Besides wreaking havoc on the world at large, the pandemic certainly put a damper on what would have been the 2020 summer opening of the area’s newest high-profile addition to its selection of fine music venues: City Winery Hudson Valley, which was forced to scrap its planned debut bookings last year. Fortunately, many of the artists originally set to appear at the venue then were able to be rescheduled for its Concerts in the Vineyard Series, which starts up this month.`
The concert series, which will be staged outdoors at the winery’s Montgomery location, blasts off with Tom Petty tribute band Damn the Torpedoes (June 6) and continues with Rhett Miller (June 13), Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes (June 19), 10,000 Maniacs (June 26), Chris Thile (June 27), Amy Helm (July 4), Elton John cover band Early Elton (July 10), Joan Osborne (July 11), Brett Dennen (July 24), Jorma Kaukonen (July 25), Strawberry Fields: Ultimate Beatles Experience (July 31), Raul Malo (August 1), Dar Williams (August 15), Martin Sexton (August 22), and the Weight, a tribute to The Band (September 11).
At all of the shows and during regular dining and visiting hours, extensive precautions, including proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test, will be required for entry. Other safety measures include mandatory contactless temperature checks and wellness screenings at the front door and seating in pods to ensure safe social distancing. All patrons will be required to wear a mask or face covering when entering and moving throughout public areas.
“Admittedly, social distancing circles and masks didn’t figure into my original dream of hosting outdoor shows on this expansive and beautiful lawn surrounded by vineyards,” says City Winery’s Founder and CEO, Michael Dorf, whose franchise also includes venues in New York, Nashville, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. “But these safety measures are part of our company’s hospitality practices, and we all embrace them. I am excited to have this opportunity to finally bring live music to the Hudson Valley and have fans fully experience our food and wine options.”
Opened in the renovated site of the historic Montgomery Mills, the sustainability-minded, fully net-zero City Winery Hudson Valley is powered by hydroelectricity generated from its very own facility on the Wallkill River. “It feels good to emerge from this pandemic with an eye on being environmentally conscious moving forward,” says Dorf. “Musicians are excited to get back to live performances. Our venue can provide the opportunity to get bands back on stage, crews back to work, and people safely enjoying live music again.”
This article appears in June 2021.
