A live perfomance of musicians at Subcat Sessions. Credit: Photo courtesy of Michael Calobrisi, Sub Rosa Sessions.

Having a space to create and share music with a close-knit community of listeners has always been a goal for Amanda Rogers. 

To fill a void she saw in Syracuse’s music scene, Rogers, a singer-songwriter, along with Michael Calobrisi and Ana Richardson, began planning the revival of a concert series they’re calling Sub Rosa Sessions. 

After a seven-year pause, the concert series will return this Friday at 6 p.m. Baltimore-based Americana roots-rock band, June Star and folk artist Khalil Jade will perform. Rogers and her team put a twist on the concert series: the shows will happen at a secret location, where guests have to be led.

“People need to be together experiencing things in real life,” Rogers said. “Pushing for things to stay as much in real life as possible is really important for society in general, but especially for the artists community because creators are really sensitive.”

To keep the crowd small, up to about 50 ticketed guests will be able to attend the show, where they are asked to meet at 5:55 p.m. at the Tectonic Hand Sculpture in front of the Atrium in downtown Syracuse. From there, the concertgoers will be led to where the concert will be held. Tickets for the event are $30 and will include food and beverages.

The team has scheduled performances until November.

The concert series is a twist on what used to be Subcat Sessions, which was named after Syracuse-based recording studio Subcat Studios.

Rogers started the original concert series after she returned to Syracuse. She’d spent 12 years touring from 2000 to 2012. When she returned, she wanted a comfortable space for artists and listeners to gather. 

Between 2013 and 2017, Rogers managed Subcat Sessions, hosting the concert series in Studio A of Subcat Studios. About 35 audience members watched live performances and recording sessions from musicians. In all, the studio held 42 sessions with 82 performers. Guests received CDs from the musicians’ performances. 

“It’s more for the music and for those really intense music fans and listeners to have that listening experience with other people that like listening that way,” Rogers said. 

Rogers paused the series in 2017 after becoming pregnant with her second child. She recently found more time to run the concerts and a space to host them, and revived the series. 

The monthly series invites musicians and listeners to share an intimate concert. The music series’ previous lineup featured local and national musicians in various genres, including rock, folk, pop, bluegrass, and Irish Trad. 

“It’s more for the music and for those really intense music fans and listeners to have that listening experience with other people that like listening that way,” Rogers said. 

About 12 sessions into the Subcat Studios performances, artists were filmed to help promote their music and to market the series. Each artist was given access to their live performances of the sessions, Rogers said. The past performances are available to watch on YouTube. 

That series presented musicians like folk recording artist Heather Maloney, who received a record deal with Signature Sounds Records and is managed by Bulletproof Artist Management. 

Although the series will no longer be held at the studio, Rogers believes she can revive the same intimate experience.  

“It’s a new energy for it, Rogers said. “I think the time is right for it, too.”

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Yolanda Stewart was raised in the Bronx, New York City. Before choosing a career path in journalism she found a voice in writing plays, short stories, and a myriad of other creative outlets. She is a 2022...