A Fair Deal

Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival: “A Who’s Who of Bluegrass Music”
July 16-19 on the Walsh Farm, Oak Hill

For bluegrass fans, the passing of winter, the greening of the land and the warming of days means it will soon be time to pack up the family and head for Oak Hill, where a normally silent hay farm just off Greene County Route 22 will be transformed, quite magically, into a musical community of fun-loving fans, unique vendors, devoted volunteers and world-class artists. Long-time Grey Fox fans say it is a homecoming for them: a reunion of old friends they might see just once a year. Newcomers are struck by how warm everyone is as they are quickly befriended by those around them. “There may be several thousand people in attendance, but it feels like a small town where you know everyone,” said Australian Jason Nicholas, a new camper last year.

The Northeast’s largest bluegrass festival moved to Oak Hill last year after being held for decades in nearby Columbia County. Organizers brought all the components for which it is famous: multiple stages, hands-on learning workshops, festive foods, rustic camping, round-the-clock jamming and thousands fans from all over the U.S., Canada, Europe and the Far East. In 2008, fans attended from 37 states and 14 countries.

Often called a “Who’s Who of Bluegrass Music,” Grey Fox is a gathering of the best of the best in bluegrass, America’s fastest growing musical genre. “It just doesn’t get any better than this. Everybody I want to see is here. I’ve smiled so much my face hurts!” beamed Mark Granger, a long-time bluegrass fan and guitar picker from San Antonio, Texas.

There is always a mix of bluegrass styles at Grey Fox, from old time and traditional bluegrass to contemporary and “newgrass.” Performing on the Main Stage at this year’s event are such bluegrass luminaries as Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, The David Bromberg Quartet, Del McCoury Band, Tim O’Brien, Peter Rowan’s Bluegrass Band, The SteelDrivers, Mountain Heart, Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum, The Claire Lynch Band, The Gibson Brothers, The Waybacks, The Kruger Brothers and Pete and Joan Wernick with Don Rigsby.

Hot young artists such as King Wilkie, Crooked Still, The Boston Boys, The Lee Boys, Josh Williams, Sierra Hull, Sarah Jarosz, The Farewell Drifters and the Maybelles will fire up the Main Stage as well. Rounder Recording artists Dry Branch Fire Squad will again preside as host band all weekend long as they have for nearly three decades. A list of who plays when and on what stage can be found at www.greyfoxbluegrass.com

In addition to the Main Stage, Grey Fox offers a very popular Dance Pavilion, an intimate Masters Workshop Stage and a fun-filled Family Stage for kids from toddlers to teens. And, true to form, there will be something new this year: a showcase series at the Masters Stage on Friday and Saturday evenings featuring talented young musicians from the Northeast. Among them are Kelleigh McKenzie from the Hudson Valley and Boston’s “Red Hot Black Top” featuring Etienne Cremieux on fiddle, who is the recipient of the 2009 Grey Fox Bill Vernon Memorial Scholarship. Etienne will be attending Berklee College of Music in the fall.

The Dance Pavilion goes strong from morning (with its morning yoga stretches with live music) right into the night with live music and dance performances from Footworks Dance Ensemble (celebrating their 30th anniversary), the red hot Red Stick Ramblers from Louisiana, dance instructors John Kirk & Trish Miller, the old-timey band Fiddlestyx from Maryland and many others.

In addition to these performance-based venues, there are hands-on learning sessions at the Grass Roots Tent, the Slow Jam Tent and Bluegrass Academy for Kids. Pre-registration is recommended for the kids’ academy, as class size is limited. To register a child, visit www.greyfoxbluegrass.com. A lot of fans play bluegrass, so the workshops are well attended. A couple dozen beginners arrive four days early to learn how to “pick” at Pete Wernick’s Bluegrass Jam Camp takes place at the Oak Hill Fire Hall across from the entrance to the festival. Information about the jam camp can be found at www.drbanjo.com.

Around the grounds are fresh food vendors, festive crafts and clothing shops, music supplies, festival wear, artist CDs and much more.

Bring your own seating. Come early. Stay late. Full festival camping and day visitor passes are available on line and by phone. Camping opens Wednesday, July 15 at 9 am. Day gates open at 8 am Thursday through Sunday. Music is performed from 2 pm to midnight Thursday; 11 am to midnight Friday; 11 am to midnight Saturday, and 10 am to 3 pm on Sunday.

The entrance to Walsh Farm is located on Greene County Route 22. For door-to-door directions, festival goers may Google 1 Poultney Road, Oak Hill. Oak Hill is about 20 miles west of the NYS Thruway I-87 Exits 21 (Catskill) and 21B (Coxsackie).

Day and full-festival tickets are available on line at www.greyfoxbluegrass.com or by calling 888 946 8495.

Belleayre Music Festival: Where the Mountains Meet the Stars: July 4-September 5

The Belleayre Music Festival’s Summer 2009 season promises to be one of the best ever, with 14 fabulous concerts from July 4 through September 5. With a roster of great stars, Festival producers predict that this summer their concert audience will again be over 10,000 strong. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.belleayremusic.org, or call 1 800 942 6904, ext. 1344.

Concert Schedule

Saturday, July 11 at 8 pm
Michael Feinstein—The Great American Songbook
Arguably the world’s foremost anthropologist and archivist of the Great American Songbook, Michael Feinstein has dedicated his career to preserving, protecting and promoting the work of the great tunesmiths, from Gershwin, Porter and Berlin to lesser known craftsmen such as Hugh Martin and Burton Lane.

Saturday, July 18 at 8 pm
John Covelli and Justin Kolb Present a Classical Benefit
Festival originals Maestro John Covelli and fellow keyboard whiz Justin Kolb plus special guests will present an evening of classical favorites in this fund-raising event for the Belleayre Conservatory.

Saturday, July 25 at 8 pm
Belleayre Festival Opera—Die Fledermaus
In a fashionable watering-place, described as “near a big city,” lives Gabriel von Eisenstein, a wealthy man of independent means, with his attractive wife Rosalinda, and their maid, Adele. The light-hearted story of Die Fledermaus tells of the revenge taken by a certain Dr. Falke on this Gabriel von Eisenstein for playing a practical joke on him.

Saturday, August 1 at 8 pm
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo represents the traditional culture of South Africa and is regarded as the country’s cultural emissary at home and around the world. The band earned international acclaim when it’s a cappella sounds became an integral part of Paul Simon’s groundbreaking Graceland album.

Saturday, August 22 at 8 pm
The Original Wailers: Reggae Legends
The Original Wailers, featuring Al Anderson and Junior Marvin, keep alive the timeless reggae beats popularized by Bob Marley and helped sell more than 400 million albums during the last four decades. These three founding members of The Wailers toured with Bob Marley until his death and continue to spread his music throughout the world. The band performs all the songs of Bob Marley and the Wailers as they faithfully have since the meteoric rise of the iconic reggae group.

Saturday, August 29 at 8 pm
Mary Wilson of the Supremes: Motown 50th Anniversary
Mary Wilson is the only original member of The Supremes who remained with the group from its founding until its disbandment. She sang on a dozen number one hits with the band in the 1960s and ’70s and continues to bring those memorable tunes to life with a busy performing schedule.

Saturday, September 5 at 8 pm
ABBA—The Music
Audiences around the world sing, dance and have the time of their lives as this ultimate Abba tribute band (featuring several original members of Abba’s performing band), offers perfectly executed renditions of more than 20 of this legendary band’s greatest hits.

CATSKILL MOUNTAIN JAZZ SERIES

Friday, August 7 at 8 pm
Pablo Ziegler—Trio for Nuevo Tango

Friday, August 8 at 8 pm
Leny Andrade, “Magical Queen of the Bossa Nova,” with the Cesar Camargo Mariano/Romero Lubambo Duo

Friday, August 14 at 8 pm
Kevin Mahogany

Saturday, August 15 at 8 pm
Kevin Eubanks Band, Jay Leno’s Tonight Show Band Leader

FREE CONCERTS

Saturday, July 4 at 8 pm
West Point Band’s Jazz Knights, plus Fireworks

Sunday, July 26 at 1 pm
Children’s Opera: Humpty Dumpty

Sunday, August 23 at 1 pm
Kidstock, featuring Uncle Rock and the Playthings and
Special Guests Paul Green’s School of Rock All-Stars

The 122nd Ulster County Fair: July 28-August 2

Now in its 122nd year, the Ulster County Fair is a traditional old time county fair with rides, food, entertainment, horse shows and 4-H booths. The fair is held at the Ulster County Fairgrounds in New Paltz. For more information, including a complete schedule of events and directions to the Fairgrounds, visit www.ulstercountyfair.com.

2009 Headlining Entertainment

Simply Noted
Tuesday, July 28—One show at 7 pm
Simply Noted believes in keeping country music upbeat and fun! Their music has been described as “uplifting and just amazing,” “refreshing with a great sound,” “it’s country with a twist!”

The Oak Ridge Boys
Wednesday, July 29—One show at 8 pm
Theirs is one of the most distinctive and recognizable sounds in the music industry. Every time they step before an audience, the Oaks bring three decades of charted singles, and 50 years of tradition, to bring on a stage show widely acknowledged as among the most exciting anywhere.

The Outlaws
Thursday, July 31—One show at 8 pm
Following in the footsteps of such great bands as Tom Petty, The Allman Brothers and The Eagles, The Outlaws developed their own high-powered, guitar-driven country-rock, complete with exciting self-penned music and stellar three-part harmony. With substantial success in the live concert arena and on the strength of repeated chart-topping records, The Outlaws established themselves as premiere players in the phenomenon that came to be known as Southern Rock.

Cook and Belle
Friday, August 1—Two shows at 4 & 8 pm
Nashville recording artists Cook and Belle have been performing at various fairs and festivals for the past 10 years. Entertaining thousands of folks throughout the U.S., this energetic duo is definitely a crowd pleaser. Their 2000 song “Angels In Heaven” received airplay on over 200 stations. In 2003 they released their sophomore CD entitled Do I Dare. Mixing raw passion, soul, and a gospel influence makes Cook & Belle’s hit country a sound of its own.

Jimmy Sturr
Saturday, August 2—Two shows at 4 & 8 pm
No one has done more for the polka field than this young Irishman from the little village of Florida, NY. When you see Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra in person, you know why they draw the huge crowds, have been voted #1 in the country and considered “The Best in Polka Music”. The band constantly attracts crowds of screaming, adoring fans wherever their travels take them. Their tremendous popularity has resulted in not only numerous Grammy Awards, but also being voted “The #1 Polka Band in the Country” for the past ten years.

Cowboy Crush
Sunday, August 3—Two shows at 3 & 6 pm
They are, to put it simply, one of country music’s great sagas. Cowboy Crush has built, one soulstirring, tail-shaking show at a time, a unique niche and a devoted following across the U.S. and in half a dozen countries. Theirs is music to start a heart pumping, a life-affirming, fist-in-the-air celebration that can flow seamlessly into songs bringing heartfelt affirmation to anyone facing the struggles that go with real life.

Rosendale Street Festival: July 18-19

In 1978, Rosendale, NY, a big-hearted small town community opened its Main Street on a mid-summer weekend to a large contingent of musicians, artists and vendors. The event was to be the birth of the Rosendale Street Festival. This weekend event was free to the public then, and is still a free event today. This year’s event will be held on July 18 and 19 on Main Street in Rosendale. Hours are from noon to 10 pm on Saturday, and noon to 6 pm on Sunday.

The Rosendale Street Festival has grown to be one of the nation’s largest free music festivals of its kind. Over 70 bands on five stages will perform music of all styles from every category.

An opportunity to listen to some great music is, by itself, reason enough to attend the festival, but there’s more: the streets are filled with local, regional and national vendors of food, clothing and hand-crafted arts and crafts.

For more information about this fun event, call 845 658 7340 or visit www.rosendalestreetfestival.com.