Hudson Valley Folk Lore

New York’s Hudson Valley has always been fertile ground for the arts, including the folk arts. On any given day you can be treated to some of the finest art and music around. This idyllic area, one of the fastest growing in New York, has been called home by legends of folk music. Pete Seeger lives happily in Fishkill, NY and is actively involved in the growing art community of Beacon, NY. Bob Dylan has also called the Hudson Valley home and penned some of his most loved songs while living in the area, including “Spanish Harlem Incident”, “Mr. Tambourine Man, and many others from his Woodstock, NY home. Joan Baez and John Sebastian often sang with Dylan during that time frame while traveling back and forth from Woodstock to Kingston. The rolling hills of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts located in Bethel, NY is the original site of that tiny little three day music festival known simply as “Woodstock“. It seems everywhere you turn in this area another living legend is performing. Peter Yarrow, of Peter, Paul and Mary fame, just performed a benefit concert this past June at The Freedom Plains Presbyterian Church in Lagrange. For a complete list of upcoming shows be sure to check out the Hudson Valley Music Calendar at http://www.hvmusic.com/listing/calentry_list.php
Don’t miss the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts website for information on their museum dedicated to the Woodstock music festival held there in 1969 as well as special art exhibits they showcase. They are hosting a special concert on Saturday August 15th to celebrate the 40th anniversary called the “Heroes of Woodstock”, featuring the Levon Helm Band, Jefferson Starship, Ten Years After, Canned Heat, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Mountain, Tom Constanten and Country Joe McDonald. http://bethelwoodscenter.org/default.aspx