The Hottest Summer Concerts to Catch in the Hudson Valley
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Adobe Stock / Anton Gvozdikov
These Hudson Valley venues host iconic performers all summer long, making for a concert season you won’t want to miss.
What better way to enjoy the sunniest season than with music? This year, world-class artists are flocking to the Hudson Valley to perform live in concert. There’s a little something for everyone this summer, whether you love rock, classical, pop, or jazz fusion. And for those who like to get up and dance when they’re moved by a tune, check out swing night at Fisher Center.
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts – Bethel
Steely Dan
July 3, 7:30 p.m.
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Steely Dan has a special place in our Hudson Valley hearts, as the core duo—Walter Becker and Donald Fagen—began playing together while attending Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson. For over half a century, Steely Dan has had us singing along to tunes like “Dirty Work” with their trademark synthesis of jazz and rock. Though Becker passed away in 2017, Fagen continues to share their inimitable sound.
Phish
July 22, 7:30 p.m.
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Rarely does someone have a lukewarm opinion about Phish—you either love ‘em or you hate ‘em. But you can’t deny that they’ve got something, given that they tote one of the most loyal fanbases in music history. The band’s co-founder, Trey Anastasio, has even performed his compositions with the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the National Symphony Orchestra. Decide for yourself which camp you belong to—between the Phish lovers and Phish nay-sayers—at this live performance at Bethel Woods.
Backstreet Boys
July 24, 7 p.m.
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After nearly three decades of pop icon status, the Backstreet Boys are still as vibrant as ever. In 2019, the group earned their 10th Grammy nomination for their album DNA, which debuted at #1 and includes the hit “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” (no, it’s not a cover of the famous Elton John/Kiki Dee collaboration; this is an original). Whether you want to relive your ‘90s glory days or take a listen to what the Boys are up to lately, grab your tickets before they sell out.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Concert
August 6, 7:30 p.m.
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If you’ve ever watched Harry Potter, you know how important the score is to the experience of the film (and if you haven’t, this is your sign from the universe to watch all eight movies back-to-back). Enjoy the iconic soundtrack live in concert as performed by the New Jersey Symphony, a “nationally leading, relevant orchestra” conducted by Shih-Hung Young. If that didn’t make you immediately purchase a ticket, go and listen to “Hedwig’s Theme” and imagine hearing it performed live by a world-renowned ensemble.
Brandi Carlile
August 19, 7 p.m.
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You may know Carlile as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live, or from one of her many Grammy-nominated albums, or maybe just from her chart-topping hits like “The Joke” or “Crowded Table.” Last year, she even performed the landmark record Blue by Joni Mitchell to a sold-out Carnegie Hall, about which Billboard crowed, “who better to take on this homage but Carlile…one of the finest songwriters and singers of this era.” If you’re not yet a fan, seeing her live at Bethel should do the trick.
Santana with Earth, Wind & Fire
August 21, 7 p.m.
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Okay, seeing either one of these legendary acts alone would be worth the trip—but both together in concert?! Between the two, they have multiple Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, countless Grammy awards, and hundreds of millions of albums sold. Santana even ranked #15 on Rolling Stone’s list of the greatest guitarist of all time. Mark your calendars, folks.
Fisher Center at Bard College – Annandale-on-Hudson
Summertime Swing
July 10, 6–10 p.m.
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This isn’t your typical sit-down concert! At swing night, attendees are encouraged to stay on their feet all night long. Dance instruction begins at 6:30 p.m., guided by local swing impresarios Linda and Chester Freeman of Got2Lindy Dance Studios. What’s better than dancing to live music? The George Gee Swing Orchestra will set the vibe with their “Big Apple Big Band” sonic stylings.
The Piano and Its Protagonists
August 13, 1:30 p.m.
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This performance is a dream come true for lovers of classical music, especially those with a soft spot for the piano. Rooted in repertoire from the touring career of composer Rachmaninoff and other virtuoso pianists, the concert will include a range of work, including tunes by compositional giants like Bach and Handel.
Mid-Hudson Civic Center – Poughkeepsie
Death Cab for Cutie
July 16, 8 p.m.
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Formed in Bellingham, Washington, in 1997, Death Cab for Cutie is an American rock band whose projects include Something About Airplanes (1998) and their landmark Transatlanticism (2003), which was featured in film soundtracks and helped to put them on the map. They followed that record in 2005 with the would-be platinum Plans. In short: these guys make good music. See them live in the heart of the Hudson Valley—tickets start at $55.
Daughtry with Pop Evil
August 30
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Originally a finalist on the fifth season of American Idol, Chris Daughtry went on to form this eponymous group and consistently top rock charts throughout the 2000s and 2010s. With a sound somewhere between grunge and pop rock, the band has shared hits like “It’s Not Over” and “Home,” and sold over nine million albums. See them live alongside Pop Evil, an American rock band from Michigan, known for winning the Radio Contraband Rock Radio Award for “Song of the Year” in 2013 with their tune, “Trenches.”
Related: Here’s What to Catch at Saratoga Performing Arts Center This Summer
Caramoor – Katonah
Rachael & Vilray
July 23, 8 p.m.
Vilray, a composer, singer, and guitarist, teams up with Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive to perform jazz music of the ‘30s and ‘40s. Their set includes “forgotten treasures” of the genre as well as original pieces rooted in a rich musical tradition. The pair, who met at the New England Conservatory of Music, reunite thanks to their shared adoration of early jazz for a night of “heart-warming collaboration.”
Angélique Kidjo
August 6, 8 p.m.
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Lauded as “Africa’s premier diva” by TIME Magazine, this five-time Grammy winner returns to Caramoor with an exciting new performance. Kidjo and her band will perform music from her childhood home of Benin, infusing it with elements of R&B, funk, and jazz. With four decades of experience under her belt, Kidjo is sure to have you dancing and singing along to the sounds of West Africa.
City Winery Hudson Valley – Montgomery
Trevor Hall
July 30, 2 p.m.
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While growing up on an island in South Carolina, Trevor Hall came to realize that music wasn’t just his hobby—it was his life’s passion. He recorded his first album before he could legally buy cigarettes, then attended the Idyllwild Arts Academy in California where he studied classical guitar. Now, his tunes build on the tradition of American folk with touches of electronic music for a distinctive sound. Having played alongside the likes of Ziggy Marley, Jimmy Cliff, and Michael Franti, Hall offers a musical wit best enjoyed live with a glass of City Winery vino.
Tarrytown Music Hall – Tarrytown
Dionne Warwick
September 11, 7 p.m.
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She’s sold over 100 million records, earned six Grammy awards, and is the first African-American female solo artist of her generation to win the award for Best Contemporary Female Vocalist Performance. Who is she? Dionne Warwick, of course! The legend herself is known for songs like “Don’t Make Me Over,” Walk on By,” and “Say a Little Prayer.” See her live as the summer comes to a happy ending in the Hudson Valley.
The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester
Steely Dan
August 10, 12, and 13, 8 p.m.
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Couldn’t make it to their concert at Bethel Woods? No problem! You’ve got three dates to choose from to see the band. Plus, they are joined by the Dave Stryker Trio, helmed by the American jazz guitarist Dave Stryker.
Ben Folds
August 31, 8 p.m.
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He’s an author, he’s a photographer, he’s a champion of arts education—but if you know the name, it’s probably for his music. Ben Folds has shared an impressive catalogue of music since his career began in the late ‘80s. With the Ben Folds Five, he rose to prominence in the alternative, indie, and pop music scenes with records like the 1997 Whatever and Ever Amen. With all that said, see him “In Actual Person Live for Real” (that’s the name of his current tour).
Related: The Bearsville Center Revives Woodstock’s Music Tradition