The Town Supervisor of Woodstock will be presenting Todd Rundgren with Keys to the Town on October 23 following a two-day residency.
A pioneer of electronic and progressive rock music, the usage of computer software and online music delivery, and music videos as a whole, Todd Rundgren is nothing short of a music industry legend.
His experimental approach to creating has garnered widespread respect since his beginnings with psychedelic band Nazz, following solo career and subsequent group Utopia, and ventures into the tech world- Rundgren is to be thanked for one of the first music videos to be aired on MTV produced in addition to one of the first computer paint programs.
This insatiable desire to create and experiment is exactly what landed Rundgren in the limelight time and time again, as his work maintains personality and ingenuity regardless of medium or circumstance.
Some of his most notable work not directly tied to his name came out of his 1969 move to New York, in which he found himself in the Greenwich Village club scene mingling with Manhattan creatives.
After accepting a job offer from former Nazz assistant manager turned new founder of Ampex Records and correlated Bearsville Studios nestled next to Woodstock, Rundgren began his journey to becoming the highest-paid producer in the world, eventually giving him the push needed to kick-start his solo career.
Rundgren’s ties to the town continue in 2002, scoring the A Face to a Name film debuted at the Woodstock Film Festival, a piece made in and concerning the aftermath of the September 11 attacks of the previous year.
It’s no wonder why the town of Woodstock has decided to honor Rundgren in this way- the keys will be a testament to his importance to the cultural history of the area, music, and everything in between. In addition to the symbolic presenting of keys, the ceremony will also mark the installation and dedication of a plaque to his work at Utopia Video Studio, built for Rundgren by Albert Grossman in the 1980s- the origin point of his legendary MTV music video projects.
The ceremony runs parallel to Rundgren’s two-day set at Bearsville Theater on October 22 and 23. While the first of two dates is sold out, the second that will follow the key presenting ceremony still has tickets available- learn more and purchase tickets here.
Far Trio will embark on a fall tour that will amount to 14 dates across New York through Sep. and Oct. ahead of their new album expected next year.
Far Trio is an “earthy fusion” band from Buffalo that was formed over a decade ago in Fredonia, NY. They are going on tour this fall bringing their unique blend of soul, blues, and singer-songwriter vibes to audiences throughout New York State.
Eamon Rayhn (vocals, bass), Drew Azzinaro (vocals, guitar), and Ethan Fox (drums) form the band which has been a fixture in the regionâs music scene for the past five years. They have performed over 150 shows annually across cities like Buffalo, NYC, the Finger Lakes, Philadelphia, and the Hudson Valley.
Far Trio has played at renowned venues including The Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall, Shakti Lounge, So Far NYC, and major jazz festivals such as The Northwest Jazz Festival and Carnegie Jazz Festival. They have earned critical acclaim for their fresh takes on classic songs by artists such as John Lennon and The Allman Brothers, and their original compelling compositions.
In 2022, Far Trio released their second album, Ordinary Moments, recorded in Woodstock, NY, with legendary producer Scott Petito (James Taylor, Chick Corea, John Scofield). The album features 14 tracks ranging from soulful singer-songwriter tunes to raunchy blues-tinged grooves. This latest work showcases the band’s evolution as a unit, with each member augmenting the othersâ compositions and delivering a diverse sound that captivates a wide audience.
The band has stated that a new project is on the horizon for next year, the band continues to write, experiment, and create music that transcends genres while keeping its soul firmly rooted in the earthy fusion they are known for.
World renowned comedy musician “Weird Al” Yankovic has announced his BIGGER & WEIRDER 2025 tour, including four shows across New York state in Buffalo, Manhattan, Bethel, and Saratoga Springs.
The biggest-selling comedy recording artist in history, most have heard Weird Al’s work- even if they haven’t realized it. Best known for his parody work riffing off of the last four decades’ hits, Yankovic has received five grammy awards and seventeen career nominations.
As one of only three artists to chart in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 in the previous four consecutive decades alongside Madonna and Michael Jackson, to say Yankovic is a decorated comedian would be underselling it. His top hits include “Smells Like Nirvana,” “Eat it,” “Amish Paradise,” and more, with his most recent release Mandatory Fun being the only comedy album in history to debut on the top of the Billboard Top 200.
In addition to his music career, Yankovic is an accomplished actor, writer, director, and producer, having been awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and an Emmy for the WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story biopic starring Daniel Radcliffe.
Having performed across the globe for generations in some of the world and New York’s premiere venues already, “Weird Al” Yankovic is touring once more after a six year hiatus to bring a show that is bigger and weirder than ever before to audiences across the country and beyond- including the stages of the Darien Lake Amphitheater in Buffalo, Madison Square Garden,Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, and the Broadview Stage at SPAC in Saratoga Springs.
The BIGGER & WEIRDER 2025 tour, among many things, will feature fan favorites that haven’t hit the stage yet alongside his biggest hits in a larger-than-life performance involving a giant video wall, multiple costume changes, and support by an eight-piece ensemble featuring Al’s original band.
“This is kind of a ‘best of both worlds’ tour. We’ll be doing all the big crowd-pleasing parodies as well as some deep cuts for the hardcore fans – but with twice as many players on stage, everything is going to sound twice as good!”
– “Weird Al” Yankovic
In addition to Yankovic’s iconic performance, the tour will be supported by special guest Puddles Pity Party, the 7-foot sad clown with a voice of gold that has sold out shows across the globe in venues including but not limited to San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts, London’s Soho Theatre, and a residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.
The BIGGER & WEIRDER tour will kick off on June 13 and land in New York on July 11 at the Darien Lake Amphitheater in Buffalo, followed by a show on July 12 at the iconic Madison Square Garden on July 12 and a show at the Bethel Woods Center For the Arts on July 13. Then, after a brief pause to perform in Boston, Weird Al will return to the state for his July 17 performance at the Broadview Stage at SPAC in Saratoga Springs.
Tickets will be available for purchase starting at 10:00 AM on Friday, September 27, starting at $29.50. For further information and ticket purchasing, please visit Weird Al’s website here.
“Weird Al” Yankovic BIGGER & WEIRDER 2025 Tour
June 13 LAS VEGAS, NV The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort June 14 LAS VEGAS, NV The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort June 18 LAS VEGAS, NV The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort June 20 LAS VEGAS, NV The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort June 21 LAS VEGAS, NV The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort June 23 SALT LAKE CITY, UT Maverik Center June 24 MORRISON, CO (Denver) Red Rocks Amphitheatre June 26 KANSAS CITY, MO Starlight Theatre June 27 DES MOINES, IA Des Moines Civic Center June 28 WELCH, MN (Minneapolis) Treasure Island Amphitheater at Treasure Island Resort & Casino June 29 HIGHLAND PARK, IL (Chicago) Ravinia Festival (on sale TBA) July 1 TRAVERSE CITY, MI National Cherry Festival July 2 CLARKSTON, MI (Detroit) Pine Knob Music Theatre July 3 INDIANAPOLIS, IN Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park July 5 BEAVER DAM, KY (Evansville) Beaver Dam Amphitheater July 6 KETTERING, OH (Dayton) Fraze Pavilion July 9 TORONTO, ON Budweiser Stage July 11 BUFFALO, NY Darien Lake Amphitheater July 12 NEW YORK, NY Madison Square Garden July 13 BETHEL, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts July 15 BOSTON, MA Boch Center Wang Theatre July 17 SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (Albany) Broadview Stage at SPAC July 18 MASHANTUCKET, CT The Premier Theatre at Foxwoods Resort Casino July 19 PHILADELPHIA, PA TD Pavilion at the Mann July 20 VIENNA, VA (Washington, DC) Wolf Trap July 24 RALEIGH, NC Red Hat Amphitheater July 25 WILMINGTON, NC Live Oak Bank Pavilion July 26 CHARLOTTE, NC Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre July 27 HUNTSVILLE, AL Orion Amphitheater July 29 NEW ORLEANS, LA Saenger Theatre July 31 AUSTIN, TX Bass Concert Hall Aug 1 THE WOODLANDS, TX (Houston) The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Presented by Huntsman Aug 2 GRAND PRAIRIE, TX (Dallas) Texas Trust CU Theatre Aug 3 ROGERS, AR (Fayetteville) Walmart AMP Aug 5 LINCOLN, NE (Omaha) Pinewood Bowl Theater Aug 7 CASPER, WY Ford Wyoming Center Aug 8 IDAHO FALLS, ID Mountain America Center Aug 9 NAMPA, ID (Boise) Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater Aug 10 BONNER, MT KettleHouse Amphitheater Aug 12 AIRWAY HEIGHTS, WA (Spokane) BECU Live Amp at Northern Quest Resort & Casino Aug 13 TROUTDALE, OR (Portland) Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn – McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater Aug 14 TROUTDALE, OR (Portland) Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn – McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater Aug 15 AUBURN, WA (Seattle) White River Amphitheatre Aug 17 PALMER, AK (Anchorage)* Alaska State Fair – ConocoPhillips Borealis Theatre Aug 20 EUGENE, OR Cuthbert Amphitheater Aug 22 MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA (San Francisco) Shoreline Amphitheatre Aug 23 MODESTO, CA The Fruit Yard Amphitheater Aug 24 STATELINE, NV (Reno/Tahoe) Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys Aug 26 REDDING, CA Redding Civic Auditorium Lawn Aug 27 ROHNERT PARK, CA Green Music Center Aug 29 SAN DIEGO, CA* The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park Aug 30 INGLEWOOD, CA (Los Angeles) Kia Forum Aug 31 PHOENIX, AZ Arizona Financial Theatre Sept 2 GRAND JUNCTION, CO Amphitheater at Las Colonias Park Sept 4 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO Ford Amphitheater Sept 5 RIO RANCHO, NM (Albuquerque) Rio Rancho Events Center Sept 6 CONCHO, OK (Oklahoma City) Lucky Star Amphitheater at Lucky Star Casino Sept 7 TULSA, OK Tulsa Theater Sept 9 MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO (St. Louis) Saint Louis Music Park Sep 12 MADISON, WI Breese Stevens Field Sept 13 CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH (Cleveland) Blossom Music Center Sept 14 COLUMBUS, OH Palace Theatre Sept 16 NEWPORT, KY (Cincinnati) MegaCorp Pavilion Sept 17 KALAMAZOO, MI Miller Auditorium Sept 20 NASHVILLE, TN Ascend Amphitheater
Hudson Valley Votes will hold a “Get-Out-The-Vote” rally and concert at the Ulster Performing Arts Center in Kingston on Oct. 4 at 7:30 pm.
A concert and rally with the primary goal of motivating citizens from Ulster County and the surrounding areas to vote in national and local races on Nov. 5, will be put on by Hudson Valley Votes and co-presented by Dayglo. The event will bring regionally-based artists and musicians to perform at the UPAC on Oct. 4. All net proceeds from this year’s concert/rally will be donated to Planned Parenthood of Greater New York.
The organization was originally founded in early 2018 by a group of friends in Woodstock, including Ulster County residents Abbe Aronson, Jason Bowman, and Acacia Ludwig. They have produced voter turnout events for the past six years, including concerts/rallies to bring attention to the importance of local elections, civic engagement, and to encourage turnout at the polls. In 2018, they produced the first sold-out concert/rally at UPAC. In 2020, they put on a virtual concert due to the pandemic.
“What makes Hudson Valley Votes so special is how it brings together the arts and politics, reflecting the strength and creativity of our community, From making housing more affordable to protecting reproductive rights, this event shows how we can come together to create real, positive change. This election is one of historic importance—from electing leaders like Harris and Walz, to winning back the House, to securing the Equal Rights Amendment. We need to make sure every person exercises their right to vote. I’m excited to be part of this moment and to continue fighting for a brighter, more equitable future for all of us.”
Michelle Hinchey (New York State Senator)
This year, Hudson Valley Votes Concert and Rally 2024 will be hosted by activist and actor Thomas Sadoski with Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody, and additional special guests. One of these special guests will be Natalie Merchant (formerly of 10,000 Maniacs) who will speak and perform.
The event is produced by all Hudson Valley locals including Natalie Merchant, Elizabeth Penta, and Elizabeth Mitchell, along with Political Directors, Liam Kahn and Jazmin Kay, and co-producers Tricia Reed, Suzanne Walton, Mary Gormley, and Kristy Engels.
This year, New York State Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, Congress Member Pat Ryan (NY-18), New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey (SD-41), Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha (NY-103), and Josh Riley (candidate for Congress, NY-19) will all speak.
“I’m incredibly proud to be part of a large and varied community of artists, here in the Hudson Valley, who are willing to show up when it matters…and this election really matters. With this rally, we’re doing all we can to put our Democratic candidates in the spotlight and amplify what they have to say.”
Mark Perro, co-founder of punk group The Men, will create an original, live musical score for the 1922 silent horror classic Nosferatu on Saturday, October 12 at Story Screen Cinema in Hudson, NY.
Mark Perro of The Men
Perro, a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and songwriter, co-founded The Men, known for their genre-blending sound that spans punk, rock, and experimental music.
The evening is co-presented by Upstate New York-based film programmers Sleepover Trading Co., who will create an exclusive retro clip show featuring vintage trailers, commercials and other oddities that will play before the feature. Based in Catskill, Sleepover Trading Co. is dedicated to retro VHS, toy and comic culture with the goal of recreating your perfect childhood sleepover, and are known for their custom made clip shows, presenting screenings of cult classic films throughout the Hudson Valley.
I’ve known Mark since The Men were a three piece playing the back room at Tommy’s Tavern. We are very excited for him to bring the noise to one of the world’s most famous silent films.
Sleepover Trading Co. co-founder Rob Ribar
This unique event is part of Story Screen’s month-long Story Scream HorrorShow X series, celebrating all things spooky and cinematic in the month of October. The live scoring also marks Perro’s first live score, having released nine albums and four EPs with The Men, including 2023’s New York City and 2024’s Manhattan Fire.
The Men
Nosferatu, directed by F.W. Murnau, is an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and continues to one of the most unsettling vampire films ever made. Portrayed by Max Schreck, the bald, spidery vampire has influenced countless incarnations throughout contemporary cinema in the century following its release. Famed critic Roger Ebert said of Nosferatu in 1997, “To watch F.W. Murnau’s “Nosferatu” (1922) is to seethe vampire movie before it had really seen itself. Here is the story of Dracula before it was buried alive in clichés, jokes, TV skits, cartoons and more than 30 other films. The film is in awe of its material. It seems to really believe in vampires.”
The screening and performance will take place at Story Screen Cinema, a community-focused movie theater located at 160 Fairview Ave, Hudson, NY. Story Screen also offers a full array of food, cocktails, non-alcoholic drinks and local beers plus an extensive pinball and arcade game collection. Known for its creative programming and love for cinema, Story Screen Cinema brings together film lovers and casual viewers alike for unforgettable experiences.
Additionally, the Crandell Theatre in Chatham, will go back to its roots on Friday, October 4 at 7 pm and screen Nosferatu with musician and silent film historian Ben Model accompanying the film on theater organ, brought in for one very special night, allowing the audience to experience the film just as it sounded upon its original release in 1922. Tickets are $25 and $20 for members.
Americana bluegrass band Hackensaw Boys brings their celebratory tour for the 20th Anniversary of their 2005 album, Love What You Do. All in all, the group will bringing performances of the acclaimed project to Woodstock, Syracuse, and New York City this September and October.
Hackensaw Boys have been touring since 1999, known throughout the country and beyond for their exciting performances and unique use of the “charismo”, a DIY percussion instrument constructed of cans and other household objects. Carving out a distinctive sound of their own, current members David Sickmen (guitar), Caleb Powers (fiddle), Thomas Olivier (mandolin), Taylor Shuck (banjo), Aaron Smith (bass), and Bee Roberts (percussion) have been delivering high energy, down to earth shows as a collective for years now, with yet another sensational tour ahead of them beginning in just a few weeks.
About “Love What You Do”
Moreover, the album in question for the upcoming tour is one of their most beloved works, Love What You Do. Released in 2005, the album combines influences from American traditional music and modern indie rock, resulting in fan favorites that are still requested at almost every show just under 20 years later. This tour is a love letter to longtime listeners and fans of some of their oldest works, offering fresh interpretations of the classics while keeping the spirit of the original recordings alive.
In addition to the live celebration, Hackensaw Boys will be pressing the album to vinyl for the very first time – a physical token to commemorate how far the group has come.
As a result, Hackensaw Boys will begin their tour on September 26 in Woodstock. In addition to the opening show, the group will be performing in Syracuse on September 27 accompanied by opener Kidbless, and they will return to the state to perform at the Mercury Lounge in New York City on October 6. For tickets and further information, please visit here.
Moreover, dates for the east coast and midwest this fall have been announced, with more to come in the winter and spring. Thus, for the full list of currently announced tour dates, please see below.
TOUR DATES
Sept 26 – Colony (Woodstock, NY)
Sept 27 – Funk ‘n Waffles (Syracuse, NY)
Sept 28 – Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats (Rehoboth Beach, DE)
Sept 29 – Small Batch Cellars (North Haven, CT)
Oct 1 – Club Cafe (Pittsburgh, PA)
Oct 2 – The 8×10 (Baltimore, MD)
Oct 3 – 118 North (Wayne, PA)
Oct 4 – Askew (Providence, RI)
Oct 5 – Roy’s Hall (Blairstown, NJ)
Oct 6 – Mercury Lounge (NYC, NY)
Oct 19 – Trading Post by Traber Ranch (Lynchburg, VA)
Oct 20 – Roanoke GO Fest (Roanoke, VA)
Nov 7 – Shank Hall (Milwaukee, WI)
Nov 8 – The Tarlton Theatre (Green Bay, WI)
Nov 9 – Evanston SPACE (Evanston, IL)
Nov 10 – Turf Club (St. Paul, MN)
Nov 11 – Raccoon Motel (Davenport, IA)
Nov 13 – Southgate House Revival (Newport, KY)
Nov 14 – Duke’s Indy (Indianapolis, IN)
Nov 15 – Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (Grand Rapids, MI)
Mary Gauthier is bringing her most recent tour alongside fellow singer-songwriter Robbie Fulks to Phoenicia, Saratoga Springs, and Spencertown later this month.
Grammy nominated folk singer-songwriter and author Mary Gauthier has a long legacy of translating the human experience into sound. Her lyrics cut, her instrumentals hit deep, and her work has resonated with the public since the very beginning of her highly awarded 11 album, 28 year career.
Her first album, Dixie Kitchen, shares the name of the Cajun restaurant she opened prior to her musical career. This release gifted her the first of many award nominations to come for Best New Contemporary Folk Artist at the 1998 Boston Music Awards. Selling her share of the restaurant to finance her next album, Gauthier released Drag Queens in Limousines that same year, rocketing her into the spotlight for its unapologetically real, raw, and queer narratives.
Since then, Gauthier has released nine albums, including Mercy Now whose titular track earned the title of one of the “Saddest 40 Country Songs of All Time” by Rolling Stone Magazine, and Rifles & Rosary Beads, a collaborative project with U.S. veterans and their families, which not only resulted in various awards and Gauthier’s first Grammy nomination, but also presented the public with a difficult conversation in a groundbreakingly beautiful way.
Robbie Fulks, Gauthier’s co-headliner for the tour, shares her lyrical honesty and folksy charm, taking on a more bluegrass and country twang. While born in Pennsylvania and raised in Virginia, Fulks moved to New York City as a young adult and found a love for the Greenwich Village songwriting scene, there honing his skills that would carry his career to recognition from publications like NPR and Rolling Stone and two Grammy nominations.
Gauthier and Fulks will begin their tour in a matter of days, performing at the United Methodist Church in Phoenicia, New York on September 14, both an afternoon and an evening performance at Caffé Lena in Saratoga Springs on September 15, and the Spencertown Academy Arts Center on September 26.
For more information and tickets, please visit here. A full list of tour dates is below.
TOUR DATES
September 11 – Vienna, VA – Jammin Java
September 12 – Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theater
September 13 – Northampton, MA – Iron Horse Music Hall
September 14 – Phoenicia, NY – United Methodist Church
September 15 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Caffé Lena (4:30 PM)
September 15 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Caffé Lena (7:30 PM)
September 17 – Nashville, TN – All Star Tribute and Drag Queens Album Performance
September 21 – Palm Coast, FL – Flagler Oars Recovery Festival 2024
September 26 – Spencertown, NY – Spencertown Academy Arts Center
September 27 – Manchester, NH – The Rex Theatre
September 28 – Town of Rockingham, VT – An Evening with Mary Gauthier & Ray Wylie Hubbard
October 3 – Harvard, MA – The Fruitlands Museum
October 12 – Nashville, TN – The Ryman Auditorium
October 17 – San Antonio, TX – An Evening with Three Women and The Truth
October 18 – Houston, TX – An Evening with Three Women and The Truth
October 19 – Austin, TX – An Evening with Three Women and The Truth
October 20 – Dallas, TX – An Evening with Three Women and The Truth
Five For Fighting’s String Quartet Tour kicks off Sept. 26. They will perform over two decades of hits and fan favorites with a four-piece string section. New York shows include stops in Homer, Saratoga Springs, Corning, Bethel, Oneonta, Bethlehem, and Port Washington.
Five For Fighting, otherwise known as John Ondrasik, is a platinum-selling, and Grammy-nominated songwriter and performer with a career spanning two decades since his first major single, “Superman (It’s Not Easy).” Five For Fighting has released six studio albums, including the certified platinum America Town, and The Battle for Everything.
Ondrasik says, “The string quartet allows a more intimate experience and the ability to pull songs from my catalog with fantastic string arrangements from world-renowned composers that I do not play with the rock band. The string quartet also performs a multitude of classical and rock songs that change every night that is always a special treat for audiences.” The String Quartet will include the Tony Award-winning concertmaster and co-orchestrator of Moulin Rouge! The Musical Katie Kresek with Melissa Tong, Chris Cardona, and Peter Sachon.
Five For Fighting Full Tour Schedule:
September 26 in Homer, NY at Center for the Arts of Homer
September 27 in Saratoga Springs, NY at Universal Preservation Hall
September 28 in Corning, NY at Corning Museum Of Glass
September 29 in Bethel, NY at The Event Gallery at Bethel Woods
October 1 in Oneonta, NY at Foothills Performing Arts Center
October 3 in Nashua, NH at Nashua Center for the Arts
October 4 in Laconia, NH at The Colonial Theatre Laconia
October 5 in Bethlehem, NY at The Colonial Theatre
October 6 in Waterville, ME at Waterville Opera House
October 8 in Newport, RI at The JPT Film & Event Center
October 9 in Red Bank, NJ at Count Basie Center for the Arts – The Vogel
October 10 in Port Washington, NY at Landmark on Main Stree
Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, NY has announced a music celebration in honor of Ukrainian culture on September 22. The event is coined Ukrainian Community Day.
The event features a diverse lineup of Ukrainian music. This includes The Ukrainian Village Voices, singer Maria Sonevytsky, bandura player Olya Fryz, and Eva Salina, founder of Driftwood Chorus.
The Ukrainian American Youth Association of the Hudson Valley are selling a range of items. This includes shirts, sweatshirts, handmade jewelry, collectible Ukrainian stamps and more.
Activities include Ukrainian folk medicine plant walks, dance instruction, hands-on workshops showcasing Ukrainian potters, and wool spinning & weaving artists. Also included, an array of authentic culinary delights to be presented by Soyuzivka, the Ukrainian American cultural center in Kerhonkson.
Various performances are planned for the event by Zoya Shepko & YiYi Folk Ensemble, Ruby Pinyuh-Derovan, Bourbon & Breast Milk, and more. Each performance pays homage to the vast diversity of Ukrainian culture. Ukrainian Community Day is one for all to enjoy, and for all cultures to take part in and to experience this unique culture.
Ashokan’s all-age tickets work on a sliding scale with $20 as the suggested price of the event, $10 as the minimum, and $30 to be a supporter. This allows the Ashokan Center to provide tickets to those who are financially unable to attend otherwise.
50% of all proceeds are donated to Ukrainian-American Youth Association of the Hudson Valley. The support for Ukrainian American Youth Association’s (UAYA) efforts to aid children and hospitals in Ukraine is incredibly important, especially given the current challenges the country faces.
“The natural beauty and wooden architecture of the Ashokan Center invokes a sense of the Ukrainian mountain communities, creating a meaningful and resonant backdrop for this event. Showcasing and connecting with Ukrainian culture and community helps bring the issues in Ukraine closer to people’s hearts and helps support its resilience and fight for freedom.”
Danylo Mykula, Ukrainian American Youth Association
For more information on Ukrainian Community Day, and to purchase tickets, click here.
The twelfth Summer Hoot was held at the Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, NY over the course of three days, August 23 – 26, offering an eclectic mix of people spanning generations came together to celebrate their love for music.
Tucked away in the Catskill Mountains, the Ashokan Center offers 385 acres of pristine forestry accentuated by the Esopus Creek, which rolls through it. Augmenting this paradise, a wide array of musical talents performed at the Hoot. This harmony of nature and music created the ideal environment for co-founder Mike Merenda to declare Summer Hoot 12 as Zen.
Summer Hoot 2024 at The Ashokan Center
In the span of three days, more than twenty musical acts showcased their creative talents. The diverse lineup included folk, indie rock, jazz, and singer-songwriters, as well as Mexican, Argentinean, Creole, and Jamaican stylings.
Friday night began with Hoot founders Mike & Ruthy welcoming the early arrivals. Entertainment followed with performances by Tuba Skinny, Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys and others setting the tone for the weekend.
Ashokan Center Board of Director Kale Kaposhilin described the Hoot and the center as “a chosen family of loving intention.” This spirit was evident as people of all ages laughed, sang, and danced throughout the Hoot.
An Instrument Petting Zoo with guitars, bongos, violins, tambourines, and banjos was set up to offer the young (and young at heart) the opportunity to try out instruments and embark on their creative journey.
Summer Hoot Instrument Petting Zoo
Saturday and Sunday featured three stages from which to choose. The music began mid-morning and continued late into the night, including a “singers in the round” session at midnight. For those interested in making their own music, the Jubilee Jam tent in the Magical Musical Campground was open 24/7.
Dotted throughout the Ashokan Center grounds are a series of small buildings, one of which is The Pewter House. Stepping into this room feels like entering the 19th century, with its wood beams and wood burning stove. The intimacy of this space allowed for a deep connection with the performers.
The Pewter House
A select few performed in this unique setting. Naiika Sings, a Brooklyn-based chanteuse, gave a standout performance. Naiika, who began her career performing on NYC subway platforms and trains, elevated The Pewter House to a space of spiritual revelation with her performance.
Performers on the Pete Seeger and Toshi Seeger stages came from around the globe. Highlights included Bridget Kearney, founding member of Lake Street Dive; Steve Poltz, a Canadian folk singer; Carolina Mama, an Argentinean singer-songwriter; and Laurel Massé & Vinnie Martucci, a jazz and swing ensemble.
The Mammals
Local talent from the Hudson Valley was also well-represented. The Big Takeover, David & Jacob Bernz, and Jay Ungar & Molly Mason performed. No Hoot would be complete without Mike Merenda & Ruthy Unger Merenda and their band, The Mammals. Mike & Ruthy and band closed out the Toshi Seeger stage on Saturday night.
The heart of the Hoot is music and nature. The heart of the Ashokan Center is the appreciation of the natural world. Hoot + Ashokan = Zen.
Summer Hoot Performers
The City StompersThe MammalsJordan Hamilton & Seth BernardThe Gaslight TinkersDavid & Jacob Berns joined by Josiah Longo & Tink LoydSteve PoltzBridget KearneyNaiika SingsBrendan Daniel
