Tompkins Corners
Music Programs

Live on Our Indoor and Outdoor Stages!

Be sure to scroll down to see ALL our upcoming music events

Howard Britz Trio
Saturday, August 27th, 7:30 pm

Jazz, Afro-Cuban, Gospel, RnB, and Brazilian traditions influence the unique, original compositions by American/English pianist, bassist, and composer Howard Britz. His jazz piano trio will feature music from his 2021 EP Comfort and Joy.  This concert will be held indoors with light refreshments available.

The music of American/English pianist, bassist, and composer Howard Britz draws from Jazz, Afro-Cuban, Gospel, RnB, and Brazilian traditions.  His unique compositions tell musical stories and bring listeners into an intriguing world of ideas, sound, groove, and feeling. Britz’s music is melodic, open-hearted, emotional, and feel good.  Music from his 2021 EP Comfort and Joy and many other tunes from Howard’s catalog will be featured by his jazz piano trio.

Tickets $20 at the door or HERE.
Joining Howard will be bassist Peter Brendler who received his Bachelors of Music from Berklee College of Music, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and his Masters in Music from The Manhattan School of Music. He has made numerous sideman appearances on recordings and has performed at The Blue Note, Birdland, Smalls Jazz Club, The Jazz Standard, Sweet Rhythm, The Kennedy Center, and 55 Bar. Peter has also recorded three albums as a leader/co-leader and has performed throughout Europe and Russia.

Completing the trio will be Tim Horner on drums. He has 250 recordings as a sideman under his belt and three of his own projects of original compositions. Also a graduate of Berklee, he has shared the stage of The Village Vanguard, Birdland, The Blue Note, Lincoln Center, and Dizzy's Coca-Cola with artists who span a large cross-section of jazz history. Since 2000 he has been a five-time Jazz Ambassador for the US State Dept., concertizing and teaching in over 20 countries throughout The World.

 Past Events

Ray Blue Quartet
Saturday, August 6th, 6:00 pm

Tenor saxophonist Ray Blue is a veteran player with infectious sounds full of warmth, fire, and funk, at times. A composer and educator, as well as one of the most in-demand musicians in New York, Ray Blue is a soulful performer, a full-throated sax man with a fluid and lyrical style which makes his sound unique. Ray was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2013. 

Living in Germany from 2000 to 2012, he performed and toured throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia. As a cast member of the Ray Charles Show touring company from 2008 to 2010, he performed in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy. He continues to perform internationally.  

Playing with Ray will be Eddie Allen on trumpet, Radam Schwartz on organ, and Wayne Henderson on drums.

​Ray founded Cross-Cultural Connection Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, whose mission is to increase cultural awareness, communication, and understanding through music. www.rayblue.com,  www.cccjazz.org/about
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Bring a lawn chair and a picnic dinner if you’d like. Light refreshments will be available. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased HERE or at the door.
In case of inclement weather the concert will be held indoors.
TONIGHT'S CONCERT HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT.  STAY SAFE AND COOL.

"Open Book"
Saturday, July 23rd, 6:00 pm


Rick and Michele Gedney, the award-winning duo called Open Book, have been writing, recording, and performing together since 2000. Their original music features melody invention and vocal harmonies backed by a tapestry of interweaving guitars. They have released three albums to critical acclaim and have received national radio airplay and are putting the finishing touches on their fourth album. 

Open Book has shared the stage and recorded with many notable musicians including Buddy and Julie Miller, Dar Williams, Ellis Paul, Freedy Johnston, John Sebastian, Livingston Taylor, Martin Sexton,  Sloane Wainwright and many more.

In addition to writing, touring and recording, Michele and Rick are honored to be songwriting teachers at Dar Williams’ ‘Writing a Song That Matters’ retreat, which just celebrated its 10th year.

This concert, being held as a benefit for TCCC, will be held on our outdoor stage or, in case of inclement weather, either in our Carriage House or indoors. Bring a lawn chair and a picnic dinner, if you’d like. Light refreshments will be available. 
​This event is made possible, in part, through the Putnam Arts Council’s Arts Link Grant Program with public funds provided through the NY State Council on the Arts with support from the Governor’s Office and the NY State Legislature and public funds from Putnam County.

House of Hamill
Sophisticated, Independent Irish Folk Music
John Cohen Memorial Music Series
Saturday, July 9th, 6:00pm

Whether they’re ripping through a set of original jigs and reels, adding lush three-part harmonies to traditional folk ballads, or cracking up an audience with stories from the road, House of Hamill puts on a show that captivates audiences from the very first note.

Rose Baldino of Burning Bridgit Cleary, and Brian Buchanan of Enter the Haggis, first found themselves onstage together at the 2014 Folk Alliance International conference in Kansas City, and subsequently formed the duo, House of Hamill. Four years and hundreds of shows later, the duo added bass player Caroline Browning.

Today, Pennsylvania-based House of Hamill is a fixture on festival stages across the US and has shared their music and stories on the country’s premier folk stages. Their version of “Pound a Week Rise” rose to #1 on the US Folk DJ charts, and the video for their all-violin cover of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” amassed over 16 million views on Facebook, where it was shared over 400,000 times. Their latest release, Folk Hero, was named #5 Top Album and Top Artist for January and February 2022, capturing perfectly the frenetic energy and eclecticism of their always engaging live show.

Grant Peeples
and the Peeples Republik Tour
with Erik Alvar
Sunday, June 26th, 4:00 pm

The recipient of the Focus Foundation Award for Creative Excellence, which cited the "humor, compassion, and wisdom of his songs," and their "unflinching social insight and cultural acuity," Grant’s shows are a rolling mix of funny stuff and not funny stuff.

Touring coast to coast, he is a regular performer at The Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, the 30A Songwriters Festival, and The Florida Folk Festival.

Grant has made eleven studio records, three live recordings, and has published three poetry books, the latest of which is "My advice to Pilgrims," published by Mezcalita Press.

Erik Alvar, a brilliant young bass/mando player out of Brooklyn, will be joining Grant. Erik has played with many other well-known bands including Billy Strings, Jim Hurst, Tim Easton, and The Roys.

An Evening of Classical Music

This project is made possible, in part, through the Putnam Arts Council's Arts Link Grant Program with public funds provided through the NY State Council on the Arts with support from the Governor’s Office and the NY State Legislature.

The Cortlandt String Quartet
with Andy Stein
Saturday, June 25th, 7:30 pm

The Cortlandt String Quartet will present a unique program of traditional and contemporary classical chamber music featuring an ensemble of virtuoso artists who are well known both in the US and abroad. 
Andy Stein, a two-time Grammy award-winning violinist and conductor, is perhaps best known for his 22-year run with Garrison Keillor on A Prairie Home Companion and as a 40-year member of Vince Giordano's Nighthawks.

Joining Andy will be violist Rachel Evans, a member of the Sante Fe Opera Company, violist Sarah Adams, currently the principal violist of the Riverside Symphony, and Argentine cellist Leo Grinhauz, a dedicated tanguero, specializing in combining Latin jazz within the tradition of the string quartet. 

Their repertoire includes Antonin Dvorak's "American" String Quartet Op. 96, Mozart String Quartet K589 in Bb, and Wapango by Cuban Jazz clarinetist Paquito D'Rivera.

"Out To Lunch"
Saturday, June 18th, 6 pm

What happens when you put five musicians together with backgrounds and influences ranging from Bluegrass to Jazz to Celtic to Classical, and give them the common goal of making these varied music types come to life, and have a lot of fun doing it? You get Out To Lunch!
 
Bandmates Howie Bujese, Wayne Fugate, Michael Gold, Susan Sassano, Michael Sassano, and Joe Selly have been delighting audiences with a sound uniquely their own since 1980.
 
On a typical evening with Out To Lunch one might be treated to a smooth rendition of a classic such as Nat King Cole’s “Straighten Up and Fly Right” or Bill Monroe’s “Footprints in the Snow.” From there, the band might just as easily shift gears and perform a monster medley of Celtic dance tunes or some of their own inspired original compositions. Their strong vocals blend to create harmonies that are a distinctive part of Out To Lunch’s musical charm.
This concert will be held on our outdoor stage. Bring a picnic dinner and BYOB. Light refreshments will be available.

“An excellent recording for all those who like and are interested to discover the whole and real spirit of American roots music.” La Hora Del Blues

Professor Louie
and the Crowmatix
Saturday, June 4th, 6 pm

“Roots Music Royalty” - playing the fabric of American Roots Music.

Professor Louie and the Crowmatix will bring their mix of rock‘n’roll, blues, gospel, and American roots back to TCCC. These NY State Blues Hall of Fame inductees from Woodstock, NY, have been performing since 2000 and average 150 shows a year in the US and worldwide.

A Grammy nominated Woodstock All-star group, they began as the studio-backing band for Aaron, Professor Louie’s, musical productions for The Band. Rick Danko, bass player and singer of The Band, christened him Professor Louie due to his work with them. Louie collaborated with The Band, co-producing their last three CDs in the ‘90s.

                                           ~ The Crowmatix ~
Professor Louie (keys-accordion,vocals) collaborated with The Band  for 17 years.
John Platania (guitar-vocals) great performances with Van Morrison for over 30 years.
Gary Burke (drums) performed with Bob Dylan’s The Rolling Thunder Review.
Miss Marie (vocals-percussionist-keys) performed and recorded with Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson.
Frank Campbell (bass-vocals) Levon Helm’s music director with the Woodstock All-stars.

Harry Bolick
and the Mississippi Travelers String Band
Book signing and Concert
On our Outdoor Stage!
Saturday, May 14th, 6 pm

Over ten years ago, author, fiddler, and researcher Harry Bolick began a labor of love, tracking down every last bit of Mississippi fiddling history and music. Internet detective work combined with thousands of miles driving to remote parts of the state for interviews has produced his second book documenting the tradition, “Fiddle Tunes from Mississippi, Commercial and Informal Recordings 1920-2018.” Copies of the book will be available.

Bolick, with the Mississippi Travelers String Band, will celebrate the new book with stories and tunes from the dawn of country music. The Travelers also perform some of Harry’s tunes which are newly composed but in the old Mississippi style. 

The Mississippi Travelers are Harry Bolick - fiddle and vocals, Brian Slattery - banjo, fiddle and vocals, Jaques DiCroce - guitar, and Charlie Shaw, bass.
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Tickets are $20 and may be purchased  HERE or at the door.

"Becoming Geppetto"
Award-winning Documentary film.
Q&A with Director Dale Lindquist
Saturday, May 7th at 7pm

The amazing journey of master guitar builder Bruce Petros and his son, Matt, accompanied by the musicians who make their guitars sing. Q&A with the Director will follow.  Click HERE for details and TRAILER.

Pete Seeger Festival
Our 6th Annual
Sun, May 1st, 2-5 pm
Masks may be required

Join us as we celebrate the musical, environmental and humanitarian legacy of our neighbor, mentor and friend. This FREE, family-friendly event will be held outdoors on the Tompkins Corners lawn.

KJ Denhert
Urban Folk & Jazz
Sat, April 9th, 7:30 pm
Masks may be required

NYC-based, award-winning songwriter, guitarist, vocalist and bandleader, KJ Denhert is a consummate artist with a rich history; a legend of Urban Folk & Jazz who channels a wide range of influences to create something unique.
A child of the 60s, KJ’s music is both a rich tapestry of Urban Folk & Jazz and a reflection of the fiery time of cultural upheaval in which she lived. Echoes of James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Laura Nyro, and Steely Dan combine with KJ’s own unique musical voice to create music that is both unique and relevant for today.

Joining KJ will be Adam Armstrong on Bass, Eric Halvorson on Drums, Mark McIntyre on Guitar, and Pianist/composer Nicki Denner. All are appearing on her upcoming Jazz Project Recording, featuring four unreleased originals and offerings from Lennon and McCartney, Lerner and Loewe, and Rodgers and Hammerstein. Learn more at kjdenhert.com.

Mary Courtney
Live on our INDOOR Stage!
Sat, March 26th 7:00 pm
Masks required - only 50 tickets will be sold!

Mary Courtney, much loved County Kerry singer, guitarist, and bodhran player will reopen our indoor stage for our first St. Patrick’s celebration since 2019.

So much more than a striking interpreter of songs on the Irish-American music scene, she is also a conscience, a fearless beacon for a range of causes, and she never leaves a room without both moving and galvanizing the audience. Her powerful vocals are direct, allowing the beauty of the melodies and the emotion of the lyrics to come through.

Opening the show will be Tompkins Corner’s own Ceili Band. Led by Joe Mahon, performers will include JoEllen Blosson, Chris Blossy, David Carlisle, Maureen Carson, Joe Connelly, and, Patty McCue.

 Past Events - 2021

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Music All Day
Sat, October 23rd  12:00 - 4 pm
Suggested donation $10 -  Bring the kids in costume!

Stop by our Harvest Fest
and enjoy all of these bands and so much more!

Tompkins Corners Ceili Band

Catahoula Cajun Band

Jacob Bernz and Hudson Lovell

The Kitchen Table Band
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Linda Thornton and Tim Pitt

Piedmont Bluz
Sat, Sept 11th 4:00 pm

Ambassadors of Country Blues and the Piedmont Style of Fingerpicking!
With “stories to tell, people to remember, and things that must be said," husband and wife  Valerie and Benedict Turner are on a mission is to help preserve rural, east coast traditions by educating audiences about this unique aspect of African American culture. Weaving a bit of history into the presentation of each song, these Ambassadors of Country Blues music and the Piedmont style of fingerpicking will tickle your ears with delightful music.

Inducted into the NY Blues Hall of Fame in 2018, these tradition bearers have been featured in numerous festivals including the Newport Folk Festival, Chicago Blues Festival, Tel Aviv Blues Festival, Clearwater Revival, and Brooklyn Folk Festival. They have traveled as far as Europe and the Middle East to share their music, and are much loved wherever they go.
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Valerie was invited to write the feature article, “Out of the Shadows - Undersung Women of Blues Guitar,” for the March/April 2021 edition of Acoustic Guitar magazine, and the duo was invited by Taj Mahal to perform at his first annual Roots Rising Showcase on Saturday, March 20th, 2021.

This is the last of four concerts in the John Cohen Memorial Music Series.

Tickets are $20 and are available HERE.

Jud Caswell
Sat, Aug 28th 4:00 pm

Jud Caswell, Maine singer/songwriter, is a talented multi-instrumentalist with a keen eye for detail. There’s a magic to the way he draws you in with clever, well-groomed lyrics, percussive guitar playing, and a powerful yet tender voice until you’re transported to the old farmhouse, the salty shore, a wood full of birdsong.

In 2006, Jud burst onto the national scene with wins at the most prestigious songwriting contests in the country, including the Kerrville New Folk competition, where his song “Blackberry Time” was hailed by songwriting guru Pat Pattison as a “perfect song.”  His song “The Weight of the World” (co-written with Amy Speace and grammy award winner Jon Vezner) was recorded by Judy Collins and named the “#4 Folk Song of the Decade” by New York’s premier AAA station, WFUV.

Wyndham Baird
Live on the Outdoor Stage
Saturday, August 7th 6:30 pm

"Lifting urban love affairs to the stuff of Gospel, and twisting personal disappointments into universal folk anthems " — Deli Magazine

Wyndham Baird authentically represents the folk trajectory from Woody Guthrie to Bob Dylan with great voice, guitar, and harmonica. A “must-have” on John Cohen’s list for future events, John saw Wyndham’s work not as an imitation, but with an authenticity that brings these songs home to us.

Bring a lawn chair and picnic - grounds open at 5:45 pm. Light snacks and dessert will be available. In case of rain, the concert will be held in the Carriage Shed.

This is the third of four concerts in the John Cohen Memorial Music Series.

W M D 2
Live on the Outdoor Stage
Saturday, July 24th 6:30 pm

High energy Americana and Bluegrass with vocals, guitar, dobro, slide guitar, banjo, mandolin, even suitcase percussion! WMD2 will get your toes tapping and hands clapping with a wide range of musical styles, from blues to bluegrass to country, folk, and more. Band members Will Demers, Mat Kastner, Dan Bonis, and Dave Anastasia are happiest when the audience has as much fun as they do! Known for playing fresh interpretations of well-loved songs, the band also performs its own original material.
 
 Bring a lawn chair, picnic, and BYOB - grounds open at 5:45 pm. Refreshments will be available. In case of rain, the concert will be held in our historic Carriage Shed.

Eva Salina and Peter Stan
Live on Our Outdoor Stage!
July 10th 6:30 pm

With groundbreaking interpretations of Balkan songs, Eva and Peter pick up and continue an interrupted legacy of empowered female voices in Serbian and Romani (gypsy) music. Moving effortlessly through the intricate and demanding expression of Balkan songs, they intertwine vintage pop songs with singular interpretations and present them with tenderness, grace, passion, and a commitment to keeping these songs alive and evolving.  This is part of our John Cohen Memorial Music Series.
*Made possible by  The Putnam Arts Council and NY State Legislature. ​

Bring a lawn chair and picnic - grounds open at 5:45 pm. Light snacks will be available. In case of rain, the concert will be held in our historic Carriage Shed.

Drew Young
Live on Our Outdoor Stage!
Saturday, June 26th  4 pm

 The Americana Crooner from New Orleans ​ Live on the lawn!
For the better part of two decades, Drew has been criss crossing the globe soaking up stories and experiences and translating the human experience into songs of longing, love, loss and learning. Throw in some Warren Zevon with a dab of R.E.M. and top it off with a little Jason Isbell and you will find the corner where Drew’s music sits. With two stellar band mates in tow, the band plays southern roots music that is refreshingly honest, defiantly original, and infinitely memorable. 

Preview Drew's music here - It'll Be Soon

Bring a lawn chair and picnic - grounds open at 3:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be available.  In case of rain, the concert will be held in our historic Carriage Shed.
This is the first of four concerts in the John Cohen Memorial Music Series, 
and is made possible, in part, through the Putnam Arts Council’s Arts Link Grant Program with public funds provided through the NY State Council on the Arts with support from Governor Andrew M Cuomo and the NY State Legislature. ​

Down Hill Strugglers
Saturday, June 19th  6:30 pm

Some of the best traditional American music, blues, gospel and hillbilly, was recorded on commercial 78 rpm records during the 1920s & 30s. The Downhill Strugglers keep that music alive with new interpretations. An old-time string band based simultaneously out of Kentucky and New York, they have released albums on Smithsonian Folkways Recordings and Jalopy Records and are featured on the soundtrack to the Coen Brothers film, "Inside Llewyn Davis" produced by T-Bone Burnett.

John Cohen, who became their mentor and bandmate, co-founded Tompkins Corners in 2015. He was a musician, photographer and filmmaker who performed and documented the traditional music of the rural South and played a major role in the American folk music revival. John played with the Strugglers at every Brooklyn Folk Festival since the beginning, as well as at every Washington Square Park Folk Festival and many more all across the country, including at the Library of Congress, the Kennedy Center, the Newport Folk Festival and more.
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Bring a lawn chair and picnic - grounds open at 5:45 pm. with Covid guidelines in place. In case of rain, the concert will be held in the Carriage Shed.

Circle of Song
Tuesday, June 15th  7 pm
Eli Smith of the Down Hill Strugglers to open our Circle!

Each month, new friends and old gather on Zoom to present a song or just to enjoy the camaraderie. All are welcome, and anything goes! Play a tune, sing a song, have a laugh! 
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This month, Eli Smith of the Down Hill Strugglers will open our Circle with a few traditional American tunes.  The Down Hill Strugglers  will be presenting a live concert outdoors at TCCC on Saturday, June 19th - so join us for a preview!

To perform please contact linda@tompkinscorners.org.
To join us on Zoom: Circle of Song

Tompkins Corners to host
Albuquerque Folk Festival Master Classes 

June 8 - 13 Virtual

Enrich your musical life with insights and techniques from some extraordinary musicians in these FREE master classes! TCCC Board members Bill, Mark and Linda, who have been hosting our "Circle of Song" Zoom Sessions, will host.

Teaching Artists will include:
Deanie Richardson - Bluegrass Fiddle 
Wayne Shrubsall - Banjo Types & Styles
 The Limeliters - Songwriting
Stillhouse Junkies - Arranging for an Ensemble
Le Vent Du Nord -  The award winning francophone folk band from Quebec. 
David Garcia & Brenda Romero: Inditas and other NM narrative ballad genres.

Classes are free, with registration required.
For more information or to register, please visit: 
 abqfolkfest.org/masterclassschedule.shtml

Joanie Madden, Mary Coogan
& Bruce Foley
of Cherish the Ladies
Saturday, June 5th, 4:00 pm
Live on the Lawn!

TCCC is pleased to present Joanie Madden, Mary Coogan, and Bruce Foley of Cherish the Ladies, the long-running, Grammy-nominated, Irish-American supergroup that formed in New York City in 1985 to celebrate the rise of women on the Irish music scene. They have toured the world, played the White House and the Olympics, and have recorded 17 outstanding albums including an Emmy-winning live recording, "An Irish Homecoming," which was simultaneously videotaped for a Public Television Special that aired across America.
  
Tickets are $20, will be available soon, and will be capped at 100. Bring a lawn chair and picnic - grounds open at 3:30 p.m.  Covid guidelines will be in place (masks required and social distancing).  In case of rain, the concert will be held in the Carriage Shed.

 Deni Bonet
with Chris Flynn
Saturday, May 22nd 6:30 pm
Live on the Lawn!

Engaging, multi-talented singer/songwriter and virtuoso violinist, Deni Bonet, will perform in a special duo with guitarist/singer Chris Flynn. Playing quirky, melodic, and fun folk-rock for all ages, she has recorded and performed with R.E.M., Sarah McLachlan, Cyndi Lauper, and Warren Zevon, among many others. Deni Bonet’s reputation for high-energy performances, and particularly for her dynamic violin playing, has found her in demand - headlining festivals, performing arts centers, clubs, colleges, and international venues. Performance highlights include concerts at Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, the Great Wall of China, and the White House for President Obama.

Suggested donation is $20.

Circle of Song
Deni Bonet to open our Circle!
Tuesday, May 18th  7:00 pm
On Zoom

Deni Bonet, Singer/songwriter and virtuoso violinist will open our monthly “Circle of Song”. Enjoy a preview of her upcoming live show on May 22nd!

Each month, old friends and new gather to present a song or just to sit back and enjoy. We welcome all to our Circle, and anything goes! Play a tune, sing a song, perform solo or with a partner.

To perform please contact linda@tompkinscorners.org

To join us on Zoom: Circle of Song

Pete Seeger Festival!

Live music, fine crafts and refreshments
Sunday, May 2nd from 2-5 pm

Tompkins Corners Cultural Center presents our fifth annual Pete Seeger Festival to celebrate the musical, environmental and humanitarian legacy of our neighbor, mentor and friend. 

This is a FREE, family-friendly event outdoors on the Tompkins Corners lawn, with Covid guidelines in place (masks required and social distancing). If the weather is iffy, the stage will be set up in the carriage shed. Refreshments will be available. Donations will be gratefully accepted and will be shared with local organizations that Pete created, including the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, the Beacon Sloop Club, and the River Pool at Beacon.

Scheduled performers include David and Jacob Bernz, Betty and the Baby Boomers, Lydia Adams Davis, Patrick Stanfield Jones, Pat Lamanna, Sharleen Leahey, the Trouble Sisters: Melissa Ortquist, Laurie Siegel and Karen Brooks, Andy Revkin, and Sarah Underhill. 

​The musicians were all Pete’s friends who performed with him and sailed with him on the sloops Clearwater and Woody Guthrie and worked with him at the Beacon Sloop Club. In addition to singing Pete’s songs and their own, they will reminisce about the man who inspired so many people in the course of his 94 years.