Hudson Jazz Festival
October 3-5 in Hudson
Hosted by jazz radio personality Keanna Faircloth, this cool convergence has Julius Rodriguez, Bigyuki, Caity Gyorgy, Tristan Jarvis, the Gotham Kings, and Joel Ross. The “Sounds Around Town” segment stars students and faculty from Bard College’s jazz program, beloved hometown favorites, and emerging local artists at pop-up spots.
Amanda Shires
October 17 at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock
On the wings of her poignant, pathos-wrought new album, Nobody’s Girl, the Grammy-awarded country-folk singer-songwriter and fiddle player fittingly brings her windswept Americana style to the rustic barn performance space that was built by The Band’s legendary drummer.
“Late Idyll”
October 18 at Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh
This autumnal concert by the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra at the college’s Aquinas Hall features Sibelius’s Violin Concerto with soloist Christina Bouey and Brahms’s Symphony No. 2. Conducting the orchestra will be its resident music and artistic director, Russell Ger.
Crescendo Series
October 18-June 13 in Lakeville, Connecticut, and Great Barrington, Massachusetts
The long-running (22 years!) classical-leaning Berkshires concert series begins its run with an anomaly: traditional Latin American ensemble the South’s Breath, at Great Barrington’s Saint James Place. Opera, choral, holiday, Baroque, Bach, and harpsichord programs follow.
Modest Mouse
October 17 at UPAC in Kingston
Still creating after the 2022 death of their founding drummer, Jeremiah Green, these Pacific Northwest faves helped to define the sound of late ’90s/early ’00s indie rock. They’re currently touring for the 20th anniversary of their hit album Good News for People Who Like Bad News.
Richard Thompson
November 7 at the Bardavon in Poughkeepsie
One of modern music’s greatest guitarists—and a stunning singer-songwriter, to boot—the Fairport Convention cofounder, sometime collaborator with his ex-wife Linda Thompson, and highly influential solo artist returns to the area. Simply a must-see for any deep music lover.
Gamelan Dharma Swara
November 8 at the Local in Saugerties
There’s little in the entertainment sphere that compares to the enchanting, otherworldly sounds and visuals of traditional Balinese gamelan music and dance. For over 30 years, the magical Dharma Swara has been one of the US’s top practicing gamelan ensembles.
MDC
November 16 at Reason and Ruckus in Poughkeepsie
Known for their radical-left lyrical stance, MDC was formed in Austin, Texas, in 1979 and is one of the key pioneering bands of first-wave American hardcore. This rocking bill by local punk promoters DCxPC also includes Soji, New York legends Urban Waste, and Worldsucks.
Laraaji
November 16 at the Old Dutch Church in Kingston
Now here’s a perfect pairing of setting and musician. New age artist Laraaji, well known for his collaborations with Brian Eno, creates deeply meditative sonic environments using electronically treated instruments, natural sounds, and vocals. His music should sound great in this historic church.
The Lemonheads
November 21 at the Bearsville Theater in Bearsville
Love Chant, the Lemonheads’ first new album in almost 20 years, is an all-star affair for the punk pop hitmakers, finding leader Evan Dando accompanied by Dinosaur Jr.’s Jay Mascis, Julian Hatfield, the Bevis Frond’s Nick Saloman, and other luminaries. Opener Erin Rae shares the bill.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
December 4 at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel
One of America’s most storied musical institutions brings some New Orleans holiday cheer to the Catskills in an evening titled “A Creole Christmas.” Performing before the stone fireplace in the center’s cozy Event Gallery space, the band will serve up seasonal songs with trad-jazz flair.
Pedro Luis Ferrer
December 5 at the Towne Crier in Beacon
Making his first appearance at this fabled club, Ferrer is an icon of the guaracha genre of traditional Cuban music. Famed in his homeland for his songs’ amusing, biting social commentary, the singer-songwriter’s music was banned by the Cuban government in the 1990s.
Winterpills
December 6 at the Park Theater in Hudson
Now celebrating the 20th anniversary of their self-titled debut album, the acclaimed Western Massachusetts indie rock quintet is set to weave their haunting, folky tunes in the intimate confines of this hip Warren Street venue. For fans of Elliott Smith, Big Star, and Nick Drake.
Sinkane
December 12 at the Falcon in Marlboro
This highly danceable band is led by Sudanese-born multi-instrumentalist Ahmed Gallab, who also leads the Atomic Bomb! Band, a project that has at times included David Byrne and other big names. Their soulful sound brings together funk, pop, jazz, and torrid African rhythms.
This article appears in October 2025.
