NYS Music 2024

Category: Hudson Valley

  • Guitar God Gary Lucas Unveils Reunited Power Trio GODS AND MONSTERS at Colony Woodstock this December

    Gary Lucas (Jeff Buckley, Captain Beefheart) has released over 50 acclaimed albums as a leader or co-leader to date and toured in over 40 countries worldwide since cutting his teeth as a featured soloist and member of Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band. Gary may be best known for co-writing and playing on Jeff Buckley’s “Grace” album (Jeff thanked him in the liner notes for “magical guitarness”)— but those who have heard him live in whatever context he is playing in are still shaking their heads in amazement and trying to pick their jaws up from the floor!

    Gary Lucas

    In 1989, Lucas formed his longtime band GODS AND MONSTERS, featuring a revolving cast of stellar players orbiting Lucas’s incendiary guitar playing electric and acoustic. The December 22 performance at the Colony Woodstock will serve as the debut for the latest iteration of the band. In the words of the acclaimed guitarist, GODS AND MONSTERS is now “a psychedelic power trio” featuring the rock-steady propulsive bass of Ernie Brooks (Modern Lovers, Arthur Russell) and the exploding nebula of drummer extraordinaire Calvin Weston (James “Blood” Ulmer, Lounge Lizards).

    Gary Lucas’ varied works have generated critical acclaim that is second to none in the world of guitaring. Rolling Stone calls him “one of the best and most original guitarists in America” and his trio “a 21st Century Cream.” UK music bible Melody Maker labels him “a true axe god” while  MOJO Magazine proclaims him “the psychedelic guitarist for the post-modern set.” The New York Times says Lucas “plays guitar like Salvador Dali paints…guitarist with a global beat.” His work has also received praise from many musicians, from Lou Reed and Bruce Springsteen to Nick Cave and Leonard Bernstein.  You can stream Lucas’ extensive discography here on Spotify. 

    Show opener Spaghetti Eastern Music is the genre-leaping solo project of Woodstock-based guitarist/keyboardist and NYSMusic contributor Sal Cataldi. Spaghetti Eastern Music marries funky, acid jazz-fueled guitar instrumentals and ambient soundscapes with bare-bones acoustic ballads straight out of the Nick Drake school.  Cataldi debuted the project with the critically acclaimed 2016 album, “Sketches of Spam,” followed by numerous singles and EPs.

    The New York Times says Cataldi “has a beat unmistakably his own” while Time Out New York praises his “delicate guitar work and the hauntingly moody atmosphere he conjures.” His music has been called “beautiful and unique” by WFUV’s Mixed Bag and “charmingly melodic and off-center” by WFMU.  Hudson Valley One has called Spaghetti Eastern “part Sergio Leone fever dream, part Ravi Shankar raga, a whirling dervish of musical creation… a must-see” while Chronogram Magazine calls his music “cool, melodic, inspired and transcendent, a wave of sonic warmth and light.” Look for his music here at Spotify

    Colony Woodstock is located at 22 Rock City Road, Woodstock – for information and tickets to Gary Lucas and Gods and Monsters, visit here.

  • Jam for Tots Shows Announced Across New York, Benefit Kids Most in Need

    The 2024 holiday season is upon us, and along with a spirit of giving and supporting those most in need in our local communities. Jam for Tots will once again be held at venues across New York State, bringing live music fans together for great shows while collecting toys to brighten the spirits of children statewide.

    jam for tots 2024

    For more than 10 years, Jam for Tots has been held across New York State and the Northeast, where fans are encouraged to bring along with an unwrapped toy for a child (under 13) to drop in the donation box. These toys will be brought to local charities within the venue’s community, to ensure that these toys brighten the day of children within the local area.

    Shows for the 2024 holiday season will be hosted by multiple venues, including Funk ‘n Waffles Syracuse, Lark Hall, Putnam Place, Stewart House, The Strand Theatre Hudson Falls, Bearsville Theatre, The Pub (Philmont), Hibernian Hall in Albany and The Waterhole. We gratefully thank these venues for their support of this worthy cause.

    Things kick off at Hibernian Hall in Albany on November 15 with One Heart Band. See below for the full lineup of 2024 Jam for Tots shows across New York State (chronological order).

    Friday, Nov. 15 – One Heart Band – Hibernian Hall, Albany

    Saturday, Nov. 16 – Barry Goudreau’s Engine Room – The Strand Theatre – Hudson Falls

    Thursday, Dec. 5 – Open Mic Jam hosted by John Pinder – The Stewart House, Athens

    Friday, Dec 6 – The Warped Tour Band – The Waterhole, Saranac Lake – Benefitting Saranac Lake Holiday Helpers

    Friday, Dec. 6 – Across the Pond (Beatles tribute) – The Strand Theatre, Hudson Falls

    Saturday, Dec. 7 – Lespecial – Lark Hall, Albany

    Wednesday, Dec. 11 – Luke Weiler and Josh Anderson – The Pub, Philmont

    Thursday, Dec. 12 – Mihali – Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs

    Saturday, Dec. 21 – Chris Maxwell, Amanda Parsley – Bearsville Theater, Woodstock

    Sunday, Dec. 15 through Dec 22 – Tato for Tots – Funk n Waffles, Syracuse

  • Ashokan Center in Olive Bridge Hosts Banjo Concert 2024 on November 15

    Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, NY has announced Banjo Concert 2024 which is to be held at Esopus Lodge Performance Hall on November 15.

    Banjo Concert 2024 takes place on Friday, November 15 at 7:30 PM at Ashokan Center’s Esopus Lodge Performance Hall. The concert is an evening of 5-string bliss with Scott Hopkins, Hilary Hawke, BB Bowness, Maggie Shar, and Keith Billik. This concert kicks off a weekend workshop and will be filled with many styles, stories, and beautiful banjo music for the community to enjoy.

    This event is part of Ashokan Center’s Banjo Weekend where eventgoers can enjoy a weekend of banjo-centric bliss with a stellar lineup of teachers in a warm and supportive environment. Dive into daytime classes, evening jam sessions, and an inspiring opening-night staff concert. Whether you’re into Bluegrass or Clawhammer (or both!) and whether you’re an advanced banjo-player or just getting started, you won’t want to miss this good-time get together with friends old and new at Ashokan, a stunningly beautiful location.

    Based out of NYC for the past 12 years, and originally from upstate, NY, Hilary Hawke has been composing, writing, teaching and performing music she loves in solo and collaborative projects, both as a multi-instrumentalist/vocalist and as a creative and versatile banjo player. Hilary performed in the Tony award winning revival production of Oklahoma! on Broadway, and Steve Martin’s production of Bright Star on Broadway. She’s devoted herself to performing and teaching old-time, and American traditional music but also brings her love of all types of music into creating her own unique sound.

    BB Bowness hails from New Zealand and has made a home in Boston for the past decade. She co-founded the band Mile Twelve who have toured intentionally and won numerous awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association. BB was awarded the 2020 Steve Martin banjo prize. She loves teaching and stays busy with a full roster of students in Boston and online. Her euphoric energy and love of the banjo are readily apparent in any of her live performances.

    Keith Billik is best known as the creator and host of The Picky Fingers Banjo Podcast, a show listened to by banjo enthusiasts worldwide, and which earned Keith a 2022 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) award nomination for his involvement in the bluegrass industry. As a player, Keith has performed and recorded professionally for nearly twenty years, including stints with Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys, Mark Lavengood’s Bluegrass Bonanza, and his current project, Wilson Thicket. In addition to private banjo students, Keith has been a faculty banjo instructor at both Great Lakes Music Camp and Midwest Banjo Camp and is thrilled to be a part of the Ashokan Banjo Weekend.

    For more information on the upcoming Banjo Concert 2024 and to purchase tickets, click here.

  • Elysium Furnace Works Closes Out 2024 Season with Eclectic Power Trio, Harriet Tubman

    For all the live performances at the expanding multitude of Hudson Valley venues, none may match the bold sensibility championed by the edge-pushing curators at Elysium Furnace Works. Led by James Keepnews and Mike Faloon, EFW’s mission is, in its founders’ words, “to present the work of vanguard artists in settings as dedicated and uncompromising as the art itself.” The final event of their momentous 2024 season will surely deliver on this promise when the electric, eclectic, and deliriously intense power trio, Harriet Tubman, cuts loose at Poughkeepsie’s VBI Theater at Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center on December 7 at 8 pm.

    Harriet Tubman was formed in 1998 by guitarist/vocalist Brandon Ross, bassist Melvin Gibbs, and drummer JT Lewis. They take their moniker from Harriet Tubman, an African-American woman born into slavery who was renowned as a liberator of other slaves who, like she, chose to seek freedom by escaping to the North. She accomplished this with the help of a secret network of safe houses, or “stations,” on what was known as “The Underground Railroad.”

    Before joining forces, Gibbs built an eclectic discography collaborating with artists including Ronald Shannon Jackson, Arto Lindsay, George Clinton, and Henry Rollins. Ross has done the same in his work with Cassandra Wilson, Don Byron, Henry Threadgill, Tony Williams, The Lounge Lizards, Jewel and more. JT Lewis has divided his time between studio and live work with an a-list of leading names in jazz, R&B and pop, including Whitney Houston, Sting, Bill Laswell, Sonny Sharrock, and William Parker. Together, the trio has waxed five critically acclaimed albums, including I Am A Man (1998), Ascension (2011), and their latest, The Terror End of Beauty (2018)

    The music of Harriet Tubman is both familiar and fresh, a unique blend that allows the listener to experience the music free from distracting labels of style or genre.

    Several critics have likened their style to a free jazzy, future-forward extension of the musical terra firma first laid down by Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys. There are also elements of Delta Blues, King Tubby-style dub, electronica, 70s-styled jazz fusion, metal, ambient, noise- and progressive-rock.

    While Ross may be best known for his mannered acoustic guitar work with vocalist Cassandra Wilson, he is genuinely liberated in this trio, like Harriet Tubman herself. Ross conjures spacious textures and loops as the backdrops to melodies and solos that often impart a white-hot fire, as captured on “Farther Unknown,” the opener of their latest album. Gibbs was once called “the egg in the meatloaf” by his former boss, the late great drummer/bandleader Ronald Shannon Jackson of the Decoding Society.

    In this band, he provides the sub-harmonic foundation for their wildly wonderful and unpredictable sonic excursions, alternating between deep, steady grooves punctuated with thunderous chords and rapid-fire melodies of his own. Drummer Lewis provides the beats, which are polyrhythmic, funky, tribal, and swinging.  Lewis functions at the conductor, creating the pulses and crescendos that propel the surprisingly dense sound produced by the trio. Harriet Tubman has a bit of everything for anyone with open ears, – free jazz, metal, blues, electronica, noise, swing, funk and dub – often co-existing happily in a single bar of music. 

    Elysium Furnace Works’ 2024 season has brought Hudson Valley music lovers some of greatest names in jazz with an experimental edge.  Past concerts have featured local guitar hero David Torn, The Matthew Shipp Trio, legendary Ornette Coleman collaborator bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma and trumpeter Peter Evans.  Fans of experimentally-minded guitarist should also consider checking out EFW’s November 16 event at VBI with AM/FM. This power duo of guitarist Ava Mendoza and violinist Gabby Fluke-Mogul synthesize a heady brew of avant-jazz, blues, and noise – radically upending experimental music(s) past, present, and future.

    Harriet Tubman will perform on Saturday, December 7 at 8 PM at the VBI Theatre of Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center at 12 Vassar Street in Poughkeepsie. Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the door — advance tickets are on sale here.

  • Maverick Concerts Announces New Green Room Project this Fall as Part of Multi-Step Fundraiser

    Maverick Concerts in Woodstock has announced their new Green Room Project as part of a multi-step fundraising project to revitalize and retain the historic hall.

    Maverick Concerts green room

    Maverick Concerts is the oldest ongoing summer chamber music festival in the U.S., attracting the best musicians in the world for 100 years. In addition to classical music, Maverick features jazz, contemporary, folk and world music. Maverick Family Saturdays offers free music, demonstrations and discovery for the whole family. The mainstay of the festival, which runs from June to September, is to be found in the Sunday chamber music concerts performed by renowned soloists and ensembles. Jazz and Contemporary Music presentations have been given more prominence in recent seasons.

    Maverick Concerts is located in Hurley on the outskirts of Woodstock, in Ulster County. TZHe barn-like, rectangular building with its gambrel roof was built by hand as part of the Maverick Colony in 1916 by the utopian writer and philosopher Hervey White.

    With a roof of wood shingles and a frame of heavy timber, to which the walls—sheaths of wide planks—are nailed directly, the wooden construction and luminous acoustics create an environment perfectly suited to the intimacy of live chamber music. Maverick Concerts, a multi-starred destination by the National Register of Historic Places since 1999, was awarded for Excellence in Historic Preservation by the Preservation League of New York State.

    This fall, the iconic venue plans to harbor new initiative in the creation of the new Green Room. Maverick Concerts has been awarded $457,000 in New York State grants for two capital projects vital to retaining the historic hall as an artistic home. The Green Room project starts this fall and as a first step in this multi-step fundraising project we are focusing on raising the full $257,000 of the New York State Council on the Arts matching grant. 

    The Green Room Project is an exciting new addition to the already fantastic venue. With the newly added Green Room, the Maverick Concert Hall expands their possibilities and capacity. $146,000 has been raised so far and with help they can raise the remaining $111,000 to better utilize the building for the expansion of musical legacy.

    For more information on Maverick Concerts, upcoming events, and the Green Room Project, click here.

  • Kingston Pop Museum Presents New Mid-Century Pop Culture Exhibit “Granny Takes A Trip”

    The Kingston Pop Museum has announced its newest exhibit “Granny Takes A Trip” containing mid-century pop culture pieces from museum owner and curator John Stavros’ private collection on display and for sale for the first time ever.

    Acting as a gallery space, event venue, and private museum collection, the Kingston Pop Museum hosts a variety of owner and curator John Stravos’ endeavors, including but not limited to fashion, art, music, sports, entertainment, private events, and productions all under one roof. 

    In addition to its incredibly unique collection, the Kingston Pop Museum offers management, promotions, marketing, hospitality, and more to artists and creatives. The gallery’s adjacent retail merchandise store, the Pop Shop, acts as another venue for independent creatives to promote and sell their works as well.

    KPM’s newest endeavor, an eclectic gallery full of bright colors and vibrant personality, has just been announced- “Granny Takes A Trip.” Connecting the nostalgic love and wisdom imparted by grandmas living it up in the mid-1900s era that put peace and love above all else with the unique, beautifully odd, and otherwise trippy visual culture that developed adjacent to the time, “Granny Takes A Trip” is a sparkling adventure through time.

    Spanning works from the late 1960s to the early 1980s, pieces on display encapsulate the initial spark created by iconic figures of the time in art, music, and fashion that would later catch on as the revolutionary Glam Mod scene as cultivated by the era’s rebellious youth.

    This particular energy is captured in Stavros’ impressive personal collection, dozens of which will be on display during “Granny Takes A Trip.” Some of the most exciting works include Andy Warhol’s letter of rejection to the MoMA, one of the very few complete collections in the US of all four highly coveted Beatles dolls, and furniture belonging to pop-culture industry titans like the former manager of KISS Bill Aucoin and founder of Penthouse Bob Guccione.

    Visitors can also be on the lookout for several pieces of rock ‘n roll memorabilia, such as four custom-painted Volkswagens- including a Westfalia camper that belonged to the road manager of the Dave Matthews Band, and much more.

    “Granny Takes A Trip” will open on Saturday, November 16 at 4:00 PM with an exciting special evening of art and music planned to celebrate. An international group art exhibit will cohabitate with the main exhibit’s work alongside live performances from Ramona Lane of New Paltz and New York City locals SoulCake, Walter G. Steding, Mark Hawdon, and Puma Perl + Joe Sztabnik.

    For more information on “Granny Takes A Trip,” how to visit, and all things Kingston Pop Museum, visit their website here.

  • Mikaela Davis Announces Intimate Acoustic Solo Tour

    Rochester born singer-songwriter, producer, and harpist Mikaela Davis has announced a solo and acoustic tour throughout the northeast, including four stops in New York State. 

    Mikaela Davis Solo

    Multi-talented vocalist, producer, songwriter, and harpist Mikaela Davis has been making waves since her initial release Delivery in 2018. Graduating from the Crane School of Music with a degree in harp performance, Davis bends the rules of genre and sound to her will with each release as she melds her classical training with 60s pop melodies, psychedelia, and driving folk rock.

    Since her debut in the industry, Davis has shared the stage with the likes of Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Christian McBride, Bon Iver, Lake Street Dive, and Circles Around the Sun alongside her band members Alex Coté, Cian McCarthy, Shane McCarthy, and Kurt Johnson.

    photo by Daniel Bocchino

    Mikaela’s upcoming endeavor, however, takes on a less explored and much more personal shape- she has announced a series of six shows throughout the northeast that will feature John Lee Shannon of Circles Around the Sun on the guitar, herself, and her harp. The stripped-back series of six evenings on some of the northeast’s most beloved stages will allow for Davis’ harp background to shine even brighter. 

    Experimenting with new ideas as well as reimagining some old, she will be making appearances in Albany, Homer, Kingston, and Rochester over the course of the tour’s run in a string of special shows that fans new and old will not want to miss.

    Mikaela Davis Solo

    Tickets for Davis’ upcoming tour are on sale now, including shows at Ophelia’s in Albany on November 19, the Center for the Arts of Homer on November 20, Senate Garage in Kingston on November 23, and ARTISANworks in Rochester on November 24. For more information and ticket sales, visit her website here.

    Mikaela Davis Solo Tour Dates

    November 19: Ophelia’s – Albany, NY

    November 20: Center for the Arts of Homer – Homer, NY

    November 21: The Parlor Room – Northampton, MA

    November 22: The Lamp Shop – Burlington, VT

    November 23: Senate Garage – Kingston, NY

    November 24: ARTISANworks – Rochester, NY

  • Mountain Jam Festival to Return in 2025

    The Mountain Jam music festival and Catskills cultural cornerstone will officially return in June of 2025, just in time for its 20th anniversary.

    mountain jam 2025

    A vivid and expansive music festival, Mountain Jam has held a reputation for its dedication to live music across the sound spectrum since its beginnings in 2005. Born as a celebration of the Radio Woodstock radio station’s 25th anniversary, Mountain Jam has developed year after year from a single-day event of about 3,000 attendees total to a multi-day event drawing in over 40,000 attendees- earning the fest the moniker of the largest rock and camping festival in the entire Northeast.

    Despite the increasingly large numbers, Mountain Jam has never strayed from what made it such a fan favorite- the sense of intimacy and community found within the festival grounds. Familiar headliners and rising stars alike would tuck themselves away in the picturesque mountains of the Catskills for days at a time alongside rotating food vendors and interactive activities that gave Mountain Jam their impressive yet down to earth reputation.

    Originally housed at the Hunter Mountain Ski Resort for its picturesque views and natural amphitheater environment, the Jam made the move to the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the original stomping grounds of the original Woodstock Festival,  in 2019 to commemorate Woodstock’s historic 50th anniversary.

    Bella's Bartok
    Bella’s Bartok

    With names like Andy Frasco & The U.N., alt-J, Jack Johnson, Gov’t Mule, and Twiddle under their belts already, Mountain Jam’s 2020 line up was to be a hard hitter. The likes of Brandi Carlile, Grace Potter, Sammy Rae & the Friends, and more were meant to join the ranks of Mountain Jam alumnus- but, as with most live music that year, plans were put to a halt as COVID-19 kept folks at home.

    Since the cancellation in late March of 2020, news on Mountain Jam’s return has been few and far between, with little more than a tentative delay announcement to reference in 2022. 

    However, in an exciting 25-second video announcement uploaded just days ago to the festival’s official website and social media,  Mountain Jam has been triumphantly declared as “Alive in ‘25”. Described as “better than ever,” the 2025 Mountain Jam festival will be hosted at Belleayre Mountain once more from June 20-22. 

    While no details on featured acts or further information is currently available, there’s no doubt there’s more to come. To keep up to date on the latest from Mountain jam, visit their website here.

  • Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra Opens Season With “The Golden Age of Hollywood”

    Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra has announced their 19th Season celebrating all things movie score, opening with “The Golden Age of Hollywood.”

    Formed in 2006, the Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra brings live orchestral music to northern Dutchess County and the surrounding Hudson Valley area. The Orchestra is entering their 19th season this year conducted by artistic director and leadership mainstay Kathleen Beckmann, with shows ranging between 40 and 50 performers depending on the repertoire.

    Between their five main performances, special concert events, internationally acclaimed guest artists, and talented dance ensembles featured at family-affordable prices each and every season, the NDSO has and continues to cultivate a community of classical music and live performance fans within Dutchess County and beyond. Returning with their 2024-2025 season, the Orchestra has announced a series of exciting performances for music lovers of all ages.

    With events like the annual “Home for the Holidays” December concert, a “Disney and Zimmer” blockbuster evening celebrating movie scores, the time-traveling “An Organ in the House” show that brings a theater organ into the fold as the Orchestra brings music from the silent film era to life, and the “Music of The Knights” show celebrating incredibly successful songwriters Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sir Elton John, and Sir Paul McCartney, the NDSO’s lineup for this year will certainly be one for the books.

    Perfectly fitting the film-themed season, “The Golden Age of Hollywood” concert is set to open the Orchestra’s activities for the year on October 27. Featuring scores from classic films like Casablanca, Sunset Boulevard, Psycho, and Ben-Hur, the North Dutchess Symphony Orchestra will immerse the audience in the theatrics and magic of classic cinema.

    Internationally acclaimed violinist Uli Speth will make an appearance during the evening of theater to perform Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Violin Concerto, famously known as the “Hollywood Concerto” for its rich and cinematic sound. 

    A graduate of the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, Speth has performed extensively across the U.S. as a soloist and chamber musician in addition to performances on public radio, collaborations with renowned quartets and members of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and premiering new works alongside a string quartet among many other accomplishments. Currently the concertmaster of the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra and a dedicated educator in his own right, Speth will make a spellbinding addition to the evening’s celebration of all things hollywood.

    In addition to Speth’s exciting guest appearance, prior to the show at 3:15 PM folks in attendance will be able to experience a special presentation from Bard College Professor Joseph Luzzi complete with film clips and anecdotes about this exciting period in Hollywood in order to put the show and its contents into further context.

    Tickets for the Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra’s “The Golden Age of Hollywood” on October 27 are available now, priced at $38 per person with special discounts available for seniors and students. To learn more and purchase tickets, please visit the Orchestra’s website here.

  • Arts for Healing: O+ Festival 2024

    Kingston, New York is steeped in history. Once the ancestral lands of the Munsee people, it became a permanent settlement for Dutch colonists in 1652 and designating as New York State’s first capital in 1777.

    Keegan Ales Kingston NY,
    Keegan Ales, O+ Festival 2024

    Fast forwarding to today, this thriving HudsonValley community now serves as the base for O+ (pronounced O Positive), a non-profit organization creating its own history with a unique paradigm: artists exchanging their art for medical care.

    Eat the Cake Band, Keegan Ales, Arts for Healing: O+ Festival 2024
    Eat the Cake Band, Keegan Ales

    From October 11-13th 2024, Kingston hosted O+’s annual festival, now in its fourteenth year. The three-day event raised awareness and funds for the organization, offering an immersive gathering of musicians, writers, dancers, spoken-word performers, and visual artists. In exchange for their contributions, participating artists received healthcare services.

    Kate Pierson Old Dutch Church, Arts for Healing: O+ Festival 2024
    Kate Pierson, Old Dutch Church

    The festivities kicked off Friday night with a parade starting at Keegan Ales. With their three stages, Keegan Ales served as a musical hub, offering a wide range of musical experiences—from metal and rock to hip hop, house, and techno.

    When artists and musicians thrive, so do culture and our communities.

    O+ vision

    The Old Dutch Church, a historical landmark dating back to 1659, anchored the festival in Uptown Kingston. Featured performers Neko Case, Rhett Miller & The All Stars, and Kate Pierson graced the church’s stage. Festivalgoers could purchase wristbands for full access to multiple stages, performance spaces, and presentations, all within walking distance of the church.

    Utility Bicycle Works, Sun Daniels,
    Sug Daniels, Utility Bicycle Works

    One of the festival’s hidden gems was the Utility Bicycle Works stage, tucked away in the back of a local bicycle shop. Though the room was small, it offered an intimate atmosphere that amplified the performances. Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter Sug Daniels bared her soul to a captivated audience. The six-piece band King in Yellow defied the space’s physical limitations with their commanding presence.

    TR33S Keegan Ales back room
    TR33S, Keegan Ales Back Room

    On Sunday night at the Old Dutch Church, O+ concluded with a special screening and panel discussion of The Blair Witch Project which coincided with the film’s 25th anniversary. Moderated by actress and musician Amanda Seyfried, the panel featured director Ed Sanchez and actors Joshua Leonard and Michael C. Williams.

    Rhett Miller and The All Stars
    Rhett Miller and The All Stars

    O+’s vision remains clear: “When artists and musicians thrive, so do culture and our communities.” With fourteen years of Arts for Healing under its belt, O+ is not only adding to Kingston’s legacy but is actively shaping its future.