For the third time in their career, Phish performed at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, opening up a three-night run on Friday, August 9. With the remnants of Tropical Storm Debbie making its way through the Mid-Atlantic region and drenching much of New York State over Thursday and Friday, Phish fans planned for the worst and were rewarded for their efforts, with only lingering sprinkles during the show.
Nearing the end of their Summer Tour with only Bethel, their Mondegreen festival and four nights in Colorado left on their schedule, Phish has been rolling from the Northeast to the Midwest, dropping lengthy jams in unexpected spots, bringing new material to fans off Evolve, and inviting Billy Strings to the stage in Grand Rapids, MI. Now in Bethel, the band has their sites set on building towards their 11th festival, an event always ripe with surprises and leveled up improvisation.
With a pair of ASL interpreters just off stage right, Set 1 began with instrumental (and GRAMMY-nominated) “First Tube,” a rare opener normally found in a late-second set slot, but nevertheless an energetic way to start the show. A lengthy “No Man in No Man’s Land” followed, always a great sign that the band is dialed in and wants to get down to business right away.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QnFL5wdFFg
A spacey and wandering “My Friend, My Friend” was a first set highlight, clocking in at more than 18 minutes and another example of Phish taking more of their catalog down the improv route than in past years. A late first set “2001” was a treat, dipping into an always welcome “Taste” before closing the set with “Character Zero.”
Opening the second set with “The Wedge” could have launched the Rift track to new heights, but it served as a buffer song before the big jam of the night, “Tweezer.” A vehicle for jams in the second set since the 90s, “Tweezer” found a few separate jams (including “There is a Mountain” by Donovan) over the course of 24 minutes, coming full circle before dipping into the Evolve track “Pillow Jets,” which took a dark psychedelic turn mid-way through before returning to “Tweezer,” as one does mid-second set.
Finding its way into “Piper,” this brief “Tweezer” return birthed a top notch “Piper,” found itself turning back into “Tweezer” briefly before the Rolling Stones’ “Shine a Light” provided an exultant breather with the set wrapping up with a thorough “Chalk Dust Torture.” A triple encore featuring songs from across the band’s history was a delightful surprise to the evening, starting with Junta track “Big Black Furry Creature From Mars,” Farmhouse’s “Gotta Jibboo” and Big Boat’s “More.” With two more nights to go, the bar is set for Phish to exceed over this weekend and next.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ORBkMm_9lY
Phish – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel, NY – Friday, August 9, 2024
Soundcheck: My Soul, Dinner and a Movie, Waves, Tequila x2, Jam Set 1: First Tube, No Men In No Man’s Land, Cavern, My Friend, My Friend[1], Bug, Julius, Also Sprach Zarathustra > Taste, Character Zero Set 2: The Wedge, Tweezer, Pillow Jets -> Tweezer -> Piper -> Tweezer > Shine a Light, Chalk Dust Torture Encore: Big Black Furry Creature from Mars, Gotta Jibboo > More [1] No “Myfe” ending.
Saturday, August 10, 2024
Set 1: Back on the Train, Sample in a Jar, Hey Stranger, Dinner and a Movie, Halley’s Comet > Sand, Gumbo > Maze, Weigh, Cities > Run Like an Antelope
Set 2: Wilson > Down with Disease[1] -> Waves > Twist > Kill Devil Falls > Beneath a Sea of Stars Part 1 -> Backwards Down the Number Line > Ghost > Tweezer Reprise
Encore: Wading in the Velvet Sea > Runaway Jim
[1] Unfinished.
Trey teased Call to the Post at the end of Weigh and The Line during Antelope. DWD was unfinished.
Sunday, August 11, 2024
Set 1: I Never Needed You Like This Before, 46 Days, Bathtub Gin, Fikus, Theme From the Bottom > Timber (Jerry the Mule), Human Nature, Limb By Limb, Axilla > Sigma Oasis
Set 2: Buried Alive > AC/DC Bag > Fuego > Golden Age -> Simple, Life Saving Gun, Harry Hood
Encore: A Life Beyond The Dream, Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.
Fikus was performed for the first time since November 7, 1998 (801 show gap). Mike teased Fikus in AC/DC Bag.
Woodstock co-creator Michael Lang’s Mount Tremper house is now on the market. His 17-acre property is currently listed for $2.43 million. This sale comes one week before the Woodstock Festival’s 55th anniversary.
Image from Brown Harris Stevens
Michael Lang was one of the most legendary concert promoters in history due to his work organizing Woodstock 1969. Born in Brooklyn in 1944, Lang moved to Southern Florida in 1967 where he began setting up shows. His first claim to fame was the 1968 Miami Pop Festival, drawing Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and more.
Following this success, Lang returned to his home state of New York to set up an even larger festival. Billed as “The Woodstock Music and Art Fair, An Aquarian Exposition,” the festival would take place over three days in Bethel, NY. Across its “three days of peace and music,” Woodstock drew nearly half a million attendees. On top of this, legendary performances by Jimi Hendrix, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, and Joan Baez quickly placed Woodstock in the history books.
After the success of Woodstock ‘69, Lang continued to promote concerts for decades. Among his other shows were the Woodstock ‘94 and ‘99 festivals. On top of these events, Lang had planned Woodstock ‘19 to celebrate the festival’s 50th anniversary. However, logistical issues forced the event’s cancellation. Besides for festival planning, Lang worked to book countless legendary artists on their own. Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, and Outkast are just some of the acts that Lang booked over the years.
Michael Lang at Woodstock ’69, Photo by Henry Diltz
While Lang’s legendary Woodstock festival took place 40 miles from its namesake town, Lang’s property was much closer. The estate, known as Happy Brooks, is located in Mount Tremper, only a 20 minute drive from Woodstock. Lang called this 17-acre estate home for 45 years, before his death from lymphoma in 2022.
From its construction, Happy Brooks always had a connection to the arts. Built in 1929 for artist G. Adolph Anderson, the estate has consistently housed visual artists and writers. When Lang purchased the house, he vowed to keep its original structure intact. The main house retains its original layout, with four bedrooms, a library, office, kitchen, and dining room. The house’s rooms look out onto the same Catskill Mountains that acted as the backdrop for the Woodstock ‘69 Festival. In addition to the main house, Lang’s property houses two separate guest cottages. On top of the manmade structures, the property features a pond, meadows, and natural mountain scenery.
Now, 45 years after Lang’s purchase, this piece of music history is back up on the market. With Woodstock’s 55th anniversary approaching on August 15th, it is important to highlight the life and work of Michael Lang, who made it all possible. While the asking price for Happy Brooks is a whopping $2.43 million, some lucky person could soon call this legendary property home.
Hailing from the city of New Paltz, indie trio Kale is the latest outfit to make its way into the scene.
Kale • Jack Salzman – bass/vocals • Sam Kirschner – drums • Brendan Bartow – keys/vocals
For the last two years, Kale has been cementing themselves as a live band fans will never forget. With a unique combination of indie rock, pop, and electronica, the trio has dedicated themselves to the music that brought them all together in the first place.
Kale’s musical influences come from an array of bands – their love of improvisational live music came from growing up listening to the Grateful Dead and Phish. Jazz artists such as Dexter Gordon and Dave Brubeck, while the songwriting and danceable electronic/indie vibe stems from bands such as MGMT, Empire of the Sun, M83, Bombay Bicycle Club, and the Killers, are all highly influential on the band’s musical style.
Kale is made up of three incredibly close friends; Jack Salzman (bass/vocals), Brendan Bartow (keys/vocals), and Sam Kirschner (drums). The trio formed amidst the plethora of outfits that emerged from the college town, which was the perfect atmosphere to cement their electrifying and fun-loving performance style. They released their first studio single, “Everybody’s Falling,” in October 2023, followed by “Pave the Way” in May 2024, and were met with almost immediate praise from fans who have been waiting since their 2022 live debut.
Kale’s music is meant to emulate exactly that of their environment: the feeling of a fun and exciting night out with friends in a tangible, musical form. With their focus on the performance aspect, combined with their stellar musicianship and creative influences, it’s no surprise that Kale became a regular topic of conversation within the college student community.
Within the last two years of Kale’s emergence, their live shows have garnered a reputation as a nonstop thrill. Their inspiration from electronica music is very much alive and displayed in their shows, demonstrated through strobe lights, elaborate visuals, and contagious energy sure to make any crowd dance. Kale is no stranger to diversity within their music, either, keeping crowds entertained with Bartow and Salzman’s characteristically indie-style vocals.
Kale performing at the Toyota Music Den Stage at Mt. Snow in Dover, VT
In the early days of the band, Kale wasted no time in putting themselves out there and taking over the stage. The band has opened for notable indie acts such as The Disco Biscuits, Eggy, the Q-tip Bandits, and Twiddle, and even dipped their toes onto festival stages like the Catskill Mountain Jubilee, Summer Jam, and Circus of Life.
While the band is working on their debut album, it is clear that Kale’s party days in New Paltz are far from over. Kale has no plans on stopping their fantastic tour de force, with a new single, “The Beautiful Game,” coming on August 30 and a debut EP coming on November 1, featuring eight original studio tracks. In the meantime, the trio is supporting Dopapod at Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, for their final tour on September 13. Tickets are available here.
To check out Kale’s music, visit this link. Stay tuned for more updates, because when Kale is in town, the party never stops.
While the origin of Phish is firmly rooted in Vermont, the band’s history in neighboring New York runs almost as deep. The band made the slow and natural progression from private parties and gigs at frat houses, to small clubs and theaters, later graduating to full scale amphitheaters, to now selling out Madison Square Garden on a regular basis. Phish may have been born and raised in the Green Mountain State, but its more recent history is firmly entrenched in the Empire State.
photo by Dave Decrescente
It took a few years after the band’s inception, but Phish finally waded into New York waters in 1987 with a now-legendary show at Ian McLean’s Farm in Hebron, NY on August 21, 1987 with three sets of music that included the first known performance of their cover of “Hold Your Head Up.” Phish would continue to make New York a regular part of their touring schedule in the early ’90s, with 1992 featuring more NY shows than any other year to date.
Lower show totals would follow in the late ’90s and early aughts as the band started to tour globally and play shows all throughout the country. But the “3.0” era of Phish has seen an influx of NY shows, primarily due to the renovations done to Madison Square Garden which has made The World’s Most Famous Arena the band’s preferred choice for multiple night New Year’s Eve runs. And the modern day pinnacle was set in 2017 with Phish’s legendary Baker’s Dozen Run of thirteen shows over three weeks which served as the foundation for “17 (shows) in ’17” at MSG which also included a 4-night New Year’s run.
In 2023, Phish came fairly close to matching this number with 14 shows spread throughout New York State which included another 11 at MSG. To date, Phish has played 288 total shows in The Empire State, so NY show #300 is certainly on the horizon.
Photo via Marshall Chasan, frame via phrames.com
To showcase this long-standing and still evolving relationship between Phish and New York, NYS Music presents our own reference guide, a map of every show the band has played in the Empire State. In the same vein as our Grateful Dead Map, this will link to each and every article published here with our own take on the show or appearance.
Big thanks to Alex Grosby of the Phishsonian Institute for helping us map out all of the New York venues and locations you see below.
Woodstock, New York is the cultural center of the Hudson Valley, with a deep history of art and self-expression. Acting as a home for artist colonies and a significant nurturer of the 1960s music scene, the small musical oasis holds decades of profound community and creativity. The village, which resides in the majestic Catskill Mountains, continues to honor its visionary spirit of the past, saturated in art, music, harmony, and of course, peace, love, and happiness.
Photo by David Lassman
Those who’ve never even been to the town of Woodstock nor knew of its existence associate the name with music. There’s a common misconception that the town is the site of the historic 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair. The festival was originally supposed to take place in Woodstock, hence its name. However, the town backed out of hosting due to its inability to provide space and resources for the growing event. After which, Max Yasgur offered up his Dairy Farm in Bethel, NY an hour and a half away from Woodstock.
The name, however, stuck as it was too late to change it. However, it also represented more than just a location. Michael Lang, a co-founder of Woodstock Ventures, a team that produced successful festivals, understood the weight of the name. Woodstock was known for being a place where artists could come together free of judgment and welcomed with mutual support. A mystical place hidden in the mountains full of artist colonies, recording studios, and musicians such as Bob Dylan, The Band, Jimi Hendrix, plus many more flooding the streets with their music.
Byrdcliffe Arts Colony, 1909
To fully understand how deep-rooted Woodstock is in artisticism, we must go back in time to 1902. Ralph Whitehead tasked two men, Bolton Brown and Hervey White with the job of finding a location to build his vision of an art colony. When Brown and White stood at the top of Overlook Mountain surveying the land below them, they knew they had found their community.
It was then, in 1903, that the Byrdecliffe Colony was born, followed by Hervey White’s venture of Maverick Art Colony in 1905 and the Art Students League, led by Birge Harrison in 1906. The small town became a sanctuary for people of all ages.
The legacy continued throughout the years. In 1938 Woodstock Playhouse was established. The building, which greets visitors as they drive into town from the throughway, was a place where people could see plays locally without traveling to the city. In 1988, the Playhouse burnt down. However, because the significance of the building was understood, efforts to rebuild were successful. Thanks to the Playhouse, many esteemed writers and actors have had their work showcased in the village over the years.
As times began to change, the Playhouse also went on to institute a number of midnight concerts and, later, found itself as host to the final concert in a series of performances known as the Sound-Outs, considered by many as a precursor to the Woodstock Festival.
Richard Heppner, Woodstock Town Historian
While these institutions made Woodstock the community it is, the ’60s folk-rock era stands as the emblem of the town’s musical history. Some of the most well-known artists to have resided in Woodstock are Janis Joplin, Van Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, and The Band, among many others. However, the most famous Woodstock resident by far would be Bob Dylan.
One could walk down Tinker Street in those days and run into Van Morrison, Tim Hardin, Jimi Hendrix, Bonnie Raitt or Joan Baez. You could shop at the Grand Union or A&P with the Band, Maria Muldaur or Dylan himself.
Happy Traum, Folk Musician
After living at manager Albert Grossman’s Woodstock home, Dylan decided to stay. In 1966, coming off the success of Highway 61 Revisited, he got into a motorcycle accident. As a result of his injuries, he stayed out of the public and kept to Woodstock. This era of Dylan’s life not only caused a lasting shift in his career but also a groundbreaking emergence in music.
Bob Dylan and John Sebastian, Woodstock, 1964- DOUGLAS R. GILBERT/REDFERNS/GETTY IMAGES
In the aftermath of Dylan “going electric” in ’65 at Newport Folk Festival, he hired an electric backup band, The Hawks, for his ’66 tour. The Hawks, now known as The Band, began recording sessions with Dylan during his hiatus. The product of these sessions, The Basement Tapes, was recorded in the basement of a house in Saugerties, NY called Big Pink. Currently, the house is still accessible to drive up to. The current owners rent it out for short-term stays, however, no one’s allowed in the basement.
Big Pink, 2024
Today, Woodstock remains a relic of the past, honoring its culture, with preservation, reconditioning, and celebratory commodification. Gift shops, small businesses, and restaurants line the center of town. Just driving through the area, there’s a good chance of seeing Byrdcliffe Artist Residency or Maverick Concert Hall. Or perhaps Hotel Dylan right off Rt. 28, a hotel with rooms named after famous musicians. It’s not very common for towns to hold an Allen Ginsburg Birthday Celebration or for residents to have Volkswagen buses as mailboxes. However, traveling deeper into Woodstock will lead to the not-so-hidden gems of town – the venues.
In the middle of Woodstock is the Colony, an old hotel where travelers would stay on their way through town. The short pit stops were full of dining and entertainment while bands performed in the main room. The Colony, which opened in 1929, still stands as a music venue supporting local and touring artists. Every Monday night they hold their famous Colony open mic where anyone can sign up first come first serve, giving talented artists an expressive outlet.
Mikaela Davis at The Colony, 2024
One local artist to play the Colony is Mikaela Davis. Davis’s show on June 27, emulated a genuine sense of community. She played with her opener, Rich Ruth, and her band, just as she has in the privacy of a studio. It truly felt like everyone was equal to each other and collaborating together. There was a lot of dancing, but there was also sitting and observing the events taking place.
The environment of the Colony is comparable to an actual artist colony. The versatile selections of instruments between Davis and her band Southern Star allowed everyone to bring something exciting to the mix. Along with styles of folk, classical, and psychedelia, the experimentation rang throughout the venue. The homage is not only in the name of the venue but the efforts of the community to keep art alive in this setting. To just experience one show at the Colony is to be unified with others and to understand the foundations Woodstock grew on.
Bearsville Theater
Another highly significant place in Woodstock is the Bearsville Theater which also has a rich musical background. The theater along with Bearsville Studios is part of the Bearsville Center created by Albert Grossman, founder of Bearsville Records (Todd Rundgren, Foghat, NRBQ). After showing artists like Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin, the creative sanctuary that Woodstock is, he wanted to create a community for more artists to reap the town’s benefits.
In 2019, entrepreneur Lizzie Vann, inspired by the shows at Bearsville, and the risk of it being replaced by a hotel, bought the property. Since then, Vann worked to revamp the complex, which includes a cantina, tavern, ice cream parlor, Utopia Sound Stage, and scenic outdoor spaces. In April 2024, Dayglo Presents, an entertainment and marketing company took over Bearsville. Dayglo, led by Peter Shapiro, also operates venues like The Capitol Theatre and Brooklyn Bowl. This merger has allowed Bearsville to evolve and book well-known artists, drawing even more live music fans to Woodstock.
The Bearsville Theater has a deep and amazing history that I am excited to preserve and lift, as we put our touch on a new era for this legendary Woodstock icon. We want to thank Lizzie Vann for her passion and dedication to Bearsville since she bought and lovingly restored the property in 2019. We appreciate her trust in us and are looking forward to a long working relationship.
Peter Shapiro, Founder of Dayglo Presents for Relix Magazine
On June 28, Chicago-based Indie-rock band Ratboys played at Bearsville Theater with co-headliner Water From Your Eyes from Brooklyn. The show brought in fans from everywhere. Fans of each band, locals just there to see a concert, and people drawn in by Bearsville’s appeal and newness. One attendee just happened to be Mike Gordon of Phish, who was checking out the place ahead of his performance the next night.
Ratboys at Bearsville Theater, 2024
This show was extremely special, as it was a stand-alone double-headline show. Both Ratboys and Water From Your Eyes are on their separate tours, making this a special convergence. Additionally, the small size of the room creates an intimate environment fostering communication between the artist and the audience. The rare show became even more special, occurring in such a sacred place blending genres and audiences.
Through these shows, Bearsville continues to exemplify Albert Grossman’s mission of creating a place where fans and musicians celebrate live music. It’s a place where art, resources, and versatility are the main focus rather than capitalizing on musicians. Because of this, Bearsville remains an important cornerstone of Woodstock.
However, a music fan’s trip to Woodstock isn’t complete without experiencing the divine intervention that occurs at Levon Helm Studios. After the trek down the easily missable and winding driveway, fans can see first-hand where Levon Helm, the drummer of The Band, put his roots down in Woodstock in 1975 with the construction of his home and renowned studio barn. The barn was used to record sessions and hold live performances. Muddy Waters was the first artist to make an album in the studio.
Helm became enamored by the joy of his studio bringing artists together, and the community it fostered. In the 1990s, he got swept up by cancer treatments and a tragic fire destroying his home. The love and community persevered, and the property was rebuilt. In 2004, Helm welcomed the public into his studio for his Midnight Rambles. The invigorating jams included a house band with artists such as Amy Helm, Little Sammy Davis, Larry Campbell, and Teresa Williams to name a few, with other musicians partaking. The collaborations with different artists at each show, continue to share unique experiences with attendees.
When Levon Helm passed away in 2012, the barn’s use was expanded past The Midnight Ramble. His family, the team keeping Levon’s alive hold regular concerts, including The Midnight Ramble. Artists such as Mavis Staples, David Crosby, Bob Weir, etc. have taken the stage. Every show furthers the mission of honoring Helm’s legacy and creating a one-of-a-kind experience for fans and artists.
Langhorne Slim at Levon Helm Studios, 2024
July 18 was a joyous day at Levon Helm Studios as Langhorne Slim made his anticipated return to the barn. Kicking off a small Northeast tour, the show was full of hope, observation, commentary, and in true Langhorne Slim nature, many stories. Because Levon’s has no actual stage, he made his way through the audience onto the floor. The balconies allowed everyone to gaze down at Slim with a full view, with every area offering a new perspective.
When he made his way to the center he took a few seconds to take in his surroundings and carefully look at as many people in his path. His raw, genuine songs and knack for storytelling brought the audience together, connecting the fans and artist on a new level. He even brought some fans up to sing with him. Though the venue is big and open for a recording studio, it remains extremely intimate for concerts. The show integrated even more art forms by hosting the venue’s live sketch artist to portray the performance authentically.
Music unites and inspires people. It creates a loving, open community right from the downbeat. I am proud to be able to share this space at âThe Barnâ for art in our community, built by musicians for musicians and music lovers alike.
Amy Helm
Overall, the importance of the work Levon Helm Studios does to not only honor Helm’s life but also bring new and old communities together individualizes every experience there. The immense historical value of the venue makes it one of the most exciting artifacts in town. Furthermore, their success in commemorating Helm and the Band’s accomplishments in Woodstock, while promoting the success of rising artists respects the town’s essence in the most significant way.
Maverick Concert Hall
Apprapo to its history, Woodstock is also full of smaller and locally supported venues. Stemming from the aforementioned Maverick Art Colony, Maverick Concert Hall still stands. The building, which was a part of the colony, has held the longest continuing chamber music festival in the country. Known for chamber, jazz, and contemporary recitals, the concert hall continues to keep the music alive through versatile productions. Their non-profit, Maverick Concerts, Inc. works with the support of local businesses and state grants to carry on the mission of bringing the community together through art.
Another establishment still in use is the Woodstock Playhouse. What was once used for off-Broadway theatre productions, is now home to many artistic avenues. Patrons can enjoy not just theatre, but concerts, exhibitions, and festivals of all kinds, including the famous Woodstock Film Festival. The playhouse also provides educational outlets. Their Rock Academy Concerts allow students and teachers to exhibit their hard work and expanding talents.
Surrounding the Colony on Rock City Road, is the Woodstock Cemetary where The Band’s Rick Danko and Levon Helm are buried. Across the street is the Woodstock Artists Cemetary containing the graves of art colony founders Hervey White and Ralph Whitehead. Right next to the cemetery is Graveyard Variety, a small space for independent artists to showcase their music. The intimate nature of the venue creates an equilibrium between artists and the audience, as everyone’s there to observe and support.
In an effort to preserve the natural beauty of the landscape, the founding members sought to limit traditional symbols of grief. As a result, conventional tombstones and other visual intrusions were prohibited…Unique in its setting and vision, the Artists Cemetery continues to serve as a reminder of Woodstock’s countless contributions to the world of art, music, theater and the written word.
Richard Heppner
Opus 40
Other honorable mentions include Pearl Moon, Opus 40 and the Woodstock Film Festival. Pearl Moon combines a regular restaurant setting with entertainment. Offering different assortments of shows, the restaurant allows patrons to support live music on the daily. Opus 40 is a sculpture and park, in the town of Saugerties, a few minutes down the road from Woodstock. As a non-profit, the environment truly allows for pure indulgence in art, fostering a space for concerts, visual art, and public use. Lastly, the renowned Woodstock Film Festival continuously gives independent filmmakers to present their work. Over the past 25 years, the film festival has promoted art from established and emerging creatives.
Although each of the shows and venues reside in the same peaceful, folky, hippie-infused town, they offer an abundance of genres. From gentle bluegrass, and acoustic Americana to angsty alternative and passionate indie-rock. Itâs an environment where musicians and music lovers are welcomed with open arms. Itâs a personal experience where fans can walk in and see Mike Gordon having a drink at the bar. Or where three girls jump in excitement after the lead singer of a band they love happens to walk into the empty lobby.
Woodstock is a music scene in itself. The community behind it meticulously carries on the legacy of creating a safe space where art is the top priority. Current music fans constantly express nostalgia for an era in music named after the town. Unfortunately, not as many people know that the culture of Woodstock never left its namesake. And it will continue to exist through music, art, and preservation- not as an aesthetic, but as an immersive lifestyle.
Woodstock’s Maverick Concerts will host After Spring Sunset: A Tribute to Peter Schickele a tribute to renowned composer Peter Schickele on Saturday, Aug. 10. The day will include two main acts- a free morning concert showcasing some of Schickele’s folk tunes, and an evening show full of many talented musicians further expanding on Schickele’s works.
The tribute is honoring Peter Schickele, a composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist with decades of accomplishments under his belt. Schickele, who passed away this past January, is remembered through the character, P.D.Q. Bach, and his public radio program “Schickele Mix.”
Having won multiple Grammy Awards for his work, Schickele found fame writing for folk musicians, as well as ensembles and solo work. Most notably, he arranged music for folk musician Joan Baez across multiple bodies of music. Throughout his career, Schickele created over a hundred orchestrations.
Aug. 10 will be an undeniably full day of music and remembrance with the first set taking place from 11 AM-12 PM, and the second, at 6 PM. To begin the day, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, Elizabeth Mitchell will lead a series of folk tunes written by Schickele. She will be joined by M Shanghai String Band, pianist Ray Bailey, and Schickele’s daughter, musician Karla Schickele. Additionally, folk musician, Marc Black will come out and perform the song “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” which he made with Schickele. The morning performance is free to attend and welcomes families.
Peter Schickele at Maverick Concerts by John Kleinhans
The latter half of the day brings an extravagant slate of performers to exemplify Schickele’s vast repertoire. After Spring Sunset: A Tribute to Peter Schickele will exhibit performances from a variety of different artists. Firstly, the Callisto String Quartet will perform Schickele’s Fifth String Quartet, A Year in the Country. Following the quartet will be their rendition of his P.D.Q. Bach work, The Moose Quartet.
Next, the M Shanghai String Band and surprise guests will perform a piece from a Schickele bluegrass concerto. Elizabeth Mitchell also returns to perform a song Schickele wrote for Joan Baez. The show will turn particularly personal when Karla Schickele along with her cousin, Nighttrain Schickele, and son, Emmet Schickele, perform special and generally unknown, Peter Schickele family songs. Marc Black will also join the lineup to sing an additional slate of special songs.
Continuing to honor P.D.Q. Bach, Mezzo Michele Eaton, along with tenors Wesley Chinn and Greg Purnhagen, will perform some of his vocal works. Overall, the show will serve as a testament to how significant Schickele was to not only his family and friends but fans all over the world. Maverick Music Director Alexander Platt, Woodstock Chimes founder and percussionist Garry Kvistad, and Karla Schickele will host the event and guide the show in Schickele’s honor.
For more information or to purchase tickets for After Spring Sunset: A Tribute to Peter Schickele visit maverickconcerts.org
The Beacon Sloop Club has announced the musical lineup for the annual Corn Festival. The day-long festival offers visitors fresh snacks (like Hudson Valley fresh picked corn boiled for two minutes), sails on the Sloop Woody Guthrie, and music from 11 artists. The Corn Festival takes place August 11th from 12-5 pm at Pete and Toshi Seeger Memorial Park.
The Beacon Sloop Club traces its origins back to New York folk legend Pete Seeger. In 1966, Pete and Toshi Seeger founded the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater nonprofit to raise awareness of pollution in the Hudson River. For decades, General Electric had polluted the river with factory runoff, which was toxic to the river’s wildlife and people nearby. At the centerpiece of the nonprofit’s mission was the Sloop Clearwater, which sailed the river as a symbol of the Seegers’ mission.
In 1969, the Clearwater sailed to Beacon where the locals set up a welcome festival. This welcome party evolved into the Beacon Sloop Club, with a mission dedicated to community and environment. The group renovated Beacon’s Ferry Diner to make it a headquarters and community gathering space, alongside newly replaced docks. To top off their facilities, Seeger commissioned the Sloop Woody Guthrie – named for the folk legend – to act as the club’s public education space.
One of the Sloop Club’s most popular events is the annual corn festival. The family-friendly event invites all to enjoy hand-picked corn, fresh watermelon, lemonade, and more local delights. Aiding in the Sloop Club’s environmental mission, a large educational tent will feature exhibits on the ecology of the Hudson River watershed. In addition to these exhibits, visitors can enjoy the Hudson first-hand with free rides on the Sloop Woody Guthrie. Weather permitting, sloop ride sign-up will begin at 12pm.
The Sloop Woody Guthrie, Photo by Pete Becerra Jr., 2017
On top of these activities, the festival will feature live music from local artists throughout the day. The festival facilities include two solar-powered stages, with one dedicated solely for children’s entertainment. Among the local bands playing are Last Minute Soulmates, Trouble Sisters, Offshoots, Soil & Soul Creek, and The Seed Song Family Band.
The festival will also feature a number of local singer-songwriters and individual performers. Hudson-based acoustic duo Laurie Siegel & Patrick Jones will perform a set. Also performing is Cosby Gibson. The Adirondacks-based artist rose to local prominence through her dulcimer and guitar-driven folk. Over the years she has won a Capital District Music Award for Best Folk Album and a Dorn Space Arts Award for Music Outreach.
In terms of children’s entertainment, Bindlestick Bill will perform. The Poughkeepsie-based performer works as an elementary school music teacher by day and local music star by night. Bindlestick Bill takes the form of a comedic hobo character, with songs and performances aimed towards children.
Spook Handy and Pete Seeger
The festival will also feature a number of local folk musicians who played with Pete Seeger throughout his career. Among these musicians is New Jersey’s Spook Handy, who played over 50 shows with Seeger after the two met in 2003. The festival will additionally feature music by Pat Lamanna. Lamanna’s folk stylings tackle issues of peace and environmental ills, receiving praise from Pete Seeger and Phil Ochs. Finally, Lydia Adams Davis will perform. Over the years, Davis performed alongside Seeger and the Hudson River Sloop Singers. The New York Times has heralded her as “One of our finest folk composers” for her legendary folk/country stylings.
The Beacon Sloop Club Corn Festival will take place August 11th from 12-5pm. The festival is a free, all-ages event made possible by the Sloop Club’s volunteers. All proceeds from the festival go towards the Woody Guthrie sailing program and other environmental education programs. For more information, visit the Beacon Sloop Club website here.
Jon ‘The Barber’ Gutwillig (a.k.a. Baba G) of The Disco Biscuits will join forces with Ben Atkind of Elephantproof (formerly Goose) to perform on August 3 at Bearsville Theater in Woodstock. The evening will kick off with a set by Capital Region’s own SM INK.
The performance on August 3 marks Barber’s Woodstock debut. Having performed as part of groups and, Barber has garnered a reputation as the guitar player for the band The Disco Biscuits. However, his appearance at the Bearsville Theater marks his first solo set at the theater.
Barber will be stepping out of his comfort zone for Saturday’s show, performing as a DJ named “Baba G,” and bringing house music, trance, and techno, and even remixes of his own songs from The Disco Biscuits.
Baba G will be joined by Ben Atkind of Elephantproof (formerly known as Goose). Atkins will provide drums for the set, while Barber hops in between the guitar and the DJ booth. This marks the second time Barber and Atkind perform together, bringing their dynamic and energetic performances to the Future City Lounge in Brooklyn just two months ago.
“I’m excited to collaborate with Ben again,” says Barber. “Our Brooklyn show was very well received, and I think we’ll deliver an even stronger performance now that we’ve got a show under our belts,” Barber said, referencing the duo’s June 1 performance at Future City Lounge.
Regardless of their past as a duo, Barber and Atkind are gearing up for a performance unlike any other. Their inspirations from disco and electronica music make for an incredibly unique blend of sound, perfect for the early days of the recently reborn Bearsville Theater. The innovative spin on house and disco music will surely be a night that lifelong fans and newcomers alike, whether or their solo or group work, will never forget.
Bearsville Theater is located at 291 Tinker St, Woodstock, NY. This event is 21+, and doors open at 7 PM on August 3. Tickets are available online at the Bearsville Theater’s website, linked here.
Alt-country superstar Jeff Tweedy has announced a cross-country Autumn tour with for New York dates. Beginning on September 8th, the tour will stop in Woodstock and Buffalo before making its way westward.
Jeff Tweedy has distinguished himself as an icon of the alt-country genre. His musical career began in high school, performing alongside friends. This band soon evolved into Tweedy’s first big project, Uncle Tupelo. During their 7 years of existence, Uncle Tupelo emerged as standouts of alt-country. Their 1990 record No Depression has been labeled one of the best albums of the genre, and the 1990s as a whole.
By 1994, Uncle Tupelo had disbanded, leaving Tweedy to start his next musical project. This band – made of leftover Uncle Tupelo members – named themselves Wilco. Their first two records A.M. and Being There continued to build on Uncle Tupelo’s country stylings. By their third album, 1999’s Summerteeth, the band began to incorporate elements from Psychedelic pop and alternative rock, creating their iconic sound. Many consider the peak of their career as 2001’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which paired their genre-bending experimentations with unforgettable pop hooks. The album is often quoted as not only one of the best indie albums of all time, but one of the greatest albums ever.
Jeff Tweedy has been busy with his work throughout 2024 – both as the frontman of Wilco and a solo artist. In terms of Wilco, the band released their 13th studio album Cousin, with its accompanying Hot Sun Cool Shroud EP. June saw the band take to the live stage at the Solid Sound Festival in North Adams, Massachusetts. In addition to this performance, they have made waves through their live recording of Lana Del Rey’s “Margaret” alongside Bleachers.
On top of this musical work, Tweedy has pursued writing. 2024 saw the release of his third book WORLD WITHIN A SONG: Music That Changed My Life and Life That Changed My Music. The book recounts fifty songs that changed Tweedy’s life and the memories associated with each of them. Upon its release, the book quickly became a New York Times Bestseller.
To kick off Autumn, Tweedy is launching a cross country tour, beginning on Sunday, September 8th. The tour will start in Tweedy’s home of Chicago, with performances at the Evanston Folk Festival and Chicago Live! Following these two performances, Tweedy will continue on to New York, where he has four scheduled shows.
The New York Leg of the tour will begin with a three-night residency at Woodstock’s Bearsville Theater. The legendary venue dates back to 1989, when it was built to house Bearsville Studios. Since its founding, everyone from Patti Smith to REM has recorded there. The renowned 500-person venue has an intimate atmosphere with near perfect acoustics. Tweedy’s residency will last from Friday, October 11th to Sunday, October 13th.
Immediately following his Woodstock residency, Tweedy will travel to Buffalo to perform at the Buffalo State Performing Arts Center. The theater sits at the center of Buffalo State College, housing its stage productions. Since its original opening in 1987, the theater has undergone extensive renovations with state of the art lighting and sound systems and refurbished seating. The 865-person theater hosts over 50,000 people every year across more than 180 events. Tweedy’s concert will take place on Tuesday, October 15th.
Bearsville Theater
Following these New York performances, Tweedy will continue westward throughout October. He will cap off the Autumn tour with a three-day residency at the Guild Theatre in Menlo Park, California. Tickets go on sale August 2nd at 10am local time. For more information on Jeff Tweedy’s solo tour, visit the Wilco website here.
Jeff Tweedy Tour Dates
Sun. Sept 8 – Evanston, IL @ Evanston Folk Festival, In-Conversation Series
Sat. Sept 21 – Chicago, IL @ Navy Pier / Chicago Live!
Fri. Oct. 11 – Woodstock, NY @ Bearsville Theater
Sat. Oct. 12 – Woodstock, NY @ Bearsville Theater
Sun. Oct. 13 – Woodstock, NY @ Bearsville Theater
Tue. Oct. 15 – Buffalo, NY @ Buffalo State PAC
Wed. Oct. 16 – Columbus, OH @ Southern Theatre
Fri. Oct. 18 – Champaign, IL @ Virginia Theatre
Sat. Oct. 19 – Madison, WI @ Barrymore Theatre
Sun. Oct. 20 – Omaha, NE @ The Admiral
Tue. Oct. 22 – Jackson, WY @ Center for The Arts
Wed. Oct. 23 – Salt Lake City @ Rose Wagner Theater
Fri. Oct. 25 – Grass Valley, CA @ Center for The Arts
Mon. Oct. 28 – Menlo Park, CA @ The Guild Theatre
Tues. Oct. 29 – Menlo Park, CA @ The Guild Theatre
Wed. Oct. 30 – Menlo Park, CA @ The Guild Theatre
Fri. Feb 28 – Miami, St Croix, USVI & St John’s, Antigua @ Cayamo Cruise
The Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild will present BIO-SPHERE, a unique sonic collaboration between environmental sculptor Ian Laughlin and renowned composer/percussionist David Van Tieghem. This free performance will take place Sunday, August 4 and 2pm in front of the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild’s Office Complex located at 34 Tinker Street in Woodstock.
David Van Tieghem is an American composer and sound designer known for his philosophy of utilizing any available object as a percussion instrument. In his long career, Van Tieghem has performed and composed for numerous films and productions as well as collaborating with Steve Reich, Laurie Anderson, Brian Eno, Talking Heads, David Byrne, Deborah Harry and Chris Stein of Blondie, Adrian Belew, Jerry Marotta, John Zorn, Sylvia Bullett and Happy Traum. Along with many other awards, Van Tieghem was the recipient of a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship for Music Composition (2007).
Originally from New Zealand, Ian Laughlin is a multi-media eco-artist who first achieved notoriety in New York City’s Lower East Side in the 80s. A resident of the Hudson Valley since 1990, Laughlin has been dedicated to exploring injustices and finding solutions to the many challenges facing the planet through his many notable art installations and acoustic sculptures. His work can be found at his website.
BIO-SPHERE is the latest Laughlin-Van Tieghem collaboration and it’s sounding the alarm about PFOS, the so-called ‘forever chemicals,’ endangering our species and planet.
“My sculpture utilizes tanks and piping to present a model for water purification of carcinogenic ‘forever chemicals’,” says Laughlin. “It is sonically designed for composer/percussionist David Van Tieghem to signal that alarm in a bold musical way.”
Recent Laughlin and Van Tieghem works have included Chilling Effects and Glacial Survival Instincts (2023) and Lunasa and Pitchfork Chamber Music (2021), the former of which also included collaboration with Laughlin’s partner, the singer/songwriter Sylvia Bullett. Laughlin created the cover art for Bullett’s latest album, All Knowledge There Transcending. Videos of these works can be found here.
Founded in 1902, the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild is a regional center for the arts located in Woodstock. From its 250-acre mountainside campus and its arts and performance center in the village of Woodstock, it offers an integrated program of exhibitions, performances, workshops and artists’ residencies. For info, visit here.
