An unforgettable evening of music, dancing, and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic Stony Creek Band awaits at Lake George’s Shepard Park on Thursday, Aug. 24, at 6:30 PM, presented by The Lake George Arts Project and the Village of Lake George, featuring a special performance by The Switch. The 50th Anniversary Concert is free and will feature the Village’s spectacular fireworks after the show.
For 50 years, The Stony Creek Band has thrilled generations of fans with its high-energy blend of rock, folk, country, and bluegrass; a sound that has consistently defied description but is “a product of the landscape as authentically upstate as any Hudson River School painting or sculpture by David Smith,” and performed in a manner described by one reviewer as “a ferocious ensemble attack; like a runaway train.”
The Stony Creek Band began with the 1973 meeting of John Strong, a folksinger/guitarist from the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, and Hank Soto, a guitarist and songwriter from the Bavarian Alps of Germany. Along with a bass player the Stony Creek Band began life as a folk trio, touring coffee houses in New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. After moving to the Adirondack mountain hamlet of Stony Creek, NY the band quickly developed into a seven-piece musical powerhouse featuring drums, a rock guitarist, pedal steel guitar, and banjo that, for a time, was the little town’s largest year-round employer.
In the 1980’s the band evolved into its current five-piece configuration which now includes producer/ singer /songwriter Dave Maswick on bass, blues Hall of Fame member Mike Lomaestro on drums, and noted bluegrass mandolin virtuoso Fred Lantz. Over the years, the Stony Creek Band has made hundreds (if not thousands) of concert appearances including a live performance on international TV for the closing ceremonies of the Goodwill Winter Games, an appearance at a New York State gubernatorial inauguration, a February outdoor appearance at the 25th-anniversary celebration of the “Miracle on Ice” (brrrr) and a live performance on NBC’s TODAY show with Meredith Viera and Ann Curry.
Hank Soto, the co-founder of the Stony Creek Band, says “50 years! Never did I think, where the band was concerned, I’d be referencing time in decades let alone five. In that time, we’ve met so many great folks who have encouraged and supported us. Nothing succeeds without that love and that is the real reason for our longevity. Thinking of all of the venues we’ve played, Shepard Park in Lake George is just a stand-out treasure. We are so grateful to LGAP and the Village of Lake George for their continuous support and the opportunity to celebrate our 50th on that great stage. Another 50 years? If we could only fool the flesh – the spirit is willing.”
This golden anniversary marks a milestone not only for the band but also for the fans who have supported them throughout their incredible journey. “The Stony Creek Band is really looking forward to this gig and looking forward to seeing all of our friends – we even have a few special guests who have played with us over the years. Shepard Park is a very special venue and one of our favorite places to play, you can’t beat the crowd or the backdrop,” says John Strong, co-founder of the Stony Creek Band.
Admission is free, so grab a blanket, some chairs, and your family and friends, and come early to secure your favorite spot. For more information visit here.
