NYS Music 20​19

Category: Hudson Valley

  • Bethel Producer Pulls Out of Woodstock 50th Celebration, Festival Replaced with Separate Concert Events

    Two separate shows were originally slated to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock during the same weekend of Aug. 16-18, one of those events, in Bethel, is now being scaled back.

    The Poughkeepsie Journal has reported that INVNT, the branding and live storytelling agency slated to help produce the Bethel Woods Music and Culture Festival, celebrating Woodstock’s 50th anniversary, has pulled out of the event with a statement released on Feb. 18, just weeks, if not days away from an artist lineup for the show.

    INVNT stated about the departure that it: “will now comprise three separate events over three days and forms part of the venue’s Season of Song & Celebration commemorations, a year-long schedule of exhibits, programs and events.”

    INVNT was partnering with Bethel Woods and Live Nation to produce the weekend long festival.  The re-imagined celebration will now stretch throughout the 50th anniversary summer instead of concentrating solely on the weekend festival that had been in direct competition with Woodstock 50, the Michael Lang-produced event that same weekend at Watkins Glen International Speedway 90 miles west of Bethel.

    The second announced artist appearing at the performing arts center will be Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band with Arlo Guthrie and the Edgar Winter Band. They will join another rock legend in Carlos Santana, who is touring sheds this summer with the Doobie Brothers. Santana announced his appearance last month.

    INVNT CEO Scott Cullather, released this statement about the event: “INVNT will not be involved in the new format and we wish Bethel Woods and Live Nation, as well as the organizers of the other 50th anniversary celebrations taking place around the world, the very best.”

    Original Woodstock producer and co-founder Michael Lang will hold his own anniversary show the same weekend as the Bethel woods event in Watkins Glen. Lang stated that he has over 40 artist booked for his event, but has yet to announce any artists.

  • Levon Lives On: An Evening With Amy Helm and Cindy Cashdollar

    Amy Helm and Cindy Cashdollar, two heroines of Woodstock, NY, wowed a hometown crowd on Friday, February 8 at Levon Helm Studios.

    The opening act, Freddy & Francine, however, traveled from significantly farther away. An Americana couple from Nashville, they were joined by a big bassist and launched the embarkation of the evening. With only a tambourine, unplugged bass, acoustic guitar and their voices, the trio made significant ripples around the room.

    When Freddy, whose real name is Lee Ferris, spoke between songs, he sounded like a regular guy; when he sang, he sounded like a folk sensation. As they put on a moving cover of Etta James’ “I’d Rather Go Blind,” Freddy and Francine (Bianca Caruso) maintained unblinking, unyielding eye contact that was nearly blinding. 

    Amy Helm Cindy Cashdollar
    Freddy and Francine

    The energy between the couple-plus-one was palpable, their harmonies remarkably in sync. This was the first night of their ironically-titled Summer Tour and the soulful Southerners elicited excited applause.

    Amy, as she’s simply and lovingly known in Woodstock, took the stage following a break and, drum in tow, went right into a cover of her father’s “Feelin’ Good.” Levon’s voice is irreplaceable and unmistakable, but Amy has clearly inherited his amiable presence and musical aptitude – who else can sing the blues so happily? After playing a clip of Levon singing “Little Birds,” dobro maestro Cindy Cashdollar mused, “If my voice could come through half as clear as his, I’d be happy.”

    Amy Helm Cindy Cashdollar
    Amy Helm

    History seeps from the rafters of the Barn at Levon Helm Studios and, with Woodstock’s first daughter squarely in the limelight, the crowd was fully spellbound. It was fascinating to hear the folk gospel of the Mississippi sung to the staunch devotees of Levon Helm, many of whom undoubtedly witnessed him 50 years ago at Woodstock ‘69. Most of the evening’s congregation sat straight-backed, unmoving, eyes glued to the revered Ms. Helm. While I felt my limbs unable to resist involuntarily moving to the tunes, I witnessed much of the crowd sitting immobile, so engulfed by the musicians. 

    The stage was undeniably Amy’s, though Cindy Cashdollar’s genius on the strings was equally unmistakable. Whether it was the lap steel or the dobro she played, her strokes were magical. The twang she inherited from her time in Texas jived with her Northern heritage. She was, at once,  technically flawless and emotionally invested.

    Amy Helm Cindy Cashdollar
    Cindy Cashdollar (left) and Amy Helm (right)

    Between the songs, they sprinkled in the stories: life with Levon and growing up with a legend. Amy and Cindy recalled late night rambles and his infectious affability, how Levon made music look easy and made those around him sound better.  While his presence always lives on in Woodstock, his spirit was prominent this night emanating from his daughter and cascading from his disciple.

  • Hearing Aide: Upstate ‘Healing’

    Rich harmonies, moving melodies and distinctive arrangements are abound in Healing, the new record released by Hudson Valley-based folk and soul sextet, Upstate. Produced by Wood Brothers’ percussionist, Jano Rix, with engineering helmed by GRAMMY-winner Justin Guip, Healing represents a self-proclaimed metamorphosis for the band. It’s the first full record with vocalist Allison Olender and the first release since the shortening of the band’s original name, Upstate Rubdown. In advance of the album’s release, Upstate shared a video for “Marietta,” along with a performance at City Winery in NYC.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Much of what makes Upstate unique is amplified in this record. The group features a cajon, but no drum kit, and a mandolin, but no guitar (mostly). This allows Ryan Chappell’s mandolin, Harry D’agostino’s bass and Dean Mahoney’s cajon to take turns weaving melodic and percussive elements into the arrangements. Meanwhile, Olender, Melanie Glenn, and Mary Kenney trade lead vocals and infuse the spaces with harmonies.

     

    Mirroring the radical evolution of the band, Healing introduces some new instrumentation. “Sarah” has D’agostino on electric bass, while Glenn and Olender lend their guitar playing in “Crawl In” and “I’ll Be Fine,” respectively. These changes represent a larger effort by producer Rix to experiment with the recording process. Encouraging the band to delve deeper into their non-traditional structure allowed Upstate to nail down its characteristic tone and sound.

     

    Emotions arrive in waves, as the record journeys from the swaying softness of “I’ll Be Fine” to the high energy drive of the eponymous track, “Healing.” While rooted in soulful folk, some tracks stand out as boundary-pushing explorations of genre. In “Mother,” what starts as a vocal ode to a mother’s influence, then moves into a jazzy, moody, groove filled song with ambient sound, culminating with a sax solo by guest musician, Christian Joao.

     

     

  • Mountain Jam Announces Lineup and Venue Change

    After 14 years at Hunter Mountain, Mountain Jam announced its lineup Thursday and that it will be relocating to the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, site of the original Woodstock festival. Mountain Jam will be held June 13-16.

    More than 40 artists were announced as the festival looks to get back to its roots of being more jam-friendly. Headliners for the 15th edition of Mountain Jam include Gov’t Mule, Willie Nelson and Family, and the Avett Brothers. An additional headliner will be announced later in the spring.

    The fest will have a decidedly New York flair with the inclusion of Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Amy Helm, Marco Benevento, Consider the Source, Wild Adriatic, and the Big Takeover.

    Early Bird tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 8 at 10:00 a.m. and are available through Monday, Feb. 11 at 11:59 p.m. for $159 through the Mountain Jam website.

  • Sister Sparrow Shines, Dirty Birds Delight at Levon Helm Studios

    Arleigh Kincheloe, aka Sister Sparrow, mesmerized a full house at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock Saturday night, with the Dirty Birds backing her, as she held the audience entranced, proving one’s presence can dwarf their stature. The setting, a barn-turned-showroom, was ideal as onlookers surrounded the band and Sister Sparrow’s voice reverberated majestically.

    The show, Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds’ second at Levon Helm Studios, was long-awaited. SS&TDB were scheduled to make their first appearance in Woodstock since 2012 last December 29. Due to illness, however, the concert was rescheduled for January 26. If good things are worth the wait, the band can be forgiven for the near-seven year hiatus; they were excellent.

    When concert-goers arrived in Woodstock, they waited a little longer for the headliner as Melanie Glenn, Mary Kenney and Allison Olender, of the band Upstate, opened with an a capella set. While they typically play with a backing band, the set highlighting the singers was apropos for the intimate Levon Helm Studios.

    The sincerity of their voices manifested in calls and responses, gospels mixed with folk, and the three young ladies had evident chemistry. Expressive and at ease on stage, each singer had her own style and personality: Glenn took the limelight at one point with an acoustic guitar and Olender later came to the front with her electric Fender. Kenney anchored the set, standing center throughout. While Sister Sparrow would come out to steal the evening, Upstate’s harmonies set the mood wonderfully.

    After a brief intermission, the Dirty Birds took the stage and, with the audience’s enthusiastic encouragement, Sister Sparrow crept up to the spotlight. With a playful look of surprise for the applause (“Who– me?”) and a shake of her long, red hair, she grabbed the mic and it was off to the races.

    She’s tiny. She’s huge. The microphone stand rivals her in stature, but Sister Sparrow’s presence is titanic. With her mother watching from the crowd and her brother Jackson supporting on the harmonica, Sister Sparrow banged her bright red tambourine, swung the mic, and belted out invigorating tunes.

    While Sister Sparrow’s stage presence is as cool as watermelon on a summer afternoon, the band, a menagerie of supporting musicians, has a full, clean rock ‘n’ roll vibe. With his shoulders curling and head nodding, drummer Dan Boyden played with a nonchalance that imbibed the spirit of Levon Helm. During a cover of Toto’s “Rosanna,”  trumpeter Phil Rodriguez and saxophonist Brian Graham turned and nodded to each other as if to say, “Yeah, we’re gettin’ it!”

    The sounds ranged from pop to folk, prominently featuring funk and soul. Sister Sparrow’s candid mien was positive and jocular, her voice captivating. The show was intimate yet energetic, and, from the beginning, there was a feel in the air that something special was taking place: refreshing music created by from experienced entertainers.

    The Barn at Levon Helm Studios had a church-like feel Saturday night. Rows of worshipers sat in awe as Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds held the pulpit. The music had a soul-cleansing component and the crowd was a lowercase-c catholic cluster of Dirty Bird disciples. While it was my first time attending a Sister Sparrow sermon, I most certainly hope it’s not my last.

    Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds

  • Peace, Love and Posters: Bethel Center for the Arts holding poster contest to commemorate 50th Anniversary of Woodstock Festival

    Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is holding a poster contest in honor of Woodstock Festival’s 50th, Golden Anniversary. The press release describes this as not just another “festival poster” design.

    Woodstock 50th poster

    Bethel Woods is looking for students, amateurs, and professionals to design posters that not only celebrate the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, but also captures their mission to inspire passion and purpose.

    The concept they are trying to capture is expressing progress in the world through creativity, self-actualization, love, and understanding for the next 50 years to come.

    Winners of the poster contest will be displayed throughout the Vibrations event series produced by Bethel Woods. Winners will also receive a cash prize of $2,500 but will also be given $1,500 in travel and lodging to visit Bethel Woods on June 5 to participate in the Power of the Poster event during Vibrations.

    The judges of the contest are two well known poster artists, with renowned Broadway poster artist Frank “Fraver” Verlizzo joining original Woodstock poster designer David Edward Byrd. Submissions can be entered starting Feb. 6 until March 14.

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