Photo by Chuck Holley
Cindy Cashdollar is joined by Rory Block for Sisters of Slide at the Towne Crier in Beacon on August 20.
Esopus Creek Puppet Suite | August 5-7 at the Tidewater Center, Saugerties
Arm-of-the-Sea Theater’s annual magical puppet pageant tells the history of the Saugerties Lighthouse in “Keep That Lamp Trimmed N Burning.” The combination of light projections, live music, and large papier mache puppet characters transport the audience to life at the lighthouse when it was fully functioning and lightkeepers had to struggle to keep the fire lit after dark for ships to safely travel through. 7pm. Saugerties. Armofthesea.org
Felice Brothers | August 6 at Paramount
The prodigal sons return. In their first high-profile local show since the unlocking of the lockdowns, the Hudson Valley’s homeboys of epic folk rock here hit the Paramount Hudson Valley Theater for this exclusive evening. Following a concert in Ireland last month, this appearance kicks off a Northeast tour in support of their new album, From Dreams to Dust. (Check out the haunting video for its first single, “Silverfish.”) Skullcrusher and the Dan Zlotnick Band will open. (The Bored Teachers Summer Comedy Tour yuks it up August 25; John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band cruise by September 3.) 7pm. $23. Peekskill.
WindShipped | August 11 at Upstate Films, Rhinebeck
Following the life of the last sail cargo ship operating in the US, the schooner Apollonia is a 65-foot sailing ship traveling the Hudson River to deliver goods from Manhattan to upstate and back down again. Since its first trip in May 2020, the Apollonia has delivered more than 95,000 lbs of cargo to 15 ports along the river. Jon Bowermaster and his Oceans 8 Films team have been documenting the ship since its first trip to tell the story of its travels and success delivering goods without fossil fuels.
"Where We Belong” | August 13-22 at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Garrison
In this solo piece written and performed by Madeline Sayet, the narrator travels to England to discover not only the connection between Shakespeare and colonialism but her own journey of self-discovery. Sayet is a member of the Native American community and grew up reading Shakespeare and Mohegan stories. In “Where We Belong,” Sayet examines what the English settlers took from Native American people when they stole their land and language. $10-$95. Garrison.Amanda Palmer | August 13
Our resident renaissance woman Amanda Palmer—widely renowned musician, author, songwriter, and feminist—lends her presence and talents to the community health-empowering cause of the O+ organization with this benefit show at the Old Dutch Church. A tantalizing tease for October’s full return of the much-missed Kingston O+ Festival, the bill also includes rising chamber pop duo Gracie and Rachel, whose sophomore album, Hello Weakness, You Make Me Strong, is out now on Ani DiFranco’s Righteous Babe record label. 7:30pm. $35 ($65 next-level O+ Backstage Experience tickets include refreshments and an art auction). Kingston.
Rabbit Rabbit Radio | August 14 at Opus 40
With this year’s reopenings, Opus 40 has greatly stepped up the quality and frequency of its summer live-events programming (anyone else here catch July’s magical sold-out concert by the Sun Ra Arkestra?). On the site’s August schedule is Rabbit Rabbit Radio, a Cape Cod-based duo comprised of violinist/violist/singer Carla Kihlstedt and percussionist/drummer Matthias Bossi, who, collectively, are former members of esteemed experimentalists Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Tin Hat/Tin Hat Trio, 2 Foot Yard, Causing a Tiger, the Book of Knots, Skeleton Key, and Fred Frith’s Cosa Brava. (Ultrafaux undulates with gypsy swing August 6; Dolunay draws from teeming Turkish tunes August 27.) 3pm. $12; $50 table for four; $25 table for two. Saugerties.
The Guelaguetza of Poughkeepsie | August 14 at Waryas Park, Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie has one of the largest immigrant populations in the Hudson Valley and, unlike many other areas, the majority originate from Oaxaca, Mexico. To celebrate this heritage, the Grupo Folklorico de Poughkeepsie hosts the La Guelaguetza festival annually to celebrate the culture, cuisine, and community of Oaxaca. This celebration boasts flavorful dishes along with traditional performances, including native songs and dances featuring ensembles in customary bright, colorful costumes. 1pm-7pm. Poughkeepsie.
Kingston Artists Soapbox Derby | August 14 on Broadway, Kingston
The parade of non-motorized kinetic sculptures is back in Kingston for the 27th Soapbox Derby. This imaginative procession has included mythical sea creatures, fire-breathing dragons, lobsters, UFOs, and a yellow submarine, among other memorable creations. After the parade, the sculptures will be lined up on West Strand Street for a closer look at the crafty designs. There will then be an awards ceremony in TR Gallo Park along with local vendors, food, and live music. 1pm.
Drowned Lands Wild Acres Fest | August 20 at the Drowned Lands, Warwick
Hosting over 30 brewers for their outdoor Wild Acres Festival, the Drowned Lands brewery offers unlimited sampling. Fan favorites include Other Half Brewing, Industrial Arts Brewing Co., Foam Brewers, Obercreek Brewing, Wild Arc Farm, Mindful Ales, Beer Tree, Evil Twin Brewing, and many others. $20-$95.
Deep in the Valley Festival | August 20 at From the Grounds Brewery
Fresh to the festival landscape this year is the jammy-but-smart Deep in the Valley Festival, which here debuts at From the Ground Brewery. Organized by indie music blog Raven Sings the Blues and skewing decisively toward the ambient/neopsychedelic/cosmic folk/experimental end of the sonic spectrum, the roster’s offerings include Laraaji; the trio of Chris Forsyth, Ryan Jewell, and Bill Nace; Wet Tuna; Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders; Elkhorn; Dominick and the Family Band; and Ashley Paul. “The lineup is both eclectic and complimentary, a spirit of experimentation running through the whole crew of players,” says the site’s description. 11:30am gates. $40. Red Hook. Sisters of Slide: Rory Block and Cindy Cashdollar | August 20 at Towne Crier
Guitar geeks can’t go wrong with this pairing at the Towne Crier, which brings together two of the planet’s greatest living slide-guitar players. Acoustic virtuoso Rory Block is a string-dazzling encyclopedic evangelist of authentic Delta blues, while the locally raised steel/lap/steel/dobro master Cindy Cashdollar has led her own bands and famously played with Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Rod Stewart, Asleep at the Wheel, Dave Alvin, Leon Redbone, Jorma Kaukonen, Albert Lee, Marcia Ball, Daniel Lanois, BeauSoleil, and Peter Rowan, to name a fraction. (The Weeklings play the Beatles August 6; Robin and Linda Williams croon country August 21.) 8:30pm. $30, $35. Beacon.
Garrison Craft | August 20-21 at Garrison’s Landing
Overlooking the Hudson River, the 52nd annual riverside craft fair is being hosted by the Garrison Art Center. Stop by and shop handmade jewelry, glass items, fine art, photography, textiles, ceramics, furniture, tableware, and more from over 50 juried artisans. $10.
Summer Hoot | August 26-27 at the Ashokan Center
The happy Summer Hoot kicks off at the Ashokan Center once more, promising quality traditional-meets-modern folk-roots fun among the great outdoors and rustic log buildings of the Ashokan Center. Hosted, as always, by familial duo Mike and Ruthy, the 2022 lineup includes their own Mammals and their elders Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, as well as Naiika Sings, Lau Noah, Pilfers, Olivia K and the Parkers, Michael Farkas, Lyn Hardy, Liana Gabel, What?, Breathe Owl Breathe, Creole Rock, Craig Santiago, Dennis Lichtman and Friends, Love Waves, and Arm-of-the-Sea puppet theater, along with food, dancing, and speakers on herbalism, alternative medicine, and more. See website for schedule and ticket prices. Olivebridge.
HV Hot Air Balloon Festival | September 2-4 at Tymor Park, Union Vale
Over 75 balloons will fill the sky during the weekend-long Hudson Valley Hot Air Balloon Festival. Either sit in the field and observe the balloons float off and come back from the ground or sign up to get in a balloon and float into the distance above the mountains to see the Hudson Valley from above. For those seeking a thrill ride thousands of feet in the air, but don’t like the openness of a hot-air balloon there are also helicopter rides offered both days. While watching the colorful hot-air balloons and helicopters travel the sky, participants can also enjoy fireworks, food trucks, and live music. $8-$15.
