Saturday, Sept. 9: Ear Op finds the veteran New Paltz trio opting, for the very first time, not to self-produce. The Doggies called upon the New Paltz-based indie- and post-rock producer Kevin McMahon. McMahon is best-known for his work with the epic punk group Titus Andronicus, the avant-noise legends Swans, the clinical indie guitar-pop band Real Estate and some other nationally known acts.
Opening Saturday, Sept. 9: “Artists as Innovators: Three Decades of New York State Council on the Arts/New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowships” covers three decades of New York artistry supported by state arts funding. Additional programming this September supports the exhibit with literary readings, panel discussions and performance art.
Twenty-one years of fundraising through the promotion of local artists have given the Jewish Federation of Ulster County the edge on good works. With the commitment to supporting the rich talent in our region while boosting a number of worthy causes, the organization once again hosts “Fall for Art,” a juried show, sale and cocktail event, to be held Thursday, September 7 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Chateau in Kingston.
Wednesday, Sept. 13: Legendary writer, natural performer, a formidable interpreter and kickass guitarist on a guitar that has truly had its ass kicked, Willie Nelson comes to the Mid-Hudson Civic Center.
Friday-Sunday, September 8-10: The Meltasia Festival offers much to differentiate itself from ordinary music festivals: B-movies, a haunted mansion, wiffleball games, pool parties and goats, to name a few. Last year, Meltasia was held in the high-concept setting of the long-abandoned Catskill Game Farm. Great in theory, but this year they’ve upgraded the digs to the Blackthorne Resort in East Durham.
Friday-Sunday, Sept. 15-17: Basilica Hudson’s Melissa Auf der Maur and Tony Stone are working in collaboration with The Creative Independent editor-in-chief and former Pitchfork director Brandon Stosuy to program the weekend. Notable musical performers this year include Zola Jesus, Priests, Bing & Ruth, Jlin and many more.
It must be the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild’s time. Consider all that’s been swirling about it, both in the hamlet at its Kleinert/James Arts Center, home to a vibrant and groundbreaking new exhibit that brings together visual and musical artistry on its walls.
Friday, Sept. 1: You need to accept – acquiesce to – Sting’s default pieties and pretensions. That’s just him. Get over it. Once you’ve done that, be prepared to be impressed both by the musical craftiness of these new confessional songs, and ultimately, by their courageously awkward honesty.
Saturday, September 2: The funky and reggae-inflected jam/rock band are supporting their spanking-new release Magic, which was produced in Ohio by Joe Viers (Blues Traveler, Twenty-One Pilots).
Saturday, September 2: Ingrid Sertso, Karl Berger and their All-Star Octet to honor the great experimental jazz trumpeter