Fieldman on drums, and Fumi Tomita on acoustic bass. The music offers a modern jazz palette, and the instrumentation supports a wide range of styles and moods. Tickets are $25 at the door or online.

Record Archive hosts an evening of live music featuring Cupids Boomerang, a local act from Rochester. Additional information about the band, participating vendors, and special guests will be shared as the event draws nearer.

Enjoy a live music Lindy Jam featuring Annie and the Fur Trappers, a Boston-based traditional jazz and blues band dedicated to performing and preserving music from the 1920s and 1930s. The band features clarinet, trumpet, trombone, bass, banjo, guitar, and percussion. A beginner lesson is included.

Southern hard rock band Saving Abel brings its blend of post-grunge grit, Southern swagger, and memorable hooks to the stage. Known for songs including “Addicted,” “18 Days,” and “Drowning (Face Down),” the band has built a loyal following through touring and energetic live performances. JJ Lang Band, CrownDrop, Foolproof, and Spirit66 are also featured.

Aaron DeRuyter & The Confluence return for an intimate, stripped-down acoustic performance. Enjoy live music alongside food and drinks.

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band channels the spirit of New Orleans with a high-energy blend of traditional brass band roots, bebop jazz, funk, and R&B/soul, shaping a sound that is unmistakably their own. Formed in 1977 and recognized with a GRAMMY Award, the ensemble has spent more than four decades touring across five continents, performing in over thirty countries, releasing a dozen studio albums, and collaborating with artists such as Modest Mouse, Widespread Panic, and Norah Jones. Expect a performance full of driving grooves, crisp horn interplay, and unstoppable rhythm. The lineup features Roger Lewis on baritone sax and vocals, Gregory Davis on trumpet and vocals, Kirk Joseph on sousaphone, Trevarri Huff-Boone on tenor sax and vocals, Stephen Walker on trombone and vocals, Julian Addison on drums, and Takeshi Shimmura on guitar.